Annapurna Temple in Varanasi is dedicated to Goddess Annapurna Devi. There is a unique murti of Goddess Annapurna in the Temple. Devotees can have darshan of it only on Dhanteras and Annakut day. Annakut is observed on Kartik Shukla Paksha Pratipada or the first day during waxing phase of moon in Kartik Month. In 2023, the temple is open from November 10 to November 14. Annakut is on November 14. This is the Annakut day, which falls the day after Diwali. The belief is that whoever opens the door of the temple other than on Annakut day will die. The temple doors are kept open only for three days in a year starting from Dhanteras day. The temple houses murtis of Goddess Annapurna, Vishwanath, Vishnu and Goddess Lakshmi. A unique aspect of the Annapurna and Shiva murti is that Shiva is depicted as receiving alms from the Goddess. On the Annakut day, 56 types of food are offered to the deities including fruits, sweets, boiled rice and pulses. This is later distributed

Gopi Chandan is a yellow color mud that is worn as chandan on the forehead by Hindu devotees. The mud is yellow in color and looks like sandal paste. Gopichandana mud is found in many parts of India especially at Gopi near Dwaraka in Gujarat . It is worn mainly by Saivite Brahmins and by the followers of the Chaitanya School of Vaishnavism. Importance of Gopichandana is mentioned in the ‘Gopichandana Upanishad.’ The text narrates the importance of the mud. Some devotees wear it on forehead and hands. Some devotees also smear it all over the body. Please note that Gopichandana should not be mistaken with turmeric powder which is widely used in Khandoba Temples in Maharashtra and Naga Temples in South India . The yellow of color of turmeric is different from the yellow color of Gopichandana mud. Benefits Of Gopi Chandan  It soothes the mind. It helps in controlling anger. Wearing Gopi Chandan on forehead is good for those who are easily swayed by emotions. It

This article takes a detail look into the beliefs of Arya Samaj, the society founded on April 10, 1875 in Mumbai by Swami Dayananda Saraswati (1824 – 1883) to reform Indian society on the basis of Vedas and thus to propagate Vedic Dharma. Beliefs of Arya Samaj Arya Samaj believes in the existence of God and as the controlling power of the universe. Because God has many attributes and performs various tasks, God has been called by many names. God evolves this universe out of matter. The self of an individual derives pleasure from the universe. Matter and self are both beginning less and eternal. Thus God, the Self and Prakriti are beginning less. Prakriti is the material cause of the universe. God and the self are two distinct entities by virtue of their being different in nature and of their being possessed of dissimilar attributes and characteristics. They are however, inseparable from each other, being related to each other as the pervader and the pervaded. God and

Dedicated to Dattatreya and Goddess Anagha Devi, Anaghashtami is observed on the eighth day during the waning phase of moon in every Hindu lunar month.  Anagha Devi or Anagha Lakshmi Devi, is the combined incarnation of Goddess Saraswati, Kali and Lakshmi. Anaghashtami Vrat is performed mainly on the Krishna Paksha Ashtami or Bahula Ashtami (eight day during the dark phase of a Hindu fortnight or the eight day after full moon). The puja is performed for peace and prosperity of the family. All family members who follow Hindu tradition participate in the puja and rituals. How to Perform Anaghashtami Vrat? The puja is usually performed in the morning. The important persons performing the puja (husband and wife) should observe complete fast on the day. The puja area is decorated with Rangoli. Pictures or murtis of Ganesha, Goddess Lakshmi and Dattatreya are placed on the puja table – a four legged wooden table. Raw rice (akshata) and Kalash filled with water

Karva Chauth fair and festival, which attracts more than 50,000 Hindu devotees, is annually observed at the Chauth Mata Temple at Barwara in Sawai Madhopur in Rajasthan. Karva Chauth fair and festival at Chauth Mata Temple 2023 date is November 1. As per information provided by the official website of Rajasthan temples, the goddess worshipped in the temple is also known as Sheetala Mata. Karva Chauth fair and festival is held annually on the 4th day during the waxing phase of moon in Kartik Month as per traditional Hindu calendar followed in Rajasthan. Karva Chauth Vrat and fasting also observed on the day in North India . Chauth Mata Temple is located in Barwada atop a hill and is around 25 km from Sawai Madhopur. A devotee needs to climb 700 steps to reach the temple. The temple was established during the 14th century. The temple is also an important destination for Ganesha devotees as the temple houses a Ganesh murti and large number of people visit the

Diwali, the festival of lights, is celebrated throughout India but there is a difference in origin, myth and the way in which it is celebrated. In 2023, Diwali is celebrated on November 12 in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala and parts of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. In North India, it is observed on November 12, 2023. In 2023, Diwali in North and South India is on the same day as Chaturdashi and Amavasya night falls on same day. North India South India Dhanteras (November 10)  Choti Diwali (November 13) Narak Chaturdashi Deepavali/ (November 12) Naraka Chaturdashi Diwali / Lakshmi Puja (November 12) Lakshmi Puja (November 12) Govardhan Puja/ Annakut/ Diwali Padwa (November 14)/ Gujarati New Year Kartik Shudda Padyami / Bali Pratipada (November 14) Bhai Dooj (November 15) Yama Dwitiya (November 15)                                       The word 'Diwali' is most popularly used in Nort

Maa Matangi is associated with speech and music. Goddess Matangi is 9th among the 10 Dasa Mahavidyas. Here is a look at Matangi mantra and sadhana. Matangi Mantra Ucchista Chandalini Sri Matangeswari Sarvagyanavashamaka ri Swaha उच्छिष्ठा चाण्डाली श्री मातंगेश्वरी   सर्वज्ञानवशामकारि श्री स्वाहा   This is known as Maha Mantra of Goddess Matangi. Matangi Mantra Benefits Benefits of chanting the mantra include peace and prosperity, good health and prosperity to mother, early cure to illness of mother, good for sportsperson and musicians. The sadhana and puja of Matangi is good for students and those looking to gain knowledge in various subjects. Matangi Sadhana She should be worshipped on the third day of the waxing phase of moon in a lunar calendar (shukla paksha tritiya). Prayers should be offered early morning and after moonrise. The prayers should be offered facing northeast. The color associated with Goddess is red. The Goddess should be mentall

Uttara Phalguni Nakshatra 2020 dates based on traditional Hindu calendar, Astrology and Panchangam. Uttara Phalguni Birth Star, also known as Uthram or Uthiram in South India, is the twelfth Nakshatra among the 27 Nakshatras. Below are Uttara Phalguni Nakshatra date in 2020. The astrological prediction of the birth star as per Moon Sign is that of Simha Rashi (Leo Zodiac) for first quarter born people. The last three quarter born people will have predictions based on Kanya Rashi. Surya or sun is the Lord of the Raasi. The color of Uttara Phalguni is light brown. Uttara Phalguni Nakshatra 2020 Date and Time - North - East - South of India This time is applicable in Delhi, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Chhattisgarh, Orissa, West Bengal, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Pondicherry, Jammu and Kashmir, Manipur, Tripura, Assam, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Mizoram and

Purva Phalguni Nakshatra time and dates in 2020 based on traditional Hindu calendar, Astrology and Panchangam. Purva Phalguni Birth Star, also known as Poorva Phalguni or Pooram in South India, is the eleventh Nakshatra among the 27 Nakshatras. Below are Purva Phalguni Nakshatra date in 2020. The astrological prediction of the birth star Purva Phalguni Nakshatra as per Moon Sign is that of Simha Rashi (Leo Zodiac). Surya or sun is the Lord of the Raasi. The color of Purva Phalguni is light brown. Purva Phalguni - Pooram - Nakshatra 2020 Date and Time - North - East - South of India This time is applicable in Delhi, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Chhattisgarh, Orissa, West Bengal, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Pondicherry, Jammu and Kashmir, Manipur, Tripura, Assam, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Mizoram and Andaman and Nicobar. January 15, 2020, Wednesday Time i

Suta Muni asks —“Mother, from where does fear come? Where is it seated in me?” Devi says —“If you have tamasic guna or the quality of inertia equivalent even to a grain of mustard, it generates a vibrational field of fear which is equivalent to the circumference of 1008 banyan trees within us. This tamasic quality is sitting in the region of your heart where your feelings are born.” Suta Muni asks — “How do we know this mother?” So, the divine mother says — “When somebody scares or startles you, doesn’t your heart begin to beat very fast with shock?” So, where is fear? It is in our heart. After we come out of the shock, we let out a forceful sigh. Then the fear generated by the shock leaves our body through the sigh. Devi tells Suta Muni—“If you do japa (chanting) with your right ring finger touching the region of your spiritual heart (two fingers width to the right of our chest centre), fear is pushed out. Remove fear. Don’t allow it to affect you. It kills your

God is the ultimate unity underlying all variety. The truly religious man sees behind the manifold diversities of the divine Unity, not in thought but in a more intense sense than the diversities themselves are seen. God is not only Nature but something more, interpenetrating Nature. ‘As the one fire, having entered the world, manifests itself in every form, so the One, the inmost Soul of all beings, manifests Himself in every form and is yet more besides (Katha Upanishad, V.9). To the man who has not realized God, conceptions of Him may appear unlike his experiences of Nature. But to the man who realizes Him, He is not unnatural or supernatural but immanent in Nature. The whole of Nature assumes a different meaning to that man and he sees Nature in God and God in Nature. The theme of religion is no longer unnatural but a reality ever present in and bathing in celestial beauty and life every part of Nature. Source – Prabuddha Bharata May 1903