Daily Archives: February 5, 2020

Vasant Panchami, also spelled saraswati puja, is a festival that marks the preparation for the arrival of spring. The festival is celebrated by people in various ways depending upon the region in the live in the Indian subcontinent. Vasant Panchami also marks the start of preparation for Holika and Holi, which take place forty days later. The Vasant Utsava (festival) on Panchami is celebrated forty days before Spring, because any season’s transition period is 40 days, and after that the season comes in to full bloom.
Vasant Panchami is celebrated every year on the fifth day of the bright half of the Hindu luni-solar calendar month of Magha, which typically falls in late January or February. Spring is known as the “King of all Seasons”, so the festival commences forty days in advance. (It is generally winter-like in northern India, and more spring-like in central and western parts of India on Vasant Panchami, which gives credence to the fact that Spring is actually in full bloom 40 days after the Vasant Panchami day).

The festival is particularly observed by Hindus in the Indian subcontinent, notably India and Nepal, it’s also has been a historical tradition of Sikhs as well. In southern states, the same day is called Sri Panchami.

On the island of Bali and the Hindus of Indonesia, it is known as “Hari Raya Saraswati” (great day of Saraswati).

Hinduism

Vasant Panchami is a festival that marks the beginning of preparations for the King of all Seasons, Spring. It is celebrated by people in various ways depending on the region. Vasant Panchami also marks the start of preparation for holiday and Holi which occurs forty days later. For many Hindus, Vasant Panchami is the festival dedicated to goddess Saraswati who is their goddess of knowledge, language, music and all arts. She symbolizes creative energy and power in all its form, including longing and love (kama). The season and festival also celebrates the agricultural fields’ ripening with yellow flowers of mustard crop, which Hindus associate with Saraswati’s favorite color. People dress in yellow saris or shirts or accessories, share yellow colored snacks and sweets. Some add saffron to their rice and then eat yellow cooked rice as a part of an elaborate feast.

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The Satyanarayan Puja is a religious worship of the Hindu god Vishnu. Satya means “truth” and narayana means, “The highest being” so Satyanarayan means “The highest being who is an embodiment of Truth”. Vrat or Puja means a religious vow, religious observance, or obligation. Hindus throughout perform Sri Satyanarayan Vrat for the divine blessings of health, wealth, prosperity, opulence, education; relief from troubles and sickness. It can also be performed because of success in business or career growth; during social functions like marriages, house-warming ceremonies, naming of the children and so on.

This puja is first mentioned in Skanda Purana, Reva Kanda by Suta Puranik to the rishis in Naimisharanya. The details are part of the Katha (Story) that is usually read during the ritual

A painting of Narayana (Viṣṇu) seated on lotus
Sri Satya Narayana puja is a very popular ritual in most parts of India including Gujarat, Maharashtra, Assam, Bengal, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh,Telangana,Bihar, Odisha, Manipur.

The ritual is usually performed on the Full moon day of every month, Ekadashi (11th day after full moon or new moon), Kārtika Pūrṇimā, Vaiśākhā Pūrṇimā, solar eclipse day or on Saṅkrānti except during Āṣāḍha Chandra Masa. It is also performed on special occasions and during times of achievements, as an offering of gratitude to the Lord. These occasions could include marriage, graduation, start of a new job, purchase of a new home, to name a few. In addition, the performance of this most auspicious puja generally confers a child to couples trying to start a family.

The Satyanarayan puja can be performed on any day for any reason. It is not a puja confined to any festivities, but Purnima (full moon day) is considered specifically auspicious for this puja. Performing this puja in the evening is considered more appropriate. However, one can perform this puja in the morning as well.

This puja is very simple, can be performed by anyone,. The original concept was instructions given by rishi Narada Muni while on tour of earth he noticed tremendous amounts of sufferings all around due to malnutrition. He went to lord Vishnu and described the situation and was told with instructions to perform Pooja and the other stories to be narrated. One of the key instruction was to invite as many friends, relatives and neighbors to attend the ceremony and to feed them and to offer as many types of fruits as possible and the sufferings will be eliminated, and this was due to being well fed and consumption of fruits.

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Lord ram worship method…

Lord Rama, born as the seventh avatar of Vishnu, has been called Maryadapurushottam. Lord Rama is considered revered due to his decent and ideal life. Veer Hanuman ji also meditates at the feet of Shri Ram ji.
As the eldest son of King Dasharatha and Kaushalya of Raghuvansh, Shri Ram ji was born in Ayodhya on the Navami date of the month of Chaitra Shukla which we all celebrate as the festival of “Sri Ramnavami” today. He is considered the seventh incarnation of Vishnu.

Benefits of shree ram puja….

If you are surrounded by problems of delay in marriage, problems in love, problems in procuring children, loss of business, etc., then worshiping Lord Shri Ram Ji is beneficial.

How to worship Shri Ram Ji….

On the occasion of Ramnavami, special worship should be done to Lord Shri Rama. This day should be fasted, after this, worship should be started in front of the idol of Shri Ram, Mother Sita and Hanuman ji.

Ram Puja Vidhi …

Lord Rama should offer yellow clothes and flowers. Tulsi leaves must be used in the worship of Vishnu or any avatar of Vishnu. After this, light a lamp of ghee or oil according to the reverence and perform aarti. Offer a Naivedya to Lord Shri Rama after the Aarti, that is to offer bhog. On the day of Shri Ram Navami, Prasad of milk made with milk pudding or white sweet should be specially offered as Naivedya. After this, apologize for any mistake made in worship. After worshiping Lord Rama, provide food to the Brahmins and send them off by giving them clothes etc.

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Krishna is one of the most loved deities in Hinduism and he signifies love, brotherhood and the importance of dharma and karma. As a Hindu god, Krishna is not only popular in the country, but also throughout the world…

Significance of Krishna Puja

Krishna puja has a host of benefits but one thing that all devotees need to remember is whether they bring a “baal gopal” (a statue of baby Krishna) or a grown up Krishna home, they will need to take care of it, often like a member of the family. A baal gopal in particular requires special care and needs to be bathed, fed and played with everyday.

Benefits of Krishna Puja

The benefits of doing Krishna puja are many — Krishna was a great friend, a great brother and even a great philosopher who taught the world all about your karma (your deeds) and your dharma (your duty). It is said that praying regularly to Krishna gives one peace of mind, solves family disputes, sorts out problems in one’s marriage or love life and solves financial problems.
How to Perform Lord Krishna Pooja
The things you need to perform Krishna puja are incense, perfume, ghee, lamp, fresh garland, embroidered clothes for Lord Krishna, fruits, prasad and Lord Krishna’s idol. You can also get a swing for baby Krishna, but this is not mandatory.
Vidhi
•Wash the Krishna idol with some Punchamrit
•You can Decorate the idol with as many things as you want including flowers, new clothes, flute and peacock feathers.

•While doing this, you must continuously chant Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare, Hare Ram Hare Ram Ram Ram Hare Hare.
•On the idol of Krishna, apply some Tilak prepared from sandalwood.
•In the end you should Prasad in the form of charanamrit, kheer, misri, fruits and some milk cake and distribute it to all your family members.
•You can also keep a fast on that day, to increase the benefits of the puja

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Ganesha Chaturthi is the Hindu festival held on the birthday of the lord Ganesha. He is the son of Shiva and Parvati. it is celebrated all over India. The festival is held on shukla chaturthi in the Hindu month of Bhaadrapada and ends on Anant chaturdashi. It is celebrated widely in maharashtra.On this occasion women make special “modaks” which are loved by Lord Ganesha.. There are ganesha’s form like Bal Ganesh, Lalbaugchya Raja, Siddhivinayak Maharaj and Dhagru Sheth. Out of these, most popular are Dhagru sheth and Lalbaugchya Raja.

Ganesh Chaturthi is also called as Vinayaka Chaturthi, it is a pure Hindu festival, during this festival people pray Lord Ganesha with great devotion. It is a ten day festival. In this occasion people keep Ganesha’s clay idol privately in homes, or publicly on big pandals (temporary stage).
Ganesha Chaturthi starts with Vedic hymns, prayers, vrata and hindu texts such as Ganesha Upanishad. Offerings of prasada after the prayer and distributing amongst the community people, prasad include sweets, modaka ( it is believed to be the favourite sweet of ganesha). This festival starts on the fourth day of Hindu luni-solar calendar month Bhadrapada, which normally falls in the month of August or September. The Ganesha chaturthi ends on the tenth day

Celebrations include four rituals.

The first one is Pranapratistha. It involves the positioning of the idol or deity of Lord Ganesha into the pandals. This calls for a big celebration. People pray and sing various folk songs while bringing the deity to the Pandals. They play with colours as well.
The second stage is Shodasopachara. It involves praying to the lord and offering him puja.
The third stage is Uttarpuja. It involves a ceremony after which the deity can be moved from his position. After this ritual, the idol is moved among the public so that they can take his blessings.
The last stage is Ganpati Visarjan. At this stage, the idol is immersed into the river, sea or ocean. He is believed to go back to Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati after the immersion.

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Katyayani is the sixth form amongst Navadurga or the nine forms of Hindu goddess Durga (Shakti), worshipped during the Navratri celebrations. she may be depicted with four or ten or eighteen hands. This is the second name given for Goddess Adi Parashakti in Amarakosha, the Sanskrit lexicon (Goddess Parvati Names – “Uma Katyayani Gauri Kali Haimavati Ishwari”). Devi Katyayani is the sister of Lord Krishna.

Origin Story

According to the Vamana Purana she was created from the combined energies of the gods when their anger at the demon Mahishasura manifested itself in the form of energy rays. The rays crystallized in the hermitage of Kātyāyana Rishi, who gave it proper form therefore she is also called Katyayani or “daughter of Katyayana”. Elsewhere in texts like Kalika Purana, it is mentioned that it was Rishi Kaytyayana who first worshipped her, hence she came to known as Katyayani. In either case, she is a demonstration or apparition of the Durga and is worshipped on the sixth day of Navratri festival.
The Vamana Purana mentions the legend of her creation in great detail: “When the gods had sought Vishnu in their distress, he and at his command Shiva, Brahma and the other gods, emitted such flames from their eyes and countenances that a mountain of effulgence was formed, from which became manifest Katyayini, refulgent as a thousand suns, having three eyes, black hair and eighteen arms. Shiva gave her his trident, Vishnu a Sudarshan Chakra or discus, Varuna a shankha, a conch-shell, Agni a dart, Vayu a bow, Surya a quiver full of arrows, Indra a thunderbolt, Kuvera a mace, Brahma a rosary and water-pot, Kala a shield and sword, Visvakarma a battle-axe and other weapons. Thus armed and adored by the gods, Katyayani proceeded to the Mysore hills. There, the asuras saw her and captivated by her beauty they so described her to Mahishasura, their king, that he was anxious to obtain her. On asking for her hand, she told him she must be won in fight. He came and fought; at length Durga dismounted from her lion, and sprang upon the back of Mahisha, who was in the form of a buffalo and with her tender feet so smote him on the head that he fell to the ground senseless, when she cut off his head with her sword and hence was called Mahishasuramardini, the Slayer of Mahishasura., the legend also finds mention in Varaha Purana and the classical text of Shaktism, the Devi-Bhagavata Purana.

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