Vijaya Ekadasi

Vijaya Ekadasi

Literal meaning of Ekadshi is, the 11th day of lunar month as per Hindu calendar. There are two Ekadasis celebrated in every lunar month. So, there are overall 24 Ekadashi in a year. The year of Adhimasa have 26 Ekadashis. Moon month have two parts (Paksha). The 11th date of both the Paksha is called Ekadashi. It is believed that result of observing Ekadasi Fast is even more than the fruits earned by donating gold, land, cereals and cow. Lord Vishnu is worshipped on the day of Ekadshi

Vijaya Ekadashi occurs during the waning phase of moon (Krishna Paksha) in February – March. In 2012, the date of Vijaya Ekadashi is February 17. The greatness of this Ekadasi is mentioned in the Skanda Purana. Observing of Vijaya Ekadasi helps in removing all the guilt associated with sins committed and also helps in attaining victory. It is believed that Lord Ram observed Vijaya Ekadashi to cross the ocean to reach Lanka to defeat Ravana.

Bhisma Ekadashi ~ Jaya Ekadashi

Ekadasi is a Sanskrit word, which means 'the eleventh'. It refers to the eleventh day of a fortnight belonging to a lunar month. There are two fortnights in a lunar month—the bright and the dark. So, Ekadasi occurs twice in a month, in the bright fortnight and the dark fortnight.

Bhisma Ekadashi, or Bheesma Ekadasi, is observed in the Magha Month (January – February). In 2012, the date of Bhishma Ekadasi is February 3. It is believed that the Vishnu Sahasranama Stothram was revealed to the Pandavas on this day by Bhisma, who was lying in a bed of arrows after the Great War in Mahabharat. It is believed that Bhishma chose this period to leave his body and merge with the Supreme Soul (Brahman). It is also known as Jaya Ekadashi. Observing Jaya Ekadashi Vrata gives the devotees the opportunity to get rid of the sins and to get salvation.

Vasant Panchami ~ बसन्त पंचमी

Vasant Panchami is the Hindu festival that highlights the coming of spring. This festival is usually celebrated on fifth day of Shukla Paksha of Magh Mass, which is between the months of January and February in Gregorian calendar. On this day Lord Vishnu, God Krishna-Radha and Goddess of education Mata Saraswati is worshiped with yellow flowers, Gulal, water offerings, incense, lamp etc. In the Puja, as per the tradition, yellow and sweet rice and yellow colored Halwa is offered to God and then eaten as Prasadam. In the year 2012, the festival will be celebrated on 28th January.

Panchami is also celebrated as the birthday of Goddess Saraswati. Dedicated to Saraswati, the goddess of learning and Brahma's wife. Goddess Saraswati is the mother of wisdom and music.This festival is specially significant for lovers of art and education. The goddess Sarasvati, sitting on a lotus, symbolizes her wisdom. She is also well-versed in the experience of truth. When the goddess is seen sitting on a peacock, it is a reminder that a strong ego can be held back by wisdom.

The day of Vasant Panchami is considered as the beginning of life, arrival of happiness, the season of rebirth and renewal. Vasant Panchami is included in the Abujh muhurat. Vasant Panchami is a favorable day for auspicious works like marriage, construction of house, beginning of a factory etc. and considered as of a favorable Muhurat for inauguration of an educational institute.

KUMBH MELA ~ कुम्भ मेला

'Kumbh Fair' takes place when the planet Jupiter enters Aquarius and the Sun enters Aries. The Ardh (half) Kumbh Mela is held every 6th years at Haridwar and Prayag (Allahabad), the Purna (complete) Kumbh Mela is celebrated every twelve years at four places Prayag, Haridwar, Ujjain, and Nashik.

-Prayag (near the city of Allahabad, in the state of Uttar Pradesh) at the confluence of three rivers Ganga (Ganges), Yamuna and mythical Saraswati.

-Haridwar (in the state of Uttaranchal Pradesh) where the river Ganga enters the plains from Himalayas.

-Ujjain (in Madhya Pradesh), on the banks of Ksipra river.

-Nasik (in Maharashtra) on the banks of Godavari river.

The Maha (great) Kumbh Mela which comes after 12 'Purna Kumbh Melas', or 144 years, is held at Prayag.

Kumbh Mela is celebrated at different locations depending on the position of the planet of Jupiter and the sun. When Jupiter and the sun are in the zodiac sign Leo during the Hindu month of Bhadraprada (August-September) it is held in Trimbakeshwar (Nashik); when the sun is in Aries and Jupiter is in Aquarius during the Hindu month of Chaitra (March-April) it is celebrated at Haridwar; when Jupiter is in Aries or Taurus and the sun and Moon are in Capricorn during the Hindu month of Magha (January-February) Kumbha Mela is celebrated at Prayag (Allahabad); and Jupiter and the sun are in Scorpio the Mela is celebrated at Ujjain. In 2013 the Purna Kumbh Mela will be held on Allahabad which occurs after every 12th years.

Next Kumbh Mela

2013 Maha Kumbh Mela in Allahabad (January 27 to February 25, 2013).

2015 Kumbh Mela in Nashik (August 15 to September 13, 2015)

2016 Kumbh Mela in Ujjain (April 22 to May 21, 2016)

Dates of Maha Kumbh Mela, Allahabad 2013

27 January to 25 February 2013

Main Bathing Dates 2013:

Paush Purnima – 27 January 2013

Ekadashi Snan – 6 February 2013

Mauni Amavasya Snan – 10 February 2013: MAIN DATE

Basant Panchami Snan – 15 February 2013

Rath Saptami Snan – 17 February 2013

Bhishma Ekadasi Snan – 18 February 2013

Maghi Purnima Snan – 25 February 2013

Legend

Kumbh means pot or pitcher. Mela means festival or fair. Hence, the Kumbh Mela means festival of the pot. It specifically relates to the pot of nectar in Hindu mythology. Legend has it that the gods once lost their strength. In order to regain it, they agreed with the demons to churn the primordial ocean of milk for amrit (the nectar of immortality). The Mandara Mountain acted as the churning rod and Vasuki (king of serpents) was used as a rope for churning. Kumbh was the pot which consist the nectar of immortality and was recovered from Samudramanthan. This was to be shared equally between them. They churned the ocean for 1000 years, where demons were holding Vasuki’s head and Gods were holding its tail. Finally after this entire churning process, Dhanwantari appeared with Kumbh in his palms. To prevent the amrita (elixir of immortality) from demons, its safety was entrusted to Gods Brahaspati, Surya, Shani and Chandra. After learning the conspiracy of the Devtas, demons turned vicious and attacked them. However, a fight broke out, which went on for 12 human years. During the battle, the celestial bird, Garuda, flew away with the Kumbh that held the nectar. Drops of nectar are believed to have fallen in the places that the Kumbh Mela is now held -- Prayag (Allahabad), Haridwar, Nashik, and Ujjain.

It is believed that these drops gave mystical powers to these places. It is to make oneself gain on those powers that Kumbh Mela has been celebrated in each of the four places. Pilgrims who attend the Kumbh Mela come to see and listen to these men, in order to gain spiritual enlightenment. The main ritual performed at that Kumbh Mela is the ritual bath. Hindus believe that submerging themselves in the sacred waters on the most auspicious day of the new moon will absolve them and their ancestors of sin, thus ending the cycle of rebirth.

2012 NUMEROLOGY ~Will It Be A Beautiful New Beginning? Or The End Of Life On Earth?

21 DECEMBER 2012
21+12+2012=11
1+1=2

It is the grand date set seemingly by the Mayans,for the destruction of humanity. The end of the world has been predicted many times in the history of mankind. A new date for the end of the world is set on the winter solstice 2012, Friday, December 21, 2012. On December 21 the Mesoamerican Long Count calendar will complete a “great cycle”. This day is predicted to be a day where a major and world changing event will happen. It is said that on Friday, December 21, 2012, about 11:11 minutes, the Earth's magnetic field will reverse and the Earth will change its axis. A new planet, Nibiru, hidden for the moment in the orbit of the Earth, will hit our planet Earth. This alignment of the planets is expected to have catastrophic consequences for the Earth. The cataclysm will also take the form of drift of Earth's crust caused by the warming of Earth's core, natural disasters, earthquakes, ice melting submerging continents, emission of deadly gases, changes in the Earth's magnetic field and shift in North-South poles.

The year 2012 is rapidly approaching and many believe that December 21, 2012 is a day of special significance. The Maya believed that the year indicated an end of a calendar cycle, and a major change would occur. For others, like Nostrodamus and practitioners of I Ching, the year implies either great destruction or great spiritual revolutions.

Many believe that December 21, 2012 marks the beginning of a 10,000 year period of peace and prosperity. 2012 is claimed to be a great year of spiritual transformation mean there will be a major change in world order. Numbers hold the clues as to what will happen in the transition and where the new age will take us. The actual date for this massive worldwide change set by the Mayans is December 21, 2012. When you look at the numbers of this date - 21.12.2012 and then reduce the date down to single digits you get 11. The number 11, when reduced further, results to the number 2. The number 2 in 12/21/2012 represents the world’s challenges, while number 11 represents the “Life Path”. This combination, according to them, is what makes this date particularly promising. The year 2012 is a "5" year. 2+0+1+2=5. Five is a number associated with change. New elements, a changing order and great movement is expected in this year. The number 11 is considered the highly charged brother of 2. Peace and inspiration are the bailiwick of this number, suggesting that the year may be a conduit for great change and a movement toward reform and a new spiritual era. The number 11 is a very significant number in numerology. In fact, it is considered a Master Number. There is an especially high level of spirituality surrounding this number and it is associated with a new age of awareness. It is also connected with high level spiritual practices such as clairvoyance, intuition, ESP, spiritual healing, etc. One of the numerological meanings of number 11 is that it marks the beginning of new cycles. It also indicates the increased spiritual leanings and compassion, and considered as one of the master numbers. Rise of an important personality (God incarnation) to maintain peace and harmony among people and to same the earth from destruction.

According to the 2012 Mayan calendars, December 21, 2012 indicates the next stage of spiritual development for the world and a much needed new set of values. It’s time to get back in touch with the values of love, brotherhood and unity of the next Great Age. It’s appears to be time to move away from unbridled technology, competition and greed the values of the present Great Cycle. People with life path no. 11 and 2 will feel more strong effect of this change.

Shani Amawasya

Shani Amawasya is the day that falls on Saturday. Amawasya usually considered an inauspicious day and if Amawasya falls on Saturday it is considered even more inauspicious. In the year 2011 Shani Amawasya will fall on Saturday 24th December 2011. It begins at 1:18 AM on December 24, 2011 and ends at 11:34 PM on December 24.

Amavasya, is known as the no moon day or new moon day in traditional Hindu calendar. It is the darkest day in the Hindu month and also the last day in a month in the traditional Hindu calendars. Amavasi holds great importance in Hinduism. Many Hindus choose this day to make offering (Shradh and Tarpan) to the dead ancestors. Many astrologers advise against performing any important ceremony on the day as moon and important planets in Hindu astrology are not visible.

Chaitra Navratras 2012 ~ Chaitra Navratri 2012

Chaitra Navratras 2012 ~ Chaitra Navratri 2012