Important: some dos and donts for lunar eclipse (To my students I will send you more detailed personalized ritual details)
Dos and Don’ts for Lunar Eclipse: Following the Ancient Rituals and Purifying the Self
During a lunar or solar eclipse, certain regions of the world are affected, and to honor this event, we must follow the prescribed rituals as laid out in the scriptures. Our esteemed gurus advocate for embracing the sanctity of the occasion and abiding by the following practices:
The Shikshãpatri, a revered text, commands us to stop all activities at the time of the eclipse and chant the name of God in a purified state. After the eclipse, householders must bathe with their clothes on and then donate according to their means. The Purãnas tells the story of how the eclipse came into existence, narrating how during the churning of the ocean by the gods and demons, the nectar of immortality was produced, and a demon named Rãhu, disguising himself as a god, drank it. Thus, when God beheaded Rãhu, he became a planet, and during certain times of the year, he holds the sun and moon by his mouth (Grahan), causing solar and lunar eclipses.
The rules to follow before, during, and after an eclipse are as follows: Before the eclipse, one must not eat for 12 hours before the solar eclipse begins and for 9 hours before the lunar eclipse begins. During this period, one must not offer meals to God, but one can perform arti, pray, and sing devotional songs. If the solar eclipse occurs before sunrise, one may see the eclipse only after the sun has risen, and in this case, one must not eat after sunset the previous night.
During the eclipse, one must sit in one place, chant the name of God, and sing devotional songs. One must also observe a waterless fast while the eclipse is in progress.
After the eclipse, one must bathe immediately with clothes on and preferably with cold water. The Satsangijivan recommends offering donations according to one’s income, as this expresses one’s joy at the release of the Sun and/or Moon god from Rãhu’s grasp. Sadhus rejoice by performing puja.
To remain pure during the eclipse, one must get rid of extra cooked food, and not touch anything such as clothes, food, personal items, etc. After the eclipse, one must not touch anyone, and if one has touched anything by mistake, it must be purified by washing or by sprinkling water over it.
It is crucial to take a bath after an eclipse as darkness during the eclipse symbolizes impurity. Once the eclipse is over, light returns to the earth, and to rejoice, one must cleanse the impurity that darkness brought, worship God, and offer donations to express happiness.
We must also remember that we are all engulfed by an eclipse in the form of mãy, and purifying ourselves on this occasion will enable us to transcend this illusory world and reach the ultimate goal of yoga. Let us embrace the sacredness of the lunar eclipse and follow these ancient rituals to purify ourselves and connect with the divine.
Maha Mantra Om Namah Shivay “The Maha Panchakshari Mantra” is the great Vedic mantra to achieve awakenings, enlightenment and moksh. Many believe that this 5 Letter Mantra had the power to even Save you from Hell and the affects of bad karma.
Om Namah Shivay mantra generates a very high energy. These waves enhance human intelligence to the optimum level. Chanting Om Namah Shivay slowly during Meditation gives Harmony, Concentration, and strength.
Rig Veda defined Supreme being as Maharudra. Bhagwan Shiv ji symbolizes the Maharudra (रुदन रोकने वाला ) means the one who wipes out the tears. If a yogi chants the mantra with true devotion towards Sachidanand, their mind, body, and soul go through the transcendental phase, and they can even switch to higher dimensions of reality .
The Mantra ॐ नमः शिवाय:
Direct Translation: Adoration to Bhagwan shiv ji
The mantra focuses on Bhagwan shiv ji who is understood to be the god of all yogis and the god of yoga along with being the god of time and also the god who gives moksh. The repetition of the mantra is such that the last syllable of the mantra is the doorway to Shiva-consciousness, moving from the end to a new beginning.
Om Namah Shivay is Panchakshari mantra excluding Omkar (primary cosmic vibration) . Namah Shivay attached with the five essential elements of the materialistic world NA – MA -SI – VA – YA.
SivaOm – NAMAH SHIVAY
Na Earth Element (Prithvi Tattva) Ma Water Element (Jal Tattva) Si Fire element (Agni Tattva) Va Air element (Vayu Tattva) Ya Space element (Akasha Tattva)
ॐ नमः शिवाय mantra chanting brings transcendental changes to the body of the chanter. Yogis all around the world are busy in chanting the auspicious mantra through which they have increased their abilities to infinite levels.
It means that those particular yogis have connected themselves with the primary nature of the existence which is Prakriti or sublime energy flow. Goddess Shakti resides in that energy flow and takes you to the Shiva. It is a remarkable ancient science of Yogis based on logistic realities. If chanted correctly, mantra helps chanter to get connected with Bhagwan shiv ji. Connecting to Shiva means going to self-healing mode. It is the ultimate state of the eternal blissfulness.
Yogeshwara Shiv is Mahadev, in simple terms supreme god of gods. The one who doesn’t have any start and end. Everything emerges from him and in the end, gets dissolve in him. Therefore, Shiva is unique; there is no one like Shiv, the immortal one, Unconquerable, the greatest Aghor, infinite, omniscient, greatest transformer, Adi Purusha.
The benefits of chanting Om Namah Shivay
The Mantra is Moksha Giver and stabilizes your thoughts – The Chanting of Om Namah Shivay is not just moksha giving mantra; It also enlightens, our inner thoughts process and improves blood circulation on the neurons. In medical term, this concept is called neuroplasticity .
Mantra makes you feel Light – Lord Shiva is highly auspicious, When someone chants Om Namah Shivay, At that moment he becomes AGHORI. Ghor means extreme and, AGhor (Not Ghor) means the one who is not extreme. That’s how Shiva makes you feel light inside your heart. A significant vibration originates in the subconsciousness part of the mind which gives the feeling of internal ecstasy. Om Namah Shivay mantra benefits that the Continuous repetition of the divine mantra is the way toward perennial joy.
Om Namah Shivay helps in controlling Senses and anxieties Neelkantham is Vairagya founder (Means founder of Dispassion). Shiva Kaam Bhasmam (Destroyer of eroticism ) makes you qualify to control your senses and nerves. The deity of eroticism (Kaam Dev) will not influence you.
Om Namah Shivay gives calmness to your mind Shiva holds moon crescent on his head. It impacts chanter body When somebody starts Om Namah Shivaay chanting. It cools his/her mind and helps them to get peace of mind, persistence, and calmness especially when everything is going against you.
Om Namah Shivay increases the happiness chemical which is known as GABA chemical. Lack of Gaba chemical reduces the natural sleep within humans. People who lack such chemical always feel exhausts. The frontal area of the human brain is in the Orbito prefrontal cortex which is responsible for making decisions, problem-solving and awakening the consciousness gets charged.
Students get the immense benefit of improving memory power after the Om Namah Shivaya chanting. Therefore if your kid is suffering from low memory power, advice them to chant the mantra for 15 mins every day. Chanting Om Namah Shivay mantra gives you eternal joy and the great Bhagwan shiv ji becomes your protector, Every kind of panic, stress, depression, insanity starts fading slowly, when you begin Om Namah Shivay chanting. Himself becomes the protector of the chanter.
Om Namah Shivay mantra makes you free from your animal passion and rude behavior. It grows positive energy in you which improves your body metabolism and reduces the toxicity of the body. You will start feeling the reduction in your aggression and anger. These changes will require 25-30 days. You require to practice mantra with high reverence on Shiv at least two times daily. Slowly – Slowly Internal and external Changes start appearing It activates the inactive neurons of the brain cell. Your body and skin start getting glow and shine by tightening up your pores automatically in a natural way. Om Namah Shivaya is a powerful maha-mantra.
The Continuous 108-time repetition is more beneficial to get Siddhis and It is helpful in awakening Kundalini Yoga Shakti.
Health Benefits of Om Namah Shivay •improves your blood circulation and stabilizes heartbeat. •Mantra can even enhance your blood purification system. •Chanting the mantra also purifies your rationalizing process which improves your physiological as well as intellectual well-being. •It also heals your sorrows, emotional pain and takes you out of the darkness and show the positivity of life. •It also reduces the chances of heart strokes and organ failure.
It spreads positivity in your house Worshipping Shiva in the home brings happiness into the family. Shiva & Shakti both get established in that house. You start understanding others problem and becomes ever ready to give helping hand to others. Moreover that, Moral values will start growing in the kids. Positive vibes will get emitting from that house and from the people living in that house. Chanting Om Namah Shivaya makes the law of attraction works better in your favor.
The Power of Om Namah Shivaya is that it can free you from your past sins. The Mantra helps you to invoke [ AtmyaGyan – Atman ] What most of the people don’t know is that almighty Shiva is known for his simplicity and guiltless nature. This mantra helps you to get connected with supreme consciousness. Every substance including deities is the manifestation of Shiva’s energy. Chanting Om Namah Shivay is like worshipping the primary elements of nature means invoking your inner Shiva.
Welcome to the sacred knowledge about the importance of 108. The mala, consisting of 108 beads, holds great importance in the practice of yoga and meditation. Although there are numerous explanations for the number 108, none are superior or inferior to the others.
108 is a Harshad number, a number that is divisible by the sum of its digits. The Sanskrit term for Harshad is “great joy.” In mortals, there are said to be 108 earthly desires and 108 lies. The chakras, energy intersections in the body, have 108 energy lines converging to form the heart chakra, and the path to self-realization lies in Sushumna, one of the energy lines leading to the crown chakra.
The Sri Yantra, which has 108 points, as well as the human body, has 54 intersections where three lines meet, each having shiva and shakti aspects.
There are 108 human delusions or forms of ignorance, and 108 marmas in the subtle body. When reciting mantras on the mala, it is essential to remember the mantra with sincerity, devotion, feeling, and full attention.
In the practice of counting the number of repetitions of the mala, 100 beads are counted as completed, with the remaining 8 beads being offered to god and guru and used to cover errors or omissions.
Some say there are 108 feelings, with 36 related to the past, present, and future. The numbers 1, 0, and 8 have symbolic meanings, with 1 representing higher truth, 0 representing emptiness or completeness in spiritual practice, and 8 representing infinity or eternity.
The diameter of the sun is 108 times the diameter of the earth, while the average distance of the moon from the earth is 108 times the diameter of the moon.
Lastly, 108 is believed to refer to the number of Hindu deities, with each having 108 names. It is also said that there are 108 paths to god, and 108 styles of meditation. Let the knowledge of 108 inspire your spiritual practice and guide you on your journey toward self-realization.
om tryambakaṃ yajāmahe sugandhiṃ puṣṭivardhanam urvārukamiva bandhanānmṛtyor mukṣīya maamṛtāt
The Mahamrityunjaya Mantra is a powerful chant that is believed to have originated from Rigveda. It is considered to be one of the most potent mantras for healing and is chanted to invoke the blessings of Lord Shiva, the three-eyed Lord who sees everything, both visible and invisible. The mantra seeks the Lord’s protection from disease, death, and all forms of suffering. The mantra begins with the sacred syllable “Om,” which is a mystical symbol of the universe and the divine. The word “Tryambakam” refers to Lord Shiva, who is known as the three-eyed one. The next line, “Yajamahe,” is an expression of worship, adoration, and reverence.
“Sugandhim” means fragrant and is a reference to the Lord’s sweet-smelling nature. “Pushthivardhanam” refers to the Lord’s nourishing and life-giving qualities. The Lord is seen as a good gardener who takes care of all his creations, making them thrive and prosper.
The line “Urvārukamiva” compares the Lord’s protective powers to that of a cucumber, which is shielded by its strong vine. The Lord’s protection is believed to be as powerful as the vine that holds the cucumber. “Bandhanān” means bound down, and with “Mṛtyormukṣīya,” it means “liberate from the bounds of death.”
The last line, “Māmṛtāt,” can be interpreted in different ways. One interpretation is “Free me from death but not from immortality,” implying that the mantra seeks protection from death but not necessarily eternal life. Another interpretation is “Give me some life-rejuvenating nectar,” which implies that the mantra seeks the blessings of the Lord for a healthy and long life.
The origin of this secret mantra is steeped in mythology, with Rishi Markandeya being the only one in the world who knew it. Legend has it that the Moon was once in trouble and cursed by King Daksha. Rishi Markandeya gave the Mahamritryunjaya Mantra to Sati, Daksha’s daughter, for the Moon’s well-being. The mantra is also known as the Rudra mantra, symbolizing the furious aspect of Lord Shiva. The Tryambakam mantra alludes to Shiva’s three eyes and is sometimes called the Mrita-Sanjivini mantra, as it forms a part of the life-restoring practice given to the primordial sage Sukracharya.
The Mahamritryunjaya Mantra is a potent tool for seekers of yoga and spirituality. It has found its place in the Vedas and holds within it the essence of the divine. So let us invoke the blessings of the three-eyed Lord Shiva and elevate our consciousness to new heights.
The Mahamrityunjaya Mantra, a sacred and powerful invocation to Lord Shiva, is renowned for its benefits to mental, emotional, and physical health. This moksha mantra is believed to grant longevity and immortality, and to protect against untimely death. When chanted, the Mahamrityunjaya Mantra imbues the practitioner with energy and guidance from the divine, while reconnecting the consciousness to its true nature. This transformative practice is known as Japa, which involves the repetition of the mantra and leads to greater concentration and awareness.
The Mahamrityunjaya Mantra can be used in various ways, including during the smearing of Vibhuti over various parts of the body, as well as in Japa or Homa (havan) to manifest desired results. While the Gayatri Mantra serves to purify and guide spiritually, the Mahamrityunjaya Mantra provides healing, rejuvenation, and nurturance to the practitioner.
सिद्धार्थ – that’s how we write SIDDHARTHA in Hindi/Sanskrit through the Devanagari script. Following is how this powerful name came into existence.
Noun: सिद्धार्थ (siddhā-rtha)
“He who has fulfilled the object (of his coming)”
Name of the great Buddha from shakya clan (Siddhartha).
One of the names for Bhagwan Shiv among his sahastra naam
Adjective सिद्धार्थ (siddhā-rtha)
One who has accomplished an aim or object, successful, prosperous
Leading to the goal, efficient, efficacious
One whose aim or intention is known
” was the original name of Buddha and a name which is formed of two words “Sidh” whose meaning is “perfect” and “Artha” whose meaning is “purpose” both are from the language of Sanskrit and combined they mean “the one who perfects ( sidh ) his purpose ( artha )”.
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“Sidh” whose meaning is that which “achieves” and that which is “perfect” then expands and becomes “Siddha” whose meaning is “perfected” and “supernatural” and this is then seen in “Siddhanta” whose meaning is “the end ( anta ) of perfection ( siddha )”.
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“Sidh” also becomes “Siddhi” whose meaning is “perfection” “skill” and “art” and this is seen in the “Asta Siddhis” which are the “eight ( asta ) perfections ( siddhi )” yogis who can become “larger than a planet” and “smaller than an atom”.
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“Siddha” whose meaning is “perfection” can be seen in this verse from the Gita where “Siddhaye” and “Siddhanam” are translated as “perfection” the Gita spoken over 5000 years ago, long before the appearance of Buddha and the language of Pali.
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“Out of the many thousands among men, one may endeavour for perfection, and of those who have achieved perfection, hardly one knows Me in truth.” Gita 7.3
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“Sidh” expresses that which “binds one ( si ) to the motion ( h ) of light ( d )” as in the “light of the soul” as in the “light of illumination” while its secondary meanings of “beatitude” and “perfection” are an expression of mystical and spiritual states.
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As it journeys to other languages “Sidh” is seen throughout Europe as “Sidus” a word from Latin whose meanings are “star” “group of stars” and “constellation” and “Sidereal” whose meaning is “starry” “astral” and that which belongs to the “constellations”.
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Around the early 17th century Gallileo wrote his “Sidereus Nuncius” whose meaning was the “message from the stars” a message which announced his “clusters ( si ) of light ( d )” all of which move around the satellites of Jupiter thus proving the rotation of planets around the stars.
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“Sidh” expresses the nature of Sanskrit, which expresses the nature of the Vedas, which expresses the nature of the divine, and this can be seen in words such as “Consider” whose meaning is to “observe ( con ) the stars ( sidus )” and also “Desire” which means to “long for ( de ) the stars ( sidus )”.
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These words from the Ancient language of Sanskrit go back in time over 5000 years, long before the 2500 year old date for Panini, long before the 3500 year old date for the stone tablets of Armana, long before the 4000 year old date for the disappearance of Sarasvati, and long before Buddhism and the language of Pali.
To truly understand the concept of the divine, we must understand the concept of time. Time is the ultimate manifestation of the divine, present in all things and driving nature itself. It both creates and destroys, and in the end, only time remains when all else fades away. The ancient sages knew that to Understand god they must understand the concept of time, which is why they named Shiva Mahakal and Shakti as Mahakali, the great gods, and goddesses of time. These divine entities are beyond our limited selves and hold the key to the fate of our soul’s journey. Even if you do not consider yourself religious or spiritual, it is crucial to respect time. For, in the end, only time is ever victorious, and it determines the course of our lives. Let us learn to appreciate the power of time and honor its place in our lives. By doing so, we can connect with the divine and find a greater purpose in our existence.
In Vedic thought there are four goals of human life, not just relative the physical personality but to the Atman within.
First is DHARMA, which relates to our purpose in this physical incarnation, what our karma dictates and what develops our buddhi or inner intelligence.
Second is ARTHA, which relates to the resources and achievements necessary to fulfill that.
Third is KAMA, or the enjoyment in our dharmic activities.
Fourth is MOKSHA, or our liberation from body, mind and karma into our inner being, through the fulfillment of our dharmic purpose.
This isn’t in the main but sometimes is considered as fifth – AROGYA, or wellness of body and mind as the necessary instruments and vehicles to promote our dharma.
For those without awareness of their inner purpose, these four goals get externalized in the form of career, wealth, pleasure in general and personal freedom, but these get us caught in further karma and don’t align us with the Atman within.
“Where to hide the divinity was the question” ask Gods. So Lord Shiva called a council of the gods to help him decide.
“Let’s bury it deep in the earth,” said the gods. But Shiva answered, “No, that will not do because humans will dig into the earth and find it.”
Then the gods said, “Let’s sink it in the deepest ocean.” But Shiva said, “No, not there, for they will learn to dive into the ocean and will find it.”
Then the gods said, “Let’s take it to the top of the highest mountain and hide it there.” But once again Shiva replied, “No, that will not do either, because they will eventually climb every mountain and once again take up their divinity.”
Then the gods gave up and said, “We do not know where to hide it, because it seems that there is no place on earth or in the sea that human beings will not eventually reach.”
Shiva thought for a long time and then said, “Here is what we will do. We will hide their divinity deep in the center of their own being, for humans will never think to look for it there.”
All the gods agreed that this was the perfect hiding place, and the deed was done. And since that time humans have been going up and down the earth, digging, diving, climbing, and exploring–searching for something already within themselves.
Self-discipline is one of the most important and useful skills everyone should possess. This skill is essential in every area of life, and though most people acknowledge its importance, very few do something to strengthen it.
Self discipline does not mean being harsh with yourself, or living a limited, restrictive lifestyle. Building this skill means using common sense, making priorities, and thinking before acting.
Self discipline means self control, which is a sign of inner strength and control of yourself and your reactions. This skill gives you the power to stick to your decisions and follow them through, without changing your mind.
When you improve this ability it becomes easier to develop good habits and get rid of bad habits. It also becomes easier to overcome addictions, overeating, procrastination and laziness.
If you wish to possess more inner strength and stronger willpower, you need to start working on developing your discipline.
Self-discipline means self-control, the ability to avoid unhealthy excess of anything that could lead to negative consequences. It is the ability to reject instant gratification and pleasure, in favor of some greater gain, which requires spending effort and time to get it.
It means perseverance and not giving up. It is the strength not to give in to negative feelings. It means overcoming one’s weaknesses. It is the ability to pursue one plans despite temptations to abandon them. A disciplined person is more likely to take control and responsibility for his or her life.
Self discipline means Perseverance. The ability not to give up, despite failure and setbacks. The ability to resist distractions or temptations. Trying over and again, until you accomplish what you set out to do.
Life puts challenges and problems on the path to success and achievement, and in order to rise above them, you have to act with perseverance and persistence, and this of course, requires discipline. The possession of this skill leads to self esteem and confidence, and consequently, to happiness and satisfaction.
As per Sanatan Dharma (Hinduism), karma is of three kinds:
Prarabadha Karma This karma is unchangeable within the scope of one life, since it is the ‘setup’ for the life in question. It is the karma of one’s past lives. After death, the atma leaves the body, as the casting off of old vestments, and carries with it the samskaras (impressions) of the past life of thoughts and actions and events. These samskaras manifest themselves in the unchangeable situation into which one is born and certain key events in one’s life. These include one’s time of death (seen as governed by an allotment from birth of the total number of one’s breaths for that life), one’s economic status, one’s family (or lack of family), one’s body type and look: essentially, the setting of one’s birth, the initial base.
Samchita Karma The samskaras that one inherits from the last lives create one’s personality, inclinations, talents, the things that make up one’s persona. One’s likings, abilities, attitudes and inclinations are based on the thoughts and actions of past lives. One’s samchita karma is somewhat alterable through practice and effort towards change. This might be seen through the Hindu system of yoga and the dynamic of the gunas. An example would be someone who, through meditation, slowly evolved into a more stable personality.
Agami Karma Agami karma is the karma of the present life over which the soul has complete control. Through it one creates one’s karma in the present for the future of the current life and in life-times to come. The Hindu cannot say, sometimes, if a major event in life is the doing of Prarabadha or Agami Karma. The idea of “bad things happening to good people” is seen by the Hindu as a result of Prarabadha Karma, more simply understood as karma from a past life. In Hinduism, karma works within a cyclical framework that sees the phenomenal universe being created and eventually dissolving back into itself, back into realization that it was nothing other than Maya imposed on the truth of Brahman. So Karma will eventually be worked out.
Karma does allow for anirudh (Divine Grace). Through exceeding devotion and love of God, the Hindu believes one can be helped to speed through Karma phal (Karmic fruit). By developing ‘vairagya’ or ‘detachment’ from the fruits of one’s karma, as Lord Krishna most famously summarized, one can transcend karma and be liberated. One is aided by love of God. All the Yogas of Hinduism seek to transcend karma through different means of realization.
One of the interesting aspects about karma in reincarnation is that talents and skills are never lost according to the Cayce files. Someone who has developed an ability in one life will still have it to draw upon later through karma. One may be born for example as a genius or prodigy, in math for example, if he develops this skill or have been of service now or having done so to a prodigous degree in the past or present.
