Fulfilling Facts in Our Culture

Sri. Appannaachariar

Amavasya and Pournami, Krishnapaksha and Shuklapaksha 

Shuklapaksha is the growth phase of the moon. Until Chaturdashi (fourteenth) day, the moon is in the waning phase. Starting from the day after Amavasya, On Prathama (first day) the moon again is in the waxing phase until the following Chaturdashi which results in Pournami (full moon). Suklapaksha represents ‘Valarpirai’ in Tamil. The period of fourteen days after Pournami until the Chaturdashi represents the waning phase of the moon and is called as Krishnapaksha in Sanskrit. The day after Chaturdashi day is Amavasya (New moon) and it represents ‘Theypirai’ in Tamil. 

All days, starting from Prathama to Chaturdashi, are considered auspicious. But people consider Ashtami (Eighth day) and Navami (Ninth day) not so auspicious as they think the planets, Saturn and Mars, associated with the following days cause ill-luck. One must also remember that Lord Krishna was born on an Ashtami and Lord Rama was born on a Navami. There is a story which corresponds to both their births on those Tithi-s. 

During the olden days, Nakshatras (Stars) were used to mark a person’s birthday and Tithi-s were calculated from the time when a person dies. So, the Tithi-s (especially the inauspicious, Ashtami and Navami) went to Vaikuntam to meet  Lord Narayana, seeking an unbiased judgement regarding their treatment of being inauspicious. The All-merciful, Lord granted them a boon that he himself would get birth on both these days, as different Avatara-s (Incarnations) and make them auspicious.  

All good Karma-s are done on the period of Shuklapakha because it metaphorically means the growth phase of the moon. So, it is believed that any work started in the growth phase will eventually lead to progress and success. According to the belief system in Tamil Nadu, the first four days (Prathama, Dwitiya, Tritiya, & Chaturthi) of Shuklapaksha are treated more auspicious. While in Karnataka, the Chaturthi is not taken into account.  

As the Tamil calendar is based on the lunar face (waxing/waning), the days are classified into the group of 15 which marks the Shuklapaksha and Krishnapaksha. It also indirectly means that according to English calendar there are two Amavasya-s and Pournami-s in a month. 

Koil Kongilachan, Appannaachariar is working as a Archagar (priest) in Lakshmi Narayana Venugopala Swami Kovil commonly known as Garradi Kovil, Town Hall, Coimbatore. He is the Late. Srirangam Narayana Jeeyar’s uncle’s grandson. He is currently doing service to the Lord at the temple & in understanding spirituality and Vaidika Karmas.   

(Transcribed and Translated by T. R. Surya)