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Showing posts from June 18, 2019


Kurma Avatar Temples In India - Temples Dedicated to the Kurma Incarnation of Lord Vishnu

Kurma means Tortoise in Sanskrit and is the second of the 10 ten incarnations of Lord Vishnu. Here is a look at the important temples dedicated to Kurma Avatar of Vishnu. There are only very few temples in India that are exclusively dedicated to Kurma Avatar. Sri Kurmanadha Temple at Srikurmam in Andhra Pradesh The most famous temple in the world dedicated to the Kurma Avatar of Lord Vishnu is the famous Sri Kurmanadha temple at Srikurmam in Andhra Pradesh. The idol of Kurma worshipped in temple represents the head and body of a tortoise. The idol consists of two feet long two sacred stones coming out of the ground. The Kurma incarnation of Lord Vishnu is associated with the myth of the churning of the cosmic ocean (Samudra Manthan). The temple is believed to have been built before 2nd century AD and it is believed that the temple was revived by Sri Ramanuja Acharya. The temple underwent huge renovation in the 11th century and is noted for its sculptures and architecture. Th

Suprabhatam Ritual At Tirupati Temple – Early Morning Prayers at Tirupati Venkateswara Temple

The early morning prayers at the Tirupati Venkateswara Temple are famous as the Suprabhatam ritual. The morning prayers are sung before the Bangaru Vakili (golden threshold) after which the Bhoga Srinivasa Murthy who was laid to bed in the Sayana Mandapa is shifted again to the Garbhagriha. Navanitha Aarti is offered to the Lord and a mixture of cow’s milk butter and sugar is offered to the Lord as Naivedyam. Four Early Morning Prayers At Tirupati Temple The four prayers chanted early morning in Tirupati Temple are: Suprabhatam Stotram Prapatti and Mangalasasanam These prayers are recited daily early morning except in Dhanurmasam (mid December to mid January), when Tiruppavai of Andal is chanted. Suprabhatam: (Waking the Lord from the sleep) consisting of twenty nine slokas. (From Kousalya Supraja Rama Purvasandhya Pravartathae... to Itham   rushachalapathe Riha Suprabhatham....) In the Suprabhatam, the first verse is addressed to Srirama son of kousa

Mercury In Hindu Religion – Medicine – Importance

Parada, mercury, in Hindu religion is regarded as the seminal essence of Shiva, the male principle in Hinduism. Symbolically, by attaching mercury to Shiva, it means that Parada enables one to cross the ocean of life. Below is a look at importance of mercury in medicine and its uses in Hindu religion. As per Hinduism teachings, mercury to be efficacious, it has to undergo eighteen samskaras, treatments, which have significance in terms of the removal of its deleterious principles, imparting transmuting power and making it fit for internal consumption. The eighteen processes in Hinduism to make mercury to be fit for medicinal purpose is given below. The English equivalent of each term is only to give an idea as many Sanskrit terms do not have the comprehensive and exact English term. Svedanam – steaming Mardanam – grinding Murcchanam – swooning or making mercury lose its form. Utthapanam – revival of its form Patanam – sublimation or distillation Bodhanam – imparting

Narasimha Purana Importance

Narasimha Purana is one of the minor Puranas in Hinduism and it glorifies the man-lion avatar of Vishnu and the related legend. This Purana begins with the description of the primary creation, following the Samkhya system of philosophy and division of time. Then it describes the secondary creation through patriarch Daksha, the genealogies of the solar and lunar races, the fourteen Manu periods, the Earth and the seven continents, Jambudvipa with its nine divisions, Mount Meru as the abode of gods and Bharata country with the principal mountains and rivers (Chapter 1 – 4, 21 – 23, 26 – 27 and Chapter 30). Narasimha Purana chapter 33 describes the merits that accrue by worshipping Vishnu. The method of installing the Vishnu murti and worshipping is mentioned in chapter 56 of Narasimha Purana. The greatness of the eight-syllable mantra of Vishnu ‘Om Namo Narayanaya’ is found in Chapter 17. Chapter 15 of Narasimha Purana has a hymn of Vishnu uttered by Sage Markandeya,

Swami Parthasarathy Teachings

Swami Parthasarathy   a former business man who became a corporate guru, propagating a modern interpretation of Vedanta. This a collection of teachings of Swami Parthasarathy. It is not the world that distresses you but how you relate to it. There was no creation. The world is a projection of your own mind. Good mind, good world, Bad mind, bad world. No mind, No world. The law of life is that the mind should be at rest while the body engages in action. It is a social crime to expect others to behave in the pattern of your likes and dislikes. Why do you have to compare yourself to others? Just play your life's role without a sense of superiority or inferiority. A blunder in intellectual judgment is the failure to distinguish love from attachment. Love is being in harmony with one and all. Realizing your identity with living beings. What people claim as love is personal, preferential attachment. When love is polluted by selfishness it turns sour, becomes attac