November is Kartika Masa: The Auspicious Month of Lord Shiva
We are now entering the sacred month of Kartika, which is the most auspicious
month of the year for worshipping Lord Siva and obtaining His grace for good
health, mental balance, and deep meditations. During the month of Kartika, it
is very good to wake up early in the morning and do meditation, especially in
the sacred brahmi muhurta time between 3:30 and 4:30 AM.
Somavaras (Mondays) are Especially Auspicious for Worshipping Lord Siva
In particular, Somavara (Monday) is an especially auspicious day to worship
Lord Siva, and the Somavaras occurring in Kartika Masa are very important days
for spiritual practice. The dates for these highly-auspicious upcoming
Somavaras are November 3rd, 10th, 17th and 24th, 2008. In addition, the Kartika
Masa Pournami (full moon day) on November 13th is highly auspicious.
Somavara is the day of the moon, and white attracts the positive energy of the
moon, so it is very good to wear white clothes in cotton or silk on Somavara
while performing sadhana. If it is possible, practicing silence and fasting or
taking light, sattwic food will be very beneficial.
Especially on these sacred days, one can do meditation, sing bhajans, and/or
perform extra japa (mantra repetition) of one's guru mantra. One can also chant
the Siva Panchakshari Mantra ("Om namah sivaya") or Siva Sakti Panchakshari
Mantra ("Om hrim namah sivaya"), 108, 1008 or more times. This is also an
excellent time to chant the Sri Mrutyunjaya Mantra, one of the world's oldest
and most powerful mantras, for the healing of health problems.
Those who have a Siva Lingam may wish to do puja by offering water, flowers,
vibhuti, milk, yogurt, ghee, sugar, and/or honey. The offerings can be spooned
onto the Siva Lingam (using a pure puja spoon only) while chanting "Om namah
sivaya," "Om hrim namah sivaya," or Sri Mrutyunjaya Mantra.
