Dwarkalaya's 11 Sastha Preethi Celebrations on 1st December 2013 at NSS Building, Institutional area, Sector 11, Dwarka (near DDA Sports complex)
And seek the Blessings of Lord Dharma Sastha
DONATIONS TO DWARKALAYA QUALIFIES FOR DEDUCTION UNDER SECTION 80G OF THE INCOME TAX ACT
Sasthapreethi is performed during Mandala Kalam and Makara maasam (Nov-Jan) in praise of Kaliyuga varadhan Sri Dharma Sastha. Sastha Preethi is celebrated all over India in various names such as Ayyappan Villakku, ayyapan pattu, Sastha Pattu etc. Sastha having earned a name of Annadhana Prabhu, mass feasts are arranged for the function every year.
The function starts with Ganapathi Homam followed by a process invoking Lord Dharma Sastha, recitation of “ Ayyappa Ashtothram “, Ayyappa Laksharchanai, Bhajans in praise of the Lord followed by lighting of diya's in the 18 steps to the Lords Abode, mangala arti and finally distribution of prasadam.
Ayyappan (also called Sastavu or Sasta) is a Hindu deity who is believed to be an incarnation of Dharma Sasta, the offspring of Shiva and Vishnu (in the form of Mohini, his only female avatar), He is generally depicted in a yogic posture, wearing a jewel around his neck, hence named Manikandan. Ayyappan may bear a historical relationship to the tutelary deity Aiyanar in Tamil Nadu.
The most prominent and famous Ayyappan shrine is the one at Sabarimala, in the hills of Pathanamthitta in Kerala, with over 30 million devotees visiting it every year, making it one of the largest pilgrimage sites in the world. These devotees fast and engage in austerities under the leadership of a teacher for weeks beforehand and then travel in groups to the shrine for a glimpse of Ayyappan.
The name "Ayyappan" is used as a respectful form of address in the Malayalam and Tamil languages. The sentence Swamiye Saranam Ayyappa can be translated as, "Oh Lord Ayyappa! I seek refuge in you".
Dwarkalaya, as a part of its religio-cultural festival, would be organizing the 11 such function in praise of the “ Kaliyuga Varadhan “……meaning the Lord of the Kalyug we are in. “ He “ is invoked durng this process and it is prayed that “ He “ shows the mankind the right path towards a better tomorrow.