Harnessing the Stars: Navigating Life Transitions with Astrology
Is Holi only about color and play?
Holi, as one should expect every Indian to know,is the ‘festival of color’massively celebrated all throughout India, not only by Hindus, but by all kinds of people.
Holi coincides with the position of the moon and the sun cycles which are determined by the Hindu Lunisolar Calendar. It is celebrated for two days, the first day commemorates the burning of a bonfire representing Holika, thesister of demon king Hiranyakashipu and the second day consists of the celebration of the victory of good over evil by partaking in playing with colors, water, etc.
Holika Dahan: Burning of Evil
The Legend
On the first day of Holi, a bonfire is created, around which people take rounds and reminisce the burning of the evil demon sister Holika. The legend, according to Vaishnava theology states that Hiranyakashipu, the king of demons had received the power of immortality from Lord Brahma.
His son, Prahlad was a follower of Lord Vishu,this did not sit well with the demon king. He then decided to order his sister Holika to sit on a pyre with his young son Prahlad to burn him to death. Holika had a shawl which would protect her from the fire but Lord Vishnu saved Prahladfrom the fire and let Holika burn to death instead.
Astrological significance
According to astrologers, it is considered propitious to take a complete circle around the fire of Holika along with your family members. Offering grams, peas, wheat and linseed to the fire can help one prosper financially. Here are some Astrological facts you should know-
The cosmos is filled with utmost energy at the time of Holi. This is the time when the Moon is in the cusp of two important signs- Leo, and Virgo. At the same time Sun occupies a place in the cusp of Pisces and Aquarius.
This is the time of Vernal equinox, and the day of Holi marks Phalguna Purnima or the full moon. This day is spiritually saturated with numerous Tantric Pujans and Totkas taking place on various place. Thus, this is a ripe time for people looking forward to perform any rituals.
You should also make it a point to recite the most important mantras on this day. Every recitation will have ten times the impact than it would have otherwise. Since the planetary energies are very active, this day is considered highly auspicious.
Astrological Remedies
Remedy for Evil Eye- On the day of Holi you can remove evil eye on your family, and yourself. If you consult an astrologer, he/she will tell you the means to do so. These will probably include worship of Lord Hanuman.
Remedy for Health- If you want to get good health you need to get five Gomti Chakras and certain grains of rice. Next, you have to place them in a red cloth, rotate them anti-clockwise 7 times around the head of family members. This is later offered to the running water.
Remedy to Combat Enemy- This day can be used to settle disputes with long standing enemies, or negative figures like your bosses/seniors. This can be achieved with some Chandan and Bhojpatra.
Why do we use color?
This question brings us to the story of Radha-Krishna. They, along with other kids playing Holi on the banks of the river Yamuna is one of the reasons why Holi is celebrated in such a fun way to this day.
According to Ancient Hindu Mythology, Lord Krishna (reincarnation of Lord Vishnu) was born with relatively dark skin as compared to the other kids. He had an inferiority complex about his dark skin color and wondered why Radha had a lighter skin tone than himself, he often complained about this tohis mother, Yashoda.
His mother suggested that as they played Holi, he could good-naturedly spread some color on her face and temporarily change her skin to whatever color he liked. Owing to this legend, even today, Holi is celebrated by playfully smearing color on your friends and loved ones.
Conclusion
During Holi, the very air one breathes is filled with childish excitement. Kids playing around with colors, water guns and water balloons, families reuniting, friends getting together. This very warm and fuzzy atmosphere makes one eagerly await the arrival of the festival. It is predominantly celebrated in march which marks the end of winter awaiting the coming of spring, this is why it is also called the ‘festival of spring’.
