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Showing posts from November 2, 2021


Agnisara – A Cleansing Yoga Technique

Agnisara is one of the many cleansing practices in Yoga. Another name for it is Vahnisara. Agni and Vahni are Sanskrit words for fire. Sara is movement. The technique is called so because it involves movement of the internal stomach muscles around the navel, which is accepted in Ayurveda as the seat of fire/heat in the body. In Gheranda Samhita (I.14), this technique is mentioned as one of the four types often employed for cleansing the stomach. For this, water or six meter long strip of cloth is used. Cleansing with this cloth is described in Hatha Yoga Pradipika (II.24). Agnisara does not require any equipment or material. It only involves movement of the abdominal wall. Agnisara process is described in Gheranda Samhita (I. 19-20) as follows: “The navel is moved back towards the spine a hundred times. It helps to remove impurities from the abdomen and increases the power of digestion. The knowledge of dhauti should be kept secret. It makes the body shining and pure like that of g

Oottukulangara Bhagavathy Temple At Peruvemba – Famous For Chanthattam

Oottukulangara Bhagavathy temple is located around 1.5 km from Peruvemba in Palakkad district, Kerala. The shrine is dedicated to Goddess Bhadrakali and is famous for a unique Kerala temple ritual known as Chanthattam. The darshanam of Oottukulangara Bhagavathy is towards north. Shiva is seen on her left side and Vishnu Bhagavan on her right side. The Upa Devatas worshipped in the temple are Kalabhairavan, Nagaraja and Rakshas. Bhadrakali worshipped here is in Swayambhu form (self-incarnated). Since the murti was found under the shade of an Ashoka tree, the tree itself was chosen as the roof of the temple. The main offering in the temple is Chanthatam also known as Patham Padhiyam. As the Goddess is covered with Chanthu devotees cannot see her. The ritual is performed on the Monday or Thursday after the 41 day Mandala Kalam. Chanthattam happens on the last week of December (after December 26). The ritual is held from 6:00 AM to 1:00 PM. All devotees are allowed to freely enter th

Thoughts And Quotes On Dhanteras

Majority of Hindu festivals are based on seasons and are rooted in agriculture. Cattle are very important part of agrarian economy. On Dhanteras farmers worship their cattle. The horns of cattle and oxen are colored red and are fed with sweets and other delicacies. Prasad made from sesame seeds are distributed as sesame symbolizes productivity. Thus each ritual on Dhanteras extols the need for the coexistence of man and Nature. Goddess Lakshmi puja is also an important ritual on Dhanteras. In Dhanteras, ‘Dhan’ means wealth. On Dhanteras, Goddess Lakshmi is worshiped to provide prosperity and well being. Goddess Lakshmi is not all about gold, wealth or money making. There is also spiritual wealth, mental health, wealth of true knowledge, and health is also wealth….Only that monetary wealth which has a strong backing of spiritual wealth can be enjoyed, replenished and sustained. A Parthasarathy explains Goddess Lakshmi and wealth like this… Wealth in this

Being Religious Does Not Mean You Can Neglect Family Duties

It is a wrong notion which people hold that when one becomes religious he neglects his family duties. On the other hand he will do it more efficiently than before because his love for God will make him love His children – the family members – and he will serve them all the more ardently with greater love than before as he will see God in them. If one neglects family duties it means his religious outlook is not of the right type. Hinduism never has said that religion or spiritual instructions are not for the married. Married couples are expected by our Shastras to lead a religious life and a life of sacrifice in the service of society and not be selfish. It is only the unwise ones who do not know the a, b, c of the Shastras, say such silly things, being extremely selfish. As regards japa, the more you do the better. But then, there is no use repeating the mantra mechanically a large number of times. Instead, if you repeat it devotedly and with great fervour a limited number of times,

9 November 2021 Tithi – Panchang – Hindu Calendar – Good Time – Nakshatra – Rashi

Tithi in Panchang – Hindu Calendar on Tuesday, 9 November 2021 – It is Shukla Paksha Panchami tithi or the fifth day during waxing or light phase of moon in Hindu calendar and Panchang in most regions. It is Shukla Paksha Panchami tithi or the fifth day during waxing or light phase of moon till 4:01 PM on November 9. Then onward it is Shukla Paksha Sashti tithi or the sixth day during waxing or light phase of moon till 1:57 PM on November 10. (Time applicable in all north, south and eastern parts of India. All time based on India Standard Time.  Good – Auspicious time on November 9, 2021 as per Hindu Calendar – There is no good and auspicious time on the entire day.  Nakshatra  – Mool or Moolam nakshatra till 12:23 AM on November 9 . Then onward it is Purvashada or Pooradam nakshatra till 10:54 PM on November 9. Then onward it is Uttarashada or Uthradam nakshatra till 9:36 PM on November 10. (Time applicable in north, south and eastern parts of India).  In western parts of