Ritual of festivals being celebrated in the month of Bhadarva narrated by Bhagawan Shri Hari.
Ritual of festivals being celebrated in the month of Bhadarva narrated by Bhagawan Shri Hari.
Sri Narayan muni said:-
‘O sons, now I am telling you about the festivals that are in month of Bhadrapada. 1.
Nar Bhagawan Janmotsav.
In the month of Bhadrapada, the second day of the long lunar fest night, on a Thursday, at mid-day, and at the Uttara Phalguni constellation on the Abhijit is said to be an auspicious time- 2.
Prabhu Nar-rushi himself incarnated from Kunti and Indra and knows as the ‘Arjun’ in the plains of Himavat. Gods also participated in this festival. 3.
For this festival, that day (Tithi) should be taken, in which the second Tithi generally pervades mid-day. If the next day is not Uttara Phalguni, the affected Tithi may be taken. 4.
During the festival, a great valuable crown should put on the God’s head. Also there should bow-arrow and a sword along with rich costumes and ornaments. One should offer the Lord flat cakes fried in oil (Puri), Payas (sweet milk soup) and pure clarified butter. 5 - 6.
This is more to this festival. A big idol of the Lord should be worshipped following the rituals. 7.
An idol of Nara should be installed as Arjun and it should be worshipped. If it is not available, worship the idol of the Lord assuring it to be Arjun. 8.
If the idol of Krishna is also not available, an idol of golden metal - Arjun with a crown and bow-arrow should be installed at mid day at Abhijit time. 9.
A beautiful Mandap should then be made in front of the temple and the idol of Arjun should be placed in the Sarvatobhadra mandal and worshipped. 10.
Then other idols of Pandu, Kunti, Madri, Yudhishthira, Bheema and sages of Shatashrunga should be placed and worshipped. 11.
Then Sev, Puris, sweet milk and ghee (clarified pure butter) should be offered to the Gods as Naivedya and a lamp soaked in ghee should be circumambulated clockwise around the idol. 12.
Then the story of the birth of Arjun on the Himavat please should be heard by all. The idol of Arjun along with the idol of Krishna should be placed in a cradle and the cradle should be rocked. 13.
At the end of the auspicious time, both the idols of Lord Krishna and Arjun should be offered songs and hymns. The worshippers should only take food which was offered to the idols in Naivedya and they should not eat at night. 14.
Ganapati Janmotsav.
In the month of Bhadrapada, on the fourth day of brighter fest night on Abhijit constellation, when the sun and the moon are in Virgo (kanya) zodiac, on Sunday at Siddhiyoga- the Lord of GolokKrishna celebrated the great festival with all the Gods. When Krishna himself appeared as the son of Lord Shankar. 15 -16.
So on this day Ganapati festival should be celebrated, for this is the fourth Tithi of the longer fortnight of Bhadrapada along with the third which is Matruviddha is considered as proper. 17.
The day before as the next day it is the fourth Tithi; it should taken but not on the prior day. If it pervades at mid-day, it should be accepted. 18.
At this time Lord Krishna should be clothed with red costumes and Laddoos should be offered as Naivedya. 19.
The four armed idol of Lord Ganesh made of clay should be installed at mid-day and it should be worshipped as per the rituals. 20.
The idol should be worshipped with Sindoor, Druva and Shami leaves. A Naivedya of twenty one Laddoss should be offered to Lord Ganesh. 21.
Lord Ganesh should be offered Tulasi leaves only on this day and not on any other day of the year as this is said by the Puran. 22
At night on this day, no one should see the crescent of the moon; if by chance any one happens to have a glance, he is falsely charged for some offence, no doubt. 23.
If at all anyone accidentally sees the moon he should listen to the story of Syamantaka about the jewel’s theft in the Bhagavata. 24.
If this is not possible, for some reason he should sing, chant the incantation (mantra) that is in the Vishnupuran. 25.
O king, the jewel of Prasena sinh’s queen is stolen by Jambhavan. Please do not weep, the jewel is yours. 26.
The man who chants this incantation becomes purified and the sin of seeing the crescent moon is wiped off. 27.
Radhaji Janmotsav.
Radhika came into existence in the month of Bhadrapada Ashtami on Sunday at Anuradha constellation in the house of a milkman Vrshbham. 28.
So Ashtami tithi should be taken to observe the rituals in honor of her. If this Ashtami pervades the previous or next day and if mid-day has the Tithi of Navami, that day should be considered. 29
If the Ashtami is along with the Saptami, rarely should it be accepted if Ashtami is omitted. 30.
On this day Bhagavan should be dressed in red costume and red turban upon his head. As an upper garment a saffron colored small designed costume should be used. Then all other regular costumes should be used. 31 - 32.
Then at mid-day, an idol of Radha should be placed beside Lord Krishna’s idol and should be worshipped. If there is no idol of Radha in the temple, 33.
Then Laksmi should be assumed as Radha and worshipped. A saffron’s colored sari should be put on Laksmi and the inner wear should be in red color. She should be well decorated with various ornaments. 34 -35.
Sri Krishna and Radhika should be offered Motichoor Laddoos especially in Naivedya along with other food items. 36.
If there is no Laksmi’s idol, then a two-armed golden idol of Radhika should be worshipped with the Gopis. 37.
At the time of worshipping, songs related to Radhika’s birth should sung. After the worship ritual is over, men should take meals as the Prasada of God Krishna. 38.
Danleela Mahotsav.
In the month of Bhadrapada on the eleventh Tithi (day) known as Padma Ekadashi, Lord Krishna had performed Danileela in Gokula.. 39.
On that day Krishna, dressed as Gopvesh was seated in a boat in the river Kalindi; he begged the Gopis for curds, who were going to sell it in the market of Mathura. Lord Krishnawas then offered curds as Dana. 40.
So on this day, the idol of Lord Krishna should be dressed in Gopa costumes and ornaments. The idol should then be placed in a sedan or the like. It should then be taken in a procession with a band of drum and others. The procession then should be taken to the river. The idol then should be placed in a boat there. Then Lord Krishnashould be worshipped and it should be kept for some time for Him to play with water. The idol should then be brought back. 41- 42.
The performance of Danaleela by Lord Krishna and Radhika should be sung, The devotees should observe a fast like Ekadasi on this day. 43.
Lord Krishna should be offered curd as Naivedya. It should preferably celebrated on Ekadashi. 44.
Vaman Janmotsav.
In the month of Bhadrapada on the twelfth Tithi of brighter fortnight at Shravan constellation, on Wednesday, Vaman was born. 45.
Twelfth Tithi of Bhadrapada which pervades the mid-day should be accepted for the Vaman festival; it is better if it is in the Shravan constellation. 46.
If it is Ekadashi before mid-day and Dwadashi after mid-day, then it is the time of Vishnu srukhala when the Vishnusayujya is attained. 47.
If it is not a Shravan constellation on Dwadashi but if it is a Ekadashi day, then Ekadashi should be accepted to celebrate Vaman festival. 48.
When it is Dwadashi with the Shravana constellation then capable men (Haribhaktas) should observe fast for two days. 49.
Alternatively, weak men should only eat fruits on Ekadashi and observe fast on Dwadashi day. 50.
If it is Shravana constellation on Trayodashi, this teen tithi of the brighter fortnight, the Vaman festival should be celebrated on Dwadashi. 51.
On this festival day, the idol of Lord Krishna should be dressed in beautiful yellow dhoti (Peetambara) and other costumes should be used to decorate the idol. 52.
If there is a movable idol of Vasudev, then it should be assumed and worshipped as Vaman. 53.
If a movable idol is not available then a golden idol of Vaman having two arms, an umbrella, a stick (Danda) and a Kamandalu should be made. 54.
This golden idol of Vaman should be placed in Sarvatobhadra Mandal at mid-day. It should be worshipped with full devotion using all the necessary materials including Panchamrut a (milk, ghee, curds, honey and sugar). 55.
Other deities that are supposed to be worshipped along with Vaman are Kasyapa, (Vaman’s father) Aditi (Vamans mother), and other male and female deities. 56.
Laddoos made of raw flour smeared in pure ghee should be made for Naivedya. The songs of incarnation of Vaman, should be sung. 57.
These are all the special festival which are to be celebrated in the month of Bhadrapada. All other festivals and rituals are common. 58.
‘O sons, in this way I have described the festivals that are to be celebrated in the month of Bhadrapada. Then I shell describe the festivals that are to be celebrated in Asvin according to Uddhav tradition. 59.
Thus ends the fifty-sixth chapter entitled ‘described the annual celebrations of festivels which are to be celebrated in the month of Bhadrapada’ in the fourth Prakaran of Satsangijivan, the life story of Lord Narayan, also titled as ‘Dharmashastra’ (the rules of the code of conduct). 56
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