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Showing posts from July 19, 2021


Karyat Vishnu Temple At Purameri In Vadakara – Famous For Murals

Karyat Vishnu temple is located at Purameri on Vadakara – Kuttiyadi road in Kozhikode district, Kerala. The shrine is dedicated to Vishnu Bhagavan and darshan is towards west. The 9-day annual festival ends with Arattu on Thiruvonam nakshatra day in Kumbham month. The Upa Devatas worshipped in the temple are Ayyappan, Bhagavathy and Paradevata. The temple also has a dedicated Goddess Saraswati sankalpam. As per history, the temple belonged to Brahmins and later it came under the control of Kadathanadu Ilayarajavu. The sanctum sanctorum is square shaped with the basement in granite; the walls are in laterite and traditional roofing in wood covered by copper plates. Around the Sanctorum is the Nalambalam and outside the Nalambalam is Balikkal pura. The inscriptions on the basement of the flag post indicate that the flag post is dedicated by Krishna Varma Thampuran of Ayancheri Kovilakom. Karyat Vishnu Temple Murals The murals at Karyat Vishnu temple are best example of the

Guna Melana Concept In Hindu Marriage

Guna Melana is when the elements (guna) in the horoscopes of the potential groom and bride are matched to assess their compatibility for the nuptial union, the whole process is known as Guna Melana. It is an important horoscope related matching process in Hindu marriage. The total of these elements (parameters) is thirty six in number, which are matched in eight broad categories – varna, vashya, tara, yoni, graha maitri, ganamaitri, bhakua and nadi. Varna – All humans are divided into four classes – Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaishya and Shudra. They represent the basic attributes respectively – sattva (satvika), rajas, rajas-tamas and tamas and the twelve rashis (zodiac signs) in the following way – Pisces, Scorpio and Cancer – Brahmin (watery rigus); Aries, Leo, Sagittarius – kshatriya (fiery rigus), Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn – vaishya (earthly rigus) and Gemini, Libra and Aquarius – Shudra (airy rigus). Vashya – On the basis of the janma rashi, all beings are divided into five vash

What Is Tanmatra In Hinduism?

Hiranyagarbha is the first form of Supreme Brahman. The body of Hiranyagarbha is made of five subtle elementary elements (sukshma bhutas). These are called tanmatra. Tanmatra literally means “that alone” and hence stands for an elementary bhuta so long as it is not mixed up with other. The five elementary bhutas are prithvi, ap, tejas, vayu and akasha. These should not be confused with what is meant by ether, air, fire, water and earth. The tanmatras are far more subtle than these and belong to a different order. These have emerged from avaykta (non-manifest undivided original) and therefore they are originally dominated by the three gunas (traits) – sattva, rajas and tamas. Because these three constituents are found in all that which come out of the avyakta, each is said to have a sattvika (illumining), a rajasika (dynamic) and tamasika (inert) part. These inert portions of the tanmatras get compounded with one another by a particular process. Each gross bhuta is made up of all th

Gunadhya – Author Of Brihatkatha - Story

Gunadhya is the author of Brihatkatha which contains hundreds of tales and is composed in the Paishachi language. The living period of Gunadhya is uncertain. He is supposed to have lived about 78 CE, during the regime of Satavahanas, under whom he was supposed to be a minister. But the tradition preserved in Kathasaritasagara (I.I.78-80) and Brihat Katha Manjari (I.ii.9.9-11, 70-71) regards him as a contemporary of Vararuchi alias Katyayana, the grammarian. The Puranic tradition regards him as a contemporary of Hala, the son of Arisa Satakarni, who ruled between the years 2644-9 o the Yudhisthira era, i.e. 495-90 BCE. The reason why Gunadhya composed this story in the Paishachi language is narrated in the first section of Kathasaritasagara. The king had to encounter humiliation during water sports with his queens for not knowing Sanskrit. Gunadhya offered to teach him Sanskrit grammar in six years, while another minister Sarvavarman, promised to teach him Sanskrit grammar in six mont

Kunnathur Thali Temple - Chendamangalam

Kunnathur Thali temple is located at Kizhakkum Purathu Chendamangalam in Ernakulam district, Kerala. The temple is one among the 18 Thali temples in Kerala. The main deity worshipped in the temple is Ardhanarishvara Shiva. The deity faces east. The Upa Devatas worshipped in the temple are Bhadrakali, Brahma, Vishnu, Bhrimgeeradi, Dakshinamurti, Aghoramurthy, Durga Bhagavathi, Ganapathi, Yakshi, Nagayakshi, Vadakkumnathan, Sasthavu and Saptamatrikas. There are a total of 13 Upa Devatas in the temple. The 5-day annual festival in the temple ends with arattu on Thiruvathira nakshatra day in Dhanu Masam (December – January). Shivratri is another important day in the temple. The temple is under the control of Paliyam Trust.

Kunnathu Sri Mahadeva Temple In Kudappanakunnu – History

Kunnathu Sri Mahadeva temple is located near Kudappanakunnu civil station in Thiruvananthapuram district, Kerala. The temple is dedicated to Shiva and it is believed that the temple is one among the 108 Shiva temples in Kerala. The Shivling worshipped in the temple is swayambhu and darshanam is towards east. Legend has it that two Siddhas had sat here on meditation and they attained Samadhi in the spot where the current temple is located. They turned into an anthill and later a swayambhu shivling appeared in the place of the anthill. The Upa Devatas worshipped in the temple are Ganapathy and Vasuki. The main festival in the temple is held on the Krishna Paksha Chaturdashi day in Dhanu month. Another important festival in the temple is Shivratri The temple is located atop a small granite hill amidst 3 acre forest. It is said that earlier the temple was surrounded by a 7 acre forest. The temple is belonged to Kunnathu Madom. The temple also had a connected with Kizhakevila Vettukar.

Gunacandra – Jain Literary Scholar

Gunacandra was a Jain literary scholar and he is known for his contribution during 1160 – 75 CE to the history of Sanskrit literature. Gunachandra was the pupil of the celebrated Jain polymath, Hemacandra, and a close friend and associate of Ramchandra, author of several works in Sanskrit. He is believed to have lived in the present day Gujarat. Gunacandra came into contact with Ramcandra when both of them were disciples of Hemachandra. In the circle of Hemacandra, however, Gunacandra was treated as a junior by his associates and elderly persons like Ramchandra. Ramcandra sought his help when he composed Natya Darpana, along with a commentary on it, after the departure of Hemacandra in 1173. It seems that Gunacandra was involved in writing a commentary on Natya Darpana from the very beginning. His name appears along with Ramcandra’s in all copies of the manuscript. Beside Natydrapana, Gunacandra also helped Ramcandra write Dravalankar. Apart from this joint authorship, very little

Story Of Arjuna Giving Crocodile – Apsara Varga – Liberation From Curse

Story of Arjuna giving liberation from curse to Apsara Varga and her friends is part of the story associated with Panchatheertham in the seas in South India. Five tirthas were located near the seas of South India. Once Apsara Varga and her four friends named Sourabhayi, Sameechi, Budbuda and Lata were travelling through the Panchatirthas - Agasthya Theertham, Soubhadram, Poulomam, Karandamam and Suprasanam. Near the tirthas they found an extremely handsome rishi who was performing penance. The five aparasas attempted to entice him with amorous methods. The sage got irritated and angry. He then cursed them to live in the five tirthas as crocodiles. He told them that they will get liberation when a powerful warrior will pull them out of the tirthas. The tirthas were then abandoned by sages and people. Years later Arjuna visited the tirthas but was warned by the sages not to enter them. Arjuna ignored the warning and entered the tirtha named Soubhadram. A huge crocodile caught hold of

Kundoorchola Shiva Temple Vengara – Cave Temple

Kundoorchola Shiva temple is located at Vengara on Malappuram – Parappanangadi road in Malappuram district, Kerala. The temple is 1 km southwest of Vengara Kacheripady. The shrine is a cave temple. The sreekovil is carved out Chengal stone (chengal guha). The main murtis worshipped in the temple are Shiva and Goddess Parvati. The darshan of sreekovil is towards west. The Upa Devatas worshipped in the temple are Ayyappan and Ganapathy. There is another cave on the south side of the temple. Water flows from a hill near the shrine referred to as chola. The pujari before entering the sreekovil has to first take bath in the outer chola and then again take bath in a chola near to the temple. The temple belonged to Vilakkiri Nair. Now the temple is governed by a committee formed by local people.

Kunduparamba Ganapathy Kavu Temple - Puthiyangadi

Kunduparamba Ganapathy Kavu temple is around 1 km from Puthiyangadi on Kozhikode – Koyilandy road in Kozhikode district, Kerala. Although the main deity is Subrahmanian, importance is given to Ganapathy, who is the Upa Devata. Subrahmanya faces towards west and Ganapathy faces towards south in the temple. The main offering to Ganapathy is Tengamuttal. The annual festival is observed during Navratri. The temple belonged to Punnassery Nair. Now it is maintained by a committee of local people.

Gunabhadra – Teacher In Jain Religion

Gunabhadra, revered as Sri Gunabhadrasuri, is an important teacher (acharya) in Jain religion. He wrote voluminously in Sanskrit. Only scanty material is available about his personal life. He claimed to be a disciple of the great Jain Acharya, Jinasena. According to Prasasti of Uttara Purana, Gunabhadra completed the unfinished task of his guru. It is certain that he flourished only after Jinasena. According to Pancastupa Gurvavali, the time of Gunabhadra was 803-95 CE. Among his independent works, Atmanusasana is considered the most important and spiritual. His exposition of the psychic state of humankind and causes of suffering in human life is lucid. Second important work of Gunabhadra is the Uttara Purana, is considered to be the remaining part of Maha Purana of Jinasena (which describes the life of the fifth Tirthankara (Rishabha). Uttara Purana, composed in Sanskrit, contains around 8,000 verses. It describes the life stories of 23 Tirthankaras. It is full of descriptions of

Kundukavu Bhagavathi Temple Amballur – Thrissur

Kundukavu Bhagavathi temple is located in Alagappanagar village on Chalakudy – Thrissur road in Thrissur district, Kerala. The temple is east of Amballur junction. The shrine is dedicated to Goddess Bhagavathi and her darshan is towards east. There are two main deities in the temple Goddess Durga and Goddess Bhadrakali. The prathishta in the temple is Kannadi Shila Prathishta. Legend has it that the Bhagavathi worshipped here was brought by Kaplingottu Namboothiri from Kodungallur (avahichu kondu varika). He did the prathishta at Kundukavu. In order to keep a check on the roudra bhavam (ferociousness of Goddess Kali), the Namboothiri performed bhajanam in Chottanikkara temple and brought Goddess Durga here (avahichu kondu varika). There is a unique ritual of taking Sangada Para to houses when there is an outbreak of pox (vasoori). The temple belonged to Kaplingottu Mana. The temple was also associated with Nalla Nattu Naduvazhi. Currently the temple is managed by Amballur NSS K

Kuttamath Someshwari Temple – Cheruvathoor

Kuttamath Someshwari temple is located at Cheruvathoor on the Payyanur – Kanhangad road in Kasaragod district, Kerala. Goddess Durga is worshipped as Someshwari. There are three prathishta murtis in the main sreekovil which is 18.75 kol in length (44.5 feet). The three deities worshipped in the temple are Someshwari, Kshetrapalan and Madathil Bhagavathi. As per history initially temple only had the murti of Madathil Bhagavathi. Someshwari and Kshetrapalan were consecrated later. The opening of the Bhagavathi Sanctum is towards west and it is never opened. Instead of door there are windows in the sreekovil. Kshetrapalan does not have a nada. Only Ambalavasikal are allowed inside the temple. Women worship from outside. Pregnant women do not visit the temple. The Upa Devatas worshipped in the temple are Sastha, Ganapathi, Veerabhadra, Shivan and Vishnu. The annual festival in the temple is held for five days in Kumbham month with Karthika nakshatra being the most important date. A

Sariraka Upanishad Teachings On Gunas - Sattva, Rajas And Tamas

Teachings from Sariraka Upanishad on Sattva, Rajas and Tamas Gunas. Non-killing, veracity, not stealing, continence, non-covetousness, refraining from anger, serving the guru, purity in mind and body, contentment, right conduct, abstinence from self-praise, freedom from pompousness, firm conviction in the existence of God, and not causing any injury to others – all these are to be known as sattvika gunas chiefly. I am the actor, I am the enjoyer, I am the speaker, and I am the egoistic – such are said by knowers of Brahman to be rajas gunas. Sleep, sloth, delusion, desire, copulation, and theft are said by expounders of the Vedas to be tamasa gunas. Perfect or divine knowledge is of sattvika guna; knowledge of dharma is of rajasa guna, and mental darkness is of tamas guna.

26 July 2021 Tithi – Panchang – Hindu Calendar – Good Time – Nakshatra – Rashi

Tithi in Panchang – Hindu Calendar on Monday, 26 July 2021 – It is Krishna Paksha Tritiya Tithi or the third day during waning or dark phase of moon in Hindu calendar and Panchang in most regions. It is Krishna Paksha Dwitiya Tithi or the second day during waning or dark phase of moon till 5:18 AM on July 26. Then onward it is Krishna Paksha Tritiya Tithi or the third day during waning or dark phase of moon till 4:17 AM on July 27. (Time applicable in all north, south and eastern parts of India. All time based on India Standard Time.  Good – Auspicious time on July 26, 2021 as per Hindu Calendar – Good and auspicious time till 3:24 PM.  Nakshatra  – Dhanishta or Sravishta or Avittam Nakshatra till 12:31 PM on July 26. Then onward it is Shatabhisha or Sadayam or Chathayam Nakshatra till 12:45 PM on July 27. (Time applicable in north, south and eastern parts of India).  In western parts of India (Maharashtra, Gujarat, Goa, north Karnataka and south Rajasthan), Dhanishta o