Guest guest Posted September 7, 2006 Report Share Posted September 7, 2006 I've been looking at my Hindu calendar, looking forward to the upcoming Navaratri, and I noticed that September 8th (just after the Full Moon) is marked "Shraddha begins." Shraddha is a remembrace of relatives who have died, isn't it? How is this celebrated (perhaps "observed" would be a better term) by Hindus, especially by Shaktas? I seem to recall hearing that reading of the Devi Mahatmyam is forbidden during the fortnight of Shraddha (it will be over on September 21st). Interesting how many cultures have some sort of honoring of the deceased during late August through late September. Chinese people celebrate Hungry Ghost festival around now, I believe. And Jews will be ending their New Year (Rosh Ha-Shonah) on October 2nd with Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, when one honors one's relatives who have passed. -- Len/ Kalipadma Get on board. You're invited to try the new Mail. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 8, 2006 Report Share Posted September 8, 2006 It is not SRARDHA WHICH SIGNIFIES THE PERFORMANCE CONNECTED WITH DEPARTED SOUL. IT IS SARADHA MEANING THE GODDESS OF LEARNING AND THE WHOLE PERIOD IS CELEBRATED AS DURGA-LAKSHMI-SARASWATHI MANIFESTATIONS AND SPECIAL PUJAS ARE PERFORMED IN EVERY HOME. Regards, S.SHANGARANARAYANAN Len Rosenberg <kalipadma108 > wrote: I've been looking at my Hindu calendar, looking forward to the upcoming Navaratri, and I noticed that September 8th (just after the Full Moon) is marked "Shraddha begins." Shraddha is a remembrace of relatives who have died, isn't it? How is this celebrated (perhaps "observed" would be a better term) by Hindus, especially by Shaktas? I seem to recall hearing that reading of the Devi Mahatmyam is forbidden during the fortnight of Shraddha (it will be over on September 21st). Interesting how many cultures have some sort of honoring of the deceased during late August through late September. Chinese people celebrate Hungry Ghost festival around now, I believe. And Jews will be ending their New Year (Rosh Ha-Shonah) on October 2nd with Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, when one honors one's relatives who have passed. -- Len/ Kalipadma Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 8, 2006 Report Share Posted September 8, 2006 Len, This following link explains it succintly. http://www.sivanandadlshq.org/religions/mahalaya.htm , Len Rosenberg <kalipadma108 wrote: > > I've been looking at my Hindu calendar, looking forward to the upcoming Navaratri, and I noticed that September 8th (just after the Full Moon) is marked "Shraddha begins." Shraddha is a remembrace of relatives who have died, isn't it? How is this celebrated (perhaps "observed" would be a better term) by Hindus, especially by Shaktas? > > I seem to recall hearing that reading of the Devi Mahatmyam is forbidden during the fortnight of Shraddha (it will be over on September 21st). > > Interesting how many cultures have some sort of honoring of the deceased during late August through late September. Chinese people celebrate Hungry Ghost festival around now, I believe. And Jews will be ending their New Year (Rosh Ha-Shonah) on October 2nd with Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, when one honors one's relatives who have passed. > > -- Len/ Kalipadma Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 9, 2006 Report Share Posted September 9, 2006 Len, /message/23783 15 days from yesterday's full moon is the period of Mahalaya. After Amavasya, it is Navrathri. During these 15 days, offerings of water with sesame seeds can be done to the ancestors. Generally, children who have lost their father are eligible to do the tharpana. During this period, offerings can be made to any and all ancestors (irrespective of one's own or not and even unknown ancestors). Well, even the regular tharpana on amavasya has a final offering which says "All ancestors known and unknown (of all) of all varga be satisfied." The thithi on which the person passed away is apt to do the offering during Mahalaya paksha. If the thithi is not known, then the day when star barani (aka MahAbarani) is ruled by Moon is the day to make the offering or the ashtami thithi (called MadhyAshtami). The above practice is not specifically a Shaktha practice, but a general one. If you can follow the pronunciation - here are the mantras: http://www.pradosham.com/amavasya.php Scroll down to 22.09.06 - FRIDAY MAHALAYA AMAVASYA THARPANAM for the rest of the manthra after those on the top of the page. Just substitute the thithi, varam and nakshathram for the day you might do the offering in this line: "......amavasyam (thithi) puNyathithow brugu (day) vAsara yukthAyAm uthraphalguni (star) nakshathra yukthAyAm........" G PS: if you find all this a bit difficult, just mix some sesame seed in water and think of your ancestors and offer with right hand (partly closed fingers like a fist with thumb extended outside the palm - let the water flow along the extended thumb) 3 times for each ancestor. , "balajisubramaniam03" <bsubramaniam wrote: > > Len, > > This following link explains it succintly. > > http://www.sivanandadlshq.org/religions/mahalaya.htm > > , Len Rosenberg > <kalipadma108@> wrote: > > > > I've been looking at my Hindu calendar, looking forward to the > upcoming Navaratri, and I noticed that September 8th (just after the > Full Moon) is marked "Shraddha begins." Shraddha is a remembrace of > relatives who have died, isn't it? How is this celebrated > (perhaps "observed" would be a better term) by Hindus, especially by > Shaktas? > > > > I seem to recall hearing that reading of the Devi Mahatmyam is > forbidden during the fortnight of Shraddha (it will be over on > September 21st). > > > > Interesting how many cultures have some sort of honoring of the > deceased during late August through late September. Chinese people > celebrate Hungry Ghost festival around now, I believe. And Jews will > be ending their New Year (Rosh Ha-Shonah) on October 2nd with Yom > Kippur, the Day of Atonement, when one honors one's relatives who > have passed. > > > > -- Len/ Kalipadma > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 9, 2006 Report Share Posted September 9, 2006 Thank you, Ganpra. This hasn't been a good year or two. Two dear male friends of my Wiccan lineage died within a year of each other, one of cancer, the other from a gas-heater mishap. A good female friend died in a motorcycle accident. My Dad passed away last year, and my Mom about a year before that. You know you're getting older as more and more of your friends pass away. My Mom was profoundly depressed when she realized that her entire gang of friends from high school were gone, except her. I try to deal with the sadness, but it's difficult. -- Len/ Kalipadma ganpra <ganpra (AT) rocketmail (DOT) com> wrote: Len, /message/23783 15 days from yesterday's full moon is the period of Mahalaya. After Amavasya, it is Navrathri. During these 15 days, offerings of water with sesame seeds can be done to the ancestors. Generally, children who have lost their father are eligible to do the tharpana. During this period, offerings can be made to any and all ancestors (irrespective of one's own or not and even unknown ancestors). Well, even the regular tharpana on amavasya has a final offering which says "All ancestors known and unknown (of all) of all varga be satisfied." The thithi on which the person passed away is apt to do the offering during Mahalaya paksha. If the thithi is not known, then the day when star barani (aka MahAbarani) is ruled by Moon is the day to make the offering or the ashtami thithi (called MadhyAshtami). The above practice is not specifically a Shaktha practice, but a general one. If you can follow the pronunciation - here are the mantras: http://www.pradosham.com/amavasya.php Scroll down to 22.09.06 - FRIDAY MAHALAYA AMAVASYA THARPANAM for the rest of the manthra after those on the top of the page. Just substitute the thithi, varam and nakshathram for the day you might do the offering in this line: "......amavasyam (thithi) puNyathithow brugu (day) vAsara yukthAyAm uthraphalguni (star) nakshathra yukthAyAm........" G PS: if you find all this a bit difficult, just mix some sesame seed in water and think of your ancestors and offer with right hand (partly closed fingers like a fist with thumb extended outside the palm - let the water flow along the extended thumb) 3 times for each ancestor. , "balajisubramaniam03" <bsubramaniam wrote: > > Len, > > This following link explains it succintly. > > http://www.sivanandadlshq.org/religions/mahalaya.htm > > , Len Rosenberg > <kalipadma108@> wrote: > > > > I've been looking at my Hindu calendar, looking forward to the > upcoming Navaratri, and I noticed that September 8th (just after the > Full Moon) is marked "Shraddha begins." Shraddha is a remembrace of > relatives who have died, isn't it? How is this celebrated > (perhaps "observed" would be a better term) by Hindus, especially by > Shaktas? > > > > I seem to recall hearing that reading of the Devi Mahatmyam is > forbidden during the fortnight of Shraddha (it will be over on > September 21st). > > > > Interesting how many cultures have some sort of honoring of the > deceased during late August through late September. Chinese people > celebrate Hungry Ghost festival around now, I believe. And Jews will > be ending their New Year (Rosh Ha-Shonah) on October 2nd with Yom > Kippur, the Day of Atonement, when one honors one's relatives who > have passed. > > > > -- Len/ Kalipadma > Get your email and more, right on the new .com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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