Friday, May 31, 2013

Spiritual Calendar: June, 2013

Shri Banke Bihari ji in a Phool Bangla

The Phool Bangla Utsav in Vrindavan starts from Chaitra Shukla Ekadasi up to Haryali Amavasya (Shravan Amavasya). During this festival of flowers, Shri Banke Bihari ji is decked with leaves and flowers of summer. The leaves of Vatvriksha (Banyan) are strung as garlands and ornaments for Bihari ji. Phool Bangla means a house of flowers which is erected daily in the evening to seat Sri Banke Bihari ji, Sri Radhavallabh ji, Sri Radharaman ji and deities of other temples in  Vrindavan. Devotees long to see this ethereal sight in the scorching summer. 

4th June, 2013: Achala Ekadashi Vrat



Lord Vishnu

Achla Ekadashi falls in the month of Jayestha (May-June) and is also known as 'Jayestha Krishna Ekadashi'. Achla Ekadashi is the giver of good deeds, destroyer of sins and one who observes the vrata with a full fast on this day attains great esteem in this world.


5th June 2013: Pradosh Vrata


Lord Shiva

Pradosh means dusk and this fast is kept on the 13th day of each lunar fortnight for propitiating Lord Shiva. With his blessings all desires are fulfilled and one attains spiritual enlightenment.It is said that on this day all gods and goddesses assemble at Mount Kailash to worship Lord Shiva.

 Generally people observe Pradosha Vrata on every trayodashi tithi (13th lunar day falling in Krishna and Shukla Pakshas) in the evening.

8th June, 2013: Vat Savitri Vrat Pujan


The Legend of Savitri & Satyavant
 
Associated with Sati Savitri and Satyavant, the legend reveals how Satyavant got rid of death and regained his kingdom with the dedicated devotion of his wife Savitri. The Puranas propagate that the story of Savitri is an inspiration for every married woman.


 
Women Worshipping the Vat (Bargad) Tree

The Vat Savitri Vrat falls on the full moon day of the month of Jyeshtha, around May-June. Married Women observe Vat Savitri Vrat with the intention of preserving their husbands good fortune.On this day, women fast and worship the Vat (Bargad) tree to pray for the growth and strength of their husdand and families.All Hindu women observe this festival worshiping and propitiating Savitri as a Devi. On this day, early morning the women take  bath and wear new clothes, new bangles and apply vermilion on the fore-head and the hair-parting line. Then Ma Savitri is worshipped.

8th June, 2013: Shani Amavasya


Lord Saturn

It is believed that worshipping Lord Saturn on the day of Shani Amavasya helps in fulfilling one's desires. It is considered to be an auspicious day to get relief from the obstacles caused due to kalsarpa yoga, dhaiyaa and sadesati.

11th June, 2013: Ramba Tritiya


Goddess Parvati & Lord Shiva

Ramba Tritiya is dedicated to Sati Savitri Mata. The vrata is performed on Shukla Paksha Tritiya in Jyeshta month. Savitri Puja is the main ritual to observed on this day, The legend of this fast is mentioned in the Skanda Purana. Goddess Parvati kept this fast to get Lord Shiva as her husband. Married women perform this vrata under the banana tree to get its fullest merits.

Women worship a pair of bangles which respresent apsara Rambha and goddess Lakshmi.

12th June, 2013: Vinayak Chaturhi Vrata



Lord Ganesha

Each lunar month in Hindu calendar has two Chaturthi Tithis. Which belong to Lord Ganesha according to Hindu scriptures. The Chaturthi after Amavasya or new moon and during Shukla Paksha is known as Vinayaka Chaturthi and the one after Purnimasi or full moon and during Krishna Paksha is known as Sankashti Chaturthi.

The most significant Vinayaka Chaturthi falls in the month of Bhadrapada and is known as Ganesha Chaturthi. Ganesha Chaturthi is celebrated by Hindus all over the world as the birthday of Lord Ganesha.

15th June, 2013: Mithun Sankranti


 
Mithun Sankranti

Sankranti means transition.When the sun transits from one rashi (zodiac sign) to Gemini that day is known as Mithun sankranti.Since the sun passes through twelve rashis there is one sankranti every month
.
Mithuna Sankranti marks the beginning of the third solar month in the Hindu calendar. All twelve Sankranti(s) in the year are highly auspicious for Dan-Punya activities. During Mithuna Sankranti gifting or donating clothes is considered highly auspicious.

18th June, 2013: Ganga Dussehra


 The Birth of the Ganga

During this festival ten days of the month are devoted to the worship of Holy River Ganga venerated by the Hindus as a mother and a goddess.

Places such as Rishikesh, Haridwar, Garh-Mukteswar, Prayag, Varanasi and others where the Ganga flows, hold a special significance on this day. Devotees flock to these places & Varanasi with its many ghats situated on the west bank of the Ganga, to touch the river water, bathe in it and take the river clay home to venerate.

In Haridwar, 'aartis' are performed at twilight and a large number of devotees meditate on the riverbanks.The river Ganga rises at Gangotri, high in the snow-clad Himalayas. Cascading down mighty boulders, it flows into the hot plains of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and finally merges with the sea in the Bay of Bengal.


 Bhagirath Prays for the Ganga to Descend on Earth

Regarded as a celestial river originating in the heavens, Ganga was gifted to mankind in answer to the great sadhana undertaken by Bhagirath, after whom she is also called Bhagirathi. Bhagirath, a descendant of the Sagara dynasty, prayed for the Ganga to descend onto the parched earth and bring life. But the torrential waters of the Ganga were a mighty and destructive force. Brahma and Vishnu asked Shiva to accept the Ganga into his matted locks. Confined in Shiva's hair, Ganga lost the wild force of her flow and became a placid, life-giving river.

Despite its pollution, the Ganga is a symbol of purity. Its water bestows salvation to the dying and new life to the living. Unusual images of Lord Jagannath, his brother Balaram and sister Subhadra are ceremonially pulled in the grand chariots at Puri.

19th June, 2013: Nirjala Ekadashi Vrata


 Lord Vishnu 

This Ekadashi falls in the month of Jyestha, during the Shukla paksha (June). Amongst the 24 Ekadashi's , the vrata on Jyeshtha Shukla Ekadashi is considered most beneficial and said to give the fruits of 24 Ekadashis observed throughout the year. A complete fast is kept on this day with not a drop of water to drink. People worship Lord Vishnu to ensure happiness and prosperity, and forgiveness of transgressions and sins. On the preceding day that is on the 10th lunar day, Sandhya (evening prayer) is performed and only one meal is taken.

21st June, 2013: Pradosh Vrata


Lord Shiva

Pradosh means dusk and this fast is kept on the 13th day of each lunar fortnight for propitiating Lord Shiva. With his blessings all desires are fulfilled and one attains spiritual enlightenment.It is said that on this day all gods and goddesses assemble at Mount Kailash to worship Lord Shiva.

23rd June, 2013: Shri Satyanarayan Vrata


 Lord Satyanarayan

The Satyanarayan svami vratam is a fast dedicated to Lord Satyanarayan swami (lord Vishnu.)

23rd June, 2013: Jyeshta Purnima


The Snan Yatra

It is the full moon day in the month of Jyeshta and marks the end of the Jyeshta month in north Indian lunar calendars.It is celebrated as Jagannath Purnima, Snan purnima and Devasnana purnima in Orissa esp at the Jagannath Puri temple.

Many years ago, king Indradyumna started the ceremony of bathing(snana-yatra)Lord Jagannath with 108 pots of sandal-scented well water. At that time, Lord Jagannath told the King that for fifteen days after the snana-yatra, no one should see the Deities. Snana-Yatra occurs on Jyestha Purnima(June Full Moon), one of the hottest days of the year. The Skanda Purana says that Lord Krishna manifested in His Daru Bramha form as Jagannath Swami on this day. Therefore, Jyestha Purnima is the appearance day of Lord Jagannath.

Chant the Mahamantra to nullify any negative effect of the full moon :--

hare ram hare ram ram ram hare hare
hare hare krishna hare krishna krishna krishna hare hare

26th June: Sankashti Chaturthi


 Lord Ganesha

Chaturthi is celebrated on 4th day from full moon day. Devotees fast on this day.
The Chaturthi after Purnimasi or full moon and during Krishna Paksha is known as Sankashti Chaturthi.

Devotees of Lord Ganesha observe the Sankashti Chaturthi Vrat. It is believed that by doing so one is freed from all his difficulties also known as Sankat.

1 comment:

Minakshi said...

Calander with different ref.s is very informative & pre-picture of the whole month helps a lot during the month.Thank you so much !!