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Showing posts from November 23, 2015


Vaikunth Chaturdashi at Srinagar Kamleshwar Mahadev Temple in Uttarakhand

Kamleshwar Mahadev Temple located at Srinagar in Uttarakhand is dedicated to Shiva. The Vaikunth Chaturdashi in Kartik Month is a highly auspicious day at the temple. Vaikunth Chaturdashi 2024 date at Kamleshwar Mahadev Temple is November 14. A night long jagran (staying awake) and lighting of lamps is held at the temple. Legend has it that Sri Rama worshipped Shiva here with 1000 lotus flowers. But Sri Ram could find only 999 lotus flowers. It is said that Sri Ram offered his one of his eyes instead of the 1000th lotus flower. Thus the deity worshipped here is also known as Kamal Nayan. Thousands of people stay awake on the night of Vaikunth Chaturdashi and light lamps at the temple.

Revanteshwar Mahadev – About Revanteshwar Form of Shiva - 56th Shiva Temple in Ujjain

Revanteshwar Mahadev is worshiped in Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh. It is one of the 84 forms of Shiva worshiped in Ujjain. It is believed that worshipping Revanteshwar Form of Shiva will help in attaining peace and prosperity for the entire lineage. During old age, there will be no trouble and one will have a safe and easy exit to heaven. The temple dedicated to Revanteshwar Mahadev is located at Kartik Chowk. This form of Shiva is associated with son of Surya and Chayya, who is known as Revant or Ashwini Kumar. Revanteshwar Mahadev is counted among the 84 Shiva Temples in Ujjain and it is the 56th temple visited during the parikarama of Shiavalayas here. Story Revanteshwar Mahadev Lord Surya and his wife Chayya had a son named Ashwini Kumar. He had the face of a horse and the body of a man. He soon won the three worlds and ruled over it. As he was son of Surya, he emitted powerful rays and the living beings found it unbearable. The living beings approached Sh

Importance of Tulsi Puja - Religious Significance of Tulsi Shaligram Puja

Tulsi Vivah is an important ritual performed in Kartik month in traditional Hindu calendar. Tulsi Puja festival is the wedding of Tulsi plant to Lord Vishnu in the form of Shaligram. In 2024, the date of Tulsi Vivah pooja on Karthika Shuddha Dwadashi is November 13. The puja is also performed on Ekadashi November 12. And also on Purnima is on November 15. Tulsi Vivah is performed by some communities on the Ekadasi day after Amavasya (new moon) in Kartik month and by some communities on the Dev Diwali day or the full moon day in Kartik Month. Each year devotees, organizations, and temples perform this ritual with all pomp and glory of a real wedding. It must be noted her that the period beginning from Ekadasi (after Amavasya) in Kartik month to Purnima (the full moon day) in Kartik Month is considered auspicious for Tulsi Vivah. Majority of the people perform it on the Ekadasi day or on Purnima day. The ritual is also performed on the day after Ekadasi in many regions. Any day

Story of the Origin of Somnath Jyotirlinga Temple

Somnath Temple is one of the most important temples dedicated to Shiva and is one of the 12 Jyotirlinga Temples . Somnath Temple is located near Veraval in Gujarat and story of its origin is mentioned in the Skanda Purana . The puranic name of the place where Somnath Temple is situated was Prabhas Kshetra Legend has it that Daksha , the master of civilization, had married twenty seven of his daughters – the Nakshatras, lunar asterisms, to moon-god, Chandra. But Chandra ignored the 26 Nakshatrams and was enamored by only one among them the beautiful Rohini. The other daughters complained to Daksha about Chandra’s partisan behavior and this angered Daskha who cursed Chandra that your body of which you are so proud will fade away. Soon the body of Chandra started fading away and he approached Lord Vishnu who asked him to do penance at Prabhas Kshetra to Lord Shiva who is the supreme physician and the keeper of the sacred herb Soma. Chandra then did intense Tapas

Tulsi Vivah Katha – The Story of Tulsi Puja

Tulsi, or holy basil plant, is considered to be the beloved of Lord Krishna. Tulsi Vivah ritual is performed during the waxing phase of moon in Kartik month starting from the Kartik Suddha Ekadasi to Kartik Purnima. While performing the Tulsi vivah ritual women listen to the Tulsi Vivah Katha. There are several versions of Tulsi Puja story this is one of them. Once there lived an old lady who used perform the Kartik Snan and then water Tulsi plant and offer prayers. She used to worship Tulsi without fail and used to perform the Tulsi Vivah ritual. After the ritual, the old woman always ask the Tulsi plant to fulfill her wish that her dead body should be carried by Lord Krishna to the pyre. Tulsi Plant (Tulsi Devi) used to hear her prayer daily and she had the capacity to fulfill the wishes of her devotees but to make Lord Krishna carry the dead body of the old lady to the pyre was beyond her capacity. Saddened by this fact, Tulsi began to wither and she started

Palan Pulayan Temple, Dedicated To a Dalit Farm Worker, Breaks the Barriers of Caste in Kerala

Palan Pulayan was a dalit farm worker who lived in the eighteenth century in Kanjeettukara, near Kozhencherry in Kerala. The shrine is maintained by an upper caste nair family. He is lovingly known as Palan Appooppan and hundreds of people visit the  Palan Pulayan Temple to seek his blessings. The Hindu reports  The myth of Palan Pulayan, a Dalit farm worker who lived in the eighteenth century, and a temple dedicated to him by the Chittedathu Nair family in Kanjeettukara, near Kozhencherry, has broken the barriers of caste and religion.  The wayside shrine at Kanjeettukara in the foothills of Ponmala houses an idol of Palan Pulayan wielding a sickle in his right hand.  The shrine, now, is a place of worship drawing people from all castes and religions. Palan Pulayan is believed to have been the head farm worker of the Chittedathu family having a lineage of 700 years.  Myth has it that Palan, while tilling the farm, once got a treasure box of gold coins and a golden pumpkin.

Kokale Yellamma Devi Yatra near Kavathe Mahankal in Maharashtra – Godddess Yellamma Devi Fair and Festival at Kokale

Kokale Yellamma Devi Yatra is held in Margashirsh month. It is observed at the temple dedicated to the village goddess at Kokale near Kavathe Mahankal in Sangli District, Maharashtra. The festival dedicated to Goddess Yellamma Devi attracts hundreds of devotees. Kokale Yellamma Devi Yatra 2024 date is December 27. Kaledhon Yellamma Devi Temple is magnificently decorated during the period traditionally with flowers, leaves, traditional lamps and lights. The day is of importance to the villagers. People from nearby towns and villages arrive to participate in this annual fair and festival. Important rituals, which are held only once in a year, happen during the period. The annual yatra is also noted for a fair. The ritual involves journey to the shrine and other rural rituals. Kokale Yellamma Yatra is annually held on Margashirsha Krishna Paksha Dwadasi tithi or the twelfth day during the waning phase of moon as per traditional Hindu lunar calendar followed in Maharashtra.