Sundays with Sucharita

Teachings And Techniques For Spiritual Living

8 am PDT / 11 am EDT / 8:30 pm IST

My name is Sucharita, a Pillai Center Teacher and your guide in this Weekly Call Program called Sundays with Sucharita. I’ll be giving you insights, tips and tools for getting the most out of your spiritual practices and how to apply those teachings in your daily life. I’m always happy to share what I’ve learned during the past 17 years as a student and mentor of Dr Pillai’s programs offered through Pillai Center and AstroVed Advisory Services. If you’re not able to join every week, there will be recordings of the calls and other weekly teachings made available for you to download on the Pillai Center Blog under the Sundays with Sucharita tab. It’s up to you how often you’d like to join the calls, although as Dr Pillai shares, it is important that everyone establishes a regular routine to enjoy the benefits of the teachings and services offered. It is a pleasure to be of service and I’m looking forward to sharing in your weekly transformation process. See you on Sundays!
Sucharita

How This Year’s Lunar Eclipse Impacts You

Lunar eclipse on black full moon with golden border and a starry background


After 69 Years: Rare Lunar Eclipse Coincides With Panguni Uthiram

“The upcoming Full Moon is a very important time, because it teaches about the role of relationships. Just as there are weddings on the Earth plane, there are weddings in Heaven too. The God and Goddess celebrate their wedding at this time. It is the time that you can remedy problems in a relationship, whether you are married, living with someone, or even if you don’t have a relationship.” – Dr. Pillai

Panguni Uthiram is a significant festival that falls during the Full Moon of the Panguni Uthiram month. God’s divine marriages happen in temples and spiritual centers during this day.

Every year, during Panguni Uthiram, the Moon will be entering the Uthiram or Uttara Phalguni star.

Opportune Time to Focus on Healing Relationships

After 69 years, this year’s Lunar Eclipse coincides with Panguni Uthiram, Full Moon Day of Divine Marriages. The star associated with Panguni Uthiram is Uttara Phalguni. It possesses Chayani Shakti, or the power to attain wealth and prosperity through long-lasting partnerships.

Connecting with the harmony-enhancing energy of the Panguni Full Moon can help dissolve negative relationship karma, solve relationship problems, and help you attract good fortune, success, and loving relationships.

Creates Emotional Imbalance

The upcoming Lunar Eclipse will occur in Virgo, where the Moon is with Ketu. According to Vedic Astrology, the Moon denotes the mind, emotions, equilibrium, and feelings. As Ketu eclipses the Moon, it may make you lose your equilibrium and act impulsively, thereby affecting your personal and professional relationships.

This is the ideal time to engage in higher spiritual growth, show compassion, and be understanding. Health may need more focus, especially mental health. Be aware of your negative aspects and try to stay positive. The time is right to remember and honor your ancestors and perform Tarpanam for them.

 

Rahu, Sun & Mercury in Pisces:

Mercury will be debilitated in Pisces, which it will share with the Sun and Rahu. Although Mercury and Rahu go well with each other, the Sun is uncomfortable with Rahu.

This combination can trigger the negative qualities and harsh tendencies of the Sun, like being aggressive, egoistic, and dominating, which may hamper your communication in your relationships. It can also cause fear and lead you into stressful situations.

On a positive note, this conjunct can bring breakthroughs and enable you to pursue well-planned goals.

Vedic experts recommend people born under the following stars be cautious and perform rituals to safeguard them.

  • Sun Stars– Uttara Phalguni, Uttara Ashada, & Krittika
  • Venus Stars– Bharani, Purva Phalguni, & Purvashada
  • Mars Stars– Chitra, Dhanista, & Mrigasira

Scriptures Describe Multifold Blessings of Performing Lunar Eclipse Rituals

Any charitable deeds or spiritual practices performed on the day of the Lunar Eclipse is believed to bring multifold benefits. According to Dharma Shastra (Collections of Treatises on Sacred Duties), chanting any Vedic mantra even once during the Eclipse can bestow you with multifold benefits.

As the influence of the Moon on the earth plane would be high during the Lunar Eclipse, it can affect your mind, thoughts, and feelings. Chanting mantras and practicing meditation can bring peace of mind and relax you.

Do’s and Don’ts on Eclipse Day

It is important to avoid certain things and perform some rituals to ward off negative energies during the Eclipse.

  • If possible, fast during the Eclipse period
  • Don’t cook or eat during Eclipse time
  • Take a bath after the Eclipse
  • Listen to Vishnu Sahasranamam (1000 Divine Names of Vishnu) or Shiva’s Mrityunjaya Mantra
  • Chant “Om Namah Shivaya” or “Om Namo Narayana” during the Eclipse
  • Pregnant women should not expose themselves to the Moon

Invoke The Blessings Of Divine Couples On Panguni Uthiram

The Panguni Uthiram festival is celebrated on a unique Full Moon that occurs once a year. It is on this Full Moon day that the divine marriages of Lord Muruga and Devasena, Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati, Lord Krishna and Goddess Radha, and many other divine celestial couples took place.

It is believed that when you offer prayers to connect with this divine wedding model on Panguni Uthiram, you invite perfect love into your personal life. It is on this day that anyone is able to easily connect with the energies of the divine couples and seek their blessings to resolve any relationship issue.

The Panguni Uthiram Full Moon is celebrated for its ability to dissolve negative relationship karma, solve marital problems, and help you attract a loving relationship. Honor the Panguni Uthiram Full Moon powertime by taking the time to connect with divine couples to receive the blessings of relationships that are more fulfilling and fruitful.

Celebrate 2 Divine Marriages

Muruga & Devasena

Muruga is the Pleiadean Spiritual Warrior Archetype who is often depicted with six heads – each one symbolizing a different part of the brain. He was born from the 3rd Eye of Shiva and represents awakening of the 3rd Eye and brain. His divine intelligence purifies karma and destroys inner enemies.

Davasena is Muruga’s first wife. She is sometimes known as Devayanai, which means “celestial elephant.” She was raised by an elephant named Airavata.

Shiva & Parvati

Shiva is known as the Destroyer of the Trinity of Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva. What does he destroy. He destroys karma and the thought patterns that bring misfortune. He cares for nothing other than enlightenment.

Parvati is Shiva’s wife. She is known by many as the Goddess of Relationships. It is believed that connecting with her attracts and heals relationships and strengthens family life.

The Significance of Panguni Uthiram

  • Several celestial marriages are believed to have happened during Panguni Uthiram, Goddess Parvati married Shiva, Goddess Maha Lakshmi married Vishnu, Devasena married Lord Muruga, and Sita married Shri Ram.
  • Goddess Maha Lakshmi emerged from the Milky ocean on Panguni Uthiram.
  • Lord Ayyappa, Hariharaputra was also born on this day.
  • Panguni Uthiram is observed grandly at the Thyagarajaswamy Temple, Tiruvarur, Tamil Nadu. This Powerspot is one of the 276-day petra sthalams of Shiva and is one of the five Shiva mukthi sthalams.
  • During this day, devotees visit Murugan temples in large numbers.
  • Many devotees observe fast on this day.

Benefits of Panguni Uthiram Ceremonies

  • It helps you seek your soulmate
  • Bestows long-lasting relationships
  • It helps find a suitable life partner
  • Enhances intimacy between couples
  • Boosts health and overall wellbeing
  • Removes afflictions caused by Mars for women in birth chart and Venus for men in the birth chart.

Mantras to Bless Your Relationship or Manifest One

  • Kleem Attraction Mantra

Chant ‘Kleem’, the mantra of attraction. You can use it to attract a lover or to breathe new life into your existing relationship. It carries the energy of healthy relationships. Just say kleeeeeeeeeemmmmmmm. Do this at every opportunity so that it can build tremendous strength within you.

  • Sita & Rama Mantra

Chant ‘Sita Ram Sita Ram Sita Ram’. They are pronounced SEE-tah and rahm. Sita and Rama are the Divine Couple of virtue, truth, courage, and alignment with Dharma (Divine Purpose). Together, they can strengthen and purify your relationship.

  • Radha & Krishna Mantra

Chanting ‘Radhe Bol Hari Bol, Radhe Bol Hari Bol’ can help you attract a relationship or strengthen one. It’s pronounced RAHD-hay bowl HAH-ree bowl. Radha and Krishna symbolize Divine Relationship.

Time to Self-Reflect & Seek Ancestral Blessings for Protection & Progress

According to Vedic Astrology, the upcoming Lunar Eclipse will occur on Mar. 25, 2024, an uncommon planetary alignment day when three power planets, Rahu, Sun, and Mercury, are in Pisces, and the Moon and Ketu are directly opposite in Virgo.

As Ketu shares the sign with the Moon, it overshadows its positive qualities and creates Grahan Dosha (Eclipse Affliction).

This unique combination of planets can help strengthen the signs they occupy and nullify the negative influence of the Lunar Eclipse to some extent, encourage personal and spiritual growth, and improve your ability to manifest goals and gains.

Vedic experts believe that it is a day for clearing your karmic baggage, pacifying your ancestors, and self-introspection. According to Dharma Shastra, it is important to perform Tarpanam and meditation on the day of the Lunar Eclipse for protection, family well-being, and peace of mind.

Pillai Center will be performing special rituals that include a Grand Fire Lab to invoke the positive aspects of the Moon, an Individual Fire Lab to clear afflictions for those born during the Lunar Eclipse, Vedic Hymn Chanting, Special Poojas to Moon and its Controller Shiva and to Navagraha, as well as an Ancestral Ritual for overall protection and to alleviate negative energies, enhance your emotional balance, restore health, and gain ancestral blessings for a happy and prosperous life.

 

 

The Heaven of Shiva

Lord Shiva in white with the Shiva lingam in black and a snake with a blue cloud background and green trees

Dr. Pillai: “The upcoming Night of Shiva on March 8 is a significantly important night. The night of Shiva, which is called the Shivaratri, comes every month when the sun and the moon join together; it’s called Amavasya, the New Moon. And that great understanding of astronomical happenings because they are very connected to our body, mind, and soul. In modern terms, we can say it’s epigenetics. So, the environment affects us; even diseases like cancer are created by the environment. So, this phenomenon of epigenetics is a very fundamental concept within Indian medicine, Indian astrology, and Indian science of the mind.

The Night of Shiva

On this day on the new moon day, the Moon is not expressed. And as he is not exercising the influence or sending radiation to the earth, we have the ability to connect with the highest intelligence, and that is Shivaratri, the night of Shiva. The new moon night is very powerful for the practice of meditation, and particularly, this particular night of Shiva is very important because 2024 itself is a very important time in two ways.

One is a lot of destruction. That is the bad part of it. And the good side is, it is a great time for spiritual people. It is a great time. At the beginning of this Shivaratri, there is a possibility for liberation, liberation from birth and death, so that we don’t come back here just attracted by sense pleasures, but then we are caught up in diseases and pain and then bedridden and then die. And that’s not what this life is about. Life is about understanding who we are; who we are is just unlimited intelligence. We are God. God created human beings in His image. And that is the purpose of celebrating this Shivaratri night.

Fire Belongs to Heaven

On this night, you can experience the highest intelligence possible. And it has to be explained a little more. And I don’t know if I have time; I will do that during the program. But I will give a summary of what I’m going to do on that day. On that day, we’ll do a fire ritual and also a hydration ceremony. The fire ritual is to invoke Lord Shiva through the fire. Fire belongs to heaven. Even in Prometheus and…he is the guy who brought fire here. So, the fire always goes up. And that is the way that it is only through the fire that we can communicate with the divine. So, we invoke Shiva with mantras which I have never taught people, because it was not the time to do that, I will do it.

Shivalinga Hydration Ceremony

And then I will do the hydration ceremony, which is the water ceremony. The water ceremony is, you know, you all know that water is as important as the fire because, without water, we will all dehydrate and die, even the plants and everything will die. So the hydration ceremony is another way of connecting with the divine. So l will do a Puja to my own Shivalinga. I worship a Shivalinga which is made of special gold. So you get to watch that too. And then I will also lead a meditation on that day.

A State of Nirvana

And most importantly for this Shivaratri night, I will explain to you how the liberated soul reaches heaven. You have all seen movies where Jesus was talking to the disciples after his resurrection and then he will start to ascend and go into the sky. So where was he going? He is going to the Father. He is going to heaven and preparing a place for you, and that is simply not a belief system, but that is the truth. We all belong to the Father’s place which is heaven.

And I want to say something which I just remember. Many years ago, about 15, 20 years ago, I was teaching a course, fifteen years maybe, in Sedona. Mother Teresa was there talking about a dream of hers to the prince of Greece; she was staying with him. And that was published in The Sedona Times or Phoenix Times whatever the newspaper was. And Mother Teresa was not allowed in the dream to go into heaven. And she demanded why. “I have done all charity work with people suffering from terrible diseases like leprosy, and I’m not allowed?” Yes, you are not allowed. Why? “Because these people here are party, they are party animals inside, and you don’t have a consciousness that matches with it.”

This is the true story of Mother Teresa. And her Heaven is being with the poor people on the Earth plane. She will be very happy there.

Your Real Self

The heaven of Shiva is called Kailash. And what is that heaven like? That heaven is like experiencing intense bliss through the experience of having no desire, having no fulfillment; it is completely, a state of nirvana, nothing exists. You don’t exist, and your body doesn’t exist, nothing exists. And that experience is just complete liberation from the body, mind, desire, and fulfillment of desire, everything is gone. And then what you are is you are everything, and you are nothing. And that is your real self.

So do we go to that place? Yes, that’s what I’m going to teach because I’m very happy to do that. Because this is the first time again, I’m teaching of an experience of a ninth-century saint. He was sent here because he previously belonged to Shiva’s Kailash. But he was sent here because he fell in love with two women and that was a degraded experience in heaven. So Shiva said “Go to earth plane. There you have plenty of opportunity to fulfill desires.” And then he comes here. And then after that, he feels so bad, that he wants to go back. So at the age of 18, “I’m done with everything, I just want to go.” And Shiva sends him a white elephant. And he rides on the white elephant and goes there.

Non-existence Can Be Experienced in the Body Too

And I’ll give you a detailed exposition of what he is all about because he says as he is going to heaven, you guys can also do that. “There is heaven and I’m just going.” And then he writes a note for all the people who are devotees of Shiva that you can also go. So I’m going to talk about it because that is a very appropriate night for me to talk about liberation and we all belong to a place of complete evolution. There is no more that is out there after, once you reach that state of completion. And that is heaven. And that is a place. And then what do people do there? They are non-existent. And that kind of a state is heaven too, and that can be experienced even while we are in the body. And he will go into a trans.

Don’t Miss the Night of Shiva

So I will have some sort of meditation that I will give you through which you can astrally travel. You can astrally travel too. Swami Ramalingam traveled to not only the world of Shiva but also he went to different galaxies, just within his body. So, I will combine different concepts with meditations and I will give you on that day on that night of Shiva. I look forward to my own experience, I will share with you the new teachings. So, I have taught Shivaratri many, many times, but this is going to be something that I myself have to learn about. And I am completely in tune with this astral travel, and particularly on this day, on this night of Shiva.

So, don’t miss that night because if we miss the night… especially for people like you, who have been completely blessed by Shiva and higher beings, to know about your soul, to know about your spirit, to know about meditation, not that many people can meditate or get attracted to that.

The Moon Is the Mind

People have a default mind; they cannot escape thinking about one thing, and that is about relationships.Analyze your thoughts, they are all about relationships. Relationship with whom? With your brother, sister, enemies, and friends and then you want to kill them or kiss them or whatever you want to do to them, all your thoughts, if not all, at least 99 percent of the thoughts are. And you have 35 of them in one minute. And then this will be an opportunity when the moon is absent, or exercising or sending very minimal rays of the mind. Because the moon is the mind. So the Mind principle will be less.

Emptiness and Fullness Are the Same

I’ve done some research a long time ago, if you remember, what happens during the full moon versus the new moon. It goes for a trauma center, and accidents do happen on New Moon. I don’t want to go into it. But anyway, there is a definite relationship between the astronomical phenomenon and what happens in our body and mind. And the most important thing, I’m very happy personally and for the world and for the entire universe because we as a spiritual community will have the ability to go out of this earth plane into heaven. In this case, I will teach you about Kailash, the heaven of Shiva of total, total emptiness or fullness, emptiness and fullness are the same. Okay, that’s all I’m going to do.

So I’m going to teach you about a few mantras that I have never taught people that will lead you during these fire rituals and this hydration ceremony so that you will get the benefit and I will also teach you the astral travel to Kailash, and that’s going to be what I’ll be doing on this Shivaratri night. God bless.”

Astral Travel to Shiva’s Heaven at the Dawn of the Golden Age

Dr. Pillai’s Live Initiation & Hydration Ceremony | Fire Lab | Immersion Session

“This Shivaratri is very important because this marks the threshold of the Golden Age time period. So, I want to do something very different. I will lead you to a practice of meditation, which is an astral trip to the world of Shiva, or the heaven of Shiva, called Kailash.”

– Dr. Pillai

See 3 Ways to Join

“Do the Om Nama Shivaya Meditation. “You will have a world of benefits come to you. It will burn your karma, your maya (senses), and your ego.” — Dr. Pillai

FREE Maha Shivaratri Preparatory Kit: Meditation & Quick Guide

Pillai Center welcomes you to join us in invoking Shiva through a comprehensive package of 266 Super-Grand Ceremonies following the Vedic and Tamil system of Shiva worship to receive Shiva’s abundant life-transforming blessings, bestow undiminishing virtues, and gain wealth, wisdom, and overall well-being.

VIEW MAHA SHIVARATRI 2024 PACKAGES

Great Night of Shiva: Obtain Merit of Million Years of Meditation

Lord Shiva on a white background

“For me, the most important day in each year is this Night of Shiva because it’s the day that Shiva gives an opportunity for everyone to merge with his consciousness. You’ll become Shiva himself. Shiva is the God of Enlightenment. Nothing else matters to him. Shiva gives an opportunity for all human beings to embrace him, which means to be enlightened on this very sacred night.” – Dr. Pillai

Shiva is one of the important Gods of the Hindu pantheon. Maha Shivaratri falling on Feb-March every year is a very important powertime. It is a festival celebrating the Supreme awareness and gives you an opportunity to connect with the divine.Scriptures say that meditating, and keeping vigil, during this powertime is equal to a million years of meditation.

We will be celebrating Shiva’s ultimate powertime with Fire Prayers, Hydration Prayers, and other offerings for karma removal, merging with Shiva’s ecstatic transcendental consciousness, and wish fulfillment.

Why Do We Celebrate Maha Shivaratri?

Celebrating Maha Shivaratri will help you to achieve spiritual advancement that equals meditating for a million years! This night is an excellent opportunity given by Lord Siva for everyone to merge with his consciousness.

Maha Shivaratri means the ‘Great Night of Shiva’ and is Lord Shiva’s most important powertime. He performs Ananda Tandav (Blissful Dance) on this day and blesses everyone who surrenders him with bliss. Goddess Parvati, Brahma, Vishnu, several devas, and rishis received boons and blessings from Shiva on Maha Shivaratri. Therefore, meditating towards Lord Shiva on this day will help your spiritual progress.

What to Do on Maha Shivaratri?

  • Water has the power to cleanse all kinds of negativity. Before commencing the Maha Shivaratri Pooja take a shower and wear clean clothes.
  • Light earthen lamps and some incense sticks and spread the fragrance.
  • On Maha Shivaratri, the time starting at 6 PM evening and ending at 6 AM next day is the most auspicious time. During this time, Lord Shiva’s supreme consciousness descends to the Earth. Keeping vigil from 6.00 PM evening to 6.00 AM next day shall bring you his blessings and grace.
  • You can chant the mantras of Lord Shiva or recite his names. You may also take part in bhajans or read holy scriptures praising Lord Shiva.
  • From 6.00 PM to 6.00 AM, You can perform a hydration ceremony to a small Lingam at home or a smooth stone or gem (if you don’t have a Siva Lingam). Hydrate the lingam with water, milk, fruit juice, rose water, rice powder, tender coconut, sandal paste, curd, etc.
  • Offer sweets, milk, juice, etc., to Lord Shiva. The offering should be vegetarian.
  • You may undergo fast during the time of Maha Shivaratri. You can avoid eating solid foods and intake only water during fasting or can have only milk and fruits/juice during fasting.
  • When the Maha Shivaratri time is over, break your fast by eating the prasad offered to Lord Shiva.

Legends Associated with Maha Shivaratri

Puranas (the sacred Hindu Stories) have recorded various divine legends that took place during Maha Shivaratri. These legends help to understand the significance of Maha Shivaratri. Following popular legends are associated with Maha Shivaratri

  • Brahma started creating the Worlds after paying obeisance to Lord Shiva on Maha Shivaratri.
  • Indra became the ruler of heaven after doing the Maha Shivaratri Pooja.
  • Kubera became the divine custodian of wealth by worshipping Shiva on this divine night.
  • Goddess Parvati, got the left portion of Shiva’s body on a Maha Shivaratri. This form of Shiva is popularly known as Ardhanareeswarar (Half-man and half-woman).
  • Arjuna received the powerful ‘Pashupatastra’ from Lord Shiva on Maha Shivaratri day.
  • It was on Maha Shivaratri that Bhageeratha got the boon from Shiva to bring divine Ganges from heaven to earth.
  • Sage Kanappa, a pious devotee attained Moksha (Divine Liberation) during Maha Shivaratri
  • It was on Maha Shivaratri, Lord Shiva kicked Yama, the death God to save Markandeya, a young devotee, from imminent death.
  • During Maha Shivratri, Shiva manifested as a big pillar of Light to remove the arrogance of Brahma and Vishnu.

Things to Do during Maha Shivaratri

Use the Thiru Neela Kantam mantra to remove karma. It’s pronounced TEE-roo NEE-lah KAHN-tahm. Don’t just chant it every once in a while. Slip it into your day during any “downtime” so it creates a powerful momentum that cleanses your karma. Use the mantra any time you’re not busy with something you can’t do simultaneously. If you have a specific problem in mind, you can set the intent to cleanse the karmic thought patterns behind it.

Do the Namah Shivaya Meditation. Dr. Pillai says, “You will have a world of benefits come to you. It will burn your karma, your maya, and your ego.”

Instructions:

  • Close your eyes. Chant each syllable for a few seconds while focusing on each of the chakras.
  • At the bottom of the spine – NAAAAH.
  • Move to the navel – MAAAAH.
  • Move to the heart – SHEEEE.
  • Move to the throat, the mouth – VAAAAAH.
  • Move to the two eyes, and then the Third Eye and the brain – YAAAAAH.

That’s less than a minute. You can prolong your visit to each chakra, and you can also do this meditation multiple times in a row. It’s flexible.

ONE NIGHT VIGIL EQUAL TO MILLION YEARS OF MEDITATION

Pillai Center welcomes you to join us in invoking Shiva through a comprehensive package of 266 Super-Grand Ceremonies following the Vedic and Tamil system of Shiva worship to receive Shiva’s abundant life-transforming blessings, bestow undiminishing virtues, and gain wealth, wisdom, and overall well-being.

MAHA SHIVARATRI 2024

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