Aghor Chaturdashi and the Great Tara Amavasya at Tarapith
Notes on Aghor Amavasya, Aghor Chaturdashi, and Mahavidya Tara Amavasya — a highly significant occasion across Nath, Kaula, Shakta, and independent Tantric practice: why practitioners across West Bengal, Bangladesh, and the northeast converge on Tarapith's Mahashmashan for this Amavasya of Bhadrapada month, the 2021 example of how the three-tithi span (Chaturdashi through Amavasya) is timed for continuous Sadhana, what Shabar-tradition practitioners should perform (Sahasrarchana across the full span), how practitioners of other Ishta Devatas (such as Mahakali) should maintain their own established mantra practice on these days instead, the amplified benefits of Sadhana performed on this occasion (Tapobala and sin-eradication beyond ordinary days), which Shaktipeethas to visit in subsequent years (Kamakhya, Tarapith, Rajrappa, and the Bihar Tara Peeth), and the distinct benefit this day offers practitioners whose mantra practice has not yet yielded results.
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8 concepts, in the order they are taught. Jump to any one.
8 also answer a common question
Questions this answers
8 of the notes below are questions in their own right. Scroll for more.
What Aghor Amavasya is, and who observes it
What is Aghor Amavasya/Tara Amavasya, and who should observe it?
This day is extremely significant for anyone associated with the Tantra tradition — Nath, Kaula, or Shakta lineages, independent practitioners without a Guru tradition, or even those worshipping a Supreme Power through Sattvic Tantric methods.
For anyone associated with the Tantra tradition — whether in the Nath tradition, Kaula tradition, Shakta tradition, any other tradition, engaged in Tantric practices independently without a Guru tradition, or worshipping any Supreme Power through Tantric methods even with a Sattvic procedure — this day is extremely significant.
Why practitioners gather at Tarapith
Why do practitioners flock to Tarapith specifically on this day?
All spiritual practitioners across West Bengal, Bangladesh, and the northeastern regions inevitably visit Tarapith on the Amavasya of Bhadrapada month to perform Sadhana at the Mahashmashan, awaken esoteric disciplines, and seek Bhagavati Mahavidya Tara's direct darshan — despite this not being Tara Jayanti, it holds immense importance in Tantric Sadhana.
Across West Bengal, Bangladesh, and the northeastern regions spanning West Bengal, Assam, Nagaland, and adjacent areas of Bangladesh, all spiritual practitioners (Sadhaks), regional Tantrics, and followers of these esoteric disciplines inevitably visit Tarapith on the Amavasya (new moon) Tithi of the Bhadrapada month. They come to perform Sadhana at the Mahashmashan (great cremation ground), to awaken their esoteric knowledge and disciplines, to sit there and perform various types of rituals (Anushthan) and Purashcharana, and to seek the divine darshan of Bhagavati Mahavidya Tara. While this day is not Tara Jayanti, it holds immense importance in Tantric Sadhanas.
When the sadhanas begin and end
When do the Aghor Amavasya sadhanas begin and end?
In 2021, Aghor Chaturdashi fell on September 5 and Mahavidya Tara/Aghor Amavasya on September 6 (Monday) — Sadhanas commence as soon as the night of September 4 begins with the Chaturdashi Tithi, continuing through mantras, tantras, and required practices until the Amavasya Tithi's conclusion.
In the year 2021, Mahavidya Tara Amavasya, Aghor Amavasya, and Aghor Chaturdashi — the Amavasya occurring in conjunction with Chaturdashi — fell on Monday, September 6. The Chaturdashi Tithi fell on September 5, and all Sadhanas commence from the night of September 4 — as soon as that night begins with the Chaturdashi Tithi, practitioners begin their Sadhanas and continue performing their mantras, tantras, and requisite spiritual practices until the immersion/conclusion of the Amavasya Tithi.
What Shabar practitioners perform
What should Shabar-tradition practitioners perform on Aghor Amavasya?
Shabar-tradition practitioners may perform worship using Shabar mantras or Sahasrarchana, covering the entire span of Chaturdashi and Amavasya nights — from Sunday through Tuesday night or Tuesday morning — for their mantra Japa.
If a practitioner belongs to the Shabar tradition, they may perform worship using Sabar Mantras or their respective tantric methods, such as SahasrarchanaA worship method involving a thousand-fold offering or recitation count, used by Shabar-tradition practitioners on especially potent occasions like Aghor Chaturdashi and Tara Amavasya.. This should encompass the entire span of the three Tithis, covering the nights of Chaturdashi and Amavasya — spanning Sunday, Monday, and extending up to Tuesday night or Tuesday morning for mantra Japa.
Which of your own mantras to practise
Which of your own mantras should you practise on these tithis?
Practitioners should perform Japa, Havan, and rituals during these Tithis using the specific mantras of their own chosen deity that they have already repeatedly practiced or performed Purashcharana for — for instance, a practitioner of Mahakalika Sadhana continues that same practice on these days.
Ritual procedures should be maintained according to one's Ishta Devata (chosen deity). For instance, if a practitioner is engaged in the Sadhana of Mahavidya Bhagavati Mahakalika, they should perform Japa, Havan (fire oblation), and rituals during these Tithis of Aghor Chaturdashi and Mahavidya Tara Amavasya using the specific mantras they have repeatedly practiced, ritualized, or performed PurashcharanaA ritualistic repetition of a mantra to prescribed rules — required in Tantra Sadhana. for.
The extra benefit these days carry
What extra benefit does sadhana on Aghor Amavasya carry?
Performing Sadhana during Aghor Chaturdashi, Aghor Amavasya, and Mahavidya Tara Amavasya yields manifold greater benefits than ordinary days — enhancing a mantra's ascetic power (Tapobala) and spiritual energy while eradicating numerous known and unknown sins.
Performing Sadhana during these days yields manifold greater benefits compared to ordinary days. It not only enhances the ascetic power (TapobalaAscetic or spiritual power accumulated through sustained practice.) and spiritual energy of the mantra, but also eradicates numerous known and unknown sins. Every practitioner and Tantra enthusiast should utilize the auspiciousness of Aghor Chaturdashi, Aghor Amavasya, and Mahavidya Tara Amavasya.
Which Shaktipeethas to visit
Which Shaktipeethas should you visit on Aghor or Tara Amavasya?
Practitioners should endeavor to visit nearby Shaktipeethas rooted in Tantric tradition or Vamachara worship, such as Kamrup Kamakhya, Tarapith in Birbhum, Rajrappa in Jharkhand, or the Mahavidya Tara Peeth in Bihar — visiting these sites helps resolve stalled endeavors.
In subsequent years, whenever the dates of Aghor Amavasya and Mahavidya Tara Amavasya occur, practitioners should endeavor — conditions permitting — to visit nearby Shaktipeethas, particularly those rooted in Tantric traditions or where worship and Sadhana are conducted through Vamachara methods. Such prominent shrines include Kamrup Kamakhya, Bhagavati Mahavidya Tarapith in Birbhum (West Bengal), Rajrappa in Jharkhand, the Mahavidya Tara Peeth in Bihar, and other popular Shaktipeethas where worship is conducted via tantric methods. Visiting and offering reverence at these sacred sites helps resolve stalled endeavors.
What the day offers when practice is not yielding
What benefit does this day offer practitioners whose mantra practice isn't yielding results?
If actively practicing and awakening mantras without experiencing substantial spiritual results, performing Sadhana on this occasion grants profound and distinct spiritual benefits.
If one is actively practicing and awakening mantras but not experiencing substantial spiritual results, performing Sadhana on this day will grant profound and distinct spiritual benefits.
These are notes of our learnings from a public external source (youtube video by author Grihastha Tantra). OccultGuide does not verify or originate the knowledge or the practices itself.