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Showing posts from February 11, 2022


Khandakarnan – Story Of Kandakarnan In Theyyam Kavu

Khandakarnan is a ferocious deity worshipped in kavus or temples in North Kerala. This form is associated with Theyyam performance. The story of Kandakarnan is associated with Goddess Bhadrakali and pox. As per the story, Mahishasura was annihilated by Goddess Bhadrakali. Manodari, wife of Mahishasura, performed intense tapas to please Shiva and get boons. Shiva was hesitant to appear before Manodari as he knew that the boons she will ask will create further problems in the universe. But Goddess Parvati forced Shiva to appear before Manodari. Shiva appeared for a split of second before Manodari and gave her drops of sweat and disappeared. Manodari decided that she will try out the usefulness of the drops of sweat. She then happened to see Goddess Bhadrakali who was happily heading the victory procession of killing Mahishasura. In anger, Manodari threw the sweat on the body of Goddess Bhadrakali. Pox appeared on all the places on the body of Bhadrakali where the sweat fell. The

Thiruvannur Subrahmanya Temple – Festival

Thiruvannur Subrahmanya temple is located at Thiruvannur in Kozhikode district, Kerala. The main deity worshipped in the temple is Subrahmanya or Murugan. The annual Panguni Uthiram festival day, which falls on Uthram nakshatra day in Meena Masam, is an important festival in the temple. This is a small temple with a chathura sreekovil. A standing murti of Subrahmanya is worshipped in the shrine. The annual festival is famous for kavadiyattam, colorful effigies, procession, colorful and vibrant Kavadis and pujas and rituals. The shrine observes the annual Thaipooyam and Skanda Sashti festivals. The annual prathishta festival in the temple is held in Malayalam Mithuna Masam (June - July).

Puthur Thirupuraikkal Bhagavathy Temple – Puthur Vela Festival

Puthur Thirupuraikkal Bhagavathy temple is located at Puthur in Palakkad, Kerala. The shrine is dedicated to Goddess Karnaki – Goddess Bhadrakali. The annual festival in the temple is famous as Puthur Vela and is held in Meena Masam (March – April) Puthur Vela begins with a Kodiyettam (ceremonial flag hoisting) on the first Friday in the Malayalam month of Meenam (Mid-March to Mid-April). And it ends on the last Friday in the same month with the ritual of Thalappoli. The most interesting and artistic element in Puthur Vela is the Tholpavakoothu (shadow puppetry) performance. Tholpavakoothu Garudapath is famous here. The puppet of Garuda descents to the Koothu Madam from a banyan tree. The entire temple premises are decorated with lamps during the annual festival. Ezhunellathu, caparisoned elephants, panchavadyam, pandi melam, and traditional performing art forms of Kerala are held here. The festival ends with Valiya Arattu. Another major highlight of Puthur Vela is the 10-day dan

Venjaramoodu Vengamala Bhagavathi Temple – Festival

Venjaramoodu Vengamala Bhagavathi temple is located at Vengamala near Venjaramoodu in Thiruvananthapuram district, Kerala. The shrine is dedicated to Goddess Bhagavathy. Appooppan pratishta in the temple is very famous. The annual festival in the temple is held in Meena Masam (March – April). The temple belongs to the Kani – tribal group of people. Two devis are worshipped in the temple and the shrine is different from the usual Kerala style temples. The main deities here are Goddess Vana Durga and Goddess Karinkali and they face each other. Liquor is offered at the Appooppan or Muthappan Nada. The upa devatas worshipped in the temple include Madan, Shiva, Yakshi Amma, Ganapathy and Sastha. There is a banyan tree in the temple in which people hang black bangles, dolls and small cradles. This is done for the birth of healthy children in the family. Pongala ritual is held in the shrine. The annual festival is famous for various unique pujas and rituals.

Ahimsa And Satya in Jainism

Two of the important religious aspects of Jainism are Ahimsa and Satya.  Ahimsa in Hinduism Abstaining from inflicting injury on any being, that is, following the practice of nonviolence, is termed ahimsa. The principle of ahimsa should be followed in thought, word and deed as per Jain teachings. The Jain monk abstains from any injury to all life-forms and is forbidden to take the life of any organism, even those that have one sense. Himsa (injury) is classified as of two kinds, dravya himsa and bhava himsa, the actual and the psychical. The psychical precedes the actual and refers to the mental attitudes and motivations that give rise to the desire to take life in one form or another. Dravyahimsa is the actual taking of life of any type of organism. The principle of ahimsa emphasizes that the mind must be free from all evil intentions. Any thought or intention to commit violence must be eradicated. To follow the path of ahimsa, one should attain self-discipline and gain control over

Vyttila Ponnurunni Balasubramania Temple – Festival

Vyttila Ponnurunni Balasubramania temple is located on Sahakarana road in Ponnurunni near Vyttila in Kochi, Kerala. The shrine is dedicated to the child form of Muruga or Subrahmanya. The annual festival in the temple is held in Malayalam Meena Masam (March – April). The annual festival in the temple is known as Thirukalyana Mahotsavam. Colorful Kavadi procession and various rituals and pujas are part of the festival. This is small Murugan temple on a busy location. The shrine also observes Thaipooyam and Skanda Sashti festival. The annual parayeduppu mahotsavam in the temple is held in Malayalam Vrischika Masam (November - December).

Athiyadam Ayyappan Kavu Temple – Festival

Athiyadam Ayyappan Kavu temple is located on the Melathiyadam – Embet Road at Athiyadam in Kannur district, Kerala. This is an ancient temple in a quite natural environment and is dedicated to Ayyappa or Sastha. The annual festival in the temple is held on Uthram nakshatra day in Meena Masam. This is small shrine with a chathura sreekovil. There is nalambalam and shrines of upa devatas. The annual festival is famous for melam, ezhunellippu, caparisoned elephant, and pujas and rituals. Thidambu is taken on the head by priests and unique movements are made to the accompaniment of melam. The temple observes annual Mandala Kalam with special pujas and rituals.

Perumbavoor Dharmasastha Temple – Story – festival

Perumbavoor Dharmasastha temple is located at Perumbavoor in Ernakulam district, Kerala. The temple is dedicated to Sastha or Ayyappa. The 8-day annual festival in the temple is held during Meena Masam (March – April) and is known as Panguni Uthiram. Uthram nakshatra is the most important date during the festival. Perumbavoor Dharmasastha temple is a typical Kerala style Hindu shrine with a kodimaram (flag pole), chathura sreekovil, nalambalam, and shrines of upa devatas. The annual festival in the temple is famous for a colorful procession with seven caparisoned elephants and melam. Traditional performing art forms of Kerala are performed during the festival. The festival culminates with Arattu ceremony. The shrine also observes the annual Mandala Makaravilakku festival. Vishu is an important day with Vishu Kani darshanam in early morning hours. Perumbavoor Dharmasastha Temple Story As per local history the shrine was established by Nallur Kartha, one of the Nair nobles of P

Five Factors Responsible For All Karma

Life in this planet bristles with activities. Everything, static and kinetic alike, is in motion. The Sanskrit word jagat, meaning the universe, implies that which is on the move. Sri Krishna also says in the Gita that none in this universe can exist a moment without doing work (3.5). According to the Gita (18.14)., five factors are responsible for every karma: The body that is the seat of the doer The doer or agent of work The instruments of work Various techniques or skills of work, and Divine dispensation By ‘instruments of work’ is meant, in yogic parlance, the work done by the five organs of knowledge, jnanendriyas; the five organs of work, karmendriyas; the five vital forces including prana, udana, vyana, apana, and samana; and the modifications of the mind. From this it becomes clear that for every action there must be a doer or agent to appropriate the work for oneself by thinking, ‘I am the doer as also the enjoyer’. Thus, karma is a conscious effort to bring a

Sreekaryam Thuruthippally Sastha Temple – Festival

Sreekaryam Thuruthippally Sastha temple is located at Chavadimukku – Sreekaryam in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. The shrine is dedicated to Dharmasastha or Ayyappa. The annual festival in the temple is held on Uthram nakshatra day in Meena Masam and is known as Panguni Uthiram festival. This is a small shrine dedicated Sastha or Ayyappa with a chathura sreekovil. There are shrines of upa devatas. The annual festival is famous for various pujas and rituals associated with Ayyappa shrines. The temple observes the annual Mandalakalam with various spiritual discourses and rituals.

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

Tithi in Panchang – Hindu Calendar on Friday, 18 February 2022 – 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 10:27 PM on February 18. Then onward it is Krishna Paksha Tritiya tithi or the third day during the waning or dark phase of moon till 9:50 PM on February 19. (Time applicable in all north, south and eastern parts of India. All time based on India Standard Time.  Good – Auspicious time on February 18, 2022 as per Hindu Calendar – There is no good and auspicious time on the entire day.  Nakshatra  – Purva Phalguni or Pooram nakshatra till 4:49 PM on February 18 . Then onward it is Uttara Phalguni or Uthiram nakshatra till 4:57 PM on February 19 . (Time applicable in north, south and eastern parts of India).  In western parts of India (Maharashtra, Gujarat, Goa, north Karnataka and sou