Maha Shivratri, the night of the worship of Shiva, occurs on the 14th night of the new moon during the dark half of the month of Phalguna. This year it falls on a moonless Friday night of February 12, when Hindus offer special prayer to the lord. Shivratri (Sanskrit 'ratri' = night) is the night when he is said to have performed the Tandava Nritya or the dance of primordial creation, preservation and destruction.
Holidays/Festivals
02/11/2010
10/15/2009
Celebrating Diwali with Ganesha and Lakshmi
Trust Ganesha to be where the action is. In the Hindu scheme of things, Ganesha’s birthday kicks off the festive season in the latter half of the year. The celebrations end in October/November in the burst of radiance that’s Diwali, with Ganesha benignly presiding over the fun and fanfare. Considering that this festival is not primarily associated with the elephant god, why, one may ask, is he poking his trunk in?
Diwali is the Festival of Light, the name deriving from the Sanskrit word Deepawali or ‘row of lamps’. Hindus associate more than one legend with this happiest of festivals, depending on which part of India they live in. Diwali falls on a dark, moonless night. Many believe that on this auspicious night, Lakshmi, goddess of wealth and good fortune visits the earth. It’s to light up the path for this very special guest that lamps are lit.
In the Hindu pantheon, Ganesha shares no familial bond with Lakshmi. Yet, as the God of Beginnings, he shares the limelight with the goddess during Diwali (no festival, for that matter, commences without at least a respectful nod to Ganesha). As anyone knows, the path to prosperity is rarely smooth and while negotiating its ups and downs, one can always do with a helping hand. That’s where Vinayaka comes in as the Remover of Obstacles. Together, Lakshmi and Ganesha are a formidable duo; worshiping them reflects the belief and hope that the year ahead will be a fulfilling and prosperous one, with hardships easily overcome.
Ahead of Diwali, homes are cleaned to a sparkle. The idols of Ganesha and Lakshmi are given a ritual bath, first in water, then rosewater and again with water. Then the idols are decorated. They appear radiant with sandal paste and kumkum on their foreheads and bright flower garlands around their necks, ready to be worshiped. Lakshmi sits on the left, surrounded by lotus blooms and next to her is Ganesha. Milk, yogurt, butter, sugar and honey, symbolizing nourishment and well-being are placed before them, along with offerings of sweetmeats, savories, fruits, betel leaves and currency notes. Lakshmi also gets a silver coin. Families often observe the tradition of sitting together before the gods while one member reads out the Diwali story. As dusk deepens, the lamps are lit and prayers are offered, first to Ganesha and then Lakshmi.
Another possible reason for Ganesha’s presence during Diwali celebrations is his close association with wisdom. Light in any culture symbolizes knowledge. The lighting of a lamp at Diwali signifies the victory of an enlightened mind over the forces of darkness. To invoke Ganesha is to seek his strength in the battle against ignorance, greed, hatred and injustice. When these murky elements recede, the radiance of Lakshmi prevails and the earth is blessed with her munificence.
09/21/2009
Navratri Legends
Gods are easy to please with prayers and meditations. The demon Mahishasura, once extracted a boon from Brahma that gave him protection from death at the hands of any male in the three worlds. Soon, Mahishasura was wreaking mayhem on heaven and earth. Since no single god could confront him, they came together to create a being imbued with their collective strength, a fearsome warrior goddess who killed the demon and came to be called Mahishasuramardini.
Another story has it that during this time, Parvati, Shiva’s consort, comes to visit her parental home in the Himalayas. She is Shakti, the creative energy of the universe; the festival is a thanksgiving for her gift of all Creation.
Navratri is associated with Lord Ram whose prayers to the Goddess led to his victory over the demon-king Ravana as per the Hindu epic, The Ramayana.09/19/2009
On the trail of the Mother Goddess. The Festival of Navratri
Shakti, Mahalakshmi, Saraswati and Kali – these are the many splendored forms of the sacred feminine in Hinduism. Goddess worship in India has been an unbroken tradition from the time of the Indus Valley civilization. Navratri (literally, nine nights) is the festival dedicated to her.
Why nine nights? Because three major aspects of the goddess are worshiped, each for three days. The first three days are dedicated to Ma Durga, protector against evil. During the next three days, she is worshiped as the benign Goddess Lakshmi, giver of wealth and plenitude. Finally, Saraswati is invoked for her gifts of knowledge and wisdom.Navratri falls in the lunar month of Ashwin (September-October) and is celebrated with exuberance and colorful pageantry.
Navratri begins today, Sept 19, 2009
