Durgashtami (Durga Ashtami)

Eight little girls arrived at the abode of Sandhya. Welcoming them, Sandhya offered them to sit and rushed inside, only to return with a copper plate and vessel filled with water. One by one, she washed the feet of the little angels, wiped them, applied kumkum to their toe, touched their feet to show reverence and offered asana to sit on the floor. Once they did, she served them with delicious Kheer and Puri. And after they were done, she gave each one of them, a nice gift and eleven rupees. The girls were more than happy when they left her home.

This is a very common vista of Kanya Pujan on Durgashtami in India. Durgashtami falls on the 8th day of Navratri which is celebrated twice in a year in India as per the Hindu calendar. Of all, the one commemorated in Sharad month (winter) is the most important one and also called MahaNavratri. This is also the time when Bengalis celebrate Durga Puja in India. Many also celebrate Navratri which falls in Chaitra month of Hindu calendar as well.

Legends say that it was on the day of Durga ashtami that Goddess Kali appeared from the forehead of Devi Durga and killed the demons – Chanda, Munda and Raktabija. According to another legend, Bharaivnath was beheaded at the hands of Maa Vaishno Devi. Later Maa forgave him and granted him a wish. Likewise, there are many legends associated with different swarups of Maa Shakti.

The importance and relevance of Kanya Puja on Durgashtami is connected to worshipping 8 swarups of Maa Shakti Devi Durga namely, Varahi, Indrani, Kameswari, Brahmani, Vaishnavi, Maheswari, Chamunda and Narasinghi.  They are also called Ashta Nayikas or 8 forms of Shakti or Power. Along with Maa Durga, her 64 associates who are called chaushast yoginis, are also worshipped on this day. Astra Puja is also performed wherein weapons of Maa Durga are worshipped. Exhibits of arms or martial arts is one of the appealing sights on this day. The event is also called Virashtami. Both, men and women observe fast and offer their homage to Maa Shakti on this day.

Source: https://www.wheresmypandit.com/blog/durgashtami-durga-ashtami

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Vat Purnima

Outside Lord Shiva’s temple, under the shades of a Banyan tree, were a few women, decked up in beautiful red sarees, dazzling jewellery and puja thalis in their hands. Some settled around and started sprinkling red powder (kumkum) on the trunks of the tree, lit a diya, offered flowers, rice and water to it. Then they tied one side of a cotton thread on the trunk and started circling around the tree with the thread. Once they were done circling the tree seven times, they tied the loose end of the thread to the tree, joined their hands and paid their homage. Far across the road, little Tanya was sitting on a bench with her granny, watching this bizarre vista. Her curiosity couldn’t resist the question popping in her head and she finally asked her granny, “What are those aunties doing dadi?” A wide smile spread across the face of granny and she said, “It’s Vat Purnima beta, so all these aunties are praying”. But the puzzled look on Tanya’s face was soon understood by her and off she went, “Let me tell you a story”.

“Once upon a time, there was a princess named Savitri, who married to a prince named Satyavan. It was predicted that Satyavan would not live for long. One day while he was resting on Savitri’s lap under a Banyan tree, he passed away. Men from Yamlok came to take Satyavan’s soul along with them, but Savitri refused to part with her husband. After countless efforts from different messengers of yamas, which all failed, Yamaraj himself came down to take the soul of Satyavan. However, adamant Savitri refused to give in. In lieu, Yamaraj gave her a boon, for which she requested for her in-laws wellbeing which was instantly granted. Savitri still followed Yamaraj when he was taking her husband’s soul. So he gave her another boon, for which she requested for her parents’ wellbeing which was also granted. Adamant Savitri however didn’t stop and continued to follow till they approached the gates of Yamlok. The great Yamaraj stopped her and gave her another boon, for which she asked for a son. And it was granted as well. It was then that Savitri reasoned with Yamaraj that how she could have a son without her husband. Puzzled and impressed, Yamaraj had to return Satyavan’s soul to Savitri. It is from that day onwards that she is regarded as Sati Savitri. Today is that day. Like Savitri brought her husband back, these all aunties are praying for the wellbeing and long life of their husbands”

Tanya’s curiosity was put to rest with this legendary tale that we all are familiar with. Banyan Tree in Hinduism is a symbolic depiction of Brahma, Vishnu & Shiva; the root being Brahma, Stem being Vishnu and Upper portion being Shiva. The entire tree is depicted as a symbol of Savitri.  It is believed that offering prayers to Banyan (Vat) tree on Purnima of Jyestha month of Hindu calendar brings prosperity and long life for husband and family. Also the fact that Banyan tree has a long life adds great significance to this.

Let’s look at the other angle. During one of his orations, a famous astrology teacher and the HOD of computer science at an engineering college, Mr. Prabhod Vekhede described Vat Purnima celebration to be more logical. Accordingly to him, because of the foreign invasions and dominance of planet rahu, the death toll of spouses had gone up in North India. As a result, women started worshipping & fasting for their husband’s wellbeing on Amavasya day. It gradually percolated in the other parts of the nation. 15 days after the north observes this celebration, the southern parts of India, which include Maharashtra and Gujarat celebrates Vat Purnima. Women observe fast on this day which goes on till next day morning. Another important aspect to be considered is that women being the centre of the Hindu families, following such rituals by them keeps the family bonded. No matter what logic is applied, Vat Purnima is and will remain a matter of faith for all Hindu women in India.

Source: https://www.wheresmypandit.com/blog/vat-purnima

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Ganga Dussera

Ganga is considered the holiest river by Hindus and bears a religious and spiritual significance in their lives. Ganga Dussera is celebrated on the tenth day of the Shukla Paksha (the bright side of the moon) of the Jyestha month as per the Hindu calendar.

This day is also known as Ganga Avataran. In Sanskrit, Avataran translates to arrival or a descent, hence the name Ganga Avataran means the arrival of Ganga.  It marks the day when Ganga descended on earth from heaven, before which she is believed to have resided in Lord Brahma’s stoup. Once a Suryavanshi King – Bhagirath, offered penance to Lord Shiva to rid his ancestors of a curse and free their souls. Lord Shiva, pleased with King Bhagirath’s worship allowed him to bring Ganga on earth, carrying the purity of heaven with her and washing away the sins of his ancestors. The day bears a unique combination of ten distinct astrological vedic calculations, which are Jyestha month, shukla paksha, tenth day, Wednesday, hastha nakshatra, Moon in Virgo, Vyatipat yog, Gar Anand yog, and Sun in Taurus.

Ganga Dussera is celebrated with much enthusiasm across the religious cities and towns near the mighty River Ganga – especially Allahabad, Haridwar, Rishikesh and Varanasi. The puja celebration at Varanasi is the grandest and is said to be spiritually liberating with culmination of the celebration with Ganga Aarti at the Dasawamedh Ghat. For those who are away from the places near ghats can offer puja at home as well. The idol of Goddess Ganga is bathed with holy water, dressed in white clothes and adorned with a lotus. On this day people also worship King Bhagirath, since he brought Goddess Ganga down on earth and Lord Shiva, as he tied her with his hair to control her stream and avoid havoc on earth. People chant mantras to invoke her and pray with complete devotion and faith. The mantras are chanted in counts of ten. After the puja, devotees donate food items among those who are needy. As per Skand purana, it is recommended that the donations are also made in the counts of ten i.e. ten fruits or ten kilos of rice and so on. The donation of black sesame seeds are believed to bring positive results for bringing moksha for the ancestors.

Source:https://www.wheresmypandit.com/blog/ganga-dussera

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Baisakhi Festival

Baisakhi Festival

Baisakhi marks the beginning of the harvest of rabi crops and is celebrated with extreme zeal in Punjab. Though this auspicious day is celebrated and called by different names all over India – ‘Rangoli Bihu’ in Assam, ‘Naba Brasha’ in Bengal, ‘Puthandu’ in Tamil Nadu, ‘Pooram Vishu’ in Kerela and ‘Vaishakha’ in Bihar and western india. Baisakhi is considered the most auspicious and important festival for number of reasons. Apart from farmers, Baisakhi is of prime significance for Sikhs in Northern India as this marks the day when Shri Guru Gobind Singh paved the way for the ‘Khalsa Panth” – The path for pure ones.

As per a legend, the ninth Sikh Guru, Shri Teg Bahadur fought against Mughal invasion in India and beheaded Aurangzeb to stop Mughals in their path. After his death his son, Guru Gobind Singh became the Guru of Sikhs. To instil valour and strengthen the battle against the Mughal invaders he called for a Sikh congregation at Keshgrah at Anandpur on March 30 1699.  With thousands of Sikhs assembling at his call, he spoke with great fervour to inspire his men with courage. Waving his sword in air, he called upon his followers to be ready to offer great sacrifice for their country. He further asked his followers to present themselves as a sacrifice. Five men came forward. Shri Gobind Singh took them to tent and came out with his sword trickling blood. The stunned silence of congregation burst into rapturous cries when the five men came out of the tent wearing the saffron clothes and turbans on their head holding the battle swords ready for the call. These men are known as original ’Paanj Pyares’ meaning the ‘Five Loved Ones’. They all hailed from different backgrounds – Jat, Shopkeeper, Barber, Printer and a Water bearer, but they were united as a Paanj Pyare family destroying the societal boundaries of casteism. The event marked the beginning of the order - Khalsa Panth.

As a tradition, every one wakes up early on Baisakhi and dress in new clothes. Families visit nearby temples and Gurudwaras seeking blessing of Guru Granth Sahib and praying for good ensuing harvest. Most people strive to visit Anandpur as their holy pilgrim site.  At the Gurudwara, the holy book – Guru Granth Sahib is taken out for symbolic bath and rituals. Holy verses are chanted and kirtans played by Paanj pyaares, followed by offering ‘amrit’- holy water to disciples.

In the afternoon, volunteers help out in the community lunch –‘Langar’ where the meal along with ‘Karah Prasad’ – sweetened semolina is served to people.  In the evening the holy book, Guru Granth Sahib is taken out for a procession lead by Paanj Pyares symbolising their journey to Anandpur.  The procession is moved through major city locales and is a colourful culmination of celebrations with Bhangra and Gidda and devotional chants of ‘Sat Nam’ and ‘Wahe Guru”, filling the surrounding with divine spirituality.

Baisakhi also signifies the day when Gautaum Buddha attained Nirvana. On Baisakhi in 1875 Swami Dayanand Saraswati founded Arya Samaj – a transformed sect of Hindus following teaching from Vedas for spiritual upliftment. This makes Baisakhi as the most auspicious day to begin new undertakings for Hindus, Sikhs, and Buddhists alike.

Source: https://www.wheresmypandit.com/blog/baisakhi-festival

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Animal Sacrifice in Hinduism

Animal Sacrifice in Hinduism

In India, Hindu religion is followed by a large majority of people. It is also third most followed religion in the world. Hinduism is considered to be one of the most flexible religions of the globe. A follower can choose his or her own personal god or goddess to follow.  Also there isn’t any restrictions on Hindus as to how they wish to worship their lord. It’s a freeway and one can practice their religion according to their choice.

But like all things in the world, this religion too has another face of itself. There are a few Hindu practices which are unlike the rest of the culture this religion follows. The most oldest and prominent of all the holy texts in the Hindu religion is the scriptures of Vedas.  The Rig Veda says that by bali or yajna, one can help himself attain moksha. Moksha in Hindus is the freedom of the soul from the cyclic circle of birth and re-birth. It suggests that this process of sacrifice is one very unique as it’s different from both every day traditional activities and basic prayers and worship.

In earlier times, there were different types of sacrifices. The Royal ones which could only be done by the Kings and Princes for example: Ashavamedha and Jyotistoma where the sacrifice took place in three different stages. But one needs to understand that times have changed.

Many other Hindu holy scriptures like the Bhagvad Gita and Puranas are completely against animal sacrifices and have also forbidden it. According to these texts, killing an animal in the name of sacrifice is considered a sin.

Even though now in the present time, a huge Hindu population does not follow these rituals but there is still a part of the Hindu community that does. In the Nepalese festival of worshiping the goddess Ghadimai, it’s an annual practice where about five million devotees sacrifice tens and thousands of animals all that are part of the cattle. Such include cows, buffalos, goats etc. Hindus in Bali use sacrificing as part of the ritual of opening a new business or enterprise. In Rajasthan localities offer a sacrifice of buffalo or goat to their family Goddess during the festival of Navaratri. The practice of animal sacrifice is actually hugely popular down in south. Due to the ardent devotion to the goddess Kali. In Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, scores of animals are sacrificed during the Jayanti of Kali Mata. Also at times live human sacrifices have been reported too.

Even though the animal’s welfare is highly at risk due to these rituals and festivals, no such definitive rules or policy has been released by government to ensure the safety or the welfare of these animals. There have been numerous NGOs at work for this cause. Even though they have managed to lessen it, they haven’t still managed to completely eradicate this ritual.

We should all try and do our bit so such practices are discouraged and animals are saved.

Source: https://www.wheresmypandit.com/blog/animal-sacrifice-in-hinduism-2

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