bliss
Love and devotion of Lord Hanuman
Hanuman is widely revered for his immense devotion and love for Lord Rama and Mata Sita. He ideally defines ‘Dasyabhava’ devotion, which is known for the union of love between the master and servant. One such incident clearly defines the love of Hanuman for his master.
When Lord Rama and Sita ji came back from Sri Lanka after winning over Ravana, lord Rama decided to conduct a grand ceremony. In the celebration he awarded all his well wishers for supporting and showering their love. When Hanuman ji went to Rama for his reward, he immediately hugged him and said that he can never pay for the humble service and devotion of Hanuman. But Mata Sita requested Rama to give something to Hanuman apart from the honour, thus Lord Rama offered him and Sita ji offered him a precious stoned necklace.
As soon as Hanuman took the necklace in his hands, he began to tear it apart and peers into each stone. Everybody was shocked to see the activity of Hanuman and started asking him the reason for breaking the precious gift. Hanuman ji answered that he was looking in each stone to check the presence of lord Rama and Sita ji. If something does not have the presence of his master then it is a waste for him.
To prove the depth of his love for Rama and Sita, Hanuman tears his chest open and everyone could actually see the image of of Rama and Sita in his heart.
Magical powers of Holy Nectar: Charnamrit
The infinite faith and devotion in God leads us to surrender ourselves in His holy feet. By touching the feet of a deity or spiritual Guru, we release our ego and get rid of all the negative energies, as our real identity is realized. When the holy feet have been given upmost importance in our Vedas, then how can we overlook the magical power of ‘nectar from the feet of God’. The sacred and valuable ‘Charnamrit’ meaning, Charan- feet and Amrit-holy nectar from Gods; has always been consumed by us at religious places, yet very of us thought about its importance.
Significance of the ingredients:
Charnamrit is commonly composed of five main ingredients i.e. milk, curd, ghee, honey and sugar. Water and tulsi (basil) leaves are also added by few to this holy mixture. All these ingredients which are commonly used by us in the daily routine, combine together to create a divine nectar that bestows us with bliss and purity.
- Milk – for purity and piousness.
- Curd- for prosperity and progeny.
- Honey- for sweetness in our nature.
- Ghee- for victory.
- Sugar- for happiness.
- Water- for purity.
- Tulsi- for immunity.
Scientific Relevance:
Apart from the sacred importance and divine nature, Charnamrit is also efficient for our body and resolves our body issues. The holy nectar is generally prepared and kept in the copper or brass vessel that provides an added advantage for terminating the infectious germs inside our body and enhances our immunity power. Basil leaves acts as a strong agent against diseases and eliminates the chances of illness. It also enhances our memory power and provides strength.
Thus this holy nectar acts as a magical solution that not only showers us with positive benefits for our body but also for our soul. The nectar increases our faith and devotion on the spiritual path and takes us more close to our ultimate destination. Both inner and outer bliss is achieved by it.
Contributed By: Meenakshi Ahuja
Baisakhi: A Multi-cultural event for Indians
The presence of exuberant and lively events in life breaks the monotony and also provides an opportunity to get over our issues and share the blissful moments with everyone. India being a multi-cultural country, it is best known for its variety of festivals and celebrations throughout the year; which even leads to numerous events on a single day. As according to the solar calendar, the North Indians rejoice the fun-filled celebration of Baisakhi on 13th or 14th of April every year but this date is also significant due to so many other major events. Let’s explore a few of them along with the true meaning of this festival.
Auspicious Day for other Cultures:
- ‘Rongali Bihu’ in Assam, ‘Naba Barsha’ in Bengal, ‘Puthandu’ in Tamil Nadu and ‘Pooram Vishu’ in Kerala is also cherished widely on the same day as Baisakhi.
- It is marked as a day of enlightenment or Nirvana of Lord Budha, so considered highly valuable for Buddhists.
- Both the Bengalis and Sikh communities mark this day as New Year or Nab Varsha, so revere it with faith and enjoyment.
- Hindus believe that Goddess Ganga descendent on mother Earth, thousands of years ago; so many of them gather at the religious banks of river Ganga for a holy dip on this day to honour her presence.
- Swami Dayanand Sarsawati founded the reverend Arya Samaj Mission on this day in 1875 and created history for the forthcoming years.
- The day of celebration for farmers as it marks the time for harvest of rabi crops.
- 14th April is also observed as the birth anniversary of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar.
Religious significance for Sikh community:
High religious sentiments of Sikhs are attached to this festival because it was on this very day in 1699, the tenth Sikh Guru- Guru Gobind Singh Ji created oneness among humanity by organizing Khalsa Pantha (Order of the pure ones). He also named his 5 most beloved devotees as ‘Panj Piare’ after the pious baptism ceremony with Amrit (sacred nectar of immortality).
So this date holds a number of significant events on the memorable chapters of history and provides a reason of celebration for all the communities in India. Special Baisakhi fairs and Nagar Kirtan processions are organized along with music, dance, food and gracious blessings.
Adoring the Supreme Lord: Significance of Vedic Worship
Adoring and praising the creation of supreme Lord begets gratitude in the mortal beings. But in a world, where biasedness prevails in terms of caste, religion, colour, dialect and so on; the human beings have disregarded almighty and his beautiful creation. The true essence of humanity and kindness is overshadowed in the presence of abhorrence, cruelty and self-centred traits. Remembering those lovely lines of a poet, “Ek Umar Bhi Kam Hai Pyaar Ke Liye; Log Kaha Se Samay Nikal Lete Hai Nafrat Ke Liye”; meaning- Life is too short for love; where do people get time for hatred.
Getting far away from the base of life, we are indulged in the glittering world of materialism; i.e. the major cause of troubles and grief in our lives. When the matured beings are parting from the devotional feelings of remembering God then imagine the deteriorating culture among the new generations.
Yet here we highlight the worth of remembering God by adhering the holy Vedas and how they prove to be beneficial for us.
Significance of Vedic Worship:
Our Vedas are the source of living on the spiritual path, towards the supreme destination of existence. Performing the worship according to the rites and rituals helps us to celebrate and honour life every moment and also seek His blessings for prosperity and physical or mental well-being. The Vedic worship includes a combination of Mantra (recitation of Vedic mantras), Yantra (meditation on mystical representation of subtle energies) and Tantra (rituals of worship).
- The worship includes all the five Panchamahabhutas or the five elements of fire, water, earth, air and ether that represents the presence of ‘macro world’ within our ‘micro world’.
- It brings happiness and longevity in life by seeking the grace of Supreme Lord.
- By performing the worship, positive ambience is created by rejuvenating the entire space.
- Pujas and Homas being self-healing meditation techniques benefit an individual with a more ideal state of mind and body.
- It increases harmony in the family creating a significant decrease in emotional numbness.
- Vedic worship radiates increased IQ, better moral reasoning and emotional maturity among the people, who perform it.
- It is a self-cleansing ceremony that leads to active brain functioning, decreased cardiovascular disease and improved general health and blissful long life.
Most importantly, the worship as per Vedic rituals leads the devotees to seek fruitful blessings of the creator more than the latest short cut ways, available nowadays. No matter how far we progress, the realization and awareness about omnipresent and omniscient God is an essential dose for mortal life; and thanking Almighty every moment enlightens the humans on the spiritual path.
Contributed By: Meenakshi Ahuja
Shubhpuja.com 