Purnima is a Sanskrit term meaning "full moon," and referring to the day of the month when a full moon is first present.
This is also the division between Shukla Paksha (the bright two weeks before Purnima) and Krishna Paksha (the dark two-week period after it)
Purnima is a time when many festivals are celebrated across Asia. Kartik Poornima, Vat Purnima, Guru Purnima and Buddha Poornima are a few of the most widely celebrated of these full moon festivals.
Buddha Poornima is especially significant for Buddhists as this is the celebration of Buddha’s birth, enlightenment and death. These events are said to have occurred under the full moon in May, which is when the festival takes place.
Purnima is also commonly used as a girl’s name in the Indian subcontinent.
Full moon meditation is very well known. The moon is also very connected to spiritual practices. You can say that these meditations are more compelling.
Full moon symbolism
The full moon has been said to symbolize different things in different cultures. It has spiritual significance in some cultures, and in others, it is believed to symbolize the rhythm of time.
In India, it is traditionally believed that the full moon affects the movement and flow of water in creation. Buddhists believe it is a time for spiritual reflection. The full moon is also thought to bring on swings in the mind and the emotions, hence the term “lunatic.”
Significance of the full moon
In this universe, every object has an impact on the other. The full moon as well as the new moon are thought to have an effect on the body and mind to some extent. But practicing pranayama, yoga and meditation can help counter these effects.