The Bengali Festival of Hindu Community ‘Jamai Sashti 2016’-June 10 (Friday)

 Hello beautiful readers of www.charanamritdotcom.blogspot.in, we know that our country, India is a culturally rich land. Various amazing festivals are celebrated here by the citizens about which we have not heard before. The Hindu festival “Jamai Sashti” is one of them, which is celebrated in Kolkata. This festival is a symbol of special bonding between son-in-law and in-laws. The festival Jamai Sashti is originated many years ago as a part of women’s social-religious duty. According to Hindu custom, the son-in-law is known as “Jamai” and “Sashti” means sixth, that’s why the festival Jamai Sashti is observed on the sixth day of the Shukla Paksha in Jyeshtha month of Hindu calendar.

This popular social and traditional festival lays foundation of a strong family bonding. In whole West Bengal, all the son-in-laws or “Damads” get a treat or party from his in-laws or “Sashurs”. This custom is very old according to which a party is organized by in-laws for their daughters and her husbands.

On the occasion of this festival, mother-in-laws cook special dishes and invite their daughters and sons-in-law to honor them with a feast. This dish mainly consists the Hilsa Fish which is a delicious Bengali dish. The sons-in-law are welcomed by their in-laws in the traditional manner with a “Phota” of curd on his forehead and a yellow thread is tied on the right hand wrist. The thread is colored yellow with turmeric and is called “Sashti Suto” which have the blessings of Maa Sashti. The sons-in-law get gifts, sweets and fruits from mother-in-laws and sons-in-law give also gifts to mother-in-laws as return gifts. After that, mother-in-law performs the ritual in which a plate with six fruits is touched with the Jamai’s forehead.

On the other hand, the day is observed as Aranya Sashti in some other regions. The ritual behind this festival is that the son-in-law will be closer to the in-law family. Thus, it is symbolized as unite between two families. As we know that Bengalis are famous for their love for food. After performing all rituals, a small feast is organized. The guests are then served Bengali dishes mainly fish delicacies, prawn malaikari and the most famous Bengali sweet ‘Sandesh’ are a must. The mother-in-law fanned her son-in-law with a palm leaf hand made fan while he gorges on his food.

The son-in-laws are the main attraction of everybody on this day. He thoroughly enjoys and loves the attention he gets from his in-laws.

The film actor Amitabh Bachchan got gifts from his mother-in-law on the occasion of Jamai Sashti in 2014.

Hindu Festival Shani Jayanti 2016 – 5th June (Sunday)

As per Hindu mythology, the Hindu festival Shani Jayanti is celebrated as the birthday of Lord Shani. According to astrologers, Shani is referred as Saturn, which has the greatest influence on people. It is believed that we all should celebrate the Shani Jayanti to secure that bad omen stays away to the maximum limit. The devotees belonging to different communities of Hinduism worship to please Lord Shani.

The festival Shani Jayanti is renowned on Vaishak Vadya Chaturdashi Amavasya and it is considered that Lord Shani was born on this day. This festival is celebrated in a noble style and all the rituals respective to the God Shani are strictly followed his violent nature. It is one of the most vital festival of Shani Shingnapur Shaneshwara temple in Maharashtra, India. The huge number of religious customs is followed on Shani Jayanti day.

The Effects of Shani on Life

 

The astrology experts explain the facts that a person’s success or failure in life is greatly affected by the entry of Shani in their horoscope. So this is true to some extent that the same cannot be taken for granted. Some of the people believe in the myth that Shani brings the bad luck in human life. In fact, Shani is believed to bring the best luck in life but only in a gradual manner that comes through patience and hard work. One thing, the importance of discipline is very common to understand to succeed in life. Keeping steadiness in life is something that is helpful in abidance the negative influence under control.

People perform the Navgrah Puja or Grahpravesh Puja according to their abilities on Shani Jayanti festival to please the God. The Large number of devotees visit the Shani temple and pray for good luck in their life. However, it is not desired that people leave everything to God in the search of prosperity. Shani Yagya has to be performed upon the advice of a Pundit to ward off the negative effect of Shani Devta.

Prayers for Shani Dev

 

Most of the people observe fast on the day of Shani Jayanti to ensure that they are able to lead an easy and  hamper free life. The procedure of celebrating the Shani Jayanti fast is same as Shanivar Vrat or Saturday fast. While, learning about the fasting process associated with the observation in a proper way is something that is required mostly. The Indian people are known to perform Shani Vrat to ensure that their personal life is protected to the core besides their families and relatives. There are some Pundits who suggest to perform Shani Jap 23000 times in order to live a peaceful and prosperous life. Offering some special Pujas are surely helpful in changing the position through which your luck too could be changed in effect.

On the morning of Hindu festival Shani Jayanti, the idol is cleaned with Gangajal, Charanamrit or Panchamrit, oil and water. After cleaning, the Nauratnahaar is positioned on the God Shani idol. 

On the occasion of Shani Jayanti, devotees perform “Shani Jayanti Puja” and “Shani Thailabhishekam”. Shani Homam or Shani Yagyas are also performed by devotees in the presence of Acharyas and Purohits to protect themselves from all wrongs and black magic. To avoid occultism, people wear a horse shoe in their fingers and also hang it in their houses. Normally, it is believed that Lord Shani creates barriers in one’s growth. Therefore, to delight the Lord Shani, these measures can be followed:

1 – Shani Strotra.

2 – Intonation of 11 Mala of ‘Om Sham Shaneshchraya Namah’.

3 - Fill the ant holes with the concoction of wheat and jaggery.

These are some basic steps which are taken on Shani Jayanti to prevent Shani Dosh and to please Lord Shani. This festival has a great importance in Indian Hindu culture. The people of Madhya Pradesh strongly believe in Shani Puja. It is considered very essential to get free from Shani Dosh before starting a new venture. Read further about Shani Jayanti 2016

Baijnath Mahadev Temple – The Only Hindu Temple Built By The British

Once upon a time in 1879, when there were the British were ruling in India, Lt. Col. Martin of Agar Malva was leading the army in the battle opposite Afghanistan. During the British rule, they built many churches and cathedrals. But in 1880s, a Shiva temple was rebuilt by Lt. Col. Martin in Agar Malwa, Madhya Pradesh. This is the only temple ever made by an Englishman in India.

During the war, Col. Martin wrote the letter regularly to his wife about his well-being.The war continued for a long time and Lady Martin stopped getting her husband's letters. She was very upset.

Once during the horse riding, she crossed the temple of “Baijnath Mahadev”. She was attracted by the sound of Conch Shell and Mantra. She went inside and saw that Brahmanas were worshipping of Lord Shiva. They saw her upset face and asked the reason behind sadness. She narrated everything in front of them. They told her that Lord Shiva listens to the prayers of devotees and takes them out of difficult situations within no time. With the advice of Brahmanas, she started the “Laghurudri Anushthan” of the Mantra “Om Namah Shivaya” for 11 days. She worshiped to Lord Shiva that if her husband comes back home safely, then she would get the temple renovated.

At the ending of ‘Laghurudri Anushthan’ a messenger came to her and gave a letter which was written by her husband. Her husband had written: ‘I was regularly sending messages to you from the battlefield, but suddenly, the Pathans surrounded us from all sides. We were entangled in a situation where there was no chance of escaping death. Surprisingly, I saw an Indian Yogi with long hair, carrying a weapon with three pointers called Trishool. His personality was amazing and he was maneuvering his weapon with a magnificent way. Seeing this great Yogi, the Pathans started to run away back. Due to his graciousness, our bad time turned into victory moments. This was possible only because of that great person wearing a lion skin and carrying a three pointers weapon Trishool. That great Yogi also told me that I should not worry and that he had come to save me because he was very pleased with my wife’s prayers.’

After reading this letter, tears of joy were falling from the eyes of Lady Martin. Her heart was overwhelmed. She fell down at the feet of Lord Shiva’s statue and burst into tears.

After few weeks, Col. Martin came back and Lady Martin told her husband about the whole incident. Now the English couple became devotees of Lord Shiva. In 1883, the donated Rs. 15,000 for renovating the temple. The information about this historical incident is inscribed on the slab still there in the Baijnath Mahadev Temple of Agar Malva. This is the only Hindu temple that built by the English couple.

When they left India for Europe, she said that they would make the Shiva temple ate their home and pray to him till the end of life. Read more about Indian Hindu Temples

Hindu Festival Apara Ekadashi 2016

अश्वमेधसहस्रणिराजसूयशतानिच  | एकादशयुपवासस्यकलांनारहंतिशोडशीम्र  ||

'Not Even Thousand Ashtamedha Yogas or Hundred Raj Suya Yogas
Would match the fast on an Ekadashi Day'

Sanskrit word Ekadashi meaning is 11. It’s meant the 11th Day of the month, according to Hindu calendar. In Hindu calendar or Panchang, a month actually divided into two parts of 15 days, that’s why a month has two Ekadashis. In Hindu culture and traditions, Ekadashis have great importance. The one can consider as festival and other being observed as this day. Apara Ekadashi is one of them that is observed in the second half of the month of Jyeshtha.

Among all the Ekadashis, Apara Ekadashi is considered as most glorious. It is believed that the person who fasts on this day washes away his sins and get Moksha. By just observing this fast, a person feels free from his wrong doings and short falls of the past. In Indian state Madhya Pradesh, this day is celebrated with magnificence and roughly everyone tries to observe this fast. This day gives high importance and people visit the temples to pray for forgiveness.

According to the English calendar, this festival is celebrated in the month of May – June and in the month of Jyeshtha as per the Hindu calendar. Apara Ekadashi is known by various different names all over the India like Achala Ekadashi, Bhadrakali Ekadashi, Vaishakh Vadi Ekadashi and Jalkrida Ekadashi.

In the year 2016, it is observed  on 1st June (Wednesday). Apara Ekadashi festival is dedicated to Lord Vishnu.

The rituals observed on this day include fasting, Pujas and Yagya. It is said that a person who keeps fast on this day honestly gets all the blessings of Lord Vishnu and observed various religious acts. Many festivals are celebrated here with grand zeal and Apara Ekadashi is one of them. It is of equal importance to every person in the state in spite of their caste. Read further about more Ekadashis