‘Ram Naam’ the name of Bhagavan Sri Ram contains numerous hidden powers. It is not easy for an ordinary individual to understand the greatness and glory of the Ram Mantra. Here is a simple Bhagavan Sri Ram Mantra and it helps in the improvement of life and prosperity. The mantra is: श्री रामचन्द्राय नमः Sri Ramachandraya Namah: Benefits: The mantra is so powerful that it helps a person to come out happy even from the greatest of problem in life. Only condition is that the man should follow Dharma. You commit sins after sins and then seek help from Bhagavan, he is not going to grant it. The mantra can be chanted anywhere and at anytime. You need not wait for any occasion. Chant it whenever you feel you need the guidance and help of Bhagavan Sri Ram. When we realize that Ram resides in our heart, we will be blessed with virtue, prosperity and peace. This opens the doors of self-realization and moksha (liberation).

 Kannamkulam temple is located on the Kodungallur – Guruvayoor road at Koprakalam near Chentrappinni in Thrissur District. The 8-day annual festival in the temple is observed in such a manner that it ends with arattu on Thiruvathira nakshatra in Dhanu masam. The temple is dedicated to Shiva. The shivling in the temple is swayambhu and is in the form of adapalaka – a wooden slab to close vessel for straining rice. There is a sankalpam here that the Shiva in the temple is ‘kodungai kuthi kidakkunna Shivan.’ The upa devatas in the temple are Ganapathy, Bhagavathi, Sastha, Bala Sastha, Nagaraja and Sarppam.

Irunilamkode Temple, located at Mullurkara village in Thrissur District in Kerala, is an ancient cave temple famous for numerous reasons. papadum chavittal (stamping on fried pappadams) is one among the popular offering or vazhipad here. This is done for the healing of diseases on the feet. Chool vahizpad is another popular one (using broom over the head and neck). This is done for the abnormal falling of hairs found in ladies. Those having constant pain in stomach and other stomach ailments offer idols of tortoise, fish, scorpion and centipede made of wood or mud. The temple has a murti carved inside the cave. The deity is unknown. The belief is that the murti is swayambhu. The murti was discovered around 300 years ago by a woman who took shelter in the cave. She started sharpening her sickle on a rock in the cave and suddenly blood started oozing out and this led to the discovery of the cave temple. Although the cave has the presence of Trimurtis, the temple now follows Shaiva tradit

Kannanchery Ganapathy temple is located 4 km south of Kozhikode town in Kerala. The annual festival in the shrine is observed on the tenth day of Dhanu Masam. Kannanchery Ganapathy Temple festival in Dhanu masam is also known as Thalappoli festival. Apart from the usual temple rituals, the main deity in the shrine is decorated with Thidambu – a beautiful frame with golden flowers. At night a grand procession is held from Kannanchery temple to Kanjirangottu Bhagavathy temple. Girls perform the Thalappoli for the ritual. Girls hold thalams with broken coconut haves, rice and lighted diyas. The velichappadu or temple oracle attired in red, maroon violet clothes move ahead of the procession. Panchavadyam and traditional musical instruments provide the music for the festival. Caparisoned elephants are part of the festival. Nantakom is another ritual observed during the procession. A devotee who has observed strict fast holds the sword – symbol of goddess – and sits atop a caparisoned elepha

Kundamkuzhy Shiva temple is located on the Poinachi – Bedadka road in Kasargod district. The five-day annual festival begins on Dhanu 27 as per Malayalam calendar. This a unique temple as the swayambhu Shivling in the temple is located in a small ditch filled with water. The upa devatas worshipped in the shrine are Vishnu, Sastha and Ganapathy. Traditional dance and art forms of the region are performed during the annual festival.

Kanda Kurumba Kavu temple, also known as  Kandakurumbankavu,  is located at Ezhava Thuruthil on the Ponnani – Edappal road in Malappuram district. Makara Chowa festival is an important event here. Kandakurumbakkavu temple annual festival is held in Meenam month. It is a 10-day festival and is known as Poonani pooram and Thalappoli festival. Thula Sankramana puja is another important festival here. During the Makara Chowa festival in January, Kalakali, Thira and Pootan are observed. During the 12-day Meenam month festival there is the famous Pavakoothu thalappoli. The temple is dedicated to Goddess Bhadrakali. The main murti in the sanctum sanctorum is Kannadi Shila Pratishta = mirror type. It is believed that the Goddess worshipped here is the sister of Kodungallur Bhagavathy. There is no upa devata in the temple. Th e temples Bhadra Kulangara Bhagavathi and Thoniyaparambu Bhagavathy on the banks of Bharathapuzha river are considered to be the sister of Kanda Kurumba Kavu Bhagavath

Kadalayi Sree Krishna Temple, also known as Chirakkal Sree Krishna kshetram, is located at Chirakkal village on the Kannur – Payyannur road in Kannur district, Kerala. The 7-day annual festival in the temple is observed from Makaram 15 and ends on Makaram 22. The main deity worshipped in the temple is Sri Krishna. The murti in the temple is believed to have belonged to Sathyabhama (wife of Krishna). The deity faces west. The temple is located on the banks of a huge pond. Legend has it that the Vallavan Kolathiri of Kola Swaroopam one day reached the seashore to perform sandhya vandanam. Here he found that the fishermen had got a Sree Krishna murti from the sea and they had placed it on shore. The Kolathiri and installed it at Kadalayikotta. Kadal in Malayalam means sea. As the temple was very close to the sea it came to be known as Kadaluvayi – one near the mouth of sea. Later the name transformed into Kadalayi. During the attack of Tipu Sultan on temples in North Kerala, the main

Ashtami is the eighth day during a lunar fortnight in traditional Hindu calendar.  Shani Ashtami occurs when Ashtami tithi falls on Shanivar – Saturday. Shani Ashtami in 2023 is on May 13, September 23, and October 7. Shanivar or Saturday  in Hinduism is dedicated to Lord Shani. Ashtami is dedicated to Goddess Durga and also Lord Krishna. Special pujas and rituals are observed by certain communities in  South India  on the day. Shani Bhagavan is worshipped on the day. Prayers are held to mitigate his powers in one’s horoscope and assure in peace, health and prosperity.

Kondai Bun fold hair is not allowed in many Hindu pujas. So, what is the reason women should not put kondai bun fold hair do during any puja ceremony? Puja in Hinduism should be kept as natural as possible. Purity of mind and purity of body is very necessary to achieve the objective or success of any puja. Both men and women should attend puja after taking bath. They should perform the bath just before puja. It is unhealthy to create kondai bun fold using just washed hair. Puja is not a fashion parade or beauty contest. A man and woman should present themselves naturally for a puja. Man and woman are considered purusha and prakriti or Shiva and shakti in all puja. Prakriti is never tied down she constantly flows. It is her constant movement that keeps life moving ahead. And the best way Prakriti is represented in pujas is through women. The flowing hair symbolizes the constant movement of nature.

Kaduthuruthy Mahadeva temple, or the Thaliyil Shiva Temple, is located in Kottayam District in Kerala.  The 10-day annual festival is observed in such a manner that it ends on the Thiruvathira Nakshatra day in Dhanu Masam. The main deity worshipped in the temple is Shiva who is in dhyana form faces east. The Shiva here is the paradevatha of Vadakkumkurru. It is believed that the area was the capital of Vembaladu (Vadakkumkurru). The temple is one among the oldest Tali temples in Kerala. The upa devatas worshipped in the temple are Ganapathy, Sastha, Bhagavathy, and Rakshas. The Rakshas worshipped here is believed to be the atma of a pujari of the temple. Once there was a fire in the temple and the pujari hugged the Shivling and got killed in the fire. There is no Nandi in the temple which is a rarity. The murti here was installed by Khara maharshi. Two other temples in the region which are at equal distance from the shrine – Vaikom and Ettumanoor – were too installed by Khara Mah

To realize God an aspirant must have: Patience, Perseverance, Purity of body and mind, intense desire or yearning, the aggregate of the six attributes namely tranquility of mind, restraint of the senses, giving up of attachments to objects, remaining unaffected amidst all kind of afflictions, faith in the words of the spiritual teacher and the scriptures and concentration on the chosen ideal or God. Do not tell anybody else, except the Guru, the realizations, the visions, or similar experiences, that spiritual practices may bring to you. Always keep your spiritual treasure – your inmost thoughts – hidden within you. These are not for vulgar gaze. These are your sacred possessions to be shared only between you and the Lord in secret. Likewise, do not talk of your defects and blemishes to others. You lose thereby your self respect and the respect of others for you. They are for you to confess to the Lord. Pray to Him for strength to overcome them. Paramartha Prasanga of Swami V