Life of Chaitanya Maha Prabhu

Life of Chaitanya Maha Prabhu - PART 1 

THE BIRTH

Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was born during the period where the world has just started realizing the development and spiritual importance and strength, where Europe was running towards new milestones and in search of new heavens’, India was also under a difficult situation were castism was playing an upper hand and the Bhakti movement was just Started in the country.

During this period one person with the Name Sri Jagannatha Misra a thorough brahman and an ardent devotee of Lord Sri Krishna migrated from Bengal, due to the movement of upper castism and different religious concerns.

From East Bengal he migrated to the city on the banks of river Ganga in Mayapur which is one of the closest places to Navadvipa

Jagannatha Misra was married to Sri Sacidevi who is also ardent devotee of Lord Sri Krishna.

By the Time Sri Jagannatha Misra reached Mayapur the Educational Ambience of the city was by then spoiled and no one cared about the real traditional Rituals and even brahmans were little bothered about the tradition’s and the real aim and the word of Krishna Consciousness and there were only few seen who taught Bhagavad Gita.

The Only Person left to worship Lord Krishna ardently in and around the city was Sri Advaita Acarya who was the leader of the only Vaishnava Community in Navadvipa he used to preach the word of Krishna and Worship lord Krishna with Tulasi and Ganga Water.

During the Same period Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu entered the womb of Sacidevi and her pregnancy endured for 13 months.

On the Full moon day and Phalguna of the year, 18^th of February 1486 AD Sri Chaitanya MahaPrabhu was born. Previously Sacimata [Sacidevi] gave birth to eight daughters however none of the them could survive and all of them died immediately after birth.

The Family of Jagannatha Misra and Sacidevi named the new born as Visvarupa Visvambhara

The Grandfather of Lord Chaitanya was one of the Known learned astrologer of the city on making the Nimai chart of the child he discovered and found the boy to be the personality of God and his representation; however he kept this as a Secret to himself

As soon as Lord Chaitanya was born in the city the famine ended in the land, there were good rains and the farmlands flourished with crops and earth land again became happy and prosperous

During the naming Ceremony of the boy brahman’s chanted the mantra of Lord Hair and blowing counchshells and ringing bells, and as a part of the ceremony various objects such as Grains puffed Rice book, coin, gold, etc were placed before the new born [lord chaitanya mahaprabhu ] and was left alone to pick anything and leaving everything boy picked up the sacred Srimad Bhagavatam

Everyone cheered and claimed the boy to be a Distinguished Pandita,.

Festivals of AUGUST - 2012

Hindu Festivals for the month of AUGUST - 2012

Hinduism is so vast that we have so many important days in our life’s to Celebrate.

August is the month which is considered to be one of the most important months for Hindu’s as this is the month which immediately falls soon after the start of Monsoons in the Country

The Good Days start with the start of most important month for the year for all the married Women of this country, i.e. The Sharavan Month [Most important for the followers of Lord Shiva]

Below are the Dates on which the Most important Festivals are Celebrated for the Month of AUGUST - 2012

• August 1^st – Purnima [Poornima] Vrat – Also this falls on Shravan Star
• August 2^nd – Raksha Bandhan [The Festival for all the Sisters of this country, tieing Rakhi to their Brothers]
• August 2^{nd -}  Avani Avittam  - It is the day which comes after Dhanista nakshatram [Dhanishta Star], where in the Brahmins [iyers] as a ritual change their upanayana.
• August 2^nd - Few more Festivals / Important days which fall on 2^nd of August are to start with Gayatri Japam comes first, and then it’s followed by up karm ...It’s also the Purnima on August 2^nd of 2012
• August 3^rd – The VaralakshmiVratam which is the Most important day of Shravan month where women perform pooja to Goddess Lakshi [the consort of Vishnu]
• August 4^th – Ashunya Sayana Vrata – The Day Dedicated to Goddess Lakshmi and Vishnu.
• August 5^th - Kajari Teej Vratam or Kajari Teej Pooja – it is celebrated in the Bhadra month of the year... and this year it falls on     5^th of August 2012
• August 6^th – August 6^th Falls Monday, and across Maharashtra and Gujarat, it is Celebrated as Shravan Somvar [i.e. Somvar mean – Monday in Hindi] ..And across, Different States like Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Hindu women perform MangalaGouri Pooja As well on the same day.
• August 9^th – The Birthday of Lord Krishna “Janmastami” is being celebrated in some parts of the Country.
• August 10^th – Due to the changing nakshtra’s and the time zones, the birth of Krishna “Janmastami” is celebrated at different days in the country, it starts on 9^th and on 10^th the Jan mastami is celebrated in Northern INDIA
• August 11^th – Goga Navami is celebrated across the Country
• August 13^th – Its again Monday, its again Celebrated as Shravan Somvar in Gujarat, this would continue for the entire month of ShravanAnd EKADASI also falls on the same day
• August 14^th – across Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, and Karnataka, MANGALA GOURI Pooja is celebrated on this Day
• August 17^th - It’s the Start of Chingam month for Keralites [people of Kerala]
•  It is also the AMAVASYA of the Month.
• August 18^th – According to Bengali Calendars’ 18^th is the start of Bhadrapad Month of the year
• August 21^st – The Most Famous Festival across the World “Vinayaka” Chaturthi [Ganesh Chaturthi] Celebrated on 21^st of August and would continue for next 11 days until the final Nimarjan of Ganesh Idle Takes Place
• August 27^th – It’s EKADASI
• August 28^th – The Most Important Festival for Kerelaites – “THE ONAM” falls on 28^th it’s the First Day of ONAM which is celebrated
• August 31^st – It’s Poornima Day [Purnima / Pournami]

Shravan - The Holy Month for Hindu's

Shravanamasam - The Holy Month of Hindu's - 2012


Shravan Month - 2012

Sharvan [Shavana Masam / Shravanamasam] is one of the most auspious month for Hindu’s, especially followers of Lord Shiva, famously known as Shaivists. [the people who follow lord Shiva,  one of the two famous gods which Hindu’s preach and follow, Shaivists, and Viashnavists [followers of lord Vishnu]

Shravana Masam is the most important month for Hindu women, especially the Monday’s of the Month.

During this month, some of the most important events like Naga Chaturthi [Naga Panchami], Varalakshmi Vratam, and Sri Krishna Jayanthi, falls on Mondays of the Month. For the Year 2012, the Shravan month falls starts on July 20th and ends on August 17th

Evolution of Shravan Month:

It is believed that during the Churning of oceans [sagara madhanam], [Samudra manthan] was said to take place in this Month.

Mount Mandarachala is worn as churning rod, adding to it lord Vasuki  became the rope, to conduct the Sagara madhanam.

During Samudra Manthan, process fourteen different types of things came out while churning the ocean, out of which almost 13 of them where divided among the demons except the fourteenth one. I.e. POISON [halahala], as it was dangerous which came out no one of the entire devas were ready to accept it , and finally Lord Shiva who took the Halahala [Poison] [he drank it] in to his throat. [This is the reason he is also known as Garalam thagina devudu in Telugu]

Since the day of consuming Halahala Lord Shiva was known as Neelakanta [Neelkantha] mean to say Blue Throated person. Post to which Neelkantha is the name associated with Lord Shiva

To reduce the effect of Halahala Shiva wore the Moon on his head, after this all the gods [devas] started offering the Water to God Shiva to reduce the effect of Halahala [poison] [this is also the reason why most of the Shiva’s pictures depict water on this head.]

AS this happened during the month of Shravana, and lord Shiva has goddess Ganga on his head, people offer Ganges water during this auspicious month, and it is also considered as the most auspicious month to wear Rudraksha

As the Mondays are devoted to officer prayers to lord Shiva, all Mondays of the shravana month Hindu women in the honor of lord Shiva, keep their fast for the entire day.

Varalakshmi Vratam

“Varalakshmi Vratam” is the most important pooja performed by women in the month of Sravanamasam, it is done on one of the Sravana Shukravaram of Sravanamasam, mostly the second Friday.

In this month every Tuesday  pooja of  Mangalagouri  vratam is performed and pooja of Mahalakshmi is performed on Every Friday .

VaraLakshmi Vratham is performed either on 2nd firday of the  Sravana maasam or before the firday of full moon day (Pournami).

Vara means godsend [boon].

Performing pooja (Vratam) to Varalakshmi will bring in benefits to people who perform it  with utmost devotion and discipline .

The Eight Forces which are considered to be recognized and pleased are

·         Sri (Known for Wealth)

·         Bhu (Known as Earth)

·         Sarasvati (Goddess of learning)

·         Priti ( Known for love)

·         Kirti (Known as Fame)

·         Shanti (Known as Peace)

·         Tushti(For Pleasure in Life)

·         Pushti (To give Strength)

Each of these forces are called and known as Lakshmi and all eight forces together called as Ashta Lakshmis. 

Hanuman Statue - Jakhoo Temple - Himachal Pradesh

Lord Hanuman is one of the famous Gods worshipped across the Country, famously known as Ram Bhakth [ardent devotee of Lord Rama] and known for his mighty power and strength.

There are multi tall structures built across the country, however the birth place of Hanuman is assumed to be on Anjaneya Hill at  Hampi in Karanataka

Above depicted is the Second Largest Statue of Lord Hanuman situated in Jakhoo Temple in Shimla, it weights around 1500+ tones, with a height of 108 feet.

Special care is being taken in building the Statue with world class material used for its long lasting stability the idol is being situated at an altitude of 8500 feet from the Sea level. Statue is being equipped with Sensors to keep birds away from the statue and to retain the beauty of the Idol.The statue has attracted quite a good number of tourists, which is increasing year by year giving an edge to shimla tourism

The Statue was inaugurated on 4th Day of November, 2010 by Hon’ble Chief Minister Himachal Pradesh,    Mr. Prem Kumar Dhumal, also joined by Mr. Abhishek Bacchan [Belongs to film fraternity of Bolywood] on Hanuman Jayanti.

History on the Jakhu hills say that, Lord Hanuman took rest while he was sent to bring Sanjeevani herb  to save the life of Lakshmana [brother of LordRama], during the epic Ramayana was taken place, and it is  where the present hanuman temple is located in his memory

The Tallest Statue of Hanuman is Located in city of Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh, as Is famously known as Veera Abhaya Anjaneya Hanuman Swami Statue

Swamy Vaari Moola Viraat

Saraswati Mata

Saraswati Mata is also known by different names the most commonly used names are  SARASWATI, SHARADA, PUSTAKA DHARINI, VEENA PANI, VIDYA DAYINI.

Mata Saraswati is depicted as the most beautiful woman goddess among st the different goddess and she is always dressed in a pure white saree.

Mata Saraswati is always portrayed as sitting on a white lotus with Veena (a musical instrument of Indian origin) or with a book, the book in her hands depicts and signifies the eternal knowledge, Lotus symbolizes the absolute reality and goddess herself follows the absolute reality, the White Saree represents the purity and the Swan represents the bias between the evil & the good.The four arms of the goddess suggest the four aspects i.e Mind, Vigilence, Intellect and ego of human personality.The pearl string represents the supremacy of spirituality.

With the Physical appearance of goddess it suggests the humans to be cautious and to be wise with TRUTH, as Dharma is the True Place

Saraswati Mata - Lakshmi Devi - Ganesha

Saraswati Mata - Lakshmi Devi - Ganesha

The above mentioned pictures are the Most commonly found Pictures of Hindu Gods, across almost all the homes of India.

The Following is the Significance and reasons on why these are the most commonly found Pictures in the homes of India

Ganesha: Among all the Gods of Hinduism, Ganesha is worshiped First before the start of any new thing, to the matter of the fact even the start of the day is started by offering the first prayer to Ganesha

Saraswati Mata: Saraswati Mata is the goddess of Education, Gyan, Knowledge, Music &  Arts, She is known as the Consort of Brahma, and the start of all Good things in this world. The Pictures are always portrayed with Wither Music Instruments Like Veena or  with Books sitting on Swan.

Saraswati Mata is also known by different names across the country, however the most commonly used names are  SARASWATI, SHARADA, PUSTAKA DHARINI, VEENA PANI, VIDYA DAYINI.

Lakshmi Devi: Lakshmi Devi is the goddess of Prosperity, Wealth & Happiness, it is strongly believed that worshiping Lakshmi Devi will relieve them from bad luck and protect them from Money related sorrows, she is the also known as the consort of Lord Vishnu.

Worshiping Lakshmi Mata is believed to get Fortune, Good luck and success, and she is also known as MAHALAKSHMI.