TAVASMI

1. TAVASMI September 16, 2012

2. Agenda Mangalacharan, Yamunastak Tavasmi Review Quiz Mangala Darshan Mangal Mangalam Vrajbhoomi Mangalam Tulsiji Adhik Mas

3. Tavasmi Quiz How many aartis are done at a Pushti Marg temple? Which darshan are they done at? What is the day after Janmastami called? This was the site of the First Betak, what special day was it in Shravan mahino?

4. Mangala Darshans • This is the first darshan of the day. • This darshan is open for 45 minutes. • The name Mangla underlines auspiciousness of beginning the day with a glimpse of lord. • In winter this darshan takes place before sunrise, while in summer, it is later. The bhaav is that during summer Shreeji plays longer and so will sleep later; hence has to be woken up late. In winter He sleeps early, so will be awake earlier for the Mangala darshans.a • In Nathdwara, during Mangla darshan, the main doors are kept closed and are only opened after the customary initial rituals. This ensures that the drowsy divine child is not startled by large crowds rushing in to see Him. It also accords with the mood of the darshan, which is baal bhaav, the feelings of a parent concerned about a child's well-being so that the svarup should not be tempted to play with his young companions as opening doors might tempt him to run out!

5. Mangala contd • In summer, Shrinathji is clad simply in an adbandha, a light dhoti. • In the winter season, He is covered totally in a rajai (blanket) so that only the Mukharvind (face) is visible. There is a sigri (coal fire) lit before Him to create warmth. • Things that happen prior to darshan (viewing open to public): Shreeji is woken with the sound of Shankhnaad, Mangala bhog (aka breakfast) is served. • Before Takorji has Mangal Bhog, nobody is allowed to speak too loudly. After Mangal Bhog is offered, darshan is opened, the kirtan sung first is, Mangal Mangalam Vrajbhoomi Mangal. • It is written by Gusainji. He taught the kirtan to a Ashtasakha and told him to sing it daily. • It starts as “Mangal Mangalam Vrajbhoomi MangalMangal Mih Shri Nand Yashoda” • It translates to “All over vrajbhumi there is auspiousness. Nanda and Yashoda are also in bliss.”

6. Mangala • This morning darshan is dedicated to the memory of Paramandadas, one of the asthachhaap poets. • The bhaav behind this darshan is that in Nandalaya (at Mathura), all His sakha and gopijan will come for the Darshans of Bal Krishna. • His flute is not placed in his hand, for it is felt that if he were to play it early in the morning, everyone would be enchanted and all work would come to a standstill! Though it is placed near him because the flute is never far from Shreenathji. It is placed near him, even when he sleeps. • Aarti is offered to Shrinathji during this darshan. This ritual banishes the evil spirits which hover around in the darkness of the night, seeking to cause harm.

7. Mangal Mangalam Vrajbhoomi Mangalam • Listened to 20 mins talk on Mangal Mangalam Vrajbhoomi Mangalam by Dr. Piyushbhai Parikh at Vraj (PA) during Adhik mahino 2012 explaining the meaning of Mangal Mangalam Vrajbhoomi Mangalam

8. What is Panchang? • The word Panch means Five and Ang means Part, hence putting these two words together it means Five Parts or Five Elements. • Each of these elements or parts of a panchang is important in making a Hindu calendar. • Panchang can be classified into two: Jyotish panchang and Commerce panchang. • Jyotish Panchang is mainly used for astrological forecasts and horoscope related matters. • Commerce (vyaavharik) Panchang is mainly used to determine hindu festivals, muhurats and so on. This panchang is referred mainly by priests and householders to check Tithis, Var, Muhurat and soon. • In Western Calendar, similar to Panchang is Western Ephemeris

9. History of Panchang • In earlier days, Panchang used to be derived from Grahaladhav granth which was written by Pandit Daivagya about 500 years ago. • The Grahaladhav granth was the basis of all Panchangs in India till early 1900’s. Since this Granth had inherent flows in calculations, the Panchang derived from this Granth was not accurate and over a period of time, derived Panchang drifted from the actual positions of the Sun, Moon and other planets. • In order to correct the inaccuracies in calculations and to address the modern day needs, Janmabhumi Press and Sandesh Press in Gujarat came up with altogether a new method to derive the present day Panchang which is partly based on Grahaladahv granth, Western Ephemeris published in UK and rules set by the Indian Calendar Reform Committee in 1955. Janmabhumi and Sandesh panchangs are the most accurate and authoritative panchangs in India and elsewhere in the world

10. tithi • tithi is a lunar day, or the time it takes for the longitudinal angle between the moon and the sun to increase by 12°. • Tithis begin at varying times of day and vary in duration from approximately 19 to approximately 26 hours based on the angular rotation of moon around the earth in its elliptical orbit. • There are 30 tithis in each lunar month (360°/12° results in 30 tithis in a month). • Each lunar month has two fortnights (Old English: 14 nights), each lunar fortnight (paksha) consists of 15 Tithis.

11. Bethak # 4 • SHRI MAHAPRABHUJI'S BAITHAKJI AT VRINDAVAN BANSIBAT • BANSIBATT, VRINDAVAN-381 121. DIST. MATHURA (U.P.) • Near Bansi Ghat under the tree of Kadamb, this Baithakji resides. • Yamuna takes us to god, Krishna. • Yamuna is also called Kalinidi, because she absolves us our dosh in the Kali yug. • Gopaldas Gauriya had a seva of Shaligram (black colored stone), but he wanted to changed his swaroop because he wanted to do intricate shringaar to it. Vallabhacharya said he could NOT change the swaroop, but if his bhaav was good enough, he would be able to do shringaar of his choice. And from the next day he was able to. • Also right next to Vallabhacharya's betak is Gusaiji's betak, Gokulnathji's betak and Damodardas Harsaniji's Betakji. • While Gusainji was here he was able to bring to life all the various statues of swaroop after gazing them with his eyes.

12. Bethak # 5 • Shri Mahaprabhuji's BaithakVishram Ghat,MathuraUPnear Kadamb tree again. • During His India “foot tour”, while in Jharakhand Shreenathi came to Vallabhacharya’s dream, and told Him “I have come out of Giriraj, come here and start my seva” • While here a Vaishnav came to him and told him there is a place on Vishram ghat , where there was a spell cast by some Muslims, that if you enter your shikha (a long of lock of hari on the crown of the head of most Hindus of the time) disappears and a beard develops. • So Vallabhacharya cast a spell at some place in Dehli that if you enter, it will remove the beard and add a shikha

13. 108 • Why P.P.P. Goswami 108? • 1008 means the same as God (Bhagvan), while 108 means like Bhagvan but not Bhagvan. More over it has it's numerology, 12 * 9 = 108. 9 is seen as a complete number because when you multiply it by any number. The total of that multiplications adds up to 9. As in this case 1+0+8 = 9 • 12 represent 12 ang's (organs) of ShriNathaji (Dwadash ang as per ShriMad Bhagvat).

14. Query about Brahma-sambandh • Only VallabhKul Balak (Son) can give Brahmsambandh to Vaishnavs and not Betiji. • One can take “Kanthi” from a “Vallabh Vanshaj” and now you must take “Brahmasambandh” from any “Vallabhkul Balak” • What does it mean to take Kanthi? • It’s like a first step into Pushti Marg. It is not a necessary step prior to taking Brahmasambandh. It’s like so you can develop some sort of interest in Pushti Marg, that you would want more. • You don’t have to take the PSAT’s to take the SAT’s. • When giving Brahmasambandh a Goswami Balak has to be in the middle of seva, so they can give Brahma sambandh. They can’t just give it any time outside of that.

15. Tulsiji • Tulsi leaves after being offered to God should be consumed by swallowing and not bitten in between the teeth like pan. • Why?We cannot use sharp instrument because in Pushti Marg as in most/all of Hinduism regard Tulsiji is Swaminiji of Krishna. We just Pluck the leaves for offering to Takorji. We can use scissors to the stems incase we have cut the Tulsiji plant. • Also Tulsi should not be offered or consumed on Ekadashi. We will need to find out the reason behind this.Also maybe should not be plucked on Sunday. Does anyone knows the reason behind it or whether it’s true?

16. Adhikmas • We are currently in the Adhik mas. • Since the lunar based calendar is shorter (or lags), a month is added approx. every 2.5 yrs. • Adhik mas is known to have a blue moon within the month. We had one August 31st (second full moon of August) • It’s name changed from mal mas to Adhik mas (AKA Purshottam mas) and it is considered even more auspicious than Shravan, people. People fast the entire month and listen to religious katha all day. • But why are people so wary to hold important events (i.e. wedding, other events) during the month? • There is no zodiac that belongs to this station in the nakshatra and for that reason no possible to have a way find the good or bad time.