Nakkatayya of Varanasi

Nakkatayya (slitting of nose) is an episode from the Ramayana, the great Indian epic. Nakkatayya Leela is re-enactment of that episode. At Varanasi, the Nakkatayya Leela is held at Chetganj and is attended by large number of people from all parts of Varanasi city and nearby towns. Exile of Lord Ram forms the backdrop of this story. Nakkatayya re-enacts a story from Ramayana in which Surpanakha (sister of Ravana, the devil King), comes to entice Ram and then Lakshman. Lakshman, the younger brother of Ram, gets angry and slits Suparnakha's nose and she goes back crying. This act of nose slitting is enacted at stage during mid October in Chetganj locality of Varanasi. On the occasion of Nakkatayya, numerous processions and tableaux are carried out in the streets of Varanasi, symbolizing the victory of truth over evil.

2015 Date : 30th October. 

Durga Chalisa

Durga Chalisa, a “forty verse” prayer, is one of the most important prayer of Maa Durga which recalls the achievements & deeds of Maa Durga.

Namo Namo Durge Sukh karani,

Namo Namo ambe Dukh harani. 

Nirakar hai jyoti tumhari,

Tihun lok pheli ujayari. 

Shashi lalat mukh mahavishala,

Netra lal bhrikutee vikarala. 

Roop Matu ko adhika suhave,

Daras karat jan ati sukh pave. 

Tum sansar shakti laya kina,

Palan hetu anna dhan dina. 

Annapurna hui jag pala,

Tumhi adi sundari Bala. 

Pralaya kala sab nashan hari,

Tum gauri Shiv-Shankar pyari. 

Shiv yogi tumhre guna gaven,

Brahma Vishnu tumhen nit dhyaven. 

Roop Saraswati ko tum dhara,

De subuddhi rishi munina ubara. 

Dharyo roop Narsimha ko amba,

Pragat bhayin phar kar khamba. 

Raksha kari Prahlaad bachayo,

Hiranakush ko swarga pathayo. 

Lakshmi roop dharo jag mahin,

Shree Narayan anga samihahin. 

Ksheer sindhu men karat vilasa,

Daya Sindhu, deeje man asa. 

Hingalaja men tumhin Bhavani,

Mahima amit na jet bakhani. 

Matangi Dhoomavati Mata,

Bhuvneshwari bagala sukhdata. 

Shree Bhairav lara jog tarani,

Chhinna Bhala bhav dukh nivarani. 

Kehari Vahan soh Bhavani,

Langur Veer Chalat agavani. 

Kar men khappar khadag viraje,

Jako dekh kal dan bhaje. 

Sohe astra aur trishoola,

Jase uthata shatru hiya shoola. 

Nagarkot men tumhi virajat,

Tihun lok men danka bajat. 

Shumbhu Nishumbhu Danuja tum mare,

Rakta-beeja shankhan samhare. 

Mahishasur nripa ati abhimani,

Jehi agha bhar mahi akulani. 

Roop karal Kalika dhara,

Sen Sahita tum tin samhara. 

Pan garha Santon par jab jab,

Bhayi sahaya Matu tum tab tab. 

Amarpuni aru basava loka,

Tava Mahirna sab rahen asoka. 

Jwala men hai jyoti tumhari,

Tumhen sada poojen nar nari. 

Prem bhakti se Jo yash gave,

Dukh-daridra nikat nahin ave. 

Dhyave tumhen jo nar man laee,

Janam-maran tako chuti jaee. 

Jogi sur-muni kahat pukari,

Jog na ho bin shakti tumhari. 

Shankar Aacharaj tap keenhon,

Kam, krodha jeet sab leenhon. 

Nisidin dhyan dharo Shankar ko,

Kahu kal nahini sumiro tum ko. 

Shakti roop ko maran na payo,

Shakti gayi tab man pachitayo. 

Sharnagat hui keerti bakhani,

Jai jai jai Jagdamb Bhavani. 

Bhayi prasanna Aadi Jagdamba,

Dayi shakti nahin keen vilamba. 

Mokon Matu kashta ati ghero,

Tum bin kaun hare dukh mero. 

Aasha trishna nipat sataven,

Moh madadik sab binsaven. 

Shatru nash keeje Maharani,

Sumiron ekachita tumhen Bhavani. 

Karo kripa Hey Matu dayala,

Riddhi-Siddhi de karahu nihala. 

Jab lagi jiyoon daya phal paoon,

Tumhro yash men sada sunaoon. 

Durga Chalisa jo gave,

Sab sukh bhog parampad pave. 

Ragigudda Sri Prasanna Anjaneyaswamy Temple - Bangalore

The Ragigudda Anjaneya temple is a temple dedicated to Hanuman and is located in Jayanagar 9th Block suburb of Bangalore. The temple is situated on a hillock.Here hanuman is worshiped for various benefits: health, wealth, happiness, fulfillment of desires, success and magical accomplishments.

Do's & Dont's at Tirumala

TTD requests the devotees to follow some guidelines in Tirumala to have better stay in Tirumala. Some of them are :

DO'S

• Do book your travel and accommodation in Tirumala through TTD in advance.
• Do pay obeisance to your Ishta Daivam or Kula Daivam before you start for Tirumala.
• Do bathe in the Pushkarini and worship Sri Varahaswami in His temple before you worship Lord Sri Venkateswara.
• Do bathe and wear clean clothes before you enter the temple.
• Do observe absolute silence inside the temple and chant Om Sri Venkatesaya Namah to yourself.
• Do bathe in the Papavinasanam and Akasa Ganga teerthams near Tirumala.
• Do respect ancient customs while at Tirumala.
• Do respect and promote religious sentiments among co-pilgrims.
• Do deposit your offerings in the hundi only.
• Do contact any of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams Enquiry Offices for information regarding the temple and your worship there.
• Do pradakshinam (keeping the shrine to your right) with devotion before entering the temple.
• Do wear a tilak in accordance with your religious affiliation.
• Do follow the procedures of the temple and wait for your turn for the darshan of the Lord

DON'TS

   

• Don't come to Tirumala for any purpose other than worshipping the Lord.
• Don't carry too much jewellery or cash with you.
• Don't eat non-vegetarian food. Don't consume liquor or other intoxicants.
• Don't approach strangers for accommodation.
• Don't wear footwear, or move around in a vehicle, in and around the premises of the temple.
• Don't rush in for darshan, but move along in the queue.
• Don't approach touts for quick darshan.
• Don't prostrate (sastanga danda pranamam) inside the temple.
• Don't buy spurious prasadam from street vendors.
• Don't throw away the prasadam and teertham given to you at the temple.
• Don't enter the temple, if, according to custom or usage, you are prohibited to enter.
• Don't wear flowers and garlands in Tirumala; all flowers are for the Lord only.
• Don't encourage beggars.
• Don't spit or be a nuisance inside the temple premises.
• Don't enter the shrine naked or wearing only a loin-cloth
• Don't wear any head guards like helmets, caps, turbans and hats inside the temple premises.
• Don't carry any weapon inside the temple.
• Don't eat food brought from outside or chew betel leaves in the temple premises.
• Don't evacuate urine or motion or spit in the premises of the temple.
• Don't sleep in the temple premises.
• Don't commit any act of violence or harshness in the temple premises.
• Don't quarrel in the temple premises.
• Don't talk about your wealth, money and status.
• Don't sit with your back facing the Deity.
• Don't pay obeisance with only one hand.

Ganesh Chaturthi - Legends

Birth Of Lord Ganesha

One day when Goddess Parvati was taking bath she made a boy from the dough she used for her bath and put life into it. This is how Ganesha was born and she told him to stand on the main doorway of the house. Then, there came Lord Shiva and while going in the house he was stopped on the gate by Ganesha on orders of her mother.

Ganesh Chaturthi Customs

Although the festival lasts for ten days, the arrangements begin with the preparations of idols two to three months prior to Ganesh Chaturthi. These clay idols are huge and are carved by skilled craftsmen, depicting Ganapati in various poses.

Ganesh Chaturthi - Story, Fast, Myths,Beliefs

In India, amongst the Hindus, Lord Ganesha is one of the greatest and most important deities. This is why his birthday which falls in the Hindu month of Bhadrapada is celebrated on a grand scale with great fervour and joy.On the auspicious occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi, people clean their houses and decorate them with rangolis, fresh flowers, earthen lanterns, lights, etc and prepare various types of sweets including modaks and laddus, the favourite sweets of Lord Ganesha.

Ganesh Chaturthi Pooja

Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated with extreme enthusiasm in India. This festival is celebrated to commemorate the birth of Lord Ganesha, the son of Lord Shiva and Parvati. It is celebrated with immense zeal and fervor throughout the country.

Ganesh Chaturthi Celebrations

Ganesh Chaturthi starts with the installation of these Ganesh statues in colorfully decorated homes and specially erected temporary structures mandapas  in every locality. The pandals are erected by the people or a specific society or locality or group by collecting monetary contributions.

The pandals are decorated specially for the festival, either by using decorative items like flower garlands, lights, etc. or are theme based decorations, which depict religious themes or current events.

Ganesh Chaturthi History

Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated by Hindus all over India, as the birthday of the god of wisdom, knowledge and prosperity, Lord Ganesha. The celebrations continue from five to ten days, depending upon family traditions.

Sri Venkateswara gayatri mantra

OM Nirnajanaya Vidmahe

Nirapasaya Dheemahe

Thanno Srinivasa Prachodayath

Meaning:

Let me meditate on the god who is eternal truth, Oh, God who does not have attachments, give me higher intellect, and let God Srinivasa illuminate my mind.

ISKCON Temple - New Delhi

ISKCON Temple is located at Hari Krishna Hill, in the East of Kailash area of New Delhi. It was built as recently as 1998 and is one of the most lavish and grand temples of the city. 


The ISKCON Temple was completed in 1998 as a complex of temples. This temple has been built on a hilly terrain and is dedicated to the Lord Krishna. The members of the Hare-Rama Hare-Krishna cult commissioned the construction of this marvelous temple. This structure is stylishly built and is regarded as one of the major temple complexes in India. 

The fine art paintings by Russian artists here depict lives and events related to Hindu mythological characters, like Radha-Krishna, Sita-Ram, Laxman, Hanuman and Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.

Special sermons and prayer meeting are held at the temple, every Sunday afternoon. Dedicated mainly to Lord Krishna, the elegant temple was built by the followers of 'Hare-Rama Hare-Krishna' cult. One of the largest temple complexes in India, it also boasts of a Robot, which was built especially to enact and preach 'Gita'.  There is a museum in the temple which organizes multimedia shows to explain the philosophy and teachings of Ramayana and Mahabharata.

VEDIC LIBRARY :

The Bhaktivedanta Library houses over 2000 books by different authors and saints. The spacious library which not only has an extensive collection of spiritual books also offers a multi media section. One can watch ISKCON’s many international videos and relish hundreds of lectures, kirtans and bhajans.

FESTIVALS :

• GAURA PURNIMA
• SRI RAMA NAVAMI
• SRI KRISHNA JANMASTHAMI
• RADHASTAMI
• GOVARDHAN PUJA

Nearby Restaurant to Eat from the ISKCON Temple

The famous Govinda Restaurant in the temple complex offers excellent Satvik meals (without garlic and onions), Hotel Park Royal, Karim’s, Supper Factory and Salims in Kailash Colony Market, McDonald’s and sophisticated eating joints in Greater Kailash-1′s market, many good food joints in Nehru place including the likes of Nathu’s, Domino’s Pizza, many good restaurants in Kalkaji Market and C. R. Park markets.There ara also many special places near from the ISKCON Temple or Hare Krishna Temple Delhi.

TIMINGS :  The temple remains opened every day from 4.30am to 12:00pm and from 4.00pm to 9.00pm.

HOW TO REACH :

Located in the heart of New Delhi, in the posh sectors of Kailash, the ISKCON temple is easily accessible from all over the city. It takes around 45 minutes to reach the temple from Indira Gandhi International Airport and around 25 minutes from Nizammuddin Railway Station, the nearest rail head. Tourists will get ample public transport options from all parts of Delhi, including DTC and private buses, taxis and auto-rickshaws all round the hours.

Subramanya Temple - Kukke

Kukke Sri Subrahmanya temple located on the banks of river Kumaradhara at Kukke is dedicated to Lord Subrahmanya (Murugan). It is located in the village of Subramanya in the Sullia taluk of Dakshina Kannada District near Mangalore, Karnataka, India.

Veeraraghava Perumal Temple, Tiruvallur

The Sri Vaidya Veera Raghavar Temple is situated in Tiruvallur the headquarters of Tiruvallur District, Tamilnadu.The temple is one among the 108 divya desams of vaishnavas and a part of tondai naadu divyadesams. Amavasya days are believed to be auspicious for visiting this temple.

The presiding deity Veera raghava perumal is in a reclining position in the temple. The lord’s right hand is positioned on Salihothra Munivar’s head while the left hand is in the Gyana Mudra position indicating the teaching of the four Vedas to the Lord Brahma.

Janmashtami Bhajans

The festival of Janmashtami is celebrated with great zeal by Hindus across India. The eighth day of Sravana month is important in the Hindu calendar, because this is the day when Lord Krishna was born in Mathura. 

Srivari Hundi - Tirumala

After having the darshan of the Lord, the devotees deposit their offerings to the Lord in this Hundi. It is believed that a Sri Chakra is placed under this hundi and hence the deity receives lot of wealth in the form of offerings. Sri Ramanadha Ghanapati, a veda pundit of TTD has said that when he was still a student of Vedas seventy years ago, land under hundi was dug to raise the ground level of the temple. It was then that the Sri Chakra Yantram was found. The temple complex was modified many times for creating easy passage to the devotees. But the hundi was never shifted from this place.

Mukkoti Pradakshinam - Tirumala

Mukkoti Pradakshinam begins at Lord Rama’s mansion that is beyond Ghanta Mandapam in the path way of Vimana Pradakshina.In Dravidian terminology, mukkoti means the vratham had on this day is equal to three crores time of vrathams followed on any Ekadasi day. The Pradakshinam has walls on three sides only, with the eastern wall missing.

Mukkoti Pradakshinam is opened to pilgrims only twice a year during Mukkoti Ekadasi (in the month of Pausha, Dhanurmasa) and Mukkoti Dvadasi (the following day). The doors are opened on the night of the eleventh day morning (early hours) after Thiruppavai and closed on the night of the twelfth day (called Margali-tiru-dvadasi).

PADI POTU - TIRUMALA

The Lord’s kitchen is located in the route of Sampangi Pradakshinam. This kitchen is referred to as ‘Padi potu’.

Inside the Potu, there is a small shrine dedicated to Sri Maha Lakshmi. She is identified with Vakulamalika, who was, according to the Puranas, sent by Varahaswami to be the house-keeper of Sri Venkateswara, when he resided on the hill. Vakulamalika is said to have arranged Lord Sri Venkateswara's marriage with Padmavathi.

In reality, she is regarded as Sri Maha Lakshmi, and is worshipped as such. She is worshipped during Varalakshmi Vratam, in the month of Sravana.

There is a similar icon of Sri Maha Lakshmi in the Padi Potu, another kitchen located in the Sampangi Pradakshinam.

Rice prasadam is prepared in the inner Potu, while other Panyarams like laddus, vadas appamsetc., are prepared in the Padipotu.

Bhoga Srinivasa Murthi - Tirumala

Bhoga Srinivasa is a silver deity that is a near replica of the main deity.The lord is also known as Manavalapperumal or Kautuka Bera. The deity is utilized for performing daily Abhishekam ceremony (as part of Thomala Seva) and daily Ekanta Seva.  

Bhoga Srinivasa was consecrated to the temple in 614 by Pallava queen Samavai (also known as Kadavan-Perundevi) along with donation of land and gold to the temple. The idol is a true copy of the Dhruva Bera except that the Sanka and Chakra are fixed in the case of Bhoga Srinivasa.

Sri Vari Garbha Gruha - Tirumala

The Sanctum  Where the idol of Lord Sri Venkateswara is placed called Garbha gruha.This idol, called the Mulaberam, is believed to be self-manifested.The idol of the Lord wears a gold crown (Kiritam), which has a large emerald embedded on its front. On special occasions, it is replaced with a diamond kiritam.

Pilgrims are not allowed to enter the Garbha Gruha.

The body of the Idol is spun with a Gold-stringed-Pitambaram, with a belt of golden-bells. The idol is decorated with precious ornaments.. It bears Goddess Lakshmi on the right chest and Sri Padmavathi Devi on the left. Nagaabharanam ornaments are on both of the idol's shoulders.The lotus feet are covered with gold frames and decked with clinging gold anklets. A strong curved belt of gold encompasses the legs. During Abhishekam, we can have darshan of Goddess Lakshmi.

The Ananda Nilaya Divya Vimana was covered with gilt copper plates and covered with a golden vase, in the thirteenth century, during the reign of the Vijayanagara king, Yadava Raya.

Teerthams in Tirumala

There are many Teerthams in Tirumala some of them are.

  Kumaradhara Teertham

  Tumbhuru Teertham

  Papavinasanam Teertham

  Chakra Teertham

  Sanaka Sanandana Teertham

  Japali Teertham

  Swami Pushkarini

  Akasaganga Teertham

  Pandava Teertham

  Vaikuntha Teertham

  Sesha Teertham

  Sitamma Teertham

  Pasupu Teertham

  Ramakrishna Teertham
Some festivals are Celebrated at this Teerthams :

Kumaradhara Teertham - Magha Pournami

Ramakrishna Teertham  - Pushya Pournami

Tumbhuru Teertham - Phalguna Pournami

Chakra Teertham - Karthika Masa - Ksheerabdhi Dwadasi