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Showing posts from December 2, 2015


Brahma Temple in Pushkar Rajasthan

There are only few temples exclusively dedicated to Hindu God Brahma in the world. The most famous Brahma Temple is located in Pushkar in Rajasthan. It is an important pilgrim center and is located in the heart of Pushkar town. The Brahma Temple is a small one but is very impressive. In the front of the temple, two small temples dedicated to Lord Kubera and Indra can be found. They are the dwarpalakas who stop all invisible entrants to the shrine. Marble steps lead up to the temple. The first sighting here is the silver turtle embossed on the floor facing the sanctum sanctorum. Hundreds of silver coins are also embedded on the floor.The walls and floor of the temple are studded with silver coins. Devotees in memory of the dead and during birthdays place these silver coins. Images of peacock, vehicle Goddess Saraswati , consort of Brahma, are also drawn on the walls of the shrine. The murti of Brahma worshiped here is in life-size form with four hands and four faces.

Shripada – Footprints of Goddess Lakshmi

In Hindu culture there is a practice of drawing Shripada, Goddess Lakshmi's footprint, on the threshold of the house pointing inwards. This ritual is followed by many Hindu communities. Symbolically the drawing of Shripada in front of homes welcomes Goddess Lakshmi. She likes clean places and only resides where there is cleanliness and peace. The daily drawing of Shripada also suggests that the wealth has to flow and no one should attempt to stop the normal flow of wealth – therefore she is invited daily. Alpana drawings of Goddess Lakshmi’s feet are very popular in Bengal and eastern parts of India . Shripada is made during Varalakshmi puja, Navratri Lakshmi puja, Diwali Lakshmi puja and during all the important occasions in a Hindu calendar year dedicated to Goddess Lakshmi. Special drawings of Shripada are also made during Kojagari Lakshmi puja and also during Manabasa Gurbar Puja in eastern parts of India . Those people who perform monthly or yearly vrats dedic

Sammakka Sarakka story – The Legend of Sammakka and Sarakka

The Sammakka Sarakka story is believed to have happened during the 13 th century AD in the forest around Medaram in Telangana. Sammakka is the mother and Sarakka or Saralamma is her daughter. The legend begins with the tribal leaders of Koya tribe finding Sammakka in deep forest protected by tigers. The tribal leaders believed she was an incarnation of Kondadevara, god of the hills. It is said that as a young girl Sammakka rode tigers and lions. She was also a fierce warrior. Sammakka was married to tribal chief Pagididda Raju of Medaram Village. The couple had a son and two daughters – Jampanna, Saralamma and Nagulamma. The older daughter Saralamma or Sarakka was married to Govindaraju. Once the tribes of the region were unable to pay tax due to severe drought for four years. This angered the ruler of the region, a Kakatiya King, and the tribes entered into a war with the king. In the battle, the tribal chief was killed. Sammakka lost her three children in the

Sabari Peedam - Importance of Sabaripeedam on the way to Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple

Sabaripeedam is a holy spot on the way from Pampa to Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple . Ayyappa Devotees trekking from Pampa to the temple comes across this spot after Appachimedu . Sabari Peedam is believed to be place where Sabari was given Moksha by Lord Ram during his exile period in the Ramayana. It is believed that Sabari lived and observed austerities at this spot in the forest. It is here Lord Ram symbolically explained to the world that what is more important is devotion and not the value of the offerings. Sabari, a very old lady, was an ardent devotee of Lord Ram. During his search for Mata Sita, Lord Ram along with Lakshman reached the hut of Sabari in the forest. The old lady who was overwhelmed with joy had nothing to offer to the Lord. Tears trickled from her eyes and then she remembered about fresh fruits that she had collected the other day. Sabari was not sure whether the fruits were tasty, sour or poisonous. So she tasted them first a littl

Telugu Website Dedicated to Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple and Darshan Information – Sabarimala Information in Telugu

Millions of people visit the Sabariamala Ayyapa Temple during the two-month Mandala Makaravilakku Darshan. Thousands of Telugu devotees visit the shrine every year. To provide information to these devotees in Telugu, Manorama newspaper has started and exclusive website dedicated to Sabariamala in Telugu with all necessary details including darshan timings, dos and don’ts, current news and also train timings. Link – You can visit the Telugu Website dedicated to  Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple here .

Swami Ramakrishnananda Quotes and Teachings

Teachings and quotes of Swami Ramakrishnananda, a direct disciple of Sri Ramakrishna.  Mind is like a big mirror which gives a perfect reflection but which has been so thickly covered with dirt that nothing can be seen in it. The more you can rub off that dirt the more you will be able to see yourself in it. The more you can remove the least speck of dust the more you can get a perfect image of your true Self. What is that dirt that hides the image? Selfish desires. Few of us believe in God all the time. As long as we have two or three rupees in the pocket, we think we can depend on ourselves. Only when the last anna is gone and we do not know where to get another do we begin to trust in God. To remove the eye trouble, put on green spectacles instead of painting the whole world with the green paint. So set the mind right and not attempt to right the world. There is no difference between the purified mind and the true Self of man. The mind is pure when it is single, th