Dear readers,Wish you, your family and friends a very prosperous Diwali and a Shubho Maha Kali Pujo.
Today I celebrated Kali Pujo with some friends at my apartment in Chicago downtown. Below are some of the snaps of Diwali@Chicago.
Regards,
Souvik
Monday, October 27, 2008
Amar Chicago Barir Kali Pujo
Dear readers,Wish you, your family and friends a very prosperous Diwali and a Shubho Maha Kali Pujo.
Today I celebrated Kali Pujo with some friends at my apartment in Chicago downtown. Below are some of the snaps of Diwali@Chicago.
Regards,
Souvik
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Aaradhana Re-visited : Solah Somvar Vrat
Dear readers,
I have a karmic debt to fulfill- replying to my numerous fellow Shiv bhakts on the mahima of infallible Solah Somvar Vrat and its katha.
I have completed this vrat once and have completely achieved a goal which not only seemed impossible to me but was regarded by many great advisers of mine. The whole credit goes to Kaleshwar Devadidev Mahadev's blessings, blessings of my pitrs, my grand-parents, my parents, and my elders and Gurus, well-wishers, relations and friends.
Even during this vrat, I faced many obstacles, temptations which were forcing me to break my vrat, but with Kalptaru's blessings I succeeded in vanquishing such hindrances.
I have recently started this vrat the second time and thus it is karmic debt that I reply to the queries of all my fellow Shiv bhakts on this matter.
I am no scholar. I have very minuscule understanding of spirituality and religion compared to most learned Gurus around. So, please pardon my lack of understanding in this article. I am just putting forth what I think is right and what I practice for the great Solah Somvar Vrat, which in incomparable in its results and the completion of which gives the greatest pleasure to Umapati.
In today's age and time, most of the readers who will read this blog article either have a business or are office-goers. However, there may be women readers who are home-makers. In either cases it is highly improbable that the bhakt will stay at home the whole time. So, I shall write my views on this in as much practical sense as possible.
Q) Can anyone do this?
A) Yes.
Just as Shiv is in every living soul, just as every life is a proof of Shiva's existence, so can any living soul do this vrat and gain His blessings.
Q) What is the procedure of doing this vrat?
A) Can there be any fixed procedure for showing one's compassion to one's Aaradhya? So, there is no fixed procedure to do this procedure, atleast none that I know of. However, I will share how I perform this vrat.
Every Monday I wake up filled with joy that today I get to do something for my Shiva, my soul. I wake up with Aum Namah Shivay mantra. I look at the rising Sun and raise a glass of water and ask Shiva to give me strength to complete today's vrat and drink the glass of water remembering Him. Then I finish off toilet, have my bath and go to work.
At work I avoid any confrontation on Mondays, avoid bad words, avoid group gossip. I have my ipod which I listen to Shiva mantras while working. I don't go for lunch with my work colleagues on Mondays. I talk as little as possible. I concentrate on my dharma, which at that moment is my work, my assignments for the day. If I have meetings, I stick to my agenda and generally tend to talk less. The reason is that speech is the source of all trouble (remember Dakshinamurthy teaching through silence).
At around Madhyanya (mid-day around 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm depending on the zone of Earth where one resides), I have some fruits. Sometimes I even skip this and just carry on with water. I generally leave work at 5:00 pm on Mondays and come home before sunset. At sunset I remember if I have objected my Lord in anyway during the day and seek forgiveness for all sins done. I pray to Shiva with MahaMrityunjaya mantra and take some fruits and a glass of milk.
In the evening I skip social get-together on Mondays and avoid lies. I generally try to do something that pleases the Lord very much. I generally call up my grandparents and chat with them, I call up my parents and tell them how much I miss them. One should remember the story of Ganesha's parikrama of his mother and father as He regarded them as the Universe and how much it pleased Shiva and Parvati. Karma is the best way to appease the Lord, much superior than elaborate rituals. Doing something good for elders, Gurus and parents and pleasing them pleases the Lord automatically.
I sleep around 10:00 Pm peaceful, placid and contended and with a prayer that the Lord keep showering His merciful blessings on His bhakts.
I try to observe satwick lifestyle during the vrat and avoid lies. Satya or truth is loved Shiva and thus one should avoid telling a single lie during the vrat.
Q)How is this vrat possible for women if it has to be continuous?
A)Menstrual cycle shouldn't matter - This is the one word answer to this question.
Mother who is the Jagadjanini, who we worship daily -have we asked if we should avoid worshiping her during certain days? If mother can be worshiped, then mother-kind can worship too. I strongly oppose this idea of banning women from worship on certain days of the month. The reason that it was brought in place was very different - places of worship would become untidy as most modern measures used today were not present. Those days have long gone and makes ZERO sense in today's age and time. So mother-kind, please do not hesitate to do this vrat.
Q)The question of upvas-What should we eat and what we shouldn't?
A)Anything that makes you feel that you are sacrificing something by not eating it, shouldn't be eaten.
Lets us understand the word Upvas and the meaning associated with it. Upvas means living with the Lord. If the Lord comes to your house, you will be so pre-occupied by attending to Him that you will forget to attend to yourself i.e. your dress, your food, your laundry, your movies, your social functions, your meetings etc.
Eating is just a part of living. During this vrat, the essence of Upvas has to be lived-which is control of instincts. If you cannot live without non-veg food, the you cannot eat it during this vrat. If you are a vegetarian, then you have to sacrifice what you eat normally. If you eat cronflakes every morning, you have control your instinct and avoid eating it during this vrat days. If you eat rice, roti etc. as a habit then you have to control it during this vrat. This is the essence of upvas that we should all understand. However, please remember that control of instincts doesn't mean killing oneself or punishing one's body beyond tolerance. Gastractive patients should eat what is necessary for them. Shiva is also one's own self. So to punish one's own self to the point beyond tolerance is also annoying Shiva. The intention is not control one's natural instinct without causing harm to typical bodily functions.
I don't eat fruits much on usual days so during this vrat, I take only fruits and milk once. One should make this judgement himself/herself and in accordance with one's own conscience.
Q)What mantras should I chant?
A)Anything that pleases your soul.
The word mantra means something that pleases the maan, the mind. Even if you donot chant a single mantra and at the end of the day said "I love you" to your parents, that is much more pleasing to the Lord than even a Rudrabhishekam. The single teardrop of joy from your grand-father's eyes when he receives your call will send your vrat message directly to Shiva more than reciting any Rudra Chamakam. Deeds please the Lord more than any ritual. However, if you are interested in the sanskrit mantras, you can use a variety of options available on the web. I always beileved in keeping it simple, so I have only chanted Panchaksari mantra during the sixteen Mondays. Although I do listen to a lot of bhajans and stotras during the day.
Q)Do I have to fast?
A)No, you don't need to do. Please refer to my earlier explanation of upvas.
Q)Can women do this vrat?
A)Very much. Monthly cycles is a natural phenomenon and how can Pashupatinath (the ruler of all animal kingdom, human included) have a problem with that?
Q)What do I do on the 17th. Monday?
A)Whatever you do, make sure you are seeking blessings of your elders. Without that you shall not receive the blessings of Shiva, the Adi Guru.
I shall mention what I did. I called my friends (as I was away from home) to my place. I performed Rudrabhishekam. I made the Shivlinga out of atta, turmeric and chandan. I called my elders at home to seek their blessings. I shared the story of Solah Somvar Vrat with them.
My friends had brought cooked food with them. We all sat and ate together chanting Aum Namah Shivay.
Q)Where can I find the story of Solah Somvar Vrat Katha?
A) http://satyamshivamsundaram.blogspot.com/2005/11/aaradhana.html#comments
Spread the word, please the Lord and be Happy!
~ Souvik
I have a karmic debt to fulfill- replying to my numerous fellow Shiv bhakts on the mahima of infallible Solah Somvar Vrat and its katha.
I have completed this vrat once and have completely achieved a goal which not only seemed impossible to me but was regarded by many great advisers of mine. The whole credit goes to Kaleshwar Devadidev Mahadev's blessings, blessings of my pitrs, my grand-parents, my parents, and my elders and Gurus, well-wishers, relations and friends.
Even during this vrat, I faced many obstacles, temptations which were forcing me to break my vrat, but with Kalptaru's blessings I succeeded in vanquishing such hindrances.
I have recently started this vrat the second time and thus it is karmic debt that I reply to the queries of all my fellow Shiv bhakts on this matter.
I am no scholar. I have very minuscule understanding of spirituality and religion compared to most learned Gurus around. So, please pardon my lack of understanding in this article. I am just putting forth what I think is right and what I practice for the great Solah Somvar Vrat, which in incomparable in its results and the completion of which gives the greatest pleasure to Umapati.
In today's age and time, most of the readers who will read this blog article either have a business or are office-goers. However, there may be women readers who are home-makers. In either cases it is highly improbable that the bhakt will stay at home the whole time. So, I shall write my views on this in as much practical sense as possible.
Q) Can anyone do this?
A) Yes.
Just as Shiv is in every living soul, just as every life is a proof of Shiva's existence, so can any living soul do this vrat and gain His blessings.
Q) What is the procedure of doing this vrat?
A) Can there be any fixed procedure for showing one's compassion to one's Aaradhya? So, there is no fixed procedure to do this procedure, atleast none that I know of. However, I will share how I perform this vrat.
Every Monday I wake up filled with joy that today I get to do something for my Shiva, my soul. I wake up with Aum Namah Shivay mantra. I look at the rising Sun and raise a glass of water and ask Shiva to give me strength to complete today's vrat and drink the glass of water remembering Him. Then I finish off toilet, have my bath and go to work.
At work I avoid any confrontation on Mondays, avoid bad words, avoid group gossip. I have my ipod which I listen to Shiva mantras while working. I don't go for lunch with my work colleagues on Mondays. I talk as little as possible. I concentrate on my dharma, which at that moment is my work, my assignments for the day. If I have meetings, I stick to my agenda and generally tend to talk less. The reason is that speech is the source of all trouble (remember Dakshinamurthy teaching through silence).
At around Madhyanya (mid-day around 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm depending on the zone of Earth where one resides), I have some fruits. Sometimes I even skip this and just carry on with water. I generally leave work at 5:00 pm on Mondays and come home before sunset. At sunset I remember if I have objected my Lord in anyway during the day and seek forgiveness for all sins done. I pray to Shiva with MahaMrityunjaya mantra and take some fruits and a glass of milk.
In the evening I skip social get-together on Mondays and avoid lies. I generally try to do something that pleases the Lord very much. I generally call up my grandparents and chat with them, I call up my parents and tell them how much I miss them. One should remember the story of Ganesha's parikrama of his mother and father as He regarded them as the Universe and how much it pleased Shiva and Parvati. Karma is the best way to appease the Lord, much superior than elaborate rituals. Doing something good for elders, Gurus and parents and pleasing them pleases the Lord automatically.
I sleep around 10:00 Pm peaceful, placid and contended and with a prayer that the Lord keep showering His merciful blessings on His bhakts.
I try to observe satwick lifestyle during the vrat and avoid lies. Satya or truth is loved Shiva and thus one should avoid telling a single lie during the vrat.
Q)How is this vrat possible for women if it has to be continuous?
A)Menstrual cycle shouldn't matter - This is the one word answer to this question.
Mother who is the Jagadjanini, who we worship daily -have we asked if we should avoid worshiping her during certain days? If mother can be worshiped, then mother-kind can worship too. I strongly oppose this idea of banning women from worship on certain days of the month. The reason that it was brought in place was very different - places of worship would become untidy as most modern measures used today were not present. Those days have long gone and makes ZERO sense in today's age and time. So mother-kind, please do not hesitate to do this vrat.
Q)The question of upvas-What should we eat and what we shouldn't?
A)Anything that makes you feel that you are sacrificing something by not eating it, shouldn't be eaten.
Lets us understand the word Upvas and the meaning associated with it. Upvas means living with the Lord. If the Lord comes to your house, you will be so pre-occupied by attending to Him that you will forget to attend to yourself i.e. your dress, your food, your laundry, your movies, your social functions, your meetings etc.
Eating is just a part of living. During this vrat, the essence of Upvas has to be lived-which is control of instincts. If you cannot live without non-veg food, the you cannot eat it during this vrat. If you are a vegetarian, then you have to sacrifice what you eat normally. If you eat cronflakes every morning, you have control your instinct and avoid eating it during this vrat days. If you eat rice, roti etc. as a habit then you have to control it during this vrat. This is the essence of upvas that we should all understand. However, please remember that control of instincts doesn't mean killing oneself or punishing one's body beyond tolerance. Gastractive patients should eat what is necessary for them. Shiva is also one's own self. So to punish one's own self to the point beyond tolerance is also annoying Shiva. The intention is not control one's natural instinct without causing harm to typical bodily functions.
I don't eat fruits much on usual days so during this vrat, I take only fruits and milk once. One should make this judgement himself/herself and in accordance with one's own conscience.
Q)What mantras should I chant?
A)Anything that pleases your soul.
The word mantra means something that pleases the maan, the mind. Even if you donot chant a single mantra and at the end of the day said "I love you" to your parents, that is much more pleasing to the Lord than even a Rudrabhishekam. The single teardrop of joy from your grand-father's eyes when he receives your call will send your vrat message directly to Shiva more than reciting any Rudra Chamakam. Deeds please the Lord more than any ritual. However, if you are interested in the sanskrit mantras, you can use a variety of options available on the web. I always beileved in keeping it simple, so I have only chanted Panchaksari mantra during the sixteen Mondays. Although I do listen to a lot of bhajans and stotras during the day.
Q)Do I have to fast?
A)No, you don't need to do. Please refer to my earlier explanation of upvas.
Q)Can women do this vrat?
A)Very much. Monthly cycles is a natural phenomenon and how can Pashupatinath (the ruler of all animal kingdom, human included) have a problem with that?
Q)What do I do on the 17th. Monday?
A)Whatever you do, make sure you are seeking blessings of your elders. Without that you shall not receive the blessings of Shiva, the Adi Guru.
I shall mention what I did. I called my friends (as I was away from home) to my place. I performed Rudrabhishekam. I made the Shivlinga out of atta, turmeric and chandan. I called my elders at home to seek their blessings. I shared the story of Solah Somvar Vrat with them.
My friends had brought cooked food with them. We all sat and ate together chanting Aum Namah Shivay.
Q)Where can I find the story of Solah Somvar Vrat Katha?
A) http://satyamshivamsundaram.blogspot.com/2005/11/aaradhana.html#comments
Spread the word, please the Lord and be Happy!
~ Souvik
Monday, October 13, 2008
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Wednesday, October 08, 2008
Anta Hoyeo Anta Noy- Shubho Bijoya
Dear readers,
Dasamai is here and tears have already started rolling down the cheeks of millions. Its time to say good bye to the Mother.
However, there is still reason to celebrate. It is after all Bijoya-the victory of Good over Evil.
Shubho Bijoya to all readers!
~ Souvik
Tuesday, October 07, 2008
An Email from the Goddess Herself!
From here.
Dear readers,
This is not my article. It is written by Sandip Roy and Illustration by Uttam Ghosh.
Please take this email from Mahamaya in a very light note. She had just come out from a quarrel with Shambhu before writing this email! :)
~ Souvik
In the olden days whenever I, Durga, came down to earth to visit my father's home, the astrologers and priests would figure out how I was coming each year.
Was it by boat? Oh no, that meant floods
Was it by elephant? That meant good harvests.
It was not easy going all over India on an elephant from the pandals in Chittaranjan Park's Bengali corner in New Delhi to Jaymahal in Bangalore and of course, the hundreds of pujas all over Kolkata.
But now it's truly getting out of hand! America, Canada, London, Tokyo.
How is one goddess, even with 10 arms supposed to keep up with all this?
The problem, dear Bengali in the Diaspora, is I know how much all this means to you. And I hate to disappoint you. So I come every year across oceans and continents.
But here is my Pujo list of things that would make my life easier:
~ I know Kolkata shuts down for five days during Durga Puja. But now it's turned into a month long affair with you Diasporan types. I am sorry, I just went through my booking schedule. I have to be on call from September 27 in Hayward, California to October 19 in Torrance, California. In between I am going to have to make it to Phoenix, Stamford, Atlanta, Tampa, Chicago, St Louis, Washington DC, Dallas and more. I love you all but it's getting a bit too much. Really, does one Bay Area need five Pujos one the weekend before the actual dates, one on the days of, one the weekend after and two others just because you are too lazy to drive to the other three? I mean what next? You'll be having Durga Puja in your private two-car garages. Remember I am a festival, not a block party.
~ All your children are very talented and I bless them all but they don't all need to be in the song and dance show. I cannot, just cannot sit through another talent competition listening to your little darlings lisp through Bengali songs. And most of all I am afraid that the stampede of mothers in their new saris trying to make sure their Pinky or Neel gets the limelight is going to knock me off the stage. And don't even get me started on the daddies in their raw silk kurtas trampling over each other as they try to get the best view of the stage with their camcorders.
~ It took me the longest time to get those Calcuttans off the what-can-we-make-Ma-Durga-out-of-this-time gimmick. I've suffered, yes suffered as I've been made out of newspapers, matchboxes, bottles, pins and god knows what else. But just as we were all getting back to good old fashioned clay here you guys come. I am not a plaster of Paris goddess. I am not a fiber glass goddess. You can paint me all you like to look like the earthen goddess I am. But I know my smile is painted on as I stand in some draughty school auditorium. Inside I am just fiberglass.
~ I don't really mind the two-day Pujo. But ohh the jet lag, the jet lag. I just can't be blessing you in Los Angeles one day and take the red-eye to New Jersey. It's not easy to travel with an entire family and pets, you know, not to mention a demon. Could you guys coordinate with each other a little more? The Bangla bands you are flying in from Kolkata also told me to tell you the same thing.
~ And did I mention what a pain it is to fly these days? I mean gone are the days when all I worried about was whether or not someone had booked the Hindu vegetarian meal for all of us, except for Mahisasura who eats anything. Now there are all these baggage charges. I mean charging for the first bag! My heavens, I cannot believe it. And have you ever tried to get your array of weapons through the X-ray? Good luck. I am sorry but I was asked by YOU to come save mankind. Now I am being treated as a potential terrorist. And what about those immigration people asking me every single time if I am bringing animal or plant products into the United States?
~ Also could you people stop fighting? I don't care whose wife said what. I don't care if you think because you are vice president for sales at Intel Corporation and got an ad for that programme brochure you should have more clout on the Puja committee. I come home once a year and I would like a little less bickering please. Let me make this clear. I don't know why the Bengali Association of New England won't talk to the Bangla Sangha of New England and I don't care. But I'd rather not be in the middle of your little tug-o-war. Could you sort that out before I get there, please?
~ No more bad tinny Rabindrasangeet. And absolutely no more also-rans from Zee's Sa Re Ga Ma Pa contest. A contestant on Sa Re Ga Ma Pa is NOT Manna Dey! It gives me a headache because you can wander in and out and go queue up for shingara and chai. I have to just stand there and suffer.
~ Please stop with those e-mail Bijoya cards that burst into loud dhaaker-drumbeats as soon as you open them at the office. If you want to wish someone happy Bijoya, call them, write them, go visit them with some Sondesh. Don't spam them. It doesn't make me feel more benevolent towards you. Stop. Right now.
~ Figure out the food please and the parking. This is my party and I have had enough of all those complaints about how the food line is too long, how the food ran out, how the mutton curry tasted Punjabi not Bengali like your mother made it in Shyambazar! And if you overflow from the parking lot don't park in places you are not supposed to park and then complain when the city gives you a ticket. I am a goddess, I am not a parking ticket miracle worker. I have other demons to slay.
~ I know at the end of it all you are going to pack me into a big box and load me into someone's garage for a year. I know it. I am resigned to it. But could I get a television in there? With cable? (Give me a break, I have five children to entertain!)
Anondo Sommelan
Dear readers,On Oct., 4th. & Oct 5th., the University students in Chicago organized a homely Durga Pujo.
On the left is the Sandhya Pradip.
Below is Mahamaya Durga's Pandal and decoration. In the last snap I am with my childhood friend Ani.
Jai Durga!
Souvik
Monday, October 06, 2008
Wednesday, October 01, 2008
Aagamani
Dear readers,
Devi Paksha began on September 29th., 2008.
Wish all a very auspicious Durga Puja and Navratri!
Regards, Souvik
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