About Purnima Vrat:
Purnima Vrat falls on the full moon day which is one of the most important days in the Hindu calendar. A major festival is celebrated on Purnima day of every month. Fasting on the Purnima day is considered very auspicious as it bestows incomparable merits and benefits on the devotees. Purnima vrats are dedicated to Lord Vishnu and the Mother Goddess.
Significance of Purnima Vrat:
Purnima day has its own significance. The importance of Purnima vrat lies in the fact that several popular Hindu festivals fall on this day. Many Hindu devotees observe a full day fast on Purnima day and offer prayers to Lord Vishnu. The ceremonies associated with Purnima Puja are mainly important for birth, rebirth, creation and manifestation. On Purnima day, the moon completes its one cycle around the earth.
The full moon day of a month is an opportune time for purging many important rituals regarding spiritual advancement, as the light of the full moon illuminates the things that are hindering. The rituals are actually meant for discharging emotional and physical pains and releasing out the miseries and pains.
Rituals/ Celebrations:
Purnima fast begins at sunrise on the Purnima day and ends during the full moon rise in the evening. The conditions for Purnima vrat include abstaining from consuming rice, cereal based dishes, and salt. Several people observe strict fasting without food and water. If following strict fast is not possible then, devotees can observe the vrat by eating fruits and drinking milk. Scientifically, on the full moon and no moon days, the acid content in the stomach is reduced. Thereby it slows down the digestion process. Hence, fasting on these days can help our system stay healthy and cleanse the digestive tracks and colon. Purnima vrat fasting has numerous benefits including the slowing of metabolic rates, improving physical and mental balance as well as strength, control of emotions and anger.
Performing of Satya Narayan Vrat on Purnima day is considered highly auspicious. Satya Narayan Vrat is a sort of thanksgiving ceremony to Lord Vishnu for all the blessings received. On the day of the vrat, people clean the house, decorate the entrance doorstep with mango leaves and install an altar. In the altar, an idol or picture of Satya Narayan is installed and decorated with Vermilion, sandal paste, and Kumkum. Garlands are offered along with Tulsi. Two small sized plantain trees are tied at both the sides of the altar. The puja consists of invoking the blessings of Lord Ganesh and proceeding with the chanting of Vishnu Sahasranam. The offerings consist of fruits, dry fruits and nuts, variety rice dishes, betel leaves and nuts, and milk porridge decked with saffron. During the puja, the stories of Lord Vishnu are narrated. At the end of the puja, devotees perform Mangal Arati by waving camphor or Ghee lamp in front of the altar. Satya Narayan Vrat gives the greatest benefits on the Purnima day. The Purnima vrat is a highly beneficial one and Satya Narayan Vrat on this day gives an occasion for people to share the blessings received with others and thereby maximising the results for oneself.