Nalambala Darshanam, or the darshan of four temples, is an important pilgrimage done in Kerala in the Karkidakam month, also known as the Ramayana Masam (June - July). The four temples (Nalambalam) are dedicated to Lord Ram, Bharatha, Lakshman, and Shatrughan – the four brothers in the Ramayana epic. Most people begin the journey of the four temples from the famous Sri Krishna Temple in Guruvayur, Thrissur District, as temples are within 60 km from here. Sree Rama Temple at Triprayar is dedicated to Lord Ram Triprayar Sri Rama Temple is an ancient Shrine dedicated to Bhagavan Sri Ram at Triprayar near Guruvayur in Kerala. During Ramayana Masam the shrine opens at 3:00 AM to 12:00 PM. The temple then reopens at 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM. Special offering during the period are: Kathina vedi (fire work),  meenoottu (feeding fish) and  Avil Naivedyam. Koodalmanikyam  Bharatha Temple at Irinjalakuda is dedicated to Bharatha, the second brother This ancient

Aadi (mid July to mid August), the fourth month in Tamil calendar, is generally considered as inauspicious like the Karkidaka Masam in the neighboring state Kerala. So, is Aadi Masam bad? It is believed that Lord Surya (Sun god) changes his direction from north to south in the Aadi month. The next six months from Aadi to Margazhi is the Dakshinayana punyakalam – symbolically the night time of the Devas. In 2024, Aadi month begins on July 16 ends on August 16. Traditionally, most people avoid auspicious ceremonies during this period. It is believed that the ceremonies held during this period will not have the blessings of the gods. But a few important celebrations and rituals take place in the Aadi month. The new moon day in Aadi month is celebrated as ‘Aadi pooram.’ The day is also celebrated as the birthday of Andal – Saint Poet who wrote Thiruppavai and is also considered as a manifestation of the mother Goddess. Many people celebrate Aadi as the month of the Goddess an

Bengal has a history of a mixed religion and culture. Regional deities have been worshipped even when there was acceptance of new Gods at nearby regions. Panchopasana, the worship of five Gods, is common in Bengal. A Shiva worshipper not only worships Shiva but also is a worshipper of Agni, Shakti, Surya, Ganapati and Vishnu. So the Shiva Temples co-exist with the local, as well as other, Gods. In Bengal, Shiva seems to have been ascribed some unique and strange dimensions, which endear him to the populace, who are able to identify with his pot bellied lazy cultivator image, nagged by a beautiful wife, who is the darling of her parents. These errant ways are ascribe to as his leela. Shiva is very popular among the common people of Bengal. His worship does not require any big or expensive arrangement; only a little water and fee bel leaves can suffice a Shiva puja. He is called Ashutosha, one who is pleased instantaneously or easily. Shiva is believed to grant every wish

There is a belief that all Hindu widows wear white dress. But this is not the real fact. Not all Hindu widows wear white dress. This is limited to a few Hindu communities.  White dress is a symbol suggesting that the woman is no longer interested in the materialistic world. She lost colors, good things and all happiness in life with the death of her husband. But today many Hindu widows are not ready to put on this symbol and opt for remarriage and also lead a healthy and happy life by earning on their own. White dress for Hindu widows is a symbol of the past for many modern Hindu women. But this is not the case with women who have no financial independence. Widows who are forced to depend on parents and in-laws are forced to wear the white dress and forgo all happiness in life. Hindu society needs to wake up to color the dress of the widows. The only way we can achieve this is by setting up institutions that will provide independent financial opportunities to Hindu widows. 

Sakalya was the son of Sakala and he was also known as Vidagdha. As per Brihadaranyaka Upanishad, Sakalya lost his life in the debate against Yajnavalkya. This story is found in the third chapter of Brihadaranyaka Upanishad. Once, King Janaka performed a very big yajna. At the end of the great ritual sacrifice, he announced in the assembly of scholars a gift of a thousand cows adorned with golden ornaments for the wisest among them. When no one ventured forward, Yajnavalkya stepped forth and asked his disciple Somasrava to take the cattle home. The scholars turned against him and demanded that   he answer their questions and prove his superior wisdom, to which Yajnavalkya readily consented. A barrage of questions was unleashed by various scholars on Yajnavalkya, who responded to all of them with alacrity and authority. Finally, Gargi, a woman scholar, confronted Yajnavalkya with some highly complex questions, which were handled competently by him. Gargi then admitted d

A story in Hindu tradition states that elephants were tamed and made vehicle by humans as a result of a curse by Rishi Deerkhatapas. Legend has it that earlier elephants were blessed with supernatural powers and could fly and take any form. These powers made some of them arrogant. Once a group of elephants assembled on a banyan tree in the Himalayas . This was a very huge Banyan tree which was spread over 1000 miles. Its branches were so large that elephants used to dance on it. During the assembly, few elephants climbed on to a branch and started to play on it. Rishi Deerkhatapas was performing Tapas under the particular branch. The dance movements of the elephants became vigorous and the branch broke and fell on to the ground. The Tapas of Rishi Deerkhatapas was disturbed and in a fit of anger he cursed the elephants to lose all their powers and to become vehicles of human beings. This is how elephants became the vehicle of human beings.

The system of hatha yoga recognizes the existence of two conflicting energies in an individual and provides the instruction for harnessing the eventual union of these energies. The two energies are ha and tha. Ha represents the energy of the sun, and tha, that of the moon. These two forces influence the individual in opposite ways, and at any time one or the other is dominant in an individual.  There is continuous movement from one to other, and so the individual is never in perfect balance which is the natural state of human being. The outer manifestation of these energies can be seen in the form of left and right breath (respiration through the two pores of the nose). The energies of ha and tha flow through the system primarily through two important channels or nadis (nerves) called ida and the pingala. The paths of these channels (sympathetic chords) cross over each other many times but actually meet at only one point, the entrance to the sushumna nadi (in

Written by Tamil Poet-Saint Thiruvalluvar, Kural or Thirukkural is a poetic composition of great antiquity in Tamil Literature which can be termed as a treatise on the art of living a happy and peaceful life. You can download the entire Thirukkural in English in pdf format for free. The pdf also contains the original Tamil verses too. Link – Download Thirukkural in English and Tamil in pdf format

A collection of teachings from Hari Gita. A young child grows older as time goes by, however the soul in such a way doesn't age. The physical body may get destroyed however the soul is indestructible. In all the three passage of times it remains luminous, conscious, imperishable, and subtle and yet cannot be recognized without its knowledge. Knowing the characteristics of the soul in this way is called atmagyan. Vairagya or non-attachment is having a disregard for everything that is not Bhagwan or affiliated with Bhagwan. More specifically Vairagya is where one should not have attachment or affection for their body; have no affection for their partner, kin, wealth, home, animal, vehicles or the objects indulged in by the soul via the ten indriya’s like sound (panch vishay), clothes, jewellery, kingdom, the pleasures of the abodes of rewards such as Swarglok and any other pleasures in life beside those of Bhagwan. The word ‘bhaj’ means to ‘serve’ and the word ‘ktin’ means ‘w