Thursday, May 9, 2013

Vaisakha Masam - Auspicious Month for Charity


Vaisakha Masam:
Vaisakha Masam is one of the months in Hindu calendar which falls usually in the months of April and May. Vaisakha Masam is the month where the sun will transit into the Taurus zodiac (Vrushaba Rasi) which is called Vrushabha Sankramana. This month is very auspicious for charity (Daanam) and associated with Lord Vishnu. The month is very much known for marriages. It is also named as Madhava masam as Lord Vishnu's is also meant to be known as Madhusudana.

Cultural Beliefs of Vaisakha Masam:
According to the skanda puranam, vaisakha masam is the best among all the other months. In this month, Lord Vishnu appears in three incarnations as Sage Parushurama, Lord Narasimha and Kurma avataram. It is also believed that Treta yuga is formed on shukla tritiya.

In simhachalam, Lord Vishnu gives darshan in the form of “Varaha Narasimha”, which is two forms Varaha and Narasimha. Special celebration called “chandanavostavam” is performed every year on the auspiciouos day of Akshaya tritiya.

People believe that Lord Vishnu take tests of an individual in this month and helps them to attain the aims of their life (dharma, artha, kama and moksha) who follows the rituals of vaisakha masam. This helps them to get good health and wealth. Good deeds such as poojas, yagna and homam have to be conducted in this auspicious month.
sun
Pooja Procedure for Vaisakha Masam:
  • Spiritual bath in the brahma muhurta time.
  • Worship Lord Vishnu with Krishna Tulasi and Sandalwood paste.
  • Recite Sri Vishnu Sahasra Naama Stothram.
  • Do parayanam of Srinivasa Kalyanam on Vaisaka Sukla Dasami.
  • Read Vaisakha puranam daily.
  • Try to water a banyan tree and do pradakshina.
  • Service to cows.
  • Donating water and Tila Tarpanam.
Significance:

The important festivals of Vaisakha masam are 
  • Akshaya Tritiya or Parasurama Jayanthi: Akshay Tritiya comes on the third day of Vaisahka Masam i.e., vaisakha sukla tritya. “Akshaya” means inexhaustible and “Tritiya” means third day. It is also called as Akha Teej. This day is very auspicious for starting new ventures, marriages, business, new constructions, investing, property, applying for jobs etc.
  • Sri Padmavathi-Sreenivaasa Kalyanam: This comes on the tenth day ie Vaisakha Sukla Dasami. SriVari Kalyanotsavam(Padmavathi Srinivasa Kalyanam) is performed.
  • Sri Nrusimha Jayanthi: This comes on Vaisaka Sukla Chaturdasi. Lord Vishnu is incarnated as Lord Narasimha and killed King Hiranyakashyap to establish dharma and protect the mankind.
  • Sri Sanaischara Jayanthi: This comes on Vaisaka Bahula Amaavaasya. Lord Shani was born on this day. People effected by the Sadesati(Elinati shani), Ashtama Shani and who are under the shani dasha or antardasha has to do powerful prayer Sri Narasimha Stuthi to overcome the difficulties.
  • Vaisakha saptami is known as Ganga saptami as the holy River Ganges came from the ears of Sage Jaahnu.
  • Full moon day of vaisakha masam is known as Maha Vaisakam because the moon will be near to the Visakha Nakshatra and so the masam is named as Vaisakha Masam.
 Interesting Facts:
  • Performing charities is the good aspect in this month.
  • Donation of water, food and clothes are considered as the most prominent charities.
  • Bathing in brahma muhurtam time at the sacred rivers and worshipping Lord Vishnu.
  • Observing Vishnu Pooja before sunrise will help to remove all the sins committed.
  • During Vaisakha Masam in Tirumula Srivari Kalyanotsavam and a special three day festival called as Padmavathi Srinivasa Kalyanam is performed.
  • Preforming the kalyanam or participating is very much meritorious.
  • Tila Daanam has to be done on Vaisakha Sukla Pournami.
  • Charities like food, water, clothes, sandals, umbrella, cow, Land,gold and silver and honey are prescribed.
  • Donating water is given high importance from the month starting to till Vaisakha Sukla Dasami.
 Scientific Reasons:
  • Vaisakha month comes in high Summer in India. Every where people face water scarcity and people suffer with heavy thirst. Here comes the tradition to save life's of living organisms in the name of charity.
  • Water in the rivers and sea will have many medicinal benefits.
  • Bathing tightens the blood vessels and all the exhaust blood and the waste products.
  • Doing charity will help the people in needy and some self-satisfaction and helps us to relieve from stress.
  • As the month is summer donating water to the needy helps them.

Akshaya Tritiya - Most Auspicious Day



Akshaya Tritiya:
Akshay Tritiya comes on the third day of Vaishaka Masam. “Akshaya” is inexhaustible and “Tritiya” means third day. It is also called as Akha Teej. The day is very auspicious for starting new ventures, marriages, business, new constructions, investing, property, applying for jobs etc.

Cultural Beliefs:
According to Hinduism there are many legends for Akshaya Tritiya.
  • Lord Ganesha(obstacle remover)  has started writing the great Mahabharata epic as per the veda vyasa direction.
  • Hindu sage Parashuram (six incarnation of God Vishnu) birthday is celebrated.
  • Treta Yuga was started on this day.
  • River Ganges the sacred river came to earth from heaven.
  • Goddess Annapurna Devi is born on this day.
  • Kubera has worshipped Lord Shiva at sivapuram and received wealth from Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva made kubear as the Lord and Lakshmi as Goddess for wealth.
  • Yudhishtira has got the Akshaya patra to serve the food for needy.
  • Sudama the best friend of Lord Krishna visits him on this day and discuss his poverty.on the return to his home he finds it as a palace.
  • Lord Ganesha & Devi Lakshmi are worshipped on this day.
In simhachalam, the main deity sri narasimha swamy(Lord Vishnu Avatar) inside the temple is always covered with sandalwood paste and only on this day the true form of god can be seen and this darshan is called as “chandanatsavam”.

Spiritually the deity Brahma and Lord Vishnu will descend on the Earth and increase the spiritual purity of earth.
gold

Pooja Procedure for Akshaya Tritiya:
  • Devotees should take bath early in the morning. It is good to take bath in rivers like Ganga and Yamuna which is very auspicious.
  • Worship Lord Ganesha(for new ventures),Lakshmi Devi(wealth),and Lord Vishnu, Lord Shiva (health and good luck) and decorate with flowers and perform pooja.
  • Offer rice, sesame and Bengal farm soaked to God as naive yam.
  • Recite Vishnu sahasranamam, kubera ashtothram and Holy Scriptures.
  • Fasting has to be done and only fruits and milk can be consumed.
  • Distribute the prasadam to the family members after the pooja.
  • The day is very auspicious for the dead ancestors who are significant for our protection and success, so tila tarpanam has to be done. We can do by our own or under the guidance of a temple priest. Place some black sesame seeds and rice on the right palm, pour water on the items and discard them by your thumb while remembering them. This brings good luck, health, wealth and happy relationships.
  • Try to do charity by feeding the poor at temples by giving water, chappals, umbrella, drinks or food.
  • All kinds of japam, homam, pooja, daanam will yield very good results and can earn merit for life.
  • Rituals for overcoming malefic planets and doshas (shanti karmas) can be performed on this day. One can wear gemstones on this day.
  • Married woman will wear a thread of red color and pray to Lord Shiva for longevity of their husbands and unmarried woman put the thread on the feet of Lord Shiva to get a husband as they wish.
 Significance:
  • A person who does charity and deeds like homas and fasting will get good results.
  • The day is the beginning of summer so farmers can enjoy the crop.
  • This is the best time for the people who are getting obstacles in work and start them freshly to have good luck.
  • As per the Vedic Astrologers this day is an auspicious day and is free from the malefic effects.
  • There is no need to look for the Muhurtam on this day as it is highly auspicious
  • Try to donate water, clothes, sacred thread, water melon and umbrella to any priest to give peace for dead ancestors and get immense benefits.
  • Visit Lord Shiva temple and offer Neem leaves .Bring them back and keep it under the pillow of a sick person to get cured from illness and evil eyes.
 Interesting Facts:
  • Akshaya Tritiya is highly auspicious if it comes under Rohini Nakshatra and on Wednesday.
  • Any work started on this day will be successful.
  • People believe that buying gold on this day is an important aspect to invite Goddess Lakshmi and this will keep them grow with wealth and prosperity.
  • Goddess Lakshmi Kubera homam will be performed on this day.
  • Visit Goddess Lakshmi temple and throw four coins in all the four directions to open the doors for wealth.
 Scientific Reasons:
  • Astrologically it is believed that Sun and Moon will have more brightness on this day which happens only once in a year.
  • The day is very much stronger because of the influence of the planetary positions.
  • The sun and moon will be in a favorable position. The sun (Lord of planets) will be located in Aries and moon (Lord of Creativity) in Taurus so the day is very much auspicious.
  • There will be Positive vibrations on the earth and great influence on the human lives.
  • Planet Venus Moves into Taurus its own sign so the energies from the planet will be increased. Venus is the planet which gives wealth, luxury and property from you horoscope chart. Taurus is also the earthy sign of zodiac and is fixed for assets like vehicles, houses and building
  • Buying gold on this day will increase your wealth.
  • Moon on this day is the third waxing moon and while the sun is in high raise, so this time comes only once in an year so the earth is with powerful energy. Moon controls our mind and emotions, so the powers are very strong to resolve the issues with clarity. 
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