Why does a sister perform aukshan to brother on Yamadwitiya?

1. Historical importance of Kartik Shukla Pratipada

This is the day of beginning of calculation of time as per Vikram Samvat. In the first century BC, Shakas attacked Bharat. The King of present Ujjain, King Vikramaditya, trained the youth of Malwa in martial arts. He attacked Shakas and drove them out of the country and established a kingdom based on religion. As a symbol of the victory, Emperor Vikramaditya started count of time named Vikram Samvat. This is prevalent since 57 B.C. This shows how ancient is the concept of time calculation in the Bharatiya culture. Kartik Shukla Pratipada is the half day of the three and half auspicious days falling within an year. This is one of its importance.

2. Rituals performed on Kartik Shukla Pratipada

2.1 Balipujan

Balipratipada is celebrated on Kartik Shukla Pratipada. As per Hindu Scriptures, on this day Bhagawan Shri Vishnu sent the King of demons, Bali, to Hell and curbed the loss to the Universe due to his misplaced philanthropy. Due to the excessive philanthropy of King Bali, wealth was acquired by ineligible people. This adversely affected the world. Then, Shri Vishnu incarnated as Vamana and requested land enough to place His three feet. Then Vamanadeva assumed expansive form and covered entire Earth and outer space in two feet. King Bali offered Him his own head to place His third foot. Before sending King Bali to Hell, Vamanadeva graced him with a boon. King Bali asked for three days of his kingdom on Earth. These three days are – Kartik Krushna Chaturdashi, Dipavali Amavasya and Pratipada.
Kingdom of Bali: As per the religious Scriptures, in the kingdom of Bali, people should enjoy as per their wish barring the actions forbidden by the Scriptures. The actions forbidden by the Scripures are consuming non-vegetarian food, alcoholic drinks and company of inappropriate women. However, today we see an excess of this. On these days people burst firecrackers in excess and cause loss too national property. Some people engage in gambling. Most people keep up till late in the night eating, watching movies, plays etc.
Method of celebrating Balipratipada: On Balipratipada, married women do arati of their husband after abhyangsnan. In the afternoon meal various dishes are made. Some people worship the image of King Bali along with his wife, Vindhyavali. The objective of this worship is that King Bali should not cause distress to people on Earth with his power and so that he pacifies the other negative energies.

2.2 Govardhanapujan

On this day Srikrushna started the worship of Govardhana in place of that of Indra. Govardhanapujan is done in memory of this. Scriptures prescribe that a summit of Govardhana mountain be done. It should be decorated with trees and flowers. However, in many places it is made in human form and decorated with flowers. Following prayer is offered:
गोवर्धन धराधार गोकुलत्राणकारक ।
विष्‍णुवाहुकृतोछ्राय गवां कोटिप्रदो भव ।। - धर्मसिंधु
Meaning: O, Govardhana, Who supports Earth! You are the protector of Gokul. Bhagawan Srikrushna had lifted You on His arms. Bestow crores of cows on me.
After Govardhanapujan cows are worshipped. Cow is considered to be Sri Lakshmi. After worshipping her a prayer is offered for obliteration of sins. In the Dharmasindhu, prayer is offered to the cow with the following verse:
लक्ष्‍मीर्या लोकपालानां धेनुरूपेण संस्‍थिता ।
घृतं वहति यज्ञार्थे मम पापं व्‍यपोहतु ।। - धर्मसिंधु
Meaning: O cow, who is Lakshmi Herself in the form of a cow and who bestows ghee for yadnyas, obliterate my sins.
In some places picture of Govardhana along with Bhagawan Srikrushna, Gopal, Indra and cow with calf is drawn and worshipped.

2.3 Annakuta

Kuta means mountain. In this festival a mountain of dishes is made to offer to Bhagawan Srikrushna. Hence, this festival is known as 'Annakuta'. As per Bhagawat, on Kartika Shukla Pratipada besides the regular dishes offered as Holy sacrament (Naivedya), a variety of dishes should also be made and offered. As per one's capacity the dishes should also be given away.
In ancient times the residents of Vraj would offer 56 delicacies and 36 dishes to Indra in His worship. In its remembrance after Govardhanapujan the Annakuta festival is celebrated.

2.4 Margapali bandhana and ritual of entering town

‘Margapali’ means the festoon hanged on the road. In the Dharmasindhu and Adityapuran it is advised to make a long and strong rope of Darbha (sacred grass) and fasten leaves of the Ashoka tree and make festoons. These should then be tied at the entry point of the village on high pillars. They should be worshipped with sndalwood paste, flower etc.
मार्गपालि नमस्‍तेऽस्‍तु सर्वलोकसुखप्रदे ।
विधेयै: पुत्रदाराद्यै: पुनरेहि व्रतस्‍य मे ।। - धर्मसिंधु, आदित्‍यपुराण
Meaning: O festoon on the road, bestowing happiness to all living beings, I pay obeisance to you. Do come again for my vowed religious observance (vrat).
Pray in this manner to the 'Margapali’. Then the main man of that place followed by the men and women of the place should enter the village joyously giving victory slogans. Then the main man should get the aukshan done through the married ladies. By walking under the 'Margapali’ happiness and serenity prevails in the coming year, the diseases are dispelled and along with the residents, the animals also remain heathy and joyous.

3. Yamadwitiya (Bhaiduj)

As per Hindu Dharmashastra, Kartika Shukla Dwitiya is one of the three days of worshipping Yama to prevent untimely death. It is popularly known as Yamadwitiya and Bhaiduj.

3.1 Why is Kartika Shukla Dwitiya called as Yamadwitiya and Bhaiduj?

As given in Hindu Scriptures, on Kartika Shukla Dwitiya due to the presence of frequencies of Yama in the environment, one can face various distresses like untimely death, accident, sudden attack of mental illness due to amnesia, fit like attacks or many obstacles in the task in hand. To restrict the Yama frequencies, worship of Yama and related Deities is performed.
On Kartika Shukla Dwitiya Yama leaves His home and enters His sister's home, that is Earth. Hence, it is known as Yamadwitiya. As a symbol of Yama visiting His sister, every man does not consume meals prepared at home, i.e. by his wife, but goes to the house of his sister to have the meal.

3.2 Rituals to be performed on Yamadwitiya

3.3 Science underlying worship of Yama and related Deities by brother and sister

During Dipavali, Yama frequencies descend in higher proportion. During these days any action done with respect to Yama and related Deities gives benefit in a short time. Hence, Yama is worshipped on Kartika Shukla Dwitiya. Ritual is performed as follows :

3.4 Aukshan

On this day, sisters do aukshan of Yama in the form of brother and invoke Him. They felicitate Him appropriately and pray to him to restrict the frequencies of Yama moving on Earth and the unsatiated subtle bodies from Pitruloka.
Method of aukshan, that is, arati of brother by sister:
Subtle-effect of aukshan is as follows:
From this it is clear, that by doing aukshan of brother by sister, both derive benefit.
After aukshan brother consumes food cooked by his sister. If one does not have a sister, then meal should be consumed at the house of any cousin sister or assuming any known woman as sister.

3.5 Gift from brother to sister

After the meal, the brother felicitates the sister by giving her a gift like clothes, money etc as per his capacity. If the gift is sattvik, it is more appropriate. For example, Holy texts about spiritual practice or Dharma, clothes useful for ritualistic worship of Deities. The gift should not be tamasik. For example, a CD of an inappropriate movie.
In some places women first do aukshan of the moon in the evening and only then do aukshan of their brother. In some places, if a woman does not have a brother, she assumes moon as her brother and does his arati.
Effects of aukshan of the moon by women on Bhaiyyaduj: Due to invocation of the moon by the woman, frequencies of moon enter the atmosphere. Due to their coolness, frequencies of Yama get pacified and the heat in the environment is reduced. Due to this pleasantness of the environment, there is awakening of the Anahat-chakra of the woman.

3.6 Benefits of celebrating Bhaiduj to brother and sister

On Yamadwitiya, that is, Bhaiduj frequencies of bliss are emitted from the Universe. There is 30 % more benefit of these frequencies to all beings compared to other days. A benefit gained by the brother is:
The above points show the importance of festivals mentioned in Hindu Dharma. H.H. Pandey Maharaj from Sanatan ashram, Panvel, says "Bhaiduja is a day to destroy the malice, jealousy, enmity present in the mind and to awaken brotherhood. Wherever men will consider women as their sisters and perform their duty of protecting them, when all the women of any society and nation will be able to move fearlessly in society with respect and dignity, only that is real Yamadwitiya."
Spiritual experience
Sri Ganesh asking to do His arati first on the day of Bhaiduj and conveying the reason for doing so, at the end of the programme: In 2005, I was in the Sanatan Ramanathi ashram. On the morning of 3^rd November 2005, I saw Sri Ganesh in child form. He said, 'Will you do my arati first ?' I said, 'Yes'. In the ashram, Bhaiduj is celebrated by considering Deities as brothers and by doing their aukshan. During this programme while applying vermilion to all Deities, I was experiencing lot of love and respect towards them. While doing arati my hand was moving in front of the pictures in the gross, but in reality I was experiencing that I am doing arati of the huge Deities. Throughout the programme, I was experiencing a different type of bliss. After the programme, for a long time I was not feeling like coming out of the meditation hall. Prayer for the enhancement of seekership and spiritual emotion of devotion in all seekers was being offered. In the end Sri Ganesh said, 'To prevent any obstacles in this programme I asked you to do my arati first.' - Mrs. Shubhangi Pimple, Maharashtra

Why is Amavasya falling in Dipavali period considered as auspicious?

1. Importance of Amavasya during Dipavali

Normally Amavasya is considered inauspicious, but the Amavasya that comes in the Dipavali period is as benevolent and prosperity-bestowing as Kojagiri Pournima. During Dipavali the worship of Sri Mahalakshmi has been recommended. On Dipavali Amavasya Shri Lakshmi arrives in the house of gentlemen at midnight. The ritual of the worship of Shri Lakshmi is performed accompanied by wife.

2. Ritualistic worship of Shri Lakshmi

2.1 Preperations for the worship

On the day of Dipavali, special preperations are made for Lakshmipujan as follows:

2.2 The ritual

Invocation and worship of Shri Lakshmi and Deity Kubera:
In the beginning of the worship, by performing the religious rituals like achaman, pranayama etc. the worshipper gains more benefit of Chaitanya on a spiritual level from the worship of the Deity. Worship of Sri Mahaganapati in the beginning makes it easy for the frequencies of all Deities to arrive at the venue of the worship without any obstruction.
Invocation and worship of Varun and other Deities: Due to the figure of ashtadala kamala, vibrations of Energy are generated at the venue and emitted in all directions. Thus the ashtadala kamala performs the task of a yantra.
Importance of invocation of Deity Varun in the kalash: Deity Varun regulates the Absolute Water Principle and while performing the rituals helps to materialise the Divine Principle as per requirement. This is the reason why Hindu Dharma has recommended invocation of Deity Varun in different types of rituals performed for worship of various Deities.
At some places a picture of Sri Ganesha-Lakshmi is drawn on the wall with different colours, at other places the idols of Sri Ganesha-Lakshmi are made and at some other places, a picture of Shri Lakshmi is engraved on a silver coin and is worshipped.

2.3 Reason for consecrating Shri Lakshmi’s idol with water

Reason for consecration of Shri Lakshmi’s idol with water after the worship of Principles of various Deities established on the ashtadala kamala during Shri Lakshmipujan: By invoking the Deity during worship, the Nirgun Principle is attracted at the venue of the worship. The idol of the Deity is the Sagun form. By consecrating the idol with water, the Sagun Principle is activated. By placing the idol which is awakened by consecration, the touch of the venue to the idol continues. Due to this the Deity Principles which were invoked, keep spreading continuously in the idol. The frequencies of Deities’ Principles start emitting through the charged idol by which besides the worshipper the persons present at the place are also benefitted.

2.4 Substances included in the Holy sacrament of Shri Lakshmi

The substances like clove, cardamom, milk and sugar are included in the Holy sacrament to be offered to Devi in Shri Lakshmipujan. The function of each of the substances is different.
Hence, these substances are called ‘Trigunavatara’. They perform the important function of increasing or decreasing the proportion of the triguns in the person as per the need.
In the worship of Shri Lakshmidevi the sugar candy, paddy, jaggery and coriander seeds, that is, dhaniya are a must. Among them, the word ‘dhaniya’ is related to ‘dhana’, that is, wealth whereas paddy is related to prosperity.
Benefit gained from the substances used in Shri Lakshmipujan:

2.5 Suble effects of Shri Lakshmipujan on Dipavali

The subtle-effects of Lakshmipujan happen on both the husband and wife. However, for convenience we have shown the effect only on one person.
It is evident that the generation of vibrations of Energy and Chaitanya through the worship of Shri Lakshmi done during Dipavali is in higher proportion. On this day the entire ‘Lakshmi Panchayatana’ enters the orbit of the Universe. The functions of the Deities included in Shri Lakshmi Panchayatana
On Dipavali, besides the worshipper, the persons present also benefit from these five Principles. Similarly, there are some other benefits of the worship of Shri Lakshmi:
Apart from this, by worshipping Shri Lakshmi on the day of Dipavali the Benefit gained from Shri Lakshmipujan by the worshipper are:

3. Elimination of Alakshmi

Alakshmi means poverty, dearth and adversity. Elimination means to drive them out of our life. On the day of Lakshmipujan a new broom is bought. At midnight, the house is swept with this broom and the garbage is collected in a shovel and thrown out. It is considered as ‘Lakshmi’ and worshipped at midnight. Garbage signifies Alakshmi. The garbage is collected in a shovel and going out from the rear door of the house, it is thrown far away. After throwing away the garbage, the shovel is sounded in every corner of the house. On any other day, the house is not swept at midnight. The subtle process taking place at the time of throwing away the garbage is: