HAPPY CHAITRA NAVRATRI TO ALL

Notably, there are festivals which is of one day duration while others which continue for many days. Plausible reason for one or many may be any but significance of the festival, in any case, is not reduced. The Navratri or Navratra lasts for Nine Days wherein each day is of distinct importance

MENTION OF NAVRATRI IN DEVI MAHATRAM; A PART OF MARKANDEY PURANA

 DEVI MAHATYAM is a part of  Markandeya Purana which was penned down by Sage Markandeya. It is also known as Devi Saptashati or Chandi Path. It is a Hindu religious text which tells us about the victory of Goodness (Durga) over the Demon named Mabusgasura.  It has 700 verses that is why it is called as Shaptashan (Phapta means seven and Shata means hundred. This text is generally read during Navartri Celebration. Mention of Navrratri is also there in Mahabharta and Ramyana.

MENTION OF GODDESS DURA IN VEDIC AND PURANIC PERIODS

Mention of Goddess Durga has been found in Vedas and Puranas texts. It is mentioned that Durg was a ferocious demon and Durga, the invincible warrior who killed Durg with her immense prowess. She is the warrior Goddess since she fought evil forces which spread death and destruction. She works for demolishing demonic forces who want to establish their writ and establish the reign of terror and mayhem amongst the society besides spreading prosperity and goodwill in general masses. She defeats mythical buffalo demon – Meheshasura who had obtained a boon of invincibility from Lord Maheshwara. She is Goddess Parvati, also termed as Durga Saptashati – the consort of Lord Shiva. With her prowess, she proved herself to be unbeatable with limitless mystical powers.

Importantly, the Navratri means Nine Nights is construed as one of the most sacred festivals that the devotees celebrate twice in a year with immense fervor and enthusiasm. The devout lead a spiritually oriented lifestyle during each of the nine days by following a particular ritual on each day INE DAYS NAVRATRI. This year, it is being celebrated from 30^th March 2025 onwards for nine days. During these days, the devout observe strict fast which purifies the deotees from inner as well as outer selves.

THE PURPOSE OF NINE DAYS NVRATRI FESTIVAL

The purpose is to follow the way of life which puts more emphasis on the subjective experience of sacred dimension. We undertake those karmic deeds during Navratri which transform some of the debit-karmic-deeds to credit-karmic-deeds which help us in our personal growth and development individually. We also collectively celebrate during these days with religious fervor and enthusiasm. We remain within limits of morally and ethically values. When these values are followed sincerely these could be imbibed as permanent habits to be followed in future too thus Navratri could prove to be a life-changing for the devotees since it carries the blessings of our MOTHER DIVINE, A UNIVERSL MOTHER, who showers LOVE on Her progenies.

OBSERVANCE OF STRICT FAST

A lighter refreshment consisting of milk made product, fruits and nuts, keeps our body light and the digestive system gets improved thus there is a spread of fragrance of Satoguna and alleviation of Tamoguna and Rajoguna traits. The devotees observe strict fasts during the duration of Narratri. All these traits enhance the credibility of an individual devotee who observes the fasts and also offers sincere prayers during these days with utmost devotion. The fasts help us to purify our mind, provides lightness to our body provides us an opportunity to devotees for prayers to Goddess Durga Maa – an embodiment of SHAKTI or reservoir of energy.

FREEDOM FROM CONTAMINATED THOUGHTS AND ACTIONS

Freedom from contaminated thoughts purifies our mind. Thus observance of fast or Vrat (also means resolve) continuously for nine days brings about the stability of our mind and helps in enhancement of our focus / concentration. Besides these, we exercise maximum restraints in our thoughts and deeds and behave in a dignified manner by remaining within confines of decency. All these facilitate generation of the feeling of love and affection with others, enhances peace and tranquility, a feeling of compassion for others and above all a Godly feeling.

SIGNIFICANCE OF EACH OF NINE DAYS

First Day.

On the first day, Mata Durga is called as Shailputri – the daughter of Himalaya and the consort of Lord Shiva. This is the unmarried saroop of Gauri Maa.

Second Day

 Mata Durga on the second day is called as Brahmacharini which represents worship. She is the embodiment of huge reserve of power – Shakti.

Third Day

 On the third day, the Goddess is venerated as Chandraghanta. She is the embodiment of power and beauty.

Fourth Day

On the fourth day, Maa Durga is worshipped in the form of Kushmanda – the creator of the whole universe by the power of her laughter.

Fifth Day

 Here on this day, Skandha – the main warrior of Gods’ army.

Sixth Day

 On the sixth day, Mataji takes the form of Katyayani with three eyes and four hands – all powerful and with immense grace.

Seventh Day

 On this day, Maa Durga takes the form of Kalratri – she is shown as black as dark night with four hands and makes the evil doers fearful.

Eighth Day

 On the eighth day, the Mata Durga takes the form of Maha Gauri – with beauty besides having calmness and exhibits immense wisdom.

Ninth Day

 On a ninth day, Maa Durga is worshipped as Siddidatri – with all the eight siddhis. In this form, she is worshiped by all to get Her blessings.

LESSONS LEARNED FROM THE NAVRATRI FESTIVAL

Different festivals provide the devotees different lessons while the underlying message of all these festivals is to enlighten us humans to follow a path which helps us to have connectivity with Higher Forces/Intelligence, by following a spiritual oriented path through meditation, contemplation and prayers. The main purpose of celebration and observance of certain modes of behavior in such festivals is to keep ourselves chaste with our mind focused on God. All this helps in attaining stability of mind or attain Steady Mind. The purpose is to focus on the special prayers and chants is to seek connectivity with God and dispel the thought of anxiety or disillusionment that pervades in our system. As there is purity of thoughts and actions during these festivals, there is every possibility for transformation and help in unfolding of spiritual life naturally.

WE CELEBRATE NAVRATRI IN ORDER TO GET BALANCED MINDSET

The main purpose of celebrating the religious festivals is to seek balance in our life at the altar of God while observing all immutable laws of nature and aspire for transformation and enlightenment – journeying from one festival to another one helps the devotees to learn social etiquettes, social adaptability and finally God’s connectivity.

SPIRIT OF CELEBRATION REMAINS BASICALLY THE SAME FOR ALL

Different states celebrate Navratri differently but the spirit of all the celebrations is similar in nature. For example, famous ‘Garva Dance’ is organized in the state of Gujarat and devotional songs and dance competitions are organized in West Bengal besides prayers in the specially erected and decorated pandals. People visit the famous temples of Vaishno Devi in Katra (in Jammu province) besides all the temples of Goddess Durga in its different forms/manifestations attract devotees in these nine days.

PURITY IN THOUGHTS AND ACTIONS IS BASIC

The main driving force of the Navratri is to purify our thoughts and deeds thereof. In these nine days devout observe strict fasts; remain chaste and desist from telling lies. Wish that people always behave like this all the days!

FIRST THREE DAYS ARE CELEBRATED FOR DURGA MATA

The first three days are celebrated on the name of Durga Mata – Goddess with immense power. For next three days she is worshipped as spiritual wealth – Mata Lakshmi.

CARE & PRECAUTIONS  WHILE BSERVING/CELEBRATING NAVRATRI
• Strict observance of fasts keep our digestive system in order and helps maintain our body healthy. Fasts help in purifying our mind because we pray Goddess continuously for nine days/nights. It also enhances our focus on the subject we contemplate for completion.

• Purification of body and mind means spiritually directed conscious mind so as to uplift mind as Steady Mind thus a shift from negativity to positivity thus inculcating a balance in every acts.

• Congregations in melas and group processions help the people to people contacts thus animosity, if any, gets obliterated and a feeling of fellow feeling and cooperation sprouts. Contact with each other enhances our outreach in the society.

• Group dances and spiritual song competitions enhance competitive spirits in the youth and also help them direct their latent energies to productive use.

• Devotees, in their zeal to show earnest desire to have total connectivity with Goddess Durgaji, offer singular devotion to Her during these auspicious days, reap the harvest of getting their problems solved and get ETERNAL PEACE in their lives as a reward of this worship.

• Need is to make concerted efforts to make ourselves pure not merely during these Nine Days but for all the times during our lives in order to earn the graces of our Mother Nature.
  
  • Devotees meet the needs of the needy during these NINE DAYS. My pray to all is to see to it that they meet the needs of others on all days and earn the goodwill of DURGA MAA – who herself is the most benevolent.
  
  In reality, we can have the graces of our Divine Mother so that our problems are mitigated by the grace of our Mother Divine. When we observe fast continuously for NINE DAYS, it positively impacts our body, mind and soul and having imbibed positive traits, we can make difference in life in whatever we transact in our life.

My sincerest prayers to the most benevolent Mother Divine to bestow Her bountiful blessings on all the humanity and establish peace and amity in the society.

WHAT IS STEADY MIND & HOW WE CAN MAKE IT SO?

It stands out that we’re not able to transact what we want really. Meaning our mind is not in our control. Rather than acting on our dictates, it goes berserk. May it be meditation or focusing on a particular task, our mind becomes impediment in our path. In such a scenario, we become slave to our own mind. We also know that slavery to anybody or anything is bad. Meaning, we’ve to seek ways and means to control our mind. It may be through our  Guru to whom we can bank on for helping us to become master of our mind and get rid of its slavery which os talomg is away from ourselves; from our inner quest for self realization or self awareness. The best course is to realize that it is our mind, not of anybody else, then, question arises why it is not functioning in our best interest.

CLEANSING THE SELF WITH PHILOSOPHICAL CONTEXT OF NEGATION OF NEGATIVE THOUGHTS

A philosophical concept of rejecting what is wrong. ‘Not this, not this ‘Neti, Neti’ in Sanskrit which calls for rejection of the negative thoughts and adoption of those concepts which purifies our consciousness. This philosophy could be employed by us in order to cleanse our mind thereby directing it to follow those ideas/ideals which help us to attain purity of mind; a state of Steady Mind. Herein lies the idea of rejection of negative thoughts and make it a habit to follow truth for self awareness or self realization.

Lord Krishna’s Wisdom for Healthy Mental Well-being and Inner Peace

While interacting with Lord Krishna Arjun asked: “O Krishna, what are the characteristics of a person with steady wisdom, who is deeply established in meditation? How does such a person speak, sit, and walk?”

  Without a speck of doubt, this question is significant and relevant for all of us. The steady state of mind or steady wisdom, in essence is important for the purpose of getting calmness, balanced state of mind, focused state of mind. The reply to the question is partly spiritual and partly useful for application in daily routines for inculcation of inner equanimity along with wisdom when we use the gained knowledge to acquire wisdom. This could be done with steady mind.  This is relevant for all of us all time and space.

We are aware that our habits and behavior are responsible for making or breaking ourselves. Meaning, we’ve to make concerted efforts to undo (inappropriate habits) on which we’ve latched on. It is not difficult to get rid of habits & behavior which has pampered our mindset. Habits once formed can be eliminated through conscious effort through self discipline and self introspection. It should be kept in mind that nothing is impossible so our bad habits which has made residency in ourselves too could be elimited so as to make our mind work towards making us Karma Yogi.

We ourselves are the architects of providing stability to our mind. Nobody else is responsible for making it stable, tranquil, peaceful, balanced, focused, productive, concentrated, positive, creative. We can use any of the similar word for Steady Mind but all these words stand for balance in thoughts and actions thereof.     A Karma Yogi does everything according to the percept of Karma Yoga.

In essence, Steady Mind refers to mental stability with complete focus including calmness which is essential for holistic growth including spiritual growth which is bereft of any disturbances or distractions caused due to extraneous reasons. Purana and Yoga stresses its role for connectivity with Higher Forces. For this, maintain focus, composure, clarity of thoughts, and inner peace are most important. Steady mind could be interpreted as calm or tranquil mind with no disturbance (inner & outside), focused mind, stable or balanced mind, peaceful or tranquil mind etc.

The Steady Mind is important for spiritual growth for attainment of inner peace. These factors are essential for connectivity with God. This also enhances our focus and provides us stability in any situations and conditions.

A steady mind signifies mental stability, equanimity, and concentration, are essential for spiritual growth like meditation and further connectivity with Higher Forces. It is also concerned with calm state which is free from any distraction thus inculcating deeper inner understanding.

• A mind that remains focused and undistracted is crucial for meditation and the remembrance of the Supreme Being.

•  A state of being detached to external objects or outcomes, leading to inner happiness and equanimity.

•  A mind that remains calm and composed is not easily swayed by external events.^[

•  A condition of mental stability and equanimity, characterized by freedom from agitation, desires, and attachments.

• A condition of stability or control over thoughts not going berserk

• A calm and composed mind with no effect of outer interference when focused.

The concept of Steady mind

Factors responsible for steady mind:

1. Selflessness: first of all we have to invest in selfless Karma in order to remove selfish intent for cleansing our mind so that it is under our control.

• Detachment. We’ve to detach or reduce our excessive desires so as to remove egocentric tendencies,

• True Love. Pure love (Prem) brings about better results but the if selfish motiivie has made residency in our mind then that love is merely an instrument of outer show but no substance.

• Productive mindset. There is productive mindset and there is destructive mindset, choice lies with us as to what path we have to follow. Productive path leads to acquiring positive mindset nd destructive one puts negativity in our mind.

•  Compassion. It is a considered fact that when we feel pain when our fellow being is in pain. By so doing, we invest in positive Karma, we tend to have overall effect on our thoughts and actions. By so doing, we earn reward of Steady Mind.

• A mind free from ego, greed, anger, lust and all forms of negative mindset. Our effort should be to make ourselves free from five sure path to hell i.e. ego, greed, angerand lust.

Steady mind signifies a focused, calm mental state essential for contemplating God, contrasting with a wandering mind that struggles with concentration and remains distracted, highlighting the importance of mental clarity in spiritual practice.

HOLI, THE COLOURFUL FESTIVAL

It is relevant to mention the Bhagwad Gita:

Lord Krishna teaches detachment:  While one gives up all his material desires meant for the satisfaction of the senses, one who lives freeing from desires and gives up his false ego attains the state of peace and calm

Holi festival signifies the victory of good over evil. It also signifies the end of winter and arrival of pleasant spring. It is a festival when people forget their differences and thus mend their ruptured relationships. On this day, people hug and wish each other well with fond wish:  ‘Happy Holi’ and may the colour of HOLI imbue us in God’s impossible to remove colour so as to spread the feelings of brotherliness and fellow feelings amongst each other without consideration to caste, creed, colour, region etc.

HOLIKA DAHAN

(Burning of symbolic Holika  – the sister of Demon King Haranakyshapa) – which is synonymous with burning of evil from our midst. Therefore, this festival helps us burn the evil prevalent in us and establish the kingdom of goodness in our heart.

HOLI THE FESTIVAL SO HOLY

Holi Dahan is also termed as Shoti Holi
Which portrays burning of evil and all the ills prevalent
Within us with burning of fire of Holi  Dahan
Personifying holy fires burning
The sister of Demon King Harnayakashpa (evil) & saving Prahalada; goodness
Holika represents  the evil soul
Who was burnt alive despite her boon of not being burnt by fire
While Prahalada in her lap remained unscathed
With the blessing of Lord Vishnu, a most compassionate one
Who bestows protective cover on His devotee, infusing common sense in them.

Fact stands out, when body, mind and soul are coloured
In the hue of our eternal Creator
Then a warm emotion love springs-up
With a flood of warmth for each other
Of togetherness in every being participating in the celebrations
Where there is no biases
Based on age, sex, colour, caste or religion or region
Everybody just forgets the narrow-minded based on any distinctions
What remains woefully is the add-on  liking
They’ve for each one of them
Mixed with warmth in sentiments
With variety of colours as the variety of people colored
Whosoever meets us on the street corners
Corners us with colours and colors us
Redd, yellow or blue – the choicest in tint
Charming us to a maximum extent.

O Almighty God of ours
Imbue us all with Thy indelible Colour
For Thy colour touches our heart’s chords
Including every atoms in our body
Made of five elements which die with our body
(Ether, earth, water, air & fire)
On the death of our mortal body
Only Thy colour and our Soul last
Man made colours just fade away and are lost
After a few hours have passed.

A spirit of Spring Festival springs in us all
Dividing joy and hope between us all
Nature too is in its finest attire – so very colourful
When Mother Nature is at its best
With all around greenery prevalent
There is fragrance of blooming flowers
With Full Moon as though it is chipping in, too showcasing its silvery shine.

To enhance the charm of colours
To share the fun and joy of the people around.

Different people celebrate Holi in different style
But the common thread of celebration remains alike
People prepare special sweets to welcome their dear folks
Shopkeepers & women are busiest lots
Bestowing magnetism to their living places.

Bonhomie pervades wheresoever our eyes could survey
Abuzz with activity mixed with the rainbow of colors
Scenes at the marketplaces are indeed mesmeric.

Legend has it that a mighty and conceited
Demon King Hiranyakashyap prided his prowess the most
He wanted his subjects to worship him in place of God above
Virtuous Prahlad, his own son agreed not
Being a staunch devotee of Lord of Preservation – Lord Vishnu
The King wanted his son to be put to sword – very soon
For not obeying his dictates
Different methods were used to kill but in vain.
Hiranyakashyap had a sister named Holika
Blessed with a boon of not being burnt by blazing fire
Both were made to enter a bonfire at full fury
Thinking fire will harm her not due to boon to her
But just opposite ensued
Prahlad came unscathed with grace of Lord Vishnu,
Whilst Holika met her end most tragic.
Legend too has it that Lord Krishna played holi with his beloved Gopies
To shower love and affection with the shower of colours.
Holi celebrated at Vrindavan, Mathura
And Bursana is so matchless even today
Showing the thread of that time remains in fact intact
People light a bonfire on the night before Holi Day
With devout heart brimming with bliss
Celebrate triumph of good over evil
And also remember how devotion to Lord gets rewarded.
People play with variety of colours
Intoxicated with joy of the day
Pour coloured water to each other
Songs, dance, and beats on the drums abound everywhere
People exchange greetings and pray to God for His bounties.
O God, let the humans not shower bullets at each other
pilling blood of the unfortunates in the process
But rather with a blood-red colour of HOLI
Spreading feeling of brotherhood
Which may engender love for each other
Along with amity and well-being, in the humanity as a whole
Our prayers to Thee our Lord – the Esteemed One
Do colour us all in Thy Holy colour
So that peace and harmony spread amongst all.

Holi is a holy festival
Wherein people celebrate this festival
Mixing fun & frolic with colour of their choice
By which they colour each other singing songs and dance
The festival wherein long drawn simmering
Differences are forgotten with fostering
Of everlasting friendship
Simply with a little bit of colour.

This Holi should burn out lust, greed and anger

Including immoral & unethical desires
With egocentric tendencies from our mind forever
So as to make our existence colourful and full of care
 Thus paving the way for spiritually uplifting

By burning out everything negative which exists.

Having slight relief from chilling cold
There is a carnival of colours
so very well-liked by one and all
With the young and old alike
Irrespective of age group
Take part with soft-emotions running deep
Not only put colour on each other
But also partake sweets so very specially prepared with mix of love
Enjoy Bhangra dance and Gidha dance to the tune of druming
With Punjabi songs so enchanting
For this festival of colours so very enjoyable in every way
With everybody wishing others.

HAPPY HOLI TO ALL

The festival of colour HOLI finds its mention in Vedas and Puranas (Narad Purana and Bhavishya Purana). There is a practical Archeologists proof through excavation  of  stone related  to 300 BC on which there is an inscription of word ‘Holikotsav’ which means Holi. Even in the ancient paintings, there is a mention of Holi festival – the festival of colour.

GOD MAY BESTOW PEACE & PROSPERIYY TO ALL AND MAKE LIFE COLOURFUL

Holi is a Basanta Utsav or Spring Festival – it is a festival of colour (Rangwali Holi) or celebrated of love, celebrated in India, Nepal and other parts of the world where Indians are settled. It is arrival of pleasant Spring season. On the occasion of this festival people forget their differences and connect with their long forgotten friends and relatives. The first day before Holi is Holika Dahan (Burning of Holika Demon) it is also called Chhoti Hili

Holi has special significance in Braj i.e. in Mathura and Vrindaban region, the birthplace of Lord Krishna. Women-folks playfully hit their men-folks with sticks. This act of theirs is called lath maar the holi (A holi which is played with sticks). Here men are constrained to save themselves from their blows with the help of a shield.  There is an air of festivities around in the entire Braj region during this festival spanning for days together. It is a spectacle in the real sense of the term.

LIFE’S MULTIPLE COLOURS ARE SUSTAINED BY NATURE IN ITS VARIOUS FORMS AND MANIFESTATIONS

In essence, we face multiple problems in our lives while aspiring for material and sensual objects, people become attached to these. Such attachments develop lust and lust generate anger and other baser traits. Anger leads to delusion and delusion leads to mental disorientation. When the mind is bewildered, wisdom is the victim. Loss of wisdom leads to downfall of an individual. In such a scenario, a healthy diversion is a must. Different festivals give us occasion to celebrate with our relatives and friends. We celebrate Holi with our nears and dears. The colourful festival HOLI presents our golden opportunity to share our joys with others. The gifts are exchanged in the form of homemade sweets, such as Gujia etc.

There is a symbolic legend attached to this. There was a demon king named Hiranyakashap. This demon king did hard penance due to which he got a boon that no human could kill him at daytime or at night time. This made him very haughty and egotistical besides excessively arrogant. So much so was he drunk with pride that he passed an order that henceforth nobody would pray God in his kingdom. People should rather pray him in place of God.

He ruled his subjects with the iron hand. Not even the hermits or sadhus were spared. Those who disobeyed his orders were meted out huge punishments or handed out the death penalty. He had a son by the name of Prahlada. He used to worship Lord Vishnu. The demon king felt slighted and very furious when he found that his own son was disobeying his orders hence he gave him an alternative – either he should worship him or face the death penalty after giving various severe punishments which did not deter Prahladha from worshipping Lord Vishnu.

Then Holika the Hiranyakashap’s sister, evil in her intentions offered herself to sit in the bonfire (pyre) with Prahladha; knowing fully well that she would not be harmed because of her special cloak which made her immune to fire. Subsequently, the two entered the roaring fire. Hiranyakashap felt assured that no harm would result to his sister because of protection but his son would meet his end.

After the fire subsided, all felt including Hiranyakashap surprised that Holika got perished in the fire that engulfed her despite her protective cloak but due to the protection and grace of Lord Vishnu, he survived!

Holi was driven from the name Holika. Holika represents/personifies evil and its burning is the end of evil.  Pradhan personifies goodness.

One day before Holi, especially after sunset, the pyre is lit, called as Holika Dahan. The ritual symbolises the victory of good over evil. People gather around the fire, sing and dance at the beats of drums. It may have different names in different part of the country but the spirit of the festival is the same – a colourful one.

Holi Dahan also signifies burning of our excessive desires. It is for bringing about a balance in our desires by putting an end to our greed and base internal yearning (Kaama Dahan) – our conquest over our evil or carnal instincts which have made residency in our mind and rely more on detachment from our action.

Subsequently, in the daytime, people celebrate this as a sign of victory of good over evil by sprinkling either the coloured water or dry colour (gulal) of various colour. A real rainbow of colour! In the evening, people, after proper wash, go to their friends and relatives and partake sweets prepared at their homes.

It has also been seen that on Holi festival, people forget and forgive their old enmity and animosity and establish the new relationship with each other. It has been seen that people from all religions participate in this festival. It looks as though all have been imbued and coloured with happiness and goodwill for each other. If such an idea fructifies then there would not be any ill-will for anybody in the society in general.

As all communities activity participate in this festival, they cement their relationships, thus enhance their sense of correlation and cooperation for better compatibility.

People forget their inherent differences and go to each others’ homes with colours and sweets thus a spirit of forgetting and forgiving are created.

LET LOVE PREVAIL AND BURN OUT ILL-WILL FROM OUR MIDST

Finally, my most earnest prayer to our MOST BENEVOLENT GOD is for peace and prosperity for all. Let killing of innocent end and peace and love prevail everywhere. The disturbing and most heart-rending bombing of general masses including small kids and old and informs in Ukraine should end and better sense should prevail. Let us imbue ourselves in red-color of HOLI of LOVE & AFFECTION for each other rather than blood-letting of innocents.

LESSONS FROM HOLI FESTIVAL

As awareness dawns on us the Holi is not only the festival of colours but also removal of all the illness that is prevalent in our body, mind and soul. The following are some of the lessons from HOLY FESTIVAL OF HOLI: VICTORY OF GOOD OVER EVIL.The fire of Holi (Holi Dahan) a night before is considered as the fire which burns out the ills which is there in our midst

AHUTI OF OUR BAD KARMA at the pyre of HOLI FIRE

The Holi is a festival to consolidate of our relations by wishing HAPPY HOLI and removal of ill feeling for each other. God grants our good and sound wishes in fact with the spirit of forget and forgive. There is cooperation and wellness when we forgive others.

All our baser thoughts, like Holika met her end and Prahlada survived, could end and there would be prevalent of goodness and peaceful coexistence if we pray to Almighty God especially on this day.

On this day, God grants our wishes if we offer our sincerest prayers.

Lord VISHNU saved Prahlada in the same way we can

also be saved from the evil doers with sincere prayers.

My sincerest and honest prayers to God is for world peace and prosperity.

COLOURFUL HOLI FESTIVAL & HOLI DAHAN (BURN OUT NEGATIVITY FROM WITHIN US)

As far as universally accepted or acclaimed truths or actualities are concerned, there is no doubt since these are with crystal clear proof for their being truthful. Meaning there is rigidity in accepting those beliefs to be true as we take them as our own without even a shred of reservation. Let’s forget burning our differences and not kill innocents like what happened in Russia the other day or whatever is happening around the globe by obliterating the demonic feelings for others.

In essence, there are some events and happenings which we accept as true even though there is no proof or evidence of its actual existence or happening. But in actual practice, one thing is sure, we all are what we believe. If we believe we are capable of doing something and put in sincere hard work towards to accomplish or acquire that then all the elements in the universe combine in assisting us

 

 

 

 

 

 

ON 8TH MARCH 2025

• The International Woman Day is being celebrated on 8^th March 2025. Let’s give emphasis to our obligation for equitable/balanced growth and development in the field of socio-economic, cultural and ensuring equal opportunity to all genders; in which women-folks play a pre-dominant role. Empowering a woman means empowering the entire unit of a family in a variety of ways.

It is our duty to give the women-folk their rightful place. A family, wherein the women are not respected and treated with disdain, such a family digs its own grave and ends up in its downfall or ends up in its destruction. Therefore, women should be bestowed a prominent place in the society. In Bhagwad Gita the interaction between Krishna and Arjuna is emphatic: When irreligion is prominent in the family, O Krsna, the women of the family become corrupt, and from the degradation of womanhood, O descendant of Vrsni, comes unwanted progeny.

In both the Epic periods,  the women were respected. Their advice was duly taken on important issues besides household matters. In Epic Age the women enjoyed equal freedom as men. Even they chose their life partners. Swambras were held wherein they used to choose their partners.  In both the Epic periods, women enjoyed honorable place. They were also well educated.

In Guru Nanak, Raag Aasaa Mehal 1, it has been emphatically mentioned: From woman, woman is born; without woman, there would be no one at all.

WOMEN – A GIFTED CREATION OF OUR CREATOR

Women is only one of its kind of our creation
By our most benevolent Creator
Without whom we cannot fathom existence of our own
For she is the reservoir of energy (Shakti) with huge difference..

Her day starts in the early hours in the daybreak
Waking herself, preparing herself for home chore
And for the day’s drudgery in the right earnest
Prepares milk or feed for the tiny tots
Followed by morning tea or breakfast for the relatives entire
Though this over, there are many a turns and twists in her life
Yet her work has just not been over still
Thence preparation for going to workplace starts
Since she has to add-on the kitty
To financially support the family
To meet the needs of the members to make up for inflationary pressures
She rises to the occasion without much ado about herself
She does not shirk from any responsibility assigned as a responsible member
Goes an extra-mile
To contribute her mite
Stand in good stead in whatever way she is expected
For meeting the myriad of needs of shelter, schooling et al,
So that their present of members is better than days gone by
This is the reason why we call her the homemaker.

She is now capable to run an office with flair
Her new normal is just enormous – just unbounded
Including taking control of flying fighter planes
In this process she faces challenges
Both at home front and at the workplace
With unbroken composure
With insightfulness and with tact at her command
She excels in many a ways in comparison to her men counterparts
Moves files including sensitive ones and what it takes
Moves on the ladder of career devoid of any crutches
Catches on the trend in the market and at workplaces.

She gets used to everything with ease
At workplaces or in the cockpit of a plane with ease
She plainly is in the best of her elements
Even those who used to call her weaker gender
Are constrained to have a second opinion now about her,

Her mindset has gone a sea change
But her tenacity and courage in all situations and conditions are above par.

And in their own home and hearth
The best creation of our Creator
Excels in every way and proves
Equal to the occasion at every front she is expected at all times
Confronting the animal of complexity with ease in all fields.

My warm salutation to thee for keeping alive our races
But also race hard to win the battles at home and out of offices.

It is due to the women
That we’re here on this beautiful earth
The various relations – so varied
Such as a lovable daughter
The one who looks after us when we need assistance
In the son’s absence
Gone somewhere to pursue his ambitions
Sister, who reminds us that we can bank on her when we need assistance
Daughter-in-law, continues our family and its traditions
Wife, who comes from other family
dissimilar in cultural mores and traditions
but imbibes everything of the adopted household
Nurses everybody
Becomes home-maker
Takes responsibility of the children and elder members alike
Mother, mothers us from the birth to different stages of our life
without any demand whatsoever
Mother-in-law, gives us motherly love
You just introspect and see
How much women mean to us
Without them what we have been
Nay, our existence will not be here
On this beautiful earth
For writing these lines
Now, finally our MOTHER DIVINE
Who created everything and everybody
Including the Gods
Without Her this world and universe
Without Her this creation would not have been there at all
My warm salutation to her for proving her mettle at all times and in all situations.

HAPPY INTERNATIONAL WOMEN DAYENLIGHTENING ONE

Essentially, it is significant to mention the variety of roles and the way the women adjust themselves in any environs is unique in itself. We all know how the women adjust themselves in the homes of their adopted household after their marriage. Only the acclaimed women folks can do this. Then we know how they perform their progressive role as daughters, daughter-in-laws, sisters, spouses, mothers, mother-in-laws, grandmothers, friends etc.

It is significant to mention that the families wherein women are respected, there is dawn of peace and prosperity. And where women are disrespected, relegated to second class citizen besides being neglected, such a family experiences faces hardships and seemingly bad luck in the long run.

It is our common experience that in general, the women are essential constituent of our society since without her; the process of conception and creation cannot be considered possible. Therefore, it is the responsibility of the society to empower her, bestow her due care and protection besides meeting the needed financial succor for her education. It is because when we provide education a female so as to enhance her intelligible understanding and grasp, it will have cumulative effect since after marriage she will in turn impart education to the family of her in-laws while taking care of the education of her own family. A girl child should also be provided spiritual orientation and value system including cultural mores of behavior for her growth and development. This will also bestow her courage to ward her off the deadly grip of steely tentacles of life as and when situations and .conditions befall. 

WARM REGARDS TO THE VENERABLE WOMEN

WOMAN IN A VARIETY OF ROLES AND AVTARS: AS MOTHER, MOTHER-IN-LAW, WIFE, GRAND-MOTHER, DAUGHTER, SISTER AND AS A FRIEND

MOTHER

I feel sorry for those who have never known the love of a mother, because by missing this ultimate love, such people may not be able to know the true meaning of love at all. It is also a fact that every mother is a greatest gift of Divine. She is the symbol of indomitable and unconditioned love, affection, adoration, care, a symbol of suffering for others, a symbol of sacrifice, a symbol of selfless service, a symbol of hope for the entire family, a symbol of endurance for others without self-care besides taking responsibility without caring for self as an human being.

Those who are fortunate to experience the love of a mother know what this sacred relationship means. I was hugely influence by my mother since I lost my father (A 1st World War veteran) when I was studying 8th standard. As an ex-soldier, he lead an active life connected with social service etc. As far as my mother is concerned, she gave me everything which I possess today i.e. value system, my courage of conviction, attitude towards others, way of conducting myself, how to suffer lonely, how best to live with poise and balance even in hard times besides how best to adjust in the joint family. She taught that if we care for present time, the future will be well care for us and what has happened in the past should give us experiences. If the experience is good, we should continue following the same and if bad then we should forget it as a bad dream and clear our head altogether. Although she was not that much literate but she was having all the wisdom of a most endearing and caring mother. Her hand on my head ensured that I shall march ahead in my life. Ultimately, at the ripe age of 95+ I lost her – here too I was very fortunate since on the day (Sunday) I had gone to my home town from my duty place to see my mother. She was slightly indisposed. We were sitting in the courtyard and having breakfast. After her breakfast, she lied down on the cot as as I was massaging oil to her hairs. Low and behold, all of a sudden, there was a deep moan and she was gone. What a death and that too in my presence. Her face reflected satiety even in her death. That is the story of my mother.

MOTHER-IN-LAW

The relationship of a mother-in-law is also one of the prominent one. Her practical experience in life and love and affection could stand us in good stead. My own mother-in-law not only looked after her own family as a mother but also had a positive influence on our family too.

WIFE OR SPOUSE A MOST LOVING COMPANION

It has been observed that marriage as an institution becomes a smooth journey when both the spouses act for overall welfare of the family. Before the marriage, a girl in her father’s home is adored immensely. She learns values system, becomes adept in cooking, and other miscellaneous skills such as stitching and keeping the household neat and clean besides taking care of the elders and children in the family. She gets proper education at her parents’ home and when she reaches the marriageable age, a suitable partner is chosen.

It has been rightly said that behind every successful man there is a woman who assists the family as a well-knit unit. She not only assists in miscellaneous/assorted tasks but also ensures that functions of family run smoothly. As a wife or consort, she assists her spouse to bestow unconditional physical and emotional love. Whenever there is hard times, she not only assists her husband in maintaining her husband home but many a times takes up some profession for supplementing the income of the household besides keeping the dignity and honour of the household. She not only respects her husband and remains true to him but also other members of the family to fructify the needs of the family. Her opinion is both acknowledged and respected by all in the family along with take care of the household duties. She acts responsibly, acts with patience and at times have to face opposition but she takes everything in her stride. She is the architect of household who procreates for the family and keeps the civilization ticking. She educates her children and teaches them the value system to her children since as a mother she is the first Guru of a child.

My wife, as any other lady in the family,  provides all the succor to my family. She assisted me in every situation. I know when I was financially very stringent, while my children were studying, she pro-actively assisted me in every situation. It may be provision of right education to our children or construction of a habitable home, finding suitable for my progeny besides career selection for them. There will not be any exaggeration in mentioning here that presently I am satisfied with what I am, it is solely due to my wife, my companion for life. I respect her immensely. May God bestow her strength and fortitude to assist my family tide over the harder situation with aplomb with the grace of Almighty God.

SISTER

Although I have got no real sister, yet I know what a relationship as a sister connotes. A sister is the one who grows with you, takes care of you even while gorwing with you. If she is elder sister, she looks after you with care and caution and not let the absence of mother bother you since knows how best to look after the family. In the festivals; she is most sought after. She shows her skill in cooking the best dishes not only for the entire family but also for the guests who visit the household. She conducts herself with smile with everybody while serving the entire family and guests. While during festivals like RAKSHABANDAN, she ties Rakhi to her brothers and the brothers give solmn promise her of her safety and security in front of Divine Mother (The embodiment of Shakti). On the BHAIDOOJ, she applies sacred vermillion and flower on the forehead of her brother(s and and prays for the well-being of her brothers.. She is considered the light of the family besides she spreads love and light in the family including a message that without sisters a house cannot be termed as a home. Thus sisters are the embodiment of tolerance, persistence and when she leaves home after her marriage, the entire family misses her hugely.

DAUGHTER

Our daughters are the light of our homes. Without our daughters, our homes are considered incomplete. I do enjoy the company of my two daughters. While they were small, we looked after them, brought them up in the good surroundings, after their school and college studies thereafter proper professional training they got employment. Now despite being married off and having their own homes to take care, both of them look after me and my wife in the absence of my son who has married and is presently in abroad pursuing a profession. Fortunately, their homes are not that far – in fact walking distance from my home. While I go to attend my office, my daughters after their morning chores, performing other tasks including sending their children to schools pay a visit to my home routinely and take care of my wife. If and when there is any requirement of medi-care or to purchase any groceries, they help both of us. Even they help us choosing our clothes! Both I and my wife enjoy their company to the maximum. What our lives would have been without my daughters? They are the gifts of my dear Bhagwan Ji.

The espoused cause of Government of India BETI BACHAO BETI PADAO is on the dot so that the girl child is cared, protected and provided right type of education because when we teach a girl, it means we are teaching an entire family as a unit because she assists the family she is married in educating her children and others.

DAUGHTER-IN-LAW

This relationship is one of the most important one since if a daughter or sister is married off to another family, the another girl from other family has to be brought in the family fold. I should say, she her relationship for me is just like a daughter being the father-in-law for her and a wife of the son who is brought up and contributes for strengthening the bond in the family. Her contribution for the family is not less than a daughter and a sister who are married off to other family. For her, it is a great thing since she is brought up in a different atmosphere of a family and has to adjust and be adaptive to change in the new setting of another family. My salutation to her since it is not an easy task to assimilate in other environs after being married.

GRAND MOTHER

I was very small child, may be about 5 years, when my grand-mother died. She too died of old-age. I remember her as a tough woman with poise and composure; with her voice full of charm which always attracted children towards her. She remained busy with household chores even in her old-age. One day when sleeping, she did not get up. I tried waking her but in vain. She had given maximum to the family and kept the honour and dignity of the family as a close knit unit.