Benefits of Shree Yantra
Shree Yantra is a holy instrument which has a mythological connection with Goddess Lakshmi, the Hindu deity of fortune, prosperity and wealth. Hindu religion is hailed for its age old Vedic culture and traditions. It has drawn the curiosity of many philosophers and scientists from across the world. Yantra is a Sanskrit word which means any object or a geometric diagram which is used in a tantric worship as a meditation aid.
Geometric Layout Of Shree Yantra:
Shree Yantra is also known as Shri Chakra (“holy wheel”). Shri Yantra consists of a central point which is a representation of the connection point between physical universe and its absolute source. This central point is surrounded by nine interlocking triangles. All the nine triangles are interlocked in such a way that it makes a total of 43 smaller triangles in a web like structure symbolizing a womb or entire cosmos.
Benefits Of Shree Yantra:
There are a number of benefits associated with Shree Yantra. Some of them are:
It helps in attaining fortune, wealth and overall prosperity in one’s life.
It brings name, fame and good luck to the family or organization, company which possesses this incredible Vedic instrument.
It drives an individual on success path and clears the obstacles.
Shree Yantra also gives mental peace and stability.
It helps in growing the spiritual self by helping the individual to get rid of all the impurities and attain a pure state of mind.
It has the great potential to liberate an individual from the cycle of birth and death.
It is considered very auspicious and pious to establish Shree Yantra at home or workplace. Generally, Shree Yantra is worshipped in the morning before sunrise by placing it on a yellow cloth. The Yantra is placed over the Swastika symbol drawn with vermillion. The whole practice regarding the Yantra can be confirmed by a religious guru having Vedic knowledge or a Hindu priest. However, this information also comes with Yantra these days and is very simple to follow.
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History of Shani dev
Shani is a Deva and son of Surya (the
Hindu Sun God) and his wife Chhaya (Shadow goddess) and hence also
known as Chayyaputra. He is the elder brother of Yama, the Hindu God of
death, who in some scriptures corresponds to the deliverance of justice.
Interestingly, Surya's two sons Shani and Yama judge. Shani gives us
the results of one's deeds through one's life through appropriate
punishments and rewards; Yama grants the results of one's deeds after
death.[1]
It is said that when Shani opened
his eyes as a baby for the very first time, the sun went into an
eclipse, which clearly denotes the impact of Shani on astrological
charts. He is known as the greatest teacher. Shani dev is said to be
very harmful to those who follow the path of betrayal, backstabbing and
unjust revenge. He is known in Hindu scriptures as the greatest trouble
giver as well as the greatest well wisher. He is depicted dark in
colour, clothed in black; holding a sword, arrows and two daggers and
variously mounted on a black crow
Some Scientific Aspects of Yagna - Environmental Effects
There
are two basic energy systems in the physical world: heat and sound. In
performing yagna, these two energies, namely, the heat from yagna’s fire
and the sound of the chanting of the Gayatri and other Vedic Mantras,
are blended together to achieve the desired physical, psychological and
spiritual benefits.
The fumigation, vaporization and subtlisation
of specific substances in the yagna-fire constitute a verifiable
scientific method of sublimation of matter and expansion of its
colloidal state, generates ions and energy with positive effects in the
surrounding atmosphere through the specific sonic waves of the mantras.
Fumigating Substances Used in Yagna:
In
order to get an idea of the various chemical changes that take place
during the performance of yagna, it is essential to know the various
substances used and offered in the yagna-fire. These can be broadly
classified into two types: wood (samidhá), and a mixture of odoriferous
and medicinal herbs (havan sámagri)[1, 2].
Wood: Wood has to be
dry and free from dust, insects and worms. Wood is cut into small pieces
of varying sizes called samidhás depending upon the size of the altar
or pit (kunda) in which the yagna is to be performed. Santalum Album
(sandalwood), Aquilana Malaccensis and Valeriana Wallchii (borax wood or
agar and tagar), Cedrys Libani (cedar or deodar), Mangifera Indica
(mango), Butea Frondosa (flame of the forest or palásha), Aegle Marmelos
(bengal quince or bilva), Ficus Religiosa (the holy fig or pipal),
Ficus Bengalensis (banyan or bargad), Proposis Spicigera (sponge tree or
Shami), Ficus Glomerata (wild fig or gular) are considered appropriate
for this purpose.
The havisya or havan sámagri should be prepared
with a proper combination of the following. Odoriferous Substances:
These are usually saffron, musk, agar, tagar, sandalwood powder,
cardamom, nutmeg, javitri and camphor; Substances with Healing
properties: clarified butter (ghee), milk, fruits, lin seeds, and
cereals like wheat, rice, barley, various millet, gram, peas, etc; Sweet
Substances: sugar, dried dates, resin, honey, etc; Medicinal Herbs:
These are used as per the specific requirements. Some commonly used
herbs are Tinospora cordifolia (tinospora/guduchi or giloya), Bacopa
Monieri (bacopa or bráhmi), Convolvulus Pluricaulis (shankh pushpi),
Mesua Ferrea (cobra’s saffron or nágkesar), Glycyrrhiza Glabra Bois
(liquoric root or mulhati), Red Sandalwood, Terminalia Bellirica
(beddanut or bahedá), Dry Ginger, and Terminalia Chebula (chebulic
myrobalans or harada). Different combinations of these and/or other
special herbs are used for the treatment of specific diseases through
yagna-therapy.
Products of Combustion:
The interpretation
of the process of combustion in a yagna on a scientific basis is rather
difficult due to the following reasons: (i) The properties of
substances, which are used here vary; (ii) The conditions under which
combustion takes place inside the yagna-fire are very sensitive to the
shape of the kunda and the type, quantity and arrangement of wood etc;
(iii) the variation in the temperature and thermodynamic effects is
quite significant from the top to the bottom of the kunda and it also
depends upon the shape and size of the latter. The products of
combustion depend on the factors like –– (a) The nature of substances
used and their proportions; (b) Temperature attained; (c) Controlled
supply of air and (d) Interaction amongst the various products formed.
Distillation of Wood:
Besides
the complete combustion of the cellulose material of wood, it is also
subjected to distillation. This happens due to the way samidhás are
arranged in the kunda (also called yagna kunda or havan kunda)2 and the
levels of temperature and air supply which prevail in it.
Vaporization of Odorous Substances:
The
temperature attained by the kunda varies between 250°C and 600°C, while
in the actual flames it can rise as high as 1200°C to 1300°C. At their
boiling points, the volatile constituents vaporize and their gaseous
forms get diffused. Also, when cellulose and other carbohydrates undergo
combustion, steam is formed in copious quantities by the combination of
the hydrogen of the decomposed organic molecules with the oxygen. This
is how the substances like thymol, eugenol, pinene, terpinol etc., are
dispersed to in the surroundings and the aroma of a yagna can be smelt
at a considerable distance.
In addition to steam, smoke is
emitted in large quantities and solid particles existing in a decomposed
state offer sufficient scope for its diffusion. Thus smoke also
functions as a colloidal vehicle for the spreading of volatile aromatic
substances. This process depends on the inside and surrounding
temperature and on the direction of the wind.
Combustion of Fatty Substances:
The
fatty substances used in yagna are mainly ghee and other fatty
substances of vegetable origin. Ghee helps in rapid combustion of
cellulose of wood and keeps the fire alight. All fatty substances used
are combinations of fatty acids, which volatilize easily. The combustion
of glycerol portion gives acetone bodies, pyruvic aldehyde and glyoxal
etc. The hydrocarbons produced in the reactions again undergo slow
combustion and as a result methyl and ethyl alcohols, formaldehyde,
acetaldehyde, formic acid and acetic acids are formed.
Photochemical Process:
The
vaporized products diffused in the atmosphere are also subjected to
photochemical reactions in the sunlight. They undergo photochemical
decomposition, oxidation and reduction reactions. To some extent even
CO2 is also reduced to formaldehyde as follows:
CO2 + H2O + 112,000 cal = HCHO + O2
From
an environmental angle, the reduction of CO2caused by yagna as
explained above and the liberation of oxygen cannot be overemphasized.
Similar kinds of other useful reactions take place in the presence of
specific radiations from the sunrays. This may be perhaps the reason it
has been recommended that yagna should be performed during sunlight.
Inverted Pyramid Shaped Yagna Kunda:
The
word ‘pyramid’ means ‘the fire in the middle’. This meaning is closely
associated with the inexplicable energies emanating from its center and
shape. The pyramid shape is widely known to generate and store a special
energy field, which possesses bacteriostatic properties. The inverted
pyramid shape of the agni kunda allows controlled generation and
multidirectional dissipation of energy. It acts as a generator of
unusual energy fields and spreads them in its surrounding atmosphere.
Apart from the pyramid shape, some other special symmetric geometrical
designs are also used according to the kind of energy fields and the
cosmic currents one wishes to generate by the yagna. Specific types of
kundas are recommended for different kinds of yagnas. The shapes and
properties of the common agnihotra pot and some yagna kundas are
illustrated in reference no. 3 cited below.
Chanting of Sanskrit Mantras:
The
power of sound vibrations has since long been acknowledged in the field
of science. With substantial amplification these vibrations can
penetrate the energy spheres at the subtle and cosmic levels. All the
alphabets of the Sanskrit language are endowed with special impulsive
phonetics, which send out harmonious wave patterns when pronounced.
With
the advent of spectrographic techniques and instruments like the
Multichannel Tonograph and Retrometer, it has now become possible to
study the sound effects of mantras in relation to yagna. The patterns of
chanting of the mantras are so designed that they latently contain the
essence of the music or the quintessential sound of the torrent of
life-sustaining energies emanating from the cosmic energy center of the
corresponding mantras. (The cosmic energy center associated with the
Gayatri Mantra is the Sun). The chanting of these mantras produces
vibrations, which are soothing to human mind and all plant and animal
life. These vibrations also help in spreading specific energy waves in
the surrounding atmosphere while the oblations are offered[3-5].
Purification of Environment by Yagna:
The
huge industrial complexes, rapid urbanization, deforestation, air and
water pollution, ozone-depletion, radioactive wastes etc., have
disturbed and destabilized the natural harmony of human, animal and
plant life cycles. The ecological imbalance caused by these criminal
acts of the so called ‘civilized man’ has resulted in a disastrous
threat, not only to the human survival but, also to life as a whole on
our planet.
Experimental studies show that the incidences of
physical ailments, sickness and/or diseases become less in the houses
where the yagna or agnihotra[3] is regularly performed because it
creates a pure, hygienic, nutritional and healing atmosphere. It renews
the brain cells, revitalizes the skin, purifies the blood and prevents
growth of pathogenic bacteria. Agnihotra is basically a healing process.
"Heal the atmosphere and the healed atmosphere will heal you", says Dr.
Madhukar Gaikwad[6].
The medicinal fumes emanating from the
process of agnihotra have been observed by researchers in the field of
microbiology to be clearly bacteriostatic in nature, which eradicate
bacteria and micro-organisms, the root causes of illness and diseases.
This must be the reason why the incidence of physical ailments, sickness
and diseases becomes less in the households where agnihotra is
regularly performed.
Purification of environment through the
constituent electrically charged particles of the substances fumigated
in yagna is an obvious byproduct of this process. The observations of
some distinguished scientists (as reported in the reference nos. [2-5])
are noteworthy in this regard. According to Dr. Hafkine, the smoke
produced by burning the mixture of ghee and sugar kills the germs of
certain diseases; inhaling it from some distance induces secretion from
certain glands related to the windpipe that fill our heart and mind with
relaxation. "Burning sugar and its smoke has a significant effect in
purifying the atmosphere. It kills the germs of T.B., measles, smallpox
and cow-pox" – remarks Prof. Tilward. A Russian Scientist named Dr.
Shirowich mentions that – "if cow’s ghee is put into the fire, its smoke
will lessen the effect of atomic radiation to a great extent". He also
related this process to yagna.
Particularly effective results
with respect to the elimination or reduction in radiation were achieved
through yagna’s fire and ash. These observations are made by Dr. L.
Matela Anatoninhowska of Poland after using P.S.I. techniques[2].
Even
without going into detailed chemical bacteriology, it appears highly
probable that performing yagna leads to the purification of air in view
of the following (as reported in the reference nos. [2, 5]):
Removal of Foul Odors:
As
already stated, under steam volatilization, the various volatile oils
get diffused in the surrounding atmosphere along with steam and smoke.
Since these oils have distinctly good smells, the foul odors are
automatically neutralized. This aroma can be effortlessly smelt in the
surroundings when yagna is performed. It is due to the diffusion of
substanceslike thynol, eugenol, piene, terpinol and oils of sandalwood,
camphor and clove.
Removal of Bacteria:
As stated under
products of combustion, the partial oxidation of hydrocarbons and
decomposition of complex organic substances produce formaldehyde, which
is a powerful antiseptic. It is also interesting to note that the
germicidal action of formaldehyde is effective only in the presence of
water vapor, which is also produced in large quantities in yagna. The
use of formaldehyde sprays for disinfecting of walls, ceilings etc., is
common and such an effect is automatically produced when yagna is
performed. The oxidation of hydrocarbons produces formic acid and acetic
acid, both of which are good disinfectants. Use of formic acid for
preservation of fruits and that of acetic acid in preserving vinegar is a
common practice.
The antiseptic and antibiotic effects of the
smoke of yagna have also been examined by conducting laboratory
experiments on rabbits and mice and it has been established that smoke
emitted in yagna is a powerful antibiotic. Agnihotra ash is also found
to purify and cleanse the water, making it fit for drinking[6].
Removal of Insects:
There
are non-bacterial parasites like flies, ringworm, dice fleas etc.,
which are normally difficult to deal with since bacteriocides which can
be used against them are also harmful to other living organisms. Such
insects are generally immune to ordinary reagents. However they either
get killed or are driven away when they come in contact with volatile
oils like camphor, which are diffused in the environment during the
performance of yagna.
Effects on Plants and Vegetation:
The
disinfection of air is not only useful to animal life but it also helps
plant life. The aromatic substances, which get diffused in the air
through Agnihotra offer protection to plant life against harmful
organisms. This ensures a healthy plant growth. Agnihotra’s atmosphere
and ash can be used as adjuvants in the natural farming methods – also
known as the agnihotra farming methods. It is a holistic concept of
growing plants in pure and healthy atmosphere and balancing the
ecological cycles by performing agnihotra (yagna) in the middle of the
farm and using the yagna-ash as a fertilizer. Several experiments have
been conducted in the East European countries on the use of yagna ash in
soil treatment. These, too, have shown positive effects and potential
applications in Agriculture[7].
Role of CO2 Generated in Yagna:
The
wood and fossil burning in atmosphere is always controversial because
of the generation of carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide and a consequent
increase in the ‘green house’ effect. On this basis it can be argued
that yagna also produces CO and CO2. It should be noted here that the
way in which the samidhás are burnt in yagna is a process of slow
combustion. It is not comparable to the burning of coal in the factories
or household fire or running of steam engines etc, where oxygen is
sucked in large quantities and CO2 is emitted likewise. In the slow
combustion process that takes place in yagna, a small quantity of O2 is
utilized and CO2 is emitted in a quantity that poses no threat to the
environment. In fact whatever CO2 is generatedis readily absorbed by the
surrounding plant life and vegetation and thus the CO2 cycle is
strengthened[5].
Another important fact to be noted is that CO2
produced in yagna is not free CO2. It is mixed with the vapors of other
aromatic oils and antiseptic products. It acts as a vehicle in
transporting such products to the surroundings.
The use of CO2 as
a cerebral stimulant to assist patients suffering from lack of
ventilation is a common practice in the medical field. Its use in
controlling and curing many mental disorders is also known to medical
science. Small amounts of CO2 inhaled by the persons performing yagna
act as a stimulant for inhaling more and more aromatic fumes which helps
in curing mental disorders.
Results of Some Recent Experiments:
A
group of scientists led by Dr. Manoj Garg, Director, Environmental and
Technical Consultants in association with the experts from the Uttar
Pradesh Pollution Control Board had conducted experiments during the
Ashwamedha Yagna at Gorakhpur, U.P. These experiments were set up at
about 20 meters east of the Yagnashala. The samples of 100 ml each of
water and air collected from the surroundings were analyzed, using high
volume Envirotech APM-45 and other sensitive instruments for testing
water and air pollution. A summary of their results as reported in
Akhand Jyoti, Sept. ’97 p.22, (ref no. [1]), showed an average reduction
by 75% in the level of Sulphur Dioxide and about 10% in Nitrus Oxide;
and Over 70% reduction in bacteria in water samples in the surrounding
area. Several medicinal minerals were present in the ash (bhasma) of
yagna. The average level of carbon monoxide was found reduced from 117
p.p.m. to 0 in some of the experiments conducted on domestic yagnas at
IIT Bombay (unpublished results); There are some more ongoing
experiments on recording different gas levels and respirable particles
are currently ongoing, being conducted by some visiting scientists at
Brahm Varchas Research Center of Gayatri Teerth, Shantikunj, Hardwar.
Yagna,
thus, appears to be a promising scientific, cost effective,
eco-friendly method to counter the ever-increasing deadly pollution of
the environment and purify and enrich the environment with healthy
ingredients. May the environmental scientists and the experts of the
Vedic Science of Yagna come together to enable its global expansion. The
Dev Sanskriti Vishwavidyalaya at Shantikunj, Hardwar is venturing to be
a pacesetter in this regard.
REFERENCES:
1. Selected
Articles from Akhand Jyoti (Aug. ‘84, July & Aug. ‘92, March ’93,
Sept. ’97). Publisher, Akhand Jyoti Sansthan, Mathura.
2. Fumigating
Substances used in Yagna –– article published in the proceedings of the
Ashwamedha Yagna held in Montreal, Canada (26 to 28 July, 1996).
3. "The Integral Science of Yagna". Book Published in 1998 by Yug Nirman Yojna, Mathura.
4.
Yagna’s Scientific Interpretation – article published in the
proceedings of Ashwamedha Yagna held in Montreal, Canada (26 to 28 July,
1996).
5. "Does Yagna Add to the Prevalent Pollution?" –– article
published in the proceedings of Ashwamedha Yagna held in Montreal,
Canada (26 to 28 July, 1996).
6. "Agnihotra: The Message of Time" –
Paper by Dr. Madhukar P. Gaikwad. (Presented in the National Symposium
on Unification of Modern and Ancient Sciences, held in Andheri, Mumbai
on April 30, 1995).
7. Personal Communication with Dr. Vasant Rao Paranjape (www.theromoline.com)
Notes:
1.
Sublimation (in chemistry): The process by which a solid is converted,
on heating directly, into a gas, without going through a liquid state.
Only a small number of solids sublime; e.g. carbon dioxide, CO2 and
Iodine, I2. Some solids that do melt to form a liquid still evaporate
quite rapidly if kept below their melting-points; e.g. Iodine and
sulphur. This is also sublimation, and can be used as a method of
purification.
2. Kunda (Agni-Kunda or yagna-kunda): The pit or small metallic vessel of a special design for yagnágni.
3. Agnihotra (Havans or homam): Small-scale yagna that could be performed every-day at home.
Yajna
is an activity with endless effects and results. The universe is
limitless. In a galaxy in the universe, there are crores of suns. Such
galaxies are innumerable too. Similarly, the effects of a Yajna are
limitless.
Man learned performing a Yajna as soon as the word of
the RigVed spread in the universe. Yajna is connected with sun rays, and
its purpose is for the common good. The Puran literature lays emphasis
on the Yajna. This one tradition in India is such that it still exists
even after so many cultures and civilizations have risen perished. Yajna
is closely associated with knowledge, and also it is very much related
to the planet Mercury.
It is a scientific fact that burning herbs
charged with Mantras in a Yajna and mixing the smoke in the atmosphere
and letting those sitting nearby inhale the smoke is highly and widely
effective, because liquids and more effective than solids and gases are
more effective than liquids, similar to the fact that the liquids in a
medicine are more effective than powder in a medicine. Injections and
extracts are even more effective. Gases and vapours inhaled are much
more effective than solids or liquids. The science of Yajna too shows
fast effects. Yajna and Agnihotra effectively do the job of getting the
medicinal smokes and vapours to the minutest body parts through
inhalation, and very fast. The medicinal smoke and vapours generated in a
Yajna enter the lungs and go straight to the brains and other body
parts via blood, and start showing their effects immediately. The heart
beats 70-80 times a minute, inhaling 7500 ml of air and exhales carbon
dioxide. From this, it can be imagined as to how fast the vapours and
smoke travel through the body by way of blood. In addition to spiritual
benefits, this also provides fast mental and psychological effects.
Thus,
the body takes in a lot of medicinal elements and lets out a lot of
body poisons and unwanted things by way of perspiration. In addition to
the gases and fumes and smoke, Yajna also produces several types of
light rays. Three colours are the most important out of all the colours
we can see: yellow, red and blue. The yellow colour contains nitrogen,
carbon, oxygen, barium, calcium, cadmium, cobalt, manganese, titanium,
aluminium, chromium, iron, nickel, copper and zinc. All these enter the
body through eyes, because of which various types of electrical rays
start showing effects on the Sushumna Nadi. From there, they reach many
Chakras of the body and silence the psychological stimulations. This
provides all types of electrical energy: positive, negative as well as
neutral.
This has been described in the modern electricity
Homeopathy. Moreover, a cleansing effect is generated by the Yajna for
all those attending, as well as the atmosphere in the vicinity. Thus, a
Yajna also performs the job of converting acarbonic Yogikas into
carbonic ones.
Air heated due to the Yajna goes up and the colder
air starts replacing it, which causes air circulation at the Yajna
site. The atmosphere turns humid. That is why it is said that a Yajna
causes rains.
Yajna also reduces air pollution and increases the
nutrient value of the air. All of our five elements (speech, sight,
hearing, touch and smelling) is very important. If any element in the
nature is to be increased or decreased, it can be done with the help of
the sky element. Smell or fragrance is a quality of the earth element.
Whenever something is burned, some smell is generated. It may be
poisonous or fragrance, which makes a man feel happy. The air element
causes the blood in our body flow. It also keeps the body clean. The
water element maintains the fluidity of the body or life. The heat
element maintains the body heat.
Various kinds of germs and
bacteria and viruses in the atmosphere are killed by heating air, while
some are killed with cold. When we performing a Yajna, the air gets
heated and starts killing some of the germs and bacteria and viruses.
Some start dying with cold when the Yajna ashes are mixed in water and
we bathe. Bath makes us happy and vigourous. This is the pleasing aspect
of the Yajna.
The earth element is also related with nose and
the power of smelling. A dog relies much more on this power than its
sight. It recognizes any man just by smelling, even if it has seen the
man after years. This means that the effect of smell remains active for a
long time. The earth can keep smelling the various smells generated
from a Yajna for a very long time.
Smell is a major role of the
earth. It absorbs various smells from the air and makes it free of any
smells. All the living beings of the earth breathe clean air for the
whole life. The wind carries the smells for some distance, but
afterwards, the smell disappears. The air carrying smell is heavier and
remains near the earth, but air without smell being lighter, it rises
high up in the sky. Thus, the earth absorbs the smells and moisture from
the air near the Yajna and sends up clean air. The earth, on its part,
produces food and various materials again.
Germs of infectious
diseases are killed by the Yajna air which has vapours of ghee and other
medicinal herbs, and this helps pollution control.
Benefits from a Yajna:
There
are germs and bacteria present in the soil, which destroy the Urwara
power of the earth, and for killing which, pesticides are used. These
poisonous insecticides and pesticides get absorbed in the soil and from
there into the seeds sown. But if the soil used for the Yajna is mixed
into the normal soil again after Yajna, it is not poisonous.
Because
of the various materials offered and burnt for the Yajna, smoke
particles get mixed into the air, and become negative after getting
mixed with air. These negative particles suck humidity out of the air
and convert themselves into clouds, which causes rains. According to
Newton’s law, when force is used against some object, the object too
pushes the force away with equal force. Thus, all the material burnt in a
Yajna comes back to earth in the form of rain water and is absorbed as
water by various living beings including plants and trees.
Nothing
is completely destroyed, only its form changes. When burnt is a Yajna,
the particles of all things burnt in the Yajna become much smaller, get
mixed in the air, and reach body through the air we breathe, and reach
even the smallest cells of the body.
Each and every molecule of
the universe is always moving. The speed or velocity of its movement is
related to certain fixed laws of physics. The velocity of all the
molecules is not the same, it varies, while some of them may be
traveling against each other too. Two similar objects attract each
other, while opposite things repel each other. Thus, germs and viruses
get attracted to the bodies of those people who use materials which
produce filth and decay of the body. But germs and viruses get repelled
from those people who perform a Yajna, burning nutritious materials like
cloves and ghee and Guggul, all of which are of the opposite nature.
Smell
is a major role of the earth. It absorbs various smells from the air
and makes it free of any smells. All the living beings of the earth
breathe clean air for the whole life. The wind carries the smells for
some distance, but afterwards, the smell disappears. The air carrying
smell is heavier and remains near the earth, but air without smell being
lighter, it rises high up in the sky.
Thus, the earth absorbs
the smells and moisture from the air near the Yajna and sends up clean
air. The earth, on its part, produces food and various materials again.
The effects of smells remain for a long time.
6.Because of the
various materials offered and burnt for the Yajna, smoke particles get
mixed into the air, and become negative after getting mixed with air.
These negative particles suck humidity out of the air and convert
themselves into clouds, which causes rains. According to Newton’s law,
when force is used against some object, the object too pushes the force
away with equal force. Thus, all the material burnt in a Yajna comes
back to earth in the form of rain water and is absorbed as water by
various living beings including plants and trees.
7. Even
materials burned in small quantities cause effects for long distances
and for a large number of people who may even be away from the Yajna.
8.
Yajna does not produce carbon, on the other hands, the gases and
vapours produced by it are as beneficial as carbon dioxide in a soda
water bottle or carboveg or graphitis in homeopathy. Ashes, ‘bhasma’ of
the Ayurved are very advanced treatment medicines, and those are
produced by burning various medicinal herbs and metals etc. Samidhas and
other material
There is some specific material for offering and
burning for each day, but the most used of them all is the ghee made
from cow milk. Then comes the sugar. Then are camphor, Guggul, Shorea
robusta, cedar, sandalwood, aloe, essence, fragrant medicinal grass
roots of nagarmotha, betel leaves, betel nuts, coconuts, spikenard
Jatamansi, gorochan, saffron, musk, cloves, cardamom, bay leaves,
medicinal kapur kachari, makhana, lotus seeds, dry fruits, barley, rice
grains, sim-sim etc. Yajna receives water element from fire element, and
earth element from water element, and it becomes sacred as well as
healthy. A mixture of various kinds of herbs and plants help with its
medicinal effects. The samidhas, i.e., small twigs of mango, goolar,
bel, peepal, pakhad, kadamba, tulsi, aaonwala, aak, shami, chichida,
kush, khas etc. are included but are chosen according to the disease and
physical status of the person.
The Havan Kund has to be prepared
in exact measurements, considering the number of offerings and the
number of persons performing it. It is improper just to dig a ditch and
burn the material at random. Just as arms using fire are made with
precision, a Havan Kund also has to be prepared carefully and exactly as
prescribed. It has to be made considering its effects. A good
performance always gives good results. Yajna is the highest ranking
performance in the Indian culture. Negative thoughts of the persons
living at the Yajna site disappear. The doubts and apprehensions get
destroyed, a firm belief is formed in the mind. They begin to feel
enthusiasm in their work and wealth starts arriving.
One can even
experience miracles with a Yajna. There is a certain knowledge stream
called Madhu Vidya in the Veds, and with its use in the Yajna, a poor
man gets rich, and a dried tree becomes green again. This is a subject
of further investigation for those who want.
ratha yatra
temple
of Lord Jagannatha in Puri, (Orissa) is an important holly place for
the Hindus, particularly for Vaisnavaits because it was here that Sri
Chitanya Mahaprabhu lived as a sanyasi. The full name of the place is
Jagannathapuri (Town of the Lord of the Universe) Chitanya Mahaprabhu
was highly intelligent person, an expert in Vedic knowledge yet he
preached bhakti marga. The temple of Jagannatha has been in existence
for thousands of years. According to the Mahabharata, it was built 200
years after kurukshetra war. Archeological versions date temple as 800
to 1,000 years old. The temple in the present form was renovated by King
Ananga Bhimadeva in the 12th Century.
Rathayatra (car
festival) is held during on set of rainy season every year. Lord
Jagannatha, along with His brother Balarama and His sister Subhadra devi
and Sudarshana are carried from the temple in great procession and
placed on huge wooden chariots. Deities Jagannatha, Balabhadra, Subhadra
and Sudarshan are carved out of wood only once in twelve years while
the chariots for these Deities are made every year. The main chariot for
Jagannatha is called Nandighosha. It is 60 feet tall, 35 feet square,
rides on 16 wheels and requires at least 4,200 devotees to pull it. The
other two chariots are not quite as large. Balarma’s car is called
Taladhwaja. It is 55 feet tall with 14 wheels. The smallest one,
Deviratha, belongs to Subhadra, although it also carries Sudarshana. It
is 50 feet tall and has 12 wheels. The chariots are pulled from the
Jagannatha temple along the entire length to Gundika temple. The Deities
remain there for nine days, and then return to the main temple on the
tenth day. This festival reminds Sri Krishna's return from Dwaraka to
Vrindavana. Orissa government has proclaimed the Yatra a "state
festival". Ratha yatra is state-pride and so ratha yatra one of the
great religious festivals continues year after year, despite dwindling
forest resources to make the cars.
The Deities are
unusual in their appearance. For a South Indian, they look like the
dolls from Channapatna, Mysore. They have no feet, their hands are but
stubs and have round saucer like eyes that stare. They have been
worshiped in this fashion for hundreds of years. Some may think Hindus
here worship some crude idols; but hands, hair and tooth are also being
worshipped in other religions!
Priests of Jagannatha
temple venture into grove and assess the competency of the trees. They
must be of the neem variety, should have certain symbols inscribed on
them, there should be a cobra nearby and no birds should be living in
the trees. Such trees are cut with a golden axe. The carts are built by
hereditary artists.
Jesus said,” when two people gather
in my name, I will be there”. When one sees thousands of devotees
gathered in the name of God, tears roll down with joy. One wonders how
people are worship my Father in various ways!
mantra powerMantras
are powerful sounds and when chanted with devotion produce enormous
effects. Mantras are well-off in their meanings and their meaning can be
meditated while chanting. As the mind concentrates more and more on
mantra and its meaning, it conditions the mind and takes up to the
higher states and forms the path to salvation - the eternal bliss. Read
on to know about the significance of mantra…
The Vedas are full
of mantras, therefore have been kept for ages in their raw form to use
in the different practices like patha, karma, jata, gana, patas. It has
been done to ensure that the chanter clearly interprets the correct
letters and sound for each letter (svara). People are advised to chant
the mantras only when they know the correct pronunciation of it. That is
how mantras are kept against deterioration with time.
Mantras Are Energy-Based Sounds
Sound
is the foremost content of the creation. Mantras are divine sounds.
Saying any word produces an actual physical vibration. Over time, if we
know what the effect of that vibration is, then the word may come to
have meaning associated with the effect of saying that vibration or
word. Mantras appear really powerful when this sound effect reaches the
mind and the surroundings.
Mantras Create Thought-Energy Waves
Mantra,
when chanted sincerely produces a state where the organism vibrates at
the rate completely in tune with the energy and spiritual state,
represented by and contained within the mantra.
Mantra Have Fire-Like Energy
Mantras
have fire like energy which can bring a positive and beneficial result,
or it can produce an energy meltdown when misused or practiced without
some guidance. There are certain mantra formulas which are so exact, so
specific and so powerful that they must be learned and practiced under
careful supervision by a qualified guru.
Mantras Eventually Quiet the Mind
At
a deep level, subconscious mind is a collective consciousness of all
the forms of primitive consciousnesses which exist throughout the
physical and subtle bodies. Sincere use of mantra can excavate into
subconscious crystallized thoughts stored in the organs and glands and
transform these bodily parts into repositories of peace.
A mantra
is a powerful word or phrase that may or may not have meaning in the
same way as a sentence. Mantras can only be experienced, there is no
proper term to define them and phrase them. That is why; they get passed
from generation to generation.
EKADASHI POOJA
Ekadasi puranam pooja vidhanam
Lord
krishna in bhagavath geetha says Those who do ekadasi fasting are
v.dear and near to him, similarly we all know the story of ambarishi ,
such is the power of ekadasi.so I have attempted to detail the procedure
and rules to fast, Also from ekadasi purana the katha shravanam for
each ekadasi for all of you to benefit. Hope you will enjoy and also get
the blessing of sri narayana.Even if not fasting just reading
corresponding stories of each ekadasi will give salvation .
Just
as both white and Black cow give the same quality of milk, the
ekaadasis in both the dark and bright fortnight are equal in their
potency to confer merit, and to liberate one from the endless cycles of
misery
EKAADASI
Shri Vishnu Sahasra nAma stothram calls
HIM Ekasmai Namaha meaning salutations to the ONE. So in the very name
of Ekadhasi Shri Hari is present & so it is a very auspicious day.
Since Shri Hari is the presiding deity for Ekaadashi, it is also called
'Haridina' meaning a day to be dedicated entirely for worshipping Him,
meditating upon Him, listening to His glory & studying the
scriptures. Sri Purandara Dasaru says vrathagalellavu hardina
vrathadahinde. This is a unique concept of the followers of Dvaita
philosophy.
Observance of Ekadashi by fasting & meditating on the
Divinity with implicit faith, is an excellent reflection of sathva
guna. The Lord mentions in the Gita that none born of prakruthi is free
from the influence of three gunas, viz, Sathva, Rajas & Thamas. Of
the three gunas, sathva is given the highest place because the jeeva in
whom sathva guna dominates moves towards the Nivruthi marga i.e.,
Jnana-Bhakthi-Vairagya-Moksha. To such souls, God reveals Himself.
Ekadashi observance cleanses the mind & paves the way for Jnana. It
is an established fact that when one does not take food even though
there is a desire for it, there will be increase in self-control &
it develops a strong will power. One who controls hunger will be away
from sin because hunger is the root cause of many a sins. Srimad Acharya
says in krishNAmrutha mahArNava that the fire of merit that accrues
from observing an Ekadhasi reduces to ashes the sins of hundreds of
births.
SIGNIFICANCE OF FASTING
The moon is not in its full
glory during Ekadashi due to its movement. The food that is, therefore,
consumed on these days remain undigested. Moon is the solicitation deity
for food. UpavAsa does not mean mere fasting, it means sAmEpya vAsa
(dwelling in proximity to the Lord) with archana, japa, katha shravana,
nirAhara & jAgarna. So, after setting apart sometime to basic
necessities the whole day & night is to be spent in thinking about
His glories. Even if Shraadha falls on this day, it is to be performed
on the Dwadasi day only.
VarAha purana says the pregnant woman,
mothers of young children & those who are very weak can partake
fruits like dates, banana, grapes, coconut milk, milk, curds.. All sins
indulged in by the body & mind are wiped out by UpavAsa.
Please note:
Ekaadasi
fast is exempted for those who are ailing, for the aged persons, and
for ladies who are pregnant. This is in agreement with accepted dharma
shastraic doctrines. Those who cannot observe a full fast may observe it
to the extent possible - like fasting by drinking milk, fruit juices,
etc. Even those who are exempted the full fast due to physical
conditions must avoid onion, garlic, and other spicy foods that are
ritually impure on ekaadasi days. Ekaadasi is the king among the Fasts,
and one should be regulated in food habits (even if physical condition
does not permit total abstinence from food and water). Please remember
this important point and observe the fast in the way that is possible
for you according to your circumstances.
Ekadhashi is a fasting
day to atone for our sins of indulging in undesirable acts through
Dashendriyas. It is a Vaishnava Vratha which is greater than all Yaagas
& its power to destroy sins is unmatched if we follow the dos &
don'ts of it strictly.
Dos:
Worship, meditate & think about Him.
Keep awake during the night of Ekadhashi.
Make a sankalpa for three day vow.
Break the fast on the Dwadasi day as per rules.
On Ekaadashi, take theertha only once no thulasi to be eaten & have only angaara mark(Black mark) on the forehead.
Tell the greatness of Ekaadashi to others.
Perform Ekaadashi shraadha on Dvadashi day.
If shraadha falls on sadhana dwadaashi day, serve food to the brahmins before Dvadashi passes off.
Even on vridhi, suthaka days, ekadhashi is to be observed.
Even while in their periods, women have to observe Ekadashi.
Do nots
No food, water or sleep.
No sleep during day time on Dasami, Ekadashi & Dvadashi.
The first part of Dvadashi thithi is called Harivaasara & no food to be taken during that period.
No cooked food to be offered as Naivedya on Ekadashi.
No Ramaa (Lakshmi) naivedhya.
SANKALPA MANTHRAS
dashamee divase parapte vrathastoham janaardana
thridinam devadevesha nirvigham kuru keshava (Brahmavaivartha puraanam)
Janaardhana!
Today being Dasami, I am ready for the three day vow. Oh, Lord! Deva
Deva! Keshava! ss that no obstacles come in the way of my vow.
ekaadashyam niraharaha sthithvahani parehyaham
bhookshyaami pundareekaaksha saranam me bhavaachyutha
(Brihannaaradeeya puraanama XXI-15)
After fasting on Ekadhashi, I will eat on Dwadaashi, Please be my refuge, Oh, Achyutha!
adhyashvasheha niraahaaro bhoothvaaham dwaadashee dine
vidhaasye paaranam dheva preetho bhava ma maanisham (Varaaha puraanam)
I will be on a fast tonight & tomorrow & break the fast on Dwaadashi. Lord! may you be pleased.
ajnaana thimiraandhasya vratenaanena keshava
Praseeda sumukho natha jnaanadristi prado bhava
(Brihannaradeeya puraanam, XXI- 20)
Oh
Lord! Keshava! I am blinded by the darkness of ignorance. By my
undertaking this fast on Ekadashi, may it please you to bless me with
the light of knowledge.
ekaadasyupavaasena dwaadashee paaranenacha
yadaarijitham mayaa punyam thena preenathu keshavah
(Brahmavaivartha Puraanam)
May Lord Keshava be pleased with the merit that accrued to me by fasting on Ekaadashi & breaking the fast on Dwaadashi.
na kAshi na gaya ganga na rewa cha gowthamI
na chApi kauravam kshathram, thulyambhoopa haredrinaath
(Padma purAnam)
That
sacred rivers like Ganga, Narmada, Godavari etc & holy places like
Kashi, Gaya, Kurushetra etc., cannot equal the merit of Ekaadhashi
vratha.
bhAgavatharodagodi upavAsa jAgara ondhina mAdalillA
rAgadhi shukamuni pELdha harikaThesuyOgavembodhilla
nirjala ekadashi
Yudhisthira Maharaja said, "0 Lord of lords, Shri Krishna, all glories unto You! 0 master of the universe, You alone are the source of the four types of living entities-those born from eggs, those born from perspiration, those born from seeds, and those born from embryos. You alone are the root cause of all, 0 Lord, and therefore You are the creator, maintainer, and destroyer.
"My Lord, You have so kindly explained to me the auspicious day known as Sat-tila Ekadashi, which occurs during the dark fortnight of the month of Magha [January-February]. Now please explain the Ekadashi, that occurs during the light fortnight of this month. By what name is it known, and what is the process for observing it? Who is the Deity that is worshiped on this sublime day, which is so very dear to You?"
Lord Shri Krishna replied, "0 Yudhisthira, I shall gladly tell you about the Ekadashi, that occurs during the light half of the month of Magha. This Ekadashi, obliterates all kinds of sinful reactions and demoniac influences affecting the spirit soul. It is known as Jay& Ekadashi, and the fortunate soul who observes a fast on this sacred day is relieved of the great burden of ghostly existence. Thus there is no better Ekadashi, than this, for it truly bestows freedom from birth and death. It is to be honored very carefully and diligently. So I ask you to listen to Me very attentively, 0 Pandava, as I explain a wonderful historical episode regarding this Ekadashi, an episode I have already related in the Padma Purana
"Long, long ago in the heavenly planets, Lord Indra ruled his celestial kingdom very nicely, and all the demigods living there were very happy and content. In Nandana Forest, which was beautifully graced with parijata flowers, Indra drank ambrosia whenever he liked and enjoyed the service of fifty million celestial maidens, the Apsaras, who danced in ecstasy for his pleasure.
"Many singers, led by Puspadanta, sang in voices sweet beyond compare. Citrasena, Indra's chief musician, was there in the company of his wife Malini and his beautiful son Malyavan. An Apsara named Puspavati became very much attracted to Malyavan; indeed, Cupid's sharp arrows pierced the core of her heart. Her beautiful body and complexion, along with the enchanting movements of her eyebrows, captivated Malyavan.
"0 king, listen as I describe the splendid beauty of Puspavati: She had incomparably graceful arms with which to embrace a man like a fine silken noose; her face resembled the moon; her lotus eyes reached almost to her lovely ears, which were adorned with wonderful earrings; her thin, ornamented neck looked like a conch; her waist was very slender, the size of a fist; her hips were broad, and her thighs like the trunks of banana trees; her naturally beautiful features were complemented by gorgeous ornaments and garments; her breasts were highly raised; and to look upon her feet was to behold newly grown red lotuses.
"Seeing Puspavati in all her heavenly beauty, Malyavan was bewitched at once. They had come with other performers to please Lord Indra by singing and dancing enchantingly, but because they had become so enamored of each other, pierced through the heart by the arrows of Cupid, lust personified, they were utterly unable to sing or dance properly before the lord and master of the heavenly realms.' Their pronunciation was wrong and their rhythm careless. Lord Indra understood the source of the errors at once. Offended at the discord in the musical performance, he became very angry and screamed, 'You useless fools! You pretend to sing for me while in a stupor of infatuation with each other! You are mocking me! I curse you both to suffer henceforth as pisacas [hobgoblins]. As husband and wife, go to the earthly regions and reap the reactions of your offenses.'
"Struck dumb by these harsh words, Malyavan and Puspavati at once became morose and fell from the beautiful Nandana Forest in the kingdom of heaven to a Himalayan peak here on planet earth. Immeasurably distressed, and their celestial intelligence vastly diminished by the effects of Indra's fierce curse, they lost their senses of taste and smell, and even their sense of touch. It was so cold and miserable high on the Himalayan wastes of snow and ice that they could not even enjoy the oblivion of sleep.
"Roaming aimlessly hither and thither in those harsh altitudes, Malyavan and Puspavati suffered more and more, from one moment to the next. Even though they were situated in a cave, because of the snowfall and cold their teeth chattered ceaselessly, and their hair stood on end because of their fright and bewilderment.
"In this utterly desperate situation, Malyavan said to Puspavati, 'What abominable sins did we commit to have to suffer in these pisaca bodies, in this impossible environment? This is absolutely hellish! Though hell is very ferocious, the suffering we are undergoing here is even more abominable. Therefore it is abundantly clear that one should never commit any sin.'
"And so the forlorn lovers trudged onward in the snow and ice. By their great good fortune, however, it so happened that that very day was Jaya Ekadashi, the Ekadashi of the light fortnight of the month of Magha. Because in their misery they neglected to drink any water, kill any game, or even eat whatever fruits and leaves were available at that altitude, they unknowingly observed Ekadashi by fasting completely from all food and drink. Sunk in misery, Malyavan and Puspavati collapsed beneath a pipal tree and did not even try to get up. The sun had set by this time.
"The night was even colder and more miserable than the day. They shivered in the frigid snowfall as their teeth chattered in unison, and when they became numb, they embraced just to keep warm. Locked in each other's arms, they could enjoy neither sleep nor sex. Thus they suffered through the whole night under the powerful curse of Indra.
"Still, 0 Yudhisthira, by the mercy of the fast they had by chance observed on Jaya Ekadashi, and because they had remained awake all night, they were blessed. Please hear what happened on the next day. As Dvadasi dawned, Malyavan and Puspavati had given up their demoniac forms and were once again beautiful heavenly beings wearing lustrous ornaments and exquisite garments. As they looked at each other in amazement, a celestial airplane [vimana] arrived on the spot. A chorus of heavenly denizens sang their praises as the couple stepped into the beautiful aircraft and proceeded directly to the heavenly regions, buoyed up by the good wishes of everyone. Soon Malyavan and Puspavati arrived at Amaravati, Lord Indra's capital city, and then they immediately went before their lord and offered him their cheerful obeisances.
"Lord Indra was astonished to see that they had been restored to their original status and forms so soon after he had cursed them to suffer as demons far, far below his celestial kingdom. Indra asked them, 'What extraordinary meritorious deeds have you performed so that you could give up your pisaca bodies so quickly after I had cursed you? Who released you from my irresistible curse?'
"Malyavan replied, '0 lord, it was by the mercy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Vasudeva, and also by the powerful influence of Jaya Ekadashi, that we were released from our suffering condition as pisacas. This is the truth, 0 master: Because we executed devotional service to Lord Vishnu by observing Jaya Ekadashi, the day most dear to Him, we have happily been restored to our former status.'
"Indra said, 'Because you served the Supreme Lord Kesava by observing Ekadashi, you have become worshipable even by me, and I can see that you are now completely purified of sin. Whoever engages in devotional service to Lord Shri Hari or Lord diva becomes praiseworthy and worshipable even by me. Of this there is no doubt.' Lord Indra then gave Malyavan and Puspavati free rein to enjoy each other and wander about his heavenly planet.
"Therefore, 0 Yudhisthira, one should strictly observe a fast on the day of Lord Hari, especially on Jaya Ekadashi, which frees one from the sin of killing even a twice-born brahmana. A great soul who observes this fast with full faith and devotion has in effect given all kinds of charity, performed all kinds of sacrifice, and bathed in all the holy places of pilgrimage. Fasting on Jaya Ekadashi, qualifies one to reside in Vaikuntha and enjoy unending happiness for billions of yugas-indeed, forever. 0 great king, one who even hears or reads these glories of Jaya Ekadashi, achieves the blessed merit attained by performing an Agnistoma sacrifice, during which hymns from the Sama-veda are recited."
Thus ends the narration of the glories of MAgha-shukla EkAdasii, or JayA EkAdasii, from the Bhavishya-uttara Purana
sri suktam
oṃ || hira’ṇyavarṇāṃ hari’ṇīṃ suvarṇa’rajatasra’jām | candrāṃ hiraṇma’yīṃ lakṣmīṃ jāta’vedo ma āva’ha ||
tāṃ ma āva’ha jāta’vedo lakṣmīmana’pagāminī”m |
yasyāṃ hira’ṇyaṃ vindeyaṃ gāmaśvaṃ puru’ṣānaham ||
aśvapūrvāṃ ra’thamadhyāṃ hastinā”da-prabodhi’nīm |
śriya’ṃ devīmupa’hvaye śrīrmā devīrju’ṣatām ||
kāṃ so”smitāṃ hira’ṇyaprākārā’mārdrāṃ jvala’ntīṃ tṛptāṃ tarpaya’ntīm |
padme sthitāṃ padmava’rṇāṃ tāmihopa’hvaye śriyam ||
candrāṃ pra’bhāsāṃ yaśasā jvala’ntīṃ śriya’ṃ loke devaju’ṣṭāmudārām |
tāṃ padminī’mīṃ śara’ṇamahaṃ prapa’dyeஉlakṣmīrme’ naśyatāṃ tvāṃ vṛ’ṇe ||
ādityava’rṇe tapasoஉdhi’jāto vanaspatistava’ vṛkṣoஉtha bilvaḥ |
tasya phalā’ni tapasānu’dantu māyānta’rāyāśca’ bāhyā a’lakṣmīḥ ||
upaitu māṃ devasakhaḥ kīrtiśca maṇi’nā saha |
prādurbhūtoஉsmi’ rāṣṭreஉsmin kīrtimṛ’ddhiṃ dadādu’ me ||
kṣutpi’pāsāma’lāṃ jyeṣṭhāma’lakṣīṃ nā’śayāmyaham |
abhū’timasa’mṛddhiṃ ca sarvāṃ nirṇu’da me gṛhāt ||
gandhadvārāṃ du’rādharṣāṃ nityapu’ṣṭāṃ karīṣiṇī”m |
īśvarīg’ṃ sarva’bhūtānāṃ tāmihopa’hvaye śriyam ||
mana’saḥ kāmamākūtiṃ vācaḥ satyama’śīmahi |
paśūnāṃ rūpamanya’sya mayi śrīḥ śra’yatāṃ yaśa’ḥ ||
kardame’na pra’jābhūtā mayi sambha’va kardama |
śriya’ṃ vāsaya’ me kule mātara’ṃ padmamāli’nīm ||
āpa’ḥ sṛjantu’ snigdāni ciklīta va’sa me gṛhe |
ni ca’ devīṃ mātaraṃ śriya’ṃ vāsaya’ me kule ||
ārdrāṃ puṣkari’ṇīṃ puṣṭiṃ suvarṇām he’mamālinīm |
sūryāṃ hiraṇma’yīṃ lakṣmīṃ jāta’vedo ma āva’ha ||
ārdrāṃ yaḥ kari’ṇīṃ yaṣṭiṃ piṅgalām pa’dmamālinīm |
candrāṃ hiraṇma’yīṃ lakṣmīṃ jāta’vedo ma āva’ha ||
tāṃ ma āva’ha jāta’vedo lakṣīmana’pagāminī”m |
yasyāṃ hira’ṇyaṃ prabhū’taṃ gāvo’ dāsyoஉśvā”n, vindeyaṃ puru’ṣānaham ||
oṃ mahādevyai ca’ vidmahe’ viṣṇupatnī ca’ dhīmahi | tanno’ lakṣmīḥ pracodayā”t ||
śrī-rvarca’sva-māyu’ṣya-māro”gyamāvī’dhāt
pava’mānaṃ mahīyate” | dhānyaṃ dhanaṃ paśuṃ bahupu’tralābhaṃ
śatasa”ṃvatsaraṃ dīrghamāyu’ḥ ||
oṃ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ śānti’ḥ ||
Puja/ Yagya for Success
If you
are having troubles in achieving your goals. If you facing hard time in
your life, If you are having court cases or problems with
enemies.....here is the solution for your problems. Below given Puja/
Yagys will help you for success in all undertakings.
Durga
Saptashati"Ya Devi Sarva Bhuteshu Shakti Rupena Samsthita, Namastasyai,
Namastasyai, Namastasyai, Namo namah" Worshiping Goddess Durga will
remove all hurdles and success in every undertaking. Chanting of Durga
Sapta Shati (Devi Mahatmya, Chandi Path) is the best way to worship
Goddes Durga. You can chant one time, three times or nine times or you
can perform durga yagya based on your problem. Here you can order Durga
Sapta shati chanting. This chanting will be done by learned pundits, as
it should be read by those who learned if from a Guru
When aarti is performed, the performer faces the deity of God (or divine element, e.g. Ganges river) and concentrates on the form of God by looking into the eyes of the deity (it is said that eyes are the windows to the soul) to get immersed. The flame of the aarti illuminates the various parts of the deity so that the performer and onlookers may better see and concentrate on the form. Aarti is waved in circular fashion, in clockwise manner around the deity. After every circle (or second or third circle), when Aarti has reached the bottom (6-8 o' clock position), the performer waves it backwards while remaining in the bottom (4-6 o' clock position) and then continues waving it in clockwise fashion. The idea here is that aarti represents our daily activities, which revolves around God, a center of our life. Looking at God while performing aarti reminds the performer (and the attendees of the aarti) to keep God at the center of all activities and reinforces the understanding that routine worldly activities are secondary in importance. This understanding would give the believers strength to withstand the unexpected grief and keeps them humble and remindful of God during happy moments. Apart from worldly activities aarti also represents one's self - thus, aarti signifies that one is peripheral to Godhead or divinity. This would keep one's ego down and help one remain humble in spite of high social and economic rank. A third commonly held understanding of the ritual is that aarti serves as a reminder to stay vigilant so that the forces of material pleasures and desires cannot overcome the individual. Just as the lighted wick provides light and chases away darkness, the vigilance of an individual can keep away the influence of the material world.[4]
Aarti is not only limited to God. Aarti can performed not only to all forms of life, but also inanimate objects which help in progress of the culture. This is exemplified by performer of the aarti waving aarti to all the devotees as the aarti comes to the end - signifying that everyone has a part of God within that the performer respects and bows down to. It is also a common practice to perform aarti to inanimate objects like vehicles, electronics etc. at least when a Hindu starts using it, just as a gesture of showing respect and praying that this object would help one excel in the work one would use it for. It is similar to the ritual of doing auspicious red mark(s) using kanku(kumkum) and rice.
Hinduism has a long tradition of aarti songs, simply referred to as 'Aarti', sung as an accompaniment to the ritual of aarti. It primarily eulogizes to the deity the ritual is being offered to, and several sects have their own version of the common aarti songs that are often sung on chorus at various temples, during evening and morning aartis. Sometimes they also contain snippets of information on the life of the gods.
The most commonly sung aarti is that is dedicated to all deities is Om Jai Jagdish Hare, known as "The Universal Aarti" and is another common aarti song. Its variation are used for other deities as well such as Om Jai Shiv omkara,Om Jai Lakshmi mata,Om Jai Ambe gauri,Om Jai Adya Shakti.
In Swaminarayan Mandirs, Jay Sadguru Swami is the aarti that is sung. In most temples in India, aarti is performed at least twice a day, after the ceremonial puja, which is the time when the largest number of devotees congregates.
આપણે જેને શંખ તરિકે ઓળખીએ છે તે મૃદુકાય પ્રાણીનું કવચ છે. આ કવચ સામાન્ય રીતે ડાબી બાજુનાં વલય તરિકે રચાયેલું હોય છે, પરંતુ જવલ્લે તે જમણા વલય વાળું પણ જોવા મળે છે. આ કવચ મહદ્ અંશે કેલ્શિયમ કાર્બોનેટ (CaCO૩) એટલેકે ચાકનું બનેલું હોય છે.
શંખનાં શરીરમાં એક પાતળી અને લાંબી ખાંચ હોય છે અને શરીરનું પોલાણ એક લાંબી નળી રૂપે હોય છે જેમાં પ્રાણી વસવાટ કરતું હોય છે. શંખ જ્યારે પુખ્તતાએ પહોંચે ત્યારે ખાંચનો ખુલ્લા હોઠ જેવો ભાગ રચાય છે. શંખ પોતાનાં દાંતરડા આકરનાં પાદ રંધ્રો દ્વારા સપાટી ઉપર ચાલે છે અને શ્લેશ્મમય લાંબા સૂત્ર સાથે જોડાયેલાં ઇંડા મુકે છે.
ઉપયોગો
ખોરાકમાં
શંખ (અંદર રહેલા મૃદુકાય જીવ)નો ઉપયોગ અનેક ખાદ્ય વાનગીઓમાં વિશ્વભરમાં થતો જોવા મળે છે. તેને વિવિધ રીતે ખાવામાં આવે છે, જેમકે કાચા, સલાડ/કચૂમ્બરમાં, રાંધીને ખાસ વાનગી તરિકે કે બર્ગર વિગેરેની વચ્ચે પુરણ કરીને. પૂર્વ એશિયાઇ વનગીઓમાં તેને સમારીને, બાફી અને વઘારીને શાકની જેમ ખાવામાં આવે છે. એલ સાલ્વાડોર દેશમાં શંખના કીડાને જીવતો ખાવામાં આવે છે, તેની ઉપર લીંબુનો રસ રેડવામાં આવે છે, જેથી તે તરફડે અને કોચલું વળી જાય છે, આમ કોચલું વળેલો કીડો ટામેટા, ડુંગળી અને અન્ય શાકની સાથે મુકીને આખોને આખો કીડો ગળી જવામાં આવે છે.
સુશોભનમાં
ચાંદીમાં મઢેલો તિબેટન શંખ
ઘણી વખત શંખનો સુશોભનમાં પણ ઉપયોગ થતો જોવા મળે છે, મોટા શંખની અંદર શોભાનાં છોડ ઉગાડવામાં આવે છે, ક્યારેક તેનો ઉપયોગ રંગ ભરવા, શાહીનાં ખડીયા તરીકે, વગેરે. તેને વલયાકારે આડો કાપીને તેની તક્તિઓનો બંગડી તરીકે ઉપયોગ પશ્ચિમ બંગાળ અને બાંગ્લાદેશમાં આભુષણ તરીકે થાય છે. તેમાથી માથામાં નાંખવાનાં બકલો વગેરે પણ બનાવવામાં આવે છે.
અન્ય
અનેક સંસ્કૃતિઓમાં શંખને ચિત્ર કળામાં વિવિધ રીતે ઉપયોગમાં લેવાતો વર્ણવવામાં આવ્યો છે, જેમકે પાત્ર તરિકે, યોદ્ધાઓનાં હાથનાં પંજાની ઢાલ રૂપે, વાધ્ય તરિકે, વિગેરે. ભારતમાં સોમનાથ, દ્વારકા, ગોવા, રામેશ્વર, મદ્રાસ વગેરે દરિયા કિનારાનાં પ્રવાસન સ્થળોએ શંખ અને છીપમાંથી વિવિધ પ્રકારનાં ઝુમ્મરો, પેન હોલ્ડર, તક્તિઓ, બનાવીને તેના ઉપર રોજી રળતાં હજારો લોકો જોવા મળશે. આ ઉપરાંત શંખ ઉપર ચિત્રો દોરીને કે નામ અથવાતો નામનાં અક્ષરો લખીને તેને શો પીસ તરીકે અથવાતો કી ચેઇન તરીકે વેચાતા પણ જોઇ શકાય છે.
મઢેલો શંખ ફુંકી રહેલા સાધુ
હિંદુ ધર્મ અને શંખ
હિંદુ ધર્મમાં શંખનું અલાયદું જ સ્થાન છે. હિંદુ પુજા સામગ્રીમાં શંખનો સમાવેશ થાય છે. ઘરે અને મંદિરમાં ભગવાનનાં દ્વાર ખોલતાં પહેલાં શંખ વગાડવામાં આવે છે. પુજામાં રાખવામાં આવતાં શંખ ઘણી વખત સોના કે ચાંદીથી મઢીને સુશોભીત કરવામાં આવે છે. ભગવાનનાં અભિષેકમાં પણ શંખ વપરાય છે. ફુંકવા માટે ડાબો શંખ અને પુજા કે અભિષેક માટે જમણો શંખ વપરાય છે.
પુરાણોમાં અને ખાસ કરીને શ્રીમદ્ ભાગવતમાં યુદ્ધ દરમ્યાન શંખનો વાધ્ય તરિકે અને ઘોષણા કરવા માટે ઉપયોગ થયાનું વારંવાર વર્ણન જોવા મળે છે. હિંદુ દેવતા (ભગવાન) વિષ્ણુના ચતુર્ભૂજ સ્વરૂપમાં શંખ તેમનાં એક હાથમાં વર્ણવવામાં આવે છે. મહાભારતનાં વિવિધ પાત્રોનાં શંખનાં જુદા જુદા નામોનું વર્ણન ભગવદ્ ગીતાનાં પહેલા અધ્યાયમાં જોવા મળે છે. જેમાં, કૃષ્ણનો શંખ પાંચજન્ય અને અર્જુનનો દેવદત્ત તથા ભીમનો પૌંડ્ર, વિગેરે છે.
રુદ્રાક્ષના પ્રકાર
Gaurishankara.gif ગૌરી-શંકર રુદ્રાક્ષ = કુદરતી રીતે જોડાયેલા બે રુદ્રાક્ષ જે શિવ-શક્તિનું પ્રતિક છે.તે પ્રેમ, આકર્ષણ, શાંતિ, સંવાદ તથા પતિ પત્નિ અને પ્રેમીજનો વચ્ચે લાગણી વધારનાર છે.
Echandrakarekamukhi.gif એક મુખી (ચન્દ્રાકાર) રુદ્રાક્ષ= ગોળાકાર એકમુખી રુદ્રાક્ષ અતિદુર્લભ અને કિંમતી હોય છે. તે શિવ સમાન મનાય છે. તે તમામ પ્રકારની ઇચ્છાઓ પૂર્ણ કરનાર, પાપોથી મૂક્તિ આપનાર અને સૌભાગ્યનું પ્રતિક મનાય છે. અત્યારે એકમુખી તરીકે ઓળખાતો ચન્દ્રાકાર રુદ્રાક્ષ ખરેખર તો ભદ્રાક્ષ પ્રકારનો હોય છે, જેમાં વચ્ચે કાણું હોતું નથી અને તે ફક્ત પૂજાવિધિમાં ઉપયોગી છે.
2mukhinep.gif બે મુખી રુદ્રાક્ષ = આ રુદ્રાક્ષ અર્ધનારીશ્વર(શિવ-શક્તિ) સ્વરૂપ મનાય છે. તે સમરૂધ્ધી વધારનાર અને પાપનાશક છે. એકતાનું પ્રતિક અને લગ્નસંબંધ ને દ્ર્ઢ બનાવનાર છે. તથા મગજને એ કાબુ કરનાર અને ચંદ્રસંબંધી તકલીફો દુર કરનાર મનાય છે.
3mukhi.gif ત્રણ મુખી રુદ્રાક્ષ = અગ્નિ સ્વરૂપ અને ધારણ કરનારને તમામ પ્રકારની સમરૂધ્ધી વધારનાર તથા તાવ જેવી બિમારીઓથી મુક્ત કરનાર મનાય છે. મંગળસંબંધી તકલીફો દુર કરનાર મનાય છે.
4mukhi.gif ચાર મુખી રુદ્રાક્ષ = બ્રહ્મા સ્વરૂપ અને ધારણ કરનારને ધર્મ,અર્થ,કામ અને મોક્ષ પ્રદાન કરનાર છે. પાપનાશક,યાદશક્તિ તથા ચાતુર્ય વધારનાર અને બુધસંબંધી તકલીફો દુર કરનાર મનાય છે.
5mukhi.gif પંચમુખી રુદ્રાક્ષ = આ સર્વસુલભ રુદ્રાક્ષ કાલાગ્નિરુદ્ર (શિવ) સ્વરૂપ અને પાપનાશક છે. ગુરૂસંબંધી તકલીફો દુર કરનાર મનાય છે. માળા બનાવવામાં વપરાય છે. પંચમુખી રુદ્રાક્ષની માળા ધારણ કરનારને તન, મનની શાંતિ તથા આધ્યાત્મિક ઉંચાઇનો અનુભવ કરાવે છે.
6mukhi.gif છ મુખી રુદ્રાક્ષ = સન્મુખનાથ અથવા કાર્તિકેય(શિવપૂત્ર) સ્વરૂપ અને જમણા હાથમાં ધારણ કરનારને બ્રહ્મહત્યા જેવા પાપમાંથી પણ મૂક્તિ અપાવનાર મનાય છે. નીચા લોહીના દબાણમાં લાભકારી અને શૂક્રસંબંધી તકલીફો દુર કરનાર મનાય છે.
7mukhi.gif સાત મુખી રુદ્રાક્ષ = અનંગ સ્વરૂપ અથવા લક્ષ્મી સ્વરૂપ અને ધારણ કરનારને તમામ પ્રકારની સમરૂધ્ધી વધારનાર મનાય છે. શનિસંબંધી તકલીફો દુર કરનાર મનાય છે.
8mukhi.gif આઠ મુખી રુદ્રાક્ષ = ગણેશ સ્વરૂપ અને ધારણ કરનારને આઘાત તથા અકસ્માતથી રક્ષા કરનાર મનાય છે. રાહુ સંબંધી તકલીફો દુર કરનાર મનાય છે.
9mukhi.gif નવ મુખી રુદ્રાક્ષ = ભૈરવ સ્વરૂપ અને દેવી સ્વરૂપ મનાય છે. અતિ લાભકારી અને કેતુ તથા શૂક્ર સંબંધી તકલીફો દુર કરનાર મનાય છે.
10mukhi.gif દશ મુખી રુદ્રાક્ષ = જનાર્દન(વિષ્ણુ)સ્વરૂપ અને બૂધ સંબંધી તકલીફો દુર કરનાર મનાય છે.
11mukhi.gif અગીયાર મુખી રુદ્રાક્ષ = રુદ્ર સ્વરૂપ અને મંગળ તથા ગુરૂ સંબંધી તકલીફો દુર કરનાર મનાય છે.
12mukhi.gif બાર મુખી રુદ્રાક્ષ = આદિત્ય(સૂર્ય)સ્વરૂપ અને સૂર્ય સંબંધી તકલીફો દુર કરનાર મનાય છે. ધારણ કરનારને શત્રુઓ થી રક્ષણ અને હિંમત પ્રદાન કરનાર તથા ઉચ્ચ રક્તદાબ, હ્રદય,લોહીસંબંધી તકલીફોમાં રાહત આપનાર મનાય છે.
13mukhi.gif તેર મુખી = કાર્તિકેય(શિવપૂત્ર) સ્વરૂપ અને ધારણ કરનારને મંગળ સંબંધી તકલીફો થી રક્ષણ કરનાર મનાય છે.
14mukhi.gif ચૌદ મુખી = શિવ સ્વરૂપ અને હનુમાન સ્વરૂપ પણ અને એકમુખી પછી અતિ મહત્વ ધરાવનાર છે. શનિ સંબંધી તકલીફો અને સાડાસાતીની અસરમાં ખુબ જ લાભદાયક છે.
પંદર મુખીથી એકવીશ મુખી રુદ્રાક્ષ અતિ કિંમતી અને અલભ્ય મનાય છે.
15mukhi.gif પંદર મુખી રુદ્રાક્ષ =
16mukhi.gif સોળ મુખી રુદ્રાક્ષ =
17mukhi.gif સતર મુખી રુદ્રાક્ષ =
18mukhi.gif અઢાર મુખી =
19mukhi.gif ઓગણીશ મુખી રુદ્રાક્ષ =
20mukhi.gif વીશ મુખી રુદ્રાક્ષ =
21mukhi.gif એકવીશ મુખી રુદ્રાક્ષ = કુબેર(ધન સંપતિ ના દેવ)સ્વરૂપ અને ધારણ કરનારને અદભૂત આર્થીકલાભ કરાવનાર મનાય છે.
What do you believe in?
You declare something or an act as good or bad based only on your
likes and dislikes. Anything or any act is not good or bad by itself.
Good is something that you like doing or experiencing. If you think that
something is bad then it is something that you dislike.
As you keep doing what you like again and again it becomes a habit.
When it becomes a habit you like doing it again and because you like it
you feel it is good and the right thing to do. This is a cycle.
A man who drinks everyday at the bar believes that alcohol is good
for him which is obviously why he is spending all his time and money
for. He likes the good feeling that he gets when he is drunk. Even if he
knows it is bad for health, he believes it is good for his soul or his
mind. It keeps him happy. He may defend his actions with his own
arguments. He says, “look Mr Dhilip, one of my dear friend who never
smoked or consumed alcohol died of a heart attack while quite young
whereas look at me, I am still alive and stronger and healthier than
you”. Hegenuinelythinks that alcohol is good for his system and his
heart. It relaxes him whereas his friend who died so young did not have
any good stress busters. He was risking his life by not drinking.
The owners of distilleries who are in the business of making
wine,whiskey and brandy keep informing the world that a 60 ml of alcohol
is good for their company and also for those who consume it. They
obviously cannot say it is bad for the consumers. 60 ml multiplied by
the world population is big time business. With the money that they earn
they can set up the information on the internet saying that “a little
bit of alcohol is great”. They too know that their client should live
long enough to give them regular business or they will have to find and
tempt new comers.
Then we have people who never consumed alcoholic drinks. I heard one
such person say, “my dear friend used to drink 2 pegs of red wine
thinking it is good for his heart, but poor fellow, he died young,
whereas I am now 90 years old”.
Winston Churchill who drank and smoked his way through in life lived
up to the age of 91.He is reputed once to have said, “I have taken more
out of alcohol than alcohol has taken out of me.” So according the Mr
Churchill alcohol had a great positive role in his life.
Bernard Shaw stayed away from alcohol or the cigar. He lived to be a
94 year old man. Bernard Shaw was also a vegetarian but is believed to
have liver extracts to strengthen his liver. But the world is very much
against Shaw because he took the liver extracts. They are not worried
about the rest of the world who consume a lot of meat, and drink
endlessly. So the entire focus on Bernard Shaw is that he was cheating
the world by saying that he was a vegan.
A human being is very intelligent when you compare them with animals
like a dog or cat. This is said only by a human being. Human beings have
the unique 6th or the 7th sense. But if you carefully look at what
animals, birds and reptiles are capable of doing you may have your own
doubts. Birds can fly long distance without a compass and still reach
the destination without missing it and that too without any training.
Watch a Kingfisher pick up a fish and you will wonder who taught the
bird how to do it. They say not a single Kingfisher missed the target.
You look around the world and feel that there must be a creator
called God because there are so many beautiful things in the world. The
more you believe that there is a God you like that feeling and go to a
place of worship. That becomes a habit and you like doing it again. So
each time you go to a temple you feel good and happy. Those who do not
believe in God fail to understand what makes you feel happy and good.
If you are an atheist you look around the world and feel that there
cannot be a creator because you feel that a creator cannot exist without
another creator. An atheist simply cannot understand how God existed
all the time. Who created God? is the question that is so hard to
answer. So they feel that people who think of God are either weak minded
or foolish.
There are people who say that everything that happens in their life
is due to the effects of planets. The planets are the cause. If Venus is
in their 7th house the person will always be more romantic or sexy or
be obsessive about something. So the man is obsessed with something not
because of himself but because of that planet in the 7th house.
There are people who believe that only effort is important. They feel
that someone is successful simply because that person had worked very
hard. They feel that discussions of fate is simply a waste of time or a
lame excuse.
However effort does not always yield the fruits. Ask a person who
says effort is the key to everything that happens to a do a high jump
beyond 10 feet if they feel that success always follows effort. There is
a limit to effort. While effort is important, there is something else
which yields the fruit of effort.
There are people who believe that there is no cause for anything.
Things happen to them for no reason. People are simply trying to fix a
reason for an event when there is no such thing as a reason. They
believe in randomness and coincidence. There is no order to anything. It
simply happens and that is it, no more questions. Just enjoy it and
don’t ask questions.
Some people believe in ghosts. They love to see ghosts movies, read
about it and spend a lot of time doing research on ghosts and angry
spirits. They do not realize that they are themselves a spirit or a
soul. For if they believe in spirits, they should believe that after
they die they will also become the ghost that they are worried about.
People steal money from others and become rich. They have seen that
people who did similar things went through a lot of stress later on due
to the guilt associated with what they did and some of them may end up
in jail. Yet they think that they can get away with it. Sooner or later
they will end up in jail but they think that somehow it will not happen
to them though it has happened to countless others. They feel that the
money that they have with them can buy happiness. When hard earned money
does not seem to give the promised happiness what are the chances of
the stolen money doing that?
An MBA Gold medalist (soft skill expert) once advertised, “Send me a
self addressed envelope and just 10 rupees and I will let you know how
to become a millionaire”. The response was massive. The expert become a
millionaire within a week. He replied to all his customers, “Now I am a
millionaire, so the method I used works, so you can try the same and
become a millionaire too”.
On the same lines we have many spiritual teachers in India. They
teach you how to become spiritual and give up materialism. The material
from the devotees and disciples reach their bank accounts. The disciples
are now spiritual because they do not have anything material with them.
Some of them give up their jobs and career and join as volunteers while
their Master is rolling in wealth and travel only business class. The
disciples of course take the long walk.
So what do you believe in?
Next time someone tell you “I do not believe in that”, ask them, “what do you believe in then”?
I do not know if you believed in whatever I told you just now. But that is you belief!
Why Hindus break Coconut in Ganesha Temples etc?
For centuries Hindus participate in rituals that involve coconuts in more than one way. Today many in India are trying to figure out why? Is there a basis or a reason for including coconuts and their products as part of the offerings to God?
One good look at the coconut and your mind will come up with many good reasons. To get the right answer to this question, you need to look at it from several angle.
The milky white kernel reminds of the the milky way – thiruparkadal – the abode of Lord Vishnu. Such white and loaded with goodness.
Many have asked me, when God feeds us all the time, what is the need to offer food to God. Good question. However, the devotees love to offer food to God. However one thing is very clear, after the offering is done, the food becomes Prasad (Prasadam).
The Prasad which is the term used to describe the food offered to God is finally consumed by us. Very rarely have we heard of God having actually consumed the food. Hindus also believe that God is within us. So when we eat the food God is also happy. Coconuts and Bananas make us feel happy whenever we eat them.
The coconut is within a hard shell. You need to use a lot of force to break the coconut and only then will you get the fruit of your action. Lord Ganesha is associated with elephants. Elephants love to consume coconuts. So coconuts are mostly offered to Lord Ganesha.
What is so special about a coconut tree?
The coconut tree is very tall. It usually stands out in a forest. It looks like it wants to reach the sky. I always remember the quote, “Sky is the limit” whenever I see a lone coconut tree.
To me it looks like it draws up the water from deep below the earth and force the water to rise up and up and the water eventually finds it way into the coconuts on the top side of the tree. It is like the energy traveling from the Mooladhara chakra and then finally reaching the head – the Sahasra – the crown chakra.
The coconut tree has no branches. Looks like it has only one aim. Lord Ganesha has only 1 tusk, the other tusk is broken off because Ganesha represents the One God and One Spirit concept instead of duality which is always a source of confusion.
It looks like the coconut tree is safeguarding a precious gift from God and it keeps it at a great height. To get the coconut you need to take a lot of effort. Climb a coconut and see for yourself. Even if you are very strong man you will puff and sweat a great deal.
Once you get the coconut and consume the nectar (coconut milk) inside the coconut you will be refreshed and back to normal. You feel it was worth the trouble.
A coconut tree lives for a long time and keeps on producing the extraordinary coconut one after the other. In Kerala people always say that a coconut tree will never harm anyone.
I feel that this tree is a very positive tree. Even on the seashores of Kerala etc, whenever I tasted the coconut water inside the coconut, I was surprised – it was sweet. Even the salt water turns into nectar.
Divinity and Coconut
The coconut has 3 eyes on it. 3 eyes is always considered divine. Lord Shiva has 3 eyes. 3 is a number associated with God and Guru. Ganesh also starts with G. G has the value of 3 in English Numerology. Bilva leaves that are offered to Lord Shiva is a trifoliate leaf. 3 eyes may also mean Brahma, Shiva and Vishnu. 3 may mean body, mind and spirit.
Lord Ganesha symbolizes the removal of obstacles. Vigneshwara means lord of removing obstacles. So if you have blocks then you are advised to pray to Lord Ganesha.
It is not easy to open up the coconut except by breaking it at one shot by throwing it against a wall or on the floor. It breaks with a loud noise. The breaking is associated to breaking the obstacles.
The obstacles in the life are a tough nut to crack. You can say, it is tough coconut to crack. So cracking coconuts is a way of saying that we like the problems to be broken like the coconut that we break inside temples or at the entrance of temples. The coconut is really hard.
You need God’s help and prayer to crack the tough nuts in our life. Breaking a coconut is a way of saying “Cheers” the problem is cracked. Once broken the sweet and nutritious kernel is exposed. It is white and pure and nutritious.
One of the classical Ayurveda books says something like this, “God gave us all the medicines – it is available in nature as plants, fruits and trees – so God wants you to take care of yourself and don’t complain”.
The 2 main obstacles in life!
Health and Wealth. These are the 2 main obstacles in life. If your health is gone, wealth is of no use. If wealth is gone, your health will be affected due to the mental stress you will go through. From a health problem so many other problems arise. A health problem can lead to childlessness for example. If you have a heart problem, your energy level for earning wealth decreases drastically.
People go to temples or any place of worship for better health and better wealth. The solution that a temple offers must attend to the health problem and the wealth problem.
Lord Ganesha is the remover of obstacles. To remove obstacles you need to use a lot of force. Elephants have a lot of force in them. They can push through ordinary blocks in no time.
Break a problem into small pieces and then finish them off. The coconut is broken into several pieces. The breaking of the coconuts symbolizes that act of breaking a problem into several pieces.
The most important reason!
The basis for what I wish to tell you is that the broken coconut is mostly consumed by human beings ultimately. Though it is broken thinking about God, God does not consume it. It is always for the human beings.
Coconut above all is a miracle. If you start doing a research on coconut you will be surprised when you come to know of what a coconut offers in terms of nutrition.
Coconut is highly nutritious and rich in fiber, vitamins, and minerals.
It is classified as a “functional food” because it provides many health benefits beyond its nutritional content. Coconut oil is of special interest because it possesses healing properties far beyond that of any other dietary oil and is extensively used in traditional medicine among Asian and Pacific populations. Pacific Islanders consider coconut oil to be the cure for all illness. The coconut palm is so highly valued by them as both a source of food and medicine that it is called “The Tree of Life.”
Only recently has modern medical science unlocked the secrets to coconut’s amazing healing powers.
For almost a century, the western scientists have been spreading false information that coconuts and coconut oil is bad for health. If coconuts were really bad for human beings, it would never have become a part of Hindu rituals.
Following are the great benefits of Coconut:
The entire coconut tree is very useful. Ask a person who hails from Kerala (like me). The coconut tree is fully utilized by the human being. Every bit of it is useful. When the coconut tree is alive it produces 100s of coconuts for a countless number of times.
Banish the myth that Coconuts are loaded with cholesterol!
One stupid scientist fooled the entire world into believing what he said, looks like he was tipped by businessmen who wanted to sell other oils. Most people tend to believe anything that is said by a scientist. The scientist said that coconuts will kill you very quickly but contrary to that all the people who lived on coconuts have a long and healthy life when compared to those who did not consume it.
Actually scientists are very good when it comes to physical objects, objects that are non-living. When it comes to living creatures and especially a complicated life form namely human beings, all laws of physics seem to fail. So the science of medicine as practiced by modern doctors is far from the truth, though they are good at many things. They say coffee is good for health and then say coffee is bad for health. They say alcohol is good for health and then say alcohol is bad for health. The reason for this struggle is that science does not work on human beings.
For example, Newtons 3rd law – every action has a equal and opposite reaction does not always work on human beings. For example if I slap you, you will slap me back. But in some cases, like if you slap Mahatma Gandhi he will show you the other cheek. A human body can stop and go into motion without any external force acting upon it. The thought is internal and there is nothing external about it. So it defies Newtons 1st law.
So coming back to correcting the stupidity of one scientist who said coconuts are bad for health……..
Coconut oil is 50% Lauric acid which is a medium chain fatty acid and is considered responsible for many of its health benefits. The only other abundant source found in nature is in human breast milk. So coconut oil is like the milk of mother nature.
Antibacterial
Coconut is a potent anti-bacterial and anti-fungal it is a great cleanser of our intestines and is something that can help heal alimentary canal problems. On top of this coconut will help your body fight off infection so eat it whenever you are unwell or feel something coming on, this is thanks to it being converted to Monolaurin by the body which fights off infections (viral or bacterial).
Stable for Cooking
Coconut oil itself which can be purchased pretty cheaply in your local health food store is hands down the best cooking oil. It is stable at high heats retaining all of its benefits (unlike Olive oil) and it will leave the food with a delicious taste.
Weight Loss/Metabolism Boosting
The effect on your thyroid coconuts have are amazing, they can boost thyroid function by up to 20%. Having an efficient thyroid is essential for our bodies to carry out several functions including boosting our metabolism and energy production.
Cancer Fighter
Coconuts has been proven to have anti-cancer effects especially of the colon and breast. This is due to the oils protective nature and ability to safeguard the body from infection whilst cleansing your system.
So after offering to GOD, never forget to consume the coconut. In many temples, they save the coconut water as the coconut is broken and this water is given to all the devotees attending the ritual. I feel that the coconut water should not be wasted. It is natures best natural isotonic beverage, an instant energiser, is the best hydrator and so remember in case you feel like next day you are going to have an hangover remember to have 1 glass of coconut water and the result will be amazing. However just because you found a way to get rid of hangovers do not drink alcohol. Alcohol is bad for health and is a tamasic food which takes you away from divinity. Just drink coconut water instead of alcohol.
