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Showing posts from May 4, 2010


Kamal Gatta Mala – Rosary made of Dry Lotus Seeds

Kamal Gatta Mala is associated with Goddess Lakshmi worship. This rosary is made from dry lotus seeds. It is widely believed that performing Lakshmi puja and chanting mantras dedicated to the Goddess with Kamal Gatta Mala will bring in prosperity and material wealth. Some devotees offer Kamal Gatta Mala to the idols, pictures and paintings of Goddess Lakshmi. Some people use Kamal Gatta Mala as a rosary to chant mantras dedicated to Goddess Lakshmi. The seeds of Lotus flower are collected and then it is dried. The good dried seeds are used in making the rosary.

Goddess Tarini Temple in Orissa – About Coconut offerings at Ma Tarini Temple

Ma Tarini Temple is located at Ghatagaon in Kendujhar district in northern Orissa. The temple dedicated is dedicated to Ma Tarini an incarnation of Goddess Shakti. A unique offering made at the temple is coconuts. More than 20,000 coconuts are offered to the Goddess daily. The number increases on Tuesdays and Saturday, which are highly auspicious days at the temple. Ghatagaon does not have many coconut trees but the economy of the village is based on the coconuts offered by devotees. In fact many devotees who are unable to reach the temple send coconuts to the temple through public transport buses. Ashutosh Mishra writes in Down to Earth about coconut offering which sustains a village “Sometimes devotees leave sack full of coconuts along the roadside; we always stop by to pick them up. Some even send money as offerings and it reaches the temple,” said Kumar. Even if the bus is on a different route, the driver makes sure to drop the coconuts in a collection box en route