There are numerous stories associated with Thaipusam. But the most important story is that of Goddess Parvati presenting ‘Vel’ to muruga to eliminate demon Tarakasura. Here are some of the important stories of Thaipusam festival. Vel behind celebrating Thaipusam Sages were fed up with the troubles created by demon Tarakasur and his lieutenants. They complained to Shiva and he instructed Muruga to help them. Shiva gave him eleven weapons and Mother Parvati presented the most powerful ‘Vel.’ Muruga killed all the demons including Tharakasuran on Pusam star in the month of Thai with the Vel. Thaipusam is celebrated to commemorate this victory of good over evil. Kavadi and Thaipusam Another legend about Thaipusam is associated with the Kavadi. It involves Muruga testing the determination of Idumban, the student of Sage Agastya. Curse on Muruga and Thaipusam Another story revolves around Lord Muruga eavesdropping into the conversation between Lord Shiva a

Attingal Karichayil Mudippura Devi temple, also known as Ambalathumvathukkal Mudippura Devi temple, is located at Attingal in Thiruvananthapuram district, Kerala. The shrine is dedicated to Goddess Bhagavathi. The 8-day annual festival in the temple is held in Kumbha Masam (February – March). The temple has a square sanctum sanctorum and upa devata shrine. Some of the important rituals during the annual festival include kodimaram ghoshayathra, urul nercha, nagaroottu, annadanam, Thiru ezhunnallathu, kuthiyotta ghoshayatra, ashta dravya homam, thottam pattu, kalasha pooja, sree bhootha bali, pallivetta ezhunnallathu atop caparisoned elephant, thiruchezhunelli mandapathil pallikurup and Thiru Arattu ezhunnallathu. The festival ends with valiya kanikka and ashu kottu. The temple observes Navratri, Vijaya Dashami, Mandala Pooja and Thrikarthika festival.

Paramara Devi temple, also known as Parambanar Kulangara Bhagawati and Paramara Mutthi, is located at the heart of Ernakulam city, Kerala. The temple is dedicated to Goddess Bhadrakali. The annual 6-day festival in the temple is held in Kumbha Masam (February – March) and known as Thalappoli Mahotsavam. The temple has a square sanctum sanctorum facing north. The annual festival is famous for caparisoned elephants, melam, temple folk arts and rituals and pujas performed in traditional Kerala Devi temples in Central Kerala. Processions are taken out by devotees of Vadakkumbhagam (North Side) and Thekkumbhagam Bhagam (West Side). Both the sides conduct a day’s rituals and pujas. There are also community Thalam processions. Some of the rituals include kodipurattu Vilakke (procession with one elephant around the temple), seeveli, kazhcha seeveli, pushpa abhishekam, thiruvathira, thalappoli procession, pakal pooram, thalappoli ezhunellippu (procession at the temple with three elephan

Mahishasura or Mahishan is a demon in Hindu Puranas. Goddess Shakti took the form of Durga and numerous other forms to fight and kill the demon. The story of the birth of Mashishasura is found in the Vamana Purana, Devi Bhagvatham and Skanda Purana. The name Mahishasura because the demon had the head of a buffalo – Mahisha means male buffalo (bull). An Asura king named Dhanu had two sons – Rambhan and Karambhan. Rambhan got a boon from Agni Deva that he will beget a son from the woman whom his mind really gets attached to. Rambhan got attracted to a female buffalo in the abode of a Yaksha. He took the female buffalo to the netherworld (Patala). A bull got attracted to the buffalo and tried to mate with her. A fight ensued between Rambhan and the bull. The bull killed Rambhan in the fight. The buffalo jumped into the pyer of Rambhan and killed itself. From the pyre appeared Mahishasura. He then did intense penance and propitiated Brahma. He got the boon that he could only be k

Pudussery Sri Kurumba Bhagavathy temple is located at Puthussery in Palakkad district, Kerala. The annual festival in the temple is famous as Puthussery Kummatti and Pudussery Vedi or fireworks. The 14-day festival is held in Kumbha Masam. Legend has it that an ardent devotee of Kodungallur Bhagavathy from Pudussery could not have darshan of Bhagavathy during Bharani festival. It is said that to pacify and console his devotee Bhagavathy came and settled in Pudussery. Puthussery Vedi The burning of the bamboo trunk called the kambakettu (massive fireworks) is a yearly celebration which marks the culmination of the Pudussery Vedi. A bamboo trunk is laden with gun powder and when lighted it is a great spectacle. The bamboo trunks are collected from the inner forest areas in Walayar and brought to the temple in procession. Five to six tiers of squares are built using the bamboo with square pieces of bamboo also placed at corners of each squares. When lighted the gunpowder rises up go

Velan is a person who removes drishti dosha or evil eye – a look that is believed to have the power of inflicting harm. He is usually associated with Bhagavathi temples in Kerala. The concept is more closely associated with Shakti and Shiva (Shaiva) worship. Velan does the ritual of Othuka with a bark of Elengi tree. The person who performs the ritual is always from the Velan community. It is believed that Goddess Bhadrakali had come in the dream of a Velan elder and gave the community the responsibility of removing evil eye. Velan can be clearly identified by his dress. He wears a red dhoti (Mundu) and red color head dress or turban. He wears a dried fish on one ear and raw cashed on the other ear. Velan community also performs the ritual of Velan pattu in homes. It is performed to remove evil eye, enemy activities, bad luck and misfortune. It is also performed to remove all difficulties in life as a result of Shani dosha. Velan pattu are songs dedicated to Shiva, Ganapathi, Subraha

Koodalmanikyam Bharatha Temple at Irinjalakuda is dedicated to Bharatha, the second brother of Bhagavan Sri Rama of Ramayana. The annual festival in the temple is held in Medam Masam. Koodalmanikyam Temple utsavam 2023 date is May 2 to May 12. The 11-day festival is held in such a manner that it ends on the Thiruvonam nakshatra day in Meda Masam. Thriputhari or Mukkudi in October or November is a major event in the temple. Koodalmanikyam temple festival usually begins on the day after the world famous Thrissur pooram. The temple is famous for Kerala temple art performance by world renowned artists. Brahma Kalasam strictly following the Vedic and Tantric rituals are offered on 11 days of the festival. The festival is also famous for caparisoned elephants, melam, traditional temple art forms and pujas and rituals. The festival begins with Kodiyettam. Adhivasa homam, kumesha karkkari puja and parikalasha puja are held in the morning on the day. Ethruthu puja, Kalashabhishekangal a

Keezharoor Sree Rajarajeswari Temple is located at Keezharoor in Neyyattinkara, Thiruvananthapuram district, Kerala. The shrine is dedicated to Goddess Rajarajeswari. The 10-day annual festival in the temple is held in Kumbha Masam and concludes on Aswathy nakshatra in the month. Keezharoor Sree Rajarajeswari temple is built on Tamil temple architecture style with gopurams. The temple has a square sanctum sanctorum and small shrines of Upa Devatas. The annual festival is unique for rituals associated with Goddess Temples in South Kerala especially of those bordering Tamil Nadu. The annual festival is famous for Pongala ritual held on Aswathy nakshatra day. The main rituals in the temple include Maha Ganapathi homam, utsava poojas, kalasa abhishekam, Bhagavathy seva and Annadanam. The shrine also observes Navratri and various rituals in Dhanu Masam. The temple is known as Dakshina Mookambika. Pongala ritual is also held in the temple on the Aswathy nakshatra day of Kumbha Masam.

A man of intelligence separates the preferable (the ultimate human goal of salvation) from the pleasurable (prosperity here and hereafter — a limited objective), just as a swan separates milk from water. The man of poor intelligence does not do so — he is preoccupied only with the protection of the body. Nachiketas (according to Yama himself) has examined the highest state possible of attainment by man — (upto) the state of Hiranyagarbha — and renounced it (The state of Hiranyagarbha is the limit of worldly enjoyment). Instead he was desirous only of the Supreme One. The Self is hard to see because of its subtle nature. Concentration of the mind on the Self — withdrawing it from the senses — is adhyatma yoga. The Self is eternal. If one looks upon the mere body as the Self and thinks 'I shall kill It', one is wrong. If the one who is killed thinks ‘I am killed' he too is wrong. Both of them do not know — their own Self. The Self is subtler than the subtle — for example,

Tithi in Panchang – Hindu Calendar on Monday, 24 January 2022 – It is Krishna Paksha Saptami tithi or the seventh day during the waning or dark phase of moon in Hindu calendar and Panchang in most regions. It is Krishna Paksha Sashti tithi or the sixth day during the waning or dark phase of moon till 5:51 AM on January 24. Then onward it is Krishna Paksha Saptami tithi or the seventh day during the waning or dark phase of moon till 4:26 AM on January 25. (Time applicable in all north, south and eastern parts of India. All time based on India Standard Time.  Good – Auspicious time on January 24, 2022 as per Hindu Calendar – Good and auspicious time till 8:43 AM.  Nakshatra  – Hasta or Atham or Hastam nakshatra till 8:47 AM on January 24. Then onward it is Chitra or Chithirai or Chithira nakshatra till 8:00 AM on January 25 . (Time applicable in north, south and eastern parts of India).  In western parts of India (Maharashtra, Gujarat, Goa, north Karnataka and south Rajasthan), Has