religious info

September 28, 2005

from a forwarded mail:

Amavasai

This marks the new moon day. The moon which is one of the Nava Grahas denoted as CHANDRAN, is considered as a deity who showers blessings of prosperity and good health. This occurs once every month, usually a fortnight after Pournami. The Amavasai which occurs in the month of Puratasi, that is the end of September and the beginning of October, is considered of special importance and celebrated as Mahaliya Amavasai. Fasting during this day brings peace to the ancestors. It is a ritual to give Annadhanam (food) to Brahmins on this day.

Chathurthi &

Sankadahara Chathurthi

Chathurthi is a day of importance for Lord Vinayaga, and is considered auspicious to initiate any new endeavour, job or project. This occurs twice every month once during the growing moon period and once during the waning moon period. The main chathurthi called Sri Vinayaga Chathurthi occurs during the month of September in the growing moon period and is celebrated with pomp and splendour all over India. During this festival large decorated idols of Sri

Vinayaga are drowned in the rivers and lakes to mark the occasion.

Ekadashi

Ekadashi is a Sanskrit word, which means 'the eleventh'. It refers to the eleventh day of a fortnight belonging to a lunar month. There are two fortnights in a lunar month—the bright and the dark. So, Ekadashi occurs twice in a month, in the bright fortnight and the dark fortnight. The special feature of Ekadashi, as most people know it, is a fast, abstinence from diet. People who are perfectly healthy and are confident, observe a complete fast. This helps in control of mind and will. Apart from all these, there is a necessity to give the physiological system some rest once a while. It may be over-worked due to a little over-eating or indiscrimination in diet. These irregularities unconsciously done during the fourteen days get rectified in one day. Thus the observance of Ekadashi has many advantages—physical, astral, spiritual.

Kiruthikai

(or Karthikai)

This day denotes the occurrence of the Kiruthikai Nakshatram every month, as per the Tamil Calendar. On this day a special seva and poojas takes place at all Murugan temples.

The Kiruthikai Nakshatram is of great importance to Sri

Murugan, as it is considered as his birth star. When it falls on a Monday, and occurs during the month of Karthigai, it is considered especially sacred, and devotees undertake fasts and special prayers to seek the Lord's blessings.

The occurrence of Kiruthikai Nakshatram in the month of

Karthigai is celebrated as Thiru Karthigai. Hindus (predominantly in Tamilnadu) decorate their homes and altars with little oil lamps to celebrate this day. Various legends exist for the celebration of Thiru Karthigai.

Pournami

This marks the full moon day. The moon which is one of the Nava Grahas denoted as CHANDRAN, is considered as a deity who showers blessings of prosperity and good health. This occurs once every month, usually a fortnight after Amavasai. The Pournami which occurs during the month of Chithirai, that is the beginning of May is considered of special importance and celebrated as Chitra Pournami by South Indians.

Pradhosham

Pradhosham occurs twice a month - once during the Growing Moon Period [

Shukla Paksha - 15 moon days from New moon to Full moon] and the other during the Waning Moon Period [Krishna Paksha - 15 moon days from Full moon to New moon], in the evening of the thrayodhasi (thirteenth moon day) between 4.30 p.m. to 6.00 p.m. This denotes the meeting of the Sun and the Moon in a Horizontal Line during the course of movement on their Axis.

Pradhosha time is especially meant for praying Lord Shiva. Praying in that time will free us from our sins and gives moksha finally (hence the name Pradhosha). During pradosha time a special type of circumbulating called soma sutra pradaxinam is done. A point to note here is that the

gomukhi is never crossed. gomukhi is the place where the water after anointing (abhisheka

teertam) would be flowing northwards out. By doing this way of pradaxinam one does not step over this holy water.

History behind Pradhosham

Once Devas and Asuras using the serpent Vasuki

and the hill Mandhara were trying to get Amrutham (nector) from the Kseerabthi (milk ocean

). Then the terrible poison Halahalam came up. All got frightened and pleaded to Lord Shiva for rescue. Being the peak of mercy Lord Shiva ate that poison. Then as per His order they resumed their effort to get Amrutham. They got it on Dhwadhasi (twelfth moon day). Without praying and thanking the God, by whom they got Amrutham,

Devas started dancing and celebrating their victory.

On thrayodhasi (thirteenth moon day) they realised their sin of not praying the God and pleaded for forgiveness. The pleased graceful Lord Shiva forgave them and danced between the horns of the Nandhi (holy bull). That time is called Pradhosham. Whoever prays Lord Shiva in that time, Lord Shiva fulfills

their wishes and give them mukthi.

Raaghu

Kalam & Yama Kandam

Of the nine grahas, the primary position is given to Lord Surya which is why the first day of the week is said to be Sunday. The seven days of the week refer to the seven grahas, including the Sani

Bhagawan. The Nava Nayakaas (Nine Lords) have been given much authority over human life. Each day of the week is ruled by one of the first seven of the nine lords, viz., Sunday by Soorya, Monday by Chandra, Tuesday by Angaaraka, Wednesday by Budha, Thursday by Guru, Friday by Sukra and Saturday by Sani. The eighth graha is Raaghu. Of the seven days in a week, 10 hours are reserved for Raaghu, i.e., one-and-a-half hours per day. This one-and-a-half hours is what we call as 'Raaghu kalam'. The ninth graha is called Kedhu. Like for Raaghu, the same amount of time is reserved for Kedhu also. This one-and-a-half hours is called 'Yama

kandam'.

Raaghu

kalam and Yama kandam are believed to be inappropriate for performing auspicious deeds.

Shashti &

Skantha Shashti

Shashti is another day of importance to Sri Murugan. It usually falls a few days after Amavasai (new moon). Devotees undertake fasts and offer prayers on this day every month for a period of time, usually a year or three years. Since this day is of importance to Sri Murugan, the occurrence of Shashti during the month of Karthigai is considered of great importance and celebrated as

Skanda Shashti. The day after Deepavali starts the 6 days of Skanda Shashti

with the culmination of Soorasamharam on the 6th day. The 6 days of Shashti constitute the 6 days of war with Soorapadman (a demon) and on the last day of Shashti, 'Soorasamharam', Lord Muruga conquered the demon, Suran.

September 29, 2005

hi anu,

thanks, that was a good info for us. keep it up

Anuratha Damothran [anurai58]Wednesday, September 28, 2005 4:40 PM ; shakti; ; rajeshwari; Kali_Ma ; divyabhakti ; ; GoddessDurga ; malaysianhinduism Subject: religious info

from a forwarded mail:

Amavasai

This marks the new moon day. The moon which is one of the Nava Grahas denoted as CHANDRAN, is considered as a deity who showers blessings of prosperity and good health. This occurs once every month, usually a fortnight after Pournami. The Amavasai which occurs in the month of Puratasi, that is the end of September and the beginning of October, is considered of special importance and celebrated as Mahaliya Amavasai. Fasting during this day brings peace to the ancestors. It is a ritual to give Annadhanam (food) to Brahmins on this day.

Chathurthi & Sankadahara Chathurthi

Chathurthi is a day of importance for Lord Vinayaga, and is considered auspicious to initiate any new endeavour, job or project. This occurs twice every month once during the growing moon period and once during the waning moon period. The main chathurthi called Sri Vinayaga Chathurthi occurs during the month of September in the growing moon period and is celebrated with pomp and splendour all over India. During this festival large decorated idols of Sri Vinayaga are drowned in the rivers and lakes to mark the occasion.

Ekadashi

Ekadashi is a Sanskrit word, which means 'the eleventh'. It refers to the eleventh day of a fortnight belonging to a lunar month. There are two fortnights in a lunar month—the bright and the dark. So, Ekadashi occurs twice in a month, in the bright fortnight and the dark fortnight. The special feature of Ekadashi, as most people know it, is a fast, abstinence from diet. People who are perfectly healthy and are confident, observe a complete fast. This helps in control of mind and will. Apart from all these, there is a necessity to give the physiological system some rest once a while. It may be over-worked due to a little over-eating or indiscrimination in diet. These irregularities unconsciously done during the fourteen days get rectified in one day. Thus the observance of Ekadashi has many advantages—physical, astral, spiritual.

Kiruthikai (or Karthikai)

This day denotes the occurrence of the Kiruthikai Nakshatram every month, as per the Tamil Calendar. On this day a special seva and poojas takes place at all Murugan temples.

The Kiruthikai Nakshatram is of great importance to Sri Murugan, as it is considered as his birth star. When it falls on a Monday, and occurs during the month of Karthigai, it is considered especially sacred, and devotees undertake fasts and special prayers to seek the Lord's blessings.

The occurrence of Kiruthikai Nakshatram in the month of Karthigai is celebrated as Thiru Karthigai. Hindus (predominantly in Tamilnadu) decorate their homes and altars with little oil lamps to celebrate this day. Various legends exist for the celebration of Thiru Karthigai.

Pournami

This marks the full moon day. The moon which is one of the Nava Grahas denoted as CHANDRAN, is considered as a deity who showers blessings of prosperity and good health. This occurs once every month, usually a fortnight after Amavasai. The Pournami which occurs during the month of Chithirai, that is the beginning of May is considered of special importance and celebrated as Chitra Pournami by South Indians.

Pradhosham

Pradhosham occurs twice a month - once during the Growing Moon Period [ Shukla Paksha - 15 moon days from New moon to Full moon] and the other during the Waning Moon Period [Krishna Paksha - 15 moon days from Full moon to New moon], in the evening of the thrayodhasi (thirteenth moon day) between 4.30 p.m. to 6.00 p.m. This denotes the meeting of the Sun and the Moon in a Horizontal Line during the course of movement on their Axis. Pradhosha time is especially meant for praying Lord Shiva. Praying in that time will free us from our sins and gives moksha finally (hence the name Pradhosha). During pradosha time a special type of circumbulating called soma sutra pradaxinam is done. A point to note here is that the gomukhi is never crossed. gomukhi is the place where the water after anointing (abhisheka teertam) would be flowing northwards out. By doing this way of pradaxinam one does not step over this holy water.

History behind Pradhosham

Once Devas and Asuras using the serpent Vasuki and the hill Mandhara were trying to get Amrutham (nector) from the Kseerabthi (milk ocean ). Then the terrible poison Halahalam came up. All got frightened and pleaded to Lord Shiva for rescue. Being the peak of mercy Lord Shiva ate that poison. Then as per His order they resumed their effort to get Amrutham. They got it on Dhwadhasi (twelfth moon day). Without praying and thanking the God, by whom they got Amrutham, Devas started dancing and celebrating their victory.

On thrayodhasi (thirteenth moon day) they realised their sin of not praying the God and pleaded for forgiveness. The pleased graceful Lord Shiva forgave them and danced between the horns of the Nandhi (holy bull). That time is called Pradhosham. Whoever prays Lord Shiva in that time, Lord Shiva fulfills their wishes and give them mukthi.

Raaghu Kalam & Yama Kandam

Of the nine grahas, the primary position is given to Lord Surya which is why the first day of the week is said to be Sunday. The seven days of the week refer to the seven grahas, including the Sani Bhagawan. The Nava Nayakaas (Nine Lords) have been given much authority over human life. Each day of the week is ruled by one of the first seven of the nine lords, viz., Sunday by Soorya, Monday by Chandra, Tuesday by Angaaraka, Wednesday by Budha, Thursday by Guru, Friday by Sukra and Saturday by Sani. The eighth graha is Raaghu. Of the seven days in a week, 10 hours are reserved for Raaghu, i.e., one-and-a-half hours per day. This one-and-a-half hours is what we call as 'Raaghu kalam'. The ninth graha is called Kedhu. Like for Raaghu, the same amount of time is reserved for Kedhu also. This one-and-a-half hours is called 'Yama kandam'.

Raaghu kalam and Yama kandam are believed to be inappropriate for performing auspicious deeds.

Shashti & Skantha Shashti

Shashti is another day of importance to Sri Murugan. It usually falls a few days after Amavasai (new moon). Devotees undertake fasts and offer prayers on this day every month for a period of time, usually a year or three years. Since this day is of importance to Sri Murugan, the occurrence of Shashti during the month of Karthigai is considered of great importance and celebrated as Skanda Shashti. The day after Deepavali starts the 6 days of Skanda Shashti with the culmination of Soorasamharam on the 6th day. The 6 days of Shashti constitute the 6 days of war with Soorapadman (a demon) and on the last day of Shashti, 'Soorasamharam', Lord Muruga conquered the demon, Suran.