Guest guest Posted December 4, 2009 Report Share Posted December 4, 2009 Dear all, We have heard about several vrathaas like Ekadashi vratham, Sathyanarayana vratham, Dwadashi vratham, Varalakshmi vratham Somavara vratham (Monday vratham), Shani vratham (Saturday vratham), Shasthi vratham etc. What is a Vratham? A vratham is a vow taken to abide by some rules and disciplines to achieve a noble goal or to advance spiritually. It can be also defined as a resolution or special undertaking with a specific purpose in mind. We can see that we need discipline to advance in any area of life or to succeed in life. In the spiritual context, we are encouraged to exercise this power of resolution by controlling our sense organs and desires emerging out of them. When we are bound by some rules and when we discipline ourselves to stick to those rules with utmost respect, we will soon find that our mind power increases significantly. It is proven that doing something for 21 days with out fail will give us the habit of doing that and when we do it for 41 days, it becomes part of your character. That is why seers of the past prescribed devotees to observe vrathams or prayers that last 21 days and 41 days. By the time a devotee finishes 41 days of vratham, his self discipline would have increased so much that he would have said final good bye to the laziness and inertia in him. If you take a tree, Thapas or penance is compared to it's trunk and vrathaas are compared to it's small and big branches. From observing vrathaas, one can slowly graduate into thapas. There are three types of vrathaas: 1.Maanasikam (involving mind) - ahimsa or non-violence, sathyam or truth, Astheyam or non-stealing and Brahamcharyam or celibacy 2.Kaayikam (involving body) - complete fasting, once-a-day meal, giving up sleep etc. 3.Vaachikam (involving words) - mounam or silence, Bhoothadaya or kindness to all creation of God, talking only good words. The purpose of the observance of vratham can be of three kinds. According to the devotee's sankalpam of the vratham, it will belong to one of the three types mentioned below. 1. Nithyam- Those vrathaas which should be observed as per our scriptures like Ekadashi vratham. This is observed as an offering to God to show our devotion and surrender and not to fulfill any specific desires. 2. Naimitthikam- Vrathaas that are observed on special days like Varlakshmi vratham, Vinayaka vratham to show our devotion and respect to the Lord of our choice. . 3. Kaamyam- Vrathaas that are observed to fulfill a desire with Lord's blessings. Somavara vratha to get a good husband or husband's longevity etc. Even if we start with Kaamya vrathams, bhagavaan will slowly lift us to the Nishkaama vrathaas and guide us in our spiritual journey. Vrathaas awaken our dormant powers. It helps us to fight and ward off our negative tendencies like laziness and procrastination. Habit of vratham is essential for our material as well as spiritual advancement. A vratham should be observed with utmost sincerity and all the three types of Maanasika, Vaachika and Kaayaika disciplines should be observed as much as possible. Agasthya muni declares that any person who observes all the three types of vrathas sincerely will be blessed with the knowledge of Brahmam. May Bhagavaan bless us to observe vrathaas and progress in our spiritual journey towards Him! Regards and prayers Savitri Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 5, 2009 Report Share Posted December 5, 2009 Dear savithri Mathashree, A very good narration of vruthums and its significance in our life. Bhagavan may give you the strength and boon to continue like these mails in future.Sasneham sreekumar --- On Fri, 4/12/09, Savitri Puram <savitriopuram wrote: Savitri Puram <savitriopuram[Guruvayur] Namasthe- VrathaasFriday, 4 December, 2009, 4:30 PM Dear all, We have heard about several vrathaas like Ekadashi vratham, Sathyanarayana vratham, Dwadashi vratham, Varalakshmi vratham Somavara vratham (Monday vratham), Shani vratham (Saturday vratham), Shasthi vratham etc. What is a Vratham? A vratham is a vow taken to abide by some rules and disciplines to achieve a noble goal or to advance spiritually. It can be also defined as a resolution or special undertaking with a specific purpose in mind. We can see that we need discipline to advance in any area of life or to succeed in life. In the spiritual context, we are encouraged to exercise this power of resolution by controlling our sense organs and desires emerging out of them. When we are bound by some rules and when we discipline ourselves to stick to those rules with utmost respect, we will soon find that our mind power increases significantly. It is proven that doing something for 21 days with out fail will give us the habit of doing that and when we do it for 41 days, it becomes part of your character. That is why seers of the past prescribed devotees to observe vrathams or prayers that last 21 days and 41 days. By the time a devotee finishes 41 days of vratham, his self discipline would have increased so much that he would have said final good bye to the laziness and inertia in him. If you take a tree, Thapas or penance is compared to it's trunk and vrathaas are compared to it's small and big branches. From observing vrathaas, one can slowly graduate into thapas. There are three types of vrathaas: 1.Maanasikam (involving mind) - ahimsa or non-violence, sathyam or truth, Astheyam or non-stealing and Brahamcharyam or celibacy 2.Kaayikam (involving body) - complete fasting, once-a-day meal, giving up sleep etc. 3.Vaachikam (involving words) - mounam or silence, Bhoothadaya or kindness to all creation of God, talking only good words. The purpose of the observance of vratham can be of three kinds. According to the devotee's sankalpam of the vratham, it will belong to one of the three types mentioned below. 1. Nithyam- Those vrathaas which should be observed as per our scriptures like Ekadashi vratham. This is observed as an offering to God to show our devotion and surrender and not to fulfill any specific desires. 2. Naimitthikam- Vrathaas that are observed on special days like Varlakshmi vratham, Vinayaka vratham to show our devotion and respect to the Lord of our choice. . 3. Kaamyam- Vrathaas that are observed to fulfill a desire with Lord's blessings. Somavara vratha to get a good husband or husband's longevity etc. Even if we start with Kaamya vrathams, bhagavaan will slowly lift us to the Nishkaama vrathaas and guide us in our spiritual journey. Vrathaas awaken our dormant powers. It helps us to fight and ward off our negative tendencies like laziness and procrastination. Habit of vratham is essential for our material as well as spiritual advancement. A vratham should be observed with utmost sincerity and all the three types of Maanasika, Vaachika and Kaayaika disciplines should be observed as much as possible. Agasthya muni declares that any person who observes all the three types of vrathas sincerely will be blessed with the knowledge of Brahmam. May Bhagavaan bless us to observe vrathaas and progress in our spiritual journey towards Him! Regards and prayers Savitri The INTERNET now has a personality. YOURS! See your Homepage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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