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Showing posts from April 15, 2015


Vishnu Panchaka Upavasa – Fasting on Five days in a Month

Vishnu Panchaka Upavasa is observed by a staunch Vishnu devotee and is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. As part of Vishnu Panchaka Upavasa, a devotee fasts and does pujas and rituals on five days in a traditional Hindu month. The five days are the two ekadashis, on Poornima (full moon), Amavasya (No moon) and on the Shravana Nakshatra day. The popular belief is that Vishnu Panchaka Upavasa will help in the removal of sins committed. It is also performed for happy and peaceful life. A devotee wishing to start Vishnu Panchaka Upavasa must make sure that all the five fasting days are present in that particular month (as per traditional Hindu calendar). Usually people start Vishnu Panchaka Upavasa on the Ekadasi day falling during the waxing phase of moon in Margashirsh Month (December – January). The Vrat can also be started if the Shukla Paksha Ekadasi in Bhadra month (waxing phase of moon in Bhadrapad month {August – September}) coincides with Shravana nakshat

Musical Pillar at Sri Senpaga Vinayagar Temple in Ceylon Road in Singapore

One of the unique attractions at the Sri Senpaga Vinayagar Temple in Ceylon Road in Singapore is the musical pillar. The Ceylon road temple’s unique musical pillar was added to the main temple structure in 2009. The musical pillar produces different notes when tapped with a gong. The Sri Senpaga Vinayagar Temple musical pillar is 2.1 m tall and weighs nearly 7,000 kg. The entire musical pillar was carved from a single piece of stone. The special grade granite stone was from Tamil Nadu in India . Sculptors worked on the musical pillar at Mahabalipuram in India and it took three years to complete the pillar. The pillar was then transported from India to Singapore . The pillar has a main column which is surrounded by 12 small columns. The pillar structure is similar to musical pillars found in South India . The total cost of the pillar was $200,000.

Dhanishta Navak – Importance

Dhanishta Navak is related to Hindu astrology especially the Nakshatras or birth stars. It is a period when some activities are not performed. It is mainly observed by certain Hindu communities in north and western parts of India . In 2024, Dhanishta Navak is from May 30 to June 6, 2024. Dhanishta Navak is observed from the Dhanishta Nakshatra upto Rohini Nakshatra during the waning phase of moon or Krishna Paksha in Jyeshta month as per traditional calendar followed in North India . The corresponding period in Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat and Karnataka is the Krishna Paksha of Vaishakh month. The stars of Nakshatras that are part of Dhanishta Navak are Dhanishta, Satabhisha, Purva Bhadrapada, Uttara Bhadrapada, Revati, Ashvini, Bharani, Krittika and Rohini. Some Hindu communities do not undertake any work related to home like repair or wood work etc. There is also another inauspicious period related to Dhanishta and it is known as Dhanishta Panchak.