Quantcast
Channel: Navrang India
Viewing all 3829 articles
Browse latest View live
↧

Quotes for life - 11

April 19, 2017, 3:28 am
$
0
0
Rags to riches:
Punch Cartoon - PhotoShelter
CartoonStock
CartoonStock


"The man's success is a little told fairly tale of rags to riches  
through sheer competence and patience under demanding circumstances".
The EEB & Flow - blogger

 Gaffes:

Indiatimes.com

Roanoke Times
Times of India635 
2ndlook - WordPress.com
"Irrespective of countries, where there is a Presidential or Parliamentary election, there is no way one can lose sight of  brazen betrayals, inspiring stump speeches of promises and plenty, accusations and counter accusations, etc. To cap it all, one can not miss the fun of  gaffes and whistle blowing that will keep the audience and the media agog".   

 Success and failures:
The EEB & Flow - blogger
CartoonStock

"From the Sunrise to Sundown, man's life is eventful all the 
way  with ripples of joy, success and triumphs, more often 
than not, interlaced with  surges of failures, successes and disappointments".

 Civility and profanity:

More Content Now
Politics & Government :Pondering Principles

'In the place where bigotry and profanity spew into open, 
it will be  foolish to expect the luxury of civility and dignity". 

Noisy people:

Shutterstock

YouTube

 When cheats, corrupt and dishonest people gather to have a nice chat, their noise will be louder than the peals of  summer thunder"
↧
Search

Quotes for life, etc - 12

April 19, 2017, 6:08 am
$
0
0
Easy money:


WND.com

Shutterstock

"When people are under the delirium of easy money, in their anxiety to  get it as fast as they can, either they will trip  midway or go to any length to get it".

Boredom:
CartoonStock

Vecto.rs

"When guests or friends drop in on you surprisingly, do not ever invite them to your house with a languid or unenergetic yawn and a look of disguised boredom".

 Errant wife:

Pinterest

"When a man is unlucky to have an errant wife, she will give 
him a lot of problems from the lump on the head to the callus  underneath his feet. Prospective grooms should be ready to 
face any situation".


 Making remarks:


fun-stuff-to-do.com

QuotesGram

"When making remarks, one has to be extra careful. Sometimes silly remarks show  more idiocy than infamy".
↧
↧

Funny quotes, humor, etc - 40

April 19, 2017, 10:22 am
$
0
0
Art of managing people:
 
ClipartFest 

ClipartFest

At a high-level job  interview, the panel asked the prospective candidate  a strange question, "When it comes to dealing with  talkative women, how can you make a difference between a smart man and a foolish man ?".  Came the reply, "If one among you is foolish, you will ask the ladies to shut up their mouth  and if one among you happens to be brainy and knows the psychology of women, you will tell them to zip up their beautiful  lips so that they will look more beautiful than ever before and  this way they will get the attention of others".
 
Clipart O


When interviewing a woman candidate for a senior management  position with an Indian company, the interviewing panel asked a different question, "When the men in the office are talkative and fail to do their job on time how will you scare them silly and make them work?" . The woman candidate said, " It is as simple as making an apple pie. I' ll tell them that their wives are on the way right from the women's social club  to the office as they have a plan to go on a shopping binge in the evening".
 

appreciateleroy.blogspot.com

Cartoon A Day598 × 804


www.cartoonstock.com
↧

Funny quotes, humor, etc.. - 41

April 27, 2017, 10:41 am
$
0
0

Climbing from the fall: 

CartoonStock
CartoonStock
www.keywordsking.com

As part of  a motivational  program, a well-trained man was giving a pep talk before a small audience. He said, " Life is full of ups and down and it is a seesaw battle. When you go down hill and hit the bottom, people close to you, will  never give you their hand, instead, they will give  you a sturdy shovel to dig a pit, big enough for you. I faced a similar situation in my life and when I hit the bottom of the hill. Using the shovel as a tool,  I climbed  slowly with confidence and stood atop the hill. When I looked down hill, I saw  the  same people who had made fun of me, digging their own pit at the bottom. So, when you are successful in your life, try to help the needy  and refrain from insulting and humiliating them".

Arrogance and stupidity:

gre-ubiquitous-words.blogspot.com

"Among many unworthy and unsavory  things I have come across frequently, I am quite patient with  stupidity and arrogance of some people, but definitely  not with   those  morons who are unashamedly proud of them".

confidence and uphill skiing!!  www.cartoonstock.com

Every time  I've been pushed  to the edge of the  rock cliff and the next move is a free fall, my confidence, patience and fighting spirits  work overtime and give me a lift to stay clear of the cliff". 

 Circus buffoon's sermon:

bibavoska.blogspot.com

Shutterstock
A circus buffoon told the media reporter,  "You people laugh at me because I'm different and do funny things to make you laugh. The irony is I simply mimic you and your antics; seriously speaking,  I can not but help laughing at you folks because  you  are all the same and  fail to see the dirt on your  back".
ClipartFest

clipart-library.com

One depressed woman  was lamenting to her close friend, "Man drives women crazy both in the office and at home. The former is my employer, the latter is my companion. So, I need to balance them both by using their weakness as a trump card".
↧

How to avoid burn outs!

April 29, 2017, 4:39 am
$
0
0

amycloudphotography.com

As a budding entrepreneur, on some occasions you may fee like quitting as your progress is not good  if there is  a semblance of failure. Such impending fear will take you right into the blind alley and signs of burning out may set in at any time. Don't panic. Just like you there are thousands of people who are on the verge of giving it up for good. If you think calmly and engage in self- improvements  or self-motivation you can easily come out of this rut.  Mind you: "Success does not lie in easy victory. A true success is the one that is achieved through hard work and commitments. It is not a question of how many times you fall and bite the dust. Rather a true victory lies in how many times you get up from such falls as if nothing had happened."

The Signpost (Weber State)



 Consider the following facts:

01. Maintain good health:

http://laurasmiths.weebly.com/blog

Together For You


If your work is a sedentary one and there is no time for physical movement of your body, you had better pay serious attention to your physical well being. By sitting in one place for long hours unknowingly you add more calories to your body and the cumulative impact is that  it may increase your  body weight. Take a resolution to get into regular exercise regimen to reduce intake of calories. You may try long walk, swimming, jogging on a regular basis. Aerobic exercise will freshen up your body and mind and you won't feel fatigued. It will drive away any negative thoughts.

 02.  Engage in hobbies:


Daily Mail



CartoonStock

The purpose of engaging in hobbies is to keep your mind off your stressful work. Engage in stamp collection or beer cans, etc., Join the tennis or shuttle cock clubs, if you do so, you have double advantages. First  you get into physical activities and  secondly it keeps your mind focused on the hobby. The net result is you develop a positive attitude.

03. Make a short trip to nearby places:

If you feel you are stuck and exhausted, for a change go on a brief trip within the city limits, for example a Museum, Zoo or some exhibition venue or even movies. When you see more people, your blues will go away.
billingsgazette.com


04. Spending time with pets:

Bored Panda

Bored Panda

If your start up does not give you the desired results as anticipated by you, don't lose your hope. To cut down worries, spend some time with your pets like cats or dogs. If you don't have one, get a dog. It will keep youengaged and you will experience positive thoughts creeping in that will result in rejuvination of your mind and body.

05. Engaging in social activities:



www.jantoo.com
Engage in any social activities such helping senior citizens, physically challenged people, scout services, etc. If you see for yourself people who are less fortunate than you, you won't wallow in self-pity. Further, it is a chance to   widen  your social activity zone and put down the negative feelings  that may reduce the confidence level in you.

 06. Talking to your close friends:

When overpowered by negative thoughts if you feel you are stuck and can't move forward, do not let those strange feelings control you. Talk to your close friends and drive out the pent-up negative feelings. Once you pour out all your suppressed feelings from your depressed mind, you may feel relieved. The pep talk given by your friends will certainly bring out the best in  you.

07. Humor:

www.cartoonstock.com

A man without human is an animal. Humor will reduce your stress and fatigue. For a change, read comic books or watch funny cartoons like Tom and Jerry, Road Runner or Yogi bear. I have head people tell me that old cartoons are good mood changers. Your unhappy thoughts will certainly run away. Watching newspaper cartoons of Indian politicians and US President trump and his gaffes will definitely give a good laugh.

08. Rescheduling:

Disciplined work will make things easy for you and reduce your stress. Go after your work one by one as scheduled by you before hand and try to stick to it at any cost. Don't ever leave it in the middle. It is a commitment that will spur you to higher levels of positive activities.

09. Taking a shower:

When feeling burnt out and completely exhausted, quietly take a shower, or take  a good nap. This is good for your mind and heart.

10.Avoid brooding:

Shutterstock

Don't dwell on the past setbacks or failures. No purpose is served; rather focus on the future and the jobs that need to be cleared out of the away. Once you remove small thorns that pop up then and there, it is a good sign  that your on the path to recovery.
 
11. Exit plan:

CartoonStock


To be on the safe side, have an exit plan. It does not mean that you are going to call it quits. It is just rather a safety valve, something like a building having fire alarms and fire-escape  in case of a fire-mishap.









↧
↧

Your name has nothing to do with being successful in business

April 30, 2017, 3:45 am
$
0
0

www.cartoonstock.com

A disgusted and  disappointed merchant, who had been in business for the past one and a half years, found it  tough to keep his business going. He did work hard and had good public relations but,  in spite of it, he could not find any solution to scale up his business. On second thought, he decided  not to close the business and sought the advice of  his close buddies about his sluggish business and how to make it profitable. His friends advised him not to call it quits and suggested that he change his name - John Poor. They opinionated that if he changed that weird name, dame luck would smile on him and he would succeed in his enterprise.  

Upon hearing his friend's suggestion to change his name, though he, initially, had hesitation, he thought it would be nice to consult a Hindu Saint who was not a clairvoyant. The saint /Guru happened to be a wise man and a philosopher. He met the Indian Guru and told him what had transpired between him and his friends and asked him whether he could change his name so that his business would see some profits.  

 Upon hearing the businessman's grievance with respect to company's  poor finances, the saint was a bit taken aback. Nonplussed and disconcerted, the saint thought it for a while and told him, " Your problem is a strange one. In the first three days, go around the town, meet people from different walks of lives and find out their names. Do not miss the rich and the famous.

CartoonStock

The businessman did not lose time and began to meet people in public places. He first met a panhandler and asked his name. He said, "My name is Jim Rich, I may be poor, but daily my money bag is full and God has been nice to me.  He now approached a college professor and asked his name. He said. ''My baptized name is William Shepard, but at home my better-half calls me dummy and turkey". Following day, while in a different area of the town, the businessman approached a man with a peg-leg and asked him, " Could you please tell me your name and your job?" The man replied, " My name is Good Speed and I own a few department stores here in this area. I approach my business problems slowly, but surely. The business man could not contain his surprise. 

123RF.com

This time he met a rich man in a social club and asked his name and job. The rich man said, " My name is Andrew savage and I am a whole sale agent  in fruits and flowers." I try to sell things that appeal to the heart of  the people. Finally, he approached a weird-looking woman - almost like sea-hag and asked her what her name was. Came the reply. " My name is Cleopatra and I am a tarot card reader. Fortune-telling makes my face glow with happiness." The business man was about to swoon upon hearing her name.
 
CartoonStock

A few days later, the businessman went back to the Indian philosopher and Guru. On seeing him,  Guruji, sarcastically asked him, "What did you learn after meeting different people?". Business man replied,   "Guruji, now I realise how foolish I was to have thought about changing the name given to me by my parents. Now, I realize  a person's success depends on  his  hard work, sales pitch and patience and it has nothing to do  with his  name. To improve my business, I need more patience, good consumer care and trust. I realize my folly and here on I'll run the business on a positive note".
Gurugi said., " Meet my assistant who happens to be blind. His name is Nalla Kannu (in my native tongue Tamil, it means good eyes!! Anyway, I wish you good luck".
↧

Chand Boari, hoary water harvesting structure - sermon in stones

May 1, 2017, 6:12 am
$
0
0
Chand Boari, Rajasthan Pintere

 The concept of step well was originated in India to tackle water problems in the dry regions where the rain fall was minimum. Such well-designed step wells or Boaris or Vavs are found in Rajasthan and part of Gujarat. Indigenous to India, such step wells go hundreds of feet below the ground with steps lining all around. Deep below near the water level, there are well designed large chambers and cornices for the people to take rest. The deep excavations have subterranean channels to store and tap ground water. The step wells show the ingenuity of the past rulers and their concern to tackle drought conditions.

Chand Boari, RajasthanRon Mayhew's Blog - WordPress.com
Abhaneri,  a small village, about  95 kms  from Jaipur in Rajasthan, is a popular tourist destination and the major attractions here are the artistically designed step wells.  The Abhaneri village, that has a glorious past, was established by the then ruler  Raja Chand of the Pratihara clan  and the place was called Abha Nagri (City of Brightness). The name Abha Nagri, over a period of time, became Abhaneri. The  shape of well is square  measuring 35  meters on each side. Of the four sides, three sides have well planned steps  that go down to the bottom of the well. The purpose of this step well in this semi arid region of Rajasthan was to draw water from deeper portion below the ground where there would be less evaporation because of prevailing cool condition. Because of deeper location, the water could last for a last time. In the bygone time, it was a way of harvesting rainwater and storing them for future needs. As a matter of fact, these  are artistically and aesthetically carved  man-made underground reservoirs or water storage tanks. The fourth side had  a pulley to draw water. 

Located opposite to a temple known as Harshat Mata temple, the step well was  built way  back in the 9th Century.  The well is a 13-storey structure, that goes down to a depth of about 100 feet. There are about  3500 steps that exhibit  a fine, impressive symmetrical geometric pattern, quite pleasing to the eyes. One can not miss the diamond-shaped patterns caused by the interplay of light and shades thrown on the steps. It is quite mystifying.  The presence of the temple shows that the well was built for religious purpose as well as for social needs of the travelers between two villages across the dry region



Chand Boari, Rajasthan. Alamy
 The temple and the multi-tiered step wells that were part of medieval India attract people from all over the world for their simple, but elegant architectural beauty and striking geometric patterns of the step wells that go deep into the ground, embellished on all sides with most attractive and intricate carvings of Rajasthani style in stones. The jharokhas (latticed windows) in stones are quite impressive.

Tit-Bits:

01. The step well - Boari or Vav is a hoary water management system to store water hundreds of feet below the ground level. Step wells are found mostly in Rajasthan and in Gujarat. There are about 30 step wells near Delhi and some are functional.

02. The shape of the step well may be square or rectangle or circular. The sides  have steps going down to access the water. The fourth side is provided with pulley to draw water. Size of the opening may vary from place to place. So is the nature of the ornate features displayed by the temple. 

03. The depth of Boari depends on the  prevailing  water table. Near the water source, resting places are provided. Often, they are embellished. The subterranean  water passages may vary from place to place.

04.  Among the 3000 step wells built between 5th and 18th century, about 1000 plus wells have survived and they are not well taken care of by the governments at the state and central levels..

05. During the colonial times, the British considered the Boaris  not safe and hygienic and closed them.

06. In 2014, the UNESCO recognized the  heritage value of step wells  and now, steps  are being taken to restore these Boaris and Vavs.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chand_Baori
 
http://www.indiamarks.com/chand-baori-the-deepest-step-well-world/
↧

Historical Old Mission Church (1774), Ft. William, Kolkata,- some facts

May 2, 2017, 9:46 pm
$
0
0
Founded  in 1770 by the Swedish Lutheran missionary Johann Zachariah Kiernander, the Mission Church is the oldest Protestant Church in Calcutta (Kolkata) and the second oldest one other than the  Armenian Church in the city.

 Having spent about 18 years in missionary work  in South India, Rev. Kiernander arrived in Kolkata in 1740 at the invitation of Lord Robert Clive. The purpose of his visit to this place was to spread the gospel of Christ  and Christianity among the natives.  Based on a decision taken by the council in March 1760, a large room near the gateway of the old Fort became a make-shift Chapel and it was rent free offer from  the Governor. Kiernander in 1767 made a decision to have a church built on his own  because the European christian community had also begun to grow as the East India Company became a big employer. The Chapel was too small to handle a big gathering at the services.  He succeeded in  getting a suitable plot in 1767.  The church work was completed in 1770 after some early struggle  and  it was named Beth Tephillah (Hebrew: House of Prayer).


Old Mission Church (Kiernander's Mission), Kolkata. puronokolkata

Though mission Church was the popular name, it was known to many as Lal Girja, meaning Red Church.The church had red brick outer wall finish.  From 1758 till the consecration of St. John's church in 1787, Kiernander’s Mission was  quite popular and it was the city’s sole Protestant place of worship.  After St. John's church became a popular place of worship, the Mission Church came
 to be known as the Old Church but not Old Mission Church. Surprisingly, the name remains  unchanged  even today, as it is revealed by the  marble plaque and metallic lettering  displayed at the entrance of the church reads “Old Mission Church". Whereas,  St. John’s was often referred to as the New Church, or sometimes Pathure Girja, the Stone Church.

Interior, Old Mission church, Kolkata. Rangan Datta - WordPress.com
Interior, Old Mission church, Kolkata. puronokolkata

Mission church, as years went by, saw certain modifications and extensions to accommodate more people and offer of better church services in a sanctified  holy ambiance. The addition of stained glasses is worthy of mention and they were provided by
George Henry Kiernander, grand son of  Johann Zachariah Kiernander. He made generous donations to the church. Even to day, those stained class works look good. The other addition included the tall slender spire. Between 1880 and 1890, the spire was an important land mark in Calcutta  and in 1897, because of unexpected Assam earthquake, the spire was removed on safety considerations as the impressive spite was so damaged, it was beyond repair and redemption. With rapid urbanization, population growth and construction of additional buildings, the amazing sight of the reflection of the Red Church on the Lal Dighi was lost for ever.

The church still has  a beautiful marble bust of Bishop Thomas Dealtry. Though  the long colonnaded corridor, supported by lofty Doric pillars, remains the same and the interiors are as impressive as before,  one can not enjoy the the beauty and elegance of this historical church because of urban madness, haphazard parking of vehicles near the church  and encroachments.

Ref:
https://rangandatta.wordpress.com/2013/05/29/old-or-mission-church-calcuta-kolata


https://puronokolkata.com/2014/03/12/old-mission-church-kiernanders-mission-old-fort-william-calcutta-1774/
   
↧
Search

Popular Ernakulathappan (Shiva) temple, Kerala

May 4, 2017, 2:05 am
$
0
0

Ernakulam Shiva Temple, KochiLet's See India

Ernakulam Shiva Temple, GoRoadTrip

The Ernakulam Shiva Temple, frequently referred to as Ernakulathappan (literally meaning lord of Ernakulam) Temple is  a popular one in the state of Kerala. Located in the prime area of the city -  within the Durbar Hall Ground  - it was built under the active participation  of  Diwan Sri Edakkunni Sankara Warrier in 1846. Built on a plot of about one acre of land, the temple later attained the status of the temple of the Cochin Royal  family. Here, the presiding deity is  Lord Shiva, who is believed to be the protector of the city and the people living there. It was one of the 7 royal temples patronized by the  Kochi Maharajahs  and  has been under the management of   the Cochin Devasom Board since 1949 when Cochin joined the Indian Union after independence. Among the major Shiva temples of Kerala, this one occupies an important place.  This temple is considered to have been founded by  Cheranalloor Kartha Family of South Chittoor.
 
Ernakulam, Kerala Maps of India

The temple legend has it that once Shiva accompanied by Parvathi was on his way to meet Arjuna, one of the Pandava brothers who had been meditating on the lord with intense devotion. Shiva took the guise of a tribal hunter named Kiratha to prove Arjuna' devotion to him. Before seeing Arjuna he saw a wild boar charging at Arjuna and the lord shot an arrow at the boar. At the same time, Arjuna, upon seeing the boar, shot an arrow at it. The boar, in reality, was a demon called Mookasura who died instantly. Soon a battle was in the making between the hunter and Arjuna as to who was the real  killer of the animal and, at last, the hunter Kiratha became victorious after a long-drawn battle. Soon, grief-stricken Arjuna made a Shiva linga and showered flowers on it. To his utter astonishment, he saw the flowers falling on the tribal hunter. Arjuna realized that the tribal hunter was none other than Lord Shiva himself. In appreciation his devotion, Lord Shiva granted Pashupatha Arrow to Arjuna. After the departure of Arjuna from this area, this place became a dense wooded area and there was no human habitation and the Linga made by Arjuna also disappeared.

Centuries later, a boy named Devla with part of his  body resembling a snake accidentally saw the Shiva lingam and began to worship  it in the hope of getting cured from the curse cast on him by a sage. Despite interruptions by the people crossing the forest, he continued to pray to Shiva. The people called him Rishinagam and at last Shiva appeared before him and asked him to take a dip in the nearby pond. After the dip in the water the boy was relieved of the curse  and got back the original form.  A strange thing had happened, the mud lingam became an idol.  Based on this legend, the place got its new name, Rishnagakulam (The pond of Rishi Nagam) and the temple was constructed by the public.

As for its antiquity, Sangam literature made a mention of this temple. Chera rulers patronized this place and later when the Chera dynasty became powerless, the place came under the control of some Nair nobles who changed the name of this place to Ernakulam, (presumably derived from  Eere Naal Kulam meaning Pond with water always) implying the earlier existence of a holy pond 

Because of political compulsion, after siege of Fort Kochi by the Dutch forces in the 17th century, the rulers of Kochi shifted their capital to Eranakulam, built the palace near the temple. With the palace around, the temple under the patronage of the rulers grew in stature. The deity is considered as the Nagara Devata - the savior of the city.
The temple was in poor condition and needed  major repair works. In 1842 Diwan of Kochi, Sri Edakkunni Sankara Warrier  took the initiative and the restoration work started in 1843. The additions included two gopurams - towers on the model of  Sree Poornathrayesa Temple of Tripunithura which was the Chief Royal temple of Kochi Maharajas. The design was in typical Kerala syle. The new temple complex was opened to public in 1846.

Adorned in the Sri Kovil / Garbagaraha (sanctum sanctorum), is a Swayambhoo (self-manifested) form of Lord Shiva called  Gourisankara, facing west.  In the main  sanctum of  the small shrine  lies the original lingam once worshiped by Arjuna. Lots of People worship this original Shiva lingam  On the sides, three are shrines dedicated to Ganesha and  goddess Parvati and they can accessed through East gate called Devi Gate.  Shrines for Lord Ayyappa and Nagaraja are  an integral part of the temple located in the inner prakara. Like in many Kerala temple, the temple puja protocols start in the early morning around 4 AM and the last puja time is 8 PM

The circular sanctum has fine sculpted walls and copper tiled roof. The temple is accessed through two gates. The western Gopuram is a two-tiered  structure with gabled roofs and slanting windows  typical of Kerala style of temple design. The eastern  entrance gopuram is  very much close to the western one  in appearance. The recent additions included a  Kalayana mantap - new marriage hall and Oottupura (dining hall) for the convenience of the worshipers.
Here, the temple festivals are celebrated with great fanfare and devotion. The festivals held in November- December attract thousands of people. 

 The other popular Shiva temples in Kerala are the Ettumanoor Mahadevar Temple, Kaduthruthy Mahadeva Temple, Vaikom Temple, Chengannur Mahadeva Temple and Vadakkunathan temple 

As for the Shiva temple in Ernakulam, it is worth mentioning the valuable services rendered by the  Ernakulam Kshethra Kshema Samith. They bought the adjacent properties and were instrumental in making  the temple  a popular one in Kerala.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ernakulam_Shiva_Temple
↧
↧

Ernakulam Murugan temple

May 4, 2017, 8:59 am
$
0
0

The Shiva temple complex in Ernakulam city, Kerala  is quite well-known  and in this hoary temple, the presiding deity is Lord Shiva often referred to as Eranakulathappan - the protector of the city. The Uthsavom (temple festival) of Shiva temple is held on a grand scale every year  in the month of December–January and it is the most popular one here.  Adjacent to the main Shiva Temple are two other popular temples and they constitute the temple complex.

The Murugan templeErnakulam en.wikipedia.org


The Murugan Kovil built in Tamil style  is on the north side and the other being the Hanuman temple built by Madhwa Brahmins of Udipi based on  their sampradhaya.  
 
The Hanuman temple,Ernakulam en.wikipedia.org


God Muruga, widely known as Karthikaya in the northern India, is one of the two sons of Lord Shiva and his consort Parvati. The other being inspiring Vinayaka or Ganapathi. The worship of god Muruga or Subramaniya  is quite popular in the south, in particular, Tamil Nadu where there are six  famous abodes of Muruga called Aarupadai Veedu in Tamil. 

The temple dedicated to Muruga in Ernakulam  was built  by Tamil- speaking residents of Kochi  when  Diwan Venkataswamy, a Tamil Brahmin was running the administration of the Princely state during the colonial days.  The Murugan  Kovil is  being managed by the Tamil Brahmin Association of Ernakulam. The management is particular about meticulously following the temple rituals and traditions associated with Subramanya (Murugan) temple. The worship is based on Vedic Agama Sastras. Here, the lord's consorts  are  Valli and Devanyani. The temple puja protocol includes, as usual, Aarukala Puja - six time worship since morning till night. Included in this temple are shrines for  Navagrahas and Ganesha. There are other deities such as  Vishnu, Dakshinamoorthy and Durga.

Tit-Bits:

01. The famous Ernakulam Temple pond is on the  eastern side, facing the Murugan temple.

02. The other temple  - The Hanuman temple was built in Udipi style  by Diwan Venkat Rao in year 1850. Here, the temple rituals are based on  Udipi tradition and Madhwa sampradhaya.

03. Though they follow the Udipi sambradaya, the temple does not have the idol of Lord Sri. Krishna. In the sanctum there is an idol of Sri Rama.

04. Of some interest to the visitors to this temple is the presence of 200 year old Banyan tree. 


 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ernakulam_Shiva_Temple
↧

World Cartoonists' day - 05 May

May 5, 2017, 6:44 am
$
0
0
indianexpress.com

Today,  5 may2017, is world cartoonists' day and this day  we honor them  for their funny, but thoughtful cartoons that carry a serious message with subtle humor. Not all can become a good cartoonist, because it requires  good imagination, sharp mind, excellent drawing skill in cartooning and the innate ability to put the message - be it political or otherwise- across the people in  a manner that will remain etched in them. 

A cartoon (from Italian: cartone and Dutch: karton) is nothing but a kind of   two-dimensional illustration whose correct definition has changed over a period of time. In the present world, the usage  refers to  a  non-realistic or semi-realistic artistic style of drawing or painting or  an image or a series of images intended for satire, caricature, or humor. An artist who creates cartoons is called a cartoonist. Motion picture cartoon is altogether a different field.

The concept of cartoon illustration goes back to  the Middle Ages and in the early stages,  it was  first described  as a preparatory drawing for a piece of art, such as a painting, fresco, tapestry, or stained glass window before the finished work. It was a sort of model drawings subject to corrections, etc. In the 19th century, cartoons were referred to as  humorous illustrations in magazines and newspapers and in many of them, they became regular features.. One positive aspect is with the advent of cartoon illustrations in the magazines and newspapers, the articles drew the attention of the readers and it gave them thrill.  
 
According to  modern print media, a cartoon is an illustration or series of illustrations,  usually humorous in intent. Cartoon illustrations date back to 1843 when Punch magazine used the term to satirical drawings in its pages,  in particular, sketches by John Leech. The punch magazine's cartoons were intended to be satirical  and many of them ironically made reference to the  self-aggrandizing posturing of Westminster politicians and their antics and extravaganza. There are two kinds of cartoons  Gag cartoons, which include editorial cartoons, and comic strips.

Among various cartoons, Editorial cartoons  are quite interesting  and are found almost exclusively in new papers, news websites and magazines. The unusual feature of all cartoons is the cartoonists employ  humor as a focal point. They may be  more serious in tone, commonly using irony or satire to bring out the message. It is a visual representation of a metaphor to highlight  a point of view on important current social and/or political topics. Editorial cartoons often include speech balloons (graphic convention used most commonly in comic books) and sometimes use multiple panels.

 Political cartoons are  being watched by millions of people world over. Many politicians are known for their gaffes, blabbering and wrong giving  distorted statistical data. Cartoons  illustrate editorials or articles in the newspapers or magazines  and act as supplementary visual commentaries on political events. They offer subtle criticisms  which are cleverly coated  with  a layer or two of humor and satire  in such a way  the criticized does not get offended. 
en.wikipedia.org/
.
Above image: John Leech, Cartoon no.1: Substance and Shadow, 1843, satirised preparatory cartoons for frescoes in the Palace of Westminster, creating the modern meaning of "cartoon"


Personally I like cartoons very much A magazine or a newspaper without a cartoon is something like a man in Adam's dress. The cartoons make us not only laugh and think but also give us respite from reading drab and dry new paper articles. They hold a mirror to the society, its pitfalls and progress. With magnifying glasses, they bring forth the arrogance of corrupt politicians, eccentricities of the rich and famous and the abject poverty of a section of people in any  society.  

These cartoonists inspire readers by way of adding  color and shape to our society's  dark sides  and weird people associated with the government, who are neither concerned about the evils in our  society nor about the  country's progress. Cartoonists never fail to add zest to their news papers or magazines and make them attractive. 

 The following are the funny cartoons that will give a laugh and make you think:

The Hindu cartoonist Rohan Chakravarty.april 2016

Above image: Delhi air pollution -  Rohan''s funny lines bring out a message. How Delhi air pollution affects important historical Indian monuments in and around the city  and the health threats the people are facing almost daily. It is as bad as LA fog. 


www.funnfun.in

 Above image: Student Joke Funny Picture:  This Class Joke Makes You Smile Laugh. This joke illustrates how India has become a corrupt country after 1965.


Pinterest

Abaove image :  India Pictures - Funny India Pics & Photos. Indian Corrupt Politician. Our Netha, without shame, is accepting cash in return for his services. The onlooker in the picture is Gandhiji whose face he hides. If Gandhiji were alive, he would hang his face in shame. 


funkyphotos.org
   
Above image:  The company management and others close to them receive a bundle. This is what the people are left with.Many companies rip off people by giving false information on their products.


Gronda Morin

Adam Zyglis/Buffalo News global warminpinterest.com
 
Above image: Who cares about global warming. The pollution of  the Ganges river, river water pollution from color-dying factories in Tamil Nadu, India  the revival of Keystone  oil pipe line project from Canada to Texas, USA, additional production of dirty crude oil from Athabasca sands, Alberta  are good examples.

 
cartoonistgroup.com


Above image: The people become  suckers when the government has corrupt and dishonest politicians. It is a mad, mad mad world.


ovepicsms.blogspot.in

ovepicsms.blogspot.in

Above image:Having a sense of humor even when nearing the grave is a great thing in life. 


R.K. Laxman's cartoons Indiatimes.com

Indian Netha and the poor. ndianexpress.com
Clean Nethas above and  dishonest nethas below. Shankers cartoon. 
indianexpress.com
The Fun Learning
 Above image: Indian Netha, a glutton. He is too much hungry for (ill-gotton) money.

Mexico -USA  border wall, economically possible? -suggestions.com



Gronda Morin
 Above image: Canada-US oil pipe line from Alberta to Texas through states like the Dakotas Nebraska, etc. Pipe line going through the Indian reservation.



Pres. Trump's oil pipeline project, etc. Billings Gazette

Gandhji's three messages for a perfect life. Alamy

bohemianbudgie.blogspot.in/

  Above image:During the colonial  period, for more than 200 plus years, India was a Milch cow for the British Bobs. India's GDP in 1600s  was 23%  and it plummeted to just 3% when the last British left India's shores. Imagine how India was exploited and squandered.

 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cartoon

↧

Thanjavur big temple Chariot (Ther) festival 2017

May 5, 2017, 10:21 pm
$
0
0

Thanjavur car festival Hinduism Today

Paradoxically, the month of Chitrai is a joyous, but tough month in the sense, it is the time of colorful temple festivals in all major temples of Tamil Nadu, and by the same token, it is difficult to get through this month because of hot, scorching  summer heat and frequent power cuts in many places. The Delta districts of Thanjavur, Tiruvarur and Nagapatnam that constitute  a vast  major agricultural belt  experience drought conditions in many places on account of poor rain fall  and dry Cauvery river. It is quite amazing, that in spite of such harsh weather condition and shortage of potable water, the people's enthusiasm to participate in temple festivals has not dampened their spirit and expression of devotion.

Thanjavur big temple, khoobsurati.com

Yesterday- Friday 5 May 2017,  was an important festival day for the residents of Thanjavur city. Thousands of ardent devotees pulled the sacred Chariot of the big temple (dedicated to Bragadeeswarar)  through the four main streets, unmindful of dry weather conditions.  The idols of Lord Thayagaraja and his consort Kamalamba were seated on the main chariot. The other idols of Ganesha, Subramaniya and Chandikeswarar were on the other small chariots.  This important temple event is part of the annual Chitrai festival celebrations going on  in  the big temple. This chariot run is the third one and it was in 2015, the temple chariot was run for the first time after a long gap of 100 years. Thanks to the late CM of Tamil Nadu Ms. J. Jayalalitha who took the initiative and had the pretty old, dilapidated chariot  replaced with a new one  and made it available to the temple.

The  major event, started off at the auspicious time 6.15 Am at the big temple, went through all the main street  and around noon returned to its base  on West Main street opposite to Sri Sankara Mutt.  The temple car  stopped at predetermined 14 places on its journey preceded by folk dancers, traditional wind instruments players, etc. The whole atmosphere was charged with joy and devotion. Security precautions were taken care of by the local police and their posse. 

 Devotees and on lookers had a sigh of relief as there were many stalls offering free cool mutter milk, etc to quench their thirst. In view of the importance of this Ther Thiruviza (car festival), the state government had declared a local holiday.  

The temple car festival was conducted in a fine manner without any unsavory incidents. During the time of Rajaraja Chola I of Chola dynasty, more than 1000 years, the car festival was celebrated on a grand scale. Subsequent Nayak and Maratha rulers followed  the tradition . Later in the colonial times, due to paucity of funds, etc the car festival lost its glamor and significance. It is nice the old temple tradition was revived in 2015. 

Thanjavur big temple, khoobsurati.com
http://navrangindia.blogspot.in/2015/05/temple-car-festival-thanjavur-big.html
↧

Poorum festival of Kerala

May 8, 2017, 9:15 am
$
0
0
 
Thrissur Pooram/en.wikipedia.org/


Ceremonial ‘Ezhunnallathu,The Hindu

 Above image: Ceremonial ‘Ezhunnallathu’ of Neithilakkavilamma on the top of legendary elephant Thechikkottukavu Ramachandra through Thekkegopura Nada marked the beginning of mega spectacle of Thrissur Pooram.

Among the Hindu festivals of Kerala, Thrissur Pooram is as popular as the Oonum festival. This annual festival falls on the day when the moon rises with the Pooram star in the Malayalam Calendar month of Medam. Of all the Poorums, it is the largest and most famous one in  India.  Lately considered as one of the greatest colorful gathering of people and elephants together in Asia, the main  venue of this festival is  the popular Vadakkunnathan Temple in Thrissur  city.


Vadakkunnathan Temple in Thrissur  city.Kerala Mythology - blogge


Kanimangalam Valiyalukkal Bhagavathi Temple en.wikipedia.org/

4 th May, 2017 Thursday  marked the beginning of Thrissur Pooram  with the ceremonial procession of  ‘Ezhunnallathu’ of Neithilakkavilamma on the top of legendary elephant named Thechikkottukavu Ramachandra through Thekkegopura Nada. It was accompanied by the percussion ensembles by Peruvanam Kuttan Marar in the presence of hundreds of onlookers. Normally, the ‘Ezhunnallathu’ of these procession  deities in the pooram will be accompanied by some of the best percussion ensembles in the State. It is worth noting that the door of the Thekke Gopura Nada opens only twice a year on two occasions - for Pooram and Sivarathri. This year it was celebrated on a grand style with fanfare and devotion on the 5 May 1917. Last year, on 17 April 2016, pooram festival was held.  This year Lakhs of people made a beeline to  the Thekkinkadu Maidan and the Swaraj Round to enjoy the thrill and glory of the occasion. Families, especially children and girls, had  a nice time during the seven day festival that was held  in grandeur and  style typical of Kerala. It is not only a festival of joy and devotion and is also of  a show of hospitality by the people of Thrissur. Mind you, this festival is held  in the grueling hot summer season - in the early stages of Agni Nakshtra (the Sun breathes fire) when the temperatures sore sky-high. Such hot weather conditions neither dampen their spirit of participation nor their expression of devotion and bakthi. 
 
Thrissur Pooram The Hindu

It was local ruler  Rama Varma, also  known as Sakthan Thampuran, the Maharajah of Cochin (1790–1805) who  was responsible for reorganizing this  colorful and gala festival.
Arattupuzha Pooram  is  celebrated before the commencement of Thrissur Poorum  in which temples around Thrissur  actively participate. In the past, centuries ago, some participating temples were denied access to poorum procession because of the arrival of procession deities  got delayed due to incessant rain. The temple authorities requested the ruler Sakthan Thampuran to do justice and at his initiative in 1798, the 10 Hindu temples situated around Vadakkunnathan Temple  came together and organized the celebration of Thrissur Pooram as a grand and spectacular  event. The Maharajah  invited temples with their  procession deities (Utchavars)  to Thrissur to pay respect  to Lord Vadakkunnathan (Lord Siva), the presiding deity of the  Temple.

Every year this festival  is attended by people in thousands and the festival is so well-known that the very mention of Kerala conjures up the imagination of a long line of caparisoned elephants standing before Vadukunnathan temple. 

Sakthan Thampuran divided the participating temples into two groups, namely "Paramekkavu side" and "Thiruvambady side". These are headed by the principal participants. The former is headed by the principal participant of Paramekkavu Bagavathi Temple at Thrissur Swaraj Round and  the latter by Thiruvambadi Sri Krishna Temple at Shoranur road. The two temples are close-by.

Thiruvambady side (western group) includes: Thiruvambadi Sri Krishna Temple, Kanimangalam Sastha Temple, Laloor Bhagavathy Temple, Sree Karthyayani Temple at Ayyanthole and Nethilakkavu Baghavathy Temple
 
Paramekkavu side (eastern group) includes:  Paramekkavu Bagavathi Temple, Chembukkavu Bhagavathy Temple, Panamukkumpally Sastha Temple, Choorakkottukavu Bhagavathy Temple and Pookattikkara - Karamukku Baghavathy Temple.
 
The temples listed above send their respective procession deity to the main venue  before Vadakkunnathan Temple on the day of poorum every year.  Like countless temples of Tamil Nadu and elsewhere, the major temple events begin with the flag-hoisting ceremony. This pooram  commences with the flag-hoisting on the temple premises by the temple priests. Display of firework is part of this festival and it adds more color and excitement to this great event.  There are four major firework displays in Thrissur Pooram. The 'sample fireworks'Sample Vedikettu - just one hour show on the day before the Pooram, It is organized by  Thiruvambady and Paramekkavu. It starts around  7  PM  at Swaraj Round and the final fireworks will be in the the following noon after the Goddesses bids farewell to each other marking  the end of Pooram.

 Another feature is the participation of various  artists who display their skill in percussion instruments, wind instruments, etc. The pooram commences  at the time of Kanimangalam sasthavu ezhunnellippu in the early morning and  is followed by the ezhunnellippu of other six temples. The display of  panchavadhyam melam (five musical instruments),one of the major events in Thrissur pooram,  assumes much importance.  “Madathil varavu”, a panchavadhyam melam, participating more than 200 artists, and the  musical instruments consist of Thimila, Madhalam, Trumpet, Cymbal and Edakka. One can not miss the major display of melam   called  famous Ilanjithara melam – a type of melam consisting  of drum, trumpets, pipe and cymbal. It takes place inside the  vadakkumnathan temple. 

At the end of the pooram, after the Ilanjithara melam, both Paramekkavu and Thiruvambadi groups  come to a common spot after coming out of the  temple through the southern gate and stand face to face in distant places. The two groups, in the presence of melam, exchange colorful and crafted umbrellas in a competitive manner at the top of the elephants – called Kudamattom, a major  attraction of the pooram. Later all Poorams conclude at Nilapaduthara near western goupuram of Vadakkunnathan Temple.

Though poorum is a Hindu festival it has a touch of secular aspect. The various communities act in tandem and make this festival a grand one.  Most of the pandal (shamina) works are done by Muslim community. The materials for the umbrellas for ‘Kudamattom’ are offered by the churches and their members.


colorful umbrellas. The Hindu

The farewell ceremony - Upacharam Cholli Piriyal is held on the 7th day at Swaraj Round. Thiruvambadi Sri Krishna Temple and Paramekkavu Bagavathi Temple. The idols are taken from the Swaraj Round to their respective temples and this  marks the end of the Pooram celebrations. The festival will end with the  display of fireworks known as Pakal Vedikkettu.Both Thiruvambady and Paramekkavu temples compete with each other to provide the crowd with the best entertainment - display of colorful and  distinctive fireworks that light-up and adorn the sky and make the crowd spell-binding.


Thrissur PooramJayson OnlineThiruvambady Chamayam Exhibition

An interesting feature is the perfect coordination among various Devaswoms who do certain duties with meticulous attention. For example, the  participation of caparisoned elephants and the display of  the golden elephant caparison (Nettipattam), elephant accoutrements (Chamayam), ornamental fan made of peacock feathers (Aalavattom), royal fan (Venchamarom), sacred bells and decorative umbrellas, etc. They are  prepared anew by Thiruvambady and Paramekkavu Devawsoms separately. Paramekkavu Devaswom exhibits this at the Agrasala in Thrissur City and the Thiruvambady Devaswom will display the caparisons at the Church Mission Society High School in Thrissur City on fourth and fifth day before the Pooram.

Tit-bits:

 On account of two competing groups  between Paramekkavu and Thiruvambadi temples  and their anxiety to display their best, as in the case of cheru poorams, the participating  elephants are used continuously  in large numbers. For the stressed elephants that are supposed to stand for a pretty long time before an ocean of people and in the midst of din caused by drums, etc., they  occasionally either collapse or sometimes run amok, causing injuries to themselves and to the  onlookers.  The animal activists, in particular, are concerned about the elephants' physical and mental well-being  as well as the threats faced by the common people. However, there is no cruelty is involved and they are trained to participate on festive occasions. 

02. The city's atmosphere is  charged with the spirit of a carnival with percussion  players, decorated elephants, chamayam exhibitions and street vendors everywhere.

03. Pooram showcases  the majesty and intelligence of elephants. In all, 101 elephants are said to participate in the fitness test ahead of the Pooram, on Wednesday and Thursday. The Paramekkavu Devaswom has arranged for 47 elephants, whereas Thiruvambadi has brought 54 elephants.
  
04. The Chamayam exhibitions of Paramekkavu and Thiruvambadi Devaswoms are famous and people in thousnds attend them.

05. Elephant parade is held as per government norms, adhering to all statutory guidelines.  A special squad  is set up to take care of any emergency situation.

 06. The participants are: Peruvanam Kuttan Marar, leader of 'Chenda' group of Paramekkavu temple. Kizhakkoottu Aniyan Marar, leader of 'Chenda' group of Thiruvambady temple and Kanimangalam Valiyalukkal Bhagavathi Temple.

 07.  A week before the 2016 Pooram, 114 people were,  unfortunately, killed and more than 350 were injured during the firework display at a Kollam temple. Hence, this festival is held with several restrictions and safety precautions, adhering to the government regulations. 

08. The exciting  Kudamattom that reaches the  crescendo with the display of a myriad parasols  atop the elephants is an interesting one  and is enthusiastically watched  at the Thekke Gopura  Nada  by an ocean of humanity on the Thekkinkadu Maidan.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thrissur_Pooram

http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/colour-and-gaiety-mark-thrissur-pooram/article18394136.ece

   






↧
↧

Palani Murugan (Subramanya) temple and six holy abodes, Tamil Nadu

May 9, 2017, 3:38 am
$
0
0


Palani Murugan Temple.www.palanimurugantemple.org

According to the Hindu mythology Lord Muruga is the god of mountainous region. Many of his temples are located on hill tops. He is known by different names such as Karthikeya, Skanda, Subramanya, Vadivela and Muruga at various temples. In Tamil literature, there are five types of lands : Kurinji -Mountainous region, Mullai (Forest region) - Vishnu, Marutham (Agricultural region) - Indra, Neithal (Coastal region) - Varuna and Paalai (Desert region) - Kali (Goddess).

Lord Subramaniyar(Murugan).wallpaper.365greetings.com

The six most sacred abodes of Murugan were mentioned in Tamil  Sangam literature, "Thirumurugatrupadai," written by well known Sangam poet Nakeerar and in "Thirupugaz," written by equally well-known   Arunagirinathar. These Murugan - Karthikaya temples  reflect some of the totality of the Murugan cult and ethos and at the same time each temple attests to its own sanctity. The divine visit of the God makes the place holy.


The six abodes of Karthikaya.www.quora.com

Legend has it ( vide  Skanda Purana) on the request of Devas who were tortured by the demon Soorapadman, Lord Brahma and Vishnu  asked Kamadeva to awake Lord Shiva who was in a trance. Unable to wake him up, with the grace of Shiva Kamadeva gave birth to ''Karthikeya''endowed with special powers to tackle the demon. He fought with that demon Soorapadman in a fierce battle and finally killed him, thus saving the Devas from torture, mental agony and embarrassment.

Lord Karthikaya, commonly known as Muruga in Tamil Nadu, is an embodiment of love, affection and beauty. He is also depicted as a God of war and  valor.

Though there are many well known Murugan temples in Tamil Nadu such as Vayalur, near Trichy, Yettukudi and Sikkil near Nagapatnam, Maruthamalai near Coimbatore, Kundrakudi  near  Karaikudi town, the Kumarakottam temple  of Kanchipuram, etc, Lord Subramaniyar is associated with six famous shrines called Aarupadai Veedu. Except Tiruchendur all other abodes are on the hills. 

The six abodes (in local parlance Aarupadai veedu)

The six abodes of Karthikaya / Muruga  are Thirupparamkunram, Tiruchendur, Swamimalai,Thiruthani, Pazhamudircholai and Palani.

Lord Subramaniyar(Murugan).wallpaper.365greetings.com

Palani Temple near Dindukal and Coimbatore:

1. Palani Temple, Palani, Tamil Nadu dedicated to Lord Murugan. is one of the most visited temples in the south next to Tirupati. It is the third Padai veedu (abode) among the six. Every day, thousands of  devotees visit this wonderful temple atop the hill about 1500 feet above  sea level.

Palani Murugan(Subramaniyar)Temple.www.tripadvisor.in

Cheaman Perumal, a ruler of Kerala (7th centuryAD), Kings  Jadavarman and Krishnadevaraya, the Nayaks, Chera Kings and  Chola Kings built  part of the temples at various periods.
Winch to go up hill, PalaniTemple.murugan.tripod.com  

According to the legend, two children, Lord Ganesha and Lord Subrahmanya of Lord Shiva were eager to have a share of the celestial mango fruit presented by  sage Narada to Shiva.  The divine parents - Shiva and Parvati kept a condition. It being a  fruit of knowledge (Gnana Pazham), they  told that the first to finish  going  around  the universe thrice would get the celestial fruit.  Lord Subramanya mounted his peacock and went around the universe, while Vinayakar went round his parents Shiva and Parvathi in the belief that they stood for the Universe and, ultimately,  got the coveted fruit of knowledge. Disappointed and angered as he was, Lord Subramanya, came to Palani and settled down on the hill as if he had renounced the world,  befitting  a monk dressed in no more than a loincloth and armed only with a staff, the dhandam. Hence the appellation Bala-dhandayudha-pani, meaning the young wielder of the staff-weapon.Boghar, a great Hindu saint and siddhar created the idol of Dhandayuthapani using navapashanam, an amalgam of nine  poisonous substances mixed with herbs in a certain ratio which constitutes an eternal medicine. It has medicinal and  curative powers for many ailments of the human body.  There is a shrine dedicated to Boghar close to the entrance in the inner pragaram and he is  the founder of this temple  and, it is believed, he lived more than 2000 years ago.

 One important feature worthy of mention is  here, the deity  faces west direction  rather than east, the traditional direction at most Hindu temples. This being due to the fact that the temple was re-consecrated by the Cheras, whose dominions lay to the west that is coastal areas of the west, and the guardian of whose eastern frontier was supposed to be the Lord Kartikeya of Palani.

 The members of the Gurukkal community of Palani, hold hereditary rights to handle and conduct poojas (prayer) to the deity enshrined in the garbhagriha (the sanctum sanctorum) of the temple. For the past several years poojas are performed only to the festival idol (Uchavar) not  the idol made of navabashanam that shows some damages because of frequent anointing and other rituals. Other devotees are permitted to come up to the sanctum The small tower-vimanam in the inner sanctum is gold plated. The sanctum has shrines for  Navaveera, Navadurga, the Saptamatas, Kailasanathar and Chandekeswarar. Navadurga (Bhuvaneswari) is worshiped here with a Maragatalingam.

 The main festivals  here are ''Panguni Uttram''(April) celebrated for ten days as the annual Brahmotsavam and ''Skanda Sashti'' (November) that will last for seven days and Soorasamharam is enacted on the last day of this festival. Palani can be reached from all parts of the country; nearest major railway junction is Dindukal about 30 km from here.

Tonsure ceremony is a special feature of Palani, just like Tiirupati. Thousands of devotees of all ages perform tonsure ceremony at Palani. They do it in fulfillment of their wish blessed by the god. Palani temple is  synonymous with Panchamirtam, a sweet mixture made of five ingredients, dates, banana, honey, jaggery (country sugar, etc.
↧

Tiruthani Murugan temple- one of the six holy abodes, Tamil Nadu

May 9, 2017, 3:47 am
$
0
0

Tiruthani Murugan temple,Tamil Nadu. www.sanghamtours.com

Tiruthani Murugan temple, one of the  Aarupadai veedu, the six holy abodes of Lord Muruga, is on the hill of Thiruthani, Tamil Nadu, India. The hill has 365 steps indicating 365 days of the year. 


Tiruthani Murugan temple,Tamil Nadu. www.panoramio.com

Tiruthani location map. Mapsofindia

Legend also has it that Indra, the king of the Gods, presented a unique ''white  elephant'' Airavatam as part of his dowry  when he gave his daughter Deivayanai in marriage to Skanda (Karthikaya). With Airavatam' not around him any more, his affluence was on the decline and when  Subramanyar is said to have offered to return the white elephant, Indra, bound by commitment, gracefully refused to take back the gift. However, he requested that the elephant  be facing his direction. Hence the image of the elephant in this temple  faces the east.

Tiruthani Murugan temple,Tamil Nadu, S.India.murugan.org

Tiruthani Murugan templewww.gotirupati.com
Lord Rama after killing Ravana in Lanka,worshiped Lord Siva at  Rameswaram and on the way to  Ayodhya  came to Tiruttani to find perfect peace of mind by worshiping Lord Subrahmanya.
Arjuna  got the blessings of Karthikaya  here  on his way to the South for Teertha Yatra (pilgrimage to take sacred immersion). Lord Vishnu,  who lost His powerful Chakra (sacred wheel), Shanku (sacred conch) to  Asura Tarakasura, brother of Soorapadma, prayed to the Lord and got them back. 



Skanda is also believed to have  taught  nuances of Tamil to the famous sage Agasthyar and he is regarded as Veeramurthy, Gnanamurthy and Acharyamurthy in this shrine. Agasthiyar was a great scholar both in Tamil and Sanskrit. Saint Arunagirinathar,
once a very rich man, sang in praise of Muruga. 


Sri Muttuswami Deekshitar, one of the trinity of Carnatic music, who lived 200 years ago, had his inspiration in Tiruttani, when the Lord  himself (in the guise of an old man) met him on the steps and gave him the  temple  prasadam which gave him divine power to compose and render his first krithi.

The two significant  annual festivals  here are the Aadi Krittikai and the 31st of December New Year Step Festival. The famous float festival falls in the month of Aadi, Bhramotsavam in the month of Maasi, during which time Valli Kalyanam (wedding of Karthikaya with Valli) is performed with great joy on the 8th day, and the Skanda Sashti is  held in the Tamil month of Aippasi. The participants in the festivals actively get involved in the temple rituals with great dedication and devotion. This gives them a sense of contentment.

Ref:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thiruthani_Murugan_Temple

↧
Search

Lord Subrmaniya, Thiruchendur- one of the six holy abodes, Tamil Nadu

May 9, 2017, 3:53 am
$
0
0

Thiruchendur Subramanya temple, spiritualdrive.wordpress.com

Thiruchendur Subramanya temple, one of the Aaru padai veedu (six shrines or holy abodes) dedicated to Lord Muruga dates back to several centuries. Each of these Murugan temples is unique and has its own interesting legend that teaches us some lessons on life that might come handy for us in our arduous life's journey.  The divine visit of the God makes the place holy and whoever visits such s plsce of veneration get peace of mind and gain metal prowess to face challenges in life.

Temple elephant,Thiruchendur Subramanya temple,Tamil Nadu, Indiawww.triposo.com

Unlike other Subramaniyar temples which are traditionally on the hill, this important temple is located on a pleasant scenic sea shore off the coast of Mannar Gulf. Every day thousands of people visit this temple not only for bakhti / devotion but also for peace of mind and get the mind off from mundane things in life. This temple is always as crowded as the Palani temple and  the atmosphere is charged with  intense devotion.  Thanks to the state government's initiatives, the entire temple complex and the surrounding places  are free from garbage and are being well maintained. 

Thiruchendur Subramanya temple,.tiruchendurmurugantemple.tnhrce.in/

133 feet tall main Gopuram,Thiruchendur Subramanya temple,T.N, en.wikipedia.org

One interesting fact is this temple was not built by the mighty, affluent kings, rather it was done by the holy Hindu Saints. It is one of the largest temple complexes (by area) and is also one of the most visited temple complexes in India (including devotees from countries like Singapore, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, England, Australia, etc).  Here the Raja gopuram (main tower) is facing west and the entrance into the temple is in the western gate. The Pandya and Chera dynasties were involved in the construction of  many temples including this one at various periods. Many Saivite saints sang in praise of Muruga. Adi Sankara, one of the greatest Hindu philosophers and who established several Mutts across India, once fell ill. It is believed, he visited this temple and got the relief  owing to the divine grace of the deity here.


Tiruchendur location map. Mapsofindia

For a brief period this area was under the Dutch in the late 1640s. Madurai Nayak rulers  later recovered the idols taken by the Dutch through negotiations. The temple was rebuilt later with funds from people and others. 

In this temple sanctum sanctorium- Sri Kovil or Garbagraha  is  below the ground level. The daily puja protocol in the temple is done according to the Kumara Tantra of Kerala tradition and the main hereditary priests in the sanctum here are from Namboodri Brahmin families of Kerala. All the poojas are performed both for Lord Shiva and Subramanya. In the months of December and January,the daily pooja begins at 3 AM instead of 5:30 AM and continues till 8:30 pm.  This temple was once under the control of the Travancore Samasthanam, hence the Kerala tradition is being followed with respect to Nithya poojs, etc.

There are several festivals associated with this temple, one being Soora Samharam that falls in November every year. It attracts thousands of devotees.
Ref: 
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thiruchendur
↧

Pazhamudircholai Subramanya temple - one of the six holy abodes, Tamil Nadu temple

May 9, 2017, 5:46 am
$
0
0

Pazhamudircholai, the sixth of Lord Murugan's Aaru padai Veedukal - the six holiest Murugan shrines is  is associated with Sangam poet Nakkirar and his poem Tirumurukarruppadai.
The temple, 16 km from Madurai city, is located in the pleasant scenic wooded hill, not far from Alagar Vishnu Kovil, one of the 108Divyadesam shrines. It is said this was once the Muugan temple and during the Nayak period, the main deity was shifted to the present location.



Pazhamudircholai Murugan temple, Tamil nadu. www.flickr.com

 This fertile hilly place is rich in fruits and vegetables and is endowed with a lot of scenic places. At top of the hill, is Noopura Ganga a perennial waterfall and there is also a temple dedicated to Rakkayi Amman.

This fertile hilly place is rich in fruits and vegetables andis endowed with a lot of scenic places. At top of the hill, is Noopura Ganga , a perennial waterfall and there isalso a temple dedicated to Rakkayi Amman, a form of Kali.

Pazhamudircholai Murugan Temple,Tamil nadu.www.tripadvisor.in


In the Madhavi mandapa near the spring, it is believed, Tamil poet Ilangovadigal wrote one of the five Mahakavyas in Tamil, viz., Silappatikaram,etc. Though the sthala is very old dating back to several centuries, the temple was built recently. For centuries Vel – Spear has been worshiped as the moolavar or main deity here.Arunagirinathar, another Tamil poet and saint in his Tiruppugazh sang in praise of Pazhamudircholai Muruga.


Famous legend has it Avvaiyar,a  Tamil poetof great repute after her long wondering in the wilderness, had a chance meeting with a small boy in the shadow of a tree and asked him to get some fruitsas she was hungry. Lord Muruga in the guise of a boy played atrick on the old woman and asked her a funny question whether she wanted ''roastedwarm''fruits. The learned poet, to avoid hurting the tiny boy,asked him to get her un-roasted fruits.The boy shook the tree and down on the ground fell the fruits. Avvaiyar astonished to find that the fruits fallen from the tree were very warm. Realizing her folly,she asked the boy who he was. Lord Muruga (Karthikaya) appeared before her and blessed with bountiful knowledge.


Unlike many other huge temples with various stone sculptures and ornate pillars, etc.,  this one is small and simple. On a visit to this hilly temple in the cool shadows of dense trees, one never fails to get peace of mind and  tranquility with lush hillocks forming the back drop.


It is worth visiting this temple nestled in a quiet place away from hustle and bustle of polluted city life.

Ref:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kartikeya
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Six_Abodes_of_Murugan







↧
↧

Celestial wedding of goddess Meenakshi of Madurai - part of Chithirai festival

May 13, 2017, 11:37 pm
$
0
0

The month of Chithirai (April-May), according to the Tamil Calendar, is a festival month for the Hindu temples - (Star on the Pournami: Chithirai. Chitra Pournami & Varusha pirappu -Tamil New year day  are the most important festivals in this month. The famous Chithirai Thiruvizha is celebrated in Madurai Meenakshi Amman temple. 14 April is the Tamil New Year). Chithirai Festival is a popular one and closely associated with Madurai city of Tamil Nadu. Considered as  the longest celebrated festivals in the world, it lasts for one month and is divided into two parts. In the first 15 days of the festival, there are  celebrations related to coronation of Goddess Meenakshi and the wedding  of Lord Sundareswarar (Lord Shiva) and Goddess Meenakshi. This is a Saivite festival based on Saivite tradition of worship.  The second half consisting of roughly 15 days is dominated by the celebrations of the Journey of Lord Azhagar (lord Maha Vishnu) from Azhagar Temple in Azhagarmalai, near  Madurai. This one is Vaishnavite festival, following Vaishnava tradition This festival attracts around 1 million people from different places of Tamil Nadu and other places. The entire city wears a festive look and amazingly devotees attend the festival with devotion and bakthi unmindful of  hot, dry  summer heat. These two important festivals point out that both Shiva and Vishnu are one, though the people following them follow different traditions. 

It was during the reign  of king Thirumalai Nayakar both festivals became  merged as one single event to prove that Saivaism and Vaishavism  preach almost the same religious tenets with minor variations. Since  his time Chithirai Thiruvizha has become a great and grand  religious event in the the Tamil month of Chithirai. No other Indian cities have closer connection with Chithirai temple festival than  Madurai city. Chithirai Festival dates in 2017 may fall between 29th April till 10th May. No doubt, Chithirai festival is synonymous with Madurai city,  just like Thirussur with  the Poorum festival.

Meenakshi marrying Lord Sundereswarer, Madurai. www.pinterest.com


 Legend has it that Meenakshi  was the daughter of Pandya king Malayathuvasa Pandian and queen Kanchana Malai, The childless Pandya King and his wife  did special prayer to god to be blessed with a child. While doing  Putra Kameshti Yagna,  a small beautiful girl came out of the fire and sat on the lap of the king. A divine voice (Asiriri) from the sky told the royal couple that the child sitting on the lap  was none other than an incarnation of  of Sakthi (consort  of Lord Shiva) and Lord Shiva would  take her as his wife one day at the right age.  As Meenakshi  grew in the royal palace with love and care, she was trained in various aspects of royal administration, including  warfare, etc. She  was crowned as the Queen of Pandya kingdom after her father. As the head of the kingdom, she fought many a battle  in countries scattered in eight directions and, on one occasion, went to  Kailasham (the Place of Lord Shiva) to conquer it. When Meenakshi met Lord Shiva face to face at the battlefield, she immediately felt shy and  fell in love with him. She realized that she was, in reality,  an avatar of Sakthi and Lord Shiva's consort.

Madurai city map MADURA WELCOME

The wedding of Meenakshi (Goddess Parvathi) with Sundareswarer (Lord Shiva ) was to be held in  Madurai and Meenakshi's brother Alagar (Lord Vishnu), was to attend the wedding. His abode was on the Azhagar hills, a rugged, wooded terrain near the city. Azhgar (Vishnu began his  long journey towards Madurai disguising as a robber. This was to protect his valuable possessions. Because he had to cross the dense forest, his arduous journey  got delayed and by the time he had reached near Madurai, while crossing the river Vaigai, he learned that his sister Meenakshi's wedding with Lord Shiva was already over. When Lord Shiva and Meenakshi came to know of Vishnu's visit near Madurai and  of his unhappiness over the conduct of marriage not in his presence, they came to the Vaigai river to pacify him. Having become subdued, Azhagar presented  all the gifts that he carried, to Meenakshi and Shiva in a Mandapam in the middle of Vaigai river, and returned to Azhagar Hill without entering Madurai.

Meenakshi temple, model , Madurai Heritage Madurai
celestial wedding of Meenaskshi, Madurai  aarkaytamil.blogspot.com5

That Lord Vishnu, the elder brother of Meenaskshi could not attend the wedding and returns to his abode Azgharmalai, is a different legend and is part of Chithirai festival that last for roughly two weeks.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chithirai_Thiruvizha

↧

Celestial wedding of Meenakshi of Madurai - list of events - Chithirai festival

May 14, 2017, 6:40 am
$
0
0
Celestial wedding of Meenaskshi with lord Shiva(Sundareswarere)Prokerala.com

Meenakshi Kalyanam - the divine  wedding of goddess Meenakshi with Sudareswarer (lord Shiva), Madurai (2500 year old city) is  one of the widely known  fairs and festivals of Tamil Nadu, S. India. The venue of this annual festival is at the world-famous Meenakshi Temple (originally built in the 6th century; present structures were rebuilt between 1623 and 1653 after Delhi sultanate invasion led by Malik Kaufer). The  festival falls in the months of April – May (Hindu month of Chaitra).  During the two week  festival Goddess Meenakshi and Lord Shiva are well decorated and taken out in a  procession  accompanied by traditional instrumental music provided by the trained artists around the streets and is watched by people in thousands. The entire temple complex is well decorated with flowers and festoons and lots of pilgrims visit the temple during the festival time and attend the pujas. The temple chariot procession around the broad street is part of Chithirai festival. 

Madurai Meenashi temple, Tamil Nadu. www.inde.org.in


The following  is the list of events associated with Meenakshi Kalyanam:

01. Kodi Yetram - flag-hoisting. Any important Hindu temple festival commences with Flag-hoisting on the Kodi Maram (Dwajasthambam in Sanskrit). During this short, but important event, the chief priest of Meenakshi Amman temple will hoist the holy flag on the Flag post of the temple which will be in front of the main shrine. It is equal to declaring the event open and  the flag will be on the flagstaff  until the end of this festival.

02. Pattabisekam or coronation ceremony is yet another interesting event. On this day, goddess  goddess Meenakshi is crowned as the queen of Madurai and she ascends the throne to rule the Pandya kingdom for the first four months. Then, in the next 8 months, her husband  Lord Sunderaswarar will be crowned as the king of Madurai.

03. Dikvijayam event assumes much importance because it provides goddess Meenaskshi a chance to see her would be lord. As part of her rule in the Pandya Nadu,  Goddess Meenakshi went to   wars  with countries. Upon her war expedition to Kailaayam (Kailasam - the Place of Lord Shiva in the Himalayas), she got a chance to see  Lord Shiva and resolved to marry him. She realized that actually she was the consort of Lord Shiva.

04. Meenakshi Thirukalyanam, the great grand wedding  of  Meenakshi Amman and Lord shiva (Lord Sundereswara) in Madurai is the main event. Lord Shiva is believed to visit Madurai  to marry Meenakshi. For centuries this tradition has been followed. 


Temple Chariot. Official Website Of Arulmigu Meenakshi Sundareshwarar Thirukkoil

05. Ther Thiruvizha takes place soon after the celestial wedding. The day after wedding, the King and Queen of Pandya Kingdom Lord Sunderaswarar and Meenakshi  are believed to come out of their abode to see the people. The idols (Utchavars) of Sudareswarer and Goddess Meenakshi are well adorned and placed on the chariot (Ther in Tamil), a huge, beautiful wooden artistically designed chariot. This event is marked by the pulling of the huge chariot  along the Masi streets by the devotees.


Goddess Meenashi KalyanamIndo American News

06.  Part of  Madurai Chithirai festival includes a  grand procession of Lord Vishnu (Lord Kallazhagar), the brother of Goddess Meenakshi, Lord Azhagar  travels from his abode in Azhagarmalai (18 km from Madurai) to get his sister married to Lord Sundareshwarar. This divine journey from his abode to his sister’s wedding, on a golden chariot, is yet another  legend behind celebrating the Chithirai Festival, Madurai. When Vishnu comes to know that the wedding is already over while crossing the Vaigai river, he returns to Karuparayar Mandapam. He removes the curse cast on Manduka Maharishi by sage Dhruvasa. Manduka gets the human form from frog. There, he takes ten avatars and finally returns to Azhagar Kovil, his original abode. 


Kallazgagar Perumal (Vishnu),Azhagar Malai. Madurai. Temple Advisor


Kallazhagar (Vishnu). Anudinam
07. The festival begins from the second day of the lunar month that is exactly two days after the new moon.
  
 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chithirai_Thiruvizha
↧

Lord Kallazhagar and his entry into the river Vaigai in style - part of Chithirai festival

May 14, 2017, 6:18 pm
$
0
0
Entry of Kallazgagar (vishnu) in the Vaigai river, Madurai,, The Hindu


The very name Madurai conjurers up the images of the beautiful, massive  Meenaskshi  Amman temple, her celestial wedding with Lord Shiva (Sundareswarar) and  most importantly the entry of Lord Kallazhagar into the Vaigai river; the last being the highlight of the famous Chithirai festival in Madurai. This annual festival has never failed to attract the people of the city and the surrounding places and its grandeur and and style will always make it more colorful and attractive. This year's Chithirai Thiruvizha began on 28 April 2017 with the flag- hoisting - (Kodi yetram) in the famous Meenakshi Amman temple. This festival began on behalf of Azhagarkovil at the Tallakulam Perumal Kovil. The celestial wedding of Meenakshi and Sudareswarar took place on 7 May followed by Therootam - chariot procession along the Main Masi streets on the 8th.

The abode of Kallazhagar, also called Sundaraja Perumal is in Azhagarkovil, a quiet hilly place. According to the temple legend his purpose of visit to Madurai was to relieve (Sabha Vimochanam) Manduga Maharishi (sage) from the curse cast upon him by Rishi Durvasar, to accept Andal  of Srivilliputhur as his consort and to attend the wedding of his sister Meenashshi with Lord Shiva.  Lord Kallazhagar began his  arduous journey towards Madurai on the 8th of this month disguising as Kallar (robber). He was brought on a golden palanquin  and passed through places like Kallathiri, Appanthirupathy, Kadachanenthal and other places. He reached Moondruvaadi on the 10th early morning. He was well received by his devotees in thousands and they sprayed water at him from the water bags, they were carrying. He gave darshan to thousands of people at more than 450 locations (Mandakapadi). 

Then,  he came to Prasanna Venkatesa Perumal temple in Tallakulam  on the 9th and at midnight Thrumanjanam (abhisekam) was performed on him and later he was mounted on a  golden stallion vahana (mount). That time,  the lord accepted the flower garland specially made  by Sri Villiputhur Andal (daughter of Periazhvar, a great Vaishnavite poet) brought from the Andal temple.  

On the 10th early morning 2.30 am, he reached Karupannaswami temple  and gave Darshan to the devotees. Till early morning, there were pujas and aradhanas performed for him. Around 3 am in the early morning,  on the golden stallion, wearing resplendent green silk dress, Kallazhagar began his journey to the river. On that night people of Madurai in thousands spent sleepless night on the street to have a glimpse of him in the early morning. 

The famous part of Chithirai festival - the journey of Lord Kallazhagar from the hilly part of Azhagarkovil, 14 km from Madurai and the final event - the entry of the lord into the river took place on 10 May 2017 at 6.28 am (Chitra Pournami day) at the make-shift Mandabam with lakhs of devotees watching the great event from every vantage space  available. The government provided 16 LED screens at various places  around the area  for the devotees to see this great event. One could see a sea of humanity every where. The entire city was sleepless, anxiously awaiting the arrival of Azhagar on the banks of river Vaigai. Azhagar entered the river wearing the shining green silk.  This huge crowd was possible owing to dry condition prevailing in this region and consequently there was no water in the river. It gave the people to walk on the river bed and  had a close darshan of the lord  as  this great event happens once a year. This temple city wore a festive look with ardent pilgrims chanting Govinda, Govinda and dancing to the tune of "Vaararu Vaararu Azhagar Vaararu" being sung frequently as Lord Vishnu (Azhagar) entered the Vaigai River. The huge gathering of devotees in the Tallakulam and Goripalayam area may amaze any new comer to this city because it is the peak summer time (in the midst  of Agninakshatram) - the temperature is way high. At the make-shift Mandapam in the river,  he was received by Veeraraghava Perumal from  South Masi Street.  Lord Azhagar was in the pandal for about an hour and the priests did pujas and aradhanas to the Perumal. 

Entry of Kallazgagar (vishnu) in the Vaigai river, Madurai,, The Hindu

Later he left the river and went to Ramarayar Mandabam where the devotees wearing the dress of a robber sprayed water on him (Therthavari).  Around 11pm Kallaghagar was taken to Vandiyur Veraraghava Perumal temple and on the 11th May around 6 am Thrumanjanam was done to him. The main event is he was taken to Theenur Mandabam where he gave Sabha Vimochanam to Monduga Maharishi (sage Sudhabas who got back his human form from frog (mandukam in Sanskrit it means frog)). Sage Duruvasa, upset with his behavior cursed Sudhabas  Maharishi to become a frog. He also told him to pray to Vishnu and his curse would be removed by the lord.

lord in matsya kurma and vamana alankara. ISKCON Times

On the night of 11th May Lord Azhagar appeared  in Dasavataram (ten avatars) after Thirumanjanam. On 12th (Friday) morning 6 am  he took Mohini avatar and around 11 am he reached via Goripalayam Ramanathapuram Mannar Sethupathy Mandabam where he changed his attire back to Kallar (robber) and blessed the devotees from the flower-decked  palanquin. At the Tallakulam Perumal temple, farmers and others offered paddy and other food grains as part of their prayer. On the 13th 8.30 am,  he went to Ambalathukarar Mandabam  from where Kallazhagar around 11 am resumed his return journey to Azhagarkovil and through out his journey at various places like Appantirupathy, Moodrumavadi, etc  thousands of people had a good darshan of the lord. Festivities continued all the way. After more than a week,  lord Kallazhagar  reached his abode Azhagarkovil around 10.30 am on the 14th May. 


Madurai location Navrang India - blogger
Lord Vishnu (Azhagar) on the golden stallion, Madurai tamil.oneindia.com

 Tit-Bits:

01. The entry of Kallazhagar into the Vaigai river is a significant event of this Chithirai festival. 


Kallazhagarkovil, near Madurai Panoramio

02. Every year, during the later part of the festival there will be a  drizzle. This year, the sky was overcast and it rained briefly. 

03. The Palanquin with golden stallion on which Kallazhagar (Vishnu) is mounted  is taken around from place to place by hereditary bearers and they have been doing it for generations.

04. Quite interesting  ‘ parai ’ music by folk artistes engaged by almost every group of devotees could be heard everywhere.

 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chithirai_Thiruvizha
↧
Viewing all 3829 articles
Browse latest View live
Search