DEEPAWALI KRITYA (2019):

Offering of Deepaks during Deepawali: 

A few things suggested in our scriptures to be perform during the deepawali festival season are being shared with the readers.  If one has different tradition then one should follow that. Hope all will be able to follow this mix of tradition and scriptural details:

Date wise details as per Diwakar-Panchang being given below:

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Date          Tithi                Ends at    Other information
                                           (IST)

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12th Nov   Dwadashi        09.30 pm   Govats Dwadashi, Gandmool.
                                   
13th Nov   Trayodashi      05.59 pm   Yamdeep daan, Hanuman Jayanti, 

                                                            Maas Shivratri, 
                                                            Sompradosh-vrat, 

                                                            Dhan Trayodashi, 
                                                            Dhanwantri Jayanti. 

                                                            Hanuman Jayanti, 

                                                            Yam Tarpan.

                                                            
14th Nov    Chaturdashi   02.18 pm    Narak Chaudas, Deepawali Poojan

                                                            Pitra Karyeshu Amavas(after 2.18pm). 
                                    
15th Nov    Amavasya    05.16 pm    Kartik Amavasya(for bath etc.) , Kali poojan,
                                     (20th morn)   Luxmi/ Kuber Poojan, Annkoot,

                                                           Bath and Daan till 10.37 am.                                                                                                      Govardhan Pooja, Bali Pooja

                                                           

16th Nov   Prathma         07.07 am     Bhaidooj, Yam dwitiya, 

                                                            Poojan of pen and inkpot, 

                                                            Vishwakarma Poojan, 

                                                            Pen, Ink and books poojan.

XXXX      Dwitiya         XXXX      Tithi Kshaya (This day/ Tithi is not counted.)

17th Nov   Tritiya         01.18 am        Maas Prarambh (Month Start)

                                   (after midnight)
                                                         

During the month of Kartik, around Deepawali festival from Krishan Paksh (days of the waning moon) Trayodashi(13^th day as per Hindi calendar) to Shukla Paksh (nights of waxing moon) Dwitiya (2^nd day as per Hindi calendar), all five days Deepaks, (oil lamps, mostly made of earthen pottery or made of brass), are offered for various purposes. As per PADMPURAN, the details are as follows.

Kartik Krishan Paksh, Trayodashi. (falls on 13th Nov, 2020.)

As per scriptures, at the time of sunset offer a deepak outside the house for Yamraj, god of death for evading untimely death in life. Offering depak one should pray to him, "O Yama, son of the Sun, who has death and snares under his control and is accompanied by his wife, may you get happy by my offering of this deepak on this 13^th night of Kartik Krishan paksh."

Offer a deepak at the door with following mantra:

Mritunaam Pashdandabhyam, Kalen Ch Maya sah,

Trayodashyaam Deep Danat Suryajah Priyataamiti.

Traditionally, some people in villages use four-faced deepak on this day. They light it by the side water drains etc from their houses. In fact, it is done in the South direction. The problem arises when the main gate of the house is not in south direction. So one can say South Direction is more important than the direction of the main gate in the house. Also use a smaller depth Deepak if using four-faced one. else it will extinguish easily.

Dhanteras is also celebrated today.As per tradition, on the day of Dhanteras, earthen statues of Ganapati and Luxmi are bought. This day lord Dhanwantri appeared with a kalash in his hands during sagar manthan(Ocean churning). Since he carried a Kalash with him so tradition of buying utensils on this day became prevalent.

Kartik Krishan Paksh, Chaturdashi (falls on 14th Nov, 2020)

As per scriptures, on this day Devi Luxmi resides in oil and river Ganges, in water.

All who fear hell should take early morning bath (traditionally after massaging one -self with black Sesame oil) and take a lauki /gheea, (table gourd), and rotate it three times over one's head saying, "I rotate you around my head time and again, please take away all my sins."  Table gourd is touched to the forehead and offered in alms or in a temple.Then one should do tarpan of Yamaraj with water with the following names:

Yamaya namah¹, Dharmrajaye Namah², Mrityave Namah³, Antkaaye Namah⁴, Vaivastaye Namah⁵, Kalaye Namah⁶, Sarvbhootkshayaye Namah⁷, Dadhanaye Namah, Audumbaraye Namah⁹, Neelaye Namah¹⁰, Parmeshthine Namah¹¹, Vrikodaraye Namah¹², Chitraye Namah¹³, Chitraguptaye Namah¹⁴.

Since Yama is a god, so Tarpan should be done from the Dev Teerth part of the hand i.e. finger tips. After this at night offer Deepaks at different places, like on the walls of the house, at the place where four roads meet, near unpaved pathways where people walk (jungle paths), in the temples, by the side of roads, in gardens, below Dev Vriksha (trees), an uneven place, where there are thorns and mosquitoes, or in the place where horses or elephants are tied at night.  Generally a four faced deepak is offered by villagers at the cross roads.    

Offer two deepaks at the gate of one's house; one for Yama and other for two dogs, (black and black & white), of Yamaraj with dripping clothes with the following mantra.

Shunkau Shyamshablao, Bhratrau Yam Sevakau,

Tushtau Syataam Chaturdashyaam, Deep danen Mritujau.

On this day in villages people offered 25 deepaks; 05 to Pitra, 05 to Sati devis, 05 to Lord Vishnu, 05 to Gram devta or Kheda and 05 for Mata/Luxmi/Durga etc.

Amavasya night (15th Nov. 2020, Deepawali):

As per Varah Puran, the Tanmatras came from the heart of Lord Brahma. They shone brightly and asked the devtas that we want to drink SOMRAS and desired to go to higher realms. They thought we will establish our asan in the space above.  Thus they raised their faces up and started to move upwards in a slanted pathway. Then Brahma told them to become PITRAS for all the family people. Since they had their faces upturned hence they were called NANDIMUKH. They were given the Dakshinayan time of the Southward moving Sun. When they asked 'what will be given to us', then AMAVASYA tithi was reserved for them. Whosoever will do tarpan with water, black sesame seeds, and kusha will reach the Pitras and they will feel satisfied by it. Whosoever will do tarpan of the Pitras on this day, it is the duty of the Pitras to give them some VAR (boon, gift) in return.

Take an early morning bath and with great devotion perform poojan of devtas and tarpan of pitras. Perform Parvan Shradh. Offer food to Brahmins.  

Further as per traditions in villages, two sets of two lotas/utensils, placed one over other, filled with water were used in poojan. The water of one set was offered to pitras and other set water was offered to satis, after bath. A bhog of kheel and batasha is offered to both.

For Ratri poojan of Luxmi:

On this night for poojan of Luxmi a silver statue or a silver coin is used.

A red cloth is spread out with rose petals sprinkled over it. Luxmi ji is bathed in milk, ghee, honey, curd, sugar each, followed by Ganga jal. All her Sringaar is done as per ones own imagination, devi poojan is done with dhoop, deep, naivedya, flower, flower garland, itra, bell after offering asan,  chatra etc. Put ghee deepk on her right side and sesame seed oil deepak on left side. Do not use rice in poojan but kheel of dhaan instead may be used. Wash Her mouth, hands and feet and offer food to her etc. Offer kheer, wash mouth hands etc. Offer a paan  with supari, laung, elaichi and panch meva may also be offered.     

One can use 16 things as enumerated below in Her poojan, establishing a kalash which should contain water upto 1.25 litres. Put  coconut on top of it wrapped in red cloth. Put leaves of mango, Pakad, Baniyan tree(badh)etc with copper coin in water and may errect two stambhs of banana leaves. If possible may draw a yantra and do panch upchaar poojan of it before puting a kalash on it. This requires a little practice and knowledge as per scriptures. In our villages, elders just kept a water pot established for a few days without other details. Hence, it is your personal convenience, though poojan can be done in silver coin even.

1 Asan, 2 Argha-Padya-Panchamrit snan, 3 Scent, 4 Vastra-upvastra, 5 Sringaar, 6 Flowers , 7 Bilvatra, 8 Dhoop, 9 Deep, 10 Naivedya,11Tambool, 12 Pungiphal, 13 Dakshina, 14 Neeranjanam, 15 Pushpanjali, 16 Pradakshina-Kshamapan-Visarjan. These are the 16 items for Shodash upchaar poojan, although panchopchar poojan with five things can also be performed if unable to do Shodashopchar. They are 1 Asan, 2 Argha, 3 Dhoop, 4 Deep, 5 Pushp-Pushpmala.

Also offer two Kamal/lotuses in the poojan on this day.

After doing all the poojan, whole night perform luxmi beej mantra jap. One can use any of the following mantra on kamalgatta mala,

Om Shreem Namah. 

Om Aim Hreem Shreem Shri Mahalaxmaye namah. 

Om Shreem Hreem Shreem Kamle Kamlalye praseed praseed Om Shreem Hreem Shreem Mahalaxmayee namah swaha.

Then at midnight, one can perform havan with above mantra attaching swaha at the end (if not there) with ahuti of Bilv-patra and Kamalgatta seed equivalent to 10% of the jap done. Then perform tarpan equivalent to 10% of havan and marjan equivalent of 10% of tarpan. Bhojan offering to brahmins of kumaris can be done as 10% of marjan. But even if one kumari poojan and offering is done with complete shradha it is equivalent to offering the whole earth.  If one does like this on this day, Luxmi ji resides in one's house for complete year and showers everything over the devotee. 

At midnight ladies of the house should guide Aluxmi (poverty) out of the house by making sounds while hitting on a soop (used to clean grains in olden times). Thus they should roam around in whole of the house and then come out through front door and thus guide Aluxmi out of the house. In some parts of Uttarpradesh in India, they burn big bundle of hay and move through the whole of the house calling, "alai balai jaat", (the evil things al and bala to leave their dwelling). Then they move out of their house with that burning bundle and leave it at a place outside the village. This must be guiding those bad spirits to a place outside the village. In some villages, this is done by house-wive's early in the morning. They gather all the dust and dirt of the house, put it on a platter with a deepak and take it through all the rooms of the dwelling chant 'Bhag dridra, Ishwar aya'. Saying thus, they take that dirt platter out of the house. Many people these days use a platter for carrying deepak and then keep on striking it to make sound. As per shastra Soop is required, which was converted to handheld fans which were made of same material as soop earlier and now, for convenience, it has been further modified to plates or something.

 At Brahm Muhurt, (the 2 hour time span before Sunrise), ladies should wake up Sri Luxmi first and then perform her poojan, (thus she stays in the same place for a long time) and afterwards wake up Janardan for his poojan. 

As per Bhavishya Puran, Lord Vishnu got pleased with King Bali and gave Kartik Amavasya to him. On this day poojan of King Bali is also done. A sleeping cot is taken and white tanduls are tied with it, avahan of Bali is done in it and his poojan is performed in it. Offerings in the name of Bali are given as daan. Whatever is offered like this becomes eternal.

This tithi is for removal of all kinds of upheavels, obstructions and anguishes. This is called Kaumudi as it gives happiness to all on Earth. KU means Earth and MUDI means happiness. Traditionally in villages 11 deepaks were offered on this night.

Shukla Paksh Patipada, Kshaya is there hence all the things to be done on this day must be completed on the previous day only in the morning.

One should perform poojan of Govardhan at home. For this, people in the villages make a small mountain of cow's dung and consider it to be Govardhan mountain and keep books, writing material of children by its side and perform poojan of Govardhan and knowledge. in the form of pens, books and ink pots. One also does poojan of cows and buffaloes.

Kartik Shukla Paksha, Prathama (16th Nov,2020) :

(because Dwitiya is Kshaya and not counted this year as per Panchang)

It is also called Yam-Dwitiya. Perform poojan of Yamaraj, offer gifts to one's sister, should not eat at ones own place but at ones sisters place. Thus one will never face any kind of dispute the whole year.

Perform tarpan of Devtas with rice & water, Rishis with barley & water and Pitras with black sesame seeds & water.

It is also said that during the Kartik month Ekadashi, when the Sun is there in Tula Rashi or Poornima one should offer deep to lord Vishnu.

Namah Pitribhyah Pretebhyo, Namo Dharmaay Vishnave,

Namo yamay Rudraya, Kantarpatye Namah

If, with the above mantra ancestors are offered a deepak in space or akaash, then all the ancestors who are stuck in hell are elevated to a higher realms.

For Pitra tarpan etc. if one can use silver metal utensils it will be very beneficial.

One who offers a deepak of sesame seed oil or ghee the whole of the Kartik month, he gets the fruit of an Ashwamedh yajna.

One who offers a deepak to Lord Vishnu during this month gets the fruit of doing all kinds of yajna and of having taken a dip in all the teerthas.

If during the above five days an oil or ghee Deepak is offered to the ancestors then all the ancestors get mukt (salvation).

Trust all the above information is interesting and can be used this time around Deepawali by all for self and for the benefit of ancestors. This article has been repeated with a few modifications from the previous one. Further, all are requested to inform anything special done in their tradition during these poojas to enable upgrade and make the article more informative for all the readers............ Om! Shaktanand

        

Names of Sun and its Chariot Explanation

King Shatanik Question:

How the chariot-yatra of Divine Sun should be carried out and how his chariot should be designed? Who started this on Earth? Kindly explain to me in detail.

Muni Sumantu Replied:

Very very long time ago, once on the mountain Sumer Rudra, asked Brahma, ' O Brahman! Sun, who illuminates this world, how sitting in his chariot he roams every where, kindly let me know.

Brahma ji Replied:

How three eyed divine Sun roams around on his chariot in the cosmos, listen to it as I explain and enjoy it.

One Chakra, three Nabhi and 5 Are and equipped with effulgent golden 8 Bandhas and one Nemi, in such a 10,000 great chariot Sun roams in this cosmos. Isha-dand is three times bigger than the upasth of the chariot, where its controller Arun sits. The Jua of the chariot is made of gold. There are seven fast horses in the form of Chand attached to it. the 12 parts of a year are the parts of this chariot. Past, present and future are the three navels or nabhis of this chariot. Five seasons are its Are while sixth season is its Nemi. South and North are two parts of it. Divisions of time like Muhurt is Ishu of the chariot; Kala, Shamya and Kashtha are the angles of it; Kshan, Akshdand and Nimesh are the Karn of the chariot; Isha is dand, Lav and Ratri Varuth; Dharm is the flag over it; Artha and Kaam are the two ends of the central axle; Six Chandas like Gayatri, Trishtup, Jagati, Anushtup, PAnkti, Brihati and Ushneek are the seven horses in it. The wheel rotates on the central axle. Sitting on suh a great chariot divine Sun roams around in the cosmos.

Dev, Rishi, Gandharva, Apsara, Naag, Gramani and DEmons keep moving around the chariot and keep changing after every two months or after every season.

Dhata and Aryama, these two Adityas or names of the Sun divinity, Pulastya and Pulah- two rishis; Khandak and Vasuki, the two Naagas (Serpents); Tumbaru and Narad, the two Gandharvas; Kratusthala and Punjiksthala, the two Apsaras (celestial damsels); Rath Kritasna and Rathauj, the two Yakshas; Heti and Praheti, the two demons move along with the chariot during Chaitra and Vaishaks, two seasons.

Mitra and Varun, the two Adityas; Attri and Vashishth, the two Rishis; Takshak and Anant, the two Naagas (Serpents); Menaka and Sahjanya, the two celestial damsels; Ha-Ha and Hu-Hu, the two Gandharvas; Rathswan and Rathchitra, the two Yanshas; Paurushaiya and Badh, the two demons; move along the chariot during the months of Jyeshtha and Ashadha.

During the months of Shravan and Bhadrapad, names of the Sun are Indra and Vivasvaan; Angira and Bhrigu, the two Rishis; Ailaparn and Shankhpaal, the two Naagas (Serpents); Pramlocha and Danduka, the two celestial damsels; Bhanu and Durdur, the two Gandharvas; Sarp and Brahm, the two demons; Srot and Aapurna, the two Yakshas, move along with the chariot of the Sun.

In the months of Ashwin and Kartik names of the Sun are Parjanya and Poosha; Bhardwaj and Gautam, the two Rishis; Chitrasen and Vasuruchi, the two Gandharvas; Airavat and Dhananjaya, the two Serpents; Vishvachi and Dhritachi, the two celestial damsels; Senjit and Sushain, the two Yakshas; Aap and Vaat are the two demons who accompany the chariot of the Sun.

During the months of Margshirsh and Paush names of the Sun are Anshu and Bhag; Kashyap and Kratu, two Rishis; Mahapadm and Karkotak, the two Serpents; Chitrangad and Arunayu, the two Gandharvas; Saha and Sahasya, the two celestial damsels; Taksharya and Arishtnemi, the two Yakshas; Aap and Vataa, the two demons accompany the Chariot.

During the months of Maagh and Pahlgun nmaes of the Sun are Poosha and Jhishnu; Jamdagni and Vishvamitra are the two Rishis; Kadraveya and Kamblashvatar, the two serpents; Dhritrashtra and Suryavacha, the two Gandharvas, Tilotama and Rambha, the two celestial damsels; Sainjit and Satyajit, the two Yakshas and Brahmopait and Yagyopait, the two demons move along the chariot.

All the divinities have given armaments for protection of the divine Sun developed from their own parts. In this way all the divinities travel along with Sun. There is no divinity which does not walk behind the chariot. In such a realm of Sun, followers of Brahm call it Brahm, followers of Yajna call it a form of Yajna, Bhaktas take it as Vishnu, followers of Shiva take it as Shiv. All the divinities keep charging the Sun with their effulgence all the time. Divine and Rishis keep singing praises of the Sun lord, Gandharwas keep singing, Celestial damsels keep dancing in front of the chariot, Demons follow the chariot, 60,000 balkhilya Rishigan walk surrounding the chariot, Divaspati and Swayambhu in front, Bharg on right side, Padmaj on left side, Kuber on Southern side, Varun in North, Vitihotra and Hari behind the chariot. Earth resides in the back side of the chariot, in the middle Ether, in the effulgence of the chariot resides Heavens, at the top of the staff of the flag  resides Garud and above him Varun, inside the flag Dand, in the front end of the flag Dharma and in the flag Rishi, Sidhi and Shri. mountain Mainak is the support of the Canopy and Himalya becoming the canopy moves along the chariot. Sun exudes same kind of power, tapas, effulgence, yog and elements as shown by all the divines supporting Him. These divinities only shine forth, fall as rain and take care of the whole creation, make all the entities to perform good or bad deeds, give anand to their wards, and move along with Sun for protecting their creation. Sun enriches the Moon with its rays and thus feed all the divinities. During waxing period, Sun feeds the Moon and lets it grow while during the waning period divinities feed on it. By feeding on Earth through its rays, Sun rains on the Earth. With this rain all kinds of herbs grow on it. Many kinds of grains grow on it, through which are the ancestors and humans get satiated.

Sitting on this chariot of one wheel, Sun roams around the whole Earth comprising of seven islands, 7 oceans. In one year, it makes 360 rounds around it. When it is mid day in Amravati, the realm of Indra, it is sun rise time in Sanyamani, the realm of Yama, ruler of death; it is mid night in the Varun's realm called Sukha; it is sunset in the realm of Moon, called Vibha.

When it is mid day is Sanyamani, its Sun rise in Sukha, mid night in Amravati.

When it is mid day in Sukha, it is sun rise in Vibha, mid night in Amravati and Sun set in Sanyamani.

When it is mid day in Vibha, it is Sun rise in Amravati, mid night in Sanyamani and Varun realm named Sukha has Sun set. Like this circumambulating the mountain Meru, rising and setting of Sun takes place. From Sun rise to mid day, rays of the Sun increase and from mid day to Sun set they decrease. The direction from where Sun rises is called East while the direction in which it sets is called West. In one muhurt (48 minutes), Sun crosses 30th part of the travel (total time to make one round being 24 hours). As the Sun rises, Indra, the king of divines does its poojan, at the time of mid day Yama does its poojan, at Sun set Varun does the poojan and while at mid night Moon or Som does its poojan.

Vishnu, Shiva, Rudra, Brahma, Agni or Fire, Air or Vayu, Nairriti and Ishan etc all divinities at the end of night time at Brahm muhurt for the well being of all, always does poojan of Sun.......Om!

(As per Brahmparv of  Bhavishya Puran.)

                                                                                                                 ~******************~

  









Kala, Shamya and Kashtha 

Ayurveda - Vaat, Pitt and Kaph.

                                                          Vaat - Pitt - Kaph 

On questions of Malavati, Vishnu in the form of a Brahmin explained as follows:

The names of the writers and respective treatise written by them for alleviation of various diseases are as follows:

S.no     Treatise                                            Writer

1.         Chikitsa Tattva Vigyan                       Dhanwantari

2.         Chikitsa Darpan                                  Divodas

3.         Divya Chikitsa Kaumudi                    Kashiraj

4.         Chikitsa Saartantra                             Ashwani Kumar

5.         Vaidyak Sarvasva                               Nakul

6.         Vadhi Sindhu Vimardan                     Sahdev

7.         Gyanarnav                                          Yamraj

8.         Jeevdaan                                             Rishi Chyavan

9.         Vaidya Sandeh Bhanjan                     Yogi Janak

10.       Sarvsaar                                              Chandra Kumar Budh

11.       Tantra Saar                                         Jabaal

12.       Vedang Saar                                       Muni Jajali

13.       Nidaan Tantra                                     Pail

14.       Sarvdhar Tantra                                  Karath

15.       Dwaidh Nirnaya                                 Muni Agastya

All the above scriptures are the seeds of the disease diagnosis, cause of removal of fevers and increase of strength in the physical body. By going through them one can understand the Ayurveda fully. As per Ayurveda, to stop the fevers and diseases by the knowledge of it, is the only skill of any Vaidya (Doctor). A Vaidya cannot increase one’s life span. He is in the know of this knowledge and practice, follows dharma and is very kind at heart, that is why he is called a ‘Vaidya’.

Fever is the cause of all the diseases and it is difficult to stop it. He is Shiv devotee and is fearsome looking. It has three feet, 6 hands and 9 eyes. He is annihilator like Kaal(Divinity of Time), Yamraj(Divinity of Desth) and Antak. His armament is Bhasm, devta is Rudra, slow digestive fire is its cause. The causes of depleted digestive fires are three; Vaat, Pitt and Kaph. They give pain to all. Because of them, the fevers are also divided in to three types;       Vataj, Pitaj and Kaphaj. The fourth one which comes out of the joining of all the three, Vaataj, Pitaj and Kaphaj, as above is called ‘Tridosh’.

Pandu (Pilia), Kaamal, Kushth (Leprosy), Shoth, Pliha (Spleen), Shoolak, Fever, Atisaar (diarrhea), Sangrahni, Cough, Boils, Halimak, Mootra Krichra, diseases of Blood like Gulm, Vishmeh, Kubj, Goad, Galgand(Goitre), Bhramri, Sannipat, Visuchika(Cholera) and Daruni etc. These diseases along with their combination give rise to 64 different kinds of ailments. They are the sons of Death, Old age always along with these brothers roam around on the Earth.

These diseases do not come near a person, who knows how to keep them away. On seeing him, diseases run away in the same manner, as snakes do, on seeing bird Garud.

To wash eyes with water; exercise daily; rub oil on the soles of one’s feet, to put oil in both the ears, to rub oil on the forehead – these keep disease and old age at bay.

During Spring (Vasant-Chaitra & Vaishakh) one who moves around, faces fire very little, indulges with his wife only on right times, diseases and old age keep away from him.

During Summers (Grisham – Jyeshtha & Ashadh) takes bath in the fresh water of a pond, puts chandan on his forehead, takes in fresh air, diseases and old age keep away from him.

During Rainy Season (Varsha – Shrawan & Bhadrapad) takes bath in warm water, does not drink rain water, eats food at the right times, old age keeps away from him.

During Autumn (Sharad – Ashwin & Kartik), does not expose to strong sunshine, takes bath in the waters of a pond or well, takes balanced diet, old age can never come near him.

During Pre-Winter (Hemant – Margshirsh & Paush), takes bath in the fresh water of the pond, sits in front of fire at the right times, eats freshly cooked food, old age never comes near him.

During winters (Shishir – Magh & Phalgun), wears warm clothes, sits in front of fire, eats freshly cooked warm food, takes bath in warm water, old age never comes near.

One who eats freshly cooked food, Kheer (Rice Pudding), Ghee (Clarified Butter) and indulges in young woman at appropriate times, old age never comes near him.

One who eats right food only when feeling hungry, drinks cool water only on feeling thirsty and eats Tambool (made out of beetle leaf) every day, old age never comes near him.

One who eats fresh curd & butter, Jaggery everyday and lives with control over his senses, old age never comes near him.

Diseases and sins have great unbreakable friendship. Diseases come from Sins, from them only pains, poverty and all the great distresses arise out of it. Hence Indian saints never performed any sins.

One who is busy in following his dharma, has taken Mantra Diksha, devoted to his Guru, Divines and guests, busy in austerities, upvaas and visits sacred places, diseases run away seeing him/ her. Such people are not attacked by old age and diseases.

The three causes of all the fevers in the body are Pitt, Kaph and Vaat.

PITT:

When fire of hunger is aflame, if food is not received at that time, Pitt rises in Manipur chakra. If one drinks water immediately after eating the fruits of Bael or Taad, that itself becomes Pitt.

One who drinks warm water in Autum and pungent food in Rainy season, his Pitt increases. If ground coriander is mixed with Shakkar and cold water is drank, it balances the Pitt. All kinds of Chana, waterless curd, ripe Bael fruit, All things made out of cane juice, Ginger (adrak), Moong daal juice and sesame seed powder mixed with shakkar – All these provide strength, health and removes Pitt.

KAPH:

To bath immediately after food, to drink water without any thirst, to massage whole body with oil, to consume Amla (amlica embilicus) oil, to drink Lassi, ripe banana, curd, rain water, Shakkar drink, coconut water, to bath in stale water without applying oil on body, ripe watermelon, to bath in a pond during rainy season and to eat reddish, all these increase Kaph. This Kaph is produced in the crown (Brahmrandhra) and is great annihilator of semen. Producing sweat while facing sitting in front of fire, to consume cooked Bhaang, roam around, unripe banana, ground Jeera (Cumin), Mirch (Pepper) and Laung etc., Fasting, Not to drink water, Rochana powder mixed with Ghee, Dry Shakkar mixed with Ghee, dry Ginger, Black pepper, Pippal, Jeevak and Honey, all immediately remove cough and provide health and strength.

VAAT:

To walk on foot immediately after food, running, to sit in front of fire, always roaming around, to indulge in love making, especially with older woman, always feeling grief stricken, to eat extremely dry fruit, to observe fasting, to quarrel with someone, to speak bitter words, Fear and Mourning, all these are the causes of increasing the Vaat or air element. This element is generated in Ajna Chakra. Its medicine is ripe Banana, fruit of Bijaura lemon taking along with Sugar sharbat, Coconut water, fresh Lassi or Takra, good Kachauri or pua, Buffalo curd mixed with Shakkar, Kaanji made out of Barley, warm drink made out of Dates, Taad and Amla, bath with hot or cold water, Sleeping on glossy lotus leaf – all these remove Vaat imbalance generated due to grief (Klesh), mental anguish (Santaap), due to Sexual desires..........from Brahm Vaivart Puran..........Om!

                                                  As per Achaar-Kand of Garud Puran

Causes of Vaat Rog (due to Imbalance of Air Humor):-

Eating uncontrolled Acrid, Hot, Bitter, Pungent, Dry food; Excessive running, Speak in loud voice; to keep awake at night; Fear, Grief, Worries, Exercise and Sex affects the Air element. This is more prominent during day time in Summers and at night after eating food.

Aushadhis for Vaat Rog:

Chameli, Shatpushpi (Soa),  Vyosh (Saunth, Pippli, Black Pepper), Amaltaas, Langali (Kalyari). for increasing itellect, memory, heat, Ghee is beneficial. 

Causes of Pitt Rog (due to imbalance of Pitt humor):-

Bitter, pungent, Hot, Salty foods or foods which increase anger generally affect our Pitt. IT is generally more during mid days, mid nights of Autumn and as well as during times of producing other humor imbalance.

Aushadhis for Pitt Humor:-

Turmeric, Kushth, Sendha Sali (Pakistani Salt), Mesh Shringi, Bala, Atibala, Cheed (Sallaki), Punarnava,  Shatavari, Agnimanth, Brahmdandi, Gokharu, Kulthi, Barley, Ber are good separately or one can make kwath of ten together. 

Cause of Kaph Rog (due to imbalance of Kaph humor):-

Eating Sweet, Salty, Heavy, Cold food; Sitting all time; excessive Sleeping; Just enjoying the comforts; Day time sleeping; Vomiting and consuming excessive power giving items.

Aushadhis to remove Kaph: Shatavari, Vidari, Moth, Usheer (Khas), Chandan, Durva, Vat, Pipali, Ber, Sallaki, Kela, Blue and Red Lotus, Goolar flower, Pato (Parval), Haldi (Turmeric), Gud (Jaggery) and Kushth.  The patient should be given Ghee mixed with Pipali, Saunth, Black pepper, Yavkshar. This ca n be given for Vaat diseases also, nadi vikaar and worms etc. too.

Cause of Tridosh (due to imbalance of all the three humors)

Drinking liquor, eating dry vegetables, Non Vegetarian food, Fish, eating wrong type of food, Dhatu dosh, usage of unripe grains, due to Karmas of past life, due wrong actions in the present life. 

For Sharp Intellect:

Take Palash, Amla, Vidang powder, Honey and cows Ghee one develops very sharp intellect. If taken for one month, one becomes free of the fear of old age even.

For Old Age:

Powder of Amla, Honey, Sesame seed oil and cows ghee, if taken for a month even regularly, a person becomes young as well as develops sharp intellect.

For Increasing Power of the Nasals:

Taking powder of Amla with honey or water in the early morning, increases the power of the nasals.

For developing fragrance in the Body:

Kushth powder with Honey, the body will become fragrant and it also provides long life.

Oli Massage:

Massaging oil on Sunday             Worries (Santaap)

,,       ,,           ,,     Monday            Fame (Kirti)

,,       ,,           ,,     Tuesday            Reduced Age

,,       ,,           ,,     Wednesday       Wealth

,,       ,,           ,,     Thursday           Death means not good at all

,,       ,,           ,,     Friday               Disease Free

,,       ,,           ,,     Saturday           Every thing against us.

While fasting do not touch oil at all. After getting hair cut also do not touch oil.

Dharana:

Doing Pranayam 18 times is called Dharana. Two repetitions of these Pranayam cycle is called Yog by the adepts of Yoga. 

1st dharana should be done in Nadi (Sushumana),

2nd dharana should be done in the Heart,

3rd dharana should be done in the Chest,

4th dharana should be done in the Stomah,

5th dharana should be done in the Throat,

6th dharana should be done in the Mouth,

7th dharana should be done at the Nose tip,

8th dharana should be done in the Eyes,

9th dharana should be done between the Brows,

and 

10th Dharana should be done at the Crown of the Head.

Achieving success in these dharanas one realizes Brahm.

                                                                     ~**********~

SHRADH DATES and INFORMATION

Shradh:

     From Poornima, 19^th September to Amavasya of 4^th October, is a great time for performance of various important things. This time being especially great for doing pitra shradh. But many people of other religions will counter it by saying that nothing of this sort is needed. But one has seen through personal experience, people born in other religions also felt the effect while performing such special ceremonies. Anyway one is not suggesting everybody to follow but it is meant for those who have faith in it.

      Life and death is a continuous circle. One who is born is bound to die and one who has died is sure to be born again, normally. When a person dies, his soul moves out of the gross body and is unable to come back into it. During this state, his pran moves out of the gross carrying all his senses. Thus, we can say that such a pret (the name for this state of the soul) has all the desires of a human being but is without any form to experience it himself. Hence it always likes to experience its desires through other bodies. But if it starts doing this, its further journey will stop and evolution will be hampered. To take care of this, our rishis of the ancient times devised ways to keep this process of evolution going on. Thus the first thing they devised was to burn his previous body so that its attachment to it may not stop its further movement ahead on the evolutionary ladder.

     Second was to provide him with a subtle body for onward movement. For this, a 'pind' is offered every day for 10 days and thus a subtle body is actually prepared for the departed soul to enter into and move ahead in his journey. Generally such pret-atmas like darkness. Not to allow it to come back in its earlier dwelling place again, a deepak (light) is also kept lighted for ten days continuously during which time its new subtle body is prepared and offered to enter into. Thus by burning its previous body, lighting deepak for ten days, we try to close return path.

       Now to fulfill its desires, it can also work through the mind of the house elder at that time. To stop this, the elder who ties a pagri (head gear) on his head during kriya ceremony, indicating his ascent to family elder status, shaves hair on his head at the time of death. As it is said that thoughts are passed into his brain through his hair. So those are also cut on the very first day of the death in the family. Thus all the return doors of the departed soul are closed and it is forced to move ahead in evolutionary journey. 

 

Generally during the first, after death, whole year; every month on the tithi (date) of death of the person a Brahmin is offered food. Then during 2nd and 3rd year food is offered to Brahmin on the same date as of death. While during fourth year, very eleborate procedure is performed with the help of pandits adept in it. Then after that ,shradh of the departed soul is performed during pitra paksh only, on the same tithi .

     Though there are many eleborate procedures to be performed but some minimum things can be done by anyone to reap the benefit. Tarpan and bhojan (food to brahmins) can be two things, as explained later. Such rites are done on the date of death (as per Hindu calendar) of the person. On whatsoever tithi a person left his body during anytime of the year, the same tithi is used during this paksh of the year for his shradh. If we do not know the exact date of death than we can use amavasya tithi. 

Pitra gayatri mantra, which can be used during such times is given below:

Pitr Gayatri:

Devtabhyah Pitribhyashch, Mahayogibhya Aiv Ch,

Namah Swahayai Swadhayai, Nityamev Namoh Namah.

As per Brahmpurana, every amavasya (night of no moon)/poornima (night of full moon) of a month is excellent for shradh. It has also enumerated details of fruits of doing shardh on various tithis (dates as per Hindu calendar) which are being shared here for the interested readers.

Date of Shradh                                    Fruit

Pratipada                                             good for wealth.

Dwitiya                                                for children

Tritiya                                                  for male children

Chaturthi                                             annihilation of enemies.

Panchami                                            for wealth, luxmi.

Shashti                                                 for earning respect

Saptami                                               for control over ganas.

Ashtami                                               great intellect.

Navmi                                                  for good wife.

Dashmi                                                for fulfillment of desires

Ekadashi                                             understanding of all Vedas.

Dwadashi                                           for gaining victory

Trayodashi                                         long life, children, medha, cattle etc.

Chaturdashi                                       for youthfull body and for those who

                                                             Died by attack of various armaments.

Amavasya                                           all desires, for eternal heaven.

    For offering during this time, one should use jaggery mixed grains, black sesame seeds, honey and honey mixed grains.

During rainy season and when Magha nakshatra is there, kheer mixed with honey is very much liked by pitras (ancestors).

By performing poojan during Kritika nakshatra       They ascend to heaven.

By performing poojan during Rohini nakshatra       For getting children          

By performing poojan during Adra nakshatra     Strength & spirit to fight recvd.

By performing poojan during Punarvasu nakshatra        for good wife

By performing poojan during Pushya nakshatra              eternal wealth

By performing poojan during Ashlesha nakshatra           great long life

By performing poojan during Magha nakshatra             for getting children

By performing poojan during P.Faguni nakshatra           for good fortune

By performing poojan during U.Faguni nakshatra           great children

By performing poojan during Hasta nakshatra   Knowledge of scriptures   

By during Chitra nakshatra  Good form, tej and children

By performing poojan during Swati nakshatra               good business

By performing poojan during Vishakha nakshatra          desires fulfilled

By performing poojan during Anuradha nakshatra       Emperor  

                                                                       (King ruling a very big area).

By performing poojan during Jyeshtha nakshatra          becomes a ruler

By performing poojan during Mool nakshatra                 disease free body

By ,,   ,,   ,,   P.Ashadha nakshatra     Great spirit to fight received

By performing poojan during U.Ashadha nakshatra      anguish removed

By performing poojan during Shravan nakshatra       great realm achieved

By performing poojan during Dhanishtha nakshatra     wealth received   

By performing poojan during Abhijit nakshatra         knowledge of vedas

By performing poojan ,, Shatbhisha nakshatra      sidhi in vedic karmas

By performing poojan during P.Bhadrapad nakshatra   cattle received

By performing poojan during U.Bhadrapad nakshatra   cows received

By performing poojan during Revti nakshatra                 meatals received

By performing poojan during Ashwin nakshatra             horses received

By performing poojan during Bharni nakshatra              long life

      Father, grand father, and great grand father are offered pind, while the earlier three generation of them do not require pind offering. Now the question arises that after offering pind for shradh, what should be done with them on completion of the ceremony? These further details have been given on this, in the same Purana, as below -

If they are put in a river          one gets good intellect, glory and fame.

If they are put in fire               one who desires bhog

If pitamah pind is offered       then children take birth.
to one’s own wife with following mantra:   

‘Avat pitro Garbham’.

If offered to crows                   who desires long life

If offered to roosters               one who wants to open school for children

     One should pick up the pind for any of the above purposes only after taking permission from the Brahmin performing the ceremony.

     One should offer silk, cotton etc cloth to Brahmin.

    Chanting the above mentioned Pitra Gayatri Mantra, it is said pitras become very happy and come quickly to take their part.

One should offer the eatables to ancestors saying,  ‘Aish Swadha Astu’.

      During such ceremonies food is offered to Brahmins. It is said our pitras come in the form of the air element and eat food through Brahmins. If one closely observes, it is said that Brahmin will like that very food which a specific pitra use to like during his days on earth. If possible one should offer them food in silver utensils. Do not use iron metal ones.

    It is said pitras like kusha, black daal, sathi rice, cows milk, honey, cows ghee, moong dal, sugar cane, white flowers. Some items are not at all liked by them and hence they should not be used in their food offering, namely, Masoor daal, green peas, rajmash,  kulthi, lotus, bilv fruit, madaar, dhatura, milk of goat etc., alsi, mahua.

The best time of offering such food to Brahmins is called KUTUP MUHURAT which falls from 4th to 8th muhurat from the sunrise. Each muhurat is 48 mintes. thus one can easily calculate from the time of sunrise on that particular day.

     While offering tarpan water to them, offer in the South direction. For this, we use kusha, black sesame seeds and silver. It is said, when water touches kusha it becomes nectar and pitras are very fond of silver.  So the offering of this sesame mixed water should be released from the space between our thumb and forefinger. This place is called Pitr tirth. Kusha used in the ceremony is considered to have come from the body of varah, who brought earth out of the water, hence considered very auspicious. It is also said that in the base of kusha resides Brahma, in the middle Lord Vishnu and in the top Lord Shiva.

Note : Also see article Swaha, Swadha, Dakshina and Phal under label 'From Puran'.

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