Today’s Hindu Calendar – March 9, 2014 – Tithi, Vrat, Good Time, Nakshatra, Rashi and Festival

Tithi in Hindu Calendar on March 9, 2014 (Today) – Shukla Paksha Ashtami Tithi or the eighth day during the waxing phase of moon in Hindu calendar and Panchang in all places. It is is Shukla Paksha Ashtami Tithi or the eighth day during the waxing phase of moon till 9:50 AM on March 9. Then onward it is Shukla Paksha Navami Tithi or the ninth day during the light phase of moon. All time based on India Standard Time.

Nakshatra – Mrigasira or Makayiram Nakshatra till 10:04 PM. Then onward it is Ardra Nakshatram.

Rashi or Moon Sign – Vrishabha Rashi till 9:07 AM. Then onward it is Mithuna Rasi

Festivals, Vrat and Auspicious days – Holashtak begins in North India

Kali Yuga Year – 5115

Vikram Samvant 2070 – Phalgun Shukla Paksha Ashtami Tithi or the eighth day during the waxing phase of moon in Falgun month in North India - Delhi, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Chhattisgarh, Orissa and Jammu and Kashmir.

Vijayanama Samvatsar/ Shalivahana Saka 1935 – Phalgun Shukla Paksha Ashtami Tithi or the eighth day during the waxing phase of moon in Phalgun Month in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Goa.

Vikram Samvant 2070 – Phalgun Shukla Paksha Ashtami Tithi or the eighth day during the waxing phase of moon in Phalgun Month in Phalgun Month in Gujarat.

25th day of Massi Masam in Tamil Calendar followed in Tamil Nadu. (Vijaya Year)

25th day of Kumbha Masam in Malayalam Calendar in Kerala. (Kolla Varsham 1189)

24th day of Phalgun Month in Calendars followed in Assam and Bengal. (Bengali Year 1420)

Bad Period on March 9, 2014

Rahukalam – 5:01 PM to 6:31 PM

Yamagandam – 12:36 PM to 2:07 PM

Gulikai – 3:33 PM to 5:01 PM

Durmuhurtham – 4:55 PM to 5:47 PM

Varjyam – 12:06 AM to 1:54 AM

Good Time on March 9, 2014

Abhijita Muhurta – 12:11 PM to 1:04 PM

Amirta Kalam – 10:42 AM to 12:34 PM

Yog – Priti (Good Yog) till 11:26 AM. Then onward it is Aayushman (Good Yog).

Karana – Bava (Good) till 7:55 AM. Then onward it is Balava (Good) till 9:02 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.

Dhulandi 2014 – Holi Dhulandi Festival in 2014

Dhulandi is the second day of Holi celebrations and people play with Holi colors on the festival day. Dhulandi 2014 date is March 17. The first day evening of Holi celebrations is dedicated to the burning of huge bonfires at night, which symbolizes the death of Demon Holika, and is known as Holika Dahan. The next day on Holi Dhulandi, people throw colored powder and colored water on each other.

There are numerous legends for celebrating Dhulandi, the most popular belief is that people celebrate the victory of good over evil on the day. Another popular belief is that the celebrations herald the arrival of spring season by taking inspiration from the myriads of colors in nature’s bounty.

It is also believed that the season in which Dhulandi is celebrated sees numerous weather changes and this result in skin diseases and other viral attacks. So the playing of Dhulandi using Natural colors extracted from medicinal herbs was a method used by ancient Indians to fight the common diseases occurring during the season. They used to make Dhulandi Holi colors from Neem, Kum Kum, Haldi, Bilva and other medicinal herbs.

Another major highlight of Dhulandi is the drinking of a special drink called thandai, which is consumed along with bhang.

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Your anxieties and fears are veiling Him from you – Swami Chinmayananda

The Lord is ever with you. Your anxieties and fears are veiling Him from you. He is so near to you that you cannot see Him. You are in Him - with Him - at Him.
You are He alone!

Vedanta is the art of living, and can be pursued under all circumstances at all places whether it be in you house or in a factory or in the rice-field.

From time to time, take a Close and Honest look at yourself... It Pays!

Never complain about the number of hours you have put in, to do a job. Your nobility must estimate how much of you was put into each hour of your daily work.
Swami Chinmayananda

Today’s Hindu Calendar – March 8, 2014 – Tithi, Vrat, Good Time, Nakshatra, Rashi and Festival

Tithi in Hindu Calendar on March 8, 2014 (Today) – Shukla Paksha Saptami Tithi or the seventh day during the waxing phase of moon in Hindu calendar and Panchang in all places. It is is Shukla Paksha Saptami Tithi or the seventh day during the waxing phase of moon till 8:43 AM on March 8. Then onward it is Shukla Paksha Ashtami Tithi or the eighth day during the light phase of moon. All time based on India Standard Time.

Nakshatra – Rohini Nakshatra till 8:11 PM. Then onward it is Mrigasira or Makayiram Nakshatram.

Rashi or Moon Sign – Vrishabha Rashi.

Festivals, Vrat and Auspicious days – 

Kali Yuga Year – 5115

Vikram Samvant 2070 – Phalgun Shukla Paksha Saptami Tithi or the seventh day during the waxing phase of moon in Falgun month in North India - Delhi, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Chhattisgarh, Orissa and Jammu and Kashmir.

Vijayanama Samvatsar/ Shalivahana Saka 1935 – Phalgun Shukla Paksha Saptami Tithi or the seventh day during the waxing phase of moon in Phalgun Month in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.

Vijayanama Samvatsar/ Shalivahana Saka 1935 – Phalgun Shukla Paksha Ashtami Tithi or the eighth day during the waxing phase of moon in Phalgun Month in Maharashtra and Goa.

Vikram Samvant 2070 – Phalgun Shukla Paksha Ashtami Tithi or the eighth day during the waxing phase of moon in Phalgun Month in Phalgun Month in Gujarat.

24th day of Massi Masam in Tamil Calendar followed in Tamil Nadu. (Vijaya Year)

24th day of Kumbha Masam in Malayalam Calendar in Kerala. (Kolla Varsham 1189)

23rd day of Phalgun Month in Calendars followed in Assam and Bengal. (Bengali Year 1420)

Bad Period on March 8, 2014

Rahukalam – 9:39 AM to 11:10 AM

Yamagandam – 2:05 PM to 3:35 PM

Gulikai – 6:41 AM to 8:12 AM

Durmuhurtham – 6:43 AM to 8:17 AM

Varjyam – 9:14 AM to 10:59 AM

Good Time on March 8, 2014

Abhijita Muhurta – 12:10 PM to 1:04 PM

Amirta Kalam – 2:25 PM to 4:16 PM

Yog – Vishkambha (Bad Yog) till 11:02 AM. Then onward it is Priti (Good Yog).

Karana – Vanija (Good) till 6:06 AM. Then onward it is Vishti or Bhadra (Bad) till 6:57 PM. Then onward it is Bava (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.

Hayakanti Devi – About Goddess Hayakanti Devi

Hayakanti Devi is a manifestation of Mother Goddess Shakti. Information about the goddess is found in the Kashi Khanda of the Skanda Purana. Hayakanti Devi is the remover of all obstacles. A unique aspect of Hayakanti Devi is that Her murti is shown as holding a sickle.

One of the shrines dedicated to Hayakanti Devi is located in Varanasi.

Devotees believe that the goddess removes all obstacles and difficulties in life with the sickle. In some texts, obstacles and difficulties are equated to weeds and it is removed with the sickle.

Goddess Kali Temple in Ahmedabad – Kalibari Temple of Bengali Association in Ahmedabad in Gujarat

The newly built Goddess Kali Temple – Kalibari – in Ahmedabad in Gujarat is associated with the city's oldest Bengali organization, the Bengal Cultural Association Ahmedabad. The temple is located at S G Road in Ahmedabad and is spread across 2000 sq yard area. The temple has been built in accordance to traditional Bengali kutir style.

The murti of Goddess Kali worshipped in the temple is exactly like the one worshipped in the famous Dakshineswar temple of Kolkata. The temple also has murtis of Shiva, Ram, Sita, Hanuman and Krishna.

Times of India reports 

Inaugurated by Swami Sadananda Saraswati Ji Maharaj of Sharda Peeth Dwarka on Monday, the Kalibari has been built on 2000 sq yard area. The temple has been constructed in accordance to traditional Bengali kutir (hut) style. "What is unique is that we have brought god Shiva, Ram, Sita, Hanuman and Krishna under the same roof in our mandir," said Kanak Das Adhikary, BCA's general secretary. 

The idol of goddess Kali has been made exactly like that of the idol in the legendary Dakshineswar temple of Kolkata. It has been sculpted by Kumartuli's Sanathan Rudra Pal.

Sashti Viratham April 2014 Date – Monthly Shasti Fasting for Muruga in April 2014

Muruga Shasti, or Sashti fasting, is a monthly Hindu fasting or Viratham dedicated to Lord Muruga or Kartik or Shanmukha. In 2014 April, the date of Shasti fasting is April 5. Sashti is the sixth day after Amavasi (no moon) and Poornima (full moon) in a traditional Hindu calendar. The Shashti Vratam after Amavasai is considered highly auspicious by Muruga devotees and a fast is observed on the day.

Fasting on Sashti is considered highly beneficial and some devotees observe a complete fast for 24 hours. Lord Muruga, also known as Skanda and Subramanian, is widely worshipped in Malaysia, South Africa, Sri Lanka and Singapore and South India, especially by Tamilians. In North India, Lord Muruga is known as Kartik or Kartikeya.

Many devotees make it a point to visit Lord Muruga temple on Sashti day. Some people only eat the Prasadam given from the temple on the day.

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Shasti fasting – How to observe Sashti