Shravan Adhik Maas: The Auspicious Month to Worship Lord Shiva

In the Hindu calendar, Shravan Maas holds great significance as it is dedicated to Lord Shiva, the supreme God of destruction. He enhances inner transformation through non attachment with materialistic things. This month is considered highly auspicious for devotees of Lord Shiva who engage themselves in different spiritual rituals, acts, practices and sadhanas for their spiritual progress, overall happiness and to seek His blessings.

Every three years, an extra lunar month called Adhik Maas, also known as Purushottam Maas, falls between the regular months to fill the gap between the solar and lunar calendar time. Adhik Maas is considered even more auspicious than the regular months, and when it coincides with Shravan Maas, it becomes a special time for spiritual aspirants. This year it is from 18th July to 16th August 2023. It is believed that performing spiritual practices and seeking Lord Shiva's blessings during this period can yield manifold (Adhik) benefits and accelerate one's spiritual growth. 

Devotees engage in various forms of worship and rituals during Shravan Maas to please Lord Shiva. Chanting powerful mantras like ‘Om Namah Shivaya’, ‘Dasha Akshari mantra’ and ‘Mahamrityunajaya mantra’ in Kailasha of Sadhana App are considered highly beneficial for spiritual growth, and overall well-being. Continuous repetition (japa) of these mantras helps spiritual seekers to build a strong bond with the Lord Shiva and to seek His Blessings.

Rudram, the ancient Vedic hymn dedicated to Lord Shiva, holds immense significance during Shravan Adhik Maas. Devotees can perform daily recitation of Rudram in Kailash of Sadhana App to invoke the divine energies and seek protection and blessings from Lord Shiva.

Apart from mantras and hymns, devotees also find spiritual solace in scriptural reading during this month. The Shiv Puran, available in both English and Hindi, is a revered text that recounts the stories, teachings, and glory of Lord Shiva. Engaging in scriptural reading helps deepen one's understanding of Lord Shiva's divine qualities and speeds up their spiritual growth.

Charitable acts hold immense significance during Shravan Adhik Maas. Devotees can donate items such as milk, curd, ghee, sugar, bananas, and white cloth to poor and needy people. These offerings are considered auspicious and symbolize devotion, purity, and surrender to the divine by seeing that same divine in everybody. It is an auspicious time to donate in Kailasha of Sadhana App.

Shravan Adhik Maas acts as a spiritual catalyst for seekers, providing an opportunity to develop intense devotion, self-discipline, and self-transformation. It is believed that sincere and dedicated observance of spiritual practices during this auspicious month can bring grace, protection, and spiritual upliftment. May this sacred month of Shravan bring abundance, blessings, and spiritual growth to all those who embark on this divine path with utmost devotion and love. Om Namah Shivaya!

Purushottam Maas/ Adhik Maas or Mal Maas

Purushottam Maas, also known as Adhik Maas or Mal Maas, is an additional lunar month in the Hindu calendar that occurs approximately every three years. Despite being regarded as an inauspicious month due to its association with the word 'Mal,' meaning impure or dirty as the festivals are not celebrated during this period. It is also called ‘Purushottam Maas’ as it holds significant spiritual importance for devotees as they can foster their inner journey through penance. The name is derived from its association with Lord Vishnu, as 'Purushottam' translates to 'Supreme Person.' It has a spiritual significance as the solar and lunar calendars are aligned with its addition and are also reasons for its name. This is also a very important month as in Shiv Puran it is mentioned, “The worship of Lord Vishnu performed during the month of Shravan fulfils desires and bestows good health!”

The phenomenon of Adhik Maas is a unique aspect of the traditional Hindu calendar. According to the Vasishtha Siddhantha, it occurs every 32 months, 16 days, and 8 ghadi (with one ghadi being 24 minutes approximately). In a solar year of 365 days and about 6 hours, and a lunar year of 354 days, there exists a gap of 11 days, 1 hour, 31 minutes, and 12 seconds. Over a time period of three years, this gap accumulates each year to form an additional month known as Adhik Maas/ Mal Maas/ Purushottam Maas. Generally, it is added within one of the months ranging from Chaitra to Ashwin, and occasionally in Phalgun as well. Although, it is not inserted during the months of Margasheesh, Paush, and Magh. It takes nearly 19 years for the Adhik Maas to reoccur in the same month.

According to Bhavishaye Puran, Malmas or Adhik Maas (also known as Purushottam Maas) is a month in the Hindu lunar calendar that does not have a corresponding solar month. It occurs approximately every two and a half years (thirty two months). During this month, there are no significant solar or lunar events. All ancestral rituals and ceremonies can be performed, but rituals like Yajna and marriage ceremonies are not conducted. Devotional activities such as pilgrimage, dev- darshan (viewing of deities), fasting, and rituals like Simantonnayan (baby shower) can be observed during this month. Similarly, these activities can also be performed in Shukrast (Venus is combust). Even royal coronation ceremonies can take place during Malmas. However, there are restrictions on certain activities during Malmas, such as starting of new fasts and new vows, establishing new deities, Chudakarma (tonsure), Upanayan (sacred thread ceremony), Mantrapasana (chanting of mantras), marriage, construction of new houses, housewarming ceremonies, adoption of a new stage of life (ashram), pilgrimage, consecration ceremonies, Kanya (girl) Dwiragaman (returning to parents' home after marriage), and Yajna (sacrificial rituals). 

Here are some key points regarding the importance of Purushottam Maas:

1. Purification and Atonement: Purushottam Maas is considered a time of purification and spiritual growth. It is believed that performing righteous deeds, engaging in spiritual acts, and observing religious practices during this month can help cleanse one's sins and purify the soul. It is a sacred month when individuals can embark on a transformative journey of spiritual purification and personal enlightenment.

2. Observances and Austerities: Many devotees undertake various religious observances and austerities during Purushottam Maas. This mostly includes observing fasts, reading sacred scriptures, performing religious rituals, offering prayers, and engaging in acts of charity. Such practices are believed to yield greater spiritual merit and accelerate one's progress on the spiritual journey.

3. Spiritual Discipline: Purushottam Maas provides an opportunity for devotees to intensify their spiritual discipline and deepen their connection with their Isht. It is seen as a favourable time for self-reflection, introspection, and strengthening one's devotion through chanting, meditation, and reciting of scriptures.

4. Resolving Past Karmas and Obligations: Purushottam Maas is considered a favourable period for clearing past karmas, fulfilling pending obligations, and resolving any past mistakes or shortcomings. Devotees often use this time to confess misdoings, seek forgiveness, make amendments, and rectify any past wrongdoings.

5. Special Festivals and Rituals: One prominent festival during this month is the Purushottam Ekadashi, a significant day dedicated to Lord Vishnu. On this special day, the devotees observe fast and chant His mantras. Other special days to offer prayers are Purushottam Dwadashi and Purushottam Purnima.

May the blessings of Sri Hari, the Supreme Person, be showered upon us, guiding us on the path of righteousness and bestowing spiritual enlightenment. May this Adhik Maas bring joy, peace, and spiritual progress to all, filling our lives with Divine Grace and Blessings.

Happy Adhik Maas to all, may this sacred month be a time of transformation, enlightenment, and Divine Blessings for each and every one of us.

Pic - Sadhana App

A Vision of My Mother's Manifestation as Goddess in Meditation

Whose eyes are these? They are so familiar!

During a recent chanting session of the Guru Mantra, an extraordinary experience unfolded before me. As I closed my eyes, I found myself immersed in the powerful mantra given to me by my revered Guru Sri Om Swamiji. I saw the radiant eyes, tenderly and lovingly, gazing at me. Gradually, the entire face became clearly visible. Aha! It was my mother! During the whole day, I talked and worked with her but she had given me a vision for the first time in meditation. This unique experience of witnessing my mother's manifestation as a Divine Goddess during meditation is unparalleled. It was a revelation, akin to the visions of revered deities such as Ma Kalratri and Ma Siddhlakshmi.

This spiritual experience reminds me of the interconnectedness of human relationships and spirituality. It highlights that the divine resides not only in holy places or places of worship but within our family members with whom we share the bond of love and affection. The Divine Mother, in her infinite Grace, chose to reveal Herself to me in the form of my own mother, amplifying the significance of our bond and the divinity within each and every person.

It stirred me like one of my previous spiritual experiences during Sri Hari's live aarti. At that moment, I was in tears, yearning for the love of Maa Lakshmi, when suddenly my mother entered my room. With utmost tenderness, she placed her right hand upon my head, providing comfort and assurance that she would always be there, supporting me through both laughter and tears. As I had always worshipped her as Ma Lakshmi!

The extraordinary vision of my mother as a manifestation of Divine Mother has forever imprinted itself upon my spiritual path as she is a guiding force behind my success in all endeavors. It has reaffirmed the boundless power of love and devotion that transcends the limitations of our earthly existence. A poignant reminder is that divinity can manifest in the most unexpected ways, offering solace, guidance, and a profound revelation of our interconnectedness within the tapestry of divine creation.

Vision of Red Light(s) in Deep Meditation

A spark of red light!

While performing the sacred sadhana of Maa Siddhalakshmi in the Golden Palace of Sadhana App, I had a vision of vibrant red light, the sacred color that adorned the form of the benevolent Goddess. It was Her color indicating Her presence. It was a profound sign, a testament to the intimate connection that I had built up over the time with the Divine Mother, the embodiment of abundance and prosperity. 

And as I continued my devotional practices, I found solace in the knowledge that the Divine, in all its boundless Grace, had chosen to reveal itself to me through the wondrous prism of bright red light. The red hue became a catalyst for introspection, compelling me to delve deeper into the depths of my spiritual practice. 

This was not the first time I had seen a red light in meditation. A few years back I experienced it. I was doing the mystical ‘Khand Mand Sadhana’, an extraordinary ritual of profound self purification as mentioned by Om Swamiji in ‘Devi Bhagavatam’ virtual retreat. As I began this intricate Sadhana, I surrendered myself to the Mother Divine with unwavering devotion. My consciousness became one with the ethereal realm, and a serene aura enveloped me like a loving embrace. In the midst of this profound practice, a sight greeted my yearning soul that I had never before witnessed. A brilliant flash of red light shimmered before me in deep meditation, illuminating the inner recesses of my being. My heart longed, and a sense of awe consumed me, for this sight was far from ordinary.  

And so, I continued my sacred Sadhana, basking in the radiance of the red light, forever grateful for the profound connection I share with the Divine. In the depths of my being, I carry the flame of devotion, seeking to explore the uncharted realms of spirituality and transcendence, forever immersed in the boundless love and grace of the Divine Mother. And then, a realization dawned upon me like the first light of dawn as red light dispels the darkness, ignorance, stimulates inner detachment from earthly interests and it is purely uplifting.

In the days that followed, the memory of the red light remained etched within the depths of my consciousness. It became a guiding beacon, a reminder of the profound spiritual journey that lay ahead. The vision of that extraordinary hue became a symbol of the Divine blessings that flowed into my life, a gentle reminder that our beloved Mother, in Her benevolence, would forever guide and protect me. With each passing day, I walked the path of devotion with newfound purpose, knowing that the realm of the Divine held endless mysteries waiting to be unravelled.

You see, in my spiritual journey, I had often encountered divine lights of violet and blue hues, their radiant glow signifying the presence of higher spiritual realms and self purification. Yet, the sight of red light, vibrant and fiery, held an inexplicable power that stirred my soul!

Book Review : Public Speaking Success Secrets: Keys to Powerful Platform, Media and Speaking Skills' by Marsha Sue Petrie

The audiobook named 'Public Speaking Success Secrets: Keys to Powerful Platform, Media and Speaking Skills' by Marsha Sue Petrie provides practical advice to improve public speaking by being a sparkle when you speak.

The book states a clear message about recognising the audience, customising the message to the audience's need and electrifying the group. It advises on overcoming uneasiness, building confidence, and using positive self-talk and visualisation. The book also discusses body language, visual assistance, handling challenging questions, and media management.

It can be of great help for enhancing the public speaking skills, in becoming more confident and effective in front of the audience.

Sharing is Caring

Yesterday, my maid arrived half an hour late. Concerned, I inquired, "Why did you come late? Is your health alright?"

With a sombre expression, she replied, "No, my health is not good. I am unwell. I had a severe headache." She proceeded to recount her recent visit to the doctor for an MRI, who advised her to commence medication before determining the need for an MRI.

Curiously, the prescribed medicines were notably potent, and in the scorching weather, they only exacerbated her discomfort. With empathy, I recommended that she should consume some fresh fruits to alleviate the heat. 

Her response unveiled a financial predicament that burdened her and her husband. They had already invested 15,000 rupees in a cooler to endure the sweltering temperatures, and they had the additional responsibility of purchasing a scooty. Education fees for their two children further depleted their limited funds. Her husband's earnings amounted to a mere 10,000 rupees, while she contributed 12,000 rupees to their modest income. After paying the rent and electricity bills, little remained to allocate towards the purchase of fruits and juice.

Deep in thought, I contemplated the words of wisdom recently shared by my Guru Om Swamiji, advocating the recognition of divinity within every soul. He wrote, “You continue to see the divinity in everything around you, the same divinity you saw in your guru.” In that moment, I pondered how I could extend a helping hand to soothe her. I wondered what actions for Swamiji I would have taken if He was present. Guided by an innate desire to assist, I walked towards my refrigerator and took out two ripe mangoes. They were the symbols of nature's abundance and were destined to bring a touch of sweetness to her life. Approaching her with a warm smile, I handed her the fruits, silently hoping that this small gesture would provide solace in her difficult times. I was happy to be able to help her, and I felt good, knowing that I had followed the teachings of my guru Om Swamiji.

I believe that everyone has the potential to be kind, helpful and generous. We should all try to see the divinity in others, and we should always be willing to share with others. The act of kindness extended to the maid as a reminder that even the simplest acts can transform lives and can build a sense of unity in the world.

How Can Advancers Select Sadhana(s) in Sadhana App?

Before commencing advanced sadhanas, one has to be regular and consistent in spiritual practices. One should have a good knowledge of the meaning and significance of mantras, correct pronunciation, and understanding the power and transformative potential of sound vibrations. Understand the gods or goddesses you are interested in through their stories and what they represent e.g. deity's qualities, symbolism, and their relationship with the practitioner so that a strong bond can be built up.

At this stage, one should be well aware of the mantra compatibility. If you can perform the sadhana for 30 days or more and can easily sit like a rock for 45 minutes then you can increase the time for 40 days to some years and for one hour or more long sadhana per day.

You can do sadhanas with the mantras which have two or more seed syllables.

1. Surya Tantra Sadhana with mantra ‘Om Hrim Ghrini Surya Aaditya Shrim’ for Lord Surya in Amaravati.

2. Navarna Sadhana with mantra ‘Om aim hrim klim chamundayai vichche’ for Ma Durga in Kadamba Forest.

3. Ma Siddhalakshmi Tantra Sadhana with mantra ‘Om Shrim Hrim Klim Shrim Siddhalakshmyai Namah’ for Ma Laxmi in Golden Palace.

4. Dwadashakshari Tantric Sadhana with mantra ‘Om hasphrem khphrem hasaum haskhphrem hasaum hanumate namah’ for Lord Hanuman in Kishkindha.

5. Dwadashakshari Mantra Sadhana with mantra ‘Om ham hanumate rudratmakaye hum phat’ for Lord Hanuman at Kishkindha.

While doing these sadhanas dietary restrictions are almost compulsory. Take light food, eat fruits, vegetables, curd and milk which are easily digestible in less quantity. Whatever you eat, eat it slowly while chewing it very well with total mindfulness. Increase the time gap between the two meals so that the stomach is empty while doing the sadhana. In ‘Kundalini : An Untold Story’ Om Swamiji has mentioned, 'In any case, avoid spicy, oily and deep-fried foods. Being a vegetarian will greatly help your cause because vegetarian food infuses you with sattvic energy.'

If you still have any doubt you can drop a mail at chandrikashubham@gmail.com