Hayagriva Jayanti is believed to be the day when Hayagriva incarnation of Lord Vishnu appeared on earth. Hayagriva Jayanti 2023 date is August 30. Hayagriva is a unique incarnation of Lord Vishnu with the head of a horse and the body of a human being. The purpose of this Avatar was to retrieve the stolen Vedas from the demons. The day is observed as Upakarma day and Avani Avittam day by the Brahmin community. Hayagriva Avatar is mainly mentioned in the Shanti Parva of Mahabharata and the Puranas. It is one of the lesser-known incarnations of Lord Vishnu. In some regions, Hayagriva is the guardian deity of the Vedas. There are several legends associated with how Lord Vishnu got the horse-head in Hayagriva incarnation. In the main legend associated with Hayagriva, Devas led by Indra are the villains. It is said the powers of Vishnu made Indra jealous and they decided to kill him. Once the Devas found Lord Vishnu resting with his chin on his bow. The Devas turned into te

Gayathri Japam is observed on the day after Shravan Purnima. Gayatri Japam 2022 date is August 12. Brahmins in  South India  perform this ritual as part of the Upakarma and Avani Avittam ritual. This annual ritual involves the chanting of Gayatri Mantra. Yajur, Rig and Sama Vedi Brahmins perform this ritual on the same day. On the day, after the initial rituals, Gayatri Mantra is chanted for 1008 or 108 times. The sequence and the mode of performing the rituals depend on mutt (Math) affiliation. The ritual is performed in the morning and there is a specific period for chanting it. You can read the  Gayatri Japa Sankalpam procedure here at the website of TRS Iyengar. Gayatri Japa Mantra in English can be read here - Brahmin Rituals

Chali Narayanapuram temple is located at Thanneermukkom Bund Kavala, around 6 km from Cherthala town, in Alappuzha district, Kerala. The main deities worshipped in the temple are Sri Krishna and Shiva. There are two sreekovils or sanctum sanctorum in the temple. Shiva is worshipped in north side and Sri Krishna in the south side. The darshanam of Chali Narayanapuram temple is towards east. The murti of Bhagavan Sri Krishna is nearly 6 feet tall. The sankalpam of Sri Krishna worshipped in the temple is the roudra bhavam – fierce form. The belief is that Sri Krishna is here getting ready to annihilate Jayadratha. The Shivling worshipped in the temple is swayambhu – of divine origin. It is said that woman who had come to place to cut grass accidently hit the Shivling and blood started oozing out of it. There are two flag posts or kodimaram in the temple. The annual festival for Sri Krishna begins with Kodiyettam on Chothi nakshatra in Kumbham month. The festival concludes with ara

This is a collection of thoughts not an article. Setting sun teaches us about the impermanence of life. Everything has to undergo change. But setting is not the end. There is new life. Unhappiness is because we seek permanence in an impermanent universe   Like the sun, life appears on a morning and starts a crescendo. By noon, it reaches its zenith. By evening, it is time to fade away. Again life reappears in the morning. Breaking away from the flock requires courage. But the breaking away should be for a good reason and for a good purpose. It should be not just to satisfy the ego or being different for the sake of different. There is no other home, heaven, or hell for us mortals. This is our only home – our final abode. It is for us to decide whether we want to make our home heaven or hell. Preparing to exit the world with ease and peace is an art we need to master. Real conquest is the conquest of the senses. This victory leads to permanent happiness. It can never be

Tithi in Panchang – Hindu Calendar on Saturday, 21 August 2021 – It is Shukla Paksha Chaturdashi tithi or the fourteenth day during the waxing or light phase of moon in Hindu calendar and Panchang in most regions. It is Shukla Paksha Chaturdashi tithi or the fourteenth day during the waxing or light phase of moon till 6:09 PM on August 21. Then onward it is Purnima Tithi or the full moon day till 5:00 PM on August 22. (Time applicable in all north, south and eastern parts of India. All time based on India Standard Time.  Good – Auspicious time on August 21, 2021 as per Hindu Calendar – Good and auspicious time till 7:01 AM.  Nakshatra  – Shravan or Sravana or Thiruvonam nakshatra till 8:46 PM on August 21 . Then onward it is Dhanishta or Avittam nakshatra till 8:25 PM on August 22 . (Time applicable in north, south and eastern parts of India).  In western parts of India (Maharashtra, Gujarat, Goa, north Karnataka and south Rajasthan), Shravan or Sravana or Thiruvonam nak