Article by Shri Nandan Kaluskar
Diwali 2019 – location wise muhurtas, relevance of days and suggested practices
Typically most important question we have for Diwali is - what is the muhurta for doing certain pujas e.g. Laxmi Pujan. Extending on this idea of providing muhurta details, a thought triggered that the details, about what and when to do on each day of Diwali, relevance of festivities and some more insights, could be useful to all and hence compiled this information (mostly from Drikpanchang – https://www/drikpanchang.com). I credit this to the blessings of my Guru. I hope those who desire will find these useful.
Please note that the exact date for Diwali days vary based on the
geography. Please do use the details to find out the exact event (Diwali day)
for your time zone on a particular calendar day.
Thursday October 24th, 2019 - Vasu Baras, Govatsa Dwadashi
Muhurta:
West Coast US & Canada: 6:19pm to 8:56pm PST
Central time US & Canada: 6:44pm to 9:19pm CST
East coast US & Canada: 6:03pm to 8:42pm EST
London: 5:49pm to 8:36pm GMT
Note that Vasu Baras and Dhanatrayodashi
are on the same day (25th) in India & Dubai hence muhurtas for
the same mentioned accordingly
Relevance:
Govatsa Dwadashi is celebrated one day before Dhanteras. On Govatsa Dwadashi day cows and calves are worshipped. The wheat products are given to cows and calves after worship. People who observe Govatsa Dwadashi abstain from eating any wheat and milk products during the day. Govatsa Dwadashi is also observed as Nandini Vrat. Nandini is divine cow in Hinduism.
In Maharashtra, Govatsa Dwadashi is known as Vasu Baras and it is considered first day of Deepavali.
Suggestion(s):
- If possible visit any nearby cow-shed and perform a pooja of the cow preferably along with her calf. Usually its good to offer yellow colored daal (uncooked) or yellow food to seek blessings of the Guru (planet) especially for those undergoing adverse dashas as per horoscope. Many temples in and around the world (including US, UK, Canada) do keep cows.
- If you cannot easily find a cow to worship, offer the pooja and prasad to your Guru. If you do not know who your Guru is, offer the same to Ganapati. Ganapati routes the offering to your Guru and also brings you in contact with the Guru tatva in physical form.
- Chanting Shri Guru Gita, Ganapati Atharvashirsha and/ or Vishnu sahastranaam if possible
Friday October 25th, 2019 – Dhanatrayodashi, Dhanteras, Yama Deepam
Muhurta:
West Coast US & Canada: 7:19pm to 8:55pm PST
Central time US & Canada: 7:48pm to 9:19pm CST
East Coast US & Canada: 7:00pm to 8:41pm EST
London: 6:31pm to 8:08pm GMT
Dubai – Dhanatrayodashi from 6:54pm to 8:16pm, Yamadeepam from 5:44pm
to 7:00 pm and Vasu Baras from 5:44pm to 8:16pm
India - Vasu Baras - 6:09pm
to 8:39pm IST AND Dhanatrayodashi – 7:23pm to 8:39pm IST
Relevance:
Dhantrayodashi which is also known as Dhanteras is the first day of five days long Diwali festivities. On the day of Dhantrayodashi, Goddess Lakshmi came out of the ocean during the churning of the Milky Sea. Hence, Goddess Lakshmi, along with Lord Kubera who is the God of wealth, is worshipped on the auspicious day of Trayodashi. However, Lakshmi Puja on Amavasya after two days of Dhantrayodashi is considered more significant.
Lakshmi
Puja on Dhanteras
or Dhantrayodashi
should be done during Pradosh Kaal which starts after sunset and approximately
lasts for 2 hours and 24 minutes.
The
best time for Lakshmi Puja on Dhanteras is during Pradosh Kaal when Sthir
Lagna prevails. Sthir means fixed i.e. not moveable. If Dhanteras
Puja is done during Sthir Lagna, Lakshmiji will stay in your home; hence this
time is the best for Dhanteras Pujan. Vrishabha Lagna is considered as Sthir and mostly
overlaps with Pradosh Kaal during Diwali festivity.
We
provide exact window for Dhanteras Puja. Our Muhurat times contain Pradosh Kaal
and Sthir Lagna while Trayodashi is prevailing. We provide Muhurat based on
location, hence you should select your city first before noting down Shubh
Dhanteras Puja timings.
Dhanteras
Puja is also known as Dhantrayodashi. The day of Dhanteras is also
observed as Dhanwantari
Triodasi or Dhanvantri
Jayanti, the birth anniversary of the God of Ayurveda. Yamadeep
is another ritual on the same Trayodashi Tithi when the lamp for the God of
death is lit outside home to ward off any untimely death of any family members.
Suggestion(s):
- Starting with Ganapati pooja, one should worship the wealth (and more importantly the giver of the wealth ie Lakshmi).
- Chanting Purusha sookta, Sri-sookta.
- Since it is also worship of Yama, one can chant/ hear Sri Rudra
Saturday October 26th, 2019 – Narak Chaturdashi, Tamil Deepavali
Muhurta (Abhyanga Snana):
West Coast US & Canada: 5:32am to 7:26am PST
Central time US & Canada: 5:47am to 7:40am CST
East Coast US & Canada: 6:16am to 7:19am EST
India: Yama Deepam in India between 6:09pm to 7:23pm IST
Note that Narak Chaturdashi
and Lakshmipoojan are on the same day (27th) in India, UK and Dubai
Relevance:
Five days Diwali festivity starts on Dhantrayodashi and lasts on Bhaiya Dooj (Bhau beej) day. Abhyang Snan has been suggested on three days i.e. on Chaturdashi, Amavasya and Pratipada days during Diwali.
Abhyang
Snan on Chaturdashi day, which is popularly known as Narak
Chaturdashi, is the most significant one. It is believed that
people, who do Abhyang Snan on this day, can avoid going to Narak. Til (i.e.
sesame) oil should be used for Ubtan during Abhyang Snan.
Abhyang
Snan on Narak Chaturdashi might be one day before or on same day of Lakshmi
Puja day on English Calendar. When Chaturdashi Tithi prevails before
sunrise and Amavasya Tithi prevails after sunset then Narak Chaturdashi and
Lakshmi Puja fall on the same day. Abhyang Snan is always done during moonrise
but before sunrise while Chaturdashi Tithi is prevailing.
Our
Muhurta window for Abhyang Snan is between moonrise and sunrise while
Chaturdashi Tithi prevails. We provide Abhyang Snan Muhurta exactly as it has
been prescribed in religious Hindu texts. We consider all exceptions and list
the best date and time for Abhyang Snan.
Narak
Chaturdashi day is also known as Choti Diwali, Roop Chaturdashi and Roop Chaudas.
Often Narak Chaturdashi is considered same as Kali Chaudas. However both are two different festivals observed on the same Tithi and depending on the start and end timing of Chaturdashi Tithi might fall on two different consecutive days.
Suggestion(s):
After Abhyangasnana, do perform the regular
pooja along with Purusha sookta, Sri-sookta, Vishnusahastranaam
Sunday
October 27th, 2019 – Lakshmi Poojan, Kali Pooja, Sharda Pooja, Chopda Pooja
Muhurta:
East Coast US & Canada: 6:52pm to 8:40pm EST
Central time US and Canada: 7:40pm to 9:17pm CST
West Coast US & Canada: 7:11pm to 8:38pm PST
London: Narak Chaturdashi Abhyanga snana – 5:20am to 6:45am GMT and Lakshmi Poojan 5:23pm to 7:00 pm GMT
Dubai: Narak Chaturdashi Abhyanga snana– 5:18am to 6:23am and
Lakshmi Poojan 6:46pm to 8:15 pm India: Narak Chaturdashi Abhyanga snana –
5:33am to 6:36am IST AND Lakshmi Poojan 7:15pm to 8:38pm IST
Relevance:
On the day of Diwali, people should get up early in the morning and pay tribute to their ancestors and worship family gods. Being Amavasya day, people also perform Shradh for their ancestors. Traditionally, most Puja are performed after keeping a day long fast. Hence, the devotees of Goddess Lakshmi observe a day long fast on the day of Lakshmi Puja. The fast is broken after Lakshmi Puja in the evening.
Suggestion(s):
- Best day to perform Lakshmi pooja. Starting with the regular abhishek accompanied with Purusha sookta, one should perform archana with flowers, Kumkum or rice accompanied with chanting of Srisookta, Khadgamala stotra and/ or SriLalitasahastranaam.
- Any number of Gayatri chanting on this day is most desirable
Monday October 28th, 2019 – Bali pratipada, Govardhan pooja, Annakut
Muhurta:
West Coast US & Canada: 7:28am to 9:37am PST AND/OR 4:05pm to 5:43pm PST
Central time US & Canada: 7:41am to 9:53am CST AND/OR 4:28pm
to 6:40pm CST
East Coast US & Canada: 7:22am to 9:29am EST AND/OR 3:51pm to
5:58pm EST
London: 6:46am to 8:45am GMT AND/OR 2:42pm to 4:42pm GMT
Dubai: 7:38am to 8:40am AND/ OR 3:26pm to 5:42pm
India: 3:49pm to 6:07pm IST (no morning muhurta in India)
Relevance:
Bali Puja is also known as Bali Pratipada and performed on the first day of Kartik Pratipada which falls on the next day of Diwali Puja. Bali Puja coincides with Govardhan Puja. While Govardhan Puja is dedicated to Govardhan hills and Lord Krishna, Bali Puja is performed to seek blessings of Demon king Bali.
Due
to boon bestowed by Lord Vishnu, Demon king Bali is worshipped in
India during Diwali. According to legends associated with Vamana
Avatar of Lord Vishnu, Demon Bali was pushed to Patala (i.e. Nadir)
by Lord Vishnu. However due to generosity of the king Bali, Lord Vishnu allowed
him three days to visit Bhulok (i.e. the earth). It is believed that king Bali
resides on the earth for three days and blesses his devotees during these days.
As
per religious texts, the image of king Bali should be drawn at the center of
home along with his wife Vindhyavali. The image should be adorned with five
different colors. The five colored image should be worshipped during Bali Puja.
In
South India, king Bali is worshipped during Onam and the concept of Onam
is same as that of Bali Puja in North India.
Suggestion(s):
SriVishnuSaharastranaam and SriRudra chanting after
lighting the lamps
Tuesday October 29th, 2019 – Bhau Beej, Yama Dwitiya
Muhurta:
1:55pm to 4:04pm PST
2:16pm to 4:28pm CST
1:43pm to 3:50pm EST
12:43pm to 2:41pm GMT
1:31pm to 3:49pm IST
Relevance:
Yama Dwitiya is observed on Dwitiya Tithi during Kartik month. Most of the times, Yama Dwitiya falls two days after Diwali Puja. Yamraj, the lord of death, is worshipped on Yama Dwitiya along with Chitragupta and Yama-Doots, the subordinates of Lord Yamraj.
The
Aparahna is the most suitable time for Yama Dwitiya Puja. Yamuna Snan is
suggested in the morning before Yamraj Puja during Aparahna. Arghya should be
given to Lord Yama after Puja.
Apart
from Yama Puja, the day is more popularly known as Bhai
Dooj. As per Yama Dwitiya legends, Goddess Yamuna fed her brother
Yamraj on Kartik Dwitiya at her own home. Since then this day is known as Yama
Dwitiya. It is believed that sisters who feed their brothers on this auspicious
day would be forever Saubhagyavati (सौà¤ाग्यवती) and eating
at sisters home bestows long life to brothers. Hence, on Bhai Dooj, sisters
cook sumptuous food for their brothers and feed them with their own hands.
Suggestion(s):
- Some kind of Daan (donation, giving away) preferably towards hospitals and/ or institutions connected to providing services to humanity (preferably health)
- Do not forget to shower your love on your brothers and sisters
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