To be a human being

To live like human being it will be very useful to ponder upon following points

• Who to be respected most - father and mother
• The best day is today
• Biggest gift is forgiveness
• That which is most required - humbleness
• That which is not required at all - hate
• Most important strength - confidence
• Most severe disease - greed
• That which is most easy - to find fault in others
• That which should be avoided - jealousy
• That which should not be believed - gossip
• That which puts one in danger - loose talk
• That which should not be done - betraying
• That which should be done - help
• That which should be overcome - laziness
• That which should be raised in life - hard work
• That which should not be lost - opportunity
• That which should not be parted - friendship
• That which should not be forgotten - help rendered by others

Gayatri mantras for planets

Horoscope - janmakundali is an astrological chart that represents the positions of planets at the time of birth of a person. From the horoscope it can be known which planet will rule for how much time during the lifespan of the person. These planetary periods are known as dashas or mahadashas. Person may go through favorable or unfavorable experiences during these mahadashas depending on positions and other aspects of the planets. To remedy unfavorable effects, shastras recommend 108 times chanting of gayatri mantra of ruling planet.

Gayatri mantra for each planet is as follows

सूर्य (Sun)	ॐ अश्वध्वजाय विद्महे पाशहस्ताय धीमहि तन्नो सूर्य प्रचोदयात् | Om Ashwadhwajay Vidmahe Pasha Hastaya Dheemahi  Tanno Soorya  Prachodayat
चंद्र (Moon)	ॐ पद्मध्वजाय विद्महे हेमरुपाय धीमहि तन्नो सोम प्रचोदयात् | Om Padmadhwajaya Vidmahe Hema Roopaya Dheemahi Tanno Soma Prachodayat
मंगळ (Mars)	ॐ वीरध्वजाय विद्महे विघ्नहस्ताय धीमहि तन्नो भौम प्रचोदयात् | Om Veeradhwajaya Vidmahe Vighna Hastaya Dheemahi  Tanno Bhauma Prachodayat
बुध (Mercury)	ॐ गजध्वजाय विद्महे शुकहस्ताय धीमहि तन्नो बुध प्रचोदयात् | Om Gajadhwajaya Vidmahe Shuka Hastaya Dheemahi Tanno Budha  Prachodayat
गुरु (Jupiter)	ॐ वृषभध्वजाय विद्महे घ्रिणीहस्ताय धीमहि तन्नो गुरु प्रचोदयात् | Om Vrishabhadhwajaya Vidmahe Ghrini Hastaya Dheemahi Tanno Guru Prachodayat
शुक्र (Venus)	ॐ अश्वध्वजाय विद्महे धनुर्हस्ताय धीमहि तन्नो शुक्र प्रचोदयात् | Om Ashwadhwajaya Vidmahe Dhanur Hastaya Dheemahi Tanno Shukra Prachodayat
शनि (Saturn)	ॐ काकध्वजाय विद्महे खड्गहस्ताय धीमहि तन्नो मंद  प्रचोदयात् | Om Kakadhwajaya Vidmahe Khadga Hastaya Dheemahi Tanno Manda Prachodayat
राहु (Rahu)	ॐ नागध्वजाय विद्महे पद्महस्ताय धीमहि तन्नो राहु प्रचोदयात् | Om Nagadhwajaya Vidmahe Padma Hastaya Dheemahi Tanno Rahu Prachodayat
केतु (Ketu)	ॐ अश्वध्वजाय विद्महे शूलहस्ताय धीमहि तन्नो केतु प्रचोदयात् | Om Ashwadhwajaya Vidmahe Shoola Hastaya Dheemahi Tanno Ketu Prachodayat

 

Why we should save trees

It is very important to save trees. Trees help in many ways to maintain and improve ecosystem.

Below are some benefits that one tree offers in its lifespan of 50 years. Also mentioned are equivalent costs required to receive same benefits without tree.

1. Provides oxygen required for survival of all beings. The amount of oxygen it provides is worth Rs 50 lakhs
2. Purifies surrounding air - worth Rs 10,50,000 (10 lakhs 50 thousand)
3. Stops soil erosion - worth Rs 6,40,000 (6 lakhs 40 thousand)

 

Mahashivaratri on Tuesday - rare combination

In Indian culture every lunar day carries some importance. For example fourteenth day of Krishna paksha of every lunar month is called shivaratri.  In one lunar year there are 12 shivaratri. Out of all these 12 shivaratris, one that occurs in the month of Maagh is considered very special and is called Mahashivaratri – the great night of Lord Shiva.

Additionally, as per Shripad Shrivallabh Charitamrut, Mahashivaratri that falls on Tuesday is considered as very auspicious.

Lord Shiva is considered as a god who destroys. What does he destroy? He destroys the effects of great sins of his devotees, the effects that otherwise can become the cause of suffering.

In general one should worship Lord Shiva on every day. However if it is not possible, at least on Mahashivaratri it is recommended that one should worship Lord Shiva by chanting his holy name while keeping vigil throughout the night. By doing this it is believed that one can not only get rid of great sins but also sow the seeds for new auspicious vibrations that can give perpetual joy and peace of mind.

Those who wish and have knowledge of Vedas, should perform abhisheka of Lord Shiva by offering milk and other auspicious elements to Shiva’s Linga while chanting Rudra Namakam and Rudra Chamakam.  This abhisheka is called rudraabhisheka. Even by just witnessing such abhisheka one can gain same benefits as the performer of abhisheka.

Here are few useful links for performing worship of Lord Shiva.

• Shiva puja on Mahashivaratri
• Manas puja of Lord Shiva by Shri Adi Shankaracharya

Three ways to reach God

The ultimate goal of human life is to attain God. The task is gigantic. But there is ample guidance available through scriptures and godly persons.

The beauty of sanatana dharma is that to achieve this ultimate goal one can choose the path that is suitable to one’s personality.

They say there are primarily three ways to reach God – karma marga (path of performing actions prescribed by scriptures)), bhakti marga (path of devotion) and yoga marga (path of controlling senses and channelizing energy through body to take it to the highest point where union with god is achieved). What is achieved by all paths is actually same and that is self-realization i.e. knowledge about the self.

In karma marga one is supposed to perform actions such as fasting, daily rituals as prescribed by scriptures or Guru. The more strict and dedicated the person is in performing these actions, the more eligible the person becomes for attaining final goal. In karma marga it is important to maintain cleanliness of speech and body.

In bhakti marga it is important to maintain purity of mind. Liking towards listening to glories of god and chanting name of god are prime qualities of bhakti marga. Bhakti marga is actually simple than karma marga in terms of actions, but it is quite difficult in terms of implementation. Development of love, compassion towards all beings and humility in behavior are prime indications that person has progressed on bhakti marga.

Of all paths yoga marga is the most difficult. Actually one need not go anywhere to perform yoga. Just by seating at one place one can perform yoga. However it is important to have thorough knowledge about various asanas (postures) and channels (naadis such as ida, pingala, sushumna) in the body through which subtle energy flows.

All these paths take one to the same milestone and that is self-realization i.e. achieving knowledge about the self. However, they say, that the most important thing to achieve is love for god and hence all beings. If after achieving knowledge one has not developed love for all beings then one can be said not to have really achieved the goal.

Surya Yantra and Surya Worship

In our country (the great Bharat), Surya worship was prevalent from good old days. The Temple at Konark is an example. In this temple there was a Surya Yantra which was sculptured by Rishis according to Yantra shastra.

Surya Yantra is very powerful yantra. It was made taking into consideration the yantra shashtra, the main Peethas of the Aadi-devata & Navagraha devatas. These are incorporated in the yantra in the form of triangles, circles & rose petals. We find these sculptures in the yantra at various Surya temples.

At present there is a Surya temple near Kumbhakonam in Tamilnadu where we come across this Surya yantra.

Details about Surya Yantra

There is small circle at center of yantra which is considered as the place of chaya & maya. There is a dot at the center which is supposed to be the energy point of Sun. Surrounding the circle there are 6 triangles which are considered as the abode of the Gods – Mahaganapati, Rudra, Ambika (devi), Vishnu, Dakshinamoorti & Maruti. Surrounding these triangles there are 3 circles. Within the next circular path there are 8 lotus petals. They are considered as the petals of Ashtadikpals (guards of eight directions) namely Eshana, Indra, Agni, Yama, Niruthi, Varun, Vaayu & Kuber. Surrounding these there are 4 circles. Within the next adjoining circular path there are 12 lotus petals. They represent 12 rashis namely – Mesha, Rishabha, Mithun, Karka, Sinha, Kanya, Thula, Vrishachik, Dhanu, Makara, Kumbha, Meena. They also indicate 27 stars associated with these rashis. Beyond this circular path there are 2 more circles.

Thus there are 9 circles which indicate path of planets. The Surya yantra is used for Navagraha worship. In the colored design of this yantra (in the picture above) we come across that they are identical to the colors in the white ray of the Sun when it splits.

This yantra can be drawn on a paper and used for meditation purpose. Hang the colored picture given below on a wall at eye level. Sit in front of this wall about 2 feet away from the wall. Then concentrate on the center point of yantra & recite the mantra or the shlokas given by your Guru or follow the procedure for meditation as taught by the Guru. When we start concentrating the point at center of the picture we may feel that the colors, circles & other drawings in the yantra may be moving around. It is the belief the meditation performed in this manner increases concentration, control over the mind, memory and will power etc.

Surya Namaskar

As stated earlier Surya Namaskaar is one of the methods of worshiping Sun god. It can be performed by yoga or worshiping by offering Arghya and reciting the mantras.

After taking bath early in morning, just at time of sunrise facing the east, we recite the surya gayatri 3 times which is the 1st step towards Surya namaskar.

Bhaskarayvidhmahe 

Mahatvidhikaraye dheemahi

Tanno adityaya prachodayat

We recite the following mantra which was given as upadesh to Shri Rama by Sage Agastya.

Om Dinakaraya Bhaskaraya

Jyotiswaroopaya

Surya narayan devaaya

Namo namaha

Then offer Arghya by reciting following mantra.

Om Mitraya Namah

Om Ravaye Namah

Om Suryaya Namah

Om Bhanave Namah

Om Khagaya Namah

Om Pushne Namah

Om Hiranyagarbhaya Namah

Om Marichaye Namah

Om Adityaya Namah

Om Savitraye Namah

Om Arkaya Namah

After performing Surya Namaskar in above manner, we recite following shlokas to pay our respect to Navagrahas.

Nama suryaaya somaay

Angaarakaay budhaayach

Guru shukra shanibyascha

Raaghave ketave namah.

Benefits of giving alms

Giving alms is considered as a divine act. It is an act of showing gratitude towards God for all good things of life. Havan or yagya is also an act of showing gratitude where we offer things such as ghee, honey etc to God of Fire. Performer of these acts accrues benefits as well. Shastras categorize benefits as per type of alms. Some of the benefits are listed below –

Sr No	Type of alms	Benefits
1	Anna (Food)	Eradication of poverty, debts
2	Vastra (Clothes)	Increase in life span
3	Bhu (Land)	Will have darshan of brahmalok and vision of God
4	Honey	Putra bhagya (Birth of son)
5	Cow	Will get rid of debts to rishi, God & ancestors (Pitru)
6	Gooseberry(Amla)	Will help in getting enlightenment
7	Deep (Lamp)	Eyesight
8	Rice	Gets rid of sins
9	Ghee	Gets rid of diseases
10	Milk	Gets rid of sorrow
11	Curd	Helps in improving relationship between husband and wife
12	Coconut	Karyasiddhi (Fruition of work)
13	Fruits	Intelligence & siddhi prapti
14	Gold	Gets rid of curses (Pitrudosh)
15	Silver	Gets rid of mental worries