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Showing posts from November 18, 2009


Daily Puja Timing at Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple in November, December and January

Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple in Kerala remains open continuously for 41 days only during the Mandala Makaravilakku pilgrimage season from Mid-November to December end. The temple then remains open from December end to Mid-January for the Makaravilakku pilgrimage. The puja timings remain almost the same on all days except when there is a special puja. Here are the puja timings at Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple in November, December and January Temple opens at 0400 hrs (4:00 AM) Nirmalya Darshan is at 0405 hrs Mahaganapati homam is at 0415 hrs Neyabhishekam is from 04:20 hrs to 11:30 hrs Usha Puja (Morning puja) is at 07:30 hrs Uccha Puja (Afternoon Puja) is at 12:30 hrs The Temple closes afternoon at 13:00 hrs (01:00 PM) In the evening Temple opens at 16:00 hrs (4: 00 PM) Deeparadhana (Evening puja) is at 18:30 hrs Pushpabhishekam - 19:00 hrs (On some days it is Padi Puja – puja of the eighteen holy steps.) Athazha Puja is at 22:30 hrs Harivarasanam – at 22:50 hrs The Temp

Budhvar Vrat Katha – Story of Wednesday Fasting in Hindu Religion

Budhvar Vrat, or Wednesday fasting, in Hindu religion is dedicated to Budha or Mercury. In some regions, Lord Vishnu, Lord Ganesh and Lord Krishna are also worshipped on the day. Those observing the Budhvar Vrat read or listen to the story associated with Wednesday fasting. There are several versions of the Budhvar Vrat Katha and this is one of them. Once a newly married couple was on their first visit to the bride’s home after marriage. The couple was welcomed happily by the in-law’s. The brothers and sisters of the bride took care of the newlywed couple. Two days passed in joy and then the husband realized that it was time to return. But it was a Wednesday and the in-law’s were not ready to send the girl as Mercury, or Budha, is not in favour of sending married girls to their husband’s house on Wednesdays. The young husband said that he was not worried about Mercury and he did not believe in such things and want to return today itself. He was a businessman and he is of the view t