Mattannur Mahadeva Temple is located around 25 km east of Kannur town in Mattannur in Kannur district, Kerala. Mattannur Mahadeva temple festival 2024 date is February 28 to March 6. Thidambu Nritham, a ritual dance performed in the Hindu temples of Malabar, and the pulling of theru (chariot) are the main events. The festival ends with Arattu. Elephants are not allowed to participate in the temple festival. So all procession are held on Ratha or theru. The 7-day annual festival in the temple is observed from Kumbham 15 to Kumbham 22. The main deity worshipped in the temple is Shiva in Dakshinamurti sankalpam. The Prathishta was performed by Parashurama. The main deity now faces west but originally it was facing east. The Upa Devata worshipped in the temple are Ganapathy, Ayyappa, Bhoothathan and Naga. There is also a Vishnu temple in the temple complex like an independent temple. The Keezhedam temple of this shrine is an Ayyappan Kavu. Mattannur Mahadeva temple is one among the

Yoga Kshema is the protection and preservation of wealth provided by god as per Hindu religion. The assurance of protection   is given by Sri Krishna in verse 22 chapter 9 of the Bhagavad Gita. He says – to those who worship me and meditate on me alone, and preserve, I give attainment of what they have not and security in what they have. Human beings have material as well as spiritual needs. Their acquisition involves effort. God takes care of the earthly needs as well as spiritual aspirations. Scriptures seek to regulate human desires by enjoining on the individual to act always as if God sees all that one does because He is antaryami (indwelling) – a witness to everything. One is free to devise one’s own means and measures of acquisition. But there should be no violation of morality and righteousness. Artha (material wealth) is a value and a purushartha (goal). But one must not be artharthi, running after it as the sole goal. Besides, employment of improper means in t

When the Pradosh Vrat day falls on a Tuesday it is known as Bhauma Pradosh. Bhauma is another name of planet Mars or Mangal. Bhauma Pradosh 2024 dates are January 9, January 23 June 4, October 15 and October 29. The days is of great importance as Pradosh tithi is dedicated to Shiva and Tuesday is dedicated to Hanuman. It is believed that all forms of sins and dosh (blemish) are destroyed by fasting on the day. Pradosh, or Pradosha , is an auspicious day dedicated to Lord Shiva and it falls on the 13th day of every lunar fortnight in traditional Hindu calendar. Shiva devotees undertake a fasting from sunrise to sunset on the Pradosham day. Mangal or Mars is the presiding deity of Mangalwar or Tuesday.  There are numerous legends in Hindu scriptures that are associated with Mangal and Shiva. It is said that Bhaum had performed intense Tapas and he was blessed with Mangal Loka by Shiva. Benefits of Bhauma Pradosh Moksha and better life. All sins and blemishes  are destr

Thiruvanchikulam Temple is located near Kodungallur in Thrissur district, Kerala. The eight day annual festival in the temple ends on Amavasya or Karutha Vavu in Kumbham month. Chothi nakshatra day in Karkidakam month is an important festival in the temple. The festival usually coincides with Maha Shivratri. Thiruvathira in Dhanu Masam is another important festival. Brahmotsavam is held in Vaikasi Masam (May - June). The Prathishta in the temple is of the Umamaheshwara. The murti is considered to be the Sadashiva form of Shiva. This temple has the largest number of Upa Devatas in Kerala – 33 Upa Devatas. The shrine was built before 8 th century AD. Thiruvanchikulam Mahadeva temple is the only one Shaiva Tirupati in Kerala. As per Shaivites, there are 274 Shaiva Tirupatis. The Kodungallur palace which was the administrative center of Cheraman Perumal was located near the temple. The temple is a classic example of ancient Kerala style temple architecture. After the night puja

Yoga Nidra in Hinduism is a kind of sleep induced by the technique of yoga. There is a difference between ordinary sleep and psychic sleep in yoga nidra. In sleep there is no awareness, whether internal or external; in yoga nidra, on the other hand, there is wakefulness to the internal environment. No difference, however, will be detected by an external observer. Yoga Nidra is a method of exploring the different layers of the mind. According to certain schools of modern psychology, there are three dimensions of mind – the conscious, the subconscious and the unconscious. Mandukya Upanishad also classifies the mind into three layers – jagrat, swapna and sushupti. The yogic and psychological terminology can be related as follows:  Jagrat – conscious mind, waking state, surface thoughts and perception of the outside world; sthula (gross dimension) Swapna – subconscious mind, dream state, individual memory and mind; sukshma subtle dimension. Sushupti – Unconscious mind, deep co

Thaipusam is one of the most important festivals dedicated to Lord Muruga - also known as Skanda, Subramaniya and Kartikeya and Shanmukha. Thaipusam is held on Poosam star in the month of Thai (January – February). Here is a look at what to do on Thaipusam day? On the Thaipusam day, large number of devotees head towards Murugan temples in procession carrying Kavadi.  Some devotees observe a fast on the day and they only eat the Prasadam from the temple. The drumming and chanting of vel vel sakthi vel electrifies the procession and some start to dance.  Some devotees pierce their tongue and cheek with ‘vel’ (small lances.) Some insert hooks in their body and some use these hooks to pull heavy objects. On the day, devotees go to any length to display their devotion to Murugan. All these are performed for desire fulfillment or for desire fulfilled after offering prayers to Murugan The more subdued devotees offer fruits and yellow or orange colored flowers to Lord Muruga. T

Nettissery Sastha temple is located 8 km northeast of Thrissur town in Kerala. The temple is one among the 108 Sastha temples in Kerala. The temple is mentioned in the Thottam Pattu which narrates the 108 Ayyappa temples. The main Nettissery Temple festival is the participation in Arattupuzha pooram and Perumana pooram. The deity goes in procession to participate in the above said two important festivals in Kerala. The main murtis worshipped in the temple are Shiva and Ayyappa. The Upa Devatas in the temple are Ganapathy, Panama Kulangara Vishnu, Cherukulangara Vishnu, Kulangara Appan (Matsya Avatar murti), Goshala Krishnan and Bhagavathy. In ancient times, there was Othu and Sadhya in the temple.

Pranava is the sole subject matter of the Mandukya Upanishad and there is a commentary on it in verse (karika) by Sri Gaudapada, the Guru of Govinda Bhagavatpada, himself the guru of Sankara Bhagavatpada.   The three matras of Pranava are A, U and M, representing the witnessing awareness behind the three states of waking, dreaming and deep sleep. And the silence following it is known as Amatra and it represents absolute Pure Awareness, the One and only Reality. With such understanding one is advised to meditate on Aum. The following is the substance of the relevant verses of the Gaudapada Karika dealing with meditation on Aum: Weaning the mind from all other thought one should attune it to Pranava. Pranava is indeed Brahman, beyond all fear. Hence one perfectly attuned to it can have no fear whatever. Pranava is Brahman, both Saguna (with attributes) and Nirguna (without attributes). It is uncaused. There is no differentiation in it — it is immutable; nothing exists besi

Tithi in Panchang – Hindu Calendar on Wednesday, 27 January 2021 – It is Shukla Paksha Chaturdashi tithi or the fourteenth day during waxing or light phase of moon in Hindu calendar and Panchang in most regions. It is Shukla Paksha Chaturdashi tithi or the fourteenth day during waxing or light phase of moon on the entire day on January 27 and till 12:32 AM on January 28. Then onward it Purnima tithi or the full moon day till 12:32 AM on January 29. (Time applicable in all north, south and eastern parts of India. All time based on India Standard Time.  Good – Auspicious time on January 27, 2021 as per Hindu Calendar – Good and auspicious time on the entire day.  Nakshatra  – Arudra or Ardra or Thiruvathira nakshatra till 2:26 AM on January 27. Then onward it is Punarvasu or Punartham nakshatra till 3:28 AM on January 28. (Time applicable in north, south and eastern parts of India).  In western parts of India (Maharashtra, Gujarat, Goa, north Karnataka and south Rajasthan),