Spiritual Calendar: July, 2014

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

 Veda Vyasa is Sanatan Dharma’s first and greatest acharya. He classified the four Vedas, wrote the 18 Puranas, the Brahma Sutras, and recited the Mahabharat which Shri Ganesha penned down. The Mahabharat is glorified as the fifth Veda. Of all Mahabharat’s sections, the Bhagavad Gita is its most important essence and crown jewel.

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

 In the holy town of Vrindavana, the festival of Jhulan Utsava lasts for 13 days. It starts on the third day (tritiya) of the bright fortnight of Shravan (July-Aug) and lasts until the full moon night of the month. During this festival the deities of Radha-Krishna in temples are gently swayed on a 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)

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

The story of Kamika Ekadashi from the Brahma Vaivarta Purana is as follows: The saintly king Yudhishthira requested Lord Krishna to narrate glories of the ekadashi which occurs during the dark fortnight of the Shravan Month (July-August).Krishna said that once Narada Muni asked Lord Brahma the name of this ekadashi,the deity who was to be worshipped, the process to be followed and its merits.Lord Brahma happily agreed because just hearing about the Kamika Ekadashi is equivalent to performing a horse sacrifice.

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

 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).

26th July, 2014:Hariyali Amavasya

Phool Bangla of Shri Banke Bihariji

 Hariyali Amavasya is a monsoon festival celebrated on Amavasya in the Shravan month in North India. Lord Shiva is worshipped on this day for wealth, prosperity and a good harvest.Grand fairs are held in Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh. Hariyali Amavasya is celebrated with enthused fervour in Dwarkadhish temple of Mathura, Banke Bihari Temple in Vrindavan and other temples of Lord Krishna and Shiva.

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

 The first of the three main Teej festivals is observed on the third day of the shukla paksha of Shravan. Vrindavan is certainly worth a visit on this day since Shri Prabhu Banke Bihariji is posited on a jhoola sinhasan, religious hymns are chanted and lilas of Radha-Krishna are narrated. Saint Ushaji's Thakurji is already resplendent on a swing from 5 to 6 pm for the entire month of Shravan.

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