3rd
February, 2014: Shri Ganesh Chaturthi Vrata
When
people fast on Ganesh Chaturthi, they either opt for the nirjal vrat
(a stringent, waterless fast) or phalahar vrat (a diet). Devotees 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, he is blessed with health, wealth and prosperity.
Those
who are not able to observe fast on this day can donate things to the
poor people like warm clothes and blankets. After offering ladoos to
Lord Ganesha, they should be distributed amongst the poor as a
prasad.
4th
February,
2014:
Basant
Panchami
Godess
Saraswati
Basant
Panchami is a Hindu festival celebrating Saraswati, the goddess of
knowledge, music and art. It is celebrated every year on the panchami
or fifth of Magh (January-February), the first day of spring.
Traditionally during this festival children are taught to write their
first words; brahmins are fed; ancestor worship (Pitr-tarpan) is
performed; Kamdev, the god of love, is worshipped; and most
educational institutions organise special prayers for Ma
Saraswati.Notebooks, pencils and pens are kept at the Devi's feet for
blessings and used by the students thereafter.
Celebrating
Basant
Panchami
with
Joyous
Abandon
The
colour yellow has an important role to play. People usually wear
yellow garments, Ma Saraswati is dressed in yellow and worshipped
with puja and havan, and yellow-hued sweets are relished and
distributed amongst families.
The
virtuous worship goddess Saraswati for spiritual enlightenment and
the white swan of Saraswati stands for sattva or the quality of
goodness.
Seasons
undergo change and Basant Panchami heralds the arrival of spring.
Sprinkling
of Gulal Starts in Vrindavan
From
Basant Panchami the sprinkling of gulal or red coloured powder starts
in Braj-Vrindavan and continues up to Holi.In
Braj this festival of colours is celebrated for a span of 41 days
(foreword on Braj Bhoomi Mohini by Saint Ushaji).
Saint
Usha
ji's
Yugal
Sarkar
At
Vrindavan our Sri Yugal Sarkar (the svarupas of Shri Radha-Krishna)
are decked with mustard flowers specially brought from Sri Nandgaon
and padas of Basant are joyously sung in the evening.
Mustard
Flowers
On
Basant Panchami adorn your Thakurji or living presence of Lord
Krishna with yellow or mustard flowers.Offer yellow rice (namkeen
tahri/sweet pudding and halwa (including the one made of besan) or
besan laddus to your Thakurji.
7th
February,
2014:
Bhishma
Ashtami
Bhishma
Ashtami
This
festival is associated with 'Bhishma Pitamaha, the legendary king of
Mahabharata whom Lord Krishna praised as the Lord of the lords.
Bhishmashtami ie Bhishma Ashtami,is the festival which is celebrated
on the twenty-third day of Magha (Jan-Feb) and eighth lunar day of
the light half (waxing phase of the moon).
Important
part of this festival is the worship of the Pitris, the ancestors.It
is the next day to Ratha Saptami.It is believed that Bhishma's soul
departed on this day after the war of Kurukshetra came to an end.
Bhishmashtami is dedicated to Bhishma, the son of Ganga, and great
uncle of the Pandava and Kaurava.Bhishma died childless without any
direct descendant.
On
this day devotees take bath early in the morning,perform the pooja
and observe the fast from sunrise to sunset.Being the 'Pitamaha', all
the devotees come together and make religious offerings of
Ganga-water, to his spirit.Sesamum seeds and boiled rice is offered
to him.These rituals compensate the sins of the whole year.
This
offering is given to the childless hero Bhishma of the race of
Vyaghrapada. Then people pray saying, "May Bhishma, the son of
Santanu, the speaker of truth and defeater of his passions, obtain by
this water the oblations due by sons and grandsons."
10th
February,
2014:
Jaya
Ekadashi
Vrata
Lord
Vishnu
Jaya
Ekadasi is on a Monday and is observed on the eleventh day of Shukla
Paksha Magh.Though Magh is an auspicious month for propitiating
Shiva, this Ekadasi is auspicious for Vishnu Puja. On this day, Lord
Vishnu and Shiva are both worshipped. Keeping the Jaya Ekadasi Vrat
gives devotees an opportunity to get rid of their sins and attain
salvation.
The
legend of Jaya Ekadasi Vrata is explained in the Padma Purana as a
conversation between Lord Krishna and Yudhistira.
11th
February,
2014:
Bhishma
Dwadashi
Bhishma
Dvadashi
Bhishma
Dvadasi, is observed on the 12th day in the month of Magha (January –
February) during the Shukla Paksha (waxing phase of moon). Bhisma
Dwadasi is also known as Magh Shukla Dwadasi. It is widely believed
that Pandavas performed the last rites of Bhishma, the son of King
Shantanu and Ganga in Mahabharata, on this day.
It
is popularly believed that Bhisma who was wounded and lying on a bed
of arrows chose to leave the earth 58 days after the beginning of the
Great War in Mahabharata. Bhishma was blessed with a boon that he
could choose the day of his death. It is believed that he chose Magh
Shukla Ashtami day to leave the earth and merge with Brahman.
On
the Bhishma Dwadasi day, Pandavas performed the last rites of Bhishma
Pitamah on the banks of Ganga.
There
is a popular belief that offering Tarpan and Shradh on the day to
ancestors is highly beneficial. Some people also perform Tarpan in
the name of Bhishma as he had no children.
12th
February,
2014:
Shiva
Pradosh
Vrata
Lord
Shiva
Is
an auspicious fast dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is observed on the
thirteenth day of every fortnight (Shukla Paksha and Krishna Paksha)
in the Hindu calendar. Shivalinga puja at the time of pradosha time
and fasting are the main rituals of Pradosham.
13th
February,
2014:
Kumbha
Sankranti
Kumbha
Sankranti
Sankraman
means transition of the sun from one zodiac sign to another. Kumbh
Sankranti is the transition of the sun from Makara Rashi (Capricorn)
to Kumbha Rashi (Aquarius).
Kumbha
Sankranti marks the start of the eleventh month in the traditional
Hindu solar calender that is beginning of Kumbha Masam in Malayalam
calendar, Maasi Masam in Tamil calendar and Falgun Maas in Bengali
calendar.. Ritual bath in a nearby river is performed on this day.
Sankranti is good to perform Daana and Punya activities. Gau daan or
donating a cow is considered auspicious on this day.
14th
February,
2014:
Magh
Purnima
Devotees
Bathe at the Triveni in Allahbad
Magh
Purnima
is
the
full
moon
day
in
the
month
of
Magh
(January
– February)
during
which
the
famous
Kumbh
Mela
and
annual
Magh
Mela
take
place
at
the
Triveni
Sangam
in
Prayag,
Allahabad.
Thousands
of
Hindu
devotees
converge
to
take
a
holy
dip
at
the
confluence
of
rivers
Ganga,
Yamuna
and
Saraswati
in
Allahabad.
It
is
an
important
day
to
bathe
and
for
some
Hindus,
the
last
date
of
Magh
Snana.
Please
take
a
dip
in
the
Ganges,
Yamuna
or
any
other
sacred
river.
There
will
be
a
great
rush
at
Goverdhan/Vrindavan
and
Kamad
Giri
at
Chitrakoot
for
parikrama
or
circumambulation.
It
is
believed
that
Vishwamitra
II
performed
a
ritual
bath
during
the
Kumbh
Mela
on
a
Magh
Purnima
in
2382
BCE.
Maghi
Purnima
usually
falls
at
the
end
of
Magh
and
signals
the
end
of
the
Kumbh
Mela.
Most
Kalpvasis
start
their
return
journey
from
the
Sangam
on
this
day.
17th February,
2014:
Saint
Ushaji's
Punya
Tithi
Saint
Usha Bahenji Fondly Known as Bobo
(anniversary
of her death) falls on a Wednesday and will be observed at Gaura
Nagar Colony, Vrindavan. Born on 30th July,1925, Usha Bahenji gained
entry into Gauloka (where Lord Krishna forever dwells) in 1992 after
Basant Panchami but before Sri Shivratari. In this way both the
festivals were unaffected, a truly sublime happening!
Chaitanya
Mahaprabhu & Swami Ramakrishna Paramhansa were secular saints of
India and inspired Saint Usha ji fondly known as Bobo. Chaitanya
Mahaprabhu embraced Haridas sji, a Muslim whereas Swami Ramakrishna
Paramhansa though a great devotee of goddess Kali, actually practised
Islam and Christianity for some months.
18th
February,
2014:
Shri
Ganesh
Chaturthi
Vrata
Lord
Ganesha
When
people fast on Ganesh Chaturthi, they either opt for the nirjal vrat
(a stringent, waterless fast) or phalahar vrat (a diet). Devotees 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, he is blessed with health, wealth and prosperity.
Those
who are not able to observe fast on this day can donate things to the
poor people like warm clothes and blankets. After offering ladoos to
Lord Ganesha, they should be distributed amongst the poor as a
prasad.
23rd
February,
2014:
Shri
Sita
Ashtami
Sita
Ashtami, or Janaki Janma, is believed to be the day when Mata Sita
appeared on earth as per traditional calendar and Panchangs followed
in North India. Sita Ashtami is observed on the eighth day of the
Krishna Paksha (waning phase of moon) of Phalguna month (February –
March).
Mata
Sita is an embodiment of purity and wifely devotion and the consort
of Sri Ram in Ramayan.
Mata Sita was adopted by King Janaka; after he
found her while ploughing his field.
25th
February,
2014:
Vijaya
Ekadashi
Vrata
Lord
Brahma & Narada
It
is observed during the krishna paksha of the Phalgun Month as per the
North Indian calendar. Those who observe this Ekadasi are said to
triumph. This fact is highlighted in the Skanda Purana and narrated
by Lord Brahma to Sage Narada.
Lord
Rama
Wanting
to
Cross
the
Ocean
Legend
has it that Lord Rama and his army comprising of monkeys and bears
was searching for a means to cross the ocean to reach Lanka.That is
when Lakshman spoke of a great Saint living nearby, who could provide
them with a solution. It is this sage who raved about Vijaya Ekadasi
and said that observing it would make Lord Rama victorious.
27th
February,
2014:
Shiva
Pradosh
Vrata
Lord Shiva
27th
February,
2014:
Maha
Shivratri
Maha
Shivrati
Maha
Shivratri, the night of the worship of Shiva is celebrated every year
on the 13th night/14th day of the krishna paksha or waning phase of
the moon in Phalgun. Along with keeping a fast, cold water and bel
patra (leaves of the wood apple tree) are offered to the lingam
during the day. The festival is celebrated by traditional offerings
such as bathing Shiva in milk, panchamruta (milk,curd,ghee,sugar and
honey [the symbols of sustenance]),one after the other in succession;
or anointing the lingam with vermilion (kumkum), white consecrated
rice and askshata, (symbols of fertility or creation), when Shiva is
worshipped as the god of dissolution.
The
three principal reasons for Shivratri are:
Sadashiv,
the Cosmic Form of Shiva
1]
Sadashiv, the cosmic form of Lord Shiva, appeared as 'Lingodbhav
Moorti' precisely at midnight on Maha Shivratri. That is why all
Shiva devotees keep vigil during the night of Shivratri and do
abhishek of the Shivalingam (the form in which Shiva is worshipped).
It is the night when Shiva performed the tandava nritya or the dance
of primordial creation, preservation and destruction.
Lord
Vishnu is Born as Krishna
It
is believed that Lord Vishnu in his incarnation as Krishna, was born
in Gokul in the middle of the night on Janamashtami, 180 days after
Shivratri. Amazingly the circle of one year is divided into two by
the festivities of Shivratri and Janamashtami.
Marriage
of Lord Shiva & Goddess Parvati
2]
Lord Shiva was married to Goddess Parvati on Shivratri. Shiva without
Parvati is an absolute 'Nirgun Brahman' (formless static God),
whereas with Parvati, or purna-shakti, the most complete form of
divine feminine energy, He becomes the 'Sagun Brahman' for his
dedicated devotees.
Shiva
as Neelkantham
3]
On Shivratri, Lord Shiva became 'Neelkantham' or the blue-throated
one by swallowing the deadly poison, halahala, that came up when the
devas and asuras churned the sea to obtain the nectar of immortality.
Even a drop of the poison would have annihilated the entire world but
Shiva held it in His neck, which turned blue with its impact.Ever
since Shivratri is celebrated as a day of thanksgiving to the Lord
for protecting us from destruction.
The
Yugal Sarkar of Saint Usha Bahenji
At
highly revered saint Sushila Bahinji's Gaura Colony the festival is
celebrated with Thakurji.
Very informative calender available in the beginning of the month with a compete knowledge about the day.
ReplyDelete