Mahalaya Paksha- What Should We Do? Mahalaya Paksha in a nutshell Mahalaya Paksha literally means "fortnight of the ancestors". It is a 16 lunar day period wherein Hindus pay homage to their ancestors (Pitru), especially through food offerings. Pitru Paksha is considered by Hindus to be inauspicious, given the death rite performed during the ceremony, known as Shraddha or tarpan. The Mahalaya Paksha begins with the full moon day (Purnima) that occurs immediately after the Ganesh festival and ending with the new moon day known as Sarvapitri Amavasya, Mahalaya Amavasya or simply Mahalaya. The autumnal equinox falls within this period, I.e the Sun transitions from the northern to the southern hemisphere during this period. What are we supposed to do at home? From the first day of the paksha to the last day that falls on Mahalaya Amavasya try to ensure that the Kamakshi Vilakku is lighted up 24 hours. Before doing so make sure the lamp is cleaned and a...
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Mahalaya Paksha According to ancient Hindu texts, on Mahalaya Amavasya, there is a conjunction of the sun and the moon and that the sun enters the sign Virgo (Kanya). On this day, it is believed that ancestors leave their abode and come down to the world of mortals and occupy the houses of their descendants. Hindus offer oblation of water to the departed on every new-moon day. The prescribed rites are also performed every year on the death anniversary. This is the Sraddha ceremony. The special importance of these observances particularly during Mahalaya is that such ceremonies done during this fortnight have a very special effect. The offerings reach the departed souls immediately and directly, due to a boon from Lord Yama. The dark fortnight of Aswayuja (September-October) is known as the Mahalaya Paksha or the fortnight especially sacred for offering oblations to the departed ancestors. The last day of this period, the new moon day, is considered as the most important day in...
Ashtadravya Maha Ganapathi Homam/Havan Ashtadravya, or Ashtadravyam, are eight sacred pooja items that are offered to Lord Ganesha during the special pooja known as Ashtadravya Mahaganapathi Homam. It is offered to Lord Ganesh to get his blessings – who blesses with wealth, prosperity and long life. The eight sacred things that are part of the Ashtadravya are: Coconuts, Molasses, Sesame Oil, Sugarcane, Lemon, Rice flakes Banana Rice. In some places Ashta Dravya are Dried coconut, puffed rice, jaggery, banana (kadali plantain), honey, sesame, sugarcane and fried paddy of rice. For some communities Ashtadravya are Coconut, Banana, Honey, Sugarcane, Ghee, Modhaka, Jaggery, Puffed rice. This homa is performed on very important ventures such as, purchase of new land, birthdays. house warming or when one is getting married. This homa is also performed on the day of major operations. The Ashtadravya Ganapathi homa also aids in removing marriage and other...
Maha Ganapathi Homam/ Havan Lord Ganapathi (also known as Vinayagar/Ganesha) holds the main position among the five main positions among the Gods. The remaining four is held by Lord Vishnu, Lord Shiva, Devi Maa and Surya. Ganapathi homam is the best solution to overcome all the hurdles in life and removal of all obstacles. It provides a soothing effect to the mind as well as the body. Moreover, it also purifies the the atmosphere. Performing Ganapathi homa every once a month gives prosperity, wealth and health. If anyone is running Kethu dasa or Bukthi, or some dosha that is created due to the influence of Kethu in their horoscope it is advisable for that person to perform Ganapathi Homa in order to get relief ( dosha nivarthana ). Ganapathi homa is usually conducted before any other homas in order to avoid any obstacles during the prayers. In Hinduism, Ganapathi is depicted as the remover of obstacles (Vignahartha); therefore Ganapathi homa is a must before starting a...
Homam/Havan Homas/Havans are powerful ancient fire rituals that have been performed in India by the Vedic sages for over 5,000 years. Sri Krishna in Bhagavad Gita quotes, "This creation is a yagna." Yagna also means sacrifice and by this He meant that creation is an eternal flow of birth and death. It is a sacrifice where one's death gives birth to another; in other words something has to be sacrificed in for something else to arise. This is how the Vedas (Hindu scriptures) interpret the creation and in the view of the Vedas, the homa is but a miniature model of this universal sacrifice. Moreover, a homa is performed to rejuvenate the body and mind, by the abstraction of the negative energies. It leads to get out of the negative cerebrating and always be positive. Positive mental conceptions magnetize the positive things, positive people and the positive life, as our predominant cerebration always manifests. It additionally avails to be prosperous in life. Homa...
Why do we light lamps at home It is considered to be auspicious to light lamps in the morning and evening at home. It is believed that, if kids light lamps in the morning and study, it will help them to reach to their dreams faster without much difficulties in academic area. Lighting the lamp in the evening, brings wealth and prosperity to any house. There are certain procedures to follow while lighting the lamps. One has to make sure that, the northern side of the house is closed fully. If a door or a window is open, make sure that, you shut it before lighting the lamp. The reason for this is, the magnetic current flows from the south pole to the north pole and if the doors or windows are open in the northern side, along with the magnetic current or field, the power of the lit lamp also may go out. The positive energy should remain fully inside and eliminate any kind of negative energy which is present inside the house. It is advised to chant the following while lighting th...
Vibhuti / Thiruneeru (Holy Ash) Vibhuti (Sanskrit : vibhūti ; Tamil : Thiruneeru ) is a word that has several meanings in Hinduism. Generally, it is used to denote the sacred ash which is made of burnt dried wood in Vedic rituals. The Hindu devotees make a paste by mixing vibhuhti with water and apply it as three horizontal lines across the forehead and other parts of the body to please Lord Shiva. Vibhuthi smeared across the forehead to the end of both eyebrows is called Tripundra. . Meaning: In Sanskrit, Bhoothi means Aishwaryam, meaning wealth, treasure, precious. Vi-bhoothi with an Upasarga (preposition "vi") means very or more valuable. The synonyms of Vibhuhti in Sanskrit as said in the Amara-kosha is "Vibhuthi: bhoothi: Aishwaryam".Vibhuhti can also be called as Bhoothi,Aishwaryam,Basma etc.,. Sacred ash : Vedic scriptures say as follows "Lalaata Shoonyam Smashaana Tulyam",which means that "an empty forehead is comparab...
Chudakarma Samskara/ Mundan Samskara (Week 52) Chudakarma Samskara like many other rituals aims at blessing the child to have a long fulfilling life. Chudakarma Samskara or Mundan Samskara or the first haircut of the baby is an important tradition in India and relatives and friends are invited to bless the child. Chudakarma is a ceremony in which a child’s hair is shaved for the first time. All the hair from the child’s head, except a tuft of hair on the crown part, is shaved off. This tuft is left remaining because it is believed that an important artery passes through this part of the head and shaving here may prove to be fatal. The term ‘chuda’ or ‘shikha’ refers to this tuft. This practice of leaving a tuft unshaven is rarely practiced nowadays. The child usually receives his/her first mundan in either the first year or the third year of age. A priest is called to conduct the rituals according to the traditions and a barber is called to shave off the hair. The hair on ...
Annaprasana (Week 25-Week 28) Annaprasanna Samskar is a ritual that marks an infant’s first intake of food other than milk. The ceremony is usually arranged in consultation with a priest, who suggests an auspicious date on which to conduct the ceremony. The ceremony is usually carried out when the child is about 6 – 7 months of age. The mother or grandmother will prepare a small bowl of payesh (boiled rice, milk & sugar) which is blessed in a brief pooja. The child will generally be held in the mother's lap, and a senior male family member (grandfather or uncle) will feed it a small spoonful of the payesh. Other members of the family then take turns to give the child a taste. The feeding ceremony is often followed with a game, in which the child is presented with a tray containing a number of objects. These will include a bangle or jewel (symbolizing wealth), a book (symbolizing learning), a pen (symbolizing career) and a clay pot or container of earth/soil (sym...
Karnavedha (Week 12-Week 24) Karnavedha is one of the Hindu Sanskars performed for a child. It is an ear piercing ceremony that is performed on the 12th or 13th day after the birth or when the baby is 3 to 6 months old. This can still be performed in later in the third or fifth year for some Hindu children. Nowadays, both the " Mundan " and the "Karnavedha" are done together. This ceremony is performed on an auspicious day and it should be performed on the first half of the day. On the day of "Karnavedha", the mother bathes the child first and dresses him/her well with new clothes and ornaments. The father of the child performs the ceremony and a surgeon or goldsmith does the job of piercing the child’s ear. The needle used for piercing the ear lobes can be made of gold, silver, copper or steel. The ears are pierced by covering with white yarn. The child is placed on the lap of the mother (in the South Indian community the child is placed on the mot...