Mahashivratri and Nandipandharva

Mahashivratri falls on the 8th day of the Nandipandharva. The 15 day period of Nandipandharva it is recommended by P.P. Bapu to chant the Shivpanchakshari stotra a minimum of 11 times daily. Starting from 7 days before the Mahashivratri, and continuing to 7 days after, is considered to be the Nandipandharva. This stotra is prayer No. 62 in Aradhanajyoti.

ॐ नागेन्द्रहाराय त्रिलोचनाय
भस्मंगरागाय महेश्वराय ।
नित्याय शुद्धाय दिगम्बराय
तस्मै न काराय नमः शिवाय ।।

मंदाकिनीसलिलचन्दनचर्चिताय
नन्दीश्वर प्रमथनाथमहेश्वराय।
मंदारपुष्पबहुपुष्पसुपूजिताय
तस्मै म काराय नमः शिवाय ।।

शिवाय गौरीवदनाब्जवृन्द
सूर्याय दक्षा ध्वरनाशकाय।
श्री नील कंठाय वृषध्वजाय
तस्मै शि काराय नमः शिवाय ।।

वसिष्ठ कुम्भो द्भव गौतमार्य-
मुनीन्द्र देवार्चितशेखराय ।
चन्द्रार्क वैश्वा नरलोचलाय
तस्मै व काराय नमः शिवाय।।

यज्ञस्वरूपाय जटाधराय
पिनाक हस्ताय सनातनाय ।
दिव्याय देवाय दिगम्बराय
तस्मै य काराय नमः शिवाय ।।

पंचाक्षरमिदं पुण्यं यः पठेता शिवसन्निधौ।
शिवलोकम़वाप्नोति शिवेन सः मोदते।।

Deepavali or Diwali : The Festival of Lights.

Diwali is what can unofficially be termed the national festival of India. The festivities span over 4 days, and each day has its own significance and rituals.

A rough translation of the procedure detailed above is as follows. This tells us the various things to be done on each of the four days surrounding Diwali.

Aniruddha good wishes for Diwali.
Upasana to be done during Diwali is as follows :
On Dhantrayodashi perform Nandaai Paath and the Shree Yantra Upasana.
On Narakchaturdashi  chant the Ganpati Atharvasheersha in the morning. Chanting it once reaps us the benefits of chanting a 108 times, on this day.
On Lakshmipujan(main Diwali day) : Worship the idol of Laxmi mata and the Shree Yantra. Worship the broom.
On the day of Diwali Padva, in the morning, before sunrise, take the dustpan, and making sounds(by clapping, ringing a bell etc), go to the garbage bin and offer Diwali faral (sweets etc made for Diwali) there. Then bring the broom, dip the tip in water and write the name of Sadguru on the door.
[In clarifying this with other shraddhavans, it has been realised, that the dustpan is to be taken, with sounds being made, outside the home, and the faral can also be placed under a tree.]

This document in detail describes the Pujan to be done on the day of Lakshmi Pujan, and is an extract from a story, hence the narrative is as such.

On the day of Diwali, Devyani asked Shambhavi to get a new broom. "Listen, today, the greatest respect is for this(the broom). Because the broom means, Lakshmi Mata's kunchala. Today we worship this, and then Lakshmi Mata.This broom is to be placed at the threshold of the entrance door, in the corner. It has to be offered Haldi-Kumkum(haldi-kumkum needs to be applied/put on the broom), flowers, and aarti has to be done with a diya.And later after doing namaskar to it. With deep feelings from the heart we have to say, 

Baiga bai tu majhya aajisaarkhi majhyasaathi majhyagharat raha.

Baiga bai  majhya saasusarkhi majhya pratyek goshtthit khot kaadh,

Baiga bai majhya bahinisaarkha majhya rastyatale kaante baajula saar,

Baiga bai majhya papnichya kessarkhimjhya dolyateel kachra baajula kaadh,

Majhya gharat aanandaane firat raha.

[Translation - Bai, O Bai like my grandmother live with me in my home

Bai, O Bai like my mother-in-law find faults in all my doings

Bai, O Bai like my sister, remove all the thorns from my path 

Bai, O Bai like my eyelashes, remove the dirt from my eyes

In my home live, and move around freely and happily.  ]

After saying this, respectfully, bring the broom inside."

Shambhavi dressed up in a beautiful new saree and as told by her mother, worshipped the broom. Devyani told her, this broom goes around the home and hence the house remains clean and beautiful. Wherever there is cleanliness, contentment(samadhaan) and devotion, there Lakshmi Mata lives in joy. Come now lets worship Goddess Lakshmi. Today we have to worship the kalash. Take a small chaurang or paat, and place a clean silk or cotton cloth on it. Now spread some wheat or rice grains on it, and place the kalash on it. Put some rice or wheat grains in the kalash too. And now place a tamhaan(copper plate) on the kalash and again  put wheat or rice grains on it and place a photo or idol of Lakshmi Mata on it(We can place Nandaai's photo or idol here). If we do not possess a photo or idol, a branch from a mango tree and and coconut need to be placed. Food grains are a symbol of prosperity. As advised by Devyani, Shambhavi did everything lovingly. Apply gandh and akshata to the kalash. Offer flowers to it.Now listen, offer it a gajra of jasmine.Light a lamp(diya) and offer naivedya  (food offered to deities). Now we place some money and jewellery in the tamhaan and apply haldi-kumkum to them too. And then pray to Aai (Lakshmi Mata)

Aamchyatil Aalas door kar va kartutva vaadhav,

kaayam samaadhaan thev,

bhaktibhaav vaadhu det,

kadhihi utanaar nahi maatnaar naahi,

ase aashirwaad de tu mhanje,

tu aanandaane aamchya gharat naandsheel.

[Remove my laziness and let my good deeds grow,

Let contentment stay,

Let the devotion grow,

May I never become proud or forgetful(about receiving all your blessings)

Give me these blessings,

And live in my home happily. ]

Thus together everyone prayed to Lakshmi Mata.

Happy Deepawali!

[*The links for kalash,chaurang etc are just for seeing the images, it is not a recommendation to buy from those particular websites.]

Gurucharan Maas

VATPOURNIMA to GURUPOURNIMA is the period when every SHRADDHAAVAAN must chant SHREE HANUMANCHALSIA 108 times atleast once. This chanting has to be completed in one day. One may chant it 27 (4 sets) or 36 (3 sets) or 54(2 sets) or 108 times continuously. It is best done at the Brahmamuhurta, but can be done at any time of the day, but needs to be completed before 12 pm midnight.
Here is an article about the significance of this event, written by Bapu in Kripasindhu.

 

On 20th June 2013, during the Thursday pravachan, Bapu stressed on the importance of this month, as well as the chanting in its right form. The pravachan excerpts in Marathi can be read on the Manasamrthadata website.

Vaishakh Pournima Naivedya Recipe

The recipe for the the Naivedya of Chana Daal and Green Mango(Kacha Amba) offered on the Vaishakh Pournima day is as follows.

Soak Chana daal in water to soften it, a minimum of four hours. If one cannot leave it soaked for long, use warm water, to soften it faster.

On the daal is softened, grind it, along with green mango(this adds sourness, so amount to be added depends on one's taste) and green chillies(as hot as you would prefer).

In a thick bottomed vessel, then heat cooking oil, and temper(make a tadka of) mustard seeds, curry leaves and some turmeric powder(haldi). Wait for mustard seeds to splutter.

Then add the ground paste, some salt and sugar as per your taste. Mix the whole thing well. And the Naivedya is ready to be offered.

Hanuman Pournima/ Chaitra Pournima

  

Shubhankara Navratri ends on this day.This day is filled with positivity and auspiciousness. 

• On this day Shree Hanuman got his first darshan of Janaki Mata. 
•  It was on this day Janaki Mata accepted him as his son and taath 
• On this day Hanuman met Ravana and destroyed Lanka and the destruction of evil started.
•  It was on this day Hanuman paid his obeisances and pranams to Sita Maiya and revealed his Bhavyaswaroop (colossal and enornous image standing in his full form).

On this day before confronting Ravan, Janaki Mata blessed Hanumanth with these blessings

Asht Siddhi Nav Niddhi Ke Datta As Var Deen Janaki Maata which means Hanumanji has been blessed with mother Janki to grant to any one any YOGIC power of eight Sidhis and Nava Nidhis as per choice. Ajar Amar Shudh Niddhi Suth Ho Hu. 

What more one can say about the Mahima (importance and Greatness ) of our great Hanumanth? Hanumanji is a dearly loved, adored and favorite God.

As soon as he was born he took a leap in the sky to swallow the sun (for protection) . The journey from Rameshwaram to Lanka was taken by Hanumanji in a single leap. He carried the whole Dronagiri mountain. He solely destroyed and burnt the entire Lanka.

The beauty of Ramayan is Hanuman, so the part of Ramayan which glorifies, venerates and praises Hanuman is called Sunderkand. Hanuman does the duty and task of connecting, and linking bhaktas to God. He was the one who gave guru updesh (discourse) to Vibhishan. With the darshan of Shri Ram, Hanumanji gets uddhar (reformation).To balance the effects of Sade Saathi the only way out is bhakti (pure devotion) of Shree Hanuman. 

Whoever does the following Upasana on Chaitra Poornima i.e.  Hanuman Poornima, the fears, worries and troubles of those devoottees will be wiped out and annihilated by Janaki Mata. This is the promise that was given by Janaki Mata.

The Upasana is as follows 

• Hanuman Chalisa
•  Bhim Roopi Maha Rudra(Maruti Stotra)
•  Panchmukh Hanumanth Kavach
•  Jap of Shri Ram Dutaya HanumantayMahapranaya Mahabalaya Namoh Namah
•  Sunderkand Pattan
•  Hanumanji’s bhajan or Hanumanji's Gun sankirtan 

Jai Shree Ram !

Sourced from the translation done by the Dubai Upasana Kendra

This day though often mistakenly referred to as Hanuman Jayanti, should be called Hanuman Pournima always, as advised by our beloved Nandaai.

Vaishakh Pournima - English

Hanumanji is the bravest of the brave and the strongest of all. He protects us from all that is ill, spiritual, physical and material. He is the Rakshak Guru of our Bapu Himself. We seek Hanumant's protective kavach for our safety and security at all times.

Hanumanji, is the embodiment of the perfect devotee, the one whose devotion to His beloved Ram today defines the word devotion itself. Hanumanji is the greatest devotee of all times, and also the one, whose smaran and chintan (remembrance and contemplation) enhances our own devotion, takes us closer to our own Sadguru. The devotion of Hanumant is thus an offering to devotion itself.

It has also been said, that on this day, the various Sadgurus meet in Bharglok(heaven) and discuss about their devotees, their devotional activities over the past year and plan for their future. This day is thus important for each and every shraddhavan.



Vaishakh Poornima Upasana
1) First on a Chaurang or paat place a clean cloth/shawl. After that place our Sadguru's and Hanumanta's Photo on it.

2) To Sadguru's photo offer a garland of flowers and to Hanumanta's photo offer a garland of Rui leaves. 

3) Light Diya and Agarbathi and while doing dhyan of Sadguru and Hanumant join your hands in prayer.

4) After that chant 
11 times Shri Aniruddha Kavach
 or 11times Shri Hanuman Chalisa 
or 11 times Hanuman Strotra 
or 11 times Shri Saibaba's 11 Vachna 
or 11 times Shri Aniruddhachi 9 Vachna 
or 11 times Shubhankara Stavnam 
or 11 times Ashubhnashini Stavnam.
 
5) After that 1) Ambyacha Pana 2) Kachcha Amba and Soaked Chana Dal ground together.Offer this as prasad followed by Lotangan.

[If one is unable to perform this upasana on brahma Mhurta, then they can perform it at any time of the day.]


Whoever performs this upasana with utmost love and devotion on the day of Vaishak Poornima to her/his araadhya devtaa (chosen deity),Sadguru alongwith Hanumant definitely visits them on this day. This is a promise given by Sadguru Shree Aniruddha Bapu.

Vaishakh Pournima Upasana - Marathi

वैशाख पौर्णिमा उपासना

१.प्रथम एक चौरंग किंवा पाट घेवून त्यावर शाल घालावी नंतर त्यावर आपल्या सद्गुरूंचा व हनुमंताचा फोटो ठेवावा.
२.श्री सदगुरुंच्या प्रतिमेस सुगंधित किंवा प्राप्त फुलांचा हार घालावा व श्री हनुमंताच्या प्रतिमेस रुईच्या पानांचा हार घालावा.
३.दीप व अगरबत्ती लावून हाथ जोडावे व श्री सदगुरूंचे तसेच श्री हनुमंताचे ध्यान करावे.
४.त्यानंतर ११ वेळा श्री अनिरुद्ध कवच किंवा
... ११ वेळा श्री हनुमान चालीसा
किंवा
११ वेळा हनुमान स्तोत्र किंवा
११ वेळा श्री साईबाबांची ११ वचने
किंवा
११ वेळा श्री अनिरुद्धांची ९ वचने
किंवा
११ वेळा आदिमाता शुभनकरा स्तवन व ११ वेळा अशुभनाशिनी स्तोत्र म्हणावे.
५.त्यानंतर-
१) आंब्याच पन्ह
२) कच्च्या आंबा व भिजलेली चण्याची डाळ वाटून त्याचा प्रसाद अर्पण करावा व त्यानंतर लोटांगण घालावे.

ब्रम्हमुहूर्तावर उपासना करणे शक्य न झाल्यास दिवसभरात कधीही करणे.
जो कोणी प्रेमाने वैशाख पौर्णिमेला हि उपासना करेल त्याच्या घरी ह्या दिवशी सद्गुरू हनुमंताबरोबर येवून जातोच. अशी ग्वाही सदगुरू श्री आनिरुद्धानी दिली आहे.

Ram Navami Utsav Celebration Vidhi

Ram Navami has a deep significance in the Bapu Parivar, and celebrated with great gusto. Our beloved Bapu Himself blesses the prasad to be distributed to the shraddhavans on this day, much like the Handi Prasad distributed by Sai Baba in Shirdi. The palna(cradle) Bapu used as a baby, is brought to Shree Hari Guru Gram, and used to decorate as a palna for Shree Ramchandra.  The origins of the celebrations of Ram Navami in Shirdi by Sainath, is detailed in chapter 6 of the Sai Satcharit, and is a beautiful heart warming story of Baba starting the celebration of Ram Navami festival in Shirdi.

 The prasad to be distributed, is cooked in handis traditionally. The cooking vessels are covered with Warli art, and Bapu Himself adds the ingredients, gives it an occasional stir, and normal food becomes amrit for the shraddhavans.

Shree Sai Sahastra Yagya are performed.

Bapu Himself is adding ghee to the yagya-kund here.

Shraddhavans who are unable to celebrate the festival at Shree Hari Guru Gram, do so in their own Upasana Kendras, and the following are organised at the various centres around the world.

· Paduka Poojan

· Chanting of  Ramaya Ramabhadraya Ramchandraya Namah (108 times)

· Chanting of the Ghorakashtodharan Stotra (9 times)

·Chanting of the Hanuman Chalisa (1 time)

· Chanting of the Gurukshetram Mantra (5 times)

· Parayan(Reading) the 11th Chapter from Shri Sai Satcharitra.

· Aarti

· Gajar