Karadyan Nonbu Dates for 2009

Please check Sun's Mina rashi pravesh timings for your city at here.

• USA, Canada: March 13th 2009
• Europe, Africa, Gulf countries, Mauritius: March 14th 2009
• India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka: March 14th 2009
• China, Manglolia, Indonesia: March 14th 2009
• Thiland, Vietnam, Hongkong: March 14th 2009
• Malaysia: March 14th 2009
• Singapore, Japan, Australia, Newzealand, Fiji: March 14th 2009
  

Mahashivaratri 2009

Reference: http://www.mypanchang.com/mahashivaratri.php

About Mahashivaratri Festival




Legands

There are many legands related to mahashivaratri. It is a night of yogi. According to the Puranas, during the great mythical churning of the ocean called Samudra Manthan, a pot of poison emerged from the ocean. The gods and the demons were terrified as it could destroy the entire world. When they ran to Shiva for help, he in order to protect the world, drank the deadly poison but held it in his throat instead of swallowing it. This turned his throat blue, and since then he came to be known as 'Nilkantha', the blue-throated one. Shivratri celebrates this event by which Shiva saved the world.

What to do on mahashivaratri?
Keep Fast (If possible). All night vigil. Chant "OM Namashshivaya" (written as OM NAMAH SHIVAYA but pronouced OM Namashshivaya) all night and pour milk, curd, honey, ghee, sugar, fruit juices, water to shiva linga.

Mahashivaratri Dates for 2009

USA, Canada: February 22nd 2009
Europe, Africa, Gulf countries, Mauritius: February 23rd 2009
India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka: February 23rd 2009
China, Manglolia, Indonesia: February 23rd 2009
Thiland, Vietnam, Hongkong: February 23rd 2009
Malaysia: February 23rd 2009
Singapore, Japan, Australia, Newzealand, Fiji: February 23rd 2009

Thai Poosam 2009

Reference: http://www.mypanchang.com/thaipoosam.php

About Thai Poosam Festival

There are several legends about the festival Thaipusam. Here are a few of them There was a demon named Tarakasura who had a boon that he can be killed only by shiva's son. Tarakasura gave a lot of trouble to the rishis and saints, and devatas. Lord Muruga (Kartikeya swami / Subramanyam swami) was called by his parents Lord Shiva and Parvati and given the job of destroying the Asuran. Lord Muruga set off with the blessings of his parents to destroy the demon. He took with him twelve weapons, eleven of which were given by his father Lord Shiva and the 'Vel' given by his mother Parvati. Lord Muruga destroyed Tarakasura on this Poosam Nakshatra day in the Tamil month of Thai (Sun in Makara rashi) and hence Thai Poosam is celebrated in all Murugan / Subramanyam temples.


Thai Poosam dates for 2009

• USA, Canada, Europe: February 8th 2009
• Africa, Gulf countries: February 8th 2009
• India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka: February 8th 2009
• China, Manglolia, Indonesia: February 8th 2009
• Thiland, Vietnam, Hongkong: February 8th 2009
• Malaysia: February 8th 2009
• Singapore, Japan, Australia, Newzealand, Fiji: February 9th 2009

Bhishma Ekadashi 2009

(Reference: http://www.mypanchang.com/bhishmaekadashi.php)

Bhishma Ekadasi is an auspicious occasion, the birth day of Sri Vishnu Sahasra Nama Sthothram. This sthothram was revealed to Pandavas by Bhishma when he was on the bed of arrows, after the Mahabharatha war. Bhishma was lying on the bed of arrows. After the war, Pandavas approached Bhishma to teach them the higher principles of life and wisdom, from all his great experiences. Bhishma reveals Vishnu Sahasranama Stotra to Pandavas on Magha Suddha Ekadasi day in presence of Lord Krishna, showing Him and telling them that He is Lord of all Lords and praying Him with all 1000 names is all one can ever do to become more dear to Him which itself leads to salvation. Reciting it regularly or even listening to it is itself a great thing that empowers one with the strength to overcome all the difficulties and get on to the right path of Salvation. It is said that he who chants shri vishnu saharanama stotra three times a day he is freed from all worries and gets moksha. Many scholars have written bhashyam on vishnu saharanamam. It's important to understand meaning of vishnu saharanamam to get moksha. Important bhashyams are Sankara bhasyam, and Ramanuja bhashyam. Other bhashyam also exists.

Most temples will start twenty four hour (24 hours) continuous vishnu saharanamam chanting on this day with archana every hour or two. The fact of life is vishnu is everything. Hari-haryor bhedam nasti. There is no difference between hari and hara (shiva). Vishnu is the essense of everything. He is panchanga -- tithi, vaara, nakshatra, yoga and karana. He is time, space, and causation. He is the one who controls maya. We all start our pujas worshipping lord ganesha. But during the end rights only god is worshipped is lord vishnu. Vishnu gives moksha. That is his department. That's because he is everything we need to be vishnumaya. We can be vishnumaya only when we engage ourself into his endless ocean of vishnu's names. The best thing to do is on this day is chant vishnu saharanama on this day. One can find MP3 version of vishnusaharanama online or nearby stores.

When is Bhishma Ekadashi in 2009?

Usa, Canada, Europe: February 5 2009.
Middle East, Africa, India, China, Japan, Australia, NewZeland, Fiji: February 6th 2009

Want more details on other festivals?

Please visit http://www.mypanchang.com/hindufestivals2009.php

Important Links about vishnu saharanama:
http://www.sanskritdocuments.org/all_pdf/vsahasranew.pdf
http://www.prapatti.com/slokas/sanskrit/vishnusahasranaamam.pdf

Ratha Saptami 2009

Reference: http://www.mypanchang.com/

Lord surya (sun) incarnated as lord vishnu on this day. Lord vishnu is decorated as lord sun on this day. Most vishnu temple will decorate lord vishnu as lord sun (Alankaram) on this day. Most temples will perform 'Aruna prashna' parayana on this day. Please visit your nearest vishnu or sun temple. If you are in seattle area please visit http://www.htccwa.org/ ( Hindu Temple and Cultural Center, WA) on this day.

Observance dates of Ratha Saptami in 2009:

• USA, Canada, West-Indies: February 1st 2009
• Rest of the word: February 2nd 2009