Spirituality and the human
The fifth day of Navarathri is given over to Goddess Skandamata. Skanda is one of the names of Subramanya or Lord Muruga or Kartik – the General of the Army of the Devas and the most handsome God. Skanda Mata is the mother of Kartik. She is also known as Padmasana. The colour of the day is Royal Blue.
The fourth day of Navarathri is given over to Goddess Kushmanda. It is told that women have seven strengths to the three of man, and on this fourth day of Navarathri, we reflect on woman as gift of intelligence in the home, in the workplace. Goddess Parvati started living inside the center of the Sun so that the sun began to give energy to the universe. Since then Goddess is known as Kushmanda.
The third day of Navarathri is given over to Goddess Chandraghanta. It is told that women have seven strengths to the three of man, and on this third day of Navarathri, we reflect on woman as the highest expression of loyalty in the home and the society. The colour of the day is white, so we give one black background to assist reading white on white!
The second day of Navarathri is given over to Goddess Brahmacarini. It is told that women have seven strengths to the three of man, and on this second day of Navarathri, we reflect on woman as the one who has strength in practice of austerities and as the one who constantly meditates on the Divine. The colour of the day is Orange!
The first day of Navarathri is given over to Goddess Shailaputri. It is told that women have seven strengths to the three of man, and on this first day of Navarathri, we reflect on woman as source of fame in the home and the society. The colour of the day is Gray!
The Mother Goddess is well known in Hinduism. Almost every God in Hinduism either has a consort or a feminine counterpart. Shiva is Ardhanareeswara – both male and female; Ganapathi has Lakshmi for his consort, just as Krishna has Radha, and Rama has Sita. Divine forms take birth as human in order to overcome evil and restore righteousness to the Earth. Each year, there is a festival of the Mother Goddess – Navarathri (with a few spellings) which celebrates the victory of good over evil with the blessing of the Mother Goddess, who has many names and forms.
Many are making claims about the time of the Solstice on December 21; it is the time of the great conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn, the two largest outer planets in our solar system. After December 2020, the world will enter into 20-year Aquarian era, with the Saturn Jupiter Great Conjunction at first degree of Aquarius.
Friday, 2 October is International Day of Non-violence. It is the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi, leader of the Indian independence movement and pioneer of the philosophy and strategy of non-violence. Non-violence is the greatest force at the disposal of mankind. It is the mightiest weapon devised by ingenuity of Man, Mahatma Gandhi said. It is also a human value which guides human behaviour and leads to peace and integrity.
Ashwina Adhika Purnima tells that the October Full Moon occurs within the extra month that the Vedic calendar inserts from time to time. This Adhika Masam is from September 18, 2020 to October 16, 2020 as per North Indian Calendar. This Adhika Month is dedicated to Lord Krishna. The Full Moon (Purnima) is for both Ashwina and Adhika months.
A call has been sent out to followers of a discipline connected to Flower of Life to take up ’emergency meditations’ due conjunctions and aspects between certain planets. The planets are perceived as troublesome in nature, and thus, need to be ‘appeased’ and the Earth must be ‘protected’ by ’emergency meditation’ using the Flower of Life. As we are Vedic astrologers, we will have a ‘glance’ at these claims, a small, vedanga-in-nature (limb of the vedas) glance (drishti) as we look to these planets.
The International Maritime Organisation is a specialized agency of the United Nations, is the global standard-setting authority for the safety, security and environmental performance of international shipping. It is responsible for the operation of the Law of the Sea Convention. This agency auspices the international World Maritime Day each year on September 24. For year 2020, the theme is Sustainable Shipping for a Sustainable Planet.
The maritime sector, which includes shipping, ports and the people that operate them, plays a significant role helping sovereign nations to create conditions for increased employment, prosperity and stability ashore through promoting trade by sea; enhancing the port and maritime sector as wealth creators both on land and, through developing a sustainable blue economy, at sea.
21st of September every year is the World Day of Peace, as established in 1981 by the United Nations General Assembly. This year, the theme for International Day of Peace is Shaping Peace Together. The Coronavirus has placed many challenges before every nation to work together for a solution. Peace is found outside, when there is peace on the inside. Hence, inner peace and self-satisfaction are important for inner peace and world peace.
The 8th of September was proclaimed International Literacy Day by UNESCO in 1966 to remind the international community of the importance of literacy for individuals, communities and societies, and the need for intensified efforts towards more literate societies. The issue of literacy is a key component of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and the United Nation’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. This year, this observance focuses on Literacy, Education and Covid-19
In a time of lockdowns and deprivation of freedom;
In a time of hospitals overflowing with coronavirus patients;
In a time of the aged on ventilators struggling to recover;
In a time of deaths from a pandemic;
In a time of children missing school;
In a time of businesses closed;
In a time of employment lost;
In a time of economic struggle for food and a roof over the family;
It is a time of thoughts of goodwill and kindness;
It is a time of thoughts of understanding and love;
It is a time of service to all on Earth;
It is a time of holding the signature of love and light!
While the Full Moon for September comes on 2nd of September, it is followed by some very positive events, quite possibly creating a situation which gives the world the news it wants to hear. The Moon will be in Shatabishak nakshatra, which has many benefits.
