Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Spiritual Calendar June, 2011

Swami Sivanand ji Maharaj

1st June,2011: The day of Sannyasa Diksha when Sri Swami Sivanand ji Maharaj was initiated into the Sannyas Order. Known as Dr. Kuppuswamy, he reached Rishikesh on the 8th of May, 1924. On the 1st of June, 1924, there came His Holiness Sri Swami Visvananda Saraswati. After a brief exchange of words, Dr. Kuppuswamy was initiated into the Sannyas order by Swami Visvananda. The Guru named the doctor Swami Sivananda Saraswati. Swami Visvananda wrote the necessary instructions about Sannyas Dharma from Benares while Swami Sivanandaji stayed at Swargashram for Sadhana.


With some money from his insurance policy that had matured, Swamiji started a charitable dispensary at Lakshmanjula in 1927. He served the pilgrims and saw Narayana in them.


In the year 1936, he began The Divine Life Society on bank of the holy Ganges in Rishikesh. The Society grew im1936 and is now the headquarters of a world-wide Organization having a large number of Branches within the country and abroad. He got the Divine Life Society Registered as a Trust in the year 1936. The publication of the monthly journal, 'The Divine Life', was started in September 1938, to coincide with the celebration of his birthday. The world was in grip of the 2nd world-war and in order to help the distressed minds of the people, he started the Akhanda Mahamantra Kirtan on the 3rd of December 1943, and also instituted the Lord Sri Visvanath Mandir with three-time regular worship, daily, on the 31st December 1943.


1st June: Amavasya or Vat-savitri fast


Vat Savitri Puja

Vat Savitri Puja or Vat Savithri vrat is an auspicious day in Hinduism when married women fast and pray for their husband's health and longevity of life. The fasting is named after Savitri, who brought back her husband from the clutches of Yama ( god of death). One of the important rituals of the day is tying threads on the Vat or banyan tree.


The fasting takes its name from Vat Vriksha and Savitri. The Banayan Tree symbolically represents Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. The root of Vat Vriksha is Brahma, the stem is Vishnu and the upper portion is Shiva. On the day of puja the Banyan tree also represents Savitri and the incident covered in the Mahabharata.


Savitri Saves Satyavan from Yama

Legend has it that Princess Savitri, the daughter of King Ashwapati of Bhadra Kingdom, fell in love with Satyavan, a woodcutter. But Satyavan was destined to die within a year and Savitri warned of this fact by Rishi Narada. But Savitri decided to get married to Satyavan and live with him in the forest.


As predicted, Satyavan fell from a tree and died within a year. Yamraj, the god of death, arrived to carry him away. Savitri made it clear to Yamraj that she will follow Yamraj along with her husband. Yamraj tried several ways to deter Savitri from following him but all his efforts were in vain and Savitri was adamant.


Finally, Yamraj was moved by Savitri’s devotion and he brought Satyavan back to life.It is believed that Satyavan spend his last moments under a vat or banyan tree on the full moon day in the month of Jyeshtha. Yamraj appeared here and Savitri pleaded to Yamraj under the Banyan tree. Women go around the Banyan tree 108 times, tying threads and fasting for the health & longevity of their husbands.


Ganga Snan at Varanasi

2nd June, 2011: Sri Ganga Snan starts on 2nd of June, on pratipada of Shukla Paksha in the month Jyeshtha.

Since time immemorial there is a belief that Ganga frees us of all sins. Taking bath in the Ganges on religious festivals and donating has been considered auspicious. Having a dip in the Ganges on this day frees the person of all sins committed unknowingly. People worship in the temples of Ma Ganga situated on the bank of the Ganges.


Lord Krishna

11th June,2011:The next Shri Hari Kirtan is on Ganga Dussehra at 'Thakurji's Kripa' near 32 milestones at Malviyaji's residence. All are cordially invited. Every member of the parikar is equally important. On being conveyed the time and date of group singing of bhajans, we should not wait for a formal invitation but focus on making the Hari Kirtan a grand success.


Goddess Ganga

11th June,2011: Ganga Dussehra During this festival ten days of the month are devoted to the worship of Holy River Ganga venerated by the Hindus as a mother and as a goddess.


Places such as Rishikesh, Haridwar, Garh-Mukteswar, Prayag, Varanasi and others where the Ganga flows, hold a special significance on this day. Devotees flock to these places & Varanasi with its many ghats situated on the west bank of the Ganga, to touch the river water, bathe in it and take the river clay home to venerate.


In Haridwar, 'aartis' are performed at twilight and a large number of devotees meditate on riverbanks.The river Ganga rises at Gangotri, high in the snow-clad Himalayas. Cascading down mighty boulders, it flows into the hot plains of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and finally merges with the sea in the Bay of Bengal.


At Allahabad, the Ganga meets with the river Yamuna and the mythical river Saraswati. The confluence of these rivers, known as Prayag, is considered one of the most sacred spots on earth.

Regarded as a celestial river originating in the heavens, Ganga was gifted to mankind in answer to the great sadhana undertaken by Bhagirath, after whom she is also called Bhagirathi. Bhagirath, a descendant of the Sagara dynasty, prayed for the Ganga to descend onto the parched earth and bring life. But the torrential waters of the Ganga were a mighty and destructive force.Brahma and Vishnu asked Shiva to accept the Ganga into his matted locks. Confined in Shiva's hair, Ganga lost the wild force of her flow and became a placid, life-giving river.


Despite its pollution, the Ganga is a symbol of purity. Its water bestows salvation to the dying and new life to the living.Unusual images of Lord Jagannath, his brother Balaram and sister Subhadra are ceremonially pulled in the grand chariots at Puri.


Lord Vishnu

12th June, 2011: Nirjala Ekadashi falls in the month of Jyestha, during the Shukla paksha (June).It is also called 'Jyeshtha Shukla Ekadashi' or 'Bhimsani Ekadashi' (Bhim Sen, the second Pandav Brother, had kept this difficult fast). Amongst the 24 Ekadashi's , the vrata on Jyeshtha Shukla Ekadashi is considered most beneficial, said to give the fruits of 24 Ekadashis observed throughout the year.A complete fast is kept on this day with not a drop of water being allowed to drink. People worship Lord Vishnu to ensure happiness plus prosperity, and forgiveness of transgressions and sins. On the preceding day that is on the 10th lunar day, Sandhya (evening prayer) is performed and only one meal is taken.


We ought to donate liberally pure drinking water, pots, watermelons, fans , water-coolers , sharbat , cool and sweet milk to the needy & deserving in this scorching heat.And have piyoos installed and wells bored for pure drinking water in crowded places and villages.


Lord Shiva

13th June, 2011: Som Pradosh Fast for Lord Shiva. Pradosh means the dusk of an early night or evening tide. This fast is observed in the evening twilight, and is called Pradosh Vrat. The fast is observed on the 13th day of each lunar fortnight. It is to propitiate Lord Shiva, in order to obtain his blessings and for spiritual evolvement.Those who practice it with implicit faith are bound to possess wealth, health, happiness.


Poornima or Full Moon

15th June , Poornima or full moon is a lunar phase that occurs when the Moon is on the opposite side of the Earth from the Sun. More precisely, a full moon occurs when the ecliptic longitudes of the Sun and Moon differ by 180 degrees; the Moon is then in opposition with the Sun. As seen from Earth, the hemisphere of the Moon that is facing the earth (the near side) is almost fully illuminated by the Sun and appears round. Only during a full moon is the opposite hemisphere of the Moon, which is not visible from Earth (the far side), completely unilluminated.


Full Moons are traditionally associated with temporal insomnia, insanity (hence the terms lunacy and lunatic). Psychologists, however, have found that there is no strong evidence for effects on human behavior around the time of a full moon. They find that studies are generally not consistent, with some showing a positive effect and others showing a negative effect.


For latest news on the lunar eclipse which will last from 23.53 pm to 3.33 am please watch TV news channels and read newspapers. Chant the Mahamantra to nullify any negative effect :--

हरे राम हरे राम राम राम हरे हरे

हरे कृष्ण हरे कृष्ण कृष्ण हरे हरे



Chandra Sarovar at Parasauli, in Govardhan

17th to 23rd June ,2011:The Mool Srimad Bhagwat Saptah in Sanskrit begins by Pt. Gopal Prasad Upadhyay at Hari: Vrinda Dham with an hour long Nandotsav on 21st June, 2011, from 6 to 7 pm. He runs the Sur Shyam Gaushala and brings out the Surbhi-Saurabh magazine annually on every Gopashtmi (after Diwali)f rom Chandra Sarovar , Parasauli in Goverdhan, the birthplace of great poet Surdas ji.


Lord Krishna Loved Cows

This is an excellent opportunity for those who want to do Gau Seva.Protecting the cows in the sweltering heat by getting a sun shade built for them, arranging water which they can drink and for bathing them. We can go to the gaushala and seeing the arrangements made for the cows with our own eyes and offer our active support in so many other ways.


Sri Ganesh

19th June,2011: Sri Ganesh Chaturthi Fast:

Ganesha, the foremost god of the Hindu pantheon is beheld as the most auspicious God of new beginnings and widely worshipped as the supreme god of wisdom, prosperity and good fortune. Devotees of Lord Ganesha, who intend to observe a fast on Ganesha Chaturthi, wake up early in the morning and take a bath. After wearing laundered clothes, they head towards the nearest temple or perform a small puja at their home, to offer prayers to the deity.

When people are on a fast on the festival of Ganesh Chaturthi, they may opt for either the nirjal vrat (a stringent, waterless fast) or phalahar vrat (a diet). Generally the devotees who are fasting are allowed to have sweets including til ke ladoo , gajak and rewari along with tea and coffee. In order to concentrate, the devotees chant mantras invoking Lord Ganesha and sing bhajans in his praise. It is believed that if one observes a fast on Ganesha Chaturthi with sincerity, one is blessed with health, wealth and prosperity.


Lord Vishnu

27th June,2011 :Yogini Ekadashi occurs during the waning phase of the moon in the Hindu month of Ashadha (June – July) as per traditional Hindu calendar followed in North India. The importance of this Ekadasi was explained to Yudhisthira by Lord Krishna. Fasting on this Ekadashi helps in overcoming the remorse caused by committing sins and also helps in achieving ‘moksha.’


The significance of Yogini Ekadasi is mentioned in Brahma Vaivarta Purana. The Purana narrates the tale of a gardener named Hemamali who overcame a curse, which made him a leper, by observing a fast on Yogini Ekadasi. The gardener was instructed by sage Markandeya about the Ekadashi.


All the usual rules associated with Ekadasi fasting are observed on the day. The fast begins with the sunrise on Ekadasi day and ends with sunrise on the next day.


Shiva Pradosh

28th June, 2011: Pradosh means dusk and this fast is kept for propitiating Lord Shiva. With his blessings one's desires are fulfilled and one attains spiritual enlightenment. Generally people observe the Pradosha Vrata on every trayodashi tithi (13th lunar day falling in Krishna and Shukla Pakshas) in the evening. Please offer plain water and bel patra to Lord Shiva. The bel patra or leaf of the wood-apple tree represents the three eyes of lord Shiva and the three gunas.

Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Vinay Patrika: 195

Raag Gauri


Shri Ram, Sita & Lakshman


bali jaaun haaun raam gusaaeen | keejaai kripaa aapnee naaeen ||1||

paramaarth surpur-saadhan sab svaarth sukhad bhalaaee |

kali sakop lopee suchaal, nij kathin kuchaal chalaaee ||2||

jahan jahan chit chitvat hit, tahan nit nav bishaad adhikaaee |

ruchi-bhaavtee bhabhri bhaaghi, samuhaahin amit anbhaaee ||3||

aadhi-magan man, byaadhi-bikal tan, bachan maleen jhuthaaee |

aitehun par tumson tulsiki prabhu sakal saneh sagaaee ||4||


Shri Ram's Grace

O my Naath, Shri Ram ji! I implore you devotedly to grant your spontaneous grace on me ||1||


Shri Ram Bestows Joys on Us

The one (Shri Ram) who bestows joys of the highest truth, paradise and worldly selfishness. All the means (absence of passion, self-control, penance and yagya) which are conducive to one's well-being have been made to vanish by an infuriated Kaliyuga of pretence. And he has activated his shrewd moves (like hypocrisy, deceit and scorn) which are painful||2||


Kaliyuga or The Age of Spiritual Darkness

Wherever this heart focuses on its gain, new griefs increase right there, everyday. The matters which are worthy of interest flee from a distance and those ruthless objects which the heart does not want, confront us. Which means even on striving to attain happiness, unlimited sorrows weigh down on us ||3||


Goswami Tulsidas & Shri Ram Share a Loving Bond

The mind is steeped in worries, the body is distraught because of being ridden by diseases, and our speech lies and is becoming foul (always speaks lies, is harsh and uses filthy language). But O Nath, even after all these drawbacks! The bonding of Tulsidas and his love for you, is just as intact as it ever was (I am extremely grateful to you for maintaining this lovable bond in a steadfast manner, with this sort of a wretched person)||4||


Naath: a title of Shri Ram, the Lord who is protector


yagya: is a ritual of sacrifice derived from the practice of Vedic times. It is performed to please the gods or to attain certain wishes. An essential element is the sacrificial fire or the divine agni.

Vinay Patrika: Hymn 189

Raag Gauri

Journey Across Life by Chanting The Name of Shri Ram


ram kahat chalu, ram kahat chalu, ram kahat chalu bhaaee re |

naahin taau bhav-begaari mahan parihaai, chhutat ati katthinaaee re ||1||

baans puraan saaj sab atthkatth, saral tikon khatolaa re |

hamhin dihal kari kutil karamchand mand mol binu dolaa re ||2||

bisham kahaar maar-mad-maate chalhin na paaun batoraa re |

mand biland abheraa dalkan paaiya dukh jhakjhoraa re ||3||

kaant kuraaya lapetan lotan thhavhin thhaun bajhaau re |

jas jas chaliya doori tas tas nij baas na bhent lagaau re ||4||

maarag agam, sang nahin sambal, naaun gaaunkar bhulaa re |

tulsidaas bhav traas harhu ab, hohu raam anukulaa re ||5||


Transmigration of The Soul

If you are caught in working for this material world under compulsion, it will become extremely difficult to break free. (In a couple of days, we free ourselves from the unpaid labour forcibly performed for a king. But the cycle of birth and death of this mundane world will continue forever till we attain spiritual enlightenment. If you journey across life by chanting Ram-Ram, the foes of worldly pleasures which are illusory, will not be able to entice you to work for them. Because Ram's maya or power of illusion can not snare Rama's daas or servitor.||1||


The Human Body is a Palanquin

Without charging any price (as per the karmas of the world's cycle of transmigration and according to the natural course of death), the cunning Karmchand (destiny of evil deeds performed in our earlier birth)has given us such a terrible palanquin (the human body which is devoid of bhajan or worship and where tamas or darkness prevails) which is fitted with old bamboo poles (igonorance and delusion of eternal duration), whose trimmings are inappropriate, it has the traits of tamas or spiritual darkness, has the shape of worldly enjoyments (because of which the body does evil deeds and a human being takes the wrong course). Which is simply triangular (totally absorbed in attaining wealth, fulfilling sensual desires; and does not pay the slightest attention to getting moksha or salvation)||2||



The Palanquin Bearers are Our Senses

Whose palanquin bearers are uneven and getting drunk by the intoxication of lust ( traditionally there are five indriyan or senses like sight, hearing, touch, smell and taste which run the body. There should be a pair of palanquin bearers, but there is no pair since they are five and therefore it is an odd number. They are not the same and all the five senses are enamoured by sensual enjoyments.When the body and mind are shaped by tamas or spiritual darkness due to one's evil deeds, how can the senses be unaffected by worldly pleasures?) And they do not walk by disciplining their feet or moving ahead with even steps. (The senses run after their respective enjoyments) and we are jolted and shoved because of successively walking on a high and low path. And we are greatly grieved due to this constant pulling & tugging. (being desirous of paradise and fame at times we are involved in religious tasks, and sometimes for relishing worldly enjoyments we are absorbed in various activities of the mundane world, many a time we run after women due to lust.And we do not adopt these courses with the same bhava- with the senses like sound, touch, form, taste and smell, but go up and down in quick succession.Consequently, a living being has to bear intense anguish||3||


The Wild Worldly Path is Strewn with Thorns & Pebbles

Thorns and pebbles are strewn on the way, (poisonous creepers twine around and shrubs entangle you. We have to halt at so many points en route.The thorns of destructive senses which run in in the dense forest of worldly pleasures after forgetting the Supreme Being, the hostile pebbles of sensual pleasures,


Creepers of a Loving Family Entwine Around Us

the creepers of an affectionate home plus family which entwine us, and the tangled state of lust. Because of them we have to stop at every step and walk ahead in painful anguish.)Then as we move ahead our own abode is distanced accordingly.(As the mind is absorbed in relishing pleasures of the material world, the personal temple of attaining God is distanced) there is also no one who can show us the path.(Materialistic men do not share the company of saints thence who can show them the direct path of spiritual enlightenment? Those who accompany such a person point to the opposite direction, for certain.)||4||


The Tough Terrain Abounds with Shrubs, Mountains & Jungles

The route is very tough, (is abounding with tangled thickets of prickly shrubs, and mountains-plus jungles).There is no travel allowance (of bhajan or worship), so much so that they have forgotten the name of their own village(they do not chant the name of God even by mistake and do not think of the Supreme Lord's svarupa. For this reason it is virtually impossible to reach the dwelling of the supreme condition ( ofmukti or salvation)through this body and without God's grace);Therefore O Shri Ram ji! With your blessings, you must dispel the fear which Tulsidas ji's has of this material world (cycle of birth and death), right now. ||5||

Sunday, May 29, 2011

Vinay Patrika: Hymn 188

Raag Asavari


The Idols of Shri Ram, Sita, Lakshman & Hanuman


maain tohin ab jaanyo sansaar |

baandhi na sakhin mohi harike bal, pragat kapat-aagaar ||1||

dekhat hee kamneeya, kacchu naahin puni kiye bichaar |

jyon kadleetru-madhya nihaarat, kabhun na niksat saar ||2||

tere liye janam anek maain phirat na paayon paar |

mahaamoh-mrigjal-saritaa mahan boryo haaun baarhin baar ||3||

sunu khal ! chhal-bal koti kiye bas hohin na bhagat udaar |

sahit sahaaya tahaan basi ab, jehi, hriday na nandkumaar ||4||

taason karhu chaaturee jo nahin jaanaai maram tumhaar |

so pari daraai maraai raju-ahi tein, boojhaai nahin byavhaar ||5||

nij hit sunu satth! hatth na karhi, jo chahhi kusal parivaar |

tulsidaas prabhuke daasni taji bhajhi jahaan mad maar ||6||


The Deceptive Material World

Oh deceptive world! I have come to know you (in reality), now. You are the visible form of deceit. But now I have got the power of the Supreme Lord and you can not ensnare me in the noose (of your trickery) because of this fact. (The instant I took the refuge of the Supreme Being's might, the material world made of God's maya or power of illusion, vanished for good. Therefore I can not be caught in the delusive snare of the mundane world)||1||


The Plantain Tree

You are just beautiful to look at, but are absolutely nothing on reflecting; actually you have no existence of your own. Look at a plantain tree, just as no pulp comes out of it (However much we may peel it,layers of skin come out in succession. The material world's condition is exactly the same)||2||


The Delusive Mundane World

O for your sake, I wandered from one birth to another and was born as so many species, but could not reach your depth. You repeatedly drowned me in the mirage of mahamoha ( great delusion as to the supposed reality of the world)||3||


Shri Krishna, the Darling Son of Nanda

O wicked one ! Listen! You might continue doing millions of forceful frauds ; but the supreme bhakta of God can not be controlled by you. You go and reside along with your army of (sensuous pleasures), in the heart of a person where Nandnandan, Lord *Shri Krishna does not dwell ||4||


A Rope Mistaken for a Snake

Make a cunning move with that person who does not know your secret. Only such a person will die terrified of the snake like rope (one bitten by a snake fears a piece of rope),who is unaware of the distinguishing traits between the two||5||


Shri Raghunath ji with Ma Sita & Lakshman

Oh rogue! Listen to what is good for you. If you want your and your family's well-being, do not be adamant. Abandoning the sevakas of Shri Raghunath ji, the Lord of Tulsidas, you flee to that site where passionate desires and arrogance dwell (there is no pride and lust where Shri Ram resides; and how can the illusory world live where these two vices do not exist?)||6||


Shri Krishna: undoubtedly this proves that according to Goswami Tulsidas there was no difference between Shri Ram and Shri Krishna, which is the actual Hindu theology.

Vinay Patrika: Hymn 179

Raag Bilaval


Lord Ram Grants Spiritual Enlightenment


kahaan jaaun, kaason kahaaun, kaun sunaai deenkee |

tribhuvan tuhee gati sab angheenkee ||1||

jag jagdees ghar gharni ghanere haain |

niraadhaarke adhaar gungan tere haain ||2||

gajraaj-kaaj khagraaj taji dhaayo ko |

mose dos-kos pose, tose maay jaayo ko ||3||

mose koor kaayar kupoot kaaudhee aadhke |

kiye bahumol taain karaaiyaa geedh-shraadhke ||4||

tulseekee tere hee banaaye, bali, banaaigee |

prabhukee bilamb-amb dosh-dukh janaaigee ||5||



Goswami Tulsias Seeks Shri Ram

Where should I go? Whom should I tell ? Who will listen to the plea of this dejected person? (deprived of the wealth of any means) In all the three lokas, you are the sole recourse for those who lack in adopting the spiritual path in every possible way, like me ||1||


Lord Jagadish

Generally speaking every house in this world is loaded with so many '*Jagadish' (everyone calls themselves the Supreme Being). But singing of your manifold glories is the only support for one who has no patrons. The bhava is that just by singing of your virtues, that person crosses over the ocean of this mundane world ||2||


Lord Vishnu Gives Moksha to Gajendra

Leaving Garuda, who ran to save *Gajraj ? Which mother has given birth to another son of this calibre, apart from you. You brought up a person like me who is a reserve of sins,||3||


Shri Ram Gives Deliverance to Jatayu

O performer of Jatayu's shradh! You have made people like me who are harsh, cowardly, unworthy sons and worth half a *cowrie, priceless ||4||


O Balihaari!

O Balihaari ! Tulsi's (wretched) state can be set right only if you think of rectifying it. If you take long in granting me salvation then it will be like the mother who delayed, and her child was in sorrow and sinned. The bhava is that if you do not quickly give me deliverance, I will be weighed down by sins and sorrows||5||


Jagdish:a title of Vishnu, Lord of the whole universe,


Gajendra : was the king of elephants. One hot day, he went to the lake with his family to cool off in its fresh waters. But from within the lake a crocodile attacked and would not let go of him. When the family saw ‘death’ coming close to Gajendra, they abandoned him. Gajendra prayed to Lord Vishnu who came to the aid of Gajendra, who offered a lotus to the god. Vishnu attacked the crocodile and saved His Loved One.


Shradh: a ceremony in honour and for the benefit of deceases relatives


Jatayu: In the Ramayana, Jatayu is the son of Aruna and nephew of Garuda. A demi-god who has the form of a vulture, he was an old friend of Dasharatha. He tries to rescue Sita from Ravana on his way to Lanka. Jatayu fought valiantly with Ravana but was old. As Rama and Lakshmana chance upon the stricken and dying Jatayu in their search for Sita, he informs them of the fight and the southern direction which Ravana had taken.

While Jatayu was wounded Lord Rama arrived and decided that Jatayu get moksha. Lord Rama hit an arrow in the ground so as to summon the seven sacred rivers. Six rivers' waters ayrrived, one river water failing to obey Lord Rama. Since Lord Rama was himself an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, He forced the Gaya teertha to arrive at the spot. Finally Jatayu was given the waters of seven rivers and He attained moksha.


Cowrie: formerly in use as a barter token of very low value


Balihari: a title of Shri Ram, to devotedly implore the Supreme Being