Nirajala ekadasi &
Ganga Dashera
The month of May 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).
Nirjala Ekadashi, also known as Pandava Ekadashi or Bhima Ekadashi is observed
on the eleventh day during Jyeshta masa Shukla paksh.
The Ekadashi varat (fast), 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 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
The important ttithis of Sri Ganga Dashera. Sri Ganga Devi, as most Hindus would
believe, was brought to planet earth by the tapsya of maharishi Bhagirath 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 slowly releasing in 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 daily brings enormous
benefits in life - especially in showing us a spiritual path.
Gayatri Mantra
Om Bhur Bhuwa Swah
Tatsat Vithur Vareniyam
Bhargo Devasaya Dhimahi
Dhio Yo na Prachodayat
