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Showing posts from July 21, 2015


Kshipra Prasada Ganapati form of Ganesh

Kshipra Prasada Ganapati is one among the 32 forms of Ganesha. Kshipra means ‘very quick’ and the blessings and punishments of this form of Ganesh are instant. This form removes all obstacles from the path of his devotees immediately. For those who tread the path of Adharma, punishment is quick. Kshipra Prasada Ganapati mantra is Ghrita pashankusha kalpalata svadatascha beejapoorayutah! Shashikala kalita moulihi trilochana arunascha gajvadanaha!! Bhasurabhooshana deeptah brihaduaraha padmavishatrollasitah! Vighnapayodharapavanah Karadhrita kamalah sadaastu me bhootayai!! In this form Ganesha has crimson red body tone. There is a crescent moon on the hair and a third eye on the forehead. Kshipra Prasada Ganapati is six armed and holds – noose, goad, kalpa tree branch, broken tusk, lotus and lemon. This form of Ganapati blesses a devotee with peace and prosperity. He also removes all obstacles in the path of self realization.

Matsya Avatar Story – Matsya Avatar of Vishnu

Matsya Avatar is the first among the Dasavatar or 10 incarnation of Srihari Vishnu. The story of Matsya avatar is one that symbolically narrates the beginning of civilization. At the end of the one cycle of creation, Matsya appears to save all that is good. He is present when one cycle of creation is destroyed and the next cycle begins. Matsya appears as the one-horned fish that navigates all that is good through the great deluge or pralaya that appears at the end of one cycle to clean all the Adharma accumulated from the beginning of a cycle of creation. Appearance of Matsya Just before the end of the previous cycle of creation, Matsya, a tiny fish, swam into the hands of a pious man and asked him to save it from a big fish. The pious man took the fish home and placed it in a small pot. The fish kept on increasing its size. It was then transferred from the small pot to a big vessel; from it to a well, from well to a pond, from pond to a lake, from lake to river; and finally it wa

Gopadma Vrata during Chaturmasa - Go Padma Vratam

Gopadma Vrata is dedicated to the worship of cows and is observed during the Chaturmasya – the four holy months in Hinduism. Gopadma Vratham starts on Devshayani Ekadasi in Ashada Month and ends on Utthana Ekadasi in Kartik Month. Gopadma Vrata 2024 begins on July 18 – the day when the Chaturmas Vrat begins for many Hindu communities - and ends on November 13 - the next day of Utthana Ekadasi. The importance of Gopadma Vrata is mentioned in the Aditya Purana. Cow is worshipped by many people and Go Mata puja is of great significance to many devout Hindus. During the period of Chaturmas, cattle sheds are thoroughly cleaned and decorated with kolams (Rangoli). After thoroughly cleaning the cattle, they are given Prasad and are worshipped along with Lord Vishnu. It must be noted that Gopadma is also an auspicious sign drawn on Rangoli.

Goddess Singhini in Hinduism

Goddess Singhini in Hinduism is a power female being and attendant of Goddess Kali. She is the guardian of Mother Goddess. She appeared from Mother Goddess Shakti itself during her fight against demons. She is known as Singhini because she has the body of a female and the head of a lioness. Murtis of Goddess Singhini can be found guarding the sanctum of Mother Goddess in Nepal. Her companion deity is known as Bhagini.

Mangai Devi Yatra at Vadgaon in Belgaum – Mangai Temple Jatra

Mangai Devi Yatra is observed in Ashada month. The jatra is an important fair and festival at the Mangai Devi Temple at Vadgaon in Belgaum in Karnataka. Mangai Devi Yatra 2024 date is August 1. Thousands of people visit the small but beautiful shrine to have darshan of Goddess Mangai during the period. A fair is organized during the period. Goddess Mangai is a manifestation of Mother Goddess Shakti. Mangai Devi Yatra is annually observed on Ashada Krishna Paksha Dwadasi tithi or the twelfth day during the waning phase of moon in Ashada month as per traditional Hindu lunar calendar followed in Karnataka.

Godad Maharaj Rath Yatra at Karjat – Ratha Yatra and Festival Dedicated to Godad Maharaj

Godad Maharaj Rath Yatra is annually observed in Magh month. It is the chariot festival or ratha yatra associated with great saint Godad Maharaj and is of importance at Karjat. Godad Maharaj Rath Yatra 2024 date is July 31. The annual fair and festival attracts hundreds of devotees. The chariot is taken around the town. The temple dedicated to Sadguru Godad Maharaj is located at Karjat. He was a great devotee of Lord Vithoba. He spread the universal teaching of love and non-violence. Godad Maharaj Rath Yatra is annually observed on Ashada Krishna Paksha Ekadasi or the eleventh day during the waning phase of moon in Ashada month as per traditional Hindu lunar calendar followed in Maharashtra.

Alandi Nirmal Yatra

Alandi Nirmal Yatra is observed in Ashada month. It is a yatra organized to Alandi in Maharashtra, a holy place associated with Sant Dnyaneshwar Maharaj. Alandi Nirmal Yatra 2024 date is July 31. Nothing much is known about this yearly yatra. Alandi Nirmal Yatra is annually observed on Ashada Krishna Paksha Ekadasi or the eleventh day during the waning phase of moon in Ashada month as per traditional Hindu lunar calendar followed in Maharashtra.

Vitthal Temple Festival at Taharabad near Nashik – Taharabad Vithal Mandir Utsav

Taharabad Vithal mandir utsav is observed in Ashada month. It is the important fair and festival at the Vittal temple at Taharabad near Nashik. The festival is dedicated to Lord Vitthal a manifestation of Lord Krishna. Taharabad Vithal Mandir Utsav 2024 date is July 31. Hundreds of people participate in this annual festival. Palkhi, satsangs and other rituals are part of the temple festival. Taharabad Vitthal mandir utsav is annually observed on Ashada Krishna Paksha Ekadasi or the eleventh day during the waning phase of moon in Ashada month as per traditional Hindu lunar calendar followed in Maharashtra.

Why Goddess Lakshmi is known as Padma or Padmaja?

Padma or Padmaja is one among the numerous names of Goddess Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity. Lotus is very dear to Goddess Lakshmi and she holds it in one of her four hands. It is also a symbol of purity and auspiciousness. Goddess Lakshmi is known as Padma or Padmaja because she sits on lotus flower. Lotus flower is also one of the important offerings to Goddess Lakshmi. The flower is also dear to Vishnu. Lotus in the hand of Vishnu symbolizes creation and sustenance of the universe.

Goddess Maya – About Hindu Goddess Maya

As per Vedanta and Samkhya system of philosophy, Goddess Maya is Prakriti and is a source of the universe. Nobody can transcend the power of Goddess Maya. She is also known as Vaishnavi Mahamaya or Yogamaya. Maya is the inscrutable power of the supreme truth. It is Goddess Maya who makes us think unreal as real. She creates a web of deception and illusion. As per some scholars, Maya was one of the prominent goddesses of Asuras or Demons. She was the personification of occult or mysterious power. She was worshipped for getting powers like changing forms, being invisible, for appearing and disappearing in various places at a single time etc. She was offered liquor and flesh by her devotees. Later Goddess Maya was assimilated into the Vaishnava and Shaiva cult. Only power of illusion was retained in the later teachings about Her. Thus she is responsible for people getting entangled in worldly pleasures or becoming slaves of the senses. Goddess Maya can only be overcome by ta

Old Odia Devotional Songs of Lord Jagannath Released by All India Radio

All India Radio (AIR) has released old Odia devotional songs of Lord Jagannath in three volumes. The audio cd is a tribute to Lord Jagannath on the occasion of Nabakalebara. The Jagannath Bhajanavali is rendered by renowned artists of Odisha and was part of the central archives of All India Radio. The CD is titled Shree Jagannath Bhajanavali and comprises 30 bhajans and jananas in three parts. The Hindu reports The CD contains 13 devotional songs sung by late Nimaicharan Harichandan, Balakrushna Das, Shyam Sundar Kar, Bhikarichanran Bal, Raghunath Panigrahi, Akhyay Mohanty, Mohammad Sikandar Alam, Markandeya Mohapatra, Kashinath Pujapanda, Radhakrushna Bhanja, Shyamamani Devi, Snehalata Praharaj and Kalyani Bhattacharjee.  These devotional songs of 1960s and 1970s collected from the archives of AIR, Cuttack, were released on occasion of Nabakalebara Rath Yatra. Mr. Sheheryar said more such bhajans collected from the AIR archives would be released in near future.

Dichpally Ramalayam – Rama Temple at Dichpally

Dichpally Ramalayam is located 18 km from Nizamabad on the way to Hyderabad. Dichpally Ramalayam is the popular name of the Sri Rama Temple located at Dichpally in Nizamabad District in Telangana. The temple, an architectural marvel, is also known as Khilla Ramayanam and was built during the 14th century. One has to climb 105 steps to reach the sanctum sanctorum and offer prayers to the deities. There is a subway to help old and physically challenged people – the subway is connected to Raghunanda Temple, another shrine in the region. The temple has murtis of Bhagvan Sri Ram, Mata Sita, Lakshman and Hanuman in the sanctum sanctorum. The temple is one of the finest examples of the ancient stone architecture built by Kakatiya kings. The style and structure of the temple is quite similar to the temples in Khajuraho in Madhya Pradesh. Therefore, the shrine is also known as Indhoor Khajuraho or the Khajuraho of Nizamabad. The shrine is made using white and black basal