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Khetch-i-.Mawas

A philosophic interpretation of Khetch-i-.Mawas ( Yaksha -Amavasya) : by Dr. Chaman Lal Raina

When we turn the pages of the Nilamata Purana, we come across a very beautiful _expression of Vitasta. Vitasta in perception is the river, but the same Vitasta is the Mother Goddess Parvati incarnated as a great water resource to Satisar—the Valley of Kashmir. The word SATI is the grand _expression of the Purna –Prakriti, as described in the Sankhya philosophy and the Kashmir Trika Darshan known popularly as “Kashmir Shaivism. The philosophic ethos of the Kashmiri Pandit heritage is linked with the Vedic Mandalas and the Agamic Yantras, firmly based on the hard bed rock of the Shaivistic and Shakta Tantras. So our journey to the spiritual consciousness goes through rituals which carry the Vedic Mandalas and the Agamic Yantras, Let us see, how it works:

Ancient Kashmir has viewed nature as a spiritual boon to humanity. This has subscribed to many festivals, many fairs and many rituals. Here I shall try to explain to my future generation the symbolic meaning covering the philosophic interpretation of the KHETCHI –MAAVAS in Kashmir.

Why Khichri?

Khichri is prepared with rice and Moong, known as ' phaseolus mungo' in English. The Sanskrit word for rice is AKSHAT. Rice is, therefore, the boon from the Divine, for our sustenance—the life force. Whatever we eat for our life –force need to be offered as the Naivedya to the Divine. There is reference to Mudga/Moong/ Mo’ng in Kashmiri in the Yajurveda. When we pray Shiva as Pashu Pati , we ask Him to give us plenty of Moong as well. Moong is with the greenish color, which is the manifestation of Shakambari, as revealed by Mahamaya Herself in the Uttar Charitra(Third episode) of the Durga Sapta Shati. Akshat is Brahman –Absolute Truth of the Upanishads and Moong is manifested Prakriti. Khichri is the synthesis of the Brahman of the Upanishads with the Prakriti of the Kashmir Trika Philosophy, read with the Unadi Vritti –commentary on the Darshan Sutras. This is known as the Shiva-Shakti Tattve or Shiva Shakti Eka Roopini in the Shakta Philosophy of Kashmir.

Why Mawas?/Amavasya

Amavasya is the combination of Ama+ Vasya. According to the rules of Sanskrit Grammar. Ama in the Vedic literature means to have or take with one’s self. Vasya means to love, to rest upon, to lodge,to receive hospitably as a guest. The day is dedicated to Kuvera one of the forms of Lord Shiva, the Guardian deity of the celestial treasure. Therefore our ancestors thought it mandatory to receive the Celestial treasurer with Khichri., as it suits to the freezing cold of Kashmir. This is the philosophic approach to celebrate the Khetchi Mawas with ritual. Rituals or REETH in Kashmiri are developed , with the concentration on the spiritual significance on the sacred hour or as the Jyotish/ astronomical studies say would as the Divine Hour of Godhead.

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