Ghatikasthana were educational centers for Vedic learning during the Pallava period (3rd – 9th century CE) in South India especially in Karnataka and Tamilnadu. Ghatikas had highly qualified Brahmin preceptors, who imparted Vedic learning. They functioned in many places the most important center being in Kanchipuram, the capital city of the Pallavas. The name Ghatika - To test the expertise of their students in Veda, the essence of Veda Mantras will be written and stored in a small pot (Ghatika). During the examination, the students will pick up one leaf out of the pot and would recite that part of Veda mentioned in the leaf. Hence such educational institutions were called as Ghatika. Numerous Sanskrit and Tamil epigraphs of this period provide information about the functioning of the ghatikas. The ghatika of Kanchi, which was perhaps located within the premises of the Kailasanatha temple, was so famous that it attracted students from distant lands. The Talagunda pillar inscription re

Brahmanadin was an advaita teacher preceding Adi Shankaracharya and was considered such a reputed authority on Vedanta that Adi Shankara takes him as a source of his Advaita doctrine, not to mention the esteem in which he was held by non-Advaitic Vedantins like Ramanuja, who also quotes Brahmanadin. Brahmanadin was famous as the author of Vakya, a work on the meaning of Chandogya Upanishad. Though his work is not available, it is quoted to clinch the issues in the works of Advaitins and by Ramanuja in his writings. Brahmanadin holds that the formless reality (Brahman) takes on forms for the sake of the devotees. However, this form is just only apparent and is not real. Brahmanadin formulates the theory of the degrees of reality like pratibhasika (merely illusory), vyavaharika (the empirical) and paramarthika (the real). Brahmanadin has phrased the great identity text “That Thou Art” in the form of an aphorism: siddham tunivartakatvat, making it clear that one’s own natu

Ganapathiyar Kovil is located at Kanjirappally in Kottayam district, Kerala. There are two temples here known as Thekke Ganapathiyar and Vadakke Ganapathiyar. The main deities in both the temple are Ganapathy. Thekke Ganapathiyar temple was built in 1150 CE. The temple was built by Nattukottai Chettiar who arrived from Tamil Nadu to business in the region. The temple is built in granite stone including the roof. Vadakke Ganapathiyar temple was built in 1450 CE. This temple was built by Vellala community that had arrived here from Kumbakonam in Tamil Nadu. The permission for building the temple was given by Thekkumkoor king. Shiva, Bala Ganapathi and Subramanya are worshipped on a single peedam in Vadakke Ganapathiyar temple. The temple remained closed when Colonel Monroe was the Diwan of Travancore. The temple was later taken over by the British. The copper doors of the temple were auctioned away. The murtis worshipped in the temple went missing for several years. The temple wa

Sree Karpureswara Temple is located near fort in Kanhangad in Kasaragod district, Kerala. The temple is also known as Poonkavanam. The main deity worshipped in the temple is Shiva and he faces west. The Upa Devatas worshiped in the temple are Ganapathi, Durga, Vishnu, Sastha and Subrahmanian. The main festival observed in the temple is Mahashivratri. The temple belonged to Agathiyanmar who were Shivalli Brahmins. The fort and temple was constructed by Somashekara Nayikar in 1731 CE. He was a Badanur Nayikar or Ikkeri Nayakar from South Canara. It is said that the control of the temple was given to Agathiyanmar in 1875 CE by British.

Kahika festival is an unusual festival held in various places in Kullu and Mandi. In Mandi the ritual is known as Narkhan. In some places this festival, also known as Kaika or Kayika, is an annual event and in some place is held once in 3 or 5 or 7 or 9 or 12 years or even more. When it is not an annual event, the festival is performed when the deity informs about the need of the ritual through goor – the priest or sacred person. The objective of Kahika festiva is removal of sin through a human being sacrificed and then brought back to life. With the removal of sins and evil there will be peace, prosperity and good harvest. The ritual is usually held in the months of Jyeshta (May – June), Ashada (June – July), Shravan (July –August), Bhadrapad (August – September) and Ashwin (September – October). The ritual involves the flamboyantly acted sacrifice of a man, always from the Nad caste, who lapses in a trance so real that it is said not even a doctor can determine if he is, in fa

Karukadom Sree Krishna Swamy temple is located at Kothamangalam on the Kothamangalam – Muvattupuzha road in Ernakulam district, Kerala. The shrine is dedicated to Bhagavan Sri Krishna. The Upa Devatas worshipped in the temple are Ganapathy, Shiva and Sastha. As per history, the temple belonged to Ponarkottu Mana also known as Swarnathumana. This family had donated the temple to Madassery Namboothiri. The most important festival in the temple is the Sri Krishna Janmashtami or the Gokulashtami.

A collection of wisdom from Srimad Bhagavad Purana. When there is the earth to lie upon, why trouble about a bed? When one's arm is readily available why require pillows? When there is the palm of one's hand, why seek for plates and utensils? When there is the atmosphere or a bark or other similar stuff to clothe oneself in, what need is there of silks? I consider him a hero who, having dedicated his whole heart and soul to the love of Bhagavan Sri Krishna, frees himself from worldly attachments, attains true knowledge and drops his body wherever it happens to fall – unknown, unwept and unsung. (Vidura to Dhritarashtra) Are there no rags by the wayside? Do not trees yield their gifts? Have streams, that always support others, dried up? Is not God (Sri Krishna) the friend of those who have surrendered everything? Why then do the Wise wait upon the rich, who are blinded by and intoxicated with their wealth? — Srimad Bhagavata, II.2. Whenever the rulers of the earth, their inte

Kattavettoor Shiva temple is located at Deshamangalam village in Thrissur district, Kerala. The temple is dedicated to Shiva. The temple has a circular sanctum sanctorum or Vatta Sreekovil. The Upa Devatas worshipped in the temple are Mahavishnu and Ganapahty. The most important festival in the temple is Mahashivratri. Monday is the most auspicious day in the temple in a week. The temple once belonged to Deshamangalam Mana. Those people wishing to get married to a desired partner get their wishes fulfilled after offering prayers here on Monday.

Tithi in Panchang – Hindu Calendar on Tuesday, 13 July 2021 – It is Shukla Paksha Tritiya Tithi or the third day during the waxing or light phase of moon in Hindu calendar and Panchang in most regions. It is Shukla Paksha Tritiya Tithi or the third day during the waxing or light phase of moon till 6:52 AM on July 13. Then onward it is Shukla Paksha Chaturthi Tithi or the fourth day during the waxing or light phase of moon till 6:14 AM on July 14. (Time applicable in all north, south and eastern parts of India. All time based on India Standard Time.  Good – Auspicious time on July 13, 2021 as per Hindu Calendar – There is no good and auspicious time on the entire day.  Nakshatra  – Ashlesha or Ayilyam Nakshatra till 2:47 AM on July 13. Then onward it is Magha or Makam Nakshatra till 2:58 AM on July 14. (Time applicable in north, south and eastern parts of India).  In western parts of India (Maharashtra, Gujarat, Goa, north Karnataka and south Rajasthan), Ashlesha or Ayil