Year: 2016

The most colorful amongst all festivals celebrated in India, is Holi. Holi is a festival which is steeped in love and is joyous, celebrating the effervescence of spring.

It is a pan- India celebration taking place in the month of Falgun according to traditional Hindu calendar. Chhoti Holi or Holika Dahan is a festival taking place a day before that.

According to Gregorian calendar, this falls in the month of February March.

 

When does Holika Dahan or Chhoti Holi take place?

Holika Dahan, also known as Chhoti Holi or Holika Deepak is celebrated during pradosh kal, or exactly at dusk, while the purnimashi tithi is still prevailing. Bhadra prevails on the first half of the purnimashi tithi and all good work should be avoided during the period of Bhadra.

Choosing or getting the right time for the Holika Dahan is of extreme importance, in fact if not done at the correct time this may yield bad result or prove to be inauspicious and will bring suffering and extreme misfortune. This ritual is also known as Kama Dahanam in parts of South India.

 

What is the mythology related to Chhoti Holi or Holika Dahan?

Long ago, there lived a king called Hiranyakashipu. Boosted with a boon from Brahma, he was indomitable and terrorized his subjects far and wide. However, his own son, Prahlada, was a staunch disciple of Lord Vishnu. Hiranyakashipu tried to stop his worshiping of Vishnu, but to No avail. He finally enlisted the help of his evil and demonic sister Holika, who had a cape that shielded her from fire.

The plan hatched was that the cruel Holika, wearing that fire-shielding cape sat in a bowl of fire with little Prahlada on her lap to burn him to death. But a very strong wind blew away the drape from Holika and covered Prahlada, thus the evil Holika got burnt and died on the spot and Prahlada was saved. This once again established that a God is always with his devotee and evil cannot succumb over good. Thus people rejoiced at the triumph of true devotion over tyranny and the triumph of good over evil.

 

What are the ways in which Chhoti Holi or the Holika Dahan is observed?

Thus the Holi celebrations start from the evening before with the ritual of Holika Dahan, which is a bonfire. Holika Dahan is a symbolic ritual of the burning of the demon Holika. It symbolizes the triumph of good over evil and virtues over vices. It is a way of doing away with all our negativity in our souls from within before the onset of the festival of love and color (Holi). On the night before Holi, people collect wooden logs, old clothes, waste materials, broken furniture etc and put them up in a pile. Then this pile is set to fire. This bonfire is reminiscent of the demon Holika who dies in a fire and symbolizes of cleansing before Holi.

Chaitra Navaratri is a nine day long festival celebrated in the month of Chaitra according to the traditional Hindu calendar, or in the month of April according to the Gregorian calendar.  

Chaitra is the first month of the traditional Hindu lunar year. Chaitra Navaratri is also known as the Vasant Navaratri or Rama Navaratri, as Rama Navami, or the birthday of Lord Rama falls on the ninth day of this nine day long festivity.

Chaitra Navaratri as a festival is celebrated with more festivity in Northern India. In Maharashtra it begins with Gudi Padwa and in Andhra Pradesh it begins with Ugadi.

 

• Who is the reigning deity of the Chaitra Navaratri?

 

In Chaitra Navaratri, all forms of Goddess Shakti is worshipped. Goddess Durga, Goddess Lakshmi and Goddess Saraswati are worshipped during this period. It begins of the first day of the month of Chaitra, and ends on the day of Ram Navami, as per the Hindu almanac or calendar system.

 

• How did Goddess Durga come to be worshipped?

 

Goddess Durga is the manifestation of Shakti, who is the mother and the core of all existence. She was created with the combined powers of all the powers. In herself she packs the powers of Goddess Saraswati, Kali and Lakshmi. Goddess Durga is the primary existence of all things and beings and no creation or destruction is complete, and the name Durga means The Invincible.

 

According to the mythological scriptures, the demon Mahishasura gained extreme power with a boon from Lord Shiva. Endowed with the boon that no man or God will be able to kill him, Mahishashura terrorized all of heaven and earth and captured it. Dismayed and helpless the Trinity of Lord Brahma, Vishnu and Maheswara or Shiva with their combined energy and power created the Shakti or Durga. She was bestowed with beautiful gifts and weapons to demolish the demon Mahishashura.  She fought Mahishashura for nine days and nine nights in which Mahishashura kept changing his form from one animal to another and eventually defeated and killed him with the trident of Shiva and beheading him with a sword.

 

The Vedas describe Goddess Durga to be radiant, clad in a red saree with a pet of a lion.  She has eight or ten hands and three eyes. The third eye in her forehead signifies knowledge, while the left signifies desire and the right action. She carries Shiva’s Trishula (trident), Vishnu’s Chakra (disc) and Agni’s Vajra (another form of weapon) among other weapons. The Shankha (conch) in her hand signifies Prana or Life, which gives out the sound OM signifying constant divinity in her. The red color saree that she wears emanate will power. Thus, Goddess Durga came to be worshipped, always signifying the victory of the Good or Divine over the Evil; the victory of what is right over what is not.

 

• What are then the nine forms of Goddess Durga?

 

• Goddess Durga has many manifestations, but the nine forms in which she is worshipped during the Navaratri are as follows –

 

1. Ma Shailputri – The first day to the Goddess Shailputri, who is the daughter of the Mighty Himalaya. She is the companion of Lord Shiva.
2. Ma Brahmacharini – The name of Brahmachariniis a derivative of the word ‘Brahma’, which means ‘Tapa’ or rigid penance. She is the personification of love, knowledge and wisdom. She is worshipped on the second day.
3. Ma Chandraghanta – Ma Chandraghanta is a representation of beauty, peace, serenity and bravery and is worshipped on the third day. She has a Chandra or a crescent moon on her forehead.
4. Ma Kushmaanda – The fourth day is dedicated to Ma Kushmanda, the provider of the Universe, who mounts a tiger and has eight arms holding various weapons.
5. Skand Mata – She is the chief warrior in the Gods army Skanda, and is the one who provides the power to differentiate between the right and the wrong.
6. Maa Kaatyayini – She is worshipped on the sixth day. The daughter of Sage Kaytyayan, who battles against the wrongs.
7. Maa Kaalratri – This form of Shakti had defeated the demon Raktabeej and is the destroyer of evil and ignorance.
8. Maa Maha Gauri – On the eighth day Maa Maha Gauri, of radiant complexion and emanating calm, peace and wisdom is worshipped. She rides a bull and has a trident and a drum.
9. Mata Siddhidatri – On the final ninth day, Mata Siddhidatri is worshipped. She is worshipped by Rishis (sages) and Yogis all alike and is considered to be the possessor of Tantra (a channel of seek divine energy), mantra, and gyan (knowledge or enlightenment).

 

• Significance of the Navaratri –

 

On the first three days of Navaratri, Durga is worshipped, in the next three Lakshmi or the Goddess of Wealth is worshipped and the final three days see Sarawati or the Goddess of Knowledge being worshipped. Yagna or ritual is performed on the ninth day. The Navaratri period is considered to be an extremely auspicious period which is very fruitful. It is said that one achieves greater tantric powers during this powerful period of the Navaratri. The devotees who worship the Goddess in and around various peeths or special Shakti temples gain greater rewards. This period being highly powerful is also considered to be a great period to start new ventures. There is also a popular belief that fasting during the Chaitra Navaratri prepares the body for the coming summer season for its seasonal changes. It is also important to note that Chaitra Navaratri was the original time when the Goddess Durga in her various forms were worshipped. However during the battle between Rama and Ravana; Rama worshipped Durga during the Autumn or Sharat , that is the month of Ashwin according to the traditional Hindu calendar. This is why it came to be known as Akal Bodhan, which is untimely worshipping. However, that is now the more prevalent time when the Goddess is worshipped.

 

As mentioned earlier, Chaitra Navaratri is celebrated mostly in Northern India.  Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand have some of the most eminent temple fairs and many important temple fairs take place in these places during this time.

 

Papmochani Ekadashi falls between the auspicious occasions of Holika Dahan and Chaitra Navaratri and the day itself is supremely blessed with the important blessings of Lord Vishnu.

Papmochani Ekadashi occurs during the waning phase of the moon in the month of Chaitra, according to the traditional Hindu calendar or March April according to the Gregorian calendar. This Ekadashi is the last one amongst all the twenty four ekadashi fastings.

It is an absolute miracle that this vrat day falls on the very same day according to North Indian and South Indian traditional calendars. The Papmochini Ekadashi will fall on the 31st of March, 2019.

 

• Meaning of the word Papmochani

The meaning of the word Papmochani is fairly simple. Pap means sin and mochini signifies eradication or wiping it off. Thus Papmochani  means eradication or the wiping off sins. Therefore, Papmochani Ekadashi eradicates sins from one’s life.

 

• Legend behind the Papmochani Ekadashi

It is believed that the significance of the Papmochani Ekadashi was related to Yudhisthirs by Lord Kishna, and finds a mention in the Bhavisyottara Purana. The legend behind the Papmochani Ekadashi is one of love, lust and realization. Long time ago there used to be a sage called Medhavi residing and doing his prayers in the forest of Chaitaratha. He was a great devotee of Lord Shiva and did his meditation in the beautiful forest. The forest being beautiful was fairly frequented by apsaras from the heaven.

Many of them tried deviating Madhavi from his meditation, but to no avail. However, a beautiful apsara called Manjughosha one day, overcame with lust on seeing the handsome sage deep in meditation started singing beautifully. The song somehow reached Medhavi’s ears. Manjughosha too went upto the sage and embraced him. Medhavi’s meditation broke off and he became enamored by the beautiful and seductive Manjughosha and married her.

They happily stayed married together for 57 years, when Manjughosha finally wanted to leave Medhavi and go back to the Devalok. Medhavi had by this time forgotten all about his meditation, but hearing Manjughosha’s decision of going back to Devalok he remembered everything. Enraged at having been tricked into leaving his meditation; Medhavi cursed manjughosha to become an ugly witch and went to visit his father, the sage Chyavana. Chyavana, advised Medhavi to observe the Papmochani Ekadashito eradicate all his sins. Medhavi observed the vrat with complete devotion and Lord Vishnu absolved him from all his sins. Chyavan advised the same to Manjughosha who too managed to eradicate all her sins by following the Papmochani Ekadashi devoutly. Since then Papmochani Ekadashi has become an important religious ritual to be followed.

 

• Rules to follow the Papmochani Ekadashi

The system or the rules of observing this fast and the ritual is clearly mentioned in the Harivasara.  The rituals of the fast are to be carried out from a day prior, ie from Dashami. Only satwik food items are consumed by the devotees. A spiritual bath is taken by the devotee and then puja to Lord Vishnu is observed by flowers, Prasad, incense sticks and by cooking a sacred feast or bhog to be offered to Lord Vishnu. Various temples organize special puja on the Papmochani Ekadashi and there are readings from the Gita or chanting of the Krishna Mantra. It is believed that chanting mantras and fasting gives the devotees an extra immunity by building a protective layer around his body. The devotee may break off his fast the next day, which is on the dwadashi morning.

Varshitap is an important ritual amongst the Jains. Varishtap starts on the eighth day of the Amavasya period or the dark half of the lunar month of Falgun and ends on the third day of the first half of the month of Vaisakha, on the day of Akshaya Tritiya. The duration of Varshitap is around thirteen months and thirteen days.

 

• Legend behind Varshitap-

 

The story behind the Varshitap goes in the manner that when Lord Rishabdev was striving to attain enlightenment, he meditated for a period of six months without any food. Upon attaining the enlightenment or what is known as the Kevalya Gyana, he set out in search of ahara or food.

Tithankar Rishabhdav went from place to place seeking food, however since people were not aware that the Jain sadhus did not ask for food, they gave him offerings of various other things. People of Ayodhya offered him gold, gemstones, elephants etc but no one offered him any food. Finally, a year later, his own grandson Shreyansha Kumara understood Rishabhdev’s quest and offered him food from his Purba-bhava-smaran or remembrance of erstwhile life. He offered Adinath or Rishbhdev some sugarcane juice.

This auspicious event took place on the day of the AkshayaTritiya and is thus considered to be an important day to the Jains. Jains all over the world till date end their fast on Akshaya Tritiya with a glass of sugarcane juice. The observance of this ritual is said to lead one to the path of enlightenment and rids oneself of impurities such as desire and the subsequent result of sin. Thus this leads one to a life of bliss and devoid of bad karma.

 

• Observance of Varshitap-

 

Varshitap or the yearly ritual, loosely translated as Varshi or yearly or Tap as in ritual is carried out by fasting on one day and carrying out biyasan the other day.  Between these two days, one can fast also consecutively for two days. On the first day the devotee can only drink  boiled water from an earthen pot  and for the rest of the year it is highly advisable to consume a meal a day or if possible to fast on alternate days. Celebrations in terms of a grand fair takes place at Shatrunjay in Palitana, Gujarat; which is a very famous Jain pilgrimage center. Nearly 2500 Jains complete and celebrate their Varishtap in this temple annually.

Basoda or the Shitala Ashtami is a unique festival of India, where stale food is eaten.

This festival is celebrated on the Ashtami, or the eighth day of Krishna Paksha, in the month of Phalgun or Chaitra according to traditional Hindu calendar or the months of March April according to the Gregorian calendar.

It is generally considered to be a festival which is celebrated eight days after the celebration of the festival of color – Holi. Some people also observe it on the first Monday or Thursday after Holi. This festival is mostly observed in the North Indian states like Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan etc.

 

• The mythological legend of Shitala Devi

Shitala Mata finds mention in many legends, particularly the Skanda Purana as the Goddess of Small Pox.  She is believed to be both the cause and the solution.  The legend that goes is, when Shitala Mata first arose from a sacrificial fire, Lord Brahma told her that human beings will always be devotional to her as long as she carried Urad Dal or the seeds of a specific lentil with her.

Thereafter she went off to pay a visit to the other Gods.  Somewhere while along the way, all the lentils that she had turned into the germs of small pox and whoever she visited came down with fever and small pox. The Gods sought her mercy and told her to please visit Earth with her load of germs. She agreed and first arrived at the court of King Birat. King Birat was a Lord Shiva devotee, and though he gave her place in his kingdom and place to be worshipped on; he refused to give her supremacy over Lord Shiva. Enraged, Shitala Mata, released at least 75 different pox germs and all the people of the Kingdom became ill and it spread far. Many people died too. Finally King Birat gave in and Shitala Mata cured all the people. Thus it is said that Shitala Mata must be pleased if one has been plagued with any kind of pox.

 

• All about Shitala Devi

As the name means Shitala means the cool one,so she must always be kept cool. Shitala Devi rides on a donkey and carries a silver broom, a pot of water, a fan and a small bowl in her hand. It is believed that she sweeps the germs of the disease with her broom, picks them up with the fan and keeps them in the bowl. Then she disinfects and makes the place holy by sprinkling Ganges water from her pot. Symbolically Shitala Mata emphasizes on the importance of cleanliness and hygiene to avert diseases in the wake of season changes.

 

• Tradition of Basoda or Shitala Ashtami

Basoda, as the name goes means Basi or stale. Thus a unique ritual is followed on Basoda or Shitala Ashtami, where people eat stale food.  People cook a day earlier and consume that basi or stale food as it is believed inauspicious to light a fire and cook on the day of Shitala Ashtami as Shitala Mata gets annoyed at the heat.  In the morning of the ceremony this food is first offered to Shitala Mata and then consumed as Prasad. Ladies invoke her with incense, flowers, kumkum, water, yoghurt etc. Families pray for their well beings and request Shitala Mata to protect them from diseases such as Pox, small pox, measles etc.  The devotees on this day read the stories of Shitala Mata, mantras are chanted, alms are given in the temples and people invoke her to seek her protection and blessings.

Ranga Panchami is another colorful festival of the Hindus, as the name itself suggests and is celebrated five days after the biggest colorful festival Holi.

Ranga Panchami is celebrated on the panchami or on the fifth day of the Krishna Paksha or the waxing phase of the moon is the month of Phalguna according to traditional Hindu calendar or February March according to the Gregorian calendar. In 2019 the Ranga Panchami is on March 25^th, a Monday.

 

• What does Ranga Panchami mean?

 

Ranga as the name means is color and the word Panchami means the fifth day, thus the colorful fifth day is what the name of this festival signifies.

 

• What is the significance of Ranga Panchami?

 

Ranga Panchami is celebrated with the playfulness of Gulal, which is a fragrant red powder and throwing water at people. According to Hindu mythology, Ranga Panchami symbolizes a victory over the Raja and Tama, which are barriers to self realization and spiritual advancement. Thus the interplay with gulal on Ranga Panchami is a partial worship of God and its purpose according to Hindu mythology is to activate the five elements of the manifested colors and to feel and be blessed by the deities who are attracted to respective colors. Ranga Panchami thus, can be called to be the worship of the savior form of certain deities.

 

The Maharashtrians call this festival Shimgo or the Shimga and is particularly prevalent amongst the fishing community. The traditional Palkhi dance associated with this festival give vent to all their suppressed emotions. They celebrate it in a grand manner and people join in the festivities by singing, dancing and making merry in general.

 

In the temples of Vrindavan and Mathura, the celebrations of Holi culminate in the festival of Ranga Panchami.

Chandra Grahan is a scientific astronomical phenomenon which is more commonly known as the lunar eclipse, when the planet Earth shadows its satellite the Moon completely.

Hindu mythology has its own explanation of Chandra Grahan. However, unlike Surya Grahan or Solar Eclipe, Chandra Grahan is not of much significance until and unless the Lunar Eclipse is visible to the naked eye. Hindu pundits have not considered lunar eclipse to be influential on normal lives.

Chandra or the Moon, according to Hindu mythology is a God and also a Graha or a Planet.  Chandra is also known as Soma, which signifies the sap of a plant and thus Chandra is also considered to be the God of all kinds of Vegetation.

 

The mythology related to Chandra Grahan-

Chandra in Hindu Mythology has been described as a beautiful in demeanor, has two arms bearing a club and a lotus. His chariot is pulled by ten white horses or an antelope and he rides across the night sky in the chariot is what mythology tells us.

When the ocean was being churned for the nectar for immortality or Amrita, the demon Rahu got inside the line of Gods waiting for Amrita. Vishnu, being alerted beheaded him, but since he had already consumed Amrita; he could not be killed but became two namely Rahu and Ketu. Rahu and Ketu nurtured grudges against Sun, Surya and Moon, Chandra, as they were the ones who had alerted Lord Vishnu. Thus they out of sheer grudge come and swallow these planets occasionally. When the Moon or Chandra is swallowed up partially or completely, we call it Chandra Grahan.

As mentioned earlier that if the lunar eclipse or Chandra Grahan is not visible then it is unimportant to be observed according to Hindu astrological guidelines. People posts the Chandra Grahan have a holy bath to erase the negative effects, if any from the Grahan.

Purnima, or the full moon day is of extreme importance according to traditional Hindu astrology. According to a lunar calendar markd the end of a month and is an auspicious day to observe various puja and rituals.

In south India the full moon day is known as Pournami.

Importance of the Purnima –

• During the full moon day or purnima, the moon shines at it’s brightest and thus eradicates all darkness and illuminating the self,
• It is believed to fetch prosperity to people,
• Pujas carried out during any purnima day is said to yield the maximum effect,
• Fasting on the purnima days is said to have a cleansing and purifying effect on the body, mind and soul,
• Many gods took birth on the purnima days, like Hanuman, Kartik etc,
• Kartik Purnima is an important day, when Lord Shiva had slain the demon Tripurasurs. It is
• also the day, when the first avatar of Vishnu, Matsya was born,
• Satyanarayan Puja to Lord Vishnu is offered only on purnima days,
• Lord Buddha too was born in the auspicious day of a purnima,
• Numerous scientific research have shown that gravitational forces of the moon on the punima day is at its maximum, and has a positive effect on every individual in terms of stabilization of metabolic rate, increase in energy, reduction of acidity and a fine balance between mind and body.

Rituals related to Purnima –

The devotee must bathe before the sunrise and a fast from morning to night. Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu must be worshipped. However one can take food once during the day, but it should be without salt and must not consume cereals or pulses. Satya Narayana  Puja may be offered.

Purnima is the period of the full moon. Vasant literally means Spring; while Purnima is full moon. As such Vasant Purnima is the full moon that comes during the Spring season.

The Purnima according to Hindu astrology has great power and qualities. Scientifically the full moon is a period when the water bodies are affected and the body too with its water balance is somewhat affected.

According to Hindu traditional beliefs, Purnima or the full moon day is an auspicious day, and Lord Vishnu in all his avatars is worshipped on the Purnima days and offered puja.

Every month has a Purnima and most of the festivities according to Hindu traditional calendar fall on the Purnima days. The Vasant Purnima is one such day of glorious festivities. Fasting is advocated on all Purnima days, and thus devotees can fast on this Vasant Purnima day too.

Some in an extreme measure fast without even consuming water too. Others partake of fruits and milk on this day and worship the deities in the evening. Rice, grain, pulses and cereals are things to be avoided during the Vasant Purnima day.

Celebrations of this auspicious day include music and dance. Large stages are erected for the performers to perform in cultural extravaganza. Festivities start a day before the Vasant Purnima. Idols from various temples are brought out for worshipping in beautifully decorated palanquins. The deities remain in the spots for the next twenty four hours. Folk dancers and performers start performing in front of the deities non- stop for the next twenty four hours. This is a unique celebration which attracts people in droves to watch the extravaganza.

In the Ganjam district of Odisha this festival of Vasant Purnima is celebrated amidst great fanfare. Ganjam incidentally has the oldest Vishnu temple in the whole district. Here too the deities are kept in palanquins for devotees to catch a glimpse. Administrative forces are deployed to keep law and order in check. Thousands congregate to witness these celebrations. It is said to be a 450 year old celebration which is being carried out till date.

Amongst the numerous Jain festivals, the Ashtahnika occupies an important place. It is one of the oldest Jain ritual observances that can be traced.

Since Mahavira, the propagator of Jainism is considered by some people as an incarnation of the Hindu God Vishnu, the Ashtahnika days are also considered auspicious by the Hindus.

 

Amongst both the sects of the followers of Mahavira, Shwetamvar and the Digambars, this festival occupies a special place .the Ashtahnika is an eight day observance which takes place in every four months; in Ashadha, which is June and July as per Gregorian calendar, Kartika which is October and November and Phalguna which is February and March. This age-old festival is only next to importance to Dashalakshanaparva.

 

Etymologically the word Ashta means eight Aanika means every day. As mentioned earlier this unique festival takes place in the months of Aashad, Phalgun and Karthika from the last eight days till the purnima or the full moon day. If the festival happens in the months of Ashad and Phalguna then the ritual is known as Nandishwar Ashtahnika ,  the legend behind the Nandishwar Ashtahnika is that there are eight islands in the earth, and the eighth one is  called Nandishwara and there are fifty two Jain temples in this world which are worshipped by the angels, but where human beings are forbidden to go.

Thus all the puja celebrations are on earth.  This Nandishwara island is surrounded three mountain ranges called the Anjana parvat, the Dadhimukha parvat and the Ratikara parvat. Each of these Parvat or the mountain also boasts of a Jain temple each. According to Jain legends, since the four months from Ashada to Kartick, was a rainy season, and gave rise to lot of flora and faunas, the Jain munis did not travel during this period;lest they unknowingly hurt any living creature. Thus during this period they used to stay put in one place and pray for higher self-realization and upliftment of human kind.this is known as Chaudasa Chaturmasa.  The normal shravakas during this four months period will practice normal worship and  other ritualistic practices at home.

 

Regarding the Ashtahnika, we get a vivid picture about the ritual from the literary work of Ravisenacharya called Padmapurana . From Padmapurana we get to know that Kind Dasaratha had observed the Parva in the month of Kartick and had sought the blessings of the lord Jina. Again according to another literary work the Shreepalacharithre, Mainasundari had managed to cure leprosy during this auspicious period of Karthika Ashtahnika.  The great Acharya Akalankadeva gained glory by defeating the Buddhist monks in this period and managed to propagate the glories of Jainism.

 

This ritual is more keenly observed the sect of the Digamvaras. The Siddhachakra pooja vidhan puja ritual is also observed during this month.  This ritual is a means to gain greater spiritual insight and it is also fabled that the observance of this ritual brings wish fulfillment for the devotees.