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Showing posts from September, 2014


Thandu Mariamman Kovil Timings – Opening and Closing Time at Dhandumariamman Temple in Coimbatore

Dhandumariamman Temple in Coimbatore is dedicated to Mother Goddess Mariamman. The temple timings are given below in detail. Opening and Closing Time at Thandu Mariamman Kovil might change during festival, important rituals and during Grahan – lunar and solar eclipse. Opening and Closing Time at Thandu Mariamman Kovil Morning hours – 6:00 AM to 1:00 PM Evening hours – 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM  Important Pujas in a day Kaala Santhi – 8:00 AM Uchie Kalam – 12:00 PM Saya Rachai – 6:30 PM Artha Jamam – 8:30 PM

Belur Temple Timings – Opening and closing Darshan Time at Belur Chennakeshava Temple

Dedicated to Hindu God Vishnu, the Belur Chennakeshava Temple houses Chaturbhuja Vishnu who is popular here as Chenna Keshava – the handsome god. Detail Belur Timings is given below. Please note that the opening and closing darshan time will be extended especially during the car festival in March – April. The darshan time will be short when there will be grahan – lunar or solar eclipse. Belur Temple Timings Morning hours Darshan Time is from 7:30 AM to 1:00 PM Evening hours Darshan Time is from 2:30 PM to 7:30 PM

Thandu Mariamman Kovil Contact Address with Phone number – Location Map of Dhandumariamman Temple in Coimbatore

Dhandumariamman Temple in Coimbatore is dedicated to Mother Goddess Mariamman. The temple location, contact address with phone number is given below. Thandu Mariamman Kovil is one of the popular shrines in the city and is more than 300 years old. Thandu Mariamman Kovil Contact Address: Arulmigu Dhandumariamman Temple , Avinashi Road , Coimbatore - 641018 Phone  : 0422 - 2300360 E-Mail   : dhandumari@bsnl.in

The Sixteen Sanskars in Hinduism in Hindi with meaning in English

There are sixteen sanskars in Hinduism. They are the important functions during a life time of Hindus. The sixteen sanskars are given in Hindi with their meaning in English: Grabhadhan: Conception, Punsavana: Fetus protection, Simanta: Satisfying wishes of the pregnant Mother, Jaat-Karma: Child Birth, Naam Karma: Naming Child, Nishkramana: Taking the child outdoors, Annaprashana: Giving the child solid food, Mundan or Choula: Hair cutting, Karna Vedh: Ear piercing, Yagyopaveet: Sacred thread, Vedarambh: Study of Vedas and Scriptures, Samaavartana: Completing education, Vivaah: Marriage, Sarvasanskaar: Preparing for Renouncing, Sanyas (Awasthadhyan): Renouncing, Antyeshti: Last rite, or funeral rites.

Uttaraphalguni Nakshatra Tarabalam – Good Tarabalam for Uttara Phalguni Birth Star Born People

Uttaraphalguni Nakshatra (birth star) born people will have good Tarabalam generally with following Nakshatra born people: Uttara Phalguni Tarabalam is used for looking marriage compatibility, business partnership and other deals. Uttaraphalguni Good Nakshatra Tarabalam with: Ashwini Bharani Nakshtra Rohini Arudra Aslesha Magha Nakshtra Purvaphalguni Hasta Swati Jyeshta Nakshtra Moola Nakshtra Purvashada Sravanam Shatabhisha Revati Nakshtra Please note that this is only a general list. Please note that in some regions Tarabalam is calculated daily based on the day’s Nakshatra. In such cases the general list should be ignored.

Darpan during Durga Puja – Mirror offered to Goddess Durga during Pooja

Puranas and Hindu Holy Scriptures are filled with instructions regarding various aspects of Durga Puja. On the third day of the puja – the third day from Mahalaya – a mirror, vermilion and thin cotton dipped in dye are offered. Usually only a silver coated looking glass is offered as a mirror. But in some instances Darpan – a speculum mirror is also offered. The darpan mirror is used while bathing the murti of Goddess Durga – whenever there is a ritual bathing of Goddess Durga, it is the reflection on the darpan mirror that is bathed not the original murti. The darpan is also immersed in a pot of water on the morning of Dasami day when the murtis bid farewell. It must be noted that many Puranas talk about pujas and rituals that are performed from the Mahalaya day to Dasami day but most of them are not followed today. Today the puja only starts from the sixth day after Mahalaya and the important days are seventh, eighth and ninth. 

Goddess Kameshwari

Goddess Kameshwari is a manifestation of Mother Goddess Shakti. She is closely associated with the Goddess Lalitha form. She is the queen of love. When Mother Goddess is Kameshwari, Shiva becomes Kameshwara, the lord of desire who is ever youthful. Prayers, stories and worship of Goddess are mentioned in the Brahmanda Purana. In some scriptures, Goddess Kameshwari is equated with Goddess Kamakshi. There is a legend which states that once Brahma performed intense tapas to please Mother Goddess. She is said to have appeared before. Brahma called Her Kameshwari because her eyes were brimming with love for humanity. Some scholars are of the view that Kameshwari is Kundalini – the psychic power coiled at the base of the spine as per yoga. Goddess Kameshwari form is mainly worshipped in Srinagar and Kanchipuram. Today, the true Sadhana of the Goddess is very rare and is mainly followed by rare Tantric followers.

Card Game Based on 108 Divyadesams

Srimaan Card Game is based on the 108 Divyadesams – the 108 temples dedicated to Bhagvan Srihari Vishnu in South India. The card game helps in understanding each Divya Desam and it also helps in identifying the Perumal and Nachiar worshipped in each shrine. The main aim of the card game is to create a spiritual atmosphere while playing and also help in gathering crucial knowledge regarding Vaishnavism. You can find more details about the game and how to buy it here at the Srimaan Trust Website.

Boyakonda Gangagamma – Goddess Durga Temple on top of Boyakonda hill Near Punganur in Chittoor District of Andhra Pradesh

Goddess Durga Temple located on top of Boyakonda hill Near Punganur in Chittoor District of Andhra Pradesh is a famous shrine in the region. The murti worshipped here is famous as Boyakonda Gangagamma and the temple which is around 60 km from Chittoor is visited by thousands of people. Legend has it that Goddess Durga appeared here in the form of an old woman to protect the tribes of the region and defeat the forces of a greedy Nawab. The tribal people who lived in the region were constantly harassed by the army of the Nawab. The escape from the violence, the tribal people propitiated Goddess Durga in the form of Jaganmatha. The tribal people got the darshan of Goddess in the form of an old woman. She then took a ferocious form and annihilated the army of the Nawab. The sword used by the goddess in the battle fell on a rock atop the Boyakonda hill and it cracked. It is today worshipped and seen as a living testimony of the divine power of Maa Durga. Navratri – D

Saptamatrikas – Seven Divine Mothers – Saptamatris

In Hinduism, Saptamatrikas are the seven divine mothers and is often associated with Shiva and Shakti. The Saptamatrikas are Brahmani, Vaishnavi, Maheshwari, Kaumari, Varahi, Indrani and Chamundi. Stories about Sapta Matrikas are found in the Varaha Purana, Kurma Purana and the Mahabharata. Yogeshwari, a Shakti created by Shiva, is also mentioned among the Saptamatris and then the count becomes eight. Saptamatrikas are among the numerous incarnations of Goddess Shakti. But their characteristics differ from region to region and from scriptures to scriptures. General belief is that the Saptamatrikas appeared to defeat the thousands of Anadhakas that were born from the blood of demon Andhaka. Andhaka was actually the third son of Shiva. Lord Shiva injured demon Andhaka when he tried to take away Goddess Parvati. Andhaka had received a boon that a single drop of blood spilled from his body will create thousands of Andhakas. So when Shiva injured Andhaka thousands of Andh

Kalash Sthapana Mantra – Prayer While Keeping Navratri Pot - Navratri Ghatasthapana Mantra

Navratri Kalash Sthapana Mantra is chanted by those people who keep the Navratri pot as part of the nine day puja. The prayer given below is in Hindi. The ritual is also known as Ghatasthapana Mantra. The lamp lit during Kalash Sthapana should use ghee as medium not oil. If you are opting for a full prayer then you should perform the 16-step puja. A simple Kalash Sthapana Mantra is ऊँ ऐं ह्रीं क्लीं चामुण्डाय विच्चे  This mantra can be chanted while arranging and keeping the kalash etc for puja. Kalash Sthapana Mantra Apart from the above mantra one should also chant Durga Saptashloki In Kalash Sthapana, a pot or kalash with an image of Goddess Durga is installed in the house on the day. The pot or kalash is filled with water and is covered with cow dung and seeds (like barely or wheat) are sown on the dung. The pot is kept on a sand bed and seeds are sown on this too. Special pujas are conducted on the pot and water is sprinkled daily. The seed

Matunga Temple – Marubai Gavdevi Temple

Marubai Gavdevi Temple located at Matunga in Mumbai is a 400-year-old shrine dedicated to Mother Goddess Shakti. The goddess worshipped here is known as Goddess Marubai. She is a combined manifestation of Goddess Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati. Legend has it that the original murti of the Goddess Worshipped in temple appeared under a neem tree during the 18th century. The local villagers worshipped the deity and therefore the temple got the name Marubai Gavdevi. The local villagers who used to worship the deity believed that she had the capacity to heal people. That's why she is called Marubai, because she saves people from various illnesses. It is said that during epidemics people drank the water used for abhishekam in the temple and used to get cured. Navratri is the most important festival observed in the temple. Daily morning routine includes Aarti and Abhisheks. Bhajans are organized during the afternoon. Daily evening aarti also attracts thousands of d

Significance of Navratri

The nine-day festival symbolically represents the victory of good over evil – Goddess Durga slaying Demon Mahishasura and Lord Rama killing Ravana - this is the main significance of Navratri. This same struggle is constantly taking place in human hearts and the nine-day Navratri Vrat gradually prepares a devotee to shed evil and merge with the Brahman - Supreme Truth or God. Like Mahishasura, the human mind armed with ego, anger, greed, lust and envy negate the Supreme Truth. The nine-day Navratri vrat slowly annihilates the Mahishasura in us and help us to realize us that we are part of Brahman – the supreme spirit present in all animate and inanimate. The physical fight between Goddess Durga and the demon Mahishasura has its ups and downs. Goddess Durga fought Mahishasura and his army for nine days and nine nights. Similarly, in the fight against evil tendencies like ego, anger, lust and other animal instincts make us weak and a person too faces and downs. The destructive as

On Hindu Temples Destroyed by Mughal Ruler Aurangazeb

The religious intolerance practiced by Mughal Ruler Aurangazeb is well known. The number of Hindu temples destroyed during his ruler is yet to be ascertained as the left historians who dominated the universities after independence and who also had a free hand in deciding the history of Hindustan conveniently tried to destroy all documents that could have helped in determining the atrocities committed by the Mughal rulers on the Hindus in Hindustan. Truth can be hidden for a small period of time but cannot be destroyed. Truth will come out one day. Slowly many Indian newspapers and magazines are attempting to unravel to what happened to Hindus during the rule of Mughal rulers like Aurangazeb. The New Indian Express writes  Aurangzeb, like his predecessors, was determined to reinforce and expand the might of the Mughal Empire to the farthest corners of Hindustan . His principal obsession was to live his life true to the guiding principles of the Sharia. But his ability to succ

Story – Why Shiva Devotees Wear Matted Hair?

Shiva devotees (Aghoris, Tantrics, Naga Sadhus) have matted hair. There is story that happened during the reign of Daksha Prajapati which explains why Shiva devotees wear matted hair. A great yajna was performed once by sages at Prayag, the confluence of three rivers, Ganga , Yamuna and Saraswati. Shiva arrived at the yajna with Sati and all those assembled there stood up and paid obeisance to Mahadev and Mata Sati.  Shiva was seated with great honor. Soon, Daksha Prajapati arrived at the yajna and everyone stood up and paid respects to him out of fear. Daksha was arrogant due to his superior status in Vedic society. Shiva remained in his seat and did not acknowledge Daksha. Daksha Prajapati considered this as a mark of disrespect and angrily spoke in the yajna against Shiva. Daksha said that Shiva was uncultured and mannerless. He continued insulting Mahadev by stating that he did not expect anything more from his son-in-law whose attendants are goblins and ghosts and

About Bhimsen Rath Jatra of Lalitpur in Nepal – Pandava Bhima Worship

Bhimsen Rath Jatra of Lalitpur in Nepal is associated with traders and is observed on the tenth day during the waning phase of moon in Bhadra month as per traditional Nepali Calendar. The festival is dedicated to Bhima, the second of the Pandava brothers. Bhimsen, who possess unimaginable strength, is worshipped as the God of Commerce by Newar communities or traders. It is believed by the traders that those who worship Bhimsen will be blessed with profit in their business and Bhima will remove all the impediments in their business. The Himalayan Times reports Talking about the Jatra’s beginnings, Kiran Man Pradhan, President of Mangal Tole Sudhar Sangh and the organiser of the festival informed, “It was king Yog Narendra Malla in 1701 who began the chariot festival of Bhimsen which continues till today.”  According to him, King Sri Niwas Malla, father of Yog Narendra, built the three-storied Bhimsen temple on the premises of Patan Durbar Square . And the festival begins o

Goddess Naina Devi

Goddess Naina Devi is a manifestation of Mother Goddess Shakti. The Origin of Goddess Naina Devi is associated with the death of Goddess Sati. After her self immolation, Shiva carried her body around the world and this caused great imbalance in the universe. To put an end to the suffering on earth, Vishnu cut the body of Sati into several pieces. Goddess Naina Devi is believed to have manifested from the left eye of Goddess Sati. Naina Devi temples are mainly located in North India .  Two of the famous temples dedicated to Goddess Naina Devi are located at Nainital in Uttarakhand in India and at Bilaspur in Himachal Pradesh. All Naina Devi temples have the same story. The place where eyes of Goddess Sati fell is from where Goddess Naina Devi appeared. She blesses devotees by destroying all evil. She is kind Mother to those that follow Dharma. To those that follow Adharma, she takes the all vanquishing fierce form. The main offerings made to Naina Devi are Red Chunn

Kapaleshwar Temple in Nashik Asks Devotees Not To Pour Milk on the Shivling

The management of Kapaleshwar Temple in Nashik in Maharashtra has asked devotees not to pour milk on the Shivling in the temple as it is polluting the Godavari River . Kapaleshwar temple, located on the banks of Godavari river, is one of the oldest temples in Nashik. Times of India reports According to the temple management, at least 3,000 people pour milk over the shivling at the temple every day. Flower sellers at the entrance and near the steps of the temple also sell milk and other articles required for the 'puja'. Each packet sold for Rs 10 has about 250 ml of milk, which means that nearly 750 litre milk is poured on the shivlings - one inside the temple and others around the temple premises. The temple management said that they have created a channel so that the milk poured on the shivling inside the temple is ultimately released into the river. But the milk poured on the shivlings around the premises flows over the steps and comes under the feet of devotees

Hindu Fasting Is Turning Into Feasting

Fasting food or Hindu Vrat recipes are in great demand especially during Hindu fasting dates like Ekadasi, Sankashti, Pradosh, Navratri etc. Oil fried Sabudana Vada, Ekadasi potato, varan bath…there is no end to the list. So Hindu fasting is slowly turning into feasting. Ekadasi fasting which is observed on the 11th day of a fortnight is not meant to please Vishnu. It is meant to cleanse your body and mind. Avoiding all types of grains on the day means you are doing away with lot of carbohydrate. This once in a fortnight fasting gives the opportunity to throw out all toxins from the body. The day before fasting in Hinduism one is supposed to eat moderately. After the fasting too one is supposed to eat moderately. This is to help the body to adjust and regulate. Fasting is also an opportunity to remain silent. A day to reflect on one’s thoughts and feelings. It is also a day to stop all sorts of negative talking and gossiping. Fasting also provides an opportunity to a

About God Bhaga – Vedic Deity Bhaga

Bhaga is a Vedic deity mentioned in the Rig Veda and is one of the Adityas. He is associated with Surya, the sun god. Bhaga is the God of the forenoon. Usha or dawn is mentioned as his sister. Bhaga means patron, gracious god or dispenser. It is believed that he distributed wealth. He also presides over matrimony and love. He is prayed for wealth and for blessings in all ventures. He also bestows high status. In the Mahabharata, Bhaga is one among the Devas or demi gods and is a member of Indra’s court. In Puranas, he is also named as one of the Rudras. It must be noted here that there is also deity named Bhaga in Zoroastrianism.  The name is mentioned in the Bala Kanda Chapter 1 (71) of Ramayana in association with the marriages of Rama and Sita and that of the brothers of Rama. Here Bhaga is considered as the deity of marital bliss and prosperity.

Siva Mooligai Trust of Thiruvengadu in Tamil Nadu Planting Rare Herbs Used by Ancient Siddhars

Siddha texts of Siddhars in South India are store house of traditional medicines. We are slowly losing this knowledge thanks to lack of interest is our traditional cures and medicines. People associated with Siva Mooligai Trust of Thiruvengadu in Tamil Nadu are attempting to revive the medicine of Siddhars by identifying various herbs and medicinal plants. The Hindu reports Kalyanaraman of Siva Mooligai Trust of Thiruvengadu, has been trekking up hills in search of medicinal plants. “Kanchi Paramacharya’s brother, Sivan sir, had studied Siddha texts and with his guidance I was able to identify many herbal plants, which we now grow in Thiruvengadu,” he said. The yellow flower of the Palvalipoondu, when squeezed against an aching tooth, relieves pain; Sarkkarai vilvam helps relieve stomach cramps; Sarkkaraikkolli is good for diabetics. Despite the fact that many of these plants grow in the hills, Kalyanaraman has successfully grown them in the plains. He said many of them co

Vrischika Masam 2024 – Malayalam Vrishchikam Month in Kerala in 2024

Vrishchikam, or Vrischika Masam, is the fourth month in a traditional Malayalam calendar and is a highly auspicious month. Vrischika Masam 2024 begins on November 16 and ends on December 15. The 41-day Sabarimala Mandala Kalam and Vratam begin from the first day of the month. Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple opens on the day for the two-month long annual pilgrimage season. The spiritual significance of Vrischika Masam is knowing or realizing the meaning of Tatvamasi (Thou Art That) or there is no second one here. All problems begins when through ignorance we see the presence of a second one. Fear, hate, intolerance etc is the result of this ignorance. When we realize that the energy in the sun and that which is spread across the universe is the same energy present in us we attain moksha or liberation. The month is ideal for spiritual cleansing and self realization. Practicing mindfulness in month which involves being fully present in the current moment, observing thoughts and feelings w

Bishohori Puja at Nartiang Village in Jaintia Hills of Meghalaya – Bishohori Puja Dedicated to Snake Goddess

Bishohori Puja is quite similar to the Manasa Devi Puja observed in Bengal . The puja is dedicated to Snake Goddess and is very popular in the Nartiang Village in Jaintia Hills of Meghalaya. The puja and ritual on the day is dedicated to Goddess Bishohori or Monosha, who is worshipped as the Mother of Snakes. The ritual is observed during the Bhadrapad Krishna Paksha Panchami Tithi or the fifth day during the waning phase of moon as per Hindu lunar calendar followed in North India . Times of India reports The temple of Bishohori was built by the ancient Jaintia Kings. Bishohori literally means one who takes away poison. "The Jaintia kings had inculcated this ritual from the plains of erstwhile undivided Bengal bordering their kingdom of Jaintiapur ," said Naba Bhattacharjee, working president of the Central Puja Committee. "The kings had integrated this borrowed ritual with their own traditional form of worship, which can be witnessed even today amo

Sri Ramakrishna on Symbolism of Goddess Kali Standing on Shiva

Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa explains the symbolism of Goddess Kali Standing On Shiva. Whatever you perceive in the universe is the outcome of the union of Purusha and Prakriti. Take the image of Shiva and Kali. Kali stands on the bosom of Shiva; Shiva lies under Her feet like a corpse; Kali looks at Shiva. All this denotes the union of Purusha and Prakriti. Purusha is inactive; therefore Shiva lies on the ground like a corpse. Prakriti performs all Her activities in conjunction with Purusha. Thus She creates, preserves, and destroys. Source - The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna – (page 271 – 2)

Demon Tarakasur – Story Of The Birth Of Tarakasur

Tarakasura was a fierce demon who was killed by Kartik or Muruga. The story of the birth of Tarakasur is a lesson in itself. Legend has it that Sage Kashyapa married 13 daughters of Daksha Prajapati. Of the daughters, Diti was evil minded and Aditi followed Dharma. Diti gave birth to demons and Aditi gave birth to Devas or demigods. Diti once demanded from her husband a son who would defeat the Devas. Sage Kashyapa knew it was futile to reason with Diti. So he blessed her with a son named Vajranga, whose legs and hands were hard as diamond. Diti then asked Vajranga to capture Indra and other devas. Aditi the mother of Devas prayed to Brahma for help. Brahma approached Vajranga and asked to release the Devas. Vajranga was a devotee of Shiva and he was against violence. He told Brahma that he had captured Indra and other Devas only to please his mother. Brahma was happy with Vajranga. He then created a beautiful woman named Varangi and she became the wife of Vajranga.

3D printed Durga Murti (Idol) to be the Main Murti during Durga Puja Festival

The Durga Puja festival in 2014 in Kolkata will be unique as for the first time 3D printed Durga Murti (Idol) will be used as the main murti during the festival. Goddess Durga and her family will be created using the 3D printing technology on paper. The Jodhpur Park puja committee is South Kolakata will be installing the 3D model of Goddess Durga. The 3D printed murti stands tall at 8.5 inches and 14 inches wide. Business Standard reports   As 3D printing diversifies across the world in fields of medical science, films, art, aerospace, architecture and design and even in organ regeneration, a Durga puja committee in south Kolkata has paved the way for introduction of hi-tech features in sculpting idols instead of the traditional, manually-crafted process using clay.  "We have digitally created a Durga idol, designed by sculpting apps and using 3D printer, which uses standard office stationery (A4 size paper) to make the models from the design. "So you may s

Matsya Purana Teachings on Seven Qualities to Attain Bliss

Yayati in Matsya Purana states about the seven qualities that are the gates to heaven (bliss) Asceticism Charity Self Control Restraint Modesty Honesty Kindness Please note that heaven symbolically suggests bliss. Heaven is to be achieved while living on this earth through proper understanding. Matsya Purana is the 16th Purana among 18 Puranas, it is the most significant Purana covering extensive and wide — ranging subjects within its ambit. It consists of 19,000 Shlokas. It also provides important information on Vastu.

Perdoor Temple in Karantaka - Anantha Padmanabha Temple at Perdoor in Karnataka Dedicated to Hindu God Vishnu

Anantha Padmanabha Temple at Perdoor (20 km from Udupi) in Karnataka is dedicated to Hindu God Vishnu. The 6th century temple has a standing murti of the Ananthapadmanabha Swamy form of Vishnu. The murti is of 2 feet height with Shanka Chakra and Abhaya Hasta. The temple also has a separate shrine dedicated to Shiva – the temple is known as Rudra Temple and a Rudralinga is worshipped here. The murti of Ganesha is found on a pillar at the Theertha Mantapa. All pujas in the temple begin after offering puja to this Ganapati murti. An Arototsava katte exists in front of the Anantha Padmanabha Temple and a Nagabramha Stana is situated nearby. A Kunjadakatte at which Sri Anantha Padmanabha Utsavamurti (procession murti) is worshipped during Rathotsava festival is too located in the temple complex . A Mariamman Temple  too is located near the temple complex. The pond attached to the temple is located on the northern side, known as Padma Sarovara, is bel

Temple Dedicated to Ant – Urumbachan Gurusthanam in Kannur in Kerala

The greatness of Hinduism lies in the fact that Hindus are able to see divinity in all animate and inanimate.  Urumbachan Gurusthanam in Kannur in Kerala reiterates this fact. The temple is located near Thottada in Kannur and there is no murti in the shrine. Devotees offer prayers here to get rid of ant related in problem in their house or property. For local residents, the temple of ants is Urumbachan Gurusthanam. The faithful offer coconuts to Urumbachan, to free their residences of ants without using any insecticide. The belief dates back to several centuries, though there is no historical evidence. The Gurusthanam is associated with the nearby Udayamangalam Ganapathy temple, considered to be the second important Ganesha mandapams in Kolathunadu. Times of India reports  According to local legend, the original plan was to construct a Ganapathy temple, where the Gurusthanam now stands. "The carpenter fixed a stick at the site," said M Narayanan, a former office

Sage Agastya in the Vedas

Sage Agastya is one of the most popular sages in Hinduism. He finds mention in the four Vedas. The first reference of Sage Agastya is found in the Rig Veda. In it he is the son of Mana. In some texts he is referred as the son of Vedic gods Mitra and Varuna. Sage Agastya is also known as Mana or Manya in the Vedas. Majority of scholars state that mother of Sage Agastya is the apsara Urvashi. In some texts Sage Vasishtha is mentioned as his brother. Wife of the rishi is Lopamudra. It is stated that the Rishi himself created Lopamudra. From the Rig Veda it is very clear that Sage Agastya is associated with medicines and curing. It is mentioned in the Rig Veda that he cured the leg of Vishpala with the help of Ashwini Kumars. Rig Vedic hymn (1.179) and (9.25) are associated with the Sage. Two of his shishyas or students are mentioned in the Rig Veda – Antye and Brihatya. It must be noted that Sage Agastya is mentioned in the Vedas, Ramayana, Mahabharata, B

Website with information on Vaishnava Books in Tamil – English – With Option to Buy Online

Sri Vaishnava Sri is an exclusive website dedicated to Vaishnava books. You get information of important Vaishnava books published in Tamil and English. There is also an option to buy the books online. The website Sri Vaishnava Sri , Srirangam is maintained by Sri Vaishnava Sri A. Krishnamachari’s son Vasudevan from Srirangam, one of the leading Publishers/ Printers ( Panchajanyam Magazine, Koilozhugu,Nalayira Divyaprabandham,Nithyanusanthanam, Sthotrapatam series – Poorvacharya Stotramala etc) You can find more about the website here.

Is Rhodiola The Mrita Sanjeevani of Ramayana?

Mrita Sanjeevani of Ramayana was used to cure Lakshmana who was badly hit by a poisoned arrow. Indian scientists now claim that Rhodiola found in the high altitude mountains could be the Mrita Sanjeevani mentioned in the Ramayan. Scientists claim that Rhodiola can regulate the immunity system and helping in adapting to challenging environmental situations like high altitude. But what is of great interest is that it can help in people stay protected form harmful radiation especially of nuclear bombs. Digital Journal reports  Rhodiola is known as Solo in the mountainous Ladakh region, in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir . Here, the leafy parts of the plant are used as a vegetable.  Research work from the Leh-based Defence Institute of High Altitude Research (DIHAR) has shown that the herb holds great potential in helping military troops cope with high altitudes, such as the Siachen glacier, which at 5400 meters (17,700 feet) is the highest battlefield on the pl

3-D printed Hindu God Ganesha

Murtis (idols or statues) of Hindu Gods printed using 3-D technology is new and rare but is slowly catching up in India and various countries around the world. A 3-printed exhibition of Ganesha murtis was recently held in Bangalore and was a huge it with the audience. The New Indian Express reports  3-D printing technology has been around for many years now; the first working 3-D printer (stereolithography) was created in 1984 by Charles W Hull. "The industry in India has not taken off in the way it has in countries like Taiwan , Singapore or Malaysia . India has the required manpower but owing to lack of world-class R and D facilities, the industry has taken a backseat. We want to bring this technology to the forefront and what better way than to start it with an exhibition of idols of Lord Ganesha," says Prasad Rodagi, founder director of Altem, which has been in the business of 3-D printing since 2010.  At the exhibition, eight idols inspired by the tem

Onam Story – Onam Festival Story of Mahabali and Vamana

The story of Onam festival is associated with the Vamana incarnation of Vishnu and King Mahabali (Maveli). Onam, the most popular festival in Kerala, is the day when the legendary Asura king Mahabali visits his subjects. Mahabali had turned his kingdom into a virtual paradise on earth and the ‘devas’ could not tolerate this and they sought the help of Lord Vishnu to eliminate Maveli. Onam is perhaps a rare Hindu festival in which Lord Vishnu, the vanquisher, is the villain and the vanquished King Mahabali the hero. As per Puranas, the Asura or demon King Mahabali made the utopian kingdom a reality. His fame spread all over the earth and the netherworld and slowly into the heaven. Indra, the king of Devas and the ruler of heaven, felt threatened by the growing popularity of Mahabali. Aditi, the mother of Indra, observed a penance called 'payovrata' to help her son and pleased with her devotion Lord Vishnu was born as Vamana, a dwarf, to Aditi. Vamana approached

Sri Ramakrishna on Three Kinds of Love

Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa explains the three kinds of love among human beings. There are other kinds of love: sadharani, samanjasa, and samartha. In the first, which is ordinary love, the lover seeks his own happiness; he doesn’t care whether the other person is happy or not. That was Chandravali’s attitude toward  Krishna . In the second, which is a compromise, both seek each other’s happiness. This is a noble kind of love. But the third is the highest of all. Such a lover says to his beloved, ‘Be happy yourself, whatever may happen to me.’ Radha had this highest love. She was happy in Krishna ’s happiness.

Satarupa – the female equivalent of Manu

Satarupa in Hindu Puranas is the female equivalent of Manu – the first man. As per some Puranas she was the mind born daughter of Brahma, the Hindu god of creation. Agni Purana, Padma Purana, Vishnu Purana and Srimad Bhagavd Purana state that the male half of Brahma is Manu and the female half of Brahma is Satarupa. Some texts are of the view that Satarupa means one hundred forms which includes mainly female forms. In many texts Satarupa is the wife of Swayambhu Manu. In some, Manu and Satarupa are the male and female part of Brahma. Daughters are begotten then and they are married to Rishis who then populate the earth.

Animal Sacrifice Banned in Hindu Temples in Himachal Pradesh

Animal sacrifice – especially those of goats, hen, cock, buffalo etc – is still practiced in certain Hindu temples in Himachal Pradesh. Now the high court in the state through and order has banned the practice of animal sacrifice in temples in Himachal Pradesh. Animals are mainly sacrifice in temples dedicated to manifestation of Goddess Shakti and also of Bhairva. Daijiworld reports  "No person throughout the state shall sacrifice any animal in any place of public religious worship, including all land and buildings near such places of religious worship which are ordinarily connected to religious purposes," said a division bench of Justice Rajiv Sharma and Justice Sureshwar Thakur. Disposing of petitions, the bench observed: "A startling revelation has been made in the manner in which thousands of animals are sacrificed every year in the name of religious worship." "Sacrifice causes immense pain and suffering to the innocent animals. The innocent anima

Take always the position of the giver – Swami Vivekananda

Take always the position of the giver. Give love, give help, give service give what little you can. But keep out barter. Give out of your bounty as God gives. It will come back to you ten times, but don’t ask for it. Money does not pay nor learning. Name does not pay nor fame. It is love that pays. It is character that cleaves through the adamantine walls of difficulties. Repetition is the greatest stimulus that gives an opportunity of exposure to all the Samskaras hidden in the mind at a deeper level. The repetition of Om , and thinking of its meaning, is keeping good company in your own mind. Study, and then meditate on what you have studied. Thus light will come to you, the Self will become manifest. When there is real purification of the body, external and internal, there arises neglect of the body, and the idea of keeping it nice vanishes. This thirst after body is the great bane of human life. So the first sign of the establishment of purity is that you do n

On SAKSI – Sri Aurobindo Kapali Sastry Institute of Vedic Culture Founded by Dr. Rangasami L. Kashyap

SAKSI – Sri Aurobindo Kapali Sastry Institute of Vedic Culture – was founded by Dr. Rangasami L. Kashyap and is dedicated to Vedic study. Dr. Rangasami L. Kashyap has a Masters degree from IISc and a PhD. from Harvard and was   a faculty member at the department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, at the Purdue University , West Lafayette , U.S. He has published more than 250 research papers and guided 50 doctoral students. After his retirement he seriously took up the study of the Vedas and today he has translated 23,000 Vedic mantras, in 26 volumes and has brought out 50 books in compact series each running to 100 pages. You can read more about SAKSI and the works of Dr. Rangasami L. Kashyap here in the Hindu.

No Live Foxes for Nariyai Pariyakkuthal Ritual at the Madurai Meenakshi Temple

Live foxes were used in the Nariyai Pariyakkuthal Ritual at the Madurai Meenakshi Temple . The foxes were captured from their habitat and later released in the same region. But the forest department has decided not to give permission to this ritual which is held in the Aavani month in Madurai Meenakshi Temple . Economic Times reports "Chasing of any wild animal from its habitat and driving it to a different habitat and then releasing it again in the wild will disturb the socio ecological niche of the wild animal and will amount to a cognizable and non-bailable offence, under the Act," divisional forest officer (DFO), Nihar Ranajan said. He appealed to the authorities to extend full support the forest department in curbing and controlling such mythical and criminal practices.   When contacted, N Natarajan , joint commissioner of Meenakshi temple, said that such practice of bringing a live fox for the ritual was in vogue till three years ago. They have sought perm

Bankim Chandra Chatterji Explains On Idol Worship In Hindu Religion

Bankim Chandra Chatterjee (1838 – 1894) explains the importance of idol (murti) worship in Hindu religion.  He was the composer of Vande Mataram personifying India as Mother Goddess and inspiring freedom fighters during the Indian Independence Movement. The true explanation consists of the ever true relations of the subjective Ideal and to its objective Reality. Man is by instinct a poet and an artist. The passionate yearnings of heart for the Ideal in beauty, in power, and in purity, must find an expression in the world of the Real. Hence proceed all poetry and all art. Exactly in the same way the ideal of the Divine in man receives a form from him, and the form is an image. The existence of Idols is as justifiable as that of the tragedy of Hamlet or of that of Prometheus. The religious worship of idols is a justifiable as the intellectual worship of Hamlet or Prometheus. The homage we owe to the ideal of the human realized in art is admiration. The homage we owe to

Koothanur Saraswathi Temple Timing – Opening and Closing Darshan Time at Koothanur Saraswathi Temple

Koothanur   Saraswathi   Temple  in Tiruvarur District in Tamil Nadu is a very rare temple dedicated to Hindu Goddess Saraswati. The temple timing with opening and closing time and special darshan time is given below. Koothanur Saraswathi Temple Timing 5:30 AM to 11:00 AM (Morning Puja Timing) 5:00 PM to 8:30 PM (Evening Puja Timing) Kalasanthi Puja is at 10:00 AM Evening Main Puja is at 6:30 PM Arthajamam Puja is at 8:30 PM

Anegudde Ganesha Photos – Pictures of Anegudde Ganapathi

Anegudde Ganapati Temple is located in Udupi District in Karnataka. Below are the photos of Anegudde Ganesha. The pictures of Anegudde Ganesha are very unique and interesting.

Story Of Indra And Tiny Sages Valakilyas

Valakilyas are a group of tiny sages mentioned in Hindu scriptures. The sages were the size of the thumb but were very powerful due to their piety, brahmacharya and intense penance. Once, Indra and the Valakhilya were on their way to the ashram of Sage Kashyapa to attend a yajna. Indra, the king of celestial beings, was haughty and arrogant and this behavior often caused problems to the celestial world. On the way to the ashram, Valakilyas had fallen into water collected in a hoof mark left by a passing animal. Indra, who soon reached the spot, mocked at the tiny sages who were in a puddle and sped away. Sage Kashyapa received Indra but was a worried man because Valakilyas had not yet reached. Indra then jokingly narrated what had happened and asked Sage Kashyapa to not to wait for the tiny sages. Sage Kashyapa narrated how powerful the Valakilyas are and he also warned Indra that they might be performing a yajna to replace Indra as the king of Devas. Soon Indra and

Inner Noise – Quieten It Before It Controls Us

Inner Noise – Quieten It Before It Controls Us is an original article written on Hindu Blog but unethically copy pasted on Speaking Tree. We are all fed up with noise from the external environment. We look out for a various methods to shut out the external noise. We are successful too in it. We can move to a quiet place or plug our ears or sit in a noise proof room. But what about the inner noise? Can we shut it in the same manner? No. One of the greatest problems we face on earth is the inner noise. Most people don’t realize it. But to those who have realized the problem of inner noise and are able to quieten it enjoy peace and bliss on earth. Inner noise is the numerous unwanted thoughts that continue to bother us. We might be chanting ‘Om Namah Shivaya’ and meditating but our mind is constantly thinking of some event that happened on the day. Sometimes the mind is reminding us of a desire; sometimes of fear; sometimes of that which has no meaning in life… The onl

Bhutadi Amavasya

Bhutadi Amavasya is observed mainly in Ujjain during the Sarva Pitru Paksha Amavasya in Ashwin month. Bhutadi Amavasya 2024 date is on October 2. The main ritual includes taking holy dip or bath in river, pond or other water bodies. The main holy dip in Ujjain during Bhutadi Amavasya takes place at the Bawan Kund (52 Pool) near the Kaliyadeh Palace . It is widely believed that those people who are afflicted by evil spirits will get relief after taking holy dip in the Bawan Kund. The day is also famous as Sarva Pitru Puja and marks the end of the Shradh fortnight.

Vamana Temple in North Kerala at Kodavalam Village near Kanhangad - Kodavalam Vishnu Temple

The most popular Vamana Temple in Kerala is located at Thrikkakara near Ernakulam. But there is another Vamana Temple in North Kerala at Kodavalam Village near Kanhangad. Here the Vamana Murti is in the form of Vishwaroopam that He had shown to King Mahabali. Kodavalam Vishnu Temple is more than 1100 year old and is also associated with the Teyyam ritual.  The murti of Vamana Avatar of Vishnu worshipped here has four hands and holds – Conch, mace, disc and lotus. At the entrance of the temple there is a painting of the Trivikrama form of Vishnu – the form that Vishnu took before Mahabali. Apart from the Vamana murti, there are murtis of Ganesha, Bhagavati and Shasta in the temple. The temple is around 3.5 kilometer from Pullur Bus Station on the highway.

Postage Stamps with Picture of Hindu God Ganesha in Countries Other Than India

Countries other than India that have published postage stamps, post card, first day covers and cancellation include United States, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Nepal, Laos and Czech Republic. The Hindu reports Devotion to the elephant-headed god is not limited to India . A number of countries, including the U.S. , Thailand , and Sri Lanka , have issued postage stamps on Lord Ganesha, says city-based philatelist Commander (Retd.) G. Sri Rama Rao.  Digging out his collection of theme-based stamps, he noted that Indonesia issued a stamp on Ganesha on April 1, 1994. He has in his collection the stamps issued by Nepal and Sri Lanka , and the one issued by Laos on February 5, 1971. The U.S. Post has also issued a stamp featuring Ganesha.

Ganesha Prayer from Ganesh Upanishad

I surrender to you, Lord Ganesha. You are the speaker. You are the listener. You are the giver. You are the sustainer. I am your disciple. Protect me from the front and back. Protect me from the north and the south, from above and below. Protect me from all directions. You are full of perfect knowledge of truth and awareness. You are full of bliss and pure consciousness. You are truth, consciousness and bliss. You are the absolute awareness. You are full of supreme wisdom and knowledge. You are the earth, water, fire, air and the space. You are the root foundation of speech. You are beyond the three gunas: ‘sattva’, ‘rajas’ and ‘tamas.’ You are beyond the physical, mental and causal bodies. You are beyond the three aspects of time: past, present and future. You are eternally established in the muladhara chakra. You have three shaktis: action, knowledge and will. Salutation to the Ganapati whose seed mantra is Aum Gam. We know Ekadanta, the One-tusked God, the uni