Jain political ideas in ancient India are mainly available in Adi Purana, Nitivakyamrtam and Laghuvarhaniti. The history of the evolution of man and his institutions are described in Adi Purana (111.14-21) of Jainism: the role of Rishabha and his son Bharata is described at length (111.24.5; XVI.130-92; 241-5; 250-54; XXXVIII.4-49). A different story of the origin of the social and political order is narrated in Hemachandra’s Adisvaracharita, and the story is found in Subodhika. Adi Purana describes kshatra vrittam (Ch.XLII) concerned with rajavidya, which explains the contrast between the doctrine of dharma and sovereignty described as rajya, where rajya is described as a great evil. There is a strong antithesis between politics and ethics. The king is the naradeva (God of men). Haribhadra (Dharmavindu 1-31) ad Hemacandra (Yogasastra 1-48) repeat Smriti views on the king. Coercive authority (danda) is dealt with by the Jain authors on conventional lines. Jinasena has followed Smri...

Velan Pattu or Para Kotti Pattu is a dying art form performed in Kerala temples by the members of Velan community. Velanpattu is performed at homes to remove bad luck, inauspiciousness, misfortune and evil eye. In temples it is performed to overcome misfortune, accidents and frequent natural calamities affecting the community. Velan Pattu is an important ritual at the Pallipana observed once in 12 years at the Ambalapuzha Sree Krishna temple. Velan community in Kerala was blessed by Goddess Bhadrakali when she came in the dreams of the elders of community and asked to take up the role of removing evil eye or drishti doshams. Para is a musical instrument used by the Velan community during the singing of the songs. Pattu means song hence the name Para Kotti Pattu. The musical instrument is a small drum which is beaten with two sticks in a particular manner. It is believed that the beating of the drum invokes the intended deity. Song is performed before a vessel filled with rice (Pa...

Gowreesapattom Mahadeva temple is located on Pottakuzhi on Medical college road in Thiruvananthapuram. The temple is around 3 km from Pattom. The main murti worshipped in the temple is Swayambhu Shiva. Darshanam of Gowreesapattom Mahadeva is towards east. The temple has a circular sanctum sanctorum or vatta sreekovil. Goddess Parvati is consecrated on the back side of the sreekovil. The Upa Devatas worshipped in the temple are Ganapathy, Ayyappan and Nagam. The most important festival observed in the temple is Mahashivratri.

Vasudevapuram Sree Krishna Swamy temple is located at Kudamaloor junction in Aymanam village in Kottayam district, Kerala. The shrine is dedicated to Sree Krishna. The darshanam of Vasudevapuram Sree Krishna Swamy is towards east. Thulabharam is performed in the temple. Para nirakkal can be offered daily. The main offerings in the temple include appam and pal payasam. Ashtami Rohini in Chingam month is the most important festival here. The 8-day annual festival in the shrine concludes with arattu on Thiruvonam nakshatra in Kumbham month.  As per history, the temple was one of the important temples Chembakassery king. The temple is open for darshan in the morning from 4:30 AM. Nirmalya darshanam is at 5:00 AM. Temple closes at 11:00 AM. The evening darshan begins at 5:00 PM. The temple closes at around 8:00 PM.

Govindapuram Sree Krishna temple is located at Kaduthuruthy in Kottayam district, Kerala. The temple is around 500 meters east of famous Kaduthuruthy Mahadeva temple. The main deity worshipped in the temple is Sri Krishna. The darshanam of Govindapuram Sree Krishna is towards west. The main festival observed in the temple is Ashtami Rohini. The temple belonged to the Vadakkumkoor kings. The shrine is mentioned in Unnuneeli sandesam written during the 14th century CE.

Pantheeradi Nivedyam and puja is performed in majority of Sree Krishna temples in Kerala. The puja is performed when the shadow is 12 feet. Pantheeradi Nivedyam is done between 8 AM and 9 AM. Pantheeradi pooja in Guruvayoor is very famous. The puja is performed by Tantri or Othikkan. The chief priest usually takes rest during the period. The naivedyam offered for the puja and worship includes Thrimadhuram, Sharkara Payasam and Nivedya Chooru. After Pantheeradi Nivedyam And Puja, the face Guruvayoorappan is decorated in sandalwood paste.

Kolathukara Shiva temple, also known as Kolathukara Mahadeva temple, is located at Kulathoor in Thiruvananthapuram district, Kerala. The temple is associated Sree Narayana Guru, philosopher, spiritual leader and social reformer. As per history, the shrine was a Bhadrakali temple and was infamous for sacrifice or bali of animals. Sree Narayana Guru put an end to animal sacrifice and he removed the Bhadrakali pratishta and installed Shiva in the temple. It is believed that this is the second among the numerous pratishtas of Sree Narayana Guru in Kerala and parts of South India. The first pratishta was done at Aruvippuram. The pratishta at Kolathukara temple was done on Kollavarsham 1068 Meenam 13. A school was also started on the temple compound by Sree Narayana Guru. A shloka in praise of the temple was written by Sree Narayana Guru and poet Kumaran Asan.

Koyikkal Sreekandan Sastha temple is located at Randamkutty in Kollam district, Kerala. The temple is one among the 108 Ayyappan Kavukal in Kerala. The temple is known as Kariyakandathoor Kavu in Thottam pattu which narrates the names of 108 Ayyappa temples in Kerala. As per history, the Koikkal Kandan Sastha temple was a Kalari Kshetram. The first pratishta in the temple was the horn of a deer (kalaman kombu) and Shankh (conch). Sastha murti was consecrated later. The Upa Devatas worshipped in the temple are Devi, Nagam and Ganapathy.

Kothakulangara Bhagavathy temple is located about 1 km from Angamaly in Ernakulam district, Kerala. The temple is one among the 108 Durga temples in Kerala. But the shrine does not find a mention in Durga Stotra Namavali, which gives the names of 108 temples. The main deity worshipped in the temple is Goddess Durga. The darshanam of Kothakulangara Bhagavathy is towards west. The Upa Devatas worshipped in the temple are Ganapati, Sastha and Shiva. The 8-day festival begins with kodiyettam on Bharani nakshatra day in Makaram month. Kumbha Bharani is another important festival in the temple. As per history, Kothakulangara Bhagavathy was the Kudumba Paradevata of Mangatu Kaimal.

Sant Durbal Nath was the propagator of Vedantic philosophy in Rajasthan. He was born in 1861 CE at Bichgaon in Alwar district of Rajasthan. He belonged to the khatika caste. Here is a look at the life history of Sant Durbal Nath. According to Sant Durba Nath sect, he was born after his parents (Fattu Ramji and this wife Roopa Devi) had been praying for a long time for a son. The child was named Kalyan, and he was quite different from other children. While going to the forest to graze the cows, he would sit in a yogic posture and meditate on Bhagavan. He also liked to be in the company of Sant Brahm Nath, who held satsanga (company) every day till late in the night. As he grew older, his interest is spirituality also increased. His parents were worried to note his indifference to worldly affairs. So, in spite of his opposition to marriage, he was forced to become a householder. Miracles Of Sant Durbal Nath Once he was asked to work in the field along with other laborers, and while...