Chhath in US: An Unique Experience
Posted : November 5, 2008 at 10:52 pm [IST]
It was Sunday morning. When I started browsing Times of India in the early morning, I found Chhath already started in Patna. It was due to the time difference. We decided to follow the local time instead of that of India. Yamuna had wished a Chhath in US where all my sons are based today. It is difficult for all to participate, but Alpana, the eldest daughter-in-law does it. I consulted her to carry out the task here in US. For ‘nahai khai’, she got me the vegetable of louki and channa dal lintel prepared at her place with all the precautions on Sunday.
I went for fast for Monday’s kharana with fruits and milk in evening. On Tuesday Nov 4, I along with Anand offered my first ‘arghya’ with fruits only to the setting Sun God by 5PM as directed by Alpana. Yamuna created a water body in a plastic tub. Though this long fasting becomes torturous, but I could carry on well. And the second and final ‘arghya’ to the rising Sun God is at 6.30AM on Nov 5. Naturally this happens after almost 12 hours or more when all in India would have enjoyed the rich meal after the fast.
I remember of homologation of a foreign designed car, so it happened with Chhath too. I am sure the Sun God will forgive me for all the shortcomings that were not intentional. A religion as well as society can remain dynamic with only necessary changes. However, I can never forget the scenes of ghats of Hoghly in Uttarpara near Hind Motor, its crowd of simple men and women, young and old, children of all ages, flowing river with famous Dakhineswar temple facing us while offering of arghya, and the sweet folk songs in praise of Sun God. I missed all that here, but I did perform my fast religiously and that is important for me.
While answering to Anand, I expressed my views about Chhath as festival: Chhath must have origin in prehistoric period, when human beings worshipped Gods that represented the natural powers like rivers, trees, wind, fire, and planets. Later on the thinkers would have found Sun as the origin of this earth. As all the living beings evolved out of this earth with all the natural powers around, the Sun became the earliest and highest, and so most respectful for mankind. The rural people kept this oldest thinking alive. Chhath is only the manifestation of a strong faith. Fast is for physical purification and testing oneself for physical capability to keep away from the worldly attraction in which good food has become primary thing today.
I may be wrong and I am ready to get corrected. But there is no malice in my views.
Let Sun God bestow on this nation and mine, my all known near ones, and my siblings all the peace and prosperity against the penance of mine.
- Indra
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1 Comment »
The word Chhath is a compound of two words; Chah means 6 stages and Hath refers to the science of Hath Yog (austerity).
The word Chhath refers to the process of consciously obtaining the solar energy through 6 stages involving the methods similar to Hath Yog.
Hath here refers to the austerities like fasting, standing in water, etc.
According to another viewpoint, the word Chhath comes from number 6, which signifies its starting date (6th day of the month of Kartik in the Hindu calendar).
Stages of Chhath (Conscious Photoenergization Process)
The entire process of Chhath is divided into 6 scientific stages of Conscious Cosmic Solar Energy Infusion Technique (Conscious Photoenergization Process).
Stage 1: Fasting and the discipline of cleanliness leads to detoxification of the body and mind. This stage prepares the body and mind of the Vratti (devotee) to receive the cosmic solar energy.
Stage 2: Standing in a water body with half the body (navel deep) in the water minimizes the leak of energy and helps the prana (psychic energy) to move up the sushumna (psychic channel in the spine).
Stage 3: Cosmic Solar Energy enters the Vratti’s pineal, pituitary and hypothalamus glands (Triveni complex) through retina and optic nerves.
Stage 4: Activation of Triveni (tri-glandular complex) Pineal, pituitary and hypothalamus
Stage 5: A kind of Polarization of happens in the spine, which results in the Vratti’s gross and subtle bodies getting transformed into a cosmic powerhouse. This can also lead to the awakening of the latent psychic energy popularly known as the Kundalini Shakti.
Stage 6: The body of Vratti (devotee) becomes a channel, which conducts, recycles and transmits the energy into the entire universe.
Posted by: ritesh at November 16, 2008 @ 5:34 pm
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