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Showing posts from January 6, 2016


Kuladevata – Importance of Kuldevata in Hinduism

Kuladevata is the deity of the clan. The concept of Kuldevata is of great importance in many regions and for several Hindu communities. In Hinduism, a particular deity or a particular manifestation of the deity is worshipped as the family deity. Both Gods and Goddesses are worshipped as Kuladevata. Only benign and peaceful forms of deity are chosen as family deity. Ferocious forms are generally avoided. Kuldevata worshippers carry small pictures or murtis of their deity with them wherever they go. Each Hindu community has its own particular deity. Generally, it is a popular deity from the Hindu pantheon. Some might be a regional manifestation, which is only worshipped in a particular region. All important functions in the family are conducted with the blessing of the deity. Special pujas and rituals are performed before auspicious events. In some regions, functions like marriage, upanayana and other events are held before the temple of Kuldevata. Children in the family a

Viyyur Manalaru Kavu Bhagavathy Temple Kavadi and Vela Festival

Viyyur Manalaru Kavu Bhagavathy Temple is located at Viyyur Manalaru near Thrissur in Kerala. Manalaru Kavu Bhagavathy Temple is located around 3 km from Thrissur town. The annual festival in the shrine is observed on Sashti day in Malayalam Makaram month. The rituals and festivities attracts scores of devotees.  Melam, traditional Kerala temple music with five instruments, is performed as part of the ritual. Caparisoned elephants and Kavadi are part of the festivities. Traditional performing arts, music and dance are staged during the period. The temple is traditionally decorated with plantain, coconut leaves, flowers, leaves, traditional lamps and lights.

Minaloor Pooram – Sree Kuttiyankavu Bhagavathi Temple Pooram Festival - Kuttiyankavu Pooram

Minaloor Pooram is observed at the Sree Kuttiyankavu Bhagavathi Temple at Minalur near Thrissur in Kerala. Sree Kuttiyankavu Bhagavathi Temple is located around 12 km from Thrissur town. The annual festival in the shrine is observed on the last day of Makaram or on the first day of Kumbham and is famous as Kuttiyankavu. The pooram is conducted by two desoms - Minalur and Thiruthiparambu (Ambalapuram). The rituals and festivities attracts scores of devotees.  The festival is also known as Kuttiyankavu Samkarama Vela as it is held on the Kumbha Sankranti day which falls on the last day of Makaram or the first day of Kumbham month. The temple is dedicated to Goddess Bhagavathi. The Upa Devata worshipped in the temple is Sastha or Ayyappa. Melam, traditional Kerala temple music with five instruments, is performed as part of the ritual. Another highlight is caparisoned elephants. Nearly 15 elephants participate in the pooram. The pooram is also noted for fireworks display. The tem

Valavanadu Devi Temple Festival – Valavanadu Puthenkavu Devi Temple Information - Annual Padayani Festival

Valavanadu Puthenkavu Devi Temple is located at Valavanadu near Mararikulam in Kerala. The shrine is dedicated to Goddess Bhagavathi (Bhadra Kali). The annual Padayani festival is observed on Uthram nakshatra in Malayalam Kumbham month.  There are two sanctum sanctorum in the temple complex with two separate flagposts. Goddess Durga and Goddess Bhadra are worshipped in the sanctum. There are 14 subsidiary deities worshipped in the temple including Shiva, Ganapati, Subramania, Brahmarakshas, Sarpam, Krishna, Kodum Kali, Ayyappan, Anjaneya Swami, Naga Raja, Naga Yakshi, Vellam Bhagavathy Maar, Kandakarnan, and Arukula Swami and Sree Narayana Guru Deva.  The festival is famous for Kuruthola Padayani, Chuttu Padayani, Vela thullal and Kozhianna Ezhunellippu. (കോഴി അന്നത്തിന്റെ അകമ്പടിയിൽവേല പടയണി നടക്കുന്ന അപൂർവ്വം ക്ഷേത്രങ്ങളിൽ ഒന്നാണ് വളവനാട് പുത്തൻകാവ് ദേവീക്ഷേത്രം. പ്രധാന ഉത്സവത്തിന് മുൻപ് നടക്കുന്ന കുരുത്തോല പടയണിയും ചൂട്ടു പടയണിയും ചരിത്രപ്രസിദ്ധമാണ്. Melam, traditional Kerala t

Irinjalakuda Viswanathapuram Temple Sashti Festival

Viswanathapuram Temple, located at Irinjalakuda in Thrissur District, is a famous temple dedicated to Lord Subrahmanya or Muruga. The annual Sashti festival in Makaram month attracts scores of devotees and lasts for six days. Viswanathapuram Subramanya Swamy Temple sashti festival 2024 dates are February 1 (Kavadi) and February 2 (pooram). Built in typical traditional Kerala style temple architecture, Diwan Narayana Menon laid its foundation in 1925 and the temple was built according to the teachings of Sri Narayana Guru. The Kavadi festival is held after the Sashti falling on the Purnima day (Velutha Vavu day) in Makara Masam. The Kavadi rituals are held on the day before Sashti. The Pooram festival is held on the Sashti day. The next day is the Arattu festival. Bhasma Kavadi is held on the night of Kavadi day after Sree Bhootha Bali. Panchavishamthikalabhishekam, Maha Ganapathi Homam, Mulayidal, Panchagavya Navaklabhishekam, Bhagavati Seva, Malar Naivedyam, Sree Bhootha Bali are

Thai Pongal Kolam – Pictures of Pongal Kolams

Kolams, known as Rangoli in North India , signify luck, hope and prosperity. A traditional simple kolam is drawn daily in most houses in South India and then there are special kolams drawn during pujas, rituals and festivals like Pongal, Tamil New Year, Vaikunta Ekadasi , Makar Sankranti etc. Kolams drawn during Pongal is based on the symbols of the festival like pongal pot, sugarcane, cow, ox and Lord Surya. Here are the photos of Pongal Kolams as examples. It must be noted that today most Pongal kolams concentrate on designs and some of the important symbols of Pongal festival are avoided. This first Kolam is of Padmavathy Venkat who had put the kolam for Pongal (click on the image for a larger view) click on the image for a larger view Update: Simple Pongal Kolams Related Tamil New Year Kolams Sankranti Kolams

Dronacharya of Mahabharata had an ashram at Don hill in Gujarat

Don hill , located 42km east of Ahwa in the Dang District in Gujarat , is an important religious site. An ashram of Dronacharya, the guru of Kauravas and Pandavas in the Mahabharata, was located atop the Don hill . In fact, before the British changed the name of the hill, it was known as Dron. There are remnants of the ashram constructed by Dronacharya at Asalya hilltop. This hilltop also has a natural water spring, a Shivling, footprints of Sita and the handprints of Dronacharya. Today, Don hill is famous for paragliding.  Times of India reports   At 1,000 metre above the sea level, Don hill has been officially declared as the highest peak of the Sahyadri mountain ranges in Gujarat by the Roads and Buildings department of the Dang district administration.   The officials say Don is a historical village and has a population of 1,748 people who are tribals. Their main occupation is farming. "We had carried out a survey to measure the height of both the hill

Bakula Amavasya 2024 - Vakula Amavasya in Orissa

Bakula Amavasya, or Bakula Amabasya, is observed during the Posh Amavasya in Orissa and is dedicated to the Mango trees. Bakula Amavasya 2024 date is December 30. Amavas, or Amavasya is the no moon day and Bakula falls in the Paush month (December – January). It is the time when mango tree begins to flower across Odisha, and the trees are covered with the flowers. Mango trees are worshipped on this day, strung with garlands and Odia pithas are offered to the trees. Bakeel or mango blossoms are cooked like pistak, and offered to deities in the temples. Special food is prepared on the day and is offered in temples. The food is also offered to Mango trees. The ritual is performed to get more mangos during the ensuing mango season.

In this dream of worldly existence we cannot see our true nature – Prabuddha Bharata

Life brings out the best of us by putting us into situations that are the worst. Why does it do so? To make us wake up from our beginningless slumber of forgetting our true nature: blissful, ever existing, and absolutely conscious. It tries to shake us from our dream of the world. Just as in a dream it is difficult to see ourselves, so in this dream of worldly existence we cannot see our true nature, the Atman. Even when we think that we ought to start our spiritual journey, what do we do? We chalk out a programme, a routine, make some feeble attempts at meditation, do some scriptural studies, bring changes to our lifestyle, do some devotional practices, and try to help others. All these are at best preparations for the spiritual journey. Almost all of us remain stagnant at this stage of preparation, our entire lives, and do not progress further because we lack both vision and passion. We lack the vision of Atman, our true nature. We fail to understand the import of the U