On our Pearl Anniversary celebration, our Satsanghis had requested that we should have a Satsangh Puja Calendar and Ram and I had volunteered to compile the same.

As promised, here is the Satsangh Puja Calendar for the year 2011

For each Puja day: Move the mouse over the day to see the details of “desha, kala etc” that can be used for the Sankalpa.

If there is a relevant Puja that is available at our site, clicking on the date will directly take you to the Puja page.
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Happy Janmashtami to all our readers. This year the Janmashtami is being celebrated today and tomorrow. On this occassion, we are happy to present the Katha that is to be read as part of the Janmashtami Puja which is already available at our site – Here .

Thanks to our Satsanghi Vidya Rangarajan for making the text of the Katha available to all of us.

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THE BIRTH OF LORD KRISHNA

From - Kamala Subramaniam’s Bhagavatha

Lord Narayana who is the soul of the Universe, who is the refuge of everyone, entered the mind of Vasudeva. People were amazed to see the glow that emanated from Vasudeva. He shone like noonday sun since the Lord had found an abode in him.

Devaki received in her the embodiment of auspiciousness, the essence of all wealth and glory of the Universe, the soul of the Universe, the indestructible atman which resides in every living and non living things. Devaki had the great fortune of becoming the mother of the Lord of the Lords. Like the East glows with the newly risen moon, she looked beautiful. Her form was radiant. But the world could not see it since she was captive in the house of Kamsa. Her glory was hidden like a lamp placed inside a pot; like Saraswati, the goddess of learning is hidden in the mind of a pandit who is greedy about his learning and refuses to impart with others.

Kamsa, however knew that she was glowing with an unearthly light. Devaki was holding the lord in her womb and the entire house was bathed in a strange light since she was there.Her lips bore a beautiful smile and Kamsa, looking at her spoke to himself and said

“Devaki has never looked like this before. It seems to me this strange glow in her is there because of the child that is to be born. I think it is Narayana who is to be born and that is why she looks so very beautiful. I must take proper precautions lest he should do what he was promised to do! I do not want to die. I could kill her now. But then she is a woman; she is my sister and she is with the child. Each killing in itself is an unforgivable crime and the world will condemn me if I kill her now. All my fame and all my wealth and even my life-span will suffer because of this sin. Is it not the fact that a man who lives in constant association with terrible deeds is but a walking corps? When he is alive people will curse him and when he dies he will go to the hell, which goes by the name of Andhatmas.

Kamsa desisted from killing his sister and awaited for the birth of the child with impatience. The thoughts of the coming child had become with him an obsession. While sitting down on a seat he would suddenly stop and look at the seat since he thought he saw a child on the seat. He would tell himself, there was a child on the seat and I was about to sit on it ! Terrible ! He would then go tot bed and try to lie down and there too he would see the child. He would move away from there and stand far away. Looking down he would see a child at his feet. He would go and sit down to eat . Instead of food he would see child on the plate. He would get up in disgust and walk from there. At every step the child would persist on his way. To Kamsa, the entire world seemed to be pervaded by the Lord of The Lords in the form of a mere child.

The time was drawing near. Brahma, Mahadeva and all the devas went to the presence of Devaki and stood in front of her with folded palms and praised the Lord. They said “salutations to Thee, O Lord, you were gracious to take different forms at different times to save us from despair. You were Matsya, Hayagreeva, Kurma, Narasimha, Varaha, Hamsa, Parashurama, Rama Yadna and Kapila. Many other forms were assumed by you. Now, when the earth needs you, please save the world form the great suffering she is undergoing. We bow down to you.”

They then spoke to Devaki and said you are fortunate princess, since you will be the mother of Narayana himself. Adishesha is already born to you and this child which is to be born will be the saviour of the world. You need have no more fear of Kamsa. His days are numbered. Having pacified her and encouraged her, Brahma and rest of the celestial hosts vanished from their presence.

The time was auspicious. It had the charm of all the six seasons. The planets and the stars were in the position from where they showered peace and joy to the world. The four quarters were clear and placid and the star Rohini was in the ascent, the star which is governed by Prajapati. The sky was clear and studded with stars which were shining brightly. The waters in the river were clear and sweet. The lakes were filled with flowers, lotuses and utpalas. The trees were covered with flowers. The gentle breeze was flowing and it brought intense scents of the flowers with it. The fire which were kindled by the Brahmins were burning without smoke and an air of peace and tranquility pervaded the earth. The mind of all men were happy for no reasons, only Kamsa was unhappy. The divine dundubhi was being played in the havens, kinnaras were singing and so were Gandharvas. Siddhas and Charanas were chanting the words of praise. The Apsaras and Vidyadharas women were dancing with abandon. The Devas and Rishis showered flowers on the earth. There was heard a great rumbling from the clouds which was like roar of the ocean. It was midnight. The Muhurtha was “Abhijeet” and Narayana, who is in the hearts of everyone, was born to Devaki, wife of Vasudeva.

Devaki gave birth to Narayana like the east brings the glorious moon.

The story of the lord Krishna’s birth shows how loving and powerful Lord is. Whenever evil in the world becomes unbearable God himself comes to save us in the form of incarnation like Lord Krishna. Not even a mightiest evil can do anything against God.
Hence daily we should pray to god and remember him by repeatedly chanting his name in everything we do.

OM KRISHNAYA NAMAHA.

Krishna Janmasthami is the celebration of the day that Bhagwan Krishna incarnated in human form upon the Earth. It is celebrated at midnight on the eighth day of the dark fortnight in the month of Bhadrapada (August-September).

The day is celebrated by worshipping Bhagwan Krishna, fasting and chanting devotional kirtan and bhajans until past midnight.
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Shri Rama Navami celebrates the birth of Lord Rama to King Dasharatha and Queen Kausalya of Ayodhya. Rama Navami falls on Chaitra Masa Suklapaksha Navami, the ninth day of the month of Chaitra in the Hindu calendar. In 2011, it falls on April 12th.

Shri Rama Navami Puja is now available in multiple Indian scripts (Thanks to Aksharamukha transliterator). Please see the links below for the pdf file of your choice:

• Shri Ram Navami Puja – Devanagari/Sanskrit
• Shri Ram Navami Puja – Kannada
• Shri Ram Navami Puja – Malayalam
• Shri Ram Navami Puja – Tamil
• Shri Ram Navami Puja – Telugu

The Panchang details are available at the Puja page as well as the Puja Calendar pagee http://mantraaonline.com/satsangh-calendar-2011/ – Please update your files accordingly.

Please note that the Shivarathri Puja is now available at our site in Malayalam and Telugu as well.

Please check the Puja page at http://mantraaonline.com/shivarathri-puja/

The Panchang details are available at the Puja page as well as the Puja Calendar pagee http://mantraaonline.com/satsangh-calendar-2011/ – Please update your files accordingly.

Forgiveness is the key to complete healing. Forgiveness must be accepted and given. In short LET GO AND LET GOD should be our attitude. When we have a judging attitude , we are sending out negative energy,which means we will also be receiving the same negative energy.

Forgiveness is choosing to change a thought, belief and an emotion with respect to other people and situations. AS everything in the Universe is energy forgiveness is also a process of transforming energy. Forgiveness is a choice as is not forgiving. When there is someone in your life that you cannot forgive , the energy of that person or situation remains within your aura. By not forgiving you are allowing that pain and abuse to continue to affect you. This means that forgiveness is simply like any other process of self healing. So self healing is just releasing the negative energy from your aura thereby feeling lighter and peaceful.

The only decision I need to make regarding forgiveness is this:  Am i willing to let go of the pain and abuse, or will I allow this person or situation to trouble me for the rest of my life?  Do you always want to remain a victim? When you find it impossible to forgive another, you remain emotionally connected to that person.Therefore, you are allowing the pain, the abuse the trauma to remain with you. This is a choice. Forgiveness is not something that you can or cannot do. It is simply a matter of choosing to change your thought , beliefs and ideas about a given situation or person in your life.

Forgiveness is the most important aspect of one’s spiritual growth.

It is said that to err is human , to forgive is divine.

Additionally, the act of forgiveness also allows the other person to move on in their life. Forgiveness creates harmony in the Universe because you are handing the other person more freedom and joy , inturn you also enjoy the same freedom and joy

Many of us believe that we have to in some way greet or meet them on a physical level in order to truly forgive them. This is not so. We can send forgiveness mentally wherever we are. Initially it might be difficult to send positive energy to the person who has troubled or insulted you. However once we experience the freedom associated with it, forgiving becomes the second nature. Once we understand that nothing in our life  is a coincidence, we get what we deserve, forgiveness becomes easier.

So how exactly should i go about this?

Simply by doing the following visualization.

Forgiveness meditation.

Sit or lie down in a comfortable position. Close your eyes and relax completely, starting from the toes to the top of the head. Take two or three deep breaths and as you breath in and out say to yourself that you are breathing in peace and harmony.

Imagine a chair in front of you. Visualise the person who has hurt you sitting in that chair. That person is sitting calmly, expectantly looking at you. Mentally say to that person, You are a human being like me. When you hurt me, you did what ever you knew best ,  given your limitations and understanding of the situation at that time. It was a process of survival. I understand your motivations , fears and your hopes. I may not like what you did, but I can understand it.

I accept the fact that you hurt me. I do not like it, but I do not make you bad for doing it. Nothing now can change what happened in the past. I let go of the past and wipe the slate clean. I may not approve or agree what you did, however I can forgive. I leave my anger behind. I let go of revenge and resentment. Our differences are in the past. I am in control of the present and i can forgive you in the present.

Continue looking at the person who hurt you. Gradually let the person enter your heart. Open yourself. Let anger and resentment fade out like music being turned down. If it is difficult to  empathize or let go of your anger, do not judge yourself for how difficult it is. Allow yourself sometime. Just say I forgive you and allow the image of the person in the chair fade from sight.

OM SHANTI

In Hinduism, Saraswathi is the Goddess of Learning and Knowledge. She is the wife of the Creator Brahma and is often picturised dressed in white symbolising purity of knowledge.

She is also often picturised with four arms which represent the four vedas (rig, yajur, sama and atharvana). In her four arms, she is show carrying the following:

The veena, a musical instrument that represents that she is also the Goddess of all arts and sciences.
A book representing the Vedas and knowledge.
A mālā / garland with crystal beads, representing the power of meditation and spirituality.
A pot of sacred water, representing creative and purification powers.

It is believed that praying to the Goddess Saraswathi will provide her blessings for excellence in academics, arts and sciences.

The 9th day of Navarathri is celebrated to pray to Goddess Saraswathi. In the South of India, on this day, people place books, musical instruments etc at altar after praying to the Goddess. These are covered by cloth and the custom is to not read anything after the prayers are done. Again on the Vijayadasami day, the Goddess is worshipped again and propitiated and then the books are removed and each person in the household refreshes their knowledge of various subjects. It is also an auspicious day to start learning a new art or craft or have very young children start school. It is also a sacred day for teaching children to write for the first time.

Sarasvati Namastubhyam Varade Kaamarupini
Vidyarambam Karishyami Siddhir Bhavatu Me Sadaa

Oh Goddess Sarasvati, I Salute you, please grant me all boons as your very form represents fulfilment of wishes. I would like to start my learning today. Please let me be successful in all such ventures.

Click for the Sarasvati Puja – Sanskrit

Click for the Sarasvati Puja – Tamil

Click for the Sarasvati Puja – Malayalam

Click for the Sarasvati Puja – Telugu

Click for the Sarasvati Puja – English

“RUDRA” is one of the names of Lord Siva, the word overtly means anger or fury. However One can understand the subtle meaning of this word ‘Rudram’ by looking at its etymology. Rudram is derived from two words – ‘Rud’ and ‘Ra’. ‘Rud’ means dukham (sorrow) or paapam (sin, demerit). ‘Rud’ also means the cause of sorrows or sins. What is the cause of sorrow or sin? It is agnyanam (ignorance). ‘Ra’ means eliminator. So Rudram means eliminator of sorrows and sins. Lord Siva get the name Rudra because he removes sorrows and sins and also the cause of those which is ignorance. Sri Rudram talks about the glory of Siva.“ Sri Rudram is a vedic hymn describing Lord Siva’s several aspects, viz. His omniscience, omnipresence, omnipotence etc.

Sri Rudram finds a place as the 4th Prashna in the 4th Khanda of Krishna Yajur Samhita. It is a Maha Mantra. It consists of 164 mantras. Their recital for a stipulated time yields good results and wards off all bad happenings. It is said that regular chanting of it leads to Jnana. The Kaivalyopanishad also echoes this fact. The Anusasanika Parva of Mahabharata mentions that Lord Krishna recited it several times and explained its great power and efficacy.
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Anant Chaturdashi puja falls on the 14th day of Bhadrapad shukla paksha (first fortnight) of the Hindu calender year.

Anant Chaturdashi has two main significances. The first is that it is the day of the immersion of Ganapati (also called Ganapati Visarjan). Thus Lord Ganesha is given farewell, only to be welcomed the next year with equal excitement.
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