Purnima Edition
Stories about the secrets behind each month’s full moon.
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1 min 32 secPreview
Video:Introduction: How the moon and mind are connected
An old chant says the moon was born from the mind, so a full moon stirs up our thoughts and feelings. Many Indian festivals fall on one, and each Purnima here comes with its stories, a song and a full moon meditation.
Locked4 min 51 secVideo:Chaitra Purnima: Secret scores and blessings
Indra was once sent down to Earth to learn a lesson, and temples celebrate Hanuman’s birthday. On the first full moon of the Indian year, a divine guest also opens a fresh page of secret scores on how kind we have been.
Locked7 min 5 secVideo:Vaishakh Purnima: Of friendship, seva and enlightenment
Buddha was born, got enlightened and attained Nirvana on this one full moon, and Lord Murugan’s birth star, Vishakha, sits right beside it. It is also the day two childhood best friends meet again after a long, long time.
Locked9 min 3 secVideo:Jyeshtha Purnima: Devotion that defied destiny
Savitri faced the Lord of Death with three clever wishes and won back her husband’s life. In the same month Ganga came down to Earth, and on Ganga Dussehra people take holy dips in the eldest, the boss of all rivers.
Locked6 min 41 secVideo:Ashadha Purnima: From darkness to light
On Guru Purnima, we bow to Vyasa, the guru of all gurus, and to every teacher we have had, even a traffic jam. In the same month, the Rath Yatra draws a sea of people so big that the British coined a new word for it.
Locked10 min 34 secVideo:Shravan Purnima: Threads of protection
Draupadi and Lakshmi each tied a Rakhi, and a thread from Yamuna made her immortal. In South India, this full moon brings a serious ceremony, where a thread is worn with three secret promises.
Locked6 min 8 secVideo:Bhadrapada Purnima: Ode to our ancestors
Ganesh Chaturthi reaches its grand finale, and the day after this full moon Mahalaya begins, when we thank our ancestors. Sita once did pind daan for King Dasharatha, and in Gujarat crowds come to a temple with no idol at all.
Locked9 min 39 secVideo:Sharad Purnima: Romantic date with the divine
The biggest, brightest moon of the year sweetens milk left outside, and Krishna danced with the gopis on this night. It’s Lakshmi’s birthday too, and one of Krishna’s besties shows up with a story too hilarious to miss.
Locked9 min 1 secVideo:Kartik Purnima: Diwali of the gods
Vishnu turned into a giant fish, Shiva destroyed three flying cities with one arrow, and Brahma fought with a very unusual weapon. On Earth, the ghats of the Ganga glow with a million diyas for Dev Diwali.
Locked8 min 18 secVideo:Margashirsha Purnima: Of melodious music and a mysterious birth
Andal, a little girl who never went to school, wrote the Tiruppavai, sung at dawn all through Margazhi. On this full moon Lord Dattatreya was born, and with Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva all involved, it was no regular baby shower.
Locked10 min 20 secVideo:Paush Purnima: Doorway to Uttarayan
The sun turns north for Uttarayan, and Tamil Nadu celebrates for a week, thanking the sun, the cows and even the dustbin. On this full moon, a goddess also cried sweet tears to help us Earthlings survive.
Locked14 min 33 secVideo:Magh Purnima: Bathed in blessings
On Magh Purnima people dip where three rivers meet, and in a Kumbh season that bath turns extra special. The month also brings Gupt Navratri, a secret Navratri with no dancing, only quiet time with the Durga within.
Locked12 min 35 secVideo:Phalgun Purnima: Holi’s colourful full moon finale
Lakshmi appeared with a twin who brings lack, and the shortest Vishnu avatar ever hides behind Holi’s origin. On the last full moon of the Indian calendar, we light a fire and splash some joy.