Paush Purnima 2022: Paush Purnima is also celebrated in the name of Goddess Shakambhari Jayanti. She is an incarnation of Goddess Durga. Maa Goddess came into existence on this Purnima date to end the drought situation on the earth. Therefore, she is also worshiped as the goddess of vegetation.

Every Purnima is considered an auspicious day for Hindus. The secret of this day is that two Chandra fortnights appear along with the Purnima and the Amavashya. There are twelve Purnima in a year. Of these Purnima nights, Paush Purnima is of great importance. It marks the beginning of a holy Magha month to perform penance. This year Paush Purnima is being celebrated on 17 January 2022. On this day devotees take bath in holy rivers like Ganga, Yamuna, Narmada, Godavari etc. Dashashwamedh Ghat in Varanasi and Triveni Sangam in Prayag are considered highly auspicious on this day.

Paush Purnima 2022: Date and Auspicious Time

Shubh Tithi: 17 January, Monday

Purnima Tithi starts – January 17th, 2022 at 03:18 am

Purnima Tithi ends – 18 January 2022 at 05:17 am

What is the significance of Shakambari Purnima?

Shakambhari Purnima is also known as the birth anniversary of Shakambhari Devi. In various places in India, this day is celebrated as Paush Purnima. It is considered a very important day according to the Hindu calendar. This is the beginning of Magha which is the month of religious penance. The followers of ISKCON and Vaishnava sect begin the Pushya Abhishek Yatra on this day. If people take a bath at a holy place on this day then they attain salvation. Along with this, by donating, one can get great virtue.

Read more: Vinayaka Chaturthi January 2022: What Is The Significance Of The First Chaturthi This Time?

Paush Purnima 2022: Pooja Vidhi

• On this day, wake up early in the morning and take bath in holy rivers like Ganga and Yamuna.
• After this, offer arghya to the sun.
• Keep a day’s fast to get the wishes.
• Worship Satyanarayan or Kul Devta or Goddess Mata on this day.
• Chant Gayatri Mantra or Om Namo Narayan Mantra 108 times continuously.
• Donate to the needy which is an auspicious work

What is the story or legend of Shakambhari Mata?

According to the Goddess Bhagavatam, the holy book of Hinduism, there once lived a demon named Durgam. He had attained the four Vedas by practicing great hardships and penance. He got this boon that all the prayers and worships which would be given to the deities would reach them. In this way the insurmountable demon became indestructible. After getting all these powers, he started troubling everyone. The result was a loss of religion and it did not rain for hundreds of years. This led to severe drought conditions.

All the sages and saints hid in the caves of the Himalayas. He started performing Yagya and penance continuously to seek the help of the Mata Goddess there. Hearing their hardships and calamity, Mata incarnated as Goddess Shakambhari. During the sacrifice and penance, he used grains, fruits, Shak, pulses, vegetables and greens. The word Shak refers to vegetables. Thus Goddess Shakambari became famous as Devi. Seeing the plight of the people, for 9 days and nights, tears started pouring down from the eyes of Goddess Shakambhari. In this way the tears turned into a river. Thus ended the drought situation.

The goddess also fought against the insurmountable to save humans and Rishis from the cruelty of the demon. Goddess Shakambhari slays the insurmountable by revealing all the 10 powers within her. Mata returned all the Vedas to the sages. From that time onwards, devotees observe a fast of Shakambhari Purnima. So that the blessings of the Mata Goddess and prosperity remain in the house.