Wish You A Very Happy and Prosperous Deepawali

Shubh Deepawali from Sandeep, Sarita , Siddhi and family

Courtesy: www.santabanta.com

Ram Siya Ram Siya Ram Jai Jai Ram

Salasar Balaji

Jai Shree Krishna

MahaShivRatri

Maha Shivratri, the night of the worship of Shiva, occurs on the 14th night of the new moon during the dark half of the month of Phalguna. It falls on a moonless February night, when Hindus offer special prayer to the lord of destruction. Shivratri (Sanskrit 'ratri' = night) is the night when he is said to have performed the Tandava Nritya or the dance of primordial creation, preservation and destruction. The festival is observed for one day and one night only.

Origin Of Shivratri
According to the Puranas, during the great mythical churning of the ocean called Samudra Manthan, a pot of poison emerged from the ocean. The gods and the demons were terrified as it could destroy the entire world. When they ran to Shiva for help, he in order to protect the world, drank the deadly poison but held it in his throat instead of swallowing it. This turned his throat blue, and since then he came to be known as Nilkantha, the blue-throated one. Shivratri celebrates this event by which Shiva saved the world.

A Festival Especially For Women
Shivratri is considered especially auspicious for women. Married women pray for the well being of their husbands and sons, while unmarried women pray for an ideal husband like Shiva, who is the spouse of Kali, Parvati and Durga. But generally it is believed that anyone who utters the name of Shiva during Shivratri with pure devotion is freed from all sins. He or she reaches the abode of Shiva and is liberated from the cycle of birth and death.

Shiva Rituals
On the day of Shivratri, a three-tiered platform is built around a fire. The topmost plank represents swargaloka (heaven), the middle one antarikshaloka (space) and the bottom one bhuloka (earth). Eleven urns or kalash, are kept on the swargaloka plank symbolising the eleven manifestations of the Rudra Shiva. These are decorated with bilva (woodapple leaves) and mango leaves atop a coconut representing the head of Shiva. The uncut shank of the coconut symbolises his tangled hair and the three spots on the fruit Shiva's three eyes.

Bathing The Phallus
The phallus symbol representing Shiva is called the lingam. It is usually made of granite, soapstone, quartz, marble or metal, and has a yoni or vagina as its base representing the union of the male and female sexual organs. Devotees circumambulate the lingam and worship it throughout the night. It is bathed every three hours with the five sacred offerings of a cow, called the panchagavya - milk, sour milk, urine, butter and dung. Then the five foods of immortality - milk, clarified butter, curd, honey and sugar are placed before the lingam. Dhatura and jati, though poisonous fruits, are believed to be sacred to Shiva and thus offered to him.

"Om Namah Shivaya!"
All through the day the devotees keep severe fast, chant the sacred Panchakshara mantra "Om Namah Shivaya", make offerings of flowers and incense to the Lord amidst ringing of temple bells. They maintain long vigils during the night, keeping awake to listen to stories, hymns and songs. The fast is broken only the next morning, after the nightlong worship. In Kashmir, the festival is held for 15 days. The 13th day is observed as a day of fast followed by a family feast.

As we know that Maha Shivratri, the night of the worship of Shiva, occurs on the 14th night of the new moon during the dark half of the month of Phalguna (Feb / March) when Hindus offer special prayer to the lord of destruction.

Here're three reasons to celebrate Shivratri:

1. The absolute formless God, Sadashiv appeared in the form of "Lingodbhav Moorti" exactly at midnight on Maha Shivratri. That is why all Shiv devotees keep vigil during the night of Shivratri and do "Shivlingam abhishekham" (coronation of the phallic idol) at midnight.

Did You Know?
God in his manifestation as Vishnu made his appearance as Krishna at Gokul at midnight, 180 days after Shivratri, commonly known as Janmashtami. Thus, the circle of one year is divided into two by these two auspicious days of the Hindu Calendar.

2. Lord Shiva was married to Devi Parvati on Shivratri. Remember Shiva minus Parvati is pure Nirgun Brahman. With his illusive power, (Maya, Parvati) He becomes the "Sagun Brahman" for the purpose of the pious devotion of his devotees.

3. It is also believed that on Shivratri, Lord Shiva became Neelkantham by swallowing the deadly poison that came up from the ocean during the churning of "Kshir Sagar". The poison was so deadly that even a drop in His stomach, which represents the universe, would have annihilated the entire world. Hence, He held it in His neck, which turned blue due to the effect of poison. Shivratri is therefore also a day of thanksgiving to the Lord for protecting us from annihilation.

The 14th shloka of Shivmahimna Stotra says: "O three eyed Lord, when the poison came up through the churning of the Ocean by the gods and demons, they were all aghast with fear as if the untimely end of all creation was imminent. In your kindness, you drank all the poison that still makes your throat blue. O Lord, even this blue mark does but increase your glory. What is apparently a blemish becomes an ornament in one intent on ridding the world of fear."

Bhagwan Shankar, Matru Shakti, Bhagwan Ganesh, Sayi Baba

Ram Darbar

Radhey Krishna

Science and Religion are both after the Truth. That is, pure science and pure religion.

Religion, specially the Vendanta philosophy of Hinduism has proclaimed eons ago (and at least 7,000 years ago in the researched history of mankind), that the Truth is Brahman or Tat. This Brahman or Tat is both energy and intelligence that manifests as the universe and all its contents.

Modern science is already on the way towards a unified theory of everything, and only needs to account for how intelligence fits into this theory.

So, pure science and pure religion are both good and necessary for mankind's evolution towards the Truth.

Pure science, since it is after the Truth, cannot bother about the repercussions of its revelations. Pure religion, in its essence, is also not bothered about the acceptance or otherwise of the Truth it proclaims. While pure science chooses a materialistic path to the Truth, pure religion chooses a spiritual path.

Then why is the clash and strife between religion and science? Actually, the clash and strife is not between pure science and pure religion, but between applied science and applied religion. To be precise, while this clash and strife is rampant in the case of Semitic religions, it is far less marked in the case of Indian
religions, which from their origins have fostered the growth of science.

For example, the four Upa-Vedas of Hinduism fostered the earliest versions of science and art known to mankind: Ayurveda, which is one of the current international buzzwords, is the science of health. Dhanur veda is the science of weapons and the military. Artha Shastra is political science. And Gandharva veda is the science of music. Thus science has been a way of life and, along with the six darshanas (philosopies) of Hinduism, an accepted path to the Truth in the Indian culture, which is why the name Sanatana
Dharma (dharma that is universal), that unfortunately carries the misnomer Hinduism as its name today.

So the clash is between the applied sciences and applied religions and among the applied religions themselves. Both of them are bad, to a lesser or a greater extent, and delay the spiritual progress of mankind.

Technology, as the face of applied science, breeds desire in common man and greed in the powerful, and in both cases, blunts spirituality in man. As Buddha said, desire is the cause of all miseries in the world. Since science is after all for the welfare of mankind, why don't the countries pool their technological resources and strive to establish a hunger-free and disease-free mankind in all parts of the world, irrespective of creed and color, which are supposedly the bane of applied religions? It is not happening because of the greed (for wealth and power) of the key players--nations, politicians, corporate houses and peoplewho matter.

Dogma and rituals, as the face of applied religions, divide mankind even more than the applied sciences. They pamper the ego of their followers: my god and my path are better than yours, orworse, my god needs me to convert you to my path or kill you.

When the followers of applied religions unite with mutual understanding, tolerance and help, then will be the time when technology will be cleansed of its ill-effects. But this is not going to happen in the foreseeable future, so the drama of strife goes on, on the stage of this holy earth.

Secure yourself from enemies using Mantra

BOOST YOUR SELF CONFIDENCE

Several sudden occurrences in life make a human lose his sense of balance. In such circumstances one must remain determined and unmoving like a rock like Lord Hanuman. Whatever be the circumstances, however negative be the atmosphere, one needs to remain unperturbed, and capable of taking the right decision.Such a capability can be gained through the following powerful Hanuman Sadhana.Placing a Hanuman Mudrikaa ( a special ring) before yourself chant the following Mantra daily 21 times

Om Hum Om Hum Om Hanumate Phat.

Try this daily for 5 days and after Sadhana wear the ring in some finger. After two months leave the ring in some temple in the feet of the Lord. This Sadhana shall provide you with a shield-like confidence and determination.

SUCCESS IN YOUR TASK

Place a Bajrang Yantra in some copper plate. Smear Three Madhuroopen Rudraksh with a paste of vermilion and sesame seed oil. Place one each on the right, left and in the front of the Yantra. After this chant 5 rounds of the following Mantra wit a Red Coral Rosary.

Om Namo Bhagwate Sarva Grahaan Bhoot Bhavishya Vartmaan

Doorasth Sameepasthaan Chhindhi Chhindhi Bhindi Bhindi Sarva Kaal Dusht

Buddhinu chchaatyo-chchaatay Par Balaan Shobhay Shobhay

Mam Sarva Kaaryaanni Saadhay Saadhay.

Om Namo Hanumate Om Hraam Hreem Hroom Phat.

Dehi Om Shiv Siddhim Om Hraam Om Hreem Om Hroom Om Hrem Om Hroum Hrah Swaahaa.

This is a 12 day ritual and after this all the articles must be dropped in a river or pond.

RIDDANCE FROM PROBLEMS

Place a Hanumat Yantra before yourself and in its centre place a Maaruti Munj Phal. Then chant thisMantra for half an hour without keeping count.

Om Namo Hanumate Parkrit Yantra Mantra ParaahankaarBhoot Pret Pishaach Par Drishti Sarva Vighna MaarjanHetu Vidyaa Sarvogra Bhayaan Nivaaray Nivaaray VadhVadh Luntth Luntth Pach Pach Vilunch Vilunch Kili KiliSarva Kuyantraanni Dushtvaacham Om Hreem Hreem HoomPhat Swaahaa.

Repeating the Sadhana daily for seven days helps in riddance from some sudden problem. Later leave the articles in some temple.

SUBDUING ENEMIES

If some foe is proving to be a great threat to your life, reputation, position, family or job or if youare caught in some court case then he can be subdued through this powerful ritual. Place a Bajrang Yantra before yourself and on its right hand side make a mound of rice grains. Then smear vermilion on a Baalaadikam Dand and place it on the mound. Then chant 11 rounds of the following Mantra with a Red Coral rosary.

Om Poorva Kapimukhaay Panchmukh Hanumate Tam Tam TamTam Tam Sakal Shatru Sanhaarannaay Swaahaa.

Repeating this for eight consecutive days brings forth amazing results. On the ninth day leave all thearticles in some secluded spot under the open sky.

NEUTRALISING SPIRITS AND EVIL PLANETS

This is a really fast ritual which should be tried at night. One does not need any rosary for it. Place aHanuman Yantra before yourself and on it place a Hanuman Baahuk. Next chant the following Mantra 1000 times. This shall put an end to all problems created by spirits or evil planets.

Om Ayeim Shreem Hraam Hreem Hoom Hroum Hrah Om NamoBhagwate Mahaabal Paraakramaay Bhoot Pret PishaachBrahma Raakshas Shaakini Daakini YakshiniPootanaamaaree Mahaamaaree Raakshas Bheirav VeitaalGrah Raakshasaadikaan Shannen Han Han Bhanjay BhanjayMaaray Maaray Shikshay Shikshay Mahaa MaaheshwarRudraavtaar Om Hram Phat Swaahaa. Om Namo BhagwateHanumadaakhyaay Rudraay Sarva Dusht Janmukh StambhanamKuru Kuru Swaahaa. Om Hraam Hreem Hreem Ttham TthamTtham Phat Swaahaa.

Do this regularly for five days. After five days drop the Yantra in a river or pond and tie the Hanuman Baahuk in a red thread around your neck or around the neck of the person for whom the ritual has been accomplished.

Prayers For All Occasions

Here are the lyrics of 5 prayers - the Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra, and Meditations on Shiva, Ganesha, Krishna and Rama. Also included are the meanings of each of these prayers.

The Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra - The Life-Giving Prayer

Om trayambakam yajaamahe sugandhim pushtivardhanamUrvaarukamiva bandhanaan mrityor muksheeya maamritaat.

MEANING: We worship the three-eyed One (Lord Siva) Who is fragrant and Who nourishes well all beings; may He liberate us from death for the sake of immortality even as the cucumber is severed from its bondage (to the creeper).

Meditation On Lord Shiva

Shaantam padmaasanastham shashadharamakutam panchavaktram trinetram,Shoolam vajram cha khadgam parashumabhayadam dakshinaange vahantam;Naagam paasham cha ghantaam damaruka sahitam chaankusham vaamabhaage,Naanaalankaara deeptam sphatika maninibham paarvateesham namaami.

MEANING: I prostrate myself before the five-faced Lord of Parvati, who is adorned with various ornaments, who shines like the crystal jewel, who is seated peacefully in the lotus pose, with moon-crested crown, with three eyes, wearing trident, thunderbolt, sword and axe on the right side, who holds the serpent, noose, bell, damaru and spear on the left side, and who gives protection from all fear to His devotees.

Meditation On Lord Ganesha

Om Gajaananam bhootaganaadisevitam Kapittha jamboophala saara bhakshitam;Umaasutam shoka vinaasha kaaranamNamaami vighneshwara paada pankajam.

MEANING: I worship the lotus feet of Ganesha, the son of Uma, the destroyer of all sorrows, who is served by the host of gods and elementals, and who takes the essence of the kapittha-jarnbu fruit (fruit resembling the bilwa fruit).

Meditation On Sri Krishna

Vamshee vibhooshita karaan navaneeradaabhaatPeetaambaraadaruna bimbaphalaa dharoshthaat;Poornendusundara mukhaad aravinda netraatKrishnaat param kimapi tattwam aham na jaane.

MEANING: I know not any other Reality than the lotus-eyed Krishna with hands adorned with flute, looking like a heavy-laden cloud in lustre, wearing a yellow silk garment, with His lower lip like a ruddy bimba fruit, and with face shining like the full moon.

Meditation On Sri Rama

Dhyaayedaajaanubaaham dhritasharadhanusham baddhapadmaasanastham,Peetam vaaso vasaanam navakamala dala spardhinetram prasannam;Vaamaankaaroodhaseetaa mukhakamala milal lochanam neeradaabham,Naanaalankaara deeptam dadhatamuru jataa mandalam raamachandram.

MEANING: One should meditate on Sri Ramachandra, with hands reaching the knees, holding the bow and arrows, seated in the locked-up lotus posture, wearing a yellow garb, with eyes vying with the newly-blossomed lotus petals, with a pleasant gait, who has Sita seated on His left thigh, who is blue like the clouds, who is adorned with all kinds of ornaments and having a big circle of Jata on the head.

Awakening of kundalini

SOME OF THE SYMPTOMS OF KUNDALINI AWAKENING WHICH MEN OR WOMEN PRACTICING TANTRA OR YOGA MAY EXPERIENCE

a. When throbbing of mooladhar begins, the whole body shakes, involuntary kumbhak (filling in of the lungs with air) starts beyond control, breath is forcibly exhaled out, without volition deep inhaling and exhaling of breath starts and the body gets uncontrollable, know then that Kundalini has awakened. You then should give up your assertion and sit witnessing what happens.

b. When Your body begins trembling, hair stands on roots, you laugh or begin to weep without your wishing, your tongue begins to utter deformed sounds, you are filled with fear or see frightening visions, semen passes out, feeling of orgasm in men or women, think that the Kundalini Shakti has become active.

c. When your posture becomes fixed, uddiyan, jalendhar, and moolbandhas come involuntarily, your tongue reverts back or rises up towards the soft palate and the whole body becomes so active that you are unable to sit still, your hands and legs stretch out forcibly, you ought to know that the Divine power of the goddess Kundalini has come into action.

d. When your posture becomes fixed and sight is attracted toward the middle point of eyebrows, the eyeballs begin to revolve, you get automatic kewal-kumbhak, cessation of breath comes with no effort for inhaling or exhaling and the mind becomes vacant, void of all outward knowledge, understand that Mah‹m‹y‹ the first born Shakti, the goddess Kundalini has come into action.

e. When you feel currents of Prana rising up your cerebrum within you, automatic repetition of "Aum" starts and the mind experiences waves after waves of blissful beatitude, think the Universal Mother Kundalini has come into action.

f. When different kinds of N‹d become audible, in your spinal column you experience vibrations, feeling of bodily existence for the time being is lost, in other words you feel as if there is no body, everything looks vacant, your eyelids become closed and open not in spite of your efforts, electric-like currents seem flowing up and down the nerves and you have convulsions, know that Mah‹m‹y‹ Kundalini has come into action.

g. When with the closing of eyelids your body falls to the ground, or begins to rotate like a grinding stone and breath comes not out, the body squatted on floor crosslegged begins to jump from place to place like a frog, or moves from place to place, or lies down like one dead, hands may not be lifted even if so desired, you feel contraction of nerves, you feel as if your life is passing away, the body undergoes convulsions like a dying fish, know that Yogamaya Kundalini has come into action.

h. When your mind gets influenced spiritually as if some spirit has taken possession of your body and under that influence different postures of yoga are involuntarily performed, without the least pain or fatigue and you feel increasingly buoyant, and simultaneously strange sort of breathing exercises start, think that the Divine power of Kundalini has come into action.

i. When no sooner you have sat with eyes closed than in an instant the body begins to show activity of throwing out limbs forcibly, deformed sounds are loudly uttered, your speech begins to utter sounds like those of animals, birds and frogs or of a lion or like those of jackals, dogs, tigers, fear inspiring and not pleasing to hear, understand that the Great Goddess Kundalini has come into action.

j. When you feel vibrations of prana at different stations inside your body and feel its flow wherever you fix your attention and nerves begin to show easy jerks like jerks of electricity as if passing through them, know that the Goddess Kundalini has come into action.

k. When all day and night you feel within your body some activity of prana and whenever you concentrate your mind, your body at once begins to shake or begins tossing and your mind remains filled with joy and bliss at all times, even when at call of nature, even during sleep you feel currents of pr‹na rising up in your sahasr‹r and even in dreams you experience Her presence, know that the joy-inspiring Kundalini has come into action.

l. As soon as you sit for prayers your body begins to shake and in ecstasy of joy you begin to sing hymns in tones of music charming to hear and whose composition and poetry come out involuntarily, your hands giving a rhythmical clapping, and you pronounce languages you know not, but the sound ecstasizes your mind, know that the Goddess of speech, Saraswati, has awakened into action.

m. When you feel intoxicated without taking any drug, while walking your steps fall majestically or like one drunk and you are unable to do any other work and you like to remain mute and dislike speaking to or hearing others and you feel like one drunk of Divinity, know that your Atma Shakti Kundalini, the power of Self, has come into action.

n. While walking, when your mind is filled with an impulse to walk faster and your feet begin to move a running, you feel your body light like air and do not feel fatigued even having walked long enough, you feel buoyant and joyful, you are not unhappy even in dreams, you can keep the balance of your mind undisturbed in all ups and downs, and you acquire an inexhaustible energy for work, know that the Brahma Shakti Kundalini has come into action.

o. When you are in meditation you see visions divine and fall in a dreamy state of mind, have divine smells, see divine figures, feel divine tastes, hear divine sounds and experience divine touch and receive instructions from Gods, then understand that the divine power of Kundalini has come into action.

p. When you are in meditation, future unfolds its secrets to you or the hidden meaning of scriptures, Vedas and Ved‹nta shine in your understanding, all doubts vanish, you acquire an insight into the abstruse meaning of the works on spiritual science even at their first glance, you acquire strange powers of oratory and feel not the need of approaching even Brahma, the creator himself, for knowledge and you acquire self-confidence, understand then that Kundalini the bestower of siddhis (occult powers) has come into action.

q. When seated for meditation your sight becomes fixed on the mid of eyebrows, your tongue rises up for Khechari Mudra, breath stops altogether and mind plunges into the ocean of bliss, shambhavi mudr‹ operates and you experience the pleasure of savikalpa sam‹dhi, know that subtle power of Kundalini is in action.

r. When at morning and evening hours punctually and automatically your body becomes charged with such of the divine influences, and body, mind and pr‹na become overpowered by Her, know that the Goddess Kundalini is rightly functioning.

s. Sometimes when you feel as if ants are crawling in beeline near your mooladhara chakra or navel, kundlaini has awakened.

t. If kundlalini has not risen properly through suchsumana then it may rise through Ida or pingala nadi then varous side effects can also takes place positive & negative.

Surrender

SAMADHI-SIDDHIR ISVARA-PRANIDHANAT

'From surrender to Ishwara(God) comes the accomplishment of attaining "samadhi"(Super-Consciousness).'

Commentary: Only by surrendering one's will, one's ego, one's life, to God is thesuperconscious state attained.