Dev Uthani Ekadashi 2018: Awakening of Lord Vishnu!

Auspicious period for Marriage has finally come! The occasion of Devutthana brings joy and music of shehnai along.

The month of Kartik is particularly auspicious. Diwali and the Diwali season is followed by a period considered Shubh for marriages. Why are marriages prohibited in Hindu Shastras until the day of Dev Utthan? Read to know.

हिन्दी में पढ़ने के लिए क्लिक करें!

Dev Uthani Ekadashi Muhurat 2018

Ekadashi Tithi Begins	13:35	18th November
Ekadashi Tithi Ends	14:31	19th November

The above muhurat is for New Delhi. Find for your city: Dev Uthani Ekadashi Muhurat

Parana Muhurat

Parana the breaking of fast, is carried out on the next day of Ekadashi, i.e. on Dwadashi or 12th day.

Parana Time

06:47:17 to 08:55:00

20th November

Rituals

• Take a holy dip early morning.

• Carry out Tulsi Vivah - the marriage ceremony of Lord Vishnu with Tulsi Mata. 

• Observe a fast from the day of Dashmi till the Parana is done.

Legend

It is said that Goddess Lakshmi was unhappy with the sleeping pattern of Lord Vishnu. She complained to him about the same Since Devtas had to wait for a long period to meet him. He promised to goddess that he will find a solution to it. Meanwhile, Vedas were stolen by Sankhyayan, a demon. Lord Vishnu then went to bring back the Vedas and was so tired afterwards that he slept for 4 months. This was termed as Yoga Nidra. Those 4 months are considered inauspicious in Hindu religion and no ceremony is carried out during this phase.

Significance

Attainment of Moksha is considered to be the ultimate goal of a soul that has been granted human race. With the grace of God, if a person worships Lord Vishnu on the day of Devutthana Ekadashi, the doors of heaven are opened for him as well as his ancestors. The festival is celebrated in different forms in different places in India. 

Maharashtra: In Maharashtra, Lord Vithoba, another incarnation of Lord Vishnu is worshipped.

Rajasthan: In Rajasthan, Pushkar Mela (fair) begins and Lord Brahma is offered reverence. 

Gujarat: In Gujarat, a Parikrama (circumambulation) is performed by the devotees around Mount Girnar for 2 days to please the Lord.

Why is Tulsi Vivah carried out on Devutthana Ekadashi?

As per a legend, Tulsi was the wife of a demon named Jalandhar. She was called Brinda or Vrinda. Since she was a devoted wife, it was impossible to kill Jallandher in the battlefield. Devtas insisted to Lord Vishnu to find a solution. He then had to take the disguise of Jalandhar and come to Vrinda. She on knowing the truth, after her husband was killed in the fight, cursed Lord Vishnu. Since Lord Vishnu himself was guilt-ridden, he declared that Vrinda is as pure as a virgin and she in the form of a plant shall be married to him. Since then, it is accustomary to carry out Tulsi Vivah or the marriage of tulsi to Lord Vishnu. The ritual is of immense significance and considered equivalent to a performing a Kanyadaan.

AstroSage wishes you a Happy & Auspicious Dev Uthani Ekadashi. 

Sun Transit in Scorpio Will Change Your Life!

Sun is undergoing a transit! Read how your life will be influenced by this change? In astrology, Sun is considered the king of all planets. It undergoes a transit every month. This change in the house is called Surya Sankranti. 

Being the king of the nine planets, Sun holds a reputation of glory, power, fame and administration. It is linked with positions of power and respect, father figure, government, etc. the transition of Sun does affect all these segments of your life. With the transition in Capricorn, Sun starts getting stronger but as the months of winter approach, it enters zodiac signs not supportive for him. During this time, taking precautions is a must.

Time of Transit

As per the Hindu scriptures, Sun stays in every zodiac sign for a period of one month. On Friday, November 16, 2018, at 6:48 pm Sun will transit into Scorpio and remain there till December 16, 2018, 9:25 am.

हिंदी में पढ़ने के लिए यहाँ क्लिक करें

Click here to know your Moon Sign: Moon sign Calculator

Aries

Sun will transit into your eighth house. As a result, your health will be problematic. Fever, headache, etc. cam surround you….Read more

Taurus

Sun in your seventh house indicates growth in career. A promotion may make you gaily but family life appears to be stressed.….Read more

Gemini

Residing in the sixth house, Sun brings a good news of efforts being turned into possibilities along with opportunities being turned into success.….Read more

Cancer

Sun will transit into your fifth house. This indicates financial gains but conflicts with loved ones or family members.….Read more

Leo

In your fourth house, Sun will transit. Benefits from the government, modification in vehicle or house, and promotion of your spouse are indicated by this transit. ….Read more

Virgo

With Sun entering into your third house, your courage may appear to be diminishing. Stay strong and do not take a single step backwards….Read more

Libra

In your second house, Sun will make your voice harsh and create situations of conflict.….Read more

Scorpio

Sun in the first house will take your focus away from everything but work….Read more

Sagittarius

Sun entering into your twelfth house indicates fever, stomach diseases, insomnia or eye-related problems….Read more

Capricorn

This transit of Sun in your eleventh house will bring unanticipated rewards.….Read more

Match your Kundali for free!

Aquarius

Sun is moving into the tenth house of your sign. This indicates success, promotion and happiness.….Read more

Pisces

Sun in going into your ninth house. Your struggles will increase and you will need to put in extra efforts to accomplish your tasks….Read more

Best wishes from AstroSage!

Follow Chhath Puja Rituals To Fulfil Your Wishes!

Chhath Puja begins today! Six days after Diwali, the mega festival of Chhath Puja is celebrated with high fervor and certain puja rituals are followed. Let's read the puja vidhi and know auspicious muhurat of Chhath. Along with that, read the importance of Sandhya (Evening) Arghya and Usha (Morning) Arghya as well.

Chhath Puja Muhurat 2018 for New Delhi, India
13 November Sandhya Arghya, Sunset Timings	17:28:46 PM
14 November Usha Arghya, Sunrise Timings	06:42 :31 AM

Note: Above mentioned muhurat is applicable within New Delhi. Click here to know the Chhath Puja muhurat for your city.

हिंदी में पढ़ने के लिए यहां क्लिक करें

The festival of Chhath is widely celebrated on the Shukla Shashti in the month of Kartik in the regions of Bihar, Jharkhand and East Uttar Pradesh. Amongst all major festivals, Chhath Puja is considered to be one of the biggest celebrations in these regions and commemorated with high zeal and enthusiasm. On this day, Chhath Mata and Lord Sun is worshiped. Although it’s a four-day affair, but third and fourth day is of great significance, which is also known as Sandhya (Evening) Argya and Usha (Morning) Arghya.

Worship Chhath Mata and Lord Sun This Way!

On the day of Chhath Puja, the Chhathi Maiya is specially worshiped. According to a mythological belief, Chhath Puja is specially done by women for the longevity of their children. It is believed that the Chhathi Maiya, who is also known as Sashthi Mata, is especially known to be the Goddess who blesses children with a long, healthy life. She is also considered as the form of Mother Katyayani, who is locally hailed as the Chhathi Maiya.

Chhath Puja: A Four-Day Festival

• First Day: Nahaye Khaye

Chhath Puja begins on this very special day. On this day, women who are keen on fasting wake up early in the morning and take a bath. They clean the house and consume vegetarian food only.

• Second Day: Kharna

Second day of Chhath Puja is called as Kharna. On this day, women keep Nirjala fast (fasting without drinking water) throughout the day and in the evening, offer jaggery based kheer, fruits and ghee-applied chapatis to the gods as a prasad and then consume themselves along with distributing other members of the family.

• Third Day: Sandhya Arghya

Sandhya Argh is considered the most important during Chhath. On the Shashthi of Kartik Shukla during Sandhya Arghya, raw milk and water is offered to Lord Sun. On this day, all the fasting women reach the Ghats with their families, and keep thekua, rice sweets or laddus and fruits on bamboo made baskets in the form of Prasad. On the evening of Sandhya Arghya during the sunset, the Sun is offered Argya and folk songs and mythological stories related to Chhathi Mata is also heard.

• Fourth Day: Usha Arghya

Usha Arghya or offering water during Sunrise marks the end of the Chhath festival. Even before sunrise, fasting women reach the ghat and offer Arghya to the rising Sun. women who are fasting wish for the longevity of their kids and happiness of the family. After worshiping, all fasting women open their fast by eating the Prasad and drinking the Sharbat made by raw milk.

Read: Mythological stories related to Chhath Puja

Chhath Puja Rituals

• Collect all these ingredients before the puja:
• Plate, milk, glass, three bamboo baskets and three bamboo or brass winnowing baskets.
• Coconut, sugarcane, sweet potato, grapefruit or big lemon, rosemary, red vermilion, rice, raw turmeric, water chestnut or Singhara.
• Camphor, sandalwood, honey, betel leaves, betel nut, pears.
• For prasad, keep Malpua, kheer puri, thekua, semolina pudding or suji ka halwa and rice laddus.

Follow this method when giving Arghya: First of all, keep all the above mentioned items in the bamboo and brass baskets. After that, light an incense stick and diya in every winnowing basket. After that, offer arghya to Sun by stepping into the river or lake.

Religious Significance

Chhath Puja is known as the mega-festival celebrating religious and cultural faith. This festival marks a special significance about making special offerings or Arghya to Lord Sun. In Hindu mythology, major importance is given to Lord Sun, as he is the only God who can be seen directly by natives. Holy sun rays are powerful enough to eliminate diseases and make a man confident and healthy enough.

On the occasion of Chhath, people worship Chhathi Maiya and Lord Sun especially for the longevity and health of their children. It is believed that if prayed with a honest and true heart, wishes get fulfilled.

Astrological & Celestial Importance of Chhath

If seen from astrological and celestial point of view, Chhath festival evokes highest importance because on the sixth day of Shukla Paksha, Sun gets located in the Southern Hemisphere of the Earth and it is considered as a special astronomical event. During this period, ultraviolet rays of Sun get accumulated within the Earth’s atmosphere in large quantities, hereby transmitting harmful effects to humans. In order to avoid such situation, Lord Sun is worshipped on the special occasion of Chhath and offered Arghya.

We hope that you like this article based on the occasion of Chhath Puja. Happy Chhath Puja to all the readers!