Dhanteras

Dusshera is over and the festival of lights - Diwali is just upon us. Interestingly, not all people know that the festival of Diwali is actually a five day long celebration which begins with Dhanteras. The festival of Dhanteras falls in the month of October-November on the thirteenth day of the dark fortnight, as the word ‘Dhan’ literally means wealth and ‘Teras’ comes from the date thirteenth. It is celebrated two days before the festival of lights and also known as ‘Yamadeepdaan’.

On Dhanteras, Lakshmi – Goddess of wealth is worshipped to provide prosperity and well being. Hindus also worship Lord Kuber as the treasurer of wealth and bestower of riches, along with Goddess Lakshmi.

Case in point bring up the word ‘Dhanteras’ and chances are everyone around you will immediately talk of buying Gold, Silver, Diamonds, Clothes, Utensils, electronics and other items of value. Of course it is an occasion to seek wealth and prosperity, but how this tradition comes about?

As the legend goes, the horoscope of king Hima’s sixteen year old son read that he would die on the fourth day of his marriage by a snake bite. On that particular day, the prince’s young wife laid all her ornaments, gold and silver coins in a big heap at the entrance of her husband’s chamber, lighted lamps all over and starting singing songs and narrating stories. When Yama arrived in the form of snake, his eyes got dazzle and blinded by the brilliance of the lamps and jewellery and he couldn’t enter the prince’s chamber. In a trance like state, he sat on top of the heap and spent the whole night listening to the melodious songs, thus missing his deadline and sparing the prince’s life.

For this reason, this is considered an auspicious time to buy gold and silver and light earthen lamps or deep and these are kept burning throughout the night glorifying Yama (God of death). 

The First lamp of Diwali are lit on this day. People hang up paper lanterns with festoons and send out the message of the arrival of Diwali. Dhanteras is not all about material wealth, it is also a time to develop spiritual wealth and family bonding. All family members arrive at ancestral home on the day. Grandparents and Parents wait for the day as sons, daughters and grandchildren arrive from distant places.

Happy Dhanteras to all of you!

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Karni Mata Temple

Karni Mata Temple

Karni mata temple is located in Deshnok, 30 kms from Bikaner,Rajasthan and is dedicated to Karni mata, a famous mystic of her times, believed to be an incarnation of Goddess Durga  (known to remove evil, misery, pain from our lives). Karni mata was the sixth daughter of Mehoji charan and Deval devi born in the fourteenth century in a village of Jodhpur, Rajasthan. A night before when karni mata was born, Deval devi, dreamt that a Goddess appears and blesses her with the words that the Goddess will be born to you, as an incarnation of Goddess Durga.  The royal families of Bikaner and Jodhpur officialy worship Karni mata.

It is one of the strangest temples in the world. The temple is home to over 20,000 rats which are treated as sacred. It is considered very lucky to spot a white rat in the temple. Apparently, even during the worst of plagues, the town of Deshnok was not affected. Strange but true, eating food that has been nibbled by the rats is considered to be a ‘high honor’. It is regarded auspicious, if a rat runs across one’s feet.  It is considered as that after Karni mata’s death, she became a rat. The Charan clans believe that once they die, they too will be re-incarnated as a rat and subsequently when a rat in the temple dies, it will be re-incarnated as a human again.

Karni mata lived for 150 years and remained young and beautiful. During her lifetime she performed many miracles and led her whole life to help all the needy people.

The temple was built by Maharaja Ganga Singh ji of Bikaner, which dated back to 15^th century. There is beautiful marble facade in the temple which has solid silver doors, which are made in Mughal Rajput architecture style. The silver doors were donated by Maharaja on his visit to temple. The temple contains foot prints of Mata ji so symbolize her visit to the place. There is idol of karni mata holding Trishul and Mukut surrounds by the rats.

To see the temple in full glory, visitors should come late at night or before sunrise, when the rats are out in full force, gathering food.

The karni mata fair is also very popular among the devotees and tourists. It is held twice a year. The first in March-April during Navratras and the second is held in September-October, also during the Navratras. During Navratras thousands of people travel to the temple by foot.

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Ganesh Chaturthi- A Divine Celebration

Long drawn celebrations and festivities are a part of the social and cultural fabric of India.Among the many religious and social customs that mark the diverse festive calendar of Indians, Ganesha Chaturthi is a very important religious occasion. Ganesha Chaturthi celebration is about the birth of the Elephant headed god, Ganesha. He is the youngest son of lord Shiva and goddess Parvati. Celebrating the birth of lord Ganesha, Ganpati festival is observed on a grand scale in India.Cities come alive with colors and streets processions, making it one of the most interesting ones to see.

The preparation of Ganesha chaturthi start a lot earlier in the year, with work on the big and small clay idols starting several months in advance. Artisans create idols of Lord Ganesha to be worshipped by the people either in the streets or in private ceremonies. 

Ganesha Chaturthi is celebrated on the fourth day of Shukla Paksh (Waxing phase of the moon). In most places in India it is a day to invoke Ganesha the god of wisdom, prosperity, good fortune and art & sciences. On this day devotees worship Ganesha idols, perform aarti and offer prasad of fruits and sweets especially modak (a delicacy prepared from rice flour, jaggery and coconut), which is considered to be the favorite of lord Ganesha. Lord Ganesha has always held an important place in the hearts of all the Indians. As per the mythology, any prayer or start of a new project must start with the prayers of lord Ganesha. 

Story Of Ganesha Chaturthi

According to Hindu Mythology scriptures, Lord Ganesha was formed by goddess Parvati, wife of lord Shiva. It is said that one day Parvati formed a sculpture from the paste that she used on her body before taking bath. She infused life in that figure and ordered him to guard the entrance of her bathroom. God Shiva returned and was stopped at the entrance of his house by that boy. In extreme rage, Shiva struck off the boy's head. This incident filled Parvati with utter grief and requested Shiva to return her son. Then, Shiva fixed the head of an elephant and restored life to the body of that boy. Lord Shiva named this boy as Ganpati. Gan means Hosts and Pati means chief and blessed him further that he would be worshipped before every new venture.

In Andhra pradesh (India) and Maharashtra (India), Ganesha chaturthi is celebrated for ten days and in other parts of India, it is celebrated for one day on the Ganesha chaturthi day.

The origin of public celebration of Ganesha festival is traced to the period of Chatarpati Shivaji Maharaja,the great Maratha ruler who asked people to perform public celebration to promote culture and nationalism in 17th century. The large scale Ganesha festival of today was revived by Lokmanya Bal Gangadha Tilak, freedom fighter, in the last decade of 19th century in Pune (India) to spread the message of freedom struggle and to defy the British who had banned public assemblies.

SHRI GANESHA STUTI & AARTI

Jai Ganesh, Jai Ganesh, Jai Ganesh Deva

Mata Jaaki Parvati Pita Mahadeva

Jai Ganesh, Jai Ganesh, Jai Ganesh Deva

Mata Jaaki Parvati Pita Mahadeva

Ek Dant Dayavant, Chaar Bhuja Dhaari

Maathe Pe Sindhoor Sohe, Muse Ki Savari

Paan Chadhe, Phul Chadhe, Aur Chadhe Meva

Ladduan Ka Bhog Lage, Sant Kare Seva

Jai Ganesh, Jai Ganesh, Jai Ganesh Deva

Mata Jaaki Parvati Pita Mahadeva

Andhan Ko Aankh Det, Kodhin Ko Kaaya

Baanjhan Ko Putra Det, Nirdhan Ko Maaya

Surya Shaam Sharan Aye, Safalki Je Seva

Mata Jaaki Parvati Pita Mahadeva

Jai Ganesh, Jai Ganesh, Jai Ganesh Deva

Mata Jaaki Parvati, Pita Mahadeva

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