Why must we stop fearing the Aadi month?
MANY Indian households remain silent from July 16 to August 15 every year regarding any auspicious events.
Weddings are postponed, housewarmings are avoided, and, if possible, childbirths are scheduled outside this time frame.
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This is due to a long-standing fear surrounding the Aadi month, which is considered an inauspicious period.
As someone born on July 30, right at the peak of Aadi, I often wonder: What is so worrying about this time of year?
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Aadi, the fourth month in the Indian almanac is empty of meaning.
It is deeply spiritual and vibrant with devotional observances.
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It marks the beginning of the sun's northward journey to the south, which the ancients saw as a period suited for spiritual reflection and inward focus.
It is the time when the divine feminine is especially venerated, through festivals such as the birthday of Goddess Andal (Aadi Pooram), a river blessing festival (Aadi Perukku), and for ancestral prayers (Aadi Amavasai).
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Yet, a widespread belief persists that Aadi is a bad period, especially for significant life events.
This misconception runs so deep that I once witnessed a tragic consequence of it.
A close friend's wife, heavily pregnant and just weeks away from full term, begged her doctor to induce early delivery to avoid having the child born in the Aadi month.
The doctor obliged. Tragically, the child was stillborn several hours later.
The couple was devastated. It was a painful reminder of how fear, not fate, can change lives forever.
Malaysian Gurukkal Sangam vice president Someshvarn Sivachariar said there is no scriptural basis for such dread.
'Ancient texts do not forbid ceremonies during Aadi. The practical roots of this caution likely lie in seasonal conditions.
'Aadi often coincided with the monsoon, making travel and large gatherings difficult and potentially hazardous.
'Over time, this practical restraint hardened into misconception,' said Someshvarn.
He highlighted the favourable dates in the coming Aadi month as July 16, 21, 23, 28, 30, 31, and August 1, 4, 6, 7, 11, 13, 14, and 15.
He agreed that temples and priests are often preoccupied during Aadi with intense daily rituals, special prayers, and community observances focused on worship, which draw many devotees and require elaborate spiritual preparations.
Because of this, he said, priests may be less available or hesitant to conduct worldly ceremonies like weddings, as their energy and attention are directed toward spiritual upliftment and devotional service during this sacred month.
From an astrological point of view, 7th-generation astrologer Yuvaraj Sowma said not all days in Aadi are inauspicious.
He said that just like any month, it contains days of favourable and unfavourable planetary influences.
Yuvaraj said generalising the entire month as 'bad' is inaccurate and dangerous when it affects decisions about life and death.
He explained that during this phase, the spiritual vibrations on Earth are more potent, making it a highly conducive time to connect with the divine.
'While weddings and primary worldly functions are generally avoided, this is not due to negative connotations.
'Instead, it reflects the traditional understanding that this month is better suited for spiritual pursuits rather than material beginnings'.
So why do we continue to fear it?
Perhaps because we have not stopped to question it, we have inherited beliefs without investigating their origins.
The true essence of Aadi is not misfortune; it is devotion, introspection, and connection with the divine. It is a sacred pause, not a sinister period.
Like myself, those born in Aadi are proof that this month is not cursed.
Many remarkable individuals have been born during the Aadi month and have gone on to lead purposeful lives.
Some of them are former U.S. President Barack Obama (August 4), South African freedom icon Nelson Mandela (July 18), former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern (July 26), and actress Jennifer Lopez (July 24).
Their lives prove that Aadi is not a period of limitation, but one of latent potential and divine grace.
It is often said that spiritually evolved souls and impactful leaders are born during powerful cosmic alignments. Aadi is far from a time of misfortune and is one such holy window.
Instead of avoiding the month, we can honour its true purpose by deepening our spiritual practice, offering prayers to our ancestors, and aligning with the rhythm of the cosmos.
Let us reject fear-based choices and reclaim the truth about Aadi by approaching it with reverence rather than reluctance.
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