Saturday, September 22, 2018

Mahalaya Paksha/Pitru Paksha


(Based on the teachings of Gurudev Swami Divyachetnanadji Maharaj)


Mahalaya Paksha or Pitru Paksha is the 16 day period that falls in the second fortnight of the Hindu month of  Bhadrapada. It ends with Amavasya. Mahalaya Amavasya is also called Sarva Pitri Amavasya. Pitru or Pitris are our ancestors and these days are of paramount importance in offering prayers and food to them.

Our scriptures say we are all born with three kinds of debts:
1. The debt we owe to the Gods – this is repaid by performing Yagyas
2. The debt we owe to the Rishis (Seers/Sages) – this is repaid by study of the scriptures
3. The debt we owe to our ancestors – this is repaid by performing Shraddha and Tarpan  for the deceased

Karna, the great warrior, of the Mahabharata was the son of Suryadev and known for his charity. When he died and went to heaven he found he was only able to get food made of gold which was of no use in satiating his hunger. When he asked the Gods why, Indra told him that this was because throughout his mortal life Karna had only donated gold and gems to the poor but never food and water to them or to his ancestors. Karna realized his mistake and the Gods agreed to let him go back to Earth for a short period to make amends. He fed the poor and needy during this time and this period came to be known as pitru paksha. It is worth noting that in the divine system only pitrus are given 16 days – even Divine Mother gets 9 nights and Lord Ganesh gets 10 days.

During Pitru paksha we make offerings for the satisfaction (tushti), strength (pushti) and liberation (mukti) of our pitrus. Tarpan of water, milk etc, feeds them, recitation of powerful mantras, like any of  the Mahavidya mantras,  Durga saptashati etc, strengthens them and recitation of Bhagwat Katha, Bhagavat Gita, Guru Gita etc. helps liberate them. Additionally acts of charity in their name like feeding others, giving clothes etc. adds to their good karma.

Our elders and especially our parents have made immense sacrifices in bringing us up. Without the generations of ancestors that came before us, we would not exist here and without their contribution we would not have all the things that we have today. It is a known fact that the thoughts and beliefs of a mother influences the thoughts and beliefs of the child while it is in her womb. In fact the good and bad deeds of the family lineage influences all born in the lineage and we take on some of the negative karma of the mistakes of past generations in this life, causing us to experience suffering too.


After leaving the physical body many souls still have a lot of unfulfilled desires and suffer due to this. Pitra Dosh (problems in life due to unhappy ancestors) is indicated by the placement of planets in specific houses in the natal horoscope. This arises when pitrus in the lineage had died due to unnatural causes like snake bite, drowning, in an accident etc., or because they have been wronged by acts like wrongful appropriation of property, injustice meted out towards parents, siblings or others in the family, neglect, abuse or killing of members in the family etc. In these instances the pitrus are not able to move to higher planes and remain here or in lower planes undergoing a lot of suffering. They look towards their offspring lineage to do spiritual work that helps them. There can never be any happiness or progress in families when pitra dosha is present. Dreaming of snakes or of drowning, facing repeated miscarriages, continuous fights and arguments amongst family members, broken marriages, incurable diseases affecting family members, or illness that cannot be diagnosed are all symptoms of pitru dosha impacting the family lineage.

Pitra Dosha can be alleviated to an extent by regularly performing shraadha, tarpan, daan etc. for the pitrus throughout the year on all appropriate occasions. Additionally special prayog’s (spiritual practices) using mantra, yantra and tantra on special days in special teertha (holy) places can be very fruitful in addressing pitra dosha. One off the most effective methods of addressing pitra dosha is the prayog of Ma Bagalamukhi (the eighth Mahavidya) with her mantras on an Amavasya that falls on Saturday.

Our pitrus in various subtle astral bodies reside in the world called Bhuva and enjoy or suffer based on the karma they have incurred from deeds in past lifetimes. Offerings made to them reach them in whatever subtle body they exist through the pitru devas and help alleviate any sufferings they may be undergoing as well as help them ascend to higher worlds. They in turn bless us and we progress and prosper.

During Mahalaya paksha we honor individual ancestors with special offerings and rites performed to each ancestor depending on the thithi (date) when they died. The Shraddha ceremony can be performed to all pitrus on the Mahalaya Amavasya day irrespective on when they died and also to compensate if we could not perform the rites on their annual death day.

Wednesday, September 19, 2018

The True Meaning of celebrating Ganesh Chaturthi and pleasing Ganesh




(based on the Pravachan of Gurudev Swami Divyachetnanandji Maharaj)


Ganesh is the head of all the deities. We recite “Ganaanaam cha Ganapati …” - Gana means group, Pati means head – Ganapati is the head of all. He represents the Earth element which is why he is so heavy. He is the most intelligent and if you read about him in the scriptures this has been demonstrated through many stories about him.

Currently the ten days of Ganesh are ongoing. Most of us have made/bought a clay idol of Ganesh and worshiped him, and have/will immerse this idol in water (visarjan). But that is not what Ganesh worship and pleasing him is all about. We need to try to understand what Ganesh represents, what we need from him and what we should take from him during these days.

This body is a temple. All the deities reside in it. What is outside is also inside. Ganesh resides at the Muladhara chakra. Mula means base, so Ganesh is the base. Ganesh got blessings from all the Gods that he would be the first one to be prayed too. He is “pratham pujya”. If we have his blessings, if we imbibe his qualities we will be first and foremost too. We should strive to be like him.

Ganesh has two wives – Riddhi and Siddhi. He has two sons – Shubha and Labha. His sons are said to be very young. Mothers are always present where their young children are. If we honor Shubha and Labha then their Mothers will automatically be there for us too.

What is Shubha? Doing all virtuous deeds is called Shubha. Not harming anybody may be good karma but it is not a shubha karma. Shubha karma is doing good to others. Doing karma that will benefit others. Charity comes from this. Doing more and more for others without any ego; that is, not doing charity with an expectation to receive praise. It is said about daan (charity) that when you give something others should not know. Even your own left hand should not know that your right hand gave. This is true charity. When we do more and more good karma like being with Guru, listening to pravachans, understanding them, practicing what was taught, experiencing the benefits of the teachings and then in turn spreading the teachings to others, it is shubha karma. If we change the lives of a hundred people for the better it is shubha karma. Our life on Earth has been useful.

If we have done a lot of shubha karma, labha automatically comes to us. Labha means gains. Gaining more and more. As an example, if we know exactly how much wealth we have it means that we don’t have enough. When we have so much wealth that we can’t even keep count of it and still more and more keeps pouring in, we are indeed wealthy. Wealth is not just money, it is all good things. Labha means countless blessings keep coming our way. Infinite kinds of Lakshmi always come to us when we do Shubha. Bliss is always there.

Riddhi is prosperity/wealth/good fortune and Siddhi is special spiritual powers. When Shubha and Labha are with us automatically Riddhi and Siddhi are with us too. When all these four are there then Ganesh is there. Ganesh represent Swastik – these four – the entire family inside. Swasth is kalyan. All these are hidden inside Ganesh only.

But the key to having Ganesh with us always is based only and only upon the shubha karma we have done and are doing. Keep doing shubha karma always and Ganesh will always be with you.  And the origin of all shubha karma begins with respecting one’s own parents. Because our origin starts from our parents. Respect parents do shubha karma and be always with Ganesh.

This is the true meaning of celebrating Ganesh.

Jai Ganesh

Jai Gurudev

Monday, August 27, 2018

The Bhagavad Gita and its relevance in todays world


( based on the pravachans of Gurudev Swami Divyachetnanandji Maharaj)                       

   ॐ परम् तत्त्वाय नारायणाय गुरुभ्यो नमः  




The Bhagavad Gita starts with the words “Dharma Kshetre Kuru Kshetre”.  Kshetra means a place and kuru means doing. The Bhagavad Gita was set in the place where actions were done for Dharma. What is Dharma? “Dhaarayati Sa Dharma – that which is worth adopting is Dharma”, or, in other words that concept, by adopting which, we become one with God is Dharma.



In real life, we are all constantly fighting the Mahabharat. This war is being fought within us. Both the daivi (divine) forces and the aasuri (evil) forces are battling within us and the Kurukshetra is our mind.  The truth is we look for enemies outside, but most of our enemies are within. We fight with laziness, lethargy, procrastination, jealousy, anger, hatred, intolerance, prejudice, fear, selfishness etc. All these enemies hold back our progress, totally destroying our peace of mind and preventing us from leading a perfect life.



The last line of the Bhagavad Gita is :


“Yatra Yogeshwara Krishna, 
Yatra Paartho Dhanur Dhara, 
Tatra Shrir-Vijayo Bhootir
 Dhruva Neetir Matir Mama” 
  • Here Krishna is being referred to as Yogeshwar. Yogeshwar, or ishwara of yoga, is Shiva. This line means wherever Krishna is present in his Yogeshwar or Shiva like form, controlling all his senses, and ready to work for the welfare of all. This is the real meaning of a Yogi. 
  • Arjun is called Parth. Parth means pritha putra. Pritha or related to the Earth, putra or son. Dhanurdhar means one who is holding the bow in his hand. Arjuna has lifted up his bow ready to let pull the string and launch the arrows. He is poised and ready to battle. Just before this he had said to Krishna” O Lord, I will do as you bid me to”. 
  • Vijay means Victory,  Shree means, wealth and opulence, Neeti means righteous behavior, Bhooti means exceptional power, Dhruva Matir Mama means this is my strong opinion.

A simple translation is - where Lord Krishna, in his Yogeswar form and Arjun as Parth, armed and poised for battle are present, there will certainly be opulence, victory, prosperity, exceptional power and righteousness. This is my opinion.

In other words, when we have controlled our minds and senses and are armed and ready to fight for dharma there will always be opulence, victory, prosperity, exceptional power and righteousness for us.

The Bhagavad Gita is not an epic poem or a story from the past. It is all about dharma, the conflict around dharma, the dilemma and the personal choices one faces. Therefore its teachings are relevant today, tomorrow and will remain relevant in all the centuries to come.  


Jai Gurudev
Jai Shri Krishna