Chaturdashi

Chaturdashi

चतुर्दशी, caturdaśī

The fourteenth day (tithi) of lunar calendar. Chaturdashi precedes the new moon (amavasya) and the full moon (purnima), i.e., it occurs twice a month – in its light (shukla) and dark (krishna) half (paksha).

According to "Brihat-samhita", written by Jyotishi Varahamihira, the lord of the fourteenth tithi is Goddess Kali. Chaturdashi is also considered the day of Ganapati and Shiva. During the dark half of a month, the day is unfavorable for worldly activities, but it is also suitable for studying scriptures and meditation.

Various Indian holidays occur on the fourteenth day of lunar calendar. Among them are:

• Mahashivratri, the Great Night of Shiva, main holiday dedicated to Ishvara (the chaturdashi of the dark half of the month Magha). Masik-Shivratri falls on the other 14th tithi of krishna-paksha of lunar months.

• Naraka-chaturdashi is the second day of the Divali five-day festival, on which, according to legend, Krishna defeated the demon Narakasura (the chaturdashi of the dark fortnight of the month Ashvina).

• Tara-puja is a day especially favorable for the veneration of Tara, one of the Mahavidyas (the chaturdashi of the light half of the month Ashvina).

• Narasimha Jayanti is the day when Vishnu appeared in the form of a lion-man to kill the asura Hiranyakashipu and save his devotee Prahlada (the chaturdashi of the light fortnight of the month Vaishakha).

• Holika Dahan is the first day of the Holi festival (the chaturdashi of the dark fortnight of the month Phalguna).