{"id":1400,"date":"2012-11-10T20:48:02","date_gmt":"2012-11-10T20:48:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.nhsf.org.uk\/2012\/11\/vagh-baaras-dhan-teras-kali-chaudash\/"},"modified":"2020-07-16T12:04:37","modified_gmt":"2020-07-16T11:04:37","slug":"vagh-baaras-dhan-teras-kali-chaudash","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nhsf.org.uk\/?p=1400","title":{"rendered":"Vagh Baaras, Dhan Teras, Kali Chaudash"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Sanjay Parekh<\/strong><\/em>
\nNHSF (UK) Learning Team<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

The Diwali<\/i> period celebrates eight joyful festivals, which are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Ramaa Ekadashi<\/b><\/td>\n10 November 2012 (Aashwin Vad 11)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Vagh Baaras<\/b><\/td>\n11 November 2012 (Aashwin Vad 12)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Dhan Teras<\/b><\/td>\n11 November 2012 (Aashwin Vad 13)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Kali Chaudash<\/b><\/td>\n12 November 2012 (Aashwin Vad 14)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Deepavali<\/b><\/td>\n13 November 2012 (Aashwin Vad 15)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Annakut \/ New Year<\/b><\/td>\n14 November 2012 (Kartik Sud 1)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Bhai-Dhuj<\/b><\/td>\n15 November 2012 (Kartik Sud 2)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Labh Pancham<\/b><\/td>\n18 November 2012 (Kartik Sud 5)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

<\/p>\n

\n

Vagh Baaras<\/h2>\n

Vagh Baaras is also known as \u2018Govatsa Dwadashi’<\/i> or ‘Guru Dwadashi’<\/i>.<\/p>\n

On this day, Puja is offered to the sacred cow and calf. \u2018Vagh\u2019<\/i> refers to repaying one’s financial debts; hence people clear their account books today. New transactions are then avoided until Labh Pancham<\/i>, and people then use new ledgers.<\/p>\n

\n

Dhan Teras<\/h2>\n

Two days before Diwali<\/i>, Hindus observe \u2018Dhan Teras\u2019<\/i> (also known as \u2018Dhantrayodashi\u2019<\/i>), in honour of Dhanavantri<\/i>, the physician of the gods and an incarnation of Vishnu.<\/p>\n

The Legend of Samudramanthan<\/h3>\n

The legend of Samudramanthan is at the heart of these celebrations. On day, Lord Indra ignored Sage Durvasa\u2019s presence. In a fit of temper, he cursed Indra: \u2018The pride of wealth has entered your head, so let Lakshmi forsake you.\u2019 Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, power and radiance, left Indra, and his life became miserable. The demons waiting for such an opportunity, invaded heaven, defeating Indra and the gods, forcing Indra into hiding.<\/p>\n

A number of years passed. Indra’s guru, Brihaspati, along with the Gods, went to Brahma to seek help. Brahma guided them to Vishnu and put forth the appeal of the gods. Vishnu said:<\/p>\n

\u2018Don’t fear \u2013 I will show you a way out. The sea of milk must be churned. It is a very difficult job. Therefore, gain the friendship of the demons and get their assistance; use Mandara Mountain as a churning rod and Vasuki, the king of the serpents, as a rope.<\/i><\/p>\n

I will come to your assistance at the proper time. When the sea is churned ambrosia will be produced. The gods must drink it and become immortal. It will then be possible for you to defeat the demons. When the sea is churned, Lakshmi who has disappeared will appear again. Her grace will be bestowed on you.\u2019<\/i><\/p>\n

The clever Brihaspati managed to strike a friendship with the demons who agreed in the hope of getting ambrosia and wealth. After initial difficulties posed by the sinking of mount Mandara, it was set right by Lord Vishnu who took the form of a tortoise and hoisted it on his back. Then the churning started. First, Kalakuta, a dreadful poison was produced which Lord Shiva drank much to the relief of the Gods and Demons. Due to Vishnu’s continued encouragement, gods and demons continued churning the sea.<\/p>\n

As the sea continued to be churned the Apsara damsels were born. After that a surprising spectacle appeared. In the midst of the waves of the sea of milk, a goddess with heavenly looks came into view. She was standing on a fully blossomed lotus and wearing a lotus garland with a lotus in her hand. She was radiantly smiling, and was Lakshmi herself. She was born in the sea of milk, and was called Samudratanya.<\/p>\n

The gods and demons continued to churn the ocean for Amrut (nectar). Finally, Dhanavantri emerged carrying a jar of the elixir (ambrosia). Both the demons and the Devas wanted the ambrosia, but Vishnu intervened to give the immortal nectar to the Gods \u2013 the demons were defeated. Thus the churning of the ocean resulted in the immortality of the Devas and was the reason for Lakshmi’s emergence.<\/p>\n

\"Kali<\/a><\/p>\n

Dhan Teras Today<\/h3>\n

Dhan Teras falls on the thirteenth day of the month of Ashwin. \u2018Dhan\u2019 means wealth. In the past, cows formed a person’s wealth and were offered Puja on this day. Hindu Dharma’s scriptures have advocated benefitting from wealth only through the codes of Dharma. According to the Law of Karma, wealth acquired by any other means will create discord in one’s life as well as in society. Lakshmi, as the goddess of wealth and in the form of currency are offered Puja (worship).<\/p>\n

This day of the Diwali period is of great importance for the rich mercantile community of Western India. Houses and business premises are renovated and decorated. Entrances are made colourful with lovely traditional motifs of Rangoli designs to welcome the Goddess of wealth and prosperity. To indicate her long-awaited arrival, small footprints are drawn with rice flour and vermilion powder all over the houses. Lamps are kept burning all through the nights.<\/p>\n

As this day is believed to be auspicious, women purchase some gold or silver or at least one or two new utensils. Lakshmi Puja is performed in the evenings when tiny divas of clay are lighted to drive away the shadows of evil spirits. Bhajans, or devotional songs, in praise of Goddess Lakshmi are sung and Naivedya of traditional sweets is offered to the Goddess. There is a peculiar custom in Maharashtra to lightly pound dry coriander seeds with jaggery and offer as Naivedya.<\/p>\n

In villages cattle are adorned and worshipped by farmers as they form the main source of their income. In south cows are offered special veneration as they are supposed to be the incarnation of Goddess Lakshmi and therefore they are adorned and worshipped on this day.<\/p>\n

\n

Kali Chaudash<\/h2>\n

Kali Chaudash falls on the second last day of the Hindu calendar. This day is also known as \u2018Narak Chaturdashi\u2019<\/i> because Lord Krishna had vanquished Narkaasur.<\/p>\n

Devotees also pray and offer Puja to Hanuman to remove inauspiciousness and fear of evil spirits and beings.<\/p>\n

Origin<\/h3>\n

The evil king Narkaasur confiscated all the beautiful and valuable objects in the world. Rampaging through the 3 worlds (Loka), he also looted the ear-rings of Aditi, the mother of the Gods.<\/p>\n

When the Gods prayed for assistance, Shri Krishna vanquished Narkaasur, releasing 16,000 women captives. In jubilation, the Gods celebrated the occasion by lighting ‘divas’. When Narkaasur lay dying, he prayed to Shri Krishna, \u2018Let those who bathe before sunrise on my death anniversary not go to hell.\u2019 The Lord granted the boon.<\/p>\n

In essence this means that one who has been enlightened within (becomes ‘Brahmarup’<\/i>) will not fear death. For this we need to eradicate our 51 ‘bhutas’<\/i> (vices), which are:<\/p>\n

Maya\u2019s 3 Gunas; 10 Indriyas; 10 Pranas; 4 Antahkarans; 5 Bhutas; 5 Vishayas;<\/i><\/p>\n

14 Devatas of the Indriyas<\/i>.<\/p>\n

In becoming Brahmarup and offering devotion to Parabrahma, we truly celebrate Kali Chaudash.<\/p>\n

\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Sanjay Parekh NHSF (UK) Learning Team The Diwali period celebrates eight joyful festivals, which are: Ramaa Ekadashi 10 November 2012 (Aashwin Vad 11) Vagh Baaras 11 November 2012 (Aashwin Vad 12) Dhan Teras 11 November 2012 (Aashwin Vad 13) Kali Chaudash 12 November 2012 (Aashwin Vad 14) Deepavali 13 November 2012 (Aashwin Vad 15) […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":18,"featured_media":3397,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[715],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1400","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-utsavs"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nhsf.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1400","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nhsf.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nhsf.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nhsf.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/18"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nhsf.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1400"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.nhsf.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1400\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nhsf.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/3397"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nhsf.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1400"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nhsf.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1400"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nhsf.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1400"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}