Ayudha Pooja 2022 Date, Shastra Puja 2022 Date
Ayudha Puja comes up during Maha Navratri and it is popular in South India only mainly in the states of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Kerala. Ayudha Puja is done on Navami Tithi during Navratri festival. Many times Ayudha Puja comes up on Maha Navami during Navratri. Ayudha Pooja is also commonly known as Shastra Puja and Astra Puja.
In the earlier days, weapons were worshipped on the day of Ayudha Puja as they were the means of defeating enemies but now all sort of instruments are worshipped on the Ayudha Puja day. Similar to Vishwakarma Puja which is observed in other parts of India, Ayudha Puja in South India is a day when craftsmen worship their tools and instruments. In a way that we express gratitude and honor instruments that add meaning to our life like pins, knives, scissors, computers, machinery, cars, and buses.
Now evolving again in its present form, Ayudha Puja has also become Vahana Puja when people clean and worship their vehicles including cars, scooters, and motor bikes. During Vahana Puja all vehicles are worshipped which are in use, and are decorated with vermilion, garlands, mango leaves and banana sapling. Also, a white pumpkin is decorated with vermilion and turmeric and smashed in front of the vehicle as a custom to get rid of all sorts of evils during Vahana Puja.
As per Sadhguru, "Whatever tool it may be, if you want to use your plough, first bow down to it and then use it. If you want to use a book, first bow down to it and then use it. Ayudha Pooja means, every implement that you use, whether it is in industry, agriculture or anything else, you approach it respectfully. Unless you approach something with a certain sense of reverence and a deep sense of involvement, it will not yield. The same musical instruments become different things in different people’s hands. In one person’s hands it becomes noise, in another person’s hands it becomes absolutely enthralling music because of the way you approach it."
The festival is celebrated as Ayudha Pooja in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, as Ayudha Pujai in Tamil Nadu, and as Ayudha Puja in Kerala. It is known as Maha navami in the North East. It is celebrated as Astra Puja in Odisha.
Most calendars mark Saraswati Puja along with Ayudha Pooja in South India. People also worship Maa Lakshmi, who is the Goddess of wealth; and Mata Parvati, who is also known as the divine mother. However as per most Dharma Shastras Saraswati Puja during Navratri is suggested during Purva Ashadha Nakshatra.
Ayudha Puja Muhurat 2022
Ayudha Puja 2022 Date - Tuesday, October 4, 2022
Ayudha Puja Vijaya Muhurat - 02:08 PM to 02:56 PM (Bengaluru time)
Duration - 00 Hours 48 Mins
Mysore Dasara 2022 Date - Wednesday, October 5, 2022
Navami Tithi Begins - 04:37 PM on Oct 3, 2022
Navami Tithi Ends - 02:20 PM on Oct 4, 2022
