Namaste Devotees ! I Rajiv Krishna Dasa welcome you to the world of Saligramas. Shaligrams are the divine gift of Lord Vishnu to the mankind, whose worship can
spiritually uplift and show us the way to philanthropy, austerity and Salvation. Lord Vishnu has been taking birth in several forms (incarnations) duing the time immemorial and is saving the mankind from the hardships and miseries..Read More
striyo va yadi va sudra brahmanah ksatriyadayah
pujayitva sila cakra labhante sasvatam padam
DIFFERENT TYPES OF VRATA AND AUSTERITIES OF
SHALIGRAMAS
MATSYA-DWADASHI VRATA
Matsya-dwadashi is celebrated on the twelfth day of hindu month-Margashirsh.
On this auspicious day a devotee should worship lord Matsya -the incarnation
of lord Vishnu with appropriate rituals and give charity to brahmins.
Prithvi was the first one to observe this particular austerity while
she was being abducted to rasatala by a mighty demon named Hiranyaksha.
A devotee who observes a fast on this day and worships lord Matsya
with appropriate rituals attains to Brahma loka and remains their
for eternity. Such a person attain's a divine body when creation recommences
after the period of deluge. An issue-less woman is blessed with a
virtuous son if she observes a fast on this day. Matsya-dwadashi is
capable of absolving a man even of the gravest of his sin.
KURMA-DWADASHI VRATA
This particular austerity is dedicated to the worship of lord Kurma-the
incarnation of lord Vishnu. It is celebrated on the twelfth day of
the bright half of the hindu month 'pausha'. The austerity which commences
on the tenth day itself when a devotee is supposed to purify himself
by taking a holy bath. On the following day he observes a fast and
worships lord Kurma with appropriate rituals. He breaks his fast on
dwadashi which marks the conclusion of the austerity. A devotee who
observes a fast on this auspicious day becomes absolved of all his
sins and attains salvation.
VARAH-DWADASHI VRATA
Varah dwadashi is celebrated on the twelfth day of the bright half
of the hindu month-magh. This was the day on which Prithvi had been
rescued by lord Varah-the incarnation of lord Vishnu. An idol of lord
Varah is installed on a pot filled with water and worshipped with
appropriate rituals amidst the continuous chanting of the mantra-'om
varahay namah'. Offerings of various articles are made while worshipping
lord Varah-sandal- wood,incense, naivedya,etc. After the accomplishment
of the rituals brahmins are fed and charity given to them. One who
observes a fast on this day enjoys a good health and prosperity. Such
a man becomes absolved of all his sins and attains to heaven after
his death.
NARSIMHA-DWADASHI VRATA
This austerity is observed on the twelfth day of the bright half of
the hindu month-phalgun. A devotee should observe fast on this day
and worship lord Nrisimha with appropriate rituals. This particular
austerity is capable of absolving a man from all his sins.
VAMAN-DWADASHI VRATA
Vaman dwadashi is celebrated on the twelfth day of the bright half
of the hindu month-chaitra. A devotee should observe a fast and worship
lord Vaman by saying the following prayer-O Lord!Vaman-the dwarfish
incarnation of the almighty Vishnu,who took incarnation on the auspicious
day of dwadashi in the month of chaitra-I seek your blessings. "One
who observes a fast on this day is blessed and protected from all
kinds of danger.
JAMDAGNYA-DWADASHI PARSHURAM VRATA
This austerity is related with the worship of lord Parshuram who is
also famous as Jamdagnya. It is celebrated on the twelfth day of the
bright half of the hindu month-vaishakh. Before commencing the rituals,
a devotee should purify himself by taking a bath and then worship
an idol of lord Parshuram kept on a pot filled with water. While worshipping
he should make offerings of various articles tothe deity-flowers,
sandalwood,ardhya,etc. It is mandatory to remain awake for the whole
night. On the following day,he should donate the idol to a brahmin.
A devotee who observes a fast on this day gets all his wishes fulfilled
and attains to Brahma loka.
DHARNI-VRATA
This particular austerity is observed in the hindu month of Kartik.
The rituals commence by worshipping various organs of lord Narayan
amidst the chanting of different mantras which are as follows- om
sahastra shirse namah - head om purushay namah - arms om vishwa rupine
namah - throat om gyanastray namah - weapons om shri vatsaaya namah
- chest om jagad grasishnave namah - abdomen om divya murtaye namah
- waist om sahastra paday namah - feet. Similarly,srikrishna dwadashi
is celebrated in the hindu month of Ashadh,shukla- paksha. A devotee
should worship lord Krishna on this day and observe a fast.
SUBH-VRATA
This particular austerity on the first day of the hindu month-margashirsh.
It is related with the worship of lord Vishnu and the rituals have
some special characteristics-having one meal on the eleventh day of
the month(ekadashi),donating barley to brahmins,worshipping the idol
of goddess Prithvi on 'ekadashi', etc. The austerity concludes on
dwadashi. On ekadashi,goddess Prithvi is also worshipped alongwith
lord Vishnu. Both the idols are installed side by side and covered
with white clothes. After that some rice grains are scattered in front
of both the idols. As per the norms of the rituals,a devotee is required
to remain awake for the whole night. Next morning,he should invite
twenty-four brahmins and feed them. He should also donate a cow,apparels,ornaments,an
umbrella,woodden sandle and similar articles to them. A devotee who
observes a fast on this auspicious day enjoys prosperity.
DHANYA-VRATA
This particular austerity is a form of 'nakta-vrata', which means
observing fast for the whole day and breaking it in the night. The
austerity commences on the first day of the bright half of the hindu
month-aghan and lasts for a year. Rituals include worshipping Agnideva-an
embodiment of lord Vishnu, chanting of certain mantras praising the
glory of the deity and performing 'havan'. There are specific instructions
on the type of food a devotee should have during the course of this
austerity-for four months(chaitra to ashadh) he should have delicacie
s like 'kheer' seasoned in pure ghee. From shravan to kartik he should
have food-items prepared from gram-flour. This way,the austerity lasts
for one year whereby a devotee observes fast on the first day of every
month that follows. The austerity concludes by worshipping an idol
of lord Agni made of gold. The idol is adorned with a piece of red-cloth
and red-flowers are offered to the deity while worshipping. After
the rituals are accomplished,the idol should be donated to a brahmin.
The observance of this particular austerity brings good fortune to
a man and makes him prosperous.
PADMANABH-DWADASHI VRATA
This austerity is related with the worship of lord Padmanabh-an epithet
of lord Vishnu and is observed on the twelfth day of the bright half
of the hindu month-ashwin. One important charecteristic of the ritual
is that all the organs of lord Padmanabh is worshipped. The idol is
placed on a pot filled with water and while worshipping offerings
of various articles are made-flowers, fruits,sandalwood,etc. On the
following day the idol is donated to a brahmin. One who observes a
fast on this day enjoys a prosperous life and attains to the abode
of lord Padmanabh.
BUDDHA-DWADASHI VRATA
Lord Buddha is believed to be the incarnation of Lord Vishnu. The
austerity begins on the eleventh day of the bright half of the hindu
month-shravan. On this day lord Vishnu is worshipped with appropriate
rituals and by making offerings of various articles like flowers,
fruits, incense, etc. The following mantras should be chanted while
worshipping the various organs of lord Vishnu - om damodaray namah
- feet om hrishikeshay namah - waist om sanatanay namah - abdomen
om shri vatsadharine namah - chest om chakrapanaye namah - arms om
haraye namah - throat om manju keshay namah - head om bhadray namah
- top-knot(shikha).After the accomplishment of the rituals,the idol
should be donated to a brahmin.
Sacred
