Auspicious Makar Sankranti

Auspicious Makar Sankranti

If we try to understand Makar Sankranti in word form, the word Makar has been taken from Makar Rashi. Sankranti means entering. According to our ancient texts and Vedic calculations, time calculation is of two types.

The “Moon month Count” and “Solar Month Count” are based on the solar calendar. Sankranti means entering, the transition of the Sun, and the entry of the Sun, that is, the zodiac in which the Sun enters. It is called Makar Sankranti.

Types of the Solar Solstice

By the way, if seen, there are 12 types of Surya Sankranti, out of which four Mesh, Kark, Tula and Makar are prominent. The special significance of Makar Sankranti increases because the Sun God is Uttarayan on this day, that is, the journey of Lord Sun in the north direction. Before Sankranti, the Sun God is Dakshinayan. From the day of Sankranti, it travels in the north order, and this period is fixed for six months.

Lord Shri Krishna has told about Uttarayan in the Bhagavad Gita that people leave their bodies for six months from the day of Makar Sankranti, and they go to the higher planets. And those who leave their body in Dakshinayana go to the lower planets. It is said that there is an exception to every rule, something like this here too. Whoever is a devotee of the Supreme Lord, he leaves his body. Then after leaving the body in the time of Uttarayan and Dakshinayana, he reaches the abode of the Supreme Lord only. Supreme Lord Sri Krishna has told in the Bhagavad Gita Chapter 8 Verse 5 :

anta-kāle cha mām eva smaran muktvā kalevaram
yaḥ prayāti sa mad-bhāvaṁ yāti nāstyatra sanśhayaḥ 

In this, the Supreme Lord has told that whoever remembers me the last time, that person attains my abode only. The rule of Uttarayana and Dakshinayana is there only till the person does not completely surrender to Supreme Lord.

How does Makar Sankranti occur? 

makar sankranti

When the Earth revolves around the Sun in one full year, it is called the Solar System. If we talk about the calculation of demigods, then this one year of ours is equal to 1 day. That is, the demigods in 1 day do this circumambulation. There are 12 hours in the day and 12 hours in the night in 1 day of the demigods. That is why from the day of Makar Sankranti, the day of the demigods starts for the coming six months. From the day of Makar Sankranti, the demigods take baths early in the morning.

For this reason, on the day of Makar Sankranti, the importance of bathing, meditation and charity have been told. The day of Makar Sankranti is extraordinary, and all good work starts from the day of Makar Sankranti. Various dishes are prepared for this festival throughout India, and people also donate in large numbers. In Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, the day of Makar Sankranti is also known as the Khichdi festival.

Makar Sankranti Significance and Celebration

The sun god is also worshipped on this day, and everyone donates rice dal khichdi to charity. After that, the khichdi is cooked and eaten. In Gujarat, in Rajasthan, kites are flown at the festival of Makar Sankranti. The celebration of Makar Sankranti in Andhra Pradesh lasts for three days. In Tamil Nadu, this festival is known as Pongal because, in Tamil Nadu, people celebrate this family for ten days when the new crop is harvested, and here dal rice khichdi is cooked in ghee.

In Maharashtra, make laddus of sesame and jaggery, give each other, and provide good wishes. In Assam, this festival is known as Megh Bihu, and in Punjab, this festival is celebrated one day before as Lohri. In West Bengal, the Ganga Sagar fair is held on the banks of the Hooghly River. The Maha Kumbh bath is also held because on this day, Ganga Maiya descended on Earth on the day of Makar Sankranti to save her ancestors behind Bhagirath. That is why bathing in Ganga Sagar is of great importance on the day of Makar Sankranti.

As you all know that from the heart of Makar Sankranti, the time of change of season, the transition of time, and shift in crop starts. The Sun has a direct effect on all new crops from the heart of Makar Sankranti. That is why the auspicious Uttarayan begins by performing ablutions on the day of Makar Sankranti, which is similar in the world, like Jyoti, Deep Light, Sun, worship of all the demigods and all the good works that start from the day of Makar Sankranti. To please the Sun, people worldwide worship the Sun God according to their beliefs and celebrate the festival of Makar Sankranti.

Who is the Sun God?

The most important fact here is that who this Sun God is. The answer to this has been told in our main book Brahma Samhita. The creator of the universe, Lord Brahma, suggests that the Lord of all the planets is the Sun God. Sun is like one eye of the Supreme Lord. 

The cycle of time moves according to the orders of the Sun God. Therefore, accept my obeisances to that Lord Shri Govind. That is, the Sun God does his work only according to the demands of the Supreme Lord Shri Govind.

Have you ever seen such a time from your birth till the present that even for one day, the Sun God has not appeared to anyone? Lord Suryadev (Sun) has always done this work in his fixed time to set on time and rise on time. Surya Dev is always performing his duty and responsibility in the right way by illuminating this entire universe like a Karma Yogi. 

Surya is the disciple of Lord Shri Krishna to get his inner light and divine knowledge. For this, Lord Shri Krishna has also told Arjuna in the Bhagavad Gita Chapter 4 Text 1.

imaṁ vivasvate yogaṁ
proktavān aham avyayam
vivasvān manave prāha
manur ikṣvākave ’bravīt
 

First of all, I had given this knowledge of Bhagavad Gita to the Sun God Vivasvan, in this way, on the day of Makar Sankranti, the right way to please the Sun God would be that we should also worship him, take refuge in them, whose shelter by the Sun God illuminates himself, that is Lord Sri Krishna Himself and the most accessible means of his lair in this Kaliyuga, is the Hare Krishna Mahamantra:-

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare

So all of you also chant this Maha-mantra to this holy name of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and understand the true meaning of every festival and celebrate it and be happy always.

Your Smallest act of Charity can make a difference and bring smiles to Needy Faces.

Kartik Maas: Bhishma Panchak Mahavrat

Kartik Maas: Bhishma Panchak Mahavrat

कार्तिक मास के अंतिम 5 दिन भीष्म पंचक या विष्णु पंचक के नाम से जाने जाते हैं। यह 5 दिवसीय व्रत उत्थान एकादशी तिथि से आरम्भ होता है और कार्तिक पूर्णिमा पर समाप्त होता है। हरि भक्ति विलास के अनुसार यदि कोई भक्त यह व्रत करने में सक्षम है, तो उसे भगवान श्रीकृष्ण की प्रसन्नता के लिए भीष्म-पंचक पर कुछ विशेष खाद्य पदार्थों से उपवास का पालन करना चाहिए। पद्म पुराण में कहा गया है कि जो भी भक्त इस ५ दिवसीय व्रत का पालन करते हैं, उन्हें इस तपस्या से आध्यात्मिक उन्नति एवं भगवान श्रीकृष्ण की शुद्ध भक्ति प्राप्त होती है।

कार्तिक मास के अंतिम पांच दिनों में यह व्रत पहले ऋषि वशिष्ठ, भृगु, गर्ग आदि द्वारा सत्ययुग में किया जाता था। अंबरीष महाराज ने यह व्रत किया और त्रेतायुग में अपने सभी राजसी सुखों का त्याग कर दिया।

भीष्म पंचक उपवास का पालन करने से व्यक्ति को चारों चतुर्मास उपवास का लाभ मिलता है यदि कोई उसका पालन करने में असमर्थ रहा हो। 

भीष्म पंचक का व्रत क्यों रखा जाता है?

भीष्म-पंचक मां गंगा एवं राजा शांतनु के पुत्र भीष्मदेव को समर्पित है। वह कुरु वंश में महान राजा भरत के वंशज पांडवों के ज्येष्ठ पितामह हैं। महाभारत एवं श्रीमद-भागवतम के अनुसार भीष्मदेव ने कुरु वंश का सिंघासन त्याग कर आजीवन ब्रह्मचारी रहने की प्रतिज्ञा की जिसका उन्होंने जीवनपर्यन्त पालन किया। गौड़ीय वैष्णव के अनुसार, भीष्मदेव कृष्णभावनामृत विज्ञान में बारह महाजन अधिकारियों में से एक के रूप में जाने जाते हैं। अपनी युवावस्था में उन्हें यह वरदान मिला था कि उनकी मृत्यु उनकी इच्छानुसार ही होगी।

महाभारत का युद्ध समाप्ति होने के जिस समय गंगा पुत्र भीष्म सूर्य के उत्तरायण होने की प्रतीक्षा में बाणों की शैया पर शयन कर रहे थे तब भगवान श्रीकृष्ण पांडवों के साथ उनके पास गए तथा युधिष्ठिर ने भीष्म पितामह से प्रार्थना की कि- हे पितामह, आप हमें राज्य चलाने संबंधी उपदेश देने की कृपा करें।

तब भीष्म ने 5 दिनों तक राजधर्म, वर्णधर्म, मोक्षधर्म आदि पर उपदेश दिया। उनका उपदेश सुनकर भगवान श्रीकृष्ण संतुष्ट हुए और बोले कि गंगा पुत्र आपने कार्तिक शुक्ल पक्ष एकादशी से पूर्णिमा तक 5 दिनों में जो धार्मिक उपदेश दिया है उससे मुझे बड़ी प्रसन्नता हुई है। इस कारण आपकी स्मृति में आपके नाम पर भीष्म पंचक व्रत का प्रारंभ होगा और इन पांच दिनों में भगवान हरि की पूजा करने और भक्ति सेवा में संलग्न भक्तों को मैं शुद्ध भक्ति का वरदान देता हूँ। पांडवों के युद्ध जीतने के बाद, भीष्मदेव ने अंततः शांति अनुभव की। वह पार्थ-सारथी के रूप में अपनी दिव्य विशेषता में भगवान श्रीकृष्ण के कमल जैसे चेहरे को देखते हुए अपना शरीर छोड़ना चाहते थे। यह भगवान श्रीकृष्ण के प्रति उनकी अटूट आस्था और भक्ति को दर्शाता है, जो जीवन की सर्वोच्च पूर्णता है।

पद्म पुराण में कहा गया है कि जो भी भक्त कार्तिक मास के अंतिम 5 दिनों में इस व्रत का पालन करते हैं, वह जीवन में आध्यात्मिक उन्नति करते हैं एवं बड़े से बड़े पापों से मुक्त हो जाते हैं।

भीष्म पंचक उपवास

हरि भक्ति विलास में भीष्म पंचक व्रत में कुछ खाद्य पदार्थों से भगवान केशव की प्रसन्नता के लिए अपनी क्षमता और समर्पण के अनुसार उपवास पालन करने के लिए कहा गया है। भीष्म पंचक उपवास की 3 श्रेणियां हैं।

 

उपवास श्रेणी-1

Bhisma Panchak Vrat

पांच दिनों में से प्रत्येक दिन गाय के पांच उत्पादों को पंचगव्य के रूप में ग्रहण किया जाता है।

  1. पहला दिन: गाय का गोबर (गोमाया)
  2. दूसरा दिन: गोमूत्र (गोमूत्र)
  3. तीसरा दिन: गाय का दूध (क्षीरा)
  4. चौथा दिन: गाय का दही (दही)
  5. पांचवां दिन: गाय के सभी उत्पाद मिश्रित (पंच-गव्य)

यदि उपवास की पहली श्रेणी आपके लिए संभव नहीं है तो आप फल, मेवा और जड़ ले सकते हैं जैसा दूसरी श्रेणी में वर्णित है।

उपवास श्रेणी-2

यदि कोई भक्त उपवास की पहली श्रेणी का पालन करने में असमर्थ हैं तो वह निम्नलिखित खाद्य पदार्थ ग्रहण कर सकते हैं-

आलू, शकरकंद, मूंगफली, सादा काजू, किशमिश, खजूर, केला कच्चा, मौसम्बी, संतरा, नाशपाती, सेब, चीकू, ताजा कसा हुआ नारियल, नारियल पानी। उपर्युक्त खाद्य पदार्थों को कच्चा, उबला या बेक किया जा सकता है। स्वाद के लिए समुद्री नमक का उपयोग कर सकते हैं।

इस श्रेणी में अमरूद, अनार, ककड़ी जैसे बहुत सारे बीजों वाले फल, दुग्ध उत्पाद एवं तेल का सेवन भी वर्जित है।

उपवास श्रेणी-3

यदि कोई भक्त उपवास की दूसरी श्रेणी का पालन करने में असमर्थ हैं, तो वह “हविश्य” ले सकते हैं जैसा कि निम्नलिखित पुराणों में संदर्भित है-

सन्दर्भ: पद्म पुराण, ब्रह्म खंड, अध्याय 23; स्कंद पुराण, विष्णु खंड, कार्तिक महात्म्य, अध्याय 32; गरुड़ पुराण, पूर्वा, खंड, अध्याय 123

श्री हरि-भक्ति-विलास में वर्णित हविश्य के लिए सामग्री (13.10-13) – हविश्य बनाने में निम्नलिखित सामग्री का उपयोग किया जा सकता है, जो इन वस्तुओं से बनी खिचड़ी की तरह है।

  1. चावल
  2. शुद्ध गाय का घी
  3. गाय का दूध और मलाई
  4. समुद्री नमक
  5. कच्चा केला
  6. गेहूं
  7. नारियल पानी
  8. फल (स्कंद पुराण, नागर खंड कहते हैं कि उन्हें एक छोटे से बीज के साथ होना चाहिए या केवल कुछ बीजों के साथ)
  9. जड़ें
  10. गन्ने से बने उत्पाद (गुड़ के अलावा अन्य पदार्थ)
  11. पालक का काला साक
  12. पिपली जड़ी बूटी

कार्तिक के महीने में हविश्य के हिस्से के रूप में निम्नलिखित अवयवों से बचना चाहिए:

  1. मूंग दाल
  2. तिल का तेल
  3. बेटा-शाका
  4. शष्टिका-शाका
  5. मूली
  6. जीरा
  7. इमली

भीष्म पंचक के लिए निर्धारित अर्पण

गरुड़ पुराण के अनुसार भीष्म पंचक व्रत के दिनों में भक्तगण द्वारा भगवान श्रीकृष्ण के समक्ष  निम्नलिखित फूल अर्पित किए जाने चाहिए।

 

  1. पहले दिन, भगवान के चरणों में पद्म (कमल) के फूल अर्पित करने चाहिए।
  2. दूसरे दिन, भगवान की जाँघ पर बिल्वपत्र अवश्य अर्पित करना चाहिए।
  3. तीसरे दिन, भगवान की नाभि में गंध (सुगंध) अर्पित करना चाहिए।
  4. चौथे दिन, भगवान के कन्धों पर जावा का फूल अर्पित करना चाहिए।
  5. पांचवें दिन, भगवान के सिर पर मालती का फूल अर्पित करना चाहिए।

Your Smallest act of Charity can make a difference and bring smiles to Needy Faces.

Importance of Gopashtami

Importance of Gopashtami

Importance of Gopastami – Gopastami is one of the most important and cheerful pastimes among all the pastimes of lord Shri Krishna. The eighth lunar day of Kartik month is known as Gopastami. It is believed that on this auspicious day Nanda Maharaj send his children Krishna and Balrama for the first time to herd the cows. Krishna now stepped into the age of kumara from pauganda. Till the age of pauganda, Krishna was a calf keeper. After stepping into the age of Kaumara, on the auspicious day of Gopastami lord Shri Krishna started to herd the cows. To witness this incident Shri Radharani took the form of his Sakha.

How Gopastami is celebrated

On this auspicious day, people worship cows. They offer fodder to cows. On Kartik month’s Shukla Ashtami tithi early morning people bathe cows, offer them flowers, and scents and decorate them with different clothes.

People feed fodder to cows and do parikrama, and then go after cows for some distance. Then in the evening when cows come back that time is known as godhuli muhurat. At that time also they are greeted and worshipped. After this, they touch their lotus feet and pray for their healthy and prosperous future. The charity is given in gaushala on this day.

In Srimad Bhagawatam, it is stated that lord Shri Krishna used to walk barefooted at the age of six keeping cows ahead. At that time even his footsteps were not properly developed. Krishna gets delighted when the foot dust of cows falls on him.
Krishna used to walk barefooted in dust leaving footprints of his lotus feet everywhere. This is the reason for the dazzling beauty of Vrindavan.

Krishna’s affection towards Cows

Jollification Of Dhanteras

It is said that Nanda maharaja had 9 lakh cows and lord Shri Krishna was aware of their names. All the cows were identified by their names. If any cow gets separated from the group then Krishna calls them back with their names. Due to this affection, Krishna is also known as Gopal or Govind.

Reason for the importance of cows 

Krishna was fond of cows. He used to apply gauraj tilak on his forehead. He showed his affection for gau seva through his words and pastime to people. In this way, Krishna and Balrama are the symbols of cow protection. In Hindu, culture cows are not considered an ordinary animals. Cows are considered mothers. It is said that by drinking cow’s milk our brain works more actively and we can analyse our shastra easily. In shastra, it is said that inside cows 33 thousand gods and goddesses exist. The cow is the symbol of our prosperity.

Objective of Gopastami

The main aim of Gopastami is to protect cows and provide service for their sewa. We should always try to provide a safe, loving and caring environment to cows as they are the favourite Krishna. It is said that in places where cow seva is done Lord Hari uses it to provide infinite grace. We are dependent on cows’ blessings. We should always provide service and take care of cows. Cows expand prosperity and establish spirituality in the surrounding. Whether we live in cities or villages consuming the milk of desi cow and using other dairy products made of it also contributes to the seva of cows. By doing so we are playing an important role in the country’s economy.

So on this auspicious day of Gopastami, let’s provide some service for the protection of cows. We can try to offer them a loving and protective environment. In this way, we can surely impress our Lord Krishna and get the lord’s blessings.

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna

Krishna Krishna Hare Hare

Hare Ram Hare Ram

Ram Ram Hare Hare.

Your Smallest act of Charity can make a difference and bring smiles to Needy Faces.

Celebration of Deepawali

Celebration of Deepawali

Diwali or Deepawali is the festival of lights. This festival is celebrated in the entire world with an extreme splurge. On this day people exchange best wishes and sweets with each other. Deepawali is the association of five festivals. It includes Dhanteras, Narak Chaturdashi, Deepawali, Govardhan and Bhai dooj.

Jollification Of Dhanteras

dhanteras

In our country, this festival is celebrated with extreme joy and happiness. The celebration of Deepawali starts from Dhanteras. And before this festival people do various preparation such as whitewashing their houses, cleaning etc.

On Dhanteras, people purchase multiple items required for Deepawali. On this day, no one lends their things to anyone. On this auspicious day, people buy new utensils, things, deities of Laxmi Ganesha to worship, sweets and gold and silver jewellery. The founder of ayurvedic medicine, Dhanwantari Vaidya, appeared with Amrit Kalash at sea. So Dhanteras is also considered as Dhanwantri Jayanti.

Importance Of Chhoti Deepawali

On the following day of Dhanteras comes Chhoti Diwali or Narak Chaturdashi. On this day, Lord Krishna killed Narakasur. Narakasur was a demon. On this day, Lord Krishna released the world from his terror. To commemorate the victory of good over evil, we celebrate this festival by lighting lamps.

Significance Of Deepawali

On the following day of Chhoti Deepawali, we celebrate Badi Deepawali. On this day, we forget our all grief and celebrate this festival with full enthusiasm. We celebrate this festival by returning Ayodhya of Lord Sri Ram with Sita Devi and brother Laxman after 14 years of exile. In another era, this was also the day when Lord Krishna performed His Damodar Lila of breaking the pots of butter and yoghurt and letting Himself be bound by Mother Yashoda. 

Preparation Of Deepawali

People make beautiful colourful rangolis at the entrance and light lamps at the centre of rangoli. Many people even make feet of Laxmi Devi at the door and decorate their house with a series of lamps. The light of lamps brighten the outside of the house and signifies the enlightenment of the inside. Everyone needs to be knowledgeable and happy. The gold and silver purchased in Deepawali signify prosperity. It is just an external wealth. The original required wealth in life is present inside us.

The True Wealth Of Life

In this material world, people are so obsessed with wealth, gold etc. But they do not understand the original wealth is love, peace, and harmony. There is no other wealth needed in life other than this to lead a happy life. So natural and actual luxury and the best knowledge make you realize what true life is and why it is so? And what should you do in life?

How A Person Can Attain True Happiness

A person’s character, peace and self-confidence is our actual property. When we proceed in life with the blessings of the Supreme Lord being a devotee, there cannot be any other wealth superior to this. You can realise it by serving Supreme Lord with complete love and devotion. One best example to understand the strength of the Supreme Lord is sea waves. When sea waves are attached to the sea, and a part of it also gets supreme power. We get the same strength from Supreme Lord when we stay connected with Him. So this festival of light illuminates our inside and outside both. It makes our life meaningful and shows the path to attain our goals.

Govardhan Puja

Jollification Of Dhanteras

With these illuminated lights on the next day of Deepawali comes Govardhan Puja. This festival is the real example of love and devotion towards the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krishna. People know this with the name of Annakut also. On Govardhan pooja Godhan, i.e. people worship cows. In Shastra cow is said to be as sacred as the holy Ganga. The cow is noted as the Swaroop of mother Laxmi. As Laxmi Devi provides happiness and prosperity, a cow gives us milk that enriches our health, true wealth. 

Supreme Lord Sri Krishna performed the Govardhan Leela to establish glory Giriraj Govardhan. A pure devotee of Lord Krishna doesn’t have to perform any of the ceremonial functions enjoined in the Vedas, nor is he required to worship any demigods.

Observance Of Govardhan Puja

On the day of Govardhan Puja, people make Govardhan mountain using cow dung. On this day, people worship and do parikrama and offer various types of delicious bhoga offerings. The bhoga offerings are stacked like a small hill and presented to the Lord. Then it is distributed to everyone as prasadam. Hence, this festival is also called Annakuta Festival. 

Bhai Dooj

 In this series of festivals, the last but the important festival is Bhai dooj or bhaiya dooj. This festival is the symbol of the unbreakable bond of brother and sister. On this day, married women invite their brothers to their home, do tilak and ask their brothers to have a feast. On this auspicious day, brothers and sisters who live in one house have a feast together. If a brother and sister take a bath at Yamuna river and take meals at the bank of the river, then it is considered most auspicious and fortunate. This festival is also known as ‘Yama Dwitiya.

In this way, this series of festivals of lamps is an association of five auspicious festivals. These festivals are related and linked to our lives’ phases and enhance our consciousness and strength. It helps us understand reality, and it shows the way to achieve our goal of life that is transcendental loving devotional service towards the Supreme Lord wholeheartedly. So come, let’s celebrate this festival of light with jubilance and try to lighten our inside that is surrendering soul unto the lotus feet of Supreme Lord Krishna and chant the glories of Sri Krishna by His Holy Names.

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna

Krishna Krishna Hare Hare

Hare Ram Hare Ram

Ram Ram Hare Hare.

I wish you a very Happy Krishna Conscious Deepawali.

Your Smallest act of Charity can make a difference and bring smiles to Needy Faces.

Appearance day of Lord Ram (Ram Navami)

Appearance day of Lord Ram (Ram Navami)

THE DIGNITY PERSONIFIED SHRI RAM’S APPEARANCE FESTIVAL

Wishing you all a pleased Ram Navami.

Ram Navami is a very famous festival celebrated throughout India and worldwide by all the devotees of Lord Shri Ramchandra.   

It is celebrated on the Navami tithi of Shukla paksha of Chaitra month every year. Lord Shri Ram is the 7th incarnation in the dashavtaras of Lord Vishnu. 

He appeared with His three brothers, Bharata, Laxmana and Shatrughna, in tretayuga. They appeared as the sons of King Dasharatha in the Surya dynasty of king Ikshavaku.

BUT WHY DOES GOD INCARNATE?

This curiosity, everyone wants to know, why does God take incarnation? Lord Krishna has answered Srimad Bhagavad Gita. As per BG 4.7

Lord Krishna says to Arjuna-

yadā yadā hi dharmasya glānir bhavati bhārata
abhyutthānam adharmasya tadātmānaṁ sṛijāmyaham

“Whenever and wherever there is a decline in religious practice, O descendant of Bharata, and a predominant rise of irreligion—at that time I descend Myself.”

In the very next verse of BG, Lord says –

paritrāṇāya sādhūnāṁ vināśhāya cha duṣhkṛitām
dharma-sansthāpanārthāya sambhavāmi yuge yuge
 

“To deliver the pious and annihilate the miscreants and re-establish the principles of religion, I advent Myself millennium after millennium.”

SIGNIFICANCE OF RAMNAVAMI

The significance of the Ram Navami festival is that no matter how big the evil is, it has to be defeated by the good. Ravana, who had ten heads, Lord Ram defeated him with one arrow. Lord Ramchandra proved that He is the complete Lord of the six luxuries by killing him.

In Brahma vaivarta Purana, Lord Brahma vividly explained the definition of being the Lord. He said, “One who possesses all Aishwarya or riches, all virya or strength, all Yasha or fame, all shree or beauty, all gyana or knowledge, all vairagya or renunciation is called Bhagwan, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

This proves that only God Ram is the greatest and the most influential personality in the universe. Therefore the defeat of Ravana was inevitable.

THE STORY OF LORD RAMA IS AS FOLLOWS

According to Bhagwatam Purana, Lord Vishnu had two gatekeepers, Jai and Vijay. Both of them were cursed by the four kumaras – Sanaka kumara, Sanatana kumara, Sanandana kumara and Sanat kumara. As per the curse, both of them had to take birth on earth three times as demons, and they would be the enemy of Lord Vishnu.

Both of them took birth as the sons of Pulasthya brahman. From birth, they were ruthless; they captivated many demigods and demi goddesses.

Seeing all this, Lord Vishnu appeared as the son of King Dashratha.

According to Valmiki Ramayana, King Dashratha had 353 queens. Only three queens were prominent, mother Kaushalya, mother Keikai and mother Sumitra. King Dashratha, who could move his chariot in ten directions, was a great, powerful and majestic king. 

However, he was disappointed in his life. He had no son who could become the future king of Raghukula dynasty, which was the reason for his constant despair. Due to this concern, Sage Vashishtha suggested that he perform the Putra kameshthi sacrifice. As a result of that sacrifice, he got a bowl full of kheer prasadam. He distributed that kheer equally among his three queens. Mother Kaushalya was the eldest of his three queens, so she got half portion of the kheer first. While honouring kheer prasadam, she thought that her child should be able to rule all over the earth. As a result, she received Lord Shri Ram in the form of her son.

Mother Keikai also honoured kheer prasadam, and she thought that her child should always follow the path of dharma. Thus, she received Bharata in the form of her son.

Mother Sumitra received two portions of kheer prasadam. She thought that her son should always serve the elder brothers with love and respect. As a result, she received two sons, Laxmana and Shatrughan. They were constantly engaged in the service of their elder brothers.

Lord Rama accepted queen Sita as His wife. Their entire life story is presented in the Ramayana book, composed by Sage Valmiki.

Ramayana is divided into seven parts:  

ramayana into 7 parts
  1. Bal kand
  2. Ayodhya kand
  3. Aaranya kand
  4. Kishkindha kand
  5. Sundar kand
  6. Yudh kand
  7. Uttar kand

Shri Ramchandra was known as Maryada Purushottam. He taught the whole society how to be an ideal son, an ideal brother, an ideal husband, an ideal friend, an ideal king and an ideal father.

When Ravana kidnapped, mother Sita in her husband’s absence and took Her to Lanka, Lord Ramchandra attacked Lanka with the help of monkeys and brought Sita back. Ravana represented lust, which is just the opposite of pure love.

Lord Ramchandra destroyed unrighteousness and restored dharma by killing Ravana.

lord rama came to ayodhya

We all should take shelter of Ramnaam on this auspicious occasion of Ram Navami so that all the lustful desires in our minds can be destroyed.

Hare Krishna

Your Smallest act of Charity can make a difference and bring smiles to Needy Faces.

Maa Durga is the presiding deity of this material world

Maa Durga is the presiding deity of this material world

Maa Durga is a revered goddess for those who follow Sanatan Dharma. Hindus worship her all over the world in the form of Mother Shakti.

Generally, we have seen Maa Durga with ten hands with some weapons and ride over Lion, who displays his infinite powers. It is also concluded that she fights against demonic power who are trying to cause damages to peace, prosperity, and religion. Durga Puja, also known as Durgotsava or Shardotsava, is an annual Hindu festival celebrated in South Asia in which Goddess Durga is worshipped. 

Who is Maa Durga? 

According to Shastra, Maa Durga is an expansion of Mother Parvati, the wife of Lord Shiva. She takes the form of Navdurga and does all the upbringing of this world. Lord Sri Krishna also tells Arjuna in the Bhagavad-Gita, Chapter 9, text 10

mayadhyaksena prakrtih
suyate sa-caracara
hetunanena kaunteya
jagad viparivartate

This material nature is working under My direction, O son of Kunti, and it is producing all moving and unmoving beings. Therefore, by its rule, this manifestation is created and annihilated again and again.

Durga Devi is the presiding deity of this material world. It is also believed that the person who is getting diverted from the spiritual world of Lord Krishna and going against the rules, they sent to this material world of Goddess Durga. The comparison of this material world is made with Durg, a type of Fort. This Fort is the correctional home of all the rebellious souls, where they spend their lives protecting Durga Devi, facing the Tritaap (Adhyatmika, Adhibhautika and Adhidaivika).

The trident in the hand of Goddess Durga is a symbol of reminding all the rebels who have come into this material world of Lord through Tritaap (Adhyatmika, Adhibhautika and Adhidaivika). Maa Durga is worshipped to get rid of these tritapas.

When a person comes to this material world, they have to face many sufferings like birth, death, old age, diseases, adhyatmika, adhibhautika and adhidaivika miseries. Goddess Durga takes care of all these things.

Therefore, worshipping Goddess Durga will help them get rid of these sufferings. However, if you want a permanent solution, you have to come out of this material world. 

To get rid of the cycle of birth and death, people worship Goddess Durga. As a result, such living beings get an opportunity to do devotion to the Lord. As a result, they get rid of Mahamaya, the potency of the Lord, and come under the protection of his own Shakti, Yogamaya. 

Srimad Bhagavatam also mentioned that the Gopis worshipped Mother Katyayani to get Lord Krishna as their husband. It is also mentioned in Brahma Samhita, Chapter 5, Text 44-

srishti-sthiti-pralaya- sadhana-shaktir eka
chayeva yasya bhuvanani vibharti durga
icchanurupam api yasya che cheshtate sa
govindam adi-purusham tam aham bhajami

The external potency Maya who is of the nature of the shadow of the cit potency, is worshipped by all people as Durga, the creating, preserving and destroying agency of this mundane world. I adore the primaeval Lord Govinda in accordance with whose will Durga conducts herself.

The Lord presides over this material world objectively, and those who do not accept it are sent to this world of duality. Therefore, by coming in contact with a pure devotee, if the living entity understands that this material world is not his real home, he becomes free from here and goes to his original home in Vaikuntha or Goloka Vrindavana and attains bliss forever.

So on this Durga Puja, let us pray to Maa Durga to give us enough strength to get us out of this material world and go back home, back to Godhead. 

Your Smallest act of Charity can make a difference and bring smiles to Needy Faces.