Doing  the  Sandhya Vandanam  (Obeisance to the  Dawn) at

what time ?.

It is said the Sandhya Vandanam is performed three times a day.

The day is divided into  three parts which is compared with the LIfe.The first one is birth (production), the second is , full blooming (development) and the third is destruction (death). In a Day  30 minutes before the  Sun rise in the morning all the Stars in the sky disappear.The Sandhya Vandanam (Obeisance to the Dawn) must be begun before the Starts vanish and finish when the Sun rises completely  in the East. The Second time when the Sun in the middle,  almost at 12 noon.  And the third time  Sandhya Vandanam is to be performed in the twilight before the Sun sets in the west ( means 30 minutes before ).

 The Day is divided into 24 hours or 60 Ghatikas  which is  defined in the Astrology. 24 hours are equal to 60 Ghatikas. One hour is equal  two and a half Ghatikas. Thirty minutes is equal to one Ghatika and 30 Vighatikas . So approximately calculate the time for the Sandhya Vandanam and do it timely and regularly. “  Naa Gayatryah Param Mantram ”. Savitri is another name for Gayatri. So worshipoubg  the Gayatri Maha mantrah  at that time.

The Consequence for the repeation of  Mantra of Prayer (Japah) at different places. What are they ?

 We know some of us take Mantra Deeksha (the vow for repeation of prayer) and do the Sadhana by counting of the beads of Rosary. The Mantra may be a Panchakshari, or Ashtakshari or Dwadasaakshari like this.But It is said if we do the Japam (repeation of Prayers) at the Prayer hall of our house, the result will be to  some extent. At the places of Sacred Rivers like Ganges, Godavari, Krishna, Kaveri etc., the result will be two fold than the houses. If the  same Japam is done in the cow-shed (Gosaala) would be the result of 100 times. If it is in the Yaga Saala (Sacred place for Hawan, Sacrifice) the result will be more than in the  Gosaala.If the Japam is done in the Sacred places like Haridwar, Triveni Sangamam (Prayaga), Kasi, Pushkara time the result will be ten thousand times. If it is in the presence of Lord Shiva the result would be superior than the above. If the Japam is done by sitting  on the Vyaghrajinam (the skin of a Tiger) or Krishnaajinam (skin of a black deer) will attain Moksha. If the places like floor, soil, screen of bamboos,wood etc., one will get sorrows, defame, poverty, diseases and other negative results. Rugvedah and Saamavedah both once reformed as a Deer on some circumstance. So the Krishnajinam (the skin of a Deer) is supreme to all..

What is the Benefit of Almanac  ( Hindu Panchangam)

In this Universe the Time and Date unitedly  play a  cardinal role not only in the lives of human beings and also on  the other creatures. Without both of them no life is existed and nothing is existed. For everything in the life the Time and Date are the root cause for the Birth and Death, Joyness and Sorrow, Success and Failure , Sleeping and Awaking, troubles and Happiness, Wealth and Poverty,loss and gain  for what not? If we decompose any  thing we can know immediately the answer could be  the Time and  Date. If we contemplate the pair of that, we will  accept the truth and also astonish about that. The  wonderful truth in this universe is Time and Date and simultaneously which can not be judged, estimated and imagined even for scholars and intellectuals.

In our lives, man always follows and depends on the Almanac.. Without that he can not live and can not do any thing. Right from the birth, till the departure of his Soul from the mortal body he does all ritual things  according to the signs given by the Almanc.  The good and bad in the particular time of a particular  date,  what man always solicitously watches and tries to know the perception.

In our Mythology, Brahma Devah  in the Trimurthy is the Creator  having five faces (Panchaanana). The five faces look towards the East, South, West, North and elevation.  The Hindu Alamanac is called as Panchangam. Panchangam means the calendar  which has  five limbs (branches). So the Panchangam was born from the five faces of Brahma Deva who is a Creator.

In the Panchangam the five limbs (branches) are Tidhi, Vaara, Nakshatra, Yoga and Karanam.  Now, from the first face of Brahma Deva which look towards the East,  the Tidhi  has come out. From the second face towards the South, the Vaaram was born. From the third face towards the West, the Nakshatra has come out. From the fourth face towards the North, the Yoga was born. And the last, the fifth face towards the elevation, the Karanam has come out. Hence , the confluencing of  these  five limbs (branches) are called  Panchangam.

The  wealth and  longvity (Ayuh)  are increased  due to Tidhi and Vaaram. The declining of Sinful from the Nakshatra, the perishing of diseases from  the Yoga and the attaining of success from the Karanam will be happened.

Tidhi:   In a calendar there are fifteen (15) Tidhis. In a month (30 days) the first 15 days are Sukla Paksha and the next 15 days are Krishna Paksha. So the Tidhis are repeated again.

Vaaram: (Weeks) We know there are seven weeks.

Nakshatra : (Stars) The Nakshatras are 27.

Yoga :  Yogas are 27.

Karanam: The Karanams are 11.

According to the Almanac  we have Lunar system and Solar system. Some of our Indians follow Lunar system ( Chandra Maana) and some other follow Solar system (Surya Maana). The Chandra Maana (Lunar bases) starts every year  from Chaitra Maasa Sukla Paksha Padhyami onwards which almost comes either in March or April. The Surya Maana (Solar bases) starts when Sun enters the Aries. That almost begins either on 14^th April or sometimes 15^th April of every year.

Do really  relatives visit our house when Crow shrieks ?.

Yes .   Why ?

In the olden days, when there were no any kind of transport  facilities, communication, and any other techonoly, Birds were so useful  to  the  mankind for sending the messages, news  e tc., from one place to another place. They used to depend on the Birds and think they are like messengers.Normally those days in India most of the people live only in the villages.They used to send their news, messages by the Birds.  By nature birds and pet animals live whereever the people live. Crows also  live there only in  the  trees. If any new specie of Bird or Birds from new place  come to that village, the Crows start scream at a time. This means people can understand some new Birds entered the village and immediately they could guess that theie relatives sent some news by Birds from other places .And also think that their relatives are going to visit their house. So now we can understand the inner meaning of Crow’s screaming.

More over when a crow falls and dies before us, those days people never used to take food. immediately. For some hours  they did not use to take their food. It was the custom observed by the people. If they eat immediatley , they used to  feel it would be a bad thing. 

Is Amaavasya (new moon day) Good or Bad ?

Most of the people belief  the Amaavasya (new moon day) (15^th day in Krishna Paksha or Bahula pakasha) is bad for all the rituals and auspicious things. Even on that day (Amaavasya day) no one does take up any affairs  or transactions and feels as bad omen.

 But in the Dwapara yuga in the Mahabharata the  Pandavas started Kurukshetra war against Kauravas  on Amaavasya day and had the triumph. That Victory  shows the symbol for Dharma (alms, Virtues). As the Pandavas were Dharmagnas (those who know the Dharma and follow that). Therefore Amaavasya was the auspicious time (Muhurtam) for their Victory.

In India some of the states Amaavasya is treated as an asupicious day and do the affairs and asupcious transactions from that  day onwards. For example  in the  state of Tamilnadu people consider it.

The Miracle (Mahima) of Pushkara Bath

Why ?  

The  twelve great  Rivers have been treated as so Sacred in India since the ancient time. For every twelve years each river gets the Pushkara Samayah. At that time the name of deity,  Pushkara will be in that river for that period. Any one who dips in the river of Pushkara Teertha, certainly all of  his/her sins will be treated right from their birth  and becomes holy. At the holy time of Pushkara not only of us  even all the dieties, Gods, Goddess will come to the Earth and do the bath and attains purity.Such a miracle and greatness has been given for the Pushkara Teertha bath.  

On all the twelve days the devotees do the Japa, Daana, Vrata,other sacred rituals and believe if they do those rituals one will attain the heavenly results and also the liberation. In the planets, the Jupiter (Guru Grahah) who is a teacher of Devatas when enters in the zodiac sign (out of 12 signs) the particular River will have the Pushkara Teertha. Suppose, the Jupiter enters in the Aries the river  Ganges is treated as the Pushkara teertha. like that

What for Upanayanam

(Thread Marriage)

"Janmana  Jaayate Soodrah, Karmana Jaayate Brahmanah ".

After completing fifth year, the Upanayanam is performed traditionally.. Because of Upanayanam  the boy begets the  Dwijatwa Siddhi. Means he gets the second birth to attain eternal knowledge in his life. Then he starts his Aksharabhyasa ( Education). Akshara is the meaning of eternal.  He can have the ability of  worship for learning  Vidya.   Vidya means Knowledge. When once the Upanayanam is over the boy worships Gaayatri Mata and enchant the Mantra. With this power he attains the Knwoledge and Sceience through education.In the   guidance of Teacher (Guru) he learns and enters into household life (Gruhasthasram) and earns all the comforts and happiness by leading Virtuous life. In the Upanayanam we can see  two words.Upa and Nayanam. Nayanam means Netram (eye) which is for sight. Sarvendriyaanam Nayanam Pradhanam. Here Nayanam means Jnana Chaksshuvu. Upa means close. So close to the Knwoledge, i.e, Jnanam. In the creation, all the species of birds have two lives.They are called as Dwijah. In Hinduism it is applied to  Brahmanah.. Upanayanam makes him as Dwijah.