#vasant ritu

[h0bg0blin-meat]

[nandiniiiivyas]

The spring air is finally setting in and I feel like a flower just about to bloom 🌻

-Nandini :)

[vintageindianclothing]

I like doing season posts, one because I see it around me and two it is a chance to explore the motifs of the season and how it is incorporated in art and fashion.  Of course not all the motifs yield pictures I can use, e.g. the mahua and its spring association. Or bees, a recurring motif in spring poetry.

Of the ones I have done, see the posts on the season itself (vasant ritu), the trees and flowers of the season, asoka, palash, karnika, bamboo, kunda and a solo bird appearance in the koel.

Today’s pic is Avinash Godbole’s illustration of Raag Vasanta for Air India. That jacket precedes Manish Arora I think:), the bird on the flute is the koel (cuckoo), the flower stalk on the turban is likely gulmohur, a more identifiable modern motif of spring in India. 

[h0bg0blin-meat]

Vasantapuja

This puja is mentioned in the Ishanashivagurudeva Paddhati, and is a festival celebrating the spring season along with Damanakotsava , the associated festival of love, dedicated to Kama. In this puja, the season of spring is treated and worshipped as a goddess.

In case anyone is not aware, Vasanta, the god of spring and flowers, is the best friend of Kama (and Rati). He was mentioned to have been born from the sigh of Brahma in the Kalika and Shiva Puranas.

Vasantaradhana is one of the favorites of Shiva. The important part of worship in this festival held during the spring season (Vasantartu) is the Damanaka Puja, wherein Damanaka is an aromatic plant, and special to Kama since it was this plant that turned out to be the object of his Sapamoksha. Siva also blessed Kama, saying that whoever worships him with the Damanaka plant along with Vishnu, Brahma and other Devas will have all their wishes fulfilled. The author further states that those who do not strictly adhere to the Saivite modes of worship as stated above are, in effect, rejecting the basic tenets of Saivagama (traditionally communicated wisdom).

How The Puja Is Carried Out

For the details related to Vasantapuja and Damanakotsava, the author of the Paddhati has relied on 'Svacchandatantra' (official book of Kashmiri Shaivism) and 'SomaSambhupaddhathi' (another manual for Shaivite rituals).

Rites and rituals:

The venue for Vasantapuja has to be a garden that abounds in Damanaka creepers and Asokavrkshas (Ashoka trees). Puja is begun with the invocation and Aradhana of Ganesh in Nirti angle and Guru in Isana.

It is under the shade of an Asokavrksha that Puja takes place. Two pots of sanctified water are placed at the foot of the Asokavrksha. The one on the right side is meant for Vasanta and that on the left for Kama. The presence of their consorts, Kusumavati and Padmavati respectively, have also to be kept in mind. In the middle of the Pujavedi, the Asokavrksha is conceived as Vasanta in the guise of a vibrant youth, golden in complexion, and is to be invoked and offered Gandha-puspa-nivedyantapuja. The nine powers of Vasantartu are Ahladini, Gandhavati, Surabhi, Malini, Madira, Madayanti, Rama, Pushpavati and Vasanti.

Next is the worship of the Damanaka plant, during which the Bhairava form of Siva has to be conceived in mind. Kama has also to be conceived as remaining seated along with his consort Rati on his right thigh and holding Puspasara in his right hand. He is served on all sides by a group of beautiful and shapely maidens. The Saktidevatas of Kama may also be conceived and offered Gandhadhupa-nivedyantapujas. The Gayatrimantra of Kama is also given.

The important feature of the festival on the second day is the collection of the Damanaka plant (the whole plant including the roots) from the garden in a pot, offering of Puja, followed by the ceremonial procession carrying the three pots (Damanaka, Kama and Vasanta) on an elephant in Nagarapradaksina, to the accompaniment of Nrtta-vadyasangita-ghoshas. On conclusion of the procession, the pots are placed beside the idol of Shiva after which Homavidhis, Sampatasparsa, Bali, prayer and Archana are performed. The other customary acts like Dakshina and gifts to the priests are also recommended. The Patala concludes with the following observation by the author. 

ittham vasantavihitam savasantayagam proktam tadantamiha damanakam hi parva| yadvad vasantatilakam sumanobhiramam tadvanmaunobhisitan phalatiha kaman |

Though this festival is no longer celebrated in Kerala, another festival called Vasanta Panchami, also known as Sri Panchami, is observed religiously, mainly as Saraswati Puja and also as worship of Kama, Rati, Indra, Varuna and Brahma, on a grand scale, especially in Bengal, Punjab and most of North India. The legend also bears close resemblance to that of 'Vasantotsava' described in Isanasivagurudeva-paddhati. Legend has it that on this day Shiva turned Kama into ashes.

Source: Study of Ishanashivagurudeva Paddhati by J.P. Prajith (2008) I have taken most of the excerpts word-for-word from there.

[spaservicenearme]

Vasant ritu

Blooming Beauty: Your Ultimate Guide to Glowing Skin and Luscious Locks this Basant Ritu

Get ready to shine this Basant Ritu with our ultimate guide to achieving glowing skin and luscious locks. Discover the best tips and tricks

Vasant Ritu, heralded as the season of spring, is a vibrant tapestry woven with the colors of renewal and rejuvenation. This enchanting period embraces not just the natural world, where blooming flowers and lush greenery come alive, but also resonates deeply within our cultural narratives. As trees don new leaves and fields burst forth with mustard blooms, the air fills with an effervescent energy that sparks creativity and joy—a reminder that life continuously evolves.

In Indian traditions, Vasant Ritu signifies more than just climatic change; it embodies hope and transformation. Festivals celebrated during this time beckon communities together in celebration of love, fertility, and prosperity. The famous festival of Vasant Panchami honors Saraswati, the goddess of knowledge and arts—a fitting tribute to a season that inspires artistic expression. This season acts as a gentle nudge for individuals to reflect on their own growth journeys: shedding old habits while embracing new ideas like blossoming buds reaching towards the sun.

Moreover, Vasant Ritu invites us to explore its underlying themes in contemporary contexts—promoting mindfulness about nature's rhythms amidst rapid urbanization. As we rush through our daily lives filled with technology’s clutches, taking a moment to immerse ourselves in nature’s rebirth can foster deeper appreciation for life's cycles and inspire sustainable practices. Let us welcome Vasant Ritu not merely as a seasonal marker but as an invitation to reconnect with our roots while nurturing our aspirations for renewal—the true harmony between humanity and nature.

[shayariwalii]

Vasant Ritu Par Shayari Hindi Mein: नमश्कार दोस्तों! आज आप यहाँ पर वसंत के मौसम के लिए कुछ शायरियां प्राप्त करने वाले हैं। वसंत ऋतू भारत के

Vasant Ritu Par Shayari Hindi Mein: नमश्कार दोस्तों! आज आप यहाँ पर वसंत के मौसम के लिए कुछ शायरियां प्राप्त करने वाले हैं। वसंत ऋतू भारत के प्रमुख मौसम में से एक है जो मार्च और अप्रैल के महीने में आता है। इस मौसम को अंग्रेजी में Spring Season कहते हैं। इस मौसम का पहले त्यौहार बसंत पंचमी होता है जो की विद्या की देवी माता सरस्वती जी को समर्पित है। इससे पहले हमने आपके साथ बारिश की शायरी शेयर की थी। बसंत मौसम को ऋतुराज भी कहा गया है क्यूंकि इस मौसम के दौरान वातावरण काफी सुन्दर प्रतीत होता है। तो आइये देखते है कुछ सूंदर शायरियां वसंत ऋतू के मौसम पर।