Thursday, January 30, 2014

Mauni Amavasya

Mauni Amavas, or Mauna Amavasya, is the no moon day in the Magha month (January – February) as per the traditional Hindu calendar followed in North India. In 2014, the date of Mauni Amavasi is on January 30. It is also an important bathing date at during the annual Magh Mela and Magha Snan and Kumbh Mela. The word ‘mauna’ or ‘mauni’ means silence and several Hindus keep complete silence on the day.
According to Hinduism, ‘Mauna’ (silence) is an essential part of spiritual discipline. Derived from the word muni, a Sanyasi or saint who practices silence, mauna ideally symbolizes a state of oneness with the Self. Mauna has also been described by Adi Shankaracharya as one of the three essential attributes of a Sanyasi.
In modern day, it was Ramana Maharshi who popularized silence as a medium of spiritual instruction. For him silence was a state beyond speech and thought – it is living without the ego sense.
On Mauni Amavasi day, large number of Hindu devotees join Kalpavasis at Sangam in Prayag (Allahabad) and meditate the whole day. 
Mauni Amavasi is a day of spiritual sadhana – a day to make an attempt to getting into the habit of calming the restless mind.

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