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Temple Calendar
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HINDU TEMPLE OF CENTRAL ILLINOIS NIRVANA GARDENS CITY OF WEST PEORIA
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TEMPLE CALENDAR 2023
JANUARY
- Sunday, January 1 - New Years Day special event
- Monday, January 2 - Vaikuntha Ekadashi
- Friday, January 6 - Paushya Poornima
- Tuesday, January 10 - Sankatahara Chaturthi
- Saturday, January 14 - Sankranti
- Friday, January 27 - Ratha Saptami
FEBRUARY
- Saturday, February 4 - Magha Poornima
- Thursday, February 9 - Sankatahara Chathurthi
- Saturday, February 18 - Maha Shivaratri
MARCH
- Monday, March 6 - Phalgun Poornima/Holi
- Friday, March 10 - Sankatahara Chaturthi
- Wednesday, March 22 - Chandramana Ugadi
- Thursday, March 30 - Shri Ram Navami/Swami Narayan Jayant
APRIL
- Wednesday, April 5 - Chaitra Poornima
- Sunday, April 9 - Sankatahara Chathurthi
- Friday, April 14 - Souramana Ugadi
MAY
- Thursday, May 4 - Vaishakha Poornima
- Monday, May 8 - Sankatahara Chathurthi
JUNE
- Saturday, June 3 - Jyestha Poornima
- Tuesday, June 6 - Sankatahara Chathurthi
JULY
- Sunday, July 2 - Ashadha Poornima
- Thursday, July 6 - Sankatahara Chathurthi
- Monday, July 31 - Adhika Shravan Poornima
AUGUST
- Friday, August 4 - Adhika Shravan Sankatahara Chaturthi
- Friday, August 25 - Vara Mahalakshmi Pooja
- Wednesday, August 30 - Nija Shravan Poornima/Upakarma
SEPTEMBER
- Sunday, September 3 - Nija Shravan Sankatahara Chaturthi
- Wednesday, September 6 - Nija Gokulashtami
- Monday, September 18 - Ganesh festival
- Thursday, September 28 - Bhadrapada Poornima
- Friday, September 29 - Pitrupaksha Prarambha
OCTOBER
- Monday, October 2 - Sankatahara Chaturthi
- Sunday, October 15 - Navratri
- Friday, October 20 - Brahmotsavam start
- Sunday, October 22 - Mahanavami
- Monday, October 23 - Vijaya Dashami
- Saturday, October 28 - Ashwin Poornima
- Tuesday, October 31 - Sankatahara Chaturthi/Karwa Chouth
NOVEMBER
- Friday, November 10 - Dhan Trayodashi
- Saturday, November 11 - Naraka Chaturdashi
- Sunday, November 12 - Deepavali Dhanalakshmi Pooja
- Monday, November 13 - Bali Padyami/First Karthik Somvara
- Monday, November 20 - Second Karthik Somvara
- Sunday, November 26 - Karthik Poornima
- Monday, November 27 - Third Karthik Somvara
- Thursday, November 30 - Sankatahara Chaturthi
DECEMBER
- Monday, December 4 - Fourth Karthik Somvara
- Monday, December 11 - Last Karthik Somvara/Sahasra Jyotirlinga Pooja
- Tuesday, December 26 - Margashirsh Poornima
- Wednesday, December 27 - Vaikuntha Ekadashi
- Saturday, December 30 - Sankatahara Chathurthi
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Temple Festivals, significance and timing
Navaratri
1. Significance of “Sri Chakra Puja” performed during Navarathri
This is of much significance to our Temple with its OM on Sri Chakra Logo. The logo has the Sri Chakra in the planar projected view. The three dimensional "Meru" (descibed further below) is prayed to over the nine days at the Temple.
Worship is done to the goddess in the Sri Chakra as it is the form-pattern of the goddess, the spot in which all the rays fo the Great Radiance are focused. There develops an intimate relationship between the worshipper and Sri Chakra, as the worship proceeds and the worshipper begins to feel this emblem of the great goddess as a part of himself/herself. There are 2 forms in which the Sri Chakra is worshipped. One form is that in which all the nine Chakras of Sri Chakra are on one and the same plane. This is the popular Sri Chakra in the form of lines, either engraved or embossed. The other form which is known as Meru is where one finds that nine Chakras are on different elevations, not on the same plane.
The Meru too is of three kinds. What differentiates them is the positioning of the various chakras and the lotuses of 16 and 8 petals in relation to each other.
There is a special form of worship prescribed for Sri Chakra which is known as Navavarana Puja. This is a systematic worship of the deities situated in the nine chakras of Sri Chakra.
The Bindu is the centre of the Sri Chakra and is surrounded by the eight Chakras. One has to pass through a host of parivara devatas to get a glimipse of the pradhana devata in the Bindu. The nine chakras can be called as nine sheaths, kosas, covering the Supreme Truth, nine planes through which one has to traverse to reach the summit, nine steps in the staircase of existence. Whatever is the figure used, it is evident that it is not easy to reach the Supreme Goddess Lalita; the journey is arduous, has to be undertaken in various stages and cannot be effected at a stretch.
The bidustana is well guarded by the ramparts of chakras and is well concealed from the eyes of the uninitiated. If we consider Sri Chakra in the form of Meru, as a series of graded elevations from Bhupura to Bindu, each chakra is a stage in the ascent of the being, a plateau amidst the rising slopes of the mountain Meru. To reach the summit is an uphill task and one has to rest at the various chakras before one can proceed ahead. As one climbs from chakra to chakra, greater and greater vistas are opened out before one. Finally when one nears the summit thinking everything is lost, all is gained with the grand vision of the Supreme Goddess in the Bindu.
It should be noted that these steps, stations, or plateaus are there in one’s own being and there is a close correspondence between the levels in one’s own being and the levels in Sri Chakra. This is the rationale underlying the worship of the Nava Avaranas, avarana meaning an enclosure or a veil.
There are nine enclosures to be traversed, nine veils to be lifted before one could come face to face with the Truth. The knowledge is concealed in these folds. In the process, the veil/fold is just lifted up.
In the nava avarana puja, worship is done to the Sri Chakra, chakra by chakra. The worship proceeds from the outer to the inner, from the Bhupura to the Bindu, from the Trailokya Mohana to the Sarvanandamaya chakra. Each of the chakras have a presiding deity, yoginis and Mudra devatas. There is an appropriate mantra consisting of seed letters for each presiding deity of the chakra. Each avarana puja is dedicated with devotion to the great Goddess who treats with motherly love those who take refuge in her and the fulfillment of one’s wish is prayed for.
Apart from the Navavarana worship, there is the worship of the Devi in Sri Chakra by reciting the thousand occult names of Lalita, Lalita Sahasranama. It is said that the royal goddess is immediately pleased when archana, worship is done with leaves of the Bilva, lotuses or the leaves of Tulasi. It is enough for the devotee to do worship of the Sri Chakra, to do Japa of the Sri Vidya and to recite the thousand names.
The Tanra attaches great importance to the worship of Sri Chakra on fullmoon nights.
2. Celebrating Navaratri
NAVARAATHRI the festival of lights and KOLU the festival of dolls.
Navaraathri is the worship of the female trinity of Goddesses; Durga, Lakshmi, and Saraswathi. Our cosmos envisages the existence of Brahman the absolute. In Sanskrit, Brahman is in the neuter gender. It has no gender and refers to the completeness (PURNAM). The male trinity Brahma, Vishnu, and Siva each
has his own well defined sphere of activity. They are all in the masculine gender in Sanskrit. The Primordial Energy:- Adi Shakthi which is in feminine gender in Sanskrit, generated three PURNAMS-- Veeryam (Heroism) represented by Durga; Dhanam (wealth) represented by Lakshmi and Vidya (learning-knowledge) represented by Saraswathi, each one of them alternately engaged in their own task.
Navaarathri occurs in the month of Kanyaa (Purattaasi) in some years and in the others in the month of
Adi Shakti is invoked by the Navaakshari or nine syllables "Hreem Durgaa, Lakshmi Saraswathi" in the Sanskrit language, the language of the Divinity, "Devanagiri". Navaraathri worship is called Dussera in
In most parts of
In
On the tenth day, known as Vijayadasami, Godess Saraswathi is worshipped again. The books from the altar are received with the blessings of the elders and some time is spent on study. On this day a child begins to learn the alphabets in a ceremony known as Akshara-abhyaasa. New businesses are started, and it is considered auspicious to start music, dance and other educational endeavors for young and old, and this is called "Vidya-arambam" (commencement to learn an art). It is believed that any trade or skill begun on this day will succeed. In Bengal Saraswathi Pooja is celebrated on Basant Panchami day. Saraswathi Pooja marks the beginning of any type of learning. One offers gifts to ones teacher as mark of thanks, seek their blessings and prays for success in ones endeavors.
Navaraathri is a festival of enjoyment for people of all ages and both sexes, especially children and teens of female sex. In fact all Hindu festivals are socio-religious in observance and the central theme is the victory of virtue over unrighteousness, good over evil, light over darkness and wisdom over ignorance.
In
Groups of girls and ladies invite and are invited, and visit each others houses in the evenings, in their best attire to view the Navaraathri display, sometimes also dressing up as different mythological characters. The visitors entertain the host by singing and dancing. There is a display of talents and expertise in full, not to mention the finery of dresses. In temples such as Madurai Meenakshi and Mylapore Kapaleeswara, the kolu tradition continues, where all can participate including those who cannot afford their own kolu arrangement. In recent years, KOLU has gained commercial importance and artistic creativity. Model displays of KOLU expositions can be viewed in Handicrafts emporiums of 'Poompuhar' in Chennai, 'Kaveri' in
The prasadam for kolu is usually "chundal" (cooked and spiced channa/lentils)
Various kinds of grains and lentils (rich in protein) are boiled and tempered with salt, some condiments, and fresh coconut shavings. Our ancestors were very thoughtful indeed in making provision for this tasty protein rich prasadam. This is given away to visitors who come to share the festive occasion. Also the practice of giving "Vethilai-Pakku" to the visitor is a common and definite practice. Haldi (turmeric), Kumkum (red vermillion), betel leaves (paan) and areca nut(supaari) with a fruit, is given to all female visitors. This is a way of honoring the guest and a gift of this nature is supposed to increase the prosperity and happiness of the host family.
Navaraathri is also otherwise known as Dussera (ten nights) to include Vijayadasami day. It is associated with the killing of Raavana, Kumbhakarna and Indrajit, and the emancipation of Pandavas from exile at the end of the thirteen years, and the victory of Arjuna in the battle with Duryodhana, fighting for King Viraate who was their benefactor during exile. In northern
The Navaraathri before Divali is not to be confused with Vasanta Navaraathri, which occurs in the month of Chaitra (Mesha) and is performed to propitiate divinty in the female aspect. This festival is celebrated in Shiva temples and the presiding deities are taken in procession to the Vasanta Mandapam (Hall) of such temples. This Navaraathri culminates with the Navami.
Chandi Homa (sacrifical fire offerings to Goddess Durga), Akanda Ramaayana path (non stop reading of Tulsidas Ramayana for 24 hours) reading of Valmiki Ramayana, Sapta Shati yantra pooja (worship of Durga and chanting of 700 slokas on Durga from Devi Mahaatmiyam) Durga pooja, Lakshmi pooja, Saraswathi pooja, Aayudha pooja, Viswakarma pooja, etc form the part of the religious rituals during Navaraathri. During KOLU, Jamboo Savaari (grand procession of the king of
Holy Celebrations
Festival timing
- Local panchanga information:
http://www.himalayanacademy.com/resources/panchangam/2005-2006/usa/chicago.pdf
http://www.mudgala.com/panchanga/ - Daily panchanga information
http://www.astrojyoti.com/dailypanchangadarshini.htm - Time zone and date lookup
http://www.geocities.com/sharma_jyotish/panchanga.html - Lookup based on time and location. Also allows you to get exact latitude/longitude information for any place
http://www.astro.com/cgi/aq.cgi?lang=e - Rahukala information
http://jyotisha.00it.com/rahukala.htm