September 2021 Newsletter

JJ Shri Message

સર્વે વૈષ્ણવ ને ભગવદ સ્મરણતમે જે કઈં બનેલું છે અને બનશે એ સર્વે માં એક શ્રી હરિની ઈચ્છા મુખ્ય છે. તેમાં શિવ કે બ્રહ્માથી કોઈપણ ફેરફાર થઇ શકતો નથી. કર્મ, કાળ, ગ્રહ, સ્વભાવ, મન કે જીવ થી એમાં નું કાઈંપણ કરતા કે કરી શકતા નથી, કેમ કે બધાની દોરી શ્રી કેશવ ના હાથમાં રહેલી છે. હે જીવ જો તારું કર્યું થતું હોત તો તું પોતાની મેળે બુરૂં થોડો થવા દે. દરેક મનુષ્ય પ્રભુથી મળેલી સત્તા પ્રમાણે વિચાર કરી પોતાનું સુખ મેળવવું અને દુઃખ થવા ન દેવું જ ઇચ્છે છે પરંતુ છતાં પરિણામ તો પ્રભુની ઈચ્છા મુજબ જ હોય છે. એ તો નિશ્ચિત જ છે  આવું સ્વીકારી લીધા પછી પણ જો ચિંતા થાય તો તું માધવ એટલે કે લક્ષ્મી પતિ ની ઈચ્છા જ એવી એની ઇચ્છામાં તારી ઈચ્છા મિલાવી દે. એમના ઉપર વિશ્વાસ રાખ કે આપણું જે કાંઈ ખરાબ કે અહિત મટાડવા માટે સર્વ સમર્થ શ્રીહરિ જ છે.

SANJHI UTSAV

 On Bhadrapad Sud 15 (Poornima), Sanjhi Leela as well as Maha-Daan starts. In the Daan, this Daan is known as “Daan at Karhala”. Thakorji took Daan from Gopikas at Karhala today. Lalitaji (AshtaSakhi) was born in the village of Karhala. This is the site of Dadhi Daan. Prior to Nav Vilas Utsav (Nav-ratri), the dark fortnight of Bhadrapad is used by Pushti Vaishnavs, to perform a virtual Vraj Yatra through celebration of Sanjhi Utsav. These 14 + 2 days are celebrated as Sanjhi Utsav, starting from Bhadrapad Sud Poornima and on Ashwin Krishna Amavasya, Kot aarti is performed, which is the last day of Sanjhi Utsav. During this Sanjhi, Thakorji used to go to Barsana and used to pluck and gather flowers from the forests of Barsana to do the poojan of Sandhya Devi. At that time, Thakorji disguised as a Shayama Sakhi (i.e., Sakhi named Shyama Sakhi) by assuming the form of a lady and went to Barsana. What is Sanjhi? Once Brahmaji was doing meditation and from that, the Manas Putri of Brahmaji appeared. She bowed before him and asked Brahmaji that what is her duty. Brahmaji replied “Tap Tap Tap”. She started to go to one deep forest near Bruhallahit Sarovar, near Chandra-bhag Mountain, to do the penance (Tap). At that time, Vasishta Muni arrived and initiated this Sandhya Devi with mantra “Namo Bhagawate Vasudevay”. Sandhya Devi performed penance (Tap) excessively in the forest and as a result, Vishnu on HIS Garuda appeared before her. On Agya of Vishnu, Sandhya Devi sought 3 boons from Vishnu. 

 These were: 

1. Jeev must not get the Kaam Vasna during the birth, and during his / her complete life 

2. Her Pati Vrat remains as it is 

3. One who does the Aradhana of Her, their all desires must get fulfilled 

Thakorji bestowed her with all these boons “As is” excepting making some change to the first boon. Thakorji instead gave the first boon as, “Jeev will not get Kaam Vasna at his / her childhood and in old age”. Thakorji now told to Sandhya Devi that, as initially, she had the desire to quit her body, she should enter the Holy fire of Yagna, done at the banks of River Chandra-bhaga by Maharshi Megha. By doing so, she will become the daughter of Agnidev. When Sandhya Devi did that per the advice of Vishnu, she was taken by Suryadev to his abode named, Surya Mandal. There She became and assumed the form of “TRIKAAL SANDHYA”. She then became “ARUNDHATI”. Young unmarried girls and Brahmins used to do Pooja of this Sandhya Devi to get all their desires fulfilled. Sanjhi is also performed for the same reason to acquire Krishna as a husband by Gopikas of Vraj. Vraj-lalanas did the Poojan of this Devi during this period for 14 + 2 days and as a result, acquired Vraj-raj, Krishna in Maha-raas. This is called as “Sanjhi” or “Sandhya”. During this period, Gopis used to create beautiful pictures on the ground / walls depicting the places, leelas, characters etc. of Vraj and other places. After that, they used to do the Poojan of these pictures and thus the Poojan of Sanjhi. They did the Poojan with the desire (objective) of acquiring Thakorji (Krishna) as their husband. 

These pictures were created by Flowers, leaves of bananas, natural colors and in water. These are the four types of Sanjhi that are done in Pushtimarg. 4 types of Sanjhi and its Bhav: • Flowers = Made “Bel-Booti” from colorful flowers and Thakorji is placed on top of it. This is celebrated with Swaminiji’s bhav • Banana Leaves = This is made with a Bhav of all Vraj Sthali and 84 Kos shuddhi. This is celebrated with a Bhav of Chandravaliji • Colors (Natural) = On white cloth, Vraj van (forests), Upvan, Kund, etc. are made. This is done with a Bhav of Kumarikaji. • Water = This is made by using different colors dissolved in water with a Bhav of Yamunaji This period is also known as Pitru-paksha (Shraddh Paksh). Several legends associated to why Sanjhis are created during this period. One of the legends: At one time, Radhaji was told that if she performed the Pooja of Sandhya Devi with flowers, she was sure to get a wonderful husband. Hoping to marry Krishna, Radhaji made all the preparation for the Pooja. Krishna, hearing the procedure of the Pooja, decided to help however the only problem was, in this Poojan only women were allowed to participate. Hence Krishna dressed up as a woman, Shyama Sakhi and entered the palace of Radhaji with basket of flowers to help with Poojan. After the designs were made, sakhis offered sacred food to Sanjhis and performed Aarti. After evening Poojan, it was rather late to go home, and thus Krishna managed to stay the night with his beloved sakhis. Over the years, Sanjhis have evolved and are now made of various materials, including flowers, dry / fresh fruits, colored powders, plantain (Banana) leaves – cut into various shapes, dry pulses, rice etc. Bhog and Aarti are offered to the Sanjhi. At Nathdwara, Sanjhis are made from plantain leaves and cut into various shapes and placed in the Kamal chowk after Sandhya Aarti. There are set designs created on each day of the Sanjhi at Nathdwara. 

School Registration is open for virtual Baal Pushti (3-7 years), Kishor Pushti (8-12 years) and Baalkishor Vaishnav Sangeet Classes for Year 2021-2022, so hurry and register for new semester. Learn the basics of Pushtimarg at early age with fun and craft activities. So, parents, send your kids for virtual zoom classes. If kid is already enrolled, please confirmation to Ishaben @ (703) 577-7430 

See all of our classes (Vidyapeeth) here.