Wednesday 13 February 2013

HAPPY BASANT PANCHAMI 2013



Date and Time – 15th February 2013
Important Note: Some people are celebrating Basant Panchami on 14th February 2013 also as Panchami Tithi starts at 08.19 a.m. on 14th February 2013 and will end on 09:05 a.m. on 15th February 2013. However in my opinion on the basis of tithi prevailing on sunrise, it should be celebrated on 15th February 2013 but pooja of Maa Saraswati should be completed before 09:05 a.m. because Shashthi Tithi will start after this time. Any way I would suggest you to worship Maa Saraswati at all times of the year and especially on both dates of this year 14th February 2013 and 15th February 2013.

Significance of Basant/Vasant Panchami – Birth Date of Maa Saraswati

Vasant means spring, whereas Panchami means the fifth day. And Vasant Panchami falls on the fifth day of spring. This day is celebrated as birthday of Maa Saraswati. This festival highlights the coming of spring. This festival is usually celebrated in Magh, which is between the months of January and February in Gregorian calendar. As per another mythological story, on this day Lord Rama ate half tasted grapes of Shabari and to commemorate this day, the festival of Vasant Panchami is celebrated.
Since ancient times, there is a tradition of worshipping Goddess Saraswati on the day of Basant Panchami. There is a belief that Goddess Saraswati appeared on this day and to celebrate her birthday, her devotees perform her pooja. On this day Goddess Saraswati is worshipped in various names and fames - the Goddess of Learning, the deity of Gayatri, the fountain of fine arts and science, and the symbol of supreme vedantic knowledge. This day is of special significance for Students and Teachers. Goddess Saraswati is also considered the Devi of art and is also worshipped by peoples related to this field. On this day the students also worship the books, copies and pens along with the Goddess Saraswati. Musicians worship their instruments and the Painters worship their paint-brushes and colors.
http://media1.santabanta.com/full1/Hinduism/Goddess%20Saraswati/god1v.jpg

Legend associated with birth of Goddess Saraswati
After building the universe, Lord Brahma saw that his creation is quiet like a dead body. It has neither a sound nor any music. Lord Brahma was not happy with the sadistic view of his universe. Then Lord Brahma went to Vishnu and told him about his creation. Lord Vishnu told Brahma that Goddess Saraswati can help him solve his problem. He advised him to evoke Goddess Saraswati and the sound of her Veena will give voice to his creation.
On suggestion of Lord Vishnu, Brahma ji evoked Goddess Saraswati. When she appeared, Brahma requested her to give sound to his creation from her Veena. The moment Saraswati touched the wires of Veena, 'sa' alphabet came out from it. This alphabet is the first sound of the seven sounds of music.
The flow of this music gave voice to the voice less universe. Winds, rivers, sea, birds, animals and all other things got voice. This made Brahma ji happy and He gave the name Vageshwari to Goddess Saraswati. Godddess Saraswati holds a Veena in her hand and thus she is also called Veenapaani.

Method of worshipping Maa Saraswati

While performing Saraswati Pooja, the idol or photo of Goddess Saraswati is kept in front. After this, pinnacle or kalash is enshrined and Lord Ganesha and the nine planets are worshipped. After this Mata Saraswati is worshipped. While worshipping Mother Saraswati, Aachman is performed and she is bathed. After this, flowers, garlands, Vermilions and other make up things are offered. On this day, Gulaal is also offered on the feets of Mother Saraswati. Devi Saraswati wears white clothes so she should be coated with that. On occassion of Saraswati Poojan, yellow flowers are offered and seasonal fruits and boondiyas are offered as Prasad. On this occasion, Malpua and Kheer are also offered to the Goddess.

 Mantra for worshipping Maa Saraswati

The following mantra should be recited or alternatively it can be listened.
Maa Saraswati Mantra
Ya Kundendu Tusharhar Dhavalaa, Ya Shubhra Vastravritaa;
Ya Veenavardandmanditkara, Ya shwet Padmasana.
Ya Brahmascheut Shankar Prabhritirbhirdewah Sadabanditah;
Sa Maam Patu Saraswati Devi, Ya Nishesh Jadyapahaa.
(
या कुन्देन्दु तुषारहार धवला, या शुभ्र वस्त्रावृता !
या वीणावरदंडमंडितकरा, या श्वेत पद्मासना !!
या ब्रह्मास्च्युत शंकर प्रभृतिर्भिरदेवाः सदाबंदिताः
सा मां पातु सरस्वती देवी, या निशेष जाड़यापहा !!)

May the revered occasion of Basant Panchami,
Bring the wealth of knowledge to you,
May you be blessed by Goddess Saraswati and all your wishes come true.
Happy Basant Panchami.
Jai Maa Saraswati


"Jai Shree Krishna"
"Hari Om Tat Sat"
Acharya Vikas Malhotra
Astrologer, Numerologist and Spiritual Healer
{MBA, LLB, FCS, MA (Public Admn), FIII, JYOTISH VISHARAD} 
 lalkitabastro.com

Saturday 9 February 2013

Significance of Mauni Amavasya



Date of Mauni Amavasya in 2013 – 10th February 2013

Significance of Amavasya
Amavasya, or Amavasi, is the name of new moon night in Hindu religion. It is the first night of the first quarter of the lunar month. Since the moon is invisible on the day, Amavasya is also referred as no moon night. Amavasi holds great importance in Hinduism. Mauni Amavasya in Hindu Magh month (January – February) is considered as highly auspicious.

Mauni Amavasya – An Opportunity to transcend into silence
According to our sacred scriptures, Mauni Amavasya was the day on which Manu Rishi appeared in this universe many millions of years ago which exactly is said to be the day of the creation of universe. It is on very this day; the Sun and the Moon are in the Capricorn sign. The vow of sampurna maun (complete silence) is practiced on this day termed as Maun Vrat. This vow is considered to organize our senses and employing them into the service of Supreme Lord Narayana.

Mauni amavasya is the suitable period for learning to leash the 'vikshepa' (distractions) obtaining in our prattling mind so as to focus within. 

It depends on a person for how long he wants to observe silence. People take the resolution of Maun Vrat for a day, or a month, or for one year.  

Practicing austerities is believed to purify an individual’s existence and observing the vow of silence is apparently the simplest way to do so.The day holds extreme religious importance and taking bath on this day in the holy waters is deemed significant and auspicious.

The day observes the largest gathering of people in a single day as most of the pilgrims plan this day to visit Maha Kumbh because it is a believed that by bathing on this day a person can acquire good karma which thereby helps pursuing a fruitful and religious life.

Procedure of taking bath on Mauni amavasya
On the pious day of Mauni Amavasya, a believer is expected to meditate and pray to Lord Vishnu. The believer is likely to pledge against all his or her mundane and material urges like lust, greed, anger and envy.
You can donate articles like food, money and clothes to the needy saints or people. All these procedures are ensued by the ceremonial bath in the waters of the confluence of holy rivers at Allahabad. If you are not able to go there, and you have Ganga Jal in your house, you can mix some drops of Ganga Jal in the normal water and have bath.

Pray to your deity with sincerity and devotion on this day to help you in transcending to inner silence where you can listen to the sound coming without a source which is also known as the sound of “Aum”.

“Om Namo Narayana”

"Jai Shree Krishna"
"Hari Om Tat Sat"
Acharya Vikas Malhotra
Astrologer, Numerologist and Spiritual Healer
{MBA, LLB, FCS, MA (Public Admn), FIII, JYOTISH VISHARAD}
 lalkitabastro.com