Jwellery

                                 Jewelry

A young boy from a village was very bright in studies. He was ambitious and wanted to serve the country. He went out for higher studies and qualified himself for a very high post there. He came to his village to receive the blessings of his mother , who had been the moral guide to him throughout his life.
He said -" Dear mother ! I have been cherishing a great desire for a long time that I should make some jewelry for you."
Mother replied - " My dear son ! I too was longing for three kinds of jewelry for a long time."
The thrilled son asked - " What are they, mother. "
Mother said - " My dear son! There is no good school in this village, so establish a good school here. Open a dispensary and build an orphanage where orphans can reside and get good food. These are my jewelry.
The son was overwhelmed and got a direction to work towards a goal to fulfill his mother's desire.

Mars - A view from the Puranas

 
                         Mars -A view from the Puranas

    On July 4 , 1997 , the Independence day of the USA, a spacecraft , Mars the pathfinder landed on nearing the planet, Mars. " Sci-fic became Sci-fact", said a scientist with NASA, in USA.
Throughout man's history no planet has inspired more awe than the Mars and the baleful glare of the Red planet in the night sky has both fascinated and frightened the man. To the ancient civilizations, it was the God of war in Greece, Rome and India. The fascination for Mars is seen in various science fictions, radio plays and movies - all involving encounters with the Red planet's denizens of various sizes, shapes and consistencies. The English novelist H . G . Well's book ' The War of the Worlds' , a dramatic account of an invasion of the earth by octopus like Martians, epitomises the mystic spell of Mars over the human beings.
Recent scientific investigations point out great similarities between the earth and Mars so much so that the scientists believe that originally Mars should have been with earth, later on it must have got separated from the earth.
hindu astrology declares Mars as Bhauma or Bhumiputra, the son of the earth.
Nomenclature - Mars is known by various names. Angaraka ( born from the limb of Shiva or born from Fire ), Bhauma ( son of the earth ), Kuja ( Ku- earth ja -born  , born from the earth ) and also Mangala ( beneficial ), Lohita ( red ).
Nature - He is fiery. According to Naradiya purana , Mars is of cruel look, young, bilious , and fickle.
Form- Garuda Purana describes that the huge chariot of Mars is of the color of molten gold and is drawn by eight horses, of the  filaments of a lotus and is born of fire.
World - The world of Mars is called lohita ( red). It is nine rayed and full of water.
Birth -  According to Matsya Purana, all planets have originated from the rays of the Sun. Mars is the product of the Sun's ray called Samvardhana.
From the perspiration of Lord Shiva-
Puranas like Skanda, Shiva state that when Sati ( Shiva' wife ) sacrificed herself at the sacrifice of Daksha. Shiva, greatly grief stricken at the loss of his wife, started doing penance at the Kailasa mountain. Due to excess of heat produced in the body, a drop of perspiration fell down on the earth from the fore-head of Shiva. From it rose up a child, red in body, with four arms, emitting an extraordinary splendour and started weeping. The earth took the child in her lap and gave him milk and fondled him.
Lord Shiva conferred a boon on the earth that the child would be known after her name. The child would be bestower of land. Since the child was nourished by the earth, he is called Bhauma, Bhumiputra and Kuja. He worshipped Lord Shiva at Kashi and attained the status of a planet by the grace of Shiva.
The birth of Angaraka from the perspiration of Shiva is said to have taken place near Avanti ( Ujjain ), on the banks of the Shipra river. He is called Mangalanatha.
Devi Bhagavata mentions Mangala as the son of Bhumi devi ( earth ) who is the wife of Mahavishnu in his incarnation as Varaha ( Boar ).
Mars is generally identified with Kartikeya. Actually Mars was born for the benefit of the world to destroy the demon Taraka.
There is still another account of the origin of Skanda. Shiva emitted sparks of fire from his eyes, which being thrown into the lake Sharavana, became six infants, who were nursed by the wives of the sages, who are seen in the sky as the Pleiades ( Krittikas). When Parvati saw these babies, she was transported with joy and embraced all of them together so forcibly that their six bodies became one, while their six heads and twelve arms remained.
In yet another legend, Parvati gave into Agni' s keeping the foetus of her unborn son Kartikeya. While it was being carried by Agni, it fell into the Ganges. Hence Kumara is sometimes referred to as the son of Agni and Ganga. The infant was brought up by six Krittikas, hence the name Kartikeya
Kumara is known by various names such as Bhauma, Guha ( the mysterious ), Mahasena ( the great
general ), Shaktidhara (spear holder ), Sharabhu ( Thicket born ),Senapati ( commander - in - chief ).
Worship - Tuesday is sacred for Mars. When the bright fourth tithi ( chaturthi ) falls on a Tuesday, that day is very auspicious for the worship of Mars. It is called Angaraka chaturthi.
Shashti tithi ( sixth tithi )
Since Skanda was anointed as commander - in -chief on a Shashti tithi, it is a day sacred for the worship of Mars. It is said that worshipping Mars on that day, one can get wealth and son.
According to Shiva Purana, if a person worships Skanda and offers lamp etc. as gifts on Tuedays with Krttika star,he will become a clairvoyant whose utterances will always turn out to be true.
Angaraka chaturdashi - if there is fourteenth tithi on a Tuesday, worship of Mars yields more results than a hundred solar eclipses.

Pause and ponder

 
                           Pause and ponder

1     The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new lands, but in seeing with new eyes.

2    A bookstore is one of the only pieces of evidence we have that people are still thinking.

3    People are given two ears and one tongue so that they may listen more than speak.

4   Every blade of grass has its own angel that bends over it and whispers, grow, grow.

5   That is what learning is,
     You suddenly understand something you have understood all your life, but in a new way.

6     Wealth gained dishonestly dwindles away, but he who gathers by hand makes it grow.

7    No one has yet realized the wealth of sympathy, the kindness and generosity hidden in the soul of a child. The effort of every true education should be to unlock that treasure.

8    I will never be an old man. To me, old age is always fifteen years older than I am.

9   Books are the carriers of civilization. Without books, history is silent, literature dumb, science crippled.

10   To know what is impenetrable to us really exists, manifesting itself as the highest wisdom and the most radiant beauty. This knowledge, this feeling is at the center of true religiousness.

Moon - a glimpse from the Puranas

Neil Armstrong had described his landing on the moon as ' One small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind .' But words fail to describe when we find the innumerable anecdotes scattered in the texts of Puranas which unveil the undisputable scientific truths shrouding this beautiful planet.

As the Sun is the king of the day, so is the Moon queen of the night. Astronomically, the Moon is a mere secondary planet or satellite revolving round the earth once in 27 days at an average distance of 238,000 miles.
The Puranas throw a rich and varied light on this planet, its nature, size, birth and other details.

Nomenclature :- According to Matsya Purana, Chandrama ( Moon) is derived from the root ' chand ' which connotes whiteness, nectar, cold and pleasant.
Nature :- Garuda Purana states that the Moon is calm. Matsya purana describes the shining mandala of Moon in the divine firmament as luminous, white, full of water ( scientists have detected water on the Moon ) and fire. It is beautiful like white pitcher.
Size and form :- Puranas like Matsya, Kurma refer to the size of the Moon as double that of the Sun. The chariot of the Moon has three wheels and is produced from the depth of the waters. It has ten white horses. It is a tradition in Sanskrit texts to depict Moon as a god ,that is why chariot and horses are described.
Birth :-
From the Sun -
Matsya Purana mentions that from the Sun emanate the stars, planets and the Moon and they are preserved by him. It is by the Sushumna ray of the Sun that the Moon waxes again day by day.

From the milky ocean -
General traditional belief is that the Moon is one of the fourteen gems came out from the churning of the milky ocean .
A pauranic account runs that the Moon was partial towards the star Rohini when all the 27 stars, the daughters of Daksha prajapati were his wives. When the other daughters reported this special love to their father, the latter cursed the Moon to get afflicted by consumption ( kshaya roga ). Being thus cursed, he is said to have hid himself in the ocean and was taken out at the churning of the ocean

From the sage Atri -
According to Puranas like Agni, Brahmanda and Markandeya, the Moon is said to have been born from the eye or mind of the sage Atri. There is another account which runs thus. Brahma, the creator caused the Moon to be produced from the eyes of Atri.At that time Lord Shiva and His consort Parvati became highly pleased to see the Moon. All the sages acknowledged Him as the Supreme Lord. Brahma created an illustrious Being and bedecked him with weapons. By the yogic glory of Brahma, that Being became still more lustrous emerged out as the Moon. By its lustre, the herbs in the world profusely thrived and the Moon became more radiant in the night and consequently the Moon came to be the sovereign of the herbs and the night.

Brahma and Skanda Puranas give the account with a slight variation.Atri was practising severe penance and gradually his whole body got full of Soma juice, the latter oozed ou from his eyes, illuminating the quarters profusely. The quarters ( dishas or directions ) however could not bear the lustre and let it fall down. Brahma, for the welfare of the world ,placed it on his chariot. Thus the Moon was born. When he circumambulated the earth, his lustre penetrated the earth and gave birth to various herbs. Brahma made him the king of herbs and night.

Waxing and waning of the Moon.

The Matsya Purana gives an interesting and a detailed note on this aspect. The Moon waxes and wanes according to his position with respect to the Sun.
In the bright fortnight, the Moon gets ahead of the Sun and whatever of him waned during the dark fortnight becomes filled up again, digit by digit, by the solar ray, day after day. Thus he becomes nourished by the one seed ray of the Sun named Sushumna. He becomes full and circular on the Full- Moon night. Similarly in the dark fort night, the Moon wanes daily from the second day till the fourteenth day after the Full moon. The waning is due to the fact that the deities drink up the soft sweet like honey, the excellent nectar of the Moon . Thus, drinking the nectar, the deities at the end of the fortnight go elsewhere on the Amavasya night ( new moon night ) when the pitrus ( manes or departed souls ) come and drink the 15th portion of the nectar of the Moon. The 16th part of the Moon is recognised as the junction of the two ( dark and bright ) fortnights, when the final waxing takes place and fresh waxing begins.

Moon and Amavasya -

According to a myth in the Skanda Purana, the Moon is said to be the recipient of a part of the fire from the fore head of Shiva. The Moon is said to be the 8th form of Shiva on the new moon day( Lord Shiva has eight forms namely the five elements, the Sun, the Moon and the sacrificer or yogi.). On the Amavasya day the Moon is believed to enter the plants, herbs and water and hence is not seen. Eating these plants and drinking this water cows and other animals produce milk. From milk are produced curd and ghee. This ghee from the sacrificial offerings reaches the Moon through the wind.
It is said that on this day the creeper or tree should not be cut, for, these are produce from the Moon.
The waxing period is associated with growth of plants.So seeds sown during this period or on full moon day always fructify as they are enriched with nourishing lunar rays.
The mythical base of Moon's waning is Daksha's curse. Daksha's curse made the Moon afflicted with consumption. When the Moon was afflicted, the growthof medicinal plants stopped. With the result, all beings and things contracted consumption. When people began becoming thinner, the deities asked Chandra for an explanation and he told him all the details. They then sought the help of Daksha, who gave Chandra redemption from the curse for half of every month.

Chandra- the king of stars and medicinal plants

The milking of the earth mentioned in the various Puranas is nothing but symbolic of attainment of gains.
According to one version, the earth swallowed the medicinal herbs used at the sacrifices and holy rituals because kings disrespected her. On this act of the earth, Prthu, a noble and able king got angry and wanted to punish her. But the earth agreed to be milked and all types of herbs, corns were produced. Harivamsha refers to a legend according to which during the reign of emperor Prthu, he changed the Bhumidevi ( earth ) into a cow and milked her. It was Chandra who served as calf then. Pleased at this, Brahma crowned Chandra as the king of stars and medicinal plants.
Tides and the Moon-
Matsya Purana states that when the Moon rises in the east , the sea swells. The level of sea falls when the Moon wanes. The sea rises and falls, according to the phases of the Moon and 150 Angulis ( fingers length ) is the measure of its rise and fall, on the two parva days namely full moon and new moon.

Moon and the sea - mutual attraction - the strength of the Moon is the greatest.

According to Skanda Purana, the Moon which is the product of Atri and Anasuya is full of water. It is said that when the milky ocean was being churned, the Moon looked at it and was highly delighted. The ocean also glanced at the Moon and got pleased. The Moon, hence, got nectar from the ocean into himself , before all gods got it. Seeing this, the gods waved a light ( nirajana) before him. They asked the sage Garga about the strength of the Moon. He said that the strength of the Moon is equal to that of all the gods and of all favourable planets. Hence to the Moon did Jupiter, Mercury, the Sun, Venus, Saturn and others take resort. Hence it is that Chandrabala ( the strength of the Moon ) is said to be excellent for all auspicious occasions. When all the planets resort to the Moon, the auspicious occasion is termed Gomanta ( endowed with rays ) and it gives victory.

Moon and Rabbit-

Moon is called Shashanka meaning with the emblem of rabbit. Skanda Purana refers to the anecdote of the rabbit getting stuck into the orbit of the Moon. It is said that after the churning of the ocean, the gods got nectar. When they were drinking it, thousands of drops fell on the ground and also got mixed with water.There was a rabbit moving in the waters. When all the nectar was drunk by the gods, the Moon god, emaciated, came there and asked for it.As no nectar remained, the gods asked the Moon to drink the water mixed with nectar. The Moon drank it and also the rabbit. The Moon then got fattened and became lustrous. The place where this happened came to be known as the shashapana. This is a sacred place at Prabhasa. A dip here confers the fruits of a sacrifice and the world of Shiva.

Shiva and half-Moon-

The Brahmavaivarta Purana has an interesting account about the Moon getting upon the head of Shiva. It is said that when the Moon suffered from consumption, he went to Shiva for shelter. Shiva placed him on his head. As the wives of the Moon wanted their husband back, Daksha, the father- in -law of the Moon came to Shiva and asked him to give the Moon back, which Shiva refused.Then Krishna assumed the form of an old brahmin and requested Lord Shiva to return Chandra. Shiva did not, as Chandra had come to him for shelter.So Krishna devised a plan, and in consultation with Shiva, he took out a part of Chandra and gave it to Daksha.So the half moon remained undiseased on the head of Shiva.

Lunar eclipse-
Most of the Puranas mention the motif of Rahu ( node ) eating the nectar and reporting of luminaries ( Sun and Moon ) to Vishnu as the cause of the eclipse. When the Rahu catches the Moon ( on a full moon day only ), the eclipse is termed lunar. Taking food and indulging in worldly pleasures are prohibited during this period. Prayers are recommended. It is supposed to be a good time for initiation into mantras.

Moon- Mercury-

The legend of the Moon is marked with an important event namely the abduction of Tara, the wife of his preceptor Jupiter by him. From this union, Budha ( Mercury) was born.Because of this act, he is said to have become a leper or consumptive. Matsya Purana states that because of this sin, the Moon was called a papagraha ( sinful planet ).
Brahmavaivarta Purana refers to this motif and it is stated there that when her husband Jupiter refused to take her back, Tara cursed the Moon to be stained with sin and that one who looked at it would be sinful. the Moon performed severe penance and received a boon from Vishnu that he would be free from his sin for all times, except in the month of Bhadrapada, that too especially on the fourth day of the bright fortnight, if any one saw the Moon purposefully, the sin would go to him. The remedy to get away from the sin of looking at the Moon on this day is stated to be the recitation of specific verses with sipping of water which are given in the text.

There is yet another account in Skanda Purana which states that Brhaspati was responsible for bestowing the position of Indra to Nahusha and Yayati when Indra was still ruling. So Indrani ( Indra's wife ) cursed him, that due to this impropriety of behaviour on his part, some one else shall procreate a son on his wife. This accounts for carrying away of Brhaspati's wife by Soma, the Moon and procreating a son on her.

The allegory can have a scientific base also. It may mean that the terrestrial Moon went out of its orbit and attracted one of the Moons of Jupiter and thus disturbed the solar equilibrium which was brought to harmony again by the birth of Mercury ( Budha ). Moon must have had a bigger mass in those days.
This anecdote may be a hint at the shifting of starry calculation with reference to Jupiter (Brhaspatimana) to that the Moon ( Chandramana).
A hole seen on the Moon portends evil according to Agni Purana.

Generally, it is believed that the Sun and the Moon are the right and left eyes of Lord Shiva. Shiva gave half of his body to Uma, his consort( left portion). So the left eye the Moon is represented by the goddess. Hence the Moon is the karaka for mother in astrological predictions.

Another interesting note seen in the scriptures is that the mind is born from Chandrama.The entire human body is a product of natural elements only. The mental disturbances are closely connected with the phases of the Moon.Regarding the eccentricity of the mind, there is a beautiful saying, ' The lovers, poets and lunatics are of the same kind'.The mind is said to be highly turbulant on full moon day. Taking into account of this, ancient dharmashastras prescribe various devices to control the mind naturally. Each day is specific to a particular deity for worship like Monday for Shiva, Tuesday for Hanuman, Kartikeya, Goddess, Wednesday for Vishnu, Thursday for Dakshinamurthy, Friday for Lakshmi and other Goddesses, Saturday for Venkateshwara, Saturn and Hanuman. Almost on all full moon days some festivals are celebrated so that people concentrate on good things like going to temple, participating in prayers, dance, music etc. The in built social system was so good that personal and social welfare was always there.
With 24x7 work culture of today, the elaborate celebration is not possible.At least the spirit behind this can be absorbed.Devoting fifteen mnts for meditation in the morning and before going to bed will calm the mind. Slowly man can open his inner treasure and achieve a lot in this life. Here , the Mahabharata's saying is very apt.
' Mana eva karanam bandhamokshayoh '
Mind alone is the sole cause for bondage and freedom.

Saturn - A Pauranic view

                              
Saturn is in many ways the most fascinating of all the planets and is certainly the most sensational in appearance. It not only has nine moons, but also is surrounded by three circular rings which form a sort of frill or collar around its middle portion.
Astronomically planets exist. Astrology and religion deify them because of their profound influence on the earthly lives.
This deity seems, under different names to have always held a high place in Indan religion, by virtue of its prominence in the heavens being the biggest and the extent to which its influence is gelt upon the earth by being the slowest in motion leaving an effective impact on the yerrestrial events for a long time.
The observation of the movement of this planet to the fourth house, eighth house with reference to the location of moon in the birth chart and seven and a half period coinciding with the transit of Saturn over the moon corelating to the events on the earth must have excited the keenest curiosity amonst a childlike and inquisitive people and at the same time, the imagination was left to account for the existence of phenomena which in a non-scientific age, are altogether beyond the kuman ken. Here the Puranas serve as resource material on various issues relating to the planets. The nature and features of the planets have been delineated in a beautiful garb of stories for retention and various remedial measures have been suggested for averting the evil influence and courting the benign favour from the heavenly bodies. Thus the Puranas serve a great purpose in bridging the gap between science and practice, which is the need of the hour.
Shanaischarah - The proper name of the planet is Shanaishchara. Shanaih means slowly, chara means moving. So slow moving planet is Saturn.
The various epithets used for Saturn are referred to in Skanda Purana thus:
Sauri - Son of the Sun , Shanaishchara - Slow- moving, Manda - dull or slow, Krishna - dark , Ananta - endless , Antaka - destroyer , Yama- controller, Pishanga - tawny , Chhayasuto - son of Chhaya , Babhru - reddish brown, Sthaira - steady , Pippalayanah - one whose abode is the holy fig tree . These epithet- names are enjoined to be uttered in the morning to keep away the wrath of Shani.

Padma Purana refers to other epithets of Saturn such as Grahanam Graharaja - king of the planets, Sarvamaheshwarah - supreme controller of all , Kalarupi Mahagraha - great planet in the form of time , Jatilah - wearer of matted locks, Vajra roma - possessing hair like vajra ( iron ), Danavanam bhayankarah - terrible to demons.
Son of the Sun - Sanjna, the daughter of Vishwakarma was the wife of the Sun and bore him three children , Manu Vaivasta, Yama and the goddess Yami ( The Yamuna river ). Sanjna , who was unable to bear the dazzling brilliance of Surya ( The Sun god ) ordered her maid Chhaya ( that is her own shadow or image ) to attend on her husband and went to the forest for performing penance. The Sun taking Chhaya to be his wife Sanjna, begot by her three other children namely Savarni Manu, Shanashchara ( Saturn ) and a daughter Tapati ( Tapti river ).
Brahma Purana states that the second son of the Sun , brother of Manu, Shanaishchara attained planethood worshiped by all.
Skanda Purana attributes to Saturn's planethood to his devotion and Lord Shiva's grace.
Most fierce and cruel - Chhaya upon one occasion being offended with Yama , the son of Sanjna on account of her ill - treatment towards her step- children , denounced an imprecation upon him, and there by let it be seen that she was not Sanjna , his mother. The Sun came to know about the actual happening and cursed Saturn, the son of Chhaya to become cruel and fierce, crooked in return of his mother's crookedness. Varaha Purana refers to this anecdote.
This legend perhaps forms the basis for the well-established astrological principle on Saturn- Sun opposition. Skanda Purana states that even great gods and demons fear his look. There is not a single being in the universe who is not oppressed by Saturn.
Saturn's downward look and lameness-
This is referred to in the Ganapathi khanda of Brahmavaivata Purana. Saturn is depicted as a devotee of Krishna. At the behest of Shiva, Vishnu and other sages, Saturn went to bless Ganesha at his birth. Saturn stood with his eyes downward. On being asked, Saturn told the reason. Once Saturn being in meditation did not look at his wife, the daughter of Chitraratha approaching him. So she cursed Saturn that whatever he would look at directly, would be reduced to ashes.Afterwards when she knew that Saturn's action was not intentional but as he was busy in meditation, he was anaware of his surroundings, she repented her act but could not free her husband from the curse. So Saturn said to Parvati that he never looked directly at any one to avoid destruction. But when Parvati insisted that Saturn should look at her son to bless him on that festive occasion, with great hesitation, Saturn looked at the child Ganesha only to see the child's head getting cut off and flying off into Lord Krishna in Goloka and the body lying on the lap of Parvati drenched in blood. When all fainted out of grief, Vishnu reached the banks of the river Pushpabhadra and finding a king elephant with herd cut off the head of the elephant giving boons to the herd and fixed it upon the child 's body and revived it through spiritual powers. Parvati was happy to see the child alive but got angry with Saturn and cursed him that he would be devoid of a limb. The Sun, Yama, sage Kashyapa and others became furious at Parvati's behaviour as it was Parvati who insisted on Saturn's looking at the child and the fault was not of Saturn. Parvati also realized her folly and said that curse once uttered could not be taken back, so Saturn would be a little lame and blessed him with kingship among the planets, long life. to remain a peer among the yogis and with devotion to Vishnu.

Saturn and Ashwaththa
According to Brahma Purana, the worship of sacred fig tree ( Peepal ) in a specified manner is said to mitigate the rigours of the influence of Saturn in a person's horoscope and confer prosperity.
In the heaven, there were two cruel sons of Kaitabha namely Ashwaththa and Pippala. Ashwaththa used to assume the form of Fig or Peepal tree and devour the brahmins who came there to cut the twigs for sacrifice. Pippala , assuming the form of a singer used to devour the students who came to learn the vedas from him. The number of brahmins dwindled. So the sages started doing penance and came to Saturn who was also practising penance. Saturn agreed to kill the demons on the completion of his penance without completing which he said that he was powerless in uprooting the demons. The sages , in turn offered their powers accrued from their penance to Saturn upon which Saturn went to the demon ( in the form of Peepal tree) in the guise of a brahmin. As usual the demon devoured the son of the Sun. Saturn's one direct look at inside of the stomach of the demon was enough to reduce him to ashes. Then Saturn went as a disciple to the other demon and when the demon devoured Saturn, the latter's one direct look at inside the stomach of Pippala burnt him to ashes. Agastya and other sages being pleased gave numerous boons to Saturn. Saturn then himself said,
" Whoever touches Peepal tree on every Saturday regularly , all his undertakings will be successful and will be free from the miseries caused by Saturn."
" Whoever takes bath in Ashwaththa Tirtha, all his wishes will be fulfilled."
" Whoever after getting up in the morning on Saturday touches Ashwaththa tree ( Peepal), all his troubles from the planets will be mitigated."
Legend of Pippalada and Saturn
This is referred to in Skanda Purana. Pippalada , a sage boy and nephew of the famous sage Yagyavalkya, a desolute without parents or any one to look after him, lived in a wretched condition in a jungle. Once sage Narada met the boy and the boy wanted to know the cause of his miseries. Narada told him that the wretched condition was due to the placement of Saturn in Lagna ( first house ) in his horoscope. The boy was very upset and became angry with Saturn. An angry look of Pippalada at Shani dropped him ( Saturn ) down the sky. Narada requested Saturn not to look straight at the boy and put back the planet in the sky and advised the boy not to anger Saturn. Narada said that Saturn when placed in the eighth house in a horoscope tormented even the deities. Saturn in Lagna and in the second house in a horoscope are not good.
The intensity of Saturn's effulgence is referred to here in an event that took place when Saturn was a child. Saturn saw the feet of his father, the Sun, as soon as he was born and the father who came to see the new-born baby, had to cover them with a cloth. But that did not save him. He got both of his feet burnt. Hence in all idols, they are said to be even now covered with leather.
The boy felt sorry for making saturn fall from the sky and asked Narada some remedy. To this, Narada replied that planets, cows, kings and brahmins when worshipped become pleased and when insulted burn the offenders. Narada asked Pippalada to pray to Saturn. Pippalada prayed and Saturn being pleased granted a boon to the boy who requested the planet not to trouble children below sixteen years of age ( baala).
The recitation of stotra by Pippalada on Saturday in the morning, taking oil bath, placing the image of Saturn made of iron downwards in oil and bathing with the same oil, offerings of sesame and oil, gift of black cow, performing homa with the twigs of Shami tree, worship of Saturn with sesame oil and black ( dark blue ) flowers, black cloth and offering incense are mentioned as effective measures in nullifying the distress caused by Saturn as well as conferring properity.
Saturn and Rohini
It is believed that when Saturn attacks the star Rohini, great disaster occurs. This is referred to in Skanda Purana, Padma Purana , Mahabharata etc.
When king Dasharatha was ruling his kingdom with righteousness, everything was flourishing. Once the astrologers told him that the son of the Sun ( Saturn ) , then in the end of Krththika star would break the constellation Rohini which indicated terrible drought. Drought would lead to dearth of food, then men, then the total extinction of all religious rites. Hearing this, Dasharatha became furious and obstructed the path of Saturn which was going towards Rohini and threatened to kill Saturn if he did not give up going to Rohini. Saturn was pleased with the king's concern for human welfare and valour and did not attack Rohini. The planet granted the king a boon upon which Dasharatha requested Saturn that the latter should not trouble any person who takes oil bath on Saturday.
This explanation is in support of the custom of taking oil-bath on Saturdays especially in South India. This is highly scientific.It is well-known that Saturn is karaka for diseases caused by vata ( wind ) like Rheumatism, Paralysis, diseases of joints etc. Regular oil massage keeps away these diseases.
Giving seasame seeds and iron on saturdays for a year is recommended as a remedial measure to keep away the adverse effects of transit of Saturn.
Performance of Shanti-homa with seasame, sacrificial sticks and rice-grains on Saturdays is prescribed as an antidote against the trying period of seven and a half years of Saturn's rule on any individual.
Even hearing or reading the dialogue between the king and Saturn is recommended in SkandaPurana for overcoming the evil effects of Saturn.
The same story is narrated in PadmaPurana and here Dasharatha asked Saturn to free all men, deities, demons, birds and reptiles from his shackles. Here Saturn justified the term ' graha'. It means ' to catch'. The very existence of the planets is to torment the beings and confer prosperity on them when they pray and worship the planets. So the only remedy to free from the clutches is to recite the prayer of Saturn once or twice in a day. Prayer to Saturn by Dasharatha is given in the SkandaPurana.
A very simple prayer is given in Brhat stotraratnakara thus-
Suryaputro deerghadeho vishalakshah Shivapiyah,
Mandacharah prasannatma peedam dahatu me Shainih.

May Saturn who is the son of the Sun, long-bodied, broad eyed, beloved of Shiva ( or devotee of Shiva ), slow-moving,who is joyous by nature burn my pain !
In the words sage Parashara, Saturn bestows logevity as well as prosperity. Astrologically Saturn is the unconditional taker of life also. This sums up the entire truth. Man's life on this life is determined by the fruits of his actions done in his previous birth. Saturn is the dispenser of justice. This planet's exaltation in the zodiac sign 'thula' ( scales or libra ) justifies this fact.
Since Saturn's influence on earthly life is more prominent and profound than any other planet's , most of the sufferings in life are attributed to him. But sufferings alone ennoble man by paving path way to salvation by discipling the individual. Thus Saturn, a planet of spirituality is the real deliverer of man from the miseries of birth and death also.

Significance of Kanyapujan ( young girls ) during Navaratri festival.

 
                   Significance of  Kanyapujan (worship of young girls) during Navaratri festival

According to Indian thought, Shiva and Shakti are one. Their unity is compared to word and meaning. A word is empty without meaning and it is the meaning that imparts life to the word. And the meaning has no existence without the word. Both are inter-dependent and inseparable.
Shiva as the Supreme is responsible for the birth and dissolution of this life and Shakti, the Mother takes care of all things that happen during this life by providing the necessary nourishments like strength, wealth and health, prosperity, freedom from diseases, learning and knowledge, marriage, progeny and happiness.

In any family though dependent ,it is the woman who is the foundation and pillar of it by her adorable qualities of love, compassion , sacrifice  ,selfless service and care.
The scriptures always hold women in high esteem. It is the woman who make a house, a home. The scriptures also declare that women are delicate, and as a daughter , sister, wife and mother, they should be protected by father, brother, husband and son and their relationship is also sacred. It is also said,
' Where woman are respected , the deities remain pleased there.
Where they are not respected, all actions done there will be fruitless.'
Woman personifies Nature also. Nature is the sustainer of every thing in the world. In fact, the worship of the Goddess is nothing but the worship of Nature.Kanyas especially young girls from the age of two to ten are supposed to be in pristine form, unaffected by the worldly taints.So they are worshipped as Goddess during Navaratri.
The Goddess herself has set an exemplary model of illustrious womanhood. As a daughter, she brought immense glory to her family by her ideal conduct and did welfare to the universe by destroying the demons. It is Haimavati Uma who imparted the highest knowledge of the Supreme to Indra in Keno Upanishad. As a baby sister Mahamaya, she escaped from the clutches of Kamsa who tried to kill her thinking her to be the eighth child of Devaki. She flew up in the sky telling Kamsa that his enemy Lord Krishna had already been born and was being brought up elsewhere. As a wife, Parvati attained a husband unique like herself by her sheer devotion and penance so much so she became inseparable from him. Shiva offered her left portion of the body to her. That is why he is famous as Ardhanarishvara. This divine couple is the ideal of conjugal love. Even now young unmarried girls worship Parvati to get a good husband. Not only did she participate in her husband's activities, she also destroyed many demons who could not be killed by the male deities , and restored the peace and happiness to the universe. As a mother also, she is par excellent. Her elder son Ganesha is worshipped at the beginning of all undertakings for over coming the obstacles and safe completion. Her second son Kumara was appionted as the commander- in -chief of deities to destroy Taraka and other demons for the peace and happiness of the universe.
In Kanya pujan ( worship of young girls ) before offering her food, she has to be invited, her feet should be washed ( a method of honoring as is done to the idols of deities ), offer her things of decoration like bindi ( vermillion to be applied on the fore-head ), alta, a red paste to be applied on hands and feet, bangles, flowers and then the worshipper should give her food. And then she is given beautiful gifts. A girl from any caste or class can be invited. If girls from poor families are worshipped, then the significance is more.
 One year old baby girl is not considered as eligible as she cannot eat food properly and enjoy. Similarly girls above ten are considered as adult. There is a tradition of offering food to young girls on the eighth and ninth day during Navaratri. It is also said that one girl is worshipped on the first day, two girls on the second day, thus increasing one by one, nine girls are worshipped on the ninth day. By worshipping them, one gets the grace of the Goddess. The scriptures declare that worshipping of girls from the age of two to ten removes all the sins.
1  - Two year old girl is called Kaumari. It is believed that by worshipping her, grief and poverty are destroyed.
2  - The worship of three year old called Trimurti assures the welfare of the family and wealth of money and grains.
3  - Four year old Kalyani's worship yields happiness and prosperity.
4  - By honoring five year old Rohini, one gets rid of diseases.
5  - Six year old Kalika's worship confers knowledge and kingship on the worshipper.
6  - Seven year old Chandika gives sovereignity to the worshipper.
7 - By worshipping eight year old girl Shambhavi, one gets fame.
8  - Worship of nine year old Durga gives victory over the enemies and fulfillment of impossible tasks.
9  - Ten year old Subhadra 's worship leads to fulfillment of desires and happiness.
This worship is a unique way envisaged by our ancient wise men , followed by generations, to inculcate and perpetuate the values to realize the worth and give respect and care to the girl child.