Why do unmarried women worship Shiva on 16 Mondays in Chaturmas starting from the month of Shravan?

Shravan is the first month of Chaturmas, which forms the first four months of Dakshinayana. 

During Dakshinayana the days are shorter and the nights are longer, there are more levels of melatonin compared to serotonin in the body and there are tendencies for spontaneous negative thoughts in the mind. Kama or desire is the first negative thought, which gets exaggerated in this period.

Shravan is the month linked to a disturbed state of mind. There is a famous song which describe the mental status of a mind in the shravan, i.e. “Sawan Ka Mahina Pawan Kare Shor”, which means that just as in the month of Shravan the air in atmosphere is disturbed and violent so is our mind.  

The answer lies in controlling our desires in the month of Shravan. Unmarried and married fertile women do it by following the ritual of Shiva Vrata on  Mondays ( the first day of the week) and man do it by participating in Kanwar yatra from Ganga river to the respective Shiva Linga Mandir.

Unmarried women and married women observing Monday fast indicates observing a sexual and non-sexual desire fast.  

You cannot enter in a Shiva temple with your sexual desires.  Therefore, you keep your Nandi (Bull sexual desire) outside the temple.

Some scholars co-relate Shiva Lingam as your internal Lingam, which you try to control by pouring milk onto it. A continuous flow of milk represents continuous flow of positive thoughts.  By controlling the sexual desires for 16 consecutive weeks, the sexual energy can be converted into a more forceful spiritual energy.

Both sexual and non-sexual desires are equally common in unmarried and married man who to control their desires need to make more efforts and thereby need to devote time.  

In the month of Shravan in the “Kanwar yatra” people walk for days together and reach Ganga destination and bring Gangajal to be poured over the Shiva Lingam.  This again indicates continuous mental and physical efforts on the part of the person to earn positive thoughts (Ganga) and with that to pacify the sexual and non-sexual desires (Shiva Lingam). 

This way one converts again sexual energy and the non-sexual desires into spiritual energy.  The observance of fast apart from Shiva Lingam worship helps in controlling five sensual senses in the mind and the body.

Spiritual Blog:Dakshinayana is the start of negative state of mind

The uttarayana and dakshinayana are not only time periods mentioned in the Vedic literature but also the state of minds. Uttarayana means a period for a positive state of mind and Dakshinayana a period for relatively negative state of mind.

Dakshinayana is the southern transit of the Sun. The Uttarayana and Dakshinayana period is calculated differently in South and North India

Bhagwad Geeta talks about Moksha and liberation. Those who believe in the philosophy of rebirth know that once a soul is liberated at death, a person is not reborn. Those who believe that hell and heaven are in this birth only for them liberation means dying peacefully and without sufferings.

The theory of rebirth is well described in Bhagwad Geeta in Chapter 8.

The gist of Lord Krishna’s teaching is:
1. Whatever you think throughout your life will be your thought at the time of death.
2. Whatever is the state of mind at the time of death will be the atmosphere you will get in the rebirth. For example if your state of mind is in cruelty at the time of death, you will be born in a cruel family. If you are relaxed, thinking of God or Chanting AUM at the time of death, there are chances your soul will be liberated.
3. Fire, illumination, daytime, fortnight before the full moon and uttarayana are the paths for liberation. It means these are the periods / ways for spontaneous positive thinking. And the reverse is for dakshinayana 

From mental health point of view, this knowledge can be converted into medical prescription. Uttarayana means satwa, healthy state of mind and dakshinayana means a depressed negative state of mind. Performing and attending to Yagna, sitting in well illuminated lights or exposing oneself to the day sunlight can be an adjunct to depression treatment. During the first fortnight of full moon and during uttarayana, the psychotherapy and counseling invariable will work better and the requirement of drugs may get reduced. The reverse will happen in dakshinayana.

In chakra language , from mooladhara chakra to anahata chakra is the dakshinayana path and from anahata chakra to ajna chakra is the uttarayana path. Those who travel on the uttarayana path travel from anahata chakra. Those who travel on the dakshinayana path start from mooladhara.

The Chatur Mas or Four holy months in Hinduism falls during the period of Dakshinayana. Chaturmas begins on July 11 and ends on November 6. It begins on the Ekadasi day in Shukla Paksha in the month of Ashada and ends on the Ekadasi in the Shukla Paksha in the month of Kartik. It occurs during monsoon season and most important festivals take place during this period. It’s a four month period for observing fast, rituals, pujas and festivals.

Chaturmas has folowwing months 

1st Shravan month is dedicated to Lord Shiva, especially the Mondays. Is a month or Vata or air imbalance. The classical song " Savan ka mahina Pavan kare shor" explains the air imbalance in this month. The vata function in the mind is related to emmotional imbalance.

2nd Bhadrapad is the month of festivals including the Ganesh Chaturthi and Janmaasthmi. The month is again related to Vata or air imbalance. The classical Bollywood song "tere naina savan bhado phir bhi mera man payasa" explains the state of the mind in savan and bhado months. The state of the mind is negative with chances of more non fulfillment of desires.

3rd Ashwin month include, Durga Puja, Navratri, Diwali etc.
4th Kartik and Diwali celebrations end in this month.

It’s a saying to avoid green leafy vegetables in Shravan month, Curd in Bhadrapad, milk in Ashwin and pulses, the split variety in Kartik month.

No marriages or important functions take place in chaturmas for many reasons

1. Firstly it is a period of negative state of mind and hence more chances of divorce
2. For the same reason more chances of infertility
3. Due to rainy seasons more chances of worms on the surface and infesting the leafy vegetables
4. Due to Vata (movement) predominance, leafy vegetables will not be health friendly
5. Due to pitaa (metabolism) suppression the digestive fire will be weak
6. Many people avoid garlic and onion as it can stimulate unnecessary excitements, cause indigestion and distract devotee from pujas and prayers.

Emedinews: Why do we offer milk to snakes?

The "Naga" is the divine aspect of the cobra found in both Hindu and Buddhist traditions. The word ‘Naga’ in Sanskrit means "serpent". In Hindi it is called ‘Nag’.

In mythology snake means duality of mind which needs to be controlled. In Srimad Bhagwad, Kalia the snake was tamed by Krishna and not killed. The right age for taming is when one enters school. Taming of mind is done by consciousness (Krishna).

“Nag” in mythology means ‘ego’. Sheshnag represent a ‘Nag” with 5 heads. The five heads represents the five senses. Sheshnag therefore represents the one who has learned to control his ego and the five senses will automatically come under control. In Bhagwad Gita, Krishna says that “amongst the Nags I am Sheshnag”, which again means that I can be in touch with consciousness only by learning to control the ego and the five senses.

“Nag Devta” in mythology means the one who has learned to control his mind and ego.

The description of ‘Nag’ also comes in reference to Lord Shiva wearing it around his neck, Krishna being protected by him at the time of birth, Vishnu being protected by him when he is sleeping in the ocean. In all these situations, the ‘Nag’ is shown with the mouth turned inward.

To acquire spirituality one must control the ego and keep the desires inwards and not have egocentric desires. Controlling the ego is depicted as a snake sitting over the basket and guarding Lord Krishna at the time of birth.

Krishna controls Kalia. Here ‘Kalia’ represents the disturbed duality of mind. To control the mind Krishna has to win over Kalia, and this he does by dancing over its head.

The ‘Nag’ around Lord Shiva’s neck means to keep your ego under control. Same is true for Lord Vishnu being protected by Sheshnag when he is sleeping. The message is very clear we should keep our ego under control.

Nagpanchami is another festival that tells us how to tame the ego. Here ‘Nag’ (the poisonous snake) represents ego. In Chaturmas, when the festival is observed, chances of becoming egoistic are high as this is the most negative period of the year.

We can only face ego with humility (namrata and madhurta). Ego cannot be faced with ego or it will end up with destruction. Giving milk to the snake means feeding the ego temporarily and nor running away from it and not confronting it. One cannot ignore a person who behaves in an egoistic manner nor can one confront him or her. In both these situations the egoistic behavior can turn into aggressive destructive behavior.

Krishna is depicted as a person with blue skin (everything is possible), yellow skin (I can do it) and a flute in his hand (egoless behavior). It symbolizes that one can do anything in life provides he learns to control the ego and practices humility.

Hanuman’s journey to Lanka is another example which signifies this. On his journey to Lanka, Hanuman faces Sursa the snake woman. She had a boon that everybody who comes before her must pass through her mouth. However, when she wanted to swallow Hanuman, he became bigger and bigger so she also had to become bigger and bigger. Then Hanuman suddenly became very small and went in through her ear, coming out of her mouth, thus fulfilling the boon.

This depicts that if you get egoistic thoughts during meditation you should face them with humility and they will disappear. (Hanuman ki adhyatmic yatra).

In Ramayana and Krishna Lila, Ravana and Kansa respectively represent ego. Ego cannot be killed my mind. Lakshman cannot kill Ravana. It can only be killed by consciousness (Rama or Krishna). Ego cannot be tamed it can only be killed. Ravana and Kansa will have to get killed. Ego cannot be killed in one day. It has to be an effortful activity. In both Ramayana and Krishna Lila it took time for Rama and Krishna to kill Ravana and Kansa.

To kill ego one has to learn to take control over the mind and the intellect first. In Ramayana to kill Ravana Rama had to first befriend Hanumana (controlling Prana Vayu to control the mind) and Sugriva (controlling intellect with one point concentration).

In Krishna Lila too, Krishna had to first control the mind (Tame Kalia the snake) before killing Kansa and win over Indra (Govardhan Pooja with one point concentration).

Emedinews:Nag Panchami and Health

Nag Panchami is celebrated in the month of July. On this day, snakes are worshipped. People observe a fast one day before the festival and also on the day of the festival. The tradition is not to eat till evening on that day.

In Hindu mythology a snake represents ‘ego’. A realized man is the one who has concurred or mastered ego unlike hostile people who are constantly victimized by the demands of the ego. Practicing humility is the way to concur one’s ego. On this day, therefore, everybody practices humility so that it becomes a part and parcel of his or her consciousness. Ahankar, vanity or egoism is one of the five obstacles to internal realization.

Ahankar or ego is normally a part and parcel of subtle mental layer. The subtle body consists of mind, intellect and ego.

Without ego also, there is no life but the abnormal exaggeration of the ego faculty is what is called vanity or egotism. Ego is therefore nothing but a mistake of the intellect and behaves like a cancer.

The Chief action of ego is to block the path of truthfulness. It works like the bosom friend of an error. It prevents people from accepting new things. Ego works on the assumption that; “I am the only one who is right and anybody who opposes me, I have the right to destroy him”.

Egoistic persons only want to defend their own rights. Ego works hand in hand with anger. Classically a man under the influence of ego can be described as a person who is advertising his virtues by pointing the faults of others. He basically advertises his own shortcoming. In meetings, such type of persons can be seen to attract the attention of others by making a noise or imposing their opinion on the others.

He frequently interprets others while they are talking. He likes to make speeches. He wants his name to appear in the print. He makes it a point to be known to everybody for every bit of charity done.

Humility is the virtue to be practiced to control the ego. Humility can be acquired by spreading the message of love, and practicing “giving”. Calling everybody with respect, wishing everybody early in the morning, respecting the seniors, bowing and taking blessings from the teachers and the elderly, asking for forgiveness, showing appreciation and concern and having the same thought in the mind, speech and action etc are a few of the examples of acquiring humility.

Matthew once said “love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you and pray for them that despitefully use and persecute you”.

Nag Panchami is also celebrated in monsoon season as snakes come out in rain and most of them are non poisonous and one should not unnecessarily kill them.

Also Nag Panchami comes in Chaturmas, a period of negative state of the mind. As getting egoistic is common in these months one must learn to practice humility in this part of the season.

Snake in mythology is also depicted by Sheshnag protecting Krishna at birth, lord Shiva wearing a snake in the neck and Lord Vishnu sleeping with the snake with inward mouth protecting him. All these festivals also occur in the Chaturmas month and means learning to control the duality of mind and taming the ego.

Taming kalia in Krishna Leela as described in Srimad Bhagwad also indicated taming the duality of mind and not killing it.

Spiritual Significance of Jagannath Yatra

Why Subhadra is worshipped along with Lord Krishna in Jagannath Yatra
In 2011 Jagannath Rath Yatra starts July 2nd and has a special significance when it comes to the relationship between brother s and sisters.
 The value of relation between brother and sister has been shown in many festivals and rituals in our country.
 Raksha Bandhan and Bhai Dooj are two major festivals devoted to this sacred relationship. In Raksha Bandhan, the brother vows for the safety of his sister and sister prays for the long life of the brother. The Raksha Bandhan rakhi or the red thread ‘moli’ works as a reminder and is removed on the date of Janmashtami falling after Raksha Bandhan. When Bahadur Shah of Gujarat attacked Chittor, Rani Karnavati sent a Rakhi to Emperor Humayun, calling him a brother and requested for his help. Humayun did come to his Rakhi sister's help.
 In the ritual of Bhai Duj, the sister anoints her brother’s forehead with vermilion and performs aarti. This festival is similar to that of Raksha Bandhan. Only the ritual of tying Rakhi has been replaced with tikka (vermilion spot on forehead).
In terms of symbolism, the brother-sister relationship is depicted in Jagannath Mandir in Puri and is one of the temples in the country where Gods and Goddesses are not worshiped in the form of husband and wife.
The other example is Ganesha and Lakshmi worshipped together as brother and sister. Goddess Lakshmi is symbolic of good fortune and wealth and Lord Ganesh is symbolic of the intelligence required to utilize the wealth that we have.
At the Jagannath temple, Subhadra, the sister, is depicted in the center and Krishna and Balram (Lord Balabhadra) are shown on the left and right side of Subhadra. Here, Krishna is worshipped along with his brother and sister. Subhadra was married to Arjuna and a brave boy Abhimanyu was born to them.

A synonym of Purushottam is Jagannath and his abode. Puri is known as Purushottam Kshetra, which is one of the four most sacred places in India for the Hindus. The famous festival related to the Jagannath temple is the Ratha Yatra, or chariot festival, which occurs yearly in June or July. During this festival, the three deities are taken from the temple and placed in large chariots which are then drawn along Grand Road to the Gundecha temple, a few kilometers away. After they have stayed in that temple for seven days, the deities again ride the chariots back to their home temple. Then three idols are made of margosa (neem) wood.
Brother-sister relationship is always a sacred relationship in Indian law. Marriages or illicit relationship between brothers and sisters are prohibited. Consanguineous marriages are also known to end up with diseases. While in some religions, a marriage of the daughter with maternal uncle is allowed, but in no religion, a marriage between a brother and sister is allowed.  
Devaki and Kansa depict the extreme opposite of brother-sister relationship. Kansa was the maternal uncle of Lord Krishna and brother of Devaki. There was a prediction that the eighth child of Devaki would kill him. When Kansa came to know about that prediction he decided to kill all children born to his sister.
 All three festivals Jagannath Yatra, Raksha Bandhan and Bhai Dooj are observed in the last six months of a year in the period of dakshinayana, which is the period with darker or the negative side of the mind. In Chaturmas the mind is more negative, violent, irritable and with more non fulfillment of desires. All festivals which relates to purity of relationship are thus observed in this period.

Will I be allowed to marry in Chaturmas?

Dakshinayana is the start of negative state of mind

The uttarayana and dakshinayana are not only time periods mentioned in the Vedic literature but also the state of minds. Uttarayana means a period for a positive state of mind and Dakshinayana a period for relatively negative state of mind.

Dakshinayana is the southern transit of the Sun. The Uttarayana and Dakshinayana period is calculated differently in South and North India. In North Indian calendars, Dakshinayana in 2011 begins on June 21. In South Indian calendars, it begins on July 17, 2011. In South India, Uttarayana period starts with Makar Sankranti on January 14 or 15 and ends on July 14 or 15. Dakshinayana is from July 14 or 15 to Makar Sankranti. In North India, Uttarayana period starts on December 21 and ends on June 21. Dakshinayana is from June 21 to December 21.

Bhagwad Geeta talks about Moksha and liberation. Those who believe in the philosophy of rebirth know that once a soul is liberated at death, a person is not reborn. Those who believe that hell and heaven are in this birth only for them liberation means dying peacefully and without sufferings.

The theory of rebirth is well described in Bhagwad Geeta in Chapter 8.

The gist of Lord Krishna’s teaching is:

1.       Whatever you think throughout your life will be your thought at the time of death.

2.       Whatever is the state of mind at the time of death will be the atmosphere you will get in the rebirth. For example if your state of mind is in cruelty at the time of death, you will be born in a cruel family. If you are relaxed, thinking of God or Chanting AUM at the time of death, there are chances your soul will be liberated.

4.       Fire, illumination, daytime, fortnight before the full moon and uttarayana are the paths for liberation. It means these are the periods / ways for spontaneous positive thinking. And the reverse is for dakshinayana

From mental health point of view, this knowledge can be converted into medical prescription. Uttarayana means satwa, healthy state of mind and dakshinayana means a depressed negative state of mind. Performing and attending to Yagna, sitting in well illuminated lights or exposing oneself to the day sunlight can be an adjunct to depression treatment. During the first fortnight of full moon and during uttarayana, the psychotherapy and counseling invariable will work better and the requirement of drugs may get reduced. The reverse will happen in dakshinayana.

In chakra language , from mooladhara chakra to anahata chakra is the dakshinayana path and from anahata chakra to ajna chakra is the uttarayana path. Those who travel on the uttarayana path travel from anahata chakra. Those who travel on the dakshinayana path start from mooladhara.

The Chatur Mas or Four holy months in Hinduism falls during the period of Dakshinayana. Chaturmas begins on July 11 and ends on November 6. It begins on the Ekadasi day in Shukla Paksha in the month of Ashada and ends on the Ekadasi in the Shukla Paksha in the month of Kartik. It occurs during monsoon season and most important festivals take place during this period. It’s a four month period for observing fast, rituals, pujas and festivals.

 Chaturmas has folowwing months 

1st Shravan month is dedicated to Lord Shiva, especially the Mondays. Is a month or Vata or air imbalance. The classical song " Savan ka mahina Pavan kare shor" explains the air imbalance in this month. The vata function in the mind is related to emmotional imbalance.

2nd Bhadrapad is the month of festivals including the Ganesh Chaturthi and Janmaasthmi. The month is again related to Vata or air imbalance. The classical Bollywoodsong " tete naina savan bhado phir bhi mera man payasa" explains the state of the mind in savan and bhado months. The state of the mind is negative with chances of more non fulfillment of desires.

3rd Ashwin month include, Durga Puja, Navratri, Diwali etc.

4th Kartik and Diwali celebrations end in this month.

It’s a saying to avoid green leafy vegetables in Shravan month, Curd in Bhadrapad, milk in Ashwin and pulses, the split variety in Kartik month.

No marriages or important functions take place in chaturmas for many reasons

1.         Firstly it is a period of negative state of mind and hence more chances of divorce

2.         For the same reason more chances of infertility

3.         Due to rainy seasons more chances of worms on the surface and infesting the leafy vegetables

4.         Due to Vata ( movement) predominance, leafy vegetables will not be health friendly

5.         Due to pitaa ( metabolism) suppression the digestive fire will be weak

6.         Many people avoid garlic and onion as it can stimulate unnecessary excitements, cause indigestion and distract devotee from pujas and prayers.