Guest guest Posted October 12, 2004 Report Share Posted October 12, 2004 ***Sai Ram** Greetings. I wish to enquire about the significance of Purtassi. why do hindus fast during this month?? I know why we observe prayers on the saturday but why fast for the month. Also, is there any hindu mythology behind it, a reason???? Further, we make a mixture of milk, sour milk and banana, and sugar mixed with water as part of the offering on saturday. WHY? The reason i ask is that i am 17 and wonder why we do certain things as i feel that the younger generation won't follow something if they dont know why we do it. Also i am currently writing a book on hindu customs and traditions and this is one of the issues that i discuss. All material received will be acknowleged. Thanking you very much R.N. ***Sai Ram** Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 12, 2004 Report Share Posted October 12, 2004 Om Sai Ram to one and all.. Hope this explanation will help: Puratassi/Purattassi fasting period... Purattasi Festival is fasting to please Saturn or Sany bhagavan, one of the nine planets. Jaffna Tamils also fast in this period and abstain from meat and alcohol.The annual featival of many Vishnu Temples in Tamil Eelam are celebrated in this month. Some go to the Jaffna Venkadesa Varatharaj perumal Temple to light the sesame oil lamp with their family members on Purattasi month or September. To further elaborate on this occasion here is some more indepth explanation: The month of Purtassi (mid September to mid October) is dedicated to the worship of Maha Vishnu (the preserver) who is the absolute symbol of the Transcendent state of Ananda. In the Holy Trinity (Trimurthi) of Brahma, Vishnu and Siva, the Preserver is Vishnu. It is the period of the year in which we pay homage to Lord Vishnu. Therefore our worship is thanksgiving to mother nature for preservation. Preservation is a Divine Attribute which embraces many aspects of our life to which we invoke Lord Vishnu as Emperumal, Govinda, Gopala, Venketeswara, Hari Narayana, Balaji, Srinivasa, Runganatha, Ramchandra, etc. It was in the month of Purtassi, Lord Vishnu in the form of Sri Venketa Chala Pahi (Balaji) came to earth to guide people and left his form in the Thiruppathi Hills in India. Therefore people from all parts of the world flock to India to pay homage to Thiruppathi to get a glimpse of the Divine form by taking vows to overcome their problems. At many Temples, the Garudan Flag is hoisted on the first day of the month. The Shree Emperumal Hindu Temple does not hoist the flag on the first day of the month because the insignia of Garudan lies permanently at the entrance of the Temple. This flag is renewed annually during the Thiruna Festival. However, the first day of the month, Malayppa Swami and his two consorts and Lord Ganesha are taken in procession around the temple to herald this sacred month. Thereafter prayers are held on each Saturday of the month. Special recitals pertaining to Lord Vishnu are conducted from religious books like Garuda Parthu and Thirunaam Padhigam. Devotees say: "Govinda, Govinda, Govinda", after each verse is recited. Devotees especially on Saturdays wear the Naamam or the Vaishnavite symbol. Symbolically, the Naamam represents Lord Vishnu's two feet in his reclined pose - which is represented in the shape of a capital "U" (white). The central stroke represents the Thrishaum (red stroke) - Mother Lutchmee. Why prayers are observed on Saturdays? Saturdays are observed for the worship of Hanuman and Shri Balaji because Saturdays are free from the influences of Saturn and other planetary forces (Grahas). In this month planets like Mercury and Ketha influence the earth. Therefore, the worship of Lord Vishnu with devotion and love will help us to have a peaceful and happy life with good and obdient children. "Bakthi" is the main theme of all the rituals in the month. Benefits from observing Purtassi. 1.The community becomes united during this period. We must strive at all times to be united. 2. The restrictions to a vegetarian diet is not only an act of self discipline but this abstinence has profound religious significance, which helps in the purification of the body, mind and soul. It helps to discipline the mind, removes waste and toxins from the body and helps to revitalise the body in its capacity to function well. It further helps the mind to become more alert and reflexes becomes sharper. 3. Devotion to God especially during this Kaliyug period is important. This period which is characteristic of excessive greed for power, extreme hatred, jealousy, anger and intolerance have polluted the life of man in general all over the world. We must strive, seek and maintain the following virtues: truth, peace, righteousness and non violence. This helps people in directing their thoughts towards God Realisation. Hopefully this will give you some clarity... May Sai Bless all abundantly Om Shri Sai Raam Radhey of Canada Reinald [elfangor_69] Tuesday, October 12, 2004 10:53 AM [saibabanews] Meaning of Purtassi ***Sai Ram** Greetings. I wish to enquire about the significance of Purtassi........... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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