This is known as Kesava Masa/Margasira masa and is equivalent to November-December month in the English calendar.
The ninth month of the lunar calendar is observed as Margasira Month which gets it’s name from the star which occurs on the full moon day- Mrugashira. This month is known as Agrahayana which means equinox. Agra means first and ayana means travelling. During ancient times Margashira month was the first month in the calendar. Sun in this month enters into Dhanu Rashi and is known as Dhanur Sankramanam and so from the day of Dhanur Sankramana it is known as Dhanur Masa.
Lord Kesava is the presiding Lord or the Masa Niyamaka and is the one who governs the month of Margasira. Lord Sri Krishna is referred to here as Kesava. Out of the 24 Kesava Namas, the very first name that is recited is Om! Kesavaya Namah! Arjuna addresses the Lord in Bhagawad geeta several times as Kesava. In Sri Vishnusahasranamastothra we find a reference to the word Kesava in sloka # 3 and 69.
Kaalaneminiha Veerah Shurah Shaurijaneshvarah |
TrilokAtma Trilokeshah Keshavah Keshiha Harih ||69||
Kesa means hair or a ray of light. Kesava means the one who has got long and beautiful hair and also whose hair is very charming and hat which is filled with supreme fragrance. Kesava means one who is endowned with the rays of light that spread within the sun’s orbit. He is the one who is the creator of this universe and also the creator of Lord Brahma, Lord Shiva and is the one who torments the enemies. Chanting His name removes all sorrows and sufferings. The Lord is also the slayer of the Kesi demon during His appearance as Krishna. Kesi demon was sent by Kamsa and came in the form of a horse to kill Krishna. (Vishnu Purana 5.15-16). Bad luck or ill omens can be averted by remembering Keshava.
Vaishnavas know that Lord Vishnu has infinite names. Out of these infinite names, 24 names of the Lord are known as “Chaturvimsa Keshava Namas”. These 24 namas of the Lord are associated with the standing Lord with His four emblems – Shanka, Chakra, Gada and Padma. The order of holding these emblems gives the Lord a different name.
Lord Krishna Kills Kesi Demon
Kamsa instructed the demon Kesi to go to Vrindavana and kill the little boy Krishna. Kesi demon was in the form of a horse. He entered Vrindavana with his great mane flying and his hooves digging into the earth. He gave terrific whinning and this terrified the world. Krishna saw the citizens of Vrindavana getting terrified by the demon’s antics. Krishna knew the demon was challenging Him and the Lord accepted the challenge and stood before the demon. Kesi demon now proceeded towards Krishna with horrible sound and roaring. Kesi demon rushed towards Krishna with the intention of trampling Him with his strong legs. Krishna simply caught hold of the legs and baffled the demon. Krishna was by now little angry and simply rotated the horse in the air. After a couple of rotations, He just flung the demona a few hundred yards away. The horse demon first passed out after being thrown like this, but regained consciousness and with full anger charged towards Krishna again and this time wanted to attack Him with his mouth, which was kept open. Krishna simply put His left hand inside the demon’s mouth. The demon felt Krishna’s hand was like a hot iron and it was causing him great pain. The demon’s teeth fell out and at the same time Krishna’s hand began to inflate and the demon started to choke. The horse demon began to suffocate and it’s eyeballs bulged and it passed stool and urine and finally passed out. The Lord simply pulled out His hand while the demigods were amazed at the killing of the Kesi demon and showered flowers as appreciation. Since the Lord has put His hand within the Kesi demon’s mouth, He came to the banks of river Yamuna to wash it and this place since then is known as Kesi Ghat. Devotees recite this pastime at Kesi Ghat to cleanse themselves of the demons within the heart.
The Sun god, traverses this Ninth month with his associates by entering the Ninth zodiac sign – Dhanush or Sagittarius and is known as;
Amshu as the sun-god, Kasyapa as the sage, Tarksya as the Yaksa, Rtasena as the Gandharva, Urvasi as the Apsara, Vidyucchatru as the Raksasa and Mahasa“kha as the Naga rule the month of Sahas.
Festivals of the month
List of Margashirsha Festivals
Utpanna Ekadashi – Utpanna Ekadashi is one of the twenty four Ekadashi vrats which are observed to seek blessing of Lord Vishnu.
Vivah Panchami – On Vivah Panchami day Lord Rama and Goddess Sita were married and this day is celebrated as marriage anniversary of Rama and Sita.
Gita Jayanti – Gita Jayanti day symbolizes the birth of Srimad Bhagavad-Gita, the sacred text of the Hindus.
Mokshada Ekadashi – Mokshada Ekadashi is one of the twenty four Ekadashi vrats which are observed to seek blessing of Lord Vishnu.
Dattatreya Jayanti – Dattatreya Jayanti is the birth anniversary of the trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, collectively known as Trimurti.
Festivals in the Holy Dham
At Puri Jagannath
Prabarana Sasthi / Odhana Sasthi: It is observed on Margasira Sukla Sasthi Tithi i.e. the sixth day of the bright fortnight of Margasira (November-December). From this day ghodalagi of the deities begins and the deities wear winter garments (heavy winter garments) till Magha Sukla Panchami or Basanta Panchami i.e. 5th day of bright Magha (January-February).
Prathamastami: This is held on Margasira Sukla Astami Tithi i.e. the 8th day of bright Margasira (November-December). A special Bandapana of Jagannath Mahaprabhu is held on this day.
Deba Dipabali: It is observed on the 14th day of Margasira (November-December). This da Jagannath Mahaprabhu performs Sraddha and offers lamps in favour of his forefathers
At Dwarka
Magsar: According to Hindu Astrology the Sun travels through ‘Sagittarius’ sign ordinarily during this month. As it is called ‘Dhanur Rashi’, hence the entire month is being celebrated as ‘Dhanur Mas’ at Dwarkadhish Jagat Mandir.