The Five days of Diwali Nov 7,8,9,10,11 Diwali is celebrated over five days in most of North India. All the days except Diwali are named using the designation in the Indian calendar. A lunar half-month is 15 days. Diwali as a new-moon day, marks the last day of a 15-day period.
1)/Dhan-trayodashi/ or /Dhan teras/ : Dhan means "wealth" and Trayodashi means "13th day". Thus, as the name implies, this day falls on the 13th day of the second half of the lunar month. It is an auspicious day for shopping. 2)/Naraka Chaturdasi/: /Chaturdasi/ is the fourteenth day on which demon Narakasura was killed. It signifies the victory of good over evil and light over darkness (Gujarati: Kali Chaudas). In south India, this is the actual day of festivities. Hindus wake up way before dawn as early as 2.00 in the morning, have a fragrant oil bath and wear new clothes. They light small lamps all around the house and draw elaborate kolams /rangolis outside their homes. They perform a special puja with offerings to Lord Sri Krishna or Lord Sri Vishnu, as he liberated the world from the demon Narakasura on this day. It is believed that taking a bath before sunrise, when the stars are still visible in the sky is equivalent to taking a bath in the holy Ganges . Hence, when people greet each other in the morning, they ask "Have you performed your Ganga Snaanam?". After the puja, children burst firecrackers heralding the defeat of the demon. As this is a day of rejoicement, many will have very elaborate breakfasts and lunches and meet family and friends. In the evening, lamps are again lit and Goddess Lakshmi is worshipped and offered special dishes. This being a no moon day, many will offer special tarpana (offerings of water and sesame seeds) to their ancestors. 3)/Diwali/: the actual day of Diwali, is celebrated on the third day of the festival, when the moon completely wanes and total darkness sets in the night sky. 4)/Govardhan Puja/ or also called /Annakut/, is celebrated as the day Krishna defeated Indra. For /Annakut/ a mountain of food is decorated symbolizing Govardhan mountain lifted by Lord Krishna. In Maharashtra it is celebrated as Padva or BaliPratipada. The day commemorates King Bali. Men present gifts to their wives on this day. 5)/Bhayiduj/ (also Bhayyaduj, Bhaubeej or Bhayitika) --- on this day, brothers and sisters meet to express their love and affection for each other (Gujarati: Bhai Bij, Bengali: Bhai Phota). Most Indian festivals bring together families, Bhaiduj brings together married sisters and brothers, and is a significant festive day for them. This festival is ancient, and pre-dates 'Raksha Bandhan' another brother-sister festival being celebrated today. *Skanda Sashti (6 powerful days of Lord Muruga)* *(Nov 10th to 15th 2007) * During the Nine Nights of the Goddess, the three goddesses Kali (Parvatis fierce form), Lakshmi and Saraswati were involved in destroying the dark forces. Now, for the month of November, and especially concentrated during Skanda Shasti, the Six Days of Muruga (November 10-15, 2007), Muruga takes over and continues the fight with the demons. Muruga is the younger son of Lord Siva and is alive on the earth plane. Also occurring during Skanda Shasti this year, is an auspicious planetary placement of Mars in Gemini which increases the energy of Muruga and the planet Mars. Muruga has always been concerned about the evolution of planet earth and the welfare of the human beings. Throughout time, Muruga has played a major role in educating humans about a higher, divine way of life. Muruga is the Lord of the Pleiades and is also a warrior God, in that his energy is expressed in a military manner. He is associated with the planet Mars and the star Krittika (Alcyone) in Vedic astrology. Muruga holds the key technology for the new human race. As you may know, the Pleiadians are active now on our planet to bring more light and love in our time of need. By 2012 when the earth comes into alignment with the Sun and Alcyone there will be an opportunity for our planet to acquire greater amounts of light which will relieve the dark properties of ignorance, poverty and disease engendered by the demons. The demons feed on the suffering of people. That is why it is necessary to kill the demons. As Muruga kills these dark forces, there will be a shift toward greater light. Murugas weapon and icon (i.e., the symbol most closely associated and connected to Muruga) is the Vel. The Vel is in the shape of an arrow. Muruga also holds the secrets of the sacred sound "Om", which he revealed to Lord Siva in ancient times at Swami Malai, after a curse from a powerful Yogi had removed this knowledge from Lord Siva entirely. A large statue sits in Swami Malai depicting the moment in time when Muruga whispered the secrets of "Om" into Sivas ear while sitting on his lap. *ANCIENT MYTHOLOGY OF MURUGA* Muruga's ancient mythology reveals that he was born from the third- eye of Lord Siva. Siva's semen went up to his third eye out of which there emerged six sparks of fire. The six-headed Muruga was thus born to destroy the demons who were actively tormenting the devas and the humans. Hindu mythology is very complicated in that it simultaneously unveils many different layers of reality about the world as well as the human psyche. Simply stated, Muruga is both within and without the body. Within the body he is the lord of kundalini, the sexual energy at the base of the spine. The ascent of the energy to the third-eye symbolizes the birth of Muruga. As he ascends Muruga holds a Vel or lance, which is a symbol for the spinal column and the brain. Outside of the body, Muruga is a fierce protector and General of Sivas army and works constantly to destroy the negative forces that would interfere with material and spiritual practice and progress. *MOVEMENT OF THE PLANET MARS* Mars moved into Gemini on September 16th 2007 and will stay there for 7-1/2 months. This is an unusual phenomenon because Mars generally only stays for 1-1/2 months in a zodiac sign. The sign of Gemini is dynamic by nature and Mars is very dynamic in action. From November, 2007 onwards, Mars receives the aspect (opposition) of Jupiter that would prove malefic because an opposition aspect of a planet will bring adverse results. This particular opposition will create governmental and administration problems for December-' 07 and January-' 08. To alleviate this opposition, a special Jupiter homa will be performed to mitigate this opposition energy and instead access the grace and blessings of Jupiter, the Guru planet. It is during this time of Mars placement in Gemini, during the 6 powerful days of Muruga, Skanda Shasti, when it is the most appropriate and beneficial time to propitiate both Mars and its overlord Muruga. *PEOPLE BENEFITED BY THE MARS TRANSIT If your Moon or Ascending (Rising Sign) is in:* * Aries * Leo * Virgo * Capricorn * PEOPLE AFFECTED BY THE MARS TRANSIT If your Moon or Ascending (Rising Sign) is in: * * Taurus * Gemini * Cancer * Libra * Scorpio * Sagittarius * Aquarius * Pisces *To learn more about planet Mars and its affect on the various zodiac signs, please click here .* *KUKUTA (ROOSTER) HOMA* The Kukuta (Rooster) homa is a very powerful fire ritual done to invoke one of Lord Muruga's powerful vehicles, the Rooster (Murugas other vehicle is the Peacock, and his weapon is the Vel). Muruga's divine rooster has the ability to destroy negativity and ward off evil. It is a less commonly known and rarely performed homa in India, but extremely powerful in nature. This ritual is only performed by a few select Brahmin priest to ensure the authenticity and correctness of the rituals performance. *THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE VEL* The worship of the Vel holds a unique position in the worship of Muruga. Muruga uses the Vel to kill the demon with the Vel. In many Murugan temples, the Vel is the presiding deity and considered a direct representation of Muruga. Vetri Vel is the mantra recited for the Vel and means (in Tamil) Victory of the Vel. During the Six Days of Muruga, the Vel plays an important role in destroying an individuals karma. Muruga received an all-powerful lance (Vel) from his mother Parvati. He used this lance to defeat the army of Tarakasura in battle and vanquished him. Shasti is the day the when Muruga defeated the demon Soorapadma and saved the Earth from his torment and evil doings. The war was waged for six days, at the end of which the Muruga was victorious. When he threw the Vel at Soorapadma, the demon was split into two halves. One half became a peacock, which Muruga took as his vehicle. The other half became a Rooster and was transformed into Murugas flag. Skanda Shasti also signifies a pardon of your misdeeds. This was proved by Murugas pardon of the demon Soorapadma when he blessed him to be His vehicle (Peacock) and flag (Rooster). During this Skanda Shasti, large 4 foot, gold-plated Vels will be energized to protect and destroy the negative influences in your life. These Vels are available in a very limited quantity. Anyone who purchases one of these extraordinary Vels will be included in rituals at sacred Muruga temples throughout Skanda Shasti and will also receive the energized silver Om and a small peacock topped contained suitable for holding vibhuti. *MURUGA HOLDS THE SECRET OF OM*
