Bhola Banstola Full Moon Blessing
“Our ancestors have said that the full moon is the most auspicious time to pray for the betterment of oneself, family, community, nation and the ancestral lineage. It is as per the Divine design that natural phenomena follow their course and when human beings align their activities with this Divine pattern, they reap greater benefits. Thus the full moon is a high point in nature’s process – marking a completion of the lunar cycle of waxing and setting the stage for the next cycle of waning. For human beings also it thus becomes an opportune time to either start new initiatives or to bring to culmination ongoing projects or to let go of some initiatives which may not have any meanings.
As the moon casts an ethereal glow on earth on this night, it reflects to its fullest measure the sun’s radiance, which is the nurturing force for life on earth. On the full moon, this nourishing illumination is available to earth in an enhanced way through the 24 hours cycle. Our ancestors said that life originates from the coming together of the luminous lunar light molecules and the vaporous dust on the earth blending with the powerful cosmic rays from the sun. Traditionally, farmers used to sow certain crops during the full moon as the sap rises in plants faster during the full moon days. Scientifically also, it is known that the moon’s increased gravitational pull on the full moon causes high tides and a rise in water levels on earth. This increased energy is felt by the human mind also, though at the subconscious level. Thus praying throughout the 24 hours of this day is helpful in changing one’s propensity for action which we call ‘karmagathi’. Those with intuitive or mystical experiences know that this is the time when light forces in the astral planes are active while the heavy and dense ones are subdued or flushed out. Thus, this is an ideal time to pray for the strengthening of healthy energies. Astrologically, moon (chandrama) is the plane of ancestral souls and the full moon is an apt time to pray for their deliverance. In fact, it is the full moon and not the new moon which is the right time to pray for ancestral manes. As it is suffused with bright and light energy, the full moon is an auspicious time to pray and try for bringing new births on earth (procreation who are still on time). We can see that several great spiritual preceptors have taken birth, crossed certain spiritual stages or left their physical body on the full moon.
Since time immemorial the practice of ‘pancha shuddhi’ (cleanliness of mind, body, outer body covering clothes, surroundings and words) to enhance one’s capacity to fulfil the ‘pancha dharma’ ( daanadharma/the practice of giving awaygive, devadharma/divine honoring, pithrudharma/honoring the ancestors, grihadharma/taking care of family and athmadharma/to honor soul’s call).
Offerings of prayers, meditation, candle lights, flowers, water or any kind of offerings are generally made. Sacred songs, music, dances and fire ceremonies are also performed.”
Bhola Banstola
