An Auspicious Wednesday (16/4/2003)

[Guest guest]

Three event is said to have happen today:

 

1. CHITRA POURNAMI

 

The Hindu Festival Chitra Pournami is observed on the full moon day

in the month of Chithirai or chaitra corresponding to the English

months of April-May, when the asterism Chitra (virginis) holds sway.

It is a festival observed to propitiate Chitragupta the chief

accountant of Yama, who is believed to record the commissions and

omissions by men in order to punish or reward them after their death.

In this month, the sunshine in its entire splendour, and the moon,

which borrows its luster from the sun derives the same in full. Hence

this day is said to be conducive to the happiness of humanity in

general. Further, if the occasion happens to be a Thursday, Saturday

or Sunday, it is considered especially auspicious and important.

There is also another myth to emphasize the importance of observing

this festival and it is as follows:

 

Brihaspati, the spiritual adviser of the gods, threw up his

appointment, since Indra, the celestial king, failed to show proper

respect to him. In the absence of the advice of his preceptor, Indra

became a great sinner by his commissions and omissions. After some

time, Brihaspati relented and returned to duty. He forgave Indra and

pointed oat to him how be may be purged of all his sins by visiting

several holy places. Indra, acting accordingly, came to a forest

where he found that all his sins were removed. Looking about himself

to find to the cause of his happy deliverance, he found a linga near

a tank. Being convinced that the influence radiating from it was the

cause of the joy of his heart, he at once sent for Visvakarma, the

celestial architect, and with his aid he erected a splendid shrine

for the linga. He also got another shrine erected nearby, containing

the figure of lswari, Siva's wife.

 

Indra then thought of worshipping the god lswara and the goddess

Iswari, but had no flowers. He then prayed to the linga and the image

of lswari, when lo! There suddenly appeared beautiful golden lilies

on the surface of the pond. As the day of Indra's worship of Iswara

and Iswari happened be the Chitra Pournami day, this festival came to

be celebrated in a befitting manner. Even now people believe the

statement that Indra visits his former place of worship on the Chitra

Pournami night every year to worship Iswara and Iswari.

Courtesy of Singapore Hindu Online.

 

 

2. Hanuman Jayanthi

Hanuman Jayanti is celebrated to commemorate the birth of Hanuman,

the monkey god widely venerated throughout India.

http://www.enaadu.com/enaadu1/festivals/hanuman.asp

 

3. Confluence of the stars.