People who wish to observe upwas on Chaturdashi ( Maha Shiv Ratri ) should avoid eating rice on the night before the chaturdashi I.e on Pradosh (Trayodashi).
Fasting on Maha shivratri starts before sunset, by taking a river/ sea bath.
People having no facility of river or sea can simply take Head bath on that day. ( No shampooing or Abhyangana Snaan) prefer cold water bath.( People with complicated health issues avoid cold water)
Wear washed and folded clothes , avoid crumpled ones
Start your day with usual puja and take sankalp of the upwasa and pray ganesh ji for nirvighn( without obstacles) vrat. Off2r jaggery as neivedya and start your fast with any puja you want to perform. People do one round of abhishekam in the morning. Do your regular pujas.
During the war of Murugan/ Kartikeyan and Tarakasur whenever Murugan tried to kill Tarkasur and split him into pieces using the Shakti Vel the body used to rejoin and gain it's shape. This was a surprise at all levels to Murugan.
He was thinking of multiple ways to understand what exactly is helping Tarakasur to join back and gain immense power. With help if Narayana's vaani he came to know the secret behind this. Bhagwan Narayana said that until the Shivling worn by Tarakasur on his neck isn't broken ++
He wouldn't be defeated at any level. This Lingam hs to be broken down by the Vel and then the power of Tarakasur will be lost. Narayana guided once the Lingam will be broken dwn the pieces will try to join back and Murugan has to prevent it by ensuring the pieces to be fixed
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Bhagwaan Ganesha is sarva sidhi and Budhi pradaata. He is the pratham gana devata and every puja starts with his Aagaman and blessings for the karyas( works) to be progressing Nirvighna( Without Obstackes). Some interesting facts of him
16 Names without which a prayer is incomplete
Ganesha ensures he gives the following 16sidhis without obstacles.
Everyone of us chooses some mantras or receive certainly from the gurus, parents, friends etc. We start meditating upon the same and expect various results from it. It can be moksha to specific material gains.
Any mantra be it Namaskara mantra or Bija mantras should be done in a prescribed way as per shastras. Any mantra sidhi contains 4 steps
1. Mantra Japa 2. Deva Tarpana 3. Homam 4. Annadana
Be it any benefit we are looking for one needs to follow these 4 steps.
Homam can be purely optional. In earlier days Ichāgnihotra used to exist & it was practiced daily at homes by the sadhakas by offering clarified butter/Ghee to the Agni by reciting the Japa mantras.This is upto ones willingness to perform, having said everyone can do Ichagnihotra
श्री राम राम रामेति रमे रामे मनोरमे ।
सहस्रनाम तत्तुल्यं रामनाम वरानने ॥
This shloka mantra is called Rama Taraka Mantra. Chanting this mantra is equal to sahasranama of Vishnu. People don't have enough time in daily life to chant Vishnu sahasranam
Vishnu sahasranamam has innumerable benefits and very important for Nakshatra, graha, Gochara, pitru doshas cleansing. People can chant the above 2 liner given by Shiva to Parvati and Explained the equal benefit of chanting vishnu sahasra.
Kanuma the next day of Makar Sankrant is believed to be a day on which The Crow starts loosing it's vigor. It gains extreme power & be active during Dakshinayan. Dakshinayan is time of Daityas & Uttaratan of Adityas. ONE SHOULD NOT TRAVEL ON KANUMA
Even a crow also doesn't travel on kanuma. On kanuma people offer Neivedyas and offerings to the Pitrus and suggested that they shouldn't travel long distances and cross their city / Village Borders.
Bengaluru Incident reminds me of our elder's strict instructions to not travel
There are many times in a day, days and horas which people shouldn't use to commence their journeys. 1 should be very careful. Disha sool should be taken care of before leaving for long distances.Each days hora gives diff results