Month: October 2016

  • How Hindus Celebrate Govardhan Pooja?

    Festive season brings cheers on the faces of all. Pomp and show attract a lot. Preparations accommodate people and they keep scheduling shopping and gifting frequently. Diwali is the grandest of all festivals of Hindus. It does not fall alone but brings many festivals along. Govardhan Pooja falls next to this pompous celebration.

    In Bihar, Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and many north Indian states, this festival has its own significance.

    When is Govardhan celebration?

    Govardhan Pooja is also known as Annakut. It falls on the fourth day following Diwali which is the first lunar day of Shukla Paksha in the month of Kartik (as per Hindu calendar).

    What Hindu mythology states?

    As the mythology goes, the demigod ‘Indra’ was in fury. Blinded by his own power of controlling the nature, he cursed the villagers of Mathura. For proving his worth, he caused torrential rain incessantly. The whole Mathura village was on the verve of submerging. It’s all streets were waterlogged. As a rescue ranger, lord Krishna appeared. He directed the folk to the mountain Govardhan. Obeying his instructions villagers followed.

    Then the miracle occurred. The lord lifted the mountain high on his small finger so that the entire folk and cattle could shelter under it. All were scared while seeing the fury of the god of rain. But the rain did not cause any harm to them. Eventually, the demigod bowed down before lord Krishna accepting his defeat.

    To recount that charisma of the lord, this day has been celebrated.

    How to celebrate this festival?

    People carve a structure of a man with cow-dung in the early morning. The small hillocks of dung are also carved out. They are decorated with the branches and flowers. At the navel area, an earthen lamp, fruits, water, Kheel and sweets are kept.

    It is observed in the afternoon or evening. For Annakut, all family members gather at one place. They massage with sesame oil early in the morning before taking bath. Afterwards, all members clad in new dresses. A mound of grains is made. This hillock of grain symbolizes the mountain Govardhan. To recount the miraculous gallantry of the lord, this festival is observed with fervor and whole spirit. The eldest one worships the hillock while circumambulating it. The youngsters follow his footprints while copying the similar rituals.

    Worshipping on this day brings wealth, prosperity, child and happiness to the family. But watching the moon at this night is assumed inauspicious. So, it is prohibited.

  • Is It Necessary to Match Horoscope for Vivah?

    What’s the common practice that Hindus follow before making a match? It’s matching the horoscopes of the would-be spouses. The parents, grandparents and relatives call a priest to do so.

    Reading horoscope requires expertise. Only a qualified astrologer or an acknowledged Hindu priest can read it properly. However, the world has no lack of imposters. This is why families have their own priest who takes care of religious needs time to time.

    Why is it necessary to match the horoscope of the would-be spouses?

    Why horoscope matching is required? Is it mandatory to do so? These are the common questions that incite in the heart of many people. It’s true that Hindus believe in Astrology. They find it a mandatory custom to follow before finalizing the would-be spouse of their marriageable daughter or son.

    What Astrology states about horoscope reading before vivah?

    According to Astrology, there are 36 gunas. Each child is born with them. Before marriage, the parents match horoscopes of their ward with the selected bride or groom. Their priest studies them intensely. It is an assumption that at least 16 gunas (qualities) of the would-be bride and groom must match.   

    What do gunas imply?

    Gunas depict compatibility of the would-be couple. How much understanding the couple would be having- they determine them. With them, one can’t predict how would be their marriage life.

    Actually, the planetary moves, houses, ascendants, lagun and many more things are thoroughly examined from the horoscopes. The nadi plays pivotal role in match-making. Final decision is driven from the planetary matching of the girl and boy.

    What is Nadi?   

    Ashta koota identifies the social, emotional and psychological relationship of spouses with each other. Ashta stands for eight and Koota means criteria or dimensional. According to these koota, the horoscopes are matched for vivah.

    Varan, Vashya, Tara, Yoni, Grahamatri, Ganamatri, Bhakoota and Nadi comprise to form Ashta Kootas. Nadi koota expresses the psychological or hereditary factors. It transfers through genes. The personal relations of any individual are controlled by the heart and emotions. So, it can be the root cause of any inherited disease or problem. This is why it is exponential in match-making.

    If the marriageable girl or boy belongs to the similar nadi, it is considered as a nadi dosha as per astrology. It can be the responsible cause of hereditary problem.

    Why horoscopes are matched?

    Horoscopes consist of the planetary movements that were during his/her birth in the space. The astrologers draw that configuration of the planets on the paper. It is known as horoscope or kundali or birth chart.

  • Spiritual & Scientific Reasons to Celebrate Navratri Fest

    Hindus celebrate Navratri festival every year religiously. Why? There are only a few who clearly know its genuine reason. Most devotees observe it as a customary tradition. And, many have nothing to say but the only excuse, i.e. to follow the footprints of their ancestors blindly.

    Spiritual Reasons:

    • Invoking positivity:

    Our ancestors found reasons for everything. They were scientifically as well as spiritually aware. They saw infallible force in divinity. It’s not hidden from them that solar & climatic changes influence our body profoundly. This is why they took shelter in devotion & meditation to level up energies.

    According to them, Bhadro (in Bengali language) is the month when we notice great dip in our energy level. Sorrow, grief, stress, greed, jealous and hatred overlap our positive energy. To end it, our ancestors invoked lord Ganesha by performing Ganapati Puja for 10 days in the same month.

    Even today, people dedicate these days to the sweet memory of spending good times with ex-grandparents. They don’t forget performing special rites and rituals from anywhere. Let’s say devotees in Brisbane hire priest for Tarpan (a ritual).  It results in bumping positive energy.

    Likewise, the first 9 days of Ashwin month are dedicated to the source of power, i.e. Devi Durga. She killed Mahishasura (a demon) who embodied Kaam (lust), Krodh (anger), Lobh (greed), Moh (attachment), Ahankaar (ego), Darr (fear), Irshyaa (jealous), Jadta (inertia), Nafrat (hate) and Pashchaataap (guilt).  All these negativities low the energy level in a human body. This is why each night of Navratri ends these evils. And when the 10th night falls, people celebrate victory of good (positivity) over bad (negativity) on Dussehra or Durgapuja.

    • Pulling life force:

    Each night of this festival kills an evil thought in us. Why is it observed in night? The actual reason behind it is clear. It’s peaceful. The evil thoughts begin to grip amid such peaceful environment. It’s also believed that negative forces travel at night. This (peace) is the reason. When we light the lamp and meditate, our mind revives and gains focusing power.

    Autumn season ends while leaving several germs and disease-causing microbes. The chanting of mantras (hymns), sound of conch & bells and fragrance of incense kill germs in the air. The aura of devotees improves. It begins to repel negativity. Positivity sweeps it fully within 10 days.

    Apart from these spiritual reasons, there are some facts that confirm its advantages. Let’s catch them also.

    Scientific Reasons

    • Detoxification: Detoxify means free from toxin. Hindus abandon eating spicy food. They swap ginger, garlic, onion, non-vegan food with complete Satvik (fruit diet) food. Since winter onsets with this festival, the body needs detoxification according to Ayurveda. Otherwise, our immunity weakens. For gaining power to fight diseases, it’s better to take off from the routine diet. The fruit diet works as a cleanser & purifies the body.
    • Correct metabolism: Metabolism keeps our body in function. It is our body’s mechanism that can stop working. Careless munching produces extra kilos. Consequently, the fat deposits under skin.

    Fasting helps in shedding those kilos. In the absence of diet, our body breaks down the deposited fat to fuel up. Thereby, extra calories get burnt. Our metabolism gets invigorated.

    • Self-awareness: It’s common to feel like starving now & then. Hunger pangs everyone. But untimely gobbling is the root cause of obesity. Indigestion and acidity can make a person bed-ridden anytime.

    So, fasting is recommended. It’s what the saints advocated for. They entrusted us the secret to inflow the pure thoughts. We receive mindfulness while fasting. It makes us feel good. We feel in love with self. It bestows us a chance to come closer to divinity that dispels negativity. Thereby, confidence boosts up and brain regains sharpness.

    • Self-discipline: Suspending the daily pattern of eating showcases miraculous results. The fasting person learns how to welcome the changes for wellness. It’s a positivity that he embraces. Junk or spicy food is termed as taamasik diet. Eating it regularly incites ego, jealous, anger, hatred, and greed. By accepting satvik food, one sheds demon self and becomes a disciplined person.

    Remember, as you eat as the thoughts come in.

  • Do’s & Don’ts to Observe Navaratri in South Indian Style

    Navaratri is a nine days festival. Hindus celebrate it with joy and happiness. It is also known as Bommla Koluvu in Andhra Pradesh. People keep fast during these days. They reject consuming non-vegan food. They clean the house and puja ghar. Every entrance is decorated with the festoons made of mango leaves. South Indians draw kolam and place kolu along with betel leaves, areca nut, rice, turmeric powder and sandalwood paste. Young girls are fed with neividya and prasadam. Its observance invites positivity, prosperity, health and wealth in the house.

    Navaratri

    (Nine days dedicated to goddess Durga)

    Do’s:

    Pre-night preparations:

    • Clean the house & puja room.
    • Decorate doors with mango leaves’ festoons
    • Repair or buy new Kolu (dolls)

    Navaratri Pooja:

    • Draw kolam
    • Put Kalasha at the kolam
    • Place Kolu beside Kalasha
    • Light incense sticks & camphor
    • Give hoomam
    • Place betel leaves in front
    • Put cloves, areca nut, turmeric powder, rice on the leaves
    • Anoint coconut with turmeric powder and rice
    • Offer it to the goddess and break it
    • Light earthen lamp
    • Chant the hymn for Durga

    Don’ts:

    Pre-night preparations:

    • Leave the house unclean.
    • Worshipping with the broken kolu
    • Decorating festoons of other plants

    Navaratri pooja:

    • Not drawing kolam
    • Keeping nothing on it
    • Placing kolu on the left side
    • Forget lighting earthen lamp, camphor
    • Forget offering homam
    • Offering broken coconut
    • Offering broken areca nut
    • Offering torn betel leaves
    • Skipping things for pooja
    • Bringing devilish thoughts in mind
    • Attending pooja with no reverence