Padmini Ekaadasi - July 29, 2023

Dear Members:

The auspicious Padmini Ekaadasi is to be observed on July 29, 2023 throughout the world. Padmini Ekaadasi is the ekaadasi that falls in the shukla paksha of the adhika maasa (lunar leap month - the additional lunar month in a year - that happens roughly once in 2.5 to 3 years; the previous Padmini Ekadasi was observed in the end of September 2020). Observance of this fast properly is believed to give merit equivalent to performance of Raajasuya yaaga (besides other yagnyas if one maintains a full night prayer vigil per norms of the shastras), and ensures attainment of Abode of Lord Vishnu after one's term on this plane of existence.

Method of observing the fast:

If possible, devotees should refrain from eating right from the previous night (on dasami night itself) and in the morning, purificatory bath should be taken with a small amount of clay (or sand from holy rivers or just plain clean sand/ clay/ mud - smearing mud/ clay/ sand on face and limbs and washing them off; you may even use multani mitti or gopi chandan in lieu of fresh mud/ clay/ river-sand), and with aamla powder (aamla seeds dried and powdered and used as bathing powder- this can be obtained from Indian medicine shops).

The day should be spent in as much of Divine Contemplation as if feasible, and we should avoid criticizing anyone for any reason, talking ill of pious persons/ religious heads for any reason, and unnecessary gossip against anyone.

A whole-night vigil would be beneficial...

During the first quarter of the Ekadasi night the devotee should offer some coconut to his / her favourite Deity (Isthadeva), during the second part bel fruit should be offered (aamla pieces acceptable in lieu if you can't procure bel fruit), during the third part an orange, and as the night draws to a close some betel nut. Remaining awake during the first part of the Ekadasi night bestows on the devotee/sadhaka the same merit as that gained by performing the Agnistoma-yajna. Staying awake during the second part of the night bestows the same merit as that gained by performing a Vajapeya-yajna. Stay awake during the third part gives one the same merit as that attained by performing an Ashvamedha-yajna. And one who remains awake throughout the night receives all of the above mentioned merit, as well as the grand merit of having performed a Rajasooya-yajna. Thus there is no better fasting day in the year than Padmini Ekadasi.( This rare opportunity comes to us once in two-three years - BUT human life is ephemeral - no one knows when Time will come calling upon us - so, we should take up austerities for our soul on special auspicious days as if this day is our very last day and our very last chance to redeem our souls).

After remaining awake throughout the night, the devotee should bathe at sunrise (on the day after the fast - on Dwaadasi day) and then worship Lord Vishnu nicely. He should then feed a qualified brahmin (or a pious devotee or spiritual person) and respectfully give him the Deity of Lord Keshava and the pot filled with pure scented water. This gift will guarantee the devotee success in this life and liberation in the hereafter.

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If the entire procedure is not feasible to follow due to normal life circumstances, I would recommend each and every spiritual person to follow the Ekaadasi fast to the extent feasible for them in their lives (if not a full fast, try to subsist on fruits/ milk or skip at least one meal in Honour of our Lord, or whatever is possible for you in light of your health conditions and prior training regarding fasting) in Honour of Lord Vishnu and reap the spiritual benefits of this wonderful day. Try to indulge in some sort of pious activity in whatever small way you can - right from chanting simple Raama naama whenever possible during the day for those who can't set apart time for an elaborate pooja extending to reading whole work of Naaraaneeyam, or Sundara Kaandam, or many repetitions of Shri Vishnu Sahasranaamam or Shrimad Bhagavat Gita for those who can afford to allot time like that for such intense and long austerities.

May Lord Vishnu's Grace pervade the Universe and bring peace, prosperity, and progress to all living beings.

Blessed be.

Pandit R DAKSHINA MOORTHI

Kaamika Ekaadasi 2023

Dear Members:

The auspicious Kaamika ekaadasi is to be observed on  July 13, 2023 this year.

It is to be observed on the same day by people living around the world.

Merits of this ekaadasi (from Brahmavaivarta puraanam)....

Observing the kaamikaa ekaadasi gives one the merit that accrues out of bathing in sacred rivers. Offering Tulsi to Lord Mahaavishnu on this day pleases our Lord more than offerings of even the Nine Gemstones of rarest quality! A devotee who does proper worship of Lord Vishnu with Tulsi leaves on this ekaadashi day reaches Vaikuntam directly after the end of this life. Proper observance of this ekaadasi will please Yama Dharmaraaj also. It is customary to donate a ghee lamp/ sesame oil lamp to a Krishna temple on this ekaadashi day. Such a devotee will be blessed by all celestials. The merit accruing out of this ekaadashi is equivalent to that accruing out of recital of all Holy Scriptures.

Elsewhere, it has been mentioned by Lord Brahma to Sage Narada that the merit of observing this ekaadasi is equivalent to that obtained by donating a healthy cow along with her calf and one year's feed to a worthy vedic scholar. So, those who have vamsa Kshaya doshas in chart (yogas indicative of end of lineage due to past sins) might benefit by this ekaadasi which gives go-dhaana punya.

May our members observe this holy fast and become recipients of Divine Grace.

Blessed be.

Pandit R. DAKSHINAMOORTHI

www.kasamba.com/psychic/pandit-dakshinamoorthi

Guru Poornima 2023

Dear All:


Guru Poornima is to be observed on July 3, 2023 this year.

Guru Poornima is an auspicious day when we offer our respects to the Guru Paramparaa - the unbroken line of Gurus beginning from Lord Sadashivaa Himself to our individual Gurus. [Vaishnavas might remember the Guru Parampara beginning from Shriman Naarayanan Himself, followed by Devarishi Narada, and down the lineage to their own Gurus].,


Sanyaasis of aamnaaya mutts offer Vyaasa pooja on this occasion.  Remembering our mentors whoever guided our lives in ever-so-small ways, or did poojas on our behalf for our welfare with gratitude is the recommended activity today. Small offerings out of gratitude may be offered to family preceptors or people who have offered guidance to you in some way in the previous year if you can afford such offerings.

We are planning to do special austerities in this connection, and will pray for Universal Welfare.

Those who are initiated into Moola mantras of Shri Veda Vyaasa, Gorakhnaath, Sage Agasthya, Shri Medha Dakshinamoorthi, Shri Hayagreeva, Dattatreya, Hanumaan, Skanda, etc. can meditate on those Gurus with those mantra recitals.  Others may simply remember whomever they consider as their Gurus with devotion and gratitude today, or pay visit to them personally to get the blessings - if that is possible.

May Guru's Grace show us the light with which we can trace our way forward in our lives.

Best regards to everyone,

Blessed be.
Pandit R DAKSHINA MOORTHI.