ESSENCE OF HINDU FESTIVALS AND AUSTERITIES Edited and translated by V.D.N.Rao, former General Manager of India Trade Promotion Organization, Ministry of Commerce, Govt. of India, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi now at Chennai 1 Other Scripts by the same Author: Essence of Puranas:- Maha Bhagavata, Vishnu Purana, Matsya Purana, Varaha Purana, Kurma Purana, Vamana Purana, Narada Purana, Padma Purana; Shiva Purana, Linga Purana, Skanda Purana, Markandeya Purana, Devi Bhagavata;Brahma Purana, Brahma Vaivarta Purana, Agni Purana, Bhavishya Purana, Nilamata Purana; Shri Kamakshi Vilasa Dwadasha Divya Sahasranaama: a) Devi Chaturvidha Sahasra naama: Lakshmi, Lalitha, Saraswati, Gayatri; b) Chaturvidha Shiva Sahasra naama-Linga-Shiva-Brahma Puranas and Maha Bhagavata; c) Trividha Vishnu and Yugala Radha-Krishna Sahasra naama-Padma-Skanda-Maha Bharata and Narada Purana. Stotra Kavacha- A Shield of Prayers Purana Saaraamsha; Select Stories from Puranas Essence of Dharma Sindhu Essence of Shiva Sahasra Lingarchana Essence of Paraashara Smtiti Essence of Pradhana Tirtha Mahima Dharma Bindu Essence of Upanishads : Brihadaranyaka , Katha, Tittiriya, Isha, Svetashwara of Yajur Veda- Chhandogya and Kena of Saama Veda-Atreya and Kausheetaki of Rig Veda-Mundaka, Mandukya and Prashna of Atharva Veda ; Also ‘Upanishad Saaraamsa’ (Quintessence of Upanishads) Essence of Virat Parva of Maha Bharata Essence of Bharat Yatra Smriti Essence of Brahma Sutras* Essence of Sankhya Parijnaana*- Also Essence of Knowledge of Numbers Essence of Narada Charitra Essence Neeti Chandrika* [Note: All the above Scriptures already released on www. Kamakoti. Org/news as also on Google by the respective references. The one with * is under process] 2 PREFACE Dharma and Adharma are the two wheels of Life‟s Chariot pulling against each other. The pulls and pressures seek to dominate each other and that is what human life is all about. In this struggle, material impulses and nuances of morality have defined zones and festivals play a subtle role in the interaction. Festivals are excellent social joints all over the world. Hindu Festivals too are of collective joys couched in individual austerties. The latter emanate from Vratas which no doubt have a social connotation but the individual inputs tend to overweigh the objective angles. Thus social outlooks are mixed up with the personal selves and Vratas having festive outlooks amalgamated into the folds of the Self. While some are extremely popular in all the cross sections of the national calendar, many more are restricted to regions and diversified faiths of Hinduism itself; and the latter too are signified equally as oriented to groups of the like-minded.Such Hindu Festivals as are invariably connected to vratas and austerities by the larger parts of Bharat do find a pride of place in the current script. These are being presented in the sequence of Hindu months and of the tithis / dates as well. Each of the Maasa or Month highlights the marked festivals and vratas in the ever evolving Kaala chakra or Cycle of Time. The astrological calculations of the Kaala Maana had successfully been exercised by the Sages of the Yore for the benefit of the ongoing generations and are interpreted by the intellectuals of the day. The details thus forwarded need to be followed eversince. On the occasion of the silver jubilee of the Sri Lakshmi Kamakshi Nilayam, may we in the family dedicate this humble script to Late Shri Chavali Subramanya Shastri and Late Smt. Adi Lakshmi, the founding patrons of the temple on the auspicious occassion of Devi Nava Ratra Celebrations.Shri Shastri‟s intense spiritual bonds with the Ever Present Paramacharya culminated with the Consecration of „Shri Lakshmi Kamakshi Nilaya‟ at Greenways Rd. Extn.Chennai-28 twenty five years ago in Feb. 1990 ; his Presidentship of the Premier Institute of Chartered Accountants Association of India, New Delhi and his professional expertise got paled into insignificance before the charisma of Paramacharya! Shri Shastri‟s close and deeply personal association with Ramana Maharshi of Tiruvannamalai- who personally gifted the Ashvattha Ganapati Pratima secure in the Temple- as also the Mother of Pondicherry were literally capped by those of the blessings of Shri Paramacharya of Kanchi Mutt! Truly indeeed with Paramachaya‟s anugraham,Shri Lakshmi Kamakshi and all the Parivara Devatas in the Temple continue to bless the family members and devotees always. Both HH Jayendra Saraswati and HH Vijayendra Saraswati performed the First ever Kumbha-bhishekam on behalf of Paramacharya who personally blessed the occasion. Needless to mention of the exrtaordinary blessings of HH Jayendra Saraswati and of HH Vijayendra Saraswati, who continue to provide a unique path of spiritual intensity to all the family members and circle of devotees of the Temple; not only they visit it often but the recent one during March-April this year is ever fresh in one‟s memories! VDN Rao Oct. 2015 3 CONTENTS Introduction- 5 Chaitra Maasa: Chaitra Shukla Paksha Vrata Pradaan- Dashavataara Jayantis- Shri Rama Navami Vrata: on Chaitra Shukla Navami- Shri Krishna aanandolanotsava on Ekaadashi-Damanotsava or the Festival of Damana Devata on Chaitra Shukla Chaturdashi Vaishakha Maasa-Vaishakha Snaanas scheduled during Chaitra Shukla Ekaadashi to Purnima with 8 arrival Mesha Samkraanti-Akshaya Tritiya/ Parashu Rama Puja- Gangavatarana-GangaStotra- Adi Shankara Jayanti- Nrisimha Jayanti Jyeshtha Maasa- Ganga Vrata on Dwadashi- Nirjala Vrata on Jyeshtha Shukla Ekadashi 15 Ashadha Maasa-Dakshinaayana/ Kartika Samkranti- Jagannaatha Ratha Yatra at Puri- Chaturmasya- 17 Guru Purnima Shravana Maasa-Pavitraaropana; Shravana Upakarma Vidhi- Raksha bandhana- Krishna Ashtami- 23 Kushagrahana- Varalakshmi Vrata- Mangala Gauri Puja- Bhadrapada Maasa- Siddhi Vinaayaka Vrata-Renowned Ganesha Temples in Bharat and else- 32 where-Interesting references on Ganesha from Maha Puranas-- Ganesha Vrata Puja Vidhana- Rishi Panchami- Vishnu Parivartostava on Bhadrapada Shukla Ekadashi- Dwadashi-Onam in Kerala- Anatha Vrata- Proshthapaadi Shraaddha-Mahalaya Pakshas-Surya Vrata- Bhadrapada Purnima- Ashviyuja Maasa - Intro: Devi Navaraatraas-Nava Durgas- Nava Raatri Vidhis- Saptashshati 61 Pathana- Navaavarana Puja-Mani Dwipa Varnana-Kumari Puja-Saraswati Puja- Maha Ahtami- Mahishasura Vadha- Maha Navami -Chhatra Puja- Vijaya Dashami- Padmanaabha Vrata on Ashwayuja Sukla Dwadashi- Go Vatsa Dwadashi- Naraka Chaturdashi- Amavasya Vidhi-Deepavali Kartika Maasa: Kartika Snaanas- Tulasi Puja-Background of Tulasi Devi- Dharti Mahatmya- 77 Jagaagarana Vrat Varjita Padarthas- Karika Daana Mahima- Purana Shravana- Akasha Deepam with special reference to Arunachala- Kartika Bali Puja- Kadva Chowth- Naga Panchami- Skanda Shashti Vrata- Lakshmi - Kubera Puja- Mantra grahana diksha- Tulasi kashsha kaala dharana- Vaikuntha Chaturdashi- Chaturmasya samapti-Kartikeya Darshana -Vrishotsava- Margashira Maasa: Dattaatreya Jayanti and Datta Peethas- Ashtaka Shraddas-Margashira Mahima 93 Akhanda Ekaadashi Vrata-Shoura Vrata-Maheshwara Chaturdashi Vrata Pousha Maasa: Shiva Puja Vrata- Pushya Shukla (Mukkoti) Eakaadashi-Ardhodaya Yoga & Vrata- 97 Makara Sankranti and Pongal Festival Maagha Maasa: Maagha Snaanas-Devi Saraswati worship- Kumbha Sankranti- Veni Daana at 99 Triveni (Prayaga) Tirtha Mahatmya-Dundu Raja Vrata- Vasanta Panchami-Radha Saptami-Nadi Snaanas- Maagha Shukla Bhishma Ekadashi- Maagha Snana Udyapana- Shiva Ratri Vrata- Phalguna Maasa: HolikaPuja- Vasantotsava 108 Month wise ShivaVratas and Umashankara Vrata 109 Mukhya Tithi Prakaara Nirnaya: Prathama -Agni; Dwiteeya -Ashwini Devatas; Tritiya-Gauri; 110 Chaturtha- Ganesha; Panchami -Naga Devatas-Shashthi-Skanda;Saptami-Surya-; Ashtami-Krishna, Durga; Navami: Rama; Dashami-Dash Dishas; Ekadashi- Narayana; Dwadashi Dashavataras; Trayodashi: Dharma; Chaturdashi Rudras; Pournami Chandra and Amavasya Pitru Devtas. Satya Narayana Vrata (P 125); Dashavatara Vratas (P 135) Tarpanas (141) highlighted. Overview of Vratas 145 Major Tirthas- Sacred Rivers and Pushkaras 155 Conclusion 161 4 ESSENCE OF HINDU FESTIVALS AND AUSTERITIES Vedah Smrutih Sadaachaaraha swasya cha Priyamaatmanah Etacchaturvidham praahuh sakshaat Dharmasya lakshanam/ (Veda-Smriti-Sadaachaara-and one‟s own Conscience constitute the four corner-stones of Dharma) Introduction In the „Kaalamana‟ or the Cycle of Time the details are: * Samvatsara, each comprising Two Ayanas-Six „Rithus‟or Seasons-Twelve Months- and Seven Days. The Chandra or Saura Varshas are based on the movement of Solar or Lunar entities. The Chandra maana procedure varies in the sense that the cycle of Seasons starts from the first day of Chaitra commencing from Ugadi .Then are the Tithis of Prathama- to Amavasya or Prathama to Purnima respectively and the months of Chaitra-Vaishakha-Jyeshtha-Ashadha- Shravana-Bhadrapada-Ashviyuja- Kartika- Margashira-Pushya- Maagha-Phalgunas. The months coincide approximately with March to February totalling 365 days. Ritus or Seasons approximately coincide with Chaitra-Vaishakha or end March to the last weeks of May when festivals like Ugadi, Shri Rama Navami, and Vaishakhi are celebrated. Greeshma Ritu or Summer during April-July during Jyeshtha-Ashadha when festivals like Ratha Yatra and Guru Purnima are observed and Dakshinayana or the Solar downtrend commences. Varsha Ritu or monsoon coincides with Shravana-Bhadrapadas or the last portions of July-September when Mangala Gauri and Vara Lakshmi Vratas, Raksha Bandhan, Krishna Ashtami, Ganesh