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Showing posts from October 28, 2015


Sage Gautama And Ahalya

Story of Ahalya, wife of Sage Gautama, is from epic Ramayana. The story involving Sage Gautama and Ahalya is found in the Bala Kanda chapter of Ramayan. Bhagavan Sri Ram touches a stone near the Ashram of Sage Gautama and it suddenly turns into a woman. This was Ahalya who was cursed by her husband to become a stone. The unearthly beauty of Ahalya infatuated Indra, the king of demigods. He attempted to seduce her by taking the form of Sage Gautama. Ahalya did not stop the advances of Indra, although Ahalya knew it was not her husband who was approaching her. Sage Gautama, who had gone for his morning bath, suddenly returned and Indra took the form of a cat and escaped from the ashram. Sage Gautama realized through his yogic powers what had happened. He cursed his wife, turning her to stone, and put a curse on Indra as well. It is said that Indra was cursed to roam around with 1000 vaginas on his body. Later Indra did penance and turned the vaginas into eyes. Another Puran

Deulgaon Raja Balaji Temple near Jalna in Buldhana - Shri Balaji Devasthan in Deulgaon Raja

Deulgaon Raja Balaji Temple is a famous temple dedicated to Balaji or Lord Venkateswara. It is located at Deulgaon Raja near Jalna in Buldhana District. Shri Balaji Devasthan is around 24 km from Jalna. Legend has it that during ancient times it was impossible for the people of the region to visit the Tirupati Balaji Temple. It is said that on the request of devotees Balaji manifested here at Duelgaon Raja. Lord Venkateswara is worshipped here along with Goddess Lakshmi. The murtis are made using five precious metals. The most important festival in the temple is organized during Navratri (October) and it is known as Laleet. Huge poles are erected during the period, which falls down at the end of the festival.

Reclining Idol of Ganesha – Symbolism and Importance of the Sleeping Idol of Ganesh

Reclining idols of Ganesha are very rare and is mostly seen in paintings and sculptures. Vinayaka Chaturthi pandals give importance to sleeping form of Ganesha and is installed during the festival. There are some symbolisms associated with Sleeping Idol of Ganesha. The popular belief is that reclining pose of Ganesha symbolizes wealth, luxury, comfort and prosperity.  In such murtis, Ganesha reclines on a pillow. Sleeping murti of baby Ganesha is very popular but it is not worshipped. Reclining and sleeping pose Ganesh is rarely worshipped in homes.

Diwali in Kerala

Diwali is not widely celebrated in Kerala. In Kerala, Deepavali is observed to commemorate the killing of the demon Narakasura by Lord Krishna. Diwali in Kerala in 2024 is on October 31. This is observed on Krishna Paksha Chaturdashi in Tula Masam as per traditional Malayalam Calendar mostly a day before Diwali in North India. The only ritual that is followed in Kerala during Diwali is ritualistic bathing in the early morning hours by applying oil on head and on the body. Lighting of crackers is another ritual that is enthusiastically done in many regions in Kerala.  

Story – Sage Bhrigu’s Curse on Agni

Sage Bhrigu’s curse on Agni narrates how Agni came to devour everything that is there on earth. Sage Bhrigu married Puloma who was  famous for beauty. Beauty of Puloma was also admired by a demon. Puloma knew about the demon’s intention but she did not care about it. Years went by and once the demon happened to see Puloma but he could not recognize her. He enquired to a sage standing nearby as to who the woman was? The sage was Agni in disguise. When the demon understood it was puloma, he wanted to know where he can see and talk to her. The sage replied that she can be seen and talked to only if Sage Bhrigu allows and for this you have to go to the ashram of Sage Bhrigu. The old desire was reignited and the demon decided to kidnap Puloma. Puloma was pregant at this time and when the demon tried to forcefully take her away, the child fell from her womb. The boundless light that appeared from the baby annhilated the demon. Sage Bhrigu who realized that it

Bommghatta Hanuman Temple – Hulikunteraya Hanuman Temple near Bellary in Karnataka

Bommghatta Hanuman Temple is popularly known as Hulikunteraya or Hulikunteswamy Temple. This ancient shrine is dedicated to Ram Bhakt Hanuman. The temple is located about 80 km from Bellary, 23 km from Kudligi and 55 km from Hampi. Legend has it that the murti of Hanuman worshipped in temple was discovered by a cowherd, named Bommaiah, in a grass bush. As the murti was found under the bush of grass on the banks of a water tank, the murti has been named as Hulikunteswamy. It is said that the murti was hidden in a grass for long time. Then a divine cow and calf joined among the cows of a cowherd. The cow started giving large quantity of milk. But one day it started giving milk. The cowherd then noticed that the cow was shedding her milk near a bush. When the cow realized that the cowherd had seen her shedding milk it disappeared. The cowherd then checked the area and found the divine murti of Hanuman. There are murtis of Shiva, Sri Rama, Sita, Lakshmana, Anjaneya and Garuda

Budhi Diwali Festival at Nirmand Village in Kullu in Himachal Pradesh

Budhi Diwali festival at Nirmand Village in Kullu in Himachal Pradesh is observed from Margashirsha Amavasya for three days. In 2024, Budhi Diwali is on December 1. This is the no moon day in the next month after the Diwali. Also known as Dark Diwali, Budhi Diwali is observed because the villagers here believe that the news of Sri Ram returning to Ayodhya reached late in the remote villages in the region. Bonfires are lit on the nights of the festival and people sing and dance on stories in the Mahabharata. Hindustan Times reports  Pritam Dev, a resident of Nirmand village, said in the district, the festival was celebrated to commemorate the killing of the demons, Dano and Asur, who resided there in form of snakes. “Buddhi Diwali festival is our rich cultural heritage, which reminds our epic culture of Ramayana, besides adopting modernity in the festival,” said another resident Joginder Shukla. “According to the ritual, in day time people dance in long chain according t

Diwali in Maharashtra – Mumbai – Pune - Nashik

Diwali is the most popular festival associated with Hindu religion. Diwali 2024 date in Maharashtra – Mumbai – Pune - Nashik is November 1. Diwali literally means ‘an array of lamps’ and symbolizes the removal of spiritual darkness and the ushering in of knowledge capable of realizing Brahman (That) – the Supreme Being present in all living and nonliving. Diwali Dates In 2024 In Maharashtra Govatsa Dwadashi and Vasubaras on October 28 Dhanteras  or Dhantrayodashi or Yamadeepdaan  is on October 29 Narak Chaturdashi on October 31 Diwali on November 1 Lakshmi Puja on November 1 Abhyang Snan - November 1 Govardhan Puja – November 2 Annakut - November 2 Abhyang Snan - November 2 Diwali Padwa – November 2 Bali Pratipada – November 2 Bhau Beej – November 3 Yama Dwitiya – November 3 Diwali is celebrated by all Hindu communities but the reasons and legends differ from place to place and from community to community. The most important legend associated with Diwali i