Friday, June 6, 2014

'Shri Krishna Karnamrita:' Sixty-seventh Shloka

ardravalokita-dhura parinaddha-netram -  
avishkrita-smita-sudha-madhuradharoshtham | 
adyam pumamsam avatamsita-barhi-barham-
alokayanti
kritinah krita-punya-pushjah ||67||



Simple Meaning:


Adi-Purusha Krishna

Only those who are greatly fortunate and have accrued tremendous virtuous merit, can behold Adi-Purusha Krishna, the original person of all emanations, Whose eyes are watered with the rasa of love and compassion, Whose lips are sweetened with the nectar of His open smile, and Who is adorned with a peacock feather.


The Rasa-laden Commentary:

In the previous shloka Shri Billavmangal was besides himself with strong emotion on not being able to behold the dark and beautiful Krishna with his eyes? His mind is agitated because of not beeing able to see Him, and he is singing Krishna's glories in the pangs of separation.



 A Peacock Feather Adorns Youthful Krishna's Forehead

 adyam pumamsam: it is not an ordinary matter to be able to behold this Adi Purusha, and it is possible only for those who have heaped pious merit.
This Adi Purusha is nitya Kishore or eternally a Youth, on whose forehead the peacock feather is adorned.


Shri Narayan
 The gopikas exult about His enchanting form:
 
akhila dehinam antaratmadrk

which means:

'Certainly thou art the immanent witness in all embodied beings. '

The gopis go on to say:

yatAdipurusho bhajate mumukshUn ||

which means:

'Reciprocate with us, O stubborn one, just as the Lord, Sri Narayana, reciprocates with His devotees in their efforts for liberation.'


 Love & Compassion Cascades from Krishna's Eyes
  
Cascadesardravalokita-dhura parinaddha-netram:
  
Your eyes are becoming fluid with love and compassion. The fondness and affection cascading from your eyes indicates that I will certainly find You. Your eyes are becoming fickle with a tender glance and getting moist due to the pangs of separation.



Lord Krishna's Bimba Fruit Red Lips

avishkrita-smita-sudha-madhuradharoshtham: These lips are astonished and adorned with the sweetness of Your open smile. The tenderness and fluidity of this nectarous smile is colouring them. Anyone who sees the gentle smile playing on Krishna's red bimba fruit lips becomes detached from all worldly enjoyments and gets absorbed in the profound rasa of His preeti or love.



Raskhan, a Great Krishna Devotee

 In the words of great Krishna devotee Raskhan:

ja din te muskani chubhi ur, ta din te ju gai manhari
'raskhani pari muskan ke panani
kaun gahe kul kani bichari |

'When this smile blooms on these red lips the forest groves become fragrant. This sweet smile is the creator of several lilas or playful dalliances.'


The means of attaining Krishna is to sing the glories of His lila. Indeed, He is supremely compassionate. It is not as if only the virtuous can attain Him. On whomsoever dark-hued Krishna casts His compassionate glance, he becomes exalted or beyond pain.



The Nectarous Smile of Krishna

'How should I behold this adolescent youth, who means the world to me? Whose eyes are full of compassion, tenderness and fluidity reflects from whose eyes, whose sweet lips are watered with a nectarous smile, on whose forehead the peacock tail feather waves. Krishna will give me his darshan for certain. He is so very compassionate,' raves Shri Billavmangalji.



Sunday, June 1, 2014

Spiritual Calendar: June,2014

1st June, 2014: Vinayak Chaturthi Vrata



Lord Ganesha

Each lunar month in Hindu calendar has two Chaturthi Tithis which belong to Lord Ganesha according to Hindu scriptures. The Chaturthi after Amavasya or new moon and during Shukla Paksha is known as Vinayaka Chaturthi and the one after Purnimasi or full moon and during Krishna Paksha is known as Sankashti Chaturthi.

The most significant Vinayaka Chaturthi falls in the month of Bhadrapada and is known as Ganesha Chaturthi. Ganesha Chaturthi is celebrated by Hindus all over the world as the birthday of Lord Ganesha.

4th June, 2014: Skanda Shashti Vrata


Lord Kartikeya
 
Kartikeya is a Hindu god who is the son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. Accordingly, he is the brother of their son, Ganesha. A Hindu god, he is also known as Skanda or Murugan.The Shasti falling during the waxing phase of the moon is celebrated as the Skanda Sashti. Skanda Shashti is dedicated to Lord Skanda, the younger son of Lord Shiva. Devotees perform fast and chant Skanda Sashti Kavacham on this day.

8th June, 2014: Ganga Dussehra


The Birth of goddess Ganga

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 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 the 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.


Bhagirath Prays for the Ganga to Descend 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.

9th June, 2014: Nirjala Ekadashi Vrata


Lord Vishnu

This Ekadashi falls in the month of Jyestha, during the Shukla paksha (June). Amongst the 24 Ekadashi's , the vrata on Jyeshtha Shukla Ekadashi is considered most beneficial and 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 to drink. People worship Lord Vishnu to ensure happiness and 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.

10th June, 2014: Bhaum Pradosh


Lord Shiva

When Pradosham falls on a Tuesday it is known as Bhauma Pradosha.The puja is observed in the evening on Trayodashi or the 13th day in Shukla Paksha and Krishna Paksha of the Hindu month to seek the blessings of Lord Shiva. It is auspicious to perform Shukra Graha Dosha Nivarana Puja on this day.


12th June, 2014: Shri Satyanarayan Vrata


Lord Satyanarayan

 The Satyanarayan svami vratam is a fast dedicated to Lord Satyanarayan Swami (Lord Vishnu.)Shri Satyanarayan Puja is performed to seek blessings of God Narayan which is one of the forms of Lord Vishnu. The Lord in this form is considered an embodiment of truth. Although there is no fixed day to perform Satyanarayan Puja but doing it on Purnima is considered highly auspicious.

Devotees should observe the fast on Puja day. The Puja can be done in the morning as well as in the evening but performing Satyanarayan Puja in the evening is considered more appropriate as devotees can break the fast with Prasadam in the evening.


13th June, 2014: Saint Kabir Jayanti


Saint Poet Kabir
 Saint Kabir Jayanti is celebrated in honour of Sant Kabir Das, a mystical saint and poet predominant in North India. Kabir was born to Muslim parents in Benaras (erstwhile Varanasi) who turned to spirituality and religion at a very young age. Saint Kabir Jayanti is observed as an auspicious day dedicated to Kabir.

His life took a major turn after he started following the teachings of Guru Ramananda, a 15th century Hindu mystical guru who coined the name Kabir Das.

Professionally, Saint Kabir Das was a weaver who used to spend most of his time at the loom, but the way he had woven magic in traditional realms of Hindus and Muslims equally is something that can never be ignored.

For instance, he expressed his feelings beautifully in words such asThe Purana and The Koran are mere wordsand God isneither in Kaaba nor in Kailash. All over his life, Kabir actively denounced both temples and mosques maintaining that God is in everyone and exists everywhere.


16th June, 2014: Shri Ganesh Chaturthi Vrata
 

Lord Ganesha

Chaturthi is celebrated on the 4th day from full moon day. Devotees fast on this day.The Chaturthi after Purnimasi or full moon and during Krishna Paksha is known as Sankashti Chaturthi.


23rd July, 2014: Yogini Ekadashi Vrata


Lord Vishnu

Yogini Ekadashi occurs during the waning phase of the moon in the Hindu month of Ashadha (JuneJuly) as per the traditional Hindu calendar followed in North India. The importance of this Ekadasi was explained to Yudhisthira by Lord Krishna. Fasting on this Ekadashi helps us overcome the remorse caused by committing sins and getmoksha.

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.



Lord  Shiva

24th June,2014: Bhaum Pradosh Vrata


27th June,2014: Amavasya



Amavasya, the New Moon Day

The last day of the waning phase of the moon is called as Amavasya. Amavasya is the end of the Krishna paksha of the Hindu month. A few festivals like Diwali celebrated on this day. Amavasya is considered sacred for ancestor rituals.
 
According to Amavasyant calenders it is called Jyaishta Amavasya. As per purnimant calenders it is called Ashadha Amavasya.

29th June,2014: Rath Yatra



Lord Jagannath, Subhadra & Balbhadra
 
Jagannath is a Hindu God worshipped primarily by the people of Orissa and Bengal. Jagannath is generally considered an aspect of Lord Vishnu or his avatara Krishna. He is worshipped as part of a triad along with Krishna's brother Balabhadra and his sister Subhadra.


The Chariots of Lord Jagannath, Subhadra & Balbhadra

The most famous festival related to Jagannath is the Ratha Yatra, where the three deities are transported in three massive wooden chariots pulled by devotees from Puri to Gundicha Temple, about 3 kms away. Similar Ratha yatra processions are organized all around the world.