Important days in the month of Aashaada

Gurupurnimaa (गुरुपूर्णिमा / ಗುರುಪೂರ್ಣಿಮಾ)

ಆಶಾಡ-ಪೂರ್ಣಿಮಾ

आशाड-पूर्णिमा

Aashaada-Full moon day

On this day, after bathing and offering abulations (sandhyaavandane), one should go the place of the spiritual teacher and with one-pointed mind offer fruits and coconut. Doing thus, one shall be free from disasters and be happy.

Start of Dakshinaayana (दक्षिणायनस्य प्रारम्भः / ದಕ್ಷಿಣಾಯನ ಪ್ರಾರಂಭ)

Usually the start of Dakshinaayana occurs in the month of Aashaada. At this meeting point of Uttaraayana and Dakshinaayana, one should take holy bath, give alms, and take part in homa.

Significance of Aashaada maasa

Significance of Aashaada maasa

It is said in the shaastraas that we should bathe in the Taapi river in the month of Aashaada. At least one should remember the river Taapi when taking bath. It is said that Taapi being the daughter of Sun-god, is the embodiment of all good qualities. When washing away the sins of people, how can she be affected wrongly ? In the Kruta yuga, she originated in the month of Aashaada, and hence its our duty to remember her in this month.

In the past, when a competition came up between Ganga and Taapi, it was decided that Taapi, with her superior qualities was superior. During that time, when a brahmin wanted to be freed of all his sins and he was going towards the Ganga, but upon hearing the greatness of Taapi, prefered Taapi over Ganga, bathed for 3 days upon which his fallen tendencies and greatest sins were washed away just by taking bath in the Taapi river. From then onwards, all the great sages and brahmins start seeking the help of Taapi, not even considering this. The left Ganga despressed, and grew jealous of Taapi. Seeing the plight of Ganga, Lord Brahma appeared in front of Ganga and enquired the reason for her depression. Ganga said, "O Lord, daughter of SUn-god, Taapi has acquired fame and surpassed all other rivers. The people bathing in her waters are attained great worlds. The people who were bathing in my waters are now seeking Taapi. What happened to your promise of making me as the most revered river ?"

Upon hearing this, Brahma ordered Naarada, "Hey Naarada, destroy the greatness of river Taapi immediately." When Naarada tried to do so, he lost all his knowledge and went back and fell at Brahma's feet. Brahma, realizing Taapi's greatness, asked Naarada to surrender to the same Taapi river. Naarada did the same and was freed from ignorance. Naarada went back to Brahma and asked him to destroy Taapi's greatness himself. Brahma went to Taapi, and started praising her. When Taapi enquired about Brahma;s sudden visit, Brahma instructed her to go back to Heaven and she followed suit.

Then, Ganga was happy. We should remember Taapi who made it to heaven from Earth in this month of Aashaada.

Advice:

ಅಚೋದ್ಯಮಾನಾನಿ ಯಥಾ ಪುಷ್ಪಾಣಿ ಚ ಫಲಾನಿ ಚ|

ಸ್ವಂ ಕಾಲಂ ನಾತಿವರ್ತಂತೇ ತಥಾ ಕರ್ಮ ಪುರಾ ಕೃತಂ ||

अचोद्यमानानि यथा पुष्पाणि च फलानि च ।

स्वं कालं नातिवर्तन्ते तथा कर्म पुरा कृतम् ॥

Flowers and fruits are borne by plants at the right times wihtout anybody overseeing them. Similarly, our prvious deeds fructify and yield fruits when the time is ripe.

Mud bullock's new moon day

Mud bullock's new moon day (मृद्वृषभ अमावास्या / ಮಣ್ಣೆತ್ತಿನ ಅಮವಾಸ್ಯ)

ಜ್ಯೇಷ್ಠ-ಅಮವಾಸ್ಯ

ज्येष्ठ-अमावास्या

Jyestha-New moon day

On this day, two bullocks must be made out of mud, Taurus (वृषभ / ವೃಷಭ) must be invoked in them and worshipped in 16 ways as described in the shaastraas. The shaastraas command us to worship mud idols for five times in a year, and this one among them.

More details can be found at http://sampada.net/blog/brahmana/12/09/2008/11695

Onset of the rainy season

Onset of the rainy season

ಜ್ಯೇಷ್ಠ-ಕೃಷ್ಣ-ಪ್ರತಿಪದ

ज्येष्ठ-कृष्ण पक्ष-प्रतिपद्

Jyestha-Dark fortnight-First day

On this day, the Mrigashira star will appear. Starting from this day, the duties of the rainy season can be commenced. More details along with their scientific signicifance shall be posted later.

Vata Saavitri course of conduct

Vata Saavitri course of conduct (वट सावित्री व्रत / ವಟ ಸಾವಿತ್ರಿ ವ್ರತ)

ಜ್ಯೇಷ್ಠ-ಹುಣ್ಣಿಮೆ

ज्येष्ठ-पूर्णिमा

Jyestha-Full moon day

This course of conduct is said to give well-being, children and marriage. It is said that this course of conduct has to be practised for three days and must be followed at least for one day. More details about this shall be posted later.

Dashaharaa and Bhageerathi Jayanti

Dashaharaa course of conduct (दशहरा व्रत / ದಶಹರಾ ವ್ರತ)

ಜ್ಯೇಷ್ಠ-ಶುಕ್ಲ-ದಶಮಿ-ಹಸ್ತಾ ನಕ್ಷತ್ರ-ವ್ಯತಿಪಾತ ಯೋಗ-ಗಜಕರಣ ಆನಂದಕರಣ

ज्येष्ठ-शुक्ल पक्ष-दशमी-हस्ता नक्षत्र-व्यतिपात योग-गज आनन्द करणौ

Jyestha-Bright Fortnight-Tenth day

On this day, a Tuesday, in Hastaa star being pleased by Bhageeratha's austerity, Ganga descends to the plains from the Himalaayas. Along with vyatipaata yoga (व्यतिपात योग / ವ್ಯತಿಪಾತ ಯೋಗ), gaja&aananda karanas (गज आनन्द करणौ / ಗಜ ಆನಂದ ಕರಣಗಳು), Moon (चन्द्र / ಚಂದ್ರ) in Virgo (कन्याराशि / ಕನ್ಯಾರಾಶಿ) and Sun (रवि / ರವಿ) in Taurus (वृषभ / ವೃಷಭ) constellationस्, the day becomes auspicious. To get rid of ten types of sins, one should take holy bath and worship Ganga.

The three important types among the ten are as follows:

1. Physical (कायिक / ಕಾಯಿಕ) - Sin committed by physical body; includes accepting things from others without giving anything in return, torture, extra-marital affairs etc.

2. Spoken words (वाचिक / ವಾಚಿಕ) - Sin committed by spoken words; includes harsh words, lies, complaining, loose talk etc.

3. Mental (मानसिक / ಮಾನಸಿಕ) - Sin committed by thoughts; thoughts of stealing others' belongings, intending harm to others, getting agitated unecessarily etc

One has to engage in dashahara course of conduct to overcome the above said sins.

Bhaageerathi Janati (भागीरथी जयन्ति / ಭಾಗೀರಥೀ ಜಯಂತಿ)

ಜ್ಯೇಷ್ಠ-ಶುಕ್ಲ-ದಶಮಿ-ಹಸ್ತಾ ನಕ್ಷತ್ರ-ವ್ಯತಿಪಾತ ಯೋಗ-ಗಜಕರಣ ಆನಂದಕರಣ

ज्येष्ठ-शुक्ल पक्ष-दशमी-हस्ता नक्षत्र-व्यतिपात योग-गज आनन्द करणौ

Jyestha-Bright Fortnight-Tenth day

This was the day that Ganga, being pleased by Bhageeratha's austerity descended to the Earth from Heaven. Bhageeratha, striving for the betterment of his ancestors, brought the Ganga to Earth on this very day. On the first day of this fortnight, Ganga flowed as a small stream and grew to a large river by the tenth day. Hence, these days are regarded very highly by us.

Jyestha Maasa

Jyeshta Maasa (ज्येष्ठ मास / ಜ್ಯೇಷ್ಠ ಮಾಸ)

From the very name, one can infer its significance. It is said that distribution of curd rice in this hot summer month is laudable. The significance of this month appears in the story of Bhageeratha. Shiva orders Bhageeratha thus:

"In Jyestha maasa, wake up early in the morning and having finished the daily rites, take a holy bath. Then pray to the Lord with the form of Trivikrama and distribute curd rice and water to brahmins. If you act thus for one month with devotion, thn Shri Hari shall be pleased and river Ganga, capable of washing away all our sins, shall descend to the Earth." Bhageeratha followed the orders, and the rest is history. It is to be noted that this month was instrumental in the descent of river Ganga. This description is available in the 'Bhavishya' puraana (भविष्य पुराण / ಭವಿಷ್ಯ ಪುರಾಣ).

ವಿಷ್ಣುರ್ವೈ ಸರ್ವದೇವಾನಾಂ ಜ್ಯೇಷ್ಠ ಶ್ರೇಷ್ಠಃ ಪ್ರಜಾಪತಿಃ |

ತಥಾಯಂ ಸರ್ವಮಾಸಾನಾಂ ಜ್ಯೇಷ್ಠ ಶ್ರೇಷ್ಠ ತಮಸ್ಮೃತಃ ||

विष्णुर्वै सर्ववेदानां ज्येष्ठः श्रेष्ठः प्रजापतिः ।

तथायं सर्वआसानां ज्येष्ठः श्रेष्ठः तमस्मृतः ॥

Meaning :- Just like Vishnu is the supreme among all Gods, so is the month of Jyestha among all other months.