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Showing posts from July 24, 2016


Shravan Shiva Puja – Sawan Mahina Shiv Pooja

Shravan month (July – August) is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is the fifth month in the traditional Hindi Hindu calendar followed in North India . Also known as Sawan Mahina, devout Hindus travel to Ganga River from their homes to collect holy Gangajal (water from Ganga ) and bathe the Shivling in their homes and villages with the water. People who travel to collect the Gangajal are known as Kanwaris and journey is known as Kanwar Yatra . Mondays (Somwar) in Shravan month is dedicated to the worship of Lord Shiva. People observe different types of Vrat on the day. The month is of great significance at the Deoghar Baba Baidyanath Dham in Jharkhand. Special pujas using Gangajal brought by devotees is performed in the temple in Sawan month. Mangala Gowri Puja is observed on the Tuesdays in Shravan month. The Masa Shivratri (Monthly Shivratri) in Shravan month is considered highly auspicious and is marked by special pujas and rituals.

Alwarpet Hanuman Temple in Chennai, Tamil Nadu

Veera Anjaneya Swami Temple located at Alwarpet in Chennai in Tamil Nadu is a popular shrine dedicated to Hanuman. The shrine is popularly known as Luz Anjaneya Temple and is one of the oldest Hanuman Temples in Chennai. Offering Vada Malai on New Years’ day (January 1) is an important ritual here. It is believed that Shettys who ran away from Mysore to escape Muslim persecution established the Alwarpet Hanuman Temple around 350 years ago. The murti of Hanuman faces west and is depicted as walking towards southern direction. His eyes are adorned with earrings. The two-armed murti holds mace in the left hand and the right hand is in Abhaya Mudra. The eyes of the murti have a bright color. He wears armlets known as keuura, bangles known as kankana and anklet known as Thandai. The long tail of the murti is raised above the head and is pointing towards South. The sanctum sanctorum also has an utsava murti or procession idol of Hanuman. A Panchaloha Venugopla Swamy too is found i