Ruby Gemstone and its Benefits

Ruby is one of the most ancient and beautiful gemstone among the Navratna. The word Ruby is derived from the Latin word 'Rufus'. The Ruby gemstone has been a popular gemstone in almost all ancient civilizations since the last 2500 years. Ruby is known as Manik in Hindi, owing to it's popularity the Ruby Gemstone is also known as 'Ratnaraj' meaning the king among Gemstone.

The color of the Ruby gemstone varies from the shades of pink to blood red. In Vedic Astrology the Ruby gemstone is ruled by the planet Sun or Surya Dev. The Ruby gemstone blesses the wearer with name, fame and wealth. The stone is highly recommended to individuals who aspire to hold high offices or budding actors and politicians. Doctors, lawyers and engineers should also wear Ruby for professional growth.

Wearing a Ruby gemstone induces vigor in an individual and elevates him to positions of power. Ruby also blesses the wearer with wisdom, knowledge, good health and self-confidence and more. The Ruby gemstone also dispels all negativities and attracts positivity and enhances financial stability.

Ruby is highly recommended to individuals that have a weakly placed Surya in their horoscope or to individuals who are suffering from Surya Dosha or have an imbalanced Manipura Chakra. On a therapeutic level the Ruby gemstone provides relief from indigestion, lethargy, gastric ulcer, weight problem, liver issues, arthritis and diabetes.

Yantras and their Benefits

Yantras meaning machines are sacred tool that help devotees achieve divine blessing and various objectives. Yantras are sacred geometries which when activated through specific Beej mantras provide the desired results. Different Yantras are used for different purposes, such as Kuber Yantra is used for acquisition of wealth whereas Mahamritunjaya Yantra is used for protection and more. 

Yantras are geometric representation of Mantras and installing a Yantra is as good as chanting of the said Mantra. Yantras when placed at home or office disperses negativity and negative energies and attracts positivity. Yantras are available in different sizes and designs such as pocket Yantra, locket Yantra, desktop Yantra and more. 

Maha Yantras are powerful combination of similar Yantras which are used for a specific purpose. Examples for Maha Yantras are Sarvasiddhi Yantra, Shree Sampoorna Mahalaxmi Maha Yantra, Sarva Karya Siddhi Maha Yantra and more. Depending upon the two dimensional or three dimensional nature Yantras are classified as Bhu and Meru, where Meru are three dimensional in nature.  

Yantras are etched, drawn, incised or painted on various surfaces and materials such as copper, gold, silver, bhojpatra, ground and more. The installation of the Yantra in homes or workplaces is known as ‘Pranaprathishtha’ of the Yantra. Some of the most popular types of yantras are Laxmi Yantra, Ganesh Yantra, Kuber Yantra, Akarshan Yantra, Mahamritunjay Yantra, Kaal Sarp Yantra, Navgrah Yantra, Durga Yantra and Hanuman Yantra. For more information or buy Yantras visit here : http://www.rudraksha-ratna.com/yantra.html 

Navratri 2014 – The Nine Nights Festival

Navratri - Navdurga Festival 2014

Navratri 2014, the nine day grandeur festival dedicated to Goddess Durga will be celebrated from September 25^th till October 3^rd in 2014. During the Navratri festival which means nine nights, 9 forms of Goddess Durga are worshipped and revered. The period of Navratri is considered as most auspicious to worship the divine mother Goddess Durga and do Shakti Sadhanas.

During the festival of Navratri, for nine consecutive days and nights devotees fast, offer ritualistic Navratri Puja and also become part of colorful celebrations. The festival of Sharad Navratri is celebrated during the Hindu calendar month of Ashwin which is around September-October as per Gregorian calendar. The festival of Navratri is celebrated all across India with some variations.

During the nine days of Navratri, Goddess Durga is worshipped in Her nine forms namely Goddess Shailputri, Goddess Brahmacharini, Goddess Chandraghanta, Goddess Kushmanda, Goddess Skandamata, Goddess Katyayani, Goddess Kalratri, Goddess Maha Gauri and Goddess Siddhidatri. After nine days the festival of Navratri ends on the day of Dusshera or Vijayadashami.

During the nine days of Navratri, the first 3 days are dedicated to Goddess Durga, the second third to Goddess Lakshmi and the final third to Goddess Saraswati. On the ninth day of Navratri, ‘Kanya Puja’ is done when nine young girls symbolizing the nine Goddesses are worshipped and fed.  

Shravan Maas in 2014

Shravan Month Festival 2014

Shravan Maas is the fifth month in the Hindu calendar. In 2014, as per Gregorian calendar Shravan Maas will commence on 13 July and will last till 25 August 2014. During this month, on the full moon day the Shravana Nakshatra rules the sky, thus the whole month gets its name as Shravan Maas or month. The month of Shravan, often referred to as Sawan is the holiest month of the year as the entire month is dedicated to Lord Shiva. Many ancient Vedic texts speak about the importance and auspiciousness of the holy month of Shravan.

Each day of the Shravan month is considered auspicious more so Mondays (Somvars) are considered as the best days to fast and to worship Lord Shiva. Numerous festivals are celebrated during the month of Shravan such as Nag Panchami, Krishna Janmashtami, Raksha Bandhan and many more. It’s highly auspicious to wear Rudraksha In the month of Shravan and offer worship and do abhishekam for Lord Shiva using Bel Patra, Milk, Ganga Jal, Curd, Ghee, Honey, Sugar, Coconut Water, Sugarcane Juice, Lotus flowers, Datura fruit and much more.

During the Shravan Month and especially on Shravan Mondays devotees throng to Shiva temples big and small to offer prayers to Lord Shiva and seek health, wealth and prosperity. Various Pujas such as Shravan Maas Shiv Pujan, Laghu Rudra Abhishekam, Maha Rudra Abhishekam, Shiva Mantra Japa, Maha Mritunjaya Mantra Japa are offered to Lord Shiva during the month of Shravan. During Shravan Maas, women observe fast on Mondays and recite the Shravan Somvar Vrat katha so as to find a good husband.
        As per Legends it was in the month of Shravan that the Samudra Manthan took place. And it was on a Monday in the month of Shravan that Lord Shiva drank the Halahala poison that emerged from the Samudra Manthan. Shravan Maas is also an excellent time to get in touch with one’s spiritual side, do meditation and Mantra Japa especially Maha Mritunjaya Mantra and the Maha Mantra ‘Om Namah Shivaya’.

Hanuman Jayanti Festival 2014

Hanuman Jayanti

Lord Hanuman is one of the most worshipped and revered Gods in Hinduism. Lord Hanuman himself an incarnation of Lord Shiva is an ardent devotee of Lord Ram, who is the seventh incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Lord Hanuman is worshipped for both physical and mental strength, devotion, perseverance and knowledge. Lord Hanuman is the son of Vayu Dev (Wind God); He is known by many other names such as Bajrang Bali, Maruti, Kesari Nandan, Anjaniputra and many more.

There are numerous legends and mythology associated with Lord Hanuman such as when Lord Hanuman was a kid he mistook the sun as a mango and tried to eat it. One of the names of Lord Hanuman is Sankat Mochan meaning the remover of obstacles. Lord Hanuman is provider of courage, knowledge, strength and valor to His devotees.

In Ramayana Lord Hanuman helped Lord Rama by searching for Maa Sita and finally locating Her in Lanka. Lord Hanuman also killed many demons and set Lanka on fire. Lord Hanuman helped make the bridge to Lanka. In Lanka Hanuman killed Ahiravan to save Lord Ram and Laxman. Lord Hanuman also saved Laxman’s life by bringing Sanjeevani butti when he was hit by Indrajit’s arrow.        

Lord Hanuman is immortal as He has received the blessings of immorality from Lord Ram. Lord Hanuman is the bravest of the brave, strongest of the strong and wisest of the wise. Hanuman Jayanti is celebrated as the birth day of Lord Hanuman. It’s celebrated in the Chaitra month of the Hindu calendar. In 2014 Lord Hanuman Jayanti will be celebrated on 15^th April.  

Chaitra Navratri Festival and Durga Puja

Chaitra Navratri is also known as Vasant or Basant Navratri. Chaitra Navratri as the name suggests is celebrated in the Hindu calendar month of Chaitra, during the Shukla Paksha. Chaitra Navratri coincides with Ram Navami and hence is also known as Rama Navratri. Navratri literally means nine nights, these nine nights are dedicated to worship of nine incarnations of Goddess Durga.
Chaitra Navratri is celebrated on the first nine days of the Hindu calendar month of Chaitra. The nine incarnations of Goddess Durga that are worshipped during the Chaitra Navratri are Goddess Shailputri, Brahmcharni, Chandraghanta, Kushmanda, Skandamata, Katyayani, Kalratri, Mahagauri and Siddhidatri. Chaitra Navratri is one of the best periods to worship Goddess Shakti and to chant Durga Suktam.
During Chaitra Navratri devotees observe strict fast and worship Maa Durga with devotion. According to the Brahma Purana on the first day of Chaitra month Lord Brahma started creating the universe. Chaitra Navratri is celebrated with dedication and devotion especially in North India. During the Navratri Puja the first three nights Goddess Durga is worshipped, on the next three nights Goddess Laxmi and on the last three nights Goddess Saraswati is worshipped.

On the ninth day of Chaitra Navratri, Kanya Puja is done in which nine young girls (who haven’t attained puberty) representing the nine Goddesses are worshipped and fed. Durga Stuti ‘Ya Devi Sarvabhuteshu shri rupen sansthita namas tasye namas tasye names tasye namo namah’ is recited during the Navratri to worship and revere Goddess Durga.

Mahashivratri Festival 2014

Mahashivratri is celebrated yearly by all Shiva devotees in the month of Phalguna according to the Hindu calendar. Maha Shivaratri 2014 will be celebrated on 27^th of February.  On the day of Mahashivratri devotees observe a strict fast and make it a point to visit a Shiva temple. Bhajans and Mantras dedicated to Lord Shiva are sung and chanted with dedication on this day.

On the day of Mahashivratri Shiva temples big and small are decorated to the hilt. One can find long serpentine queue of devotees at all Shiva temples on the day of Mahashivratri. Devotees perform Shiva Abhishekam using sacred articles such as Panchagavya, Gangajal, milk, curd, honey, water and more. Flowers, fruits such as Datura and Ber, Betel nut and Bel Patra are also offered to Lord Shiva.

There are many legends which are associated with Mahashivratri such as that on this day Lord Shiva married Maa Parvati. Also on the day of Mahashivratri Lord Shiva performed Tadava. One more legend is that on the day of Mahashivratri Lord Shiva consumed the poison Halahala which emerged during the churning of oceans and also that Mahashivratri is the favorite day of Lord Shiva.

One more legend is that on the day of Mahashivratri, Maa Parvati performed strict penance for the wellbeing of Lord Shiva and hence on this day married women worship Shiva for wellbeing of their husbands and unmarried girl for an understanding life partner. According to Shiva Purana worshipping Lord Shiva with milk, yoghurt, honey, ghee, sugar and water and with utmost sincerity and dedication is blessed with all worldly pleasures and finally attains Moksha.

Rituals for Mahashivratri festival celebration 2014

Rituals for Mahashivratri

The celebration of Maha Shivratri starts on the night of Chauthas, the fourteenth day of the waxing moon and continues till the morning of Amavas (dark night). On the day of Mahashivratri, devotees observe a strict fast and make it a point to visit a Shiva Temple. In the morning devotees after taking a bath preferably a dip in Holy Ganga, head towards a Shiva temple. At the temple, after circumambulating the Shiv Lingam three or seven times, devotees bathe the Shivling with either water or with milk.     

According to Shiva Purana, the Maha Shivratri rituals must compulsorily incorporate the following six items Bael Leaves, Vermilion Paste, Fruits preferably Ber (jujube fruit) or Datura, Incense, Oil Lamp and Betel Leaves. On Mahashivratri the entire night is divided into four Prahars or quarters and special prayers are offered during each quarter. At the end of each quarter Shiva Abhishekam is done with Milk, Gangajal, Yoghurt, Honey, Sandalwood Paste and Rose Water. Shiva Bhajans (Hymns in praise of Shiva)are sung throughout enhancing the festivities. Mahashivratri is also one of the best days for Spirit