We have been performing Satsangha every month at many devotees houses. May also was planned at one of their houses and due to unavoidable circumstances, they couldn’t perform. Since we didn’t want to miss May, I decided to host the same.
I have been traveling almost every single week this month. This week I was at San Francisco, going back tomorrow again to San Francisco and coming on Thursday night. And next week to Minneapolis. May and June each and every week is completely booked with travel.
I was planning on hosting only in September, but like we all know Rayaru has his own ideas for his devotees. My husband said he will help me to host this, and so May 21st Sunday morning we decided was the date.
So, hereby I am inviting all of you residing in the Maryland, Virginia and DC area to come join us. We will start promptly at 10.00 AM. After the pooje, we will have lunch prepared by yours truly. 🙂
Please consider this as a personal invitation and join me and Raghu at our house. If you leave a comment, I will share my home address and phone number. Hoping to See you all.
I will post pictures and hopefully video this time of the pooje.
This day signifies the appearance of Lord Narasimha on the planet. Lord Narasimha is the fourth and the greatest incarnation of Lord Vishnu. He is believed to have appeared to protect his devotee, Prahlada, from his father Hiranyakashyapu .
If you listen to the song ” Narashima Nembo davana” posted on youtube, there is a paragraph which explains how Lord Narashima came from the pillar. Hiranyakashyapu pointed out at a pillar in his palace and asked Prahalada whether Lord Vishnu was present in it pillar. Prahalada who was a great devotee said yes. Next, you know Hiranyakashyapu uses his Gadha and broke open the pillar and there emerged our Lord Narasimha who than slained Hiranyakashyapu using his sharp paws.
The day signifies the triumph of good over evil and the eagerness of the lord to protect his devotees from evil.
When my Parents visited us last year, my Father recited the “Bhagavatha Purana” for three weeks at my place. The way my Dad explained this part of the Purana, brings tears to my eyes every time I listen “Narashima Nembo Devana”. The greatest mistake I made was to not record the purana. Hopefully will record the next time my Father visits us.
About Narasimha Jayanthi: Ms. Lakshmi’s write up summary from the book “ಭಾರತೀಯ ಹಬ್ಬ ಹರಿದಿನಗಳು” by ಶ್ರೀ ಶ್ರೀ ರಂಗಪ್ರಿಯ ಮಹಾದೇಷಿಕ ಸ್ವಾಮಿಗಳು.
“The pillar in evil Hiranyakashipu’s royal court, signifies the ṃērusthambha, the central backbone system. Through the central nervous system called ṣuśumna, the brilliant light emanated. The energy associated came out in its full fierce glory as Narasimha and later transformed into the peaceful form after the destruction of evil force.”
When is Narasimha Jayanthi celebrated?
Narasimha Jayanthi is one of the important festivals of Vaiśnavas. It is
celebrated in the vaiśāka māsam,on ṣukla pakśa chaturdaśi, after akśhaya thrithēya, svāti nakśatra, siddha Yōga, vanija karanam. The date is determined according to chāndramāna system. Since the inception of this avatāram is in the evening, the worship is done in the evening. It is considered to be more auspicious if this day coincides with sōmavasarē, Monday or ṣanivasarē, Saturday. It is a sacred day to remember Lord Narasimha’s sarva vyāpakatva- all pervading – spiritual knowledge,
wealth, strength, valor, splendor, and compassion toward His devotees.
Which are the major manifestations of Lord Narasimha?
There are three major forms of Lord Narasimha.
1. Ugra-Narasimha – His fierce form: In this form He has conch – ṣanka, discus – chakra, mace – gada, bow – chāpa, bells – ghanta-, trident like – ankuśa, and his two hands ready to chisel the demon heart, as His āyudhams – weapons. This form is worshipped in the evenings.
2. Lakshmi Narasimha: In this form he is very peaceful – ṣanta – with His consort – Sri Lakshmi sitting on his left lap, with ādiseṣa on his head as umbrella, and Prahallāda standing in his front praying with his folded hands. This manifestation is followed after his fierce form– as a result, he is worshipped in the morning.
3. Yoga Narasimha – meditative: Here, He is in his Meditative form for those who aspire for results of Yoga.
What are the various ways of experiencing Lord Narasimha?
Sāligrāma – sacred stone that pervades the presence of the deity
Narasimha mantra – sacred chant
Idol worshipping
Fire – agni – by performing homam.
Reading scriptures such as the Upaniśad and ṣruthi – sacred knowledge orally transmitted by the Brahmans from generation to generation.
What are the items are offered to Lord Narasimha?
There following items are offered to Lord Narasimha:
– Incense, lamplight, flowers and ṣrigandha or perfume.-
tuḻasi or Holy Basil — Since he has the element of both viśnu and rudra-
kamalam – Lotus,
bilva daḻam – leaves of stone apple,
japākusumam- red hibiscus can be offered to the Lord.
What kinds of food can be offered to Lord Narasimha?
Athirasa – fried cake made with jaggery and rice flour.
Pāyasa – milk puddings made out of any of moong dal, channa dal, and – – – Pānaka – typically made with jaggery water and pepper, or fruit juice like lemonade.
Any sātvik food can be offered with great devotion by chanting the Narasimha Mantra. sātvik food is that food creates an internal calmness and balance, when one consumes it.
The lord graciously accepts devotees’ service and reverence. All worship should be followed by distribution of Prasāda or food offered to God.
How do we worship Lord Narasimha?
Lord Narasimha can be worshipped in two ways. The first is detailed below:
Along with firm faith, worship of Narasimha is associated with rigid criteria.
This is explained in detail below
1. ācharana ṣuddhi – Requires strict adherence to performance.
2. Cleanliness of ḍravya- physical things like utensils, lamps, ingredients.
3. Inner sanctity of five senses – body, intellect, mind, place, and act of worship
4. Chastity of Mind, speech and deeds unification, compassion, calmness of virtuous soul within. These are to prevent any glitches that might distract the mind while doing the worship.
5. Taking bath and starting with daily routine worship followed by pūja sankalpa-declaration to do worship, and completion without break with little or no food intake till then.
6. Bodily calmness in turn calms the mind. This helps to open up the channel that leads to internal visualization and realization of Narasimha.
These are things that keep body, mind and intellect in balance to further the pursuit of (worship til)attaining perfection.
7. Those who seek Salvation, do fasting till worship is over in the evening.Those who seek all types of desire fulfillment do fasting till the next day morning worship and follow with chanting of Narasimha mantra.
8. To do further, people could do hōma – oblation and read “Nrsimhatāpini ” upaniśad.
9. An idol of Narasimha can be donated to someone who has great respect and potential to worship the idol.
The second means of worship is detailed for those who find it difficult to adhere to the above strict rules, can do the following steps
1. ḍhyāna or meditation – along with imagining the worship of Narasimha with the above said flowers etc.
2. Acts of mind and soul offered to God is also oblation. This is equivalent to hōmam.
3.Various purifying actions performed during puja
a. snānha – ablution, pāna – intake of water and food offered to God
b. pādya – chant with clean and clear heart and intellect
c. arghya – water offered with respect from the river of faith
d. āchamana – water used for sipping same river
e. abhiśeka – for the lord
f. Mind filled with the flow of thoughts of God from the river of faith,
ṣraddha – as the water for cleansing.
4. ātma – Offer sacred soul which is inside the body.
5. bow and perform salutation with state of equanimity
6. ṣaranāgati– self surrender to the Lord
With pure mind and internal contemplation there is no need for external rituals to be performed. Pāramārthika or worship of realizing supreme alone with internal purity surpasses all other forms of worship. That is, true worship with internal purity is more powerful than the external rituals.
As part of worship, singing, listening to discourse is recommended at the end of the worship.
What is the power of worshipping Lord Narasimha?
Lord Narasimha destroys sins, grants virtues, grants moral religious merits, grants objects of human pursuit – Puruśhartha. The lord grants ultimate peace, knowledge, and joy. He fulfills wishes for the seekers of the worldly desires.
Insight about this incarnation of ṣri mahāviśnu:
The brilliant form of Narasimha is described as comprising of three entities. 1. Brahma from feet to naval, 2. Vishnu–naval to neck 3. Rudra–neck unto head., From there onwards– it is the supreme Godhead, Parabrahma.
Narasimha is personification of truth–perceived and experienced by those who are in the state of union with divine, and that, which is beyond senses – Yoga Samādhi.
The brilliant form of Narasimha is also considered and viewed as an internal phenomenon.
Please check with your local calendar to find out about the same.
Akshaya Tritiya ಅಕ್ಷಯ ತೃತಿಯಾ is the most important day in the hindu calendar. Akshaya means growth and tritiya is the third day of the month in Vaishaka Masa. They say that in order to perform any major function like marriage, gruhapravesha you don’t even have to check your horoscope for finding a good Muhurtham. Any ritual or religious function performed on this day leads to growth.
The Uttaradi matta panchanga also mentions it is very important to apply gandha ಗಂಧ to the Lord. So, if you have access to the same, please do that as well.
On this day, many ladies give thambula including blouse piece, and other items. Any thing you give or donate they say becomes akshaya. Meaning infinite or one that never diminishes.
So, if you have decided to do anything new this year, this is the right day to get started.
It was November 19th 2014 the last I had visited Mantralaya. I traveled to India for work end of March and April, and this time made it a point to go visit Mantralaya with my Parents during the weekend. I came back day before April 11th to USA. The temple as you can see has completely changed.
My parents and I got many sevas done to Rayaru, were able to see the Rathotsava, have lunch the next day. I was also able to do 108 namaskaras, and also had a visitor from the blog who recognized me and talked to me. I was unable to talk much since I was reciting the stotra, I feel really sorry for that.
Attached below are some pictures. It was just so awesome seeing our Beloved Rayaru, no amount of daily picture, or any other temple can provide the joy and satisfaction that standing in front of Rayaru in Mantralaya can bring. Immense joy and tears keep rolling as you see the brindavana standing tall and majestic in front of you.
Rama Navami falls on the ninth day(Navami) of the Hindu calendar year during the Chaitra Masa Suklapaksha Navami. It is a celebration of the birthday of the Lord Rama. Ramnavami usually occurs in the months of March and April. This year it is on Wednesday April 5th 2017.
As always, here are some very popular slokas to say on that day.
May Shri Lord Rama bless you all.
1. Rama Stotra in the Vishnu Sahasranama, say this sloka 3 times as mentioned in the sahasranama.
Sri Rama Rama Rameti Rame Raame Manorame
Sahasra Nama Tat Tulyam Rama Nama Varanane
Sri Rama Nama Varanane Iti
2. Next one is what we learnt when we were all young.
The new year for all Hindus starts from March 29th 2017. This year it is Sri Hemalambi nama Samvatsara
Please check your local calendars for exact date.
Panchangas for Raghavendra Mutta is available online and posted in this blog as well.
Our sincere thanks to the web site admins for both web sites for providing the links in Kannada and English.
During Ugadi, the leaves of neem also called Bevu ಬೇವು is mixed with jaggery called Bella ಬೆಲ್ಲ; and is distributed on the occasion. Neem, which is extremely bitter in taste( Kahi) , and jaggery which is sweet and delicious, signify the two different aspects of human life – joy and sorrow.
Authentic Madhwa Recipes page posted on the right hand side has several recipes you can prepare:
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