Spiritual Calendar November, 2010

2nd November, 2010: Ramaa Ekadasi

Ramaa Ekadasi is observed on the eleventh day in Krishna Paksha of the Kartik month according to the North Indian calendar. Whereas as per the Gujarati, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka Calendars, Ramaa Ekadasi falls on Ashwayuj Krishna Paksha Ekadasi.

Brahma Vaivarta Purana

An account of the legend and the significance of Ramaa Ekadasi is given in the Brahmavaivarta Purana. In a conversation held between dark-hued Krishna and Yudhistira, Lord Krishna details the story of prince Shobhana who attained salvation in his next life by keeping the fast of Ramaa Ekadasi.Shobhana ruled a kingdom on Mount Mandarachala and his wife Chandrabhaga finally enjoys marital bliss with him.

3rd Nov, 2010: Lord Shiva's Pradosh Fast & Dhanteras or Dhanvantari Jayanti

Dhanteras ushers in Diwali, India’s festival of lights. Marking the first day of the five day Diwali festivities; it is a harbinger of good fortune. Dhanteras falls on the auspicious thirteenth lunar day of Krishna Paksha in the Hindu month of Kartik (October/November). Dhan in Dhanteras stands for wealth and teras means the thirteenth.

Goddess Laxmi Riding Uluka, the Owl

On Dhanteras Goddess Laxmi, the goddess of wealth and good fortune relies on Uluka the owl to carry her wherever she disperses her material and spiritual riches on this day in particular.

Dhanwantari, the Physician of the gods

Also known as Dhantrayodashi or Dhanwantari Triodashi It is celebrated in honour of Dhanavantri, the physician of the gods and an incarnation of Lord Vishnu.

Dhanteras is celebrated with joyous abandon all over India and is particularly significant for the business community for whom it is customary to purchase precious metals on this day.

4th November, 2010: Chhoti Diwali

The day before Diwali, is celebrated as Chhoti Diwali or Naraka Chaturdasi on a smaller scale, with fewer lights being lit and bursting of crackers.

Naraka Chaturdasi

Naraka Chaturdasi: Satyabhama was infuriated by Narakasura's malice towards women and Krishna granted her a boon to fight the demon, rescue the imprisoned women plus recover Goddess Aditi's earrings.After the demon was slain, Lord Krishna married all the sixteen thousand women to spare them disgrace.

Vamana Avatar Pushing King Bali Underground

Bali Pratipada: According to myth, when King Bali was becoming too mighty, Vishnu, incarnating as Vaman Avatara, appeared in his court. The dwarf incarnation asked for land which he could cover in three paces. King Bali readily granted the Brahmin’s request, who transformed into Lord Vishnu, covering heaven with his first step and the earth with his second. With his third step Vishnu covered king Bali's head and pushed him underground.Ever since, King Bali’s death was commemorated as celebrations of Chhoti Diwali.

Lord Hanuman

4th November, 2010: Hanuman Jayanthi is celebrated in honour of the birth of Hanuman, the monkey god widely propitiated throughout India. He was born to Kesari (the Wind God) and Anjani. Hanuman, the mighty ape that aided Lord Rama in his expedition against evil forces, is one of the most popular idols in the Hindu pantheon. Believed to be an avatara of Lord Shiva, Hanuman is worshipped as a symbol of physical strength, perseverance and devotion.

5^th November, 2010: Diwali or Shri Laxmi Pujan

Significant Events related to Diwali:

Diwali, the Festival of Lights

Return of Lord Rama to Ayodhya: Diwali celebrates the return of Lord Rama, with his wife Sita and brother Lakshmana to Ayodhya after a 14 year exile, and a war in which he killed Ravana, the demon king. It is said that the denizens of Ayodhya lit ghee lamps to light their path in the darkness. Lord Rama journeyed from South India to his kingdom in the North. He passed through the south earlier; because of which the festival is celebrated a day before in South India.

Ardhnarishvar Shiva

Austerities of Shakti: According to the Skanda Purana, goddess Shakti observed 21 days of austerity from ashtami of shukla paksha (eighth day of the waxing period of moon) to attain half the body of Lord Shiva. This fast is known as kedhara vrata which is completed on Deepavali when Lord Shiva accepted Shakti as the left half of his form and appeared as Ardhanarishvara.

Lakshmi Puja

Lakshmi Puja: Lakshmi Puja marks the most important day of Diwali celebrations in North India. Hindus worship Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, and Ganesha, the God of auspicious beginnings.Hindus leave the windows and doors of their houses open so that Lakshmi can step in. Rangoli patterns are drawn on the floors and the most popular is the lotus flower because images of Lakshmi show her either holding a lotus or sitting on one.There is much feasting and Diwali lamps make it easy for Lakshmi to find her way to favoured houses.

Goddess Laxmi is Worshipped as Kali in Bengal

The goddess is worshipped in her dark form as Kali in the Bengali and Oriya areas of India. Diwali marks the last battle in the period of Chaturmas when the demons become all powerful and must be wiped out.

6^th November, 2010: Annakoot (a festival celebrated on the day following Diwali by placing foodstuffs in front of an idol of Vishnu-Krishna) or Sri Goverdhan Puja is on a Saturday.

Lord Krishna Lifting Mount Goverdhan

Lord Krishna’s lifting of Goverdhan Mount for seven days at a stretch before Diwali inaugurates the ethos of shringara bhakti.Dark-hued Krishna admonishes the people of Vraja not to become a prey to ritualistic Vedic worship of Indra Pujan but instead engage in a more humanistic dharma of love by worshipping Goverdhan.

Annakoot

Soon after the prayers and aarti were done as per customary norms, 56 sumptuous delicacies were ceremoniously raised as bhoga (offerings of food) before the deity (Mount Goverdhan). After the Lord relished the feast, it was the Vrajwasis turn to approach the mount of food and savour prasad. Now, the Lord asked them to take a round of the mount, which measures 21kms or 14 kos.

Krishna granted a boon that from now onwards Goverdhan was no more a mount but his svarupa or living presence and any person who takes a parikrama or circumambulation of Sri Girirajji will be certainly blessed with the fulfilment of all his desires. Ever since, the parikrama of Sri Girirajji is undertaken by millions of devotees almost daily, not just the annual one on the day of Annakoot or the monthly circumambulation on every Poornima (the night or day of full moon).

7^th November, 2010: Bhai-Dooj

Puja Thali of Bhai Dooj

It is a ceremony performed by Hindus on the second day after Diwali. Sisters celebrate the loving adulation for their brothers by putting an auspicious tilak of vermilion or sandalwood paste on their foreheads. They perform an aarti to their brothers, honouring them for protective care and pray for their well-being. Brothers load sisters with lavish gifts and bless their younger sisters, pledging protective support.

Yama, the God of Death

Bhai Dooj or Beej is calledYama Dwitheya as it's believed that on this day, Yama, the God of death and the custodian of Naraka, visits his sister Yami. She puts the auspicious mark on his forehead, praying for his well being. It is an implicit belief that anyone who receives a tilak from his sister on this day will never be flung into hell.

12^th November, 2010: Chhath Puja

Worship of the Setting Sun

The word Chhath is a festival celebrated by Biharis on the sixth day after Diwali; a 4 day long celebration accompanied by rituals or Suryashashthi. The festivities comprises of fasting, folklores and hymns being sung on the celestial Ganges or any fresh water body. Chhat Maiya is celebrated on banks of the Ganges in Patna and Yamuna in Delhi with thousands offering ‘Arghya’ to the sun making it an ethereal sight.

Offering reverence to the solar deity, Chhath is the only festival in the world where devotees offer salutations to the setting sun as the cycle of birth starts with death.

14^th November, 2010: Gopashtami, or Gopa Ashtami

An important festival it is dedicated to Lord Krishna and is observed on the eighth day of the waxing phase of the moon in the month of Kartik (October – November). Gopashtami celebrates Krishna's becoming an independent cowherd. Gau Puja or worship of cows, is undertaken in many regions of India.

Lord Krishna Takes the Cows for Grazing

It is believed that Lord Krishna was allowed to herd cows, the wealth of his village, for the first time on this day by Nanda, as he had been only looking after calves up until then. Mother Yashoda and Nand Baba are delighted to see their pampered Krishna take on his responsibilities. Invariably it is a great boon to Dama & Sumangal, Krishna's sakhas, since they can play spirited antics with the dark god now.(Shrimad Bhagavat-Canto 10,chapter XI, verse 37)The festivities are a major event in Vrindavan, Mathura, Nathdwara and other sites closely related to the cowherd god.

In Nathdwara, cow herders bring hundreds of cows and their calves to the temples and the cows are beautifully decked for the occasion. Gopa Ashtami was a festival meant for boys but it is said that Radha dressing up like a boy, joyously took part in it.Those worshipping the balgopal or child form of Lord Krishna can offer the special makan-mishri bhog to Him.

22^nd October-21^st November: Worshipping the Tulsi Plant

Indians give great spiritual importance to the month of Kartik which has begun from Sharad Poornima. To offer tulsi leaves at the lotus feet of Lord Krishna every day and lighting a diya before sun rise and after sun set while reciting the eight names of Tulsi, is highly beneficial in getting the blessings of Lord Vishnu and Goddess Maha Lakshmi.

Tulsi as Krishna Jivani

Asta-Nama-Stava from the Padma Purana; the Eight Names of Vrinda Devi:

1]Vrindavani-One who first manifested in Vrindavan

2]Vrinda-The goddess of all plants and trees.(Even if a single tulsi plant is present in a forest it can be called Vrindavan)

3]Vishvapujite-One whom the entire universe worships

4]Pushpasara-The queen of all flowers and without whom Krishna does not want to glance at other flowers.

5]Nandini-Seeing her gives immense bliss to devotees

6]Krishna Jivani-The life of Lord Krishna

7]Vishva Pavani-One who purifies the three worlds

8]Tulasi-One who can not be compared

15^th November, 2010: Akshay Navami

Akshay Navami

Also known as Amala Naumi, is the ninth day of waxing phase of the moon in Kartika Month.The popular belief is that the Treta Yuga started on this day An important event on Akshay Navmi is the distribution of alms and receiving of presents. It is observed as Akshay Navami Parikarama Divas in North India. Goddess Jagadhatri is worshipped on this occasion in West Bengal. Legend has it that Lord Surya (Sun God) worshipped Goddess Durga on this day and was rewarded properties that he possesses.

Millions throng Vrindavan from Delhi,Punjab,Haryana and so on for the joint circumambulation of Mathura-Vrindavan, which takes around 6 hours. The famed 84 kos parikrama of Braj which covers Mathura, Goverdhan, Barsana, Vrindavan and Gokul,and began on Sharad Poornima is on in full swing and will take a week to complete.Ashtyaam lilas, showcasing the playful dalliance of Shri Radha-Krishna from dawn to dusk are being enacted in Vrindavan.

17th November, 2010: Devprabodhini Ekadasi

Prabodhini Ekadasi is Dedicated to Lord Vishnu

Utthana Ekadasi, or Prabodhini Ekadashi, is observed during the waxing phase of the moon in the month of Kartik (October – November). The importance of Dev Prabodhini Ekadasi is narrated to Sage Narada by Brahma in the Skanda Purana. Observing this Ekadasi, a fast dedicated to Lord Vishnu, gets rid of the remorse of committed sins and leads to liberation or moksha.

The famous Tulsi Vivah is performed on this particular day by some communities and on the day after Ekadasi in some regions. The Chatur Mas period comes to an end and the famous Kartik Month Pandarpur Yatra is completed on this day.

19th November,2010: Lord Shiva's Pradosh Fast

Lord Shiva

Pradosh means dusk and this fast is kept for propitiating Lord Shiva. With his blessings all desires are fulfilled and one attains spiritual enlightenment.Generally people observe Pradosha Vrata on every trayodashi tithi (13^th lunar day falling in Krishna and Shukla Pakshas) in the evening.

21st November, 2010: Kartik Poornima is on a Sunday.

Kartik Poornima (Kartik purnima) is celebrated on the full moon of Kartik (November–December). It is also known as Tripuri Poornima or Tripurari Poornima. It is sometimes called Deva-Diwali - the festival of lights of the gods and coincides with Guru Nanak Jayanti.

Lord Shiva Kills Demon Tripura with a Single Arrow

The Poornima derives its name from Tripurari, an epithet of god Shiva who as Tripurantaka ("Killer of Tripurasura") killed the demon Tripurasura on this day.The killing of the demon by Shiva overjoyed the gods and they pronounced the day as a festival of illuminations. This day is also called "Dev-Diwali" - the Diwali of the gods.

Kartik poornima is the birthday of Matsya, god Vishnu's fish-incarnation (avatar). It is also the birthday of Vrinda, the personification of the Tulsi plant and of Kartikeya, the god of war and son of Shiva.

Shri Radha-Krishna

This day is particularly dear to Radha, the beloved of Krishna for it is believed that Krishna and Radha danced rasa and Krishna worshipped Radha on this day.


The monthly Sri: Hari Kirtan is at Rahul and Madhulika's house from 5 to 7 pm, and all are cordially invited.

Baba Shri Manohar Das ji, the Pride of the Spiritual World-IV

Baba Shri Manohar Das ji

Highly revered Manohar Baba was brought up with great loving affection since he was the youngest child of his parents. Particular care was taken of every interest of his.When he used to come back soaked in sweat after a round of wrestling and push-ups (dand baithaks) it is said that his daadi  would mix coarse sugar in ghee and make him drink the concoction from the bowl itself. Manohar Baba was brilliant right from his childhood because of which he knew several stotras (hymns) and shlokas (couplets) of Sanskrit by heart.

Indore, Ruled by the Holkars

When Maharani Shrimati Indira Ma Sahib, the wife of Shri Tuko ji Rao Holkar (descendant of Ahilyabai), the Maharaja of Indore, would come to Maheshwar,she would certainly call for Manohar Baba and Sakhyahari Mule, his elder brother from Dhar to meet her.That is when both the brothers ornately clad in churidar (pleated) pyjamas, shervani (a sort of long coat) and a zari topi made of gold brocade would accompany their father to pay her a visit. She would give great honour to them and fondly address the brothers as junior purohits (family priests).

The Ram Raksha Stotra

Many a time she would make them sit in her lap and listened to the Ram Raksha Stotra and other hymns recited by the duo.

An Effigy of Ravana being Burnt on Dussehra

The festival of Dussehra is celebrated with great fanfare in the region of Nimar (the south-west of Madhya Pradesh.) Thus she would often take both the brothers in her motor car to the Dussehra Grounds for seeing the effigy of Ravana being burnt on this occasion.

When Manohar Baba and his elder brother were sent to Indore for acquiring education, Baba was least interested in studying at school. Consequently he came back home.

The Yajurveda

He learnt the teachings up to Yajurveda (the yajur or second of the four Vedas, dealing with sacrificial rites) and Karmkanda (that part of the Veda which relates to ceremonial acts and sacrificial rites), and got a diploma in 'Kavya Tirth' from Damodar Pandit, a great scholar of Maheshwar. Simultaneously he got the knowledge of Ayurveda (traditional Indian science of medicine) from his revered father.

The Sitar

Right from the beginning of his life, Baba's disposition had an artistic inclination. And thus by learning to play the sitar and so on, he imbibed pure knowledge of music. He learnt how to swim in the waters of River Narmada and became an expert swimmer in a short span of time. Baba was fond of wrestling from boyhood and he learnt the stratagems of wrestling from Ram Moorti, a renowned wrestler in those days.Amazingly, Baba could effortlessly do five hundred push-ups (dand-baithaks) at a stretch.

The family members of Baba would send him for hunting from time to time but he did not approve of killing meek animals, at all.Therefore he absolutely refused to go ahead with this sport. Baba's religious virtues which had been earned from his previous life, began coming to the forefront in a dominant fashion during this time period.

Banks of the Narmada River

Sages and seers would usually assemble at banks of the Narmada River in those days. Invariably, Manohar Baba would go there to have their darshan. Some saint gifted him an extraordinary shivling (the phallic emblem of Shiva).There was a huge wood-apple tree (its leaves or bel patra are offered to Lord Shiva when we worship Him) in Baba's house. (page 354 of 'Smriti Kaumudi', the memoirs of Manohar Baba)

Baba Shri Manohar Das ji, the Pride of the Spiritual World-III

Babu Rao ji, the father of Shri Manohar Das ji, had asthma and himself treated this illness of his. He passed away on Eknath Shashti ( a day dedicated to Sant Eknath, a great saint living in Maharashtra in the 16^th century) which fell after Holi.

Shri Babu Rao & Shrimati Saraswati Bai Mule, Parents of Manohar Baba

Shrimati Saraswati Bai Mule, the mother of revered Manohar Baba, was an extremely pious, religious, and sattvic or virtuous lady. She used to often say that her son had imbibed some distinctive virtues from his past life and taken birth. Saraswati Bai happened to be an expert in cooking special vegetarian dishes and delicacies. Therefore all members of the family would delight in relishing this talent of hers, from time to time. In the year 1954 she left for her heavenly abode.

Sakhyahari Mule (Vishnu Panth) was the only elder brother of Baba and he had no sister. Both the brothers were extremely fond of each other. As long as the two of them stayed together, even the anti social elements were intimidated by them. The duo could easily solve the trivial problems of people in a split second.

Sakhyahari ji was an active worker of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) ( founded in 1925 to oppose British colonialism in India and Muslim separatism).

Jhira Bagh Palace at Dhar

He was married to Vasundhara, the daughter of Shri Keshav Rao Gangadhar Kavthekar who was the royal family priest of Anand Rao Pawar, the Maharaja of Dhar State. But after Baba's renunciation he became indifferent towards all these activities.

Manohar Das ji with Shri Balkrishan Das ji Maharaj & Sakhyahari Mule, his Elder Brother

“It seems as if my main support has collapsed; ever since my brother who is so similar to Lakshmana, left the house after becoming detached from this mundane world,” Sakhyahari Mule would lament. 

Lord Krishna & Balram in Braj

He had immense reverence for Braj and unfailingly did the parikrama or circumambulated Vrindavan whenever he ventured there.Throughout, he was blessed by the grace of highly revered Shri Balkrishan Das ji Maharaj (who had entry into the nikunj leela  of Shri Radha-Krishna) in particular. He is said to have had a celestial experience once due to Maharaj ji's blessings.

Shrimati ..., the daadi or paternal grand-mother of revered Manohar Baba was a very brilliant and devoutly religious lady.A strict disciplinarian, she did not ever cross the threshold of her house after her husband passed away. Her body stepped out of the house only after she died.

Lord Rama

Right from morning till night, she would sit in the same posture (in prayer) and constantly chant the 'Ram Mantra' or incantation in her puja room. She had perfected the Ram Mantra (as if by penance). Baba used to say that on positing one's ears next to the seat she sat on,one could instinctively hear the sound of Ram Naam, the name of Ram, being recited. It is believed that she even had the darshan of Lord Rama. In the guise of a prince and majestically riding a horse, Lord Rama came to her puja room and pervaded His idol which was enshrined there.

Chanting the Name of Ram

She had the clairvoyance of perceiving events which were to happen in the future and would alert her family members about them. Being extremely fond of Baba,she was the one who had named him Manohar (charming). Informing everyone that she was about to leave her body in advance, she worshipped her family deity as per the set religious norms in a very conscious state.Soon after, she loudly chanted Ram-Ram-Ram three times at a stretch, and abandoned her body. (page 353 of 'Smriti Kaumudi, the memoirs of Shri Manohar Das ji)

Baba Shri Manohar Das ji, the Pride of the Spiritual World: II

Maheshwar, Situated on Banks of the Narmada

The birth of highly revered Baba Manohar Das ji took place in ancient Mahishmati-puri (Maheshwar). Celebrated in the Puranas and the capital of Karthaveerya Arjuna and Ahilyabai Holkar in Khargone district (Madhya Pradesh), the city was situated on banks of the Narmada River. He was born on Shukla Chaturthi (the fourth day of a waxing moon period) of Baisakh, in 1976 of the Vikram Samvat Era , in the year 1919 to a brahman family of Maharashtra , early in the morning at 4 o' clock.

Till after a month of his being born he was snugly kept wrapped in cotton-wool.Not a drop of water, milk or medicine could enter his stomach, in the beginning.Just his heart throbbing loudly in his chest could be heard as proof of his being alive.Seeing this precarious condition of his, people had begun to say that some saint was completing his sadhana or long standing devotion to the divine, of his previous birth. All his physical functions activated a month later,on their own accord.

Tukoji Rao Holkar of Indore

Manohar Mule was Baba's initial name. His father Shri Khanderao-Narayan Rao Mule (Baburao ji) was the royal family priest of Maharaji Tukoji Rao Holkar of Indore State, a jagirdar and renowned vaidh in his own right.Seven generations earlier, his ancestors had come to Maheshwar from Sangamner (Maharashtra). He was well-versed in the field of religious ceremonies enjoined by Hindu law.

Yagya or Fire Sacrifice

Baburao ji would successfully conclude the biggest of yagyas (sacrificial offering) undertaken in the royal family, himself.

A Brahmin Demeaning a Shudra

Alongside he would medically treat incurable diseases afflicting poor destitutes residing in neighbouring villages. At that point of time, casteism was at its peak.The Shudras (a member of the fourth and lowest division of early Indo-Aryan society) and such people were looked down upon.On need arising, Baburao ji would go to the homes of these patients of the Shudra Caste without caring for these social constraints. Even if he had to bathe in the biting cold at night around 12 or 2 o'clock, after the visit.

Baburao ji Worshipped Arms on Dussehra

According to conventional norms of the zamindari system,he had a collection of arms like rifles, swords,spears, a sword stick and so on stacked in a separate room of his residence.He would invariably worship this arsenal on the festival of dussehra. Baburao ji had also done shikar or hunted down lions from time to time. He was very fond of eating paan or betel leaf in particular. Since he always kept a large sized container of paan by his side he was known as 'paan dada.'

Lord Narsingh & Goddess Lakshmi

Baburao ji was intensely religious and Shri Laxmi-Narsingh Bhagvan were his family deity. He would duly worship and venerate them at his own house as per the religious norms.

Lord Vitthal & Rakhumai

In addition he was also a bhakta of Vitthal-Rakhumai and would often sing the following lines in Marathi:-

Vithoba yaave samyaa laa saadar vhaave |

Vithobai maajhe aai, karuna tula yevu de ||

Which meant, "Oh Lord Vithal, you must certainly be present in front of me during the last moments of my life.You are my mother, therefore be constantly compassionate towards me for sure. (page 352 of 'Smriti Kaumudi, 'the memoirs of Baba Manohar Das ji)