holy
Goswami Tulsidas
After the recent incident where the Bihar board topper ‘Ruby Rai’ could not write about Tulsidas ji. She just wrote ‘Tulsidas ji, pranam’ and left the entire nation shocked. This incident evoked Shubhpuja to make the oblivious youth aware about the ancient sage ‘Goswami Tusidas’ and his revering work.
Goswami Tulsidas ji was born to Atamaram Dube and Hulsi in Rajpur, Uttar Pradesh in 1532 AD. Since birth he has been an unusual being who was born with all the teeth taking almost a year in his mother’s womb. It was said that he was born during the asterism mula (मूल नक्षत्र), which is considered unlucky for the parents. The solution was to either leave the child or not to look at him for eight years.
His mother died after few days of his birth and the father was helpless to support his own son, thus the father abandoned the child. The boy was referred as ‘Rambola’ since his first word after birth was ‘Rama’. A lady named Chuniya, who was the mother-in-law of the midwife who had helped during the birth of the child, took care of him. Yet this could not last for long and she died after 5 years. Now Rambola was left alone and there was no one to take care of him. He became helpless for food and had to beg from door to door.
Later Narharidas, known to be the descendant of Ramanand took Rambola to Ayodhya, where he stayed for about 10 months and then he shifted to Varanasi. He received his spiritual learning at an early age and got the knowledge of Sanskrit grammar, Hindu literature and philosophy, four Vedas, six Vedangas, Jyotisha from his guru Shesha Sanatana at the Panchaganga Ghat in Varanasi. Throughout these years his master and gurus used to narrate him the Ramayana and it became a part of his daily diet.
After coming back to his home town he married Ratnavali in 1583 and had a son named Tarak. Rambola (Tulsidas) was attached to his family and showered his complete love and care upon them. Seeing the intensity of his care once his wife told him that he should shower this love on God and not only on them. Love for God can help him to fulfill the purpose of his life. Soon after hearing such statements from her wife, Tulsidas left his home and went to Prayag after renouncing his grihstha life.
As the destiny had already decided Tulsidas fate; Lord Hanuman had predicted that a saint named Tulsi will recite the Ramayana in Hanuman’s words. Situations were created and as per the similar planetary positions (the day when Shri Rama was born) on Ram Navami, Tulsidas ji began writing the immortal verse- Ramcharitramanas. Tulsidas expressed his own divine feelings and love for his lord using the lyrical poetry. He completed the holy book in 2 years, 7 months and 26 days, on the anniversary of Rama and Sita ji.
Apart from it, Tulsidas ji wrote many other books like Dohavali (573 miscellaneous Doha and Sortha in Braja and Awadhi), Kavitavali (kavittas in Braja), Gitavali (328 Braja songs divided into seven books), Krishnavali (61 Braja songs for Lord Krishna), and many more.
Tusidas was in direct communication with Lord Rama due to his devotion and bhakti for Hanuman ji. Once Tulsidas expressed his ardent desire to have the pratyaksh darshan of Lord rama. Hanuman assured him that someday Lord will come to bless him in person. One day when Tulsidas ji was sitting on the stairs of river Chitrakoot, after taking bath and preparing sandal paste to apply on his forehead, he found two self illuminated people and a lady coming to him and asked him to apply tilak on his forehead. While he was performing the task Lord Hanuman murmured in his ears-
“Chitrkut ke ghaat par bhayee santan ki bhid, Tulsi daas chandan ghise tilak kare raghubir”
Then it dawned on Tulsidas that the person before him is Lord Rama with Lakshman and Sita ji. He immediately feel on their feet and seek their blessings.
It is said that his end was highly painful and he suffered from boils on his arms. At that time Tulsidas ji wrote Hanuman Bahuk. It is a series to portray the strength, devotion and virtues of Hanuman followed by his humble prayers to cure his problem by seeking His blessings.
Tulsidas ji is an epitome of perfection for the human beings and his love for Lord Rama is beyond expression. His life is an inspiration for today’s man and his teachings help us to get closer to the supreme reality. He said, “Sri Ram is Brahman itself. He is unknowable, unperceivable, beginningless, nonpareil, devoid of transformation, and indivisible. He is that which the Vedas have been describing as ‘neti-neti, not this, not this”. Tulsidas ji taught us the language of love leaving aside all the other barriers and his literary works are a silver lining for the deteriorating society.
Attitude of Generosity: Our Sacred Cows
After the unlimited debates and discussions over meat ban in our country, it’s necessary to revive the age old traditions and sentiments of Indians attached with the ‘sacred cows’. Being an important ingredient of hamburger, and holding tons of nutritional and protein value in terms of cost; yet the other virtues of cows cannot be ignored.
Cow, the ever known symbol of the Earth– the giver and the nourisher; represents the generous attitude and demands nothing in return. It’s a symbol of grace and abundance and inspires the people to adapt the virtues of gentleness and love for nature. Even our own Vedas have an important mention about wish fulfilling cow- Kamadhenu.
The nutritious milk of cow is a source of curing numerous diseases, and an easy remedy of dysentery, inflammation, and so on. To get rid of the problem of obesity, cow’s milk has been proved to be the most effective solution. Along with milk, cow is also a source of cream, yogurt, cheese, butter and ice cream, ghee and buttermilk. It gives entirely of itself through sirloin, ribs, rump, porterhouse and beef stew. Its bones are the base for soup broths and glues. It gives the world leather belts, leather seats, leather coats and shoes and what not.
Even the waste of cow i.e. urine and dung has its own magical qualities. The urine consists of high quantity of sulphur and mercury, which is used in variety of Ayurveda medicines. Cow dung is an effective disinfectant and still used as a source of fuel and manure for plantation.
Mahatma Gandhi once said, “One can measure the greatness of a nation and its moral progress by the way it treats its animals. Cow protection to me is not mere protection of the cow. It means protection of all that lives and is helpless and weak in the world. The cow means the entire subhuman world.”
The good fortune and the selfless attitude of the innocent animal is enough to melt the heart of inhumane beings and spare these lovely creatures. Our Rig Vedas also demands us to save the life of this pleasant existence.
Contributed By: Meenakshi Ahuja
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
How to remove Pitra Dosh: Remedies
Past cannot be undone and future is unpredictable but the present can be glorified by our acts. Due to whatever reason, the shortcomings occurred in our birth chart and created stress but the blessings of our elders and God Almighty can always be a silver lining for us. Ayurvedic treatment may be long lasting and arduous but cures the disease from its roots. Similarly, it is mentioned in our Vedas that pleasing the ancestors and remembering them truly curtail our problems.
First and foremost, performing ‘Shradh puja’ is considered to be the auspicious act to tranquillise the departed soul of our ancestors.
How Shradh puja is performed? 
The holy puja is performed on the death date of the person or on the no moon (Amavasya) day of any month or during the 15 lunar moon days.
By offering water, scented flowers, couch grass and sesame seeds through ‘Pitra dosh nivaran’.
‘Tarpan’ is the offerings made during the process along with chanting of mantras.
Favourite cuisines are specially prepared and offered to the priest or Brahmin after the puja.
After feeding the Brahmins, food or ‘prasadam’ is placed in the balcony or terrace walls so that the crows can feed upon them, symbolic to our ancestors.
At the end, Lord Vishnu is worshipped by chanting the mantra:
ll Yasya Smirtya cha Namoktaya Tapoyagya Kriyadishu,
Newnam Sampurntam Yati Sadhyo Vande Tamchayutam ll
To remove Pitra Dosh offer prayers to ancestors: http://shubhpuja.com/pitradoshshanti-id-344736.html
- Another solution is that on the day of any somwatianavasya (i.e. Amavasya on Monday), visit the peepal tree and offer ‘janeu’ to the tree and also to Lord Vishnu. Do 108 ‘parikrama’ of the tree by faithfully chanting ‘Om namobhagwate Vaasudewaya’. Have faith in him and seek forgiveness for your ill deeds.
- Pinddaan is offering rice, cow’s milk, ghee, food, sugar and honey to the ancestors, whole heartedly.
- Feed cows with ghee and rice balls every Saturday.
- Stand on the mat during sunrise and chant ‘Gayatri mantra’ to strengthen the position of Sun in your horoscope.
- Helping the poor and disabled and remembering your ancestors is an easy path to receive blessings for them.
- Avoid consumption of non-vegetarian food, alcohol and other such tamasic edibles along with outside food.
- In the south direction of your habitat, hang portraits of your ancestors and greet them with fresh flowers garland.
- Respect and seek blessings from the elders at our home, as their blessings is the only way to receive peace and happiness.
- Offer regular donations to hospitals or temples in the name of our ancestors and if possible, assist in the education and marriage of orphan girls.
Performing ‘pitra
dosh nivaran puja’ or ‘pitra dosh santushti puja’ is also one of the remedy to depart the negative effects and get rid of pitra dosh.
Shubhpuja.com 