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Showing posts from June 29, 2018


Trichambaram Temple – First Food to Sri Krishna Then Puja – No Elephants in Temple Rituals

Trichambaram Temple is dedicated to Lord Krishna and is located at Taliparamba in the Kannur District of Kerala, India. The temple is noted for a unique tradition unheard in other Sri Krishna temples in India and world – first food then puja. Another tradition is that elephants are not allowed in the temple.  After opening the temple doors first in the morning, the naivedyam (food) is offered to the presiding deity Sri Krishna. This is strange because the food is offered to a deity in the temple after danthadavana – brushing of teeth and snana. Any liquid or solid is offered to the deity after a couple of purification rituals.   The golden rule followed in all temples is broken at Trichambaram Temple for a specific reason and due to a demanding situation.   It is said that Sri Krishna here likes the offering of the food first. He had suggested that he could not tolerate elaborate rituals on an empty stomach.   The murti of Bhagavan Sri Krishna worshipped in T

Hati Besha – Elephant Appearance of Jagannath – Balabhadra – Subhadra – Gajanana Besa

Following their ceremonial bath on the Snana Purnima , Jagannath – Balabhadra – Subhadra appear in elephant attires. This elephant appearance is known as Hati Besha or Gajanana Besa. The ritual happens on the afternoon day on the full moon day in Jyeshta month (June – July). After the ceremonial end of all rituals associated with Snana Purnima or Snana Yatra, messengers from the Srimandira go to Gopala Teertha Matha and Raghaba Dasa Matha to carry the components of Hathi Besha – the elephant attire of the deities. The attire is ceremonially carried to the Snana Bedi or Snana Mandapa located in the outer courtyard of the Puri Jagannath Temple complex behind the Meghanda Prachira on the northeastern side. The attire is traditionally put on the deities and they appear in the elephant form – Hathi Besha. The Story of Hathi Besha - Gajanana Besa of Jagannath Ganesha was the personal deity of Ganapati Bhatta, a Maharashtrian devotee. He was also an ardent devotee of

How to Do Daily Pradosh Puja at home?

Pradosh puja is dedicated to Lord Shiva and it is performed daily just when the sun begins to set and night has not yet appeared. Here is a brief idea on how to do daily pradosh puja at home. How to Do Daily Pradosh Puja at home? Take bath and wear white color dress. Offer prayers to Ganesha in mind. Place a white shivling or an image of Shiva – mental puja too can be performed by imagining a Shivling. Light lamp using cow ghee. Light agarbatti of sandalwood (chandan) fragrance. Offer white color flowers. Offer bhasma. Offer fragrant water or ittar of white flowers. Offer bhog or prasad of white color – preferred is white kheer using rice or payasam. Chant the mantra ‘Om Namah Shivaya’ or Shreem Someshwaraya Namah ( श्रीं सोमेश्वराय नमः ) 108 times. Keep count on a Rudraksha Mala. After the puja share the Prasad with relatives and family members. If you are unable to do the puja during pradosh period, then imagine Shiva during the period and chant ‘Om Namah Sh