Ganapati or Ganesha, also known as Vinayaka, is perhaps, the most
popular of the Hindu deities worshipped by all sections of the Hindus.
No undertaking, whether sacred or secular, can get started without first
honouring and worshipping him. This is understandable and highly
desirable, since he is said to be the lord of obstacles (‘Vighaneshwara’
or ‘Vighanharta’). However, what is not understandable and certainly
not very agreeable is his repulsive origin and grotesque form! Even for
those who admire Lord Shiva’s skill in the surgical art of
head-transplantation, it becomes rather difficult to admire the end
product! Once we successfully manage to delve into the mysteries of this
symbolism, our repugnance will give rise to respect and respect to
reverence and worship.
The Rigvedic deity ‘Ganapati-Brahmanaspati’ – also called as ‘Brihaspati’ and ‘Vachaspati’ – manifest himself through a vast mall of light. He is golden-red in colour. The battle-axe is an important weapon of his. Without his grace no religious rite can succeed. He is always in the company of a group (‘gana’ – a group) of singers and dancers. He vanquishes the enemies of gods, protects the devoted votaries and shows them the right way of life.
Another class of Rigvedic deities, known as the ‘Maruts’ or ‘Marudgana’, described as the children of ‘Rudra’, also have similar characteristics. In addition, they can be malevolent towards those who antagonize them and can cause destruction like the wild elephants. They can put obstacles in the path of men if displeased and remove them when pleased. They are independent, not subject to anyone’s sovereignty (‘arajana’ = ‘vinayaka’).
A perusal of these two descriptions will perforce lead us to the obvious conclusion that Ganapati is the metamorphosed form of ‘Brhaspati-Marudgana’ deities. There is nothing strange in this, especially if we can recognize the transformations that have taken place among the various Vedic deities, as they were gradually absorbed among the gods of the later Hindu pantheon. The once all-important and all-Powerful ‘Indra’ (the king of the gods) was demoted to the rank of a minor deity ruling over one of the quarters. His lieutenant Vishnu was elevated to the central place in the Trinity. ‘Rudra’, the terrible, became Shiva the auspicious. Many other deities like ‘Dyuas’, ‘Aryaman’ and ‘Pushan’ were quietly dispatched into oblivion!
Despite the fact that Ganapati is a highly venerated and all-important deity, his ‘head’ has often been a mystery for others. No doubt, our puranas have easily ‘solved’ this problem, each in its own way. But this has satisfied neither the layman nor the scholar.
It will be extremely interesting to bring together, though in brief, all the stories about the origin of the wondrous deity, Ganesha:
1. At the request of the gods who wanted a deity capable of removing all obstacles from their path of action and fulfillment, Shiva himself was born of the womb of Parvati as Ganapati.
2. Once Parvati, just for fun, prepared an image of a child with an elephant’s head out of the unguents smeared over her body and threw in into river Ganga. It came to life. Both Ganga, the guardian deity of the river and Parvati, addressed the boy as their child. Hence he is known as ‘ Dvi-matura’, the once who has two mothers.
3. Parvati prepared the image of a child out of the scurf from her body, endowed him with life and ordered him to stand guard before her house. When Shiva wanted to enter the house he was rudely prevented by this new gatekeeper. Shiva became ‘Rudra’ and got him beheaded. Seeing that Parvati was inconsolable owing to this tragedy that befell her ‘son’ and not finding the head of the body anywhere – meanwhile one of the goblins of Shiva had gourmandized it! – He got an elephant’s head, grafted it on to the body of the boy and gave him new life. To make amends for his ‘mistakes’, Shiva appointed this new-found son as the head of all his retinues, who thus became ‘Ganapati’,
4. He sprang from Shiva’s countenance which represents the principle of ether (akashatatva’). His captivating splendour made Parvati react angrily and curse him, resulting in his uncouth form!
5. Ganesha was originally ‘Krishna’ himself in the human form. When ‘Shani’, the malevolent planet-spirit gazed at him, his head got separated and flew to ‘Gokola’, the world of ‘Krishna’. The head of an elephant was subsequently grafted to the body of the child.
Equally interested are the other myths about his adventures: He lost one of his tusks in a fight with ‘Parashurama’, which he successfully used as a stylus to write the epic ‘Mahabharata’ dictated by the sage ‘Vyasa’. He tactfully won the race against his brother ‘Skanda’ by circumambulating his parents and declaring that it was equivalent to going round the worlds. He thus won the hands of two damsels ‘Riddhi’ and ‘Siddhi’. He cursed the moon to was and wane, since the latter derisively laughed at him when he was trying to refill his burst belly with the sweets that had spilled out. He vanquished the demon ‘Vighanasura’ and successfully brought him under his subjugation.
There is no gainsaying the possibilities of man developing the concept of God and faith in Him as a result of his experiences through the various vicissitudes of life which prove his helplessness. He often disposes, what man proposes. Such a God must needs to be all-powerful. If He is pleased, all the obstacles in our path will be removed. If displeases He may thwart our efforts and make them in fructuous. Hence the paramount need to appease Him and please Him.
What could be the form of this almighty God! For a simple aboriginal living in a group (‘gana’) near a forest or a mountain, the mighty elephant might have provided the clue. This might have led to the worship of an elephant-like God. He being the ‘pati’ (Lord) of the ‘gana’ (group or clan) might have obtained the name ‘Ganapati’. As the group became more refined and cultured, this Elephant God might have been transformed into the present form.
However plausible or attractive this hypothesis may be, it is at best guesswork, if not an invention! Since Ganapati had gained de facto recognition in the hearts of millions or votaries, over several centuries, the puranas rightly struggled to make it de jure! True, they have given very confusing accounts.
Nevertheless they have succeeded in fusing together the votaries by giving them a scriptural or authoritative base. There is certainly no contradiction or confusion in the accounts as far as the worship and its result are concerned.
It is a favorite pastime of some western scholars and their Indian counterparts to ‘discover’ a Dravidian base for many interesting developments in our cultural and religious life and then to ‘unearth’ the further fact of the white-skinned Aryan ‘conquerors’ graciously and condescendingly absorbing these, tactfully elevating the same to higher levels all the while. This has naturally led to a vigorous reaction and these ‘reactionaries’ go the whole hog to prove it the other way round! When our Ganapati is caught in the web of such controversies one may be driven to the ridiculous conclusion that he is not an Aryan deity at all, but, most probably, imported from Mongolia! It is therefore better to play safe, rescue our deity from embarrassing situations and get the best out of him for spiritual life.
The most commonly accepted from of Ganesha depicts him as red in colour and in a human body with an elephant head. Out of the two tusks, one is broken. He has four arms. Two of the arms hold the ‘pasa’ (noose) and ‘ankusha’ (goad). The other two are held in the ‘abhaya’ and ‘varda’ ‘mudras’. The belly is of generous proportions and is decorated with a snake-belt. There is also a ‘yajnopavita’ (sacred-thread), either of thread or serpent. He may be seated in ‘padmasana’ (lotus-posture). When the belly does not permit this, the right leg may be shown bent and resting on the seat.
Apart from beautiful robes and ornaments, he wears a lovely carved crown. The trunk may be turned to the left or to the right.
He is normally seen helping himself to liberal quantities of ‘modaka’ (a kind of sweet balls).
A mouse, of ridiculously small proportions, is seen near him, nibbling at his share of the sweets, hoping perhaps, to gain enough strength to carry his master!
A third eye may sometimes be added on the forehead, in the centre of the eyebrows. The number of heads may be raised to five. The arms may vary from two to ten. Lotus, pomegranate, water vessel, battle-axe, lute, broken tusk, sugarcane, ears of paddy, bow and arrow, thunderbolt, rosary, book – these are some of the other objects shown in the hands. His ‘shakti’ (power) is often shown with him as sitting on his lap. Sometimes two ‘shaktis’, ‘riddhi’ and ‘siddhi’, are also shown.
Among the various myths that deal with Ganapati’s origin, the one that attributes it to the scurf or dirt taken out of her body by Parvati seems to be the most widely known, and considered as odd and odious.
The major fact about Ganapati today is that he is worshiped as the ‘Vighanharta’ (obstacle remover).
sri yantra pooja
Chakra pooja or Yantra pooja is the worship of a deity in a diagrammatic form. This type of worship exists in a lot of the other parts of the world also.
The worship of Devi in Shreechakra is regarded as the highest form of the Devi worship. Originally Lord Shiva gave 64 Chakras and their Mantras to the world, to attain various spiritual and material benefits. For his consort Devi he gave the Shreechakra and the highly coveted and the most powerful Shodashakshari mantra, which is the equivalent of all the other 64 put together.
It is said that in the beginning God, who was one, wanted to become many and enjoy himself. As the first step to creation he created Devi – the total cosmic Female force. For the male part, out of his left he created Shiva, out of his middle he created Brahma and out of his right he created Vishnu. That is why many regard the Devi as more powerful than the Trinities and hence She is called Parashakti or Paradevi – Para meaning beyond . Brahma created the universe.
Vishnu controls and runs the universe. Shiva along with Shakti is engaged in the eternal dissolution and recreation of the universe. The Bindu in the center of the Shreechakra is the symbolic representation of the cosmic spiritual union of Shiva and Shakti. Apart from that the Shreechakra also embodies countless number of deities and represents the whole of creation. Hence by worshipping the Devi in Shreechakra one is actually worshipping the highest ultimate force in the Tantrik form.
The Shodashakshari mantra is one of the most guarded secretes of tantra. Usually the Guru gives it to a highly deserving and tested disciple. Very few get it. Even in the Mantra Shastra, where all other mantras are openly and clearly given, the Shodashakshari Mantra is not directly given. Several hints about the mantra are given and you are asked to get the mantra if you are capable and deserving. The opening versus of the mantra shastra chapter on Shreechakra says, “Your head can be given, your soul can be given but the Shodashakshari Mantra of the Devi can not be given”.
Various books and websites on Shreechakra have published what the publishers thought is the Shodashakshari Mantra. Let me make it clear that those who know it will never publish it and those who publish it do not know it. So don’t waste your full moon nights chanting those long mantras.
However, Shreechakra can also be worshipped by other Devi mantras. There are several traditions of the worshipping the Shreechakra. We are giving here a very simple and still very effective pooja of Shreechakra. It is known as the Shreechakra Navavarana pooja as per the Khadgamala Vidhi. For all round spiritual and material benefits it is a highly effective pooja. Any one can perform it.
If you cannot do a detailed worship, simply worship the Sri Yantra 108 times with the simple Devi Mantra:
“Om Aim Hreem Shreem Sri Lalita Tripurasundari Padukam Poojayami Namah”
Or better still with the Panchadasakshari Mantra, also known as Panchadasi Mantra) which is one of the greatest mantras of Devi and next only to the Shodasi Mantra:
“Ka E i La Hreem – Ha Sa Ka Ha La Hreem – Sa Ka La Hreem”
Listen to this mantra:
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The Basics of Sri Yantra: Before starting the worship it is advisable to know about the way the Sri Yantra is constructed, what all it represents, about the 9 Avaranas, the deities, their gunas and significance, so that your worship is more meaningful. The following are the authentic details as given in various Tantra & Mantra scriptures.
Five downward pointing triangles representing Devi intersect with four upward pointing triangles representing Siva, forming 43 triangles including the central triangle.
From the five Shakti triangles comes creation and from the four Shiva triangles comes the dissolution. The union of five Shaktis and four Fires causes the chakra of creation to evolve.
At the centre of the bindu of the Shri Yantra is Kamakala, which has three bindus. One is red, one is white and one is mixed. The red bindu is Kurukulla the Female form, the white bindu is Varahi the Male form, and the mixed bindu is the union of Shiva & Shakti – the individual as the potential Shri Cakra. Varahi, the father-form, gives four dhatus to the child and Kurukulla, the mother-form, gives five dhatus to the child. Theses represent the nine dhatus of the human body.
Varahi’s four fires are the 12 (4 x 3) sun Kalas, the 12 Zodiac constellations. Kurukulla’s five triangles are the 15 (5 x 3) Kalas of the moon, 15 lunar Tithis.
These nine triangles also represent the nine stages of growth of the human child in the womb.Surrounding the 43 triangles formed by the intersection of the nine triangles is the 16 petals circle. Surrounding the 16 petal circle is an 8 petal circle. After that the 3 lines and at the outermost part of the Sriyantra there are 3 lines called the Bhupura.
The 43 triangles constitute the six inner sections called Avaranas, the two circles of petals are two more avaranas and the Bhupura of 3 lines is the last Avarana.
These 9 Avaranas of the Sri Yantra have various presiding Devis. They are the Devi’s Parivar (retinue) of total 108. In the Srichakra pooja they are systematically worshipped one by one with their names and mantras. The presiding Deity of Srichakra, Devi, is Known as Lalita Tripura Sundari. The form of Devi Kamakshi of Kancheepuram is the closest resemblance of the Devi as described in the scriptures.
Click to see picture.
Lalita means The One Who Plays. All creation, manifestation and dissolution is considered to be a play of Devi. Tri-Pura means the three worlds and Sundari means beauty. She is the transcendent beauty of the three worlds.
Tripura also signifies:- She is the ruler of the the three gunas of Satva, Rajas and Tamas; and sun, moon and fire – the zodiac and the planets, and therefore Time itself; She is also “tripura” as Will (Iccha), Knowledge (Jnana) and Action (Kriya). She is also “tripura” as intellect, feelings & physical sensation; and She is triple as the three states of the soul – awakening, dreaming and -sleeping states. Her five triangles also represent the Pancha Tatwas and the Pancha Bhootas. (This is what the verse in Lalita Sahasranama means by -”Panchami pancha bhuteshi pancha sankhyopacharini “. It is difficult to say what She is not.
Lalita holds five flowery arrows, noose, goad and bow. The noose represents attachment, the goad represents repulsion, the sugarcane bow represents the mind and the flowery arrows are the five sense objects.
Lakshmi Narayan Puja is performed for prosperity, material abundance, and spiritual prosperity. To remove troubles that prevent us from starting a spiritual path or business. Lord Vishnu known as Narayan and Lakshmi is the divine spouse of Lord Vishnu
Lakshmi is the Hindu Goddess of good fortune and beauty. Ma Lakshmi known as the Goddess of wealth and prosperity in both manner material and spiritual. She is a worshipped around the world. She can be a comfort and a healer, brings sense of greater fortune to come even in the darkest moments.
She represents prosperity, wealth, well-being and harmony. Lakshmi has one of the most colorful creation myths of all the deities in the Hindu pantheon. It is said Goddess Lakshmi was born, fully grown, on a pink lotus that rose from the milky sea. She was immediately bedecked, bejeweled and worshipped by the Gods and Sages. They prayed that she would come to their abodes, and to their worlds, for they believed that where Lakshmi is you will also find riches and fulfillment. If you need help with finances, job and success. It is said that Lakshmi can deliver fortune into devotee's life.
Anyone can perform a puja at a temple or home. It is said that those who pay attention to the Goddess of fortune every day, develop a clear channel of communication with her. Ma Lakshmi exists in a dimension far beyond our human struggles and sadness. From where she sits on her sacred lotus, she can guide us from darkness into the light, to greater fortune and more joy. Worship of Lakshmi indicates an appreciation of prosperity and a sense of responsibility towards it.
Lakshmi is the active energy of Vishnu, and also appears as Lakshmi-Narayan - Lakshmi accompanying Narayana (Vishnu). The preserver god of the Trinity has four hands. The first holds a conch shell (sankha) one holds a discus (chakra), a reminder of the wheel of time one holds a lotus which is an example of glorious existence and the fourth hands holds a mace (gadha) indicating the power and the punishing capacity of the Lord if discipline in life is ignored.
His vehicle is the swift-flying bird Garuda which can spread the vedic knowledge with great courage. The dark color of the Lord represents the passive and formless ether, a great quality for a pervading god. He rests on the bed of coiled serpent, Seshnaag. Lord Narayana is also known as Hari, the remover. He is preserving, protecting powers have been manifested to the world in a variety of forms, called Avatars. All Avatars of Vishnu appeared in the world either to correct some great evil or to effect some great good on earth. All the Avatars are earthly form of Lord Vishnu, who himself is eternal, unchangeable and immutable. Parashurama shows the man of power, Rama the Divine warrior and protector, Krishna the Divine lover, Buddha the Divine sage, and Kalki the completer and saviour.
AstroMuni.com takes every care to perform following puja on behalf of its clients:
shakti peethas
Apart from these four there are 52 other famous Peethas recognised by religious texts. According to the Pithanirnaya Tantra the 52 peethas are scattered all over India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, Tibet, Bhutan and Pakistan. The Shivacharita besides listing 52 maha-peethas, speaks about 26 more upa-peethas. The Bengali almanac, Vishuddha Siddhanta Panjika too describes the 52 peethas including the present modified addresses. A few of the several accepted listings are given below.[7] One of the few in South India, Srisailam in Andhra Pradesh became the site for a 2nd-century temple.[8]
The List of 51 Shakti Pithas
In the listings[9] below:
"Shakti" refers to the Goddess worshipped at each location, all being manifestations of Dakshayani, Sati; later known as Parvati or Durga;
"Bhairava" refers to the corresponding consort, each a manifestation of Shiva;
"Body Part or Ornament" refers to the body part or piece of jewellery that fell to earth, at the location on which the respective temple is built.
Devi Kanya Kumari, Kanya Kumari , Tamil Nadu
Sr. No Place State in India/Country Body Part or Ornament Shakti Bhairava
1 Amarnath, from Srinagar through Pahalgam 94 km by Bus, Chandanwari 16 km by walk Jammu and Kashmir Throat Mahamaya Trisandhyeshwar
2 Attahas village of Dakshindihi in the district of Bardhaman, near the Katwa railway station West Bengal Lips Phullara Vishvesh
3 Bahula, on the banks of Ajay river at Ketugram, 8 km from Katwa, Burdwan West Bengal Left arm Goddess Bahula Bhiruk
4 Bakreshwar, on the banks of Paaphara river, 24 km distance from Siuri Town, district Birbhum, 7 km from Dubrajpur Rly. Station West Bengal Portion between the eyebrows Mahishmardini Vakranath
5 Bhairavparvat, at Bhairav hills on the banks of Shipra river in the city of Ujjaini Madhya Pradesh Elbow Avanti Lambkarna
6 Bhabanipur, located in the Upazilla of Sherpur, Bogra, Rajshahi Division. Also located at Karatoyatat, it is about 28 km distance from the town of Sherpur. Bangladesh Left anklet (ornament) Arpana Vaman
7 Chhinnamastika Shaktipeeth at Chintpurni, in Una District of Himachal Pradesh Himachal Pradesh Feet Chhinnamastika Rudra Mahadev
8 Gandaki, Pokhara about 125 km on the banks of Gandaki river where Muktinath temple is situated Nepal Temple Gandaki Chandi Chakrapani
9 Goddess Bhadrakaali on banks of Godavari in Nasik city Maharashtra Chin (2 parts) Bhramari Vikritaksh
10 Hinglaj (Or Hingula), southern Baluchistan a few hours North-east of Gawadar and about 125 km towards North-west from Karachi Pakistan Bramharandhra (Part of the head) Kottari Bhimlochan
11 Jayanti at Nartiang village in the Jaintia Hills district. This Shakti Peetha is locally known as the Nartiang Durga Temple. Meghalaya Left thigh Jayanti Kramadishwar
12 Jessoreswari, situated at Ishwaripur, Shyamnagar Upazila, Khulna Division. The temple complex was built by Maharaja Pratapaditya, whose capital was Ishwaripur. Bangladesh Palms of hands and soles of the feet Jashoreshwari Chanda
13 Jwalaji, Kangra from Pathankot alight at Jwalamukhi Road Station from there 20 km Himachal Pradesh Tongue Siddhida (Ambika) Unmatta Bhairav
14 Kalipeeth, (Kalighat, Kolkata) West Bengal Right Toes Kalika Nakuleshwar
15 Kalmadhav on the banks of Shon river in a cave over hills near to Amarkantak Madhya Pradesh Left buttock Kali Asitang
16 Kamgiri, Kamakhya, in the Neelachal hills near Guwahati Assam Genitals Kamakhya Umanand
17 Kankalitala, on the banks of Kopai River 10 km north-east of Bolpur station in Birbhum district, Devi locally known as Kankaleshwari West Bengal Bone Devgarbha Ruru
18 Kanyashram of Balaambika - The Bhagavathy temple in Kanyakumari, the southernmost tip of mainland India, Tamil Nadu (also thought to be situated in Yunnan province, China) Tamil Nadu Back Sarvani Nimish
19 Karnat, Brajeshwari Devi, Kangra Himachal Pradesh Both ears Jayadurga Abhiru
20 Kireet at Kireetkona village, 3 km from Lalbag Court Road station under district Murshidabad West Bengal Crown Vimla Sanwart
21 Locally known as Anandamayee Temple. Ratnavali, on the banks of Ratnakar river at Khanakul-Krishnanagar, district Hooghly West Bengal Right Shoulder Kumari Shiva
22 Locally known as Bhramari Devi. In Jalpaiguri near a small village Boda on the bank of river Teesta or Tri-shrota (combination of three flows) mentioned in Puranas West Bengal Left leg Bhraamari Ambar
23 Manas, under Tibet at the foot of Mount Kailash in Lake Mansarovar, a piece of Stone Tibet Right hand Dakshayani Amar
24 Manibandh, at Gayatri hills near Pushkar 11 km north-west of Ajmer Rajasthan Two Bracelets Gayatri Sarvanand
25 Mithila, near Janakpur railway station on the border of India and Nepal Nepal Left shoulder Uma Mahodar
26 Nainativu (Manipallavam), Northern Province, Sri Lanka. Located 36 km from the ancient capital of the Jaffna kingdom, Nallur. The murti of the Goddess is believed to have been consecrated and worshipped by Lord Indra. The protagonist, Lord Rama and antagonist, Ravana of the Sanskrit epic Ramayana have offered obeisances to the Goddess. Nāga and Garuda of the Sanskrit epic Mahabharata; resolved their longstanding feuds after worshipping this Goddess. Sri Lanka Silambu (Anklets) Indrakshi (Nagapooshani / Bhuvaneswari) Rakshaseshwar (Nayanair)
27 Nepal, near Pashupatinath Temple at Guhyeshwari Temple Nepal Both Knees Mahashira Kapali
28 On Chandranath hill near Sitakunda station of Chittagong Division. The famous Chandranath Temple on the top of the hill is the Bhairav temple of this Shakti Peetha, not the Shakti Peeth itself. Bangladesh Right arm Bhawani Chandrashekhar
29 Panchsagar Near Lohaghat (in Champawat District of Uttarakhand) nearly 100 km from nearest railway station Tanakpur. Uttarakhand Lower teeth Varahi Maharudra
30 Prabhas, 4 km from Veraval station near Somnath temple in Junagadh district Gujarat Stomach Chandrabhaga Vakratund
31 Prayag near Sangam at Allahabad Uttar Pradesh Finger Lalita Bhava
32 Present day Kurukshetra town or Thanesar ancient Sthaneshwar Haryana Ankle bone Savitri/BhadraKali Sthanu
33 Ramgiri, at Chitrakuta on the Jhansi Manikpur railway line Uttar Pradesh Right breast Shivani Chanda
34 Sainthia, locally Known as Nandikeshwari temple. Only 1.5 km from the railway station under a banyan tree within a boundary wall, Birbhum district West Bengal Necklace Nandini Nandikeshwar
35 Sarvashail or Godavaritir, at Kotilingeswar temple on the banks of Godavari river near Rajamundry Andhra Pradesh Cheeks Rakini or Vishweshwari Vatsnabh or Dandpani
36 Naina devi, [[]] Himachal Pradesh Eyes Mahishmardini Krodhish
37 Shondesh, at the source point of Narmada River in Amarkantak Madhya Pradesh Right buttock Narmada Bhadrasen
38 Shri Parvat, near Ladak, Jammu and Kashmir. Another belief: at Srisailam in Shriparvat hills under Kurnool district Andhra Pradesh Right anklet (ornament) Shrisundari Sundaranand
39 Shri Shail, at Joinpur village, Dakshin Surma, near Gotatikar, 3 km north-east of Sylhet town Bangladesh Neck Mahalaxmi Sambaranand
40 Shuchi, in a Shiva temple at Suchindrum 11 km on Kanyakumari Trivandrum road Tamil Nadu Upper teeth Narayani Sanhar
41 Sugandha, situated in Shikarpur, Gournadi, about 20 km from Barisal town, on the banks of Sonda river. Bangladesh Nose Sugandha Trayambak
42 Udaipur, Tripura, at the top of the hills known as Tripura Sundari temple near Radhakishorepur village, a little distance away from Udaipur town Tripura Right leg Tripura Sundari Tripuresh
43 Ujaani, 16 km from Guskara station under Burdwan district West Bengal Right wrist Mangal Chandika Kapilambar
44 Varanasi at Manikarnika Ghat on banks of the Ganges at Kashi Uttar Pradesh Earring Vishalakshi & Manikarni Kalbhairav
45 Vibhash, at Tamluk under district Purba Medinipur West Bengal Left ankle Kapalini (Bhimarupa) Sarvanand
46 Virat, near Bharatpur Rajasthan Left toes Ambika Amriteshwar
47 Vrindavan, near new bus stand on Bhuteshwar road within Bhuteshwar Mahadev Temple, Katyayanipeeth. Vrindavan Uttar Pradesh Ringlets of hair Uma Bhutesh
48 Jalandhar, from Jalandhar Cantonment Station to Devi Talab. Punjab Left Breast Tripurmalini Bhutesh
49 Baidyanath Dham Jharkhand Heart Jaya Durga Baidyanath
50 Birajong in Paro Paro, Bhutan Bamonbonsham Paropit
51 Great Toe Jugaadya -Ksheer Khandak
Historical notes
First relating to Brahmanda Purana, one of the major eighteen Puranas, it mentions 64 Shakthi Peetha of Goddess Parvati in the Bharat or Greater India including present day India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Another text which gives a listing of these shrines, is the Shakthi Peetha Stotram, written by Adi Shankara, the 9th-century Hindu philosopher.[10]
According to the manuscript Mahapithapurana (c. 1690 – 1720 CE), there are 52 such places. Among them, 23 are located in the Bengal region, 14 of these are located in what is now West Bengal, India, 1 in Baster (Chhattisgarh), while 7 are in what is now Bangladesh.
Rishi Markandeya composed the 'Devi Saptashati' or the seven hundred hymns extolling the virtues of the Divine Goddess at the shaktipeetha in Nashik. The idol is also leaning a little to the left to listen to the sages composition. The Saptashati or the "Durga Stuti" forms an integral part in the vedic form of Shakti worship.
The third eye of Mata Sati fell below a tree in a mortuary in the Ishan corner of Vakreshwar. This is on the bank of the north flowing Dwarka river in the east of Baidyanath. Here Mata Sati is called Chandi Bhagwai Ugra Tara and Bhairav is called Chandrachur. This Shaktipeeth is called Tarapith in Birbhum district West bengal , India
Preserving the mortal relics of famous and respected individuals was a common practice in ancient India - seen in the Buddhist stupas which preserve the relics of Gautama Buddha. It is believed by some[citation needed] that these 64 peethas preserve the remains of some ancient female sage from whom the legend of Kali could have emerged and then merged with the Purusha - Prakriti (Shiva Shakti) model of Hindu thought.
18 Maha Shakti Pithas
The modern cities or towns that correspond to these 64 locations can be a matter of dispute, but there are a few that are totally unambiguous, these are mentioned in the Ashta Dasa Shakthi Peetha Stotram by Adi Shankara.[11] This list contains 18 such locations which are often referred to as Maha Shakthi Peeths.[12]
Sr. No. Place Appellation Part of the body fallen Shakti
1 Trincomalee (Sri Lanka) Lanka Peetham Groin Shankari devi
2 Kanchi (Tamil Nadu) Kanchi Kamakodi Peetham Back part Kamakshi Devi
3 Pandua (West Bengal) Pradyumna Peetham Stomach Srigala Devi
4 Mysore (Karnataka) Krounja Peetham Hair Chamundeshwari devi
5 Alampur (telangana) Yogini Peetham Upper teeth Jogulamba devi (Yogamba devi)
6 Shrishailam, (Andhra Pradesh) Shrishaila Peetham Neck part Bhramaramba devi
7 Kolhapur (Maharastra) Shri Peetham Eyes Mahalakshmi devi
8 Mahur (Nanded District, Maharastra) Renuka Peetham Left hand Renuka Devi
9 Ujjain (Madhya Pradesh) Ujjaini Peetham Tongue Mahakali devi
10 Pithapuram (Andhra Pradesh) Pushkarini Peetham Back part Puruhutika devi
11 Jajpur (Odisha) Oddyana Peetham Hip bone Biraja Devi
12 Draksharamam (Andhra Pradesh) Draksharama Peetham Navel Manikyamba devi
13 Guwahati (Assam) Kamarupa Peetham Vulva Kamarupa devi
14 Prayaga (Uttar Pradesh) Prayaga Peetham Fingers Madhaveswari devi
15 Kangra, Jwalamukhi (Himachal Pradesh) Jwalamukhi Peetham Head Part Vaishnavi devi
16 Gaya (Bihar) Gaya Peetham Breast part Sarvamangala devi
17 Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh) Varanasi Peetham Toes Vishalakshi devi
18 Sharada Peeth (Kashmir) * Sharada Peetham Right hand Saraswathi devi
[*]Sharada Peeth:This temple is currently non-existent*.[13] Only ruins are found in these places. Its ruins are near the Line of Control (LOC)[14] between the Indian and Pakistani-controlled portions of the former princely state of Kashmir and Jammu. Instead, Sringeri Sharada Peetham, Sringeri in Karnataka even though not a Shakti Peetha is this aspect of the goddess, Requests have been made by the Hindu community in Pakistan to the Pakistani government to renovate the temple, the issue was raised by former Indian Home minister L. K. Advani to the Pakistan authorities[15] as a confidence building measure, by increasing the people to people interaction cross border.[14]
Among these, the Shakti Peethas at Kamakhya, Gaya and Ujjain are regarded as most sacred as they symbolise three most important aspects of mother Goddess viz. Creation (Kamarupa Devi), Nourishment (Sarvamangala Devi/Mangalagauri) and Annihilation (Mahakali Devi).
When observed carefully one can see that they lie in a perfect straight line from Kamakhya to Ujjain via Gaya symbolizing that every creation in this universe will annihilate one day without fail.
Ashta Dasa Shakthi Peetha Stotram
Lankayam Shankari devi, Kamakshi Kanchika pure Pradyumne Shrinkhala devi, Chamunda Krouncha pattane
Alampure jogulamba, Sri Shaile Bhramarambika Kolha Pure Maha Lakshmi, Mahurye Ekaveerika
Ujjainyam Maha kali. Preethikayam Puruhutika Odhyane Girija devi, Manikya Daksha vatike
Hari Kshetre kama rupi, Prayage Madhaveshwari Jwalayam Vishnavi Devi, Gaya Mangalya gourika
Varanasyam Vishalakshi, Kashmire tu Saraswati Ashtadasha shakti Peethani, Yoginamapi durlabham
Sayamkale pathennityam Sarva Shatru vinashanam Sarva roga haram divyam, Sarva sampatkaram shubham
Translation of the stotra
Goddess Shankari in Sri Lanka, Kamakshi in Kanchipuram Goddess Shrinkhala in Pradymna and Chamunda in Mysore
Goddess Jogulamba in Alampur, Goddess Brhamarambika in Sri Shailam Goddess Maha lakshmi in Kolhapur and Goddess Eka Veera in Mahur
Goddess Maha Kali in Ujjain, Purhuthika in Peethika Goddess Girija in Odhyana and Manikya in the house of Daksha
Goddess kama rupi in the temple of Vishnu, Madhaveshwari in Allahabad Goddess giving flame in Jwala Mukhi and Mangala Gowri in Gaya
Goddess Vishalakshi in Varanasi, Saraswati in Kashmir These are the 18 houses of Shakti, which are rare even to the Devas
When Chanted every evening, all the enemies would get destroyed all the diseases would vanish, and prosperity would be showered.
Nav Chandi Yagna
Navchandi yagna is a Nav Durga pooja.This pooja is performed to make wishes come true and also for health, wealth, strength, prosperity, success and many other reasons in the life. All the sufferings are removed by performing this Nav Chandi Yagna. This Yagna remove enemy and bad planetary effects. By devoting this yagna man can get every success of life. Devote is blessed by Lord Ganesha, Lord Shiva, Nav Grah and Nav durga (Devi),
Ghatasthapana Puja Vidhi during Navratri
Ghatasthapana Time
Ghatasthapana is one of the significant rituals during Navratri. It marks the beginning of nine days festivity. Our scriptures have well defined rules and guidelines to perform Ghatasthapana during a certain period of time at the beginning of Navratri. Ghatasthapana is invocation of Goddess Shakti and doing it wrong time, as our scriptures forewarn, might bring wrath of the Goddess Shakti. Ghatasthapana is prohibited during Amavasya and night time.
The most auspicious or Shubh time to do Ghatasthapana is first one third of the day while Pratipada is prevailing. If due to some reasons this time is not available then Ghatasthapana can be done during Abhijit Muhurta. It is advised to avoid Nakshatra Chitra and Vaidhriti Yoga during Ghatasthapana but those are not prohibited. The most important factor to consider is that Ghatasthapana is done before Hindu midday while Pratipada is prevailing.
Hence please note down the city based Ghatasthapana Time after setting the location for your city.
Ghatasthapana Items
Wide and open
Clay Pot
to sow Sapta Dhanya
Clean
Soil
to sow Sapta Dhanya
Sapta Dhanya
or seeds of seven different grains
Small clay or brass
Pitcher
Sacred water to fill the Kalash or
Ganga Jal
Sacred thread / Moli /
Kalaya
Scent
(perfume)
Supari
(betel nuts)
Coins
to put into the Kalash
5 leaves
of Ashoka or Mango tree
A
Lid
to cover the Kalash
Raw Rice
or unbroken rice known as Akshat (अक्षत) to put in the lid
Unpeeled
Coconut
Red Cloth
to warp coconut
Flowers and Garland
preferably marigold
Durva
grass
Kalash Preparation
Kalash Preparation for Ghatasthapana
Kalash Preparation
Kalash is prepared before invoking the Goddess and other Gods into it.
Step 1 - First take the wide clay pot (the one which would be used to keep the Kalash) to sow the grains. Spread the first layer of the soil into the pot and then spread the grain seeds. Now add the second layer of the soil and grains. In second layer grains should be spread near the periphery of the pot. Now spread the third and final layer of the soil into the pot. If needed add little water to the pot to set the soil.
Step 2 - Now tie the sacred thread on the neck of the Kalash and fill it up with the holy water up to the neck. Drop Supari, scent, Durva grass, Akshat and coins into the water. Keep 5 leaves of Ashoka at the edge of the Kalash before covering it with a lid.
Step 3 – Now take the un-peeled coconut and wrap it inside the red cloth. Fasten the coconut and red cloth with the sacred thread.
Now keep the coconut on top of the Kalash prepared in step 2. At last put the Kalash in the center on the grain pot prepared in step 1. Now we have Kalash ready to invoke Goddess Durga into it.
Invoke Goddess Durga
Now invoke Goddess Durga and request Her to accept your prayers and to oblige you by residing into the Kalash for nine days.
Panchopachara Puja
As name suggests, Panchopachara Puja (पंचोपचार पूजा) is done with five Puja items. First show the lamp to the Kalash and all deities invoked in it. After lamp offering, light Dhoop sticks and offer it to the Kalash, followed by flowers and scent. Finally offer Naivedhya (नैवेद्य) i.e. fruits and sweets to the Kalash to conclude Panchopachara Puja.
Navratri Puja Vidhi
Goddess Durga is worshipped in different forms during Navratri or Durga Puja
Navratri is amongst the most important Hindu festivals. This auspicious festival is celebrated with great zeal and devotion throughout the country. The literal meaning of 'Navratri' is 'nine auspicious nights'. Navratri is a pious festival celebrated in the honor of nine different forms of the Goddess Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati for nine continuous days. The Goddess of Power is worshipped during these days in order to seek her blessings and protection from any unknown fear and possible threat. The devotees ask for peace and prosperity from the Goddess. The Goddess of power has the supremacy over the creation, preservation and destruction of the universe.
Navratri is being celebrated in our country adhering to all the customs and rituals. It is of utmost importance to know the exact method of performing the Navratri Pooja. Here, is the full Navratri Pooja Vidhi.
Items to be required for the Navratri Pooja:
Picture or Idol of Goddess Durga in the Pooja room
A dupatta or sari to offer to the deity
Durga Saptshati book
Ganga water or plain water in Kalash (pitcher)
Fresh and washed mango leaves
Fresh grass
Sandalwood
One coconut
Roli, red sacred powder for tilak
Moli, red sacred thread
Rice
Supari (Areca nuts)
Paan (Betel leaves)
Cloves
Cardamom
Kumkum (vermilion)
Gulal
You will need incense sticks, a 'deep' and a matchstick. You will also require some fresh flowers like rose, jasmine or red hibiscus. You may offer fresh fruits and sweets such as 'laddoo', or 'peda' for prasad. Take a mat, to sit. If possible, every member of the house should sit together.
Navratri Pooja Vidhi:
For performing the Navratri Pooja, you need to wake up early in the morning. Get up sharp at the sunrise. This time is considered best to perform the Navratri Pooja. Take bath and wear laundered clothes. Keep 'deep' at the left side of the deity. Try to light the 'Akhand Jyot'. Keep in mind that you should not leave the house vacant if you are lighting the 'Akhand Jyot'. Someone must stay back at home. On the right hand side of the idol, keep incense sticks etc. Keep yourself prepared to do the Puja with full devotion and concentration. Keep the kalash and coconut as well. Lay the mat and sit in an upright position in front of the deity. Light the 'deep'. Ring the bell or blow the 'Shankh'.
For 'Kalash Sthapna':
Place the kalash near the idol or picture of the deity and fill it with pure water. Place mango leaves on the mouth of the kalash. Place a coconut inside the kalash. Tie moli around the neck of the kalash.
Sprinkle 'Gangajal' all over the Puja room. Now, offer sandalwood powder and some fresh grass to the Goddess. Then, offer the sari or dupatta to the Goddess. Place some fresh flowers in front of the Goddess. Next, offer 'paan' with a clove placed on it. If you are married, then offer two such paans. Light 'agarbatti' or incense sticks. Perform 'havan' using this mantra- "Om aing hreeng kleeng chamundaya vichche namah". Give aahuti for 11 times. Fold your hands and pray. At last, offer prasad and do aarti of Goddess Durga. Sing the "Kshama Prarthana" of the 13th chapter of sacred Durga Saptshati and conclude the Puja. Pray with whole heart.
The Durga Saptashati book should be kept carefully and respectfully.
Celebration of 'Mahanavami' in India:
The ninth day of Navratri, popularly known as 'Mahanavami' is the final day of Navratri celebrations. The celebration of 'Mahanavami' varies from state to state in India.
People of different states celebrate Mahanavami in their own way. People from Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Punjab do 'Kanya Puja' on the last day. On the concluding day, nine young girls are invited in the house and feasted with delicious food. These nine young girls are treated as the nine forms of the Goddess. They are welcomed by washing their feet and putting tilak on their forehead.
The people of Kerala celebrate Saraswati Pooja on 'Ashtami', the eighth day or the day before Mahanavami. The concluding day is treated as the resting day. People do not begin with any new work and even children do not study this day.
Navratri celebrations end on 'Ashtami' instead of Mahanavami in some parts of Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Kashmir and Maharashtra.
The people of West Bengal celebrate Durga Pooja with great enthusiasm and devotion. Huge 'Pandal' (tent) is set up and a huge idol of Goddess Durga is installed in the 'Pandal' and worshipped. On Mahanavami, the idol of Goddess Durga is bid adieu and immersed in the sea or river or any flowing source of water.
The festival of Navratri is divided into the sets of three days. These sets are formulated to worship the different forms of the Goddess. On the first three days, Goddess Durga is revered and worshipped. She is known to be the master of power and eliminates all the evil and fear from the mind and life of the devotees. The next three days are devoted to the Goddess of wealth- Lakshmi. She showers the blessings of never-ending wealth upon her devotees. The final set of three days is devoted for worshipping the Goddess of wisdom- Saraswati. She is responsible for spiritual enlightenment and success in life.
The Goddesses are worshipped under nine different names and in nine different characters during the nine prosperous days. The first form of Goddess Durga is 'Shailputri' meaning the 'Goddess of Himalayas' is worshipped on the first day. The second form of Goddess Durga is 'Brahmacharini', worshipped on the second day. Her name is derived from the word 'Brahma'. On the third day, the Goddess is worshipped as 'Chandraghanta'. She symbolizes beauty and bravery.
The Goddess 'Kushmanda' is worshipped on the fourth day. She is believed to be the creator of the universe. On the fifth day, 'Skanda Mata' is worshipped. She is the mother of the chief warrior of the God's Army, Skand. The sixth day is devoted for the Goddess 'Katyayani', who has three eyes and four hands.
The Goddess 'Kalratri' is worshipped on the seventh day of Navratri. She is as black as the night and takes away all the fears from the devotees. The Goddess 'Maha Gauri' is worshipped on the eighth day of Navratri. She is the epitome of beauty and as white as the snow. She represents calmness and wisdom. The ninth day, also known as 'Mahanavami', is the concluding day of Navratri. Goddess 'Siddhidatri' is worshipped on the last day of Navratri.
Navratri is a festival of sentiments, positive thoughts, peace and prosperity. Every year it is welcomed with great respect and love. People refrain from wrong deeds and indulge in pure devotion. Wish you a Happy Navratri!
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.
Shree Yantra is a unique source of positive and spiritual energy with no other parallel. Rudra Puja is a well-known Manufacturer of exclusive Hindu Yantra. The company is a subsidiary of Puja Art, a distinguished distributor of Hindu Yantra, Rudrakshas, Crystal Shree Yantra, Parad(Mercury), Japa Malas, Rudraksha Beads, Rudraksha Mala, Badha Mukti Yantra, One Mukhi Rudraksha and many other religious items. The company has established itself among the topmost Rudraksha Beads Suppliers In India. For more details regarding the products, offered by the company, you can log on to
History of Shani dev
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
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.
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.
Narayan Nagbali Puja
There are various kinds of worship that can help thwart the effect of bad omen. Of such ritual is the Narayan Nagbali puja. This particular puja is performed with a particular purpose, it is said that performing the Narayan Nagbali Pooja helps get rid of any ancestral curse that has been inflicted on any family for years. The Nag Bali Puja is usually performed to remove the effects of sins that have occurred due to the killing of a snake. This sin applies particularly to the killing of a cobra. The crux of the matter is that the Narayan Nagbali Pooja can only be performed at Trimbakeshwar, and the puja is called the Trimbakeshwar Narayan Nagbali.
Trimbakeshwar Narayan Nagbali Pooja is nothing but a pooja that is conducted to appease the ancestors. You would certainly want to know what is Narayan Nagbali. The general belief is that the souls of the ancestors are stuck up on earth and are thus creating problems and issues for the present generation. The Narayan Bali Puja is conducted to appease the gods, and effectively mitigate the curse. As the Narayan Nagbali Puja mainly deals with the concerns of ancestors, it is but imperative and suitable that the ceremony resembles a funeral, carried out as per Hindu tradition. As the ceremony concerns the recreation of such somber settings, a unique setting is created at Narayan Nagbali Puja to supplement the effect the whole thing will have.
Let us look at the whole procedure that is followed at the event. Firstly, a body comprising of wheat flour is made. The incantation of various slokas and mantras are a part and parcel of the Narayan Nagbali Pooja at Trimbakeshwar. It is a much-accepted belief that the performing of rituals plays a huge part in appeasing the ancestors. The Narayan Bali Puja ensures that the ritual sets the souls free for their journey to the other world. As we mentioned before, the Narayan Nagbali ritual is also performed when the sin concerns the killing of a cobra. The snake's body is duplicated in the form of wheat dough, and then the rituals are performed.
Notwithstanding the fact that
the Ganapati referred to in the famous ‘Rigvedic Mantras’, gananam tva
ganapatim havamahe…. and vi su sida ganapate and the Ganapati we worship
today are strangers to each other, all unbiased scholars agree that the
seeds of the Ganapati concepts are already there in the Rigveda itself.
In the subsequent centuries, this concept has passed through the mills
of the epics and the ‘puranas’ to produce the Ganapati as we know him
today. In any community, the development of the concept of God and the
modes of His worship are as much the products of geographical,
historical and cultural factors as a mystic experiences and spiritual
realizations of the highly evolved persons. It is quite reasonable to
suppose that the ‘Ganapati-Brahamaspati’ of the Rigveda graduallygot
metamorphosed into the deity, ‘Gajavadaba-Ganesha-Vighneshwara’.There are various kinds of worship that can help thwart the effect of bad omen. Of such ritual is the Narayan Nagbali puja. This particular puja is performed with a particular purpose, it is said that performing the Narayan Nagbali Pooja helps get rid of any ancestral curse that has been inflicted on any family for years. The Nag Bali Puja is usually performed to remove the effects of sins that have occurred due to the killing of a snake. This sin applies particularly to the killing of a cobra. The crux of the matter is that the Narayan Nagbali Pooja can only be performed at Trimbakeshwar, and the puja is called the Trimbakeshwar Narayan Nagbali.
Trimbakeshwar Narayan Nagbali Pooja is nothing but a pooja that is conducted to appease the ancestors. You would certainly want to know what is Narayan Nagbali. The general belief is that the souls of the ancestors are stuck up on earth and are thus creating problems and issues for the present generation. The Narayan Bali Puja is conducted to appease the gods, and effectively mitigate the curse. As the Narayan Nagbali Puja mainly deals with the concerns of ancestors, it is but imperative and suitable that the ceremony resembles a funeral, carried out as per Hindu tradition. As the ceremony concerns the recreation of such somber settings, a unique setting is created at Narayan Nagbali Puja to supplement the effect the whole thing will have.
Let us look at the whole procedure that is followed at the event. Firstly, a body comprising of wheat flour is made. The incantation of various slokas and mantras are a part and parcel of the Narayan Nagbali Pooja at Trimbakeshwar. It is a much-accepted belief that the performing of rituals plays a huge part in appeasing the ancestors. The Narayan Bali Puja ensures that the ritual sets the souls free for their journey to the other world. As we mentioned before, the Narayan Nagbali ritual is also performed when the sin concerns the killing of a cobra. The snake's body is duplicated in the form of wheat dough, and then the rituals are performed.
The Rigvedic deity ‘Ganapati-Brahmanaspati’ – also called as ‘Brihaspati’ and ‘Vachaspati’ – manifest himself through a vast mall of light. He is golden-red in colour. The battle-axe is an important weapon of his. Without his grace no religious rite can succeed. He is always in the company of a group (‘gana’ – a group) of singers and dancers. He vanquishes the enemies of gods, protects the devoted votaries and shows them the right way of life.
Another class of Rigvedic deities, known as the ‘Maruts’ or ‘Marudgana’, described as the children of ‘Rudra’, also have similar characteristics. In addition, they can be malevolent towards those who antagonize them and can cause destruction like the wild elephants. They can put obstacles in the path of men if displeased and remove them when pleased. They are independent, not subject to anyone’s sovereignty (‘arajana’ = ‘vinayaka’).
A perusal of these two descriptions will perforce lead us to the obvious conclusion that Ganapati is the metamorphosed form of ‘Brhaspati-Marudgana’ deities. There is nothing strange in this, especially if we can recognize the transformations that have taken place among the various Vedic deities, as they were gradually absorbed among the gods of the later Hindu pantheon. The once all-important and all-Powerful ‘Indra’ (the king of the gods) was demoted to the rank of a minor deity ruling over one of the quarters. His lieutenant Vishnu was elevated to the central place in the Trinity. ‘Rudra’, the terrible, became Shiva the auspicious. Many other deities like ‘Dyuas’, ‘Aryaman’ and ‘Pushan’ were quietly dispatched into oblivion!
Despite the fact that Ganapati is a highly venerated and all-important deity, his ‘head’ has often been a mystery for others. No doubt, our puranas have easily ‘solved’ this problem, each in its own way. But this has satisfied neither the layman nor the scholar.
It will be extremely interesting to bring together, though in brief, all the stories about the origin of the wondrous deity, Ganesha:
1. At the request of the gods who wanted a deity capable of removing all obstacles from their path of action and fulfillment, Shiva himself was born of the womb of Parvati as Ganapati.
2. Once Parvati, just for fun, prepared an image of a child with an elephant’s head out of the unguents smeared over her body and threw in into river Ganga. It came to life. Both Ganga, the guardian deity of the river and Parvati, addressed the boy as their child. Hence he is known as ‘ Dvi-matura’, the once who has two mothers.
3. Parvati prepared the image of a child out of the scurf from her body, endowed him with life and ordered him to stand guard before her house. When Shiva wanted to enter the house he was rudely prevented by this new gatekeeper. Shiva became ‘Rudra’ and got him beheaded. Seeing that Parvati was inconsolable owing to this tragedy that befell her ‘son’ and not finding the head of the body anywhere – meanwhile one of the goblins of Shiva had gourmandized it! – He got an elephant’s head, grafted it on to the body of the boy and gave him new life. To make amends for his ‘mistakes’, Shiva appointed this new-found son as the head of all his retinues, who thus became ‘Ganapati’,
4. He sprang from Shiva’s countenance which represents the principle of ether (akashatatva’). His captivating splendour made Parvati react angrily and curse him, resulting in his uncouth form!
5. Ganesha was originally ‘Krishna’ himself in the human form. When ‘Shani’, the malevolent planet-spirit gazed at him, his head got separated and flew to ‘Gokola’, the world of ‘Krishna’. The head of an elephant was subsequently grafted to the body of the child.
Equally interested are the other myths about his adventures: He lost one of his tusks in a fight with ‘Parashurama’, which he successfully used as a stylus to write the epic ‘Mahabharata’ dictated by the sage ‘Vyasa’. He tactfully won the race against his brother ‘Skanda’ by circumambulating his parents and declaring that it was equivalent to going round the worlds. He thus won the hands of two damsels ‘Riddhi’ and ‘Siddhi’. He cursed the moon to was and wane, since the latter derisively laughed at him when he was trying to refill his burst belly with the sweets that had spilled out. He vanquished the demon ‘Vighanasura’ and successfully brought him under his subjugation.
There is no gainsaying the possibilities of man developing the concept of God and faith in Him as a result of his experiences through the various vicissitudes of life which prove his helplessness. He often disposes, what man proposes. Such a God must needs to be all-powerful. If He is pleased, all the obstacles in our path will be removed. If displeases He may thwart our efforts and make them in fructuous. Hence the paramount need to appease Him and please Him.
What could be the form of this almighty God! For a simple aboriginal living in a group (‘gana’) near a forest or a mountain, the mighty elephant might have provided the clue. This might have led to the worship of an elephant-like God. He being the ‘pati’ (Lord) of the ‘gana’ (group or clan) might have obtained the name ‘Ganapati’. As the group became more refined and cultured, this Elephant God might have been transformed into the present form.
However plausible or attractive this hypothesis may be, it is at best guesswork, if not an invention! Since Ganapati had gained de facto recognition in the hearts of millions or votaries, over several centuries, the puranas rightly struggled to make it de jure! True, they have given very confusing accounts.
Nevertheless they have succeeded in fusing together the votaries by giving them a scriptural or authoritative base. There is certainly no contradiction or confusion in the accounts as far as the worship and its result are concerned.
It is a favorite pastime of some western scholars and their Indian counterparts to ‘discover’ a Dravidian base for many interesting developments in our cultural and religious life and then to ‘unearth’ the further fact of the white-skinned Aryan ‘conquerors’ graciously and condescendingly absorbing these, tactfully elevating the same to higher levels all the while. This has naturally led to a vigorous reaction and these ‘reactionaries’ go the whole hog to prove it the other way round! When our Ganapati is caught in the web of such controversies one may be driven to the ridiculous conclusion that he is not an Aryan deity at all, but, most probably, imported from Mongolia! It is therefore better to play safe, rescue our deity from embarrassing situations and get the best out of him for spiritual life.
The most commonly accepted from of Ganesha depicts him as red in colour and in a human body with an elephant head. Out of the two tusks, one is broken. He has four arms. Two of the arms hold the ‘pasa’ (noose) and ‘ankusha’ (goad). The other two are held in the ‘abhaya’ and ‘varda’ ‘mudras’. The belly is of generous proportions and is decorated with a snake-belt. There is also a ‘yajnopavita’ (sacred-thread), either of thread or serpent. He may be seated in ‘padmasana’ (lotus-posture). When the belly does not permit this, the right leg may be shown bent and resting on the seat.
Apart from beautiful robes and ornaments, he wears a lovely carved crown. The trunk may be turned to the left or to the right.
He is normally seen helping himself to liberal quantities of ‘modaka’ (a kind of sweet balls).
A mouse, of ridiculously small proportions, is seen near him, nibbling at his share of the sweets, hoping perhaps, to gain enough strength to carry his master!
A third eye may sometimes be added on the forehead, in the centre of the eyebrows. The number of heads may be raised to five. The arms may vary from two to ten. Lotus, pomegranate, water vessel, battle-axe, lute, broken tusk, sugarcane, ears of paddy, bow and arrow, thunderbolt, rosary, book – these are some of the other objects shown in the hands. His ‘shakti’ (power) is often shown with him as sitting on his lap. Sometimes two ‘shaktis’, ‘riddhi’ and ‘siddhi’, are also shown.
Among the various myths that deal with Ganapati’s origin, the one that attributes it to the scurf or dirt taken out of her body by Parvati seems to be the most widely known, and considered as odd and odious.
The major fact about Ganapati today is that he is worshiped as the ‘Vighanharta’ (obstacle remover).
sri yantra pooja
Chakra pooja or Yantra pooja is the worship of a deity in a diagrammatic form. This type of worship exists in a lot of the other parts of the world also.
The worship of Devi in Shreechakra is regarded as the highest form of the Devi worship. Originally Lord Shiva gave 64 Chakras and their Mantras to the world, to attain various spiritual and material benefits. For his consort Devi he gave the Shreechakra and the highly coveted and the most powerful Shodashakshari mantra, which is the equivalent of all the other 64 put together.
It is said that in the beginning God, who was one, wanted to become many and enjoy himself. As the first step to creation he created Devi – the total cosmic Female force. For the male part, out of his left he created Shiva, out of his middle he created Brahma and out of his right he created Vishnu. That is why many regard the Devi as more powerful than the Trinities and hence She is called Parashakti or Paradevi – Para meaning beyond . Brahma created the universe.
Vishnu controls and runs the universe. Shiva along with Shakti is engaged in the eternal dissolution and recreation of the universe. The Bindu in the center of the Shreechakra is the symbolic representation of the cosmic spiritual union of Shiva and Shakti. Apart from that the Shreechakra also embodies countless number of deities and represents the whole of creation. Hence by worshipping the Devi in Shreechakra one is actually worshipping the highest ultimate force in the Tantrik form.
The Shodashakshari mantra is one of the most guarded secretes of tantra. Usually the Guru gives it to a highly deserving and tested disciple. Very few get it. Even in the Mantra Shastra, where all other mantras are openly and clearly given, the Shodashakshari Mantra is not directly given. Several hints about the mantra are given and you are asked to get the mantra if you are capable and deserving. The opening versus of the mantra shastra chapter on Shreechakra says, “Your head can be given, your soul can be given but the Shodashakshari Mantra of the Devi can not be given”.
Various books and websites on Shreechakra have published what the publishers thought is the Shodashakshari Mantra. Let me make it clear that those who know it will never publish it and those who publish it do not know it. So don’t waste your full moon nights chanting those long mantras.
However, Shreechakra can also be worshipped by other Devi mantras. There are several traditions of the worshipping the Shreechakra. We are giving here a very simple and still very effective pooja of Shreechakra. It is known as the Shreechakra Navavarana pooja as per the Khadgamala Vidhi. For all round spiritual and material benefits it is a highly effective pooja. Any one can perform it.
If you cannot do a detailed worship, simply worship the Sri Yantra 108 times with the simple Devi Mantra:
“Om Aim Hreem Shreem Sri Lalita Tripurasundari Padukam Poojayami Namah”
Or better still with the Panchadasakshari Mantra, also known as Panchadasi Mantra) which is one of the greatest mantras of Devi and next only to the Shodasi Mantra:
“Ka E i La Hreem – Ha Sa Ka Ha La Hreem – Sa Ka La Hreem”
Listen to this mantra:
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The Basics of Sri Yantra: Before starting the worship it is advisable to know about the way the Sri Yantra is constructed, what all it represents, about the 9 Avaranas, the deities, their gunas and significance, so that your worship is more meaningful. The following are the authentic details as given in various Tantra & Mantra scriptures.
Five downward pointing triangles representing Devi intersect with four upward pointing triangles representing Siva, forming 43 triangles including the central triangle.
From the five Shakti triangles comes creation and from the four Shiva triangles comes the dissolution. The union of five Shaktis and four Fires causes the chakra of creation to evolve.
At the centre of the bindu of the Shri Yantra is Kamakala, which has three bindus. One is red, one is white and one is mixed. The red bindu is Kurukulla the Female form, the white bindu is Varahi the Male form, and the mixed bindu is the union of Shiva & Shakti – the individual as the potential Shri Cakra. Varahi, the father-form, gives four dhatus to the child and Kurukulla, the mother-form, gives five dhatus to the child. Theses represent the nine dhatus of the human body.
Varahi’s four fires are the 12 (4 x 3) sun Kalas, the 12 Zodiac constellations. Kurukulla’s five triangles are the 15 (5 x 3) Kalas of the moon, 15 lunar Tithis.
These nine triangles also represent the nine stages of growth of the human child in the womb.Surrounding the 43 triangles formed by the intersection of the nine triangles is the 16 petals circle. Surrounding the 16 petal circle is an 8 petal circle. After that the 3 lines and at the outermost part of the Sriyantra there are 3 lines called the Bhupura.
The 43 triangles constitute the six inner sections called Avaranas, the two circles of petals are two more avaranas and the Bhupura of 3 lines is the last Avarana.
These 9 Avaranas of the Sri Yantra have various presiding Devis. They are the Devi’s Parivar (retinue) of total 108. In the Srichakra pooja they are systematically worshipped one by one with their names and mantras. The presiding Deity of Srichakra, Devi, is Known as Lalita Tripura Sundari. The form of Devi Kamakshi of Kancheepuram is the closest resemblance of the Devi as described in the scriptures.
Click to see picture.
Lalita means The One Who Plays. All creation, manifestation and dissolution is considered to be a play of Devi. Tri-Pura means the three worlds and Sundari means beauty. She is the transcendent beauty of the three worlds.
Tripura also signifies:- She is the ruler of the the three gunas of Satva, Rajas and Tamas; and sun, moon and fire – the zodiac and the planets, and therefore Time itself; She is also “tripura” as Will (Iccha), Knowledge (Jnana) and Action (Kriya). She is also “tripura” as intellect, feelings & physical sensation; and She is triple as the three states of the soul – awakening, dreaming and -sleeping states. Her five triangles also represent the Pancha Tatwas and the Pancha Bhootas. (This is what the verse in Lalita Sahasranama means by -”Panchami pancha bhuteshi pancha sankhyopacharini “. It is difficult to say what She is not.
Lalita holds five flowery arrows, noose, goad and bow. The noose represents attachment, the goad represents repulsion, the sugarcane bow represents the mind and the flowery arrows are the five sense objects.
Lakshmi Narayan Puja is performed for prosperity, material abundance, and spiritual prosperity. To remove troubles that prevent us from starting a spiritual path or business. Lord Vishnu known as Narayan and Lakshmi is the divine spouse of Lord Vishnu
Lakshmi is the Hindu Goddess of good fortune and beauty. Ma Lakshmi known as the Goddess of wealth and prosperity in both manner material and spiritual. She is a worshipped around the world. She can be a comfort and a healer, brings sense of greater fortune to come even in the darkest moments.
She represents prosperity, wealth, well-being and harmony. Lakshmi has one of the most colorful creation myths of all the deities in the Hindu pantheon. It is said Goddess Lakshmi was born, fully grown, on a pink lotus that rose from the milky sea. She was immediately bedecked, bejeweled and worshipped by the Gods and Sages. They prayed that she would come to their abodes, and to their worlds, for they believed that where Lakshmi is you will also find riches and fulfillment. If you need help with finances, job and success. It is said that Lakshmi can deliver fortune into devotee's life.
Anyone can perform a puja at a temple or home. It is said that those who pay attention to the Goddess of fortune every day, develop a clear channel of communication with her. Ma Lakshmi exists in a dimension far beyond our human struggles and sadness. From where she sits on her sacred lotus, she can guide us from darkness into the light, to greater fortune and more joy. Worship of Lakshmi indicates an appreciation of prosperity and a sense of responsibility towards it.
Lakshmi is the active energy of Vishnu, and also appears as Lakshmi-Narayan - Lakshmi accompanying Narayana (Vishnu). The preserver god of the Trinity has four hands. The first holds a conch shell (sankha) one holds a discus (chakra), a reminder of the wheel of time one holds a lotus which is an example of glorious existence and the fourth hands holds a mace (gadha) indicating the power and the punishing capacity of the Lord if discipline in life is ignored.
His vehicle is the swift-flying bird Garuda which can spread the vedic knowledge with great courage. The dark color of the Lord represents the passive and formless ether, a great quality for a pervading god. He rests on the bed of coiled serpent, Seshnaag. Lord Narayana is also known as Hari, the remover. He is preserving, protecting powers have been manifested to the world in a variety of forms, called Avatars. All Avatars of Vishnu appeared in the world either to correct some great evil or to effect some great good on earth. All the Avatars are earthly form of Lord Vishnu, who himself is eternal, unchangeable and immutable. Parashurama shows the man of power, Rama the Divine warrior and protector, Krishna the Divine lover, Buddha the Divine sage, and Kalki the completer and saviour.
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shakti peethas
Apart from these four there are 52 other famous Peethas recognised by religious texts. According to the Pithanirnaya Tantra the 52 peethas are scattered all over India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, Tibet, Bhutan and Pakistan. The Shivacharita besides listing 52 maha-peethas, speaks about 26 more upa-peethas. The Bengali almanac, Vishuddha Siddhanta Panjika too describes the 52 peethas including the present modified addresses. A few of the several accepted listings are given below.[7] One of the few in South India, Srisailam in Andhra Pradesh became the site for a 2nd-century temple.[8]
The List of 51 Shakti Pithas
In the listings[9] below:
"Shakti" refers to the Goddess worshipped at each location, all being manifestations of Dakshayani, Sati; later known as Parvati or Durga;
"Bhairava" refers to the corresponding consort, each a manifestation of Shiva;
"Body Part or Ornament" refers to the body part or piece of jewellery that fell to earth, at the location on which the respective temple is built.
Devi Kanya Kumari, Kanya Kumari , Tamil Nadu
Sr. No Place State in India/Country Body Part or Ornament Shakti Bhairava
1 Amarnath, from Srinagar through Pahalgam 94 km by Bus, Chandanwari 16 km by walk Jammu and Kashmir Throat Mahamaya Trisandhyeshwar
2 Attahas village of Dakshindihi in the district of Bardhaman, near the Katwa railway station West Bengal Lips Phullara Vishvesh
3 Bahula, on the banks of Ajay river at Ketugram, 8 km from Katwa, Burdwan West Bengal Left arm Goddess Bahula Bhiruk
4 Bakreshwar, on the banks of Paaphara river, 24 km distance from Siuri Town, district Birbhum, 7 km from Dubrajpur Rly. Station West Bengal Portion between the eyebrows Mahishmardini Vakranath
5 Bhairavparvat, at Bhairav hills on the banks of Shipra river in the city of Ujjaini Madhya Pradesh Elbow Avanti Lambkarna
6 Bhabanipur, located in the Upazilla of Sherpur, Bogra, Rajshahi Division. Also located at Karatoyatat, it is about 28 km distance from the town of Sherpur. Bangladesh Left anklet (ornament) Arpana Vaman
7 Chhinnamastika Shaktipeeth at Chintpurni, in Una District of Himachal Pradesh Himachal Pradesh Feet Chhinnamastika Rudra Mahadev
8 Gandaki, Pokhara about 125 km on the banks of Gandaki river where Muktinath temple is situated Nepal Temple Gandaki Chandi Chakrapani
9 Goddess Bhadrakaali on banks of Godavari in Nasik city Maharashtra Chin (2 parts) Bhramari Vikritaksh
10 Hinglaj (Or Hingula), southern Baluchistan a few hours North-east of Gawadar and about 125 km towards North-west from Karachi Pakistan Bramharandhra (Part of the head) Kottari Bhimlochan
11 Jayanti at Nartiang village in the Jaintia Hills district. This Shakti Peetha is locally known as the Nartiang Durga Temple. Meghalaya Left thigh Jayanti Kramadishwar
12 Jessoreswari, situated at Ishwaripur, Shyamnagar Upazila, Khulna Division. The temple complex was built by Maharaja Pratapaditya, whose capital was Ishwaripur. Bangladesh Palms of hands and soles of the feet Jashoreshwari Chanda
13 Jwalaji, Kangra from Pathankot alight at Jwalamukhi Road Station from there 20 km Himachal Pradesh Tongue Siddhida (Ambika) Unmatta Bhairav
14 Kalipeeth, (Kalighat, Kolkata) West Bengal Right Toes Kalika Nakuleshwar
15 Kalmadhav on the banks of Shon river in a cave over hills near to Amarkantak Madhya Pradesh Left buttock Kali Asitang
16 Kamgiri, Kamakhya, in the Neelachal hills near Guwahati Assam Genitals Kamakhya Umanand
17 Kankalitala, on the banks of Kopai River 10 km north-east of Bolpur station in Birbhum district, Devi locally known as Kankaleshwari West Bengal Bone Devgarbha Ruru
18 Kanyashram of Balaambika - The Bhagavathy temple in Kanyakumari, the southernmost tip of mainland India, Tamil Nadu (also thought to be situated in Yunnan province, China) Tamil Nadu Back Sarvani Nimish
19 Karnat, Brajeshwari Devi, Kangra Himachal Pradesh Both ears Jayadurga Abhiru
20 Kireet at Kireetkona village, 3 km from Lalbag Court Road station under district Murshidabad West Bengal Crown Vimla Sanwart
21 Locally known as Anandamayee Temple. Ratnavali, on the banks of Ratnakar river at Khanakul-Krishnanagar, district Hooghly West Bengal Right Shoulder Kumari Shiva
22 Locally known as Bhramari Devi. In Jalpaiguri near a small village Boda on the bank of river Teesta or Tri-shrota (combination of three flows) mentioned in Puranas West Bengal Left leg Bhraamari Ambar
23 Manas, under Tibet at the foot of Mount Kailash in Lake Mansarovar, a piece of Stone Tibet Right hand Dakshayani Amar
24 Manibandh, at Gayatri hills near Pushkar 11 km north-west of Ajmer Rajasthan Two Bracelets Gayatri Sarvanand
25 Mithila, near Janakpur railway station on the border of India and Nepal Nepal Left shoulder Uma Mahodar
26 Nainativu (Manipallavam), Northern Province, Sri Lanka. Located 36 km from the ancient capital of the Jaffna kingdom, Nallur. The murti of the Goddess is believed to have been consecrated and worshipped by Lord Indra. The protagonist, Lord Rama and antagonist, Ravana of the Sanskrit epic Ramayana have offered obeisances to the Goddess. Nāga and Garuda of the Sanskrit epic Mahabharata; resolved their longstanding feuds after worshipping this Goddess. Sri Lanka Silambu (Anklets) Indrakshi (Nagapooshani / Bhuvaneswari) Rakshaseshwar (Nayanair)
27 Nepal, near Pashupatinath Temple at Guhyeshwari Temple Nepal Both Knees Mahashira Kapali
28 On Chandranath hill near Sitakunda station of Chittagong Division. The famous Chandranath Temple on the top of the hill is the Bhairav temple of this Shakti Peetha, not the Shakti Peeth itself. Bangladesh Right arm Bhawani Chandrashekhar
29 Panchsagar Near Lohaghat (in Champawat District of Uttarakhand) nearly 100 km from nearest railway station Tanakpur. Uttarakhand Lower teeth Varahi Maharudra
30 Prabhas, 4 km from Veraval station near Somnath temple in Junagadh district Gujarat Stomach Chandrabhaga Vakratund
31 Prayag near Sangam at Allahabad Uttar Pradesh Finger Lalita Bhava
32 Present day Kurukshetra town or Thanesar ancient Sthaneshwar Haryana Ankle bone Savitri/BhadraKali Sthanu
33 Ramgiri, at Chitrakuta on the Jhansi Manikpur railway line Uttar Pradesh Right breast Shivani Chanda
34 Sainthia, locally Known as Nandikeshwari temple. Only 1.5 km from the railway station under a banyan tree within a boundary wall, Birbhum district West Bengal Necklace Nandini Nandikeshwar
35 Sarvashail or Godavaritir, at Kotilingeswar temple on the banks of Godavari river near Rajamundry Andhra Pradesh Cheeks Rakini or Vishweshwari Vatsnabh or Dandpani
36 Naina devi, [[]] Himachal Pradesh Eyes Mahishmardini Krodhish
37 Shondesh, at the source point of Narmada River in Amarkantak Madhya Pradesh Right buttock Narmada Bhadrasen
38 Shri Parvat, near Ladak, Jammu and Kashmir. Another belief: at Srisailam in Shriparvat hills under Kurnool district Andhra Pradesh Right anklet (ornament) Shrisundari Sundaranand
39 Shri Shail, at Joinpur village, Dakshin Surma, near Gotatikar, 3 km north-east of Sylhet town Bangladesh Neck Mahalaxmi Sambaranand
40 Shuchi, in a Shiva temple at Suchindrum 11 km on Kanyakumari Trivandrum road Tamil Nadu Upper teeth Narayani Sanhar
41 Sugandha, situated in Shikarpur, Gournadi, about 20 km from Barisal town, on the banks of Sonda river. Bangladesh Nose Sugandha Trayambak
42 Udaipur, Tripura, at the top of the hills known as Tripura Sundari temple near Radhakishorepur village, a little distance away from Udaipur town Tripura Right leg Tripura Sundari Tripuresh
43 Ujaani, 16 km from Guskara station under Burdwan district West Bengal Right wrist Mangal Chandika Kapilambar
44 Varanasi at Manikarnika Ghat on banks of the Ganges at Kashi Uttar Pradesh Earring Vishalakshi & Manikarni Kalbhairav
45 Vibhash, at Tamluk under district Purba Medinipur West Bengal Left ankle Kapalini (Bhimarupa) Sarvanand
46 Virat, near Bharatpur Rajasthan Left toes Ambika Amriteshwar
47 Vrindavan, near new bus stand on Bhuteshwar road within Bhuteshwar Mahadev Temple, Katyayanipeeth. Vrindavan Uttar Pradesh Ringlets of hair Uma Bhutesh
48 Jalandhar, from Jalandhar Cantonment Station to Devi Talab. Punjab Left Breast Tripurmalini Bhutesh
49 Baidyanath Dham Jharkhand Heart Jaya Durga Baidyanath
50 Birajong in Paro Paro, Bhutan Bamonbonsham Paropit
51 Great Toe Jugaadya -Ksheer Khandak
Historical notes
First relating to Brahmanda Purana, one of the major eighteen Puranas, it mentions 64 Shakthi Peetha of Goddess Parvati in the Bharat or Greater India including present day India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Another text which gives a listing of these shrines, is the Shakthi Peetha Stotram, written by Adi Shankara, the 9th-century Hindu philosopher.[10]
According to the manuscript Mahapithapurana (c. 1690 – 1720 CE), there are 52 such places. Among them, 23 are located in the Bengal region, 14 of these are located in what is now West Bengal, India, 1 in Baster (Chhattisgarh), while 7 are in what is now Bangladesh.
Rishi Markandeya composed the 'Devi Saptashati' or the seven hundred hymns extolling the virtues of the Divine Goddess at the shaktipeetha in Nashik. The idol is also leaning a little to the left to listen to the sages composition. The Saptashati or the "Durga Stuti" forms an integral part in the vedic form of Shakti worship.
The third eye of Mata Sati fell below a tree in a mortuary in the Ishan corner of Vakreshwar. This is on the bank of the north flowing Dwarka river in the east of Baidyanath. Here Mata Sati is called Chandi Bhagwai Ugra Tara and Bhairav is called Chandrachur. This Shaktipeeth is called Tarapith in Birbhum district West bengal , India
Preserving the mortal relics of famous and respected individuals was a common practice in ancient India - seen in the Buddhist stupas which preserve the relics of Gautama Buddha. It is believed by some[citation needed] that these 64 peethas preserve the remains of some ancient female sage from whom the legend of Kali could have emerged and then merged with the Purusha - Prakriti (Shiva Shakti) model of Hindu thought.
18 Maha Shakti Pithas
The modern cities or towns that correspond to these 64 locations can be a matter of dispute, but there are a few that are totally unambiguous, these are mentioned in the Ashta Dasa Shakthi Peetha Stotram by Adi Shankara.[11] This list contains 18 such locations which are often referred to as Maha Shakthi Peeths.[12]
Sr. No. Place Appellation Part of the body fallen Shakti
1 Trincomalee (Sri Lanka) Lanka Peetham Groin Shankari devi
2 Kanchi (Tamil Nadu) Kanchi Kamakodi Peetham Back part Kamakshi Devi
3 Pandua (West Bengal) Pradyumna Peetham Stomach Srigala Devi
4 Mysore (Karnataka) Krounja Peetham Hair Chamundeshwari devi
5 Alampur (telangana) Yogini Peetham Upper teeth Jogulamba devi (Yogamba devi)
6 Shrishailam, (Andhra Pradesh) Shrishaila Peetham Neck part Bhramaramba devi
7 Kolhapur (Maharastra) Shri Peetham Eyes Mahalakshmi devi
8 Mahur (Nanded District, Maharastra) Renuka Peetham Left hand Renuka Devi
9 Ujjain (Madhya Pradesh) Ujjaini Peetham Tongue Mahakali devi
10 Pithapuram (Andhra Pradesh) Pushkarini Peetham Back part Puruhutika devi
11 Jajpur (Odisha) Oddyana Peetham Hip bone Biraja Devi
12 Draksharamam (Andhra Pradesh) Draksharama Peetham Navel Manikyamba devi
13 Guwahati (Assam) Kamarupa Peetham Vulva Kamarupa devi
14 Prayaga (Uttar Pradesh) Prayaga Peetham Fingers Madhaveswari devi
15 Kangra, Jwalamukhi (Himachal Pradesh) Jwalamukhi Peetham Head Part Vaishnavi devi
16 Gaya (Bihar) Gaya Peetham Breast part Sarvamangala devi
17 Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh) Varanasi Peetham Toes Vishalakshi devi
18 Sharada Peeth (Kashmir) * Sharada Peetham Right hand Saraswathi devi
[*]Sharada Peeth:This temple is currently non-existent*.[13] Only ruins are found in these places. Its ruins are near the Line of Control (LOC)[14] between the Indian and Pakistani-controlled portions of the former princely state of Kashmir and Jammu. Instead, Sringeri Sharada Peetham, Sringeri in Karnataka even though not a Shakti Peetha is this aspect of the goddess, Requests have been made by the Hindu community in Pakistan to the Pakistani government to renovate the temple, the issue was raised by former Indian Home minister L. K. Advani to the Pakistan authorities[15] as a confidence building measure, by increasing the people to people interaction cross border.[14]
Among these, the Shakti Peethas at Kamakhya, Gaya and Ujjain are regarded as most sacred as they symbolise three most important aspects of mother Goddess viz. Creation (Kamarupa Devi), Nourishment (Sarvamangala Devi/Mangalagauri) and Annihilation (Mahakali Devi).
When observed carefully one can see that they lie in a perfect straight line from Kamakhya to Ujjain via Gaya symbolizing that every creation in this universe will annihilate one day without fail.
Ashta Dasa Shakthi Peetha Stotram
Lankayam Shankari devi, Kamakshi Kanchika pure Pradyumne Shrinkhala devi, Chamunda Krouncha pattane
Alampure jogulamba, Sri Shaile Bhramarambika Kolha Pure Maha Lakshmi, Mahurye Ekaveerika
Ujjainyam Maha kali. Preethikayam Puruhutika Odhyane Girija devi, Manikya Daksha vatike
Hari Kshetre kama rupi, Prayage Madhaveshwari Jwalayam Vishnavi Devi, Gaya Mangalya gourika
Varanasyam Vishalakshi, Kashmire tu Saraswati Ashtadasha shakti Peethani, Yoginamapi durlabham
Sayamkale pathennityam Sarva Shatru vinashanam Sarva roga haram divyam, Sarva sampatkaram shubham
Translation of the stotra
Goddess Shankari in Sri Lanka, Kamakshi in Kanchipuram Goddess Shrinkhala in Pradymna and Chamunda in Mysore
Goddess Jogulamba in Alampur, Goddess Brhamarambika in Sri Shailam Goddess Maha lakshmi in Kolhapur and Goddess Eka Veera in Mahur
Goddess Maha Kali in Ujjain, Purhuthika in Peethika Goddess Girija in Odhyana and Manikya in the house of Daksha
Goddess kama rupi in the temple of Vishnu, Madhaveshwari in Allahabad Goddess giving flame in Jwala Mukhi and Mangala Gowri in Gaya
Goddess Vishalakshi in Varanasi, Saraswati in Kashmir These are the 18 houses of Shakti, which are rare even to the Devas
When Chanted every evening, all the enemies would get destroyed all the diseases would vanish, and prosperity would be showered.
Nav Chandi Yagna
Navchandi yagna is a Nav Durga pooja.This pooja is performed to make wishes come true and also for health, wealth, strength, prosperity, success and many other reasons in the life. All the sufferings are removed by performing this Nav Chandi Yagna. This Yagna remove enemy and bad planetary effects. By devoting this yagna man can get every success of life. Devote is blessed by Lord Ganesha, Lord Shiva, Nav Grah and Nav durga (Devi),
Ghatasthapana Puja Vidhi during Navratri
Ghatasthapana Time
Ghatasthapana is one of the significant rituals during Navratri. It marks the beginning of nine days festivity. Our scriptures have well defined rules and guidelines to perform Ghatasthapana during a certain period of time at the beginning of Navratri. Ghatasthapana is invocation of Goddess Shakti and doing it wrong time, as our scriptures forewarn, might bring wrath of the Goddess Shakti. Ghatasthapana is prohibited during Amavasya and night time.
The most auspicious or Shubh time to do Ghatasthapana is first one third of the day while Pratipada is prevailing. If due to some reasons this time is not available then Ghatasthapana can be done during Abhijit Muhurta. It is advised to avoid Nakshatra Chitra and Vaidhriti Yoga during Ghatasthapana but those are not prohibited. The most important factor to consider is that Ghatasthapana is done before Hindu midday while Pratipada is prevailing.
Hence please note down the city based Ghatasthapana Time after setting the location for your city.
Ghatasthapana Items
Wide and open
Clay Pot
to sow Sapta Dhanya
Clean
Soil
to sow Sapta Dhanya
Sapta Dhanya
or seeds of seven different grains
Small clay or brass
Pitcher
Sacred water to fill the Kalash or
Ganga Jal
Sacred thread / Moli /
Kalaya
Scent
(perfume)
Supari
(betel nuts)
Coins
to put into the Kalash
5 leaves
of Ashoka or Mango tree
A
Lid
to cover the Kalash
Raw Rice
or unbroken rice known as Akshat (अक्षत) to put in the lid
Unpeeled
Coconut
Red Cloth
to warp coconut
Flowers and Garland
preferably marigold
Durva
grass
Kalash Preparation
Kalash Preparation for Ghatasthapana
Kalash Preparation
Kalash is prepared before invoking the Goddess and other Gods into it.
Step 1 - First take the wide clay pot (the one which would be used to keep the Kalash) to sow the grains. Spread the first layer of the soil into the pot and then spread the grain seeds. Now add the second layer of the soil and grains. In second layer grains should be spread near the periphery of the pot. Now spread the third and final layer of the soil into the pot. If needed add little water to the pot to set the soil.
Step 2 - Now tie the sacred thread on the neck of the Kalash and fill it up with the holy water up to the neck. Drop Supari, scent, Durva grass, Akshat and coins into the water. Keep 5 leaves of Ashoka at the edge of the Kalash before covering it with a lid.
Step 3 – Now take the un-peeled coconut and wrap it inside the red cloth. Fasten the coconut and red cloth with the sacred thread.
Now keep the coconut on top of the Kalash prepared in step 2. At last put the Kalash in the center on the grain pot prepared in step 1. Now we have Kalash ready to invoke Goddess Durga into it.
Invoke Goddess Durga
Now invoke Goddess Durga and request Her to accept your prayers and to oblige you by residing into the Kalash for nine days.
Panchopachara Puja
As name suggests, Panchopachara Puja (पंचोपचार पूजा) is done with five Puja items. First show the lamp to the Kalash and all deities invoked in it. After lamp offering, light Dhoop sticks and offer it to the Kalash, followed by flowers and scent. Finally offer Naivedhya (नैवेद्य) i.e. fruits and sweets to the Kalash to conclude Panchopachara Puja.
Navratri Puja Vidhi
Goddess Durga is worshipped in different forms during Navratri or Durga Puja
Navratri is amongst the most important Hindu festivals. This auspicious festival is celebrated with great zeal and devotion throughout the country. The literal meaning of 'Navratri' is 'nine auspicious nights'. Navratri is a pious festival celebrated in the honor of nine different forms of the Goddess Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati for nine continuous days. The Goddess of Power is worshipped during these days in order to seek her blessings and protection from any unknown fear and possible threat. The devotees ask for peace and prosperity from the Goddess. The Goddess of power has the supremacy over the creation, preservation and destruction of the universe.
Navratri is being celebrated in our country adhering to all the customs and rituals. It is of utmost importance to know the exact method of performing the Navratri Pooja. Here, is the full Navratri Pooja Vidhi.
Items to be required for the Navratri Pooja:
Picture or Idol of Goddess Durga in the Pooja room
A dupatta or sari to offer to the deity
Durga Saptshati book
Ganga water or plain water in Kalash (pitcher)
Fresh and washed mango leaves
Fresh grass
Sandalwood
One coconut
Roli, red sacred powder for tilak
Moli, red sacred thread
Rice
Supari (Areca nuts)
Paan (Betel leaves)
Cloves
Cardamom
Kumkum (vermilion)
Gulal
You will need incense sticks, a 'deep' and a matchstick. You will also require some fresh flowers like rose, jasmine or red hibiscus. You may offer fresh fruits and sweets such as 'laddoo', or 'peda' for prasad. Take a mat, to sit. If possible, every member of the house should sit together.
Navratri Pooja Vidhi:
For performing the Navratri Pooja, you need to wake up early in the morning. Get up sharp at the sunrise. This time is considered best to perform the Navratri Pooja. Take bath and wear laundered clothes. Keep 'deep' at the left side of the deity. Try to light the 'Akhand Jyot'. Keep in mind that you should not leave the house vacant if you are lighting the 'Akhand Jyot'. Someone must stay back at home. On the right hand side of the idol, keep incense sticks etc. Keep yourself prepared to do the Puja with full devotion and concentration. Keep the kalash and coconut as well. Lay the mat and sit in an upright position in front of the deity. Light the 'deep'. Ring the bell or blow the 'Shankh'.
For 'Kalash Sthapna':
Place the kalash near the idol or picture of the deity and fill it with pure water. Place mango leaves on the mouth of the kalash. Place a coconut inside the kalash. Tie moli around the neck of the kalash.
Sprinkle 'Gangajal' all over the Puja room. Now, offer sandalwood powder and some fresh grass to the Goddess. Then, offer the sari or dupatta to the Goddess. Place some fresh flowers in front of the Goddess. Next, offer 'paan' with a clove placed on it. If you are married, then offer two such paans. Light 'agarbatti' or incense sticks. Perform 'havan' using this mantra- "Om aing hreeng kleeng chamundaya vichche namah". Give aahuti for 11 times. Fold your hands and pray. At last, offer prasad and do aarti of Goddess Durga. Sing the "Kshama Prarthana" of the 13th chapter of sacred Durga Saptshati and conclude the Puja. Pray with whole heart.
The Durga Saptashati book should be kept carefully and respectfully.
Celebration of 'Mahanavami' in India:
The ninth day of Navratri, popularly known as 'Mahanavami' is the final day of Navratri celebrations. The celebration of 'Mahanavami' varies from state to state in India.
People of different states celebrate Mahanavami in their own way. People from Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Punjab do 'Kanya Puja' on the last day. On the concluding day, nine young girls are invited in the house and feasted with delicious food. These nine young girls are treated as the nine forms of the Goddess. They are welcomed by washing their feet and putting tilak on their forehead.
The people of Kerala celebrate Saraswati Pooja on 'Ashtami', the eighth day or the day before Mahanavami. The concluding day is treated as the resting day. People do not begin with any new work and even children do not study this day.
Navratri celebrations end on 'Ashtami' instead of Mahanavami in some parts of Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Kashmir and Maharashtra.
The people of West Bengal celebrate Durga Pooja with great enthusiasm and devotion. Huge 'Pandal' (tent) is set up and a huge idol of Goddess Durga is installed in the 'Pandal' and worshipped. On Mahanavami, the idol of Goddess Durga is bid adieu and immersed in the sea or river or any flowing source of water.
The festival of Navratri is divided into the sets of three days. These sets are formulated to worship the different forms of the Goddess. On the first three days, Goddess Durga is revered and worshipped. She is known to be the master of power and eliminates all the evil and fear from the mind and life of the devotees. The next three days are devoted to the Goddess of wealth- Lakshmi. She showers the blessings of never-ending wealth upon her devotees. The final set of three days is devoted for worshipping the Goddess of wisdom- Saraswati. She is responsible for spiritual enlightenment and success in life.
The Goddesses are worshipped under nine different names and in nine different characters during the nine prosperous days. The first form of Goddess Durga is 'Shailputri' meaning the 'Goddess of Himalayas' is worshipped on the first day. The second form of Goddess Durga is 'Brahmacharini', worshipped on the second day. Her name is derived from the word 'Brahma'. On the third day, the Goddess is worshipped as 'Chandraghanta'. She symbolizes beauty and bravery.
The Goddess 'Kushmanda' is worshipped on the fourth day. She is believed to be the creator of the universe. On the fifth day, 'Skanda Mata' is worshipped. She is the mother of the chief warrior of the God's Army, Skand. The sixth day is devoted for the Goddess 'Katyayani', who has three eyes and four hands.
The Goddess 'Kalratri' is worshipped on the seventh day of Navratri. She is as black as the night and takes away all the fears from the devotees. The Goddess 'Maha Gauri' is worshipped on the eighth day of Navratri. She is the epitome of beauty and as white as the snow. She represents calmness and wisdom. The ninth day, also known as 'Mahanavami', is the concluding day of Navratri. Goddess 'Siddhidatri' is worshipped on the last day of Navratri.
Navratri is a festival of sentiments, positive thoughts, peace and prosperity. Every year it is welcomed with great respect and love. People refrain from wrong deeds and indulge in pure devotion. Wish you a Happy Navratri!
Vedik Astro
How and where your money flows into your life is one of the most important questions you can ever ask, and you deserve to have it answered with practical and useful insights. “Time is Money, and Money is Energy.”
These complex questions require careful examination of the planets Saturn, Jupiter and Mercury in your chart as well as analysis of six of the 12 astrological Houses which each have subtle impact on your money and career.
We look at Saturn to give insights about your work ethic and ability to perform quality service as well as insights into karmic blockages that may be holding you back.
We look at Jupiter to see your potential for wealth and ways to activate any past life merit that may be ripe for you to receive at this time as well as considerations about your ability to receive and benefit from constructive advice. In addition, Jupiter may reveal to us troublesome karma from past lives in which you did not respect instructions from more evolved mentors or in which you may have abused wealth.
We look at Mercury to see your natural energies for commercial success, your talents for buying or selling in the marketplace (including offering your services to others), your gifts with communication, numbers, marketing and managing details. Mercury can help us see how quickly you can adapt to new opportunities and how you can best make the most of new prospects.
We examine the 2nd, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 10th and 11th houses in your chart for their revelations about several money and career topics as they pertain to you:
2nd House: Gives clear indicators about your money stream and income potential as well as suggests a financial management style that is best suited for you
5th House: Reveals your potential for gains through speculation and investments
6th House: Gives a picture about your ability to receive money from others
7th House: Describes your best options for doing business with others, including your potential to engage others (people, companies, etc.) or to form business alliances and partnerships
8th House: Depicts possible obstacles as well as shows possible karma for help from lottery or inheritance
10th House: Outlines your career potential, helps us see what career fields are easier for you to succeed in and gives deeper truth about your higher purpose and best actions while in this world
11th House: Conveys your openness to making profit as well as your ability or blockages to enjoy and properly use the money you accumulate
For example, examination may determine you may have a career that does not generate money for you, yet you could be gifted at investing. Alternatively an astrologer may see you have planetary support to receive an inheritance or win a lottery.
One astrological principle is that no matter if your money comes through influences from the 2nd, 4th, 6th, 7th, 8th or 10th Houses, without proper influence from the 11th house of fulfillment of desires, you will never be able to fully access or enjoy the wealth that you earn.
For this reason, we offer several astrological reports to suit your specific needs on this essential topic. If you are not sure where to start, we would recommend the basic diagnosis tools: Know Your Good and Bad Planets Report and the 1 Year Financial Forecast. From these two core reports, you can explore your specific areas of concern in more depth.
These complex questions require careful examination of the planets Saturn, Jupiter and Mercury in your chart as well as analysis of six of the 12 astrological Houses which each have subtle impact on your money and career.
We look at Saturn to give insights about your work ethic and ability to perform quality service as well as insights into karmic blockages that may be holding you back.
We look at Jupiter to see your potential for wealth and ways to activate any past life merit that may be ripe for you to receive at this time as well as considerations about your ability to receive and benefit from constructive advice. In addition, Jupiter may reveal to us troublesome karma from past lives in which you did not respect instructions from more evolved mentors or in which you may have abused wealth.
We look at Mercury to see your natural energies for commercial success, your talents for buying or selling in the marketplace (including offering your services to others), your gifts with communication, numbers, marketing and managing details. Mercury can help us see how quickly you can adapt to new opportunities and how you can best make the most of new prospects.
We examine the 2nd, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 10th and 11th houses in your chart for their revelations about several money and career topics as they pertain to you:
2nd House: Gives clear indicators about your money stream and income potential as well as suggests a financial management style that is best suited for you
5th House: Reveals your potential for gains through speculation and investments
6th House: Gives a picture about your ability to receive money from others
7th House: Describes your best options for doing business with others, including your potential to engage others (people, companies, etc.) or to form business alliances and partnerships
8th House: Depicts possible obstacles as well as shows possible karma for help from lottery or inheritance
10th House: Outlines your career potential, helps us see what career fields are easier for you to succeed in and gives deeper truth about your higher purpose and best actions while in this world
11th House: Conveys your openness to making profit as well as your ability or blockages to enjoy and properly use the money you accumulate
For example, examination may determine you may have a career that does not generate money for you, yet you could be gifted at investing. Alternatively an astrologer may see you have planetary support to receive an inheritance or win a lottery.
One astrological principle is that no matter if your money comes through influences from the 2nd, 4th, 6th, 7th, 8th or 10th Houses, without proper influence from the 11th house of fulfillment of desires, you will never be able to fully access or enjoy the wealth that you earn.
For this reason, we offer several astrological reports to suit your specific needs on this essential topic. If you are not sure where to start, we would recommend the basic diagnosis tools: Know Your Good and Bad Planets Report and the 1 Year Financial Forecast. From these two core reports, you can explore your specific areas of concern in more depth.
Angarika Chaturthi Katha, Lagend of Angarak Chouth, Story of Angaraki Chaturthi
Angarika Chaturthi is celebrated on the day, when Krishna Paksha Chaturthi combines with the weekday Tuesday. There is Story behind celebrating Angarika Chaturthi.
Angarak was the son of Bharadwaj Rishi and Mother Earth. Angarak learned education from his father. Bharadwaj Rishi himself was a follower of Lord Ganesha. Angarak was also become a great devotee of Lord Ganesh. He also started worshiping Ganesha for his blessings.
On Krishna Paksha Chaturthi of Magh Month (that day was also a Tuesday), Angarak was blessed by Lord Ganesha. And provided him a boon. Angarika replied as “my only wish was to be associated with Lord Ganesha’s name for forever”. Lord Ganesha Granted it. From then, when ever Sankashti falls on tuesday is known Angarika Ganesh Chaturthi or Angarika Chaturthi. Magh Krisha Chaturthi is also known as Angarak Chaturthi.
Angarika Chaturthi is celebrated on the day, when Krishna Paksha Chaturthi combines with the weekday Tuesday. There is Story behind celebrating Angarika Chaturthi.
Angarak was the son of Bharadwaj Rishi and Mother Earth. Angarak learned education from his father. Bharadwaj Rishi himself was a follower of Lord Ganesha. Angarak was also become a great devotee of Lord Ganesh. He also started worshiping Ganesha for his blessings.
On Krishna Paksha Chaturthi of Magh Month (that day was also a Tuesday), Angarak was blessed by Lord Ganesha. And provided him a boon. Angarika replied as “my only wish was to be associated with Lord Ganesha’s name for forever”. Lord Ganesha Granted it. From then, when ever Sankashti falls on tuesday is known Angarika Ganesh Chaturthi or Angarika Chaturthi. Magh Krisha Chaturthi is also known as Angarak Chaturthi.
ganesh chathrthy
Ganesh Chaturthi also known as Vinayaka Chaturthi is one of the important Hindu festivals celebrated throughout India with a great devotion. This day is celebrated as the birthday of Lord Ganesh, the elephant-headed son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. Lord Ganesh is the symbol of wisdom, prosperity and good fortune.
Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated on Shukla Chaturthi of the Hindu month of Bhadra (generally falls between August and September). This festival is celebrated by Hindus with a great enthusiasm. People bring idols of Lord Ganesh to their homes and do worship. The duration of this festival varies from 1 day to 11 days, depending on the place and tradition. On the last day of the festival the idols are taken out in a colorful and musical procession and immersed traditionally in water.
As per Hindu mythology Lord Ganesh is considered as “Vigana Harta” (one who removes obstacles) and “Buddhi Pradaayaka” (one who grants intelligence). This festival is very important for students, they worship Lord Ganesh to illumine their minds.
Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated on Shukla Chaturthi of the Hindu month of Bhadra (generally falls between August and September). This festival is celebrated by Hindus with a great enthusiasm. People bring idols of Lord Ganesh to their homes and do worship. The duration of this festival varies from 1 day to 11 days, depending on the place and tradition. On the last day of the festival the idols are taken out in a colorful and musical procession and immersed traditionally in water.
As per Hindu mythology Lord Ganesh is considered as “Vigana Harta” (one who removes obstacles) and “Buddhi Pradaayaka” (one who grants intelligence). This festival is very important for students, they worship Lord Ganesh to illumine their minds.
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.
Shree Yantra is a unique source of positive and spiritual energy with no other parallel. Rudra Puja is a well-known Manufacturer of exclusive Hindu Yantra. The company is a subsidiary of Puja Art, a distinguished distributor of Hindu Yantra, Rudrakshas, Crystal Shree Yantra, Parad(Mercury), Japa Malas, Rudraksha Beads, Rudraksha Mala, Badha Mukti Yantra, One Mukhi Rudraksha and many other religious items. The company has established itself among the topmost Rudraksha Beads Suppliers In India. For more details regarding the products, offered by the company, you can log on to
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
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.
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
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.
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