Bheemana Amavasye
This Vratha is also called as Jyothirbheemeshwara Vratha.
1. Who has to do this Vratha?
Newly married ladies for first nine years after their marriage. Shravana maasa pooja starts with Bheemana Amavasye.
2. When to do the vratha?
Ashada Bahula Amavasye day.
3. Why this Vratha is being observed?
Women pray for the wellbeing of their husbands and brothers on this day. On this day, married ladies and unmarried girls pray for the welfare, happiness and long life of husbands, brothers and other males in the house.
4. For which God this Vratha is dedicated?
This Vratha is dedicated to Manoniyamaka Rudradevaru and parvathideviyaru
5. What is the special of this Vratha?
Tambittu Deepa is prepared. It is believed that lighting of these deepa throws out all the bad effects from home and makes home fresh, blissful and prosperous. An idol of Shiva and parvathi is made in mud. Special pooja to Parvathi-rudradevaru is made to please them. On this day, Kadubu, idli, and Wheat balls are prepared. Coins will be kept inside the kadubu/idli/wheat balls and male children will be asked to broke the kadubu. This process is called as “Bhandara broking”. or ‘Bhandara Hodiyuvudhu’. Keep Bandara on either side of the hostilu / bottom doorsill on betel leaves, betel nut, coins. Apply turmeric powder and kumkum / vermilion powder to hostilu. The brothers are made to stand one at a time with legs on either side of the hostilu and he has to break the Bandara with his elbows and as he bends to break them the sisters should bang the brother’s back with their elbows. This is lot of fun with laughter and guffaws. The bandara is stuffed with soaked Bengal gram or with coins.
On this day no items will be usually fried.
6. Is there any story behind Bheemana Amavasye?
This is a Vratha available in Skanda Purana
Once there lived a king whose son(the Prince) dead prematurely. The King was getting his son married in a grand manner. Still he decides to get dead son married by announcing rewards for those who come forward to give their daughter to this dead son.
A poor Brahmin comes forward to marry his daughter to the dead prince. The wedding was celebrated . That was a Amavasya Day. After the marriage celebration was over, the dead prince’s body was brought near Bhageerathi River for final rites. As the people were preparing the pyre, thunder and lightening strikes along with heavy rains. The people panicked and ran back to their homes leaving the dead body and the innocent girl there itself.
The girl remembered that it was the day of Jyothirbheemeshwari vrata, which her mother made her perform without fail every year. She took bath in the river and molded two lamps and rolled out fiber of a plant to form the wick for the lamps. She poured water into the lamps and did bhandara with Mud as there was no rice/wheat .
Shiva & Parvathi were the silent spectators for all her activities and were pleased with her devotion and blessed her.
She finished her pooja with whatever is available at that place.
As she finished her pooja Rudradevaru and Parvathi Deviyaru appeared before her. Lord Shiva broke the mud balls / bandara and asked her to ask for a boon. She requested them to bring her husband back to life, which was granted. The people next day were happy and surprised to see the prince alive and they took the two back in a procession and they lived happily ever after.
Thus the Vratha became more popular after this incident.
7. Why Bheema’s name is there in this festival?
– Bheema is one of the name of Mano Niyamaka Rudradevaru who is the main god for this festival.