This Full Moon (FM) in the lunar month of Phalguna, specifically, Uttara Phalguni (UP), Virgo is celebrated as Holika Dahan
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Let’s reflect on the story of King Hiranyakashyapu (HK) to understand the energy of this full moon. HK had gotten a boon which made him almost invincible, giving him a God-complex. He ordered everyone in his kingdom to worship him. His own son Prahlada was a Vishnu devotee and didn’t follow his orders. HK made several attempts to kill Prahlada. One such attempt involved Holika, HK’s sister, who had powers that protected her from fire. She sat on a burning pyre with Prahlada on her lap. With Vishnu’s blessings, Prahlada was unscathed while Holika burnt. That’s the event that took place on this full moon. This full moon usually takes place opposite the Sun either in Purva Bhadrapada (PB) or Uttara Bhadrapada (UB) nakshatra both associated with death bed or with pyre. The mythic tale of Holika Dahan on this full moon harmonizes the energy of PB in its opposite polarity, UP (also symbolized by bed, but a marriage bed) by reminding us to have faith & stay committed to our devotion, just like Prahlada, even if we feel like we are being burnt on a pyre. This kind of devotion requires us to organize & manage the many details of life and then completely let go and surrender. We all get caught up in the managing and controlling part of lives like HK but forget to surrender & have faith like Prahlada
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When the Sun ingressed into Pisces in PB, Tamilians celebrate Karadaiyan Nonbu. It is the day when Savitri negotiated with Yama, lord of death to bring her husband, Satyavan back to life. If you have read Sri Aurobindo’s Savitri, you’ll realize what a feat this was as Savitri had to transcend life, death & all its attachments for this. PB & UB are related to transformation, transcendence & death of everything worldly. On this FM, Moon harmonizing Sun’s opposite energy in UP anchors PB’s transcendental energy in earth’s plane, to manifest from that frequency. Satyanarayan Pooja is performed on this day to harness Savitri’s & Satyavan’s transcendental energies
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If one is not consciously participating in a fire ceremony, which is what traditional Indians do on this night, then it is important to be careful of fires. Be in gratitude of the sacred creative and destructive power of fire. Remember, fire in our body is creative as it is contained & intelligent
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The day after Holika Dahan is celebrated as Holi, the festival of colors. People gather in joy & celebration, playing with colors, water pistons called pichakari and water balloons. It is said that when Shiva and Parvati played Holi, they conjured a drink called bhang, a concoction made with cannabis & milk for recreation. Holi is one of my favorite festivals as it really celebrates the innocence in all of us – an innocence that is fearlessly anchored & devoted in the higher knowing; unflinched by the ignorance & arrogance of an egoist world. The days following Holika Dahan are much more hopefully, bringing spring in full swing & returning us to the zest of life both literally & metaphorically
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Wishing you a very happy Holi filled with love, laughter, joy and celebration. Rang Barse Bheege Chunarvali, Rang Barse…
Love, Light & Blessings,
Dr. Malini Iyer
For holistic counseling, visit: cosmicartandscience.com
