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Showing posts from March 30, 2015


Durdureshwar form of Shiva – Durdureshwar Mahadev

Durdureshwar is one of the manifestations of Shiva. It is one of the 84 forms of Shiva worshiped in Ujjain. Information about this form of Shiva is found in the Skanda Purana. Durdureshwar Mahadev Shivling is worshipped near Ujjain . Information about Durdureshwar Shiva is rare and what little we know is found in the Skanda Purana. Durdureshwar Mahadev is one of the 84 Mahadev temples in Ujjain . It is the last temple on the list of the 84 Shivalayas in Ujjain. The shrine is located in the Jayathal Village near Ujjain . The deity is worshipped for attaining peace and prosperity.

Dream that Reveals the Location of the Neem Tree to Carve the Murti of Jagannath

Nabakalebara is the change of the murtis worshipped in the world famous  Puri   Jagannath   Temple  in Orissa. The murti is carved from a neem tree and the location of the tree is revealed through a dream – an order by Goddess Maa Mangala. The first phase for the search of the neem tree ends at the Maa Mangala temple at Kakatpur. Important rituals are performed here. This includes Jalaabhisheka and majana of the Goddess. Chanting of the hymns from Nrusingha mantra and Swapnadesha mantra. The Daitapati servitors will sleep before the goddess for her Swapnadesha – order in dream – for the location of the Daru – the neem tree to carve the murti of Jagannath. After getting the order through the dream, the daitapatis will have a meeting and a team will go in the direction to the find the tree. Related  Banajaga Yatra – In Search of the Neem Tree to Carve the Puri Jagannath Murti (idols) in Orissa Puri Jagannath Temple to have New Idols (Murtis) of Presiding Deities in

About Manickavachagar and Avudaiyar Koil in Pudukottai District in Tamil Nadu

The famous Shiva Temple Avudaiyar Koil in Pudukottai District in Tamil Nadu is closely associated with Saint Manickavachagar who is one of the four important Saints of Shaivism out of 63 Nayanmars (63 important saints of Shiva in Tamil Nadu). He is believed to have had darshan of Shiva at Avudaiyar Koil. Manickavachagar got initiated by Shiva to write the eighth Thirumurai, Thiruvachagam, and was titled Manickavachagar at Avudaiyar Koil. You can read more about the saint and the temple here in this article in the Hindu  As Manickavachagar, his original name being Thiruvadavoorar, embraced gnana margam for salvation, the Avudaiyar temple has been cast in this fashion. Surprisingly, the temple does not have nandi, flagstaff, balipeetam and Somaskandar is conspicuously absent. And instead of playing nagaswaram, melam and berigai, the blowing of conch, ringing of bell and thiruchinnam is in vogue. In the garba griha, the banam (shaft-like portion) of Siva lingam is not found.