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Showing posts from May 9, 2014


Kailasanathar Temple Timings – Opening and Closing Time at Kailasanathar Temple in Kanchipuram

Dedicated to Hindu God Shiva, Kanchipuram Kailasanathar Temple is a very popular Shiva Shrine in South India . The opening and closing darshan time at the temple is given below in detail. The temple timings will be extended during special rituals and festivals. Also during Grahan or eclipse in Tamil Nadu, the temple will remain close for nearly 12 hours. Kailasanathar Temple Kanchipuram Timings Morning Darshan Time 6:00 AM to 12:00 PM Evening Darshan Time 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM. Extended time during Shivratri (February – March). Special pujas are observed on the Pradosham day during every fortnight.

Why is Durva Grass Offered to Ganesha? – Durva Grass and Ganapati

Durva Grass is one of the most popular offering to Ganesha. You can find stalls selling Durva Grass before important Ganapati temples. But why is Durva Grass offered to Ganesha? The offering has to do with the large stomach of Ganesh and his huge appetite. Legend says that a demon named Anala had gained several boons through years of penance. He had even got the boon of immortality. Anala was also the son of Yama, the Hindu god of death. People could no longer tolerate the destructive activities of the demon. Therefore, saints, humans and Devas approached Ganesh for a solution. He promised to help them. But there was no way to annihilate Anala, so Ganesh simply had to eat him alive. Now this divine act caused numerous problems like heaviness and indigestion. To get relief from this constant problem, Ganesha eats Durva Grass. Devotees therefore provide Durva grass to Ganesha in the form of offerings. Today Durva grass is widely used in medicines meant to cure in

Balipitha in Hindu Temples – Importance of Bali Pitha

Bali Pitha are black granite stones that are found around the Hindu temple or around the sanctum sanctorum. The Bali Pitha is an important aspect a Hindu temple and they represent gods and goddesses – ten dikpalas and saptamatrikas. ‘ Bali ’ means offerings and ‘pitha’ means seat (here the granite stone). Bali Peethas are installed at definite points in a temple. Offerings in the form of water, flowers, sesame seeds, cooked rice, etc are placed on them daily at specific time to accompaniment of traditional musical instruments and chanting of hymns. The ten dikpalas that are represented in Bali Pitha are Ishana, Brahma, Indra, Agni, Yama, Nirti, Ananta, Varuna, Vayu and Soma. They are the protectors. The seven Saptamatrika that are represented in the Bali Pitha are Brahmi, Maheshwari, Kaumari, Vaishnavi, Varati, Indrani and Chamunda. They are the seven mothers. Usually the Balipitha are lotus shaped stones but this is not followed in all temples. The height of th