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
PUTRA-PRAPTI VRATA
This austerity commences on the eighth day of the bright half of the
hindu month-bhadrapad. The rituals consist of taking a 'sankalp' on
the preceding day(saptami)and worshipping lord sri Hari on the next
day with appropriate rituals. Offerings are made to the sacrificial
fire,which usually consist of articles like barley,sesame seeds,ghee,etc.
The austerity concludes by feeding the invited brahmins and making
donations to them. This way,the austerity continues for a year whereby
a devotee observes fast on 'ashtami' of every month. A sonless person
is blessed with a son if he observes this austerity with total devotion.
This austerity, which is popularly known as 'Krishna ashtami'also
helps a devotee to become absolved of gravest of sin.
KANTI-VRATA
This austerity is related with the worship of sri Krishna and Balaram.
It commences on the second day of the bright half of the hindu month-kartik
and lasts for a year whereby a devotee observes fast on the second
day (bright half) of every month that follows. While worshipping Balarama,a
devotee should chant-'om baldevay namah'and while worshipping sri
Krishna he should chant-'om keshavay namah'. Subsequently,'ardhya'is
offered to both the deities. A devotee should have food prepared from
barley-flour in the night but those devotees who have resolved to
observe this austerity for four months beginning from 'falgun' should
live only on 'kheer'. Offerings of rice and sesame seeds are made
in the sacrificial- fire during the months of 'aghan' and 'kartik'
respectively. The rituals conclude by worshipping the deity 'Chandrama'at
the end of the year. Finally all the three idols (sri Krishna,Balram
and Chandrama) should be donated to brahmins. A devotee who observes
this austerity is bestowed with a charming personality.
KALKI-DWADASHI VRATA
A devotee should commence this austerity by observing a fast on the
eleventh day of the bright half of the hindu month-bhadrapad and break
it on the following day-dwadashi. He should worship lord Kalki with
appropriate rituals. As per the norms of the rituals, the idol of
lord Kalki is placed on a pot which is filled with water. This idol
is donated to a learned brahmin on the following day-trayodashi.
SHANTI-VRATA
This austerity commences on the fifth day of the bright half of the
hindu month-kartik and lasts for a year whereby a devotee observes
fast on the fifth day (bright half) of the every month that follows.
It is related with the worship of lord Vishnu and Sheshnag. A devotee
should abstain from hot and spicy food during the course of this austerity.
Lord Vishnu's idol is purified by chanting mantras and by performing
ablution with milk. Offerings of sesame seeds and milk are made in
the sacrificial fire. After the ccomplishment of the rituals at the
year end,brahmins are invited and fed. Finally,the idol of Sheshnag
is donated to one of them. A devotee who performs this austerity becomes
free from all kinds of turbulence in his life and experiences peace
and tranquility.
SHAURYA AND SARVA BHAUM VRATA
Shaurya and Sarva Bhaum vrata is related with the worship of goddess
Durga and is observed on the nineth day of the bright half of the
hindu month-ashvin. The rituals commence by taking a 'sankalp' as
well as observing a fast on the preceding day(saptami). The fast is
broken on the next day(ashtami) by having fruits. Cereals are excluded
from the diet. One important aspect of this austerity is the worship
of virgin girls along with goddess Durga. One who observes the rituals
of this austerity attains power valour and strength. Sarva bhaum vrata
is related with the worship of all the ten directions, considered
as goddesses. A fast is observed on the tenth day of the bright half
of the hindu month-kartik and lasts for a year whereby a devotee observes
fast on the tenth day(bright half) of every month that follows. One
important charecteristic of this fast is that it is broken at the
end of the day by having rice and curd. Making sacrifices in the name
of all the ten directions are the inseparable part of this austerity.
A devotee,who observes this austerity lasting for a year remains invincible
in whatever he does.
SAUBHAGYA-VRATA
This austerity commences on the third day of the bright half of the
hindu month-falgun and lasts for a year whereby a devotee observes
fast on the third day(bright half) of every month that follows. According
to the tradition a devotee can either worship 'Shiva-Parvati' or 'Sri
Hari-Laxmi on this auspicious day. While worshipping,the devotee should
chant the following mantras-om gambhiray namah, om saubhagyay namah,om
devdevay namah,om trinetray namah,om vachaspataye namah,om rudray
namah,etc. One important feature of the rituals is making offerings
of honey and ghee to the sacrificial fire. During the course of the
rituals,a devotee should have food prepared from pure cereals preferably
wheat. After the rituals are accomplished at the end of the year,the
idols should be donated to brahmins. One who observes this austerity
is blessed with good fortune in his successive seven births.
AVIGHNA-VRATA
As the name implies,this austerity clears all the obstacles faced
by a man. It commences on the fourth day of the bright half of the
hindu month-falgun and lasts for four months whereby a devotee observes
fast on the fourth day(bright half) of every month that follows. One
important characteristic of this austerity is the importance and use
of sesame seeds in it's rituals. It is not only the chief constituent
of the diet but it is also offered in the sacrificial fire and donated
to the brahmins as well. After observing this austerity for four months,a
devotee should conclude it by worshipping lord Ganesh in the fifth
month and donating the Ganesh-idol to a brahmin longwith five pots
filled with sesame seeds. While worshipping lord Ganesh,he should
chant the following mantras-om shooray namah, om dhiray namah,om gajananay
namah,om lambodaray namah,om ekdanshtray namah,etc. A devotee thus
becomes free from all kind of obstacles and all his wishes are fulfilled.
KAAM-VRATA
This austerity is related with the worship of lord Kartikeya and is
observed in the bright half of the hindu month-pausha. On the sixth
day of this month,a devotee is expected to live on nothing else but
fruits. Lord Kartikeya is also known by several other names-Shadanan,Senani,Kritikasut,Kumar,Skand,etc.
The austerity concludes by feeding the brahmins at the year end and
making donations to them. A devotee who observes this austerity gets
all his wishes fulfilled.
AAROGYA-VRATA
This austerity is related with the worship of lord Surya Narayan who
is also known by several other names like Aaditya,Bhaskar,Ravi,Bhanu,Diwakar,
Prabhakar,etc. A devotee should observe a fast on the seventh day
of any month and worship lord Suryanarayan. The fast should be broken
on the next day-ashtami. A devotee can continue this ritual for one
year following the above mentioned rituals. A devotee who observes
the rituals of this austerity becomes free from all kind of diseases
and enjoys a healthy life
Sacred
