Kaw Punim .

 

Kaw Punim .

Kaw Potul is ready. Dishes are all set to be served to the Crow . Another unique culture of Kashmiri Pandits who worship the Nature in every form.

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Text Courtesy Ashutosh Hanjura : Today is Magh Purnima a very sacred day for all Sanatanis. In Kashmiri Pandit tradition this day is celebrated as " Kaw Punim" which translates to "Purnmashi dedicated to Crow".. Crow as per Hindu tradition is taken as representative of our Ancestors or transporter of food given away in their name of our Ancestors to them in their abode in the Pitruloka.

Crow is also considered as the vehicle (vahan) of Shani (Saturn) and it also represents the Yama and Dharmaraja. When this festival was being celebrated in Kashmir it used to be the harsh winter during this time and crow was taken as harbinger of Hope symbolising our tradition of remembering our Ancestors and giving thanks to them. Kaw Punim is followed by "Hurie Okdoh" the first day of start of cleaning of our houses towards making preparations for Herath ( Mahashivratri) a very great and important festival for KashmirI Pandits which falls on Phalgun Krishna Paksha Dwadashi...

On the day of Kaw Punim cooked rice or yellow rice ( Taher in Kashmiri) or Khichdi is prepared and a portion of it is placed on a large ladle made by putting two unequal stick lengths in the shape of a cross, tying those in centre and weaving a grass mat at its anterior end, giving it a spoon shape the posterior end serving as it's handle. This is called " Kaw Potul" in Kashmiri and it used to be kept on the porch if house. While putting tte cooked rice forfeeding crows on it following would be recited:-

"Kaw Batt Kawo,

Khechrey Kawo.

Gang Bal Shrana karith..

Gurute meche Tyoka karith...

Saney Nawe larey Kanna Darey beh...

Dal Batta kheney..."

(Oh Crow the True Batta, the lover of Khichdi, you have taken your holy dip at the sacred Gangbal and adorned yourself with Red clay Teeka. Now come and roost on the porch of our New House and partake of this Cooked rice and Lentil)....

Neelmat Purana signifies this day as the day dedicated for performing the Til Shradha of our ancestors. It says:

"Purnamasya tu Maghsya Shradhaam..

Kritva Tilar Narvah...

Kakanam Bhojam Dadayat...

Prabhootam Bali Sanyatam..."

( On Magh Purnima one should perform Shradha of his Ancestors with Sesame and thereafter give enough food as pious offerings to crows)...

In other parts of India also Magh Purnamasi is celebrated as a very sacred day. There is a tradition of taking a holy dip called Magh Snana at the pre -determined Mahurat on this Day. As per Braham Vairavat Purana, on this day Lord Vishnu takes his abode in the waters of Holy Ganga and even a mere touch of the Holy Gangajal on this day ensures Vaikuntha prapti to a person. Taking a bath in some Holy river on this day at morning time at proper Mahurat after making a Dhyana of Holy Ganga Maya ends all Sins and Grief of a person and cleanses his Mind and Soul. The Holy dip is followed by Satyanarayan Puja. There is lot of significance to giving charity to poor and needy on this day in the form of Dhan ( money), Ann ( Food) and Vastar ( Clothes). While doing Dhana- Punya on this day the person should do a mental jaap of Sarav Sidh and Shaktishali Mantra" Om Namo Bhagwate Vasudevaye"..

There is also tradition of doing Satyanarayan Puja called Satydeev on this day amongst Kashmiri Pandit Community..

Wishing all my friends a very Happy and blissful Kaw Punin/ Magh Purnima. May our Ancestors be always blessing us and May Lord Vishnu always Preserve and Protect us and our Prognies..

ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदे 

Kaw Punim: The full moon of the lunar month Magha is also known as Purnima of the crow. Two sticks are tied in the shape of a cross and on the open ends of the cross grass is woven to make a long handled flat spoon. Again after some pooja, yellow rice is served on this spoon to be offered to the crow. The children sing a melodious song while making the offering to the crow. The song loosely translated reads thus:

O clever crow;
O, the lover of khichri, crow;
Come to our new house along with your spouse;
Be seated on the threshold of our roof –
And partake of the salty pudding.

This festival is indicative of the love that the Kashmiris have had for the birds and the care they took of them. It may be worth mentioning that every Kashmiri household will scatter some cooked rice on a wooden shelf kept outside the house everyday before serving food to any member of the house. This shelf kept near the top right hand corner of the window is called Kaw paet - a shelf for the crow. Likewise every person keeps apart a little rice from his or her plate to be fed to the dogs. This is called Hoonya myet - the roll of rice for the dog. This shows the compassionate nature of the Kashmiris for the animal world. No doubt the Gita defines a Pandit as one who treats equally a well read Brahmin, a cow, an elephant, a dog and a downcast chandala who devours dog-flesh.

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