सिक्‍खों का इतिहास वास्‍तव में सिक्‍ख खत्री गुरूओं का ही इतिहास है

सिक्खों का इतिहास वास्तव में सिक् खत्री गुरूओं का ही इतिहास है , जो गुरू नानक से गुरू गोविन् सिंह तक बताया जाता है। सिख धर्म प्रचारक गुरू नानक लाहौर जिले के तलबंडी (ननकाहा साहिब) के वेदी खत्री थे। उनके उत्तराधिकारी गुरू अंगद टिहुन खत्री थे। उसका असली नाम लहना था। गुरू अमरदास ( 1552-1574) भल्ला खत्री थे। हरमंदिर या स्वर्णमंदिर के संस्थापक गुरू रामदास (1554-1581 ) खत्रियों की सोढी अल् के थे। गुरू गोविंद सिंह ने अपने ग्रंथ 'विचित्र नाटक के अध्याय दो से 4 में अपनी और गुरू नानक की उत्पत्ति भगवान रामचंद्र के पुत्र लव और कुश के वंश में बतायी है। गुरू गोविन् सिंह सिक्खों के अंतिम गुरू थे।

मुगल काल में सिक्‍ख खत्री गुरूओं के इतिहास की एक अलग ही कहानी है। 1901 की जनगणना के कुल 1030078 खत्रियों की जनसंख्‍या में 60685 सिख खत्री दर्ज किए गए थे। इस जनगणना में जैन धर्म को माननेवाले 704 और बौद्ध धर्म को माननेवाले 27 खत्री भी दर्ज किए गए थे। आज इन सिक्‍ख खत्रियों में कुछ अल्‍ले विशेष रूप से पायी जाती हैं , जैसे अगिया , अरिन , उहिल , एलवी , कालछर , खुमाड , गंगादिल , चारखंडे , चुनाई , छेमदा , जुडे , तिपुरा , तेहर , थागर , पखरा , फलदा , भगादि , भोगर , मालगुरू , बालगौर , वाहगुरू , शोडिल , हेगर , हूगर औ हांडी वगैरह ।

हिन्‍दू और सिक्‍ख खत्रियों का संबंध तो पूरी तरह रोटी बेटी का सा एक ही रहा है। दोनो का खान पान , विवाह संस्‍कार और अन्‍य प्रथाएं भी एक जैसी रही हैं। एक समय में खत्री परिवार में पैदा होनेवाला पहला बालक संस्‍कार करके सिख बनाया जाता था। अरदास और भोग हिन्‍दु खत्रियों में भी समान रूप से प्रचलित था। सिक्‍ख खत्रियों में गुरू नानक वेदी और अन्‍य सभी सोढी खत्री थे। सिक्‍ख खत्री आज भी अपने नाम के साथ खत्री ही लगाते हैं , ताकि उनमें और जाट सिक्‍खों में अंतर किया जा सके तथा अन्‍य सिखों में उन्‍हें आसानी से पहचाना जा सके।

इस तरह हिन्‍दू और सिख धर्म को जोडनेवाली कडी खत्री ही है। धर्म से उनके बीच कोई फर्क नहीं पडा है तथा दोनो ही धर्म मानने वाले खत्री साथ साथ भोजन तो करते ही हैं , विवाहादि संबंध भी वैसे ही करते हैं , जैसे वैश्‍य वर्ग के लोग जैनियों से करते हैं। बीच में आतंकवादी गतिविधियों के कारण इसमें कुछ व्‍यवधान अवश्‍य आया था , पर समय के साथ पुन: यह प्रभावहीन होता चला गया और पंजाब में हिन्‍दुओं और सिखों के मध्‍य विभाजन नहीं हो सका।इस राजनीतिक चाल का असफल हो जाना बहुत अच्‍छी बात रही। यह सिख हिन्‍दु मैरिज एक्‍ट और डाइवोर्स एक्‍ट के अधीन ही आते हैं। इस तरह शताब्दियों पुरानी खत्री जाति परंपराएं , रीति रिवाज और संबंधों की ही ऐसी कडी बनाता आया हैं , जिन्‍हें व्‍यक्तिगत स्‍वार्थवश नहीं तोडा जा सकता

-------

यह लेख पहले फेसबुक पर भी पोस्ट किया गया था, परन्तु कुछ सिख भाइयों ने इसे बिना पड़े ही विवाद खड़ा कर दिया, हमारा आग्रह है कि आप पहले इसे पड़ लें और उसके बाद ही कोई टिप्पणी दें .



Teej...


Just as in the case of several other Hindu festival, many traditions and rituals are associated with Teej celebrations। On Teej, women keep fast and perform other customs for long and healthy life of their husband. Every ritual has its own significance and so ladies perform all Teej customs with extreme devotion. Women start preparing for Teej well in advance and go out shopping to bring all the items used in performing Teej rituals.

Teej Customs and Rituals
Teej customs and rituals make the festival more interesting and full of colors। Women who observe fast for their husband take proper care that no carelessness is committed while carrying out the rituals. Teej festival calls for performance of all rituals seriously if one wants to be blessed with marital bliss.

Shrinjhara
To celebrate the auspicious occasion of Teej, women perform some serious rituals. It is customary for married women to return to their parents' home at the time of Teej. Married women and engaged girls get lot of presents from their father-in-law as per Teej customs. A traditional gift package called 'Shrinjhara' or 'Sindhare' is gifted to their daughter-in-law. This traditional name originated from the Hindi word shringaar meaning adornment. Shrinjhara package consists of Ghewar (sweet), traditional laheria dress (tie & dye), henna and lac bangles. All these items are used by the ladies to adorn herself.

Baya
Baya is another traditional package given to women observing fast on Teej. It includes dry fruits, mathris, new clothes, bangles and jewelry. It is given by mothers of the newly wed girls on the Teej Festival day.

Tradition to Adorn Oneself
On Teej, both married and unmarried girls dress up in traditional colored clothes. Women are usually seen in auspicious red, green and yellow colored lehangas, suits and sarees. Women start shopping for Teej well in advance. It gives them the opportunity to look beautiful of all.

Mehandi and Alta
The most important ritual is to beautify hands with special mehandi designs and alta. Girls and women apply intricate patterns of alta and mehandi to their hands and feet. This is also a part of Teej Shringar. Women usually hide name of their love in these mahendi designs and later ask them to find out their name. This tradition becomes a playful activity and adds vigor to the day's celebration.

Jewelry
Ladies also wear new gold and diamond jewelry. Some women wear very heavy jewelry while some wear light jewelry. Women have full liberty to ask for anything they wish. Even their husband do not stop them from doing anything and gift them whatever they desire as they starve themselves for well-being of their husband.

Teej Fast
The most important ritual of Teej Festival is Teej Fast. Women and unmarried girls keep fast for long and healthy life of their husband. Teej fast goes for 24 long hours. It is the most rigorous fast in which a woman neither drinks nor eat.

Tradition of Lighting a Lamp
As per the ritual of Teej fasting, a woman should keep an oil lamp lit all night। If the oil lamp dies away, it is considered a bad omen.

Goddess Parvati




The most important ritual of Teej is to bedeck Parvati Mata and carry out auspicious processions on the streets. Idol of Goddess Parvati is decorated with fine jewelry and new colorful clothes. The fasting day of Teej is very vital as women pray to Goddess for marital bliss and happy life.

Swings
Last but not the least, swings are the common sight when Teej is near. Beautifully decorated swings are hung from trees in the garden and gaily dressed up women swing and sing traditional Teej songs. Some women also dance while singing the holy songs.

Teej Celebrations


Teej celebrations takes place in various parts of Rajasthan, Punjab and Gujarat. Being an important women festival, Teej is celebrated with full verve and enthusiasm. It is held to mark the advent of monsoon season and also a very important festival for engaged and married women. On this day, women pray to Goddess Parvati for long and healthy life of their husband. There are many activities performed by women to celebrate the holy festival of Teej. Women feel immense pleasure in celebrating the festival and make various preparations before hand.

Why is Teej Celebrated?
Teej commemorates the reunion of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. It is believed that Goddess Paravati took 108 births to have Lord Shiva as her husband. Since then it is proclaimed that who so ever worships Parvati Ma is blessed with happy married life. At the time of Teej, women observe Nirjara Vrat so that Goddess Parvati becomes happy and bless their husband with long and healthy life.

How is Teej Celebrated?

Teej is celebrated in a very colorful way. Women start preparing for Teej a week before the festival. For Teej celebration, women buy new clothes, jewelry and accessories to wear on the festival day. Markets are usually crowded with women shopping for various items to adorn oneself. On Teej, women try to look as beautiful as they can. Intricate mehndi designs are also applied to hands and feet. On the main Teej day, women even visit beauty parlors. Women spend a lot of money of Teej preparations. Even husbands do not say anything to their wife and help them in festival preparations.

Teej celebrations are not only confined to the women celebrating the festival. Teej celebrations take place round the city. A special Teej procession is organized in which the bedecked idol of Goddess Parvati is kept on a palanquin and carried out in the procession. Numerous artists, performers, band members and folk dancers follow the procession showing their magnificent skills. People dance down the streets along with other performers as they completely engross in Teej festivities.

Apart from this, women love to celebrate the festival by making their own special arrangements. Beautifully decorated swings are hung from trees and attractively dressed women dance and sing various Teej and Sawan songs. Fragrance of flowers on Teej swings pervade the atmosphere. After this, women offer prayers to Parvati Mata and the Teej Vrat successfully completes.

At the end of the day, husbands come to pick their wife and sometimes even bring presents for them. This way Teej Celebrations bring lot of happiness for both married and unmarried couples and create some everlasting memories.

Teej Mata – Goddess Parvati
Teej honors Goddess Parvati – symbol of utter devotion and love. Hence Teej is also called Teej Mata Festival. Both married and unmarried Hindu women observe the three-day-long festival seeking blissful married life and happiness for their husband. Teej festivities and its celebrations are dedicated to Goddess Parvati this is why it's purely a festival of womenfolk.

Goddess Parvati
The divine figure of Goddess Parvati is worshiped with earnest dedication at the time of Teej. The day's celebration has an ancient legend associated with it. It is said on this day Goddess Parvati reunited with her consort Lord Shiva. Mata Parvati went through rigorous fasting and a penance of 100 years. She took 108 births to be accepted by Lord Shiva in the form of his wife. Even today the auspicious day is celebrated to honor Goddess Parvati for her true love and positive spirit. And since the celebration of Teej totally relate to Goddess Parvati, so she is also called Teej Mata.
Procession of Teej Mata
On the last day, Teej idol is taken out from the pat (holy place where she is kept). The idol is freshly painted and bedecked with pure gold and other fine jewelry. Bright colors are used to decorate the Goddess. The idol is offered fruits, milk, chapati, nookti, ghewar and pure jal by saints performing prayers and chanting holy shlokas.

Teej idol covered with a canopy is taken out in the procession. Specially decorated 'band baaza' with a team of performers precede the procession. The 'Teej Mata Palki' or 'Takht-e-Rawan' is carried by 8 men dressed in red color. In the Pink City of Rajasthan, Jaipur where grand celebrations for Teej takes place carries out Teej Mata in a royal procession from the city palace so that the general public can pay homage to the festival Goddess and get their desires fulfilled.

In the Teej Mata procession there are around 10-12 elephants, 16 well-adorned horses and performers including dancers, singers and folk-artists. Beautifully decorated camels and bullock carts are an added attraction to the festival procession. Bhog is also given to the devotees who come closer to pay homage to the deity.

There is a huge rush to have a single glimpse of Teej Mata Palki. People in colorful traditional dresses even reach the top of houses and tree tops to have a splendid view of the holy procession. As the procession moves forward people keep offering precious ornaments to the idol. The time when “Mata” is about to reach back its place, the idol gets almost covered with gold and silver jewelry.
Teej Puja Process





Teej Puja is a vital part of Teej celebration. Women, both married and unmarried, start preparing for the final puja well in advance. The verve, enthusiasm and devotion is apparent on their face. On the puja day, women wear new and beautiful clothes. This is the day to look best of all. Teej Puja is not a very long affair. Women read aloud the Teej Katha and offer their worship to Goddess Parvati.
Teej Puja Rituals
Lot of activities and rituals are performed at the time of Teej Puja. Attired in traditional sarees and lehangas, women congregate in a temple to worship Parvati Ma, who took 108 births to reunite with Lord Shiva. On this day, idol of Goddess Parvati is bedecked with rich silk cloth and heavy jewelry. This day is considered very important as married women and engaged girls observe fast for long and healthy life of their husband and to-be-husband.
Teej Puja Process
Women either gather at a nearby temple or a garden where the puja is arranged. The main puja takes place with holy offerings of flowers, sweets and coins. A semi-circle is created and an idol of Goddess Parvati is kept in the middle. A pujarin or all the ladies together narrate the holy Teej Katha. Young girls also sit to listen the auspicious katha. While listening to the katha, women are expected to put their mind and thoughts towards their soul mate.

When the puja gets over women offer fruits, flowers and other holy items and seek blessings of Goddess Parvati for marital bliss. Another very important part of Teej Puja is the oil lamp which should be kept alight throughout the night as it is bad omen if it dies away.

At some places, after paying homage to Goddess Parvati, women bath with red mud found on the roots of the sacred Datiwan bush. This is an act of purification. It is believed that a woman is absolved from all sins after taking this holy bath.

At the end of the day, women share their happiness and joy by dancing and singing traditional songs in praise of Lord Shiva and her consort Parvati.

Teej in Punjab


Teej is an important festival for the women of Punjab. The sawan month is eagerly waited by the people of Punjab as different festivals fall at this time period. The festival of Teej brings exuberance and chance to get along each other. Young girls and boys actively participate in events taking place in various towns and districts in Punjab. Celebration of Teej begins from the third day of sawan - the fifth Hindu month beginning from Chaitra.

Teej Celebrations in Punjab
Young women and men enthusiastically celebrate the occasion of Teej. At the time of Teej, many schools and colleges in Punjab organize competitions and cultural programs. Some competitions are organized on higher scale and are attended by senior government officials. The theme of the competitions is totally traditional and cultural. Competitive categories include rangoli, mehndi, dance, singing, painting etc. In colleges, Teej beauty contests take place where young girls passionately participate and win various titles like “Miss Teej”, “Teej Queen” and “Baby Teej”.

Teej celebrations in villages too, are full of joy and verve. Young girls and women get along to perform Teej rituals. Girls swing on decorated swings called peeng and adorn their hands and feet with intricate mehndi designs.

Girls who perform gidda on Teej dedicate it to their husband or to-be-husband. Some of these special Teej dance and songs symbolize that women are always ready to sacrifice their life for their lover. After the dance performance young ladies offer prayers and sing songs for good health of their love. Teej fairs called Teelan are organized which has stalls with collection of traditional items like colorful bangles, juttis, dresses and earrings. Main attraction of Teej fair are the mehndi stalls.

At homes, people prepare special Punjabi Teej dishes like Kheer Puri, Gulgale, Karah and Pakoras. Family members sit together and enjoy the lavish feast. Men give blessings to their wife and both pray for each others' long and cheerful life.

Special Teej Punjabi Songs
Dance and songs are an integral part of Teej celebrations in Punjab. It is also considered a very important medium to convey their heartiest thoughts and messages . Women freely express their feelings for their love or husband by singing and dancing on traditional Teej songs. Some the most popular Punjabi Teej songs are:
"Sawan Da Mahina Din Giddha De Sabhe Sahalyan
Aiyan Nachan Kundan, Jhutan Pingan Piyan Vadiyan
Gharan Diya Jaiyan Bhij Gai Rooh Mitra Sham Ghatan Chad Aiyan".

A very common song sung to welcome the sawan festival of Teej after a long year is given below:
"Teeyan Teej Diyan Bhadon De Muklave Teeyan Teej Diyan”.

In the sawan month, young girls gather and celebrate the auspicious occasion of Teej. They dance on cultural songs with a perfect mood to welcome the sawan. One of the famous songs sung is:
"Sase Teri Mahen Marh Jaye,
Mere Veer Nu Sukhi Khand Payee."

In various households, a very beautiful song is sung on Teej which describes a woman's extreme love for her soul mate. She thinks that her lover's pain and sorrows are her own.
"Akh Mere Yaar Di Dukhe,
Lali Merian Akhan De Wich Aiyee".

The song given below depicts a love scene in which women consider her man to be a face of God.
"Aya Sawan Da Maheena Aa,
Tun menu Rab Lagdha Naleh Naleh Makka Te Madina Aa".

This song depicts a girl's desperation to meet her lover who is away for work.
"Teri Do Takyan Di Nokri
Mera Lakhan Da Sawan Jaye.
Chhuti Lai Ke Aja chann Ve"।


Punjabi Teej Songs

Sawan Aya Ni
Ral auo sahio ni,
Sabh tian khedan jaiye
Hun aya sawan ni
Pinghan piplin ja ke paiye
Pai ku ku kardi ni,
Sahio koel Hanju dolhe
Papiha wekho ni,
Bherha pee-pee kar ke bole.
Paye pailan pande ni,
Bagi moran shor machaya.
Arhio khil khil phaulan ne,
Sanu mahia yad kariya.

Sawan da Mahina
"Sawan Da Mahina Din Giddha De Sabhe Sahalyan
Aiyan Nachan Kundan, Jhutan Pingan Piyan Vadiyan
Gharan Diya Jaiyan Bhij Gai Rooh Mitra Sham Ghatan Chad Aiyan".



When is Teej?

There are three different variations of Teej, namely – Hariyali, Kajari and Hartalika Teej. All the three Teej falls in different times and are celebrated with fervor and enthusiasm by womenfolk in India. Date of Teej Festival is decided according to the arrival of monsoon and hence it changes every year. There are special rituals and customs associated with every Teej. These traditions hold great importance for women celebrating the festival of Teej. Read on to learn about different dates of all the three Teej celebrations.

When is Haryali Teej?
Celebrate Haryali Teej on August 2, 2011, Tuesday
Haryali Teej falls on Shukla Tritiya in the Hindu month of Sawan। The day heralds the onset of monsoon as a symbol of happiness, prosperity and love. As the name suggests, Haryali Teej is mainly related with greenery. It is commemorated for abundance of greenery and also a good harvest. Haryali Teej is celebrated in a grand way in the ancient 'Banke Bihari' temple of Vrindavan. Thousands of devotees congregate to worship Lord Krishna and Radha. Holy water is sprinkled over the devotees to welcome the monsoon season. At some places, womenfolk offer prayer to moon on the first day of Teej i.e. Haryali Teej.

Hariyali Teej


Hariyali Teej also called Teejen is celebrated with extreme mirth and devotion by womenfolk. It falls in the Shukla Paksha of Shravana, corresponding to the month of August. As the name says, Hariyali Teej relates to greenery. On this day, many women clad themselves in green colored clothes and wear green bangles. A special puja is performed to worship moon. Traditional singing of songs and dance escalates the verve of Haryali Teej celebrations.

Hariyali Teej Celebrations
A day before Hariyali Teej, women celebrate 'Sindhare'. It is a significant day for newly wed brides. On her first "Sindhara" after marriage, it is customary to receive clothes and ornaments from her Mother-in-law. On Hariyali Teej, women gather to worship moon. The puja performed on this occasion is done with milk, curd and flowers.

Hariyali Teej is mainly related with greenery and commemorates for abundance of greenery and good harvest. Women wear green colored clothes like lehanga, suits and sarees. They wear green bangles and adorn their hands with beautiful mehandi patterns. Women both married and unmarried enjoy the festive spirit by swinging on adorned swings singing songs relating to the month of Sawan. Various delicious food items are cooked which is relished by all in the family.

The day is enjoyed with full craze that even the Gujarati women adopt the Rajasthani traditions. In Gujarat, special Garba dance is arranged. Women in their traditional clothes, carry pots on their heads and dance singing songs in praise of Goddess Parvati.

In Maharashtra, women wear green bangles, green clothes, golden bindis and kajal for luck. They distribute beautifully painted coconuts to their female relatives and friends and offer fresh fruit and green vegetables to the goddess as thanks giving.

Hariyali Teej Celebrations in Vrindavan
There are great festivities in Vrindavan which goes on up to Janmashtmi. Lord Krishna devotees celebrate Hariyali Teej with great enthusiasm and excitement in the holy place of Vrindavan. At the time of Hariyali Teej, swings are laid down in the shrines of Vrindavan for the deities to swing upon. This religious ceremony is called 'Jhullan Leela'. Religious songs and hymns are chanted in the famous 'Banke Bihari' temple. Even leelas of Radha and Lord Krishna are narrated. Hariyali Teej is the most auspicious occasion as on this day idols Lord Krishna and Radha comes out of their 'pat' (place where idols are kept in the temple) to give their devotees a single vision. Idols of Lord krishna and Radha are adorned with fine clothes and jewelry.

The main attraction of Hariyali Teej in Vrindavan is the gold-ornamented swing of Lord Krishna which comes only once a year. After offering prayers in the temple, holy water is sprinkled over the devotees to give a feeling of the advent of the monsoon. Various devotees from India and abroad come to Vrindavan to attend special Hariyali Teej celebrations.


When is Kajari Teej?
Celebrate Kajari Teej on August 16, 2011, Tuesday
Kajli Teej is celebrated on Krishna Paksh Tritiya, the third day of the month of shravan. Kajli Teej is most popularly celebrated in a small district of Rajasthan called Bundi. In Bundi, Kajari Teej is celebrated on the third day of the month of 'Bhadra'.

On this day, there is a community pooja of neem and a procession is carried on which has beautifully decorated idol of Goddess Parvati.
Kajari Teej is celebrated with immense devotion and love. It falls on the Krishna Paksh Tritiiya, the third day of sawan or shravan - the fifth month in Hindu calendar. On the auspicious occasion of Kajli Teej, women gather to sing songs in honor ofLord Krishna and perform sacred pooja of neem.

Kajli Teej Celebrations
Kajli Teej is celebrated with extreme gaiety and enthusiasm by womenfolk. Women and young girls wear new clothes on Kajli Teej. On this day, swings are laid down in the garden and ladies sing auspicious songs and dance with full enthusiasm. Some Kajari songs are sung to welcome monsoon season while others depict happiness and union of lovers. There are some other songs which portray the pain of separation. Festival of Kajri Teej is also identified with blackish shades of clouds which cover the sky during the monsoon before raining down. On this day, there is a community pooja of neem. Women gather around the holy neem tree and perform specific rituals.

Kajari Teej in Bundi, Rajasthan
Celebrations of Kajari Teej in Bundi, Rajasthan are the most famous one. In Bundi, Kajari Teej is celebrated enthusiastically and joyfully. Here it is celebrated on the third day of the month of 'Bhadra'. The festival of Kajli Teej starts with a procession of Teej Goddess in a decorated palanquin. The procession moves from the picturesque Naval Sagar. It heads with bedecked elephants, camels, performers, musicians, folk dancers and artists. There are stunning performances by artists and cultural performers specially organized for the tourists who have come to see Kajari Teej celebrations in Bundi.

Kajari Teej in UP and Madhya Pradesh
Kajari Teej is also celebrated with extreme verve in parts of North and Central India also। Women in Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, especially in Varanasi and Mirzapur celebrate Teej with enthusiasm। Rich folk heritage of these states are brought to light with Kajari Teej celebrations.

When is Hartalika Teej?
Celebrate Hartalika Teej on August 31, 2011, Wednesday
Hartalika Teej falls on the third day of the first fortnight of the month of 'Bhadra'. It is the most important Teej of all and lasts for three days. On the second day, women keep Nirjara Vrat for the welfare and longevity of their husband. Evening prayers along with traditional singing and dancing are important part of Hartalika Teej celebration.

Hartalika Teej


Hartalika Teej is the biggest of the various variation of Teej. Hartalika Teej falls on the third day of the first fortnight of the month of 'Bhadra'. It is a three-day festival which is celebrated by women in honor of Parvati Ma. On this day, womenfolk keep fast for long and conjugal life of their husband. Hartalika Teej fast proceeds without even drinking a drop of water. By rigorous fasting and praying to Goddess Parvati on Hartalika Teej, married women are blessed with healthy life of their husband while the unmarried girls are said to be blessed by a husband like Lord Shiva.

Hartalika Teej Celebrations
Hartalika Teej commemorates the reunion of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. On this day, idol of Parvati Mata clad in bright colorful clothes is taken out in a palanquin in a procession. The procession of Hartalika Teej is represented by various artists and performers. Parvati idol is also accompanied by several elephants and camels which is the most attractive part of the Teej procession. A fair is also organized on Hartalika Teej.

Women celebrate the festival of Hartalika Teej with immense fervor and enthusiasm. Married ladies come back to their parents home to celebrate the festival. Hartalika Teej is the time to adorn oneself with new clothes and jewelry. Applying mehndi on hands and feet is a unique feature of Hartalika Teej celebrations. Women usually dress up in green colored clothes, wear golden bindi and apply a thick layer of kajal. They do their best to look beautiful at the time of Hartalika Teej.

Women also distribute beautifully painted coconuts to their female relatives and friends. Fresh fruits, sweets and green vegetables are offered to Goddess Parvati as thanks giving. The fasting day proceeds with evening prayers and traditional dancing and singing activities.


Prema Sai Baba: The next Avatar of Sai Baba


Sathya Sai Baba says that He is the second of a triple incarnation. The first was Shirdi Sai Baba and the third will be Prema Sai Baba. Below, we give the information that is known about Prema Sai Baba, with references to the sources.

The first mention of Prema Sai by Sathya Sai Baba appears to be in the discourse Shiva Shakthi, 6 July 1963, In a conversation between Shiva, Shakthi, and Bharadwaja after Bharadwaja performed a ritual, Shiva said that they would take human form and be born in the Bharadwaja lineage, thrice: Shiva alone as Shirdi Sai Baba, Shiva and Shakthi together at Puttaparthy as Sathya Sai Baba, and Shakthi alone as Prema Sai, later.

More information about Prema Sai :

We have heard often that Prema Sai will be born eight years after the passing of Sathya Sai Baba, which will take place when Sathya Sai Baba is 96. We do not have a reference for this information. In "The Sai Trinity", by Dr. S.P. Ruhela (Taring paperbacks, Vikas Pubishing House Pvt Ltd, New Delhi, 1997), the author states that Sathya Sai Baba has been disclosing small amounts of information to close devotees from time to time and states that Sai Baba has predicted that Prema Sai will be born in Karnataka about 8 years after He leaves this body.

Howard Murphet, in his book Sai Baba: Invitation to Glory (Chapter 4), says that Finally, Sathya Sai states, there will be Prema Sai who, one year after the passing of the Sathya Sai form, will be born in Karnataka (the old Mysore State), at a place between Bangalore and the city of Mysore. On page 16 of the book Living Divinity author Shakuntala Balu writes, Sri Sathya Sai Baba has said that there will be one more Sai Avatara called Prema Sai.

The third Sai will be born in Gunaparthi, a village in the Mandya district of Karnataka. Thus, Sri Sathya Sai Baba refers not only to his past, but also to the future form he will assume as Prema Sai. In Sathya Sai Baba, The Embodiment of Love, by Peggy Mason and Ron Laing, the authors write about a discussion they had about Prema Sai. We wondered if the next descent as Prema Sai, to come very quickly after the present form is vacated at the age of ninety six, would be female. Baba replied, "No, male, in Mysore -- Karnataka." (Since 1972, the state of Mysore is called Karnataka.) In Glimpses of the Divine: Working with the Teachings of Sai Baba" (1993), author Birgitte Rodriguez writes In a more private talk to students in recent years, Baba told them that the father of His next incarnation, as Prema Sai, had been born in the southern Indian state of Karnataka.

He also said that the body of Prema Sai was in the process of being formed. The missions of the triple incarnations In Spirit and the Mind, by Sam Sandweiss, the author recounts an extended interview given by Sathya Sai Baba to the Senior Editor, Mr. R.K. Karanjia, of Blitz new magazine in September 1976. Question: Why had this task to be divided into three separate incarnations of the Shirdi, Sathya, and Prema Baba? Baba: They are not separate.

I have already mentioned the complete oneness of the three in the final objective of the mission. ... Their tasks and powers requisite to them differ according to the time, the situation, and the environment. But they belong to, and derive from, the same divine body (dharma swarup). ... The previous Avatar, Shirdi Baba, laid the base for secular integration and gave mankind the message of duty as work.

The mission of the present Avatar is to make everybody realize that the same God or divinity resides in everyone. People should respect, love, and help each other irrespective of color or creed. Thus, all work can become a way of worship. Finally, Prema Sai, the third Avathar, will promote the evnagel news that not only does God reside in everybody, but everybody is God. That will be the final wisdom that will enable every man and woman to go to God.

The three Avathars carry the triple message of work, worship, and wisdom. Hislop's changing ring In John Hislop's My Baba and I, page 55-56, Hislop writes about Swami materializing a ring for Hislop with Prema Sai on it. The image of Prema Sai on the ring actually changed its position over the years. Hislop writes, The stone was a cameo of Prema Sai, the loving Lord of Creation, destined to appear on Earth a few years after the death of the Sathya Sai Body. It was a brownish stone, highly glazed, sculptured in profile, the bridge and length of the nose visible with a suggestion of the arch of the left eye. It was a noble head with shoulder-length hair, moustache, and beard; the head resting on, or emerging from, a lotus flower.

His countenance was tranquil, peaceful, majestic. Baba said, "He is only now in the process of birth, so I cannot show more of him. This is the first time he is shown to the world." ... Wherever I go, devotees ask to see the ring. ... In a year or so, those devotees who had seen the ring sometime earlier said something surprising on seeing it again. They said, "It is turning. The whole nose can be seen now.

" My reply was always, in truth, that I could see no change. But they said, "You see it every day and do not notice." ... One day, [in 1980], at a devotee meeting, I was showing the ring, and I looked at it carefully. It struck me, "It is different! It is changing!. Now the entire nose is there and visible, whereas at first the entire nose was not visible -- or better to say the nose merged into the edge of the stone and did not appear to be fully visible. But now there is a space between the nose and the edge of the stone. Moreover, a portion of the left eye can be seen and also a portion of the left cheek.

आइये जाने हिन्दू नववर्ष का महत्व


दो हजार वर्ष पहले शकों ने सौराष्ट्र और पंजाब को रौंदते हुए अवंती पर आक्रमण किया तथा विजय प्राप्त की। विक्रमादित्य ने राष्ट्रीय शक्तियों को एक सूत्र में पिरोया और शक्तिशाली मोर्चा खड़ा करके ईसा पूर्व 57 में शकों पर भीषण आक्रमण कर विजय प्राप्त की। थोड़े समय में ही इन्होंने कोंकण, सौराष्ट्र, गुजरात और सिंध भाग के प्रदेशों को भी शकों से मुक्त करवा लिया।

वीर विक्रमादित्य ने शकों को उनके गढ़ अरब में भी करारी मात दी। इसी सम्राट विक्रमादित्य के नाम पर भारत में विक्रमी संवत प्रचलित हुआ। सम्राट पृथ्वीराज के शासनकाल तक इसी संवत के अनुसार कार्य चला। इसके बाद भारत में मुगलों के शासनकाल के दौरान सरकारी क्षेत्र में हिजरी सन चलता रहा। इसे भाग्य की विडंबना कहें अथवा स्वतंत्र भारत के कुछ नेताओं की अकृतज्ञता कि सरकार ने शक संवत को स्वीकार कर लिया, लेकिन सम्राट विक्रमादित्य के नाम से प्रचलित संवत को कहीं स्थान न दिया।

31 दिसंबर की आधी रात को नव वर्ष के नाम पर नाचने वाले आम जन को देखकर तो कुछ तर्क किया जा सकता है, पर भारत सरकार को क्या कहा जाए जिसका दूरदर्शन भी उसी रंग में रंगा श्लील-अश्लील कार्यक्रम प्रस्तुत करने की होड़ में लगा रहता है और स्वयं राष्ट्रपति एवं प्रधानमंत्री पूरे राष्ट्र को नव वर्ष की बधाई देते हैं। भारतीय सांस्कृतिक जीवन का विक्रमी संवत से गहरा नाता है। इस दिन लोग पूजापाठ करते हैं और तीर्थ स्थानों पर जाते हैं। लोग पवित्र नदियों में स्नान करते हैं।

मांस-मदिरा का सेवन करने वाले लोग इस दिन इन तामसी पदार्था से दूर रहते हैं, पर विदेशी संस्कृति के प्रतीक और गुलामी की देन विदेशी नव वर्ष के आगमन से घंटों पूर्व ही मांस मदिरा का प्रयोग, श्लील-अश्लील कार्यक्रमों का रसपान तथा अन्य बहुत कुछ ऐसा प्रारंभ हो जाता है जिससे अपने देश की संस्कृति का रिश्ता नहीं है। विक्रमी संवत के स्मरण मात्र से ही विक्रमादित्य और उनके विजय अभियान की याद ताजा होती है, भारतीयों का मस्तक गर्व से ऊंचा होता है जबकि ईसवी सन के साथ ही गुलामी द्वारा दिए गए अनेक जख्म हरे होने लगते हैं। पूर्व प्रधानमंत्री मोरारजी देसाई को जब किसी ने पहली जनवरी को नव वर्ष की बधाई दी तो उन्होंने उत्तर दिया था- किस बात की बधाई? मेरे देश और देश के सम्मान का तो इस नव वर्ष से कोई संबंध नहीं। यही हम लोगों को भी समझना होगा।

हमारे देश से गोरे अंग्रेज तो चले गए मगर काले अंग्रेजों को छोड़ गए। ये काले अंग्रेज विदेशी परंपराओं और फूहड़ नाच गानों के ऐसे दीवाने हैं कि अपने देश की गरिमामयी सांस्कृतिक परंपराओं, मूल्यों और आचरण का इनके लिए कोई मूल्य नहीं है। संस्कृति के इस प्रदूषण के करेले में नीम का काम किया है सैटेलाईट चैनलों ने। बहुराष्ट्रीय कंपनियों द्वारा प्रायोजित विदेशी उत्सवों को इन खबरिया चैनलों पर खूब प्रचार मिलता हैं मगर हमारे अपने ही देश की परंपराओं और संस्कृति से जुड़े कार्यक्रमों को लेकर इऩ चैनलों द्वारा हमेशा उदासीनता बरती जाती है। इसके बावजूद देश भर के और देश के बाहर बसे हमारे हजारों पाठकों ने हमसे आग्रह किया कि हम भारतीय नवसंवत्सर के महत्व, इसको मनाए जाने के तौर तरीके आदि के बारे में विस्तार से जानकारी दें।

गुड़ी पड़वा और इसका महत्व:

हमें गर्व है कि हम इसाई कैलेंडर से 57 साल आगे हैं। इसाई कैलेंडर जहाँ अभी वर्ष 2011 तक ही पहुँचा है, वहीं हमारा भारतीय कैलेंडर 4 अप्रैल 2011को गुड़ी पढ़वा के दिन 2068 वे वर्ष में प्रवेश कर जाएगा। इसी दिन से चैत्र नवरात्र प्रारंभ होंगे जिसका समापन रामनवमी पर होगा। 04 अप्रैल 2011 से शुरू हो रहे नव संवत्सर 2068 पर कई संगठनों द्वारा हिन्दू नव वर्ष का स्वागत किया जाएगा।

ऐसे तो विश्व के विशाल धरातल पर अनेक प्रकार वर्षों (कैलेंडरों) का प्रचलन है। उनके आरम्भ के अनुसार भिन्न-भिन्न कारणों के साथ भिन्न-भिन्न समय में मनाये जाने की परंपरा है। अपनी-अपनी आस्था-श्रद्धा, परंपरा, विभिन्न देश-राष्ट्र, धर्म-जाति, समाज और सांस्कृतिक मान्यताओं के अनुसार अपने-अपने तौर-तरीकों से नववर्ष बड़े धूमधाम से उत्साहपूर्वक मानते हैं। विशेष रूप से सम्पूर्ण विश्व में इसाई नववर्ष (३१ दिसम्बर की रात्रि और १ जनवरी के आरम्भ को लेकर) बड़े धूमधाम से मनाते हैं, किन्तु हमारा अपना भारतीय नववर्ष अति प्राचीन और वैज्ञानिक आधार लिये हुए है। हमारे धार्मिक एवं सांस्कृतिक संस्कारों के साथ भी जुड़ा हुआ है, अत: घर-घर में कुल धर्म के रूप में स्थापित भी हैं, इसे भव्यरूप में संगठित होकर मनाया जाना चाहिये।

चैत्र शुक्ल प्रतिपदा कल्पादि, सृष्टि्यादि, युगादि के आरंभ के साथ-साथ प्रथम सतयुग का आरंभ भी इसी दिवस से होने से यह भारतीय नववर्ष अति प्राचीन है। अरबों वर्षों की प्राचीनता इसके साथ जुड़ी हुई है। फिर उज्जैन कालगणना की सर्वसम्मत नगरी है, यही कालगणना के प्रतीक ज्योतिर्लिंग महाकालेश्वर भी स्थित है, इसी विशिष्टता के कारण सम्राट विक्रम ने विक्रम संवत् प्रदान किया था तथा जयपुर के महाराजा सवाई मानसिंह ने उज्जैन में वेधशाला की स्थापना की थी। अत: उज्जयिनी की महत्ता और भारतीय नववर्ष की प्राचीनता को जन-जन तक पहुँचाने की दृष्टि से संवत् २०३५ (सन् १९७८ ई.) से नववर्ष की शुभकामना संदेश और नववर्ष को उत्सव का स्वरूप देते हुए भिन्न-भिन्न नगरों में भी इस उत्सव को स्थापित करने की दिशा में सतत प्रयास कर रहे हैं। संवत् २०५७ (सन् २००० ई.) से इस उत्सव को भव्य रूप में शास्त्रीय मर्यादाओं के साथ आयोजित किए जा रहे हैं।

क्या विशेषता है हमारे नववर्ष की?

भारतीय नववर्ष की विशेषता, कैसे मनाये नववर्ष?

वेद-पुराण, इतिहास और शास्त्रीय परंपराओं को जोड़कर नववर्ष मनाये जाने की रूपरेखा तैयार की गई है। उज्जैन में संवत्सर मनाने की प्राचीन परंपरा क्यों चलती आ रही है? उस पर भी विचार किया गया है। आषाढ़ शुक्ल पूर्णिमा को सान्दीपनि स्मृति महोत्सव आदर्श गुरु शिष्य परंपरा को लेकर संवत् २०३५ से ही मनाया जा रहा है। श्रीकृष्ण जन्म को ५ हजार वर्ष से अधिक हो जाने के कारण ``व्यास-सान्दीपनि-श्रीकृष्ण पंचसहस्राब्दी पंच वर्षीय महोत्सव'' नाम देकर मना रहे हैं। हमारे प्रयास से नेपाल सहित देश के अन्य नगरों में भी यह उत्सव मनाया जा रहा है।

आओ हम सब मिलकर चैत्र शुक्ल प्रतिपदा के प्रात: सूर्योदय पर नववर्ष का महोत्सव मनावें और इसके लिये अन्य लोगों को भी प्रेरित करें।

यातो धर्मस्ततो जय:।

श्री नववर्ष मङ्गलम

(कल्पादी-सृष्ट्यादि-युगादि महोत्सव)

चैत्र शुक्ल प्रतिपदा नववर्ष आरम्भ

चैत्र शुक्ल प्रतिपदा के प्रात: सूर्योदय की प्रथम रश्मि के दर्शन के साथ नववर्ष का आरंभ होता है।

``मधौ सितादेर्दिनमासवर्षयुगादिकानां युगपत्प्रवृत्ति:''

महान गणितज्ञ भास्कराचार्य ने प्रतिबादित किया है कि चैत्र शुक्ल प्रतिपदा से दिन-मास-वर्ष और युगादि का आरंभ हुआ है। युगों में प्रथम सतयुग का आरंभ भी इसी दिन से हुआ है। कल्पादि-सृष्ट्यादि-युगादि आरंभ को लेकर इस दिवस के साथ अति प्राचीनता जुड़ी हुई है। सृष्टि की रचना को लेकर इसी दिवस से गणना की गई है, लिखा है-

चैत्र-मासि जगद् ब्रह्मा ससर्ज प्रथमे%हनि ।

शुक्लपक्षे समग्रे तु तदा सूर्योदये सति ।।

चैत्र शुक्ल प्रतिपदा तिथि के सूर्योदय के समय से नवसंवत्सर का आरंभ होता है, यह अत्यंत पवित्र तिथि है। इसी दिवस से पितामह ब्रह्मा ने सृष्टि का सृजन किया था।

इस तिथि को रेवती नक्षत्र में, विष्कुंभ योग में दिन के समय भगवान का प्रथम अवतार मत्स्यरूप का प्रादुर्भाव भी माना जाता है-

कृते च प्रभवे चैत्रे प्रतिपच्छुक्लपक्षगा ।

रेवत्यां योग-विष्कुम्भे दिवा द्वादश-नाड़िका: ।।

मत्स्यरूपकुमार्यांच अवतीर्णो हरि: स्वयम् ।।


प्रकृति खुद स्वागत करती है इस दिन का

चैत्र शुक्ल पक्ष आरंभ होने के पूर्व ही प्रकृति नववर्ष आगमन का संदेश देने लगती है। प्रकृति की पुकार, दस्तक, गंध, दर्शन आदि को देखने, सुनने, समझने का प्रयास करें तो हमें लगेगा कि प्रकृति पुकार-पुकार कर कह रही है कि पुरातन का समापन हो रहा है और नवीन बदलाव आ रहा है, नववर्ष दस्तक दे रहा है। वृक्ष-पौधे अपने जीर्ण वस्त्रों को त्याग रहे हैं, जीर्ण-शीर्ण पत्ते पतझड़ के साथ वृक्ष शाखाओं से पृथक हो रहे हैं, वायु के द्वारा सफाई अभियान चल रहा है, प्रकृति के रचयिता अंकुरित-पल्लवित-पुष्पित कर बोराने की ओर ले जा रहे हैं, मानो पुरातन वस्त्रों का त्याग कर नूतन वस्त्र धारण कर रहे हैं। पलाश खिल रहे हैं, वृक्ष पुष्पित हो रहे हैं, आम बौरा रहे हैं, सरसों नृत्य कर रही है, वायु में सुगंध और मादकता की मस्ती अनुभव हो रही है।

shiit -व्यतीत होकर ग्रीष्म के आगमन के साथ मिला-जुला सुहाना मौसम अनुभव हो रहा है, यह सुहानी-सुगंधित-सुवासित, मादकता से युक्त वायु का स्पर्श सभी को आनंदित आंदोलित कर रहा है। प्रकृति की प्रसन्नता, खुशी-हास्य सर्वत्र बिखर रहा है। मानो एक बड़े उत्सव की यह साज-सज्जा है, सजावट है, समस्त भूमंडल एक विशाल सुसज्जित मंच के रूप में तैयार है। पक्षियों का कलरव, चहचहाहट, कोयल की कूक, उनकी स्वच्छन्द उड़ान एक संगीतमय वातावरण बनाते हुए अंतरिक्ष को सुसज्जित कर रहा है। पुष्पों की सुगंध से वायुमंडल `सुगंधिम् पुष्टिवर्धनम्', का पर्याय बन गया है। प्रकृति के द्वारा इत्रपान की व्यवस्था अनुभव हो रही है। पुष्पों फलों से लबालब वृक्ष अभिनंदन के लिए झुके हुए प्रसन्नचित्त, मुस्कराते, सुगंध बिखेरते हुए नववर्ष के आतिथ्य के लिए अपनी तैयारी दिखा रहे हैं।

पतझड़ के पश्चात वसंत में वसंत पंचमी के अवसर पर नवपल्लवित-पुष्पित पत्र-पुष्प और नव फसल को परमात्मा को अर्पण करते हैं।

होली के पश्चात चैत्र कृष्ण प्रतिपदा को वसंतोत्सव के रूप में नववर्ष के महोत्सव का आरंभ हो जाता है, जो एक पखवाड़े तक चलते हुए चैत्र शुक्ल प्रतिपदा के सूर्योदय के अवसर पर नववर्ष का महोत्सव मनाया जाता है। इस प्रकार यह एकमात्र भारतीय नववर्ष है जो प्रकृति के साथ जुड़ा हुआ है, भव्य है, अद्वितीय है, महापर्व है।

पूर्णतः विज्ञान सम्मत है यह नव वर्ष

हमारे नये वर्ष को जानने के लिए किसी पंचांग या केलेन्डर की आवश्यकता नहीं है

ऊपर हमने लिखा है कि हमारा नया वर्ष प्रकृति के साथ जुड़ा हुआ है। नये वर्ष आने से बहुत पहले ही प्रकृति का संकेत हमें प्राप्त होने लगता है। पतझड़ के पश्चात वृक्ष पौधे अंकुरित पल्लवित-पुष्पित, फलित होकर भूमंडल को सुसज्जित करने लगता है, यह बदलाव हमें नवीन परिवर्तन का आभास देने लगता है। प्रकृति के संकेत को सुने, समझे और देखें तो नए वर्ष की सन्निकटता को समझ सकते हैं।

आकाश व अंतरिक्ष हमारे लिए एक विशाल प्रयोगशाला है। ग्रह-नक्षत्र-तारों आदि के दर्शन से उनकी गति-स्थिति, युति, उदय-अस्त से हमें अपना पंचांग स्पष्ट आकाश में दिखाई देता है। अमावस-पूनम को हम स्पष्ट समझ जाते हैं। पूर्णचंद्र चित्रा नक्षत्र के निकट हो तो चैत्री पूर्णिमा, विशाखा के निकट वैशाखी पूर्णिमा, ज्येष्ठा के निकट से ज्येष्ठ की पूर्णिमा इत्यादि आकाश को पढ़ते हुए जब हम पूर्ण चंद्रमा को उत्तराफाल्गुनी नक्षत्र के निकट देखेंगे तो यह फाल्गुन मास की पूर्णिमा है और यहां से नवीन वर्ष आरंभ होने को १५ दिवस शेष है। इन १५ दिनों के पश्चात जिस दिन पूर्ण चंद्र अस्त हो तो अमावस (चैत्र मास की) स्पष्ट हो जाती है और अमांत के पश्चात प्रथम सूर्योदय ही हमारे नए वर्ष का उदय है।

इस प्रकार हम बिना पंचांग और केलेंडर के प्रकृति और आकाश को पढ़कर नवीन वर्ष को सहज ही प्राप्त कर लेते हैं। ऐसा दिव्य नववर्ष दुर्लभ है।

नव वर्ष और उज्जयिनी

देश के सबसे प्राचीन और समृध्द शहरों में से एक उज्जयिनी (जिसे आज उज्जैन भी कहा जाता है) को समस्त सिद्धांतकारों, पूर्वाचार्यों और ज्योतिर्विज्ञानवेत्ताओं ने कालगणना का केंद्र माना है। यहीं से समय की गणना होती है। सृष्ट्यादि- युगादि की गणना मानते हुए देश के समस्त पंचांगों की गणना उज्जयिनी मध्यमोदय लेकर होती है। यही कालगणना के प्रतीक ज्योतिर्लिंग महाकालेश्वर पृथ्वी की नाभि पर स्थित है, और स्कंद पुराण में उल्लेख है-

कालचक्रप्रवर्तको महाकाल: प्रतापन:।

पृथ्वी की भूमध्य रेखा और भौगोलिक कर्क रेखा यही उज्जयिनी में मिलती है, इसलिए भी यह स्थान समय गणना के लिए महत्वपूर्ण है। ज्योतिष के प्राचीनतम सूर्य सिद्धान्त में उज्जयिनी के महत्व को इस प्रकार प्रतिपादित किया है-

राक्षसालय दैवौक:शैलयोर्मध्यसूत्रग: ।

रोहितकमवन्ती च यथा सन्निहितं सर: ।।

इसी बात को `सिद्धान्तशिरोमणि' में भास्कराचार्य ने इस प्रकार लिखा है-

यल्लङ्कोज्जययिनी-पुरोपरि कुरुक्षेत्रादि देशान् स्पृशत्।

सूत्रं-मेरुगतं बुधैर्निगदिता सा मध्यरेखा भुव:।।

अन्य सिद्धांतों में हाह्मस्फुट सिद्धांत, वराहमिहिर की पंचसिद्धान्तिका, आर्यभटीय, ग्रहलाघव, केतकर का केतकी ग्रहगणित एवं तिलक का रैवतपक्षीय गणना आदि सभी ने उज्जयिनी मध्यमोदय को गणना का आधार स्वीकार किया है। नोबल पुरस्कार विजेता अमर्त्यसेन ने भी उज्जैन के इस महत्व को स्वीकारा है।

अत: स्पष्ट है कि जहाँ समस्त भूमंडल के स्वामी पृथ्वी की नाभि पर स्थित होकर काल-समय का संचालन कर रहे हैं। ऐसी पवित्र और सिद्धभूमि उज्जयिनी में ही कल्पादि-सृष्टि्यादि युगादि नववर्ष महोत्सव आयोजित करने का विशेष महत्व है।

कैसे मनाएं अपना नववर्ष

धर्मशास्त्र के निर्देशानुसार चैत्र शुक्ल प्रतिपदा के प्रात: ब्रह्म मुहूर्त में नित्यकर्म से निवृत्त होकर अभ्यंग स्नान अथवा तीर्थ, नदी, सरोवर में स्नान करके शुद्ध पवित्र होवे। स्नान के पश्चात् अपने-अपने नगर के स्पष्ट सूर्योदय के समय (अथवा संपूर्ण देश में एक ही समय उज्जयिनी मध्यमोदय ६ बजकर २ मिनट पर) नववर्ष के शुभारंभ के अवसर पर सूर्य की प्रथम रश्मि के दर्शन के साथ ही शंख ध्वनि, ढोल-नगाड़े, तुरही, शहनाई आदि वाद्यों के साथ नववर्ष का उद्घोष करें। यह कार्य तीर्थ, नदी, सरोवर के तट पर अथवा धार्मिक स्थल पर एकत्रित होकर आयोजित करें।

नववर्ष के उद्घोष के पश्चात् समस्त उपस्थित आस्थावान् लोग पूर्व दिशा में मुख करके नीचे लिखे मंत्र से सूर्य को जल-पुष्प सहित अर्ध्य प्रदान करें।

आकृष्णेन रजसा व्वर्तमानो निवेशयन्नमृतम्मर्त्यञ्च ।

हिरण्ययेन सविता रधेना देवो याति भुवनानि पश्यन् ।।

सूर्य को जलार्ध्य प्रदान करने के पश्चात् नीचे लिखे मंत्र से उपस्थान करें।

विश्वानि देव सवितर्दुरितानि परासुव यद् भद्रं तन्न आसुव ।

तश्चक्षुर्देवहितं पुरस्ताच्छुक्रमुश्चरत्

पश्येम शरद: शतम्, जीवेम शरद:शतम् शृणुयाम शरद: शतम् ।

प्रव्ववाम शरद: शुतम् अदीना: स्याम शरद: शतम् भूयश्र शरद: शतात्।

हे सविता देव, हमारे सभी दुखों को दूर करो। जिससे हमारा भला हो, वही प्राप्त कराओ। वह ज्ञानियों का हित करने वाला शुद्ध ज्ञान नेत्र पहले से उदित हुआ है। उसकी सहायता से सौ वर्षों तक नेत्रों से दिखाई देवे, सौ वर्षों का जीवन प्राप्त हो, सौ वर्षों तक श्रवण करें, सौ वर्षों तक अच्छी तरह से संभाषण करें, सौ वर्षों तक किसी के अधीन न रहे और सौ वर्षों से अधिक समय तक भी आनन्दपूर्वक रहें।

पश्चात् वैदिक संवत्सर मंत्र का पाठ करें

१. संवत्सरोसि परिवत्सरोसी दावत्सरोसीद् वत्सरोसि व्वत्सरोसि।

उखसस्ते कल्पन्ता-महोरात्रास्ते कल्पन्ता मर्द्धसास्ते कल्पन्ताम्मासास्ते कल्पन्तामृतवस्ते कल्पन्ता संव्वत्सरस्ते कल्प्पताम् ।

प्रेत्याएत्यै सञ्चाञ्च प्प्रसारय ।

सुपर्ण्ण चिदसि तया देवतयाङि्गरस्वद् धुवासीद।

२. समास्त्वाग्न ऋतवोव्वर्द्धयन्तु संवत्सरा ऋखयो जानि सत्या।

सन्दिव्ये नदीदिही रोचनेनव्विस्वा आभाहि प्प्रदिशस्चतस।।

सूर्य के द्वादश नामों के उच्चारण के साथ सामूहिक सूर्य नमस्कार करें।

वसन्तऋतु का स्मरण मंत्र से करें-

व्वसन्तेनऋतुना देवा व्वसवस्त्रिवृतास्तुता: ।

रथन्तरेण तेजसा हविरिन्द्रेव्वयोदधु ।।

सृष्टिकर्ता ब्रह्माजी की पूजन- जलसहित गंध, अक्षत, पुष्प लेकर देश-काल का उच्चारण करके इस प्रकार संकल्प करें।

`मम सकुटुम्बस्य सपरिवारस्य स्वजन परिजनसहितस्य आयुरारोग्यैश्चर्यादिसकल- शुभफलोत्तरोत्तराभिवृद्धयर्थं ब्रह्मादि संवत्सर देवतानां पूजनमहं करिष्ये।

ऐसा संकल्प करके स्वच्छ पाठ के ऊपर सफेद वस्त्र बिछाकर उस पर चावल से अष्टदल कमल बनाकर ब्रह्माजी की सुवर्ण प्रतिमा स्थापित करें। गणेश-अम्बिका पूजन के पश्चात् ` ब्रह्मणे नम:' मंत्र से ब्रह्माजी का आवाहनादि षोडशोपचार पूजन करें। प्रथम अवतार मत्स्य अवतार का भी पूजन करें।

ब्रह्माजी के लिए वैदिक मंत्र से ध्यान करें-

ब्रह्म जजान्प्रथमम्पुरस्ताद्धिसीमत सुरुचोव्वेन आव: ।

सबुध्न् याउपमा अस्यव्विष्ठा, सतश्चजोनिमसतश्चव्विव:।।

प्रथम मत्स्य अवतार का पूजन करके भागवत का यह मंत्र उच्चारण करें-

सोनुध्यातस्ततो राजाप्रादुरासीन्महार्णवे।

एक शृंर्गंधरो मत्स्यो हैमौ नियुत योजन: । भागवत ८।२४।४४

पूजन के पश्चात् विघ्न विनाश और वर्ष की सुमंगल भावना के लिए ब्रह्माजी की इस प्रकार प्रार्थना करें-

भगवैस्त्वत्प्रसादेन वर्षक्षेममिहास्तु मे ।

संवत्सरोपसर्गा मे विलयं यान्त्वशेषत: ।।

प्रार्थना के पश्चात् ध्वजपूजन, ध्वजवन्दन, कलशार्चन विधि विधान से करें। गीत, वाद्य, नृत्य, लोकगीतों के माध्यम से नववर्ष उत्साह और उमंग के साथ मनावें। आज के दिन नीम की पत्तियाँ खाने का विशेष महत्व है, लिखा है-

पारिभद्रस्य पत्राणि कोमलानि विशेषत:।

सुपुष्पाणि समानीय चूर्णंकृत्वा विधानत: ।

मरीचिं लवणं हिंगु जीरणेण संयुतम्।

अजमोदयुतं कुत्वा भक्षयेद्रोगशान्तये ।

नीम के कोमल पत्ते, पुष्प, काली मिर्च, नमक, हींग, जीरा मिश्री और अजवाइन मिलाकर चूर्ण बनाकर आज के दिन सेवन करने से संपूर्ण वर्ष रोग से मुक्त रहते हैं। तीर्थ की आरती पूजन करके मंत्र पुष्पांजली और प्रसाद वितरण के पश्चात् नववर्ष का अभिनन्दन और परस्पर शुभकामना, मंगलकामना, नववर्ष मधुर मिलन आदि व्यवहारिक पक्ष के साथ पंचांग का फल श्रवण करें। नवसंवत्सर आरंभ के दिन नूतन वर्ष के पंचांग की पूजन, पंचांग का फल श्रवण, पंचांग वाचन और पंचांग का दान करने का उल्लेख धर्मशास्त्र में लिखा है। यह परंपरा आज भी गाँव-गाँव में प्रचलित है, गांव गुरु, गांवठी, पुरोहित आदि गांवों में पंचांग वाचन करते हैं। विद्वान का पूजन-अर्चन, ब्राह्मणों को भोजन, दक्षिणा वस्त्रादि से अभिनंदन करे।

अपने-अपने घरों में ध्वज लगावें (गुडी लगावें) ध्वज पूजन करें। घरों को दीप और विद्युत्सज्जा से आलोकित करें।

द्यौ: शान्तिरन्तरिक्षं शान्ति:

पृथिवी: शांन्ति: आप: शान्ति:

औषधय: शान्ति: वनस्पतय:शान्ति:

विश्वेदेवा: शान्ति: ब्रह्मशान्ति:

सर्व शान्तिरेवशान्ति: सामाशान्तिरेधि ।

सर्वे भवन्तु सुखिन: सर्वे सन्तु निरामया: ।

सर्वे भद्राणि पश्यन्तु मा कश्चिद् दु:खमाप्नुयात् ।।

ओम शान्ति: शान्ति: शान्ति:।

(लेखक देश के जाने माने ज्योतिषाचार्य हैं और महर्षि सांदीपनि के वंशज हैं। इनके परिवार द्वारा विगत कई पीढि़यों से पंचांग का प्रकाशन किया जा रहा है, जिसे नारायण विजय पंचांग के रूप में दुनिया भर में प्रतिष्ठा प्राप्त है)

गुड़ी पड़वा और इसका महत्व

चैत्र मास के शुक्ल पक्ष की प्रतिपदा वर्ष प्रतिपदा कहलाती है। इस दिन से ही नया वर्ष प्रारंभ होता है। ‘युग‘ और ‘आदि‘ शब्दों की संधि से बना है ‘युगादि‘ । आंध्र प्रदेश और कर्नाटक में ‘उगादि‘ और महाराष्ट्र में यह पर्व ‘ग़ुड़ी पड़वा‘ के रूप में मनाया जाता है।

कहा जाता है कि इसी दिन ब्रह्माजी ने सृष्टि का निर्माण किया था। इसमें मुख्यतया ब्रह्माजी और उनके द्वारा निर्मित सृष्टि के प्रमुख देवी-देवताओं, यक्ष-राक्षस, गंधवारें, ऋषि-मुनियों, नदियों, पर्वतों, पशु-पिक्षयों और कीट-पतंगों का ही नहीं, रोगों और उनके उपचारों तक का भी पूजन किया जाता है। इसी दिन से नया संवत्सर शुंरू होता है। अत इस तिथि को ‘नवसंवत्सर‘ भी कहते हैं।

शुक्ल प्रतिपदा का दिन चंद्रमा की कला का प्रथम दिवस माना जाता है। जीवन का मुख्य आधार वनस्पतियों को सोमरस चंद्रमा ही प्रदान करता है। इसे औषधियों और वनस्पतियों का राजा कहा गया है। इसीलिए इस दिन को वर्षारंभ माना जाता है। आंध्र प्रदेश, कर्नाटक और महाराष्ट्र में सारे घरों को आम के पेड़ की पत्तियों के बंदनवार से सजाया जाता है। सुखद जीवन की अभिलाषा के साथ-साथ यह बंदनवार समृद्धि, व अच्छी फसल के भी परिचायक हैं। ‘उगादि‘ के दिन ही पंचांग तैयार होता है। महान गणितज्ञ भास्कराचार्य ने इसी दिन से सूर्योदय से सूर्यास्त तक दिन, महीना और वर्ष की गणना करते हुए ‘पंचांग ‘ की रचना की थी।

चैत्र मास की शुक्ल प्रतिपदा को महाराष्ट्र में गुड़ीपड़वा कहा जाता है। वर्ष के साढ़े तीन मुहुर्तों में गुड़ीपड़वा की गिनती होती है। शालिवाहन शक का प्रारंभ इसी दिन से होता है। इस अवसर पर आंध्र प्रदेश में घरों में ‘पच्चड़ी/प्रसादम‘ के रूप में बांटा जाता है। कहा जाता है कि इसका निराहार सेवन करने से मानव निरोगी बना रहता है। चर्म रोग भी दूर होता है। इस पेय में मिली वस्तुएं स्वादिष्ट होने के साथ-साथ आरोग्यप्रद भी होती हैं। महाराष्ट्र में पूरन पोली या मीठी रोटी बनाई जाती है। इसमें—गुढ़, नमक, नीम के फूल, इमली और कच्चा आममिलाया जाता है। गुढ़ मिठास के लिए, नीम के फूल कड़वाहट मिटाने के लिए और इमली व आम जीवन के खट्टे-मीठे स्वाद चखने का प्रतीक के रूप में होते हैं। भारतीय परंपरा में घरों में इसी दिन से आम खाने की आम का रस बनाने की और आम के रस की मिठाई बनाने की शुरुआत होती है।

गुड़ी पड़वा की लोक कथा:

शालिवाहन नामक एक कुम्हार के लड़के ने मिट्टी के सैनिकों की सेना बनाई और उस पर पानी छिड़ककर उनमें प्राण फूँक दिए और इस सेना की मदद से शक्तिशाली शत्रुओं को पराजित किया। इस विजय के प्रतीक के रूप में शालिवाहन शक का प्रारंभ हुआ।

एक कथा यह भी है कि इसी दिन भगवान राम ने बाली के अत्याचारी शासन से दक्षिण की प्रजा को मुक्ति दिलाई थी । बाली के त्रास से मुक्त हुई प्रजा ने घर-घर में उत्सव मनाकर ध्वज (ग़ुड़ियां) फहराए थे। आज भी घर के आंगन में ग़ुड़ी खड़ी करने की प्रथा महाराष्ट्र में प्रचलित है। इसीलिए इस दिन को गुड़ीपडवा नाम दिया गया।

गुड़ी पड़वा के साथ ही नौ दिन की चैत्र की नवरात्रि शुरु हो जाती है। नौ दिन तक चलने वाली यह नवरात्रि दुर्गापूजा के साथ-साथ, रामनवमी को राम और सीता के विवाह के साथ सम्पन्न होती है।

Mantra for Sreegrha (Fast) Marriages and to avoid delays in Marriage


"Om Devemdrani Namastubyam
Devendra priyabhamini
Vivaha Bhagyam Arogyam
Sreeghra labhincha Dehime"

The unmarried girls and boys whose marriage proposals are being get delayed due to various reasons are advised to recite the above mantra with utmost faith at recite the same at least 21 times daily or 108 times daily to fulfill their desire. This mantra is also useful for those who want to go for second marriage may be benefited.

Especially, on Tuesdays, this mantra should be recited at least 108 times for 41 days regularly and feed red grams with jaggary to the cow as food will give faster results.

Spiritual Remedies for delayed Marriages


We give hereunder some of the ancient mantras for the benefit of the readers whose marriage get delayed due to various reasons. With the blessings of Goddess Durga Devi,Here are some mantras which should be recited with utmost devotion and faith to get their wish fulfilled.

KATYAYANI MANTRA

‘Katyayani Mahamaye
Mahayoginiyadheeshwari
Nand Gop Sutam Devi Patim Me
Kuru te Namah’

This prayer should be recited a number of times according to one’s convenience by unmarried girls whose wishes will be fulfilled early.

PARVATI SWAYAMVAR MANTRA

‘Ballarkayutsatprabhaam kartale
lolbru malakulam
Malamsanddahatim manohartanum
Mandsmitadhomukheem
Mandam mandmupesushee
Bariyitum shambhum jaganmohimim
Vanditpadamishtarthadaam
Parvateem’

This sloka should be recited every Friday evening regularly with utmost devotion. The natives get the desired husband early.

VIVAH SIDDHIDAYAKA MANTRA

‘ Om vahri presyasi swaha’

This mantra should be recited ten thousand times and should be started on an auscipicious day without Durmuhurtam or Varjam and should be continued till Navaratri.

SWAYAMVARKALA MANTRA

‘Om hreem yogini yogini yogeshwari
yogeshwari yog bhayankari
Sakalsthavarjangmasya mukham
Hradyam mum ashmakarshayakarshaya
Swaha’

This mantra should be recited ten thousand times and should be started on an auscipicious day without Durmuhurtam or Varjam .

BHAGVATI MANTRA

‘Haristvamaradhya pranatjana
saubhagya jannim Pura nari
bhootwa pur ripumpi
Kshobhmanayt Samroapi twam
Natwa ratinayanlehyen vapusha
Muninamapyantah prabhavati hi
Mohay mahataam’

PARVATI MANTRA

‘Sudhamapyaswadya pratibhaya jara
mrituharini
vidhishatamkhadya divishadah
Karlam yatkshvelam kavalitvatah
Kaalkalana
Na shambhostanmoolam tav janani
Tatakmahima’

VED MANTRAS

‘Sa devi nityam paritapyamanah
twameva seetetyabhibhaashanah
Dradhvrato rajsuto mahatma tavalva
Laabhaya kratpraytnah’

PRITHVI MANTRA

‘mahamaha Indro ya ojasa parjanyo
vrashtim tamarind iv
upayaamgraheetosi
mahendrayatwesh tey
yonimmahindraya twa’

AMBA MANTRA

‘Om Ambe Ambike Ambalike na
Manayati Kashchana
Sasatyashwakah Subhadrikam
Kampeelvasinim’

For Male Natives

Durga mantra

‘Patneem Manoramaam Dehi
Manovratanusarineem
Tarineem Durg Sansara Sangarasya
Kulodbhavaam

SUCHI DEVI MANTRA

‘ Om devendirani Namstubhyam
Devendra Priya Bhamini
Vivaham Bhagyamarogyam
Sheeghram labham cha Dehi me’

VIJAYA SUNDARI MANTRA

‘Om Vijayasundari kleem’




Vaibhav Laxmi Vrat Katha


Vaibhav Laxmi Vrat Katha

Many years ago there was a very big city. Lakhs of people lived there. In ancient times, people really lived the happy social life. They used to meet and sit together and enjoyed themselves. In those days, people used to lead the life completely in different way. People of this city were totally busy engaged in their own personal worldly affairs. The elements of holy devotion, benevolence, sympathy and affection all these virtues were rarely visible in the cultural life of the society. Innumerable vices had spread in the daily-life of the citizens living in that city. Wine and gambling, race and speculation, illegal relations and various guilty misdeeds were done by the people living in that city.There is always a silver line hidden among the black clouds in the sky. The lightning of the eternal hope spreads into the thousands of dark clouds of disappointments. Inspite of so many vices prevailing in the social life some pious people lived the virtuous life like the lotus in the muddy water of the pond. Among all the virtuous people, Sheela and her husband also lived pious worldly life. Sheela was of religious nature living the contented life. Her husband was a humble fellow having good character.Sheela and her husband lived honestly. They never abused or displeased anyone. They were happy to utilize their time in worshipping God. Their worldly life was ideal and people never got tired while praising them.Thus she had been passing her life happily. It is said that the end of the misdeeds is quite strange. Who could read the words of fate written by the Goddess of Fortune? A king becomes a poor man, and a poor man becomes a king. By the destiny, in just a moment, such a great change can be done. As a result of misdeeds done, Sheela’s husband got the company of bad friends. It is said that the man is influenced by the company he keeps. Due to the influence of the company of bad friends, Sheela’s husband dreamed to be one of the wealthiest people gaining crores of rupees. As a result he misled his life and became as good as a beggar instead of becoming the wealthy person. He followed evil ways of immorality and began to ruin his life. He indulged in drinking wine, gambling, and race, speculation that had spread in the city-life. His friends were also on the same immoral path. He began to waste his money in the way of immorality. And at last he lost all the savings and also the ornaments of his wife. Once there was a golden time when he was passing his life happily with his wife and they were utilizing the time in worshiping God. Now there was a great change in their life. They became so poor that they could not get food to satisfy their hunger. Moreover Sheela had to suffer much due to the abusive language of her husband.Sheela was a polite and well-cultured woman. She had suffered a lot because of her husband’s misbehavior. But keeping faith in God she began o bear the sufferings of unhappy life. Unhappiness is followed by happiness and happiness is followed by unhappiness in this worldly life. That is the eternal truth. Having faith in the eternal truth of the happiness and unhappiness, Sheela forgot herself in praying and worshipping God, she was hopeful for future happy life. While she had been passing her unhappy time of her life, one day at noontime someone came knocking at her door. She began to think, ‘who would have come to my place as I am so poor and have nothing with me?’ Still however, inspired by Aryan religious culture of welcoming the guests at the door, she stood up and opened the doors of her house.To her wonder, she saw an old woman standing in front of her. She was a very old woman. Her face was dazzling with the glow of divine light. Her eyes were dripping with the glow of divine light. Her eyes were dripping the nectar of love. Her majestic face was overflowing with the compassion and love. Sheela experienced immense peace in her heart though she was not acquainted with her. She was full of delight. She welcomes her and gave her the only torn mat and requested her to sit with hesitation. The old lady said, ‘Sheela! Don’t you know me?’
Sheela humbly said, ‘Mother, I feel delightful to see you and experience peace in the soul, as if I have been searching you for a long time, but it seems that you are not known to me!’
With a smile the old lady said, ‘why! Did you forget me? Every Friday I used to come to the temple of Goddess Laxmiji, when there had been singing praise of the Goddess. There we happened to meet each other!’Sheela was full of sorrow, as her husband had gone to the immoral way of life. She had stopped going to the temple of Goddess Laxmiji. She felt ashamed to get associated with others. She tried much to recollect the memory of that old lady. But she was not successful.After a while, the old lady said to Sheela, ‘How sweet you had been singing prayer of Goddess Laxmiji in the temple amidst the devotees! Now days you are not seen there. Hence I have begun to think the reason for it. At last I have come to see you’. Hearing the kind words of the old lady, Sheela’s heart moved and her eyes were full of tears. She began to sob painfully. The old lady moved near her and began to console her striking lightly on her back with love.
The old lady said to Sheela, ‘My dear, happiness and sorrow are like the heat and shadow of the Sun. Happiness and misery come one after the other. Please have patience and tell me all about your sufferings. You will feel exempted from your pains, and will get the remedy for the same’.
Hearing the consoling words of the lady, Sheela’s heart felt peace and comfort. She said to her, ‘We were very happy in our life and enjoyed ourselves with the bliss in our heart. My husband was also having a good character. By the grace of God, we wee pleased with our financial position. We used to utilize our time in worshipping God. But by our ill luck, my husband was influenced by his bad company. At last he ruined the life by going on the path of immorality: drinking wine, speculation, gambling, race, intoxicating drugs etc. As a result we have become as good as beggars of the footpath’.The old lady said, ‘Dear, happiness and sorrow come one after the other. Moreover the end of the misdeeds is strange. Every man has to suffer the consequences of his good or bad deeds. Now don’t get worried. You have already suffered all the consequences of your husband’s misdeeds. Now, you will have happy days of your life. You are the devotee of Goddess Laxmiji. Goddess Laxmiji is the incarnation of love and compassion. She is very merciful to her devotees. Hence, have patience and observe the Vrat of the Goddess Laxmiji and your life will be quite easy-going.’Having heard about the observance of the Vrat of divine Goddess Laxmiji, Sheela’s face glittered with light. She said to the old lady, ‘Mother! Kindly tell me how the Vrat of Laxmiji can be observed. I will certainly observe it.’The old lady said, ‘The Vrat of Laxmiji is very easy to follow. It is called the ‘Vaibhava Laxmi Vrat’ (Vrat giving wealth) or ‘Vaibhava Laxmi Vrat’ (Vrat giving Luxury). All the hopes of the person who observes the Vrat, will get fulfilled, and she or he becomes happy, wealthy and reputed’. Then she began to describe how to perform the Vrat.‘Dear, this Vrat is very simple and easy to observe. Many people observe this Vrat by the improper method. Hence they don’t have good result. People believe that the Vrat can be observed only by applying yellow and red turmeric to golden ornaments. But it is not so. Vrat should be performed with proper ceremony according to the religious scriptures or shastras. Then only the observance of the Vrat becomes fruitful. The celebration of the Vrat also should be performed as prescribed by the shastras with proper ceremony’.‘The Vrat should be observed on Friday every week. One should put on clean clothes after taking bath and should utter silently ‘Jai Ma Laxmi’. One should not speak evil of others. Having washed hands and feet in the evening, one should sit on the wooden seat facing the east direction. One should put a big wooden seat, and then one should put a copper pot on the small heaps of rice arranged on the handkerchief spread on the wooden seat. One should keep gold or a silver ornament or a rupee coin in a small bowl placed on the copper pot. One should light the lamp-stand and the incense stick near the wooden seat.”“There are many incarnations of Goddess Laxmi.” A person observing the Vrat of Vaibhava Laxmi should devotedly see ‘Shree mystical diagram’ and various complexions or forms of goddess Laxmiji. Then one should sing the prayer of Laxmiji. Afterwards one should apply the ornament or a rupee-coin with the yellow and red turmeric and rice-grain. Then after adorning it with a red flower, one should wave lights keeping sweets or piece of jaggery and should utter ‘Jai Ma Laxmi’. After the rituals one should offer the prasad among the members of the family. That ornament or a rupee-coin should be put to the safe place. The water kept in the copper-bowl should be poured into the pot of basil-plant [tulasi] and the rice grain should be thrown to the birds. In this way one gets his or her desires fulfilled by observing the Vrat according to the prescribed ceremony of the shastras. A Man gets wealthy by the grace of Goddess Laxmiji. An unmarried girl gets married. The married woman maintains the happy state of wifehood and a childless woman gets a child by the influence of observance of the Vrat.Sheela was pleased to know about the observance of the Vrat from that old lady. She said to her, ‘Mother! You have shown me the ceremony of the Vrat. Now I will surely observe it. But please, tell me how long this Vrat should be done and how it should be celebrated’. The old lady said, ‘People say that this Vrat can be done in one’s own way. But it is not so. This Vaibhava Laxmi Vrat should be done for eleven or twenty-one Friday. On the last Friday, the Vrat should be celebrated offering a coconut and sweet dish of rice. Then on that day the sweets should be given to seven unmarried girls or ladies, and saying…’Jai Ma Vaibhava Laxmi’ they should be given a book of ‘Vaibhava Laxmi Vrat’. Afterwards you should bow down your head to the photograph of Goddess Dhanlaxmi and should pray in the heart! Mother! I have observed the Vaibhava Laxmi Vrat. Please fulfill all our wishes! Kindly give wealth to the poor and give children to the childless woman. Let the married woman enjoy the happy state of wifehood. Let the unmarried girl fulfill her desires. Please have grace on those who observe your Vrat and be kind to them by favoring happiness in their lives’. By praying in this manner, bow down your head to the Dhan Laxmi, incarnation of the Goddess Laxmiji and Keep your hand above (not to touch) the flames of the lamp and apply it to your eyes’. Hearing the ceremony for the observation of Vaibhava Laxmi Vrat, she closed her eyes and decided in her mind to do the Vrat with full faith according to shastras for twenty-one Friday and to celebrate the same with ceremony. When Sheela opened the eyes, she was very much surprised to know that the old lady had disappeared! That old lady was no one else but Laxmiji Herself! As Sheela was the devoted worshipper, Goddess Laxmiji Herself had come in the form of an old lady to show Sheela the path of happiness.On the very next day it was Friday. After taking bath Sheela began to utter, ‘Jai Ma Laxmi’ with full faith in the Goddess Laxmi. During the day she didn’t defame any one. In the evening having washed her hands and feet, Sheela placed the wooden seat. She put her nose-ornament in the small bowl placed on the copper pot, which was on the heaps of rice arranged on the handkerchief spread on the wooden seat. Sitting in the east, Sheela observed the Vaibhava Laxmi Vrat with proper ceremony as informed by that old lady. Then she offered some sugar to her husband. Immediately there was a great change in her husband’s nature. As usual her husband did not beat her! She was very much happy to see such miraculous change in husband. Then after observing the Vrat with devotion and faith for twenty-one Friday. Sheela celebrated the last Friday. She gave a book of Vaibhava Laxmi Vrat to seven ladies and bowing down her head to the photograph of Goddess Laxmiji, prayed: ‘Mother! I have finished observance of the Vrat today. Kindly fulfill the desires of the unmarried girls and return the happiness of those who observe the Vrat. Be merciful to bless us with bliss of life uttering, “Give wealth to the poor, a child to the childless woman and preserve the happiness of the married woman. Kindly fulfill the desires.” Uttering these words, Sheela kept her hands above the flames of the lamp and applied her hands to her eyes and paid homage to the Goddess. In this way, Sheela could get the result as she had observed the Vrat according to the prescribed ceremony of the shastras. Her husband gave up the immoral way of life and began to earn with great efforts. With the pious power of the Goddess, her husband became wealthy. He got back the ornaments of Sheela mortgaged by him. Hence forward he became a noble man and Sheela regained the peace and happiness in her life as before.Having seen the pious power of the Vaibhava Laxmi Vrat, other women of the street began to perform the Vrat according to ceremony described by the shastras.Oh! Goddess Dhan Laxmi! Be merciful to all, as you had been to Sheela. Fulfill the desires of all. Bless all with peace and bliss. Jai Ma Dhan Laxmi! Jai Ma Vaibhava Laxmi!!.

Rules to Observe

  • If married women observe this Vrat, they achieve the award. If there is no married woman in the family, any woman or unmarried girl can observe this Vrat.
  • If a man observes this Vrat instead of a woman, he also achieves the award in the same way.
  • One should observe this Vrat with full faith and pious conception, not by dislike or without intense desire.
  • Vrat should be observed according to the rites prescribed by Shashtras for eleven or twenty-one Friday as per one’s oath.
  • It should be celebrated according to Shashtras performing proper ceremonies after the observance of Vrat on Friday as decided at the time of the oath. This ceremony is very simple to be preformed. If the Vrat is not observed according to proper ceremony described by the Shastras, one does not achieve its award or fruit.
  • After having once observed the Vrat, it can be observed again taking the oath devotedly.
  • Goddess Laxmiji has innumerable incarnations. Among all, ‘Shri Yantra’ Amulet of Goddess Laxmi is very beloved to her. Her incarnation of Dhan Laxmi itself is Vaibhava Laxmi. One should bow down one’s head to each and every incarnation of Goddess Laxmi given above. And also, while observing the Vrat one should pay homage to Shri Yantra. Then only it is fulfilled. If one doesn’t want to take the least trouble to observe Vrat, Goddess Laxmi also doesn’t take any trouble for her or him and she doesn’t show any mercy to such person.
  • On the day of observance of the Vrat, from morning one should utter ‘Jai Goddess Laxmi’ or ‘Jai Ma Laxmi’ at heart as many times as possible.
  • If one has to go on tour or outside the residence on Friday, one should observe the Vrat the next Friday at one’s residence only. One should observe the Vrat for as many Friday as decided by oneself at the time of oath.
  • The silver ornament should be utilized if one has no golden ornament for observing the Vrat. One should place a rupee coin if one has no silver ornament.
  • At the time of the celebration of the Vrat one should give the book ‘Vaibhava Laxmi Vrat’ to seven, eleven, twenty-one, fifty one or hundred and one women according to one’s own desire. (Goddess Laxmi would bless you more if you give more books as gifts to more women, and the Vrat of Goddess Laxmiji would spread more and more.I
  • f the woman is in menses or having ceremonial defilement and consequent untouchability owing to death in the family on the Friday, one should observe the Vrat the following Friday. And at the end, one should observe the Vrat for as many Friday as decided at the time of oath.
  • In the beginning of observing the Vrat, one should recite once the hymn or praise the Goddess Laxmi.
  • One should be on fast on the day of observing the Vrat on Friday, and should eat the sweet dish offered to Goddess Laxmiji. One may eat fruits or take meals once a day. The weak persons may observe the Vrat having food twice a day. The important thing is that one should have full faith and devotion in Laxmiji that Goddess would certainly fulfill the desire. Most important point to note is one doing the Vaibhav Lakshmi vrat should do it with full faith, and emotion. Confidently pray taking an oath that Mother will fulfill my desire.