Glimpses of Divinity

Maha Shivratri (February 11th 2010) is celebrated in honor of Lord Shiva on the 13th (or 14th) night of the Krishna paksha (dark half or waning phase) of the moon (night before Amavasya) in the month of Phalgun (Feb-March) by almost all sects within Hinduism. It is a day of fasting for all devotees of Lord Shiva and is one of the eight most significant days of fasting in the Hindu Calendar.

As Lord Shiva is considered to be the lord of meditation and penance, devotees may be best served by engaging in introspection and self-evaluation of their spiritual progress on Maha Shivratri. Hence, this day may be considered as an opportunity to engage in awakening one’s inner spirit towards (self)-realization of the supreme. It is perhaps for this reason that the scriptures encourage us to remain awake throughout the night on Shivratri – to welcome the new moon and its spiritual energy into our lives.

The two mantras that are perhaps most relevant to invoking the power and energy associated with Lord Shiva are:

• the simple, five-syllable (pancha-akshara) chant of Om Namah Shivaya ॐ नम: शिवाय:
• the mantra of health and protection from (spiritual) death called the Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra ॐ त्रियम्बकं यजामहे, सुगन्धिं पुष्टिवर्धनं,
  उर्वारुकमिव बन्धनान्, मृत्योर्मोक्षिय मामृतात्

Read the rest of this entry »

Vasant Panchami (January 20th 2010), also known as Basant Panchami is a festival in honor of Goddess Saraswati, the hindu Goddess of education, learning and the fine arts (music, writing, painting, etc.). The festival is celebrated on the fifth (panch) day after the new moon (amavasaya) in the month of Magha according to the Hindu calendar (usually occurs in late January or early February). It marks the onset of spring (vasant) according to the Hindu calendar and is marked with great gaiety and celebrations all across the northern states in India.
Read full article….

Read the rest of this entry »

Makar Sankranti is observed on the 14th of January every year and marks the astronomical event of the northward motion of the sun (uttarayana) from the tropic of capricorn towards the tropic of cancer. In India, it also marks the end of winter and the onset of spring and the progression or change (sankranti) of the sun into the sign or raashi of capricorn (makar). One may note that while the tropical zodiac marks the progression of the sun into Capricorn at a fixed date on the 22nd of December, the sidereal zodiac (in which the signs of the zodiac align to the sky constellations of the same name) marks this event on the 14th of January.

Solar and Lunar events

Makar Sankranti is one the rare festivals in hinduism which is based on a solar event rather than a lunar event. In 2010, it so happens that this solar event coincides with the lunar event of amavasaya and a grand solar eclipse! This grand astronomical event is being celebrated in the form of a maha kumbha mela at Haridwar which begins on January 14th and will last for forty days. An estimated five million people are expected to take a dip in the holy Ganga on the first day of this religious fair that occurs Read the rest of this entry »

Background and Significance of Vaikuntha Ekadasi

Vaikuntha Ekadasi (December 28th/29th 2009), is considered to be the most important Ekadasi in the Sri Vaishnava tradition. Ekadasi means ‘the eleventh’ in Sanskrit and refers to the eleventh day of the bright fortnight (shukla paksha) belonging to a lunar month. Vaikuntha Ekadasi is the 11th day in the lunar calendar after the new moon in Dhanurmasa (December 15 – January 15). It is considered to be the day on which the doors of Vaikuntha (heaven) will be kept open for all the saintly souls. one will be absolved of all sins and will attain Moksha and the doors of Vaikunta will be kept open for the soul after it leaves this physical body

According to the Vishnu Purana, observing the Ekadasi Vrata (or fast) on Vaikuntha Ekadasi day confers the benefit equivalent to observing all the other eleven Ekadasis during the year. Fasting (according to one’s capacity), chanting the names of the Lord, visiting Vishnu temples are some of the ways this festival is observed.
Read the rest of this entry »

The Practise of Satsang

The practice of satsang is the basis for like-minded people to commune together and participate in singing bhajans and the glories of their favorite God-head. The bhakti movement in India is perhaps the major sect which practices satsang on a regular basis to sing the glories of Lord Krishna. The word satsang (सतसंग) literally means “in good company” – it is a conjunction of the two words sat (meaning good) and sang (meaning “in the company of”).

According to Wikipedia satsang is Read the rest of this entry »