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Showing posts from July 22, 2015


Ratneshwar Temple Festival at Dhamanse near Ratnagiri – Shri Ratneshwar Devasthan Utsav

Ratneshwar Temple festival is annually observed in Shravan month. It is the most important festival after Shivratri at the Shri Ratneshwar Devasthan at Dhamanse near Ratnagiri. The utsav attracts scores of devotees. Ratneshwar Temple Festival 2024 date is August 5.  Shri Ratneshwar is the family deity of many families in the region. The annual fair and festival is noted for various types of Abhishekam and other rituals associated in the region with Shiva temples. Ratneshwar Temple Festival is observed on the first Monday during the Shukla paksha of Shravan month as per traditional Hindu lunar calendar followed in Maharashtra.

Goddess Annadai – Information about Goddess Anna Dai

Goddess Annadai is associated with food and is mainly worshipped by tribal people in India, especially in Central India. Anna Dai represent food and the nourishment that living beings get from it. The popular legend associated with the Goddess suggests that she appeared on earth to make the land fertile. She took the form of roots and helped plants to grow on earth. Then she shook herself and various grains and seeds appeared from her. It then grew into various crops, plants and trees. As per the legend, she grew into a fat plant and twelve men cut her down and offered her some kernels that they got from the plant. Symbolically, what she gave to earth is taken back at some point of time.

Ammavaru – About Hindu Goddess Ammavaru

Ammavaru is widely worshipped in many villages in South India, especially in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. At the beginning of creation, Ammavaru produced three eggs. The three eggs contain three great gods. Thus she is the primordial source of life on earth. To start creation on earth, she wished to have intercourse with the three great gods. However, two of them refused because they considered Ammavaru as their mother. The third one agreed but only if Ammavaru gave her third eye to him. The goddess agreed and gave him the third eye. All her power rested in the third eye. When the goddess lost her third eye, she became powerless. The third god killed her and scattered her on earth. In the scattered form, she appeared as Gramadevata or village goddess.

Story of Yami in Hinduism

Yami is the sister of Yama. She is a primal goddess. It is said that she asked Yama to make her pregnant so that the world might be populated. Yama refused as he considered it as a sin. Yama then became the Lord of the dead and Yami became the night goddess Yamini. Some legend has it that Yamini was created to help Yami overcome the embarrassment of rejection. Goddess Yami is also identified with Yamuna, the river.   The famous festival of Yam Dwitiya observed after Diwali is dedicated to Yama and Yami. 

Goddess Neel Saraswati – About Hindu Goddess Neel Saraswati

Goddess Neel Saraswati is a manifestation of Mother Goddess Shakti. She is one of the name of Goddess Tara , one of the Dasa Mahavidyas . The Goddess is known as Neel Saraswati because it is believed that she can bless a devotee with good speech. She provides relief to speech impairment. Goddess Tara is known as Neel Saraswati because she is blue in color and is associated with learning. Devotees worship her for attaining good knowledge. It is believed those people suffering from speech related problem get relief after offering  prayers to Her. Speech impaired children offer prayers to her for cure.

Parijat Tree of Mahabharata Age at Kintur Village in Barabanki in Uttar Pradesh

A Parijat Tree located at Kintur Village in Barabanki District in Uttar Pradesh in India is believed to belong to the age of the Mahabharata. It is mentioned in the Mahabharat that Sri Krishna uprooted the Parijata Tree from the kingdom of Indira , the god of Devas, and presented it to his wife Rukimini. Another legend in the Puranas suggests that Arjuna of Mahabarat brought the Parijata Tree for his mother Kunti, who offered to Shiva. It is believed by many people that the Parijat Tree mentioned in the Mahabharata is the one found at Kintur Village in Barabanki District. Kintur Village is named after Kunti, the mother of Pandavas. The village is located around 40 km east of Barabanki Town . But sadly now experts have raised concern about the survival of the tree. Times of India reports After concerns being raised over its survival from different quarters, a 5-member panel of experts from the Narendra Deo University of Agriculture and Technology (NDUAT),

Basara Temple – Basara Gnana Saraswati Temple

Basara Gnana Saraswati Temple is located 34 km from Nizamabad and is dedicated to Goddess Saraswati. Basara Temple is famous for Aksharabhyasam – initiation of children into the world of learning and letters. The shrine is the abode of Goddess Saraswati, Goddess Lakshmi and Goddess Kali. Legend has it that after the Kurukshetra war in the Mahabharata, Sage Vyasa lived in the spot where the present-day Basara temple stands. Then it was part of the Dandakaranya forest. Sage Vyasa used to perform his morning and evening prayers in the Godavari River here. He used to make murtis of Goddess Saraswathi, Lakshmi and Kali from mud and used to offer prayers to them. The presence of the Holy Trinity made the region a great spiritual center from ancient times. Today, Basara Temple is one of the rare temples where Goddess Saraswati is the main deity. Thousands of children are initiated into the world of knowledge and learning here especially during Vasant Panchami and Navra

Goddess Vrinda

Goddess Vrinda is another name of Tulsi and her story is mentioned in the Brahmavaivarta Purana. Vrinda was the daughter of King Dharmadwaja. She married the demon king Shankachuda. Virtue of Vrinda protected her husband from the attempts of Devas to kill him. Shankachuda had become arrogant when he realized that he was invincible. To negate his power, Vishnu appeared disguised as Shankachuda and made love to Vrinda. When Vrinda lost her chastity Shankachuda lost all his powers and Shiva killed him. Vishnu who realized that Vrinda had suffered for no fault of hers gave her the boon that she will be born as Vrinda or Tulsi on earth and will be worshipped by all. Goddess Vrinda is worshipped daily for peace and prosperity. It is believed that her presence in the home helps in keeping all forms of negative forces away.

Legend of Chhari Mubarak – the holy mace of Lord Shiva

Originally, the pilgrimage to the famous Amaranth Cave used to follow the Chhari Mubarak (Lord Shiva’s holy silver mace) carried to the cave shrine by the ‘mahant’ of the Dashnami Akhara. According to Hindu Mythology, the Chhari Mubarak was gifted by Lord Shiva to Sage Bringesh and origin of the Chhari Mubarak and Amarnath Pilgrimage is detailed in the Bringesh Samhita. Legend has it that the disciples of Sage Bringesh wanted to know how common man could obtain salvation. Sage Bringesh then narrated the importance of Amarnath Cave and the naturally formed Ice Shiva Lingam. He said that the easiest way to attain salvation in Kali Yuga was to take pilgrimages to the holy shrines like the Amarnath Cave Shrine. The disciples of Sage Bringesh decided to take the pilgrimage to Amarnath Cave . But they were attacked by demons or Asuras. The disciples could not complete the journey and they sought the help of Sage Bringesh. Sage Bringesh then undertook severe austeri

Ayudha Purusha in Hinduism – Ayutha Purusha Associated with Vishnu

Ayudha Purusha is a concept associated with Lord Vishnu and Bhagavan Sri Krishna in Hinduism. It is the personification of the weapons of Vishnu and Krishna. The concept of Ayutha Purusha was developed by playwright Bhasa between 4th and 5th century BC. It is found in the play titled Dootavakyam which is based on the peace mission by Sri Krishna to the court of Kauravas in the Mahabharata. An arrogant Kaurava prince, Duryodhana , attempts to imprison Sri Krishna. The Lord then displays his Vishwaroopa and invites his weapon to appear in human form. Thus Sudarshana Chakra, Saranga bow, Kaumodaki mace, Panchajanya, Nandaka (sword) and bird Garuda appear in human form. The physical description of Ayudha Purushas are found in the Dootavakyam. Ayudha Purushas can found near the feet of images of Vishnu. The most popular of them is found in the Dashavatara Temple at Deogarh. Related Yoga Nidra of Lord Vishnu – the cosmic sleep in Hindu Scriptures

Ugratara Temple at Saharsa in Bihar – Goddess Ugratara Mandir

Ugratara Temple is dedicated to Goddess Ugratara and is located in the interiors of Saharsa Distrct in Bihar. The temple is around 35 km from Saharsa Railway Station. Ugratara Mandir is considered as a Shaktipeetah as the black eyeball of the left eye of the Devi fell here. It is believed that Goddess Ugratara is located inside the left eye ball of Mother Goddess Shakti. The temple came into being after Goddess Ugratara appeared in the dream of Rani Padmavati, wife of king Hitendranarayana Singh. The dream gave the exact location of the murti of Goddess and the Rani discovered it. She then worshipped the Goddess here. A floor of the temple has several murtis of Hindu Gods and Goddesses discovered from nearby areas. Tuesday is the most important day in the temple. Uniqueness of the Temple While in general Goddess Kali keeps her right leg in forward position, in case of Ugratara it is the opposite. The Goddess keeps her left leg in forward position. After Sunset, de

Sudarshana Chakra Temples – Temple Dedicated to Sudarshan Chakra or Discus

Separate shrines exclusively dedicated to Sudarshana Chakra are very rare. However, sculptures of Sudarshan Chakra or Discus are part of important temples dedicated to Vishnu and his popular avatar Sri Krishna. Sudarshana Chakra is worshipped as a subsidiary deity in several popular temples in South India. Sudarshana Chakra is worshipped as subsidiary deity at Tirumala and Srirangam. Temple of Chakra Talvar or Sudarshan is located on the eastern side of the temple tank in the famous Varadaraja Perumal Temple complex in Kanchipuram in Tamil Nadu.

Bahuda Yatra 2024 - The Return Yatra of Puri Jagannath Rath Yatra Festival in 2024

Bahuda Yatra is the return journey of the three chariots in the Puri Jagannath Rath Yatra Festival. In 2024, the date of Bahuda Yatra is July 16. In the world famous Puri Rath Yatra held at Puri Jagannath Temple in Orissa, the chariots of Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra, Subhadra after reaching the Gundicha Temple stays there in the Garden House or ‘Adapa Mandapa’ for eight days. On the ninth day, the deities return to the Puri Jagannath Temple . Bahuda Yatra is also known as Ulto Rath or Ulta Rath Yatra. During the return journey, the three chariots stops at the Mausima Temple for a short while. This Mausima Shrine is dedicated to the aunt of Lord Jagannath and three deities are offered ‘poda pitha’, a special sweet made of rice, coconut, lentils and jaggery here. The Bahuda Yatra ends by the evening or night. The next day the three deities appear before general public in the Puri Jagannath Temple and this is known as Suna Besha or Suna Vesha.