Sravana Dwadasi

[Guest guest]

sri:

Sri Lakshminrisimha parabrahmane nama:

Srimate Sri Laksminrisimha Divya Padukasevaka Srivan Satakopa

Sri Narayana Yatindra Mahadesikaya nama:

 

namo narayana!

 

For most of USA tomorrow (Sunday March 10, 2002)

is NOT Sravana Dwadasi. In India and most other

places east of USA this Sunday is Sravana Dwadasi.

 

How to fix Sravana Dwadasi and what to be observed

are explained in detail in Srimad Azhagiya Singar's

Ahnika Gratham written during Jeeyar's poorvasrama.

 

According to this grantham, a day is called Sravana

Dwadasi when Dwadasi and Sravanam occur together,

with the dwadasi free of any traiyodasi. Upavasam

is ordained on such a day.

 

The problem is, many of us will not be able to observe

upavasam for two days at a stretch. Srimad Azhagiya

Singar quotes Vishnu Puranam and gives the following

determination. If one lacks the physical stamina to

observe fast for two days in a row, observing the fast

on Sravana Dwadasi is more important. Therefore on the

Ekadasi day one may consume any food appropriate

for Ekadasi such as fruits, milk, root vegetables, etc.

Then, fast may be observed on Sravana Dwadasi day.

Paranam can be done on Traiyodasi.

 

In India, Dwadasi is present all of Sunday until early

morning on Monday. Sravanam is also present for

the whole day on Sunday. Therefore Sravana-Dwadasi

must be observed on Sunday. However, in the U.S.

Dwadasi ends much before sunset on Sunday. Since

the Dwadasi is not free of Traiyodasi in the U.S., this

Sunday is not Sravana Dwadasi for U.S.

 

Hope this is helpful for the purpose of proper anushtanam.

 

-- adiyEn

 

p.s. adiyEn consulted with Smt. Indira Srinivasan,

Smt. Vimala Rajaji's mother, with regard to the end

of dwadasi in the U.S. I wish to thank her for her

valuable input.