Significance of 108 beads in a japamala

Sun's diameter = 13,80,000 km

Distance between Sun and earth = 14,96,00,000 km

14,96,00,000 divided by 13,80,000 equals 108.4058 rounded off to 108.

सूर्य आत्मा जगतः -  Sun is the atma of the universe.

The mystical number 108 used in spiritual practice is a clear indication of how our sages knew this unique relationship between Sun and earth - the worldly existence and the highest spiritual enlightenment.

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When does one become the husband in a vedic marriage

नोदकेन न वाचा वा कन्यायाः पतिरुच्यते |
पाणिग्रहणसंस्कारात् पतित्वं सप्तमे पदे ||

नोदकेन - न उदकेन - not on kanyaadaanam
न वाचा - not on giving the word (engagement)

The second line means, it is only at the end of the seventh step ( of saptapadi ) owing to the panigrahanam that he becomes the husband.

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"There is no enemy bigger than yajna" ????

Electricity is very useful - if not used safely, it can kill.

Cooking gas is very useful - if not handled carefully, it can destroy.

The shloka says नास्ति यज्ञसमो रिपुः  -  there is no enemy bigger than yajna.

How ?

When not done properly.

Yajna ( havans and homas are also miniature yajnas) when not done properly not adhering to the prescribed rules can cause more harm than good.

अग्निहीनमनावृष्टिः मन्त्रहीनं तु ऋत्विजः |
आज्यहीनं कुलं हन्ति स्वरहीनं तु पत्नयः ||
यजमानं दक्षिणाहीनं  तन्त्रहीनं तु राष्ट्रकम् |
सर्वहीनं सदस्यानां नास्ति यज्ञसमो रिपुः ||

Improper Agni, with lot of smoke and not burning brilliantly and even offering ahutis at the wrong place ( as I had posted earlier) can cause drought. Deficiency in mantra will destroy the priests such as doing less repetitions than required, shortcuts . Shortfall in materials such as ghee used ( using less quantity than specified or low quality materials) will destroy the clan of the yajmana. Priests chanting the mantra with wrong svara will destroy the ladies of the family. Shortfall in dakshina will destroy the yajamana himself. Defective performance of the rituals will destroy the entire nation. All kinds of deficiencies and shortfalls are harmful to the onlookers.

Next time you venture to perform any kind of homa make sure that

1. Your priests are qualified and knowledgeable.

2. They are sincere and do the ritual systematically as prescribed.

3. Good quality and sufficient quantity of materials are used.

4. Proper dakshina is paid to the priests.

Else, you will be inviting trouble than grace of Gods.

You can't wash off your hands by saying " we don't know anything. we trust the acharya blindly"

If you don't know LEARN.

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Meaning of Mrutyunjaya mantra - from veda bhashya

त्र्यम्बकमिति त्रीणि अम्बकानि लोचनानि यस्य
Tryambaka means one who has got three eyes

यद्वा - अम्बका वेदाः  त्र्यम्बकः वेदत्रयीप्रतिपाद्यः
or one who is mentioned in the  three vedas

सुगन्धिः - शोभनः शरीरगन्धः पुण्यगन्धो  वा यस्य असौ सुगन्धिः
one who possesses auspicious fragrance of the body or of punya..

यथा  वृक्षस्य संपुष्पितस्य दूराद्गन्धो वाति एवं पुण्यस्य कर्मणो दूराद्गन्धो  वाति इति श्रुतेः 
just as the fragrance from a tree in blossom can be felt even from distance, so is the fragrance of punya karma.

सुगन्धिं सर्वशोभनं  यशोगन्धिं सर्वसुकृतमयत्वात् 
one who possesses the fragrance of fame owing to his good deeds (Tryambaka)

पुष्टिवर्धनं - गोभूमि वित्त विद्यादि  पुष्टि हेतुं देवम्
one who increases cattle folk, land wealth and knowledge.

पुष्टिवर्धनः - शरीर धनादि विषयं वर्धयतीति पुष्टिवर्धनः
one who nourishes the body (health) and increases wealth.

तादृशं त्र्यम्बकं  यजामहे पूजयामः
we worship Tryambaka (Rudra) who is of the above nature.

लोके यथा उर्वारुकफलानि बन्धनात् स्वयमेव मुच्यन्ते
just as ripe pumpkins  release from the creeper on their own

तद्वदहं त्र्यम्बक प्रसादेन मृत्योर्मुक्षीय मोचनयुक्तो भूयासम्
in the same way with the blessings of Tryambaka may I be released from the grip of death.

मा अमृतात् - चिरजीवितात् स्वर्गादेर्वा मा मुक्षीय
not to be separated from long life or svarga etc.

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The Agni rituals of our forefathers

In the vedic religion, Agni used to occupy the center stage  of all religious practices. The Agni is called grihapati - the lord of the house.The Agni in a family used to be eternal handed down from generation to generation.

One becomes eligible to perform the agni rituals on entering the ashrama of the householder at the time of marriage. The brahmachari and the sanyasi do not have the right to perform the agni rituals. From upnayanam to marriage the brahmachari performs a ritual called samidadhanam in the morning and evening. This is simply keeping the samith in agni chanting mantras.

At the time of marriage the agni generated for performing the vivaha homa is preserved for lifetime. This is called the aupasana agni or smarta agni.

There are two groups of rituals perfromed - the shrauta rituals as ordained in the vedas and smarta rituals as ordained in the later smritis. The smarta rituals are performed in the aupasana agni or smartagni. This agni is preserved in a circular kundam or a vessel. The smarta agni is also called ekagni because it is never divided. Everyday the husband and wife together make offerings to this agni in the morning and evening. This is called aupasanam.

The rituals to be performed in smartagni are elaborated in the grihya sutras such as Apastamba grihya sutra (Yajurveda) and Ashvalayana grihya sutra (Rigveda) . A particular lineage follows a particular grihya sutra.

The rituals performed in smarta agni are called paka yajnas and they are seven in number as given below.

1. Sthalipaka - Performed for the first time as part of the marriage ritual and continued twice a month.

2. Parvana - once a month

3.Ashtaka - once a year

4.Chaitri - once a year

5.Asvayaji - once a year

6.Shravani - four months every year, Shravana to Karthika

7.Agrahayani  - once a year in Margashirsha

In addition to the above, rituals such as shradha  are also performed in smarta agni.

The Agni for performing the shrauta rituals is called Shrautagni generated in a ritual called shrautadhana. This Agni is also preserved and is called garhapatyagni. At the time of elaborate rituals two more agnis are generated from the garhaptyagni, they are ahvavneeyagni and dakshinagni.

Ahavaneeyagni in general is used for offering ahutis to devas and dakshinagni for pitrus. The shrautagni comprising  the above three - garhapatyagni, ahavaneeyagni and dakshinagni is also called tretagni.


Both the smartagni and shrautagni(only garhapatyagni) are preserved in the household without allowing them to extinguish.

The rituals in the shrautagni are

1.Agni adhanam - the first time generation of three agnis.

2. Agni hotra - morning and evening  offerings daily.

3.Darsha purnamasa - performed on amavasya and purnima every month. These rituals are performed lifelong or for 30 years.

4. Chaturmasya - performed every four months. On the purnima of phalguna this is done as vaishvadeva, on the purnima of ashadha as varunapraghasa, on the purnima of karthika as sakamedha and on the purnima of phalguna as shunaseeriya.

5. Agrayana - Performed twice a year with freshly harvested grains.

6. Niroodha pashubandha - Performed once a year and involves animal sacrifice.

7. Sautramani - Once a year for Indra and involves  sacrifice 3 or 5 animals.

The above are called havir yajnas out of which Chaturmasya, Niroodha pasubandha and Sautramani are performed in yagasahala outside the household.

There are seven soma yagas in which soma juice is offered. They are

1.Jyotishtoma or Agnishtoma

2.Atyagnishtoma

3. Ukthyam

4. Shodashi

5.Vajapeya

6.Atiratram

7.Aptoryama

There are more yajnas which are very elaborate and intricate in nature.

Dvadashaha - spread over 36 days

Gavamayana -  385 days

Vajapeya - 40 days

Rajasuya - 33 months

Ashhvamedha - more than two years

Purushamedha - 40 days

Sarvamedha - 34 days




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How do factors at birth influence the future

Aithareya Aaranykam 2.4.2 says

At birth , Agni enters the mouth as speech, Vayu enters through the nostrils as prana, Surya enters the eyes as vision, the directions (space) enters the ears as hearing, the plants and herbs enter the skin as hair, Moon enters the hridaya as mind, death enters the navel as apana, waters enter the genitals as retas.

Likewise, at the time of death "Suryam chakshurgamayat" - the eyes / vision goes to Surya.

This shows a clear co relation between these entities / forces of nature and the being. In astrology, at the time of birth, if the Moon is weak, that indicates affliction to mind etc. When a person is born at a time when the moon is weak, it is a weak moon that will enter him as his mind which will govern his future development. This is the elementary process with respect to human birth, then comes the interaction and interplay of all these forces against a time scale.

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Amavasya janana shanthi

If a child is born on Amavasya that signals trouble to the relatives. Birth in the first half indicates trouble to the mother, the second half trouble to father and in the sandhis trouble to the siblings. Sage Narada has given a shanthi to ward off the ill effects of such birth. It is called Amavasya janana shanthi or Darshajanana shanthi.

The procedure involves invocation on sarvatobhadramandala, kalasha and pratima of the devata called Darsha (amavasya), Surya and Chandra together with karmanga devatas, their puja, homa and daanam.

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Also read Naala veshtana shanthi

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Times when Vastu purusha is awake

Vastu purusha wakes up and stays awake for 90 minutes on eight days in a year.

1. On the 10th day of solar month Mesha, he wakes up at 144 minutes from sunrise.

2.On the 21st day of solar month Rishabha, he wakes up at 192  minutes from sunrise.

3. On the 11th day of solar month Karkataka, he wakes up at 48 minutes from sunrise.

4.On the 6th day of solar month Simha, he wakes up at 264 minutes from sunrise.

5.On the 11th day of solar month Tula, he wakes up at 48 minutes from sunrise.

6.On the 8th day of solar month Vrischika, he wakes up at 240 minutes from sunrise.

7.On the 12th day of solar month Makara, he wakes up at 192 minutes from sunrise.

8.On the 22nd day of solar month Kumbha, he wakes up at 192 minutes from sunrise.

On waking up he spends 

18 minutes brushing teeth
18 minutes bathing
18 minutes worshiping
18 minutes taking food
18 minutes chewing tamboolam

Then he goes back to sleep again. The last 36 minutes are very auspicious  for bhoomipoojan and starting construction. The other astrological factors need not be considered on these muhurtas.

Query on timing for cutting trees

"Is there a specific day / tithi as per hindu calendar to remove Coconut tree, as the tree has become an obstruction to the neighbors are demanding it to be removed from our compound. 

Any specific puja to be done and specific days of week / tithi to be avoided for the removal. "


Answer :

Avoid the following stars - Svathi, Vishkaha, Anuradha, Jyeshta, Mula, Bharani, Shravana, Shatabhishak.

Avoid - Gulika kala, Vishti and Gandantha

Perform Ganapathy puja, pray to Bhumi, the tree and nature.

How to get Siddhi in veda mantras

Perform 1,00,000 times japa of Gayatri with the 7 vyahrits at the beginning and end.

Perform homa with madhu - 30,000 ahutis.

Perform tarpanam - 3000 times

Perform abhisheka - 300 times

Feed 30 brahmins.

Three kinds of sorrows

Aadhyaatmika - sorrows arising out of deficiencies in oneself, such as incorrect knowledge, wrong attitude and perception.

Aadhibhoutika - sorrow from the pancha bhutas and other sources such as snakes and animals.

Aadhidaivika - natural calamities such as flood, storm attributed to the divinity.

Dvadasha Lingatobhadra Mandalam

Used in the worship of Lord Shiva

Worship of Lakshmi Devi on Dhana Trayodashi

Once Lord Vishnu along with  Lakshmi Devi came to the bhumandala to visit the mrityuloka. Lord asked Lakshmi Devi to stay back while he proceeded in the southern direction. Bored, Lakshmi Devi started wandering and found a sugar cane field. She broke a piece of sugar cane and started chewing it.

By this time, Lord Vishnu returned and was annoyed at the mischief of Lakshmi Devi. He cursed her saying that she would spend the next thirteen years serving at the field of the farmer. With Lakshmi Devi at his service ( which he didn't realize), the farmer got all the riches in the world.

Twelve years went by and Lord Vishnu came back in disguise to get Lakshmi Devi, but the farmer refused to give away his best maid. 

The lord gave the farmer a conch shell and asked him to go take a dip at Ganga along with his family after offering the conch shell to the holy river. While doing this Ganga devi appeared before him and informed that the couple back home were none other than Lord Vishnu and Lakshmi Devi. He was also told that if Lakshmi Devi goes back he will lose all his wealth.

The farmer came back and prayed that the goddess stay with him forever. Lord Vishnu told him about the curse and it was not possible for Devi to stay anymore with him.

Then Devi told him that if he wanted to stay rich, he should worship her during the night of Trayodashi every year by lighting a lamp of ghee. She would be present wherever such worship is done and bless with prosperity and abundance.

Dhanvantari Jayanti

Krishna paksha trayodashi of Karthika masa (today) is observed as Dhanvantari Jayanti. On this day, Lord Dhanvantari appeared with a pot containing amritha from the milky ocean.

Worship of Lord Dhanvantari on this day is highly auspicious for good health and longevity.

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Know Vedic Gods - Vayu

Vayu or Vata is the God of wind. Vayu  presides over antariksha and is often associated with Indra and the rain god Pajanya. He moves around in a shiny chariot drawn by a pair of crimson colored horses. He is fond of soma and is its protector.

He blesses with  fame, offspring and wealth.  He also disperses foes and protects the weak. He heals and prolongs life.

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Adhikamasa

Adhikamasa is the mechanism of inserting an extra lunar month to synchronize the lunar and solar calenders.

Duration of a lunar month = 29 days, 12 hrs, 44 minutes

For 12 months these add up to 354 days, 9hrs..

A solar year is 365 days, 5 hrs and 49 minutes long.

That means every year, the lunar calender would lag behind by 10.896 days and this difference would exceed 30 days every three years.

To compensate for this difference an adhikamasa is inserted.

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Know vedic gods - Maruts

Maruts are the storm gods.. They are a group, one hundred and eighty in number.They are the sons of Rudra and Prisni. They are all of the same age and are always together.  The goddess Rodasi always moves around with them. They wear golden headgear, golden axes, lightening like spears, bows and arrows and golden ornaments.

The thunder and the roaring of the wind are noises made by the Maruts. They cause the mountains to tremble and like wild elephants devour the forests.They are associated with rains especially the thunderstorm and are said to cover the eye of the sun during such rains causing darkness.

They are playful as children and at the same time fierce and terrible as lions.They strengthen Indra's power. They are prayed to so that the worshipers are not subjected to their wrath in the form of the form of thunder and storm.

They provide the healing power to water.

Know vedic Gods - Ashvins

The name literally means horsemen (not riders, but charioteers). They are inseparable twins, associated with light and appear between the dawn and sunrise. It is the deity Ushas (dawn) that awakens them. They follow her in their chariot and drive  away the evil spirits. They are sons of Dyou (heaven).

They are young in age (kumaras), handsome and have got a golden luster. They adorn lotus garlands and their path is golden in color. Being the divine healers possessing magical power, they rescue men from disease and distress. They are also associated with restoration of youth and eyesight.

A suktam addressed to them goes like this -

Night, the sister of dawn hastens far away from her and prepares a pathway for the crimson colored God. We invoke you, Ashvins abundant in kine and horses.

We are the pious ones. come to us in your speeding chariots, give us riches and relieve us from disease and weakness.

Protect us during day and night as you approach us in the dawn.

With your three seated chariot, you approach us and nurture us.

You both released Chyavana from old age, rescued Atri from distress and darkness and placed Jahusha in freedom

To you is offered this praise, bless us ever more with your protection.

Some tips if you are planning to conceive

f you want your child to be healthy and become a good human being, here are some tips from  jyotishastra and dharmasastra.

1. The first three nights from marriage are forbidden for maithuna and also the fifth night.

Based on horoscope and panchangam

2. Avoid Kanya rasi for conception lagna.

3.Avoid nakshatras - Bharani, Ardra, Aslesha, Krittika, Purva Phalguni, Jyeshta, Purvashada, Purva Bhadrapada, Vishakha.

4. Moon in lagna and Sukra in 7th are favorable.

5.Avoid the second half of the months, Karkataka, Dhanus, Kumbha and Meena ( in sauramana).

6. Avoid janma naskatra and the 2 anujanmas for both husband and wife.

7. Avoid chaturthi, ashtami,navami, ekadashi,dvadashi (harivasara period), chaturdashi, amavasya, purnima ,sankranthi, eclipses and ashtaka kala. Maithuna on these days will cause debility in the quality of the sperm and various other repercussions including childlessness in the  future births.

8. At the time of conception, the moon should be ideally traversing the 3rd, 6th, 10th or 11th rasis from the husband's janma rasi with benefic aspects from Guru and Sukra. 

 9. Maithuna should be strictly avoided during vows and wherever brahmacharya is prescribed such as on days when pitrukarya is done.

The tithis and nakshatras at the time of maithuna should be taken into consideration and not at sunrise.

Based on the menstrual cycle

10. Avoid maithuna itself in the first four nights of menstruation. This will cause debility in sperm quality.

11. If the menstruation starts when moon is traversing the 3rd, 6th, 10th or 11th rasis from the janma rasi  of the wife,avoid conceiving in that cycle. The ovum will not be healthy in such cycles.

How to find this ?

Start counting from your janma rasi taking that as the 1st. Identify the 3rd, 6th, 10th and 11th rasis from there. Find out which nakshatras come under these rasis. Find out the nakshatra of the 1st day of menstruation from the panchangam

12. Starting from the 5th night from the 1st day of menstruation till the 16th night is the fertile period.

13.The conception should happen during night only. A child conceived during day may develop undesirable character and vices.

14.Conceiving on the 11th and 13th nights from the first day of menstruation should be avoided at any cost.Conception on the 11th night will lead to birth of a female child of loose character. A child born out of conception in the 13th night will be female and will be constantly engaged in committing various sins.

15. The 7th night from the first day of menstruation should also be avoided as the child born thus is likely to be short lived.

16. Those desirous of a male child should try and conceive on the 6th, 8th,10th,12th,14th or 16th nights from the 1st day of menstruation.  

17. Those desirous of a female child should conceive on the 5th, 9th or 15th nights.

18.The couple should be  relaxed, peaceful, joyful and strongly desirous of having a progeny at the time of conception. They should possess only noble thought during these days as it will have great impact on the child to be born.

No wonder we have too many bad people around us these days !!!!!! 

Names of Vedic months

Madhu - chaitra
Madhava - vaishakha
Shukra - jyeshta
Shuchi - Aashaadha
Nabha - shraavana
Nabhasya - bhaadrapada
Isha - Aasvayja
Urja - Kartika
Saha - margasheersha
Sahasya - pousha
Tapa - magha
Tapasya  - phalguna

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Five important avataras of Lord Shiva

A day of Brahma is called Kalpa, which is equal to 432 crores of human years. We are now into the 51st kalpa called Shvetavarahakalpa. These avataras of Lord Shiva were in the previous kalpas as follows.

Sadyojaata

In Shveta Lohita kalpa Lord Shiva took  avatara as Sadyojaata from the body of Brahma.

Vamadeva

In the  kalpa  called Rakta, Lord Shiva took avatara as Vamadeva and he was red in colour.

Tatpurusha

This avatara was in the kalpa called Peetavaasa  He wears yellow clothes in this avatara.

Aghora

In the  kalpa called Shiva, the avatara of Aghora, black in colour took place.

Ishana

This avatara was in the Vishvaroopa Kalpa.

The five important mantras of Lord Shiva are based on these avataras.

Sadyojaatam prapadyami...., Vamadevaya namo......, Tatpurushaya vidmahe....., Aghorebhyo...., Ishanassarvavidyaanaam....

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Kunti Devi's worship of Lord Ganesha on Vinayaka chaturthi

In ancient times, ladies used to worship Lord Ganesha on chaturthi by performing a gaja pooja. A real elephant was brought and worshipped in a systematic way and offered the best of delicacies.

Pandavas and Kauravas were staying together in Hastinapuri and Ganesha chaturthi approached. Both Kunti and Gandhari asked their sons to get elephants for the gaja pooja. The sons wanted to get the best elephant around  for their mothers. However, kauravas were the first to spot the best elephant and what pandavas could find was mediocre. Kunti devi was disappointed.

Arjuna consoled her saying he would get for her Airavata, Indra's elephant itself. He sent message to Indra. Indra readily obliged, but who would provide a ladder from heaven to earth for Airavata to come down ?. By this time Airavata started peeping through between the clouds. Arjuna started making a ladder with arrows. With every heavy step of Airavata, the arrows started breaking to pieces and Arjuna went on filling the gaps by shooting more arrows. Finally, Airavata arrived and Kunti Devi was able to perform worship of Lord Ganesha through the best symbol available in all worlds, the Airavata itself.

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Know vedic Gods - Pooshaa

One of the adityas, he is the nourisher God. Being a guide and guardian he is the lord of roads, pathways and journeys. He leads the meritorious to pitruloka after death.He is said to be toothless and is assigned the lordship of Revati nakshatra.

There is a prayoga with Poosha as devata to get back lost/stolen articles. Suktam for this is available in both Rigveda and Atharva veda.

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Aditenumanyasva...... - parishechana mantras

Anyone who has ever performed a vedic havan must have done the parishechanam with water around the kunda with the following mantras. What do they mean?

Aditenumanyasva - Aditi ! the mother of Gods, give me permission to do this.

Anumatenumanyasva - Anumati ! give me permission to do this. Anumati oonachandraa poornamaasee, Anumati is that purnima where the moon is not full or Purnima tithi with touch of chaturdashi or pratipada. This tithi is accorded divine status.

Sarasvatenumanyasva - Sarasvati ! goddess of speech, give me permission to do this.

Deva savita prasuva - Savita ! give me permission to do this.

and after the havan

Aditenvamamsthaha - Aditi ! you permitted

Anumatenvamamsthaha - Anumati ! you permitted

Sarasvatenvamamsthaha - Sarasvati ! you permitted

Deva Savita praasaaveehi - Savita ! you permitted

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Mahalaya Paksha

The krishna paksha of the solar month when Surya transits Kanya rasi is called mahalaya paksha.This corresponds to sun's placement in the nakshatras Uttara phalguni, Hasta and Chitra. . Mahalaya paksha includes the subsequent shukla paksha pratipada also.

As soon as sun enters Kanya rasi, all the pitrus leave pitruloka, rendering it empty and proceed towards their descendents, hungry and thirsty looking forward to receiving the offerings in sraadham. If they are not propitiated, they become disappointed and go back cursing. Unlike in heaven where everything is provided, the pitrus can receive their food and water only through the hands of  their descendents. When they come home visiting and are deprived of even these, naturally that will cause terrible grief. It is even said that, on the days of the sraadham the pitrus come and wait at the doorsteps to be called in and offered food and water.

In old times, mahalaya paksha  was observed by performing sraadham in parvana vidhana everyday during the entire paksha. Nowadays, most of those who observe mahalaya, perform tilatarpanam everyday during the paksha and/or perform hiranyasraddham or sraadham with bhojanam on any particular day during the pasksha often on the tithi of the father and accompanied by special daanams as guided by their family priests.

Sraadham/tarpanam performed on each day of the paksha yields results as follows.

Prathama - wealth
Dwiteeya - progeny
Triteeya - suitable husband
Chaturthy - success over rivals
Panchami - prosperity, this day has a special status.
Shashti - fame
Saptami - leadership
Ashtami - progress, special day
Navami - suitable wife
Dasami - all desires
Ekadasi - vedic knowledge
Dwadasi - gain of gold, special day for sanyasis
Trayodasi - progeny, intellect, wealth, freedom, longevity, prosperity. This is called gajacchaya.
Chaturdasi - mukti for those killed by weapons
Amavasya  - all desires and swargaprapti

Observing mahalayapaksha is no less than performing a yajna. It should be observed with a peaceful mind and sraadham should be performed not in a hurry.

In case of incapability to observe the entire paksha, one may start from panchami, ashtami or dashami and do till pratipada.. Darshasraadham (amavasya tarpanam) should be performed separately even while observing full mahalaya paksha also tarapnams coming within the 96 sraadhams.
The Bharani nakshatra that falls within Mahalaya paksha has special status and it is called Mahabharani. Performance of sraadham on this day is equal in result to gayasraadham.

When it comes to the  ritual part, there are many variations based on the deshachara and family customs. One may take guidance from the family priest for this. One major difference from the normal tarpanam and sraadham is that the kaarunika pitrus (other relatives) are also included in mahalaya sraadham.

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While performing pitrukarya........

such as teerthasraadha and tilahoma, AVOID

Nakshatras - Rohini, Magha, Revati and janma anujanma and trijanma nakshatras of karta, wife and eldest son.

Tithis - prathama, shashti, ekadashi, trayodashi

Days - Friday

Performing on the above forbidden days can lead to death of the eldest son. This doesn't apply to mandatory rituals such as post death rituals and yearly sraadha.

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Who is elder among twins ?

Quite opposite to what most normally think.

kanishta aadya jaataha syat pashchaajjatograjaha smrtaha.

The one born first is the younger one, and the one born later is the elder one.

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Yugadi - the beginning of the four yugas

These yugadis are part of the 96 annual sraadhas for brahmins. The tithis are in chaandramaana.

Satya yuga - Karthika, Shukla paksha navami

Treta yuga - Vaishakha, shukla paksha triteeya

Dwapara yuga - Magha, amavasya

Kali yuga - Bhadrapada, krishna paksha trayodashi

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Signs of Mantrasiddhi

Feeling that the devata's body has permeated own body


Feeling brilliant at heart and pleasant in mind

Reduced appetite, reduced excretion, less sleep

Less interest in worldly affairs

Seeing brilliance all around and feeling that own body is emanating bright light

Sometimes without any feeling and sometimes easily excited and happy

Hearing celestial music and seeing celestial beings in the sky

Flashes of divine fragrances and more sensitive to smell

Seeing flashes as if it is  night during day and as if it is day during night

Seeing flashes of thunder and lightning when there is no cloud

Feeling healthy, happy and dignified

Feeling that hereafter only less japa is required (not out of lethargy).

Mantrasiddhi is essential for doing mantra prayogas for self and others.

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Know vedic Gods - Varuna

Varuna encompasses, envelops and permeates everything.He is the upholder of rita - order, physical and moral .He is the ruler of all worlds and often  addressed as the King. He regulates the change of day and night by setting up pathways for the sun. He  causes rivers to flow and makes sure that the rivers do not overfill  the ocean. He beholds everything open and secret in nature and is of unlimited knowledge.

He watches over all activities and is the divine judge as well as executor of the punishment. His watch over the world with thousand eyes is inescapable. He can hear whispers and will come to know even when an offence is thought about. With his famous noose, the Varuna pasha, he ties up the evil doer and hands down punishment. Prayers to Varuna are mostly for forgiveness and freedom from committing further sins. These prayers often contain confessions.

In the puranas, he is described as the lord of the waters.

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Sins and their results in Dharma Sastra : Karma Vipaka

Sins are committed in three ways - Manasaa - with the mind, Vaachaa - with words, Kaayena - with the body.

The manasika paapaas are - to think about taking away another's property, to think about performing bad deeds and not to believe in paraloka or life after death.

The vaachika papas are - cruel and harsh words, telling lies, gossip mongering and blabbering.

The Shaareerika papas are - Stealing, physical violence and relationship with another's wife.

The results of maanasika papas are suffered by the mind, those of vaachika papas by word and those of kaayika papas with the body. One who performs serious  kaayika papas will be reborn as immovable such as trees, those performing vaachika papas as birds and animals and those performing serious shaareerika papas will be reborn as chandala.

The results of these papas are experienced either in the present birth, in paraloka or future birth, or some now and some later.

All the sinners spend time in various hells for various duration depending on the intensity of the sin and take rebirth as plants and trees, birds and animals, yonis such as pisachas or humans. In the human birth there will be signs such as deformities or diseases as reminders of past sin.  If suitable prayaschittas are not performed, these will continue birth after birth. In case of mahapatakas the signs will remain for 7 rebirths, for upapatakas 5 and for other sins 3.

The prayaschittas are in the form worship of gods and danam.

In prayascchitta, the word praya means penance and chittam means determination no to repeat it. The realization that a sin has been committed, a strong determination that it will not be repeated and observing penance for it, these three steps comprise prayschitta.

The smritis classify sins into Mahapatakas, Upapatakas and also Jathibhramshakaras, Samkareekaranas, Apatreekaranas and Ashudhikaras.

The mahapatakas (great sins) are five in number.

1. Brahmahatya - killing of brahmin

The equivalent sins are lying about one's varna, giving false information causing somebody to be punished, false accusation against Guru.

2. Surapanam - drinking alcohol

The equivalent sins are to talk bad about Vedas and also to forget the Veda learned, being false witness, killing of friend, eating what is forbidden and at forbidden time.

3. Steyam - stealing from brahmin

The equivalent sins are stealing of treasure, children and women, horse, silver, land, diamond and jewels.

4.Gurutalpagamanam - maithuna with the  Guru's wife

The equivalent sins are maithuna  with sister, daughter, daughter-in-law, friend's wife and forbidden women

5. Tatsamsarga - to interact with one who has committed the above sins,

The upapatakas (sub - sins)

1. Killing of cow.

2.Performing yajna for the forbidden cast

3. Having illicit relation with somebody else's wife

4. Selling or pledging oneself

5. Not taking care of guru and parents

6. Relinquishing Vedic study

7. Not performing the agni rituals

8. Not taking care of the son

9.Younger brother marrying before the elder

10.To speak ill about the chastity of a girl

11. To make living out of lending money

12.To break vows

13.Selling of lake, garden, wife and son

14.Non performance of upanayanam at the proper time

15. Not helping one's relatives

16. Teaching for salary

17.Learning of Vedas and sastras  by paying fee (not gurudakshina)

18.Selling prohibited materials

19.Indiscriminate mining

20. Building dam etc.

21.Destroying trees and plants

22.Running brothel

23.Black magic

24. Cutting tree for fuel

25. Cooking only for oneself

26.Eating forbidden food

27.Not performing agnihotra

28. Theft

29.Not repaying debt (deva,pitru and manushya)

30.Learning subjects that are against Veda and smrutis.

31.Acting and dancing to entertain others.

32.Having relation with a woman who consumes alcohol

33.Killing

34.Lack of belief in life after death

Jathibhramshakaras

35. Harassing brahmins

36. Smelling forbidden items such as alcohol

37.Wickedness

38. Homosexuality

Samkareekaranas

39. Killing of donkey, horse,camel,deer, elephant, sheep, fish, snake and buffalo

Apatreekaranas

40. Receiving money from evil people

41.Commerce ( not for vaisyas )

42. Serving the lowly

43.Dishonesty

Ashudhikaras

44.Killing insects, worms, birds

45. Eating whatever has been brought with alcohol

46. Theft of flowers, fruits, firewood

47. Cowardice.

One who commits brahmahatya after suffering in hell will be reborn as dog,pig,donkey, camel,cow,goat,deer,bird, chandala.

One who drinks alcohol after spending time in hell will be reborn as insect, worm, those birds feeding on excretion or tiger like animals.

One who steals gold will be reborn as spider, crocodile, snake or will go into pishaacha yoni.

One who engages in maithuna with  gurupatni, after suffering in hell will be reborn as grass, creeper, bush, flesh eating animals and birds like vulture or cruel animals such as tiger.

One who takes life of animals, birds (life in any form) will be reborn as flesh eating animal or bird.

One who eats forbidden food will take rebirth as insect or worm.

Thieves in the next birth will be killing and eating each other.

Those maintain contact with the forbidden or enter into illicit relationship with a married woman will remain as pretas and will not attain salvation.

One who steals brahmins property ( if he himself is a brahmin ) will become a brahmarakshasa.

One who steals grains will take birth as rat.

One who steals bronze will be reborn as swan.

One who steals water will take birth as bird.

One who steals honey will be born as jungle fly.

Stealing of milk will result in being reborn as a crow.

One who steals juice will take birth as dog.

One who steals ghee will take birth as mongoose.

One who steals meat will be reborn as vulture

One who steals animal fat will take birth as sea crow

One who steals oil will take birth as bat

One who steals salt will be reborn as cheekhika (?)

One who steals curds will take birth as crain

One who steals silk will take birth as a bird called Tithiri.

One who steals white silk or clothes made of jute will take birth as frog

One who steals cotton clothes will take birth as bird called krouncha

One who steals cow will take birth as  monitor lizard

One who steals jaggery will take birth as a bird called vaagguda

One who steals perfumes will take birth as civet

One who steals edible leaves and vegetables will take birth as peacock

One who steals cooked and uncooked food will take birth as porcupine

One who steals fire will take birth as crain

One who steals domestic tools will take birth as an insect called gruhakaari.

One who steals dyed clothes will take birth as chakora bird.

One who steals elephant will be reborn as fox

One who steals horse will take birth as tiger

One who steals fruits and tubers will take birth as monkey

One who abducts woman will be reborn as bear

One who steals water will be reborn as hombill

One who steals vehicle will be reborn as camel

One who steals any other kind of animal will take birth as goat

A brahmin who leaves his own prescribed duties will become a preta called ulkamukha

A kshatriya who abandons his prescribed duties will becoma a preta called katapootana which feeds on excreta.

A Vaishya who leaves his prescribed duties will become a preta called maitakshajyotik which feeds on puss.

A shudra who takes up some other task than the prescribed ones will become a preta called chailashaka.

After spending long tiime as preta, when they take rebirth they become servants of their enemies.

One who disrespects his teacher will be a dog in the next 100 lives and therafter will be born as a chandala.

One who conducts himself in a satwik manner will take birth in devayonis. One who is rajasic in nature will be born again as human and tamasic ones will take birth as birds and animals.

One who performs sins and does not perform penance for it will go to hell and thereafter when takes rebirth will exhibit signs in his physique such as deformities and diseases and also other forms of suffering. These are reminders of past sin and prompts for performing prayaschitta.

One who steals hidden treasures will be childless in the next birth.

One who steals gems will suffer extreme poverty.

One who takes part in a feast uninvited will take birth as crow.

One who gets into unnecessary arguments will be reborn as cat.

One who imparts forbidden knowledge to women will have bad odour in the mouth.

One who teaches Veda by taking remuneration ( different from guru dakshina ) will be reborn as fox.

One who abducts women of royal class will take birth as donkey.

One who overprices food will be reborn as tortoise.

An atheist will be reborn as spider or will make a living by entertaining others.

One who is thankless about favors received will be reborn as spider.

One who does not help the needy will become  brahmarakshasa.

One who sells forbidden materials will become brahmarakhasa.

One who steals land will become worms and spend long time amidst the excreta of dogs together with his pitrus for seven generations. He will be tied up with varuna pasha and will be reborn as bird or animal.

One who steals cow, gold or land will spend time in hell till pralaya and any punya that he has gained will be lost.

One who obstructs free movement of cows or destroys cremation ground will spend time in hell till pralaya.

One who kills cow goes to hell called kaalasootra and on rebirth will be gender less for 7 birth and will also suffer from leprosy.

One who kills cow will be born blind.

One who beats up his guru will suffer from epilepsy in the next birth.

One who sells defective cows and horses ( such as those with one hoof) will be reborn as tiger.

One who depends on the forbidden for a living will be a servant or washer man in his next birth.

One who harasses brahmins or argues for or supports thieves will be gender less in the next birth.

One who undertakes wrong path will suffer from a disease called gandamaala in the next birth.

One who engages in maithuna with woman of same gotra will suffer from elephantiasis in the next birth.

One who performs yajna for the forbidden  will be reborn as chandala.

One who takes money for performing yajna and does not use it  entirely for the purpose  will take birth again and again as  crow for 100 years

One who steals  God's or brahmin's property  will live amidst donkey dung after death for a long time.

One who steals  gold   will be reborn with crooked nails.

One who drinks  alcohol  will be reborn with black teeth.

One who kills a  brahmin  will suffer from  tuberculosis or  leprosy (Galitkushta) or leucoderma.

One who engages in maithuna with gurupatni  will become lame in subsequent birth and will suffer from skin diseases.

The gossip monger  will emanate foul smell from his  nose in the next birth.

One who talks ill of others   will have  foul smell in the mouth in the next birth.

One who steals  grains  will be handicapped in the future birth.

One who performs adulteration in grains, milk etc. will have  excess organ such finger.

One who steals  food  will suffer from chronic indigestion.

One who steals knowledge or engages in unauthorized learning will become dumb in the future birth.

One who steals clothes will suffer skin disease called Shvitra

One who steals horse will be  lame

One who steals  lamp will be blind in the next birth.

One who extinguishes  lamp and fire(agni) improperly  will be  blind in one eye.

One who is cruel towards fellow beings will suffer various ailments

One who engages in illicit relationship  with another's wife will suffer from obesity.

One who kills or harasses his father will suffer from congenital nervous disorders such as birth paralysis or cerebral palsy

Killing or harassing one's mother will result in being reborn blind.

Killing or harassing one's sister or or killing of crow will result in being reborn deaf.

One who harasses or kills his brother will become dumb.

Killing or harassing children  or stealing gemstones of a brahmin will cause impotence or death of children.

Killing or harassing of women will cause chronic dysentery in the future birth.

One who kills a person of authority will suffer from tuberculosis in the next birth..

One who kills a vaishya will suffer from blood cancer

Killing someone from the servant class will result in a k ind of rheumatism called apatanaka where limbs become stiff.

One who kills craftsmen will suffer from dryness of the body

One who kills an elephant will meet with obstacles in everything

Killing of camel or parrot will lead to lead to  speech defects such as stammering

One who kills a horse will be reborn with an ugly and crooked face

One who kills a buffalo will suffer from a disease called krishna gulma

Killing of donkey will lead to having hair like donkey in the next birth.

Killing of deer called tarakshu will cause squint in the eyes in the next birth.

One who kills a pig will have unusually broad teeth

One who kills a deer will be reborn lame.

Killing of fox will lead to rebirth without foot

One who kills a goat will be reborn with excessive organs.

One who kills  a goat called urabhra will suffer from pandu roga.

Killing of cat will lead to yellow eyes in the next birth.

Killing of crane will lead to extraordinarily long nose.

Drinking of alcohol will lead to rebirth with black teeth or raktapitta (hemorrhage / urticaria)

Eating forbidden food, those touched women during menstruation and also by lowly class will result in chronic worm trouble in the next birth.

Depriving somebody of food or causing somebody to starve will lead to chronic

Intestinal and digestive problems

One who does not feed others even when he has resources will suffer from Indigestion ( mandagni) in the future birth.

Poisoning someone will lead to chronic vomiting in the next birth.

Blocking or closing pathways or roads will result in foot diseases

A gossip monger in his future birth will have chronic respiratory ailments.

Chronic respiratory problems

A spendthrift will suffer from epilepsy

A tormentor of fellow beings will suffer from shoola roga in the future birth.

One who has set fire to a jungle will suffer from chronic rakataisara (dysentery with blood)

Defecating or urinating in holy places or water will lead to suffering from fistula or piles

Causing abortion will lead to liver and spleen diseases and jalodara.

One who has broken statues(holy) will be fickle minded and indecisive in the future birth.

One who is rude in his speech will be handicapped in the next birth.

One who teases and talks ill of others will be bald in the next birth.

One who  mocks others will be single eyed in the next birth

One who wrongfully takes side will suffer from paralysis.

One who steals brahmin's wealth will end up destroying his own vamsha

Stealing of copper will lead to a kind of leprosy called udumbara.

Stealing of bronze will lead  to kind of leprosy called pundareeka

One who steals brass will have yellow eyes in the next birth.

Stealing of pearl will result in yellow hair

Stealing of white lead or honey will result in eye diseases

Stealing of black lead will lead to cerebral diseases

Stealing of milk will result in suffering due to frequent urination

One who steals curd will be arrogant  in the future birth.

One who steals  sugar cane products will suffer from a disease called udaragulma

One who steals iron will suffer from a disease called karbura

One who steals oil will suffer from chronic itching

One who steals raw rice will be reborn toothless

One who steals cooked rice will suffer from tongue disease

One who steals fruits will suffer from ulcer or frequent injuries to fingers

One who steals tamboola will have white lips in rebirth.

One who steals vegetables will have blue eyes when reborn.

Stealing of tubers  will lead to being reborn with short hands

One who steals perfumes will have a foul smelling body in the future birth.

Stealing of wood will lead to being reborn with unusually thin hands

Stealing of books and knowledge will lead to being born dumb.

Stealing of clothes will lead to skin diseases.

Stealing of wool will result in rebirth with excessive hair in the body

Stealing of silk will lead to birth with insufficient hair.

One who steals medicine will suffer from migraine in the next birth.

One who steals  red clothes and ruby will suffer from raktavata

Stealing of God's properties will result in chronic fever,

Stealing in general will result in suffering from grahani roga

Maithuna with mother will result in penile diseases

Maithuna with forbidden women will lead to azoospermia and a kind of leprosy called mandalam.

Maithuna with gurupatni will lead to difficulty in urination (mootrakruccha)

Maithuna wih daughter will result in suffering from raktakushta

Maithuna with sister will result in peetakushta

Maithuna with brother's wife will result in skin disease called galatkushta

Maithuna with daughter in law will result in skin disease called krishnakushta

Maithuna with step mother will lead to kidney and bladder stones.

Maithuna with father's sister will result in boils or ulcer on the right side of the body

Maithuna with maternal uncle's wife will result in rebirth with hunch back

Maithuna with mother's sister will cause boils or ulcer on the left side of the body

Maithuna with a widow will cause untimely death of wife in the next birth.

Maithuna with woman of the same gotra will cause suffering from fistula

Maithuna with  deekshitastree ( woman under vow) will be reborn with red eyes.

Illicit relationship with a married woman of the same caste will result in heart ailments.

Maithuna with  cow will lead to urinary diseases

Maithuna with horse will cause suffering from frozen shoulder ( bhuja stambha)