Wedding of Lord Shiva

AGNI PARIKSHA OF SITA
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Wednesday, February 17, 2010
MAHASHIVRATRI

The marriage of Lord Shiva with Goddess Parvati represents a marriage of a totally non-worldly person (who is not interested in any worldly pleasure and wealth, and who is feared as Destroyer), with a charming, rich princess, who renounces every comfort and wealth for this marriage. LORD SHIVA WHO IS TOTALLY DETACHED IS NOW ATTACHED BECAUSE OF THIS MARRIAGE. This attachment is the only hope for the creation of Brahma.

MAHASHIVRATRI is the auspicious day of the marriage of Lord Shiva with Goddess Parvati. We know that, of the Trinity, Lord Brahma is in charge of creation, Lord Vishnu takes care of this creation and Lord Shiva is the Destroyer. Human nature, being what it is, is always afraid of destruction, and as such Maha-Shivratri is celebrated with full grandeur giving respect to the growth oriented action (marriage) of Lord Shiva with Goddess Parvati.
If one collects statistic of number of temples of various deities in India, one will find that the maximum percentage of temples are those of Shiva (Destroyer) followed by Vishnu (PALLAN-KARTA or caretaker of creation), with Brahma (Creator) falling way behind with, perhaps, one designated temple at Pushkar. Conclusions, as to why we worship God (because we are afraid, or for personal gains, or because we love HIS creation), is personal choice of readers.
Worship performed during this festival is considered highly auspicious, and rewarding. Unmarried girls do this for decent marriage, married couples with compatibility problems, feel this improves their married lives; others worship for divine grace. Now the big question—when is Shivratri or Mahashivratri celebrated? What are the astronomical considerations for this festival?

Since 80% of the Indian population consists of Hindus, it is important that people must know what are the astronomical considerations, and any other physical consideration for celebrating a festival on a specific date. After all, Hindus, have absolute faith in their Dharm (religion), and this faith should not be taken for granted. I, personally, will certainly feel cheated, if I was told that a particular festival is being wrongly celebrated on a different date. In this information age, the information provided by authorities, can easily be verified by the general public. All the other religious bodies are doing this, except, of course, Hindu religious bodies.

First let us get on with what is the difference between Shivratri and Mahashivratri. Shivratri is celebrated (only for the purpose of worshipping) on every thirteenth dark fortnight of lunar month, with Mahashivratri being celebrated in the month of Phagun. During the 13th tithi of Phagun, normally, the sun will be in Aquarius (Kumbha in Sanskrit) and moon in Capricorn (Makara). Mahashivratri is considered to be the marriage day of Shiva and Goddess Parvati.

Here Kumbha represents Shiva and Makara represents Mata Parvati. And there is a reason for this. As per Vedanta Jyotish (remember VJ has an important role in selection of dates for all Hindu festivals), Kumbha is a Rashi farthest away from the Rashi of Sun i.e. Leo (Singh in Sanskrit). Kumbha is represented by an EMPTY earthen pot. The immediate idea that we get is of abject poverty, and since Saturn owns this Rashi, you can add Karma with detachment. The other rashi, Capricorn, where moon is, is also owned by Saturn. Mars gets exalted status over here, and Mars, we all know gives exaltation results only through renouncement. Mata Parvati, a princess, belonging to a very rich royal family, renounced everything to marry Lord Shiva. She gets represented during Mahashivratri by Capricorn. She knew she was marrying Lord Shiva, and she knew that Lord Shiva had no worldly wealth and may never ever have a cottage of his own.
The marriage of Lord Shiva with Goddess Parvati represents a marriage of a totally non-worldly person (who is not interested in any worldly pleasure and wealth, and who is feared as Destroyer), with a charming, rich princess, who renounces every comfort and wealth for this marriage.
LORD SHIVA WHO IS TOTALLY DETACHED IS NOW ATTACHED BECAUSE OF THIS MARRIAGE. This attachment is the only hope for the creation of Brahma (at least the life that exist on this earth), as per the Hindu belief. Remember, that in the previous Mahakalp, when Sati sacrificed her life, Shiva destroyed everything. There was no living being left, and only after the marriage of Shiva with Parvati, life once again started thriving. During the intermediate period, i.e. after the death of Sati and till the marriage with Parvati, Shiva stayed in SAMADHI.

This is one more aspect of Dharm, which gets represented during Mahashivratri. Lord Shiva is usually shown in Samadhi. When his Samadhi is complete, creation of Brahma (i.e. the life on earth) collapses. Conscious to the world outside the body reduces destructive power of Lord Shiva. And symbolically, Moon represents consciousness. So that we do not miss this important aspect, every picture of Shiva contains a white silvery crescent of moon, on the top of the head, on the side of the right shoulder, indicating that Lord Shiva is conscious, but only slightly (only as much as the silvery crescent visible to the full moon, OR one can also say as per the ratio of moon visible on fourteenth dark tithi to the moon visible on full moon day), and this much CHETNA, or, consciousness is sufficient for the world to prosper.
AND NOW, HOW THIS IS PHYSICALLY AND SYMBOLICALLY REPRESENTED DURING THIS FESTIVAL:

During the period of Mahashivratri, the month is Phagun, and Phagun is the last month of Hindu calendar. Symbolically, Mahashivratri, celebrated during the last month of the year renews the hope of prosperity in the coming year.

The sun in Kumbha symbolizing Shiva indicates a person, who is not worldly, and one who performs all his Kama with detachment, and one who will be more comfortable in complete Samadhi, unconscious of what is happening to the outside world. This is what the world does not want, so the marriage of Lord Shiva with Goddess Parvati is celebrated by Hindus, on the 13th tithi of the dark fortnight. On that tithi, moon will be in Makara. And Makara symbolizes renouncement of all worldly wealth. This is what Goddess Parvati does for the sake of all Humanity. She marries Lord Shiva, renouncing all her wealth.

However one more physical phenomena must be visible and important for calibration of this festival. Since one important aspect of the calibration of this marriage is that moon, indicating consciousness, is visible as crescent, Mahashivratri is celebrated on 13th tithi, and the faithful worship throughout the night and their worship is complete, when after sunrise they see the silvery crescent of the moon immediately over the sun. THIS IS SOMETHING PHYSICAL AND IMPORTANT. THE RITUAL OF WORSHIP IS NOT COMPLETE WITHOUT VIEWING OF MOON.

It is true that because of clouds, pollution, or other local conditions the moon may not be visible, but we know, astronomically, that the last moon is visible on the 14th tithi of the dark fortnight, in the morning, just over the sun. Astronomically, the moon is not visible when it is + 12 deg. away from sun. Using Hindu lunar calendar that would mean the 15th tithi (amavasya) of the dark fortnight and 1st tithi of the bright fortnight.

So that we may not miss out on this important aspect, all pictures of Lord Shiva show this moon as silvery crescent over Lord Shiva head. The rituals of Shivratri are only complete when the LAST moon is physically visible on the next day morning and attempt to view this moon over sun is made by the faithful.

In fact history of Asia and Africa suggest that this festival was very popular 2000 years back. The archeological find suggest several temples with Deity of a Man with crescent moon mostly in the body (chest, heart), in various part of ancient world. It is also a common belief that other religion, like Jews and Muslims, who consider sighting of new moon highly auspicious, drew the inspiration from this age old ritual of Hindus.

The reason for this post is that unfortunately the Hindu Religious Bodies, associated with taking such decisions, are the only religious bodies in the world, who are not transparent. Why Mahashivratri was celebrated on 12th Feb. 2010 on 14th tithi, so that next morning, there was no visibility of moon, is still a mystery. Hindus need an answer to this. Please press for an answer and more transparency.
Written on 17th Feb, 2010.
To Read this Post in Hindi : महाशिवरात्रि
Kulbhushan Singhal at Wednesday, February 17, 2010
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Kulbhushan Singhal 

ABOUT ME: An Engineer, from IT,BHU; working as a Consultant, operating from Mumbai, involved in Industrial, Project Consultancy, and also REVIVAL of sick establishment.  I am also writing about problems faced by Indian people and how they can be sorted out by revival of Hindu religion.

ABOUT MY BLOG:As a financial consultant involved in revival of sick establishment, I often have to analyze, and provide solutions to lot of problems.

Slowly, it did dwell on me that Hindus, though, highly religious, are not getting desired result as a society. Female foeticide, Lack of education for girls, dowry deaths, suicides among farmers, increase in court cases among relatives, corruption, mistrust and discontent, are all physical parameters to measure the effectiveness or success/failure of RELIGION, in a society. And all this, despite the fact, that spending on religion, by Hindus, has increased drastically after the advent of multiple TV channels. Revival of Hindu religion is the only way forward. This blog is a serious attempt in that direction.

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Kartik Maas

Kartik maas is a auspicious month in Hindu religion to celebrate the Kartik Somwar Vritam. The most significance of the Karthika Maas is that, Karthika Maas is favorable to both the devotees of Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu. During Karthika Maas temples of both Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu are busy with devotees. Karthika Masam helps us to realize that Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu are not different but only one. During this month Kartik Somwar Vritam is followed mostly in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. On the Purnima day in this month Kartik Nakshtra persists with the moon, hence it is called as Kartik maas. This year, 07 October 2014 (Tuesday) Kojagara Puja 08 October 2014 (Wednesday) Sharad Purnima, Chandra Grahan 11 October 2014 (Saturday) Karwa Chauth 15 October 2014 (Wednesday) Ahoi Ashtami 17 October 2014 (Friday) Tula Sankranti 19 October 2014 (Sunday) Rama Ekadashi 20 October 2014 (Monday) Govatsa Dwadashi 21 October 2014 (Tuesday) Dhan Teras 22 October 2014 (Wednesday) Narak Chaturdashi , Kali Chaudas 23 October 2014 (Thursday) Diwali , Lakshmi Puja , Surya Grahan 24 October 2014 (Friday) Gowardhan Puja 25 October 2014 (Saturday) Bhaiya Dooj 29 – 30 October 2014 (Wednesday)Chhath Puja 02 November 2014 (Sunday) Kansa Vadh 03 November 2014 (Monday) Prabodhini Ekadashi Vrat 04 November 2014 (Tuesday) Tulsi Vivah Soma is the one more name of Lord Shiva as Someswara, who keeps the “Soma” the Moon curved on Lord Shiva’s knotted hair. The Kartik Somawaram Vratam is performed to satisfy the Lord Someswara (Lord Shiva). All Mondays in Kartik maas are auspicious to perform Pooja, Abhisheka, to Lord Shiva and to get the blessings of Lord Shiva. Praying to Lord Vishnu and Shiva during Kartik maas gets the Moksha (Salvation). Kartik month is the Sin-destroying month as per Ethics in Hindu religion. Importance of Karthika maas Lord Vishnu goes to sleep on Ashadha suddha Ekadashi and wakes-up on Karthika suddha Ekadashi. In this month Ganga (Godess of river Ganges) enters in to all rivers, canals, ponds and wells and makes them as spiritual as Ganga. Lord Shiva killed Tripurasuras on Karthika pournima and protected the world so Lord Shiva also known as Tripurhari. Ayyappa deeksha is also taken in Karthika masam and is continued up to Makara Sankranthi (Jan 15th) As per the Science, in Kaarthika Maas Water enrich with more Magnetic Power from the Earth and will be stored in water before the Sunrise this may be the one of the reason for taking a Kartika Snanam before Sunrise during this month. Kartik-MasamPerforming of Satyanarayana Vrat Deovtees of Lord Vishnu will perform the Satyanarayana Vrat during the holy month of Karthika Masam. It is believed that performing of Satyanarayana Vrata on Karthika Pournama would help them to free themselves from all the sins. Performing of Ekadasa Rudra Abhishekam Devotees of Lord Shiva would perform the Ekadashi Rudra Abhishekam for the whole month of Karthika Masam to satisfy Lord Shiva. Timeline Photos · Monday at 8:22a

MAHA MRTYUNJAYA MANTRA Om

MAHA MRTYUNJAYA MANTRA 

Om Tryambakam Yajamahe Sugandhim Pushti Vardhanam Urva Rukamiva Bandhanan Mrityor Mukshiya Ma-amritath 

“Om. We worship the three-eyed One (Lord Siva) who is fragrant and who nourishes all beings; may He liberate me from death, for the sake of Immortality, even as the pumpkin is severed from its bondage (of the creeper).

" The two great Manthras in the Veda are Ghayatri & Mrtyunjaya. Mrtyunjaya mantra is chanted so that armor of divine positive energy is created around you which will prevent negative forces affecting you. 

Have you seen some people, when somebody says an unpleasant statement they get very, very hurt and that is because when you don’t have a positive energy field and somebody making an unpleasant statement, it can affect you deeply.

there are two negative forces which can affect oneself.

One negative force is which you create by wrong thinking. 

Secondly, negative forces from others and these are the two forces which affect one. 

By chanting Mrtyunjaya Mantra you create a powerful energy field so that one’s negative forces and others’ negative forces don’t affect you. 

Our mind is like a broadcasting station we go on generating vibrations. And if thoughts are positive then you generate positive vibration. If thoughts are negative; you get negative vibration. 

So if somebody is thinking negatively about you then negative forces will affect you by which you get depleted. 

By chanting Mrtyunjaya Mantra the negative forces from within yourself and negative forces externally can be nullified. 

This great mantra Mrtyunjaya is extremely powerful because of vibration it creates and hence if you listen to the mantra it has got musical notes and these musical notes create a very powerful vibration. 

Now try to understand the meaning of this profound mantra which is generally chanted when you are in difficulties, because in difficulty your energy is deleated and you have to energise yourself by creating the positive energy field around you. 

The mantra goes thus Trayambakam; this mantra is dedicated to lord Siva. See Lord Siva has two eyes and also a third eye above the two eyes which is the place called Agnya chakra where the Hindus put Bindu so Lord Siva is likened to a person who has three eyes so Trayambakam is addressed to the the three eyed Lord Siva. 

Now what does it mean Three Eyed Lord Siva, the two eyes everybody has got. 

But a person who is enlightened, who is wise has got the third eye. The eye of understanding, the eye of intuition. 

Through the eye of intuition one experiences the world very differently. A person who is in an ignorant state of being will look at the world in an ordinary eye but the wise person will look at the world and life from the third eye as Lord Siva is called “TRAYAMBAKAM” three eyed Lord. 

Now the two eyes represent the male and female energy in an individual if you look at the Hindu Concept there is a concept called “Aardha Naarishvara” where the half is called Lord Siva and other half is called Parwathy. When Siva and Parwathi are joined together it is called “Aardha Naarishvara” or “Poorna Purusha”. What does it mean by that-- there is a male energy in us and female energy in us? Because every individual is born by our parents. 

Parents being mother and father so each one of us has a male energy & female energy. 

Now the two eyes represent the male and female energy of Lord Siva. Now the male energy represents Logic and the female energy represents Love. The male energy always accomplishment oriented and the female energy are receptive oriented. 

Male energy is more in the masculine sense of achieving, female energy is very, earthly. 

Now these are two energy fields, Logic and Love, your achievement oriented and deep acceptability are merged, you will find when they are merged, immediately, there is transference of consciousness and the third eye starts opening up in individual so Trayambakam Yajamahe means we worship one you develop a worshiped Attitude towards existence. 

Yajamahe we worship the Lord. Learn to worship the Lord, for creation being an expression of the Lord so that Lord exists in and through the whole creation, hence in all our pooja you have to always do Stuthi praising the Lord it is called Stuthi. Lalitha Sahasranama, Vishnu Sahasranam. 

There are multiple ways to praise the Lord, why praise the Lord? Because the more you praise the lord not that HE has to change but you have to change. The more you appreciate the Lord you will develop an appreciating attitude towards life. 

So all our Yajamahe we worship is always the Stuthi or praise towards the Lord. Once you develop this attitude then you will start appreciating your children, your wife, appreciating the whole beauty of existence and through that appreciation you will find the poetry of the infinite will be seen in very intituvely. Sugandhim means the fragrance being Lord Siva representing whose consciousness has become “Sham Mangalam Karothy Idhi” Idy Shivaha means, Sham Mangalam That which is creating auspiciousness and this Suganthim being, see a person is fragrant if his energy field is very pleasant and beautiful. If you look at the egoistic person, his whole energy stinks but if you look at the person who is not egoistic, you will find that his energy field is very fragrant. In Sanskrit you say from Ahamkara you have to transform into Asmitha. Ahamkara means egotistic eye, Asmitha means innocent eye. Once there is innocent eye there is fragrance of well being around you; a flower spreads fragrance irrespective who goes to the flower. A non-egoistic person who represents Asmitha which is always Suganthim is always fragrant. “Trayambakam Yajamahe Sugandhim Pushti Vardhanam”. Pushti means Nourishment, Vardhanam means Growth. So therefore constantly nourishing yourself in the field of growing being. One should always be constantly growing. Growing where? Not growing in money, in power, not in name, not in fame but growing in silence. The real growth of an individual is in the phase of silence, so therefore all mantras end in “Shanthi Shanthi” so that real growth “Pushti Vardhanam” means the more you are silent the more relaxed in life you will be; very silent and relaxed. Look jat the lotus as an example. The Lotus exists in the muddy water but from the muddy water it grows into such a beautiful flower. So too, the muddy waters of the world are anger, hatred, jealousy and cut throat competition. We are like a Lotus in that muddy waters. If we can remain calm and serene, thankful-- then we will find that we are really growing physically, emotionally, intellectually and spiritually. From that relaxation and from that silence wisdom will dawn on us as we become calm and serene In that order of intelligence your experience of life will be from wisdom and not from sheer dried knowledge and dried logic. So “Trayambakam Yajamahe” Like a pumpkin how it exists attached to a creeper but at the same time when it ripens and detaches leaves no scar or evidence of attachment. It would seem that both the pumpkin and creeper exist separately in the world. One should similarly be in the world but not attach oneself to the attractions of the world. If one can live in the world as referenced by the pumkin and the creeper then one will be able to overcome death…MRTYUNJAYA…VICTORY OVER DEATH. So can we live in the world without being affected by the world is what is meant by expression. “Urvaarukamiva”: Help me to gain immortality by liberating me from death. Death happens when you identify. Look at a river, the river goes on flowing, flowing and therefore theriver does not stop. It just goes on flowing and ultimately it merges into Ocean. If water becomes like an ice then ice can never be flexible. So can we be like a river flowing without any attachment and then find mergence with the ocean and hence. “Ma-amritath”: Bondage is identifying with all that we see and do. Immortality is not identifying with anything. This unidentification which frees us, makes us understand that nothing is ours, everything is HIS and when we have the deep trust we will never identify with the dualities of the world--you will never identify with your happiness or with your unhappiness, your success or with your failure. This is the whole meaning of this Mantra. Now how should you practice? Early in morning having had your bath, take a glass of water and sprinkle especially aroundyour house in and through your house by chanting Mrtyunjaya Mantra. Because, understand if there are negative people also there are negative souls and these negative souls called “Sushma Sarira” can affect a person if there being people who are bad. These can be souls who are bad so the practice is to take water- energize the water with Mrtyunjaya Mantra and “Puroshana” sprinkle it through out the house so that negative souls don’t affect an individual by chanting Mrtyunjaya mantra. Having thus energized your house sit down and chant Mrtyunjaya and create a powerful protective energy field around you. And then you will find that negative people will not affect you and negative souls also don’t affect you. Thus the deep belief is that you chant Mrtyunjaya Mantra-- there is armor of divine energy that is created so that you won’t be a victim of negative forces within you and outside you. May God Bless You All, Om Sri Sai Ram Thank you Ranta Mathieaparanam Attachment Unavailable This attachment may have been removed or the person who shared it may not have permission to share it with you. Like·Comment·Share·Get Notifications Gainda Premdas and 6 others like this. Write a comment... Post   

Bondage

1 5 Swami Dayanand Saraswati (Arsha Vidya Gurukulam) "Whatever I don’t want to have, but I can’t get rid of is bondage. In Sanskrit, it is called बन्ध / bandha or बन्धन / bandhana. It is derived from the Sanskrit root word, bandh, to bind. The bondage itself is bandha. It means you are bound. One cannot extricate oneself from certain things, which he or she wants to get rid of.What is it that one does not want? Pain and sorrow, limitation, fear, old age and being subject to disease and mortality are just a few things that most of us do not want. When one doesn’t love certain things or doesn’t like certain things, but cannot get rid of them, they become bondage for the person. It is that wanting to get out of something and not being able to. I want to get out of this struggle to become happy but I cannot rid myself of the struggle. I want to be free from insecurity, but I find myself helplessly insecure. That’s bondage. Being insecure is bondage. Being bound by time is bondage. Being bound by various limitations is bondage. Who is it that feels this bondage? Vedanta discusses it this way. The physical body does not feel the bondage. Neither does the mind. The mind is a karana / करण; it is simply a means or instrument. The person or the ego feels the bondage. No matter who the person is, wherever there is “I” sense, there is a sense of bondage also. That I want to be different from being what I am is bondage. In Vedanta, we say that a life of becoming is a life of bondage. In one word, we call it संसार / samsara . “I am a संसारी / samsari” means I am not acceptable to myself as I am now. That is संसार / samsara. A संसारिन् / samsarin is the one who has संसार / samsara. This is the one who appears to become a संसारिन् / samsarin because—he or she wants to become. I cannot but struggle to become because I am not acceptable to myself as I am. I struggle to become that person in whom I can be free, meaning in whom I find total acceptance, complete acceptability. Suppose I become that person in terms of wealth, in terms of health or in terms of any accomplishment that I gain. Then afterwards, once again, I want to become. Thus, I am always in the process of becoming. That is संसार / samsara. This ongoing act of becoming itself reveals that there is no way of becoming free. You don’t become free, because the very fact that you want to become reveals that you are not free. The attempt to become free is a denial of freedom, according to Vedanta, because it betrays a self non-acceptance. We can say that this is the original sin or the original problem. That constant wanting to become or needing to become somebody else is the original problem. And in that somebody else, I expect to see myself as a free person, free from want, who won’t need to become any more." Timeline Photos · Sep 10 · View Full Size · Send as Message · Report Photo LikeCommentShareGet Notifications Brandon Fulbrook and 108 others like this. Parveen Nair Jayakumaran Annasamy Vasugi Thirumalaisamy Dawn Marie Jacqueline Cho Bavani Dayananthan Skantha Pushpanathan Louis Cj Ai TingTing Gandhi Krishnappan Like · 2 · Sep 10 Mahesh Sowani Dialogues with Swami Dayananda - book review http://maheshsowani.blogspot.in/2014/09/dialogues-with-swami-dayananda-book.html Heart of the matter: Dialogues with Swami Dayananda - book review maheshsowani.blogspot.com Like · 2 · Sep 10 Swami Dayanand Saraswati (Arsha Vidya Gurukulam) Good post, Mahesh ji, I agree with your review and it represents Pūjya Swāmiji's position well. There is one sentence that I wanted to touch upon though, mainly for clarification of readers : "In consonance with the controversial guru Osho, this Swami of Shankaracharya order says that institutionalized religion is a problem" It is true that organized "religion" is a problem, then again, listening to other talks of pūjya swāmiji, he does not accept religion as a sensible construct to define dharma. So while on the surface level his conclusions may appear similar, what he is arriving at may elaborate the nuanced ideas. A friend once wrote the following: Due to western education becoming the norm in India since the times of the British, it has become a norm for even Indians to see their own tradition in terms of western categories like culture and religion, instead of rightly viewing not just our society but also others in terms of our paradigm of dharma. Now that we are independent of foreign rule for the past 65 years, we should also take the next rightful step of reclaiming our own categories and using them to view the world. So what is dharma? Dharma literally means that which supports or upholds or maintains the order of the Universe (called Rta). This is a much more far reaching categorization than religion or culture. While religion in the western sense typically refers to an institutionalized framework where a church maintains a list of commendments to follow, dharma is a more deeper principle and is not applicable to humans alone, but pertains to everything in existence. So for instance, what upholds an atom or maintains its existence? It is that the sub-atomic particles in the atom are adhering to their dharma (of doing what they ought to be doing). When we come to the human realm, we all humans have our own social identities. Not one, but several. We carry these as various kinds of labels, depending on where and to what parents we were born, what we studied, what professions we chose, what organizations we choose to belong to, what kind of relationships we enter into with other human beings etc. For instance, we all would be, in relation to other people, husbands and wives, brothers and sisters, sons and daughters, fathers and mothers, friends, co-workers, fellow citizens, and so on, at the same time. We could belong to birth based groups (jAtis) or membership based groups (sanghas). What “upholds” all these labels then is the dharma of human beings. My brotherhood to my sibilings is upheld by my properly adhering to brotherly dharma. My sonhood to my parents is upheld by my properly adhering to filial dharma. My citizenship to my country is upheld by my adhering to the dharmas of the citizenry and so on and so forth. Thus, the separation between religion and culture would be a meaningless thing in our viewpoint, because dharma encompasses both these western categories. So, a westerner might consider his eating etiquette at a dinner table as belonging to the realm of culture and a secular act, while going to church on sunday with his family as a religious act. But from our viewpoint, both are acts of dharma – the former a dharma to be followed at the dinner table as by adhering to it, he/she is upholding good relations with those who are eating with him (as it is expected behaviour at the table) and the latter upholds the institution called the church, which is a membership based group he/she belongs to. Edited · Like · 4 · Sep 10 Mahesh Sowani Thank you very much! http://maheshsowani.blogspot.in/2014/09/dialogues-with-swami-dayananda-book.html Like · Sep 11 Swami Dayanand Saraswati (Arsha Vidya Gurukulam) Mahesh ji, again, thanks for sharing, but its the fifth time you are posting this here. Edited · Like · Sep 11 Write a comment... Post

Prayer to lord shiva

Oh Lord Shiva, "Lo Paranaam Hai Mangalkaari, Jagdeeshwar Tripuraari, Sancha Vaar Do Deen Jano Ko, He Bhola Bhandari". Oh Lord of all Lords, accept my salutations oh giver of happiness and the Lord of the entire world. Grant Security to the poor, oh Lord Bhandhari. Today we have come to you for mercy, please save us. "Mrityu Tere Charan Dubaaye, Vishaa, Dhar Ant Me Khele, Bhoot aur Preet Nikat Nahi Aye Shiva Shiva Naam Jo Lele". Death is suppressed under your feet and even poison has no effect in the end. Ghosts and goblins cannot come near, when your name is being chanted. Why should we then have fear in our hearts, when we know that you are going to save us? " Hay Gyaneshwar, Shakti Shaali, Arazi Kare Sawaali, Ham Hai Phool Tere Bagiya Ke, Tu Hai Baag Ka Maali". Oh Lord of learning, we have a question for you to answer. We are the flowers in your garden and you are the gardener. Make us eligible to do your worship and take us under your protection. Oh Lord Shiva, who is the Lord of the universe, who is extremely attractive, giver of happiness, shield us from sorrows and bring us unto the shore. Praises be unto you. May Lord Shiva continue to shower his richest blessings upon you in this month of Kaarthik and may he bestow strength, prosperity and happiness. Shiva Shankar Bhagwan Ki Jai!!!!!. Damaru Wale Bhagwan Ki Jai!!! Natraja Swami Ki Jai!! Namoh Parvati Pataye Ki Jai!!! Har Har Mahadeva Shambhu!!! Gangadhara Ki Jai!!! Someshwara Ki Jai!!! Rameshwara Ki Jai!! Jataadhara Ki Jai!!

Pradosh

Pradosh, also referred as Pradosha Vrata and Shiva Pradosham, is an auspicious day dedicated to Lord Shiva. Pradosh occurs twice in a Hindu month – on the 12th day during the waning and waxing phase of the moon. August 2014 Pradosh dates are August 8 and August 22. Both the pradosh falls on Saturday or Shanivar and there is known as Shani Pradosh. As per traditional calendar followed in North India, both the Pradosh are in Shravan month this makes it very auspicious.

Some Shiva devotees only fast during the Pradosh falling during the waning phase of moon.

The strictness of the fast depends on the devotee. The fast is broken in the evening after prayers. The puja and worship is done in the evening.

The Pradosh period is in the evening from 1.5 hours before sunset and 1 hour after sunset.

Most devotees make it a point to be present at a Shiva temple during this period.

Pradosh Vrat is observed on the 13th day of a fortnight and there are two Pradosham in a Hindu month. Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati are worshipped in the evening during twilight on this day. In some regions, the day is dedicated to Nataraja form of Shiva. The fasting on this day is observed for success, peace and fulfillment of desires. It is said that mere darshan of any of the one form of Shiva removes ignorance.

Pradosham is observed when the Trayodashi Tithi is there during the twilight period. This is important.

The importance of Pradosha Vrata and how to observe it is narrated in the Skanda Purana.

There are two methods of fasting on the day. Some people observe a 24-hour fast which includes not sleeping during night. Another method is fasting from sunrise till sunset and after Shiva puja in the evening the fast is broken.

Pradosham is the twilight period just before sunset and after sunset. Pujas and prayers are performed during this period. Many people during this period spend the time in a Shiva temple or listening to the glory of Shiva.
In the evening, an hour before sunset the devotee takes bath and prayers are offered to Lord Shiva, Goddess Parvathi, Ganesha, Kartik and Nandi. After the initial prayers, Lord Shiva is worshipped in the form of a Kalasha (sacred pot). The Kalasha filled with water is covered with darbha grass and a lotus is drawn on the pot.

Another form of worship is the puja of Shivling. The shivling is bathed with water and Bilva leaves are offered. Some people use a painting or picture of Shiva for worship. It is said that offering Bilva leaves on Pradosham is highly auspicious.

After this people listen to the Pradosha Vrata Katha or story or read chapters from Shiva Purana. Then the Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra is recited 108 times.

After this the water used in the puja ceremony is given as ‘Prasad’ along with sacred ash. The ash is applied on the forehead.

It is said that just lighting a single lamp during Pradosham period is enough to please Lord Shiva and the act is highly rewarding. Majority of Shiva devotees have a darshan of Shiva during Pradosham in a nearby temple.

Churning the mind

The legend says that when the churning of ocean by the The Devas and Asuras - Samudra Manthan - done using the Mandhara mountain and Vasuki serpent as rope, in the Hindu month of Shravan, beginning tomorrow, fourteen different types of rubies came out. Thirteen of these were distributed among the demons, except Halahal (deadly poison). Lord Shiva drank the Halahal and stored it in his throat, which turned blue due to the effect of deadly poison. Hence the name Neelkanth (meaning blue throat) is attributed to Shiva. To reduce the strong effect of poison, all the gods thereafter started offering the Ganges water to Lord Shiva to make lessen the effect of poison.

Since, this happened in the month of Shravana, since then the Shiva devotees offer the Ganges water to Shivlingam in this month. The belief is that in Shravan month, offering the Ganges water to Lord Shiva pleases Him immensely. Mondays or Somvar of Shravan month are specially observed with austerity. Although all Mondays are devoted to the worship of Shiva as this day is sacred to Lord Shiva. No other Mondays of other months are so greatly honored as of Shravan.

Symbolism of Samudra Manthan

The story above represents the spiritual endeavor of a person to achieve self-realization through concentration of mind, withdrawal of senses, control of desires and practice of austerities and asceticism.

* The Devas and Asuras represent the positives and negatives respectively of one's personality. The participation of both the Devas and the Asuras signifies that when one is seeking bliss through spiritual practice, one has to integrate and harmonize both the positive and negative aspects and put both the energies to work for the common goal.
* The ocean is the mind or the human consciousness. The mind is like an ocean while the thoughts and emotions are the waves in the ocean.
* Mandhara, the mountain symbolizes concentration. The word Mandhara is made up of two words Mana (mind) and Dhara (a single line) which means holding the mind in one line. This is possible only by concentration.
* Mount Mandhara was upheld by Lord Vishnu as a Kurma (tortoise), not mentioned in the story above. The tortoise here symbolizes the withdrawal of the senses into oneself (just as a tortoise withdraws its head into its shell) as one practices mental concentration and meditation or contemplation.
* Vasuki symbolizes desire. Vasuki used in the churning of the ocean denotes that the Devas and the demons held desire (to seek immortality) as a rope and churned the mind with the help of concentration and withdrawal of the senses. Desire, if not controlled will overpower and destroy an individual.
* The Halahala poison symbolizes suffering and pain (counter-reaction of the mind and body) that one undergoes at the beginning of spiritual sadhana (practice). When the mind is subjected to intense concentration, the first thing that comes out of the process is intense suffering and great inner turmoil. These must be resolved otherwise further progress is not possible.
* Lord Shiva symbolizes the ascetic principle. His role in this story as the consumer of poison suggests that one can deal with the early problems of spiritual life by cultivating the qualities of Lord Shiva, namely, courage, initiative, willingness, discipline, simplicity, austerity, detachment, compassion, pure love and asceticism.
* The 14 different types of rubies that came out during the churning stand for the psychic or spiritual powers (Siddhis) which one gains as s/he progresses spiritually from stage to stage. The seeker should be careful about these powers as they can hamper her/his progress unless s/he uses them judiciously, not for selfish gains but for others' welfare. This is the reason why the gods and demons distributed these objects as they did not want to lose sight of their original aim which was to gain immortality.
* The Amrit, the nectar of immortality that eventually came out for which the gods and demons have decided to churn the ocean, symbolizes the ultimate achievement of the goal of self-realization.