Navratri

The Navratri (nine nights) festival which marks the onset of autumn is celebrated in different ways all over the country. It is a festival of worship, dance and music and is celebrated from the first to ninth date of Ashwin Shukla Paksha of the Hindu Calendar for the worship of Goddess Durga. North Indians celebrate the 9 days of Navratri watching the annual Ramlila performances under the post-monsoon skies full of twinkling stars. For 9 days, women wear their best saris and beautiful jewellery, and attend late night cultural programmes of music and dance. Coconut laddoos, payash, bundi sweets are typical Navratra food preparations.Navratri 2010 will be celebrated from September 28 to October 6th 2011


i really loved this festival.

VO LADKI

This is one of the most favouriate poem of mine composed by my dear Friend for me. Hope you will Love it:

वो  कौफ  का  मंज़र  लिए
एक  बेहद  ही  संदली  सी  लड़की
अपने  दमन  के  कांटे  भी  मुझको  दिखया  करती  है
जिनके  लिए  ,उस्सका  दिल  रात  के  सन्नाटों  में
अक्सर  कुछ  अनचाहे  पलो  को  लेकर 
डूबने  लगता  है
रौशनी  के  पैर  बिना  आहात  किये
अंधेरों  के  दायरों  में  समां  जाते  हैं
याद -इ -दिल  पे  kai गुज़रे  लम्हें
उगल  देते  हैं  कुछ  चुभती  बातें
फिर  वक़्त  की  बेशुमार  यादें
बर्फ  की  तरेह  पिघलने  लगती  हैं
और 
रात  के  नीम  अंधेरों  में  तनहा
वो ,उत्त  के  चल  देती  है
टूट  के  गिरये  हुए 
उन्  बिखरे  शीशों  के  टुकड़े  हुए  ख्वाबों  पैर
कदम  बे   कदम
नींद  में  नंगे  पो  चलते  हुए
उससके  पंजों  ke निशा  ...खून  से  रंग  जाते  हैं
देखती  रहती है  मुड  के ........वो  निशा
jo उसके   अहेड -इ -वफ़ा  के  सानी  हैं .....!
और  फिर  कई  समुंदर  उसकी  आखों  में  उतर  आते  हैं ........!
-राहुल (23.1.2010) 

Navdurga" The Nine Forms

Hello  Friends,


As We all know Navratri ,dusshera or Durga Puja is coming. I observed fast for 9 days during Navratri. So I thought of Sharing with you all about the "NavDurga"-The nine Forms of Maa Durga that are worshiped for 9 Days during Navratri:


Maa Durga is worshipped in different forms. She is a form of "Shakti". The evolution of Shri  Maha Saraswati, Shri Maha Laxmi and Shri Mahakali (the 3 main forms of "Shakti") took place from Shri Brahma, Shri Vishnu and Shri Mahesh respectively. Each of these 3 deities gave rise to 3 more forms and hence in all, these 9 forms together are known as NavDurga.


1) Durga Shailputri (Daughter of Mountain) : "Shail" means mountains, "Putri" means daughter. Parvati, the daughter of the King of the Mountains Himavan, is called 'Shailputri". The first among nine Durgas and 1st night of Navratras is devoted to the puja of Shailputri . Her two hands display a trident and a lotus. Her mount is a bull.


2) The second Durga Shakti is Brahamcharini. Brahma that is who observes penance(tapa) and good conduct. Here "Brahma" means "Tapa". The idol of this Goddess is very gorgeous.One hand hold a "Kumbha" or water pot, and the other holds a rosary. She personifies love and loyalty. Bhramcharini is the store house of knowledge and wisdom. Rudraksha beads are Her most adored ornaments!


3) The name of third Shakti is Chandraghanta. There is a half-circular moon in her forehead. She is charmful and bright. She is Golden in color, possesses ten hands and 3 eyes. Eight of her hands display weapons while the remaining two are respectively in the mudras of gestures of boon giving and stopping harm. Chandra + Ghanta, meaning supreme bliss and knowledge, showering peace and serenity, like cool breeze in a moonlit night. This Durga Shakti rides a tiger. She is mainly worshipped in Tamil Nadu.


4) With the fourth night begins the worship of Kushmanda, possessed of eight arms, holding a weapons and a mala ( rosary), her mount is the tiger and She emanates a solar aura. "Kumbh Bhand" means to see the cosmic dance in the form of Pindi; the knowledge of cosmic intricacies in the human race. The abode of Kushmanda is Bhimaparvat !


5) Fifth name of Durga is "Skanda Mata". Rising a lion as Her chosen vehicle, She holds Her son skanda on her lap. She displays three eyes and four hands; two hands holds lotuses while the other two hand display defending and granting mudras, respectively. Its said, by the merch of Skandmata, even the fool becomes an ocean of knowledge.


6) Kaatyani: Kaatyayni stayed in Ashram of Sage Katyayan for penance. Hence She name as Kaatyayani. This 6th Shakti is also astride a lion with 3 eyes and 4 arms. One left hands hold a weapon and other a Lotus. The other 2 hand respectively display defending and granting gestures. Her Complexion is Golden Cloured.




7) Black (or blue ) skin with bountiful hair and 4 hands, 2 clutching a cleaver and a torch, while the remaining 2 are in the mudras of "giving" and "protecting". Her vehicle is a faithful donkey. The destroyer of darkness and ignorance, Kaalratri is the seventh form of Nav-Durga meaning scourer of darkness; enemy of darkness.


8) The Eighth Durga is "Maha Gauri." She is as white as a conch, moon and Jasmine. She is of eight years old. With four arms and the fairest complexion of all the Durgas Shaktis, Mahagauri radiates peace and compassion. She is often dressed in a white or green sari. She holds a drum and a trident and is often depiected riding a bull.


9) Ninth Durga is "Siddhidatri". There are eight Siddhis , they are- Anima, Mahima, Garima, Laghima, Prapti, Prakamya, Iishitva & Vashitva.It is said in "Devipuran" that the Supreme God Shiv got all these Siddhies by worshipping Maha Shakti. With her gratitude the half body of Shiv has became of Goddess and there fore his name "Ardhanarishvar" has became famous.Usually shown ensconced a lotus with four arms, She is the grantor of 26 different wishes to Her Bhaktas.

आभार

जिस-जिस से पथ पर स्नेह मिला, उस-उस राही को धन्यवाद।
जीवन अस्थिर अनजाने ही, हो जाता पथ पर मेल कहीं,
सीमित पग डग, लम्बी मंज़िल, तय कर लेना कुछ खेल नहीं।
दाएँ-बाएँ सुख-दुख चलते, सम्मुख चलता पथ का प्रसाद –
जिस-जिस से पथ पर स्नेह मिला, उस-उस राही को धन्यवाद।
साँसों पर अवलम्बित काया, जब चलते-चलते चूर हुई,
दो स्नेह-शब्द मिल गये, मिली नव स्फूर्ति, थकावट दूर हुई।
पथ के पहचाने छूट गये, पर साथ-साथ चल रही याद –
जिस-जिस से पथ पर स्नेह मिला, उस-उस राही को धन्यवाद।
जो साथ न मेरा दे पाये, उनसे कब सूनी हुई डगर?
मैं भी न चलूँ यदि तो क्या, राही मर लेकिन राह अमर।
इस पथ पर वे ही चलते हैं, जो चलने का पा गये स्वाद –
जिस-जिस से पथ पर स्नेह मिला, उस-उस राही को धन्यवाद।
कैसे चल पाता यदि न मिला होता मुझको आकुल अंतर?
कैसे चल पाता यदि मिलते, चिर-तृप्ति अमरता-पूर्ण प्रहर!
आभारी हूँ मैं उन सबका, दे गये व्यथा का जो प्रसाद –
जिस-जिस से पथ पर स्नेह मिला, उस-उस राही को धन्यवाद।

Hello Friends,

Yesterday after hearing the Earthquake at Sikkim. I am very worried about my Parents. They are absolutely fine now. At the time of Earth Quake they were at Silliguri.so this is a special, famous , lovely and sentimental poetic description of mother. I want to dedicate this poem to my mother

Hartalika Vrat How to Do

Hartalika Tritiya Vrat, also referred to as Hartalika Teej Vrat or Hartalika Vrat, is an important ritual followed in order to honor Goddess Gauri or Goddess Parvati. This vrat is observed on the 3rd day of the first fortnight in the Hindu lunar month of Bhadra

On the Hartalika Vrat day, the idol of Goddess Parvati is decorated with fresh clothes and a pandal (small puja house) is made from banana bark and leaves. In this Vrat Women observe a ‘nirjala vrata’, that is, severe fasting without eating and drinking anything.On the day of Hartalika Teej, a pandal (small puja house) is made using banana bark and leaves. Goddess Parvati is adorned with new clothes and set in the pandal. A Shivling is made from clay and placed alongside Parvati.Stories of Goddess Parvati and Lord Shiva are read out and listened as they are considered auspicious on this festival

I was very Glad that on my 1st Teej we were having holiday. I was very happy because since my childhood days I have seen my mother doing this Vrat. After that I have seen my both sisters who also do this Vrat. So this was my First Vrat after my marriage.

I have decorated my Puja Room with flowers,. My mother send me the GAUR made from Cow's Dung over which I have to Perform the Puja Every Year on the same GAUR along wiht the Photos od Lord Ganesh & Parvati.

My In-Laws have asked me to Prepare a Special Puri made from jaggery and Whole wheat Atta that is being offerd to the Goddess Parvati and Shiva. Guyija is special Sweet dish Prpeared on this Occasion. But as I was not able to get KHOYA I was not able to make it. So I also offered Sweets & fresh fruits to Goddess Parvati. As the customs says in any Hindu Vrat Women have to offer the Shringar Items to the Goddess. The shringar Items Include: Sinddor, Alata,Mehndi,Comb,Green Churi,Bindi well placed in a basket. 

I ma writing this to my Blog so that I could remeber the way I have to Perform this Vrat every Year. So the Checklist for Hattalika Vrat are  as under:

1) Singaar Items : Red Sindoor, Green Bangales, Red cloth, Alata, Small Mirror, Small comb, Mehndi Cone, Bindi.

2) New Saree or New Suit.

3) Wedding Chunri

4) Wedding Sindhora ( in which we kept the sindoor of our marriage)

5) Gujiya

6) Fruits and Sweets

7) Red Chana soaked in water Overnight ot for 8-10 hours.

So now will tell how to perform this Puja.

1) Wake up in the morning after taking bath do Normal Puja in your Puja Room and touch the feet of your husband. Offer Prasadam also in the morning.

2) We dont have to drink or Eat anyting in this Vrat.

3) In the evening again take bath before sun set and dressed yourself as a Bride. With all your Jewellery ,new saree and your Dont for get to Put your Wedding Chunri.

4) Place the Photo Frame of Goddess Parvati ans Ship on a Upper Platform. Places the Gaur beside the photo. If you dont have the Gaur u can mke it with the help of sand and Clay asd placed it along the Goddess Paravati .

5) At first do dhanyam  of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. This is done to bring them to your house.

6) After dhanayam we have to offer BilvaPatra , Flower and Akshat ( rice coated with Turmeric Powder)  to  Shiv ,Godess Parvati and Gaur that we have Placed.

7) Now Light agarbati, dhoop and Diya in Front og the God.

8) From your Sindhoora offer Orange Sindoor to the GAUR and Goddess Parvati.

9) Now offet them Sweets, Gujiya, Fruits that you have Prepared.

10) Now read the Vrat Katha.

11) Once Katha is finished do Arato og Maa Parvati, Lord Ganesh and Lord Shiv. Your Puja is over for the Day. Dont offer any Prasad to anyone. This should be done next day after you complete your Puna.

12) Next morning wake up early morning before sunrise and take bath. Wear new clothes.

13) Now do regular Puja that you do. Sung arato of Paravati Maa and ShivBhagan Once agin.

14) Afterr arati do Shenti Mantra and Visajan Mantra and Shama Partna.

15) Shanti Mantra is Done to make peace at your home, Shama Mantra is done for asking them if anything has gone wrong during this Vrat or Fast please forgive me and Veesarjan Mantra is done for asking them to go back.

16) Once your have done Perform Everything take blessing from your husband and Elder People.

17) For breaking this Vrat or Fast t

In the evening I dressed up myself like a bride. I wore saree given by my Husband for this special occasion. Fully dressed up as a bride. At first I offered Goddess Parvati with Red sinddor and Idol of Shiva with Orange Sindoor. Then I sprinkle water all through my Puja Room. I have Offered Red Chunri and Red clothes to the Parvati and shiva respectively. Then i offered them with the Flowere,Fruits,Sweets and Puri.

Then I read Vrat Katha followed by the Arati. After finsihing the Puja I took the blessing of my Husband and my in lawas and parents over phone.

It is being said that Womens obser ing the Vrat should not sleep the whole Night and this was the special Instruction given to me By my Sasu Ma. But I can never compromise my Sleep. I have once in my wedding. So I tried my Best to wake till 2:00 A.M. but after that I felt weak so my husband ask me to take a rest and as sonnas I lie on bed I slept.

Next day I had to wake up at 05:00 P.M. to Do Puja again and Brake my Fast.

I broke my fast the next day morning after doing Puja and Arati. For Breaking the Fast I swalloed 4 pieces of Red Chana soaked in Water overnight followed by a Glass of Water and Sweet.

That day my hubby make a fabolous Breakfast for me which includes sabudana ki Keer, Puri and Red chna Gravy.

After eating my Breakfast we went to Do shopping for next day Yes You are right for the Ganesh Puja.

Then