Goddess Padmavati is the consort of Lord Balaji or Lord Venkateshwara.  Who is Goddess Padmavathi? The story of Padmavati is closely associated with the legend of Tirupati. Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Vishnu had a quarrel and Goddess Lakshmi left for earth. Soon Lord Vishnu came in search of her. Unable to find Goddess Lakshmi, Lord Vishnu built a hermitage in the Venkatadri hill. Here he was looked after by Vakuladevi and was known as Srinivasa. King Akasha Raja of a nearby kingdom was childless and performed several rituals to get a child. During one such ritual, the king was ploughing a field. Suddenly, the earth cracked and a lotus flower with a baby girl came up. The King named her Padmavati. (Some legend say that the young girl was granted a boon in her earlier birth that she will marry Lord Vishnu. Another legend says that Padmavati is Goddess Lakshmi.)  The girl grew up and during one of her expeditions to the forest she met Lord Vishnu. Soon the

Dedicated to Sri Mariyamma Devi (also known as Goddess Dandinamari), Sri Hosa Marigudi Temple is a popular shrine dedicated to Mother Goddess at Kaup near Udupi in Karnataka. She is the guardian deity of the region and is famous as Hosa Marigudi of Kaup. It is believed that when Basappa Nayaka built a fort at Kaup 1743 AD, he also brought along with him the murti of a Goddess he worshipped. She protected the fort and the soldiers. She was the protector of the various warrior classes. Once it is said that every Tuesday night smell of jasmine flowers and sound of someone bathing came from the fort. One man happened to witness the Goddess and the goddess told him to find a place for her in the nearby region. Thus she became the guardian deity of the region. She came with soldiers and became the protector of the land. The murti is depicted as sitting on a lion. She is dressed in sari and wears jewelry. The most important day in week associated with the temple is

The Two Mukhi Rudraksha, commonly referred to as Do Mukhi Rudraksha, is a sacred bead with two natural facets or faces. This Rudraksha is dedicated to the Ardhanarishvara form of Shiva, which symbolizes the union of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. The Ardhanarishvara form represents the perfect balance between masculine and feminine energies, embodying harmony and unity. Characteristics and Appearance Shape: The Two Mukhi Rudraksha is typically almond-shaped and somewhat round. T exture: It has a natural, textured surface with two distinct lines running from top to bottom, representing its two faces. Spiritual Significance Wearing and worshipping the Two Mukhi Rudraksha is believed to bestow several spiritual and worldly benefits: Divine Blessings: It brings the combined blessings of Goddess Parvati and Lord Shiva. Early Marriage: It is often worn by individuals seeking early marriage or wishing to remove obstacles related to marriage. Peace and Prosperity: The Rudr

Ashtadhatu is a combination of eight metals. The metals used are gold, silver, copper, zinc, lead, tin, iron and mercury. There are also Ashtadatu Yantras. Ashtadhatu Idols (Murtis) are found in many temples in India . The idols are very costly and idol thieves are always on the lookout for such idols. Some of the idols date back to the 6 th century AD. The process of making Ashtadhatu idols is bit complex and it varies. In the first stage, the exact model of the deity is made using wax. In the second stage, the wax model is covered with clay to make a mold. In the third stage, the wax and clay mold is put into fire. In this process, the clay hardens and the wax melts away making a hollow mold. In the fourth, the eight metals – taken according to the proportion required – are melted. In the fifth stage, the melted amalgam is poured into the clay mold and is allowed to cool. In the final stage, after cooling, the clay molds are dismantled and the Ashtadh