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Showing posts from January 10, 2021


Varkala Temple Information - Festival – Varkala Sree Janardhana Swamy Temple Rituals - Gods Worshipped

Varkala Sree Janardhana Swamy Temple is an ancient Vishnu temple located at Varkala in Thiruvananthapuram district, Kerala. The 10-day annual festival in the temple is observed in such a way that it ends with Arattu on the Uthram nakshatra day in Meenam month. The festival starts with Kodiyettam or temple flag hoisting and ends with arattu procession of five caparisoned elephants. Kathakali is performed in the temple at night on the fourth and fifth day of the festival. The main murti worshipped in the temple is four-armed Vishnu – Chaturbahu Vishnu –who faces east. The murti is nearly 6 feet tall along with the peedam. The murti holds shankh, chakram, gada and theertha kumbham. Bhudevi and Sridevi are also worshipped in the temple. The hand holding teertha kumbham of the murti is raised towards the mouth. The belief is that Kali Yuga will come to and when Vishnu drinks from the theertha kumbham. It is believed that during ancient times the murti of Vishnu was discovered from the

Vayaskara Dharmasastha Temple Information - Festival

Vayaskara Dharmasastha temple is located in Kottayam town, Kerala. The annual temple festival is observed in Medam month for six days. Vayaskara Dharmasastha temple is one among the 108 Shiva temples in Kerala. The temple is known as Kottayam Kavu in the Thottam Pattu. Sastha is believed to have showed his presence in a Shila Kandam in the courtyard of Vayaskara Illam. The Upa Devatas worshiped in the temple are Shiva and Dhanvantari murti. The temple belongs to Vayaskara Illam which is famous as one among the Ashtavaidya families in Kerala.

Sabarimala Makaravilakku And Makara Jyothi Festival - Reason - Importance - Story

Makaravilakku – Makara Jyothi is an important festival at the famous Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple in Kerala. Legend has it that after defeating demon Mahishasura, Hariharasudhan Ayyappa merged with the Dharma Sastha Murti (Vigraham or Bhimbam or idol) on the Makara Jyothi day. It is also the most important and the last festival in the two-month Mandala Pooja – Makaravilakku Kalam at the temple. In 2024, the date of Sabarimala Makaravilakku and Makara Jyothi Festival is January 15. Sabarimala Makaravilakku and Makara Jyothi Festival is witnessed by thousands of Ayyappa devotees. The evening deeparadhana is the most important event on the day. On the day for deeparadhana, Hariharasudhan Ayyappa appears before the devotees fully attired in the Thiruvabharanam – gold ornaments – which is specially brought from the Pandalam Palace . Before the evening deeparadhana, an eagle hovers over the Sabarimala Temple . Next the Makara Star appears on the sky – Makara Jyothi is the star that

Sulthan Bathery Ganapathi Vattam Ganapathi Temple - History - Festival

Ganapathi Vattam Ganapathi Temple is located at Sulthan Bathery in Wayanad district, Kerala. The 6-day festival in the temple begins with kodiyettam on Makaram 15. The main deity Ganapathi or Ganesha faces east. The Upa Devatas worshipped in the temple are Shiva, Ayyappa, Nagathan and Bhagavathi. Sulthan Bathery was earlier known as Ganapathi Vattam. The temple was built by Narmudicheran who had defeated the Ezhimala king Nannan. The temple later came under the control of Kottayam kings. The temple witnessed numerous activities by Pazhassi Raja against the British. Tipu Sultan had completely destroyed the temple. The temple was later renovated by the Chettis of Wayanad. The temple is now maintained by Adivasis and Chettis. Kalampattu is performed during the third and the fourth days of the annual festival. The utsava murti of Ganapati is taken out in a big procession atop a caparisoned elephant on the final day of the festival. The annual festival is also famous for various pujas

Kanva Theertha Temple – Festival

Kanva Theertha Temple is located around 3 km north of Manjeshwar in Kasaragod district, Kerala. The annual temple festival is observed on April 25. This is one of the important temples in the Northern part of Kerala. The shrine is also known as Sri Rama Vittala Temple. Ratholsavam is an important even during the annual festival. The belief is that the Prathishta in the temple was performed by Kanva Maharshi. The main deity worshipped in the temple is Bhagavan Sri Rama. The deity faces west. The Upa Devatas in the temple are Hanuman, Shiva and Subramanya. There are two sacred ponds in the temple known as Kanwa Tirtha and Vijaya Tirtha. The temple is under the management of Udupi Pejawar Mutt.

Pandalam Valiyakoikkal Temple - History - Info - Kalabham Festival – Sastha Temple Associated With Sabarimala Ayyappa

Pandalam Valiyakoikkal temple is an important Sastha temple associated with Sabarimala Ayyappa temple located at Pandalam in Pathanamthitta district, Kerala. Pandalam Valiyakoikkal temple Kalabham ritual is held on the Uthram nakshatra in Kumbham month. On the Uthram nakshatra day, the Thiruvabharanam of Sabarimala Ayyappa is adorned on the Ayyappa worshipped in the temple. The main deity worshiped in the temple is Ayyappa or Sastha. There are no Upa Devatas in the temple. The main deity faces east. The Thiruvabharanam that adorns Ayyappa on Makaravilakku day at Sabarimala Ayyappa temple is kept in this temple. As per history, Pandalam king had built this temple at the Pandalam Kovilakam after performing the Prathishta at the Sabarimala temple. He built the temple for performing daily puja – nitya puja. The temple remains closed for 12 days if any person dies at the Pandalam Kovilakam – the ancestral family of Ayyappa. Uthram nakshatra day in Meenam Masam in another important day

Chaliyam Sreekanteswara Temple Near Kadalundi

Chaliyam Sreekanteswara temple is located near Kadalundi on the Chaliyam – Kozhikode road. The temple is locally known as Azhikara Ambalam. The annual festival is observed on Mahashivratri day. The main deity worshipped in the temple is Shiva who faces west. The Shivling is located inside a banyan tree. The sreekovil is also built inside the banyan tree. It is believed when the original sreekovil was in a dilapidated condition, banyan tree grew around it. The Prathishta in the temple was performed by Parashuram. The Upa Devatas worshipped in the temple are Ganapathy, Durga and Ayyappan. The temple belonged to Kadalundi Manazhi Moosath. The temple is now managed by a committee of villagers.

Sringapuram Mahadeva Temple - History - Festival - Timing

Sringapuram Mahadeva temple is located around 2 km south of Sringapuram in Kodungallur in Thrissur district, Kerala. The 8-day annual festival in Sringapuram Mahadeva temple is observed in such a way that it ends with arattu on Shivratri Vavu. A 3-feet Shivling is worshipped in a three-storied sanctum sanctorum which faces east. The pratishta in the temple is believed to have been performed by Parashurama. There is also a belief that the pratishta was done by Rishyashringa Rishi.  A unique feature of the temple is that there is no murti of Mother Goddess Parvati in the temple. As per the temple story, Shiva annihilated Daksha for death of Goddess Sati. After his ferocious form, he took a peaceful form and started meditating here. Shiva is thus in a peaceful form in the temple and there is no Goddess inthe shrine as Sati is not present in the world. This is one among the 108 Shiva temples in Kerala. The four Upa Devatas in the temple are also Shiva. They are consecrated in the four

Sasthamcotta Sree Dharma Sastha Temple Information - Festival

Sasthamcotta Sree Dharma Sastha temple is located at Sasthamkotta in Kollam district, Kerala. The 10-day annual festival in Sasthamcotta Sree Dharma Sastha temple ends with Arattu on Uthram nakshatra in Kumbham month. The main rituals during the annual festival include Tri Kodiyettu, Thiruvabharana Ghosha Yatra, Pallivetta and Arattu. Sastha is worshipped as Prabhasatyaka samethan. The murti is swayambhu and faces east. The Upa Devatas worshipped in the temple are Ganapathy, Shiva, Nagaraja, Nagayakshi, Yogeshwaran, Rakshas and Madan. The shrine is situated on the banks of Sasthamcotta Kayal. This is one among the 108 Ayyappa temples mentioned in the Thottam Pattu. In Thottam Pattu the temple is known as Markkadakavu. The place belonged to Kayamkulam kings during the ancient times. But the Prathishta in the temple was done by Pandalam King. Monkeys in the vicinity are considered divine and devotees offer food to them. Similarly, the fishes in the Sasthamcotta Kayal are also considered

Sasthamangalam Mahadeva Temple Unique Pradakshinam - Festival

Sasthamangalam Mahadeva temple is located on the Sasthamangalam – Peroorkada road in Thiruvananthapuram. The 10-day annual festival in Sasthamangalam Mahadeva temple is observed in Dhanu month and it ends on Thiruvathira with Arattu. Shiva is worshipped in the form of a Shivling noted for its breadth. The sreekovil faces east. Ganapathy, Murugan and Sastha are the Upa Devatas in the temple. Outside the temple complex on the banks Killi River there are separate areas of worship for Goddess Kali, Veerabhadran, Nagaraja and Nagayakshi. Full pradakshinam is allowed at Sasthamangalam Mahadeva Temple. In most Shiva temples only 3/4 th pradakshinam is allowed. The temple is more than 800 years old. It is said that Travancore king used to visit three temples in the region in procession and Sasthamangalam Mahadeva temple was one among them.

Reason For Kite Flying During Makar Sankranti and Uttarayan - Why Kite Flying Is Part Of Makar Sankranti?

Kite flying is a major activity during Makar Sankranti and Uttarayan. The story of origin of Kite flying is associated with Bhagavan Sri Ram. The story happens when Bhagavan Sri Ram was a kid. Hanuman too plays an important role in the story. It is mentioned in the Bala Kanda of Ramcharitmanas. One day during their childhood, Bhagavan Sri Ram and his brothers were playing by flying kites. The kite of Bhagavan Sri Ram was breathtakingly beautiful and it soared into the sky. It went so high that it left earth and reached heaven. In heaven, the kite was spotted by the wife of Jayant. Jayant was the son of Indra, the king of Devas. She was enamored by the kite and wanted to know to whom the beautiful kite belonged. She was also puzzled as to who on earth had the power to fly a kite so high that it reached heaven. She caught the kite and kept it with her thinking that the owner of the kite would definitely come to get it. On earth, child Sri Ram was worried, as he cou

Gurumaa Pravachan Sayings - From Anandmurti Gurumaa Satsangs

A Collection of sayings of Anandmurti Gurumaa from Satsangs and Pravachan. Gurumaa Pravachan Sayings. Shiva means Brahman, Shiva means the supreme consciousness and, Guru and Shiva are one and the same, because the one who has known Shiva cannot be separate from Shiva. In fact, there is no one other than Shiva, there is none but Shiva. When I say ‘Shiva’, don’t try to conjure up the image of Lord Shankar. The difference between Shiva and Shankar is similar to the difference between the water vapour and the water in the ocean. One can see the oceanic water, but one cannot see vapour. Nevertheless, it is this very water vapour that transforms into rain clouds. When you have woken up from night sleep, just before opening eyes, say to yourself 'thank you lord for a new day, i will strive to make best of it', and open eyes with a smile. Life has a meaning when we give one to it. Are you ready to give a meaning. Come to learn and then unlearn. It is said by the mystics t

17 January 2021 Tithi - Panchang - Hindu Calendar - Good Time - Nakshatra – Rashi

Tithi in Panchang – Hindu Calendar on Sunday, 17 January 2021 – It is Shukla Paksha Chaturthi tithi or the fourth day during waxing or light phase of moon in Hindu calendar and Panchang in most regions. It is Shukla Paksha Chaturthi tithi or the fourth day during waxing or light phase of moon till 9:04 AM on January 17. Then onward it Shukla Paksha Panchami tithi or the fifth day during waxing or light phase of moon till 10:02 AM on January 18. (Time applicable in all north, south and eastern parts of India. All time based on India Standard Time.  Good – Auspicious time on January 17, 2021 as per Hindu Calendar – There is no good and auspicious time on the entire day.  Nakshatra  – Satabhisha or Sadayam or Chathayam Nakshatra till 7:18 AM on January 17. Then onward it is Purva Bhadrapada or Pooruruttathi Nakshatra till 8:51 AM on January 18. (Time applicable in north, south and eastern parts of India).  In western parts of India (Maharashtra, Gujarat, Goa, north Karnataka