The 16th chapter of the Krishna Yajurveda contains 66 mantras and they are known as Sri Rudram. Devotees of Shiva perform abhisheka (sacred bath) on Shivling reciting these mantras. In every mantra, Rudra devata is praised. He is the embodiment of anger and fury. He is the controller of all vocations. People chant the Sri Rudram to pleas Him. The mantra is chanted for obtaining auspiciousness. It is also chanted for the destruction of all enemies. 

The Rig Veda opens with Agnimile, which means ‘I praise Agni (Lord of Fire),’ who is seated before my eyes. Agni, or fire, symbolizes the light of spiritual knowledge leading one to Truth. Agni is nothing other than the innermost light that shines in all animate and inanimate as the Self, as inner consciousness. Rig is derived from the root ‘Rc’ meaning ‘to praise.’ The Rig Veda is made up of hymns in praise of the Divine. The great sages of yore are said to have perceived the eternal truth, and bequeathed to posterity their apprehensions of the numinous. These sagely revelations came to be known as Vedas, of which there are four: Rig, Yajus, Sama and Atharva. Source - My Mother, My Master By Swami Pranavamritananda Puri

Ishaneshwar Mahadev is worshiped in Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh. It is one of the 84 forms of Shiva worshiped in Ujjain. Those offering prayers to Ishaneshwar Mahadev will be blessed with fame, wealth and siddhi. The temple dedicated to Ishaneshwar Mahadev is located at the bade darwaza at Modi ki gali in Ujjain. This form of Shiva is associated with Devas, or demigods, getting back heaven from Demon Tuhund. Ishaneshwar Mahadev is counted among the 84 Shiva Temples in Ujjain and it is the 16th temple visited during the parikarama of Shivalayas here. Story of Ishaneshwar Mahadev form of Shiva in Ujjain Legend has it that once demon Tuhund defeated the Devas and threw them out of heaven. He captured Airavat, the white elephant of Indra, and tied him in front of his palace. The Devas could not enter heaven and therefore they roamed on earth. On earth, they met Sage Narada who advised them to offer prayers to a Shivling located north of Indradhumneshwar in Mahakaal Vana,

Itu Puja is the worship of Surya, or Sun God, in Agrahan month in Bengal. The word ‘Itu’ has evolved from Mitu, which is a shortened form of Mitra. Itu Puja starts on the last day of Kartik month and is observed on all Sundays of the following month Agrahan. Sunday is considered auspicious for propitiating Surya. The puja was originally meant or the preservation of seeds of the winter crops. The puja is performed by both married and unmarried women. Once undertaken, a woman continues with its performance until her death or until she passes it on to her daughter or daughter in law. A bowl filled with earth and a pot filled with water are kept along with other household deities during the puja. The practitioner of the vrat eats vegetarian food on the day with no oil or turmeric. On the day of the morning of puja, she eats only fruits and sweets offered for the puja. For lunch, she has boiled rice and vegetables and, for dinner, fried bread and a vegetable dish, along

Goddess Naikba Devi, also referred as Ma Naikba, is a manifestation of Mother Goddess and is worshipped mainly in Maharashtra. She is a village deity. The main temples dedicated to the Goddess are located in Satara and Sangli District in Maharashtra. Goddess Naikba Devi is a kind form of Goddess Shakti. She showers motherly love on her children. The murti or idol of Naikba Devi symbolizes kinds and motherly affection. She is worshipped for peace, prosperity, protection, good agriculture, healthy children, early cure of diseases and for victory over enemies. A main attraction of the murti is the large eyes. Her hands are in blessing posture. She is dressed like a Marathi woman. Naikba Devi removes darkness caused by Adharma. She upholds righteousness by protecting those who practice Dharma.

The Vaishnava Tilak is known as Urdhva Pundra or Urdhva Pundram. The shape of this tilak dedicated to Lord Vishnu consists of two vertical lines with a third one in between. It is generally worn on the forehead by both men and women. While applying the tilak one has to contemplate on Lord Vishnu. The material used for the tilak is pure soft clay. Sandalwood paste, holy ashes, and turmeric powder are also used for tilak by people depending on the tradition to which they belong. The lines of the pundra should be long, beautiful and attractive with a gap between the two lines that resemble the two feet of Lord Vishnu.

Comet is a bright object in space that has a tail of gas and dust. The story of origin of comets in Hindu tradition is associated with Shiva destroying the flying cities Tripuri. Legend has it that a powerful demon named Tripuri or Tripurasura built three impregnable cities of gold, silver and iron with the blessing of Shiva. The demon became so powerful and his inflated ego knew no bounds and started attacking and tormenting humans and demigods (devas) by flying on Tripuri. Brahma and Vishnu failed to contain Tripurasura who was armed with several boons from Shiva. Finally, the task of annihilating the demon fell on Shiva. The flying cities could be destroyed only with a single arrow. For this the cities had to align in a straight line. Once in a while the cities aligned in a straight line for a split of a second. Shiva was the only archer who could destroy the cities. For this purpose, Vishnu himself turned into the fiery arrow – Vishnu Shastra. Shiva chased the t

Sashtang Pranam, or Sashtanga Pranamam, is lying face down on earth and offering prayers to God in a Hindu Temple . Sashtang Pranam is one among the numerous ways to wipe out the ego. By lying down before the deity, a Hindu is killing his/her ego and recognizing the Supreme Truth – there is no second only that exists. When pride and ego are quelled, majority of our problems are solved. This helps in controlling stress and depression. Sashtang Pranam at a temple during early morning hours helps a person to have a good and fruitful day. Sashtang Pranam is also considered as a very good form of exercise. Lying down on stomach and stretching both the arms in front and bringing them together helps in good blood circulation.

Hindu Calendar 2017 with Tithi in pdf for free download is in English and is based on Calendars followed in North India – Jammu and Kashmir, Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Delhi, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Jharkhand. A month in this Hindu calendar begins after Purnima and ends on Purnima. All important festivals and fasting 2017 dates are marked in the calendar. Link –  Download Hindu Calendar 2017 with Tithi in pdf The calendar is based on Purnimat system. A traditional Hindu month begins after Purnima or full moon day. Related Hindu Calendar 2018

There are numerous stories regarding the origin of Mangal Navagraha. One of the famous stories is that Mangal Navagraha is the son of Vishnu and Bhumi Devi. Legend has it that demon Hiranyaksha in the form of a pig carried Bhumi (Mother Earth) to the netherworld (Patala Loka). Vishnu then took the form of Varaha Avatar and rescued Her. When Bhumi Devi was saved from the demon, she assumed her real beautiful form. Vishnu fell in love with Her. They were later blessed with a son, Mangal. As per Skanda Purana Mangal was born out a drop of sweat of Vishnu and was nursed by Bhumi Devi. It must be noted here that as per Padma Purana Mangal is the son of Shiva. Vamana Purana states that Mangal was born when Shiva killed demon Andhaka.

Silambam is the famous stick fight practiced in Tamil Nadu. It is also known as Kuchi Vilaiyattu and Kambu Vilaiyattu. It was originally practiced with bamboo sticks; later, steel swords and shields were used. Silambam Meaning The word ‘silam’ means hill and ‘bam’ means bamboo or ‘perambu’ out of which the staff (stick) is made.  Silambam History The 3,000-year-old martial art, perhaps one of the oldest has evolved from being an art employed in warfare, combats, competitive sports, performance arts to being a fitness regime. Known as the pride of Tamil Nadu, Silambam was earlier used as self-defense by tribals and was eventually mastered by our ancestors to prove their vigour and masculinity. Like how Sage Patanjali is to yoga, Sage Agastya is to Silambam. We can find information about the martial art in palm leaf manuscripts under the topic Kambusoothram. Silambam was practiced predominantly during the period of Chola, Chera and Pandyas. Eventually, through Bodhi Dharma, the awarene

The goal of life is self-realization. There are four paths or yogas to suit people of different temperaments. They all lead to the same goal. The four paths are Karma Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Raja Yoga and Jnana Yoga. These are not contradictions to each other, but are mutually complementary. Karma Yoga removes mala (dirt), purifies the mind and develop the hand. Bhakti Yoga destroys Vikshepa and develops the heart. Raja Yoga steadies the mind and makes it one-pointed. Jnana Yoga removes the veil of ignorance, develops will and reason, and brings in knowledge of the self. Therefore, one should practice the four yogas. You can have Jnana Yoga at the center and the other Yogas as auxiliaries, to get rapid progress in the spiritual path.

Story of Demon Darika and Goddess Bhadrakali is famous in South India especially in Kerala. The story is the reason for the origin of many temples in Kerala. Legend has it that once Asuras, or demons, were defeated by Devas and they had to retreat to the netherworld. Two Asura women then did intense penance and propitiated Brahma who gave them the boon that they would give birth to two powerful sons. In due course of time, the women had two sons named Danavendra and Darika. Danavendra and Darika then did intense Tapas and propitiated Brahma. They attained the boon from Brahma that men, gods or demons would not be able to kill them. They also got the boon that they would have the strength of thousand elephants. With such invincible powers, Danavendra and Darika attacked the Devas and drew them out of heaven. Devas asked Sage Narada to help them. Sage Narada went to Kailash and asked Shiva to intervene and wipe out Adharma being propitiated by the demons. Shiva the

The four sacred ponds in Puri (the holy city in Hinduism which houses the famous Jagannath Temple) are Indradyumna, Narendra, Markandeya and Swetaganga. Indradyumna, located near Gundicha Temple, is holiest among the four. Indradyumna pond is 396 X 485 feet in size and is named after king Indradyumna. Nilakantheshwara murti is located on the southwest bank of the pond. Narendra pond, also known as Chandanpokhari is 834 X 873 feet in size. It has a platform housing a temple in its center. Chandan Yatra is held in the pond. Markandeya pond is 370 X 530 feet in size. It has eight Matrika images. Two Shiva temples – Markandeshwara and Nilakanteshwara – are located on its banks. Swetaganga is situated south of Jagannath Temple. Murtis of Svetamadhava and Matsyamadava are found on its banks.

Apsareshwar Mahadev is worshiped in Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh. It is one of the 84 forms of Shiva worshiped in Ujjain. Those offering prayers to Apsareshwar Mahadev will be blessed with the material comfort that they are seeking. The temple dedicated to Apsareshwar Mahadev is located at Patni Bazar on the northern side of Modi ki gali in Ujjain. This form of Shiva is associated with Apsara Rambha. Apsareshwar Mahadev is counted among the 84 Shiva Temples in Ujjain and it is the 17th temple visited during the parikarama of Shivalayas here. Story of Apsareshwar Mahadev form of Shiva in Ujjain Apsara Rambha was once cursed by Indra, the king of Devas. She fell on earth and was in a sad state. On earth, she met Sage Narada. He asked Rambha to offer prayers to a particular Shivling at Mahakaal Vana (Ujjain) which is famous for desire fulfillment. Rambha performed pujas before the Shivling and she was able to please Mahadev. She got back her position in heaven and bless

Chikkanahalli Nagappa Temple is located at Chikkanahalli near Ramanagara in Bangalore, Karnataka. This is a very popular Naga or Snake shrine in the region. The serpent temple is famous because it has a naturally formed Naga murti (idol). It is also believed that the Naga murti worshipped in the temple is growing in size. The murti of Naga worshipped in the shrine is in sleeping position on a huge stone slab. The temple is famous for Sarpa Dosha Nivarana. Devotees find relief to various Naga Doshas after offering prayers in the shrine. Many people certify that they have attained peace, wealth, prosperity and good health after offering prayers in the shrine.

Mahalasa Narayani is a manifestation of Goddess Shakti. Some people believe that she is a manifestation of the Mohini Avatar of Hindu God Vishnu. Goddess Mahalasa Narayani is worshipped mainly in Goa, parts of Gujarat, Maharashtra and Karnataka. The most important temple dedicated to the Goddess is located at Mardol (Vernem) in Goa . Legends and the information on the manifestation of Mahalasa Narayani are mentioned in the Skanda Purana. Legend has it that the Goddess Mahalasa Narayani appeared on earth to annihilate a demon named Chandasur, who had created havoc in the region. It is said that Parashuram, the fifth incarnation of Vishnu, asked people to offer prayers to the Goddess so that she will annihilate the demon. In this form she is an incarnation of Goddess Shakti. The Brahmanda Purana mentions that Goddess Mahalasa Narayani is a manifestation of Mohini Avatar of Vishnu. This legend connects Mahalasa Narayani with the Malhari Martand Bhairav incarnation of Shi

Ketu is one among the Navgrahas or nine planets worshipped in Hinduism. Ketu is also an important graham in astrology and he is believed to have a tenure of seven years in a person’s horoscope. Ketu puja and worship is performed to get rid of the ill effects in one’s horoscope. Unfavorable position of Ketu in horoscope or Kundali is believed to cause skin diseases. Ketu is worshipped along with Hindu God Shiva. The offerings that are made are oil, til, blanket, clothes and blue flowers. It is also good to donate clothes to the poor and needy. The best time to worship Ketu is night. The Beej mantra that is chanted while worshiping Ketu is – Om stram streem strom saha ketave namaha

Kalababhishekam is an important offering made by Ayyappa devotees at the Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple in Kerala. It is among the one of the four most important Abhishekams performed at the temple. The puja items used in Kalabhishekam are freshly prepared Sandalwood paste and rose water or Panineer. Lord Ayyappa is also known as Abhisheka Priya due to his fondness for Abhishekam. In the Abhishekam ritual the deity is showered with his favorite puja item. The most popular Abhishekam at the temple is the Neyyabhishekam .

The story of celestial nymph Swayamprabha took place when Hanuman and the Vanarasena (Monkey army) was searching for Sita. While searching for Sita, Hanuman and friends reached a desert. They did not find any food and water for several days. Matters got worse when some Vanaras fell down due to thirst. If they did not find water in another day many monkeys would die. Hanuman then noticed birds with wet wings leaving a cave. Immediately, the Vanarasena ran into the cave and found a lake inside the cave. Fruit bearing trees grew in abundance on the banks of the lake. Vanaras refreshed themselves and took rest in the cave. Hearing the commotion, a figure emerged from another area of the cave. It was the beautiful nymph Swamyaprabha. She was happy to see the Vanarasena. Swayamprabha was cursed by Indra, the king of the Devas, to live a life of solitude for helping a nymph escape with her demon lover. Swayamprabha did not want the Vanarasena to leave so she kept them en

Ankusa (Goad) is an important weapon in the hand of Ganesha . Goad is held on the upraised right hand of Ganesh – not all artists follow this rule. So you will see Ganapati images with or without goad. Symbolically, goad assures a devotee that Ganesha will remove all the obstacles and difficulties. Ganesha also uses the goad to pull out people who take the path of Adharma. Just as a mahout uses the goad to control the elephant, Ganesha uses it to pull people towards dharma. Symbolically, Ganesha will only bless those devotees who are on the path of Dharma. For those that follow Adharma He will create several obstacles to make them realize truth. It is also believed that goad is used to give a hint to the devotees to understand the need to severe attachments. 

Mainda is one of the monkeys mentioned in the Ramayana and Mahabharata. The vanara was a minister of King Sugriva. He was one of the leaders who led the monkeys who went in search of Mata Sita. In the battle in the Ramayana, he along with other Vanaras fainted. They woke up after they were sprinkled with water given by Kubera. During the Mahabharata period, Mainda was living in a cave in Kishkinda. Sahadeva, one of the Pandavas, who led a victory campaign to South, was defeated by him. Mainda was pleased with the courage of Sahadeva. He gave him valuable gifts and supported his campaign.

Dhan Lakshmi, or Dhanalakshmi, is one of the manifestations of Goddess Lakshmi and in this form she symbolizes material wealth. Although Goddess Lakshmi has numerous other attributes and symbolisms but this is most popular form of Goddess Lakshmi for majority of people in today’s world. The story of Dhana Lakshmi and the power of material wealth is closely associated with the story of Goddess Padmavati and Lord Balaji (Venkateswara). Legend has it that once Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Vishnu had some quarrel and in anger Goddess Lakshmi left Vaikunta and came and resided on earth as Goddess Padmavati. Soon Lord Vishnu came in search of her and resided on earth as a forest dweller. Goddess Padmavati was now the daughter of a rich king. Soon Vishnu and Goddess Padmavati met. He wanted to marry her but a poor forest dweller did not have the wealth to make the daughter of a king his wife. Finally, it is said that Lord Vishnu took loan from Kubera, the treasurer of Gods. Kube

The fourth day after new moon and fourth day after full moon in the Hindu calendar is observed as Chaturthi and is dedicated to Lord Ganesha. Most people must be aware of only the Ganesh Chaturthi festival that takes place in the month of Bhadrapada (August-September). But there are two Chaturthis in a month – Sankashti and Vinayaki – and staunch Ganesha devotees observe a fast on the Chaturthi after full moon and this is considered very important. The monthly Chaturthi day which falls after full moon in which a fast (fasting) is observed is known as Sankashti Chaturthi. The fast ends on the day after moonrise. Special Ganesh pujas are done in the evening. The monthly Chaturthi after Amavasya or new moon is known as Vinayaki Chaturthi. When Sankashti Chaturthi falls on Tuesday, it is known as Angarki Chaturthi and it is considered highly auspicious. The benefits of Chaturthi fasting include material progress, happiness and fulfillment of desires. The import

Palakapya is the author of well known Ayurveda text which deals with the health of elephants. Legend has it that Sage Palakapya was the son of Sage Samagayana and a female elephant, which had accidently drunk the sage’s urine containing his semen. He is believed to be an incarnation of Dhanvantari and lived on the banks of Brahmaputra River. Hastyayurveda Text is a comprehensive work on elephant medicine. The text is partly in prose and partly in verse. It is in the form of a dialogue between the Asga King Romapada and Palakapya. This text extensively deals with the characteristics of elephants, their life span, diseases and their management. The diseases are classified and their management described in a similar order as that of humans, as described in classics such as Charaka Samhita and Sushruta Samhita. Panchakarma procedures (five purificatory methods) as well as rasayana (rejuvenative) techniques for elephants are described in detail in this text. The text also describes the

Sharmistha, daughter of Vrisha Parva, was the childhood friend of Devyani. The story of Sharmitha, Devayani (daughter of Shukracharya) and Yayati is found in the Adi Parva of the Mahabharata. It is also mentioned in the Bhagavata Purana. She is also the mother great King Puru. Once, a quarrel broke out between Devayani and Sharmistha. It turned into a physical fight and Devayani fell into a well. King Yayati who happened to pass by pulled her out. Devayani was extremely angry and was pacified only when Sharmistha agreed to be her servant. Soon, Devayani was married to King Yayati. Sharmistha also went to Yayati’s palace as the servant of Devayani. Yayati fell in love with Sharmistha. They had an affair, and she gave birth to three sons – Anu, Druhya and Puru. When Devayani came to know about this, she was terribly annoyed and went to stay with her father. Sage Shukracharya cursed Yayati that he would lose his youth forthwith. But the youngest son of Yayati, Puru,

Harivarasanam the most famous song dedicated to Lord Ayyappa is recited just prior to closing of the Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple doors at night. Here is the Harivarasanam lyrics (text) in Malayalam and English. Harivarasanam Viswamohanam Haridadhiswaram Aaradhyapadhukam Arivimardhanam Nithyanarthanam Hariharatmajam Devamashreye Saranam Ayyappa Swamy Saranam Ayyappa Saranam Ayyappa Swamy Saranam Ayyappa Saranakirtanam Bakhtamanasam Bharanalolupam Narthanalasam

The unique temple dedicated to Karna, who was abandoned Kunti, mother of Pandavas He eventually allied with the Kauravas and fought against his brothers, the Pandavas. At the temple it is not warrior Karna who is worshipped but Dhanveer Karna. The great warrior was famous for his charitable nature. Respecting the philanthropic aspect of Karna, the villagers of Netwar propagate his ideals. The village has banned giving or taking of dowry. The Karna Temple is a rectangular wood structure with roofs lined with slates. The top of the temple has a wooden umbrella. The wooden beams and columns are noted for the scenes from the Mahabharata and carvings of birds, animals and reptiles.

Ashtabhishekam is offering of eight items to God in Hinduism. At Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple Ashtabhishekam is one of the important offering made by devotees. Although not as popular as Neyabhishekam , this puja and ritual is performed by thousands of Ayyappa devotees. The eight items used for Ashtabhishekam at Sabarimala Temple are: Vibhuti Milk Honey Panchamrutam Tender coconut water Sandalwood or Chandan Rosewater or panineer Water Lord Ayyappa is also known as Abhisheka Priyan and some of the important abhishekams at the temple are Neyyabhishekam, Ashtabhishekam, Kalabhishekam and Pushpabhishekam. Please note that Ashtabhishekam offered in Hindu Religion varies from temple to temple.

Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswathi Mahaswamiji  (20 May 1894 – 8 January 1994), or the Sage of Kanchi, was the 68th Jagadguru of the Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham - talks about the path of self control.  Having told Arjuna that a Sthita Prajna is one with an unruffled mind, one who has completely overcome all desires and passions, Sri Bhagavan says to Arjuna that such a person withdraws his mind from external thoughts in order to contemplate the Atman within, which is Full and All-pervasive, in the same manner as a tortoise withdraws its limbs within its shell at the slightest sign of danger.    We desire a thing because of a feeling of incompleteness without it. But when we realise that what we ordinarily understand as "We" is nothing but the Absolute Bliss, the illusive pleasures after which the senses go lose their charm. Fire can never be quenched by giving it more fuel; the more we feed it, the more it burns. Similarly, our desires only increase by enjoyment. At the same

Kalkaleshwar Mahadev is worshiped in Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh. It is one of the 84 forms of Shiva worshiped in Ujjain. Those offering prayers to Kalkaleshwar Mahadev will never have to face fights in life. The temple dedicated to Kalkaleshwar Mahadev is located at Modi ki gali in Ujjain. This form of Shiva is associated with a fight between Shiva and Goddess Parvati. Kalkaleshwar Mahadev is counted among the 84 Shiva Temples in Ujjain and it is the 18th temple visited during the parikarama of Shivalayas here. Story of Kalkaleshwar Mahadev form of Shiva in Ujjain Once, Lord Shiva made fun of the skin tone of Goddess Parvati. He told her that she was kali, or had dark complexion. This led to a big fight between the divine couple. The entire universe shook and there was chaos all around. All living beings prayed for peace. Then a Shivling appeared on earth and it brought peace in the universe. As the Shivling brought peace in the universe, the Devas called it Kal

Some Shivlings are oval shaped especially the Banalinga. God as per Hindu concept is formless and That can only be represented symbolically. Shivling in the shape of oval is one such form and here is the reason for the oval shape. Symbolically the oval-shaped Shivling represents the universe. It is divided into two halves sky and earth. The Linga Purana gives an apt interpretation of the Shivling as a cosmic pillar, symbolizing the infinite nature of Shiva. It describes the Shivling as a complete symbolic representation of the formless universe, where the oval-shaped stone describes the entire manifested universe; the bottom base is representative of the supreme power that holds the entire creation in it. The oval has the shape of an egg. Egg is considered the source of life in which both male and female forms are united.

Galava Maharishi was a great saint and grammarian mentioned in the Markandeya Purana. The name of Galava Maharshi is also found in the list of teachers in Shukla Yajurveda. His name is also mentioned by Panini. As per Markandeya Purana, once Galava Maharshi was oppressed by a demon. Ritadvaja, son of King Satrujita, came to the help of Galava. The demon was very powerful and could not be easily overpowered. Sage Galava then gifted Ritadvaja a divine horse, which was presented to him by the Devas. Riding on the horse, the prince defeated the demon. Please note that there are several personalities in Hindu Puranas with the name Galava – one is a disciple of Sage Vishwamitra (Mahabharata Udyoga Parva); another is a son of Sage Vishwamitra; another is a yogacharya and a minister of King Brahmadatta of Panchala.

In Hindu religion, Pasha is the noose with two or three ropes. It is triangular in shape, embellished with balls of lead. Agni Purana describes eleven ways of skillfully using Pasha. As per the Purana, it can be used turning back, advancing forward, using it lightly and also extraordinarily quickly and rendering asunder. As per Agni Purana, cotton thread, munja grass, leather or sinews of animals were used to make the noose. It could be thirty cubits long and folded up in three rings. It was held on the left side, then taken to the right and whirled over the head. Source – Encyclopedia of Hinduism Volume XI published by Indian Heritage Research Foundation . 

Equilateral Triangle is part of various chakras and yantras in Hinduism. It is also widely used in Tantric rituals. An equilateral triangle represents the unattainable. It is the symbol of the divine – which can only be realized by a devotee who has shed ignorance. An inverted equilateral triangle represents Shakti. An upward pointing equilateral triangle represents Shiva. Creation depends on the union of the two .

Asmarohanam Ceremony during Hindu Marriage takes place at the house of the groom. The groom calls his wife Mahishi, or queen, and asks her treat all his relatives equally. He prays to his family deity to give him and his long life, wealth, progeny and happiness. Next the groom performs the Asmarohanam Ceremony. The bridegroom gently raises the foot of the bride, places it on the stone used for grinding spices, and says may you be as strong as this stone. After this the married couples look at the Arundhati star.

When we observe mankind itself, we see vast masses of people in different parts of the globe with an improved material lot, but without corresponding satisfaction and happiness, which ought to have been the result of this external progress. If man is to truly improve and advance, he must do so on all levels and in all spheres of life and activity. Man’s possessions have been increased, but not his joy of living. Emami Temple Balasore Odisha The imbalance between outward advancements and the basic degeneracy undergone by the human individual is the root-cause of the unhappy state in which humanity finds itself today, fraught with fear, uncertainty and with a sense of insecurity. People do not want to think of the present. Either they project themselves into a future when man will perhaps have solved all his present problems, or they think wistfully of the past when things seem to have been better. This is due to the basic error that the entire power of man’s mind, his percept

Uttanka was the most intelligent and obedient student of Sage Vedamuni. He followed Dharma and this earned him the blessings of his Guru who blessed him with the knowledge and wisdom to become an authority on all scriptures. When Uttanaka’s education was complete, he asked his Guru to have his Guru Dakshina. The Guru asked him to pay him what his wife wants. Uttanka asked his Guru’s wife as to what she wanted as Guru Dakshina. The wife said that she would be observing a fast known as Punyaka. She wanted the divine earrings that belonged to King Paushya’s queen to complete the fast. The fasting date is in three days time. Uttanka immediately left to accomplish the mission. On the way to the palace, he met Indra, atop a bull. Indra made him eat a bit of bullock’s dung for his welfare. King Paushya was happy to welcome Uttanka. When Uttanka told about his mission, the king asked him to talk directly to the queen. The queen was ready to help Uttanka and gave him the

Panchachara are the five codes of conduct in Virashaivism or Lingayat Sect. They are: Lingachara – daily worship of Shivling as the only God. Sadachara – leading moral and virtuous life. Shivachara – all people are to be treated as the devotees of Shiva. Bhrtyachara – humility towards Shiva and his devotees. Ganachara – good conduct of gana or group. No devotee can bear the use of abusive language against the master and ill treatment of men and animals. The obligation is to promote the welfare of everyone and thereby develop Lingayat sect. Basvanna is considered to be the founder of Lingayatism or Lingayat Sect or Veerashaivism. The sect brought about sweeping social changes in Karnataka and surrounding regions around 900 years ago.

Nagachandreshwar Mahadev is worshiped in Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh. It is one of the 84 forms of Shiva worshiped in Ujjain. Those offering prayers to Nagachandreshwar Mahadev will find redemption to the harshest of sins. The temple dedicated to Nagachandreshwar Mahadev is located at Nagnath ki gali at Patni Bazar in Ujjain. This form of Shiva is associated with Sage Narada and Devas. Nagachandreshwar Mahadev is counted among the 84 Shiva Temples in Ujjain and it is the 19th temple visited during the parikarama of Shivalayas here. Story of Nagachandreshwar Mahadev form of Shiva in Ujjain Legend has it that Indra, the king of Devas, wanted to know about the holiest spot on earth. He inquired about it to Sage Narada. The sage without any hesitation told Indra that the holiest spot on earth is Mahakaal Vana (present day Ujjain) where Shiva resides as Mahakaleshwar. All the devas immediately departed for Mahakaal Vana on their vehicles. But they could not find a spot o

Juna Chintaman Temple located at Passpas Nagar in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, hears prayers of devotees through mobile. A mobile phone is placed near the murti of Ganesha in the temple. When a devotee calls, the priest attends the call and keeps the mobile near the ear of Ganesha. Devotees believe that Ganesha hears their prayers and provides solutions. The shrine receives several hundred calls a day. Before the advent of mobile, devotees used to write letters to Ganesha at Juna Chintaman Temple. Method of prayer change with times but the essence remains the same.

Vautha fair, or Vautha Mela, is an annual donkey fair held at Vautha Village near Ahmedabad in Gujarat . In 2023, Vautha fair dates are from November 23 to November 27. Legend has it that Lord Kartikeya, the son of Lord Shiva and Parvati, visited the site. Kartik, popularly known as Muruga, is the commander of the army of the Devas. The fair is dedicated to Kartikeya and is held during Kartika Purnima, the full moon night of the Gujarati month of Kartik (October – November). Vautha fair site is also known as Saptasangam as it is at the confluence of seven rivers. The temple of Siddhanath dedicated to Lord Shiva is an important shrine here. On the day of the Kartik full moon night, pilgrims take dip in the Sapta Sangam and make offerings. Vautha Mela attracts more than 500,000 people and is the only major animal trading fair in Gujarat . The only animal traded here are the donkeys. Donkeys are painted in different colors and decorated and this is a major highlight of

Kans Vadh Leela is the famous incident in Hindu Scriptures associated with Sri Krishna – it is the annihilation of Adharma in the form of Kansa or Kamsa by Sri Krishna. This divine incident is commemorated at Mathura near Vrindavan each year in the Kartik month. Kans Vadh Leela 2023 date is November 22. The Kansa Vadh Leela is observed on the 10th day of the Shukla Paksha of Kartik month as per traditional Hindu calendar followed in North India . Krishna was invited by Kansa, the ruler of Mathura , to participate in a festival. Krishna used this opportunity to kill the evil ruler and release His grandfather, father and mother from prison. 

Both God and Devotee are one. Everyone craves for this truth. But majority of us do not accept it. For many of us God is still outside somewhere sitting with a remote control and answering our prayers. Saryu Ghat In Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh To realize truth we need to shed our complex lifestyle and see things in simple and direct manner. Truth has to be realized. It cannot be taught nor can it be understood by seeing or reading. There is no path or way to truth. We are truth. www.hindu-blog.com Abhilash

Lakshmana, an avatar of Sesha Nag , was the brother of Sri Ram and his constant companion. Laksham means ‘goal’ and Ann means ‘to pierce through’.  Symbolically the meaning of Lakshmana is a person who attains his goal. To attain the goal a person should have strong investigative mind and commonsense. The character of Lakshmana in Ramayana is more practical and rational. This attitude comes to the help of Sri Ram on many occasions in the Ramayana.

Sarayu is one of the sacred rivers in the Ramayana. Its holiness and greatness in Hinduism is associated with Bhagavan Sri Ram. The holy city of Ayodhya is located on the banks of Sarayu River. It is a tributary of Ganga River and one who takes bath in the river will be absolved of all sins. Legend has it that once Sage Vasishta blocked the course of Ganga on its way to Kailash at Manasarovar. But Ganga broke the obstacle and flowed on as Sarayu River. It is one of the holy rivers to be remembered by Hindus at dawn and dusk. Bhagavan Sri Ram and Lakshman entered the Sarayu River and disappeared from earth. Every year during Ram Navami, thousands of people take holy dip in the Sarayu River.

Yama Smriti is one of the earliest Hindu smritis (code of laws). It deals with expiation, purification and propitiatory rituals for the ancestors. Although scholars consider it as a minor smriti, Yama is enumerated in the famous Yajnavalkya Smriti as a lawgiver. So the text is considered important by many. There are several versions of Yama Smriti available. Some of these texts include in parts topics related to Dharmasashtra like legal procedures and polity. A substantial part of the Yama Smriti is devoted to prescription of expiatory atonement to various types of guilts, misdeeds and impieties, committed consciously or otherwise. A great portion of the text is also devoted to dos and don’ts relating to Shradha – ritualistic propitiation of the dead ancestors.

Balayalam is a miniature temporary structure erected during the renovation and Kumbhabhishekam ceremony in a Hindu Temple . The divine presence of the main deity in temple is transferred from the murti worshipped to a Kalasha. This Kalasha is place atop the Balalayam. ‘Baala’ means mini and ‘Aalaya’ means temple or structure in Sanskrit. During the Jeernodharana (renovation period) of a temple, the divine presence of the Murtis is transferred to the holy waters contained in the Kalasha (pot). Pooja is done to these Kalashas and Ustava deities (the small murtis of the main murti of the temple that are used during processions). The Kalashas remain in a miniature structure known as Balalayam. During this time the devotees will not be able to see or do poojas to the moola vigrahas or murtis worshipped in a temple. The scheduled poojas will be done only to Utsava deities. The divine presence of the temple deity will in the Kalashas atop Balalayam until it is transfer

Vaishnavi Mudra is the hand gestures attributed to Goddess Vaishnavi. She is believed to have appeared from the body of Lord Vishnu. The Goddess is a benevolent deity and is generally represented with four hands. The lower hands of Goddess Vaishnavi portray two major divine mudras (gestures) namely abhaya and varada abhaya mudra – in boon granting and protecting posture. The upper hands of Goddess Vaishnavi hold conch and discus. Vaishnavi holding the weapons in the manner as Lord Vishnu evince her relation to him as his feminine shakti (power). Symbolically Vaishnavi mudra suggests auspicious and victory over adharma. A symbolic gesture of hand is termed mudra in Hinduism. Mudras are the important attributes of Hindu gods and goddesses, which serve as one of the iconographical tools to distinguish one from the other. Mudras are attributed according to the cannons prescribed in Shastras.

Vel or Spear is the weapon associated with Muruga who is also known by the names of Subramanya, Kartikeya, Shanmukha, Swaminathan and Skanda. The Vel was given to Muruga by his mother Goddess Parvati and he annihilated the demon Soorapadman with it. One of the most popular chants associated with Muruga is Vel Vel Shakti Vel - devotees chant this while offering prayers at Muruga Temples. It is believed that the peerless Vel is Shakti Incarnate - It contains all the powers of Mother Goddess Shakti. Muruga’s spear is treated with reverence, and in many temples the spear is worshipped with as much fervor as the Murti of Subrahmanya. The popular belief is that daily worship of the spear will help in redemption of sins. It will also help in conquering the fear of death. Worship of it will help in killing away unwanted desires. Some scholars suggest that symbolically the Vel represents knowledge or learning. The long shaft of the Vel represents many years of learning. The broad

Yadagiri Narasimha Temple, also known as Yadadri Temple, is located at Yadagirigutta in Nalgonda District in Telangana. The temple is dedicated to Lord Narasimha. The shrine is situated atop a hill which is 300 feet in height and hence the name Yadagirigutta. Yadadri Temple is around 60 km from Hyderabad. Yadagiri Mahatmya quotes from Skanda Purana and states that Sage Vyasa worshipped Lord Narasimha here. The place is also associated with Lord Brahma, Prahlada and Rishyashringa. Legend has it that Lord Narasimha appeared in three forms at the Yadagirigutta Temple. These are – Lakshmi Narasimha, Gandaberunda Narasimha and Jwala Narasimha. In the main cave temple Lord is depicted as Lakshmi Narasimha – he is shown with Goddess Lakshmi in calm and peaceful form with his usual attributes. Gandaberunda Narasimha murti is worshipped in a below cave which is small. Jwala Narasimha is depicted as carving on a rock. The murti is associated with a serpent that looks like a f