Uttana Dwadashi Festival(05-11-03) --report

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Uttana Dwadashi Festival in Ashrama Ð 5th Nov 2003

 

Ashrama today observed ÒUTTANA DVADASHIÓ or ÒKSHEERABDHI DWADASHIÓ.

 

This festival symbolizes the waking up of Lord Vishnu on this day and the

journey to Earth from Ksheera Loka (Vaikuntha). Lord Vishnu is believed to visit

Brindavana in Gujarat state.

 

 

 

Dhatri, the Sanskrit word means Earth or Nellikai (Gooseberry). This berry fruit

is one of the most important three berries mentioned in Ayurveda and is

purported to have great medicinal qualities. On this festival Tulasi plant is

also worshipped. Tulasi is also a medicinal plant with great healing qualities.

As prescribed in the Puranas Tulasi and Nellikai plants are to be worshipped

today. This festival requires that every home have these two plants.

 

 

 

According to Mythology, a demon Jalandhara had a pious wife by name ÒTULASIÓ.

Because of her piety, his bad deeds could not be punished. Vishnu caused TULASI

to get bad thoughts so that the path to annihilate Jalandhara could be found.

Jalandhara was killed. Tulasi learning about her husbandÕs death due to the

trickery of Vishnu felt very sad and bad. Then Vishnu said that a special new

plant would grow out of her burial place. The wood of that plant would be used

by Vishnu to make a Mala (garland) and worn around his neck. Vishnu continued

and said that he would come to earth on this festival from Vaikuntha to

Brindavana when the people would offer him a TULASI MALA. Thus she would find

place in Lord Vishnu each year. Vishnu also said that those who show lighted

lamp when Vishnu wore the Tulasi Mala would be specially blessed.

 

 

 

Also to be observed is the fact that this festival falls in the month of

Krittika (Krittika is named after the Krittika Nakshatra (Star) which comes

during the full moon day in this month. Since Agni is the presiding deity of

this month, lamps are lit in front of house every day. Lighting lamp and doing

Arati to Sadguru in this special month acquires even more significance. It is

prescribed to use cow ghee only. This denotes that one has to sustain and

support the GO SHAALAS (cow herds).

 

 

 

Today is also the great day Amrita (nectar) was born out of the great churning

exercise called ÒAmrita MathanaÓ by the Gods and the Demons. Maha Vishnu was

around in the form of Tortoise in Kurmavatara in these times. Hence the

spiritual exercises around Maha Vishnu in these days.

 

 

 

Sri Swamiji sat near the Audumbara tree in the evening while beautifully

decorated gooseberry tree and Tulasi plants were placed and decorated around.

 

 

 

Sri Swamiji in his speech exhorted humans to give up non-vegetarian eating and

to develop love and compassion to other living beings. Sri Swamiji said that

eating meat and animals cause more Tamasic thoughts in humans. Sri Swamiji

remembered Nanjamma Ajji a great lady who served Sri Swamiji in a devoted and

dedicated manner from 1965 till 1998. Sri Swamiji said that the lights lit in

this month are like the path lights for our ancestors to reach heavens.

NanjammaÕs dedication is the torch to understand the serving of a Sadguru said

Sri Swamiji.

 

 

 

Devotees had to opportunity to come and offer light to Sri Swamiji.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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