Panguni Uthiram is an important day for Tamil Hindus. It is observed in Panguni month when Nakshatra Uthiram or Uttara Phalguni prevails. Panguni is the twelfth and last month in Tamil Calendar. Panguni month is known as Meena month in other solar calendars.
On this day Nakshatram Uthiram coincides with full moon and it is believed that most divine marriages took place on this day. The marriage of Goddess Parvati and Lord Shiva, Goddess Deivayanai and Lord Murugan, Goddess Sita and Lord Rama was conducted on Panguni Uthiram day.
As Sri Deivayanai married Lord Subramanya on this day, it is an important festival for Lord Subramanya devotees. On this day, devotees flock in hundreds to all Murugan temples. It is believed that Goddess Parvati in the form of Gowri married Lord Shiva in Kanchipuram and because of this belief this day is also celebrated as Gowri Kalyanam day.
This day is also known as Mahalakshmi Jayanti as on this day Goddess Mahalakshmi incarnated on the Earth during legendry churning of the Milky Ocean. Churning of Milky Ocean is also known as Ksheera Sagara Manthan. This day is also celebrated as Lord Ayyappan Jayanti. Lord Ayyappan was born due to union of Lord Shiva and Mohini, the female form of Lord Vishnu. Panguni Uthiram is also spelled as Paiguni Uttaram.
