Abhijit
From Hindupedia, the Hindu Encyclopedia
By Swami Harshananda
Abhijit literally means ‘victorious’.
Sins of omission and commission, when not intentional, can be atoned by certain expiatory rites known as prāyaścitta. Abhijit is one of such rites. It is actually a minor Vedic yagna similar in structure to the major sacrifice Soma, but requiring just a day to perform. It is specially recommended as an expiation for the sin of killing a brāhmaṇa.
- Abhijit is also the name of a nakṣatra counted as the 28th, after uttarāṣāḍha.
- In the Purana-s, Abhijit is described as a daughter of Dakṣa-Brahmā and as a wife of Candra (the moon).
- Abhijit is also the auspicious period that occurs at midnight. Lord Kṛṣṇa is said to have been born at that time.
References[edit]
- The Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Swami Harshananda, Ram Krishna Math, Bangalore