In the Hindu calendar, Dwadashi Tithi is the twelfth lunar day of the bright or dark fortnight of every lunar month. It is a suitable day for worshiping Lord Vishnu and the sacred Tulasi plant. It also marks the end of the three-day Ekadashi fast, which begins on the tenth lunar day. Dwadashi Tithi can last from 21.5 hours to 26 hours, depending on the movement of the Moon.

Significance of Dwadashi

Dwadashi is a day of great significance for the devotees of Lord Vishnu, also known as Govinda, Narayana, and Hari. According to Hindu scriptures, Lord Vishnu incarnated in different forms on various Dwadashis to protect the world from evil forces. Some of these incarnations are Kurma (the tortoise), Narasimha (the half-man half-lion), Vamana (the dwarf), and Kalki (the future savior). One can attain his blessings, grace, and protection by worshipping Lord Vishnu on Dwadashi.

Legends of Dwadashi

There are many legends associated with Dwadashi that illustrate the glory and power of Lord Vishnu. One of them is the story of King Bali and Vamana Avatar. King Bali was a generous and righteous ruler who wanted to conquer all three worlds. He performed a hundred yajnas (sacrifices) to please the gods and gain their favor. When he was about to complete his last yajna, Lord Vishnu appeared as a dwarf Brahmin named Vamana and asked for three steps of land as a donation. King Bali agreed but soon realized that Vamana was not an ordinary Brahmin. He expanded his size and covered the earth and the sky with his first two steps. He then asked King Bali where he should place his third step. King Bali realized his folly and offered his head as the third step. Vamana placed his foot on King Bali's head and pushed him to the netherworld. However, he also granted him a boon that he could visit his kingdom once a year on the day of Onam, which coincides with Vamana Dwadashi.

Gods to worship during Dwadashi

The main deity to worship during Dwadashi is Lord Vishnu, the preserver and protector of the universe. He is also known as the lord of Dharma (righteousness) and Satya (truth). He has many names and forms, such as Rama, Krishna, Narayana, Govinda, Hari, etc. He is usually depicted with four arms, holding a conch, a discus, a mace, and a lotus. He rides on a bird called Garuda and rests on a serpent called Shesha.

Another deity to worship during Dwadashi is Goddess Lakshmi, the consort of Lord Vishnu and the goddess of wealth, prosperity, and fortune. She is also known as Shri, Padma, Kamala, etc. She is usually depicted with four arms, holding a lotus, a pot of gold, a book, and a rosary. She sits or stands on a lotus and is surrounded by elephants.

Apart from Lord Vishnu and Goddess Lakshmi, one can also worship other deities related to them, such as Lord Narasimha (the lion-man avatar), Lord Kurma (the tortoise avatar), Lord Vamana (the dwarf avatar), Lord Kalki (the future avatar), Goddess Tulasi (the holy basil plant), etc.

Benefits of offering worship during Dwadashi

Offering worship during Dwadashi can benefit the devotees who do it with faith and devotion. Some of these benefits are:

• One can eliminate sins and karmic debts by worshipping Lord Vishnu on Dwadashi.
• One can attain peace, happiness, prosperity, and success by worshipping Goddess Lakshmi on Dwadashi.
• One can relieve diseases, enemies, fears, and troubles by worshipping Lord Narasimha on Dwadashi.
• One can get liberation from the cycle of birth and death by worshipping Lord Vamana on Dwadashi.
• One can get protection from evil forces and calamities by worshipping Lord Kalki on Dwadashi.
• One can get spiritual enlightenment and divine grace by worshipping Goddess Tulasi on Dwadashi.

Festivals falling on Dwadashi

Many festivals fall on Dwadashi throughout the year. Some of them are:

• Govinda Dwadashi: This festival falls on the twelfth day of the bright fortnight in Phalguna (February-March). It celebrates the Narasimha Avatar of Lord Vishnu, who killed the demon Hiranyakashipu and saved his devotee Prahlada. On this day, devotees worship Lord Narasimha with flowers, fruits, sweets, and lamps. They also chant his name and mantras and listen to his stories.
• Govatsa Dwadashi: This festival falls on the twelfth day of the dark fortnight in the month of Ashwin (September-October). It is the first day of the five-day Diwali festival. On this day, devotees worship cows as symbols of motherhood, nourishment, and prosperity. They also feed them with grass, grains, and sweets. They also worship Lord Vishnu and Goddess Lakshmi for their blessings.
• Kurma Dwadashi: This festival falls on the twelfth day of the bright fortnight in the month of Vaishakha (April-May). It commemorates the Kurma Avatar of Lord Vishnu, who took the form of a tortoise to support the Mandara Mountain during the churning of the ocean. On this day, devotees worship Lord Vishnu as Kurma with sandalwood paste, flowers, fruits, and lamps. They also chant his name and mantras and listen to his stories.
• Vamana Dwadashi: This festival falls on the twelfth day of the bright fortnight in the month of Bhadrapada (August-September). It coincides with the festival of Onam, which is celebrated in Kerala. It honors the Vamana Avatar of Lord Vishnu, who took the form of a dwarf to subdue King Bali and restore the balance of the three worlds. Devotees worship Lord Vishnu as Vamana with rice, coconut, banana, and lamps on this day. They also chant his name and mantras and listen to his stories.

Do’s and don’ts on Dwadashi

Dwadashi is a sacred day for worshipping Lord Vishnu and his various forms. Therefore, one should follow some do’s and don’ts on this day to please him and get his blessings. Some of them are:

Do’s

• Wake up early in the morning and bathe before starting the puja.
• Wear clean and fresh clothes, preferably white or yellow.
• Offer water to the Sun God and chant the Gayatri mantra.
• Offer Tulasi leaves to Lord Vishnu and chant his name and mantras.
• Offer fruits, nuts, milk, curd, ghee, honey, sugar, and Panchamrit to Lord Vishnu and Goddess Lakshmi.
• Light a lamp with ghee, oil, and incense sticks before their idols or pictures.
• Sing or listen to bhajans, aartis, stotras, or kirtans dedicated to them.
• Read or listen to stories or scriptures related to them, such as Shrimad Bhagavatam, Vishnu Purana, etc.
• Break your fast after performing the puja and offering food to a Brahmin or a cow.
• Donate food, clothes, money, or other items to the needy or a temple.

Don’ts

• Do not eat or drink before performing the puja or breaking the fast.
• Do not consume onion, garlic, meat, rice, wheat, lentils, or legumes today.
• Do not indulge in sinful or immoral activities such as lying, cheating, stealing, hurting others, etc.
• Do not wear black or red clothes or any leather items today.
• Do not cut your hair or nails on this day.
• Do not sleep during the day or stay awake at night on this day.

Astrological significance of Dwadashi

Dwadashi is a lunar day that is ruled by Mercury (Budha), which is also known as Saumya (gentle) Graha (planet). Mercury represents intelligence, communication, logic, education, commerce, trade, etc. Therefore, Dwadashi is a good day for learning new things, expressing oneself clearly, making business deals, traveling short distances, etc. However, Mercury is also prone to changeability and instability. Therefore, one should be careful about being too restless or fickle-minded on this day. Dwadashi is also associated with Bhadra (auspicious) Karana (half-lunar day), which is ruled by Yama (the god of death). Yama represents discipline, justice, lawfulness, detachment, etc. Therefore, Dwadashi is a good day for following fair and honest rules and regulations in dealings with others. However, Yama is also associated with fearfulness and severity. Therefore, one should be careful about being too harsh or rigid today.

Contact Sulekha

If you want to know more about Dwadashi Tithi and its astrological significance for your life, you can contact Sulekha Astrology Services for expert astrologers.