In the Hindu calendar, the period of Holashtak holds great significance. Commencing from the Ashtami date of Shukla Paksha in the month of Phalgun, Holashtak, spanning eight days leading up to the festival of Holi, is a time of caution and reflection as per religious beliefs.
Derived from the combination of ‘Holi’ and ‘Ashtak,’ Holashtak signifies a period of astrological significance where all major planets are believed to exert fierce energies, rendering it inauspicious for conducting any auspicious activities. Dr Mrityunjay Tiwari, Head of the Astrology Department at Shri Kallaji Vedic University, provides insights into the significance and duration of Holashtak for the year 2024.
This year, Falgun Shukla Ashtami Tithi begins at 09:39 PM on March 16 and concludes at 09:53 AM on March 17. Hence, based on Udayatithi, Phalgun Shukla Ashtami Tithi falls on March 17, marking the commencement of Holashtak. Holashtak ends with Holika Dahan on Phalgun Purnima, scheduled for March 24 2024. Consequently, the eight-day period of Holashtak concludes on March 24, followed by the celebration of the Holi festival on March 25.
Activities avoided during Holashtak
– No auspicious work or new ventures are initiated.
– Major rituals such as marriages, naming ceremonies, house warming and head-shaving ceremonies are postponed.
– Observers maintain good conduct, practice restraint, and celibacy.
– However, Holashtak also presents opportunities for spiritual practices and penance:
– Devotees engage in penance and follow strict spiritual disciplines.
– Collecting small pieces of wood daily for Holika Dahan is customary.
– Donations of food, clothing, money, and other items are encouraged, resulting in virtuous outcomes.
– The period is conducive for chanting, tantra, mantra sadhana, and spiritual pursuits, considered ideal for Tantra Sadhana and Siddhi.
Legend has it that during Holashtak, devotee Prahlad faced trials from his father Hiranyakashyap in his steadfast devotion to Lord Vishnu. Ultimately, Lord Vishnu’s incarnation as Narasimha vanquished Hiranyakashyap, illustrating the triumph of devotion over adversity.
Rituals
With the start of Holashtak, people start decorating the branch of a tree using colorful pieces of clothes. Each individual ties a piece of cloth on the branch and it is then finally buried in the ground. Few communities even burn these pieces of clothes during Holika Dahan.
Also on the beginning day of Holashtak, Falgun Shukla Paksha Ashtami, and a place is chosen for Holika Dahan. On each day small sticks are gathered and collected at the place of Holika Dahan.
The festival of Holi finally comes to end on the day of ‘Dhuleti’.
The day of Holashtak is ideal for doing ‘Daan’ or offering donations. During this time one must generously donate clothes, grains, money and other essential commodities as per their financial status.
Significance
Holashtak is a word made from two different words, ‘Holi’ and ‘Ashtak’ (8th day) implying the eight days of Holi. In the Hindu community, the period of Holashtak is considered to be unfavourable.
Therefore auspicious ceremonies like marriages, child naming sanskar, housewarming and any other 16 Hindu Sanskars or rituals are avoided during this period. In some communities people even do not prefer starting a new business venture during the Holashtak period.
There are certain reasons why the period of Holashtak is considered inauspicious. Three of them are as follows:
For one, it is believed that the planets of religious significance like the Sun, Moon, Mercury, Jupiter, Mars, Saturn, Rahu and Venus undergo transformations and it is unfavourable to auspicious activities because of uncertainty of the results.
As per a legend claimed by the Vishnu Puran and the Bhagvata Puran, the king of demons, Hiranyakashipu warned his son Prahlada against worshiping Lord Vishnu. Despite the warning, Prahlada continued to worship the Lord with full devotion and steadfast loyalty. This angered Hiranyakashipu so much that he began torturing Prahlada to the extent that he even tried to kill his son. He abused Prahlada for eight days, from Ashtami to Purnima of the Hindu Phalgun month. Hiranyakashipu later entrusted his sister, Holika to kill Prahlada. Holika was born with a blessing that she would never get harmed by fire. She grabbed Prahlada on her lap and sat on fire with the intention of killing him. However, Prahlada was protected by Lord Vishnu for his undying faith and devotion. He came out completely unharmed while Holika died in the fire. The eight days before the Holika Dahan incident that marked the torture of Prahlada is called the Holashtak, and is considered inauspicious and unfavorable in the Hindu religion. In another legend according to the Shiv Puran, Lord Shiva chose to enter a meditational trance soon after Sati embraced death by fire. She was later reborn as Goddess Parvati who wished to marry Lord Shiva, but he resorted to meditation and ignored her feelings. The heavenly Lord of love and carnal desires, Lord Kama Deva was summoned to arouse passion in Lord Shiva so that he would agree to marry Goddess Parvati. Lord Kama Deva struck Lord Shiva with Kamabana to arouse feelings in him which, however, disturbed Lord Shiva in his meditation. This angered him and he opened his third eye at Kama Deva, reducing him to ashes on the day of Phalgun Ashtami. Lord Kama Deva’s wife Rati, who was a faithful devotee of Lord Shiva, prayed to him for her husband. This earned Lord Shiva’s pity, and he later revived Lord Kama Deva from the ashes. This period has been considered as Holashtak ever since.
The period of Holashtak is considered to be very favourable for Tantriks as they can easily achieve their goals through ‘Saadhna’. The celebrations of Holi start with the beginning of Holashtak and come to an end on ‘Dhuleti’, the day following Falgun Purnima.