Shaka Vrata in Ashada Masa Shukla Paksha 2011

Shaka Vrata is observed mainly in South India by certain Hindu communities and is dedicated to Srihari Vishnu. Shaka Vrata is a month long ritual and begins on the 11^th day of the Shukla Paksha or waxing phase of moon in Ashada Month. Shaka Vrata in 2011 begins on July 11. Shaka Vrata ending date is August 9.

The Vrata begins on the Shukla Paksha Ekadasi in Shravan month. This is the famous Devshayani Ekadasi and the Chatur Masa Vrata also begins on the day.

The Vrata ends on the Shukla Paksha Ekadasi in Ashada month. This is the Putrada Ekadasi.

The popular belief is that Srihari Vishnu enters into a deep slumber on Devshayani Ekadasi – the night time of Devas.

There is no fasting associated with the Shaka Vrata. People follow a strict vegetarian diet.

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Swami Yogeshananda Thoughts Ramakrishna Mission

Is God really out in the sky or in the space between stars and planets and galaxies? Those are such great spaces, maybe it is kind of natural to think that that is where he might be. Of course, because he is everywhere, he must be up there too, but we in Vedanta do not care to think of him in such a gross way.

Suppose you think of it in this way: one vast ocean of Existence, each of us is a wave, every separate thing in the universe is a wave of that Ocean, and the Ocean is conscious. The waves are formed in the ocean, and after a little while sink back into it again. Such is our life. When you study science in school you will learn that everything is made of waves of energy – in us, through us, all around us, though we see only the play of that energy, not the raw energy itself. This is one way we think of God in Vedanta.

Swami Yogeshananda

Swami Yogeshananda is associated with the Ramakrishna Mission

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Naimisharanya – Importance of Naimisharanya Tirth in Uttar Pradesh Naimisharanya is Holy Land

Naimisharanya is a sacred place that finds mention in various Hindu scriptures. Puranas states that Saunaka Rishi and 80, 000 other stages performed a yajna here dedicated to Shiva and thus making it a sacred Tirth. The place of yajna was decided by Brahma. A chakra or disc that was thrown by Brahma landed at Naimisharanya. This holy spot is located in Uttar Pradesh.

The reasons why Naimisharanya is Holy

• When the Kali Yuga was about to begin, holy men and sages approached Brahma to suggest a place to stay during Kali Age – so that they won’t have to face the bad things of the era. The place that Brahma suggested was Naimisharanya. The area then was a forest named Naimisha.
• It is also believed that the Satyanarayana Katha was first recited here.
• Ved Vyasa composed some of the important Puranas here.
• It is believed that Vishnu appeared as Varaha Avatar (Boar) here.
• Suta, the student of Vyasa, first narrated the Mahabharata here.
• The place is mentioned in many Puranas especially Matsya and Varaha Purana.

The most important holy place here is the Chakra Tirth – a holy pond. The spot that Brahma suggested to Saunaka Rishi to perform yajna.

There are numerous other holy spots in and around Chakra Tirth – this includes Hanuman Garhi, Pandav Kila, Lalitha Devi Temple, Yvas Gadi and Havan Kund.

The popular belief is that taking bath in the Chakra Trith is highly meritorious. Large number of people assemble here on Somavati Amavasya – No moon day on Monday.

Naimisharanya is around 90 KM northwest of Lucknow and 34 KM from Hardoi.

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Sri Jayatirtha Teekacharya Aradhana Pujas Satsangs Lectures

Sri Jayatirtha Teekacharya Aradhana honors Sri Jayatirtha the sixth pontiff of the Sri Madhvacharya Peetha. Sri Jayatirtha (1365 AD to 1388 AD) was a great teacher of the Dvaita Philosophy. Sri Jayatirtha Teekacharya Aradhana 2011 date is July 20. The teachings and philosophy of Sri Madhvacharya was translated into simple language by Sri Jayatirtha Teekacharya and this helped common man in understanding the Dwaita School of thought.

Sri Jayatirtha got the title Teekacharya due to his great commentaries on the works of Madhavacharya. His most famous work is Nyayasudha.

Legend has it that Sri Jayatirtha was a bull in his previous birth and used to always roam with Sri Madhvacharya.

Pujas, satsangs and lectures on the literary works of Sri Jayatirtha are held on the day.

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Panchagavya Prashna in Ashada Month Five Products of Cow

Panchagavya Prashna is observed in Ashada month by certain Hindu communities in South India. The ritual involves consuming of Panchagavya, a combination of five products – milk, curd, ghee, cow urine and cow dung. Panchagavya Prashna 2011 date is July 12. It is believed this helps in checking various diseases and is consumed as part of the Chaturmasa Vrata.

Panchagavya Prashna is observed on the 12^th day during the waxing phase of moon in Ashada month – Ashad Shukla Paksha Dwadasi.

The four month Chatur Masa Vrata begins on the previous day of Panchagavya Prashna.

It is also performed to overcome the effects of Tamasic food consumed during the previous year.

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Important Hindu Festivals Auspicious Days in July 2011

There is no Grih Pravesh muhurat in most parts as it is Ashada month.

Dates of important festivals associated with Hinduism in July 2011 – based on major Hindu calendars and Panchangam used in India. The festivals, Vrats and auspicious days are based on Indian Standard Time (IST). You can also take help through the comment section on good dates for various purposes.

July 1, 2011 – Amavasya – No moon day

July 2 – Ashada month begins in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Gujarat

July 3 – Puri Jagannath Rath Yatra

July 6 – Muruga Sashti Fasting

July 7 – Vivaswat Puja (Surya Puja)

July 7 – Aani Uthiram in Tamil Calendar

July 8 – Monthly Durga Ashtami Puja

July 9 – Bhadali Navami

July 10 – Ulto Rath at Puri Jagannath Temple

July 11 – Hari Shayani Ekadasi Vrat

July 11 – Pandarpur Yatra

July 11 – Chatur Masa Vrat Begins

June 12 – Pradosh Vrat

July 14 – Purnima Vrat

July 14 – Shirdi Saibaba Ashada Purnima Utsav begins

July 15 – Purnima – Full moon day – Guru Purnima – Vyasa Puja

July 16 – Shravan Month begins in North India

July 17 – Kark Sankranti – Dakshinayana Begins

July 17 – Aadi Month begins in Tamil Calendar

July 17 – Karkidakam month begins in Kerala Malayalam Calendar

July 18 – Sankashti Ganesh Chaturthi Vrat

July 18 – Shraban month begins in Bengali Calendar

July 18 – First Shravan Somvar Vrat in North India

July 19 – First Mangala Gauri Vrat in North India

July 23 – Kalashtami – Kher Puja in Tripura

July 25 – Second Sravan Somvar Vrat in North India

July 26 – Kamda Ekadasi Vrat

July 26 – Second Mangala Gauri Vrat in North India

July 28 – Pradosh Vrat

July 29 – Monthly Shivratri Fasting

July 30 – Amavasya – No moon day

July 30 – Aadi Amavasi in Tamil Calendar

July 30 – Karkidaka Vavu Bali in Kerala.

July 31 – Shravan month begins Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Gujarat

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Chatur Mas Four Holy Hindu Months of Chaturmas Worship

Chaturmas, or Chatur Mas, is four holy Hindu months in a calendar year. In 2011, Chaturmas begins on July 11 and ends on November 6. Hinduism and Nature is completely entangled and Nature plays a major role in important rituals and festivals associated with Hindu Religion. The Chaturmas occurs during the monsoon season and most of the important festivals in Hinduism take place during this period. Hindus also observe different vows and fasting during this period. It must be noted here that for some communities Chaturmas begins on Poornima day (July 15).

Chaturmas begins on the Ekadasi day in Shukla Paksha in the month of Ashada and ends on the Ekadasi in the Shukla Paksha in the month of Kartik.

Most of the important festivals associated with Hinduism are closely linked to agriculture and especially the harvest season. The monsoon rains brings joy, greenery and fresh air and the four months is considered highly auspicious and ideal for rituals, pujas and festivals.

The first month in Chaturmas, Shravan is dedicated to Lord Shiva, especially the Mondays. The next month is Bhadrapad, the month of festivals including the Ganesh Chaturthi and Krishna Ashtami. Then comes Ashwin month and the important festivals include, Durga Puja, Navratri, Diwali etc. Finally, Kartik, Diwali celebrations end in this month.

People take different vows during Chaturmas – some people avoid non-vegetarian food, some decide to read the Mahabharata or Ramayana or Bhagavad Gita or the Bhagavad Purana on all days, some make it a point to visit temples on all days, some decide to chant a prayer or mantra daily ‘x’ number of times.

Health is given importance during the four months. Many people avoid garlic and onion as it can stimulate unnecessary excitements, cause indigestion and distract devotee from pujas and prayers. In some regions, people avoid green leafy vegetables in the Shravan month. Curd, or yoghurt, is avoided in Bhadrapad, milk is avoided in Ashwin month and pulses, the split variety, are avoided in Kartik month.

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Pradosham July 2011 Fasting for Shiva Parvati

Pradosham is dedicated to Shiva and Goddess Parvati. It is observed on the 13^th day of a fortnight in a Hindu calendar. July 2011 Pradosham date is July 12 and July 28. The Pradosham fasting on June 12, 2011 is on a Tuesday and therefore it is known as Bhauma Pradosh. Pradosham occurs twice in a Hindu month – once each during the waning (Krishna Paksha) and waxing phase (Shukla Paksha) of the moon.

The popular belief is that Shiva and Parvati are in a very generous and happy moon during the period and therefore fulfills the wishes of the devotees.

The Pradosham period is in the evening from 1.5 hours before sunset and 1 hour after sunset. The fast which began at sunrise is broken during the period.

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Vithoba Temple Pandarpur Yatra 2011 Ashadi Ekadasi Waari 2011 Date

The annual Pandharpur Yatra to the famous Vithoba Temple at Pandarpur in Maharashtra from Dehu and Alandi attracts thousands of people and pilgrims known as warkaris. The Pandarpur Yatra date on Ashadi Ekadasi on July 11, 2011. In 2011, the date of commencement of Tukaram Maharaj Palkhi from Dehu is June 22. Pilgrims follow the Shri Tukaram Maharaj Palkhi from Dehu and Sant Dnyaneshwar Palkhi from Alandi, which is a 21-day travel by foot to Pandarpur.

The Pandarpur Yatra is a pilgrimage to the Vithoba Temple, also known as Vitthal Rukhmini Temple, which is dedicated to Lord Krishna. Pandharpur Ashadi Ekadasi Wari Yatra has been taking place for more than 700 years.

The main Pandarpur Yatra starts from the Sant Tukaram Temple at Dehu in Pune District. The warkaris or pilgrims follow the Tukaram Maharaj Palkhi procession. This main procession is joined by Sant Dnyaneshwar palkhi from Alandi near Pune. Numerous other palkhis from other towns and villages join the yatra on the way.

The pilgrimage ends on the Ekadasi day during the waxing phase of moon in the Ashada Month as per traditional Marathi calendar.

You can read more about Pandarpur Yatra in this article.

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Devshayani Ekadashi Fasting July 2011 dates for Hindu God Vishnu

Ekadashi fasting is dedicated to Hindu God Vishnu. It is observed on the Ekadasi tithi - the 11th day in a Hindu lunar calendar. Ekadashi Fasting in July 2011 are on July 11 and July 26. The June 11, 2011 Ekadasi is the famous Devshayani Ekadasi. It is also known as Ashadi Ekadasi.

Fasting on Ekadasi is considered highly meritorious and the popular belief is that one attains moksha or liberation after performing Ekadasi.

Ekadasi on June 11 is known as Devshayani Ekadasi. The popular belief is that the night time of the Devas begins on this day. Chaturmasa Vrata also begins from the day. This Ekadasi is also known as Hari Prabodini Ekadasi.

It is known as Ashadi Ekadasi in western parts of India. The famous Pandarpur Yatra is observed on the day.

Ekadasi on July 26 is known as Kamika Ekadasi.

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