Vedic holydays

1999 Holy Days follow below

2002 Holydays 2003 Holydays

Hi there, These are the beginnings of a page of Vedic Holydays. Soon I will add commentary of Papaji and Dev will send some of Ramana's Comments as well. I am posting this now before it is done as it is still useful at this point.

To me All the suggestions for following these holydays, the vedic presciptions, have three reasons:

This is why I feel it is important to incorporate this page into this site and these dates into your lives.

1999 Holy Days	Description
January 1 Purnima (Full Moon)	Happy Western New Year!
January 14 Makara Sankranti	The day that the sun turns North. Sankranti means light, the Light of Self. Spiritually it symbolizes the turning to the Light!
January 17 New Moon
January 21 Ganesh Jayanti	Birthday of Ganesh
January 22 Vasant Panchami
January 26 Republic Day (India)
January 30 Thai Pusam Purnima (Blue Moon)
February 14 Mahashivratri The night before the new moon in Magha.	The Night of Shiva. One of the four most powerful and sacred nights of the year. Devotees typically Fast and stay up all night chanting, meditating and doing pradakshana of sacred places like Arunachala. Shiva is Here!
February 15 Amavasya (New Moon)
February 16 Solar Eclipse Losar (Tibetan New Year)	Visible in the South Atlantic, Antartica, parts of Australia and South Africa. Traditionally you do not go outside during the Solar eclipse, especially if you are pregnant. Rather people tend to stay home and be quiet and offer a puja.
February 26 Amalaki Ekadasi	The day that the Amalaki tree is honored. The Amalaki fruit is one of the greatest herbs of Ayurveda, and this festival show it appreciation for the health it brings through the year. Amalaki is a third of the famous Vedic rejuvanating and purifying formula Triphala.
March 1 Purnima (Full Moon)
	1/2 a moon after Shivratri is Holi
March 2 Holi Krura Ratri	One of the four most powerful and sacred nights of the year. Holi, the burning of the demoness, is also known as Krura Ratri (the cruel night). The viscious demon-father, having failed in various other ways to make his son Prahlada denounce Lord Narayana, finally asked his sister Holika to take Prahlaada in her lap and enter a blazing fire. Holika, who had a boon to remain unscathed by fire, did her brother's bidding. But lo, Holika's boon ended by this act of supreme sin against the Lord's devotee and was herself burnt to ashes and Prahlada came out unharmed.
	1/2 a moon after Holi is Devi Puja
March 16 Devi Puja begins	The Spring Nine nights of the Goddess begins tonight. It is the easiest time to come in contact with the great Goddess. The sadhana is ghata (pot) worship. The pot is the head, infused with Amrit and hormones and soma, and so the sadhana is meant to infuse our minds with energy so that our worship of THAT is steady! A great time to cleanse your mind and body and soul and to focus your Love and Devotion on THAT! A special diet is followed. This Holiday also is observed in the fall to a much greater extent. To follow these 9 Holydays has so many health merits that it is an Ayurvedic event as well. These Nights culminate in Sri Rama's Birthday. more info
March 17 Yugadi First Day of 52nd century of Kali Yuga Amavasya (New Moon)	The first day of the year. In some parts of India Neem is mixed with Jaggery and taken. This symolizes the bitter and sweet aspects of life, how they are interwoven, and how the yogi is unmoved out of the Stillness by either pole of Life. Today marks the beginning of a Hindu New Year, and advent of Yugabda 52, the fifty-second century of the Age of Kali (Kali Yuga started around the period of Mahabharata war). May this day brings in not only the dawn of a new century but also new hope to make this century a Dharma century - not a theological concept, but a century that will bring amity, peace, harmony and co-existence, the true message of the Hindus: Vasudhaiva Kutumbkam (the entire creation is one family). Kanchan Banerjee
March 19 Sri Vidya Havan	The Puja to Vidya, the Goddess of Wisdom Part of the Nine nights of the Godess
	Spring Devi Puja culminates in Rama's Birthday
March 25 Shree Rama Navami	The Birthday of Lord Rama. Papaji's Definition of Rama is: The Being in all Beings
March 29 Mahavir Jayanti	Birthdate in 599 B.C. of Mahavir, the last of the 24 Jain prophets
	Six days after Rama's Birthday is Hanuman's
March 31 Hanuman Jayanti Purnima (Another Blue Moon)	The Birthday of Hanuman. Hanuman Purnima
April 13 Amavasya (New Moon)
April 14 Bhagavan's Aradhana Tamil New Year Vaisakhi	Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi's Aradhana (Mahasamadhi anniversary, Western Solar calendar)
April 15 Amavasya (New Moon)
April 18 Akshya Tritiya
April 30 Buddha Purnima Full Moon in Vaishaakha	The day Buddha was born, the day he was Enlightened, and the day he left his body.
May 13 Bhagavan's Aradhana	Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi's Aradhana (Mahasamadhi anniversary, Indian Lunar calendar)
May 15 Amavasya (New Moon)
May 29 Purnima (Full Moon)
June 8 MahaPuja	Mahapuja (Mahasamadhi anniversary of Bhagavan's Mother Alagamma, also celebrated during Bhagavan's time)
June 13 Vat Purnima Purnima (Full Moon)
June 20? Ganga Dashera	The beginning of Chaturmasa, the four months of intense practices and austerities that culminate in Dashera in October.
June 28 Amavasya (New Moon)
July 12 Amavasya (New Moon)
July 28 Guru Purnima Purnima (Full Moon)	See the page dedicated to this.
August 11 Amavasya (New Moon) Eclipse of the Sun	Total Eclipse of the Sun. A very good day for Sadhana. At times of eclipse the energies are movable, are very volitile, so sadhana during these times can move the energy toward balance, deeper into self. Activities that are descending and agitating move the energy that way. Om. I remember during the eclipse in India Papaji just sat at his table though many people pleaded with him to come out and look at it. Many people watched the eclipse through x-ray film of Papaji's broken arm. It felt right to sit under the table and just hold his feet. Om The eclipse will occur 0309 PST and 1111 over Stonehenge
August 15 Independence Day (India)
August 26 Rakshabandhan Purnima (Full Moon)	This is a very old Holiday, recommended even to Yudhishtara by Krishna. Socially it is a day where sisters tie a bracelet around the right wrist of their brother as a sign of requested protection. Spiritually it is often considered a sign of incessant seva to all beings, serving all and seeing all as That, including your Sister.
August 27-September 9 Pitra Paksha Day after Full Moon	Pitra Paksha Tarpana, starts the day after the full moon and continues for 15 days. Its a time to appease your ancestors and help then remove any lingering desires. Freeing your ancestors thus, removes those hungry ghost vibes from your genetics. You offer them food, etc, via offerings to the poor and to Brahmins, but do not eat the food, as it will be loaded with the desire for the physical and will subsequently throw your sadhana off. This sadhana helps remove the karmic debt you have to your ancestors who have given you your body, and so it is the Ayurvedic way to treat people at the genetic level. The best place to do this Puja is Badrinath. During these 15 days people don't buy or wear new clothes, some people even do not cut their hair, and no auspicious work is done. These 15 days are also known as Sharad. Regarding Papaji, the first Sharad is not observed. So in 1999 we will perform the first Sharad for Papaji on the 4th thithi during Piter Paksh.
September 2 Krishna Janmastami Moha Ratri The Eighth day of the dark half of Bhadrapada	One of the four most powerful nights of the year. Moha Ratri (the night of delusion) is another name of Krishna's Birthday.
September 6th Papaji Mahasamadhi	See the page dedicated to this amazing day
September 7 Paryushan Parva
September 9 Amavasya (New Moon)
September 12 Ganesh Chaturthi	Ganesh, the son of Shiva and Shakti, is worshipped on this day. Ganesh symbolizes Intelligence and rules the beginning of all endeavors, as he rules the first chakra. So he is always worhipped.
September 25 Purnima (Full Moon)
October 9 Devi Puja begins Mahalaya Amavasya (New Moon) The first day of the bright half of the lunar month of Aashwayuja	The Nine nights of the Goddess begins tonight. It is the easiest time to come in contact with the great Goddess. The sadhana is ghata (pot) worship. The pot is the head, infused with Amrit and hormones and soma, and so the sadhana is meant to infuse our minds with energy so that our worship of THAT is steady! A great time to cleanse your mind and body and soul and to focus your Love and Devotion on THAT! A special diet is followed. This Holiday also is observed in the spring, but to a lesser extent. To follow these 9 Holydays has so many health merits that it is an Ayurvedic event as well. These nights culminate in the tenth night of Dashera. more info
October 13 Papaji's Birthday
October 16 Durgashtami
October 18 Saraswati Puja	Saraswati is the Goddes of Music, of Expression, of Beauty, and more. The Nadi, the subtle channel, that runs from your Throat Chakra to the tip of your tongue is called the Saraswati nadi. My guess is this is an important Puja for those who want to enhance their ability to express what lies deep in their Being.
	The Fall Nine Nights of the Goddess culminates in Dashera
October 19 Vijaya Dashami (Dashera) The Tenth day of the bright half of the lunar month of Aashwayuja	The dreaded demon Mahishasura was slain by Chamundeshwari after a ceaseless fight of nine days and nights. It took all the power of all the Gods and goddesses to create Chamundeshwari, signifying the power of the unified Sangha. Also the day that Ravana is killed by Rama, The day the Ego dies, the day that Sita, Peace, is returned to Rama, Being.
October 24 Valmiki Purnima Purnima (Full Moon)	The Birthday of the Sage Maharishi Valmiki, the first Vedic Poet
November 6 Kali Chaudash Kala Ratri	One of the four most powerful nights of the year. Yogi's obtain great power on this Kala Ratri (the black night, the night before Diwali). This night is opften used by the dark ones for their sadhana of magic and control.
	Three weeks after Dashera, when Rama destroys Ravana, Rama and Sita's return to Ayodhya is celebrated with Light, the festival Diwali. Three weeks after the ego is destroyed, Peace and Being are united in Light.
November 7 Diwali (Deepavali) The 14th Day of the dark half of Aashwayuja to the 2nd day of bright half of kaartik Amavasya Swami Rama Tirtha Mahasamadhi Mahavir Mahasamadhi	"The day that Narayana grinds to death the naraka-ego in the quest of knowledge, inquiring whence the naraka-I rises to rule the naraka-world, that day is the light festival of Naraka-Chaturdasi. To search and slay the sinner, the naraka-ego corrupted by the thought that one is the naraka-form, the false body-tenement, and to shine as the true Self, this is Dipavali indeed." Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi The most celebrated Holyday in India, Deepavali literally means the 'Festival of Rows of Lights'. Devotees take oil baths, worship Lakshmi, surround their homes and pujas and temples with rows of hundreds of lights and candles and oil lamps. Rama and Sita return Home to Ayodhya this day. In Yoga Sadhana, each vertebra along the spinal column becomes a point of intense pure Light. Also the day that Swami Rama Tirtha dissapeared into the Ganga in Full Lotus, and the Mahasamadhi day of Mahavir, the final prophet of the Jains.
November 23 Kartigai Deepam Purnima (Full Moon)	A great time to be at Arunachala
December 7 Amavasya (New Moon)
December 22 Purnima (Full Moon)

Thanks to Usha and Indu Poonja for information on Devi Puja and Pitra Paksh,
to Rama Crowell for supplying the 1998-1999 Rashtriya Panchang,
and to Dev Gogoi for supplying the dates of the Holydays celebrated at Sri Ramanashramam
and the qoutes from Bhagavan.

DEVI PUJA--by Indu and Usha Poonja
Devi Puja is for 9 days and on the tenth day we celebrate Dussehera and Durga Puja. Life size statues of Goddess Durga are placed in temples and community halls, people pay their tributes and offerings; and on the tenth day (Dussehera) the idol is immersed in the river.

During these nine days we worship nine aspect of Goddess Durga---

1st Day SHALLPUTRI (Shall-pu-tri)

2nd Day-BHRAMCHARINI (Bhram-cha-ri-ni)

3rd Day-CHANDRAGHANTAETI (Chandra-Ghan-tae-ti)

4th Day-KUSHMANDAETI (Kush-man-dae-ti)

5th Day-SKANDMATA (Skand-mata)

6th Day-KATYAYANITI (Katya-ya-ni-ti)

7th Day-KALRATRI (Kala-ratri)

8th Day-MAHAGAURITI (Maha-gau-riti)

9th Day-SIDDHIDATRI (Siddhi-da-tri)

The place where the Puja is to be performed should be cleaned one day before. Banana leaves or Mango leaves or flowers and Ganga jal are to be kept there along with the Diety when the Puja is performed the next day. The diety can be the idol or picture of Durgaji. Everyday Durga Saptshati is read (special chapters devoted to Durgaji), diyas and aggarbattis are lit both in the morning and in the evening. These nine days people keep fast. Some people observe fast on the first and the last day only. During the fast we have to take non-cereal food i.e. no grains only fruits, potatoes, milk products, sago, dry fruits, can be taken.

On eighth day a havan is performed and on the ninth day there is kanya Pujan and Kanya Bhojan. Small girls are invited for the puja, their feet are washed and tilak is applied on their forehead and a red thread (kalava) is tied on their wrists. Then they are given special food consisting of Puries, Halwa and Channas It is only after the Kanya Pujan you can break your fast.

Ya Devi Sarv-bhu-te-shu Shanti Ru-pen Sans-sthi-tha

Namas-tas-ya Namas-tas-ya Namas-tas-ya Namo Nama-ha

Some other information on Devi Puja
Fasting for Devi puja is "as you like it." Hindus like to fast all day and eat whatever they like after sunset... others only eat phalhari delicacies like water chestnut flour puris.

Devi Puja occurs twice a year, during the change of seasons and so fasting is in order.

The preparation for these nine nights among sadhus and across Hindu sects begins with Ganga Dashera (June) marking the beginning of chaturmasa (4 months) and concludes with Dashera. This period covers summer and monsoon and compounds the practice of austerities and yog sadhana. The air and water carry heavy toxins so the food and practices are tapered to accomodate the 6 vedangas. This incorporated ayurveda, jyotishi, sangeet, the asanas & pranayamas and the bhog prasad (food) we eat and the ragas we listen become like a menu that attends to our physical and spiritual appetite. These practices reach their crescendo during these final nine nights.

On the practical level, the prices of staples are at their all-time high during the chaturmasa in the bazaar, which is another reason to fast from them.

Notes on the Hindu calendar & the millenium by Kanchan Banerjee:

Although Hindus have the oldest calendar system that refers back to hundreds of thousands of years in past, when India adopted the Gregorian Calendar in 1957 as the official calendar, there were about 30 variations of calendars in use across the country (just as there are many languages in India). The Hindu calendar, called Panchanga, is predominantly lunar, although a solar calendar has been used in southern India.

According to most sources, because of the complexity of India's calendar systems and basic tenets of the Hindu system, there is no correlation to millennium changes. The only simple connection is that in the Hindu system, 1,000 mahayugas, or cycles of time, equals one cosmic day, which equals 4.3 billion earthly years, which should cover most of us from an apocalypse any time soon!