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Showing posts from December 18, 2017


Indrastra Weapon - Showers Arrows

Indrastra is a powerful arrow mentioned in Epics and Hindu Puranas. The weapon is associated with Indra, the king of Devas. The person who has the knowledge of Indra Astra can summon it when required. The arrow brings shower of arrows from the sky. It can be used against an army or against and individual. In the Ramayana, Sri Ram used the Indra Astra against Kumbakarna. It killed Kumbhakarna. Indra Astra was terribly sharp and it had wings. It could move like the wind. In the Mahabharata, Indra had blessed Karna with Indra Astra. Karna had given earring and armor to Indra in charity. Indra was moved the Karna’s charitable nature and blessed him with Indra Astra. Karna saved the Indra Astra to kill Arjuna. But he was forced to use it against Ghatotkach during the night battle in the Mahabharata.

Adhyayana Utsavam

Adhyayana Utsavam, also known as Vaikunta Utsava or Prasanna Utsava or Moksha Utsava, is observed in the famous Tirupati Venkateswara Temple and Srirangam Ranganatha Swamy Temple. It is the day when Sri Nammalwar merged with Srihari Vishnu. The Divya Prabhandas are chanted during the period. It begins on the first day of the waxing phase of moon in Dhanur Masam and ends on the following Krishna Paksha Dasami – 10th day during the waning phase of moon. It is chanted for nearly 22 days. It coincides with the famous Vaikunta Ekadasi festival. Divya Prabandhas are the recitals composed in Tamil dedicated to Lord Vishnu. It contains 4000 verses. All the important Vishnu temples chant the Divya Prabandhas. The place where it is recited is treated as Divya Desams. Divya Prabandhas are divided into 4 parts as Mudhal Ayiram, Periya Thirumozhi, Iyarpa Thiruvaaymozhi The first 2000 verses are chanted before Vaikunta Ekadasi and the next 2000 verses are chanted after the Va