What is Smarta and Vaishnava Dhar?
Smarta
Smarta means householders who worship Hari, Shiva, Shakti, Ganesha and Surya, they do not attach much importance to the rising tithi. All householders who celebrate Janmashtami, Ramnavami, Ekadashi in conjunction with the previous tithi are called Smartas.
"vaishnava"
Those who believe only in Vasudeva, Shri Krishna or Lord Vishnu are called Vaishnavas and all ascetics and sanyasis who hold a Guru also come under the category of Vaishnavas.
In the Vaishnava sect, Udaya Tithi has great importance as Ekadashi is celebrated along with Dwadashi.
Meaning of Smarta Ekadashi
When Ekadashi is reflected at the time of local sunrise, it is called Smarta Ekadashi. Vaishnava or Bhagavata Ekadashi occurs when the dashami tithi of any aspect ends on the day of Arunodaya i.e. when the day of Ekadashi ends two hours before sunrise.That is, Smart Ekadashi ends 96 minutes before sunrise on Ekadashi day. Generally, Vaishnava Ekadashi falls on the day after Smarta Ekadashi.
Aja Ekadashi: Lord Vishnu in the form of Risikesh
The eleventh day of Krishna Paksha in the month of Bhadra of each year is called "Ajaa Ekadashi". This day is celebrated as a fast and festival by the followers of Sanatan Dharma living in different countries including Nepal and India.
According to the scriptures, Chakravarti King Harishchandra got back his lost family and kingdom by fasting on this day. King Harishachandra of ancient times could not pay the price of his deeds and gave up all his kingdom and wealth and made himself and his family slaves of King Chandal.
After spending many years as a slave, the truth-teller Harish Chandra became very worried about his condition. At that time, he met a sage Gautam to alleviate his worries. After Harishchandra expressed his concern to Gautam Rishi, Gautam Rishi asked him to observe the methodical fast of Ekadashi named Aja of Bhadrapad Krishna Paksha.
According to the sage Gautam, the fast of Ekadashi was observed and awakened, all the sins of the king were destroyed by the effect of that fast. The king then regained his family and kingdom. From that time onwards, it has been believed that fasting in full observance of the rules and regulations of this Ekadashi will destroy all kinds of sins.
Aja Ekadashi is the third Ekadashi under Chaturmas. On this Ekadashi day, like other Ekadashis, one should follow the rules and methods of fasting and worship Lord Srihari in the form of Rishikesh.
The fast of this Ekadashi is being observed tomorrow, today the Rishikesh form of Lord Vishnu is acknowledged and worshiped.
Peace and prosperity prevail in every corner of this planet.
International Day against Nuclear Tests
Background:
Since nuclear weapons testing began on 16 July 1945, over 2,000 have taken place. In the early days of nuclear testing little consideration was given to its devastating effects on human life, let alone the dangers of nuclear fallout from atmospheric tests. Hindsight and history have shown us the terrifying and tragic effects of nuclear weapons testing, especially when controlled conditions go awry, and in light of the far more powerful and destructive nuclear weapons that exist today.
On 2 December 2009, the 64th session of the United Nations General Assembly declared 29 August the International Day against Nuclear Tests by unanimously adopting resolution 64/35. The resolution calls for increasing awareness and education “about the effects of nuclear weapon test explosions or any other nuclear explosions and the need for their cessation as one of the means of achieving the goal of a nuclear-weapon-free world.” The resolution was initiated by the Republic of Kazakhstan, together with a large number of sponsors and cosponsors to commemorate the closure of the Semipalatinsk Nuclear Test site on 29 August 1991.
Theme for 2024
This specific day is focused on the role of the United Nations in Nuclear Disarmament and Non-Proliferation.” However, we didn’t find any specific theme for the year 2024.
The world needs peace !
From the equator to the poles on both sides, from the Pacific Ocean to the Dead Sea, from Mount Everest to the Sahara desert, we are all waiting for the time when the slogans of peace and brotherhood will resound.
-Suyog Dhakal
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