Madhur Ganapathi Temple, also known as Madhur Sree Madanantheshwara Siddhivinayaka Temple, is 8 km northeast of Kasaragod town in Kasaragod district, Kerala. Madhur Ganapathi Temple festival 2023 date is April 14 to April 18. The 5-day annual festival in the temple begins with kodiyettam on Vishu. The annual festival is known as Madhur Bedi. On the fourth day the utsava moorthi (Thidambu) is taken out in a procession. During the five days various folk arts and s and Yakshagana are performed. A unique festival known as Mudappa Seva is held once in 30 years in the temple. This festival is dedicated to Ganapathi. The ritual involves 12 mooda rice (450 kg). A temporary fence is erected around the Ganpati murti using sugarcane sticks. This temporary fence is known as nalukettu. The top of the fence is covered with silk cloth. Appam, coconut and ashta dravya are placed on the cloth. This ritual is known as Moodappa Seva. Nithya Sheeveli is observed from Diwali day to Medam 15 (end of A

Mannil Thrikovu temple is located at Tavanur on Kuttipuram – Chamravattam road in Malappuram district, Kerala. The main deity worshipped in the temple is Brahma. It is believed that this is only Brahma temple in Kerala. The shrine is also known as Tavanur Brahma Temple and also as Tavanur Cheru Thirunavaya Brahma temple. The temple is located on the northern bank of Bharathapuzha. It is believed that Navagrahas, Pancha Bhootas and Nakshatras offer prayers to Brahma here. Brahma, the creator as per Hindu Puranas, is not widely worshipped in temple due to a curse on Him by Shiva. The most popular Brahma temple is located at Pushkar in Rajasthan.  The main deity Brahma worshipped in temple is depicted as sitting on a lotus appearing from navel of Vishnu. The four-faced Brahma faces east in a circular sanctum sanctorum – Vatta Sreekovil. The unique vigraha or bimbam has Shiva, Lakshmi, Parvati, Saraswati, Devas, Bhootas, Pancha Bhootas, Navagrahas, Nagas, Rashis, Saptamatrikas, Tithi,

People piercing their body with hooks, skewers and (vel) small lances during Hindu festivals Thaipusam at Murugan Temples is a common sight. In the beginning people only used to pierce their tongue with a small vel - this was a means to meditate by keeping silent. The vel was used to create a forceful means for Mouna Vratham - remaining silent. In the beginning it was a simple innocent offering done by Muruga Devotees. But today in some instances, Lord Muruga devotees pull heavy chariots with hooks attached to their bodies - this is a very recent trend. This is sort of a thanksgiving for favors received and for fulfillment of desires.  Many devotees take vow that they will do such and such act as offering if their wishes are fulfilled. When wishes are fulfilled devotees perform the ritual to please the God. Murugan is believed widely as a wish fulfilling deity and most devotees get their wishes fulfilled sooner or later. Such practices are not mentioned in Hindu Holy Scriptur

A collection of quotes of Carl Sagan Look again at the dot. That’s here. That’s home. That’s us. On it everyone you love, everyone you know, everyone you ever heard of, every human being who ever was, lived out their lives. The aggregate of our joy and suffering, thousands of confident religions, ideologies, and economic doctrines, every hunter and forager, every hero and coward, every creator and destroyer of civilization, every king and peasant, every young couple in love, every mother and father, hopeful child, inventor and explorer, every teacher of morals, every corrupt politician, every superstar in the history of our species lived there – on a mote of dust suspended in a sunbeam. The earth is a very small stage in a vast cosmic arena. Think of the rivers of blood spilled by all those generals and emperors so that, in glory and triumph, they could become the momentary masters of a fraction of a dot. Our posturings, our imagined self importance, the delusion that we ha

Tithi in Panchang – Hindu Calendar on Sunday, 31 January 2021 – It is Krishna Paksha Tritiya tithi or the third day during the waning or dark phase of moon in Hindu calendar and Panchang in most regions. It is Krishna Paksha Tritiya tithi or the third day during the waning or dark phase of moon till 9:40 PM on January 31. Then onward it Krishna Paksha Chaturthi tithi or the fourth day during the waning or dark phase of moon till 7:57 PM on February 1. (Time applicable in all north, south and eastern parts of India. All time based on India Standard Time.  Good – Auspicious time on January 31, 2021 as per Hindu Calendar – There is no good and auspicious time on the entire day.  Nakshatra  – Magha or Makam nakshatra till 3:33 AM on January 31. Then onward it is Purva Phalguni or Pooram nakshatra till 2:45 AM on February 1. (Time applicable in north, south and eastern parts of India).  In western parts of India (Maharashtra, Gujarat, Goa, north Karnataka and south Rajasthan)