Durga Shiva Mandir Inc.

Durga Shiva Mandir invitees all to participate in Maha Shiv Raatri celebrations at our mandir on wed. march 2nd . 2011. services starts from 0500 hours (500am) to 1200midnight , the very first abhishekam( dhar) will be offered unto the lingam at 500am. Howan , Kirtan and Prashadam continue all day with chanting of the Maha Mritunjayea mantra ,bhojan will also be served. service continue tru the day and evening. kindy invite family and friends to come join us at mandir for this special day of bhagwan shiva blessings and a day of meditation for peace around the world. For further info. kindly contact Pt. Purshotam Sukul @ 347 870 8870
or 718 949 2187 or our mandir at 718 430 9305. u can also reach us on the web. @ durgashivamandir.org looking forward to see all of u at mandir. thank u very much. Om Namaha Shivaya

From 5:00 AM to 12:00 AM (Midnight)

Satyanarayan Katha is discussions about about how a devotee can receive the blessings of Lord Satyanarayan, by performing service with friends, neighbors, and immediate family members. Also women who wish for children after marriage can pray to Lord Satyanarayan on a night that has a full moon.

(Please note service will be held from 7:30PM to 9:30PM, although if Purnima is observed on a Sunday then service will be held from 10:30 AM to 12:00PM)

Satyanarayan Katha is discussions about about how a devotee can receive the blessings of Lord Satyanarayan, by performing service with friends, neighbors, and immediate family members. Also women who wish for children after marriage can pray to Lord Satyanarayan on a night that has a full moon.

(Please note service will be held from 7:30PM to 9:30PM, although if Purnima is observed on a Sunday then service will be held from 10:30 AM to 12:00PM)

Satyanarayan Katha is discussions about about how a devotee can receive the blessings of Lord Satyanarayan, by performing service with friends, neighbors, and immediate family members. Also women who wish for children after marriage can pray to Lord Satyanarayan on a night that has a full moon.

Satyanarayan Katha is discussions about about how a devotee can receive the blessings of Lord Satyanarayan, by performing service with friends, neighbors, and immediate family members. Also women who wish for children after marriage can pray to Lord Satyanarayan on a night that has a full moon.

In the United States, with increasing Indian population, Diwali is assuming significant importance year after year. Diwali was first celebrated in the White House in 2003 and was given official status by the United States Congress in 2007. Barack Obama became the first president to personally attend Diwali at the White House in 2009. Indians in the US celebrate Diwali in different parts of the US, just as in India. The Diwali Mela in Cowboys Stadium boasted an attendance of 100,000 people in 2009. In 2009, San Antonio became the first U.S. city to sponsor an official Diwali celebration including a fireworks display and 5000 people in attendance.

Deepavali (also spelled Divali in few countries) or Diwali, popularly known as the festival of lights, is an important five-day festival in Hinduism, Jainism, Sikhism, and occurring between mid-October and mid-November. For Hindus, Diwali is the most important festival of the year and is celebrated in families by performing traditional activities together in their homes. Deepavali is an official holiday in India,[2] Nepal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Mauritius, Guyana, Trinidad & Tobago, Suriname, Malaysia, Singapore, and Fiji.

The name Diwali is itself a contraction of the word “Deepavali” (Sanskrit: ??????? D?p?vali), which translates into row of lamps.[3] Diwali involves the lighting of small clay lamps (diyas) (or Deep in Sanskrit: ???) filled with oil to signify the triumph of good over evil. During Diwali, all the celebrants wear new clothes and share sweets and snacks with family members and friends. Most Indian business communities begin the financial year on the first day of Diwali.

Diwali commemorates the return of Lord Rama along with Sita and Lakshman from his fourteen year long exile and vanquishing the demon-king Ravana. In joyous celebration of the return of their king, the people of Ayodhya, the Capital of Rama, illuminated the kingdom with earthen diyas (oil lamps) and burst crackers.[4] In Jainism, Diwali marks the attainment of moksha or nirvana by Mahavira in 527 BC.[5][6] In Sikhism, Deepavali commemorates the return of Guru Har Gobind Ji to Amritsar after freeing 52 Hindu kings imprisoned in Fort Gwalior by defeating Emperor Jahangir; the people lit candles and diyas to celebrate his return. This is the reason Sikhs also refer to Deepavali as Bandi Chhorh Diyas, “the day of release of detainees”. Deepavali is widely celebrated in both India and Nepal.

The first day of the festival Naraka Chaturdasi marks the vanquishing of the demon Naraka by Lord Krishna and his wife Satyabhama. Amavasya, the second day of Deepawali, marks the worship of Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth in her most benevolent mood, fulfilling the wishes of her devotees. Amavasya also tells the story of Lord Vishnu, who in his dwarf incarnation vanquished the tyrant Bali, and banished him to hell. Bali was allowed to return to earth once a year, to light millions of lamps to dispel the darkness and ignorance, and spread the radiance of love and wisdom. It is on the third day of Deepawali — Kartika Shudda Padyami that Bali steps out of hell and rules the earth according to the boon given by Lord Vishnu. The fourth day is referred to as Yama Dvitiya (also called Bhai Dooj) and on this day sisters invite their brothers to their homes.

(Courtesy of Raj Baichan)

Lakshmi is the goddess of wealth, luxury, beauty, power, generosity and auspiciousness. Maha Lakshmi is claimed to fulfill the promises of material, wealth and contentment. Goddess Lakshmi represents fortune, purity, courage and fertility. Maha Lakshmi Mantra forms the part of prayers offered to the lord. Lakshmi Mantra / Mantras of Goddess Lakshmi are as follows:

“Sarvagyay Sarvavarday Sarvadushtbhaydkree
Sarvadukhaharay Devi Mahalakshmi Namostutay”

Meaning: O Maa Lakshmi, you know everything, you grant favors to all, you are a terror to the evil and your art removes the misery of all. O propitious goddess, I surrender to you.

“Siddhi Buddhipraday Devi Bhuktimuktipradayeenee
Mantramurtay Sada Devi Mahalakshmi Namostutay”

Meaning: O divine goddess, you are the provider of success and intelligence. You are the benefactor of both worldly pleasure and freedom. The magical sound symbols-the Mantras, verily comprise their form with your grace. Propitious Mother, I surrender to you always.

“Aadhantarhitay Devi Aadhshakti Maheshwari
Yogajay Yogasambhutay Mahalakshmi Namostutay”

Meaning: O Ultimate Mother, your art is without beginning and end. Your art is the primal power. Your art comes out of Yogic practice and your art is evident through Yoga. Promising Mother, I surrender to you.

“Sthulsukshmay Maharodray Mahashakti Mahodray
Mahapaapharay Devi Mahalakshmi Namostutay”

Meaning: Goddess Lakshmi, your art in gross and subtle, is the most awful and powerful. Mother, you contain all things and you remove even the greatest sins. Auspicious Mother, I surrender to you.

“Padnaasanstithay Devi Parbrahmaswaroopeenee
Parmashree Jaganmatra Mahalakshmi Namostutay”

Meaning: Maa Lakshmi, you reside in the hearts of devotees and prove the art of the Supreme Brahman. You are mother of the universe with your supreme art. O Great Mother, I bow to you.

(Courtesy of Pandit Rishi)

The beginning of spring and the beginning of autumn are two very important junctions of climatic and solar influence. These two periods are taken as sacred opportunities for the worship of the Divine Mother. The dates of the festival are determined according to the lunar calendar.

In Hinduism the adherents believe in one omnipresent Deity but may worship Her/Him in any of the numerous manifestations that are prevalent all over India. Navaratri represents celebration of Goddess Durga, the manifestation of Deity in form of Shakti [Energy or Power]. Dasahara, meaning ‘ten days’, becomes dussehra in popular parlance. The Navaratri festival or ‘Nine Nights festival’ becomes ‘ten days festival’ with the addition of the last day, Vijayadashami which is its culmination. On all these ten days, the various forms of Mother Mahisasura-mardini (Durga) are worshipped with fervour and devotion.

First three days

The goddess is separated as a spiritual force called Durga also known as Kali in order to destroy all our impurities.

Second three days

The Mother is adored as a giver of spiritual wealth, Lakshmi, who is considered to have the power of bestowing on her devotees inexhaustible wealth, as she is the goddess of wealth.

Final three days

The final set of three days is spent in worshipping the goddess of wisdom, Saraswati. In order to have all-round success in life, believers seek the blessings of all three aspects of the divine femininity, hence the nine nights of worship.

October 8th – October 16th (7:00PM – 9:30 PM)