2020 Vaishakha Amavasya

Significance & celebrations of Vaishakha Amavasya

Vaishakh Amavasya falls on 22nd Apr 2020 from 05:35 am in the morning until 07:55 am the day next. In India, it is celebrated in the months of April or May. It is also known as Shani Jayanti in some states like Gujarat, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. 

Water must be offered to the Peepal tree in the morning hours and lamps should be lit in the evening around the Peepal Tree. Vaishakh Amavasya is also alternatively known as Somavati Amavasya. 

Importance of Vaishakha Somavati Amavasya

We can understand the significance of Vaishakh Amavasya by going through the legend. 

As the legend goes, there once lived a wealthy merchant who had seven sons and a daughter. He married all his seven sons but could not find a suitable match for the daughter. Everyday there would be a monk coming to his house, who would bless all the daughters-in-law of the house but never looked at the daughter. The daughter one day told this story to her mother. The mother encountered the monk yet the monk did not reply. 

So, in another few days, the family consulted an astrologer. The astrologer told them that the girl’s fortunes told the astrologer that she would turn a widow soon after marriage. The astrologer also said that there lived a washerwoman in the Sinhal lands, and if the girl could wear vermilion from her hands, then she would be free of the curse. The astrologer also told the girl to observe Somavati Amavasya. The youngest son and the daughter went to the place where the lands ended and the Sea to Sinhal lands began. 

On the tree under which they rested, there was an Eagle family. One day when the father and the mother Eagle went away, the children were attacked by a snake. The girl saved the children from the snake and when the Eagles returned they became very happy with her. They agreed to transport the girl to the washerwoman. 

After staying with the washerwoman for quite a long period of time, one day the washerwoman agreed to put vermilion on her forehead. On her way back home, she also penanced for the Vaishakha Amavasya. Thus, she reversed her fate and remained happy ever after.

Celebrations on Vaishakh Amavasya

This same day, is observed as the Shani Jayanti. It is a revered day when Vaishakha Amavasya falls on Saturday. Worshipping Shani Dev on this day, helps to seek blessings from him, the God of Justice. Celebrations on Shani Jayanti always would involve some form of Daan dharma (gifting food and clothes to the unfortunate). What can you donate to make Saturn happy? 

1. Donate black lentils, black shoes, black clothes and black mustard.
2. You can also donate 800 gms of sesame seeds and 800 gms of mustard oil.
3. Donate Hanuman Chola. Distribute seven kinds of grains under the Peepal tree.
4. Offer blue flowers to Shani Dev in the morning. Light a lamp of mustard and pray to him in your mind.
5. Chant this inside you. If you have a Rudraksh mala, or a sandalwood mala, you can use it for the same. Chant the Shani (Saturn) Beej Mantra for at least 5 beads on this holy day of Vaishakha Amavasya.

Om Praang Preeng Prong Saha
Shanaishcharaye Namaha

Salvation of Souls on Vaishakh Amavasya

Vaishakha Amavasya is a beautiful day and you can take a holy dip in the Ganges, or any other water that has the essence of this river. It actually blesses you with a long life, relieving people of all the present sins.

On this very auspicious day of Vaishakha Amavasya, you can also free your forefathers from all their sins. It is believed that you can perform a Pind daan (oblation to the souls of your ancestors on this day) anywhere in the country where it could be done nicely. 

Be it Har Ki Pauri, or the Dasaashwamedha Ghat in Varanasi, or the ghats of Alaknanda river in Badrinath you can always be in any of them to perform the rituals. To describe in common terms, you can always pray for the mukti (release) of the souls of your ancestors in these famous places on this coming Vaishakha Amavasya.

You can utilize this day in the below mentioned ways:

• Offer your prayers to the Universe. 
• Pray for wonderful blessings.
• You can pray for the salvation of your ancestors.

On Vaishakha Amavasya the souls of our ancestors come close to us. They require your permission, to move out of this unhappy realm to the wider worlds and Universes. On Vaishakha Amavasya you can convey your regards to them specifically. However, the special significance of Vaishakh Amavasya is important since the Sun resides in Aries during this auspicious day. Aries is the birth sign of all Zodiacs and anything new can be started during this period of time.

Offer your prayers and make sure, there is nothing in your way to salvation at the end of the day.

Vaishakha Amavasya is a beautiful momentous period that repeats every year. The month of Vaishakh is when many Indians all across the country are busy welcoming the New Year. 

Not only is the Vaishakh Amavasya famous, but even Vaishakh Poornima is known widely as Buddha Poornima. Akshay Tritiya is that very day when the temples of Kedarnath and Badrinath open finally after a long six month winter vacation for these Gods. Do have some celebrations on Vaishakh Amavasya in any which ways you want, but definitely do something on this auspicious day.

Amavasya fasting Days

According to the Hindu calendar, starting from Chaitra month (March-April), the No Moon Day falls throughout the year. Here is the list of Amavasya days other than Vaishakha Amavasya.

S.N.	Hindu Month	Amavasya Vrat Name and Same Day Festival
1	Chaitra	Chaitra Amavasya
2	Vaishakha	Vaishakha Amavasya
3	Jyeshtha	Jyeshtha Amavasya, Darsha Bhavuka Amavasya, Shani Jayanti, Vat Savitri Vrat
4	Ashadha	Ashadha Amavasya
5	Shravana	Shravana Amavasya
6	Bhadrapada	Bhadrapada Amavasya, Pithori Amavasya
7	Ashwin	Ashwin Amavasya, Sarva Pitru Amavasya, Sarvapitri Darsha Amavasya
8	Kartika	Kartika Amavasya, Diwali, Lakshmi Puja
9	Margashirsha	Margashirsha Amavasya
10	Paush	Paush Amavasya
11	Magha	Magha Amavasya, Mauni Amavas
12	Phalguna	Phalguna Amavasya

If Amavasya falls on Monday - Somvati Amavasya