Panguni Uthiram

Panguni Uthiram is an important day for Tamil Hindus. It is observed in Panguni month when Nakshatra Uthiram or Uttara Phalguni prevails. Panguni is the twelfth and last month in Tamil Calendar. Panguni month is known as Meena month in other solar calendars.

On this day Nakshatram Uthiram coincides with a full moon and it is believed that most divine marriages took place on this day. The marriage of Goddess Parvati and Lord Shiva, Goddess Deivayanai and Lord Murugan, Goddess Sita, and LordRama was conducted on Panguni Uthiram day.

As Sri Deivayanai married Lord Subramanya on this day, it is an important festival for Lord Subramanya devotees. On this day, devotees flock in hundreds to all Murugan temples. It is believed that Goddess Parvati in the form of Gowri married Lord Shiva in Kanchipuram and because of this belief this day is also celebrated as Gowri Kalyanam day.

This day is also known as Mahalakshmi Jayanti as on this day Goddess Mahalakshmi incarnated on the Earth during legendry churning of the Milky Ocean. The churning of the Milky Ocean is also known as Ksheera Sagara Manthan. This day is also celebrated as Lord Ayyappan Jayanti. Lord Ayyappan was born due to the union of Lord Shiva and Mohini, the female form of Lord Vishnu.

On Panguni Uthiram, Narayana marries Komalavalli Naachiyar and give his Kalyana Kola Seva to his Bhakthas. From Brahmanda Puranam we learn that on Panguni Uthiram every holy water joins Thumburu teertha, one of seven sacred tanks in Tirupati Tirumala.

The day is intended to underline the glory of grihastha dharma. The Almighty manifests in the marital state as Uma Maheswara, Sita Rama, and Radha Krishna – despite his changelessness, sans childhood or youth or old age. The Lord is indeed a Nitya Kalyana Murthi. It is our duty to celebrate this day when the Lord, in both Shiva and Vishnu temples, appears to devotees in his married state. On Panguni Uthiram, in all places where Lord Subrahmanya has a temple, his devotees carry in a Kavadi the requisites for puja for him, in fulfillment of vows. Such vow fulfillment by devotees carrying Kavadis is a special feature of Subrahmanya temples wherever they happen to be.

Devotees flock in hundreds to all Murugan temples during the Panguni Uthiram festival, which is celebrated in March every year.