Auspicious nights for worship SOUL JOURNEY
HINDUS deem some nights auspicious for material and spiritual success. These nights are so magical that worshipping with sincerity can alter your destiny, making it more favourable even if it’s not written in your horoscope.
One can easily tap the divine cosmic energy through proper prayer and rituals at these auspicious times.
Among such nights are Hanuman Jayanti, Navarathri, Janmashtami, Sharad Purnima, Diwali and Shivarathri. Holi night is also very auspicious to do secret prayers.
On Diwali, Sharad Purnima and Navarathri, devotees can please Mother Lakshmi easily.
Diwali is a five-day festival, with the first three days crucial to pleasing Mother Lakshmi.
On the first evening, called Dhanteras (October 22), light 11 diyas (clay lamps) to invite Mother Lakshmi. It is a good time to buy any metal or stainless steel kitchen item etc. It is believed that buying metal on this day increases your wealth throughout the year. Special note: On this evening, a person should light a big diya comprising four wicks facing the four different direction points. This diya must be placed at the entrance door.
Roop Chaudas is the second Diwali day, and is often known as Choti Diwali (October 23). Ten diyas should be added to the ones put out the previous day, which would increase the tally of diyas to 21.
“Roop” means beauty, while “Chaudas” is the Hindu date.
On the day before Diwali, you should wake about an hour before sunrise, while the stars are still out, and take a bath. Once you’re dressed, stargaze for a minute.
While doing this, you will feel like you are receiving positive energy from the universe to keep you healthy and beautiful. This will keep your skin glowing throughout the year.
Note: While bathing, don’t turn on the light; instead light a diya containing mustard oil.
According to the legends, on this day:
¡ The powerful demon Raktabija was killed by the Goddess
Kali. This day is also known as Kali-chaturdashi and the Goddess should be worshipped.
¡ The demon Narakasura was slain by Lord Krishna and Satyabhama. This day is also referred as Narak-chaturdashi and Lord Krishna should be worshipped.
On the third evening of Diwali (October 24) the most powerful and sacred night of the year, to please Maha Lakshmi, you should add a further 10 diyas or even increase your total diyas to 51 or 108. You should chant “Shreem”, (pronounced as Shree-em) 108 to 1 080 times.
While chanting, concentrate on a picture of Mother Lakshmi on a lotus flower, with two elephants and their raised trunks on either side or her.
The fourth day of the Diwali celebration is Govardhan Pooja (October 26). This prayer is performed
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by making a hill called Govardhan Parbat using cow dung to make a small mould. Early in the morning it is usually placed at the entrance of the front gate of the home, where it is worshipped for this day. It is believed there was once a drought in a village in Vrindavan. The villagers were worried and wanted to pray to Lord Indra (God of Heaven).
At the time, Lord Krishna convinced the villagers they should instead pray to Mount Govardhan. This made Lord Indra angry and he sent a big thunderstorm to flood the village. Lord Krishna lifted Mount Govardhan to form an umbrella over the village and protect the villagers and their cattle.
Govardhan has since been worshipped on this day. It is the manifestation of Lord Krishna, so Lord Krishna is also known as Govardhan Dhari.
Note: This year, on October 25, there is a one-day gap between Diwali and Govardhan Pooja as per astrological calculations.
Bhai Dooj (October 27) is the last day of the five-day Diwali festival. On this day, sisters show their love by putting a tilak or vermillion mark on the forehead of their brothers.
They perform aarti (prayer) for their brothers and show the light of the holy flame as a mark of love and protection from evil forces.
The sisters, in turn, are spoiled with gifts, goodies and blessings from their brothers.
In India, legends are the backbone of the festival. They are also a great way for parents to interest the younger generation and impart the values of Indian festivals.
Legends of Bhai Dooj:
It’s believed that on this day
Lord Yamaraj (Lord of Death) visits his sister Yami, who put the auspicious mark on his forehead and prayed for his well-being. It is said that anyone who receives a tilak from a sister will increase his luck on this day.
On the auspicious day of Bhai Dooj, Lord Krishna, after slaying the Narakasura demon, goes to his sister, Subhadra, where she welcomes him with a lamp, sweets and flowers. She puts the holy protective tilak on his forehead.
With this legend in mind, the festival of Bhai Dooj is celebrated with enthusiasm.