What do you mean by guru Purnima

Guru Purnima 2021
Guru Purnima is a Hindu festival which is dedicated to spiritual and academic teachers. This is celebrated traditionally by Hindus and Buddhists for thanking their teachers. This is marked as the ritual concerning the guru, guru Puja. The principle of guru is remembered a thousand times more active on the day of Guru Purnima. The term guru is taken from two words ‘GU’ and ‘RU’. The Sanskrit meaning of the word ‘GU’ means darkness or ignorance. The word RU means remover of the darkness. The one who removes darkness is known as the guru. People believed that Gurus needed to be the most necessary part of their lives. The disciples give Puja to pay respect to their guru.

It falls on the day of the full moon, Purnima which is in the month of Ashadh, June-July. As per the Indian national calendar and Hindu calendar, it falls in July. This year 2021 Guru Purnima is on 24th July. The festival is having more importance for Indian academics and scholars. They are celebrating this day by thanking their teachers as well as remembering their past gurus and scholars. Mainly this festival is celebrated by Buddhists for honoring the lord Buddha who gave his first sermon on this day at Sarnath, U.P. 


The Hindu people celebrate in the honor of the great Vyasa who is one of the greatest gurus in ancient Hinduism. He is a symbol of the guru- shishya tradition. Some people believe that Vyasa was not born on this day, but he started writing Brahma sutras on Ashaddha Sudha Padyami which ends on this day. Recitations are maintained and dedicated on this day. It is also known as Vyasa Purnima. Especially the festival is more common in all spiritual traditions in Hinduism, where it is a gratitude towards their teacher by his or her disciple. Hindu ascetics and monks give Puja to the guru during chetrum which is four months during the rainy season. When they are secluded they stay in one place. Some people give discourses to the public people. The students in Indian classical music follow the guru Shishya Parampara and they celebrate this festival around the world.
Hindu mythology
Krishna Dwaipayana Vyasa who is the author of Mahabharata was born on this day to Parashara and the fisherman’s daughter Satyavati. This day is treated as Vyasa Purnima. Veda Vyasa did the yeoman service for the cause of Vedic studies by taking all the Vedic hymns during their times, which divides them into four parts based on their sacrificial rites. He taught his four disciples named Palla, Vaisampayana, Jaimini, and Sumantu. By dividing and editing that he earned the honorific Vyasa. Mainly he divided the Veda into four: Rig, Yajur, Sama, and Atharva. The Puranas and their histories are to be of the 5th Veda. 
The full moon day in the month of Hindu named Ashad is observed as the auspicious day of Guru Purnima which is celebrated in the memory of great Vyasa. All the Hindu people are indebted to the ancient saint who divided into four Vedas and wrote the 18 Puranas, the Mahabharata, and Srimad Bhagavata. Vyasa also taught Dattatreya who is mentioned as the Guru of gurus.
Significance
On this day all the spiritual people and devotees worship Vyasa mainly in the honor of divine personage and all the disciples give a Puja for their respective Preceptor or the guru Devs. For farmers, this day is having more significance. The setting of much-needed rain as the advent of cool showers gives good fresh life in paddy fields. Also, many believe this day is good for starting their spiritual classes. The spiritual seekers intensify their spiritual Sadhana on this day. 

The period Chaturmas which is of four months begins from this day. In the early past wandering spiritual gurus and their disciples used to settle at a place for studying and discourse in Brahma sutras which is composed by Vyasa and engage them in the Vedantic lessons.

स्वामी श्रीशारदानन्दगिरीजी को भावभीनी श्रद्धांजलि

|| दिवङ्गतेभ्यश्श्रीशारदानन्दगिरिस्वामिभ्यश्श्रद्धाञ्जलि:||

****

भावैर्यं हृदयं स्मरेन्मधुमयं सौख्यस्मृतिं स्वामिनं

चित्तं नैव जहाति यस्य महिमाप्लावप्रसन्नं रतिं

दिव्यप्रीतियुजामिवाच्युतहरेर्भक्तौ च यो मज्जितो

ब्रह्मत्त्वं स गतोऽद्य मद्गुरुवरश्श्रीशारदानन्दन:||१||

जिन मधुमय, सुखसम्पन्न स्मृति वाले, स्वामी जी को हमारा दिल भावुक होकर स्मरण करता है, जिनकी महिमा में डूबकर प्रसन्न मन जिनकी मोहब्बत को छोड़ना ना चाहे, जिनका प्रेम ही दिव्य होता है ऐसे लोगों की तरह , कभी नष्ट ना होने वाले हरि की भक्ति में ही जो डूब चुके हैं, ऐसे हमारे गुरुवर श्री शारदानंद गिरि जी आज ब्रह्मलीन हो गए।

यच्चैवाद्य महात्मनां बहुविधं सङ्घात्मकं ख्याप्यते

तेष्वेकं च 'निरञ्जनी'ति भवताद्वैराग्यभाजां सुखं

तस्मिन् श्रीलनरोत्तमाद्गुरुवराद्दीक्षां प्रलभ्याप्यसौ

धर्मप्राणमयप्रयाग-परमानन्दाश्रमी राजते||२||

जो आज संन्यस्त महात्माओं के संघ स्वरूप बहुत से अखाड़े हैं उनमें से एक निरंजनी अखाड़ा भी है इसी अखाड़े के अंतर्गत श्रीमान् नरोत्तमानंद गिरि जी महाराज से दीक्षा लेकर, स्वामी शारदानंद गिरी जी ने धर्म के प्राण स्वरूप नगर प्रयागराज में परमानंद आश्रम की स्थापना की।

अध्यात्मैकरुचिश्शुचिर्वररुचिग्रन्थे मुदा संरत:

काशीपण्डितसङ्घलब्धबहुसम्मानश्च सद्भिर्वृतो

देवीवाचमथापि विश्वपटले य: ख्यापयेत्संयमी

त्यक्त्वा संसृतिमद्य विष्णुजगति व्यापद्यतेति श्रुतम्||३||

एकमात्र अध्यात्म में रूचि वाले , अत्यंत पवित्र , वररुचि के ग्रंथ का अध्ययन करने वाले,काशी पंडित परिषद् से बहुत सम्मान प्राप्त करने वाले , सज्जनों से घिरे रहने वाले, संयमी तथा संस्कृत को पूरे संसार में फैलाने वाले, आज इस अलौकिक संसार को छोड़कर भगवान विष्णु के लोक को पधार गए!

हे स्वामिंस्तव धर्मपूर्णपदवी अक्ष्णोर्ममास्ते सदा

हे स्वामिंस्तव कर्मभूमिरिव मे नेत्राग्रगा वर्तते

हे स्वामिंस्तव मर्मजातगुणसद्भावाश्च वित्तानि नो

हे स्वामिंस्तव सत्कथा हि जगता प्रेम्णा हृदा स्मर्यते||४||

हे स्वामी जी आपकी धर्म पूर्ण पदवी सदा मेरी आंखों में बसी है । हे स्वामी जी आपकी समस्त कर्म भूमि मेरी आंखों के आगे नाच रही है। हे स्वामी जी! आपके हृदय में बसने वाले सद्भाव, जिनको हमने ग्रहण किया, वही हमारी जमा-पूंजी हैं। हे स्वामी जी आपके जीवन की सच्चरित्र रूपी कथा इस संपूर्ण संसार के द्वारा हार्दिक भावों से सदा ही स्मरण करी जाएगी।

के धर्माय कतीह जीवनमहो जीवन्ति हात्त्वा गृहं

के वेदाय समर्पिता भुवि जनाश्शास्त्राय गोभ्यस्तथा

हैषामेकमिदं समुत्तरमहं तुभ्यं ददामीति रे

सन्तस्सन्ति यथा दिवङ्गतगुरुश्श्रीशारदानन्दन:||५||

ऐसे कितने हैं, और कौन हैं, जो अपने घर-बार को छोड़कर सिर्फ धर्म के लिए ही जीवन जीते हैं?? ऐसे कितने लोग हैं, और कौन हैं , जो वेद-शास्त्र पढ़ने के लिए जीवन जीते हैं तथा गौ-सेवा के लिए समर्पित हैं??अरे भाई! इन सब बातों का एक ही उत्तर मैं तुम्हें आज देता हूं - वह हमारे संत समाज के लोग हैं! (या इस प्रकार के जो लोग हैं वह भी संत ही हैं) और इन्हीं संतो में एक हैं - श्रीशारदानंद गिरी जी महाराज।

श्रीशारदानन्दगिरिर्महात्मा 

सदैव पूज्यश्चरितव्यरूप:

अनन्तबोधैरवबुध्य सन्तं

हिमांशुगौडैर्व्यरचीह भावै:||

श्रीशारदानंद गिरि जी महाराज, सदैव पूज्य और आचरण करने योग्य है धर्मरूप जिनका, इस प्रकार के महात्मा थे! स्वामीश्रीअनंतबोध चैतन्य जी द्वारा उन संत के विषय में जानकार तथा प्रेरणा पाकर,   हिमांशु गौड़ ने अपने भावों द्वारा यह श्रद्धांजलि स्वामी जी के लिए समर्पित की है।

***

हिमांशुर्गौड:

०८:४५ रात्रौ,

३०/०६/२०२१

Nirvana Tithi of Pujya Gurudev Brahmalin Swami Vishwadevananda Puri ji

आज हमारे प्रिय गुरुदेव ब्रह्मलीन स्वामी विश्वदेवानंद पुरी जी की पुण्यतिथि (पुण्यतिथि) है, जिन्होंने 7 मई 2013 को शरीर त्याग दिया था।

आप सबसे अच्छे गुरु थे, और मुझे आपके शिष्य होने पर बहुत गर्व है। मुझे विश्वास है कि आपका मार्गदर्शक हाथ हमेशा मेरे कंधे पर रहेगा। मनुष्य नश्वर है लेकिन उनके लिए प्रेम अमर है। हालाँकि आप हम सबके बीच नहीं हैं लेकिन आपकी याद हमारे मन में बसी हुई है।

एक बार आपने कहा था कि हमें साधु का जन्मदिन नहीं मनाना चाहिए, हमें उनकी पुण्यतिथि मनानी चाहिए। जो अपनी समकालीन व्यवस्था के साथ भावी पीढ़ियों के लिए अपने कर्तव्य बोध और प्रयोग के माध्यम से जीवन के महत्वपूर्ण उद्देश्यों और मूल्यों की विरासत प्रस्तुत करता है। साधु मर कर भी कुछ देता है। इसलिए साधुओं की पुण्यतिथि को प्रेरणा देने और जीवन को उत्सव की तरह जीने के पर्व के रूप में देखा जाता है। आपके श्री चरणों में मेरा विनम्र प्रणाम।

सर्वतन्त्रस्वतन्त्राय धर्मशास्त्रप्रचारिणे

निर्वाणपीठराजाय वेदान्तगुरवे नमः ।। 1

जो सभी प्रकार के तन्त्रों (नियमादि विधि-निषेधों) से स्वतन्त्र हैं, धर्म और शास्त्र का प्रचार करने वाले, निर्वाण-पीठाधीश्वर, वेदान्त दर्शन का ज्ञान देने वाले गुरु के लिए नमस्कार है।

कर्मनिष्ठं प्रसन्नं तं निजानन्दस्वरुपिणम्

अज्ञानतिमिरध्वंसं प्रणमामि मुहुर्मुहुः॥ 2

उन कर्मनिष्ठ, सदा प्रसन्न रहने वाले, आत्मानंदी संदर्भ वाले, अज्ञान रूपी अन्धकार को नष्ट करने वाले, श्रीगुरुदेव महाराज को मैं बार-बार प्रणाम करता हूं।

ज्ञाननिष्ठं धर्मनिष्ठं द्वन्द्वातीतं यतेन्द्रियम्।

प्रणमामि गुरुं शैवं ह्यज्ञताध्वान्तनाशकम्॥3

ज्ञान और धर्म में धारण करने वाले, सभी द्वन्द्वों से परे, इंद्रियों का संयम धारण करने वाले, अज्ञता रूपी तिमिर(अन्धकार) को नष्ट करने वाले, शैव (कल्याणमय) गुरुदेव भगवान को मैं बारंबार प्रणाम करता हूं।

शरण्यं सर्वभक्तानां ब्रह्मानन्दस्वरूपकम् ।

प्रणमामि गुरुं दिव्यं मूढतातिमिरापहम्॥4

सभी भक्तों को शरण देने वाले, ब्रह्मानंद-स्वरूप, मूढ़ता रूपी अंधकार को झाड़ देने वाले, दिव्य गुरुदेव को प्रणाम करता हूं।

श्रेयस्कामं महाभागं मानातीतं यतीश्वरम् ।

वन्देऽहं श्रीगुरुं देवं मोहशोकविनाशकम्॥ 5

(सभी का) श्रेयसी (कल्याण) चाहने वाले, महत्वपूर्ण पद को भजने वाले, मान-अपमान से परे, महात्माओं में श्रेष्ठ, मोह, शोक आदि का विनाश करने वाले, देवस्वरूप गुरु जी को बारंबार प्रणाम है।

जपध्याने रतं नित्यं भयक्रोधादिवर्जितम् ।

मायाजालविनिर्मुक्तं प्रणमामि मुहुर्मुहु:॥ 6

जप और ध्यान में रहने वाले, भय,क्रोध आदि से वर्जित,माया के जाल से मुक्त, गुरुदेव को मैं प्रणाम करता हूं।

लोभमोहपरित्यक्तमाशापाशविवर्जितम् ।

अज्ञानध्वंसने दक्षं प्रणमामि महागुरुम्॥ 7

लोभ व मोह को त्याग दिया है, ऐसे, आशा के पाश (बन्धन) से मुक्त, अज्ञान को नष्ट करने में गंभीर दक्ष, महागुरु जी को मैं प्रणाम करता हूं।

विश्वदेवं गुरुं वीरं साक्षाच्छङ्कररूपिणम् ।

अज्ञाननाशकं चैवं प्रणमामि मुहुर्मुहुः॥ 8

विश्वदेव संदर्भ, वरण करने योग्य, साक्षात् शङ्कर संदर्भ, अज्ञान के निवारक, गुरु जी को मैं बारंबार प्रणाम करता हूं।

गुरुस्तोत्रमिदं पुण्यं ज्ञानविज्ञानदायकम् ।

मया विर्च्यते ह्येतदन्तब्रह्मचारिणा ॥

यह गुरुदेव महाराज का पुण्य स्तोत्र, ज्ञान और विज्ञान को देने वाला है यह मेरे (अनन्त) के द्वारा विरचित है।

The Nava-Durga Upasna (नव दुर्गा उपासना )

Shailaputri

Goddess Durga‘s first form in the Nava-Durga series of divine forms, amongst the nine, is Shailaputri. She was nomenclature as Shailaputri after being born in the house of the king of the mountains, Himalaya. In this mould, the mother is seen holding a trident in her right hand and a lotus in her left and she is mounted on an ox. In the past life, she was the daughter of Daksha, the son of Lord Brahma. She was known as Sati then. As the daughter of Daksha, she was married to the God of Gods, Mahadeva. Daksha once arranged for a ceremony of the holy fire (Yagna), and chose not to invite his daughter and son-in-law. Sati was restless to join the ceremony at her father‘s place and even defied her husband‘s advice of not attending the Yagna without an invitation. Ongoing uninvited to the ceremony, she felt that everyone was giving her a cold shoulder except her mother who greeted her with a hug. Her siblings too were no exception and were sarcastic in their remarks. The guests too present at the function were uttering disrespectful comments about her husband. To her surprise, her father too was harsh and rude in his approach. She was dejected and so heartbroken that she burnt herself to ash in the holy fire. Shiva, on hearing this incident was enraged and ordered his followers to immediately demolish the Daksha Yagna. After burning herself to death, Sati was reborn as the daughter of the king of the mountains, Himalaya and became known as Shailaputri. Thus amongst all the nine forms of Devi Durga, Shailaputri is the most powerful and glorified of all. She is worshipped on the first day of the Navratri celebrations. According to the Upanishads, this form of Durga broke the pride of the Gods by assuming the mould of Haimabati.
Brahmacharini -
Durga‘s second appearance is in the form of Brahmacharini. Here "Brahma" means meditation. That is, the Goddess is the meditator or a practitioner of penance. She is seen here holding a string of rosary beads in her right hand and a Kamandalu (an urn containing holy water) in her left hand. In her previous life, when she was reborn as the daughter of Himalaya, she performed severe penance to have Mahadeva as her husband. The sage God Narada advised her to take up meditation to win Shiva. For undergoing strict meditation she was known as Brahmacharini or Tapasyacharini. Ignoring the beating sun and thundershowers, she began a three-hundred-year meditation living only leaves that fell on the forest floor. She furthered her penance making it even stricter by relinquishing food and water for another few hundred years. As she gave up eating leaves she is also referred to as "Aparna". Practising this painstaking contemplation she became weak and skinny. Unable to withstand the plight of her daughter her mother, Manoka requested her to give up her resolution. Shocked at the sight of Durga she exclaimed "u" and "ma". In Sanskrit u is a word of address, and ma means don't or not wanted). That is why Durga is also called "Uma". On the other hand, overwhelmed by Durga‘s devotion and perseverance, all the Gods and sages in heaven were placated. At last, grandfather Brahma, pleased with Devi‘s austerities made an oracle, "O maiden! No one could achieve or endure the penance you have performed to date. I am captivated by your meditation and devotion. Your wish will be fulfilled and you will certainly have Shiva as your husband. You may now return home and rest. Your father will come soon to take you". This form of Durga gives the devotees everlasting success. Worship of this appearance enriches the faculties of sacrifice, honesty and self-discipline. In times of utter distress, the worship of this form gives success and the willpower to come out victorious. This form of Durga is worshipped on the second day of the Durga puja.
Chandraghanta -
Mother Durga‘s third form is known as Chandraghanta. This name finds its justification in the half-moon seen on the temple of the Goddess that resembles a bell. The deity has ten arms. The ten hands of the Goddess brandish ten different weapons. Mounted on a lion this form of the mother is worshipped on the third day of the Navratri celebration. It is believed that a devotee who manages to earn Devi's blessings can set himself free from his sins and hazards that he has committed or may face in his life. The devotee gains the power to sense the supernatural, to see it and even smell the eternal fragrance. He is also able to distinguish the otherwise inaudible celestial sounds. This is the time when the devotee should be alert. Although the deity is always envisaged in the fearsome mood of demolishing evil, her appearance always spreads a calm and eternal peace all around. Mother Chandraghanta‘s devotees spread peace and happiness wherever they go. We should all wholeheartedly worship the mother with a devoted soul. Worship of the deity helps one eliminate the sorrow, hazards and dangers in one's life.

Kushmanda -

The fourth appearance of the Devi is in the form of Kushmanda. The mother gets the name as she created the universe with a smile. When there was darkness everywhere and there was no existence of the universe she created the universe with a smile. She is believed to be the source of eternal power. The Goddess has eight arms and that is why she is also known as "Ashtabhuja". The deity‘s seven hands hold the holy urn (Kamandul), a bow, an arrow, a lotus, a pot containing wine, a disc and a club. The eighth hand holds a string of rosary beads that is believed to provide success and prudence. Pumpkin is termed "Kushmandam" in Sanskrit. Amongst the sacrificial vegetables that are offered in the worship of the Goddess (Naivadhya), pumpkin is the most important vegetable with which Devi Kushmanda is most placated. That is why she is named "Kushmanda". She is worshipped on the fourth day of the Navratri celebration abiding by the rituals that are described in the Sashtra and the Purans. Worship of this form of the Devi exterminates sorrow and diseases and augments life, fame and strength. Mother Goddess is appeased with the slightest of devotion and if anyone whole-heartedly worships the deity he will certainly gain her favour.

Skandamata -

The fifth form of the mother is known as Skandamata. Kumar Kartik‘s other name is Skanda. As Devi Durga is the mother of Kartik, she is referred to as "Skandamata". This form of the deity has four arms. The mother is seen holding her son Skanda in the top right hand and she is holding a lotus in her lower hand. The top left hand is positioned in a blessing gesture and the other hand holds a lotus. The goddess is fair and sits on a lotus. That is why the Devi is also known as "Padmasana". Here she is seen mounted on a lion. If anyone worships her wholeheartedly, she fulfils the wish of the devotee.

Katyayani

Katyayani is the sixth form of Devi Durga. Sage Katyaayan was the son of the great sage Kat. Sage Kattayan was born in the "Katya" clan. He was engaged in rigorous penance and worship of "Bhagavati Paramba". His prayer was all about requesting the mother to appear in his household as his daughter. Mother Bhagavati obliged him. After some time, when, the world was terrorized by Mahishasura, Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva with their divine powers gave form to a Goddess to combat asura and destroy him. Katyaayan was the first to worship her and that is why she is known as "Devi Katyayani". It is mentioned in the Shastra that Katyaayani was born as the daughter of the sage Kattayan. Taking birth on the fourteenth day of the new moon in "Ashwin" (September-October), she accepted the worship of the sage Kattayan on Saptami, Ashtami and Navami and ultimately slew Mahishasura on Dashami. The deity‘s complexion is as bright as gold. She has four hands. The top right hand is positioned in a gesture of providing courage and the other hand is positioned in a gesture of rendering a boon. The top left hand is holding a sword and the other holding a lotus. The Goddess is mounted on a lion and she is worshipped on the sixth day of the Durga puja. If one worships the deity with a pure soul he attains success in religion, wealth, passion and salvation. Disease, sorrow and fear are eliminated. Worship of this deity helps one to emancipate himself from the sin he may have committed over the cycle of his births and rebirths. We should all devote our prayers to the mother to lead a better life.

Kaalratri -

Mother Goddess's seventh form is "Kaalratri". Her complexion is as dark as the night. Her cascading hair is let loose and she is seen wearing a garland that radiates light as bright as lightning. She is fearsome with her menacing three eyes, radiating fire. She is mounted on an ass. She has four hands, of which, the top right hand is in a gesture of rendering boon to all. The other hand on her right is rendering fearlessness. The top left hand is holding an iron dagger and the other hand is holding a sickle. Although she has a menacing appearance, she always delivers favourable results and her devotees need not fear her manifestations are holding an iron dagger and the other hand is holding a sickle. Although she has a menacing appearance, she always delivers favourable results and her devotees need not fear her manifestations. She is worshipped on the seventh day of the Durga puja. Devi Kaalratri destroys evil. If anyone whole-heartedly pleads of saving him from any impending danger, she protects him. As and when the Goddess is called, the evils instantaneously disappear from the place. By the Goddess's grace, the devotees overcome their fear of fire, water, animals and foes.

Mahagouri -

The Mother's eighth form is known as "Maha Gauri". Her complexion is totally white. Her garments are also white. She is mounted on an ox and has four hands. Her top right hand is rendering fearlessness and the hand below holds a trident. The top left hand holds a "Damru" and the hand below is in a gesture of giving a boon. To have Shiva as her husband she went through rigorous penance in the form of "Parvati". As a result of this arduous meditation, her complexion turned dark. Lord Shiva, pleased with the devotion of Parvati, bathed her in the holy water of the Ganges. As she bathed in the holy water she turned fair. From then onwards she became known as "Mahagouri". She is worshipped on the eighth day of the Durga puja. The devotee is benefits on all fronts as he worships the deity. Due to the Goddess's grace, the devotee attains supernatural salvation, he is relieved from all his pains and fatigue and can set himself free from his previous sins. He is never faced with sorrow and poverty and never commits any sin. The devotee wins pure and endless virtue.

Siddhidatri -

Durga's ninth mould is the form of "Siddhidatri". She delivers success. according to "Markendeo Puran" there are eight types of success, such as "Anima", "Laghima", "Prapti", "Prakashya", "Mahima", "Ishhattya", "Bashittya", "Sarvakaam Bashayita" and "Sarvagyata". But in the "Sri Krishna Janmakhanda" of the "Brahmavaivarta Puran", there are another ten types of success such as "Doorsravan", "Parakayaprabeshan", "Baksiddhi", "Kalpavrikshattwa", "Srishti", "Samharkaransamartha", "Amarattwa", "Sarvanaykattwa", "Bhavna" and "Siddhi". Thus there are eighteen types of successes. Mother Siddhidatri is capable of rendering all these forms of success to her devotees. According to the Purans, Lord Shiva achieved salvation by the grace of this deity. The deity is seen sometimes sitting on a lotus and sometimes mounted on a lion. She is four-armed. The lower right hand of the Goddess holds a disc and the upper right hand holds a club. The lower left hand holds a conch shell and the upper hand holds a lotus. She is worshipped on the ninth day of the Durga puja. She is the ultimate form of the Goddess among the Navadurga. After having performed the worship of the other forms of the Goddess according to the rituals mentioned in the Sashtra, the devotee can then start the worship of this deity. Those who worship the Goddess with full devotion are bestowed with all the success. She has been unified with the forces of sustenance and salvation of the great Lord Vishnu.

सोमवती अमावस्या पर शाही स्नान का महत्व

कुंभमेला, जिसे दुनिया का सबसे बड़ा धार्मिक आयोजन कहा जाता है, यूनेस्को की अमूर्त सांस्कृतिक विरासत मानवता की प्रतिनिधि सूची में इसका उल्लेख मिलता है।

अभी हरिद्वार में कुंभ मेला चल रहा है। 

कोविड 19 के चलते इस वर्ष 2021 में कुम्भ का स्वरूप भी बदल गया है।  उचित दुरी एवं मास्क का प्रयोग अनिवार्य है ताकि यह कोरोना वाइरस ज्यादा फैले नहीं।  यात्रियों को भी कुम्भ में आने से पहले कोरोना की नेगेटिव रिपोर्ट लानी अनिवार्य है। 

कुम्भ काल में अमावस्या तिथि (अमावस्या दिवस)आदि कुछ महत्वपूर्ण तिथियों में गंगा के पवित्र जल में स्नान अनुष्ठान को शाही स्नान कहा जाता है। 

अमावस्या तिथि मुख्य रूप से पूर्वजों के लिए समर्पित है। लोग अपने मृतक रिश्तेदारों को श्राद्ध और तर्पण अनुष्ठान करके उनका आशीर्वाद पाने और पितृ दोष (पितरों के श्राप) से छुटकारा पाने के लिए तर्पण करते हैं। यह माना जाता है कि पवित्र जल में डुबकी लगाने से, वह पापों से छुटकारा पा सकता है ।

इसके अलावा, कुंभ मेले के दौरान, तपस्वियों (साधुओं, संतों और अन्य पवित्र पुरुषों) ने अपने शाही स्नान अनुष्ठानों के लिए गंगा किनारे एकत्र होते हैं। 

सोमवती अमावस्या की पौराणिक कथा:

पौराणिक कथा के अनुसार, एक गरीब ब्राह्मण परिवार था.उस परिवार में पति-पत्नी के अलावा एक पुत्री भी थी.वह पुत्री धीरे-धीरे बड़ी होने लगी। उस पुत्री में समय और बढ़ती उम्र के साथ सभी स्त्रियोचित गुणों का विकास हो रहा था.वह लड़की सुंदर, संस्कारवान एवं गुणवान थी.किंतु गरीब होने के कारण उसका विवाह नहीं हो पा रहा था। 

एक दिन उस ब्राह्मण के घर एक साधु महाराज पधारें. वो उस कन्या के सेवाभाव से काफी प्रसन्न हुए.कन्या को लंबी आयु का आशीर्वाद देते हुए साधु ने कहा कि इस कन्या के हथेली में विवाह योग्य रेखा नहीं है। 

तब ब्राह्मण दम्पति ने साधु से उपाय पूछा, कि कन्या ऐसा क्या करें कि उसके हाथ में विवाह योग बन जाए.साधु ने कुछ देर विचार करने के बाद अपनी अंतर्दृष्टि से ध्यान करके बताया कि कुछ दूरी पर एक गांव में सोना नाम की धोबिन जाति की एक महिला अपने बेटे और बहू के साथ रहती है, जो बहुत ही आचार-विचार और संस्कार संपन्न तथा पति परायण है।  

यदि यह कन्या उसकी सेवा करे और वह महिला इसकी शादी में अपने मांग का सिंदूर लगा दें, उसके बाद इस कन्या का विवाह हो तो इस कन्या का वैधव्य योग मिट सकता है। साधु ने यह भी बताया कि वह महिला कहीं आती-जाती नहीं है।  

यह बात सुनकर ब्राह्मणी ने अपनी बेटी से धोबिन की सेवा करने की बात कही.अगल दिन कन्या प्रात: काल ही उठ कर सोना धोबिन के घर जाकर, साफ-सफाई और अन्य सारे करके अपने घर वापस आ जाती। 

एक दिन सोना धोबिन अपनी बहू से पूछती है कि- तुम तो सुबह ही उठकर सारे काम कर लेती हो और पता भी नहीं चलता.बहू ने कहा- मां जी, मैंने तो सोचा कि आप ही सुबह उठकर सारे काम खुद ही खत्म कर लेती हैं.मैं तो देर से उठती हूं.इस पर दोनों सास-बहू निगरानी करने लगी कि कौन है जो सुबह ही घर का सारा काम करके चला जाता है। 

कई दिनों के बाद धोबिन ने देखा कि एक कन्या मुंह अंधेरे घर में आती है और सारे काम करने के बाद चली जाती है।  जब वह जाने लगी तो सोना धोबिन उसके पैरों पर गिर पड़ी, पूछने लगी कि आप कौन है और इस तरह छुपकर मेरे घर की चाकरी क्यों करती हैं?

तब कन्या ने साधु द्बारा कही गई सारी बात बताई.सोना धोबिन पति परायण थी, उसमें तेज था.वह तैयार हो गई.सोना धोबिन के पति थोड़ा अस्वस्थ थे। उसने अपनी बहू से अपने लौट आने तक घर पर ही रहने को कहा।  

सोना धोबिन ने जैसे ही अपने मांग का सिन्दूर उस कन्या की मांग में लगाया, उसका पति मर गया.उसे इस बात का पता चल गया.वह घर से निराजल ही चली थी, यह सोचकर की रास्ते में कहीं पीपल का पेड़ मिलेगा तो उसे भंवरी देकर और उसकी परिक्रमा करके ही जल ग्रहण करेगी।  

उस दिन सोमवती अमावस्या थी। ब्राह्मण के घर मिले पूए-पकवान की जगह उसने ईंट के टुकड़ों से 108 बार भंवरी देकर 108 बार पीपल के पेड़ की परिक्रमा की और उसके बाद जल ग्रहण किया। ऐसा करते ही उसके पति के मुर्दा शरीर में वापस जान आ गई। धोबिन का पति वापस जीवित हो उठा। यह सोमवती अमावस्या का माहात्म्य है जो लोक में प्रचलित है।