Friday, 3 May 2013

Matsya Jayanthi


In MASTYA Avatar, Lord Vishnu incarnates himself as a fish in this world. In the earliest yuga (era) of Sata-yuga, a king named Manu was performing severe penance for thousands of years. One day as he was performing ablutions with river water, a small fish came into his hands and just as he was about to throw the fish back into the river, the fish requested the king to save its life. Heeding its request, the king put the fish into a jar of water but the fish started growing and the jar was not big enough for it. Then the king threw it into the river, but it soon it outgrew the river and the king then threw it into Ganges and then into the ocean.

The king realised that it was Lord Vishnu himself and then the lord made an appearance and made a special request to the king. It predicted that the world would come to an end by a huge flood in seven days and requested the king to build a huge boat and take the seven sages(hermits), seeds of all plants, one animal of each type and told him that he would appear as a fish to propel the boat to Mt Himavan for surviving the flood to the next yuga(eon). True to his word, after seven days the Lord appeared and the king tied the boat to the fish by using the royal serpent Vasuki and the fish took all of them to Mt Himavan and kept them there till the flood was over and in the new era, the king started procreation a for the new era.

It is falling on 07-May-2013.

Thursday, 2 May 2013

Ekadashi


Ekadashi fasting is observed on every 11th Tithi in Hindu calendar. There are two Ekadashi fasting in a month, one during Shukla Paksha and another during Krishna Paksha. Devotees of Lord Vishnu observer Ekadashi fasting to seek His blessings. 

Ekadashi fasting spans for three days. Devotees take single meal in the afternoon a day before fasting day to make sure there is no residual food in the stomach on next day. Devotees keep strict fast on Ekadashi day and break the fast on next day only after sunrise. Eating of all type of grains and cereals is prohibited during Ekadashi fasting. 

Devotees can choose to observe fasting without water, with only water, with only fruits, with one time latex food according to their will and body power. However it should be decided before starting the fast.

Ekadasi Vrat dates in 2013

The list of Ekadashi 2013 dates:

Ekadashi in January 2013
8 January 2013: Saphala Ekadasi (Tuesday)
22 January 2013: Putrada Ekadasi (Tuesday)

Ekadashi in February 2013
6 February 2013: Shattila Ekadashi (Wednesday)
21 February 2013: Jaya Ekadashi (Thursday)

Ekadashi in March 2013
7 March 2013: Vijaya Ekadashi (Thursday); 8 March (Friday) – Bhagvat Ekadasi (Vaishnava Ekadasi)
23 March 2013: Amalaki Ekadashi (Saturday)

Ekadashi in April 2013
6 April 2013: Papmochani Ekadashi (Saturday)
22 April 2013: Kamada Ekadashi (Monday)

Ekadashi in May 2013
5 May 2013: Varuthini Ekadashi (Sunday)
21 May 2013: Mohini Ekadashi (Tuesday)

Ekadashi in June 2013
4 June 2013: Apara Ekadashi (Tuesday)
19 June 2013: Nirjala Ekadashi (Wednesday); 20 June (Thursday) – Bhagvat Nirjala Ekadasi (for Vaishnava sect)

Ekadashi in July 2013
3 July 2013: Yogini Ekadashi (Wednesday)
19 July 2013: Devshayani Ekadashi (Friday)

Ekadashi in August 2013
2 August 2013: Kamika Ekadashi (Friday)
17 August 2013: Putrada Ekadashi (Saturday)

Ekadashi in September 2013
1 September 2013: Aja Ejadashi (Sunday)
15 September 2013: Parsva Ekadashi (Sunday)
30 September 2013: Indira Ekadashi (Monday)

Ekadashi in October 2013
15 October 2013: Pasankusa Ekadashi (Tuesday)
30 October 2013: Rama Ekadashi (Wednesday)

Ekadashi in November 2013
13 November 2013: Devutthana Ekadashi (Wednesday)
29 November 2013: Utpanna Ekadashi (Friday)

Ekadashi in December 2013
13 December 2013: Mokshada Ekadashi (Friday)
28 December 2013: Saphala Ekadashi (Saturday)