Tribute to those who laid their lives down so that others may live in peace

Dear Members:

As I am writing this post, Operation Cyclone - to flush out the terror elements has nearly concluded (the final sanitisation process - to ensure there are no residual bombs or explosives left behind by terrorists anywhere - is going on; but for all practical purposes, the flushing out operation is over).

195 lives have been lost in this 3-day saga of violence and terror, and many more have been injured. Countless others have been severely traumatized emotionally (many eye-witnesses have suffered shock syndrome and are reported to be uncommunicative even with their close relatives due to this shock).

Let us pray for the Brave Hearts who undertook this risky operation as a part of their duties and laid down their lives in the process. They have not died - but have ascended the Highest Planes of existence that is reserved for those who lay their lives down in courageous battles. We should not grieve them, but rather Honour their deaths. Let us remember them and Honour them in our memories.

The other innocent souls who have lost their lives in this terror attack need to be grieved. They are our sisters and brothers who have been caught in the vortex of terror in an unexpected manner. May God give the strength to their families to face this unexpected loss of lives of dear ones. In some cases, whole families might have been wiped out, and there may be no one left to do their last rites as per their religious convictions. In fact, there are reports of more than 25 unclaimed and unidentified bodies for the sites of terror. It is our duty as Fellow Human Beings to pray for salvation of those souls.

Please light a "Moksha Deepam" in front of your houses praying for the peace of soul of all those who have lost their lives (any small lamp made of clay or brass can be lit; please use sesame oil / pure ghee for this lamp; you may light candles instead if that is more consistent with your faith) . Offer a small portion of water mixed with sindhoor/ kumkum at the base of the lamp/ candle in Honour of our brave soldiers who have laid down their lives in the line of duty.

Those of you who have access to copies of Shrimad Vaalmiiki Raamaayan may recite Jataayu Moksha chapter (chapter describing the Eagle Jataayu's fight with Ravana and laying down its life in the process) in Honour of our Deceased Men in Uniform.

May their souls rest in peace.

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

Guru Peyarchi - Jupiter Transit into sidereal Capricorn on December 9, 2008

Jupiter enters Sidereal Capricorn (Makara Rashi) on December 9, 2008 at 23-41 hrs (IST).For a short period between 1st May 2009 and 30th July 2009, it transits Aquarius in atichaaraa (unusually fast movement). It reverts back to Makara rashi on 30th July 2009 at 19-48 hours IST. And remains there till 19th December 2009. Thus for a major part of the year 2009, Jupiter transits sidereal Capricorn.

This transit is auspicious for Vrishabha, Kataka, Kanya, Dhanus, and Meena rashis. Persons born in other rashis may need to perform some remedies to overcome the adverse transit of Jupiter.

I have created a separate blog for the detailed transit effects for various rashis. You may read the predictions relevant to your rashi by clicking on the appropriate link on the right hand side of that blog. Those who wish to sponsor the Guru Peyarchi homams may do so by clicking the "donate" button below the article. I have not fixed any amount for donation to enable you to donate as per your capacity (those who can afford may donate more, while those who are in tough situations may donate less; it is at your discretion and convenience). Of course, the donation is entirely voluntary and optional.

Please note that prasad of the homam will not be sent to you by post/ courier. Your name, star, rashi, and gothra details will be included in the homam sankalpam which is an "in-absentia" participation from your side. Of course, those who are able to come in person are most welcome to do so after prior intimation to me.

You may read the detailed transit effects for various rashis by following the link:
www.dakshinastrogurupeyarchi.blogspot.com
http://www.dakshinastrogurupeyarchi.blogspot.com/

Blessed be.

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

Utpanna Ekaadasi on November 22/ 23, 2008

Dear Members:

The auspicious Utpanna Ekaadasi falls on November 22/ 23, 2008 this year.

The fast schedule for different places on the earth:

1) Smaartha Ekaadasi for those residing in USA, Canada, Carribean Isles, and South American Countries - November 22, 2008. (fast should be broken on November 23, 2008)

2) Vaishnava Ekaadasi for those residing in USA, Canada, Carribean Isles, and South American countries - November 23, 2008 (fast should be broken on November 24, 2008)

3) Sarva Ekaadasi (common for both smaartha and Vaishnava traditions) for other countries of the world - November 23, 2008 (fast should be broken on November 24, 2008).

This Utpanna Ekaadasi is special because this was the day when Ekaadasi Devi - the Patron Deity of this Fast manifested from the Power of Lord Mahaa Vishnu.

Mura - a demon brought all the planes of existence under his control and forced the demi-gods like Indra away from their positions of authority. The devas approached Lord Mahaadeva for a solution to their predicament. Lord Shiva instructed them to claim protection by surrendering to Lord Maha Vishnu. The demi-gods accordingly approached the Holy Abode of Shriman Naaraayana, praised Him with devotional fervour extolling His virtues, His Divine Might, and His Glories, and requested His help in the matter of vanquishing the demon Mura.

Lord Vishnu instructed them to advance to the abode of the demon, and Himself went along with them. The demi-gods scattered away from the battle-field on meeting with relentless aggression from the demon army. The attacking demons met their nemesis in Shriman Naaraayana - who vanquished hosts and hosts of demons with His Divine Weaponry.

At last, the chief of the demons - Mura himself came to meet our Lord in the battle field. The Divine Weapons caused no harm to Mura due to his previous boons. At last, Lord Vishnu decided to engage the demon in arm-to-arm combat; this combat went on for one thousand celestial years! Lord Vishnu decided to retire from the battle and retired to a deep cave. (He feigned tiredness and fear! Though the Bhavishya Uttara Purana uses words such as "I went there (to a cave) out of fear and also to sleep, we should take it as our Lord's Play only. Lord Maha Vishnu - the Ultimate Supreme Being need not be "afraid" of a demon, nor can he ever feel "tired". This was a Divine Play to vanquish the demon in a special way, and He must have feigned tiredness and fear....only this can be the right interpretation of this episode).

The demon Mura followed Lord Vishnu, and on seeing Him asleep, the demon decided to finish Him off. However, from the body of Our Lord, a young Divine Maiden manifested, and She fought tirelessly with the demon, and ultimately vanquished him, putting an end to the saga of his unrighteous domination over the Universe.

The Divine Maiden pleaded a boon from Lord Vishnu upon His Waking up (His sleep and Waking up again are all Divine Plays! It should not be taken too literally).

""The maiden said, "O Lord, if You are pleased with me and wish to give me a boon, then give me the power to deliver that person who fasts of this day from even from the greatest of sins . I wish that half the pious credit obtained by one who fasts will accrue to one who eats only in the evening (abstaining from grains and beans), and that half of this pious credit will be earned by one who eats only at midday. Also, may one who strictly observes a complete fast on my appearance day, with controlled senses, go to the abode of Lord Vishnu for one billion kalpas after he has enjoyed all kinds of pleasures in this world. This is the boon I desire to attain by Your mercy, my Lord, O Lord Janardana, whether a person observes complete fasting, eats only in the evening, or eats only at midday, please grant him a religious attitude, wealth, and at last liberation."

"'The Supreme Lord said, "O most auspicious lady, what you have requested is granted. All My devotees in this world will surely fast on your day, and thus they will become famous throughout the three worlds and finally come and stay with me in My abode. As you, My transcendental potency, have appeared on the eleventh day of the waning moon, let your name be Ekaadasi. If a person fasts on Ekaadasi, I will burn up all his sins and bestow upon him My transcendental abode."

Ekaadasi fast is thus the greatest of all fasts as it was sanctioned by the Supreme Lord Himself. Fasting on ekaadasi properly helps a person to vanquish all the dangerous enemies who can threaten one's prospects (the greatest enemies are a person's own undesirable vaasanaas, and obsessions which are internalized in the person's psyche. That is the actual mystic import of this legend though it might have occured in reality also in a distant kalpa!), and thus bless the person with material prosperity while alive, and Eternal Salvation after this incarnation on earth.

The day when Lord Vishnu's Yogic power manifested outwardly as Ekaadashi is Utpanna Ekaadashi. By tradition, a child who attains 7th year of age in this life is initiated into Ekaadashi fast gradually beginning from this Utpanna Ekaadashi of that year(the first fast of a tender child should not be too intense; the child should be taught the basics of ekaadashi fast like abstaining from certain foods - grains, beans, and outside food; chanting Divine Names of Lord Vishnu; the child should not be made to endure a full fast - rather, the child should be trained to survive on fruits/ juices, milk, etc., or just made to skip meals once. Then gradually, the child can graduate to a full fast if it agrees well with the child). This is an auspicious day to begin ekaadasi fast as a life-time discipline for anyone who has not fasted before, but wishes to do so in the future. [More guidelines about ekaadasi fast can be checked in previous write-ups in this blog].

The glory of a fast on this Holiest of Days need not be elaborated any further. May our members enjoy Divine Bliss by observing this Holy Ekaadasi fast to the extent of their abilities.

Blessed be.

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