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Showing posts from November 19, 2015


Rangji Temple at Pushkar in Rajasthan - Vishnu Mandir in South Indian Style Architecture in Pushkar

Rangji temple in Pushkar, Rajasthan, was built in 1823 AD. The beautiful ornate shrine is  dedicated to Bhagavan Vishnu. Rangji temple has murtis of Goddess Lakshmi and other manifestations of Vishnu Bhagavan. Prominent among them are Venugopal and Narasimha . Rangji Mandir is located to the north of Pushkar Lake. The shrine is part of a huge complex. The temple is a perfect amalgam of South Indian and Rajasthani style of architecture. There are a total of seven shrines inside the Rangji Temple and each has a Shikhara of its own. The main temple is known as Nij mandir and it has a south Indian style gopuram. A golden Garuda Dwaja Stambha is located inside the gopuram. Rangji Nij Mandir Complex has three shrines dedicated to Sri Krishna, Ranganatha of Srirangam, and Sri Ramanujacharya . On the two sides of the main platforms are murtis of Goddess Lakshmi and Goddess Godammaji. A statue of Anantachariji Maharaj. the man who inspired to build the temple. is also found in

Thirumandhamkunnu Temple at Angadipuram in Kerala

Thirumandhamkunnu Temple is dedicated to Hindu God Shiva and Goddess Bhadrakali and is located at Angadipuram in Malappuram District, Kerala. The temple is located atop a hill and it is believed that the Shivling worshiped in the shrine was originally worshipped by Goddess Parvati in Kailasa. Shrine of Goddess Bhadrakali is equally famous as the main shrine and is known as Thirumandhamkunnilamma. Thus there are two important temples in a single temple complex. The temple is located 3 km off Angadipuram on the Palakkad – Kozhikode NH 213 in Kerala. Thirumandhamkunnu Temple Story King Mandhatha had ruled the region for a very long period. Finally, he abdicated the throne and took Sanyasa. He then meditated on Shiva and attained the holiest Shivling in Kailash. King Mandhatha carried the Shivling to his kingdom and got it installed on a hill where the present Thirumandhamkunnu Temple is located. This Shivling actually belonged to Goddess Parvati. When she realized i

Goddess Jagadhatri - About Maa Jagadhatri

Goddess Jagadhatri is one of the most popular forms of Durga worshipped in Eastern parts of India . Maa Jagadhatri is believed to be provider of the Purusharthas – Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha. She is associated with Tantrism and is mentioned in the Kubjika Tantra and Katyayani Tantra. Jagadhatri puja is an important puja and festival in the Kartik month in certain parts of Bengal . Legend has it that Devas, demons and humans became arrogant and started to deviate from the path of the Dharma . They forgot the Supreme Being and refused to recognize it – their bloated ego forced them to consider themselves as self sufficient. To teach them a lesson, Goddess Durga appeared in the form of a light, which was equal to a million suns and moons together. The Devas, demons and humans realized their folly and soon prayed before Goddess Durga to retrieve the light which will end the universe. The light transformed into Goddess Jagadhatri – sustainer of the worlds.

Pushpabhishekam at Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple – Offering of flowers

Puspabhishekam is the showering of flowers on the murti of Lord Ayyappa at Sabarimala Temple . This offering is made by thousands of devotees. The flowers and leaves that are used in Pushpabhishekam ritual are Tamara (lotus), Jamanthi, Arali, Tulsi ( Basel ), Mulla (Jasmine) and Kuvalam (bilva leaves). A devotee who wishes to perform Pushpabhishekam at the Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple has to book in one month advance. The cost of performing the Pushpabhishekam is Rs 1001/- The most important abhishekam at Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple is the Neyyabhishekam . The other abhishekam performed at the temple are Ashtabhishekam and Kalababhishekam.

Koorkenchery Temple Pooyam – Koorkenchery Maheswara Temple Thaipooyam Festival

Koorkenchery Temple is located at Koorkenchery near Thrissur in Kerala. The temple is around 3 km from the famous Vadakkumnathan Temple. Thaipooyam Festival in, Malayalam month, Makaram is of great importance in this shrine. Koorkenchery Temple Pooyam festival 2024 date is January 26. Thaipooyam Festival in Makara Masam (January – February) attracts thousands of devotees. Mayil Kavadi, Palkavadi and various other types of Kavadi are taken on the day to the shrine. Special pujas are also offered on the day from morning to evening. The main ritual on the Thaipooyam day is the taking of Kavadi to the temple and going around the temple with it to the accompaniment of traditional temple music. People also pierce their body with small lance or vel for desire fulfillment or as part of thanksgiving for desires fulfilled.

Vemulawada Temple – Sri Rajarajeshwara Temple at Vemulawada in Telangana

Sri Rajarajeshwara Temple at Vemulawada in Telangana is dedicated to Lord Shiva. The temple is around 180 km north of Hyderabad. This a very ancient temple and finds mention in the Bhavishyothara Purana. The unique aspect of the temple is that Sri Rajarajeshwara is flanked by Goddess Raja Rajeshwari (Goddess Durga) and by Lakshmi Sanhitha Siddhi Vinayaka in the main sanctum. Lord Shiva in the form of Sri Raja Rajeshwara is popularly known as Rajanna of Vemulawada. The shrine is located at the center of the town atop a small hill. The temple has a gateway leading up the hill and a typical south Indian style gopuram marks the entrance to the shrine. The shrine has got a holy tank named Dharma Gundam, the waters of the tank is believed to have medicinal properties. Legend has it that in ancient times a king bathed in the tank and got cured of his leprosy. He also found a Shivling in the water. He then installed it in the temple. Devotees take a holy dip in the waters and th