Nalambalam darshanam, or visit of four temples in a day, dedicated to the four brothers of Ramayana – Sri Rama Swami, Sri Bharata Swami, Sri Lakshmana Swamy and Sri Shatrughna Swami – is an important pilgrimage in Kerala. There are five different sets of Nalambalam Darshanam in Kerala. Here is a look at the Nalambalams in Kannur district in North Kerala. The four temples that are part of the Kannur Nalambalam are: Neerveli Sri Rama Swamy Temple Elayavoor Bharata Swamy Temple Peruvancheri (Perinchery) Lakshmana Temple Near Uruvachal (famous as Perinchery Vishnu Temple) Payam Shatrughna Swami Temple off Iritty - Peravoor road (famous as Payam Kadamunda Sri Maha Vishnu Temple) People undertake the darshan of the four temple in a single especially in the Karkidakam month (July – August) observed as Ramayana Masam in Kerala. Related Nalambalam Darshan in Kottayam District Nalambalam Darshan in Thrissur District

Vallikattukavu Temple is located at Edakkara near Nanminda in Kozhikode district, Kerala. The annual Prathishta dinam festival is held on Makam nakshatra in Kumbham month. The deity worshipped in the temple is Swayambhu. Jala Durga is the main deity. The Upa Devatas worshipped in the temple are Ganapathy, Bhadrakali and Vettaikaran (Shiva). The temple is located amidst a lush green forest covering an area of 15 acres. Monkeys are fed in this temple daily. This is one among the 108 Durga temples in Kerala and is believed to be Elampara mentioned in Durga stotra namavali.

Valayanad Devi temple is located at Govindapuram around 3 km from Kozhikode town center in Kerala. The temple is around 3 km east of the famous Kozhikode Tali temple. The eight day annual festival begins on the Karthika nakshatra day in Makaram month with kodiyettam. The Pallivetta observed in the shrine is famous. An important event during the annual festival is the carrying of the Val or sword of Bhagavathi. The Val thiruchezhunellipu is held in Kumbha Masam. The main deity worshipped in the temple is Goddess Bhadrakali. The deity was paradevata of the Zamorin of Kozhikode. The temple is also known as Tiruvalayanattu Kavu. History has it that despite a better army and financial strength, Zamorin was unable to defeat Valluvakkonathiri who was his political foe. The Zamorin soon realized that he was unable to beat Valluvakkonathiri as he had the blessing of Goddess Bhagavathi. The Zamorin Raja started worshipping Bhagavathi with single-minded devotion. It is said that he was able to ha

Vasi Yoga arises, according to ancient Hindu astrology, when planets (other than the Moon) occupy the twelfth house from the Sun in the horoscope of a person. A person born with this combination is destined to be happy, prosperous, liberal, reticent, hard-working and a favorite of government authorities. Depending on the planets present in the twelfth house from the sun (barring moon, Rahu and Ketu), there can be six combinations. If the planet causing Vasi Yoga is Mercury, the native may become an eyesore for many. If it is Mars, the native would be large hearted, indulging in philanthropic charity. If it is Jupiter, the person would be miserly and every busy in amassing wealth. If it is Venus, the native will be lazy and chickenhearted (easily frightened). If it is Saturn, the person would enjoy relations with women. If the planet causing this yoga is in its exaltation, the result would be much better than when the same planets are in debilitation. Supposing the sun

The sage who drank Ganga is Sage Jahnu. The story of Rishi Jahnu who drank all the water of Ganga in anger appears in the story of Ganga and king Bhagiratha, who performed tapas to bring the Ganga River to the earth. When the Ganga came to the earth after being released from Lord Shiva’s matted locks, her torrential waters wreaked havoc earth. It consumed everything on its way and swallowed the ashram of Rishi Jahnu and penance. Angered by this, the great sage drank up all of the Ganga waters to punish her. Seeing this, the Devas prayed to the sage to release the Ganga, so that she could proceed on her mission to release the souls of the ancestors of King Bhagiratha. Jahnu relented and released the Ganga from his ear. For this reason the Ganga River is also known as Jahnavi meaning daughter of Jahnu.

Vayillyam Kunnu Bhagavathy Temple and Vayillakunnilappan Temple are located 100 meters apart at Kadampazhipuram village in Palakkad district, Kerala.  The main festival in the Vayilyamkunnu Bhagavathi temple begins on Karthika nakshatra with kodiyettam in Kumbham month. Kalampattu is held on Rohini nakshatra day. Pooram Purappadu is held on Makayiram nakshatra day. Pooram is observed on the Pooram nakshatra day. Ezhunnallathu of more than 30 elephants takes place during the annual festival. The main murti at Vayillakunnilappan temple is the last person in the Parayipetta Panthirukulam. The Prathishta here is a Shivling which was consecrated by Vararuchi. The deity faces east and puja is performed as per Ardhanarishwara Sankalpam. Vayillyam Kunnu Bhagavathy temple is located 100 meters away on the north side of Vayillakunnilappan temple. Goddess Bhadrakali along with Saptamatrikas are worshipped in the temple. The deity faces north. This shrine has now more importance than the Vayil

Valiyakulangara Devi temple is located around 3 km west of Nangiarkulangara on the Haripad – Kayamkulam road in Alappuzha district, Kerala. Mahadevikadu Valiyakulangara Devi temple main festival in the temple is observed on Uthrittathi, Revati and Aswathy nakshatras in Kumbha month. Chanthattam is held on Aswathy Nakshatra. Kettukazhcha too is held on the Aswathy nakshatra day and is attended by thousands of people. The main murti of Goddess Bhagavathi faces north and is having Jala Drishti. The murti is around 6 feet carved in wood – Dharu Vigraham. The Upa Devatas worshipped in the temple are Yakshi, Vasurimala, Nagayakshi, Karingali and Bhootaganagal. There is also a rakshas of a Muslim tantrik in the temple. Parayeduppu is held annually and the Devi also visits Muslim homes to take para. The temple was earlier known as Mahadevikad.

Valiya Udayadhichapuram Mahadeva Temple is located at Kadakampally village on the Kizhakkekotta-Anayara-Arasumoodu road. The 8-day annual festival in the temple is observed in such a way that it ends with Arattu on the Thiruvathira nakshatra day in Vrischikam month. The festival begins with kodiyettam. All annual temple festival rituals associated with Shiva temples are observed in the shrine. Temple arts, melam, dance and cultural programs are held during the 8 day festival. The entire temple premises and the temple is decorated with lamps as part of the Thrikarthika on the final day of the festival. The shrine is dedicated to Shiva who faces east. The Upa Devatas worshipped in the temple are Chadayappan, Madan, Swaroopam, Ganapathy, Sastha and Nagam. The temple was under the control of Kazhakootam Pillai who was one among the Ettuveetil Pillamar.

A devotee once told Sri Ramana Maharshi that he was afraid of the loss of individuality on the destruction of the mind. Sri Ramana Maharishi solved this perplexing question in the following manner: Every day you go to sleep and say you enjoyed it well, wherein you lose your mind and still you are not afraid of sleep. But you say you will not survive after destruction of mind. Mind is only a bundle of thoughts and is not a physical organ. Absence of mind is absence of thoughts. By vichara the mind gets crystal pure and on development merges in the Self. The Supreme Consciousness, which manifests distinctly after the extinction of the mind is beyond ordinary human understanding. The individuality is supported by the Self which is continuous process unrelated to the mind. Still a more real, perfect and enduring individuality bereft of the ‘I-am-the-body’ thought emerges after the destruction of the mind. Camphor is burnt without leaving a residue and so is the mind

Gavi Gangadhareshwara Temple , located near  Bengaluru  in Karnataka, is a famous cave temple dedicated to Shiva and annually during Makar Sankranti, the sun's rays pass through a window and touch the Shivling murti worshipped in the temple. The sun’s rays falling from the southwestern part of the temple pass through an arch and a couple of windows placed perpendicular to each other, and later through the horns of Nandi (bull of Shiva) to fall on the idol of the temple for about 15 min (between 4:55 and 5:15 PM) on Makar Sankranti. This annual, ephemeral phenomenon is called Surya Majjana, or the Sun Bath. A unique feature of the temple are the two discs in the front yard called Surya Pana and Chandra Pana. They are identical in size with diameter of about 2 m, parallel to each other. Orthogonal lines drawn on the discs on both faces resemble the cross hairs in the eye piece of telescope. The supporting pillar has beautifully engraved bulls in sitting posture. Their

Mataji Indra Devi  (1899 – 2002) was a renowned yoga teacher and was born as Eugenie Peterson in the erstwhile  Soviet Union . This is a collection of quotes and teachings of Indra Devi. A human being's full freedom is to find himself (i.e., be loyal to himself), with independence of judgment, thinking and being flexible and malleable in order to reach harmonization and mental peace. Freedom is living without chains. Yoga is a way to freedom. By its constant practice, we can free ourselves from fear, anguish and loneliness. Yoga is an art and science of living. Yoga means union, in all its significances and dimensions. Through a certain amount of physical and mental disciplines we can learn how to stay healthy, alert, receptive and to improve our perception of the external world in order to feel internally harmonized, with a better life condition and spiritual balance. It is very important to give light and love to everyone, because everyone needs affection. Let light, love

Tithi in Panchang – Hindu Calendar on Monday, 18 January 2021 – It is Shukla Paksha Panchami tithi or the fifth day during waxing or light phase of moon in Hindu calendar and Panchang in most regions. It is Shukla Paksha Panchami tithi or the fifth day during waxing or light phase of moon till 10:02 AM on January 18. Then onward it Shukla Paksha Sashti tithi or the sixth day during waxing or light phase of moon till 11:28 AM on January 19. (Time applicable in all north, south and eastern parts of India. All time based on India Standard Time.  Good – Auspicious time on January 18, 2021 as per Hindu Calendar – There is no good and auspicious time on the entire day.  Nakshatra  – Purva Bhadrapada or Pooruruttathi Nakshatra till 8:51 AM on January 18. Then onward it is Uttara Bhadrapada or Uthrattathi Nakshatra till 10:43 AM on January 19. (Time applicable in north, south and eastern parts of India).  In western parts of India (Maharashtra, Gujarat, Goa, north Karnataka and s