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Showing posts from June 3, 2016


Ribhus in the Vedas – Ribhu Gana

Ribhus are mentioned in the Vedas and the Mahabharat. They are semi-divine beings. It is believed that they were originally human beings and were referred to as Ribhu Gana. Later they became immortal due to their good deeds. Ribhus have sun-like appearance. They wear helmets and necklaces and ride on horses. The helped Indra in his adventures. They made their old parents young again. They made prayer, sacrifice, and the two worlds. They went around the sky and after wandering for a long period, they reached the house of Savitr, who made them immortal. One passage in the Rig Veda states that they went to the house of Agohya, and after a year, made field and grass, caused streams to flow in the right direction, and brought water into the lowlands. Rig Veda has 11 hymns dedicated to Ribhus. Source – The Vedas – Roshen Dalal 

Samarlakota Temple – Samalkot Kumararama Temple in Andhra Pradesh - Bhimeswara Swamy Temple at Samalkot

Samarlakota Temple is one of the one of the Pancharama Kshetras – five temples dedicated to Lord Shiva. Bhimeswara Swamy Temple at Samalkot is located around 12 km from Kakinada and 52 km from Rajahmundry. The temple is known as Kumararama as Kumara, son of Shiva and Goddess Parvati during this fight with Tarakasura, installed the Shivling here. Kumara is one among the numerous names of Kartik or Muruga. The shrine was built during the end of the 9th century AD by Eastern Chalukya king Chalukya Bhima-I. A 16-feet limestone Shivling is installed in the sanctum sanctorum, which is two storied. The Shivling rises from the pedestal on the ground floor, and enters the second floor by piercing the roof. The rudrabhaga of the Shivling is worshipped in the second floor. Mother Goddess Shakti worshipped in the shrine is known as Bala Tripura Sundari. A single stone carved Nandi guards the main Shivling. The architecture of the temple is similar to Draksharamam Temple. Two pra