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Showing posts from November 19, 2010


Importance of Bhasma or Vibhuti – Significance of applying sacred ash or Vibhuti on the body

The popular belief in Hindu tradition is that applying Vibhuti, or Bhasma, or sacred ash, on forehead and other parts of the body will help in redemption of sins. It is also believed that Bhasma which is made using burned cow dung has the power to cure various diseases and it also helps in improving physical and mental health. In Hinduism, Bhasma or Vibhuti is associated with Shiva. While applying Bhasma one should chant the mantra – Om Namah Shivaya. Bhasma should be applied using the middle three fingers – not the thumb and the little finger. One should take Bhasma in the left hand and apply it using the right hand. Bhasma applied on forehead and on the middle of the head will help in removing lethargy and laziness. Vibhuti applied on neck, hand and chest will help in redemption of sins. Some saints are known to apply Bhasma all over the body. This is in adoration of Shiva. It is also believed that this will help in removing sins committed in previous bir

Thulabharam in Tirupati Temple – TTD Tulabharam

Thulabharam in Tirupati Temple is held at the Srivari Padi Kavali. In the Thulabaram ritual, a devotee sits on a pan of the weighing balance and the other pan is filled with materials greater than the weight of the devotee. Devotees usually offer sugar, jaggery or coins. The commodity used to weigh is donated to Tirupati Venkateswara Temple . TTD, the administrative body of the temple, provides the materials needed for performing Tulabharam. Tirumala News writes about this unique ritual which is performed by more than 100 devotees daily. On the left corner of the Padi kavili of the Srivari Temple one will see a large steel balance kept for weighing persons who want to fulfill their vow to Lord Venkateswara. Nearly 100-200 persons fulfill their vow at this spot by donating commodities, metals or even coins worth their weight to Lord Venkateswara . Legend says that Sri Venkateswara had become heavily indebted and had taken huge loans from kubera, the Hindu god of wealth and henc