HOLI: Splashing with life

HOLI also known as “Dol Purnima” and “Basant Utsav”, Holi itself is maneuvered into several colours establishing its sense literally into our mind and soul through centuries.

This tradition has transpired through ages to signify the festival of colours across the globe, with its origin solely in the Hindu mythology.

Holi is inextricably linked to mythical tales featuring warriors, gods, demonesses and asuras.

The word Holi is derived from the word “Holika “, who was the sister of King Hiranyakashyap. This festival is celebrated in remembrance of the victory of good over evil, i.e., on the next day after Holika was burnt on a pyre.

Holi 2022 Festival Date in India

According to the Hindu calendar, Holi is celebrated on the last full moon day or Poornima of the month of Falgun. This year Holi festival falls on March 18, 2022. And Holika Dahan will be observed a day before Holi which will be on 17th March 2022.

600 years ago. Saint Kabir says: 

Kabir, Jab hi Satnaam Hridhay dharyo, Bhayo paap ko naash |

Maano chigni agni Ki, Pade puraani ghaas ||

Worship of fire is also an important part of Holi as in this process, we offer our vasnas to Agni in order to transcend them eventually. Worshipping the fire during Holi also ushers in the warm season ahead as we move to the new year, marking the end of winter and the abundance of the upcoming spring harvest season. The colours of Holi are also a reflection of our joyful emotions and desires being now freely expressed. In the olden days the colours themselves that were used were natural and organic thus serving the dual purpose of being healthy for the body as well as healing our psyche. Nowadays this is not the case as the artificial colours we use are rather harmful and even toxic. The ayurvedic principle has been lost.

Lord Krishna and Holi

The stories of Sri Krishna’s boyhood pranks which so delighted the gopis (cowherd maids) of Vrindavan also form the essence of Holi. Though older than Krishna, the gopis were so charmed by Sri Krishna’s play that they themselves became like children again. Sri Krishna and the gopis are depicted as celebrating Holi in the hamlets of Gokul, Barsana and Vrindavan, bringing them alive with their mischief and youthful pranks. Holi was Krishna and the Gopi’s celebration of Love. This teasing, affectionate panorama of feeling and colour has been captured and immortalized in the songs on Holi.

Holi is also celebrated in memory of the immortal love of Lord Krishna and Radha. The young Krishna would complain to his mother Yashoda about why Radha was so fair and he so dark. Yashoda advised him to apply colour on Radha’s face and see how her complexion would change. In the legends of Krishna as a youth he is depicted playing all sorts of pranks with the gopis or cowgirls. One prank was to throw coloured powder all over them. So, at Holi, images of Krishna and his consort Radha are often carried through the streets. Holi is celebrated with great enthusiasm in the villages around Mathura, the birth-place of Krishna.

So let us also join together free from the binds of our self-created barriers and feel the happiness of Holi, forgetting ourselves and glimpsing the eternal joy residing in our soul.

The Real Spirit of Holi

Holi also means “sacrifice”. Burn all the impurities of the mind, such as egoism, vanity and lust, through the fire of devotion and knowledge. Ignite cosmic love, mercy, generosity, selflessness, truthfulness and purity through the fire of Yogic practice. This is the real spirit of Holi. Rise from the mire of stupidity and absurdity and dive deep into the ocean of divinity. 

Being all about love and new life, Holi is a time for repairing relationships and laughing with family and friends.

OM TRIYAMBAKAM: The THIRD EYE of LORD SHIVA

The Lord Shiva is called as Triyambaka or Trinetra for having the third eye. Shiva’s third eye has always fascinated people. It stands there dramatically on his forehead ready to release a missile of fire and destroy the world. Many people assume that is why Shiva is called the `destroyer’. Whenever the sins, immoralities and devil powers overtake the good and truth then Lord Shiva opens the third eye for destroying everything in the universe and builds a new universe.

Shiva's third eye is located on his forehead and most of the times remain closed. However, when Shiva opens his third eye, it destroys everything that it sees. As an example, in Shiva Purana, there is a story where Shiva burns Kama Dev to ash by opening his third eye.

Once, Lord Shiva was sitting fully engaged in meditation. Goddess Parvati, his consort came there and playfully covered both his eyes with her hands. Immediately, the entire universe plunged into darkness. Chaos prevailed everywhere. Even the Gods of heaven were afraid. With his divine power, Siva created a third eye in the center of his forehead. Fire emerged from his third eye and he restored light in the universe. 

While his right eye symbolizes the sun, the left signifies the moon. The third eye depicts fire. In contrast to his two eyes that represent his activities in the physical world, the third eye views beyond. He controls the physical universe with His sensory eyes. It is said that Shiva’s third eye allows him to see beyond the apparent, something that the other two eyes cannot perceive.

It is also recognised as a powerful emblem in Shiva, protecting the good from evil. According to legend, when the third eye opens, all darkness and ignorance are annihilated. So, in some ways, the third eye denotes the eradication of the wicked.

According to spiritual beliefs, we all can activate our third eye and therefore achieve enlightenment. The third eye is also known as Gyananakashu.

As a result, contrary to popular opinion, the third eye does not alone represent Shiva’s rage and destructive force. In reality, it points the route to wisdom, knowledge, greater awareness, and enlightenment.

We all have only 2 eyes and what does Shiva's third eye indicate?

Actually, we humans too have three eyes, but the third eye is not opened for us because of our ignorance and being in the materialistic world.

Shiva is the Adi Yogi, so Shiva is always in deep meditation and thus His third eye or Ajna Chakra is activated.

Shiva's third eye indicates

·         His Cosmic energy / knowledge.

·         His immense Yogic energy.

·         Shiva is Trikala darshi (who knows past, present and future).

·         Shiva as Soma Surya Agni Lochan, which means Shiva's three eyes represent Soma (moon), surya (Sun) and Lord Agni.

·         Shiva opens His third eye only to destroy evil.

 

We worship Shiva to acquire the rare state of bliss which is above all the happiness created by this material world.

परः पुमानीश्वरः स शिव शम्भुरनीश्वरः ।
शीर्षे मन्दाकिनीधारी भालचन्द्रस्त्रिलोचनः ।।
पञ्चवक्त्र प्रसन्नात्मा दशबाहुस्त्रिशुलधृक् ।
कर्पुरगौरः सुसितो भस्मोद्धुलितोविग्रहः ।।

 

The above verse best describes Lord Shiva’s identity. It says: Param Purusha Shiva also known as Ishwar having no Lord over him, who holds Mandakini on his head. He has three eyes and crescent moon on his forehead. He is five faced, a pleasant soul, holder of a trident, having complexion as white as camphor, keeps on applying white ashes over his body. Such is the description of Lord Shiva. The third eye is treated as any another divine characteristic of Lord Shiva.

 

The third eye and pineal gland connection

 

The name “third eye” comes from the pineal gland’s primary function of ‘letting in light and darkness’, just as our two eyes do. This gland is the melatonin-secreting neuroendocrine organ containing light-sensitive cells that control the circadian rhythm.

 

So why would anyone want to awaken or open their third eye? The importance of the third eye is seen in the principles of Buddhist Dharmic traditions of law and order. The third eye chakra is an energy center within the body on the forehead in the center of the brows. It is presumed that we would want all of the chakras in our bodies to be aligned and properly energized.

 

Once our third eye chakra is opened, we can gain wisdom, intuition, deeper self-reflection, higher self-confidence, and logic, just to name a few. Anyone would love to have those traits, but you now may be wondering: how does one open the third eye? A common practice is to do yoga and meditate. The technique of meditation is a trance dance that allows one to have a better connection with oneself.

Your third eye might also be blocked, which prevents you from opening it. A blockage can cause poor memory, anxiety, and can impair physical, emotional, and mental health.

In conclusion, when we refer to the “third eye”, we are symbolically talking about seeing something that the two sensory eyes cannot see. It is to see something that is within your interior self. The two eyes that humans possess are controlled by senses which are not reliable. The third eye represents all pervading – Gyaana (knowledge) and Dhyana (Consciousness or Concentration) that one aspires to achieve.

ॐ त्र्य॑म्बकं यजामहे सु॒गन्धिं॑ पुष्टि॒वर्ध॑नम् ।
उ॒र्वा॒रु॒कमि॑व॒ बन्ध॑नान् मृ॒त्योर्मुक्षीय॒ मा ऽमृता॑त् ।

Basant Panchami: The Festival of Knowledge & Enlightenment

According to the Hindu calendar, Basant Panchami is celebrated on the fifth day of the month of Maagh, thus the name ‘Panchami’.

Saraswati Puja 2022 date: Saraswati, the Goddess of knowledge and wisdom, is worshipped on the occasion of Basant Panchami. Also known as ‘Vasant Panchami’, it is an important Hindu festival in India that marks the arrival of spring. This year, it will be celebrated on February 5.

The auspicious day of Basant Panchami also marks the arrival of one of the most important festivals in the country, Holi, which is celebrated around 40 days later. The reason behind it is that Vasant Utsav (festival) on Panchami is celebrated 40 days before spring, signifying the transition period for any season, which is 40 days. After that, spring arrives in full bloom. Togetherness and harmony, Indian festivals are all about these. All the fun and frolic go hand in hand with delicious food, new clothes, and small get together. Some celebrate it to honor Goddess Saraswati, while others celebrate the harvest and the onset of Spring.

Why is Goddess Saraswati worshipped on this day?

Every Hindu God and Goddess has a dedicated day and festival when they are venerated. The reason the Goddess of Wisdom — who is also associated with music and the arts — is worshipped is because it is believed she was born on this day.

Significance

Basant Panchami is celebrated as a spring harvest festival. The colour yellow holds a great significance denoting the color of the mustard that is harvested during Basant Panchami. It is celebrated in veneration of the yellow flowers of ripened mustard crops. People dress in yellow saris or shirts or accessories, share yellow-colored snacks and sweets. Some add saffron to their rice and then eat yellow cooked rice as a part of an elaborate feast.

To get enlightenment with knowledge, Devotees, especially from the education sector, like students, teachers, worship Goddess Saraswati on the big day. 

History of Basant Panchami

Traditionally, Basant Panchami is associated with Devi Saraswati, the consort of Lord Brahma and the Goddess of learning, arts and music.

As per Hindu mythology, one day Brahma, who is said to be the creator of the world, wanted to see this universe with his own eye. However, Brahma was completely disappointed with the silence and loneliness of the earth. In order to reduce the silence from Earth, Brahma created an angel with his powers who had a harp in her hands, and Brahma requested her to play something. The angel blessed people on earth with her soulful voice. The angel then came to be known as Saraswati or Veena Vadini.

However, a legend explains how Kama Dev (the Lord of Love) played a pivotal role in helping Mahadev (Lord Shiva) and Devi Parvati unite.

Here's how the tale unfolds...

As per the story, Goddess Parvati sought Kama Deva's help to awaken Shiva from the state of deep meditation. At the behest of Devi Parvati, Kama Deva used a bow made of sugarcane and aimed an arrow of flowers at Shiva to draw his attention towards the materialistic world. 

However, this action enraged Lord Shiva, and he opened his third eye to burn Kama Deva into ashes. Subsequently, Rati performed intense penance and sought Lord Shiva's blessings to resurrect her husband's life. In a nutshell, the event symbolizes the return of Shiva from the state of Vairagya (dispassion) to Grhastha (householder).

To attain the abundant blessings of Maa Saraswati, you can chant these mantras dedicated to the Goddess of Knowledge and wisdom. 

1.    Ain hrein shrin antriksh Saraswati param rakshini,
Mam sarva vighna nivaraya nivaraya Swaha..

2.     Om an hreen Kleem maha Saraswati devyai Namah.

3.     Om Saraswati Mayaa Drishtwa, Veena Pustak Dharnim | Hans Vahini Samayuktaa Maa Vidya Daan Karotu Me Om ||

Nail Rubbing and hair connection.

For many people, hair loss in has serious implications, given its personal, social and professional ramifications

Science Behind Rubbing Nails for Hair Growth is very simple. Balayam exercise is a type of acupressure therapy. In acupressure, the fingernails of the hands are believed to be related to the skin of the head, and nail rubbing together helps in the circulation of blood well to the head and the nutritional elements reach the roots of the hair.

Acupressure treats baldness of men and women with this method, such as MPB (male pattern baldness) and androgenic alopecia.

Balayam Yoga Benefits

1.      It gives shine and glows to your hair.

2.      Gives your natural hair growth.

3.      It makes your hair black, clear off grey hair and white hair problems.

4.      The best yoga therapy for reversing baldness and Natural Hair Growth.

5.      Balayam Yoga slows down the process of greying your hair.

6.      Nail rubbing Exercise or Balayam Yoga makes your hair thick, healthy, dense and glowing resulting in making you beautiful.

7.      This yoga strengthens the root of your hair and stops hair falls also.

8.      It is also known for treating alopecia Areata, pattern baldness, and other hereditary hair problems.

9.      No side effect of Nail Rubbing Balayam Yoga.

10.  Nail rubbing helps people of all genders, irrespective of their age group. Plus, it is a relaxing exercise.

11.  One does not need to make any special preparation to try out nail rubbing benefits.

12.  Rubbing nails is free reflexology or acupressure therapy for a number of gains.

13.  It can be done at any time of the day and at any place! You could practice Balayam yoga while commuting, listening to music, watching T.V., or even at work. Thus, the convenience offered by nail rubbing is immensely advantageous.

श्री लक्ष्मी द्वादशनाम स्तोत्रम्

श्री लक्ष्मी द्वादशनाम स्तोत्रम्

ईश्वरीकमला लक्ष्मीश्चलाभूतिर्हरिप्रिया। पद्मा पद्मालया सम्पद् रमा श्री: पद्मधारिणी।।
द्वादशैतानि नामानि लक्ष्मी संपूज्य य: पठेत्। स्थिरा लक्ष्मीर्भवेत्तस्य पुत्रदारादिभिस्सह।।

अर्थ - ईश्वरी, कमला, लक्ष्मी, चला, भूति, हरिप्रिया, पद्मा, पद्मालया, संपद्, रमा, श्री, पद्मधारिणी। इन 12 नामों से देवी लक्ष्मी की पूजा की जाए तो स्थिर लक्ष्मी (धन) की प्राप्ति होती है।

अष्ट लक्ष्मी मंत्र

1. श्री आदि लक्ष्मी - ॐ श्रीं।।

2. श्री धान्य लक्ष्मी - ॐ श्रीं क्लीं।।

3. श्री धैर्य लक्ष्मी - ॐ श्रीं ह्रीं क्लीं।।

4. श्री गज लक्ष्मी - ॐ श्रीं ह्रीं क्लीं।।

5. श्री संतान लक्ष्मी - ॐ ह्रीं श्रीं क्लीं।।

6. श्री विजय लक्ष्मी - ॐ क्लीं ॐ।।

7. श्री विद्या लक्ष्मी - ॐ ऐं ॐ।।

8. श्री ऐश्वर्य लक्ष्मी - ॐ श्रीं श्रीं।।

Tips to sleep better

A good laugh and a long sleep are the two best cures for anything - Irish Proverb

A large aspect of a healthy lifestyle depends on the kind of food you eat, how physically active you are and if you follow a good sleeping pattern.

"The quality of sleep is directly proportional to the quality of your life, your health and happiness. Sleep plays most important role in healing and detoxification of our mind and body. A poorly-rested body can’t function well physically or mentally. Ideally, an adult should be sleeping for 7-8 hours at a stretch. Too less or too much sleep is not good.

In case you are struggling to fall asleep every night, here's what you need to do:

• Wake up early
• Get sun exposure for at least 30 minutes daily
• Practice pranayama daily
• Exercise everyday
• Drink enough water
• Having light and early dinner
• Switch off your gadgets one hour before bedtime
• Switch off lights half-n-hour before sleep
• Practice gratitude or journaling and pranayama before you sleep