Shasti or Sashti

Shasti or Sashti

Shasti Days based on Indian Standard Time (IST)


January 21, 2010 – Shasti

February 20, 2010 – Sashti

March 21, 2010 – Shashti

April 20, 2010 – Sashti

May 19, 2010 – Shasti

June 17, 2010 – Sashti

July 16, 2010 – Shashti

August 15, 2010 – Shasti

September 13, 2010 – Sashti

October 13, 2010 – Sashti

Skanda Shashti fasting Day

November 7, 2010 – Skanda Shasti fasting starts

November 8, 2010 – Kanda Shasti fasting Day 2

November 9, 2010 – Kantha Shasti fasting Day 3

November 10, 2010 – Skanda Sasti fasting Day 4

November 11, 2010 – Skanda Shashti fasting Day 5

November 12, 2010 – Skanda Sashti Soora Samharam

November 13, 2010 – Tirukalyanam

December 11, 2010 – Shasti

Amavasya

Amavasya dates based on Indian Standard Time (IST)


January 15, 2010 – Mauni Amavasya

February 13, 2010 – Shani Amavasya

March 15, 2010 – Somavati Amavasya

April 14, 2010 – Amavasya

May 14, 2010 – Amavasya

June 12, 2010 – Shani Amavasya

July 11, 2010 – Amavasya

August 10, 2010 – Amavasya

September 8, 2010 – Amavasya

October 7, 2010 – Amavasya

November 6, 2010 – Shani Amavasya

December 5, 2010 – Amavasya

Pournami / Pournima / Full Moon / Pournami Girivalam

Pournami / Pournima / Full Moon / Pournami Girivalam

*Note : Pournami dates based on Indian Standard Time (IST)


January 30, 2010 – Pournami – Saturday

February 28, 2010 – Pournami – Sunday

March 30, 2010 – Pournami – Tuesday

April 28, 2010 – Pournami – Wednesday

May 27, 2010 – Pournami – Thursday

June 26, 2010 – Pournami – Saturday

July 25, 2010 – Pournami – Sunday

August 24, 2010 – Narali Pournima – Tuesday

September 23, 2010 – Pournami – Thursday

October 22, 2010 – Kojagari Pournima – Friday

November 21, 2010 – Pournami – Sunday

December 21, 2010 – Pournima – Tuesday

Pradosham

Pradosham

12 January 2010 -- Tuesday - Pradhosham


27 January 2010 -- Wednesday - Pradosham

11 February 2010 -- Thursday --- Maha Pradhosham

26 February 2010 -- Friday - Pradosham

13 March 2010 -- Saturday --- Sani Pradosham

27 March 2010 -- Saturday --- Sani Pradhosham

11 April 2010 -- Sunday - Pradosham

26 April 2010 - Sunday - Pradosham

11 May 2010 - Tuesday - Pradosham

25 May 2010 - Tuesday - Pradosham

10 Jume 2010 - Thursday - Pradosham

24 June 2010 - Thursday - Pradosham

9 July 2010 - Friday - Pradosham

23 July 2010 - Friday - Pradosham

7 August 2010 - Saturday --- Sani Pradosham

22 August 2010 - Sunday - Pradosham

6 September 2010 - Monday - Pradosham

20 September 2010 - Monday - Pradosham

5 October 2010 - Tuesday - Pradosham

20 October 2010 - Wednesday - Pradosham

3 November 2010 - Wednesday - Pradosham

19 November 2010 - Friday - Pradosham

3 December 2010 - Friday - Pradosham

18 December 2010 - Saturday - Sani Pradosham

Sankashti Chaturti / Sankatahara chaturthi

Sankashti Chaturti

January 3, 2010 – Sankashti Chaturti - Sunday

February 2, 2010 – Angarak Sankashti Chaturti – Tuesday

March 3, 2010 – Sankashta Chaturthi – Wednesday

April 2, 2010 – Sankashti Chaturthi – Friday

May 1, 2010 – Sankashta Chaturthi – Saturday

May 31, 2010 – Sankashti Chaturti – Monday

June 30, 2010 – Sankashta Chaturti – Wednesday

July 29, 2010 – Sankashti Chaturti – Thursday

August 28, 2010 – Sankashta Chaturti – Saturday

September 26, 2010 – Sankashti Chaturti – Sunday

October 26, 2010 – Angarak Sankashti Chaturti – Tuesday

November 25, 2010 – Sankashta Chaturti – Thursday

December 24, 2010 – Sankashti Chaturthi – Friday
 
*Note:When Chaturti Thithi  falls on the Tuesday it is known as Angarak Sankashti and is considered highly auspicious.

A complete Guide to Vaikunta Ekadasi

Vaikunta Ekadasi

What is Ekadasi?
Ekadasi means 'the eleventh' in Sanskrit and refers to the eleventh day of a fortnight belonging to a lunar month.Ekadasi is the eleventh day in both the halves of the lunar month - Sukla Paksha and Krishna Paksha. Approximately, there will be as many as 24 Ekadasis in a year. The Ekadasi in Mrugasira Sukla Paksh is known as Vaikunta Ekadasi.During this month, Sun transits through Dhannus Rasi.

Legends:
Legends considers Vaikunta Ekadasi to be the day on which the doors of Vaikuntha (heaven) will be kept open for all the saintly souls.

According to the Vishnu Purana, observing the Ekadasi Vrata (or fast) on Vaikuntha Ekadasi day confers the benefit equivalent to observing all the other eleven Ekadasis during the year.

According to the Padma Purana, during the Krita Yuga, an asura named Muran harassed both the devas. Unable to bear his tyranny, the devas sought refuge in Shiva. He directed them to approach Vishnu. Vishnu agreed to help the devas and went out to battle with Muran. During the long battle, which lasted one thousand celestial years, Vishnu needed to rest for a while. He entered a beautiful cave called Himavati in Badarikashrama to sleep. Muran wanted to strike Vishnu while he was sleeping. However, Shakti – Vishnu’s female energy – emerged out of his body and assumed the form of a beautiful damsel who fought Muran and vanquished him.

When Vishnu awoke he was very pleased and named her as Ekadasi and granted her a boon. The maiden said, “O Lord, if You are pleased with me and wish to give me a boon, then give me the power to deliver people from the greatest sins if they fast of this day”. Vishnu granted her the boon and declared that people worshipping her would reach Vaikuntha.

How to observe Vaikunda Ekadashi fasting ?

Things needed for Puja and Prayer

A photo or idol of Lord Vishnu
Fruits
Tulsi leaves
Betel leaves (optional)
Betel nuts (optional)
Yellow bananas
Unbroken coconut (optional)

Procedures

Wake up early in the morning. Take bath and offer prayers.
You can just light the lamp and prayer or meditate for few minutes but the only difference is that today it is dedicated to Lord Vishnu.
You can perform a simple puja to Lord Vishnu at home by offering fruits and Tulsi leaves.
If there is a Vishnu temple nearby visit the temple and witness morning pujas and rituals.
Complete fast or upavasam on the day is the main observance.

Fasting

Fasting for 24 hours. It is believed that a partial or total abstinence from food.

Do not eat food made from rice on Ekadashi.

For people who partialy observe abstinence from food .What can be eaten on Ekadashi?

Do not eat food made from rice on Ekadashi.It is believed that demon Mura found a dwelling place in the rice and Lord Vishnu appeared in the form of Ekadasi to annihilate Mura. Therefore devotees who fast on the Ekadashi day avoid food made from grains.

Drink lots of water and eat fresh and dried fruits.

Evening Prayers

Take a bath in the evening.
Repeat the morning puja to Vishnu
Visit Vishnu temple and witness the evening puja and rituals.

Prayers for Vaikunta Ekadasi

Vishnu Sahasranamam
Vishnu Ashotharam
Or Simple Chanting of – Om Namo Narayana

Night-No Sleep

Staunch devotees who observe Vaikunta Ekadasi fasting do not sleep on the day.

Next Day Morning

The fast is broken on the next day (Dwadashi) after taking bath. Offer prayers to Lord Vishnu by lighting a lamp and then you can break the fast.

* Note since we had 2 Vaikunta Ekadasi in the Year 2009 , there will be no Vaikunta Ekadasi in the year 2010.