Hartalika Teej Today, Know Muhurat Timings

Why fast for Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati today? Know Hartalika Teej Vrat Puja rituals. Also know the significance of this auspicious festival for girls and married women.

Just like Hariyali Teej and Kajari Teej, Hartalika Teej is the festival of married women. Dedicated to Shankar Bhagwan and Maa Parvati, the fast is performed by married women for the wellness and long life of their husband and family.

हिंदी में पढ़ने के लिए यहाँ क्लिक करें

As per Hindu Calendar or Panchang, this festival is observed on the third day (Tritiya) in Shukla Paksha of Bhadrapada month. It is believed that this auspicious fast was performed by Goddess Parvati to get Lord Shiva as her husband. Therefore, the fast of Hartalika Teej can also be performed by unmarried girls. This festival is also known by the name of Badi Teej in some parts of India. It is especially celebrated in Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan along with other states with lots of zeal and happiness.

Hartalika Teej Puja Muhurat
Muhurat in Early Morning	From 06:03:49 to 08:33:02
Duration	2 Hours 29 Minutes

Note: The Muhurat is valid for New Delhi. To know muhurat timings in your city, click on Hartalika Teej Muhurat

Hartalika Teej Vrat Rituals

The festival of Hartalika Teej is celebrated on Tritiya of Shukla Paksha in the month of Bhadrapada. This time period is of great significance as God Shiva and Mata Parvati are especially worshipped in this duration during Hasta Nakshatra.

On this occasion, Shiv Parvati idols made of clay or sand are worshipped. Since, this is a Nirjala Vrat (without water), therefore, the devotees should only offer fruits to the deities. At night, Jagrans and Bhajans are performed to worship Parvati Maa and Bhagwan Shankar. This fast of Hartalika Teej is completed after immersion of Puja material (Samagri) in the morning, the next day.

Hartalika Teej Vrat Katha and Significance

According to religious beliefs, Parvati ji performed difficult austerity to get Lord Shiva as her husband. Seeing her condition, her father Parvat Raj Himalaya was very sad. Meanwhile, Narada Muni brought the marriage proposal for Maa Parvati on behalf of Lord Vishnu. When the Goddess heard about this, she became upset. After being asked by one of her friends, Parvati told them that she’s performing penance to get God Shiva as her husband. After this, her friends took the Goddess to the forest. Since then, the festival is known by the name of Hartalika Teej, as Maa Parvati was abducted by her friends, so that she could achieve her goal to marry Bhagwan Shankar.

Here, the word Hartalika comprises “Harat”, which means abduction, and “Talika” that signifies female friends. After taken to the forest, Goddess performed severe austerity. On the Tritiya of Bhadrapada Shukla Paksha during Hasta Nakshatra, the Goddess created the idol of Lord Shiva with sand and worshipped him with complete devotion. Pleased with her sincerity and Puja, Lord Shiva accepted her as his wife as desired by Mata Parvati.

Thus, performing this fast with utmost devotion, and worshipping Shiv Parvati while following all Puja rituals sincerely, blesses a girl or women with luck and prosperity. This is the reason why Hartalika Teej Vrat and festival is of high significance for girls and married women.

AstroSage wishes our readers a happy Hartalika Teej and hopes that Maa Parvati blesses you all the happiness in life!

Kajari Teej Today, Know Its Significance and Puja Vidhi

Know the auspicious effects of Gau Pujan today! Kajari Teej festival will be celebrated today, i.e. on August 29, 2018. Read here to know the importance of this propitious occasion, fasting rituals and Puja Vidhi.

In Hinduism, married women take certain fasts (Vrat) every year for the long-life of their husbands as well as for the happiness and prosperity in their families. Fasts such as Karwa Chauth, Hartalika Teej, Hariyali Teej, Vat Savitri Vrat and Kajari Teej are among the most important fasts for women.

हिंदी में पढ़ने के लिए यहाँ क्लिक करें

According to Hindu Panchang, fast for Kajari Teej is performed on Tritiya (third day) of Krishna Paksha in the month of Bhadrapada. However, as per Gregorian Calendar, this festival falls in the month of July or August. This year, the festival is occuring today on August 29, and will be celebrated by women across the country with devotion and enthusiasm. However, it is mainly celebrated in Hindu states of the country including Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Bihar. This festival is also known by the name of Kajali Teej. Goddess Neemdi or Neemdi Mata is worshipped on this day. Married women fast on this occasion for longevity of their husbands. Additionally, unmarried girls also fast on this day to get blessed with a right and suitable husband.

Vrat Rituals on Kajari Teej

• Like Karva Chauth, this fast is also performed without drinking water (Nirjala Vrat). Although, pregnant women may have fruits on this day.
• Usually the fast is opened by looking at the Moon as per rituals. But, if it is not visible in the sky, a woman can open her fast by looking to the sky around 11:30 PM, and offering Argh to the Moon God.
• Once the fasting rituals (Udyapan) for Kajari Teej are performed, if proper Nirjala fast is not possible by a woman in the coming years, she can have fruits.

To know more about this festival, read: Kajari Teej Vrat Puja Vidhi

Rituals for offering Argh to Moon God

• It is a tradition to offer Argh to Moon God on Kajari Teej. At night, women should sprinkle some water while looking to the sky, and offer vermillion (Roli) and Akshat (rice) to the God. After this, they should offer food as Bhoga to Moon God.
• Offer Argh to Moon God while holding a Silver ring and few Wheat grains in your hand. Then, circumambulate (Parikrama) 4 times on the same place in a clockwise direction.

Kajari Teej and Importance of Worshipping Cows

In Hindu religion, Cow has been given the status of a mother, and is considered the holiest being in the world as per Vedas and Puranas. It is also believed that all the deities reside in Gau Mata (Cow). She is also known as Kamadhenu (a bovine Goddess, also known as the mother of fulfilment), who when worshipped brings happiness, peace and prosperity in the house. Gau Mata is especially worshipped on the occasion of Kajari Teej. The food is consumed only after feeding small round Chapatis made from flour dough along with Ghee and Gur (Jaggery) to the Cow.

Traditions related to Kajari Teej

• Several dishes are prepared on this auspicious occasion using barley, wheat, gram (Chana) and rice-mixture called Sattu along with Ghee and Meva.
• Beautifully adorned swings are thrown on trees in the fields or gardens, and women gathers and celebrate this festive occasion by dancing to the tunes of folk-songs.
• The tradition of singing folk songs while riding on a boat on this day is performed by the people of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.

Just like Hariyali and Hartalika Teej, married women celebrate the propitious festival of Kajari Teej with lots of zeal and happiness. The fast performed on this day is dedicated to Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati.

We, at AstroSage, wishes our readers a very prospering and blissful Kajari Teej.

Nirjala Ekadashi Vrat Tomorrow, Know Its Importance

Know Rituals to follow on the occasion of Nirjala Ekadashi. This Vrat will be celebrated tomorrow, i.e. on 23 June 2018. Learn in detail about the rules and puja vidhi while carrying out this fast.

हिन्दी में पढ़ने के लिए यहाँ क्लिक करें

According to the Hindu Panchang, 24 different Ekadashi falls every year. Although in Purushottam Maas or Malmas, the number increases from 24 to 26. Nirjala Ekadashi has been considered the most important of all Ekadashi occuring in a year and is extremely difficult to pursue, as one cannot consume water along with any food.

Nirjala Ekadashi Vrat Muhurat
Nirjala Ekadashi Paran Muhurat	From 13:47:13 PM to 16:34:49 PM on June 24
Duration	2 hours 47 minutes
Ending Time for Hari Vasar	Around 10:10:08 AM on June 24

Note: Above mentioned time is for Delhi. Know auspicious Muhurat for your city: Nirjala Ekadashi Vrat Muhurat

It is believed that those devotees who are unable to fast on all 24 Ekadashi around the year, should fast on the day of Nirjala Ekadashi. It is widely believed that fasting on this day would reap rewards which is equivalent to gaining benefits and virtues of all other Ekadashi. On this day, worshipping Lord Vishnu is considered to be highly significant.

Read: Nirjala Ekadashi Puja Vidhi & Rules

Why Water Isn’t Consumed on Nirjala Ekadashi Vrat?

This vrat falls during the Ekadashi of Shukla Paksha in Jyeshtha month. During this month, the summer heat is scorching high and days are bigger, hereby making a person more thirsty than ever. In this case, the vrat is said to be extremely difficult as well as shows patience. One does not drink water from the sunrise of Ekadashi till sunrise of Dwadashi. Carrying out such a difficult fast in such conditions reflects upon the beliefs towards God. However, one can consume milk along with fruits on this day.

Nirjala Ekadashi During Mahabharata

The significance of this Ekadashi Vrat is also mentioned in Mahabharata. According to this legendary belief, this vrat was carried on by Bhima, hence it is also known as Bhimseni Ekadashi. Maharishi Ved Vyas himself had told Pandavas the importance of Nirjala Ekadashi Vrat and asked them to fast on this day.

Importance of Nirjala Ekadashi 

Every devotee who wants to fast on Nirjala Ekadashi should worship Lord Vishnu after renouncing food and water for that day. Doing charity and taking holy baths have special significance on this day. After bathing in a holy river or reservoir in the morning during shubh muhurat, one should worship Lord Vishnu and donate food to a Brahmin or needy person. The glory of Nirjala Ekadashi Vrat leads a person to longevity and salvation. The vrat is completely fulfilled after the parna on the day of Dwadashi.

We hope that you will surely like this article based on Nirjala Ekadashi. Wishing you a great and bright future from AstroSage!