religious info

[Guest guest]

*from a forwarded mail:*

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*Amavasai** *

 

This marks the new moon day. The moon which is one of the Nava

Grahasdenoted 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

Grahasdenoted 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

Shashtiduring 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

Shashticonstitute the 6 days of war with

Soorapadman (a demon) and on the last day of Shashti, 'Soorasamharam', Lord

Muruga conquered the demon, Suran.