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Showing posts from November 26, 2014


Nabanka Bedha Ritual Associated with Goddess Lakshmi at Puri Jagannath Temple

Nabanka Bedha is observed a day before Makar Sankranti at the Puri Jagannath Temple in Odisha. It is associated with the return of Goddess Lakshmi after her visit to the palace of Varuna Dev – Hindu sea god. Nabanka Besha 2025 date is January 14. As per the belief in Jagannath Temple, Goddess Lakshmi is the daughter of Varuna Dev as she appeared during the Samudra Manthan or churning of ocean. She returns back to Shri Mandir from her father’s house newly harvested grains, rice, fruits, vegetables, spices, molasses, clothes, ornaments and numerous other items. These are her annual claims from her father’s house. She reaches the Puri Jagannath Temple and goes around the temple nine times displaying the presents that she got from her father. This going around the temple is referred as Nabanka Bedha ritual.

Bharani Deepam 2024 Date at Tiruvannamalai Temple

Bharani Deepam marks the beginning of the main Karthigai Deepam festival day at the world famous Tiruvannamalai Shiva Temple – Sri Arunachaleswarar Temple – in Tamil Nadu. Bharani Deepam 2024 date is December 13. It will be lit in the morning 4:00 AM on December 13. Lighting of this Deepam or lamp is an important ceremony at the Tiruvannamalai temple on the Bharani Nakshatra day in Kartika Masam. The flame for lighting the Tiruvannamalai Maha Deepam atop the Arunachala Mountain is carried from the Bharani Deepam. The lighting of the Bharani Deepam by the chief priest in the  Tiruvannamalai   Temple marks the beginning of the main Maha deepam festival. A flame lit from five different lamps symbolizing earth, air, fire, water and ether is the Bharani Deepam. The Bharani Deepam is carried from the  Tiruvannamalai   Temple  to the top of  Arunachala   Mountain  by a group of fishermen.

Yellapur Jatra 2025 date – Yellapur Gram Devi Yatra in Uttara Kannada in Karnataka

Yellapur Jatra is annually held at Yellapur Gram Devi Temple in Magh month. The festival attracts thousands of devotees. Yellapur Jatra 2025 date is from February 21 to February 27. The festival and fair is annually held at Yellapur in in Uttara Kannada in Karnataka. In the Yellapur Gramdevi jatra, a vibrant and deeply significant festival celebrated in Yellapur, a town in the Indian state of Karnataka, the murti (sacred idol) of the Devi (Goddess) is ceremoniously taken around the streets in a grand procession. This annual event holds immense religious and cultural significance for the local community and draws thousands of devotees from far and wide who eagerly gather to participate in the festivities and catch a glimpse of the revered Mother Goddess. The jatra typically begins with elaborate rituals and prayers conducted by the temple priests to invoke the blessings of the Goddess. The murti of the Devi, beautifully adorned with flowers, jewels, and traditional attire, is th

Aazhi at Sabarimala – Fire Place in front of Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple

There is a fire place in front of the eighteen steps at Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple and devotees throw coconut into it. This place is known as Aazhi. Ayyappa devotees pour the ghee from the ghee-filled coconut near the Srikovil or sanctum sanctorum of the Ayyappa Temple . The coconut devoid of ghee is thrown into the Aazhi. The symbolic belief is that the ghee-filled coconut that is brought in the irrumudi is the jeev athma. When the ghee is offered at the shrine, the jeevathma merges with Ayyappa. The coconut devoid of ghee is considered as dead body or Jada and this is then burned in the Aazhi. The pieces of Neyythenga should only be thrown into the huge fire bowl or Aazhi in front of the temple after completing the darshan.

King Janaka And Lord Vishnu – Story On The Limitlessness Of True Self

Once, Lord Vishnu took the form of a Brahmin, and allowed himself to be brought to Janaka’s court as someone who had committed a heinous offence. The appropriate sentence for the offence was exile from the kingdom, and the king pronounced the judgment of exile on the Brahmin. The Brahmin bowed his head in acceptance of the sentence, and asked the king, “Will you kindly let me know, Your Majesty, how far your kingdom extends?” Janaka was taken aback. A wise man, he realized that the kingdom which had been ruled by his forefathers, did not really belong to him. Even his body was not his, for it was but an instrument of God! On the other hand, from the point of view of the soul, the vast universe was his! When this realization dawned on him, the king said, “O Brahmin! Endless is the kingdom of my soul! Live happily, anywhere you choose!” Janaka was truly wise. He realized the immortality, the limitlessness of the true self. Source – The Seven Commandments of the Bha