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July 19, 2012
Navadurga: The Nine Forms of Goddess Durga to be worshipped on the 9 days of the Navarathri festival. (nava - nine) as narrated in Devi Kavacha of the Chandipatha scripture 1. Shailaputri (shaila - mountains ; putri - daughter) 2. Bharmacharini - one who practices devout austerity 3. Chandraghanta - has a chandra or half moon in her forehead in the shape of a ghanta or bell 4. Kushmanda - (Ku - little, ushma - warmth, anda - the cosmic egg) 5. Skanda Mata (mata - mother ; Skanda - Kartikeya or Muruga) 6. Katyayani (sage Kata was blessed with a daughter Katyayani, an avatar of the Goddess) 7. Kaali - also known as Shubhamkari, one who does good 8. Maha Gauri - means extremely white (Lord Shiva cleaned her darkened complexion with the Ganges) 9. Siddhidatri - supernatural healing powers Source: http://hinduism.about.com/od/godsgoddesses/ss/navadurga.htm |
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January 17, 2011
The siddhars are believed to have had powers both major and other ‘minor’ powers. They are explained in detail in various yogic as well as religious texts;Thirumandiram 668: 1. To become tiny as the atom within
the atom (Anima)
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November 12, 2009
The history of Kosala prior to the birth of Rama reveals that Dasaratha had a daughter. The Vasishtha Ramayana, also known as Jnana Ramayana, which is one version of the Ramayana written by Valmiki, in its Adi Parva refers to the ancestry of Dasaratha, his birth and how he became a king in the solar dynasty. This reveals an unknown story in the known purana about Dasaratha's youth, marriage and how he became the father of a female child. Adhbuta Ramayana and Adyatma Ramayana also refer to this subject. Dasaratha married Kausalya who was
found in an unconscious state in a box floating in the Ganga. Kausalya
gave birth to a female child, who unfortunately had a handicap in her leg.
The child was named Shantai. Vashistha said the handicap was due
to the marriage between close cousins (Dasaratha and Kausalya belonged
to the same gotra) and she would become normal if given in adoption to
a divine couple. Accordingly, Dasaratha and Kausalya gave the child
in adoption to Romapada, the king of Angadesa. With due care and
treatment, Shantai's disability vanished. Romapada performed her
marriage with Rishyasringa Maharishi. It wa after Shantai was given
in adoption that Dasaratha got married to Sumitra and Kaikeyi.
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The 18 Siddhars
Sri SIva Vaakiya Siddhar Sri Kayilaaya Kambali Sattai Muni Siddhar Sri Mahaa Bhogar Siddhar Sri Kaaga Bujandar Siddhar Sri Pulipaani Siddhar Sri Sattaimuni Swami Sri Agappei Siddhar Sri Azhugani Siddhar Sri Kudhambai Siddhar Sri Vallalaar Swamigal Sri Idaikaadar Siddhar Sri Pattinathadigalaar Siddhar Sri Kaduveli Siddhar Sri Kanjamalai Siddhar Sri Chennimalai Siddhar Sri Kabilar Siddhar Sri Karuvooraar Siddhar Sri Paambaati Siddhar (Sri Marudhamalai Siddhar) |
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 Srividya
Ganapati
This idol in the Veda Vedanta Gurukula Mahavidyalaya in Swetha Sringachalam, a unique school dedicated to the cause of propagating and perpetuating Vedavidya in the Gurukula system - Sri Vidya Ganapati is a very rare aspect, endowed with twelve hands,Chandrakala (crescent) with feminine features. Click on image for enlarged version. |
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 Chanting
the namam MURUGA will give the results of praying to six Gods. MU stands
for Mukundan - Vishnu, RU for Rudran, Siva and GA for Brahma. Since
Lakshmi resides in Vishnu's heart, Sakthi in SIva's left half and Sarasvati
in Brahma's tongue, by chanting the MURUGA namam, we are actually praying
to all these Gods. |
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 RAMA
- ARA + UMA, Siva & his Sakthi
Chanting the namam RAMA is considered beneficical, because it is a complete namam. |
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Advaita Vedanta holds
that all that exists is only Brahman. The entire universe is indeed nothing
but Brahman and the individual
Atman ultimately merges with Brahman, and realization of this unity is Salvation (Moksha). Brahman, the Absolute is the only reality. Source: http://www.advaitin.com/ |
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Adi Sankarar established Maths in four locations - Sringeri in the south, Badri in the north, Dwaraka in the west and Jagannath Puri in the east. His disciples were made heads of these Matts - Sri Sureswaracharya in Sringeri, Sri Padmapada in Dwaraka, Sri Totaka in Badri and Sri Hastamalaka in Puri. |
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Lord Shiva performs
his mystic cosmic dance to keep life active in the cosmos and to guide
devotees in attaining liberation. The dance of Siva & his consort Parvati
reflect both the vigorous and masculine Tandavam and the tender and graceful
Lasya, which represent the Purusha-Prakriti.
108 postures of his cosmic dance Shiva danced of his own volition - 18 postures danced along with his Devi - 36 postures danced along with Vishnu - 9 postures danced for Lord Muruga - 3 postures danced for other Devas - 42 postures. |
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A
Nandi idol ( Lord Siva's Vehicle & head of the Siva Ganas) is found
in every Sivan koil opposite the main Lingam facing the Lord. There
are huge Nandi idols in around 6 temples in India. Some of them are
Basavanagudi Nandi in Bangalore - Karnataka (16ft in height & 21 feet in length) Brahadeeswarar koil Nandi - Thanjavur, Tamilnadu Lepakshi koil Nandi- Andhra Pradesh Chamundeswari koil Nandi - Mysore, Karnataka (16 x 25 ft) Rameswaram koil Nandi - Rameswaram, Tamilnadu (9 ft in height & 12 ft in length) The Nandi in Belur, Halebid - Karnataka |
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Lord
Ganesha depending on what material he is made from bestows blessings on
his worshippers.
If made from
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There is an idol of Gajamuga Anugraha Vinaayagar in the Nandi Mandapam of Madurai Meenakshi Amman temple. He is seen seated on his father Shiva's lap. His mother Parvathi is seated next to Shiva. The Ganesha is of red complexion, holding two hands together in prayer, holding the angusam in the thrid and paasam in the fourth. Gajamuga Anugrahar is the pose in which Lord Siva is seen giving anugraham (blessing) to Lord Ganesha. |
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The Ganesh idol in a temple in Thirupurambiyam near Thanjavur is unique. This Vinayagar is known as Thaen Kudittha Vinayagar (Vinayagar who drank honey). Abhishekam is done to this vigraham, only once a year on Vinayaga Chathurthi. The vigraham draws in every drop of honey offered as abhishekam. |
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There is a Vinayagar temple in Tiruvaarur, near the Tyagarajar Koil. The Vinayagar here is clothed in a dhoti covered with ink marks. Students believe that sprinkling the ink from their pens and praying before an exam gets them the support of Lord Ganesha. |
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Lord Dakshinamurthy is seen as Saambaya Dakshinamurthy (seen in the seated posture with his ambigai Shanti Devi) in the Sri Palli Kondeswaran Koil in Suruttapalli with His hand resting on Nandi Deva's head. |
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The Devara Moovar went to get the darshan of Poovana Naathar (Lord Siva) at Thirupoovanam near Madurai, the entire sands on the banks of the river Vaigai seemed to take the form of the Lingam & hence the saints had to have darshan of the Lord from across the river, not wanting to step on the sand. Nandi Deva is said to have moved aside slightly, in order to afford them good darshan of the Lord. As witness of this story, the idol of the Nandi in front of the Lord is seen slanting to one side. |
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Sani
Pradosham
The Devas and Asuras got together to churn the ocean, using Mandramalai & Vaasuki, the snake. As they continued to churn the ocean, Vaasuki the snake began to tire and started spewing its poison. Siva came and consumed all the poison. Goddess Parvati rushed and held his neck so that the poison would not spread to the whole of his body. Thus Siva became blue up to his throat and is also known by the namavali "Neelakandan" ( neela-blue colour from poison, kandam-throat). Lord Siva exists in every life born. He therefore stayed still for a day in order that the poison in his body does not affect all the lives. This day is "Ekadasi". The Devas also prayed to Lord Siva & fasted on that day. They partook of meals on the next day, "Dvadasi". Lord Siva was pleased & danced on the next day, "Triyodasi", in the evening (Sandhyaakaalam) with his damaru & Soolam in between Nandi Devas Horns. This day is "Pradosham". It is believed that all the Devas & Gods are assembled in the Siva temples during Pradosham time. Further, the first pradosham was on a Saturday & hence "Sani Pradosham" is even more auspicious. |
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Naradhar is known as Thiriloga Sanchari, for he is travelling the three worlds. |
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The
12 Alwars - Vaishnava saints
Poigaialwar Boodathalwar Paeyalwar Thirumazhisaialwar Nammalwar Kulasekaralwar Perialwar Andal Thondaradi Podialwar Thirupaanaalwar Thirumangaialwar Madurakavialwar |
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The
63 Naayanmars - Saiva saints
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Ashta
Dikku Balagargal (Lords of the eight directions)
Indran - East Vehicle - Iravadaham (white elephant) Wife - Sasidevi Varunan - West Vehicle - Crocodile Wife - Vaaruni Yaman - South Vehicle - Buffalo Wife - Aiyai Guberan - North Vehicle - Human being Wife - Manorama Vaayu - North West Vehicle - Deer Wife - Vaayaavi Isaanyan - North East Vehicle - Oxen Wife - Gowri Agni - South East Vehicle - Goat Wife - Kavaahaa Nairudhi - South West Vehicle - Horse Wife - Yaadudhaani |