Dwadashi

Dwadashi (Sanskrit: द्वादशी, romanizedDvādaśī),[1] also rendered Dvadashi, is the twelfth lunar day (tithi)[2] of the shukla (bright) or krishna (dark) fortnight, or Paksha, of every lunar month in the Hindu calendar.[3]

Dwadashi is regarded to be suitable for the veneration of the sacred tulasi tree and the worship of Vishnu. It marks the end of the three-day ekadashi fast, starting on dashami.

Occasions

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  • The Kurma Dwadashi is dedicated to the worship of Kurma, the second avatar of Vishnu.
  • The Govinda Dwadashi or Narasimha Dwadashi, which falls in the month of Phalguna, celebrates the Narasimha Avatar of Vishnu, before Holi.
  • The Rama Lakshmana Dwadashi is important for begetting a son.
  • The Vamana Dwadashi, also called Onam, venerates Vamana, the fifth incarnation of Vishnu, and the visit of Mahabali.[4]
  • The Govatsa Dwadashi is the first day of celebrations on Diwali, on which cows are worshiped as symbolic to mothers; nourishing mankind, and being the chief means of livelihood and religious sanctity in rural India.[5]
  • The Dwadashi marks the Sripada Vallabha Aradhana Utsav of Sripada Sri Vallabha, at Pithapuram Datta Mahasamsthan in the state of Andhra Pradesh.[6]
  • The saint-poet Annamacharya died on Phalguna Bahula (Krishna) Dvadashi (12th day after full moon) in the year Dhundhubhi, on 4 April 1503 after living for 95 years.
  • The Shukla Paksha Dvadashi is the prophesied date for the birth of the Kalki avatar of Vishnu.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Zelliot, Eleanor; Berntsen, Maxine (1988). The Experience of Hinduism : essays on religion in Maharashtra. Internet Archive. Albany, N.Y. : State University of New York Press. p. 325. ISBN 978-0-88706-662-7.
  2. ^ Motilal Banarsidass, Delhi. Puranic Encyclopaedia By Vettam Mani Motilal Banarsidass, Delhi. p. 8.
  3. ^ Verma, Manish (2013). Fasts and Festivals of India. Diamond Pocket Books (P) Ltd. p. 10. ISBN 978-81-7182-076-4.
  4. ^ Rinehart, Robin (2004). Contemporary Hinduism: Ritual, Culture, and Practice. ABC-CLIO. p. 146. ISBN 978-1-57607-905-8.
  5. ^ 2020 Govatsa Dwadashi
  6. ^ Goseva at Sripada Srivallabha Mahasamsthanam Archived 2022-10-30 at the Wayback Machine[1][2][3] Archived 2021-08-13 at the Wayback Machine