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Showing posts from July 14, 2014


Tulsi Mantra Text in Hindi and English – Tulsi Gayatri Mantra For Tulsi Puja and Vivah Ritual

Tulsi Mantra is dedicated to Tulsi or Basil, plant dear to Vishnu and his incarnation Krishna and Vittal. The prayer is chanted during Tulsi Puja. Tulsi Gayatri Mantra is a powerful prayer chanted for good health, wealth, peace and prosperity. The mantra in Hindi and English is given below. Tulsi Mantra Text in Hindi Tulsi Gayatri Mantra Text in English Om Tulasyai Vidhmahe Vishnu priyayay Dheemahee Tanno Brindah Prachodayat.

Story of Purukutsa – A King in the Ikshvaku or Solar Dynasty

Purukutsa was a famous king in the Solar (Ikshvaku) Dynasty. He was the eldest son of Mandhata and Bindumati. It is believed that the Nagas took the help of this valiant king to defeat Mauneya Gandharvas. The Gandharvas had defeated and conquered the land of Nagas . For saving their kingdom, Nagas gave Purukutsa their princess Narmada Devi in marriage. The Ashramavasika Parva in the Mahabharata states that after ruling the kingdom successfully for several years, Purukutsa and Narmada Devi went to a forest near Kurukshetra and attained Moksha after performing intense austerities. This Ikshvaku King also finds mention in the Rig Veda. Bhagvan Sri Ram was born in the Ikshvaku dynasty. Thus Purukusta is a great great grandfather of Sri Ram.

Shivalaya Dwadash Jyotirling Dham in Sadar in Lucknow – Jyotirlinga Temple in Lucknow

A 200-year-old Lord Shiva temple at Lucknow was recently renovated and transformed into a Jyotirlinga Temple by constructing all the 12 Jyotirlings in one single place. The replicas of the 12 Jyotirlings are attracting scores of people. The temple also has installed a water harvesting system to save water. Times of India reports  While the original Shivling in the temple has been preserved and devotees can offer puja as per tradition, a mechanised system of Rudra-abhishek has also been introduced. Happy that now devotees don't have to carry the lota (pot) for Rudra-abhishek, an ardent devotee of Lord Shiva, Soumya Srivastava, said "it is a great facility that at just the push of a button, Gangajal and milk flow over the Shivaling. This way there is no wastage since the shrine is placed on an elevated platform the surroundings too remain clean and tidy." 

Bhaum Vrat in Shravan Month – Bhauma Vrat on Tuesdays in Shravan Mahina in North India

Bhaum Vrat is observed on Tuesdays or on Mangalvar in Shravan month. Bhauma or Mangal or Mars is the Navgraha worshipped in Hinduism. The popular belief is that Shiva has control over all navgrahas especially Bhauma. The belief is that those having trouble in horoscope related to Mangal Grah will get relief by observing Bhaum Vrat in Shravan Month dedicated to Shiva on the day.  The main ritual on the day includes offering prayers at a Shiva temple. People opt only for vegetarian dish on the day. Evening prayers are offered to Shiva and Mangal Grah (you can find Mangal deity in any temple that has Navgrahas installed). Red color flowers are offered for puja on the day. It is meritorious to perform Annadanam (food donation) on the day.