Ayudha puja is celebrated on the Ninth day of Navratri. The principal Shakti goddesses worshiped during the Ayudha puja are Saraswati (the Goddess of wisdom, arts and literature), Lakshmi (the goddess of wealth) and Parvati (the divine mother).
Iravan’s story
This is the story of Arjuna’s son Iravan’s self-sacrifice to the goddess Kali to ensure her favour and the victory of the Pandavas in Mahabharata war. This was done on the day of Ayudha Puja.
Another story related to Arjuna
It is said that on Vijayadashami day Arjuna, third of the five Pandava brothers, retrieved his weapons of war from the hole in the Shami tree where he had hidden it before proceeding on the forced exile. After completing his vanvas (exile period) of 13 years including one year of Agyatavas (living incognito) before embarking on the warpath against the Kauravas he retrieved his weapons. In the Kurukshetra war that ensued, Arjuna was victorious.
गणेश महोत्सव के बाद भाद्र पक्ष माह की पूर्णिमा से अपने पितरों की मोक्ष प्राप्ति के लिए अपने पूर्वजों के प्रति श्रद्धा का महापर्व शुरू हो जाता है। इसको महापर्व इसलिए बोला जाता है क्योंकि नौदुर्गा महोत्सव नौ दिन का होता है, दशहरा पर्व दस दिन का होता है, पर यह पितृ पक्ष सोलह दिनों तक चलता है।
पौराणिक मान्यताओं के अनुसार इस अवधि में हमारे पूर्वज मोक्ष प्राप्ति की कामना लिए अपने परिजनों के निकट अनेक रूपों में आते हैं। इस पर्व में अपने पितरों के प्रति श्रद्धा और कृतज्ञता व उनकी आत्मा की शांति देने के लिए श्राद्ध किया जाता है और उनसे जीवन में खुशहाली के लिए आशीर्वाद की कामना की जाती है। ज्योतिषीय गणना के अनुसार जिस तिथि में माता-पिता, दादा-दादी आदि परिजनों का निधन होता है।
इन 16 दिनों में उसी तिथि पर उनका श्राद्ध करना उत्तम रहता है। पौराणिक मान्यताओं के अनुसार उसी तिथि में जब उनके पुत्र या पौत्र द्वारा श्राद्ध किया जाता है तो पितृ लोक में भ्रमण करने से मुक्ति मिलकर पूर्वजों को मोक्ष प्राप्त हो जाता है। हमारे पितरों की आत्मा की शांति के लिए ‘श्रीमद भागवत् गीता’ या ‘भागवत पुराण’ का पाठ अति उत्तम माना जाता है।
पित पृक्ष में पिंड दान अवश्य करना चाहिए ताकि देवों व पितरों का आशीर्वाद मिल सके। अपने पितरों के पसंदीदा भोजन बनाना अच्छा माना जाता है। सामान्यत: पितृ पक्ष में अपने पूर्वजों के लिए कद्दू की सब्जी, दाल-भात, पूरी व खीर बनाना शुभ माना जाता है। पूजा के बाद पूरी व खीर सहित अन्य सब्जियां एक थाली में सजाकर गाय, कुत्ता, कौवा और चींटियों को देना अति आवश्यक माना जाता है। कहा जाता है कि कौवे व अन्य पक्षियों द्वारा भोजन ग्रहण करने पर ही पितरों को सही मायने में भोजन प्राप्त होता है, क्योंकि पक्षियों को पितरों का दूत व विशेष रूप से कौवे को उनका प्रतिनिधि माना जाता है।
There is an interesting story related to Udupi which dates back to Mahabharata. It also explains why people of Udupi are good in catering business. Before Mahabharata war, all states took sides, either of Pandavas or Kauravas. Only one chose to remain neutral – the king of Udupi and Udupi cuisine is quite popular .
Udupi king said to Krishna, “Everyone is going to fight. Those who fight a battle have to eat. I will be the caterer for the Kurukshetra war.” Krishna said, “Fine. Someone has to cook and serve, so you do it.” The Udupi king was serving food for both sides.
People were amazed how he managed to cook the exact amount of food, because no one knew how many people died on each day. By the time they took accounts, it would have been too late. Definitely, the king did not know how many people died on that day, but every day, he cooked exactly the amount of food that was necessary for the remaining soldiers.
When someone him king how he managed this, he said, “Every day in the night, Krishna likes to eat boiled peanuts. I peel them and keep them in a bowl. He eats just a few peanuts, and after he is done, I count to see how many he has eaten. If he has eaten 10 peanuts, I know tomorrow 10,000 will die, so I cook tomorrow’s food for 10,000 people less. Every day, I count these peanuts and cook accordingly, so it turns out right.” This was the reason Udupi was able to serve the soldiers correctly.
Ganapati Bappa’s family is less talked about. Here we are addressing this need of readers to know about his family.
His wives
Lord Ganesha has two wives – Riddhi and Siddhi. Brahma created two beautiful women named Riddhi (wealth and prosperity) and Siddhi (intellectual and spiritual powers). Brahma gave them in marriage to Ganesha. This happened because Gods have complained to Brahma that Ganesha troubles them a lot and something should be done about this.
Story of Marriage of Lord Ganesha
As Ganesha had an elephant-head no girl was ready to marry him. While all other gods had a consort he did not have one and this angered Ganesha. He started creating problems in the marriages of Devas (demigods). He asked rats to dig up holes on the path through which wedding procession of any Deva would go to the bride’s house.
The Devas faced innumerable problems in their weddings. Fed up with the activities of Ganesha, the Devas complained to Brahma, who agreed to solve the problem.
देवराज इंद्र ब्रज के लोगों से बहुत क्रोधित हुए क्योंकि लोग भगवान कृष्ण की बातों को सुनकर गोवर्धन पर्वत की पूजा कर रहे थे और इंद्र देव की पूजा नहीं कर रहे थे।
देवराज इंद्र ने क्रोधित होकर उन्हें दंडित करने के लिए घनघोर वर्षा करने के लिए बादलों को भेजा जिसके कारण पूरे वृंदावन में बाढ़ की संभावना उत्पन्न हो जाए।
आदेश देते हैं वृंदावन के ऊपर काले मेघों ने अत्यधिक वर्षा करना शुरू कर दिया। अत्यधिक वर्षा और बाढ़ के कारण ज्यादातर लोगों के घर पानी में बह गए।
वृंदावन के लोग डर गए और सभी भगवान कृष्ण की शरण में पहुंचे। भगवान कृष्ण को इस परिस्थिति के बारे में सब कुछ ज्ञात हो चुका था। उसी समय कृष्ण ने पूरे गोवर्धन पर्वत को अपने बाएं हाथ की छोटी उंगली पर एक छतरी की भांति उठा दिया।
वृंदावन के सभी लोग और गाय एक-एक करके गोवर्धन पर्वत के नीचे आने लगे और इस प्रकार कृष्ण ने वृंदावन के लोगों की जान बचाई। कृष्ण के इस आलोकित चमत्कार को देखकर सभी वृंदावन के लोग आश्चर्यचकित रह गए। भगवान कृष्ण की शक्ति को देख कर बादल वापस लौट गए और व्रज वासी ख़ुशी से रहने लगे।
Akshaya Tritiya is a very important festival for both Hindu and Jain. This is also known as Ati or Akha Teej. The day is auspicious for new venture, marriage, investment in gold or property or any new beginning.
Importance of Akshaya Tritiya
Akshaya Tritiya is considered a very auspicious because Sun and Moon are at their exaltation point. So this is considered best time to to perform any auspicious work.
Akshaya Tritiya
Akshaya means imperishable or never diminishing and tritiya means third. It is believed that whatever we do on akshaya tritiya, it grows with time. So it’s the best day to start a new business. Buying gold on this day is also a symbol of prosperity.
Birth of Lord Parshurama
Importance of AkshayTritiya
Akshaya Tritiya is also celebrated as as birth of Lord Parshuram, the sixth incarnation of Lord Vishnu.
Stories related to Mahabharata
It is believed that Ved Vyas began to write the Mahabharata. Ved Vyas wrote the epic with the help of Lord Ganesha
It is also believed that on Akshaya tritiya Sun God gifted Akshaya patra to Pandavas. It had never failing supply of food, each day it would get exhausted only when Draupadi will finish her meal.
Akshaypatra
Other Facts about Akshaya Tritiya
This day is marked as the beginning of Treta Yug.
This was the day when Goddesses Durga killed Mahishasura after a fierce battle.
Mahishasur Mardini
Sudama visited Krishna on this day.
Doors of all the temples of 4 dham are open on this day.
Chanting of mantras, charity , yagna and offering to God and fasting on this day yields inexhaustible fruits.
Holy river Ganga was descended on Earth from Heaven on this day.
Bhagirath doing penance to bring Ganga on earth
It is also believed that the couple who get married on this day are blessed with eternal prosperity and bliss by the god themselves.
In Odisha, annul construction of chariot begins on this day. for Puri Rath yatra.
There is an important temple of Lord Balaji (Lord Hanuman) in Kaushambi, Ghaziabad. This temple was established in 1981 and currently attracts lot of Bhaktas here.
Manokamna Siddha Balaji Mandir
This temple is dedicated to Lord Hanumana, but houses other Devi Devtas as well. Lord Vishnu, Devi Lakshmi, Rama and Lakshman, Lord Shiva, Navgrah and Sai Baba, all are present here.
Shringar of Bhagwan Hanuman
On the auspicious day of Tuesday or Saturday, Shringar of Lord Hanuman is performed. This is done in following stages:
Paste of Vermilion and Jasmine oil is prepared
This paste is applied on the body of Lord Hanumana. This has a significance that Once Lord has applied the vermilion to his whole body after seeing that Devi Sita was applying vermilion to protect her husband, Lord Rama.
Lord’s feet and hand are covered with silver foil
Old clothes are changed with new ones
The new clothes are offered to Lord Hanumana. After that Aarti is performed.
Pandit Jee Shri Sanjay Pandey normally perform this ritual on Tuesday and Saturday.
Pandit Jee Sanjay Pandey along with Bhakta doing Shringar of Lord
Lord Radha Krishna and Lord Shiva are also in this Temple. There is a huge gathering of bhaktas happen in this temple on auspicious occasions.
Some of the great pictures of Lord Hanumana. Hope you will like them!
Hanuman-jeeHanumana and Sun
Jai shri Hanuman
Bhakt HanumanThe famous Panchrupi roopa of Lord Hanuman, this was required to kill a demon.Lord Hanumana in his childhood with his motherLord Hanumana at Patan DeviThis is a fact that in Patna, two idols of Lord Hanumana are kept side by side.
In Hindu mythology, Goddesses Durga or Shakti is the the most powerful deity of Hindu . She is Mother of Universe. Durga is the manifestation of mother Parvati when evil forces threatened the very existence of Gods. In Sanskrit, Durga means a place which is difficult to win. She got the name because of her protective and combative nature. She is the protector of what is good and harmony. It is believed that she originated to kill the demon Mahishasura hence also known as Mahishasurmardini.
Maa Durga appearance
Maa Durga is depicted as 8 or 10 hands which represents 8 quadrant or 10 directions . Thus, it is believed that she protects her devotee from all the directions. She also holds different weapons in different hand like Sudarshan chakra, Sword, Trident, Bow and Arrows, Thunderbolt and Mace. She also holds Conch and Lotus in other two hands and one hand is in Abhaya Mudra.
Her Vehicle
She rides on a lion. Lion represents power, will and determination. Durga riding on a lion symbolises she possesses unlimited powers and uses it to protect virtue and destroy evil.
Trayambake
She is also known as Triyambake as she has 3 eyes. Her left eye represents Desire-Moon, right eye represents Action- Sun and her central eye represents Knowledge or Fire.
Protector
Maa Durga protects from all evils and negativity. Navratri is the most auspicious time to please Goddesses. During Navratri nine forms of Durga is worshipped for nine days to get her unlimited blessings. To please Goddess Durga several mantras are chanted throughout the year specially during Navratri. It is believed that chanting Durga mantra has power to transform our lives and give us more shakti.
Mantras
There are several mantras to please Goddess Durga but the most simple and easy is “OM SRI DURGAYA NAMAH’’ It is believed that chanting this mantra regularly will remove physical, mental and worldly problems in life and will shower us with her unlimited blessing. Devi mantras are also known as Siddhi mantra. Each and every mantra is full of energy and power. It is believed that when mantras are chanted with devotion it gives positive results . It helps to remove all the trouble and bless with success.
1. Most powerful Mantra
सर्वमङ्गलमाङ्गल्ये शिवे सर्वार्थसाधिके शरण्ये त्र्यम्बके गौरि नारायणि नमोऽस्तु ते
We bow to you O Devi Narayani. You are the the auspicious for everyone, you bring happiness . You are the one who completes every work for everyone. You are protector of everyone. You are the one with 3 eyes and a beautiful face. We salute you, O Narayani.
She is the most auspicious one and the one who bestows auspiciousness upon all the worlds. She is pure and holy.
Maa protects those who surrender to her and is also called the three eyed one and Gauri (daughter of mountain king). I bow down to Mother Durga who is the sister of Mahavishnu.
Benefits of this Mantra
This mantra is recited almost during all celebrations, rituals and events. Regular chanting can give wisdom and strength combined with a prosperous life.
2. Devi Stuti
या देवी सर्वभुतेषु क्षान्तिरूपेण संस्थिता
या देवी सर्वभुतेषु शक्तिरूपेण संस्थिता
या देवी सर्वभुतेषु मातृरूपेण संस्थिता
या देवी सर्वभुतेषु बुद्धिरूपेण संस्थिता
नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः
Ya devi sarva bhuteshu, shanti rupena sangsthita
Ya devi sarva bhuteshu, shakti rupena sangsthita
Ya devi sarva bhuteshu, matri rupena sangsthita
Yaa devi sarva bhuteshu, buddhi rupena sangsthita
Namastasyai, namastasyai, namastasyai, namo namaha
Meaning of above Mantra
The goddess who is omnipresent as the personification of universal mother
The goddess who is omnipresent as the embodiment of the power
The goddess who is omnipresent as the symbol of peace
Oh, Goddess (Devi) who resides everywhere in all living beings as intelligence and beauty
I bow to her, I bow to her, I bow to her again & again
Benefits
It helps to build inner power and allows the devotee to develop healthy, loving relationships. Chanting of this Mantra blocks negative thoughts and banish ignorance.
3.Maa Durga Dhyaan Mantra
ॐ जटा जूट समायुक्तमर्धेंन्दु कृत लक्षणाम |
लोचनत्रय संयुक्तां पद्मेन्दुसद्यशाननाम ||
Om jataa jut samaayuktamardhendu krit lakshnam|
Lochanyatra sanyuktam padmendu sadya shan naam ||
Benefits of Dhyaan mantra
This mantra is chanted before chanting any other Durga Mantras. It is important for all specially for children . As it helps in focus and maintaining one’s concentration in all field.
4. Maa durga Shatru Shanti Mantra
रिपव: संक्षयम् यान्ति कल्याणम चोपपद्यते |
नन्दते च कुलम पुंसाम माहात्म्यम मम श्रृणुयान्मम ||
Ripavah sankshayam yaanti kalyaanam chop padyate |
Nandate cha kulam punsaam maahaatmyam mam srinu yaanmam ||
Benefit of Shatru Shanti Mantra
This powerful mantra provide protection against all negativeness, enemies and adversaries. Regular chanting of mantra has power to destroy enemies. It also brings prosperity, bliss and peace in one’s life.
This powerful mantras has power to remove all kind of obstacles problems and misery in one’s life. It is also believed chanting this powerful mantra rings wealth and prosperity.
It one suffers from nightmare, Chanting this powerful mantra helps in getting relief from all kind of negative thought and fearful dreams. This mantra also has power to nullify the malefic effect of bad planetary movements.
7. Maa Durga Mantra for calming restless and fearful baby.
बालग्रहभिभूतानां बालानां शांतिकारकं
सङ्घातभेदे च नृणाम मैत्रीकरणमुतमम
In English:
Baal grah bhibhutaanaam baalaanam shantikaarkam
Sanghatbhede ch nrinaam maetri karan mutmam
Benefit of the Mantra
This powerful mantra helps to calm a restless and fearful child. Sometime child feels that unnatural and spectral being are troubling him thus he feels haunted. In such case parent can chant this mantra to eliminate all such negative energy that is disturbing the child.
You who are perpetually endeavouring to protect the weak and the poor and remove their misery. Oh Narayani, I pray to you.
Oh Goddess Durga, please protect us from all kinds of fear. Oh omnipotent Durga, I pray to you.
Oh Goddess, when you are pleased, remove all ailments and when you are angry, destroy everything that a person desires for. However, those who come to you for sanctuary never have to confront any casastrophy. Instead, such people secure enough merit to provide shelter to others.
Whoever listens to the story of the Goddess during the great Puja that is organised in the winters succeeds in overcoming all obstacles and is blessed wealth and progeny.
Oh Goddess, bless me with good fortune, good health, good looks, success and fame. Oh Vaishnavi, you are the very basis for the world. You have mesmerized the World. When you are pleased with some one you ensure his salvation from the cycle of life and death.
Oh Goddess, you who are known by the names of Mangala, Kali, Bhadra Kali, Kapalinee, Durge, Kshama, Shivaa, Dhatri, Swahaa, Swadha, I pray to you.’
Benefits of the mantra
Maa Durga mantras are very powerful and have potential to help solve one’s issue and relax one’s mind. Durga Maa protect her devotee from all evils and mishappening. The effectiveness of mantras depend on the mental discipline involvement and its correct recitation.
