Lord Vishnu Incarnates as Mohini
The day Lord Vishnu incarnated as Mohini to take away nectar from the demons. Mohini is the name of the only female avatara of Lord Vishnu in Hindu mythology. She is portrayed as an an enchantress, sometimes leading lovers to their doom. Mohini is introduced in the narrative epic of the Mahabharata. Here, she appears as a form of Vishnu, acquires the pot of Amrita (an elixir of immortality) from thieving asuras (demons), and gives it back to the Devas (demi-gods), thus helping them retain their immortality.
At nav-Vrindavan in the NCR there is a proposal of having sankirtan in front of Thakur Sri Radha Radha Kantji on every ekadashi. This has been possible by the help of Govind Parbhu of ISKCON. The devotees' will and active participation shall reaffirm revered Bharti & Vikasji's resolution and kind gesture.
2nd May, 2012: Sri Hitharivanshji Jayanti
Sri Hitharivansh ji Prabhu
He
established the Sri Radhavallabh Temple and Sect in Vrindavan. After
Sri Banke Bihari Temple the temple of Thakur Sri Radhavallabh in
Vrindavan is the next in fame. Sri Hit Harivansh Mahaprabhu, being an
incarnation of the Holy Flute (Vanshi Avatar) relished the spiritual
nectar while intimately serving the lotus feet of Sri Radha and Sri
Krishna, as a close acquaintance of the sacred couple in their sweet
love. The conception of Sri Radha is completely misconceived by most
people, and Sri Hit Harivansh Mahaprabhu had shown the path. He adored
Radha first and Krishna after her.
Let us humbly bow at the holy feet of Mahaprabhu Hit Harivanshji and chant
Thakur Shri Radha Vallabha ji
dehi pad pallav, jai radha vallabh ||
Which means Thakurji or Lord of Hit Harivansh ji, bless us with thy grace, divine Love and holy feet.
3rd May,2012: Lord Shiva's Pradosha Fast
Propitiating Lord Shiva
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.012
The bel patra or leaf of the wood-apple tree represents the three eyes
of lord Shiva and the three gunas.
4th May, May 2012: Shri Narsing Jayanti
Narsingh Bhagwan an Incarnation of Lord Vishnu
Lord
Vishnu became Narsingh Bhagwan to kill Hiranyakashipu and save Bhakta
Prahalada. One of the ten famous incarnation of Lord Vishnu, Narsingh
Bhagwan appeared on earth to kill Hriniyakashipu, the king of asuras. If Lord Rama and Krishna are hailed as Purnavtars or full incarnations, the rest eight of them are, Narasingh Avataras.
Sri
Narsingh Bhagwan was the family deity or ishtdev of Sri Manohar Baba
who used to keep a fast in celebration of His Deity's appearance day or
Narsingh Jayanti. He along with all his devotees used to visit Sri
Narsingh Temple in Vrindavan. Its location is near the temples of Sri
Banke Bihariji or Radharamanji. In this honour, a book of letters
written by Sri Manohar Baba may be launched in celestial Vrindavan.
6th May, 2012: Vesak or Buddha Jayanti
Siddhartha Gautam Becomes Lord Buddha
It
is a Buddhist festival that marks Gautama Buddha's birth, enlightenment
and death. Siddhārtha Gautama was a spiritual teacher who founded
Buddhism. In most Buddhist traditions, he is regarded as the Supreme
Buddha.
6th May, 2012: The Appearance Day of Thakur Radharamanji
Thakur Radharaman ji
In
the Chaitanya Mahaprabhu tradition, Sri Radharamana's lotus face is
like Sri Govindaji's, His chest is like Sri Gopinath's and His lotus
feet are like Sri Madanmohanji's. By sighting Thakur Radharaman one
simultaneously receives the darshan of these three primary deities. The
Deity of Sri Radharaman manifested from one of Gopal Bhatta Goswami's
salagram-silas on a full moon day of Vaisakha (April/May) in 1542.
This
event is celebrated every year (May) by bathing the Deity with 100
litres of milk and other auspicious items. Gopal Bhatta Goswami's other
salagram-silas are also worshiped on the altar. There is no deity of
Radharani with Radharaman ji, but the gomati-cakra is worshipped on the altar to His left.
6th May, 2012: Sage Narada Jayanti
Sage Narada
Sri
Narada Muni, a great devotee of Sri Radha, is a disciple of Sri
Sankadik Maherishi (four Kumaras) and the guru of Sri Nimbarka Acharya.
He is known to play the veena while he sings. Narada is a divine sage
from the Vaisnava tradition, who plays a prominent role in a number of
Puranic texts, especially the Bhagavata Purana, and Ramayana. Narada is
the author of the Pāñcarātra, a standard text for Vaisnava's priests.
The sage is portrayed as a travelling monk with the ability to visit
distant planets or lokas. He carries a tampura or musical instrument,
which he uses for singing of hymns, prayers and mantras in devotion to
his Lord Vishnu.
6th May, 2012: Van-Vihar
Van Vihar & Parikrama of Vrindavan
Van-Vihar (a visit to the forest groves) and parikrama or circumambulation
of Sridham Vrindavan at night with Temple Musicians (Samaj) plus
singing devotional songs in attendance, is performed with great
serenity.
9th May, 2012: Sri Ganesh Chaturthi Fast
Ganesha, the Foremost God of the Hindu Pantheon
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.
13th May, 2012: The Appearance day of Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
Tera May (I am yours ) or 13th May. Sri
Sri Ravi Shankar is a humanitarian leader, spiritual teacher and
ambassador of peace. His vision of a stress-free, violence-free society
has united millions of people the world over through service projects
and courses. Sri
Sri Ravi Shankar is the head of the Art of Living Foundation which
conducts workshops of varying durations for all age groups.
16th May, 2012: Achala Ekadashi
Lord Vishnu
Achla
Ekadashi falls in the month of Jayestha (May-June) and is also known as
'Jayestha Krishna Ekadashi'. Achla Ekadashi is the giver of good deeds,
destroyer of sins and one who observes the vrat with a full fast on
this day attains great esteem in this world.
16th May, 2012: Mahotsav of Poojyashri Sri Sri Balkrishandass ji Maharaj's Punya-Tithi
Sri Sri Balkrishan Das ji Maharaj
at Venu Vinod Kunj, Vrindavan. A rare opportunity to listen to Brajbhasha Saint Sri Rajenderdassji on Bhaktmaal from 13th to 15th May at Tamal Kunj.
17th May, 2012: A bhandara in Memory of Sri Sri Maharajji
18th May, 2012: Lord Shiva's Pradosha Fast
Shiva Pradosham
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 to propitiate Lord
Shiva, in order to obtain his blessings and spiritual evolvement.Those
who practice it with implicit faith are bound to possess wealth, health,
happiness.
19th May, 2012: Savitri Chaturdashi
The Legend of Savitri & Satyavant
It
is a festival particularly celebrated in Bengal; for married women who
fast for a happy married life. Associated with Sati Savitri and
Satyavant, the legend reveals how Satyavan got rid of death and regained
his kingdom with the dedicated devotion of his wife Savitri. The
Puranas propagate that the story of Savitri is an inspiration for every
married woman. In some States the Vat Savitri Fast starts culminating on 20th May, an Amavasya . On May 19th is Savitri-chaturdashi when a fast is kept and bhoga is offered to Gauri or Savitri.
Lord Shiva
19th May, 2012: Monthly Sri Shivratri Fast
24th May, 2012: Sri Ganesh Chaturthi Fast
Ganesha, the Most Auspicious God of New Beginnings
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.
24th May: Sri Anandamayi Ma Jayanti
Sri Anandamayi Ma
Sri
Anandamayi Ma was a Hindu spiritual teacher and guru from Bengal,
considered a saint and hailed as one of the prominent mystics of the
20th century. Anandamayi was a name given by her disciples in the 1920s
to describe her habitual state of divine bliss. During her life, she
attracted thousands of followers who saw her not only as a teacher and
guru, but as a manifestation of God, or Devi.
24th May, 2012: Shri Balkrishan Das ji Maharaji's Entry into Golok
Shri Balkrishan Das ji Maharaj
Golok or the eternal nikunja(where Lord Krishna forever dwells). Sri Maharaj ji was considered as Lord Chaitanya of the 20th
century. Saint Ushaji inspired me to have darshan of great saint Sri
Maharaj since she was associated with him for more than 30 years. I
would simply state authoritatively that Sri Sri Balkrishandass Maharaj
was one of the rarest saints which the 20th Century produced, being the
divine companion (Sakhi or Ali ) of Lord Krishna. He represents the
finest tradition of Braj's madhurya bhava or sentiment of sweet love which Lord Chaitanya exhibited 500 years ago.
Maharaj
ji was born on the holy Gita-Jayanti Ekadasi. At the tender age of 17,
he was inspired by Swami Ramkrishan Paramhansa to renounce this world
and travel widely from 1935 to 1938 . Finally he, had the initial
darshan of Lord Krishna in Braj Chaurasi ( Nandgaon ). His divine
communication with Svami Lakshman Joo,a saint of Kashmir, Gorakhpur (
Bhaiji , Sri Radha Baba ), Goverdhan (Gayaparasad Pandit ), and his
renowned works like' Adbhut Shyam Tamal' before entering Golok in 1995,
all are great events in the spiritual world.
Sri Radha-Krishna & the Gopis
Revered
Maharaj ji had implicit faith in Naam-Sankirtan. When he chanted the
mahamantra it was as if he was dancing in front of Sri Radha-Krishna and
the gopis.
'Charit Vaibhav,' his biography has rare snapshots of Maharaj ji's bhaav-samadhis and details of his leelas, painstakingly noted by Manohar Bhaiya.
Revered Lalji and Gopi Bhai invite all for the divine Sr Sri ji Utsav at their NCR residence from 10 am to1 pm followed by prasadam. Kindly attend the same on May 24th. The Dress code is white which stands for purity.
24th May, 2012: Remembering Vijayji (19th Dec 1938 - 24th May, 2008)
Revered Vijay Bhaiya
Boboji
here refers to Saint Ushaji of Vrindavan and Vijay ji was her student
since the age of 16. During this long span of 36 years from 1972 till he
left for Golok on 24th May, 2008 , Sadhu Vijayji widely journeyed all
over Braj. He wrote the ‘Braj Bhoomi Mohini’, a strikingly enchanting
text as it describes the celestial land of dreams and Lord Krishna's
divine play. When Saint Ushaji, his ideal and Guru, wrote the foreword
of this text, she was actually laying the foundation of a Devotee-writer
in Vijayji. Later on he edited several of Her works. Of late, ‘Shri
Krishan Leelalok’ was the latest 21st book to be published while ‘Shri
Krishan Karnamrit’ is still in the press.
25th May, 2012: Dharam Bahenji's Punya Tithi
Dharam Bahenji
Dharam Bahenji was
a famed saint of Vrindavan who was born on 2nd April, 1927 and left
for Golok (the abode of Lord Krishna) on 25th May, 2001.
'Giridhar ki Meera'
Right from
the age of six she used to fluently chant the Bhagavad Gita and at the
tender age of eleven wrote the renowned play 'Giridhar Ki Meera,' a
beautiful composition on Meera, the bhakti poet-saint of Rajasthan.
Revered Usha Bahenji fondly known as Bobo & Dharamji
She was a
teacher in Delhi ( BA , Prabhakar ) but after meeting Saint Ushaji in
1950, she shifted to Ambala. This was pre-destined because from 1954
onwards, the arrival of Sakha ji (a siddha from Golok) had become a
regular practice.
Saint Usha ji & Sushila Bahenji
Hence the trio of Ushaji-Susheelaji-Dharamji used to relish the lilas or playfull dalliances of Lord Krishna, as friends.Only when
Usha ji renounced the world for settling in Vrindavan on 17th November,
1959, Dharam ji joined her job in Delhi. In fact, her divine
experiences with Thakurji reveal that a sort of Vallabhacharya
-Tulsidas- Surdas Bhakti-Yuga was re-enacted in Bobo's era as well.
When
great devotees of Krishna are born they generally come together as a
parikar or divine group so that the time on earth is not wasted in
worldly affairs but spent in singing the glories of the Lord. For
example we had Bhai Poddarji-Radha Baba-Sethji of Gorakhpur.
31st May, 2012: Ganga Dussehra
The Birth of the 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.
At
Allahabad, the Ganga meets with 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.
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.
PS: Dates given above in the Spiritual Calendar of May 2012 are as per the Sri Banke Bihari Panchang (2012-2013) and the Gita diary published by http:/www.gitapress.org
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