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Showing posts from May 16, 2016


Symbolism in Peacock the Vehicle or Vahana of Hindu God Muruga

Peacock is the vehicle or Vahana of Hindu God Muruga, who is also known as Kartik, Subramanya, Skanda and Shanmukha. The blue color of peacock represents infinity. Peacock is noted for its excessive pride – this is a negative trait – but here it symbolically represents the pride that a seeker of Truth should have for Supreme Self. By being proud of Supreme Self, he/she shunts out all other diversions and constantly meditates on the Supreme Being. In most images of Muruga, the peacock is shown clutching serpent with its claws. The serpent represents ego and fleeting pleasures. The peacock does not kill the serpent even though both are sworn enemies. The peacock keeps the serpent under control indicating the need to enjoy worldly pleasures through discrimination and by not overindulging in it.

Prahlada Natakam during Narasimha Jayanti Festival at Varadaraja Temple at Melattur

During the Narasimha Jayanti festival at Varadaraja Temple at Melattur near Thanjavur in Tamil Nadu, the famous Prahlada Natakam is enacted which is based on the story of the Narasimha Avatar of Vishnu. Prahlada Natakam was written by Venkatarama Shastriar during the 19 th century. The Varadaraja Temple at Melattur has a murti dedicated to Narasimha. The temple also has an awe-inspiring mask of Narasimha, which the actor who plays the role of Narasimha incarnation wears every year. It is believed that the actor enters into a kind of spiritual trance whiling enacting the drama.

Gangeshwar Mahadev in Ujjain – Story of Gangeshwar Form of Shiva – 42nd Shiva Temple in Ujjain

Gangeshwar Mahadev is worshiped in Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh. It is one of the 84 forms of Shiva worshiped in Ujjain. It is believed that worshipping Gangeshwar form of Shiva is equal to visiting all the sacred teerths on earth. The temple dedicated to Gangeshwar Mahadev is located at Khargata Sangam (Mangalnath ghat). This form of Shiva is associated with the descent of Ganga on Earth. Gangeshwar Mahadev is counted among the 84 Shiva Temples in Ujjain and it is the 42nd temple visited during the parikarama of Shiavalayas here. Story of Gangeshwar Mahadev form of Shiva in Ujjain Legend has it that once River Ganga was cursed by the sea god. River Ganga approached Brahma to find a solution to the curse. Brahma asked Ganga to go to Mahakaal Vana (Ujjain) and do penance before a Shivling located on the banks of Shipra River. Ganga reached Ujjain and did penance before the Shivling. She was relieved from the curse and got darshan of Shiva here. As Ganga did penance h

Chitreshwar Shiv Mandir – Chitreshwar Shiva Temple in Jharkhand

Chitreshwar Shiv Mandir is an ancient temple dedicated to Hindu God Shiva . It is located in Chitreshwar Village, which is around 12 km from Baharagoda in Jharkhand . The site of the shrine is between Swarnrekha River and Rangro Canal and is famous for Gajan festival in which devotees walk over fire. The temple is more than 3000 years old and is mentioned in the Utkala Khanda of Skanda Purana . The shrine has one of the largest natural Shivling. A unique offering here is the murti of Nandi . One can see hundreds of Nandi murti in the temple. The temple complex houses a separate shrine dedicated to Goddess Durga . She sits atop a lion and the murti is made of Ashtadhatu. Another shrine in the complex is that of Raghunathji. There is also a beautiful life size murti of Garuda in the temple. The most important festivals in the temple are Makar Sankranti, Chatira Sankranti, Shivratri , and Navratri – Durga Puja. Chaau Nirtya is performed during Chaitra Navratri (