chitra Pournami on April 27/ 28, 2010

Dear members:

The auspicious Chitra Pournami vrattam falls on April 27/ April 28, 2010 this year.

Those in the U.S. and other nations of American continents should observe this on April 27, 2010. Persons living in other regions of the world should observe this on April 28, 2010.

Please note that those who perform monthly Pournami pooja or Sathyanaaraayana vratam should perform that on April 27, 2010 - throughout the world. The different in dates is applicable only for observance of Chitrapournami austerities.

Austerities in connection with Chitrapournami/ chitragupta pooja:


It is customary to eat curd rice (preferably curd of buffalo!) without salt on that day and to fast without eating anything else. In any case, avoiding salt in food items throughout the day is recommended on that day, if possible.

Special worship is done in Honour of Lord ChitraGupta - the Divine Accountant - who keeps an account of our karmas, and appeals for forgiveness for our shortcomings are raised on this day. Those who can afford a visit, should pay a visit to Kanchipuram Chitra Gupta temple -an ancient one which is very ancient and powerful.

In Madurai Meenakshi amman temple, DevEndr Pooja is done on Chitra Pournami day (it is believed that it is on this day Indra came across a Golden Lotus in a pond with which He worshipped Lord Shiva of the temple; the temple tank of Madurai Meenaakshi amman temple is called Golden Lotus tank still). So, paying a visit to Shri Meenaakshi SundarEshwara temple today is also auspicious and can relieve one of the sins such as insult to Gurus (In fact, Indra did the pooja on Chitra Pournami to propitiate Lord Shiva and get remedied from burden of sins that He committed in the absence of His Guru Brihaspati, who was incognito for some period following an argument with Indra).


Chitra Gupta can be easily pleased by uttering the following names:

"Om Chitraaya namah"
"Om Chitraguptaaya namah"
"Om Karma saakshine namah"
"Om nirdoshaaya namah"
"Om Kaarunya roopine namah"
"Om Dharmaraaja parivaarakaaya namah"

While reciting these names, Chitra Gupta should be meditated upon as a short human form attired in traditional Indian attire with a turban, shining ear rings, and having a bunch of palm leaf scrolls and a pen for writing karmic accounts. His consort is Goddess Karnaambikai.

Mantra for praising and saluting Shri Chitragupta

"Chitragupta namastubhyam lEkaaksharadaayakam

LEkanii katinii hasta chitragupta namOastutE"

The day should be spent by giving contributions to charities, doing meritorious deeds as per one's convenience, and spending the day in contemplation and introspection with the firm affirmation to reduce performance of sinful activities in the coming year.

Performance of this Chitra Pournami vrattam is a powerful remedy for afflictions of ketu in the horoscope. So, those under ketu dasa/ bhukti or those suffering from marital difficulties or delay in progeny caused by affliction of ketu in horoscopes can benefit much by this Chitra Pournami vratta and Chitragupta poojaa.

May our members celebrate this Holy Day and get relief from burden of sins.

Blessed be.
Pandit R. DAKSHINAMOORTHI
www.liveperson.com/pandit-dakshinamoorthi

Padmini ekaadasi

Dear Members:

The rare Padmini ekaadasi which is observed only during an adhika maasa falls on April 24/ 25, 2010 this year. The schedule of observance of the fast is as follows:

1) For those in USA, Caribbean Isles, Mauritius, and other countries of the American continents, U.K., European countries, African nations, and those living in the Gulf countries - the ekaadasi fast should be observed on April 24, 2010.

2) For those living in India, - the smaartha tradition adherents should observe the ekaadasi on 24th April 2010, and those observing Vaishnava traditions should observe the ekaadasi fast on 25th April, 2010.

3) For those living in Malaysia, Singapore, Myanmar, Japan, New Zealand, Australia, and Fiji - the ekaadasi (for both smaartha and vaishnava traditions) should be observed on April 25, 2010.

This Ekaadasi has a very special significance - it is named after Kaartaveeryaarjuna's mother Queen Padmini.

King Kritaveeryaa - a famous and mighty kshatriya king of yore enjoyed all glory in his life except that he had no heir to succeed his throne. So he decided to go to the forest and do intense tapasya to please Lord Vishnu and possibly get the boon of a child. Queen Padmini also followed her mighty husband; they made their ashram near the ashram of Sage Atri.

Even after intense austerities, the royal couple could not get manifest boon. Queen Padmini consulted Sage Atri's wife - Anusuya Devi (the Mother of Dattatreya - the avatar who incorporated the Powers of the Trinity and took His Form), and was promptly advised to observe ekaadasi in the adhika maasa (a solar month that has two Amaavasyas; in lunar calendar, it is the extra lunar month - because lunar month begins the day after Amavasya, so the first month after the first amaavasya of the solar month is the extra or adhika maasa; this is adhika vaisaakha month this time). By observance of this adhika ekaadasi, the royal couple were blessed with the son named Kaartaveeryaarjuna. The glory of Kaartaveeryaarjuna needs no special mention. He was so mighty that He could defeat even the mighty Raavana (He did not kill Raavana because that was not the destined way; so, by a turn of Fate, they became close friends to each other after their initial encounter!).

It is worth mentioning that Kaartaveeryaarjuna was none other than the Holy Disc of Lord Vishnu who was cursed to take human birth due to his pride and jealousy (The Holy Disc thought that it was its own power that enabled Shri Vishnu to annihilate demons and hence deserved equal reverence and glory as Shri Vishnu without realizing that the yogic power of Shri Vishnu only manifested as the Disc's power to destroy demons; hence the Holy Disc had to incarnate as a human being and have an encounter with Parasuraama - the Avatar of Shri Vishnu and be defeated so that the taint of unworthy pride is removed from its Holy Aura!).

Thus this Padmini ekaadasi - the ekaadasi that enabled Queen Padmni to beget a glorious son - who was actually a Divine Soul - can bless us all also with rare boons in life.

Incidentally the adhika maasa (literally means the extra month) is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and hence named Purushottama maasa.

Let us all observe this glorious of fasts and be blessed with rare boons in life.

Click the Buy Now button below if you wish to sponsor this Padmini ekaadasi special pooja (you can offer any amount you wish to donate for this pooja; I am not putting a tab on it so that anyone can participate in this even by offering a very nominal fee as per individual financial situation or convenience)

Please note that we will not be sending any prasad by post after completion of this pooja. Your offering will be used to cover pooja costs or other charitable expenditure to ensure that the merit of this offering accrues to you. You may also offer any donation to charitable institutions of your choice in your own area instead of clicking on the buy now button of this site. This "buy now" button is purely to allow persons who wish to donate or sponsor charitable activities through this blog on this very special day. This is for your information.

Blessed be.
Pandit R. DAKSHINAMOORTHI.

Varuthini Ekaadasi, April 2010

Dear Members:



The auspicious Varuthini Ekaadashi (Chaitra Krishna ekaadashi) falls on April 09/ 10th/11th, 2010 this year depending on the geographical location as given below:



1) This is to be observed on April 09th by those in the U.S. , Canada, South American countries, and West Indies, and those living in European nations.

2) This is to be observed on April 10th by those living in Gulf countries, India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Maldives, China, Japan, and Australia.

3) This is to be observed on April 11th by those living in New Zealand and Fiji Islands.



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.liveperson.com/pandit-dakshinamoorthi