People celebrate Shravan Poornima according to their custom. In north India it is celebrated as Rakshabandhan. Sisters fast till the ceremony is over. She begins with tying the rakhi on her Brother's wrist, applying tilak, giving him sweets. In return the Brothers give gifts and promises to take care of her. This incident in Mahabaratha signifies the importance of Rakhbandhan:
Lord Krishna was hurt and was bleeding and Draudaphi tore a piece of her sari to dress the wound. In return when Draupadhi was insulted in the sabha, Lord Krishna gave yards and yards of cloth to protect her.
In south India people celebrate this as Avaniavattam. Brahmans go to river bank, after bath offer water to Lord Surya. After chanting Gayatri Mantra they change their Yegyopavith. From this day on children go to guru to learn veda.
Nowadays Brothers and Sisters live miles apart due to their studies, jobs, Rakshabandhan is still celebrated in the same enthusiasm.
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Monday, August 1, 2011
ONAM
Onam is celebrated in kerala in the first month of Kerala calender. Wherever kerala people live, they unite and celebrate this festival in a grand scale.They make colorful rangoli with a variety of flowers. One of the attraction of this festival is the snake boat race.
Parashurama killed shatriyas 21 times and won their land. He donated all the property to the brahmanas. He never kept anything for himself. so he requested varun devata to give a place to live. varun said- "you throw your parasu into the ocean. how far it goes, that much of ocean will dry and that land belongs to you. now that land is called kerala. On this day of the year Parashurama built a temple for Lord Vishnu. So they celebrate this day as Onam..
Raja Mahabali ruled kerala wisely.he looked after his people with love and affection. he was very religious and known for his charitry also. Indra was jealous of Maha Bali's popularity and he requested Lord Vishnu to play some trick on Maha Bali. Lord vishnu agreed and took the form of a dwarf(Vamana Avtar). He went to Maha bali and asked for three steps of land to do tapasya. Maha Bali agreed. Immediately Lord Vishnu took gigantic figure (Virat form) and in two steps he measured land and heaven. For the third step Maha Bali asked Vishnu to place his feet on his head. Lord Vishnu blessed him to stay in the pathal lok(underground) and gave him a boon. Maha Bali asked that he should visit his people once a year to enquire about their welfare. Vishnu obliged. They believe that raja maha bali who ruled them, comes every year to bless his people on this day. Hence they worship Maha Bali and Lord Vishnu on Onam.
Parashurama killed shatriyas 21 times and won their land. He donated all the property to the brahmanas. He never kept anything for himself. so he requested varun devata to give a place to live. varun said- "you throw your parasu into the ocean. how far it goes, that much of ocean will dry and that land belongs to you. now that land is called kerala. On this day of the year Parashurama built a temple for Lord Vishnu. So they celebrate this day as Onam..
Raja Mahabali ruled kerala wisely.he looked after his people with love and affection. he was very religious and known for his charitry also. Indra was jealous of Maha Bali's popularity and he requested Lord Vishnu to play some trick on Maha Bali. Lord vishnu agreed and took the form of a dwarf(Vamana Avtar). He went to Maha bali and asked for three steps of land to do tapasya. Maha Bali agreed. Immediately Lord Vishnu took gigantic figure (Virat form) and in two steps he measured land and heaven. For the third step Maha Bali asked Vishnu to place his feet on his head. Lord Vishnu blessed him to stay in the pathal lok(underground) and gave him a boon. Maha Bali asked that he should visit his people once a year to enquire about their welfare. Vishnu obliged. They believe that raja maha bali who ruled them, comes every year to bless his people on this day. Hence they worship Maha Bali and Lord Vishnu on Onam.
Nag Panchami
Nag Panchami is the day to worship snakes. People worship for the well being of their family by fasting and offering milk to snakes on this day. Since ages there have been several stories on snakes. One such story goes as follows:
Abhimany's son Parikshit went hunting. He was thirsty and went in search of water. He came to an ashram where the rishi was meditating. He asked the rishi for water. But after several requests the rishi did not reply. Parikshit got angry and took a dead snake which was lying nearby and threw it on the rishi. After some time the rishi's son came. When he saw the dead snake around his Father's neck he became angry. Immediately he mediated and could visualize what could have happened. He was angry with Parikshit because he being a king unreasonably punished a rishi. The Rish's son cursed Parikshit that he would be bitten by a snake and would die on the seven'th day. Accordingly he died on the seventh day bitten by a snake. Parikshit's son Janmejay ascended the throne. Several years later he came to know the reason behind his Fathers death. To take revenge he organized a sarp(snake) yagna. Whenever the Rishis gave ahuthi snakes from all directions jumped into the yagna kund. Rishi Asteek advised Janmejay to stop this yagna and to give up revenge, have tolerance and develop love and affection towards living beings. Janmejay stopped the yagna and promised that hereafter he will safeguard all the snakes. That day came to be known as Nag Panchami and people started worshiping snakes.
The message from this festival is that we should worship nature, Safeguard the trees, river and other living beings.
Abhimany's son Parikshit went hunting. He was thirsty and went in search of water. He came to an ashram where the rishi was meditating. He asked the rishi for water. But after several requests the rishi did not reply. Parikshit got angry and took a dead snake which was lying nearby and threw it on the rishi. After some time the rishi's son came. When he saw the dead snake around his Father's neck he became angry. Immediately he mediated and could visualize what could have happened. He was angry with Parikshit because he being a king unreasonably punished a rishi. The Rish's son cursed Parikshit that he would be bitten by a snake and would die on the seven'th day. Accordingly he died on the seventh day bitten by a snake. Parikshit's son Janmejay ascended the throne. Several years later he came to know the reason behind his Fathers death. To take revenge he organized a sarp(snake) yagna. Whenever the Rishis gave ahuthi snakes from all directions jumped into the yagna kund. Rishi Asteek advised Janmejay to stop this yagna and to give up revenge, have tolerance and develop love and affection towards living beings. Janmejay stopped the yagna and promised that hereafter he will safeguard all the snakes. That day came to be known as Nag Panchami and people started worshiping snakes.
The message from this festival is that we should worship nature, Safeguard the trees, river and other living beings.
Vasanth Navrathri/Ramnavmi
Vasanth Navrathri is celebrated throughout India with great enthusiasm to welcome spring. In South India it is celebrated as Ugadi starting of New Year, in Maharashtra Gudipadva, in Kashmir Navreh. It is also important as Lord Brahma the creator started his work. Lord Vishnu took Varah avtar to save the Earth from sinking in the ocean. so this is the first day of SHWETHA VARAHA KALPE worth worshipping.
We worship Godess Durga/Shakti for nine days. People read Durga Saptashati everyday. During these nine days people worship Maha Kali who helped Maha Vishnu to kill two demons Madhu & Kaitab. The story goes as follows:
From Lord Vishnu's naval a lotus flower came and Lord Brahma was sitting on that . Lord Vishnu was in deep sleep and from his ears emerged two demons Madhu & Kaitab who started attacking Lord Brahma. Brahma requested Mahamaya Yog Nidra(sleep) to leave Vishnu. Vishnu woke up and saw the demons were going to eat Lord Brahma. Vishnu fought with them for 5000 years but still could not kill them. The demons arrogantly told Vishnu that they were impressed with his warfare and he could ask them for a boon. Lord Vishnu asked for a boon to kill them. Both the demons were trapped and Lord Vishnu killed them. Thus Mahamaya Yog Nidra who was instrumental in the demons getting killed is one form of Maha Kali.
People read Ramayan also during these nine days. Lord Rama was born on the ninth day of this navrathri which people celebrate as Ramnavmi. Lord Rama came to this world and showed us the correct path to lead our life. We should follow Lord Rama footsteps and make our family, country and world happy.
We worship Godess Durga/Shakti for nine days. People read Durga Saptashati everyday. During these nine days people worship Maha Kali who helped Maha Vishnu to kill two demons Madhu & Kaitab. The story goes as follows:
From Lord Vishnu's naval a lotus flower came and Lord Brahma was sitting on that . Lord Vishnu was in deep sleep and from his ears emerged two demons Madhu & Kaitab who started attacking Lord Brahma. Brahma requested Mahamaya Yog Nidra(sleep) to leave Vishnu. Vishnu woke up and saw the demons were going to eat Lord Brahma. Vishnu fought with them for 5000 years but still could not kill them. The demons arrogantly told Vishnu that they were impressed with his warfare and he could ask them for a boon. Lord Vishnu asked for a boon to kill them. Both the demons were trapped and Lord Vishnu killed them. Thus Mahamaya Yog Nidra who was instrumental in the demons getting killed is one form of Maha Kali.
People read Ramayan also during these nine days. Lord Rama was born on the ninth day of this navrathri which people celebrate as Ramnavmi. Lord Rama came to this world and showed us the correct path to lead our life. We should follow Lord Rama footsteps and make our family, country and world happy.
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
sindoor and hanuman
hanuman is described in ramayana as a strong wise and devoted person. he is seen with rama, sita and laxman, humbly holding the feet of sri rama.in temples we see him holding gada(mace) in left and sanjivini mountain in his right hand. almost all the moorthy's are in sindoor colour, an orange shaded . there is a simple and a good story behind it.
once hanuman saw mata sita putting sindoor on her forehead. hanuman asked for the reason behind this. she said for the long life of husband. (it is our indian traditionthat married women put sindoor on their forehead ). hanuman thought, if a pinch of sindoor will give longivity of life to their husband ,then i will put more so that it will further increase the longivity. so he applied the sindoor through out his body. he went to Sri Ram darbar like that. everybody started laughing at him. after listening to the bhakti towards him, Sri ram gave him a boom that ON TUESDAYS WHO EVER OFFERS SINDOOR IN HANUMAN JI TEMPLE THEIR WISES WILL BE FULFILLED. since then it has become a tradition to offer sindoor to hanuman.
sindoor is mixed in til oil and applied to god . this is also called CHOLA CHADANA. people take back little sindoor from hanuman temple as prasad.
seek hanuman ji's blessings and be happy.
once hanuman saw mata sita putting sindoor on her forehead. hanuman asked for the reason behind this. she said for the long life of husband. (it is our indian traditionthat married women put sindoor on their forehead ). hanuman thought, if a pinch of sindoor will give longivity of life to their husband ,then i will put more so that it will further increase the longivity. so he applied the sindoor through out his body. he went to Sri Ram darbar like that. everybody started laughing at him. after listening to the bhakti towards him, Sri ram gave him a boom that ON TUESDAYS WHO EVER OFFERS SINDOOR IN HANUMAN JI TEMPLE THEIR WISES WILL BE FULFILLED. since then it has become a tradition to offer sindoor to hanuman.
sindoor is mixed in til oil and applied to god . this is also called CHOLA CHADANA. people take back little sindoor from hanuman temple as prasad.
seek hanuman ji's blessings and be happy.
laddoo's to lord .hanuman
we offer laddoo's to lord hanuman. there is a very interesting story behind this.
With love and affection Mata Sita was serving laddoo's to Hanuman. The laddoo's were so delicious that hanuman did not feel like saying enough.he happily enjoyed eating them.
mata sita did not know what to do. so she put the left over laaddoo's on hanuman's head. when he saw that laddoo's are falling from head he thought he has over eaten the laddoo's that it started coming out from his head. hanuman said enough, he had consumed lots of laddoo's. with folded hands he thanked mata sita for giving such delicious sweet. that is why now also to make hanuman happy offerings are kept on the head of the hanuman and laddoo's are specially offered.
is it not interesting .
share if have one
With love and affection Mata Sita was serving laddoo's to Hanuman. The laddoo's were so delicious that hanuman did not feel like saying enough.he happily enjoyed eating them.
mata sita did not know what to do. so she put the left over laaddoo's on hanuman's head. when he saw that laddoo's are falling from head he thought he has over eaten the laddoo's that it started coming out from his head. hanuman said enough, he had consumed lots of laddoo's. with folded hands he thanked mata sita for giving such delicious sweet. that is why now also to make hanuman happy offerings are kept on the head of the hanuman and laddoo's are specially offered.
is it not interesting .
share if have one
Friday, June 17, 2011
dattatreya jayanthi
margazhi poornima is celebraed as dattatraya jayanthi. people celebrate this for prosperity and happiness. he is the son of sage ATRI and PATHIVRATHA ANUSUYA.
he is also called as attriya as he is the son of atri .sage atri did tapas and lord visnu blessed him saying ' DATTO MAYAHAMITI YATH BHAGAVAN SA DATTA' meaning i give myself so i am called DATTA .(lord visnu gave himself to atri muni) .he took birth as atri's son, called DATTA. . datta and atri makes DATTATREYA.
sage atri's is known for tapas and his wife anusuya is known for the chastity.once muni naradh went to devlok and talked high about anusuya's chastity to brahmani, laxmi and parvathi, who are also known for their chastity.they got jelous of anusuya.they wanted to test her chastity. they requested their husband,brahma, visnu and shiva to do .
when atri went to the river to take bath early in the morning, brahma, visnu and shiva came like sage . anusuya washed their feet with water and offered seat and some fruits . sage said they wanted food as they are hungry. anusuya prepared food and when she was ready to serve , they instructed anusuya to serve food naked then only they will eat. this was a real test for anusuya when her husband was not there. , immediately she closed her eyes,thought about her husband and god sage atri. she understood the person behind this action and their intentions.
she opened her eyes and took a handful of water and sprinkled on all the three
sages,saying ,"if my chastity is pure, let all the three sages become six months old baby". immediately they turned as six months old baby, and started crying for milk. she took the babies and gave milk. all the three children started growing up in there .
In devlok, all the three devi's started worrying for their husband.they askd naradh muni and he told the story to them. they felt ashamed of their action and went to atri's kutir and requested for pardon and appreciated the chastity of anusuya. anusuya again took a handful of water and sprinkled on the children and they turned as brahma, visnu and shiva.They told anusuya to ask for a boom, she said i want all the three as my son. So dattatreya is the combination of all brahma visnu and shiva's powers. with three faces.
people worship dattatreya , atri muni and anusuya on this day.seek their blessings .
he is also called as attriya as he is the son of atri .sage atri did tapas and lord visnu blessed him saying ' DATTO MAYAHAMITI YATH BHAGAVAN SA DATTA' meaning i give myself so i am called DATTA .(lord visnu gave himself to atri muni) .he took birth as atri's son, called DATTA. . datta and atri makes DATTATREYA.
sage atri's is known for tapas and his wife anusuya is known for the chastity.once muni naradh went to devlok and talked high about anusuya's chastity to brahmani, laxmi and parvathi, who are also known for their chastity.they got jelous of anusuya.they wanted to test her chastity. they requested their husband,brahma, visnu and shiva to do .
when atri went to the river to take bath early in the morning, brahma, visnu and shiva came like sage . anusuya washed their feet with water and offered seat and some fruits . sage said they wanted food as they are hungry. anusuya prepared food and when she was ready to serve , they instructed anusuya to serve food naked then only they will eat. this was a real test for anusuya when her husband was not there. , immediately she closed her eyes,thought about her husband and god sage atri. she understood the person behind this action and their intentions.
she opened her eyes and took a handful of water and sprinkled on all the three
sages,saying ,"if my chastity is pure, let all the three sages become six months old baby". immediately they turned as six months old baby, and started crying for milk. she took the babies and gave milk. all the three children started growing up in there .
In devlok, all the three devi's started worrying for their husband.they askd naradh muni and he told the story to them. they felt ashamed of their action and went to atri's kutir and requested for pardon and appreciated the chastity of anusuya. anusuya again took a handful of water and sprinkled on the children and they turned as brahma, visnu and shiva.They told anusuya to ask for a boom, she said i want all the three as my son. So dattatreya is the combination of all brahma visnu and shiva's powers. with three faces.
people worship dattatreya , atri muni and anusuya on this day.seek their blessings .
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