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Showing posts from February 2, 2016


Mukhathala Murari Temple Festival

Mukhathala Murari Temple is located in Kollam District and is around 8 km east of Kollam town. The annual festival or utsavam is known as Kalabham maholsavam and is observed for 12 day starting from Shivratri.  The annual festival is noted for various rituals and offerings. Maha Bhagavata saptaham is held from the 6 th day of the festival. On the last day, the utsava murti in the temple is taken around atop a caparisoned elephant. Last day night Krishnattam is performed. Thousands of people arrive on the day to witness various rituals and 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. Thiruvabharana Ghoshayathra in the temple is held in Malayalam Meena Masam (March - April). Another festival in the temple is held with kodiyettam in Meda Masam.

Gargi – A Woman of great scholarship in the Vedic Age

Gargi Vachaknavi is today widely quoted to settle the issue regarding women’s role in the Vedic Era. Gargi was a woman of great scholarship in the Vedic age. As per Brihadaranyaka Upanishad, she participated in the biggest scholarly debate of the era, which was held in the court of King Janaka of Videha. Gargis is also known as Mahabhaga and Brahmavidara. She was the daughter of Vachakanu. Challenging Sage Yajnavalkya, she asked a series of complex questions relating to Brahman and other allied matters in the court of King Janaka. Her challenging the versatile scholar Yajnavalkya is often quoted to prove that women were able to reach intellectual and spiritual heights during the vedic age. It also shows that female education was highly developed during the period. As per Ashvalayana Grhyasutra, daily tarpana should be made by Hindus to three seers and Gargi Vachakanavi is one of them.

Twelve Names of Goddess Saraswati Chanted Daily

According to Suta Samhita of Skanda Purana, devotees praying for knowledge, enlightenment and for help in studies, art and for performing well in exams chant the twelve names of Goddess Saraswati. The twelve names that are chanted are Bharati, Saraswati, Sarada, Hamsavahini, Jagatikhyta, Vagishwari, Kaumari, Brahmacharini, Budhi Dhatri, Varadayini, Ksudraghanta and Bhuvenshwari. It is said that all those who repeat the twelve names three times a day will secure the grace of Goddess Saraswati and it will enable them to do well in life. The Sanskrit Shloka containing the twelve names is given below: Saraswathitviyam drsta Veena, Pustaka dharini, Hamsa Vahana samayukta Vidyadanakari namah Prathanam Bharati nama Dwitiyama Saraswati Tritiyam Sarada Devi Chaturtham Hamsa Vahini Panchaman Jagatikhyata Sastam Vagiswari tatha Kaumari saptaman Proktasamstakam brahmacharini Navaman budhi dathri Dasamam Varadayini Ekadasam Ksudraghanta Dwadasam Bhuvenshwari Brah

Maruthamonpally Maha Vishnu Temple Festival

Maruthamonpally Maha Vishnu Temple is located around 24 km east of Kollam town. The annual festival in the temple is observed in Malayalam Kumbham month. The rituals and poojas attract hundreds of devotees.  The annual festival is noted for various rituals and offerings. Thousands of people arrive on the day to witness various rituals and 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. The festival ends with arattu.

Triprayar Shiva Yogini Amma Birth Anniversary

Shiva Yogini Amma was a master mystic who traversed new realms of experience in her spiritual quest. Her birth anniversary or birthday is on March 4, 2024. Her Ashram is located at Triprayar in Kerala. It was only after a decade of her Samadhi that public began to get an idea that a great spiritual Guru had existed among them. Her birth anniversary is annually observed on the Thriketta Nakshatra day in Kumbham Month. The life of Shiva Yogini Amma, Parapur Amma, Ooragatha Amma or simply Amma as she was called, is a testimony to the unusual human type. She used her early life with disease, as a condition given to her for god realization and in an orthodox social culture that of pre-partitioned India she earned the respect and reverence of all, irrespective of caste, creed, religion or gender. When articles on her amazing life appeared in the Kerala newspapers she put a full stop to it saying in the language characteristics to her ordinary type that she did not wish to be talked