Purattaasi: Where Faith Meets Wellness

The Tamil month of Purattaasi, which falls between mid-September and mid-October, holds immense spiritual significance for Hindus, particularly for the devotees of Lord Venkateswara (a form of Lord Vishnu). Considered one of the most auspicious periods of the year, this month is marked by Purattaasi Viratham (fasting), a ritual fast observed in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Kerala. For Tamil-speaking communities, in particular, this month is sacred and deeply intertwined with devotion to Lord Venkateswara.

Worship and Rituals

Purattaasi is the sixth month of the Tamil calendar, and Saturdays during this month are regarded as highly auspicious. Families in Tamil Nadu perform special Poojas (prayers), prepare elaborate vegetarian meals, and abstain from consuming meat. In and around the Tirupati region, these Saturdays are celebrated as Tirumala Sanivaaralu, with devotees thronging temples to worship Lord Venkateswara.

Before Pooja, men traditionally draw the Naamam (Vishnu’s two-feet symbol, resembling the 23rd Greek letter Ψ) on their foreheads. A central ritual is the lighting of a Maavilakku, a lamp made from rice flour, jaggery, and ghee, believed to radiate the divine smile of Lord Venkateswara. Families prepare a variety of Thaligai (vegetarian offerings) as Neivedyam (sacred food), including:

• Five types of rice: sweet pongal, coconut rice, tamarind rice, sesame rice, and curd rice

•  Lentil-based dishes like sundal and vada

• Other sweets and savories (all prepared without onion or garlic)

In many households, Bhajans (spiritual songs) are sung before Pooja. The chant of “Govinda! Govinda!” echoes in prayers. Families also decorate a small mud hundi with the Naamam symbol, where coins are dropped during Pooja and later offered at Tirupati or other Vishnu temples. After the rituals, the family shares the blessed vegetarian meal.

Mahalaya Amavasya and Ancestral Worship

Purattaasi also includes Mahalaya Amavasya, the most important new moon day of the year for honoring ancestors. The fortnight leading up to it, known as Mahalaya Paksha, is dedicated to Tarpanam—ritual offerings for deceased family members, believed to bring blessings from the departed.

A unique phenomenon occurs at the Padavedu Kottaimalai Sri Venugopalaswamy Temple near Vellore. On a specific Purattaasi Saturday, the rising sun’s rays fall from the feet to the head of the Vishnu idol, a deeply auspicious event. Thousands of devotees stay overnight to witness it, and the temple comes alive with festive lights, Annadhanam (mass food offerings), and continuous abhishekams completed before dawn.

Spiritual Beliefs Behind Abstinence

Avoiding non-vegetarian food during Purattaasi is seen as a mark of reverence and self-discipline. Saturdays in this month are particularly sacred, as the planet Sani (Saturn) is believed to have reduced power. Worshiping Lord Venkateswara and fasting during this time is said to mitigate Saturn’s negative effects. The spiritual merit of observing a single Purattaasi Saturday is considered equivalent to observing all Saturdays of the year.

While many Hindus abstain from meat throughout the month, some choose to do so only on Saturdays. This practice aligns with Ahimsa (non-violence), helping devotees cleanse the body and mind, strengthen willpower, and deepen spiritual growth.

Food, Philosophy, and Well-Being

Hindu philosophy categorizes food into Sattvic, Rajasic, and Tamasic, based on their effects on the body and mind:

• Sattvic foods – pure, light, and fresh (e.g., fruits, rice, wheat, vegetables, dairy). They energize, calm, and promote clarity of mind.

• Rajasic foods – stimulating and spicy, salty, or overly sweet. They generate excitement, restlessness, and imbalance.

• Tamasic foods – heavy, stale, or impure, such as meat, fish, and alcohol. They induce lethargy, dullness, and depletion of energy.

The goal during Purattaasi is not just to consume Sattvic foods but to avoid Tamasic foods completely.

Health and Seasonal Wisdom

The abstinence from meat in Purattaasi is not only spiritual but also rooted in health and seasonal logic. The month coincides with the transitional period between the monsoon and autumn, when immunity is relatively low, and digestion weakens. Vegetarian food, being lighter, is easier to digest than meat, which can strain the system.

Historically, when refrigeration did not exist, meat spoiled quickly in humid conditions, increasing the risk of food-borne illnesses. Moreover, animals themselves are often more vulnerable to sickness during seasonal transitions. Consuming such meat heightens the risk of zoonotic diseases—infections transmitted from animals to humans—such as salmonella, prion-related diseases like mad cow disease, and certain viral outbreaks.

Additionally, modern factory farming practices expose animals to stress, unsanitary conditions, and overuse of antibiotics. These not only compromise the quality of meat but also contribute to the rise of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, posing a major public health concern.

A Blend of Science and Spirituality

What began as a practical and health-conscious custom gradually evolved into a religious observance. Today, abstaining from meat during Purattaasi is both a spiritual discipline and a lifestyle choice with tangible health benefits. Regardless of whether the motivation is faith or science, the practice nurtures both the body and the spirit, helping devotees align with nature, community, and the divine.