Purattasi
Masam, or Puratasi, is the sixth month in a Tamil calendar and is dedicated to
Lord Venkateswara (Lord Vishnu). Saturdays in the Purattasi month are dedicated
to Lord Shani and special prayers are offered for escaping from the bad effects
of Sani in one’s horoscope. 2011 is from September 18 to October 17. Special
pujas and prayers are observed on Saturdays in Puratassi month to please Shani
Bhagavan.
Legend has
it that Lord Venkateswara appeared on earth in Purattasi Masam. Lord Vishnu
devotees consider Puratasi as the ideal month for thanking Lord Vishnu for
preserving the Universe. Lord Vishnu is believed to do the job of preservation
in Hinduism.
Special
prayers are offered at the Srirangam Ranganathaswamy Temple in Purattasi Month.
Another
legend suggests that Lord Saneswara (Shani) loses his powers in Puratasi month
and so it is easy to escape his malefic influences.
Devotees of
Lord Venkateswara take only a meal on Puratasi Saturdays. Some devotees only
eat vegetarian food during the month.
On
Saturdays, Naamum, the two feet symbol of Lord Vishnu’s feet, is drawn on the
forehead by males and women opt for a red dot. Hymns dedicated to Lord Vishnu
are chanted on Saturdays.
Devotees in
large number visit Lord Vishnu temples and special flags with Garuda emblem are
hoisted in Vishnu temples.