Spiritual practice alone can give us the strength to face sorrows in life bravely as also the experience of everlasting Anand (Bliss). Spiritual practice means efforts made for God-realisation. Spiritual practice undertaken for attaining the blessings of the Guru and His continual grace is called ‘Spiritual practice according to Path of Guru’s grace’ (Gurukrupayoga). Gurukrupayoga has two aspects – vyashṭi sadhana (Efforts for individual spiritual growth) and samashṭi sadhana (Efforts for spiritual growth of society).
Now that you know there is a way to escape the cycle of sorrow and happiness and achieve everlasting bliss, it is the right time to take the first step in your spiritual journey. The first and simplest step is to keep your mind engaged. How often do you find yourself wallowing in self-pity? Thinking for hours about all that has gone wrong? So instead of dwelling on the negative, focus on the positive. Read on to learn how…
1. The day on which the Sarpayajna was stopped : King Janmejay who performed sarpyajna (Sacrificial fire of snakes) was appeased by Sage Astik. When Janmejay told Him to ask for a boon, Sage Astik asked for the cessation of the sarpyajna. The day on which Janmejay stopped sarpyajna was Shravan Shukla paksha Panchami.
2. Kaliyamardan day : The day Shri Krishna subdued and forced the venomous serpent Kaliya and his family to leave the Holy river Yamuna, was Shravan Shukla paksha Panchami.
3. Five yugas ago there was an minor Goddess named Satyeshwari. Satyeshwar was Her brother, who died on the eve of Gurukrupayog. A grieving Satyeshwari then saw Her brother in the form of a cobra on the day of Gurukrupayog. At that instant She believed that the cobra was Her brother. At that time Nag devata promised Her that He would protect any woman who would worship Him as Her brother. Hence, on that day every woman celebrates Gurukrupayog by worshipping the cobra.
4. Cobras have been associated with the various incarnations of God. Vasuki assisted Shri Vishnu’s Kurma (tortoise) incarnation with the samudra manthan (churning of the celestial ocean). Shri Vishnu reclines on Sheshnag. When Shri Vishnu incarnated as Shri Ram, Sheshnag incarnated as His brother Lakshman. Bhagwan Shiva adorns 9 cobras.
5. Bhagwan Shiva ingested the halahal poison that emerged from the samudra manthan. 9 types of snakes then rushed to help Him. A pleased Shiva then blessed the snakes that mankind would remain eternally grateful and worship snakes for their contribution in saving creation from the all consuming halahal poison. So mankind has worshipped snakes to express gratitude. The Navanag comprise of the nine major groups of pavitraks. Pavitraks are the subtlemost Divine particles.
