Dates of important upcoming festivals and fasting associated with Hinduism in October 2021 – based on major Hindu calendars and Panchang used in India. The festivals, Vrats and ritual days are based on Indian Standard Time (IST). Hindu Vrat – Fasting - Festivals October 2021 October 2 – Ekadashi Fasting October 3 – Yati Sanyasi Shradh October 4 – Pradosh Vrat – Monthly Shivratri Vrat – Shiva Chaturdashi Vrat October 6 – Amavasya – Mahalaya – Pitru Paksha Shradh fortnight ends October 7 – Navratri begins – Ghatasthapana – Abhijit Muhurat for puja 11:37 AM to 12:23 PM October 7 – Maharaja Agrasen Jayanti October 7 – Ashwin month begins in calendars followed in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Goa, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana October 10 – Lalitha Panchami October 11 – Sashti Fasting – Durga Puja begins October 12 – Maha Saptami October 13 – Durga Ashtami October 14 – Mahanavami October 15 – Dasara, Vijaya Dashami , Shastra Puja, Aparajita Puja, Pattabhishekam Puja, S

Drahyayana Sutra, or Drahyayana Srautasutra, is text prescribing the samana chants to be used in Vedic studies. It is the Srauta text of the Ranayaniya sub-school of Sama Veda.  The followers of Drahyayana Sutra are found in South India, where their Samhita, Ranayaniya, also flourished. Drahyayana Srautasutra is divided into patalas, khandas, and sutras. The text has thirty one patalas, each patala, has four khandas, the 20 th , 22 nd and 28 th patalas have five khandas, the 27 th has six; in all there are 129 khandas. Dhanvin further divided the whole work into three dasakas, each dasaka comprising ten patalas. The contents of Drahyayana Sutra are as follows – Jyotishtoma (Patalas 1-7), Gavamayana (8-11), Brahmatva (12-15), ahinas (16-21), ekahas (17-26), Ashvamedha (27) and Sattras (28-31) Latyayana Srautasutra of the Kauthuma School and Drahyayana Srautasutra are identical with respect to their text and contents. There are some minor differences here and there in the divisi

Vajapeya is an important Vedic ritual. It is one of the seven basic Soma rituals. Vajapeya is derived from ‘Vajam’ meaning cooked food and ‘peyam’ meaning drink. The ritual was first performed by Brihaspati. Later he performed it for Indira. Vajapeya Ritual can be performed by all people. The performer of this unique yagna uses a whitel umbrella.  Vajapeya yajna lasts for 17 days. The number seventeen of is great importance in the ritual. The sacred pole Yupa is set up for 17 days. The pole is decorated with 17 pieces of cloth, 17 priests conduct the ritual, the performer makes a ceremonial journey with 17 chariots and on the last day soma is offered in 17 vessels. Even the gifts or dakshina are also given in 17 numbers. In ancient times 17 chariots, 17 carts, 17 horses, 17 elephants, 17 articles of clothing, 17 gold coins and 1700 cows were given as gifts to the priests. This is also one of the rare Vedic rituals in which alcohol is prepared through fermentation. The alc

A collection of teachings from Yoga Vasistha on Self. If you separate yourself from the body and abide at ease in Consciousness you will become one – the sole reality – everything else will be insignificant. After rejecting, through reasoning, all that can be known as non-truth what remains as pure consciousness – regard that as your self. A child superimposes a real elephant on a clay elephant and plays with it; even so, an ignorant man superimposes the body, etc., on the Self and carries on his activities. The picture of a snake does not cause fear of a snake when it is realized to be only a picture. Similarly when the jiva is clearly understood there is neither misery nor the cause of misery. Just as the sky appears to be stained by dust, smoke and clouds, so also the pure Self in contact with the qualities of Maya appears to be soiled by them. Just as fire thrown into a large sheet of water loses its quality, so also Consciousness in contact with the unreal and t

Tithi in Panchang – Hindu Calendar on Friday, 1 October 2021 – It is Krishna Paksha Dashami tithi or the tenth day during the waning or dark phase of moon in Hindu calendar and Panchang in most regions. It is Krishna Paksha Dashami tithi or the tenth day during the waning or dark phase of moon till 7:25 PM on October 1. Then onward it is Krishna Paksha Ekadashi tithi or the eleventh day during the waning or dark phase of moon till 7:57 PM on October 2. (Time applicable in all north, south and eastern parts of India. All time based on India Standard Time.  Good – Auspicious time on October 1, 2021 as per Hindu Calendar – Good and auspicious time till 10:41 AM.  Nakshatra  – Pushya or Poosam or Pooyam nakshatra on the entire day on October 1 and till 12:47 AM on October 2. (Time applicable in north, south and eastern parts of India).  In western parts of India (Maharashtra, Gujarat, Goa, north Karnataka and south Rajasthan), Punarvasu or Punartham nakshatra till 1:33 AM on

Himachal Pradesh is famous for the sheer number and variety of Hindu Gods and Goddess both major and minor. All these unique Goddesses are manifestations of Vishnu, Shiva and Mother Goddess Shakti. Most of the Gods and Goddesses are also the manifestations of the various aspects of nature. The deities symbolically teaches devotees to worship and respect various aspect of nature. It is also asking indirectly people to leave certain aspects of nature untouched. Some of the unique gods and goddess of Himachal Pradesh include: Phugnis – who control the rains Jognis – Gods of the four directions Siya or Pujarli – the deity of crops Bihmata – the caretaker of the newborn Nauni Devis – the goddesses of milk, butter and ghee

Durga Saptasati is a sacred text of 700 verses in Hinduism and is noted for its symbolism. It is dedicated to Mother Goddess Shakti and it is recited by Goddess Durga devotees especially during the Navratri festival. The whole Durga Saptasati text is symbolic, rich with esoteric content, though minds that hold material existence in the physical plane as the sole reality, may regard them as mere mythological stories and thus miss the deep import. It stands for the fight between the daivi sampath (the divine qualities) and the asuri sampath (the anti-divine) that is being forever waged in the human mind. It is the perennial war between the Spirit, the natural heir to Infinity and Light, and the Usurper, the parent of division and darkness, with its seemingly unstoppable might. Durga means one who is beyond the capacity of the instruments of knowledge. This sacred text chronicles the battle royal between Devi and the divine forces on the one hand and demons (rakshasas) on the other, and

Katha Upanishad found in the Vedas (Yajur Veda) contains the all important teaching in Hinduism. The teaching is narrated by Yama, the God of Death, to Nachiketa, a young boy. Nachiketa asks the question – What happens to a man after death? Does the soul exist or not? Yama tries to dissuade the boy from pursuing the question by promising enormous wealth and power in lieu to an answer. The boy stands firm and sticks to his boon, saying that he does not care for material prosperity, which is transient by nature. From this point, the actual teachings of the Upanishad begin to unfold in their entire splendor. There are two paths open to every man – the path of knowledge and the path of pleasure. The latter leads to some kind of joy, however, it is temporary; it leads only to bondage and loses its value in course of time. A wise man should forsake this path and take to the path of knowledge, with the help of a proper teacher. He should relinquish both joy and sorrow and meditate on the

Tithi in Panchang – Hindu Calendar on Thursday, 30 September 2021 – It is Krishna Paksha Navami tithi or the ninth day during the waning or dark phase of moon in Hindu calendar and Panchang in most regions. It is Krishna Paksha Navami tithi or the ninth day during the waning or dark phase of moon till 6:23 PM on September 30. Then onward it is Krishna Paksha Dashami tithi or the tenth day during the waning or dark phase of moon till 7:25 PM on October 1. (Time applicable in all north, south and eastern parts of India. All time based on India Standard Time.  Good – Auspicious time on September 30, 2021 as per Hindu Calendar – Good and auspicious time on the entire day.  Nakshatra  – Punarvasu or Punartham nakshatra till 11:15 PM on September 30 . Then onward it is Pushya or Poosam or Pooyam nakshatra on the entire day on October 1 and till 12:47 AM on October 2. (Time applicable in north, south and eastern parts of India).  In western parts of India (Maharashtra, Gujarat, G

There are certain things that carry negative energy. They should not be touched. These are few things as per Hinduism that should be completely avoided if you find them on the road. Materials related to tantra, puja and homams. They should not be touched even if they contain valuables. This includes pictures and murtis of gods and goddesses. Puja items including fruits, onion, chillies, lemon and coconut should not be touched. Coins and other such valuables should not be taken from them. Body parts of animals and birds. You need to close your nose and walk away from them. Hair of both humans and animals should not be touched. You should walk away from such things. Similarly, bones of animals should not be touched. Water. Do not step on water on road and other public places. Try to avoid them as far as possible. Ash and coal should not be stepped on while walking on the road. Similarly, one should not touch clothes found on road. Even if they are good, it should not be touched