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Showing posts from July 26, 2021


Mangala Gauri Vrat in North India in Sawan month – How to Observe Shravan Mangala Gauri Vrat?

Mangala Gauri Vrat in North India in Sawan month is dedicated to Goddess Mangala Gauri (Maa Parvati), Shiva and Hanuman. The fasting and pujas are performed on Tuesday (Mangalwar) in Shravan month. Here is a brief description on how to observe the Shravan Mangala Gauri Vrat as per tradition followed in North India. Note - If you wish to follow the South Indian way of puja then you can read it here - Mangala Gauri Puja South India Benefits – Manglik and those looking to get married will be blessed with early marriage. Newlywed women and married women perform it for peace and prosperity in their homes. The basic idea of performing the vrat is to get a good life partner (husband or wife). Married people perform it for a long happy married life. Main Rituals – Fasting (only a single meal on the day), pujas and listening to Mangala Gauri Vrat Katha. How to Observe Shravan Mangala Gauri Vrat? Wake up early. Clean the house. Take bath. Wear clean clothes – preferably

Rice Symbolism In Hinduism

Rice is considered a fertility symbol in Hinduism. And due to this symbolism it is used on all auspicious occasions. It is also symbol of auspiciousness and prosperity. In scriptures of Hindu religion, rice is associated with wealth, and therefore symbolically likened to Goddess Lakshmi. Uncooked rice is believed to scare away demons, particularly those that check fertility. The practice of throwing akshata (unbroken rice) on the bridal couple arises from this belief. Not only is rice important as food, it is also undeniably integral to Hindu religious ceremonies. It is present in most prayers, worship, pujas, and rituals, served to Hindu gods and goddesses and devotees alike. Many Hindu festivals are based on the harvest cycle of rice like Pongal, Sankranti and Onam. The first solid food given to a baby in Hinduism is rice – simple boiled rice or rice cooked in milk. When a child is initiated into the world of letters, the child with assistance of elderly person writes first l

Barley In Hinduism

Barley is known as Jau in Hindi and Yava in Sanskrit. It is used in rituals, pujas and worship associated with Hinduism. Barley is regarded as a symbol of wealth and abundance in Hindu religion. Jau is widely used in Hindu ceremonies related to birth, wedding, funeral etc. It also constitutes one of the important components in homa – the fire ritual. The major producing states of Barley in India are Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab and West Bengal. Barley is grown for many purposes, but the majority of all barley is used for animal feed or malting.

Story Of Shankhachuda Kidnapping Gopis Of Vrindavan

Shankhachuda was a lieutenant of Kubera, the treasure of gods. Once he happened to pass through the skies of Vrindavan. There he saw Bhagavan Krishna and Balarama surrounded by gopis. The gopis were singing ecstasy and Krishna playing his flute. Shankhachuda thought of kidnapping the gopis as they are better singing in his palace than before these two cowherd boys. Blinded by arrogance, power, lust and ignorance, Shankhachuda swept down on the gopis and forcibly carried them away with great speed. Sri Krishna and Balarama gave him a hot chase. Shankhachuda soon realized the cowherds are not any normal human beings. Seeing the two approaching him as the incarnations of death, Shankhachuda abandoned the gopis and fled for his life. Balarama stood guard for the Gopis, Sri Krishna pursued Shankhachuda wherever he tried to hide himself and soon caught hold of him. Krishna then beheaded the lieutenant Kubera and took away the precious crest jewel on his crown and came back to join th

Kadambuzha Vishnu Temple In Cherpu

Kadambuzha Vishnu temple is located on the northern side of Cherpu Bhagavathy Temple at Padinjattumuri near Cherpu in Thrissur district, Kerala. The shrine is dedicated to Maha Vishnu and the original temple was built more than 2000 years ago. The temple during its glory witnessed some of the important rituals of Brahmins of the region. Currently the temple has lost its all glory. The old buildings of the temple are in a dilapidated condition. The sanctum sanctorum alone remains now. The temple now overlooks vast expanses of paddy fields.

Good Dates In August 2021 In Hindu Calendar - Hindu Auspicious Days And Time In August 2021

Hindu auspicious days are looked for buying selling and various other purposes. Good dates in August 2021 in Hindu calendar given below are based on India Standard Time. The auspicious dates and time in August 2021 are good for house warming, joining job, starting work, buying car or house, moving into new rented home, registration of property, villa, house flat, birth, visiting, first visit, buy bike, buying flat, house, property, villa, etc. Hindu Auspicious Days and Time in August 2021 August 3 after 12:59 PM August 4 August 12 good after 3:25 PM August 13 August 14 August 20 August 21 good after 7:01 PM August 22 August 23 August 25 good after 4:18 PM August 26 August 27 August 31 Bad Dates in August 2021 to be completely avoided are: August 6, 7, 8, 17, and August 29. Certain dates that might not be mentioned above are neither good nor bad. They are average dates. You won't get the desired results if auspicious events are performed on the day.

Cherthala Karthyayani Devi Temple History – Story - Festival Cherthala Pooram

Karthyayani Devi temple is a famous Bhagavathy temple at Cherthala in Alappuzha district, Kerala. The main deity worshipped in the temple is Goddess Karthyayani Devi – the murti of devi worshipped is a swayambhu shila. The darshanam of Cherthala Karthyayani Devi is towards east. Here is a look at the deities worshipped, history, story and festival of Cherthala Pooram. The sreekovil is located nearly 4 feet down from the ground. The flagpost of the temple is gold plated and Sheeveli is performed here daily. The Upa Devatas worshipped in the temple are Vishnu, Shivan, Kavudayan, Yakshi, Nagarajavu and Ganapathy. Upa Devata Ayyappan or Dharma Sastha has special importance in the temple. Cherthala Karthyayani Devi Temple History The Prathishta in the temple was performed by Vilwamangalam Swamiyar. It is said that Vilwamangalam Swamiyar happened to see seven maidens playing on swings. Six of them disappeared on seeing Swamiyar. One of the maiden ran away and Swamiyar chased her. The m

Chennamath Shiva Temple – Chathannoor - History - Architecture

Chennamath Shiva temple is located around 1 km north of Chathannoor in Kollam district, Kerala. The main deity worshipped in the temple is Shiva (shivling on a square peedam) and faces south. This ancient temple is specially noted for its architecture - Vatta Sreekovil (circular sanctum sanctorum) built in granite stone. The main festival observed here is Maha Shivratri. The Upa Devatas worshipped in the temple are Ganapathy, Rakshas and Sastha. The murti of Goddess Parvati is enshrined in the back of the sreekovil and the deity faces north. The temple is dated to 13th century CE. The shrine has a circular Vimana, Ekatala Alpavirama and follows Sandhara type (with circumambulatory passage inside). One unified conical roof paved with small tiles is set for the Sreekovil. Two armed Dwarapalakas are seen on the flanks of the main door of the sanctum sanctorum. The Garbhagriha of the Sreekovil is a square chamber with square Sikhara on it. The Balipeedam, installed on the eastern s

Paliam Sree Krishna Temple – Chendamangalam – History

Paliam Sree Krishna temple is located at Chendamangalam near North Paravur in Ernakulam district, Kerala. The main deity worshipped in Chendamangalam Sree Krishna temple is Sri Krishna Bhagavan. The temple is on a small hill and darshanam is towards east. The deity is nearly 4 feet tall. The Upa Devatas worshipped in the temple are Ayyappan and Nagam. As per history, the temple was built by Villarvattam king for the women of his palace to perform worship. The original name of the temple was Govindapuram. When Villarvattom Swaroopam became extinct the temple came under the control of Paliyathachan. It is said that here was tunnel from the temple to Paliam palace.

Chendamangalam Ayyappa Temple – Kozhikode – Festival – Chendamangalam Shiva Temple

Chendamangalam Ayyappa temple, also known Shiva Temple, is located at Chendamangalam on Vadakara – Thalassery road in Kozhikode district, Kerala. The temple is one among the 108 Ayyappan Kavukal mentioned in Thottam Pattu. The main deity worshipped in the temple is Shiva. The dhwaja prathishta in the temple is annually held on Makayiram nakshatra in Makaram month. The roof of the two tiered sreekovil (sanctum sanctorum) is covered with copper. The Upa Devata Ayyappa has prominence and is worshipped in a separate sreekovil outside the Nalambalam. Shiva is worshipped inside the Nalambalam. The darshanam of Chendamangalam Ayyappa is towards east. But the deities in the temple have separate kodimaram or flag post. The 8-day annual festival begins on Uthram nakshatra in Meenam month with kodiyettam.

Cheruvally Devi Temple Near Chirakkadavu – Ponkunnam In Kottayam - Festival

Cheruvally Devi temple is located at Cheruvally village, around 7 km from Ponkunnam, in Chirakkadavu, Kottayam district, Kerala. The shrine is dedicated to Goddess Bhadrakali. The Goddess worshipped here is the Paradevata of Thekkumkoor. The temple is famous for a unique pratishta known as Judgiammavan. The murti of the Devi worshipped in the temple is 4 feet and is carved in wood. The darshanam of Cheruvally devi is towards east. The Upa Devatas worshipped in the temple are Vishnu, Shiva, Ganapathy, Subrahmanya, Sastha, Yakshi, Kodunkali, Veerabhadra, Rakshas and Durga. Judgi Ammavan is an Upa Devata in the temple. It is believed that this is the arukola of Govinda Pillai who was a judge in Sadar court. A belief is that the judge happened to kill a relative. He accepted the crime and got capital punishment. A unique ritual and offering known as Vellam kudi vazhipadu is performed for Judgiammavan. This is performed to win court cases. The 9-day annual festival in the temple beg

Rules For Householder in Hinduism – Grihastha Ashram Rules

Grihastha Ashram (householder) is the second stage in the way of life in Hinduism. Griha means home and stha an occupant. The grihastha is one who has a family. Here are the Grihastha ashram rules. The concept of ashrama (stages), with prescribed duties and privileges, is a distinctive feature of the Hindu way of life. This particular stage of the householder has given much attention by the law-makers. It is said to be the most important of the four stages, because the other three stages depend upon it for survival and proper functioning (Manusmriti 3.77). Depending upon what type of religious activity a grihastha accepts, Vaikhanasa Grihya Sutra describes four types, whole Garuda Purana (46) speaks of two types of grihastha. The Mahabharata describes the characteristics of an ideal grihastha in terms of his duties (Anusasana Parva 141.25.27). A man enters Grihastha ashrama by taking a wife through marriage, which is a sacrament, after the successful completion of brahmacharya ashr

Kizhattully Lakshmi Narasimha Temple In Cherpu

 Kizhattully Lakshmi Narasimha Temple is located on the southern side of Cherpu Bhagavathy Temple at Padinjattumuri near Cherpu in Thrissur district, Kerala. The shrine is situated in the premises of the ancient Chittoor Mana and is opposite of Thaliyilappan temple. This temple was built by a Swamiyar of Chittoor Mana. The murti in the temple is just like the one worshipped in Thrissur Thekkemadom Narasimha temple. The Upa Devata worshipped in the temple is Sastha. The Swamiyar who built this temple is consecrated within the compound of the temple.

Spirituality And Devotion In The Era Of Smartphone

Today many of us blame our spiritual failure on technology especially the smartphone. We think technology like Smartphone is a hindrance to spiritual life. Restlessness of the mind, falling for desires, subscribing to cheap passion and lust, inability to control the mind is blamed on technology, mobile, social media, TV and everything that is modern. We conveniently put the blame of our spiritual failures on the advances in technology. We regret how private and public spaces have been taken over by mobiles. We put all the blame on technology as if before the arrival of it, we were spiritually mature and all were on the verge of self-realization. Prabuddha Bharata November 2015 Issue Editorial writes on the topic We constantly harp on about how technology has broken families, increased depression, created social barriers, and also taken away human communication. The scriptures of the major world religions talk over and again about the restlessness of the mind and how it is ex

Thaliyilappan Temple In Cherpu

Thaliyilappan Temple is located on the southern side of Cherpu Bhagavathy Temple at Padinjattumuri near Cherpu in Thrissur district, Kerala. The shrine is dedicated to Vishnu Bhagavan. The temple was built by Samoothiris of Kozhikode. Thaliyilappan Temple is a small temple. The deity here is a wish fulfilling deity. It is said that prayers here help childless couples in begetting children. In ancient times,  Thiruvonam Vaaram, chanting of Vedas and feast was held on all months especially on Thiruvonam nakshatra day.

Chettarikkal Temple At Koratty - History

Chettarikkal temple is located around 2 km from Koratty Railway station in Thrissur district, Kerala. The temple is one among the 108 Durga temples in Kerala. The temple is referred to as Koratty in Durgalaya Nama Stotravali. The main deities worshipped in the temple are Shiva and Vana Durga. The Upa Devata worshipped in the temple is Ganapathy and he has a separate sreekovil (sanctum sanctorum). Kalamezhuthu pattu is held during mandala kalam (November – December).

2 August 2021 Tithi – Panchang – Hindu Calendar – Good Time – Nakshatra – Rashi

Tithi in Panchang – Hindu Calendar on Monday, 2 August 2021 – It is Krishna Paksha Navami Tithi or the ninth day during waning or dark phase of moon in Hindu calendar and Panchang in most regions. It is Krishna Paksha Navami Tithi or the ninth day during waning or dark phase of moon till 10:10 AM on August 2. Then onward it is Krishna Paksha Dasami or the tenth day during waning or dark phase of moon till 12:12 PM on August 3. (Time applicable in all north, south and eastern parts of India. All time based on India Standard Time.  Good – Auspicious time on August 2, 2021 as per Hindu Calendar – There is no good and auspicious time on the entire day.  Nakshatra  – Krittika or Karthigai or Karthika Nakshatra till 11:29 PM on August 2. Then onward it is Rohini Nakshatra entire day on August 3 and till 2:05 AM on August 4. (Time applicable in north, south and eastern parts of India).  In western parts of India (Maharashtra, Gujarat, Goa, north Karnataka and south Rajasthan)