--> Skip to main content

Posts

Showing posts from November 13, 2015


Kadru and Vinata Story

Kadru and Vinata were the wives of Sage Kashyapa. The story of them are found in Mahabharata and the Puranas Once Kadru and Vinata put a bet on the color of the tail of the horse Uchaishravas – a seven-headed flying horse that was obtained during the churning of ocean or Samudra Manthan. Kadru claimed the color was black and Vinita claimed it was white. The stake was whoever lost the bet will serve the other. Kadru cheated by asking her sons, the Nagas, to hang on to the tail of Uchaishravas. Thus the white tail of the divine horse turned black as the nagas hung on to them. Vinita and Garuda were thus forced to serve Kadru. They were treated badly by Kadru and her sons. Later the nagas agreed to free Garuda and his mother if he brought the Amrit, or Elixir of life, which is in the possession of Indra, the king of Devas or demigods. Garuda got Amrit from heaven and freed himself and his mother from servitude.

Makara in Hinduism – Hybrid Aquatic Animal Which Looks Like a Crocodile

In Hinduism, Makara is the vehicle of Goddess Ganga, Varuna and Kamdev or Kama. It is today depicted as a crocodile. But it is an hybrid aquatic animal with the body of a crocodile, tail of a fish and sometimes with a trunk. The fish tail sometimes has feathery fronds depicting vegetation. It symbolically represents the life giving and sustaining force of water. The nourishing powers of water, which feeds and sustains all living beings. Today Makara is closely associated with Goddess Ganga. Varuna, Vedic God, is the Lord of the seas and ocean. Kama, or Kamdev, is the god of love. Makara is also associated with his consort Rati. You may also like to read The concept of Vahana or Vehicle of deity in Hinduism Makara or Crocodile in Hinduism Garuda as the vehicle of Vishnu Vrishaba the Vahana of Shiva Hamsa or Swam the Vahana of Brahma

Nandikoor Temple – Nandikoor Durga Parameshwari Temple in Karnataka

Nandikoor Durga Parameshwari Temple is dedicated to Goddess Durga. It is believed that the murti (idol) worshipped at Nandikoor Temple was installed by Bhargava Maharishi. The temple is located off the Udupi - Mangalore National Highway 66 in Karnataka. On the highway at Padubidri, take a diversion towards Kudremukh road and continue further for 5 km till Nandikur. The murti of Durga Parameshwari worshipped in the Nandikoor Temple is more than 1200 years old. The 3 feet high murti is carved on black granite and has four arms. She holds trishul and chakra in right hand. She hold conch and mahishasura with her left hands. Devi stamps on the demon with her left leg. The lion appears  With trishula and Chakra in right hand, counch and mahishasura idol with left hand, with devi stamping on back of Mahishasura with her left leg with trishul appearing like piercing his body describes the beauty of the sculpture. One can also find lion standing silently beside Devi. Subsidiary deit

Different Types of Kavadi Taken to Muruga Temple

Kavadi is two baskets suspended from a bamboo pole, decorated with peacock feathers. It is carried on the shoulders by Murugan devotees. There are different types of Kavadi that a devotee can take to the hill shrines of Muruga. They are: Pal Kavadi – pots of milk will be hanging from the two sides of the pole. Pannir Kavadi – pots of scented water will be hanging from the two sides of the pole. Pushpa Kavadi – decorated with flowers. Anna Kavadi – pots of rice will be hanging from the two sides of the pole. Mayil Kavadi – decorated with peacock feathers.

Thampalakad Mahadeva Temple near Kanjirappally in Kerala

Thampalakad Mahadeva Temple is located on the Kanjirappally - Elikkulam Road at Thekkumbhaagam - Thambalakad in Kottayam district, Kerala. The beautiful temple is a typical example of Kerala temple architecture with a tall dwaja sthamba. It is located around 5 km from Kanjirappally. Shiva is worshipped here in Shivling form.Thambalakkad Mahadeva temple has an east facing chathura sreekovil. The temple has a flag post (kodimaram), chuttambalam, nalambalam, namaskara mandapam and temple pond. The important festival observed here is Shivratri. The temple has two well-maintained ponds. The annual temple festival at Thambalakad temple is observed in Dhanu Masam.

Panchasahasra Deepalankarana on Kartika Pournami at Dharmapuri Temple in Karimnagar District in Telangana

Panchasahasra Deepalankarana is the lighting of 5000 lamps on the steps of the holy pond in the Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple at Dharmapuri in Karimnagar District in Telangana. The lamps are lit on the Kartika Pournami day. Thousands of women from Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu participate in this unique event. It is believed that Goddess Lakshmi and Chandra, the moon god, appeared on the day during the Samdura Manthan or churning of ocean performed by Devas and Asuras. Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple at Dharmapuri is one of the nine important Narasimha Temples in Telangana. Read more about Kartika Pournami here .