Purnima Pooja

Importance of Purnima Puja

The full moon day in the month lunar calendar is known as Purnima. This day is having its own significance. The important of Purnima lies in the fact that there are several renowned Hindu festivals that arrives on this day. Besides, most of the Hindu devotees observer a full day fast on full moon day and offer prayers to Lord Vishnu.

The ceremonies associated with Purnima Puja are basically significant for birth, rebirth, creation and manifestation. On the day of Purnima, the moon completes its one cycle around the earth which also symbolizes the end of a chapter in one’s life and shedding out of the things that are no longer required.

How to do Purnima Puja

On the day of Purnima, the devotees observe a partial day fast. The ideal fast consists of taking light food during dusk under the light of full moon.  The fast on the day of Purnima lasts for 12 hours from dawn to dusk. Devotees observing fast are forbidden from consuming common salt, grains, pulses, wheat and rice in this duration. Many devotees even undergo rigid fast without intake of even water according to their endurance capability. However, intake of fruits and milk is acceptable.

The Puja mainly consists of worshipping mighty Lord Vishnu by performing Shree Stayanarayan Vrata Puja, and in the evening after watching the full moon and offering prayers, the devotees partake in ‘Prasad’ and take light food along with that. The Shree Stayanarayan Puja begins with worshipping Lord Ganesha and offering special prayers to Navgrah. Then rest of the puja is dedicated to Lord Vishnu, the preserver of universe.

Significance of Purnima Puja

The full moon day of a month is a very opportune time for purging many important rituals meant for spiritual advancement, as the light of the full moon illuminates all those things that are hindering in this respect. These rituals are basically meant for discharging emotional and physical pains and releasing out the miseries and pains from one’s life.

Purnima in 2023 and  2024

Following are the days in year 2023 on which the day of Purnima is observed.

Imporant mantras for Purnima Puja

Following are the Shlokas that are considered to be important for Purnima puja.

Gayatri Mantra

Om bhur bhuvah swah

Tat savitur varenyam

Bhargo devasya dheemahi

Dhiyo yo nah prachodayat

Ganeshji’s Prayer

Sri Vakratunda Mahakaaya

Koti-soorya samaprabha

Nirvighnam kuru me Deva

Shubh-karyeshu Sarvadaa

Guru Prayer

Guru brahmaa guru vishnuh

guru devo maheshvarah

guru saakshaat parabrahma

tasmai shree gurave namah

Benefits of Purnima Puja

The Shree Satyanarayan Puja is considered to be highly important for prosperity and happiness. This puja is usually done after special occasions and important ceremonies like marriage, on the occasion of some big achievement, purchase of house or other property, etc. It is basically meant for thanking Lord Vishnu for the achievements and wish for its sustainment.