Festivals being celebrated in the months of Magsar, Posh and Maha as described by Bhagwan Shri Hari.
Festivals being celebrated in the months of Magsar, Posh and Maha as described by Bhagwan Shri Hari.
Dhanurmas festival.
Sri Narayan muni said:-
When the sun is in the Sagittarius zodiac sign and in Sagittarius lagna, devotees should get up early in the morning and bathe the Ramapati Shri Krishna take a warm water. Then should offer clothes and keep in front light a fire to warm .
He should then decorate the idols of Laksmi and Vishnu This ritual should be carried on for the whole month. 1 - 2.
For Naivedya, they should prepare Laddoos, curds and butterghee, khechari, curry and brinjal (Vaintaka) and offer them to the Lord. Also cakes of Bajra with white sesame stuck to it on both sides should be offered to the Lord and the devotee should then praise the virtues of the Lord by singing in songs and hymns. 3- 4
Ritual of Makar Masa-month of Capricorn
Sages have preferred the time proper for bathing when the sun transits in to Capricorn sign from Sagittarius and coverspervades forty Ghatikas. Devotees should at this time, worship the God and give alms. 5.
If the sun enters Capricorn after the sunset or in the first half of night (Pradosha), the next day should be considered as auspicious for sacred bath and giving alms. 6.
When the sun enters Capricorn sign, food for Naivedya should be Laddoos of white sesame and Khichadi-rice and Moong dal should be prepared and offered to the Lord. Other rituals are common. 7.
Ritual of Vasantotsava - Vasant festival in Magh.
Lord Sri Krishna came to Raivata mountain with Rukmini, Satyabhama, Yuyndhana, Uddhava, Sankarsha, Parshada and others on suda Panchami in the month of Magh. Narada and others sages were also with him. Also his best friend Arjun and other Yadavas came their and played together. 8 -10.
They all used Abir (black powder), Gular (red powder) and yellow and saffron colors to play. They also enjoyed sprinkling colored water with syringes 11.
While they all were engrossed in their play the Gulal-red powder spread from their fists on to the trees making them red and the mountain too looked red. 12.
Panchami, the fifth day of the brighter fortnight of Magh, should be taken as auspicious for the Madhu Vasant festival. Panchami should be at sunrise and it should pervade the first part of the day. If not so, it should not be accepted. 13.
On that day, Lord should be dressed in white clothes and Ullocha- lining ceiling also should be white in color. 14.
Then the idols of Krishna and Rukmini should be sprinkled with colors and Gutal-red powder and rose water should be sprinkled every now and then. 15.
Garlands of mango leaves should be offered to the Lord. For Naivedya, jilebi should be the main food item. 16.
Beginning from this day of Vasant Panchami, Lord Krishna should be dressed in red robes and Gulal-red powder should be spread till the full moon day of Phalguna (Holi festival). The robes of Lord Krishna should be of saffron color. 17.
Lord Krishna’s virtues should be praised in songs till the full moon day of Magh and the Phalguni Leela- play should be sung till the full moon day of Phalguna. 18.
On the day of Vasant Panchami the fifth brighter Tithi of Magh. Mt Girnar should be made from wheat and rice. The mountain should be covered as much possible with yellow cloth. 19.
On all around the mountain- on four sides arches of mango leaves should be made. There should be made a Gomukha - mouth of a cow through which will flow the river of milk and ghee. Idols of Lord Krishna and Rukmini should be installed at the centre of the mountain other deities should be installed around. 20 -21.
Krishna’s idol should be with two arms holding conch the in left hand and chakra in the right. Also Laksmi’s idol should be with two arms, lotus in the right hand and golden glitter in the left. 22.
Wives of Krishna, Satyabhama, Balaram, Satyaki, Arjun, Parshada, Uddhav, Narada muni should be installed along with the wives of Yadavas in the form of betel-nuts. Lord Krishna should be invited to be present for the worship and all the gods and deities should be worshipped according to the ritual and formalities. 23-24.
For Naivedya, dates, dry date, coconut, sugar and pop corns grams, dried grapes, yellow Pattasas and Pendas should be offered. After offering the Naivedya and performing Arati. Red (Gulal) powder should be sprinkled on the Lord. 25 - 26.
The male devotees should then play with colors and Gulal with each other and female devotees should also do the same amongst themselves. 27.
Widows, Brahmacharis (unmarried youths), hermits should never participate in the play. 28.
If at all, accidentally Gulal is sprinkled over them they should take bath with the clothes on and observe a fast for the whole day repeating the name of the Lord. 29 - 30.
Thus, playing in this way the devotees of Shri Harishould take bath at mid-day and enjoy meals according to the rituals. In this festival the other rituals are observed as usual. 31.
Now about the Shivaratri festival
Magh vadya/Krishna Chaturdashi - fourteenth day in the black fortnight of the month of Magh- when the Chaturdashi pervades midnight should be accepted for Shivaratri festival. If it pervades half the night next day should be taken as Shivaratri. 32.
Vasudev should be dressed in various colored clothes on that day (Shivaratri) and Goddess Laksmi should be adorned with grey sari and golden ornaments. 33.
Lord Shankar should be sprinkled continuously with holy water at midnight (Maha Abhishek).Lord Shiva (Shankar) then should be offered Bela leaves, Mallika-jasmine and Kunda flowers, Dhatura, Karner flowers. Payasa - Kheer should be offered as Naivedya. The devotees should observe fast on this day of Shivaratri. 34 -35.
On this day, God Shiva (Hara) and Vishnu’s (Hari) oneness should be sung in various songs depicting absolute oneness of Shri Hariand Hara. 36.
‘O sons, hence I have told you about the festivals in the months of Margasheersha, Paush and Magh according to rituals. Now I shall narrate about Phalguna, Chaitra and Vaishakha months respectively. 37.
Thus ends the sixty-ninth chapter entitled ‘describes the festivals to be celebrated in the months of Margasheersha, Pansha and Magh’ in the fourth Prakaran of Satsangijivan, the life story of Lord Narayan, also titled as ‘Dharmashastra’ (the rules of the code of conduct). 59
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