1st
July,
2014:
Vinayak
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.
9th
July,
2014:
Devshayani
Ekadashi
Lord
Vishnu
Resting
in
the
Kshir
Sagar
(Devotthan
Ekadasi
will
come
about
5
months after Devshayani Ekadashi.
Sanyasis
call
it
the
Chaturmaas
and
stay
at
one
place
for
these
4
months.)
It
is
one
of
the
most
important
Ekadasis.
As
per
the
Puranas,
Lord
Vishnu
is
said
to
take
rest
in
Kshir
Saagar
or
the
Ocean
of
Milk
on
this
day
and
steps
out
after
four
months,
on
the
11th
day
of
the
first
bright
half
of
Kartik(
the
eighth
month
of
the
Hindu
lunar
calendar.)
It
is
believed
that
Hindu
gods
and
goddesses
are
resting
during
this
period.
10th
July,
2014:
Pradosh
Vrata
Lord
Shiva
Pradosh
Pradosh
means
dusk
and
this
fast
is
kept
on
the
13th
day
of
each
lunar
fortnight
for
propitiating
Lord
Shiva.
With
his
blessings
all
desires
are
fulfilled
and
one
attains
spiritual
enlightenment.It
is
said
that
on
this
day
all
gods
and
goddesses
assemble
at
Mount
Kailash
to
worship
Lord
Shiva.
Generally
people
observe
Pradosha
Vrata
on
every
trayodashi
tithi
(13th
lunar
day
falling
in
Krishna
and
Shukla
Pakshas)
in
the
evening.
Worship
of
Shiva
throughout
the
night,
bathing
the
Shivalinga
with
panchamrta
(milk,
curd,
ghee,
sugar
and
honey),
homa,
japa
or
chanting
of
the
mulamantra
(Aum
Nama
Shivaya)
and
praying
for
forgiveness
are
the
other
religious
observances.
At
the
end
of
the
vrata
one
must
do
parana
(break
the
fast
by
partaking
the
offerings).Pradosh
timing
is
4:20
to
6
o'
clock
in
the
evening.
Pradosh
Ashtakam
is
an
auspicious
prayer
chanted
during
Pradosh
Shiv
Pujan.
12th
July,
2014:
Guru Purnima
Shiva
as Adi Dakshinamurty
The
highest form of a Guru is Lord Shiva Himself (Adi Dakshinamurthy) or
ultimate knowledge, and a Guru is the manifestation of that
knowledge. It is such an important annual festival that most Indians
visit the ashrams of their respective gurus or spiritual preceptors
in Rishikesh, Haridwar, Mathura and Vrindavan.
Lord
Shiva 'The Auspicious One', works for our well being, is the
refuge of loving tenderness, is splendidly generous, bestows
religious devotion to Krishna and is Maha Yogeshwar.
Easily
pleased, Lord Shankar manifested for Usha Bahenji (fondly known as
Bobo), a great saint of Vrindavan, and made the spectral revelation
that He was her spiritual preceptor who would take her to the pivotal
concept of Krishna's madhurya or sweet love.
12th
July,2014: Bhagwan
Ved
Vyasa
Puja
Bhagwan Ved Vyasa
13th
July, 2014: The Month of Shravan Begins
Worshipping
Shiva in Shravan
The
first Monday of Shravan is dear to all the gods, especially Shiva. On
every Monday of this month, devotees throng to Shiva temples
throughout India to worship the sacred Shivalingam.
Kanwarias
Kanwarias
in the month of Shravan: Soon after many devotees of Lord Shiva shall
carry kanwarias to Haridwar/ Gopeshwar in the sacred Lord Shiva's
month of Shravan (name of the fifth month of the Hindu lunar
calendar). A kanwar is a decorative bamboo pole carried on the
shoulder with covered pots of water balanced at both ends.
13th July, 2014: Jhulan Utsav Begins in Braj Mandal
The Yugal Sarkar on a Jhulan or Swing
This
is
one
of
the
biggest
festivals
of
the
year
and
Vrindavana
is
packed
with
thousands
of
devotees
from
all
over
the
world.
At
some
temples,
the
swings
are
made
of
gold
and
silver.
A
few
prominent
temples
where
this
festival
is
celebrated
are
the
Banke
Bihari
Temple,
the
Radha-Raman
Temple
in
Vrindavana
and
the
Dwarkadish
temple
in
Mathura.
15th
July,
2014:
Shri
Ganesh
Chaturthi
Vrata
Lord
Ganesha
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 home, to offer prayers to the deity.
They
either opt for the nirjal vrat (a stringent, waterless fast) or
phalahar vrat (a diet). 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.
16th
July, 2014: Naag Panchami
(Shravan Krishna Paksha, Rajasthan & West Bengal)
(Shravan Krishna Paksha, Rajasthan & West Bengal)
Lord
Krishna Vanquishes Kalia Naag
Naag
Panchami is a festival during which religious Hindus in some parts of
India either worship images or live Nagas on the fifth day after
Amavasya of the Shravan Month. Traditionally, married young women
visit their premarital households to celebrate the festival. A
traditional aspect of the celebration involves young women swinging
joyously on swings temporarily hung on tree branches, particularly in
the villages of India.
According
to Puranic mythology, Brahma’s son Kashyapa had four wives. The
first wife gave birth to Devas; the second, to Garudas; the third
--named Kadroo--, to Nagas; and the fourth, to Daityas. Nāgas were
the rulers of Patal-Loka.
Lord
Krishna had conquered Naga Kalia and put an end to his evil deeds on
Naga Panchami. As per a myth, the Kathmandu Valley used to be a vast
lake. When human beings began draining the lake to make space for
settlements, the Nagas were enraged. To protect themselves against
the wrath of Nagas, people gave the latter certain areas as
pilgrimage destinations, thus restoring the harmonious balance of
nature.
22nd
July,2014: Kamika Ekadashi Vrata
Lord Vishnu
One
who worships Lord Vishnu attains greater merit than bathing in the
Ganges,having darshan of Lord Kedarnath in the Himalayas,bathing at
Kurukshetra during a solar eclipse, donating earth in charity, taking
a dip in the Kali Gandaki River or Godavari River on full moon.
Observing Kamika Ekadashi bestows the same merit as donating a
milk-cow and her calf along with their fodder. Oh Narada, Lord
Krishna himself confirmed that the one who fasts on Kamidka Ekadashi
is more blessed than a person studying the spiritual texts and does
not have to suffer future births.
Lord
Krishna affirmed that this sacred day nullifies the sin of killing a
brahman or an unborn child in the womb and transports one to
Viakuntha, where Lord Vishnu forever dwells.
24th
July, 2014: Pradosh Vrata
Lord Shiva
Generally
people observe Pradosha Vrata on every trayodashi tithi (13th lunar
day falling in Krishna and Shukla Pakshas) in the evening.
Worship
of Shiva throughout the night, bathing the Shivalinga with panchamrta
(milk, curd, ghee, sugar and honey), homa, japa or chanting of the
mulamantra (Aum Nama Shivaya) and praying for forgiveness are the
other religious observances. At the end of the vrata one must do
parana (break the fast by partaking the offerings).
26th
July, 2014:Hariyali Amavasya
Phool Bangla of Shri Banke Bihariji
This
day culminates the Phool Bangla Utsav in Banke Bihari Temple of
Vrindavan, during which a house of flowers is made daily in the
evening. Great importance is give to the green colour in this
festival since it reflects the greenery of nature after the first
showers of monsoon.
29th
July, 2014: Eid-ul-Fitr
Celebrating
Eid-ul-Fitr
Lakhs
of Muslims, dressed in the best of finery, greet each other, exchange
gifts and enjoy special sweet dishes, particularly sewaiyan. Eid
which means happiness in Arabic is one of the most important
festivals of the Muslims. Eid al-Fitr also called the Feast of
Breaking the Fast, is an important religious holiday celebrated by
Muslims worldwide that marks the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy
month of fasting . The religious Eid is a single day and Muslims are
not permitted to fast that day. The holiday celebrates the conclusion
of the 29 or 30 days of fasting from dawn to sunset during the entire
month of Ramadan. Therefore, the day of Eid falls on the first day of
the month of Shawwal. This is a day when Muslims around the world
show a common goal of unity.
30th
July, 2014: Janamutsav of Boboji or Saint Ushaji of
hariharji.blogspot.com fame
Revered
Usha Behanji, a Great Saint of Vrindavan
Let
us bow to Ushaji whose ishtdev or favoured deities are Shri
Radha-Krishna whereas Lord Shiva is her guru or spiritual preceptor..
Hence it seems but natural that she was born in Shravan, the month of
worshipping Shiva.
If
possible:
1. Keep a fast on every Monday in the Shravan month till Rakhi.
2. Offer water, milk and belpatras on Shivlingams, idols of Lord
Ganesha and Ma Parvati at home or in any temple, daily.
3.Chant at least three beads of Om Namah Shivaya daily and seven
beads on a Monday which is traditionally regarded as Shivji's day. In
fact Shivji (incarnating as Hanumanji during Shri Ram avatar) is
paramguru of all Vaishnavas (Rameshwaram, Gopeshwar. ) NRIs may chant
Shri Shiv Stuti daily which is available on internet as well.
The
Twelver Jyoti-Lingams
4.
Do visit the sites of Lord Shiva like Rishikesh and the 12
Jyotir-Lingams during this month of Shravan.
5.
In Shravan Braj,Vrindavan (Mathura) also has a special practice of
swings being put up.The jhoolas of Lord Bihariji and Radha-Krishna
are very famed. Shri Krishna Kripakataksha Stotram 8th Verse.
30th
July, 2014: Hariyali Teej
Saint Usha Behanji's Yugal Sarkar on a Jhulan
Women
fast on this day. Married woman fast for their husbands and a happy
married life. Unmarried girls fast in order to get a good husband in
the future. This festival is known as Hariyali Teej in the eastern
part of the country. Nature can be seen flourishing and women
enjoying themselves with songs, swings etc.
The
Teej in the Shravan month is of great religious importance. According
to a legend, Parvati kept fasts during this period to impress Lord
Shiva. These fasts helped Parvati in marrying Lord Shiva. It is also
believed that on this day, Parvati completed hundred years of her
austerities.
31st
July, 2014: Vinayak Chaturthi Vrata
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