The month of June offers us another opportunity to embrace Sri Hari bhakti - with the all-important festival of Nirajal Ekadashi. Important: As in all Ekadashi days fasting must commence from the evening before the day of Ekadashi to after sunrise on the morning after the actual day of Ekadashi.

One of Hindu calendar's most significant varats (fasts) on Friday, 1st June - Nirjala Ekadashi.

Nirjala Ekadashi, also known as Pandava Ekadashi or Bhima Ekadashi is observed on the eleventh day durig Jyeshta masa Shukla paksh.

The Ekadashi varat, which comes around twice a month, is particularly important this month, because it is one which should be strictly observed without water or any edibles to spare everyone of all sins.

According to Bhagvadh Geeta, Lord Krishna named this is Ekadashi, Bhimaseni as it was on this day that he asked Bhimsen to observe this varat with pure mind and fast to remedy any mistakes done during fasting on other Ekadashi days.

If you have for some reason someone has been unable to observe Ekadashi varats strictly on other months - then observing this Nirjala varat will help you cleanse of mistakes made.

Bhimseni, being brother of Arjuna, was unable to fast fully on other Ekadashi days so Lord Krishna gave him and others a boon on this day that anyone who observes full nirjala fast on this Nirjala Bhimseni Ekadashi will be considered to have completed all the Ekadashi varats during the year.

This is similar to Treodashi varat observed on Maha Shiva Ratri day - a nirjala varat on the Maha Shiva Ratri day in the month of Falgun (Feb-Mar yearly) gives everyone so much boon as if the devotees have fasted the whole year for Lord Shiva.

Treodashi varats are as auspicious for Lord Shiva's bhakti as what Ekadashi varats are to Lord Vishnu (including avatars like Lord Ram, Lord Krishna and Lord Narsingha)'s bhakti.

GANGA DASHERA/ SRI GAYATRI JAYANTI

Thursday 31st May 2012

The two important ttithis of Sri Ganga Dashera and Sri Gayatri Mata Jayanti. Sri Ganga Devi, as most Hindus would believe, was brought to planet earth by tha tapsya of Bhagirath rishi to help liberate his ancestors and guide them towards moksha dhaam (when a soul is not reborn). Sri Shivaji took on the task of holding Ganga Devi on his jatta (hair tomb) before releasing the river form of Ganga through Gangotri in India. Today literally millions of devotees pray and bathe in the holy river - which has escaped the understanding of most westerners as to what is the key to Sri Gangaji's purity. Among other shrines, Haridway, Varanasi and Triveni, the worshipping of Gangaji is most paramount on a both daily basis as well as on special occasions like Ganga Dashera. Sri Gayatri Devi is also an Goddess regarded so divine amongst Hindus that hundreds of millions of us chant her mantra daily. It is often espoused that chanting of Sri Gayatri mantra at least 108 or 54 or 24 or even 11 times brings enormous benefits in life - especially in showing us a spiritual path.

Om Bhur Bhuwa Swah

Tatsat Vithur Vareniyam

Bhargo Devasaya Dhimahi

Dhio Yo na Prachodayat

For all other Mantras, Chalisas and devotional songs please check the Bhakti and Puja webpage on this site

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God bless,
Pdt Davendra Sharma  
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