Anant Chaturdashi is an important Hindu festival dedicated to Lord Vishnu.
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Welcome to the world of resolute readings at www.onindianpath.com. Let’s read about Anant Cahturdashi, date, meaning and it’s relevance in Hindu culture.
Introduction
Anant Chaturdashi is popularly known as Anant Chaudas too. This festival is dedicated to hindu god shri Vishnu. Anant refers to infinite form of energy. Here, Lord Vishnu being the preserver and lord of universe for infinite time is worshipped with great devotion and faith.
Significance of Anant Chaturdashi
Anant Chaturdashi holds profound significance in Hindu culture. Moreover, word Anant means “infinite” or “endless”. On this day, devotees pray to Lord Vishnu for his blessings to liberate them from suffering and pains. And, bless them with happiness and prosperity.
Furthermore, Agni Purana states that on this occasion, people worship Vishnu in his form as Ananta (the divine serpent) to be freed from their sins. As per Jainism, Anant Chaturdashi is an important day to break their 10 days long fast. It is called Paryushan parv.
Many devotees worship Lord Vishnu who is known as the Lord of many incarnations and the preserver of the universe. Lord Anant is also one of the incarnations of Lord Vishnu.
Apparently, it commemorates the common brotherhood and is celebrated with a sense of purity.
Infact, this day is also famous for the ritual of Ganesh Visarjan. On Ganesh Chaturthi, an idol of Lord Ganesha is brought from market to homes and visarjan is done on Anant Chaturdashi.
What is Anant Vrat?
Devotees worship Lord Vishnu on this fortunate day to obtain prosperity and happiness in abundance. They observe fast on this day called Anant vrat for the welfare of family and kids.
At many locations, people observe this harmonious fast for 14 years.
What is Anant Sutra?
Anant Sutra is the main ritual of tying of the sacred thread. This is actually a cotton band of fourteen threads or it could be a band consists of fourteen knots. Devotees tie a sacred thread of cotton or silk on the wrist.
Anant Sutra has 14 knots. It is considered to be a symbol of the 14 forms of Lord Vishnu (Ananta, Rishikesh, Padmanabha, Madhava, Vaikuntha, Sridhar, Trivikram, Madhusudan, Vamana, Keshav, Narayana, Damodar and Govind).
Moreover, these 14 knots define 14 lokas. You can read my blog on loka to know more about them.
Indeed, it is said that after the creation of 14 worlds, Lord Vishnu appeared in 14 forms for their protection and maintenance and appeared to be Anant (infinite). Therefore, Anant is considered to be the symbol of 14 worlds and 14 forms of Lord Vishnu. Not only this, this Anant sutra also protects the wearer. Therefore, it is called Raksha Kavach.
Although, in our bania community, it is called Anant Sutra for men and Anti Sutra for women.
Generally women tie the Anant Daram/sutra on their left arm and men on their right arm as armlet.
Why do Hindus wear Anant Sutra?
Tying the Anant Sutra on the arm after the puja frees a person from fear and cleanses their sins. It is said that those who observe the Anant Chaturdashi fast for 14 years, perform the puja, and tie the fourteen-knotted Anant Sutra, will be blessed with entry to Vaikuntha by Lord Vishnu’s grace.
How to tie Anant Sutra?
Devotees must follow given steps to have the blessings of Anant Sutra with the grace of Shri Vishnu :
- One must wake up early in the morning in Braham Muhurat. Have your bathing rituals on time.
- Always wear clean clothes on this occasion.
- Thenafter, install the Kalash at the place of worship. After this, devotee should tie a 14-knot Anant Sutra (a cotton or silk thread also called mauli).
- Now, apply kumkum, saffron and turmeric on the thread.
- Infact, after this, devotee must keep this sacred thread in front of the image or idol of Lord Vishnu.
- Always chant this mantra :
- अनंत संसार महासुमद्रे मग्रं समभ्युद्धर वासुदेव।अनंतरूपे विनियोजयस्व ह्रानंतसूत्राय नमो नमस्ते ||(Anant Samsara Mahasumadre Magram Sambhyaudhar Vasudev| Anantrupe Viniyojayasva Hnanantsutraya Namo Namaste||)
- Lastly, Anant Sutra should be tied to the hand/arm of the devotees after worshipping Lord Vishnu.
- At many geographical locations, devotees remove this sacred thread after 14 days.
- However, in my family, it is removed at night while sleeping and immersed in a river the next day.
Date and tithi of Anant Chaturdashi 2024
Although, Anant Chaturdashi falls on 14th day of Shukla Paksha of Bhadrpada mas of Hindu Panchang. In 2024, it will be celebrated on 17 September. Eventually, the tithi will start at 3:10 PM on September 16, will end up at 11:44 PM on September 17.
How to do Ganesh Visarjan?
Particularly on Ganesh Chauth, devotees bring idol of Lord Ganesha to home and pandals. They perform aarti in morning and evening and offer bhog to deity for 10 days. This whole event is celebrated extravagantly with great flee, also called Ganesh Utsav in many parts of the country.
Meanwhile, on Anant Chaturdashi, Lord Ganesha is worshiped with high emotions. As the idol becomes part of the house for 10 days, people feel a strong connection to it. People perform aarti and ask for forgiveness. Offer dhurva, jaggery, sugarcane, modak, banana, coconut, paan and betel nut to Lord Ganesha for the last time. Thenafter, they do recite Ganesh Atharvashirsha and pray for peace and prosperity before visarjan.
Certainly, many devotees make the idol wear new clothes and also tie panchmeva, betel nut and some money with it before going for visarjan.
At the end, devotees pray to the idol of Ganpati ji to bless the house with prosperity and longevity after his departure. They then proceed with the visarjan (immersion) ceremony, accompanied by a musical band, colorful displays, and joyful singing and dancing to the bhajans of Ekdant.
Anant Chaturdashi Vrat Katha
According to the legend, there was a brahmin named Sumant. He had a daughter named Sushila. Indeed, Sushila was married to sage Kaudinya and on the way home after the ceremony, they halted near a river at nightfall. In deed, they saw many women worshipping a god there and asked who it was they were worshipping.
Thenafter, women told her about the Anant fast and worshiping rituals of Lord Anant. Meanwhile, Sushila decided to observe this fast and returned to sage Kaudinya after tying the thread of fourteen knots on her arm. When her husband asked her about the thread she told him the story, Kaudinya ripped the thread from her arm and threw it in fire.
Having dishonoured Lord Anant, sage Kaundiya went through endless miseries and soon became a pauper. One day, when Sushila reminded him of the Anant thread, he regretted his rash behaviour and went in search of that thread in the forest. Kaundiya searched in vain and was about to take his own life, when the Lord Anant appeared before him. The Lord advised him to observe the fourteen-year vow to regain his wealth. Kaundilya promised to observe the fast with sincerity for fourteen consecutive Anant Chaturdashis, giving birth to the belief.
Conclusion
Thus, we understand how and why Hindus celebrate this festival on such a grand scale. Worshipping Lord Anant and participating in Ganesha Visarjan teach us to be kind and humble in every situation without being judgmental. This festival encourages us to remain calm and follow righteousness in a world filled with sorrows, pains, and attachments. Just as Shri Vishnu rests on the coils of Sheshnaag unaffected by the Sheersagar, and Lord Ganesha departs from the world of attachments with a happy and content nature, we should strive to embody these virtues.
I hope my message leaves a beautiful impression. Have a blessed time ahead.
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