Improve your luck on Holi SOUL JOURNEY
Q: Hi Mahesh, I read your column two years ago where you wrote about secret prayers during the period of the Holi celebration or around the month of March. Please could you provide that information again as I cannot find that article in my records. | V
A: The night of secret sadhana (prayers)
Holi is widely celebrated all over the world, but it is particularly celebrated in full splendour in Mathura and Vrindavan as a tribute to the divine love of Radha and Krishna.
This day also holds special significance as Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu appeared on this day. He is considered an incarnation of Lord Krishna.
This year it will be celebrated on March 17. It will also be celebrated in many places on March 18. There are a few stories associated with this festival.
Holi night, when there is also a full moon, is one of the nights in the calendar to do secret-sadhana to achieve a particular aim. Whatever your faith may be utilise this night fullest by worshipping the Divine in the form with MAHESH BANG
Send your name and surname, religion, date, place, time of birth and the advice you require to Mahesh Bang, tribuneherald@inl.co.za or call him at: 031 401 8888. of Jesus, Allah, Buddha, Krishna, Ram, Shiva, Shakti and other forms.
The story behind the festival of Holi
Once upon a time, there was an arrogant king called Hiranakashyapa, who resented his son Prahlad for worshipping Lord Vishnu. In his bid to stop his son, he tried to kill him several times but failed in his efforts. Finally, he took the help of his sister Holika, who possessed a divine shawl that could protect her from the heat of fire.
Holika sat in the fire with Prahlad on her lap, however, due to the devotion of bhakt Prahlad to Lord Vishnu, the shawl was transferred to him. The result was that while Holika burned to death, Prahlad came out of the fire unhurt. This is the reason why huge bonfires are burnt on the eve of Holi all over the country. This also symbolises the end of evil and the victory of good.
There are many tips to improve your luck astrologically on this divine, powerful night. A few of them are:
1. As there are a handful of temples that have a bonfire on this day, on this evening one should cook a sweet dish made of jaggery. Another substitute would be sweet rice. Offer this sweet dish to the bonfire and then sprinkle a little water on it before it is ignited.
2. You should dress in a celebratory mood on this day.
3. This is another one of the days of the year where families should dine together. It will strengthen the family bond.
4. If you believe you are affected by negative energy or some black magic then it will benefit you to follow the above ritual and you should go around the bonfire once in a clockwise direction.
7. Most important for the removal of bad eyes (nazar), take little ashes from the bonfire to your home, either on that day or the next morning. Use the ash to put a tilak. Afterwards, put whenever it’s required.
8. On any date between March 14 and 18, place a powdered colour with devotion on your deity in your prayer room as a tilak (dot) or go to the temple to enjoy this Holi festival in grandeur, whichever date is the scheduled programme.
9. If you are playing Holi with colours then donate the clothes you were wearing, once washed, to the poor. This is a tip to decrease poverty.
10. Children must take blessings from their parents. If your parents are pensioners, elderly and you can afford, give them a nice gift or some cash. This act can increase your prosperity.
11. There are many different types of prayer you can do on this night. For example: To improve finances, chant “Shreem” after the moon has appeared for 2 to 3 hours in front of a picture of Mother Lakshmi.
12. March 14 holds one of the most significant ekadashi’s in the year. On this day, millions of people visit the miraculous temple known as “Khatu Shyam Ji”, which is devoted to Lord Krishna, to take (blessing).