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Showing posts from November 27, 2020


Pori Urundai – The Prasadam Offered on the day of Karthigai Deepam in Tamil Nadu

Karthigai Deepam is the light festival observed in Karthigai Masam (November – December) in Tamil Nadu. A prasadam prepared during the occasion is the Pori Urundai. Pori means puffed rice. The Ingredients The preparation is made using jaggery and puffed rice. To add to the taste some people add crushed fried groundnut, fried gram and finely chopped coconut. Cardamom powder and dried ginger powder enhances the taste. The Preparation To make the preparation, firs jaggery is heated in a vessel and the impurities are removed. Then a little water is taken in a thick-bottomed vessel and heated. The jaggery is added and is stirred without a break. Thick syrup is made. The thickness should be as such that when dropped in cold water it should not dissolve. You should be able to roll it into a small ball. To this syrup,  all the above mentioned ingredients are added. They are then mixed well. When the mixture cools, apply ghee to the palm and roll it into round balls.

Why Is Mariamman Often Depicted With Only Her Head?

Devotees often find Goddess Mariamman in the form of only her head. The popular story behind this tradition goes like this: Jamadagni was a great rishi. Renuka, the beautiful daughter of Varma Raja, married the rishi. They had four or five sons (there are differences in the number in various references; and differences in the names too). Thannuva, Anula, Viswavasu, Parashurama by one account; Vasu, Viswavasu, Brihudhyanu, Brithwakanwa, Bhadra Rama by another; Som, Ruthu, Turvasu, Megh, Parashurama by yet another. Whatever the list, the last son was Parashurama. One day, Renuka was collecting water from the Ganga. As she was looking at the water surface, she saw the reflection of a gandharva flying through the skies. Attracted by Renuka’s beauty, the gandharva named Chithrasena kept circling the same area. Attracted by the gandharva’s image repeatedly floating on the water surface, Renuka thought for a second – ‘How handsome he is!’ Jamadagni immediately knew of the inc

Madhukari In Hinduism – Giving Alms To Students To Support Them

Madhukari is an ancient social system in Hinduism that supported students in their education. From ancient times in Hindu religion, students have been expected to support themselves. In the Gurukula system, they used to help the guru in agricultural activities, but in the later period, when the guru (teachers) started living in cities and towns, the students had to find a way to support themselves. The system of Madhukari was one such way out. Etymologically, madhukar means black bee, an insect collecting nectar by visiting flowers one after the other. Similarly, a student was expected to go from house to house and gather food. Katyayana in Apararka (867 – 873 AD) defines Vidyadhana as that income from knowledge which has been earned while living on somebody else’s support. There were two types of madhukari – the one called ‘dry’ (uncooked food items like flour or rice grains) and the other called ‘wet’ (cooked food). Further, it was convention that a student should

Quotes For Happy Life

Happiness and knowledge happens during the journey. Once we reach the destination, we just rest. To drop the ego all it takes is a genuine smile. Choose words wisely, because tomorrow we may have to eat them. When we harbor bitterness and hatred, happiness moves farther away. Silence, calmness and gentleness are the ways to tame a mind constantly swayed by ego. Love is the medicine to cure all wounds caused by ego, anger, bitterness and hatred. Do not be stingy in appreciating goodness. Appreciation nurtures goodness. It is contagious. It catches on. When we accept the good in others, it becomes an inspiration for all. Take and have only what is essential. Anything in excess creates a bulge. It deforms and corrupts the entire system. Hatred begins when we are unable to accept a person for what he/she is. True love is without conditions and borders. Not all things are in our control. When we are ready to accept this, we have subdued anger and frustration.