Humility is a virtue that subdues the hearts of others – Swami Sivananda Thoughts

Blind faith should be turned into rational faith. Faith without understanding is only blind faith. Devotion is the development of faith. Knowledge is the development of devotion. Faith leads to the final spiritual experience. Whatever a person strongly believes in, that he experiences and becomes…

A pessimist is very gloomy and depressed, lazy and lethargic. Cheerfulness is unknown to him. He infects others. Pessimism is an epidemic and infectious disease. A pessimist cannot succeed in the world.

The world is a relative place of good and evil. Remember this point at all times. Try to live happily in any place, under any condition. You will become a strong and dynamic personality. This is a great secret.

Humility is a virtue that subdues the hearts of others. A man of humility is a powerful magnet or lodestone…

Swami Sivananda

Today’s Hindu Calendar – May 26, 2013 – Tithi, Vrat, Good Time, Nakshatra, Rashi and Festival

Tithi in Hindu Calendar on May 26, 2013 (Today) – Krishna Paksha Pratipada and Dwitiya Tithi or the first and second day during the waning phase of moon in Hindu calendar and Panchang in all places. It is Krishna Paksha Pratipada Tithi or the first day during the waning phase of moon till 7:08 AM. Then onward it is Krishna Paksha Dwitiya Tithi or the second day during the waning phase of moon. All time based on India Standard Time.

Nakshatra – Jyeshta or Kettai or Triketta Nakshatra till 7:41 PM. Then onward it is Mool or Moolam Nakshatram.

Rashi or Moon Sign – Vrischika Rashi till 7:41 PM. Then onward it is Dhanu Rashi.

Festivals, Vrat and Auspicious days –

Kali Yuga Year – 5115

Vikram Samvant 2070 - Jyeshta Krishna Paksha Pratipada and Dwitiya Tithi or the first and second day during the waning phase of moon in Jyeshta month in calendars followed in Delhi, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Chhattisgarh, Orissa and Jammu and Kashmir.

Vijayanama Samvatsar/ Shalivahana Saka 1935 - Vaishakh Krishna Paksha Pratipada and Dwitiya Tithi or the first and second day during the waning phase of moon in Vaishakh month in calendars followed in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Goa.

Vikram Samvant 2069 - Vaishakh Krishna Paksha Pratipada and Dwitiya Tithi or the first and second day during the waning phase of moon in Vaishakh month in calendars followed in Gujarat.

12th day of Vaigasi Masam in Tamil Calendar followed in Tamil Nadu. (Vijaya Year)

12th day of Edava Masam in Malayalam Calendar in Kerala. (Kolla Varsham 1188)

11th day of Jaishto Month in Calendars followed in Assam and Bengal. (Bengali Year 1420)

Bad Period on May 26, 2013

Rahukalam – 5:25 PM to 7:01 PM

Yamagandam – 12:24 PM to 2:02 PM

Gulikai – 3:41 PM to 5:22 PM

Durmuhurtham – 5:16 PM to 6:12 PM

Varjyam – 1:17 AM to 2:44 AM

Good Time on May 26, 2013

Abhijita Muhurta – 11:58 AM to 12:49 PM

Amirta Kalam – 9:44 AM to 11:13 AM

Yog – Siddha (Good Yog) till 3:29 PM. Then onward it is Sadhya (Good Yog).

Karana – Kaulava (Good) till 6:16 AM. Then onward it is Taitila (Good) till 4:25 PM. Then onward it is Garaja (Good).

Rest all hours that are not part of Bad Period are Good time. When bad period overlaps into good period, that much time of bad period should be eliminated from good period.

Teachings from Aparokshanubhuti

Aparokshanubhuti is a text credited to Adi Shankaracharya

Just as light is required to see an object; one attains knowledge only through the means of enquiry.

The self alone is permanent; all that is seen here is transient – such a settled conviction is truly known as discrimination.

Concentration of the mind on the one Reality [Brahman] is regarded as Samadhana.

Who am I? How is this world created? Who is its creator? Of what material is this world made? This is the way of that enquiry. I am neither the body, a combination of the five elements of matter, nor am I an aggregate of the senses; I am something different from these. This is the way of that enquiry.

Today’s Hindu Calendar – May 25, 2013 – Tithi, Vrat, Good Time, Nakshatra, Rashi and Festival

Tithi in Hindu Calendar on May 25, 2013 (Today) – Purnima Tithi or the full moon day in Hindu calendar and Panchang in all places. It is Purnima Tithi or the full moon day till 9:29 AM. Then onward it is Krishna Paksha Pratipada Tithi or the first day during the waning phase of moon. All time based on India Standard Time.

Nakshatra – Anuradha or Anusham or Anizham Nakshatra till 9:19 PM. Then onward it is Jyeshta or Kettai or Triketta Nakshatra.

Rashi or Moon Sign – Vrischika Rashi.

Festivals, Vrat and Auspicious days – Purnima. Kurma Jayanti

Kali Yuga Year – 5115

Vikram Samvant 2070 - Vaishakh Purnima Tithi or the full moon day in Vaishakh month in calendars followed in Delhi, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Chhattisgarh, Orissa and Jammu and Kashmir.

Vijayanama Samvatsar/ Shalivahana Saka 1935 - Vaishakh Purnima Tithi or the full moon day in Vaishakh month in calendars followed in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Goa.

Vikram Samvant 2069 - Vaishakh Purnima Tithi or the full moon day in Vaishakh month in calendars followed in Gujarat.

11th day of Vaigasi Masam in Tamil Calendar followed in Tamil Nadu. (Vijaya Year)

11th day of Edava Masam in Malayalam Calendar in Kerala. (Kolla Varsham 1188)

10th day of Jaishto Month in Calendars followed in Assam and Bengal. (Bengali Year 1420)

Bad Period on May 25, 2013

Rahukalam – 9:03 AM to 10:43 AM

Yamagandam – 2:03 PM to 3:43 PM

Gulikai – 5:43 AM to 7:23 AM

Durmuhurtham – 5:43 AM to 7:30 AM

Varjyam – 2:39 AM to 4:04 AM

Good Time on May 25, 2013

Abhijita Muhurta – 11:57 AM to 12:48 PM

Amirta Kalam – 11:07 AM to 12:37 PM

Yog – Shiva (Good Yog) till 7:36 PM. Then onward it is Siddha (Good Yog).

Karana – Bava (Good) till 9:54 AM. Then onward it is Balava (Good) till 8:06 PM. Then onward it is Kaulava (Good).

Rest all hours that are not part of Bad Period are Good time. When bad period overlaps into good period, that much time of bad period should be eliminated from good period.

How to perform Annaprashan Ceremony? – How to do first rice eating ceremony of baby?

Annaprashan is the first rice eating ceremony of a child in Hinduism. How the annaprashan ceremony is performed varies from region to region. Here is a brief account of how to do first rice eating ceremony of baby in Hindu religion based on the text History of Dharmashastras.

Annaprashan is one of the most important samskaras and is performed after jatakarma (neo-natal ceremony) and namakarana (naming ceremony).

It is performed after the sixth month of birth – the first solid food is given on this day.

The ritual is performed for male child in even months after birth and for girl child in odd months after birth. This is not strictly followed in most regions.

The ideal date to perform the ceremony is the 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 7th, 10th and 13th day of the waxing phase of moon in a fortnight – the Shukla Paksha or days after Amavasya or new moon.

The Annaprashan ceremony is performed by father or mother or by an elderly member in the family. Please note that Mother can perform this ceremony. There is no Hindu scripture that states that Mother cannot perform the ceremony.

It is highly meritorious if annadanam, food donation, to poor and orphan children and elderly is performed before or after the Annaprashan ceremony.

The ceremony begins by offering prayers to Ganesha.

This should be followed by offering prayers to Goddess Durga.

Then prayers should be offered to little Sri Krishna.

Ancestors and family members who have expired should be remembered and blessings should be taken.

A small thread colored in turmeric powder is tied on the right hand of the male child. For female child the thread is tied on the left hand.

The child is then given rice mixed with honey, curd and ghee. Only a small quantity of food should be prepared.

Salt, hot and pungent items should never be given. Non-vegetarian items should not be included. Prepare curd and ghee at home if possible.

The food is to be given four times to the accompaniment of the recitation of Bhuh, Bhuvah, Suvah, Bhurbhuvassuvah.

The food should be given using the right hand.

The person who is feeding the child should pray – saying – the child be healthy always; the child be blessed with good food always and the child should not have any health problems due to food.

The remaining food can be shared by family members as Prasad.

Siddhivinayak Temple in Mumbai to Help Dialysis Patients

Siddhivinayak Temple Trust in Mumbai has decided to set up a dialysis centre near the Prabhadevi temple to help dialysis patients. The current rate of a single dialysis in Mumbai ranges from 1200 rupees to 1500 rupees. Siddhivinayak Temple is planning to do the dialysis for 250 rupees.

DNA reports

The temple has tied up with an NGO, Shri Veera Desai Jain Sangh, which runs a similar dialysis centre in Andheri, to get its 22-bed centre put together.

The NGO, which has a budget of Rs3 crore, will also appoint the health experts needed to run the centre. 

“We will charge patients the minimum fee. The rest of the expenses will be borne by the temple and us,” explains Chetan Vora, trustee of the NGO. The Sangh and the temple administration have signed a memorandum of understanding to have the centre up and running by July.

Pradosh June 2013 dates – Monthly Fasting for Hindu God Shiva in June 2013

Pradosh is a monthly fasting and is observed on the 13^th day of a fortnight in a Hindu calendar and is dedicated to Hindu God Shiva and Goddess Parvati. June 2013 Pradosh date is June 5 and June 21. Pradosham occurs twice in a Hindu month – once each during the waning (Krishna Paksha) and waxing phase (Shukla Paksha) of the moon.

The Pradosham period is in the evening from 1.5 hours before sunset and 1 hour after sunset. The fast which began at sunrise is broken during the period.

Most devotees make it a point to be present at a Shiva temple or offer prayers at home.

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