Shri
Balkrishan Dasji Maharaj
Maharaj
Bal Krishna Dasji was a great saint of Vrindavan, who had experienced
the highest ideal of religious rapture by relishing the lilas or
divine play of Shri Radha-Krishna.
Gita Jayanti
The
janamotsav of Shri Bal Krishna Dasji Maharaj Of Venu Vinod Kunj,
Vrindavan and Shri Bhagavad Gita Jayanti happen to fall on the same day. Maharajji was born
on the day when Lord Krishna revealed the nature of time and
duty to Arjuna on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, about 5225 years
ago. Gita Jayanti is observed on the eleventh day of the bright half
moon (Shukla paksha) of the Margashirsha month (November –
December). Devotees from all over India converge at Shri Dham
Vrindavan to celebrate this occasion.
2nd
December, 2014: Mokshada Ekadashi
Mokshada Ekadashi
This
legend as taken from the Brahmanda Purana is as follows:
Yudhishthira
Maharaj said, "What is the name of the Ekadasi that occurs
during the light fortnight of the month of Margashirsha
(November-December) and removes all sins? "
Lord
Sri Krishna replied, "This Ekadasi is famous as Mokshada because
it purifies the faithful devotee of all sinful reactions and bestows
liberation upon him. The worshippable Deity of this auspicious day is
Lord Damodara.
"
There once was a beautiful city named Champaka-nagar and the best of
saintly kings Maharaj Vaikhaanasa, ruled over his subjects as if they
were his very own sons and daughters. The king had a dream one night
in which his father was seen to be suffering torture in one of the
hellish planets ruled by Yamaraj.
"
' O brahmanas,' the king addressed them, 'In a dream last night I saw
my father suffering on a hellish planet. Now I have no peace in my
mind, and even this beautiful kingdom has become unbearable to me.'
"
The twice born brahmans replied, 'O king, in the mountainous forest
not far from here is the ashram where a great saint Parvata Muni
resides. Please go to him, for he knows the past, the present, and
the future and can surely help you in attaining relief from your
misery.'
"Upon
the advise of brahmans, the distressed king immediately set out for
the ashram of sage Parvata Muni.
"Then,
Parvata Muni, the best of all sages, closed his eyes and meditated on
the king and said, 'Your father is suffering the consequences of
committing a great sin. In his previous life he quarrelled with his
wife and forcibly enjoyed her sexually.'
"Parvata
Muni said, 'During the light fortnight of the month of Margashirsha
there occurs an Ekadasi called Mokshadaa'.
"Hearing
this, Maharaj Vaikhaanasa profusely thanked the great sage and
returned to his palace to observe the vrata. Then he perfectly and
with full faith observed the Ekadasi fast with his wife, children,
and other relatives and dutifully gave the merit from this fast to
his father.
Soon
after, the king's father was escorted to the celestial region.'
Lord
Krishna confirmed, "O son of Pandu there is no better fasting
day than this Ekadasi and one goes back to Godhead, never to return
to this material world."
4th
December, 2014:Pradhosh Vrata
Lord
Shiva
Pradosh
means dusk and this fast is kept for propitiating Lord Shiva. With
his blessings all desires are fulfilled and one attains spiritual
enlightenment.Generally people observe Pradosha Vrata on every
trayodashi tithi (13th lunar day falling in Krishna and Shukla
Pakshas.) It begins at sunrise and ends during twilight in the
evening.
6th
December, 2014: Margashirsha Purnima & Dattatreya Jayanti
Margashirsha Poornima
Margashirsha
Poornima or full moon day is the last day in a month in the calendar
followed in North India and is known as Pournami in South India.
Fasting from sunrise to sunset is observed by some Hindus on Purnima
and this day is chosen by many Hindus for pujas like the Satyanarayan
Puja and Dattatreya Jayanthi, and Annapurna Jayanti is also observed
on this day.
Dattatreya Jayanti
Dattatreya
Jayanti, is a Hindu holy day, commemorating the birthday celebration
of the Hindu god Dattatreya (Datta), a combined form of the Hindu
male divine trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. It is celebrated on
the full moon day of the Margashirsha (Agrahayana) month according to
the Hindu Calendar (December/January) throughout the country, and
particular in Maharashtra.
10th
December,
2014:
Shri
Ganesh
Chaturthi
Vrata
Lord
Ganesha
According
to Hindu scriptures Chaturthi Tithi(s) belongs to Lord Ganesha.
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 home, to
offer prayers to the deity.
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, 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
December, 2014: Dhanu Sankranti
Dhanu
Sankranti
On
this day the Sun transits to Dhanu rashi (Sagittarius). Dhanu
Sankranti marks the beginning of the ninth month in the Hindu Solar
Calendar. Dhanu Masam begins in Malayalam Calendars and Margazhi
Masam begins in Tamil Calendars.
Sankranti
is highly auspicious for dana and punya. Only a certain time duration
of Sankranti is considered auspicious. Dhanu Sankranti is of great
significance in Orissa and special prayers are offered to Lord
Jagannath on this day.The Sun God (Surya) is also worshipped.
18th
December, 2014: Safala Ekadashi Vrata
Safala
Ekadashi
Safala
Ekadashi is observed on Paush Krishna Paksha Ekadasi day as per North
Indian calendars. The vrata helps devotees to attain success in every
sphere of life.
The
spiritual importance of Safala Ekadashi is mentioned in the Brahmanda
Purana as the conversation between Lord Krishna and Yudhistira. The
legend of Safala Ekadashi is associated with King Lumpaka who was
sinful by nature but after keeping the Ekadasi Vrat he was blessed
with a blissful life and attained salvation after death.
19th
December, 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.
21st
December, 2014: Amavasya
Amavasya
The
last day of the waning phase of the moon is called Amavasya. Amavasya
is the end of the Krishna paksha of the Hindu month. A few festivals
like Diwali are celebrated on this day. Amavasya is considered sacred
for ancestor rituals.
According
to Amavasyant calenders it is called Margashirsha Amavasya. As per
Purnimant calenders it is called Paush Amavasya.
25th
December, 2014: Masik Vinayak Chaturthi
Lord
Ganesha
It
is
an
auspicious
day
dedicated
to
Lord
Ganesha
and
falls
on
the
4th
day
of
the
Krishna
Paksha
(waning
phase
of
the
moon)
of
a
lunar
fortnight
or
on
the
fourth
day
after
Purnima
or
full
moon.
Ganesha
devotees
observe
a
fast
on
Vinayak
Chaturthi.
28th
December, 2014: Guru Singh Jayanti
Guru
Gobind Singh
A
Sikh
festival
that
commemorates
the
birthday
of
Guru
Gobind
Singh,
the
tenth
Guru
of
the
Sikhs.
It
is
a
religious
celebration
in
which
prayers
for
prosperity
are
offered.
Guru
Gobind Singh was the 10th Sikh Guru of Nanak. He was born at Patna,
Bihar, India, on December 22, 1666.
Guru
Gobind Singh was the son of Guru Tegh Bahadur, who gave his life to
protect religious freedom. He succeeded his father and became a Guru
at nine years of age. In his lifetime, he stood against the Mughal
Rulers and fought against injustice. In 1699, Guru Gobind Singh took
five men from the lower caste of society and baptized them as His
Five Beloveds. It was his dedication to God, his fearlessness and his
desire to protect the people from being oppressed that led Guru
Gobind Singh to establish the Khalsa, a military force of
saint-soldiers which he baptized.
Before
his death in 1708, he declared the Guru Granth Sahib, which is
Sikhism’s Holy Scripture, to be the permanent Sikh Guru.
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