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Showing posts from November 12, 2015


Chitragupta – Account Keeper of the Good and Bad deeds of Human Beings on Earth

As per Hindu belief, Chitragupta is the one who keeps accounts of the activities of human beings on earth. He is the keeper of both good and bad deeds. He helps Yama, the Hindu God of Death, to decide as to whether the dead person should suffer in hell or enjoy in heaven. He is responsible for recording meticulously the virtues and vices of mankind on earth - be in thought, word or deed - not collectively but individually. It is also duty of Chitragupta, among other things, not to allow anyone to live a day - or even a moment - longer than the lease of life granted to one by Brahma, the Creator.  On the day of judgement of every living being in the court of Yama, Chitragupta presents accurately before Yama the details of the merits earned and sins committed by the concerned person during his life. Punishment (hell) or reward (heaven) is decided on the basis of this record. Legend has it that Yama was given the task of keeping records of virtues and sins of all living beings and

Konjai Devi Yatra – Utsav at Tala near Mangaon – Konjai Devi Temple Festival

Konjai Devi Yatra and Utsav is held in Paush month at Tala near Mangaon in Raigad District, Maharashtra. It the annual jatra and festival at this shrine dedicated to Goddess Konjai Deiv. Tala Konjai Devi Yatra – Utsav 2025 date is January 9. Konjai Devi is a manifestation of Mother Goddess Shakti and is a popular village deity in this region of Maharashtra. She is mainly worshipped in western parts of India. Hundreds of people participate in the annual yatra and festival. The temple is beautifully decorated during the fair. The murtis of Mother Goddess is adorned with special flowers and ornaments on the day. Konjai Devi Yatra is annually held on Paush Shukla Paksha Dasami Tithi or the tenth day during the waxing phase of moon in Paush month as per traditional Hindu lunar calendar followed in Maharashtra and Karnataka. 

Muringamangalam Temple near Konni in Kerala

Muringamangalam Temple is dedicated to Hindu God Shiva and is popularly known as Muringamangala Sree Mahadeva temple. It is located about one kilometer from Konni in Pathanamthitta District in Kerala. The temple is more than 1000 years old and belongs to the Pandalam Royal family. The main deity worshipped here is Shiva in the form of a Shivling. Subsidiary deities worshipped in the temple include Ganesha, Devi and Muruga. Other subsidiary deities include Nagas, Krishna and Ayyappa . Thanka Anki procession to Sabarimala halts in the shrine during night. Apart from the annual temple festival, Shivratri, Navratri, Vrishickam month, Ganesh chaturthi and Sri Krishna Jayanti are observed here.

Kolangattukara Sreelakshmi Varahamurthy Temple

Kolangattukara Sreelakshmi Varahamurthy Temple is an ancient shrine dedicated to Lord Vishnu at Kolangattukara near Thrissur in Kerala. The shrine is located around 10 km from Thrissur town. The temple is also known as Kolangattukara Thenga Thrikkovu Sri Lakshmi Varaha Moorthy temple. Bhagavan Srihari Vishnu is worshipped here in the rare Sreelakshmi Varahamurthy form. This aspect of Vishnu is associated with the Varaha Avatar , the third manifestation. The annual festival in the temple is held on Varaha Jayanti day in Meda Masam (April - May). The subsidiary deities worshipped in the temple are equally famous as the main deity. The most important subsidiary deities are Ganesha and Ayyappa. Special pujas are also held during Ganesh Chaturthi and Vrishicka Masam . The most important temple festival is the held during Varaha Jayanti. Another important festival here is the 9-day Navratri festival . Udayasthamana puja is held annually on January 1. Numerous other rituals a

Niraputhari Festival at Sabarimala Temple

Niraputhari Festival is a unique ritual observed at the famous Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple in Kerala. It is the offering of first paddy to the deity. For the rituals devotees bring fresh paddy as well as threshed paddy as their offering to Lord Ayyappa. Devotees trek the holy hills carrying bundles of paddy spikes on their head. Lord Ayyappa is offered Naivedyam (cooked offering) made of the fresh paddy as part of the Niraputhari ritual. The paddy spikes are also distributed as prasadam to devotees. The festival falls in the Karkidakom month (July – August) as per traditional Malayalam calendar followed in Kerala. Sahasrakalasabhishekom and Kalabhabhishekom are performed on the previous day. The shrine opens for two days during the ritual.