Spiritual Calendar: June, 2016

1^st June, 2016:   Achala Ekadashi

 Lord Vishnu

Achala Ekadashi falls in the month of Jyestha (May-June) and is also known as 'Jyestha Krishna Ekadashi'. Achla Ekadashi is the giver of good deeds, destroyer of sins and one who observes the vrata with a full fast on this day attains great esteem in this world.

2^nd June, 2016: Pradosh Vrat

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 on Mount Kailash to worship Lord Shiva. The Pradosh which falls on a Monday is of special significance.

4^th June, 2016:Vat Savitri Vrat

 Sati Savitri Saves Satyavant

 Associated with Sati Savitri and Satyavant, the legend reveals how Satyavant 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.

Women Worshipping the Vat (Bargad) Tree

The Vat Savitri Vrat falls either on the full moon day or the new moon day of the month of Jyeshtha, around May-June. Married Women observe this fast with the intention of preserving their husbands good fortune.On this day, women fast and worship the Vat (Bargad) tree to pray for the growth and strength of their husband and families. All Hindu women observe this festival worshiping and propitiating Savitri as a Devi. On this day, early morning the women take bath and wear new clothes, new bangles and apply vermilion on their forehead and hair-parting line. Then Ma Savitri is worshipped.

5^th June: Snan Daan ki Amavasya

The day of conjunction of the sun and moon, on the fifteenth day of the dark half of a lunar month is known as Amavasya, the last day of the waning moon.

5^th June,2016: Shani Jayanti

Lord Shani

Shani Jayanti is observed to mark the birthday of Lord Shani as per Hindu mythology. According to astrology, Shani is referred to as Saturn which is known to have a strong influence upon people. According to believers, it is necessary to celebrate Shani Jayanti to ensure that bad omen stays away to the maximum extent. Ardent devotees belonging to different communities of Hinduism are known to offer their prayers to please God Shani.

Shani Jayanti is celebrated on Vaishak Vadya Chaturdasi Amavasya and it is believed that God Shani was born on this day. It is celebrated in a very noble manner and all the rituals related to the God Shani are strictly followed given his furious nature –

8^th June, 2016: Vinayaka Chaturthi

Lord Ganesha

 Each lunar month in Hindu calendar has two Chaturthi Tithis which belong to Lord Ganesha according to Hindu scriptures. The Chaturthi after Amavasya or new moon and during Shukla Paksha is known as Vinayaka Chaturthi and the one after Purnimasi or full moon and during Krishna Paksha is known as Sankashti Chaturthi.

The most significant Vinayaka Chaturthi falls in the month of Bhadrapada and is known as Ganesha Chaturthi. Ganesha Chaturthi is celebrated by Hindus all over the world as the birthday of Lord Ganesh.

14^th June,2016: Ganga Dussehra

 The Birth of Goddess 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.

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.

16^th June, 2016: Nirjala Ekadashi Vrata

 Lord Vishnu

This Ekadashi falls in the month of Jyestha, during the Shukla paksha (June). Amongst the 24 Ekadashis , the vrata on Jyeshtha Shukla Ekadashi is considered most beneficial and said to give the fruits of 24 Ekadashis observed throughout the year. A complete fast is kept on this day with not a drop of water to drink. People worship Lord Vishnu to ensure happiness and prosperity, and forgiveness of transgressions and sins. On the preceding day that is on the 10th lunar day, Sandhya (evening prayer) is performed and only one meal is taken.

17^th June,2016: 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 on Mount Kailash to worship Lord Shiva. The Pradosh which falls on a Monday is of special significance.

20^th June, 2016: Kabir Jayanti

Saint Poet Kabir

Saint Kabir Jayanti is celebrated in honour of Sant Kabir Das, a mystical saint and poet predominant in North India. Kabir was born to Muslim parents in Benaras (erstwhile Varanasi) who turned to spirituality and religion at a very young age. Saint Kabir Jayanti is observed as an auspicious day dedicated to Kabir.

His life took a major turn after he started following the teachings of Guru Ramananda, a 15th century Hindu mystical guru who coined the name Kabir Das.

20^th June, 2016: Snan Daan Purnima

 Jagannath Purnima

Snan Purnima occurs in the month of Jyaistha. This Purnima is celebrated at a grand scale in the Puri Jagannath Temple of Orissa. Jyestha Purnima is also known as Jagannath Purnima.

23^rd June, 2016: Sankashti Ganesh Chaturthi Vrata

 Lord Ganesha

 Chaturthi is celebrated on the 4th day from full moon day. Devotees fast on this day.The Chaturthi after Purnimasi or full moon and during Krishna Paksha is known as Sankashti Chaturthi.

30^th June, 2016: Yogini Ekadashi Vrata

Lord Vishnu

 Yogini Ekadashi occurs during the waning phase of the moon in the Hindu month of Ashadha (June – July) as per the traditional Hindu calendar followed in North India. The importance of this Ekadasi was explained to Yudhisthira by Lord Krishna. Fasting on this Ekadashi helps us overcome the remorse caused by committing sins and get ‘moksha.’

The significance of Yogini Ekadasi is mentioned in Brahma Vaivarta Purana. The Purana narrates the tale of a gardener named Hemamali who overcame a curse, which made him a leper, by observing a fast on Yogini Ekadasi. The gardener was instructed by sage Markandeya about the Ekadashi.

All the usual rules associated with Ekadasi fasting are observed on the day. The fast begins with the sunrise on Ekadasi day and ends with sunrise on the next day.