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Showing posts from February 10, 2022


Aryanad Pulimoottil Kandan Sastha Temple – Festival – Purusha Pongala

Aryanad Pulimoottil Kandan Sastha temple is located at Pulimoodu – Aryanad in Thiruvananthapuram district, Kerala. The shrine is dedicated to Kandan Sastha. This is a unique temple in Kerala where men perform the pongala festival and is known as Aryanad Purusha pongala. The pongala ritual is mainly associated with women. The two day annual festival in the temple is held on Uthram nakshatra day in Meena Masam (March - April) and is famous as the Panguni Uthiram festival. The annual festival is also noted for ezhunnallathu, caparisoned elephant, melam, and performing art forms of Kerala. This is a small chathura sreekovil temple with some rare and unique pujas and rituals. The deities worshipped here are mainly seen in Southern Kerala.

Story Of Benefits Of Holy Company – Sage Narada

In the Bhagavad Gita, Sri Krishna says that he is Sage Narada among the rishis – such was the greatness of the rishi. There is a story about Sage Narada requesting Bhagavan Sri Krishna to narrate the greatness and benefits of holy company. Sri Krishna did not reply immediately to the query of Sage Naraga. Probably, he thought that it was best that Sage Narada should find the answer to this question himself through experience. Hence, Sri Krishna told Sage Narada: ‘Please go towards the east. You will find a garbage dump there. There would be a worm there. Ask your question to that worm.’ Sage Narada, anxious to know the answer to his question, followed Sri Krishna’s instructions and reached the garbage dump. There he found the worm mentioned by Sri Krishna. Sage Narada put his question to the worm. The moment Sage Narada completed his question, the worm wriggled left and right, as though it was waiting to hear the question, and the next moment, died. Seeing this, Sage Narada’s heart was

Nanniyode Pacha Dharmasastha Temple – Festival

Nanniyode Pacha Dharmasastha Temple, also known as Pachha Nedumparambu Dharma Sastha temple, is located Nanniyode, around 15 km north of Nedumangad in Thiruvananthapuram district, Kerala. The shrine is dedicated to Sashta or Ayyappa. The 10-day annual festival in the temple is held in Meena Masam (March – April). Uthram nakshatra day is the most important day during the annual festival. The pratishta in the temple was performed by Parashurama and thus it is one among 108 Sastha temples in Kerala. The color of Sastha murti here is green. The shrine has a chuttambalam, kodimaram (flag pole), shrines of upa devatas and namaskara mandapam. This ancient temple has a gaja prishta sreekovil – like the backside of an elephant. The annual festival is famous for fireworks and karpoora deepam. Saturday is an important day in the temple and several devotees offer prayers here for Shani dosha pariharam.

Pathanamthitta Dharmasastha Temple – Festival

Pathanamthitta Dharmasastha temple is located atop small hill in the heart of Pathanamthitta town in Kerala. The temple is dedicated to Ayyappa or Sastha. The annual festival in the temple is held on Uthram nakshatra day in Meena Masam (March – April). This is a traditional Kerala temple with a chathura sreekovil. A padmasana posture murti of Ayyappa is worshipped here. The temple has shrines of upa devatas. The annual festival in the temple is famous for ezhunnallathu and melam. The temple is decorated with lights and lamps on the occasion. The annual Mandala Makaravilakku kalam is an important occasion in the temple.

Paloor Subrahmanya Temple – Paloor Kalari – Story festival

Paloor Subrahmanya Temple is located on Pulamanthole - Valapuram Road at Paloor Pulamanthole in Malappuram district, Kerala. The shrine is dedicated to Subrahmanya or Murugan. The 9-day annual festival in the temple is known as Paloor Thaipooyam Ratholsavam or Therpooja and it coincides with the Thaipooyam festival in Makara Masam. The Uthram nakshatra day in Meena Masam is of great importance here. Thrikarthika in Vrischika Masam (November - December) is of great importance in the temple. The temple is famous as Paloor Kalari as it is a training center for martial art forms. This is a family owned temple. Paloor Subrahmanya Temple Story Koma panicker was a firm believer of 'Palani Andavan' (Sree Subrahmanyan) and visited Palani hills 101 times. He was an expert in Kalari and astrology and famous with his predictions. He could no longer visit Murugan at Palani due to his old age and therefore he meditated on Murugan with great dedication. Murugan felt compassion on Panick

Maruthayoor Durgadevi Temple – Pooram Festival

Maruthayoor Durgadevi temple is located at Maruthayoor in Thrissur district, Kerala. The temple is dedicated to Goddess Durga Devi. The annual festival in the temple is held on Pooram nakshatra day in Meena Masam (March – April). This is a traditional Kerala style temple with a huge almaram, kodimaram (flag pole), namaskara mandapam, chuttambalam, and shrines of upa devatas. The temple has a chathura sreekovil. The annual festival is famous for ezhunnallathu, melam, Tantric pujas and rituals. Laksha deepam is conducted in certain year in the temple. Prathishta dinam, Vishu, Ramayana Masam, Navratri and Thrikarthika are observed in the temple.

Konni Madathil Kavu Devi Temple – Festival - Pava Ezhunnallathu

Konni Madathil Kavu Devi temple is located at Konni in Pathanamthitta district, Kerala. Child form of Goddess Bhagavathy is worshipped in the temple. The annual festival in the temple is held on Pooram nakshatra in Meena masam (March – April). A rare and unique ritual in the temple is pava ezhunellippu – procession with colorful dolls. As child form of Devi is worshipped in the temple devotees make the offering of dolls. Couples who are have trouble in having children offer dolls to the shrine to find a solution. Dolls made of wood, silver etc are offered to the Goddess. The annual festival is famous for ezhunellippu of Bhagavathi, caparisoned elephants, temple performing art forms of Kerala and melam. The temple observes various other festivals and rituals including Navratri, pongala, vinayaka chaturthi and thrikarthika. This is a typical Kerala style temple with nalambalam, namaskara mandapam, chathura sreekovil and shrines of upa devatas. The upa devatas worshipped here in

Meaning Of Word Maya in Hindu Philosophy

The word ‘maya’ is a commonly used Sanskrit word. It is used by people, who do not even know Sanskrit, as it is present in almost every Indian language. Here is a look at the meaning of the word Maya in Hindu philosophy. The widely used meaning of the word ‘maya’ is illusion. However, it is necessary to see the other meanings and the origins of this Sanskrit word. Sanskrit is a classical language like Greek, Latin, and Persian. And in Sanskrit, as in most classical languages, most words are derived from a stem or root. The word ‘maya’ is formed by adding yah and the suffix tap to the root word ma. The root word ma means to mete, to measure, to be contained, a prohibitive and negative particle, a particle implying doubt, Goddess Lakshmi, a mother, a measure, an elephant, authority, light, knowledge, binding, fettering, death, a woman’s waist, not, that not, lest, or would that not. The root word ma is to be taken in the meaning of measuring while forming the word ‘maya’. The word ‘maya’

Atheist Ends Up Thinking Of God More Than A Believer

The Hindu Puranas talk about the story of Jaya and Vijaya, who were the gatekeepers of Bhagavan Vishnu and who were cursed by the four Kumaras — Sanaka, Sanandana, Sanatana, and Sanatkumara, all mind-born sons of the four-faced God Brahma — to take birth in the mortal world. They were given the choice of being born as devotees of Bhagavan for seven lifetimes or being born as haters or enemies of Bhagavan Vishnu for three lifetimes. They opted for being born as haters of Bhagavan as they could not even think of spending seven lifetimes separate from their beloved Bhagavan.   As a result, they were born first as Hiranyakashipu and Hiranyaksha. Hiranyaksha was killed by the incarnation of Bhagavan Vishnu as Varaha, a boar. Hiranyakashipu was killed by another incarnation of Bhagavan Vishnu, as Narasimha, a man-lion. In the second birth, Jaya and Vijaya were born as Ravana and Kumbhakarna and were killed by the incarnation of Bhagavan Vishnu as Sri Ramachandra. In their third and last

Venganoor Muttakkad Sastha Temple – Festival

Venganoor Muttakkad Sastha temple, also known as Muttacaud Kunniyod Kandan Sastha temple, is located at Muttakkad Venganoor in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. The shrine is dedicated to Ayyappa or Sastha. Uthram nakshatra day in Malayalam Meena Masam (March – April) is an important festival day in the temple. This is a small temple with a colorful sreekovil. Ayyappa murti in sitting posture is worshipped in the temple. Pujas, rituals, melam, colorful procession and other festivities are part of the annual festival. Mandala kalam is an important occasion in the temple.

Mankara Kalikavu Bhagavathi Temple – Festival

Mankara Kalikavu Bhagavathi temple is located at Mankara in Palakkad district, Kerala. The annual Meenam Uthram festival (March - April) in Malayalam Meena masam is the most important utsavam in the temple and is known as Uthram Vilakku. The shrine is dedicated to Goddess Bhagavathy. This is a traditional Kerala style temple located on the banks of a river with a Chathura sreekovil, nalambalam, namaskara mandapam and shrines of upa devatas. The annual festival is famous for melam, caparisoned elephants and traditional art forms of temples in Kerala. Three elephants are part of the annual ezhunnallathu festival. Prathishta dinam, Navratri and Thrikarthika are the other important festivals in the shrine.

Panjal Ayyappankavu Temple – Festival

Panjal Ayyappankavu temple is located at Panjal in Thrissur district, Kerala. The temple is dedicated to Ayyappa or Sastha. The uthram nakshatra day in Meena Masam is an important festival in the temple. This is a traditional Kerala style temple with Anapalla sreekovil (backside of an elephant), chuttambalam, namaskara mandapam, pond and shrines of upa devatas. The temple is surrounded by paddy fields and there is a big peepal tree in the premises. Nearly a dozen elephants participate in the pooram festival here. The annual festival in the temple is famous for thidambu ezhunnallathu, caparisoned elephants, procession, traditional temple art forms of Kerala and panchavadyam. Mandala Makaravilakku (November to January) is an important occasion in the temple.

Madavoor Thrikkunnathu Kalari Devi Temple - Festival

 Madavoor Thrikunnath Kalari Devi temple is located at Madavoor near Parippally in Thiruvananthapuram district, Kerala. The temple is dedicated to Goddess Devi. The annual festival in Thrikkunnathu Kalari Dev temple begins on Makayiram nakshatra day in  Malayalam Kumbha Masam (February – March) and concludes on Pooram nakshatra day. This is a typical Kerala style temple with a chathura sreekovil and shrines of upa devatas. The annual festival is famous for Tantric pujas and rituals. Procession and performing art forms, pattu and melam are part of the festival. Navratri and Thrikarthika are observed in the shrine.

17 February 2022 Tithi – Panchang – Hindu Calendar – Good Time – Nakshatra – Rashi

Tithi in Panchang – Hindu Calendar on Thursday, 17 February 2022 – It is Krishna Paksha Pratipada tithi or the first day during the waning or dark phase of moon in Hindu calendar and Panchang in most regions. It is Krishna Paksha Pratipada tithi or the first day during the waning or dark phase of moon till 10:34 PM on February 17. Then onward it is Krishna Paksha Dwitiya tithi or the second day during the waning or dark phase of moon till 10:27 PM on February 18. (Time applicable in all north, south and eastern parts of India. All time based on India Standard Time.  Good – Auspicious time on February 17, 2022 as per Hindu Calendar – There is no good and auspicious time on the entire day.  Nakshatra  – Magha or Makam nakshatra till 4:12 PM on February 17 . Then onward it is Purva Phalguni or Pooram nakshatra till 4:49 PM on February 18 . (Time applicable in north, south and eastern parts of India).  In western parts of India (Maharashtra, Gujarat, Goa, north Karnataka and south Raja