<h2 style="color: #ff6f00;">“Are you aware of Dhanurmas !”</h2> <p>Dhanurmas is the pious period of one month mostly falls from<span style="color: #4527a0;"> 15/16 Dec to 14/15 Jan</span> every year.</p> <p>Dhanurmas is named due to the sun transits through the <strong style="color: #e64a19;"> “धनु राश, to “मकर राश”</strong>. When the Sun enters Dhanu Rashi, Dhanurmas begins, which is called <span style="color: #3949ab;">Dhanu Sankranti</span> (the festival of kites).</p> <p><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-7043 lazyloaded" src="//i0.wp.com/gurukul.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/1.jpg" alt="1" width="50%" height="50%" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" srcset="//i2.wp.com/gurukul.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/1.jpg 1024w, //i2.wp.com/gurukul.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/1-300x156.jpg 300w, //i2.wp.com/gurukul.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/1-768x401.jpg 768w" data-ll-status="loaded"><noscript><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-7043" src="//i1.wp.com/gurukul.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/1.jpg" alt="1" width="100%" height="auto" srcset="//i3.wp.com/gurukul.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/1.jpg 1024w, //i3.wp.com/gurukul.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/1-300x156.jpg 300w, //i3.wp.com/gurukul.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/1-768x401.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></noscript></p> <p>Dhanurmas or Dhanur Masa is also known by the names<span style="color: #e64a19;"> Chapa Mas</span>, <span style="color: #3949ab;">Kodanda Mas</span>, <span style="color: #388e3c;">Karmuka Mas</span>, etc. <span style="color: #e64a19;">Chapa, Kodanda, Karmuka</span>, etc., in Sanskrit, are synonyms of <span style="color: #3949ab;">Dhanu</span>; meaning a bow.</p> <p>Dhanurmasa is also called <span style="color: #e64a19;">Shoonya Masa(zero month)</span> because it is generally advised not to conduct anything other than Godly and holy functions. Dhanurmas is a festival of <span style="color: #388e3c;">thirty days</span>, which is celebrated in detail in the <span style="color: #3949ab;">southern part of India</span>. This month starts from the middle path and ends in the middle of Paush. Thus, this year 2020 it will start on <strong style="color: #e64a19;">December 16th and end on January 14th.</strong></p> <p>This pious month ends on <strong><span style="color: #388e3c;">Makar Sankranti….</span></strong></p> <p>The importance of this Dhanurmas is mentioned in the <strong style="color: #e64a19;">Dhanurmasam Mahatmya of Pancharatragama, Agneya Purana and also in a work called Smruti Muktavali.</strong></p> <p>In Pancharatra Agama, the Mahatmya of Dhanurmasa is presented in Four chapters, as conversation between Hamasa form of Supreme Lord and four-faced Brahma. The dialogue between Hamasa and Brahma is narrated by Sage Suta in response to a query by Shaunaka.</p> <p>In <strong style="color: #3949ab;">the first chapter</strong>, Sage Suta hails the greatness of the Month of Chapa (Dhanus) and gives the fruits one would be blessed with by following the prescribed austerities in this holy month.</p> <p>In <strong style="color: #3949ab;">the second chapter</strong>, the Hamsa – Brahma Samvada is given where Brahma asks Lord Hamsa to tell him the importance and greatness of Dhanurmasa. The greatness of the Dhanurmasa is brought out by the story of the King Satyasandha.</p> <p>In <strong style="color: #3949ab;">the third chapter</strong>, giving alms during this auspicious period is hailed. The devotee is instructed to do pious deeds as per his capacity. Otherwise, he is warned of dire consequences.</p> <p>In <strong style="color: #3949ab;">the fourth and final chapter</strong>, different ways of feeding Brahmins are discussed. Arranging for the meals of a Brahmin who cooks for himself is lauded as the best way. The importance of this is brought out by a small anecdote of the Pandavas given below:</p> <p>Once by Lord Krishna’s command, King Yudhisthir served food to a pure Brahmin, who usually cooked his own food. After the meal, Yudhisthir lifted the leaf dish. Underneath he discovered a second. Lifting this, there was a third. In this manner he lifted 1000 leaf dishes! To the astonished Yudhisthir, Lord Krishna revealed, <span style="color: #2e7d32;">“Yudhisthir, by serving a true Brahmin, you have obtained the fruit of serving a thousand Brahmins.”</span></p> <p>Shree Krishna in Bhagavad Gita, says <strong>मासानां मागशीषहम</strong> – which means <strong style="color: #e64a19;">“in all the months, Margasira is the most auspicious”</strong>, is what Lord Krishna says about this month in Bhagavad-Gita..</p> <p>This pious month is considered an inauspicious month to start any new ventures like weddings and house warming ceremonies, it is also an important month for all spiritual seekers as it is a very good period to worship God.</p> <p>Hence, it is also known as the month of Bhakti.</p> <p>In this month, new ventures like weddings and house warming ceremonies etc. are prohibited as per Hindu scriptures.So that the human mind is not distracted and they worship God with all their heart.</p> <p>The last portion of the night i.e., the one-and-half hours before sunrise, has been given a very special status by our shastras. They decree that this is the best time for humans to wake up and start performing their prescribed religious activities like <strong style="color: #3949ab;">sandhyavandanam, chanting of mantras</strong> etc. The beginning of this period is called <strong style="color: #2e7d32;">‘brahma muhurta’</strong>.</p> <p>Our shastras decree that during dhanurmasam, humans too should wake up at the brahma muhurta and perform puja to the Lord. People failing to do so will be cursed with leprosy and dire poverty for 07 lives while those following these injunctions will be specially blessed with health, wealth, happiness and the good fortune of being a pious <strong style="color: #e64a19;">Vaishnavite</strong> in all seven lives.</p> <p>Feeding or giving alms to the <strong style="color: #424242;">deserving poor and Brahmins</strong> during this period is believed to confer great merit i.e. <strong style="color: #424242;">Punya</strong></p> <p>This one month worshiping to<strong style="color: #e64a19;"> Bhagwan Vishnu</strong> with proper rituals & devotional heart is considered as <strong style="color: #2e7d32;">worship of Thousand years.</strong></p> <h2 style="color: #ff6f00;">“Speciality of Dhanurmas :”</h2> <p><img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-7051 lazyloaded" src="//i3.wp.com/gurukul.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/2.jpg" alt="" width="50%" height="50%" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" srcset="//i3.wp.com/gurukul.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/2.jpg 1024w, //i3.wp.com/gurukul.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/2-300x156.jpg 300w, //i3.wp.com/gurukul.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/2-768x401.jpg 768w" data-ll-status="loaded"><noscript><img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-7051" src="//i3.wp.com/gurukul.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/2.jpg" alt="" width="100%" height="auto" srcset="//i0.wp.com/gurukul.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/2.jpg 1024w, //i0.wp.com/gurukul.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/2-300x156.jpg 300w, //i0.wp.com/gurukul.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/2-768x401.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></noscript></p> <p>Dear viewers,<br> The month favored to acquire the Knowledge and wisdom in various parts of India.</p> <p>Dhanurmas is the month when Supreme Godhead Bhagwan Swaminarayan studied <span style="color: #c62828;">Vedas, eighteen Puranas and many other hindu scriptures from his father Dharmadev only in this Dhanurmas month.</span></p> <p>Bhagwan Krishna along with<span style="color: #2e7d32;"> Balramji</span> had studied under the tutelage of <strong style="color: #0277bd;">Sandipani Rushi in Dhanurmas.</strong></p> <p>They studied in Sandipani’s Gurukul for <strong style="color: #424242;">64 days</strong> and Bhagwan Krishna <strong style="color: #2e7d32;">leart 64 vidyas</strong> in total.</p> <p>Although being God themselves neither Bhagwan Shree Swaminarayan nor Bhagwan Shree Krishna needed to study, but still they studied?</p> <p>It’s only to teach us that how much ever <strong style="color: #c62828;">great,intelligent like deities,God</strong> we become but we must never quit learning till our last breath.</p> <p>The founder of this Gurukul Tradition in Swaminarayan Sect <strong style="color: #424242;">HDH Sadguru Shastriji Maharaj</strong> used to say that <strong style="color: #0277bd;">“The child within us should never die till the last breath”.</strong></p> <p> </p> <p>Which means the key role of a child is to keep on learning.</p> <p>The Vedas and other scriptures stated that in the Dhanurmas festival Four <strong style="color: #c62828;">Vedas, Eighteen-Puranas..spiritual</strong> books were offered to God but today in this modern era they are replaced by other <strong style="color: #2e7d32;">books, texts, writing material,sports martial,arts material..</strong> and other objects such as toys and musical instruments.</p> <p>So, according to the modern era; All the temples of the Swaminarayan sect makes Child <strong>Ghanshyam Maharaj(Bhagwan Swaminarayan)</strong> ready for school. Where the saints and devotees decorate the royal throne of God with Books,musical instruments,sports materials and many such learning skills day by day till 30 days of this month.</p> <p>And in the early morning a delicious breakfast is offered to God. so that God doesn’t feel much hunger during study time.</p> <p>Saints and devotees take religious <strong style="color: #0277bd;">niyams(vows)</strong> of learning scriptures,different skills which to be used in the path of God. In this pious month many spiritual discourses take place everyday because God has given this month especially for devotional activities.</p> <h2 style="color: #ff6f00;">“What should we do in this pious Dhanurmas ?”</h2> <p>● During the entire month of Dhanurmas, special worship of the God should be conducted early in the morning during the auspicious time of Brahmi Muhurta (about 96 minutes before Sunrise while the stars are still twinkling.)</p> <p>● Spen sharp focused concentration in religious activities.</p> <p>● Every morning after a daily routine, Pooja and then prepare homemade delicious hot & pious food and offer it to Bhagwan Swaminarayan.</p> <p>● Listen to spiritual discourses from true saints.</p> <p>● Everyday go to the temple of Bhagwan Swaminarayan and have the darshan.</p> <p>● Take some special vows which uplifts you even in this life and the life<br> after death:<br> Like<br> *chanting 108,1008.. times the holy name of God.<br> *Reading scriptures like Vachnamrutam,Bhagwatam,veda etc..<br> *Learning any new skills.</p> <p>● Observe fast on the Mokshada Ekadashi because this fasting on this day provides salvation than other ekadashis.</p> <h2 style="color: #ff6f00;">“Vaikuntha / Mokshada Ekadashi”</h2> <p>Ekadashi is the eleventh day of the fortnight of the waxing or waning moon and occurs twice in a month.</p> <p>The Ekadashi that occurs in the month of Margashirsha (December – January) during the fortnight of waxing moon is of special significance and is glorified as <strong style="color: #3949ab;">Vaikuntha Ekadashi.</strong></p> <p>This Ekadashi fast holds an important place in <strong style="color: #2e7d32;">Hinduism</strong>. This is the last Ekadashi of the year.</p> <h4 style="color: #e64a19;">Ekadashi History :-</h4> <p>Once as a baby, Lord Vishnu lay sleeping on a banyan leaf. At that time Lord Brahma manifested from Vishnu’s <strong style="color: #424242;">navel and sang stotras and Vedic hymns</strong>. In this manner, overwhelmed with pride, he forgot the Lord. At that moment two demons appeared from Lord Vishnu’s ears and attacked Brahma. Frightened, he fervently prayed to Vishnu. The Lord stopped the demons and offered them to request a boon. However, the demon’s tongue-in-cheek, requested the Lord to ask for a boon instead! Vishnu laughed and said,<span style="color: #e64a19;"> “I had vanquished you long ago, yet you confront me again.”</span></p> <p>This infuriated the demons and so they attacked the Lord. The ensuing battle lasted one and a half months. Finally, the Lord defeated the two, who then begged,<span style="color: #3949ab;">” Prabhu! Deliver us to your dham (abode).”</span></p> <p><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-7022 lazyloaded" src="//i1.wp.com/gurukul.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/5.jpg" alt="1" width="50%" height="50%" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" srcset="//i0.wp.com/gurukul.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/5.jpg 1024w, //i0.wp.com/gurukul.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/5-300x156.jpg 300w, //i0.wp.com/gurukul.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/5-768x401.jpg 768w" data-ll-status="loaded"><noscript><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-7022" src="//i3.wp.com/gurukul.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/5.jpg" alt="1" width="100%" height="auto" srcset="//i3.wp.com/gurukul.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/5.jpg 1024w, //i3.wp.com/gurukul.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/5-300x156.jpg 300w, //i3.wp.com/gurukul.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/5-768x401.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></noscript></p> <p style="margin-top: 15px;">On the sud Ekadashi of Dhanurmaas, the Lord opened the northern door and delivered them to Vaikunth, <strong style="color: #e64a19;">transcending Satyalok.</strong> This pleased the two, who requested for a boon, <span style="color: #2e7d32;">“Take those who offer bhakti to you and observe Ekadashi in this month, to your abode through the northern door.”</span> The Lord agreed. Henceforth, a festival for Moksha is also celebrated on the Ekadashis in this month hence the name Mokshada Ekadashi.</p> <p>There is no fast that gives more salvation than this fast.</p> <p>You can fast and remain hungry on Ekadashi, even though there is no scarcity. If there is shortage and you have to be hungry, then that is poverty. When there is no shortage of anything and everything is in abundance, and you are fasting.</p> <p><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-7023 lazyloaded" src="//i3.wp.com/gurukul.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/6.jpg" alt="6" width="50%" height="50%" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" srcset="//i3.wp.com/gurukul.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/6.jpg 1024w, //i3.wp.com/gurukul.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/6-300x156.jpg 300w, //i3.wp.com/gurukul.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/6-768x401.jpg 768w" data-ll-status="loaded"><noscript><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-7023" src="//i0.wp.com/gurukul.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/6.jpg" alt="6" width="100%" height="auto" srcset="//i1.wp.com/gurukul.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/6.jpg 1024w, //i1.wp.com/gurukul.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/6-300x156.jpg 300w, //i1.wp.com/gurukul.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/6-768x401.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></noscript></p> <p style="margin-top: 15px;"><strong style="color: #424242;">Benefits –</strong> It is believed that <strong style="color: #3949ab;">Vaikuntha Dwar</strong> or the gate of God’s inner sanctum is opened on this day and the devotees who observe fast on Vaikuntha Ekadashi attain salvation by going to Vaikuntha.</p> <p><strong style="color: #e64a19;">Five things you must do on Vaikuntha Ekadashi :-</strong><br> <strong style="color: #e64a19;">1)</strong> Chant the Holy name “Swaminarayan”<br> <strong style="color: #e64a19;">2)</strong> Observe Fast (by drinking only liquid juice or water)<br> <strong style="color: #e64a19;">3)</strong> Read Bhagavad-Gita<br> <strong style="color: #e64a19;">4)</strong> Go to the temple of Bhagwan Swaminarayan & Lord Vishnu<br> <strong style="color: #e64a19;">5)</strong> Offer seva to God</p>
