Category: Holidays Around The World

Narasimha Jayanti is a Hindu festival celebrating the glory of Lord Vishnu and seeking his blessings. It is celebrated on the Vaisakh Shukla Paksha Chaturdashi according to traditional Hindu calendar and on the month of May according to the prevalent Gregorian calendar.

Narasimha Jayanti, which is a juxtaposition of Vaisakh Shukla Paksha Chaturdashi , swati Nakshatra and if on a Saturday; then the day becomes auspicious many times over. It is believed that Lord Narasimha defeats the demons and protects his disciples from obstacles.

He is called Vakta-batsala, or one who is fond of his devotees; and is known to remove obstacles from their paths of progress. According to Brahma Samhita, Lord Ganesha holds the lotus feet of Lord Narasimha Deva, and thus gains the supreme power of being the Bighna Harta or the remover of all obstacles.

 

Legend about Lord Narasimha

Lord Narasimha Deva is considered to be the fourth incarnation of Lord Vishnu, who donned the guise of a half human and half lion. Nara means human and Simha means Lion. He took on this avatar to stop the tyranny of the demon Hiranyakashipu. Hiranyakashipu to avenge the death of His brother Hiranyakshan, who was killed by Lord Vishnu, had prayed to Brahma for his blessings. Having pleased Brahma, he got a boon from him, which made him indomitable, and thus also captured the heaven.  The Gods all knew not what to do to stop his terror. No normal living being could defeat him. The boon that he got from Lord Brahma was that he should not be killed by any human being, animal or demi-god, he should not be killed in any place, and he should not be killed in daytime, not at night and neither by any weapons.  This nearly made him invincible. However, his son, Prahlada, grew up to be one of the greatest devotees of Lord Vishnu and the chasm between father and son on their faith grew. On a fit of rage, Hiranyakashipu asked Prahlada since he believed in his God; would his God come to help him? Prahlada with complete stoic faith maintained that the great Lord indeed will. Hiranyakashipu, enraged struck a pillar asking if Prahlad’s God was in there. Immediately Lord Narasimha, in answer to his devotee’s faith emerged from the pillar and killed Hiranyakashipu with his sharp nails, keeping him on his lap, sitting on the threshold during dusk. Thus neither was he killed by man nor animal, no weapons were used, neither was he killed in a place nor during day or night. This is the situation in which Lord Vishnu took the incarnation of half man and half lion to defeat the demon and to restore order and peace in the world.

The Puja Process

One should wake up in the brahma muhurta, or one and a half hours before the sunrise, which is considered to be an extremely auspicious time to complete one’s ablutions. After cleansing oneself and cleanse the altar where the puja is going to be held. Throw away the stale flowers and prepare the altar with fresh flowers .chant the narasimha mantra, which is as follows-

namas te narasiṁhāya prahlādāhlāda

dāyinehiraṇyakaśipor vakṣaḥśilā ṭaṅka nakhālaye

 

Take sankalpa during the Madhyanna or the mid day and perform the puja of Lord Narasimha during the sanhyakala, or evening before the sunset. One should do the puja before sunset as it is believed that Lord Narasimha had appeared during sunset while Chaturdashu was still there. Pray for his protection by uttering the Narasimha Kavacha Stotra which was spoken by Prahlada Maharaja and which finds mention in Brahmanda Purana. Prepare fruits, sweets and delicacies and offer them as naivedyam or offering to the Lord Narasimha Deva. It is advisable to be alert and stay awake the whole night and perform the Visarjan Puja the very next morning.  Once the Visarjana Puja is completed then only the fast should be broken by pertaking Prasad from the Naivedyam offered at the lotus feet of Lord Narasimha Deva. One should also do charity to the brahmanas on this auspicious day.

It is believed that the puja of Lord Narasimha Deva reaps rich dividends for the devotees and they receive eternal protection from him.

Karadaiyan Nombu or Savitri Nonbu Vritham is a festival observed mostly by the Tamil Brahmins, in which married women pray so that their husband stays blessed in all spheres of life at all times.

Karadaiyan Nombu or the Savitri Nonbu Vritham is a vow or a pledge which is observed on the last day of the Maasi Masam or the Maasi month according to traditional Tamil calendar. This day corresponds with the month of March according to the Gregorian calendar. 

This festival also marks the transit of Sun from Kumbha Rasi to Meena Rasi or the Meena Sankramanam.  This festival is somewhat of similar nature to Vat Savitri or Shivaratri celebrated in the Northern part of India, where women seek the blessings for the health of their husbands and marital bliss and unmarried girls aspire for a good husband.

 

• Legend behind the vrat –

Savithri, the daughter of King Asrapathi married Satyavan, a commoner who lived in the forest. Satyavan was fated to live for only a year, but in spite of that Savitri married him as she was deeply pleased by Satyavan’s devotion towards his blind parents.  Despite her father, the king’s opposition, finally Savitri and Satyavan got married and they lived happily for one year. At the end of the one ear, Savitri realized that Satyavan would die any day and any moment.  To avert this, she kept a vrat and fasted.  She used to offer Durwa grass and peepal leaves. She used to prepare Prasad or neivedhyam with wild rice and toor dal. This is also known as the kaara arisi and thuvaram parrupu, and that is the reason why this ceremony is called the karadayan nonbu.

 

On the very next day, Satyavan fell down on the forest and upon realizing that he was dying, Savitri noticed Yama, the God of Death carrying Satyavan’s soul along with him.  Savitri kept following Yama, and Yama tried to divert her, but Savitri was extremely persistent. Intrigued Yama offered her three boons as he could not return a departed soul to his body. Savitri readily agreed and as the first boon asked for a son for her father. As a second boon she requested that her in laws be reinstated in their own kingdom and in the third boon she said that she will like to have children. Yama, granted And immediately realized that he had been befuddled by Savitri. Yama appreciated Savitri’s persistence and also respected the fact that she was ready to marry a man who she knew was about to die. Thus this Karadaiyan Nombu saved Savitri’s husband. It is also believed that Savitri cooked this dish and offered it to Lord Yama along with un-melted butter to denote her gratitude for re living her husband. It is a kind of expressing thanks for saving her husband’s life.

 

• Preparation of the Puja

 

The puja for the Karadaiyan Nombu is the exact time when the Maasi month ends and the panguni month begins. The fast that is kept can be broken only on two times, mornings or evenings. The Kaardai, which is a Yellow thread tied with few flowers and the Karadai Adai dish, that is the naivedyam or offering are to be kept ready.  Decorate the house with mango leaves and draw the kolam. Place the idol or photograph of Goddess Parvati or Kamakshi. Have a cleansing bath and prepare the kaardai sand the naivedyam.  Before the exact time of the transition, place a banana leaf on the kolam or the puja area and place the naivedyam on that leaf. Betel leaf, betel nut, fruits, coconut, banana and butter are the other things which are needed to be kept on that leaf. Offer the Naivedyam to the Goddess by ringing the bell or doing an arati. Chant the Savitri Nombu chant, as follows –

Throram Krishhnami subhake saharitham
Dharami aham bharthu
Ayushya Sidhartham supreethabhava sarvadha

 

Now, wear the Kaardai or the yellow thread braided with flowers around the neck. Offer prayers, and once the fast is broken eat the Karadai Adai and distribute the rest of the Karadai adai as Prasad.

 

As we can see, Karadaiyan Nombu vrat is somewhat similar to that of the Vat savitri observed in Bengal or the sowbagya Gouri vratam or Gauri Tritiya vratam of Andhra Pradesh or the Gangaur vrat of Rajasthan, the Jyesta gouri Vrat of Maharashtra or the Jitiya Puja of Bihar, or the Karva Chauth of the North Indian states. Through this Vrat, a woman seeks divine blessings that she be blessed with an understanding and loving husband.  Married women seek a long and healthy life for their husbands and unmarried women seek a good husband to be with them till the next seven births, by invoking the Gowri Devi, the goddess.

India is a land of diversity having numerous celebrations for various religions. Jhulelal Jayanti is the celebration of the Sindhi community commemorating the birthday of the savior of their community, Lord Jhulelal.

Jhulelal is one of those rare ascetic and sage who had been successfully able to bring the two different religions of Hinduism and Christianity together. He is believed to be a reincarnation of the God of Water, Varun and lived around the period of 10^th century.

Though the Jhulelal Jayanti or Cheti Chand is celebrated both in India and Pakistan, the date is fixed according to the traditional Hindu calendar.  This occasion is celebrated on the dwitiya, or second day of the Chaitra Shukla Paksha, when the moon becomes visible. According to Gregorian calendar, it falls in the month of April mostly.

 

Legend of Jhulelal

Long back, the Turkish people from Central Asia and Persia conquered the Sindh region, and the inhabitants who were basically of Hindu origin were threatened to be transformed to the Muslim religion forcibly. Mirkshah, the commander of the clan Sumras, gave an ultimatum to the Hindus, that either they should agree to be converted or should be prepared to be killed.  The Hindu contingent of inhabitants requested for some period to consider this proposal. During this time they kept fasting and praying arduously for a miracle which will save them from this. For forty days, they neither shaved, nor wore new clothes. They only kept beseeching the God Varuna, who is the God of river to come to their rescue and save them from this ordeal.   This is known as Chaliho.  After forty days of Chaliho, on the fortieth day a voice from Heaven guided the devotees to the house of Ratanchand Lohano of Nasarpur, where in the womb of his wife Devaki , that heavenly voice will be born  on the second day of the Chaitra month, to bring them redemption from the evil tyrant.

On Cheti Chand, or the second day of the month of Chaitra, as the divine voice had suggested Mata Devaki gave birth to a boy, who the moment he opened his mouth showed an old man sitting cross legged on a pala fish in a river. Clouds gathered in the sky and an unseasonal rain lashed on that day. The miracle boy was named Udaichand, as Uday in Sanskrit means the Moonbeams. Udaychand became Jhulelal as whenever he was put on a jhula or a swing, it would start swinging by its own.

The news of the birth of this amazing child reached Mirkshah who called the Hindu elders and repeated his earlier threat. The Hindu community leaders sought some more time to ponder. However the Maulavis of Islam kept pressurizing Mirkshah to apply force and Mirkshah decided to send his minister Ahirio to check on Jhulelal. Ahirio carried a poisoned flower to give to the miracle child in Nasarpur. The moment Ahirio saw the child he was stupefied with his radiance and Jhulelal in one breath threw away the poisoned flower at Ahirio’s feet only.  Then in front of Ahirio’s eyes he changed in to an old man and back to the child again. Ahirio was convinced of the child’s divinity and reported the same back to Mrkshah. The child kept performing miracles and then and as he grew up, he received the Guru Mantra Alakh Niranjan from Guru Gorakhnath.

Meanwhile, Ahirio seeing the tumultuous situation of the Maulavis had become a follower of Darya Shah, and upon praying to him, saw the same old man of Jhulelal come up to him, sitting cross legged in the Pala fish. He now understood that Jhulelal was none other than Khawaja Khirz whom the Muslims too worshipped. Jhulelal then appeared in front of Mirkshah in his court and explained to him that Ishwar and Allah were the same and when the soldiers went to arrest him, flood and fire engulfed the court. Mirkshah, afraid, pleaded to Uderolal or Jhulelal to spare him and his people. The Lord Jhulelal agreed and instructed him to build a temple in his name where water will be always available and a candle will be always lit. Jhulelal chose his cousin Pagad as the first Thakar or the priest of the religious community who has faith on God and then near the village Thiajar gave up his earthly body. Both Hindus and Muslims were present to witness this last miracle. The moment he gave up his body, the Hindus wanted to build a temple and the Muslims a Dargah. Again in midst of rain and thunder a heavely voice instructed that the structure will house both the dargah and the temple and will always have a candle burning.

 

Celebrating Jhulelal Jayanti

Jhulelal, the isht Dev or the patron saint of the Sindhis, ties Hindus and Muslims in the celebration of his birthday in Cheti Chand. The devotees offer the Lord a Prasad of “akha” which is a sweet made of rice, ghee, sugar and flour on this day. Colorful fairs are arranged on the auspicious occasion of the Jhulelal Jayanti and the Sindhi community members enjoy the day with their families and friends. It also sees the worship of Jhulelal with a lot of delicacies as offerings and of course water. The annual fair of the Sindhis at this time begins a fortnight before the cheti chand.

Gangaur is the festival which is colorful, festive and a celebration to the Goddess Gauri. Celebrated mostly throughout Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and some parts of West Bengal, Gangaur is the festival which epitomizes the Goddess Gauri, who is the other half or the consort of Lord Shiva.

Women mostly celebrate this festival and take part in the rituals. The festivity commences from the first day of Chaitra and continues for eighteen days thereafter. In 2019, Gangaur will be celebrated from 21st March to 8th April.

Meaning of the name Gangaur

Gana is the synonym for Lord Shiva and Gaur is a take away from Gauri, Lord Shiva’s companion and consort. It is basically a celebration of the advent of spring, a better harvest and marital fidelity. Gangaur is celebrated by women. The married women celebrate it to seek blessings for her husband, for his welfare and healthy life. The unmarried women observe Gangaur so that they are blessed with a good husband.

Rituals of Gangaur

Clay idols or wooden idols of Shiva and Parvati are worshipped during this festival, for which they are brought home to be kept in a basket amidst grass and flowers. In some families, there are permanent wooden idols, which are painted afresh by painters called matherans for this purpose. The idols will not have a canopy over their head, which the idols of Teej, another festival have.

Wheat is strewn and sown in small earthen pots called the kunda and the grass used for the observance of this ritual. Water pots are decorated with beautiful designs called Maandna done with lime water. Ladies decorate their hand and feet with mehandi or Henna.  On the seventh day evening post Holi, unmarried girls carrying ghudlia, which are earthen pots with numerous holes; go around singing songs. All newly married women are supposed to observe this ritual for a total of eighteen days only, while the unmarried women too are expected to fast and have only one meal in a whole day.

On the second last day of the festivities,the married women receive gifts of sweets, clothes, jewelry and other items from their parental homes. The women dress up in these and apply henna on hand and feet and celebrate the festival with their husband and family. For the last three days of the festival, a procession is taken out to a johad or well with the idols of Lord Shiva and Gauri. The married women carry these idols on their heads. On the first two days, the procession comes back after offering water; but on the last and final day Gauri is made to face the same direction as Isar and the procession concludes by immersing all the idols in the water. This is considered to be the departure of Gauri, and the women bidding farewell to Gauri turns themselves back and the Gangaur festival comes to an end.

Gangaur is considered to be an extremely auspicious time of the year to select a life partner. Thus lots of matches for marriages are made during this time. Amongst the tribal people, they meet their prospective partners; only to elope and marry during this time.

Celebration of Gangaur

The best celebrations are observed in Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, Udaypur, Nathdwara and Bikaner in Rajasthan. In Udaypur’s Lake PIchola there is a boat procession and scintillating fireworks. Women, balancing the ghudlia the pot with holes, and lighted lamp inside, it are also an amazing sight.

In Jodhpur the morning starts with beautifully and gorgeously dressed women singing songs and carrying water and grass in pots.

In Jaipur the fervor and pomp starts from the palatial Jananadeori or the corner for women of the City Palace. The celebrations pass through the prominent places before it converges in the Talkatora area. The other places it covers include Chaugan stadium, Tripolia Bazaar, Gangauri Bazaar, Chhoti Chaupar, etc. The procession is a sight to behold as elephants, palanquins, chariots and bullock carts all take part in it.

In Kolkata, West Bengal the tradition of celebrating Gangaur started when people from Rajasthan came and settled here. It would be almost a century that the Gangaur celebrations are being held here.

India is a land of festivals and festivities and every God or Goddess is welcomed and worshipped with due respect and with much fanfare and fervor.

Gauri Pujan is the festival when Goddess Parvati is worshipped. Though it is like numerous other Hindu festivals that we celebrate, but it has its own specialties too. Gauri Pujan is celebrated on the fourth or the fifth day of the Ganesh Chaturthi. It is mostly celebrated in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh amongst many other places.

According to Hindu beliefs Goddess Gauri is a form of Shakti, the eternal power and thus always blesses her devotees with power and courage.

It is believed that on the third day of the month of Bhadra according to traditional Hindu calendar, Gauri Mata comes to her parental house. The next day she is escorted back to Kailasa, their abode by her son Ganesha. It is a beautiful imagery of a happy family which is created through this puja.

 

• The Idol’s homecoming

 

The day before the puja, the idol of Gauri Mata is brought home. There are lots of people who do not bring an idol home and worship a picture of Gauri Mata. Most of the Mahatashtrians bring the Gauri idol on the Ganesh Chaturthi day itself. It is believed that radiant rays come out of the beautiful and pristine Gauri idol and  thatcshe blesses the devotees who bring her home to be worshipped.

 

• The Gauri Puja Vrata Rituals

 

On the day of the Vrat married women wear new clothes and also dress up all the girls of the family in colorful and gorgeous dresses. Then the sthapana with jalagauri or arishinadagauri is done. This is a symbolic idol of Gauri Mata made of turmeric. Then the Gauri idol is kept in a plate along with wheat or rice on it and kept inside the Mandapa. The mandapa is made of banana stem and mango leaves around the Gauri idol.

 

The devotees then dress up the Gauri idol which is a visual treat in itself. The idol is decorated with beautiful saris, green bangles, jewelries, mangalsutra ,  nose pins etc. she is mostly given green bangles as it is believed that married women wear green bangles. Gauri Mata is also given a floral garland to be worn at the back of the head called Veni. Women have Gauridaar or a sacred thread with sixteen knots tied to their wrists. Each of these sixteen knots is worshipped with mantras.

 

• Baagina

 

Baagina is an interesting ritual which is followed in the Gauri puja. A Baagina is like a gift pack containing arshina which means turmeric, some black bangles, black beads, some kumkum, a comb, a small mirror, a bale bicchole, a coconut, some dhaniya, a blouse piece, some rice,some toor dal, wheat or jaggery cut in cubes, some green dal and rava. This Baagina is presented in traditional mora s or winnows which are painted in turmeric.at least more than five Baagina s are to be prepared for the puja.  One Baagina is offered to the Goddess Gauri and the rest is distributed amongst all the married women.

 

• Gauri habbada Mangaladravya

 

Another beautiful aspect of this ritual is that the married woman’s parents and brothers or the ‘tavaru maneyavaru’ send them the Gauri habbada mangaladravya or a kind of gift to the married woman and their family. If they can’t send the same then in lieu of that, they send money to the woman and her in-laws. This is an unusual practice and is believed to bring people closer by exchange of gifts. In the earlier period the newlyweds had to wait till the Gauri Pujan to consummate their marriage.

 

• Night Long Puja

 

All the women taking part in the Gauti Pujan or the Mangala gauri vrat wear new saris and traditional jewelries. They also keep awake the entire night of the puja. They get together and sing Mangala gauri songs, or songs praising Gauri. The women who are awake the entire night play various games. In the traditional game of Zhimma, women clap hands, sing songs and tease one another. Phugadi is another game, where after holding hands in a specific position women move round and round in circles and sing songs. It is an unique puja where the male members cannot participate.

 

• Gauri Visarjan

 

Gauri Visarjan is done the very next day after the puja. Before the visarjan an aarti is performed and a Prasad of rice mixed with curd and fenugreek leaves is offered to the idol as naivedyam. The Prasad is then distributed amongst devotees. Women observe this vrat for having a good husband or a happy married life.

Amongst the many festivals celebrated in India, celebrating the advent of a river in a mainland is also a part of the same festivities.

It is not surprising too, keeping in view how agrarian and agricultural a nation India is, water and a river flowing will always be held as important and of great significance. Yamuna Chhath celebrates the birthday or the advent of the river Yamuna on earth.

This day is dedicated to the Goddess Yamuna. Observed on the shashthi or the sixth day of the shukla paksha or the waxing phase of the moon, during the month of Chaitra according to the traditional Hindu calendar or the month of March-April according to the Gregorian calendar; it is considered to be an extremely auspicious day.

This is mostly celebrated in the north Indian states, particularly in Uttar Pradesh. People believe that on the auspicious day of the Yamuna Chhath, happiness and prosperity will be showered on them by the Goddess Yamuna, if worshipped.

Little information about River Yamuna

Amongst the numerous tributaries of River Ganges, River Yamuna happens to be the largest in the northern India. Originating from the Yamunotri glaciers situated in the Banderpooch peaks of the Great Himalayas, falling in the state of Uttarakhand,it covers a distance of nearly 1300 kms before plunging in the holy Ganges in the Triveni Sangam, in Allahabad.

Rituals of the Yamuna Chhath

• Devotees wake early and have a cleansing bath in the Yamuna River before dawn. Baths are also taken during the dusk. Devotees believe that taking a bath in Yamuna on this particular day will usher in joy and prosperity in their lives. They also believe that bathing in this river will have a cleansing effect on their soul.
• Special puja is offered to the Goddess Yamuna at a special muhurta or time. Since Goddess Yamuna myth logically is reckoned as the companion of Lord Krishna, he too is invoked on this day.
• Devotees observe a strict fast for the whole day
• Naivedyam or special food offerings are prepared for the Goddess Yamuna, which post the Puja is distributed amongst Brahmins and the Prasad amongst relatives.

Significance of Yamuna Chhath

Yamuna Chhath is significant according to Hindu religion for the following reasons-

• It heralds the advent of the Yamuna river on earth
• It signifies the manifestation of the Goddess Yamuna in the river Yamuna
• Yamuna is a companion of Lord Krishna
• Yamuna is the daughter of the powerful Surya Dev, who gives us light and warmth
• It is believed that bathing in her water can bring the devotees eternal love, joy, peace and prosperity.

Nearly 1.5 lakh people are each year expected to pour in the ghats of Yamuna to offer their prayers to the rising and the setting sun. For this reason the administration takes the mammoth task of cleaning the ghats and sprucing them up for the devotees.

Amalaki Ekadashi is a Hindu ritual observed by the devotees on the eleventh day of the waxing moon, in the month of Phalguna according to the traditional Hindu calendar which occurs between the months of February and March. This ritual celebrates the Amala tree.

• What is an Amalaki tree?

An Amala tree is what is called Indian gooseberry, and the scientific name for which is Phyllanthus emblica.

 

• But why is an Amalaki or Amla tree Revered?

Devotees believe that Lord Vishnu resides in the Amalaki or the Amla tree.  It is also believed that his wife, the Goddess of wealth, Lakshmi too resides in the tree. It is also surmised that Lord Krishna along with his consort Radha, reside near the Amalaki tree thereby making it even more special. Worshipping the tree as a symbolic representation is an extension of the pantheistic creed that Wordsworth spoke about and it is rooted to the reason of trees being important in an agrarian society like the Indian’s. With the deep rooted belief that an Universal Spirit resides in the tree, devotees pay their homage.  Seen from a scientific perspective, the tree is full of vitamin C and every part of the tree can be used for medicinal purpose; so revering the tree can be quite understandable.

 

• What is the legend behind the Amalaki tree?

According to mythology, King Chitrasena along with his subjects observed the vrat or ritual of Amalaki Ekadashi.  During a trip in the jungle, he was caught by demons and imprisoned. Though physically unharmed, he was semi-unconscious. A divine light emanated from his body and vanquished his attackers and then disappeared. Upon gaining consciousness Chitrasena was extremely surprised to see his attackers killed. A divine and disembodied voice or an Akashvani then told King Chitrasena, that divine intervention had been offered to him at the time he needed as he diligently followed the Amalaka Ekadashi vrat. Thus since then this vrat became famous and everyone who followed this with utmost devotion is believed to live happily and peacefully.

 

• How to practice this vrat then?

The devotee observing this vrat should have a ritual cleansing bath in the morning. Then the tree must be bathed and watered and puja materials must be used. The devotee must fast and offer the puja, Brahmin priests praying for the devotee’s health, wealth and prosperity must also be given gifts in charity. Offering food and goods in charity is greatly recommended on this auspicious day as charity on this day is said to be equivalent to a somayajna sacrifice.  The Amalaka Vrat katha is also read out on this auspicious occasion.

Ratha Saptami, is observed on the seventh day of the Shukla Paksha of the month of Magha. In Tamil Nadu it falls on the Thai or the Masi month. The Ratha Saptami, is an extremely auspicious day according to the Hindu calendar.

According to ancient beliefs Lord Surya Dev started enlightening the world on this day of the Ratha Saptami. This is also the day which is considered to be the day when the Lord SuryaDev was born to the sage Kashyapa and his wife Adithi.

Importance of Surya Dev in the Hindu sects and in science –

Surya or Sun is considered to be an extremely important God, because as in science too, he is the source of life and light. As sun is in the center of nine planets, so is the Surya God placed in the center of the Nava Grahas or the nine planets. Surya is called the Graharaj as he is in the center of the nine planets.  Riding in a chariot pulled by seven white horses, his movements are what time is constituted of.  Surya is also known by several other names such as, Martandya, Aditya, Arka, Divakar etc.

Importance of Ratha Saptami –

Ratha Saptami is considered to be as important a day as the Surya Grahan, where the Dan Punya activities are highlighted.  As it is the Saptami Tithi, it is believed that seven types of sins perpetrated, either by word, deed, mind or current birth can be completely purged by worshipping Surya Dev onb this day. Many people worship Surya as he is considered to be the Arogya and Aishwarya Data, or the giver of health and wealth.

Ritual Bathing on Ratha Saptami –

The ritual bath during Ratha Saptami should be done during Arunodaya.  It is believed that taking the ritual bath before the sunrise during Arunodaya helps one remain healthy and free from all types of ailments.  This is the reason Ratha Saptami is also known as Arogya Saptami.  On this day washing hair with giant milk weeds leaves or Erukku plants is believed to be auspicious as these plants have therapeutic and curative value.

The Ratha Saptami Puja-

As with all pujas, the Ratha Saptami puja too starts with prayers offered to Lord Ganesha.  After the ritual bath, Lord Surya should be worshipped by doing Arghyadan.  Arghyadan is performed by offering small quantities of water to the Lord Surya while standing on one leg in a namaskar, or folded hand mudra.  The puja commences with the anointing of the ratha or the chariot and the suryadeva idol with turmeric and kumkum.  Betel leaves, betel nuts, jiggery, milk, coconut and yellow bananas are offered as prasads.  The prayers and chantings done in the Ratha Saptami are – Surya Sahasranama, Aditya Hridayam, Gayatri Mantra and other prayers like the Surya Ashtakam.

As epics go, Sage Agastya had advised Lord Rama to invoke the Surya dev in his bid to win the war against Ravana. He gave Lord Rama the Aditya Hridayam Upadesha to energize him and make him capable to win the battle against the demonic Ravana.

Thus on the Ratha Saptami, if one does dan-punya, morning ritual snan and arghya dan, one is bestowed with a long life good health and prosperity.

Narmada Jayanti, is the celebration of the river Narmada, and it is quintessentially a Hindu and an Indian ritual, as celebrating the birthday of a river and seeking blessings from it as a mother is a very Indian and Hindu trait.

Narmada Jayanti is observed every year on the Shukla Paksha Saptami in the month of Magha according to the Hindu calendar.  The day is the birth anniversary of the River Narmada, as she appeared on the earth.

 

• Flow path of the River Narmada –

Narmada River originated at the Amarkantak in Madhya Pradesh, and then has flown in the western direction, through Mahashtra and Gujarat and then merging into the Arabian Ocean.

 

• Legend regarding the creation of Narmada River –

According to the legends, when the Devas or the Gods were fighting the Asuras or the demons, they needed to wash away the sins incurred by them while annihilating the Asuras.  Then Lord Shiva created the River Narmada to wash away the sins of the Gods. This incident occurred on the Shukla paksha’s saptami tithi or on the seventh day of the Shuklapaksha of the month of Magha. According to traditional beliefs, one gets redemption from all his sins by taking a look also at the River Narmada.

 

• Places where the Pujas are performed and the rituals observed –

This day is of great significance, particularly to the people of Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Maharashtra. The most important celebration takes place in the cities of Amarkantak and Hosangabad.  Amarkantak and Omkareshwara Jyotirlinga Temple, which is amongst the Dwadash Jyotirlinga temples, are the best places to perform the ritualistic Narmada Pushkara Snan and other sacred rituals. People float traditional diyas or lamps on the day of the Narmada Jayanti  on the River Narmada, and also a Narmada Parikrama is also carried out on this day.

Bhisma is perhaps the most revered character in the epic Mahabharata. He stands for truth, selflessness and herculean dedication.

 

• Who was Bhisma?

Bhisma was the son of Kind Santanu by his wife Ganga. He was originally Prabhasa, one of the AshtaVasus, being reborn as Bhisma. He was earlier known as Devavrata. When the King Santanu, took a second wife, the fisher woman Satyabati, she manipulated him into promising her sons the throne of Hastinapur, where Santanu reigned.

Bhisma seeing his father’s trepidation took the oath of celibacy upon himself and promised never to marry so that the question of his inheriting the throne does not arise.  He promised to serve Hastinapur and remain faithful to the Kauravas. The name  Bhisma, means, one who has taken a terrible oath. Grateful King Santanu granted him the boon of Ichcha Mrityu or death by will, making him virtually immortal, till he chose to end his life in his own volition.

Long after in order to find bride for his younger brother, he abducted the three princesses called Amba, Ambika and Ambalika.  Amba loved someone else and Bhisma sent her back to her beloved. But having been abducted, the beloved refused to take her back. Enraged and humiliated Amba urged Bhisma to marry her who too refused her because of his oath. Amba then took a vow to seek vengeance on Bhisma if that meant being reborn again and again. She, with the boon of Lord Shiva, was born as Shikhandi.  Bhisma, aware of Shikahndi who was a woman really in the body of a man vowed never to raise hand on her. This is what paved the way for his demise.

 

During the battle of the Kurukshetra between the Pandavas and the Kauravas,he was obliged to fight for the kauravas against the Pandavas.  Duryodhan implied that Bheeshma was partial to the Pandavas, as they were leading in the battle. Forced by these kinds of innuendoes and to save him from further ignominy, he took up the weapon, which could be countered only by Lord Sri Krishna. Krishna, forced at the turn of events, lifted up the Sudarshan Chakra to kill Bheeshma. However Krishna could not raise his arms against the Grandsire, and Bhisma himself hinted that he would not fight against a woman. Thus armed with Shikhandi, the next day, acting as his shield, Arjuna kept shooting arrows at him indiscriminately. When Bhisma Pitamah fell, his body lay on a bed of arrows or sara sajya.

 

Since he had the boon of ichcha mrityu, he waited for an auspicious time, when the Suryadev moves back in the North direction or Uttarayan to leave his body. According to the Mahabharata Bhisma laid himself in Sarasajya on this eighth day of the shukla paksha of Magha, which falls in the month of January or February according to the modern day calendar.

 

• What happens on this day?

Bhisma Ashtami is celebrated with utmost respect and fervor in mostly the Vishnu Temples and the ISKCON temples.  The five days spanning from the BHisma Ashtami to the Bhisma Dwadasi are known as the BHisma Panchakavarta.  On this day people perform the ekodishtha shraddha for him. People who have lost their fathers are advised to perform this.