Ranganathaswamy Temple

The famous Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple

mahaballipuram

Mahaballipuram-They say this rock has been here for ages. The Brittish people tried to move it during their invasion, but failed

Subrayana Shasti

“Subrayana Shasti” November 30th 2011 it will be celebrated on Margashira Shukla Shasti. Subramanya likes this day very much, because it is on this day that he killed Tarakasura. Lord Subramanya is a ray born of the Divine Consciousness of Lord Siva.They represent the power of action and the power of knowledge respectively.He is Godhead easily accessible in this dark age of ignorance and lack of faith.He gives material and spiritual prosperity and success in every undertaking of His devotees, even if they show a little devotion to Him.He is worshipped with great devotion in South India. Lord Subramanya's other names are Kumaresa, Kartikeya, Shanmukha, Guha, Muruga and Velayudhan. He is called as Kumaresa– as he always looks like a small boy . He is called as Shanmukha as he has six faces He is called as Kartikeya as he was brought up by six sisters named Kruttika. Lord Krishna says in the Gita: "Among the army generals, I am Skanda". Lord Subramanya holds a spear in His hand, just as Lord Siva holds the trident. This is an emblem of power.It indicates that He is the ruler of the universe. The peacock symbolices the vibrant & colourful nature of Knowledge.It also signifies pride as knowledge is a thing of pride.His vehicle is the peacock. He rides on it. This signifies that He has conquered pride, egoism and vanity. His vehicle the peacock is shown stepping a snake. The snake is a symbol of tongue of the learned. It must be kept checked or words can be venomous. Valli is on His one side, Deivayanai on the other The six heads represent the six rays or attributes, namely, wisdom, dispassion, strength, fame, wealth and divine powers.They indicate that He is the source of the four Vedas, the Vedangas and the six schools of philosophy. They also indicate His control over the five organs of knowledge as well as the mind. Subramanya Shashti celebrates the day when a great demon called Taraka was defeated.It falls in Margasira. It is the day on which Lord Subramanya defeated the demon Taraka. BACKGROUND:- Tarakasura is the son of Vajranga (Son of Kashyapa-Diti) and Varangi. He did severe penance to Brahma and pleased him and sought the boon that no one shall be more powerful than him and with the second boon was that his death could come only from a son born to Shiva. Tarakasura knew that lord shiva had already lost his wife Satidevi and he was in deep penance and he thought the shiva can’t have son all of a sudden. After getting the great boons, Taraka was killing all the kings and spoiling the hermitages of sages. All sages, celestials, unable to sustain the hindrance by Tarakasura, went to Brahma, who in turn sent Bruhaspati to negotiate with Tarakasura, but he refused and there was a war in between Gods and demons, in which Gods were defeated. All the gods then went to Brahma to appeal for help Brahma said to the gods, "O Devas, I cannot destroy Taraka, as he has obtained My Grace through severe penance.But let me give you a suggestion. Get the help of Manmadha, the God of Love. Induce him to tempt Lord Siva, who remains absorbed in His Yoga Samadhi.Let Lord Siva unite with Parvati. A powerful son, Lord Subramanya, will be born to them. This son will destroy the demon that harasses you." Indra, the chief of the gods, thereupon requested Manmadha to go with his wife, Rati, and his companion Vasanta (the season of spring), to Mount Kailas, the abode of Siva and to stop the meditation of Shiva. Manmadha arrived in front of Shiva alongwith Ratidevi, and shot five arrows of flowers at the heart of Shiva. His intention was to make Shiva look at Parvathi and enable their marriage, which in turn would result in a son for the killing of Tarakasura (as per boon). But when lord shiva’s penance was broken, he was terribly angry the Lord opened His "third eye", the inner eye of intuition, and manmadha was burnt to ashes by the fire that emanated from it.After burning manmadha, the Lord ascertained by His Yogic vision that the birth of Lord Subramanya was absolutely necessary to destroy the powerful Taraka. Shanmukha became Kumara - the powerful virile adolescent who was also the beautiful and the handsome ( Muruga). He is the Lord of War and the most handsome among gods. He is the commander of the army of the devas. "Skanda received from his mother Parasakthi an all powerful Vel (lance).Hence He is also Sakthi Velan. He engaged the armies and fought with Simhamukha, Surapadman and Tarakasura on a six day battle and vanquished all of them on the sixth day. The Asuras were annihilated and the Devas were liberated. The sixth day (Sashti) in the month margasira is celebrated as Subramanya Sashti If one does the pooja or visit subramanya temple, on this day, he will be free from all his sins. If one performs skanda shasti prayers, then they will be relieved from difficulties from snakes, they will free from the malefic effect of the all evil planets, get free from skin diseases and the devotee will also be blessed with good children. -- Aano bhadra krtavo yantu vishwatah.(- RIG VEDA) "Let noble thoughts come to me from all directions"

Tamil New Year (This Year it is Called as “Nandhana)

Tamil New Year (This Year it is Called as “Nandhana”) The month of Chittrai (April - May) embarks the time of festivities in Tamil Nadu. Tamil's New Year Day “Puthandu" is celebrated on April 13 or 14 every year (according to the Gregorian Calendar). This auspicious day is also popular as Varusha Pirappuv. As per the Hindu mythical legends, Lord Brahma started creation of the universe. Puthandu Rituals In Tamil Nadu, people follow some strict rituals in a belief to ensure well-being and prosperity of their families. People start the day by watching some auspicious items like gold and silver jewellery, betel leaves, nuts, fruits and vegetables, flowers, raw rice and coconuts. Following the rituals, Tamils take bath, wear fresh clothes and visit the temples to pray for success in life. After this, Panchangam (almanac) is read. Ladies adorn their houses with fresh mango leaves and Kolam (rangoli) designs. Sometimes, a decorated lamp kuthuvillakku is placed in the center of colorful Kolam to bring light to the house. People in the advent of merrymaking and feasting exchange gifts with each other. Children are highly excited at the time of Puthandu as they receive small gifts or cash from their parents and relatives.

Spirituality is basically a quest to reach a deeper sense of consciousness.

Spirituality is basically a quest to reach a deeper sense of consciousness. It’s a journey to simplify the complexities of life. What brand of clothes you wear, your bank balance or the profession you chose, can be mere factors in life which affect one’s understanding of spirituality. Whether you are clad in a Gucci or flash an expensive brand – if you can save a part of yourself, your innocence and a part of your silence, you can see God or experience Him anywhere. If you see goodness in people, you find goodness coming into your life. This positivity in your own life translates into a sense of well being and joy that probably no amount of manipulations and strategies can get you. Life needs to be simple. One may probably lack the level of consciousness to remember exactly when his or her life was touched by the Divine. But, there are times when you feel special from within. Many times when you have stumbled in life, you might have felt that you were being guided. A lot of times when you have felt terribly weak and unable to go on — your weakness got transformed to your anger and subsequently your anger became your strength. At that point of time, all the people in your life who supported you in those moments were nothing, but a divine blessing. One has to experience sadness to value happiness. It is just the same way, that one can experience the beauty and glory of morning sun light, only after the dark night. When we see the bottomless pit of materialism, we open our minds’ doors to spirituality which is nothing, but a quest to satiate one’s mind. Spirituality is extremely personal and individualistic, and has nothing to do with a talisman or Cavalli briefs with images of God that you wear. In a day-to-day context, spirituality means keeping malice and negativity at bay, seeing goodness in others and saving yourself from the set rules of the world. For me, it’s about seeing God where I want to — not necessarily in a mosque or a temple, but probably sitting in my bedroom at night — a place where I get a feeling of security, peacefulness and positivity.

SRI SAILAM

Sri Sailam is a great pilgrim center in Andhra Pradesh, and is famous for its temple of Siva and Parvathi atop a hill. There, Lord Siva is adored as Mallikarjuna and Goddess Parvathi as Bhramaramba. There is a legend relating to this sacred shrine and the Divinity that abides there as Siva and Shakti. In a hamlet very near Srisailam, there lived a mother and a lad, six years old. He was called Balaram anna. He was studying in the local elementary school. Once, on the eve of Shivaratri, all the schoolboys were returning home eagerly discussing the festival. One boy said: "My sister and brother-in-law are coming tonight for Shivaratri. Tomorrow we will all go to the temple on the hill. "Oh! What fun it is to be with my sister and brother-in-law". Another boy said: "My sister and brother-in-law have already come. They have brought me new dress to wear. We are all going to the temple tonight itself." Balaram anna heard this talk. He wondered whether he too had a sister and brother-in-law. He ran home and asked his mother: "Mother, do I have a sister?" Where is she? What is my brother-in-law doing? Why don't they visit us? My friends are all enjoying themselves in the company of their sisters. I too would like to be with my sister and brother-in-law." The mother knew the child's heart. In order to comfort him and sow the seeds of faith in him, she said: "My dear child, you too have a sister and brother-in-law. They are, "Brahmaramba and Mallikarjuna". "Is that so? Where are they? I shall go and bring them home for the festival. Tell me where they are", said the lad. The mother sent her son along with her neighbours to the temple on the hill. She told them to take care of their son and gave them some money to buy odd little things for him. Balaram said: "Mother, should I not take something for my sister?" The mother replied: "No, my son, since you are a child, they will themselves give you a lot of gifts." Balaram was taken into the shrine. The neighbours showed him the two idols, beautifully decorated with flowers and apparel and said, "Look that is Goddess Brahmaramba, your sister and that is Lord Mallikarjuna." Balaram at once ran to the idol of Brahmaramba, caught hold of her hand and said: "Sister, please come home with me. Mother has sent me to invite you." There was no response. He ran into the other shrine and loudly said: "Brother-in-law, please come with me along with my sister. I won't leave the place without you." The temple priests took him for a mad cap and pushed him out. Balaram's agony knew no bounds. He was determined to return home with his sister and brother-in-law. He decided to end his life if his sister and brother-in-law did not appear before him. He ran and stood on the top of a peak and cried: "Listen, if you won't come with me, you my sister and you my brother-in-law, I will jump off the peak and end my life." At once, he heard someone calling: "Brother, wait!, wait! We are coming, we are coming." Both Lord Mallikarjuna and Brahmaramba ran towards him and gathered him into their arms. Balaram said: "You must come with me, mother is expecting you." The all-compassionate Lord and his consort did accompany the lad. They granted to them the vision to see them as Siva and Shakti. "Whatever you hold once, you have held, hold on to it, till you win. Whatever you have asked, once you have asked, ask aloud for it, till you win. Whatever you wish, once you have wished, wish deeper for it, till you win. Whatever you have planned, once you have planned, plan firmer for it, till you win. He must grant to stop your wail. Wail, weep, pray till you win. Don't lose heart and turn away, True devotion will surely win." -- Aano bhadra krtavo yantu vishwatah.(- RIG VEDA) "Let noble thoughts come to me from all directions"

Ram Navami

Ram Navami also known as Sri Rama Navami is a Hindu festival, celebrating the birth of Lord Rama to KingDasharatha and Queen Kausalya of Ayodhya. Ram is the 7th incarnation of the Dashavatara of Vishnu Years later Lord Rama was married to Sita on the Vivaha Panchami. The sacred marriage of Devi Sita with Lord Rama was held on Margashirsha Shukla Panchami as per Valmiki Ramayana (This occasion is known as Seetha kalyanam). The SreeRama Navami festival falls in the Shukla Paksha on the Navami, the ninth day of the month of Chaitra in the Hindu calendar. Thus it is also known as Chaitra Masa Suklapaksha Navami, and marks the end of the nine-day Chaitra-Navratri celebrations. At some places the festival lasts the whole nine days of the Navratras, thus the period is called 'Sri Rama Navratra' It is marked by continuous recitals, Akhand Paath, mostly of the Ramacharitamanas, organized several days in advance to culminate on this day, with elaborate bhajan, kirtan and distribution of prasad after thepuja and aarti. Images of infant form of Sri Rama are placed on cradles and rocked by devotees. Since Rama is the 7th incarnation of Vishnu having born at noon, temples and family shrines are elaborately decorated and traditional prayers are chanted together by the family in the morning. Also, at temples special havans are organized, along with Vedic chanting of Vedic mantras and offerings of fruits and flowers. Many followers mark this day by Vrata (fasting) through the day followed by feasting in the evening, or at the culmination of celebrations In South India,in Bhadrachalam the day is also celebrated as the wedding anniversary of Sri Rama and his consort Sita. Sitarama Kalyanam, the ceremonial wedding ceremony of the celestial couple is held at temples throughout the south region, with great fanfare and accompanied by group chanting of name of Rama, (Rama nama smaranam). Whereas the marriage is celebrated in Mithila and Ayodhya during another day onVivaha Panchami as per Valmiki Ramayana. The important celebrations on this day take place at Ayodhya (Uttar Pradesh), Bhadrachalam (Andhra Pradesh) and Rameswaram (Tamil Nadu), thronged by thousands of devotees. Rathayatras, the chariot processions, also known as Shobha yatras of Rama, Sita, Lakshmana and Hanuman, are taken out at several places including Ayodhya where thousands of people take a dip in the sacred river Sarayu.