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.

This year it falls on the 1st of September. Here is the Krishna Janmashtami puja vidhi in Sanskrit and Tamil that can be downloaded to perform the puja.

Krishna Janmashtami Puja – Sanskrit
Krishna Janmashtami Puja – Tamil

Please note that the name of the year and day have to be changed appropriately

Sanskrit

Tamil

The Lalitha Sahasranama is about the divine mother Parvati. It is said to have been a conversation between sage Agastya and Hayagriva and occurs in the 36th Chapter of the Brahmanda Purana.

Here we provide a Learn to Chant version from the internet as well as links to the English, Sanskrit and Tamil texts.

The entire text and a lot of details are provided in this Link
Lalitha Sahasranama in English

Here is the Sahasranama in Sanskrit

Click Here for the Tamil Version

Varalakshmi Puja or Vrata is a ceremony performed by women on the Friday before the full moon in the month of Sravana (July/August) and this year it falls on Friday, the 20th. It is commonly performed in the South Indian states of Andhra, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.

The puja is performed to take blessings of the Goddess Lakshmi, who is the Goddess of wealth and auspiciousness. As per legend, this vratam was recommended by Lord Shiva to his wife Parvati to gain wealth and prosperity. He tells her the story of a lady Charumati who was asked by the goddess Varalakshmi, in her dream, to do the vratam in order to fulfill her wishes. She performed the vratam along with other ladies in her village with great devotion. They offered the deity lots of delicacies and once the vratam was completed, they were amazed to find their bodies decked with expensive jewels and their homes full of riches. From then on, women started performing this vratam every year seeking wealth and prosperity in their families.
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The Abirami Anthathi is a divine, lyrical song on Goddess Abirami which has 100 verses. The term “Anthaathi” refers to the particular style of composition wherein each new stanza begins with the same word that was used to end the previous stanza.

The beauty of this Anthathi is the story behind it and that it was composed ad hoc by Abirami Pattar (Subramaniya Iyer) on the spur of the moment and with intense devotion.
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This is the story behind the celebration of Narasimha Jayanthi and can be read along with the puja. Our thanks to Satsanghi Vidya Rangarajan for providing this content for the web site.
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Narasimha Avatar is a proof of the Lord’s promise that, one who is totally surrendered to him, will be under the protection of Lord at all times.

Once Hiranyakasipu asked his son Prahlada , what did he learn from his teacher. Prahlada replied, I have learnt the essence of all the learning that Narayana is the one who illumines everything in the mind , gives bliss and fulfillment to all. Prahlada’s answer disappointed Hiranyakasipu , and he tried all methods to divert his son from the devotion to God. The child Prahlada was subjected to all kinds of torture , but Prahlada’s devotion to god strengthened further. Enraged at his son’s unshaken devotion to his arch enemy, Hiranyakasipu decided to put an end forever to Prahlada , by all possible means.
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Today is Narasimha Chaturdasi, the appearance anniversary of Lord Narasimhadeva, the half-man, half-lion incarnation of the Supreme Lord. On this day fasting is observed until dusk, and then followed by feasting. This is a most auspicious day to remember the great mercy the Lord has upon His pure devotees to protect them from all varieties of dangerous situations.

Here are some beautiful prayers for worshipping Lord Narasimhadeva:

namas te narasiṁhāya
prahlādāhlāda-dāyine
hiraṇyakaśipor vakṣaḥ-
śilā-ṭaṅka-nakhālaye
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Maha Shivaratri (or “Great Night of Shiva”) is a festival celebrated every year on the 13th day/13th night (breaking fast/’vrata’ on 14th after sunrise) in the Krishna Paksha (waning moon) of the month of Maagha (as per Shalivahana or Gujarati Vikrama) or Phalguna (as per Vikrama) in the Hindu Calendar (that is, the night before and day of the new moon). The festival is principally celebrated by offerings of Bael (Bilva) leaves to the Lord Shiva, all day fasting and an all night long vigil.
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Our Satsanghi Jayashree Vaitheeshwaran has kindly provided us with the Sri Mookambikai Ashtottaram in English. This was originally transliterated from grandhakshra to Tamil language by Vaitheeji’s father in 1979 after which it started getting published in many Tamil Ashtotra books.

Jayashreeji has now transcribed the same to English, for the sake of our readers.
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The Sanskrit and Tamil Versions are available in PDF format for download..
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This is the fourth post on Devi Mahatmyam. These were short summaries given at our UAE Satsangh.

Thanks to Chitraji for providing the material for sharing with all of us.
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CHAPTERS 8, 9 AND 10 – THE SLAYING OF RAKTHABHIJA, NISHUMBHA AND SHUMBHA.

After the daityas Chanda and Munda and many of the battalions were destroyed, the lord of the asuras, with mind overcome by anger went forth attended by many thousands of big forces. Seeing that most terrible army approaching, Chandika filled into space between the earth and the sky with the twang of her bow-string. On hearing the roar of the Devi, the enraged asura battalions surrounded the lion, the Devi Chandika and Kaali on all the four sides.
At this moment in order to annihilate the enemies of the Devas, the great strength from the bodies of Brahma, Shiva, Guha, Vishnu and Indra along with the form of those Devas went to Chandika. Whatever was the form of each Deva, and whatever his ornaments and vehicle, in that very form his shakti advanced to fight with the asuras.
In a heavenly chariot drawn by swans advanced Brahma’s shakti carrying rosary and a Kamandalu. She is called Brahmaani.
Maaheshwari arrived, seated on a bull, holding a fine trident, wearing bracelets of great snakes and adorned with a digit of the moon.
Ambika Koumaari, in the form of Guha, holding a spear in hand riding on a fine peacock, advanced to attack the asuras.
Likewise, the shakthi of Vishnu came, seated upon Garuda, holding conch, club, bow and sword in hand.
The shakthi of Hari, who assumed the incomparable form of a sacrificial boar, also advanced there in a boar-like form.
Naarasimhi arrived there, assuming a body like that of a Narasimha, bringing down the constellations by the toss of her mane.
Likewise, the thousand eyed Aindri, holding a thunderbolt in hand and riding on the lord of elephants arrived just like Indra.
Then Shiva, surrounded by those shakthis of the Devas , said to Chandika, “ let the asuras be killed forthwith by you for my gratification”.
Thereupon from the body of Devi issued forth the Sakthi of Chandika and she told Shiva,” Go, my Lord, as an ambassador to the presence of Shumbha and Nishumbha. Ask them to give the three worlds to the Devas back, if they wish to live. But if through pride of strength, they are ready for a battle, let them come to me. Let my jackals be satiated with their flesh”.
Because that Devi appointed Shiva himself as Dhoota, she was known as Shiva-dhuti.
Hearing the words of Devi through Shiva, the king of asuras rushed to the place where Kaatyaayini stood. The terrible war began with numerous weapons. Seeing the asuras harassed by the band of Maatras, the great asura Rakthabhija strode forward to fight in wrath.
Whenever from his body there fell to the ground a drop of blood, at that very moment rose up from the earth asura of his stature. As many drops of blood fell from his body, so many persons came into being, with his courage, strength and valour. The world was pervaded by thousands of great asuras who were like Rakthabhija.
The Devas got intensely alarmed at this. Seeing the devas dejected, Chandika laughed and said to Kaali,” O, Chamunda, open out your mouth wide; with this mouth quickly take in the drops of blood generated by the blow of my weapon and the great asuras born of the drops of blood of Rakthabhija. Let this great asura, with his blood emptied perish”.
The Devi smote Rakthabhija with her various weapons, as and when Chamunda went on drinking his blood. Stricken with various weapons and bloodless, the great asura Rakthabhija fell lifeless on the ground.

After Rakthabhija was slain and other asuras were killed in the fight, the asura Shumbha and Nishumbha gave way to unbounded wrath. Supported by the great army, the two great asuras went for the fight. Then commenced a severe combat between the Devi on one side and the two asuras like two thunder-clouds on the other.
The Devi assailed the heroic Danava, Nishumbha who was advancing with battle-axe in hand, and laid him low on the ground. When his brother Nishumbha of terrific prowess fell to the ground, Shumbha got infuriated in the extreme and strode forward to slay Ambika.
The sound of the bell, bow-string, loud roars filled all the worlds which started destroying the strength of the asuras. The Devi split the arrows shot by Shumbha and Shumbha also split the arrows discharged by her. Then Chandika became angry and smote him with a trident. Wounded therewith, he fainted and fell to the ground.
Meanwhile, Nishumbha, regaining the consciousness, seized his bow and struck the arrows on the Devi, the Kali and the lion. As Nishumbha was advancing with the dart in hand, Chandika pierced him in the heart with a swiftly hurled dart. Thus Nishumbha and the other asuras were destroyed by Devi.

Seeing his brother Nishumbha slain, who was dear to him as his life, Shumbha angrily said to Devi” O Durga, you are puffed up with the pride of strength, don’t show your pride here. Though you are exceedingly haughty, you, resorting to the strength of others fight”
The Devi said:”I am all alone in the world here. These goddesses are but my own powers, entering into my own self!”
Then all those, Braahmani and others, were absorbed in the body of the Devi. Ambika alone remained.
The Devi said, “the numerous forms which I projected by my power here – those have been withdrawn by me, and now I stand alone. Be steadfast in the fight”
Then began a dreadful fight between them both on the earth and in the sky, while all Devas and asuras looked on. Various weapons were released by the asura and all were broken down by the power of Devi. The Devi pierced Shumbha’s chest with a dart, and threw him down on the earth. Pierced by the pointed dart, he fell lifeless on the ground, shaking the entire earth with its seas, islands and mountains.
The Devas became happy. The sun became very brilliant and tranquil became the strange sounds that had risen in different quarters. Praises were sung on the great Kaatyayini by the Devas .
Here ends the story of the slaying of Shumbha and Nishumbha of Devi Mahatmyam.