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Hindu
fast & festivals
· The
social-cultural life of a person is shaped by its basic philosophy of life. For
the Hindus, it has always been religion.
Swami Vivekananda was obliged to declare: “ The Hindu is a peculiar person.
He does everything in a religious manner. He eats religiously; he sleeps
religiously; he rises in the morning religiously; he does good things
religiously; and he also does bad things religiously.”
· Religion, again, has three
aspects: Philosophy, Mythology and Rituals.
Philosophy deals with the ultimate questions of life like the existence
of God, nature of men, creation of this world, the goal of life as also the path
that leads to it.
· Mythology
tries to bring these ideas from the great heights of metaphysics down to the
ordinary level of common people understanding. Through myths and stories,
dialogues and some examples from everyday life. However, both of these cater
rather to the brain than to the heart.
· This
is where the role of Rituals fit in. Though designed to reflect the basic
philosophy of life, they also help to release the energies and emotions through
constructive channels, since they are action- oriented.
·
Hence
the Hindu festivals and sacred days are a very important, even an integral, part
of the Hindu religion, especially its ritual system.
To
understand and appreciate the spirit behind the observance of these festivals
and sacred days, a basic knowledge of the concept of the four purusarthas (ends
of human life) is necessary.
· They
are Dharama (righteousness), Artha (Wealth), Kama (desires) and Moksa
(liberation).
The Hindu festivals and sacred days, with their twin aspects of Vrats
and Utsavas,
are designed exactly for this purpose of achieving the metamorphosis of the
human being from the mundane to higher levels.
· The disciplines like fasting,
keeping vigil in the night, ritualistic worship and so, are voluntarily imposed
upon ourselves, will cleanse our minds and hearts making us get great joy and
peace.
No festivals whether celebrated at home
or in public, can be effectively organized without the willing cooperation of
all concerned.
· The
spirit of cooperation can engender other virtues like a sense of belonging, free
from ego and selfishness, and greater coordination to achieve the main purpose
of the festivals.
If
this trend is to be reversed, the remedy has to start in the homes of every
Hindu homes.
Sanctity of the place of the puja
place and other rituals should be done.
Only competent priests and assistance
should be engaged who should be generously rewarded.
· All
the program’s arranged should be keeping of the central aim and spirit of the
festivals. Educating the public on the significance and observance of the
festivals should be integral part of the whole purpose.
Acts of charity and activities of
service to the poor and the needy should be also a part of the event.
These
Rituals or ceremonies represent, from birth to death:
1.
Jatakarma
(Prior to strangers’ touch) - Immediate
2.
Namakaran (Naming the child) - 12th day
3.
Manchakavarohan (Laying down on bed) - 12th day
4.
Palakavahoran (Laying in a cradle) - 12th day
5.
Dugdhapana (Feeding outside milk) - 31st day
6. Suryavalokan (Exposing to sunlight) - 3 months
7.
Bhoomyupaveshan (Laying on the floor) - 5 months
8. Annaprashan (First solid feeding) - 6 months
9.
Karnavedha (Ear-boring) - 2 years
10. Chaula (Tonsure) - 3 years
11.
Akshararambha (Learning the alphabet) - 5 years
12. Upanayana (Thread ceremony) - 8 years
13.
Vidyarambha (Commencing education) - 9 yr. onward
14. Vivaha (Marriage)
15.
Garbhadharana (First sexual intercourse 16.Dahana
(Cremation after death)
A
HINDU PANCHANG
· A
majority of information in the Panchang is derived from calculations based on
the Moon. In additions to astrological calculations, a significant percentage of
the Panchang data used by Hindus to determine a correct time to celebrate
traditional Hindu religious events.
The
word “Panchang” means “five limbs” in Sanskrit. It describes five ways
to divide the span of a day.
It
is said in the Vedas, with the use of Panchang, the person
can becomes free from all
his sins.
· Knowledge
of Tithi brings Prosperity.
Knowledge of Vara
prolongs Life. Knowledge
of Nakshatras Removes sins.
Knowledge of Yoga
gives
Immunity from diseases.
Knowledge
of Karana leads to
Success in all endeavors. Hence the knowledge is absolutely essential to obtain
Dharma,
Artha, Kama and Moksha.
·
The days are marked from Sunrise
to Sunrise.
·
NOTE:
IMPORTANT ALL TIME SHOWN IS FOR GMT.
· When
the Sun rises at the equinox, it is actually, speaking astronomically, about 24
degrees back into about 6 degrees of the sign of Pisces (using the star–based
Vedic system) and not at
zero degrees of Aries (western system). At the equinox, the measured difference
of arc between the two systems is called the "“Ayanamsa."
· Another
Hindu convention is to mark the change of signs in the 2nd week of the month,
rather than the 3rd week as in the Western system.
·
A traditional Vedic Panchang is to list the planets from Mercury through
Saturn and to include the North and South Nodes of the Moon (Rahu & Ketu) where eclipses occur.
The outer planets of Uranus, Neptune and Pluto are not widely used.
The
Vedic astrologers make the greatest use of the Nakshatra Data.
The Karana and Yoga is used mostly
for religious events and calculation.
The
Vara is day of the week
¨
Sunday or Ravi vara
is the Sun, Monday or Som vara is the Moon, Tuesday or Mangal vara is Mars,
Wednesday or Budhvara is Mercury, Thursday or Guruvara is Jupiter, Friday or
Sukravara is Venus, and Saturday or Shanivara is Saturn. Each day is considered
for the influence brought by its ruling planet
-
NAKSHATRA
The
Nakshatra is the “Moon sign.” There are 27 Nakshatras. Each
Nakshatra
accounts for 13 degrees and 20 minutes of the 360 annular “path” of the sign
Each
Nakshatra is further divided in to 4 sub sections of 3 degrees and 20 minutes
called a Pada (“foot”). A Pada is
similar in length to a Navamsa or 1/9th division of a 30 degree Sun
sign.
Nine Nakshatra
Padas make one Sun sign.
What Are
Nakshatras?
Two
nakshatras take up 26-40, which is 3-20 short of one full sign. 3-20 is 1/4 of a
Nakshatra,
and is called a Nakshatra-pada, or simply a pada. As such, Aries contains
Ashwini, Bharani, and the 1st pada of Bharani. Taurus contains padas 2-4 of
Krittika, Rohini, and the first 2 padas of Margasira. Each sign therefore
contains 9 padas (note that 3-20 x 9 = 30 degrees, or one full sign).
·
The notation Ashwini-1 means the
1st pada of Ashwini, Ashwini-2 the 2nd pada, and so on. Aries then contains
Ashwini, Bharani, and Krittika-1, and Taurus contains Krittika-2, 3, 4, Rohini,
and Mgrasira-1, 2.
·
Just
like the signs, each Nakshatra
has a ruler or owner. Unlike the signs, Rahu and Ketu are assigned rulerships.
Ketu, Bharani, rules Ashwini by Venus, Krittika by Sun, then Mars, Rahu,
Jupiter, Saturn, and Mercury. The cycle then repeats in the same order two more
times
Use Of Nakshatras in Daily Life
· There
is a branch of Vedic Astrology called Muhurtha,
which is concerned with determining auspicious times to perform and inauspicious
times to avoid certain activities.
Many
of these rules depend on the Many
of these rules depend on the Nakshatra position of Moon.
For
activities with long-term implications (buying a house, starting a new job),
Moon should be in Rohini, Uttarashadha, or Uttarabhadrapada, which are the fixed
Nakshatras. For
travel and pleasure activities, Moon should occupy Ashwini, Pushya, or Hasta;
these are called the light Nakshatras.
· Dhanishta-3,
up to and including Revati-3, is considered unsuitable for all auspicious work.
As this covers 5 padas, it is called Nakshatra panchaka (panch means 5).
Pushya is considered favorable for all auspicious activities, except marriage.
· The above rules are general
and universal, as they apply to everyone at the same time, since the Nakshatra
position of Moon does not depend on geographic location.
This obviously means that you need to refer to the birth chart to optimize the
best times for a given person, based upon the dasas and transits in effect at
any given time.
We
can therefore view the above rules as fixed, and the indications from the birth
chart as temporary.
Tithi
A
Hindu lunar month starts from the day after the full Moon (Purnima) and ends on
the next full Moon. The 30-day lunar month is divided into a dark half (Krishna
Paksha) and a bright half (Shukla Paksha).
Each
half is sub divided into 15 parts which are called lunar days or “Tithis,” A
Tithi is the span of time the Moon will cover in 1/30th of a lunar
month (full Moon to next full Moon). A lunar year is about 11 days shorter than
a solar year.
· The
names of Tithis, starting from the 1st day of either the
waxing or waning Moon are:-
1. Pratipaba, 2. Dwitiya, 3. Tritiya, 4. Chaturthi, 5. Panchami, 6. Shashti, 7.
Sattami, 8. Ashtami, 9. Navami, 10. Dasami, 11. Ekadasi, 12. Davadasi, 13.
Trayodashi, 14. Chaturdashi, 15. Purnima (full Moon).
· The
11th Tithi or lunar day. Vaishnavas fast from grains and beans on this day as a
sacrifice for Vishnu. The
Vedic scripture praises the glories of performing this Vrat for spiritual
benefit. This fast also gives the health benefit of rest from digesting heavier
foods twice in a month.
· This
cycle repeats from 1 to 14 with the next 15th being Amavasya OR New
Moon.
Religious propitiation is necessary if the birth is during the last 48 minutes
of 4/5th of an hour of Panchami or 5th lunar day, Dashami
or the 10th lunar, or Amavasya or 30th lunar day, Poornima
or full Moon day or 15th lunar day.
Krishna
Chaturdashi on 14th lunar day of the dark fortnight.
The
entire period is to be divided in to 6 parts, the first 1/6th is
auspicious and the rest inauspicious and requires Shanti or religious
propitiation.
· Nanda-the
1st, 6th and 11th lunar days are known as Nanda.
· Bhadra.
-The 2nd, 7th and 12th lunar days. Jaya. -The 3rd, 8th and 13th lunar days
Riktha.
-The 4th, 9th and 14th lunar days. Poorna. -The 5th, 10th and 15th lunar days.
Karana
They’re
30 lunar days or Tithis. After
dividing them in half, we have 60 Karnas. Karnas gives us more exact
descriptions of the nature of the favorable or unfavorable influences occurring
around us at a specific time of the day.
·
If the birth in the Bhadra Karana as certain evil effects have
been ascribed to the same, religious propitiation is necessary. Vishti Karana is
also called Bhadra.
Yoga
or Nityayoga
In this instance, the word “Yoga” means the union or spatial
relationship between the longitudes of the Sun and the Moon. There are 27
Yoga’s and a specific interpretation is allocated for each of them.
Birth during the following yogas requires religious prayers in the
prescribed form: (1) Atiganda, (2)
Vyatipata, (3) Parigha, (4) Shoola, (5) Vaidhriti.
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