Janmashtami - The Birth of Lord Krishna, Our Kanhaiyya

 Janmashtami, occurs on the eighth day of the second half of the holy month of Shravan, to mark the birth of Shree Krishna. Shree Krishna is known as the 8th Avtaar of Lord Mahavishnu, and His return to His heavenly abode, marked the beginning to the Kaliyug. Lord Krishna is the one who gifted mankind with the Bhagvad Gita, which is still considered to be the greatest granth  in Hinduism, and alone suffices in guiding man to find his salvation. Every Avtaar is born with the purpose of eliminating evil and bringing peace, joy and guidance to mankind. Lord Krishna did all of this in His Avtaarkaal. He was born in a prison cell, where His parents, Mata Devaki and Pita Vasudeva, were imprisoned, fearing the birth of Krishna(predicted to be the 8th son of  Devaki Mata), Who was to slay the evil king, and brother of Mata Devaki, Kansa. He Slayed Kansa, fought rakshasas, guided the big war of Mahabharat and expressed the Bhagvad Gita, and performed many other miraculous Leelas  in His lifetime.


  Since it is Janmashtami, the story of the birth of Lord Krishna needs to be narrated. On a stormy monsoon night of Shravan, the whole city of Dwarka fell asleep, as Mata Devaki went into labour, which was completely painless. Lord Krishna was born, and immediately blessed Devaki and Vasudev with the darshan of His original form. They were left speechless.


For the Lord to complete His Karya however, He needed to be moved out of the prison and into the homes of  Nandraya, and his wife Yashoda Maiyya. As the barriers and chains tied to the limbs of Vasudev and Devaki fell away, and the prison-door was unlocked, while Devaki remained in a state of trance, after the divine vision, Vasudeva put little Kanha on his head, and headed out on his way to his friend, Nandraya's home. The night was dark, with thick clouds and a heavy downpour. But what is that but child's play to the Lord. As Vasudeva reached the Yamuna river on the dark night, Mahashesh Himself formed the chhatrachhaya on the head of Bal Gopal and Vasudeva, and ensured their safe journey across the deep Yamuna river. Vasudeva then handed over the new born Kanha's responsibility to Nandraya and Yashoda Maiyya,in Gokul, and returning back to Dwarka, with their newborn daughter, Nandini, an Avataar of Aadimata Herself, to protect Her beloved son.

That night when She reached the arms of Devaki Mata, all in the city of Dwarka arose from their sleep, and Kansa rushed in, to kill Devaki's 8th born child, Who, it was foretold, would be the one to destroy him for good. And as Kansa picked up the infant form of Nandini, to hurl Her across a stone, She vanished into the sky laughing, and proclaiming, the one who was Kansa's death, was not her, but was now growing up in Gokul. This in short is the story of Krishna's birth, the day we celebrate as Janmashtami.



On this auspicious day we can do the Upasana as prescribed by Bapu, in this form.

Bapu has asked us to worship this Muchkanda Vriksha (tree) and make its Pradikshana.To get rid off our chains of worries (shrinkhala) we have to call Radha Mata from bottom of our heart . So we sing the gajar before the birth of Lord Krishna (before 12.00 p.m. midnight) as

Dhavat Ye Re Radhakrishna Todi Mana Shrinkhala

and after the birth we call Him by His present birth's name and sing the Gajar -

 Aniruddha Aale Re Aala Majha Savala Vitthal Aala  

On this day we can also chant Shree Krishna Chatushtaya Mantra which Bapu had given us.

1. In the morning-

Om Namo Bhagvate Vasudevaya Namah ||

2. In the afternoon -

Om Namo Bhagvate Sankarshanay Namah ||

3. In the evening-

Om Namo Bhagvate Pradyumnay Namah ||

4. In the night before the birth

Om Namo Bhagvate Aniruddhaya Namah ||

If one forgets these names then through out the day we can chant

only Om Namo Bhagvate Aniruddhaya Namah which also gives equal merits of

saying all 4 Mantras.

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।।

New Year Night Upasana

Hari Om.

Param Pujya Bapu has adviced an upasna to be conducted on New Year's Eve. He has emphasised, that the time between 11:50pm and 12:10am, on the night on 31st December is a very precious time, as the year is transitioning and we should conduct the following Upasana during that period.

ADHIVESHAN CEREMONY 2013

I feel lucky and blessed that I got a chance to attend Aniruddha Pournima and Adhiveshan ceremony on 24^th and 25^th of Nov 2013. I don’t have words to express my feelings when I got chance to watch our dear P.P. Bapu in Aniruddha Pournima and Adhiveshan. All I can say is that I was just watching Bapu and felt very delighted while collecting his blessings and grace.

The Adhiveshan’s environment  was full of Bhakti, bliss and it was beautiful. Here are some points that we have gathered from Adhiveshan  :

·         How should be our love towards Bapu? – Unconditional love

·         How should be our love and service towards new shraddhavans arriving in our Upasana Kendra – Bapu wants us to give him/her all support and at the same time guide them to walk on the path of Bhakti. If we do not provide them with all the information (assuming they know everything), then we may end up misguiding them.

·         When we are watching Bapu and his mesmerising expressions (that indicates his unconditional love for us), we should observe those expressions very carefully and at the same time try to build the same feelings and expressions within ourselves towards him. (For e.g. when he’s praying to Adi Mata and performing Aarti).

·         How should our Upasana Kendra be – It should be full of Bhakti and love for Bapu.

 On Day 1 in the evening when they announced that Bapu is arriving shortly, it was worth watching each and every shraddhavan leaving his/her seat and some running outside the porch to get Bapu’s glimpse and some stayed inside lining up near barrier gate. Each and every shraddhavan was only saying “I love you My Dad.” and their eyes were full of joy tears when Bapu was walking through the passage in between and we were all just living in that moment and everyone felt that time should stop for that moment.

 

Please visit below link for Gunasankirtan of Param Poojya Aniruddha Bapu:

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kYzvumT_V-U

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IfLTcPlQssU

Diwali

वसुबारस : गंगा, गायत्री, गोमातेचे पूजन स्मरण करणे.
धनत्रयोदशी : पिठाचा दिवा करून, दक्षिणेकडे वात करून यमासाठी मंत्र म्हणावा.

मृत्युना पाशदंडाभ्या कालेन
शामयासह प्रचोदयात
दीप दानात सूर्यज प्रीयता मम

नेवैद्य: गुळ-धणे

प्रार्थना: लक्ष्मी मातेस
तिच्याकडील प्रेमभाव, मांगल्याचा दिवस, पतीवर तेवढेच पुत्रावर प्रेम करणारी लक्ष्मी, लक्ष्मि-विष्णू एकमेकांपासून अभिन्न न होण्याचा आदर्श तिच्याकडे मागण्याचा दिवस. आजच्या दिवसापासून माझे दापत्यजीवन लक्ष्मी विष्णूच्या मार्गावरून गेले पाहिजे. सुखात आणि दु:खात एकमेकांना प्रेमाच्या ताकदीत एकत्र राहण्याची शक्ती हेच धन मागायचे. १६ एश्वार्यापैकी एक ऐश्वर्य संतोष मागण्याचा दिवस.

केरसुणी प्रार्थना: १) बाईग माझी आजी बनून ह्या घरात रहा.
२) माझी सासू बनून प्रत्येक गोष्टीची खोड काढ.
३) माझी बहिण बनून प्रत्येक गोष्टीची खोड काढ.
४) माझ्या दारात तू सतत फिरत राहा.
५) माझ्या पापणीचे केस बनून माझ्या डोळ्यांची काळजी घे.
नरक चतुर्थी: श्री कृष्णाचे स्मरण
लक्ष्मी पूजन: गजांत वैभवलक्ष्मी
१. नाणी, २.रोप्य (शितल+स्निग्ध), ३.नवरत्न+सुवर्ण (स्निग्ध)
त्यावर नारळ, लक्ष्मिमातेच मुखवटा भेंडीच्या पानावर
लक्ष्मी, पार्वती आणि सरस्वती मातेस प्रार्थना.

मंत्र: ऑम श्री नित्यरुपा धनलक्ष्मी नमो नमः ( १०८ वेळा )

न जमल्यास प्रार्थना:- जी जी म्हणून धन आहेत ती तुझ्या इच्छेने मिळावीत. त्याबरोबर तृप्ती, शांतता आणि आनंद तुझ्या आशीर्वादाने मिळावा. अलक्ष्मी सैतानाच्या वृत्तीशी, व्यैक्तीशी कधीही संबंध आणू नको. पूजनाआधी उंबरठ्यावर केरसुणीचे पूजन करावे व प्रार्थना म्हणावी.
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बलिप्रतिपदा
प्रथम सूर्योदयापूर्वी सर्व कचरा + कुंचा वाजत गाजत वेशीवर नेऊन टाकावा. त्याबरोबर थोडा फराळ किद्यामुंग्यांसाठी न्यावा. येताना कुंचा परत आणावा. कुंचा पाण्यात बुडूवून उंबरठ्यावर नमः किंवा नमस्कार लिहावा.

हरि ओमं !

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A beautiful translation done by Mahendrasinh Londhe, Sydney Upasana Kendra is below.

Diwali or Deepavali -  Festival of Lights

This  Festival celebrated for 4 aispicious days with different celebration for each day. According to hindu calender these 4 days designed in a manner for the prosperity of mankind as well as Start of new year.

1. Govatsa Dwadashi or Vasu Baras (27 Ashvin or 12 Krishna Paksha Ashvin): Go means cow and vatsa means calf. Dwadashi or Baras means the 12th day. On this day the cow and calf are worshiped. The story associated with this day is that of King Prithu, son of the tyrant King Vena. Due to the ill rule of Vena, there was a terrible famine and earth stopped being fruitful. Prithu chased the earth, who is usually represented as cow, and ‘milked’ her, meaning that he brought prosperity to the land.
2. Dhanatrayodashi or Dhan teras or Dhanwantari Triodasi (28 Ashvin or 13 Krishna Paksha Ashvin): Dhana means wealth and Trayodashi means 13th day. This day falls on the 13th day of the second half of the lunar month. It is considered an auspicious day for buying utensils and gold, hence the name ‘Dhana’. This day is regarded as the Jayanti (Birth Anniversary) of God Dhanvantari, the Physician of Gods, who came out during Samudra manthan, the churning of the great ocean by the gods and the demons.
3. Naraka Chaturdashi (29 Ashvin or 14 Krishna Paksha Ashvin): Chaturdashi is the 14th day This was the day on which the demon Narakasura was killed by Krishna – an incarnation of Vishnu. It signifies the victory of good over evil and light over darkness (Gujarati: Kali Chaudas, Rajasthan : Roop Chaudas). In southern India, this is the actual day of festivities. Hindus wake up before dawn, have a fragrant oil bath and dress in new clothes. They light small lamps all around the house and draw elaborate kolams /rangolis outside their homes. They perform a special puja with offerings to Krishna or Vishnu, as he liberated the world from the demon Narakasura on this day. It is believed that taking a bath before sunrise, when the stars are still visible in the sky is equivalent to taking a bath in the holy Ganges. After the puja, children burst firecrackers heralding the defeat of the demon. As this is a day of rejoicing, many will have very elaborate breakfasts and lunches and meet family and friends.
4. Lakshmi Puja (30 Ashvin or 15 Krishna Paksha Ashvin): Lakshmi Puja marks the most important day of Diwali celebrations in North India. Hindu homes worship Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, and Ganesh, the God of auspicious beginnings also known as the remover of obastacles, and then light deeyas (little clay pots) in the streets and homes to welcome prosperity and well-being.
5. Bali Pratipada and Govardhan Puja (1 Kartika or 1 Shukla Paksha Kartika) : In North India, this day is celebrated as Govardhan Puja, also called Annakoot, and is celebrated as the day Krishna – an incarnation of god Vishnu – defeated Indra and by the lifting of Govardhana hill to save his kinsmen and cattle from rain and floods. For Annakoot, large quantities of food are decorated symbolising the Govardhan hill lifted by Krishna. In Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, it is celebrated as Bali-Pratipada or Bali Padyami. The day commemorates the victory of Vishnu in his dwarf form Vamana over the demon-king Bali, who was pushed into the patala. In Maharashtra, it is called Padava or Nava Diwas (new day). Men present gifts to their wives on this day. It is celebrated as the first day of the Vikram Samvat calendar, in Gujarat.
6. Yama Dwitiya or Bhaiduj (also Bhayyaduj, Bhaubeej or Bhayitika) (2 Kartika or 2 Shukla Paksha Kartika): on this day, brothers and sisters meet to express love and affection for each other (Gujarati: Bhai Bij, Bengali: Bhai Phota). It is based on a story when Yama, lord of Death, visited his sister Yami (the river Yamuna). Yami welcomed Yama with an Aarti and they had a feast together. Yama gave a gift to Yami while leaving as a token of his appreciation. So, the day is also called 'YAMA DWITIYA'. Brothers visit their sisters’ place on this day and usually have a meal there, and also give gifts to their sisters

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.]

Falguniveera Pathak - Australia Tour, Navratri 2013

Dandiya Queen Falguniveera Pathak, toured Australia just before Navratri in September 2013. With the widespread Bapu parivaar in Australia, there were Bapu bhakts in almost every show she did, and she kindly met everyone who went to her show. It was wonderful having her here, and we hope she has a longer tour next time, and we can all meet her.

Here are some pictures from the tour.

Falguniveera was able to visit the Melbourne Upasana Kendra, and spent time doing Gunasankirtan and talking about Bapu to the shraddhavans there.

                                         

 An enthusiastic group of shraddhavans went to her show in Sydney, and she met with them backstage.

 And below are photos clicked by shraddhavans who attended her super hit shows in Brisbane and Perth.

We loved having you down under Falguniveera, and hope to see you perform here more often.