Chirakkara Devi temple is located at Chirakkara, around 2.5 km from Kalluvathukkal junction, in Kollam district, Kerala. The shrine is dedicated to Goddess Bhagavathi. The huge temple compound has two shrines – meloottu and keezhootu. Meloottu is dedicated to Bhagavathy and keezhootu is dedicated to Yogeeswaran. It is said that a commander in chief of Chirakkal army who came to help the Travancore king became the Yogeeswaran. Some people believe the place only initially had Yogeeshwaralayam. Kalamezhuthum and Pattu are held in the temple. A festival is held here on Bharani and Karthika nakshatra in Kumbham month. The festival sees the participation of four karas of the region. A 10-day festival which includes Kettukazhcha begins on the Uthram nakshatra day in Kumbham month with kodiyettam. The Devi shrine is believed to have been built by Travancore king, Udaya Marthanda Varma. The shrine is constructed in wood. The shrine consists of ancient Kerala style arayum nirayum. The an

Koodalmanikyam Temple history is lost as it was not documented. There is no concrete evidence regarding the origin of Koodalmanikyam temple. Here is a look at some of the important historical aspects of the temple dedicated to Chaturbhuja Vishnu with Conch, Chakra, Gada and Japa Mala. The general belief, however, is that the murti in the temple is Bharatha the brother of Sree Rama. Thousands of years ago the entire area around Koodalmanikyam temple was a dense forest and a number of Rishis under Kulipini Maharshi were engaged in an incessant Yagna offering severe penance to please Maha Vishnu. Ultimately pleased at the intensity and sincerity of their devotion, Vishnu appeared before them and offered to satisfy their wish. All they wanted was his eternal presence at the place. Bhagavan Vishnu readily agreed. The Rishis now prayed to Goddess Ganga to bless the sacred Yagya Bhoomi with her presence. Answering to the their prayers, springs of River Ganga inundated the area. The presen

Chinakkathoor Kavu temple is located at Palappuram, around 5 km from Ottapalam, in Palakkad district, Kerala. The temple is dedicated to Goddess Bhadrakali and Mele Kavil Bhagavathy. The shrine is also referred to as Chenakkathoor. There are two temples here – Thazhekavu and Melekavu. The darshanam of both the temples are towards south. There are three flag posts or kodimaram in the temple. Thazhekavu has two flag posts one inside the temple and one outside. The deity worshipped in Melekavu is believed to be the daughter of Kodungallur Bhagavathy. The vigraham of Goddess Bhadrakali worshiped in Thazhe Kavu is swayambhu – of divine origin. The Upa Devata worshipped in the temple is Ganapati. This Ganapati is famous as Vidya Ganapathi. Koothu and Pooram are held at Melekavu. Pattum and Arattu are held at Thazhekavu. Mele Kavilamma is the devata of 7 deshams (villages) – Pallavurmangalam, Palappuram, Ottappalam, Mettanna, Evarkottiri, Thekkumangalam and Vadakkumangalam. The poor

Eyyal Karthyayani temple is located at Eyyal in Thrissur district, Kerala. The main deity worshipped in the temple is Goddess Karthyayani and the deity is a Desha Devata. The darshanam of Eyyal Karthyayani Devi is towards west. Importance is given to Goddess Bhadrakali who is an Upa Devata here. The vigraham of Goddess Bhadrakali is Kannadi Shila. Bhadrakali faces north in the temple. The belief is that Goddess Kali arrived here from Kodungallur (avahichu kondu varika). The other Upa Devatas worshipped in the temple are Ganapathy, Ayyappa, Shiva and Kshetrapala. The annual pooram festival is held on Karthika nakshatra in Medam month (April – May). The pooram festival is famous for the participation of no less than 24 elephants. Madhura Vela is held on the next day of pooram festival on Rohini nakshatram. The festival and rituals are performed by Mannanmar. An important ritual during the Madhura Vela is the Thendu Parikkuka. A cloth is tied around on the top of the middle portio

Sadya is the traditional vegetarian food (need not be always vegetarian) that is served on a banana leaf in Kerala. The most popular Sadhya is the one served during Onam. Have you ever thought what is the meaning and origin of the term Sadya. The origin of the term Sadya is from the Sanskrit word Sagdhi (सगदी ). The term means eating food along with friends, neighbors, relatives and family members. The preparation for Sadya begins days in advance. Words cannot capture the emotion when nearly three generation of a family sits together to eat sadya. Mothers who prepare the food have moist eyes - tears of happiness - when the food is served to all the family members in a single place. Photo of Valla Sadhya in Aranmula Parthasarathy Temple Apart from Onam Sadhya some of other popular Sadhyas are: Valla Sadhya - Valla Sadya is spread over more than 45 days coinciding with Onam, Aranmula boat race and Ashtami Rohini (birthday of Bhagavan Sri Krishna) in the famous Aranmula

 Arpookara Sri Subramanya Swami Temple is located 500 meters west of Kottayam Medical College Bus Stand in Kottayam, Kerala. Arpookara Temple testival 2024 date is November 30 to December 7. The 8-day annual festival ends with Arattu on the Shukla Paksha Sashti day in Vrischikam month. The main deity in the temple is Subramanya Swami or Murugan and the deity faces east. The sanctum sanctorum is circular – vatta sreekovil. The temple is noted for its magnificent wooden sculptures and mural paintings. The Upa Devatas worshipped in the temple are Sri Krishna, Shiva, Sastha, Rakshas and Ganapathy. The temple has a koothambalam. Although the temple is managed by Travancore Devaswom Board, the right to conduct seeveli and opening and closing of the sreekovil is done by Padakasseri Illam, who were the owners of the temple in olden days.

Edakkad Vishnu temple is located at Edakkad village in Kannur district, Kerala. The darshanam of Edakkad Sree Maha Vishnu is towards east. The temple was a Mahakshetram during the ancient times. The temple is noted for its two tier sanctum sanctorum (sreekovil) whose roof is covered in copper. The Upa Devatas worshipped in the temple are Ganapathy and Sastha. The shrine has two Thidapalli. The 8-day annual festival begins on Medam 1 (April 14 or April 15).

Edayattu Maha Vishnu temple, also known as Edayoor temple,  is located in Kadavallur village in Thrissur district, Kerala. The main deities worshipped in the temple are Bhagavan Vishnu and Narasimha. The darshanam of Edayattu Maha Vishnu is towards east. The Sankalpam of Bhagavan Vishnu in the shrine is that of Lakshmana, brother of Bhagavan Sri Ram in the Ramayana. Prasad or naivedya is only offered one time in a day in the temple. On a Thursday (muppettu vayazhacha) in Kumbha month (February – March), Niramala is offered.

Rishinaradamangalam temple is located near Kannambra in Palakkad district, Kerala. The main deity worshipped in the temple is Narasimha form of Bhagavan Vishnu. The deity faces east. The Upa Devatas worshipped in the temple are Shiva, Ganapathy, Subramania, Nagaraja and Ayyappa. The popular belief is that the prathishta or consecration in the temple was done by Sage Narada. The 8-day festival in the temple begins on Medam 7 (April 20 or April 21). As per history the temple once belonged to 18 Namboothiri Illams including Avinikattillam. The shrine was later managed by Kannambra Nair, who was a local ruler.

Sree Uthrathil Bagavathy temple is located at Thiruvazhiyode near Sreekrishnapuram in Palakkad district, Kerala. The temple is dedicated to Goddess Bhadrakali. The darshanam of Sree Uthrathil Bagavathy is towards north. The shrine is also known as Thirunarayanapuram Uthrathil Kavu. The murti worshipped here is carved in black granite stone. The main festival in the temple is held on Bharani nakshatra in Meenam month. The festival lasts for 7 days. Nearly 30 elephants participate in the annual festival. As per local belief, Goddess Bhagavathi arrived here atop the olakkuda (traditional umbrella) of Kizhiyedathu Namboothiri from Kodungallur. There is a belief among local people that Uthrathil Bhagavathy is the grandmother, Nalisseri Bhagavathi is the mother and Pariyanampatta Bhagavathi is the daughter. Another famous temple nearby is the Thirunarayanapuram Vishnu temple. The annual pratishta festival in the temple is held in Malayalam Mithuna Masam (June - July).

Problems in life often give us the opportunity to pause and look at the bigger picture. Some problems save us from bigger troubles. Some problems are like cancer. The only solution to it is complete removal. Practice detachment to get rid of them. Such problems trouble us due to attachment. The majority of our problems are due to wrong thoughts. Get our thoughts correct and problems will disappear. Problems are not gifts. We invent them or invite them into our lives. Then cry for help. So stop inventing problems and inviting them. Control over our desires will help in not inventing and inviting problems.   We are taught to believe that God gives us problems to test us. Nope, it is not so. Our ignorance and lack of understanding of Truth (God) create problems.  Desire, attachment and seeking permanence in the impermanent world are the only reasons for problems in life. Get rid of them and you will be always happy. Stop seeking happiness in external things and people. Na

Tithi in Panchang – Hindu Calendar on Tuesday, 24 August 2021 – It is Krishna Paksha Dwitiya tithi or the second day during the 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 the waning or dark phase of moon till 4:05 PM on August 24. Then onward it is Krishna Paksha Tritiya tithi or the third day during the waning or dark phase of moon till 4:25 PM on August 25. (Time applicable in all north, south and eastern parts of India. All time based on India Standard Time.  Good – Auspicious time on August 24, 2021 as per Hindu Calendar – There is no good and auspicious time on the entire day.  Nakshatra  – Purva Bhadrapada or Pooruruttathi nakshatra till 9:05 PM on August 24 . Then onward it is Uttara Bhadrapada or Uthrattathi nakshatra till 10:11 PM on August 25 . (Time applicable in north, south and eastern parts of India).  In western parts of India (Maharashtra, Gujarat, Goa, north Kar