Wednesday, August 23, 2017

Ganesh Chaturthi - 25 August 2017

Lord Ganesh or Ganesha is an important deity in Hindu mythology. Lord Ganesh is in a human form but with the head of an elephant and he is worshipped before important auspicious events in every Hindu home.
Legend has it that Goddess Parvathi moulded Ganesh from the Sandal paste she had for taking bath.
Then she left him in the doorstep to guard her when she is taking bath. Lord Shiva who did not know of this episode cut off the head of Ganesh on seeing him in the doorstep. When he came to know about the truth, he cut the elephant's head and gave his son.

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Ganesh Chaturthi is the celebration of the birth of Lord Vinayaka or Ganesh who is the son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathi.
On the day of the Ganesh festival sweets like laddoos and modaks are offered to the Lord as these are his favorite food and then distributed to the people. After a final offering of coconuts, flowers and camphor, the Ganesh idols are worshipped and taken through the streets in a procession and immersed in nearby lakes or rivers or sea or water-bodies.
According to the popular belief, Lord Ganesh descends on the earth on Ganesh Chaturthi to stay with his devotees for the course of ten days and clear all their obstacles in life .
Worship of Lord Ganesha has attained lot of significance as a remedy for various astrological problems. Lord Ganesha becomes an effective remedy related to Moon, Mercury, Mars and Ketu. Tuesday and Wednesday are said to be very favorable days for worshipping Lord Ganesha and for performing related remedies.
Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated for 10 days in which life-like model of lord Ganesha is made and placed at home or in outdoor tents, i.e. Sarvajanik mandals where people pay their homage to the Lord. Vedic hymns and Ganapati atharva shirsha Upanishad and Ganesha stotra from Narada Purana are chanted. On the last day, the image is taken through the street to a river or a water body that symbolizes misfortunes of all man.

Chant this mantra to Lord Ganesha to seek His divine blessings -
वक्रतुंड महाकाय सूर्यकोटी समप्रभ ।
निर्विध्नं कुरु मे देव सर्वकार्येषु सर्वदा ।।

vakratunda mahakaya surya koti samaprabha |
nirvighnam kurume deva sarva karyeshu sarvada ||

Wednesday, August 16, 2017

Rahu - Ketu Movement 2017 ...........

Rahu (the dragon's head) & Ketu (the dragon's tail) would bring in some changes in our lives now. Rahu & Ketu remain 180° apart. Their movement on August 21 from Leo & Aquarius to Cancer & Capricorn respectively, would bring in unexpected & dramatic changes in our personal life as well as world events. This change comes in every 18 years and we would be revisiting the part of life as it was during 1999 & 2000. This was the time when Rahu & Ketu had last transited the sign of Cancer & Capricorn. During this period, the world experienced the great Dotcom Bust as the technology & financial markets had crashed. India saw a proxy war as Kargil was attacked by terrorists / mercenaries that were allegedly from Pakistan. The country also witnessed the high drama of Indian hostages at Kandahar, Afghanistan.
All these events had one thing in common. It's the very nature of Rahu & Ketu in Cancer / Capricorn axis that brings nearly 180° change. The very circumstances around us become different without any change in our own work, nature & abilities. This usually creates opportunities & changes we are not ready for & couldn't have planned for or insured in the normal circumstances.

Thursday, August 3, 2017

Hindu Festivals/ Rituals in August 2017

August 3 – Ekadasi Fasting – Putrada Ekadashi
August 4 – Varalakshmi Vritham
August 5 – Pradosh Fasting – Shani Pradosh as it is Saturday
August 7 – Shravan Purnima – Full moon day
August 7 – Raksha Bandhan
August 7 – Nariyali Purnima
August 7 – Rig Upakarma
August 7 – Avani Avittam
August 7 – Hayagriva Jayanti
August 8 – Yajur Upakarma
August 8 – Gayatri Japam
August 8 – Bhadrapad Month begins in North India
August 9 – Ashunya Shayan Vrat
August 10 – Kajari Teej
August 11 – Sankashti Ganesh Chaturthi Vrat
August 13 – Hal Sashti
August 14 – Sri Krishna Jayanti in South and Western parts of India
August 15 – Sri Krishna Janmashtami in North India
August 15 – Dahi Handi and Gopala Kala
August 16 – Goga Navami
August 17 – Chinga Masam begins in Kerala Malayalam Calendar
August 17 – Aavani Month begins in Tamil Calendar
August 18 – Bhadra Month begins in Bengali Calendar
August 18 – Ekadasi Fasting
August 19 – Pradosh Fasting
August 21 - Pithori Amavas
August 21 – Amavasya - No moon day
August 21 – Pola in Maharashtra
August 22 – Bhadrapad month begins in Goa, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Gujarat
August 23 - Sam Shravani
August 24 – Haritalika Teej – Swarna Gouri Vrat
August 25 – Ganesh Chaturthi Vrat
August 26 – Rishi Panchami
August 26 – Sam Panchami
August 27 – Muruga Sashti Fasting
August 28 – Mukabharan Saptami
August 29 – 16-day Mahalakshmi Vrat begins in North India
August 29 – Radha Ashtami - Mahananda Navami
August 30 – Gauri Puja in Maharashtra

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