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Showing posts from October 8, 2018


How to Do or Perform Navratri Puja – South Indian Way of Observing Navratri

Navratri, the nine-night festival, honors Goddess Durga, Goddess Lakshmi and Goddess Saraswathi in South India . It is known as Bommala Koluvu in Andhra Pradesh, Bathukamma in Telangana and Navarathri in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Below is a brief idea on how to perform Navratri puja as per South India method. In 2024, the date of Navratri is from October 3 to October 12. Chaitra month rituals are observed from April 9 to April 17. Navratri is observed as Dussehra in Karnataka, where it is observed for ten days. The main event during Navratri in South India is the display of dolls and idols – Kolu and the placing of Kalash, which represents Goddess. Navratri puja might seem a huge complicated event for many. You can always perform a simple puja by worshipping the Goddess on nine days by lighting a lamp and offering a fruit as prasadam. Rituals are not important but devotion is important. Here is a step by step method on how to perform Navratri Puja.

Ashok Ashtami 2024 date – Ashokastami

Ashok Ashtami, or Ashokastami, is a unique ritual associated with Goddess Shakti and Lord Shiva and is observed on the eighth day during the Shukla Paksha (waxing phase of moon) of Chaitra month. Ashok Ashtami 2024 date is April 16. The day is of great significance in Odisha and in some Southern states of India . It is also held during Navratri in Ashwin month, in 2024 it is on October 11. It is believed that Lord Rama performed Ashoka Ashtami rituals before beginning the final assault on Ravana.  Ashokastami is an important observance at the famous Lingaraj Temple in Bhubaneswar in Orissa. The ritual is dedicated to propitiate Goddess Shakti to win her favor. Story of Ashok Ashtami Legend has it that Lord Ram was unable to annihilate Ravana as he was being protected by Goddess Shakti. On the advice from the wise Vibhishana, Lord Ram performed rituals dedicated to Goddess Shakti and Lord Shiva for seven days and he was blessed on the eighth day. With the

Ashtamurti – The Concept of Ashtamurthy in Hinduism

Ashtamurti – Eight murtis (form) worshipped together – is a unique concept in Hinduism and is popular in South India. The Ashtamurtis include the Panchabhoota, Surya, Chandra and the Brahmin or person conducting puja. Thus, Ashtamurtis are Earth, water, fire, air, space, Sun god, Moon god and the priest conducting the puja. In some pujas and rituals, gods from Hindu pantheon take the position of an element. For example, the Rudra form of Shiva represents Agni or fire. The Ashtamurtis are offered prayers during important ceremonies like those after birth of a child etc. 

Story of the Origin of Tirupati Balaji Temple - Sage Bhrigu

There are numerous stories regarding the origin of Tirupati Balaji Temple . Majority of the Tirumala legend involves Goddess Lakshmi leaving Vaikunta in protest against Sage Bhrigu going unpunished after stamping on the chest of Srihari Vishnu. Vishnu then arrives on earth in search of Goddess Lakshmi. The diversion in the legend begins after this main incident. Here is one such story associated with story of origin of Tirupati Venkateswara Temple . Sage Bhrigu once wanted to find out which was the supreme among the three qualities – Rajas (energy), Sattva (serene strength) and Tamas (unthinking irascibility). To find out, Sage Bhrigu went to God Brahma and found that the dominating quality was Rajas. The sage did not find satisfaction and went to Kailash – Shiva had no time for Bhrigu’s pursuits and threw him out of Kailash. The sage considered this as the effect of Tamas. Finally, Rishi Bhrigu entered the Vaikunta, the abode of Vishnu and found that Vishnu was a

Jwareshwar Mahadev - Shiva Creates Fever

Jwareshwar Mahadev is a very angry form of Shiva and it appeared from Shiva’s body when He heard about the death of His consort Sati. As Jwareshwar, Shiva is the Lord of fevers. Legend has it that Daksha Prajapati was not happy with his daughter Sati marrying Shiva. He conducted a yajna and invited all the people except Shiva. The sole aim of the yajna was to insult Shiva. Shiva ignored the yajna but Sati went to the yajna to find out why Her husband was not invited. Daksha Prajapati insulted the ways of Shiva and Sati could not bear these insults. Sati then sat in meditation and stoked Her inner fire and self immolated Herself. On hearing this news, Shiva experienced intense pangs of separation. Soon uncontrollable anger overtook Shiva, from the anger appeared monsters of fever. Shiva became Jwareshwar Mahadev – the lord of fever. These monsters went to the yajna and spread fever. Saints, devas and Daksha prajapati had never known or heard about jwara or fever. It

Aippasi Masam 2024 – Tamil Month Aippasi in 2024 in Tamil Calendar

Aippasi Masam is the seventh month in a traditional Tamil calendar. Skanda Shasti Vrat  dedicated to Lord Muruga begins in Aippasi month. Deepavali (November 12) is also observed in this month. Aippasi Masam 2024 begins on October 18 to November 15. In 2024, Skanda Shasti fast starts on November 3 and ends on November 7. Soorasamharam is on November 7. Pournami or full moon day in Aippasi month is on November 15 Amavasya in Aippasi Masam is on November 1. Important festivals in Aippasi Masam Diwali -  October 31 Lakshmi Puja -  October 31 Skanda Sashti Fasting - November 3 and ends on November 7 with Soorasamharam.  Thirukalyanam is on November 8. Ekadasi Fasting dates are October 28 and November 12. Pradosham Fasting dates are on October 29 and November 13. Pillayar Sankashti Chaturthi Vrat - October 20, 2024 The next Tamil month is the highly auspicious Karthigai Masam .

Swami Suddhananda Quotes and Teachings

These are the quotes and teachings of a person named Swami Suddhananda. Nothing is much know about the Swami. As the teachings contain depth and meaning, I have collected them and are sharing it with the readers. The test of the role that the mind plays in every little action lies in the recognition of the experience the person opens up to himself and surrenders himself totally and unconditionally to love. The test of true love lies in the fact that it is unresponsive to the voice of the mind, dictates of time, and pressures of the world around. This state of surrender to love and awakening to the nature of ones ‘self’ never suffers change. Every little thing – living or non-living – goes into making the creation complete as long as each thing ‘is’. But the moment it ceases to exist, its absence does not affect the creation at all! To see the Nature or the creation in its perfect mood as it is, one does not have to be a spectator, but be a part of the grand spectacle o

Pancha Siddhantika – A Book On Astronomy

Pancha Siddhantika is a work of Varahamihira (6 th century AD), who took astronomical constants from the Ardharatrika system and summarized the five Siddhantas – Pitamaha, Vasistha, Paulisha, Romaka and Surya. The 18 original siddhantas (final conclusions) are: Surya, Pitamaha, Vyasa, Vaistha, Atri, Parashara, Kashyapa, Narada, Garga, Marichi, Manu, Angirasa, Romaka, Paulisha, Cyavan, Yavan, Bhrigu and Saunaka. All these are based on Samhitas, Brahmanas and Aranyakas. There are different views if Pancha Siddhantika contains the old or new versions, dates of improvement, and some variations of Surya Siddhanta. Pitamaha Siddhanta is an excellent treatise on old astronomy. In the book, the astronomical elements – the sun, moon, months, savanna and days – are taken from Vedanga Jyotisha. From Vasishta Siddhanta, calculations regarding nakshatras, rashis, divisions of arc in degrees, minutes, dinamana, and lagna-bindu are taken. The true motions of Mars, Mercury