Apara Ekaadasi 2017

The Holy Apara Ekadasi for this year is to be observed on May 22, 2017 throughout the world, except for those living in U.S., Canada, and other countries of the American continents and observing smartha traditions - who will observe smaartha Ekaadasi on May 21, 2017 in these places.

Vaishnava ekaadasi for those living in U.S., Canada, and other countries of the American continents must be observed on May 22, 2017.

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

Mohini ekaadasi 2017

Dear Members:

The auspicious Mohini Ekaadasi falls on May 6, 2017; it is observed on the same day throughout the world.
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 hundreds 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 2017

Akshaya Trithiyai vrattam falls is observed on 28th/ 29th April , 2017 this year.

SCHEDULE OF AKSHAYA TRITHIYAI FOR DIFFERENT PLACES ON EARTH

a) For those living in U.S.A, Canada, and other places of American continents, Akshaya trithiyai and Parasuraama Jayanthi must be observed on April 28th.

b) For those living in African countries, Europe, Gulf Countries, Pakistan, India, Central parts of Russia, China, Bangaladesh, Myanmar, Malaysia, Akshaya trithiyai and Parasuraama Jayanthi must be observed on April 28th.

c) For those living in Indonesia, Singapore, Phillipines, Malacca, Brunei, Japan, Fiji, New Zealand, and Australia, Akshaya trithiyai should be observed on April 29th while Parasuraama Jayanthi must be observed on April 28th.

In short - Parasuraama Jayanthi is observed on April 28th throughout the world.  Akshaya trithiyai for most countries (including India) will be on April 28th - and countries to the East of Malaysia must observe Akshaya trithiyai on April 29th.

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 observed in this connection as seen above. 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 will be done 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