[Advaita-l] विशिष्टतिथयः Special days

[Sumitha Ramachandran]

Namaste.
             Today is a special day as it is Pradosha.The day for Lord Shiva. 
Some fast on this day, like some who do on Ekadasi days. 
The main purpose of observing vratas on special days is to  be in Bagavad Smararanam atleast on those days. This is one form of Tapas.
Tapobhihi ksheena papaanaam......... says Sri. Shankara in Atma Bodha.
Once it becomes an abhyasa (training the body and mind in the seva of Bhagawan), then slowly it must be extended to all the days in the lifetime.
   Vratas must be observed atleast on special days like Shivarathri, Sri RamaNavami, Krishna Janmashtami, Vinayaka chathurti, Navarathri and Vaikunta Ekadasi every year. It is said observing Ekadasi vrata is the greatest form of Tapas.
Savithri (Maasi Nonbu) and Varalakshmi Vratas are followed by some Grihinis according to their family tradition.
 
Skanda sashti vrata , chathurthi vrata and pradosha vratas (either one ) is observed by some with a samkalpa of karya sidhhi.
 
 Bhagawad Smarana is the Bhagawad Prasada we obtain on all these special days......
 
regs,
Smt . Sumitha
 
 
 
 
 
 

From: V Subrahmanian <v.subrahmanian at gmail.com>
To: A discussion group for Advaita Vedanta <advaita-l at lists.advaita-vedanta.org>
Sent: Monday, 11 July 2011 3:49 PM
Subject: [Advaita-l] विशिष्टतिथयः Special days

श्रीगुरुभ्यो नमः

In our Vedic tradition every day is supposed to be a special day.  Special
for remembering Ishwara, doing one or the other type of observation, tapas
and be in tune with divinity.  The elders have specified several days in the
calendar as auspicious for one or the other thing.  Hence we have several
types of 'ekAdashi's like वैकुण्ठ एकादशी, प्रथमैकादशी, शयन-एकादशी, etc.  For
dvadashI too there are some special days like उत्थानद्वादशी, साधनिद्वादशी
(what is this? is the name correct?), etc.  So with tRteeyaa, chatuthI,
panchamI, etc.

In order to have all of these in one place, I request the learned members to
contribute what they know to this thread.  In the alternative, someone could
prepare a comprehensive list of all these and make it available at the
List's website. Details of:


  1. Name of the tithi (special name like अक्षयतृतीया, शीर्याळषष्ठी..)
  2. Its significance, in brief
  3. Its occurrence approximately according to the Roman calendar
  4. How it is observed
  5. There are so  many cultures within the Hindu religion in our country
  and the observances too might differ across the cultures/regions.


With these broad heads, members could give their inputs. No debate is
intended.  I think the above information will be useful to practitioners of
Sanatana Dharma, the Vedic religion.  Some who have not heard of certain
special days could be enthused to observe them, to the extent possible,
यथाशक्ति, after knowing from the inputs.

Says the Lord in the Bh.Gita:

यज्ञदानतपःकर्म न त्याज्यं कार्यमेव तत्।
यज्ञो दानं तपश्चैव पावनानि मनीषिणाम्॥१८- ५॥

These observances are purificatory in nature giving rise to chittashuddhi.


Regards,
subrahmanian.v
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