Apara Ekaadasi 2016

The Holy Apara Ekadasi for this year is to be observed on June 1, 2016 throughout the world.

Significance of this Apara Ekaadasi:

This Ekadasi is specifically recommended for those who are suffering from pangs of anxiety arising out of past short-comings in performing one's rightful duties (out of negligence or other pressing practical circumstances).

 If you have committed some major sins knowingly or unknowingly and are suffering from remorse for those sinful activities, and want to be freed from the psychological pangs now, observance of this Ekadasi will help. This Ekaadasi can free one from sins like Brahmahati (that can cause depressive tendencies and may even lead to more serious psychological disturbances as a consequence of one's sins), Gohatya and other major sins.

Apara Ekaadasi punya is equivalent to all the following meritorious religious activities taken together!....

1) Bathing in the Holy Pushkara thrice a day, everyday throughout the lunar month of Kaarthika;

2) Having Maagha snaana at Holy Prayaag.

3) Performing Seva to Lord Shiva at Vaaranaasi kshetra during shiva Raatri;

4) Gaya shraddam for one's ancestors;

5) Bathing in the Holy Gautami River during Jupiter's transit into Simha rashi;

6) Having Shri Kedaarnaath darshan.

7) Having Badrinaath darshan during the kumba maasa (sun in kumbha raashi)

8) Taking a bath in Kurukshetra during solar eclipse and donating cows, elephants, and gold in charity to worthy Brahmins.

9) Donating a pregnant cow, along with gold and fertile land.

Method of observing Ekaadasi vratham:

Try to limit intake of food slowly starting from the previous day (dasami) itself. Avoid consuming honey, onion, garlic, and such ritually impure items on dasami day (the day before ekaadasi fast) itself and also prepare yourself mentally too by meditating on Lord Hari.

On the day of Ekaadasi fast, you must get up early in the morning, take a bath, and with full intent maintain the fast. Ideally, the fast should be complete - avoiding even drinking water. However, if this is not possible, you may water-down the intensity of the fast like - a fruit-only fast, juice-only fast, milk-only fast, or whatever depending on your health condition. On Ekaadasi day, pulses and grains should be strictly avoided (especially Rice). This Ekaadasi is mandatory for all believers with good health between the ages 7 and 70. (Pregnant women, old aged persons, and ailing persons are exempt these; even women in their monthly periods can fast on ekaadasi and meditate on Lord Hari silently without chanting mantras!)

On the night of Ekaadasi fast, it is recommended to keep a whole night vigil - listening to Lord's wonderful leelaas from various scriptures, or reading Bhagavat Gitaa, or simply chanting Lord's names like Hari, Raam, Krishna, Hare Ramakrishna, etc.

On Dwaadasi - the day after the fast, the fast should be broken within 2 hours 24 mins. after sunrise at your place, at an auspicious time. Those who have maintained a full fast (without even water) can break the fast by just consuming Tulsi teertham (Tulsi-soaked water). Others can break fast by eating fruits.

On Dwaadasi thithi, tamarind and chillies should be avoided while cooking. Lemon can be used instead of Tamarind; pepper can be used instead of chillies to flavour the food-items.

It is good to consume Amla on dwaadasi thithi as this endears one to Lord Krishna.

One who maintains this fast of Apara Ekaadasi will win fame and reknown besides cutting off the roots of all negative karmaas.

May all our members undertake this Holy Fast and relieve themselves of all negative karmaas.

Blessed be.

Pandit R. DAKSHINAMOORTHI.

www.liveperson.com/pandit-dakshinamoorthi

Narasimha Jayanthi today- May 20, 2016

Dear Members:

Narasimha Jayanthi is observed today.

This was the day yugas ago when Lord Narayana manifested as Lion-Man Form to annihilate the demon Hiranya kasipu.  The speciality of this Avatar is that there was dushta-nigraha (annihilation of evil) and sishta-varada (boon to deserving) occuring simultaneously.

The Infinite - Formless Almighty pervaded the Whole Universe anticipating the wish of His Devotee - the child Prahlaada (to manifest in a moment's notice from whichever place the child devotee points out).

From a planetary remedial perspective, worship of Lord Narasimha will reinforce the positive traits of Mars - like courage, adventurous spirit, and boundless energy.

Those who are afflicted by negative entities (be it due to black magic or incidental accumulation of negative elementals unconsciously during visit to places that abound in negative energy vibes) and those tormented by debts/ financial issues will get speedy relief by worshipping Lord Narasimha.

Special worship is being done at our place in this connection.  We will be praying for Universal Welfare with our own resources and hence not inviting any sponsorship for this performance from other devotees.  You are all included in these prayers.

At your own end, you may offer simple worship meditating on that powerful Manifestation of Almighty and be blessed in every way.

You may offer simple naivedyas like paanakam (jaggery solution) or vadas in His Honour.

May He with the amazing Form of Man-Lion, Who annihilated Hiranyakasipu, Who was Immensely Pleased by the Child-Devotee Prahlaadaa, and Whose Roar pervaded and shook the entire Universe bless us all with boundless energy, courage and positivity.

Blessed be.

Pandit R DAKSHINA MOORTHI
Astrological and Remedial consultant
dakshinastrologer@yahoo.co.in

Mohini Ekaadasi - 2016

Dear Members:

The auspicious Mohini Ekaadasi falls on May 16/ May 17, 2016.

SCHEDULE OF THE FAST FOR DIFFERENT PLACES ON EARTH:

a) For those living in East Coast of USA and Canada - smaartha ekaaasi is to be observed on May 16, 2016.

b) Those living in East Coast of USA, and Canada - and observe Vaishnavite traditions must observe this on May 17, 2016.

c) Those living in rest of the world - including India - must observe this on May 17, 2016.

This is a fast that is believed to give relief from sufferings arising out of our sins of previous births, and give merit that is more than what could be obtained by taking 100s of theertha snaanams.

May our members observe this fast as per their abilities and become recipients of Divine Grace.




  Pandit R.DAKSHINAMOORTHI
Astrological and Remedial consultant
 dakshinastrologer@yahoo.co.in

Akshaya trithiyai today - May 9, 2016

Akshaya Trithiyai vrattam falls is observed today.

This is an auspicious day when Lord Brahma started Creation in the beginning of the Chatur Yugas. Today is Kruta Yugathi. Lord Parasuraama's Jayanthi is also today only. Venerating Lord Parasuraama who vanquished the rulers who had forgotten the ethical ways of conducting affairs is auspicious today. May His Grace ensure that a strong leader assumes the leadership of our country, and take it forward.

This is a very important day for spiritual aspirants. This is a day when siddhis (yogic powers) seek out sincere aspirants! Arjuna obtained Pasupatha Astra, Lord Shiva got Biksha from Annapoorani to remove his  Brahmahathi dosha, and various devotees have also got siddhis on this auspicious day.

Kshaya means destruction; akshaya means - that which does not get destroyed or that which is ever increasing. So, any auspicious activity that we indulge in today will have manifold benefits. Those who are performing mantra japas should capitalize on this wonderful day and energize their mantras. Students can consider joining new courses (including summer courses on music, martial arts, swimming, painting, etc.).

This is a day when any activity can be done without regard to usual taboos of vaara, thithi, or nakshatra dosha. Any act of charity or donation done on this day will give manifold results. So, you may consider donating money to charities of your choice (it can be as little as Rs.1/- to a poor beggar on the street! The amount or to whom you donate is not important....but the attitude with which you offer the donations is most important). Now a days, there is an unnecessary business fad promoted by commercial establishments about "purchasing" gold/ silver/ other valuables (I think Platinum ads are also making headway recently in the tube!). Though it is true that purchasing auspicious articles on that day will prove good, it is definitely not correct to do such purchases with "borrowed" money or on debts, just on the belief that purchasing something on that day is good. You can purchase valuables with your own money if you have saved for them. Borrowing money just for purchasing on that day is definitely not recommended because, your "borrowing" might become akshaya is it not???? (Just my logic!!!!)Of course, if you have been planning to purchase some valuables with your savings for sometime now, you may consider purchasing the items on this day. But, mere purchasing valuables on the Akshaya trithiyai day is not going to magically alter your fortunes. I request our members not to fall into that superstitious trap that has gained currency now-a-days.This day is more about learning, acquiring wisom, performing acts of merit and such other Higher Purposes rather than mere acquisition of valuables. This day is too precious to be spent on standing in long-ques outside jewellery shops! Instead, consider visiting a nearby temple and doing some cleaning work on the premises, volunteering in a hospital, donating blood to a blood-bank, donating old clothes or sweets to Homes for the destitutes/ old persons, or taking blessings from elders in your family or community.

On this note, I also wish to emphasize....please don't fall prey to sensation-mongering of websites or "spiritual businessmen"....while it is true that performing austerities on Akshaya Trithiyai day is auspicious and can give manifold benefits, there is definitely NO OBLIGATION FOR ANYONE to do any ritual on this day (some websites/ magazines have this habit of "sensationalizing" spiritually potent days saying "this is the pooja you MUST do!"  There is no MUST DO vratams on akshaya Trithiyai day).  Vedic religion never insists on any austerity except the karmas that one must do as obligatory duties to one's parents/ children/ wife or siblings (the samskaaraas!).  These special occasions like Akshaya trithiyai fall under "naimittika karma" - where one CAN OPTIONALLY do special rituals if situations permit and one feels inclined to acquire merit.  Don't be threatened or psyched into doing anything by reading some magazine or website.  If you wish to do any austerity, or temple pooja - fine...let God within you inspire you to do it; don't think there is a specific format to the poojas and that is how it must be done and open your purse strings to be manipulated by someone else for their own base needs.

Austerities are going on at our place - for Universal Welfare.

May all our members derive immense spiritual and mundane benefits remembering God or doing simple charities/ austerities per each one's individual capacity and situation and  become recipients of Divine Grace.

Blessed be.

Pandit R. DAKSHINA MOORTHI
dakshinastrologer@yahoo.co.in

Varuthini ekaadasi 2016

Dear Members:



The auspicious Varuthini Ekaadashi (Chaitra Krishna ekaadashi) falls on May 3, 2016 this year; it is to be observed on the same day throughout the world.  Smaartha Ekaadasi for those living in U.S. and Canada must be observed on May 2, 2016 (per Vaishnava Sampradaaya, even people in US and Canada must observe this on May 3, 2016 only).

Glory of the Varuthini ekaadashi



The glory of the Varuthini Ekaadashi has been explained in the Bhavishya uttara puraaana in the form of a discourse between Yudhishtira Maharaaj and Lord Krishna.



On a specific request from Shri Yudhisthira, Lord Krishna explains that whosoever observes a complete fast on this sacred day has his sins completely removed, obtains happiness, and achieves all good fortune. Fasting on Varuthini Ekaadasi makes even an unfortunate woman fortunate (There are some horoscopic combinations in a female chart - like Visha Kanya yoga, vaidavya yoga, vandhya dosha, etc. that can spoil family happiness and bring much ill luck; Lord Krishna's saying that this fast will make even an unfortunate woman fortunate refers to such horoscopes. So, this ekaadasi fast on Varuthini ekaadashi can be suggested as remedy for such horoscopes). Lord Krishna further says that this ekaadashi has the potential of freeing a soul from the miseries of repeated rebirth.



Various kings like King Maandaatta, Dhundhumaaraa, etc. have been benefitted by this. King Mandaattaa obtained liberation; King Dhundhumaara - who suffered from leprosy as a result of curse from Lord Shiva was freed from it.



Whatever merit one obtains by performing austerities and penances for ten thousand years is achieved by a person who observes this Varuthini ekaadashi properly.



The method of observing this ekaadashi



The following things should be given up on the Dashami thithi (the day before the fast) - eating on bell-metal plates, eating any kind of urad-dhal, eating red-lentils, consuming honey, eating in other's houses, conjugal relationships.



On the day of ekaadashi, one should observe fast (complete fast is recommended), and listen to Shri Hari's stories from the mouth of spiritual persons, or engage oneself in Divine Contemplation quietly. One should avoid speaking ill of others (even sinners should not be spoken about badly on this day), keep oneself ritually clean, and spend the day in Divine Worship and contemplation. [My notes: Those who cannot fast completely should at least avoid eating beans and rice/ whole grains on this day, and should just consume fruit juices/ milk without honey].



On the Dwaadashi thithi, again one should avoid eating in bell-metal plates, eating urud-dhal (black-gram), hard exercises, eating more than once, having oil bath, shaving body, face, or head, and eating in other's home. [Eating in other's home refers to eating outside; home of parents, in-laws, daughter/ son, disciple's house/ Guru's house, close friend who is alike oneself in observance of spiritual duties are not considered other's houses as per shastras; so, one can consume food in these places as long as the food has been prepared as per ritual conditions of purity].



One who remains awake on this ekaadashi night and meditates upon/ worships Lord Janaardhana will nullify all sins of previous birth and will attain Supreme Abode of Lord Vishnu.



Lord Krishna says that listening to/ reading the glory of this Varuthini Ekaadashi with devotion is equivalent to the merit obtained by gifting 1000 cows!



May our members observe this holy fast and become more lucky, and also become blessed enough to attain Ultimate Salvation by the Grace of Shri Hari Vishnu.



Subham Bhavantu!



Blessed be.

Pandit R. DAKSHINAMOORTHI

www.kasamba.com/psychic/pandit-dakshinamoorthi