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Showing posts from August, 2017

Shravan Somvaar Vrat

So, its Amavasya tithi today, the last day of Shravan maas and also Somvaar, the day of Lord Hari, the day of Lord Vishnu, also the day I observed Somvaar Vrat all throughout this month. Curiously, the most interpretative stories of Lord Vishnu often begin with Lord Shiva, one cannot understand Vishnu without first understanding Shiva. During the holy month of Shravan, Mondays or Somvaar is often dedicated to Shiva by many devout Hindus while the general understanding is that Mondays are the day of Lord Hari or Lord Vishnu. The logical explanation of this arrangement is that Lord Vishnu, the preserver of the world, goes to sleep on the day of Devashayani Ekadashi which is the first Ekadashi of the Chaturmaas period during the month of Ashadha. The next month of the Chaturmaas period is Shravan month, followed by Bhadrapada and then Ashwin. Lord Vishnu and all his Devas (demigods) are said to wake up during the month of Kartik (after Chaturmaas), on the day of  Prabhodini Ekadash...

Aja Ekadashi

So, here comes another Ekadashi Tithi and I am fasting today.  The word Aja in Sanskrit means unborn, that which exists eternally but neither takes birth, nor dies. That is how Vishnu is often described. In the Vishnu Sahasranama (which translates to Thousand Names of Vishnu), some of the names described of Vishnu are: Svayambhūḥ: One who exists by Himself, uncaused by any other. Anāndi-nidhanaḥ: The one existence that has neither birth nor death. Śāśvataḥ: One who exists at all times. Ajah: One who has no birth. Ekadashi fasts are always performed to worship Vishnu and like all other Ekadashi fasts, this one too has a story. Sri Yudhisthira Maharaja said, "Oh Janardana, protector of all living entities, please tell me the name of the Ekadasi that occurs during the dark fortnight of the month of Bhadrapada (August-September)."     The Supreme Lord, Sri Krishna, then replied, "Oh King, hear Me attentively. The name of this sin-removing, sacred Ekada...

The story of creation and Saraswati Devi

Ya Devi Stuyate  Nityam Vibhu ha ir veda paragaih SaMe Vasatu Jihvagre  Brahmarupa Saraswati A word to word translation of above mantra would be: oh Goddess I pray to you,  the supreme the eternal carrier of the seed of knowledge may you reside on the tip of my tongue as does a precious drop of fluid in the form of an ever expanding pool of cosmic energy. [Veda Paragaih is an important word here. Parag means pollen, which is a  substance comprising of  male microgametophytes of seed plants, which produce male gametes (sperm cells). The pollen is what is transported from plant to plant by the wind, by birds, by insects or by other animals and this spread of  pollen  helps to fertilize plants and support creation. Veda Paragaih is thus the seed that contains within it all the knowledge.] [Brahmarupa means the face of creation (form of what expands) and Saraswati is formed off Sa-ras meaning a pond of water and Swati means a precious...

A word about Shani Graha

Shani graha or Saturn is probably one of the most infamous of planets within the astrological community. Known to bring suffering and darkness with his presence there are many stories associated with this wonderful planet which beautifully describes why Shani is the way it is. This story is also about Shadows and Death. Death which is not be feared but seen as an opportunity to kill the old and start fresh. Shani rules Saturdays and also the tithi of purnima that today is and is said to love black color and he also governs foods and flavors of astrigent taste. A well placed and Happy and strong Shani represents  Experience, Patience, Humility, Wisdom & Compassion in beings. Strange that I should come across this beautiful story of his birth and early life on the Raksha Bandhan Tithi while I observe a Monday fast (Somvaar Vrat). The story of Raksha Bandhan is another interesting one but this post is about Shani first. The Shani who rules number (& all numbers adding up ...

Putrada Ekadashi

So, here comes one more Ekadashi which is said to be an auspicious tithi for achieving one's desires. I am fasting today so I am going to share the story related to this tithi. Why fasting on these days is beneficial, we have talked about in previous posts; what we haven't discussed yet is how it helps in the fulfillment of desires. That is the subject of another post. Now again there are many stories that can help one understand, all you have to do is read them with devotion and belief to understand the science behind fulfillment of desires. Heres the story of Putrada Ekadashi as it appears in the Bhavishya Purana. Shri Yudhisthira Maharaja said, "Oh Madhusudana, Oh killer of the Madhu demon, please be merciful to me and describe to me the Ekadasi that occurs during the light fortnight of the month of Shravana (July-August)." The Supreme Lord, Sri Krishna, replied, "Yes, Oh king, I shall happily narrate its glories to you, for just by hearing about this...