Karkidaka Masam, is also known as Ramayana Masam, in Kerala. It is also the last month in a Malayalam calendar. Karkidaka Masam 2022 begins on July 17 and ends on August 16. Karkidaka Vavu Bali (August 8) a ritual dedicated to the dead ancestors and relatives is also performed in this month. Karkidakam 1 2022 is on July 17. Karkidaka Masam Ekadasi Fasting are on July 24 and August 8 Karkidaka Masam Pradosham Fasting are on July 25 and August 9 The Muruga Sashti Fasting is on August 3 Important Festivals Rituals Karkidaka Vavu Bali is on July 28 Raksha Bandhan - August 11 Avani Avittam - August 22 Chinmayananda Samadhi - August 3 Full Moon and No Moon Day Velutha Vavu or full moon day (Purnima) – August 12 Karutha Vavu or Amavasya – July 28 Importance of Karkidaka Masam Karkidaka Masam, or Karkidakam Month, is the last month in the traditional Malayalam calendar followed in Kerala. The month is also known as the Ramayana Masam – the epic Ramayan is rea

Manipura Chakra is a chakra located at the root of the navel and is of prime importance in Yoga. Manipura Chakra is described in detail in Shatchakra Nirupana of Purnanada (verse 19-21). Its name is derived from mani (gem). Sage Patanjali has called it nabhi-chakra (Yogasutra III.29), as it is located at the root of the navel, and has stated that by concentrating on its one gets knowledge of the organs and their functions inside the body. The manipura lotus has ten petals with the ten letter of the Sanskrit alphabet from da to pha on them. The petals are of dark color, like that of the rain cloud. The letters are of blue color. The letters are da, dha, na, ta, tha, da, dha, na, pa and pha. Above the letters are the shining nada and bindu. Inside the lotus there is a triangle, which is the region of fire. It has a golden hue like the rising sun.   Outside the triangle there are three svastika figures. Agni (fire god) is seated on a ram. He has four arms. In his lap t

Kiraloor Shiva temple is located at Kiraloor in Thrissur district, Kerala. The Shiva worshipped in the temple is as per Kiratamurti Sankalpam. It is believed that Kirathanellor later became Kiraloor. The temple has a circular sanctum sanctorum (vatta sreekovil) and the darshanam is towards east. The Upa Devata in the temple is Ganapathi. The temple belonged to Madambu Mana. During the annual festival wooden horses are used. The festival is known as Kuthira Vela.

Ashadi Ekadasi, or Ashada Devshayani Ekadashi, is observed during the Shukla Paksha (waxing phase of moon) in Ashada Month (June – July). Ashadi Ekadasi 2023 date is June 29.  Pandharpur Yatra culminates on Ashadi Ekadasi and is of great importance in Maharashtra . The day is of a great significance at the Lord Vitthal Temple in Pandharpur. The Palki of Tukaram Maharaj from Dehu, Palki of Sant Dnyaneshwar from Alandi and numerous other Palki (Palanquin) carrying the silver Padukas of various saints arrives at Lord Vitthal Temple in Pandharpur on Ashadhi Ekadasi after a 21-day journey. Lord Vitthal is an incarnation of Lord Krishna and is a popular deity in Marathi culture. The day is of great significance to the Bhakti cult in  Maharashtra . Sant Tukaram and Sant Dnyaneshwar two of the great Bhakti exponents in  Maharashtra  reached the abode of Lord Vitthal in Pandharpur on Ashadhi Ekadasi. They had set out on foot around fifteen days before the auspicious day from t

Killikurissimangalam Shiva temple is located around 1.5 km north of Lakkidi Railway Station in Palakkad district, Kerala. The main deity worshipped in the temple is Shiva and the darshan is towards west. The Nandi in the temple is slanting towards northeast side. It is believed that the Shivling worshipped in the main sreekovil (sanctum sanctorum) was installed by Shuka Maharishi. A Ganapathi murti is worshipped on the left corner of the sanctum sanctorum. The Upa Devatas worshipped in the temple are Goddess Parvati, Guruvayurappan, Vanadurga and Nagam. There is no festival or cultural programs as it is believed that Shiva is performing Tapas in the temple. Panchagavya kalam is held from Thulam 1 to Thulam 13. There is a belief that a dumb person will be able to talk after eating the Kadalipazham (nedicha kadalipazham) offered in the temple. The temple belongs to Pazheydathu, Mangalathu, Killikurissi, Poonthottathu, Panavur and Mantredathu Illams. The temple was renovated by Veera Kera

Kidangoor Sree Krishna temple is located at Angamaly in Ernakulam district, Kerala. The main deity worshipped in the temple is Sri Krishna Bhagavan and the sreekovil sanctum sanctorum faces east. The Upa Devata worshipped in the temple is Ganapathy. The temple had Ooranma of Kaippally Illam and Ariyamballi Illam. Kaippally Illam was the home of Adi Shankaracharya.

Kavungal Devi temple is located at Mannancherry in Alappuzha district, Kerala. The shrine is dedicated to Goddess Bhadrakali and the sanctum sanctorum or sreekovil faces east. The Upa Devatas worshipped in the temple are Ganapathy, Shiva, Kodunkali, Veerabhadran, Sarpam and Rakshas. The 13-day annual festival ends with Arattu on Aswathy nakshatra day in Kumbham month. The 10th and 11th day of the festival are famous for Vela and Padayani. The temple belonged to Tiruvikkatti Kovilakam. The temple is presently managed by a committee formed by villagers.

Kaveed Karthyayani temple is located at Kaveed, around 4 km north of Guruvayoor, in Thrissur district, Kerala. The temple is one kilometer east of Punnathur Kotta. Goddess Karthyayani is the main deity worshipped in the temple and is of swayambhu sankalpam (not man made but of divine origin). The temple is one among the 108 Durga temples in Kerala. Kaveed Karthyayani temple is a small temple and the darshan sreekovil is towards east. The Upa Devatas worshipped in the temple are Ganapathy, Sri Krishna and Ayyappan. Ayyappan has a separate shrine. The murti of Ayyappa is unique as both hands are in the form of clenched fist. The huge temple pond is located on the eastern side of the temple. The main festival in the temple is held on Pooram nakshatra in Meenam month. Japa and special pushpanjali are held from Karkidakam 1 to Karkidakam 12. The temple belonged to Nenmeni Bhatteri and is currently managed by Guruvayur Devaswom.

Kavilakkad Bhagavathi temple is located at Chittanjoor in Thrissur district, Kerala. The temple is around two kilometer west of Kurukkanpara on Guruvayur – Kunnamkulam road. The temple is dedicated to Goddess Durga Devi. The darshan of the sreekovil (sanctum sanctorum) is towards east. Legend has it that Goddess Bhagavathi arrived here from Mukkola atop the traditional umbrella of Kodaykattu Namboothiri. The Upa Devatas worshipped in the temple are Ayyappan, Manikantan and Bhagavathi. The annual temple festival famous as Kavilakkad Pooram is held on the Saturday after Makaram 10 (last week of January). The annual festival is famous for the participation of nearly 20 caparisoned elephants. The temple belonged to Kodaykattu Illam. Currently, the temple is managed by a committee of villagers.

Palliyarakkavu temple is located at Kavalam village in Allappuzha district, Kerala. The temple is dedicated to Goddess Durga. The murti worshipped does not have any particular form and is swayambhu – of divine origin. The darshan of the main sanctum sanctorum is towards west. The Upa Devatas worshipped in the temple are Ganapathy, Subrahmanian, Shiva, Sri Krishna, Sasthavu and Bhadrakali. The regular red color flowers used in Bhagavathi temples are not used in this shrine. The 10-day annual festival ends with Arattu on Uthram nakshatra in Meenam month.

Nari Puja is an important ritual observed at Chakkulathukavu Temple in Alappuzha district, Kerala. In the ritual, the temple priests wash feet of women and honor them. Chakkulathukavu Nari Pooja 2023 date is December 22. It is observed on the first Friday of Dhanu month. Chakkulathukavu Nari Pooja Story Once a rare and important puja and ritual was taking place inside the main temple compound. The temple authorities and priests asked women to vacate the temple compound so that they conduct the puja. Except for an old lady, rest of the women left the temple compound. The temple authorities and the priests forcefully removed her from the temple compound but with much difficulty. As soon as the old lady stepped out of the temple compound, there was a huge wind. All the puja items flew away. All the lamps in the temple were extinguished by the strong wind. Soon dogs started howling. Owls appeared in the sky. Sounds of wolves were heard in the distance. Crows and other birds started

Karppillikkavu Sree Mahadeva temple is located at Manjapra in Ernakulam district, Kerala. The darshan of the temple is towards west. It is believed that the prathishta of Shivling in the temple was performed by Karthaveeryarjuna. The Sankalpa murti of Shiva in this temple is that of Kirathamoorthy or Vettaikaran. This is the form of Shiva in which he appeared before Arjuna to bless him with Pashupatastra in the Mahabharata. Another belief is that Shiva is residing along with Sati and he is also Annadana Prabhu. It is for this reason that there is no Nandi Prathishta in the temple. Legend has it that originally the temple was a Bhagavathi Kshetram. But when Karthaveeryarjuna visited the place he could not feel the presence of Mother Goddess. He then meditated and realized the presence of Shiva here. He then consecrated the Shivling and performed intense meditation in a cave on the north side of the temple. The Upa Devatas worshipped in the temple are Karthaveeryarjuna, Bhuvaneshwari, Sa

The story of a farmer who remembered god only twice was a greater devotee than Sage Narada as per Bhagavan Vishnu. This story was told by Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa. Once upon a time conceit entered the heart of the divine Sage Narada, and he thought there was no greater devotee than himself. Reading his thought, Bhagavan Srihari Vishnu said, "Narada! Go to such and such a place where there is a great bhakta of mine, and do cultivate his acquaintance." Accordingly, Narada went and found there a farmer, who rose early in the morning, pronounced the name of Bhagavan Hari once and taking his plough went out for the day to till the ground. At night after once more saying the name of Hari, he went to bed. "How can this rustic be called a lover of God?" thought Narada to himself. "He is busily engaged in worldly duties, and has no signs of a pious man about him." The sage then came back to Bhagavan and told what he thought of his new acquaintance

Tithi in Panchang – Hindu Calendar on Wednesday, 21 July 2021 – It is Shukla Paksha Dwadashi tithi or the twelfth day during the waxing or light phase of moon in Hindu calendar and Panchang in most regions. It is Shukla Paksha Dwadashi tithi or the twelfth day during the waxing or light phase of moon till 2:01 PM on July 21. Then onward it is Shukla Paksha Trayodashi tithi or the thirteenth day during the waxing or light phase of moon till 11:42 AM on July 22. (Time applicable in all north, south and eastern parts of India. All time based on India Standard Time.  Good – Auspicious time on July 21, 2021 as per Hindu Calendar – There is no good and auspicious time on the entire day.  Nakshatra  – Jyeshta or Kettai or Triketta Nakshatra till 5:14 PM on July 21. Then onward it is Mool or Moolam Nakshatra till 3:45 PM on July 22. (Time applicable in north, south and eastern parts of India).  In western parts of India (Maharashtra, Gujarat, Goa, north Karnataka and south Raja