Aghor Chaturdashi
Every question on the site tagged Aghor Chaturdashi, each answered from a timestamped source rather than a summary written from memory.
30 Aug: The tithi began and ended without ever falling at sunrise (kshaya); the day it runs through is kept.
Computed for New Delhi. Sunrise decides which tithi a day belongs to, so these can differ elsewhere.
The Chaturdashi (fourteenth lunar day of the waning moon) of the Bhadrapada month, falling the day before Aghor Amavasya — together the two mark the major Aghori and Tantric observance of the year.
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When the Aghor Chaturdashi to Tara Amavasya sadhana window opens and closes
The speaker explains that the sadhanas begin the moment the Chaturdashi tithi sets in during the night, and go on until the Amavasya tithi is over (its visarjan); through that whole stretch people keep doing whatever mantra and tantra sadhana they have to do. He gives the 2021 example: the Amavasya joined with Chaturdashi fell on Monday 6 September, the Chaturdashi tithi was on 5 September, so all sadhanas started from the night of 4 September. He asks ordinary sadhaks who do not know this to learn it and do it correctly.
Fruit of sadhana on Aghor Chaturdashi and Tara Amavasya compared with ordinary days
The speaker says sadhana done on these days gives many times the benefit it gives on ordinary days. Not only does the Tapobala of that mantra grow and its energy grow, but a great many of the sadhak's known and unknown sins are destroyed as well. For this reason, he says, every tantra-lover and every sadhak must take advantage of Aghor Chaturdashi, Aghor Amavasya and Mahavidya Tara Amavasya.
Why is Kamakhya fully awake at Narak Chaturdashi?
Addressing all the mothers and sisters who will be in their period at the time of Diwali, the speaker tells them to look plainly at this period: Narak Chaturdashi, the slaying of Narakasura, and where Narakasura's connection lies. Hear the story again — how Bhagavan Shri Hari Narayana, in the avatar of Krishna ji, performed the slaying at this time, and in what manner the slaying of Narakasura took place through his shakti. So the Chaturdashi is related to Narakasura, and the name Narak Chaturdashi was given from that; and Bhagavati Kamakhya remains fully awake at this time, because she is the ishta shakti of tantra.
How many lamps are lit on the Chaturdashi evening?
In the evening period, performing pujan by means of fourteen lamps, you will light those fourteen lamps at different places. Every day the deepdaan of amla will keep happening separately — whether you do 11, 14 or 27, or do it according to the tithi. Do it without fail; at the very least do two, and if you cannot do very many, keep doing the deepdaan of two amla continuously.
Those keeping the five-day pujan tithi by tithi do the Chaturdashi and Hanuman pujan on the Sunday evening, with a Hanuman Chalisa havan if possible.
But those who are going to do the five-day pujan according to tithi, who are going to perform each day's pujan, should especially perform the Chaturdashi pujan on the Sunday evening and perform Hanuman ji's pujan too. There is no difficulty in doing it on the next day as well, but on that day do at least a brief pujan in the evening without fail. In the house, pujan for the sake of Hanuman ji should certainly take place on that day; if possible, do a havan with the Hanuman Chalisa.
Where is a lamp lit because it is Narak Chaturdashi?
And on that same day, since it is Narak Chaturdashi, a lamp should also be lit at the place where you throw the waste matter and rubbish of your house. But there an old lamp is always burned; a new lamp should not be lit there.
Their prayoga kaal is the Aghor Navratri around this Chaturdashi and Amavasya, when Shakta and Kaul tantrics complete their sadhanas at Tarapith and Tarachandi.
The prayoga kaal for them falls on precisely this Aghor Chaturdashi, Tara Chaturdashi, Amavasya and so on. The Chaturdashi and the navratra around it are also called the Aghor Navratri, which has already begun; in Bengal especially at Tarapith, and at Tarachandi in Bihar, Shakta and Kaul tantrics complete their sadhanas within these nine days.
As the day before Diwali is Kali Chaudas, these Bhadon nights are Tara Chaudas and Kaushiki Amavasya, also called Aghor Chaturdashi and Aghor Amavasya.
As we call the day before Diwali Kali Chaudas, in that same way these two nights of Bhadon are renowned by the name of Tara Chaudas. They are also famed as Kaushiki Amavasya, and by the names Aghor Chaturdashi, Aghor Navratra and Aghor Amavasya.
What does Aghor Chaturdashi permit, and what does it not?
Hearing the word Aghor, we are not to perform any Tamasic worship, and this Navratri is not kept at home. The right to keep it belongs to the traditions in which it is kept, because many things in it cannot be done in a house. We should only do a special worship on the night the Chaturdashi holds.
What should be done when unknown women and children are seen on closing the eyes?
Have a Bhairav Yaag performed at the house and have the Kshetrapal Nikari done — at minimum that much. Find a somewhat knowledgeable Brahmin who worships at a Kali temple and knows the Saptashati Chandi recitation; have it done on one day, on the Krishna Paksha Chaturdashi.
Who used to do the veer bhav sadhanas of the shamshan kshetra?
The veer bhav sadhanas of the shamshan kshetra used to be done, the speaker says, by a king's soldiers, a senapati, one who takes part in war, a kshatriya or one who does kshatriya-related work, or one who performs tantra-related siddhis for the welfare of society; such people would go and stay in a settled manner and perform siddhi. Not as today — Shani is troubling, so off to the Shamshan Kali temple; enemies to be destroyed, everyone arrives at the Shamshan Kali temple.
What does the Keelak Stotra say about the utkilan of the Saptashati?
When we recite the Keelak Stotra in the Durga Saptashati, he says, it is written there how the utkilan of the Saptashati is to take place. One accepted kind of utkilan is this: that on the night of the Krishna Paksha Chaturdashi — which had run from the previous evening to that day — one surrenders one's all, and then enjoys it again in the form of prasad; then the utkilan of the Saptashati happens.
By what names is this Amavasya known in Bengal?
The whole region of Bengal and Bangladesh knows it by the names Tara Chaturdashi, Aghor Amavasya, Aghor Chaturdashi and the like. And take it as settled, he says, that as the pujan of Bhagavati Kalika is done through the whole Bengal region on the night of Diwali, so on the Bhadrapada Amavasya and on the night of the Chaturdashi, whatever pujan-paath there is related to Bhagavati Tara takes place on this very night.
What is the minimum for someone in very great distress on these nights?
Especially for those in whose lives there are very special kinds of calamity, very great distress, where the situation feels altogether unbearable — in these two or three days, taking it as Trayodashi, Chaturdashi and Amavasya, if they can do nothing else, then after nine at night, remembering the names of both Bhagavati Tara and Akshobhya Shiva, lighting one or two lamps, a joint lamp, of mustard oil with a red-coloured wick, and remembering Bhagavati, they should simply do the paath of the Durga Sahasranama.
Five paath of the Kalika kavach nightly, begun from the Chaturdashi
Beginning from this Amavasya tithi, download the PDF of the Kalika kavach that has been given on the channel and start from the Chaturdashi — from the day on which the Chaturdashi tithi is in effect in the night hours of this Bhadrapada Amavasya — and daily do at least five paath, taking the sankalp that O Bhagavati, be pleased and protect me in every way, even in the sleeping state and in the waking state.
Was Baba Kinaram born on Aghor Chaturdashi?
A listener says that the prakatya of Baba Kinaram took place on the very day of Aghor Chaturdashi. That is right, he answers — Baba Kinaram, the Aghori.
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