Saturday, November 27, 2010

Spiritual Calendar December, 2010

All dates given below are as per the Shri Banke Bihari Panchang (Calendar) of Vrindavan.

With the blessings of highly revered Sushila Bahenji the month of December starts on a very auspicious note.


Shri Hari

1st December, 2010: Shri Hari Kirtan on a Wednesday, to celebrate the birthday of Radhika at her mother M.Khosla's residence in Noida, from 4 to 6 pm.


Shri Ranganatha on Utpanna Ekadashi

2nd December,2010: Utpanna Ekadashi also known as Utpatti Ekadasi. It is observed on the eleventh day in the first half of the month of Margasirsha and is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. The Puranas reveal that once the gods and their king Indra were driven out of swarga by demon Mura.The devas took refuge in Lord Vishnu and pleaded that He restore their lost kingdom. Lord Vishnu asked the devas to assemble at Chandravati to fight Demon Mura. The Lord easily defeated the demon army but could not defeat demon Mura.


After a while Lord Vishnu decided to rest in a cave at Badrikasrama and slept. Mura arrived to annihilate Lord Vishnu. All of a sudden,from the Lord's transcendental form emerged a goddess with eight arms, brandishing several weapons. She battled and killed Mura. When Lord Vishnu woke up He blessed her, stating that she was His energy. Since she had appeared on the 11th day of a lunar fortnight, she was named Ekadasi. Vishnu affirmed that those who worship Him and observe Ekadasi Vrat, their sins will be expiated and they will attain salvation. Lord Krishna advises his devotees to start their Ekadasi Upvas on Utpanna Ekadashi and break it on Dwadashi.


Lord Shiva

3rd December, 2010: Lord Shiva's Pradosh Fast, on a Friday. The puja is observed in the evening on Trayodashi or 13th day in Shukla Paksha and Krishna Paksha of the Hindu month. It is auspicious to perform Shukra Graha Dosha Nivarana Puja on this day.


Ma Kali & Krishna

5th December,2010: Kartik Maas Amavasya, which is the last day of the sacred Kartik Month. Usually people observe a fast on this day and worship the Devi. Being a highly auspicious day, any puja performed on this day is very fruitful. Also known as Amavasi or Amavas, it is the darkest day in a Hindu calendar and is referred to as the new moon day. In North India, it is the Margashirsh Amavasya.This day is chosen for performing Shradh and Tarpan by many Hindu communities.Some Hindu communities observe a partial fast and have meals once during the day.


Shri Banke Bihari Thakur ji

10th December, 2010:Vihar Panchami also known as Bihar Panchami, is the day when Shri Bankebihari (Lord Krishna) appeared in Vrindavan for Swami Shri Haridas. The incident is 523 years old when Akbar reigned and Tansen was his darbari. Millions of devotees throng the Biharji Temple to revel in the festivities. This auspicious event is said to have taken place on the fifth day of the moon's waxing phase in the Margashirsh Month.


Swami Shri Hari Das

Popularly known as Bankey Bihari Prakat Mahotsav, the entire premises of Nidhivan as well as the Bankey Bihari Temple are beautifully decked with flowers, flags, buntings and lights on this occasion. Special pujas and rituals are performed and another great attraction is the colorful processions taken out on this day.


10th December, 2010: Vivah Panchami of Lord Ram and Sita, observed on the fifth day of the Shukla Paksha in the Margashirsha month. The day is observed as the Vivah Utsav of Sita and Rama in temples and sacred places associated with Sri Rama in Mithilanchal region and North India.


Shri Anand Das Baba

At Anand Dass Baba's Ashram, a grand bhandara is being organised. Saint Ushaji opined that he was Rambhakt Hanuman Himself. She used to tell us how He would spend entire days and night at the sandy beaches of Sri Yamuna without food for days at a stretch and ardently longed for the divine love of Ramji. An amazing trait of His religious devotion was Baba's constant love for Vrindavan, where Lord Krishna forever dwells, even though he was a great bhakta of Lord Rama.


Shri Balkrishan Das ji Maharaj

17th December, 2010: Janamotsav of Shri Balkrishan Das ji Maharaj.Pamapoojya Deviji earnestly urges everyone to reach Vrindavan for Sri Sri Maharaj ji's abhishek(ceremonial bathing of an idol) on his janamotsav (celebration of his birth), accompanied by a jagran (singing of devotional hymns) which will carry on for the entire night. Three days prior to these festivities we have the Srimad Bhagavat Katha by Bhatt ji along with enactment of the Raas (a Krishna festival including enactment of the round-dance, celebrated in the month Kartik) followed by a bhandara on 18th December,2010.


The bhaktas of Shri Venu-Vinod Kunj sing the mahamantra with enthused fervour on this occasion:

Hare Ram Hare Ram, Ram, Ram Hare Hare,

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare


Mokshada Ekadashi

17th November,2010: Mokshada Ekadashi

Its legend taken from the Brahmanda Purana:

Yudhishthira Maharaj said, "What is the name of the Ekadasi that occurs during the light fortnight of the month of Margashirsha (November-December) and removes all sins? "

Lord Sri Krishna replied, "This Ekadasi is famous as Mokshadaa because it purifies the faithful devotee of all sinful reactions and bestows liberation upon him. The worshippable Deity of this all auspicious day is Lord Damodara.”

""There once was a beautiful city named Champaka-nagar and the best of saintly kings Maharaj Vaikhaanasa, ruled over his subjects as if they were his very own dear sons and daughters. The king had a dream one night in which his father was seen to be suffering torture in one of the hellish planets ruled over by Yamaraj.”

" ' O brahmanas,' the king addressed them, 'In a dream last night I saw my father suffering on a hellish planet. Now I have no peace in my mind, and even this beautiful kingdom has become unbearable to me.”

" The twice born brahmins replied, 'O king, in the mountainous forest not far from here is the ashram where a great saint Parvata Muni resides. Please go to him, for he knows the past, the present, and the future and can surely help you in your gaining relief from your misery.'

"Upon the advise of brahmins, the distressed king immediately set out for the ashram of sage Parvata Muni.

"Then Parvata Muni, the best of all sages, closed his eyes and meditated on the king and said, 'Your father is suffering the results of committing a great sin. In his previous life he quarrelled with his wife and forcibly enjoyed her sexually.'

"Parvata Muni replied, 'During the light fortnight of the month of Margashirsha there occurs an Ekadasi called Mokshadaa'.

"Hearing this, Maharaj Vaikhaanasa profusely thanked the great sage and then returned to his palace to perform his vrata. He then perfectly and with full faith observed the Ekadasi fast with his wife, children, and other relatives and dutifully gave the merit from this fast to his father. The king's father was then escorted to the celestial region.'

Lord Krishna confirmed, "O son of Pandu there is no better fasting day than this Ekadasi and one goes back to Godhead, never to return to this material world."


The Bhagavad Gita

17th November, 2010: Sri Bhagavad Gita Jayanti when Lord Krishna revealed the nature of time and duty to Arjuna on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, about 5225 years ago.The Gita Jayanti is observed on the eleventh day of the bright half moon (Shukla paksha) of the Margaseersha month (November – December).


Shani Pradosham

18 December 2010: Shani Pradosham Fast is very auspicious vratham dedicated to Lord Shiva. The Pradosha puja is in the evening time on Trayodashi or 13th day in Shukla Paksha and Krishna Paksha of a Hindu month. On a Saturday it is even more auspicious. Those suffering from Shani Graha Dosham can observe Shani Dosha Nivarana Puja.


Margshirsha Poornima

21st December, 2010: Margshirsha Poornima or full moon day. It is the last day in a month in the calendar followed in North India and is known as Pournami in South India. Fasting from sunrise to sunset is observed by some Hindus on Purnima.Purnima day is chosen by many Hindus for pujas like the Satyanarayan Puja. Dattatreya Jayanthi plus Annapurna Jayanti is also observed on this day.


26th December: Monthly Sri Hari Kirtan at Dr Khare's place on a Sunday from 4 to 6 pm. 'Smriti Kaumudi,' the memoirs of Shri Manohar Baba endorses that we must honour this tradition begun by Manohar Baba and surely reach for the kirtan.


Revered Bobo with Sushila Bahenji

28th December: Appearance Day of Shri Susheela Bahinji, on a Tuesday.


Shri Radha-Krishna, Bobo's Yugal Served by Sushila Bahenji

All are requested to reach Gaura Colony in Dham Vrindavan and bow to our Yugal Sarkar or sacred couple of Sri Thakurji and Radha Rani.Thus paying regards to Susheela Bahinji who selflessly does their seva or attends to their needs.


Saphala Ekadashi

31st December: Safala Ekadashi also spelt as Saphala Ekadasi, is observed on Paush Krishna Paksha Ekadasi day as per North Indian calendars. Saphala Ekadashi vrat helps devotees to attain success in every sphere of life.


The spiritual importance of Safala Ekadashi is mentioned in the Brahmanda Purana as the conversation between Lord Krishna and Yudhistira. The legend of Safala Ekadashi is associated with King Lumpaka who was sinful by nature but after keeping the Ekadasi Vrat he was blessed with a blissful life and attained salvation after death.

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