Month: March 2023

Kamada Ekadashi: Fulfilling Desires through Divine Grace

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सशङ्खचक्रं सकिरीटकुण्डलं सपीतवस्त्रं सरसीरुहेक्षणम् ।
सहारवक्ष:स्थलशोभिकौस्तुभश्रियं नमामि विष्णुं शिरसा चतुर्भुजम् ॥

Kamada Ekadashi occurs during Shukla Paksha (waxing phase of moon) of Chaitra month (March-April), making it first Ekadashi after Hindu New Year. Devotees worship Bhagawan Vishnu on this auspicious day to get all righteous desires fulfilled and seek freedom from curses and negative karma.

Meaning and Significance of Kamada Ekadashi

Understanding name itself reveals purpose of this sacred day. In Sanskrit, Kama means desire or wish, while Da means giver or fulfiller. Therefore, Kamada Ekadashi translates to 11th day that fulfills all pure desires of devotee.

Human heart holds many desires for prosperity, happiness, good health, and spiritual growth. Observing this fast with pure mind helps fulfill worldly aspirations while guiding soul towards higher spiritual awareness. Scriptures mention that observing Kamada Ekadashi fast destroys sins of past lives, removes curses, and brings peace to entire family.

Legend associated with Kamada Ekadashi

Scriptures describe famous story told by Bhagawan Krishna to King Yudhishthira, involving young couple named Lalit and his wife Lalita. They lived in beautiful city called Ratnapura, ruled by King Pundarika. Lalit was talented singer and Lalita was graceful dancer in royal court. Deep love existed between husband and wife, making them inseparable in mind and thought.

One day, while performing in royal court of King Pundarika, Lalit was singing alone. Missing his beloved wife Lalita, his mind got distracted and his rhythm lost harmony. Another courtier named Karkotaka Nag noticed this mistake and informed king about Lalit lack of focus. King Pundarika felt insulted and became extremely angry.

In fit of rage, King Pundarika cursed Lalit to become monstrous man-eating demon (Rakshasa). Instantly, Lalit transformed into terrifying demon with fierce eyes, wild hair, and huge body. Seeing terrible plight of her husband, Lalita was heartbroken, but she refused to abandon him. She followed demon husband into thick forests, weeping continuously and seeking remedy to restore his human form.

While wandering in Vindhyachal mountains, Lalita reached sacred ashram of Sage Shringi. She bowed respectfully and explained her deep sorrow. Moved by her devotion and tears, Sage Shringi advised her to observe Kamada Ekadashi fast occurring in Shukla Paksha of Chaitra month. He assured her that merit gained from this fast would free her husband from curse.

Lalita strictly observed Kamada Ekadashi fast with complete sincerity, devotion, and prayers to Bhagawan Vishnu. On next day, she offered earned spiritual merit (Punya) to her husband in presence of Lord Hari. By divine grace of Bhagawan Vishnu, curse got destroyed instantly. Lalit regained his original handsome form and celestial clothes. Couple expressed deep gratitude to Lord Vishnu and returned home happily on divine chariot.

Rituals to be performed on Kamada Ekadashi

  • Wake up early in morning during Brahma Muhurta and take ritual bath.
  • Clean puja area and place idol or photo of Bhagawan Vishnu.
  • Light ghee lamp, offer fresh yellow flowers, sandalwood paste, incense, and Tulsi leaves to Lord.
  • Chant Vishnu Sahasranama, Hare Krishna Mahamantra, or Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya throughout day.
  • Listen to or read Kamada Ekadashi Katha with family members.
  • Observe fast during entire day according to individual capability.
    • Strict fast without water (Nirjala) or taking only water is ideal for healthy individuals.
    • Milk, curd, and fruits can be consumed if complete fasting is not possible due to health.
    • Avoid rice, wheat, barley, lentils, pulses, and all food grains strictly.
    • Avoid heavy spices, regular salt (use sendha namak if required), garlic, and onion.
    • Avoid tea, coffee, outside processed food, and alcohol completely.
  • Perform evening Aarti and maintain pure thoughts, avoiding anger, backbiting, or harsh words.
  • Break fast on Dwadashi day during Parana time.
    • Fast should be broken next day after sunrise during Dwadashi Tithi.
    • Ensure Parana is done after completion of Hari Vasara period.
    • Offer Naivedya to Bhagawan Vishnu, perform small prayer, and break fast by consuming prasada, water, or fruits before regular food.

PS: Article re-formattied into blocks and Changed the Header Image

Dearer than Lapis Lazuli

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I always wondered why every wedding anniversary were linked to some theme, why 32nd was left out from the list. Though loosely I have heard of it being linked to Transport (rightfully so), maybe it was left for me to fill in on this amazing milestone. Spoke to a NRI friend who explained why it was linked to Transport – his take was that if some pair has stayed married for 32 years (in that part of the world, 32 month is considered a record period) it is to convey as an example that this journey of 32 revolutions of the Sun together has been navigated successfully, through the roughs and troughs, through joy and sadness, through challenges and bliss – all dealt with successfully TOGETHER

Happy 32nd Wedding Anniversary to us

Not that I need any special linkage to be grateful to Aparna who has been a married companion for 32 long years (for her). You know something, of all the fishes in the Ocean, I am glad I caught you (not my original saying, but heard this in a different context from someone)

Proud and Extremely Happy Grandparents celebrating the 32nd with Apple of our Eyes

Dearest Aparna,
Thank you for giving me the love that I cannot live without. You are the best thing that has ever happened to me and to everyone who is part of our lives (Check with them and they would agree with me completely). One of our Manasik Daughter asked us, if you were to pick up the best moment of these 32 years, I had to go back to my memory….errrrr… my Maths to work that out. The best moment was not just one but 1,009,152,000 (Someone can figure out the significance of this number). It is not for this tribute blog but for real. It has been such an amazing journey of blissful togetherness.

We also had a word of caution to her. Like in anything in the world or in any relationship “We worked to make it work” Cordiality and bliss in Every relationhip is free but not a gift. I have to confess that she shared significantly part of that work than me. It is not being the jolly, naughty, laughing and freaking couple all the time.

We as family had our shares of Challenges and what made it work was her “calming” presence. Divya and Vishnu tell me, I am lying when I use the adjective calming – she gets flustered even when the boat is slightly rocked. But I say her presence was real – constant support and inspiration to everyone and reassuring that we will surmount it and Thanks to the Divine – we did it successfully each time. She was always around, looking over our shoulders, telling us never to give up and we will sail through.

If Divine were to give a chance to change something from 31st March 1991 and relive the past 32 years, (I wish He really offered it), you know what! Wait Wait, Don’t Celebrate – I am not going to let go even in imagination, I would do exactly what I did that day all over again and live the 32 years excatly the same way.

Looking eye to eye (for a change)

Here is to another year of growing closer and sticking together throughout our lives. Cheers to yet another year of growing strong together.

The NRI friend also suggested to gift Lapis Lazuli on this occasion, which in all humility I welcome and accept from Aparna or anyone else. Please keep this coming.

Lapis Lazuli – Gemstone associated with 32nd Anniversary
From all of us to the Anchor of our Lives. Thank you Aparna

What else? A friend like no one else. Here is the song dedicated to you

India will not break – Trust RSS

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Yet another contributory article from Adv Anil Kappilil ji a practicing lawyer from Kochi. who has written a great piece, a real tribute as an Proud Indian. I agree with him 100% on each word he writes here. Here we go in his own words

It is always about Bharat Mata Swayamsevak

To begin with, let me make it clear that am not an RSS karyakarta or a member of any political party. I am proud to be a nationalist Hindu.

After getting political independence in 1947, there were several attempts to break India both from within and abroad. The first among them was the partition of India. The decades-long Congress rule accelerated and colluded in the efforts that witnessed not only breaking India geographically, financially, morally, philosophically and politically but also civilizationally. Because Congress had no vision other than power and loot inherited from their foreign predecessors.

So what and who enabled India to resist the attacks and catastrophic fall of the greatest nation? The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and the Hindutva ideology.

Pujyaneeya Sarsanghchala Mohanji Bhagwat – Vijayadashami Celebrations

None can break India because RSS is there. None can break RSS because of its core philosophy is Bharateeyata and Hindutva. And because every Karyakartha is self-driven swayamsevak and Pujyaneeya Sarsanghchalak is a Karyakarta of Sangha first and from top to bottom they enjoy the same responsibility and authority. RSS is like Sanatana Dharma which just exist and a way of life. No one can define it in a simple manner. Every Swayamsevak is highly disciplined and committed in every walk of their life dedicated to the cause of Bharat Mata and Dharma

The Discipline and Unity of Purpose – starts with small things like this

A careful scrutiny of the policies and legislations made during the Congress rule would reveal that they followed the British dogma of divide and rule India. While Congress reduced itself to a family organization of Nehru family RSS has grown itself as the largest Hindu Undivided Family Conglomerate revered and respected, accepted and assimilated by global polity.

RSS has global presence and it is more powerful and omnipresent than all super powers of the world. The political dwarfs cannot comprehend the might of RSS and their rhetorical barks are nothing but akin to weak howling of jackals at the full moon.!

When I say Hindutva I mean not the superficial definition of being known as a Hindu in birth certificate. Hindu is the one who is born to Dharmic couples and nurtured and nourished by dharmic values and practices them in life. Any person whose birth in any way of life or religion can become a true Hindu only when he practises a life that is predicated in various paths of Hindu dharma. But no person who is born to parents having Hindu names can be a true Hindu because he doesn’t practice Hindu dharma. Communists are not Hindus even though their names may suggest so. So are those who dont feel pride in calling Bharat as their mother land and respect her as Bharat Mata. Religious bigots have no place in this holy soil except for their burial and the epic stories have confirmed the perilous end of Ravans and other demonic characters. Remember, Hindu dharmma is the only civilization that allows anyone to be a non believer in God and yet be Hindu. Charvaka is treated on par with and revered as a great sage in Hindu dharma.

Confrontation through physical force is not the Hindutva way of dealing with adversaries. But it has the most poweful means of consolidation of any threat to the civilization. The Yogis are not ordinary mortals. The seven sages in the sky control even the umpteen number of galaxies.

India is unbreakable. Those who try to break or weaken this phenomenon, will get destroyed and erased completely. Because Karma is indestructible. RSS is indestructible because its foundation is for the good karma.

  • By Adv Anilkumar Kappillil
India and Indians are Safe – Trust a Swayamsevak