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Hariyali Teej is celebrated in the month of Bhadrapada Month
(August-September), according to Hindu calendar, on the third day of the
bright half of the lunar month. The day is dedicated to Lord Shiva and
his wife Parvati. People celebrate this day in order to celebrate the
union of Shiva and Parvati in the bond of marriage.
Parvati was deeply in love with Shiva but he was not ready to take
anyone as his wife, after the death of his first wife Sati. Parvati then
performed severe penance and so pure was her love and such strong
dedication she had in her heart that Shiva finally accepted her as his
consort. It is believed that she took 108 births to gain the
companionship of Shiva. Thus Parvati is also known as Teej Mata (the
mother of this festival). Women pray to Goddess Parvati and sing songs
in her praise. They ask her to bless them with utmost devotion for their
husband and also give them strength to fulfill all their duties as
wives.
This festival comes in the rainy season when everything around is green
and refreshing. Nature is at its best and greenery fills the arena thus
the name ‘Haryali’ is bestowed upon the day, meaning green. The day is
also known as Teejen.
Ways of Celebrating Hariyali Teej
The day is majorly celebrated by the women of North India... Read More
The term ‘Kumbh Mela’ is a compound word, in which ‘Kumbh’ means
pitcher and ‘Mela’ means fair. Kumbh Mela is thus the largest peaceful
fair in the world in remembrance of the event when the demons and gods
were fighting over the kumb (pitcher of nectar) for their immorality.
It is one of the biggest event of Hindu community where people come
together to take a dip in holy rivers. It is held at four places which
are Haridwar, Allahabad, Nasik and Ujjain in every three years in
rotation. These are pilgrimage places and home to sacred rivers. Ganges
River flows in Haridwar, Godavari is in Nashik, the Shipra is in Ujjain
and at Allahabad, the confluence of three rivers Ganga, Yamuna and
Saraswati takes place.
Variations in Kumbh Mela
Despite of the regular fairs that take place in every three auspicious
years at the above-mentioned places, Kumbh Mela is also divided in
further categories. Ardh (Half) Kumbh Mela takes place in Haridwar and
Allahabad in every six years, in rotation of the venue. Purna (full, in
terms of a complete year) Kumbh Mela takes place only in Allahabad in
every 12 years. The most auspicious and grand fair is Maha (Great) Kumbh
Mela that takes places only in Allahabad in every 144 years.
Deciding Location
Every third year, the site for the celebration is decided after a deep
study of astrological positions of the Sun, the Moon, and the Jupiter.
When the Sun and Jupiter are in the Zodiac sign Leo then the event takes
place in Nashik. Haridwar is chosen when the Sun is in Aries and
Jupiter in Aquarius. Ujjain becomes the destination when the Sun is in
Aries and Jupiter in Leo and when the Sun and Jupiter are in Capricorn
and Taurus respectively then the fair takes place in Allahabad.
History
According to legends, when Samudra Manthan took place,
various kinds of things came out of the milky ocean. Gods and demons
churned the ocean for thousand years and finally the elixir of
immortality came out in a Kumbh (pitcher). The demi gods were scared of
the results if the nectar would have been consumed by demons therefore
they entrusted its safety to four gods named Brihaspati (Jupiter), Surya (Sun), Shani and Chandra (Moon).
Demons were furious and wanted the nectar for themselves. They decided
to chase gods and snatch it from them. It is believed that they followed
Gods for 12 days and 12 nights which are equivalent to 12 human years.
While the gods were protecting the elixir and running away with it,
drops of the nectar fell at four places and these were the places
mentioned above. Since then it is believed that these four places have
mystical qualities and people from all around the globe come together to
celebrate the big event.
Celebrations
People in large number get collected at the venue and take bath in the
holy rivers to cleanse their past evil deeds. They pray to the Sun god
in the early morning by offering water and flowers to him and ask for
the welfare of themselves and their families. They also believe that by
taking a dip in the sacred rivers, they will be able to attain
salvation. People sing and dance in the name of gods... Read More
Navratri is a festival of nine days which is dedicated to Goddess
Durga. Each day is dedicated to one of the forms of Durga. This
festival is celebrated four times in a year, according to Hindu
calendar. It is mostly celebrated by the women of Uttar Pradesh,
Himachal Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. This Navratri is specifically
dedicated to Goddess Varahi.
How to Celebrate each Day?
True devotees keep fast on all the nine days, though they consume fruits and milk in intervals. Also chanting the mantra, ‘Aim Hreem Kleem Chamundayai Vichche’ proves very beneficial for the distressed.
On the first day Ghatasthapana ritual takes place which marks the
beginning of this festival. It is an invocation to Goddess Shakti. The
Ghatasthapana ritual is performed on the auspicious time. Goddess Shailputri is worshipped on this day. She is the governing body of all the fortunes.
On the second day, Brahmacharini is worshipped on the second day. She also provides good luck to her devotees.
On the third day, Chandraghanta is worshipped. She is the married form of Goddess Parvati
On the fourth day, Kushmanda is offered prayers to gain
right direction in life. Sun is governed by her and she provides
direction and energy to Sun too. When Parvati started living inside the
center of the Sun so that it could illuminate the universe, she came to
be known as Kushmanda.
On the fifth day, prayers are offered to Skandamata, who is the mother of Lord Skanda. She governs the planet Mercury.
On the sixth day, the sixth day is dedicated to Katyayani.
She is the violent form of Parvati, who came into existence to kill
demon Mahishasur. She governs the planet Jupiter and provides protection
to her devotees.
On the seventh day, Kalaratri is prayed to who came on
earth to kill a demon named Shumbha. She is the most ferocious form of
Parvati who is worshipped on the seventh day. She dispels fear and
insecurities from the heart of her devotees.
On the eight day, Maha Gauri is worshipped who is a
calm and composed form of Parvati. She is extremely white in complexion,
hence the name. She bestows happiness and peace on her devotees.
On the ninth day, Siddhidatri is prayed to who bestows
all kinds of graces. She is worshipped by humans, gods and demons
alike. Earlier there was no physical form of Shakti.
It was in the form of Siddhidatri that Shakti appeared from the left side of Shiva.
Lastly on the tenth day, people complete their series of fasts.
List of Mantras for Gupt Navratri
It is believed that Gupt Navaratri is very powerful and yields quick
results. These days are highly auspicious for tantriks and sadhaks.
Materialistic problems are also easily solved during these days. Goddess
Durga is worshipped to attain wealth and prosperity and remove fear,
vices and hindrances from one’s life... Read More
Jagannath Rath Yatra is referred by Gundicha Yatra, Ghosa Yatra,
Navadina Yatra, Dasavatara and Chariot festival is the world famous
Hindu festival held at Puri in India. The revered deity of this festival
is Lord Jagannath, His elder brother Lord Balabhadra and their sister
Subhadra. He is considered as a manifestation of Lord Vishnu. This
festival is usually commemorated during the months of June or July.
This Chariot festival is being attended by millions of pilgrims not only
from India but also from the different parts of the world.
During this festival the three deities, Jagannath Balabhadra and their
sister Subhadra are worshiped within the Jagannath temple, and then they
are taken to the streets of Puri in their individual chariot.
The chariot of Jagannath, Nandighosa, has a wooden temple like structure
and runs on 18 wheels and is 45.6 feet high. The chariot of
Balabhadra, Taladhwaja also has a wooden temple like structure runs on
16 wheels and is 45 feet high. The chariot of Subhadra, Devadalana
again has the wooden temple like structure runs on 14 wheels and is
44.6 ft high. Wooden idol of Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Subhadra
ornamented with the gold are placed in their chariots with great
devotion. Jagannath believed to be the manifestation of Vishnu. Many
Hindu epics mentioned Jagannath is referred to be the form, Krishna.
Every year new wooden temples like chariots are constructed. The idols
of these three deities are also made of wood, and they are religiously
replaced by new ones in every 12 years.
There is an interesting legend behind Jagannath Yatra:
According to Hindu epics such as Utkala-khanda and Skanda Purana. Once
during a solar eclipse, Krishna, Balarama, Subhadra, people of Dwarka,
went to take a bathe in the holy pond of Kurukshetra.
Radha Rani, Krishna’s beloved along with Krishna’s parents Nanda and
Yashoda, and other residents of Vrindavana, came to know that Krishna
would be there, they went to meet him there.
Dwarka residents and other pilgrims placed tents around the pond. In one
of the tent Rohini, who was Balarama’s mother Rohini, was narrating
Krishna’s childhood pastimes in the Vrindavan to the Queens of Dwaraka
and others. Rohini’s narration was confidential, so she posted Subhadra
at the door to prevent anyone from entering.
After some time, Krishna and Balarama came to the door and stood on
Subhadra’s left and right sides. They started listening to Rohini’s
narration of Krishna’s intimate Vrindavana pastimes.
Interestingly, when Krishna and Balarama listened to the feelings became
ecstatic, and their internal feelings were exhibited externally. Their
heads compressed into their bodies, their eyes became dilated, and
their limbs retracted. Seeing these transformations in Krishna and
Balarama, Subhadra also became ecstatic and assumed a similar form.
This way Krishna and Balarama, with Subhadra assumed their ecstatic
forms of Jagannatha, Baladeva, and Subhadra.
Most Significant rituals during Rath Yatra
Pahandi
Pahandi is the ritual to take deities from Sanctum of Jagannath temple
to the Chariot for the royal journey towards Gundicha Temple. This
temple is just two kilometers away from Jagannath Temple. Gundicha was a
true devotee of Krishna. The three deities visit her to honor her
devotion.
First the idol of Balabhadra than Subhadra and at the end idol of
Jagannath were taken out to their respective chariot. All the three
deities assemble at a seven-stairs northern exit and receive giant
floral crowns, called Tahias. There all the three deities are led to
their respective chariots.
Chhera Pahara
On the first day of Journey, One of the most significant rituals is performed, and that is Chhera Pahara
(sweeping with water and sandalwood water). This ritual gives the
lesson that everyone is equal in the eyes of the Lord. For performing
chhera pahara ritual, the Gajapati King wears the uniform of a sweeper
and clean the area around the deities and chariots with a gold-handled
broom, sandalwood water with utmost devotion. This ritual is performed
on two days. The first time is on the first day of the Yatra, when the
deities are taken to Gundicha Temple and the second time, when deities
return to the Jagannath Temple.
When three deities settled in their respective chariots, Lakhs of
devotees are eagerly waiting to touch the 250 feet holy cables to pull
the chariots along the 3km. Long Grand road to the destination point at
the Gundicha temple. The professional chariot pullers also assist the
devotees.
Upon arrival to Gudicha temple, all the three deities are given ceremonial bath and dressed in... Read Mote
