TALES FROM THE PAST

VAITHEESWARAN KOIL, NAGAPATTINAM (TN) One of the 9 Navagraha kshetram in TamilNadu with Shiva as Divine Doctor. His consort Thayyalnayaki Ambal stands with medicinal oil to cure diseases of the devotees. The Kshetram is associated with Angaraka/ Chevvai (Mars). Once, Chevvai/ Angarakan was struck by leprosy. He was cured here by Sri Vaitheeswaran. People come here to get relief from Chevvai dosham caused by unfavourable position of Mars. Also here, Shiva cured the injured army of Sri Subramanya during his war with Soorpadaman. Devotees take bath in the Siddhamruta Theertham Tank to cure them of their diseases, especially skin diseases. It is also called Goksheera (Go is cow n ksheera is milk)Theertham, as Kamadhenu’s milk flowed in this tank when she performed milk abhishekam to the deity here. It is believed that Rama and Lakshmana cremated Jatayu here. The Nethrapidi Sandhanam and Thiruchandu Urundai are two of the prasadams which are believed to cure all ailments. This is the nerve ...

SRI JAGANNATH PRABHU: DAILY RITUALS  Sri Jagannath, the Adhipati of Universe and his siblings are loved and cared for just like family members. Prabhu has a beautiful daily routine and all rituals are unique. On Utkal Diwas, let us take a look at these Each morning, they are woken up by music and an Arti. Nightclothes are changed and their teeth are brushed. They are given a bath and dressed for the morning darshan. They are made to change again for a light early breakfast (Gopal Ballabh) having fruits, curd and green coconut A second breakfast (Raj Bhoga) is served at 10 am which is followed up with some Betel nut to aid digestion. The deities eat an elaborate lunch (Madhyana Dhupa) at 1 pm. After that cots are put up for them to take afternoon sleep. After Evening snack (Sandhya Dhupa) and darshan at 6 pm, they are dressed for Chandana lagi, application of sandalwood paste n made ready for evening. They eat a late dinner (Badasinghar Bhoga) at 10:30 pm. A sevak lulls them to slee...

SIGNIFICANCE OF EATING CURD (DAHI) Milk and milk products are a vital part of our Dharma. Sri Krishna’s association with butter and worship of Kamdhenu underline the importance attached to milk. Dahi/ curd/ Yogurt is a form of milk and a wonder drug for body. Curd aids digestion and acts as a natural laxative. It has many vital nutrients like calcium, vitamin B-2, vitamin B-12, potassium, and magnesium. It is easier to digest so those who have problem in having milk due to lactose intolerance can eat curd. The tradition of giving curd-sugar (दही चीनी) to a student before going to give exams is because this combination cools the body and helps to check stress. Curd is rich in calcium, which triggers less production of cortisol and helps in losing weight. The anti-fungal property of yogurt makes it the best remedy for removing dandruff. Eating curd everyday helps in reducing cholesterol levels, thus lowering the risk of high blood pressure and hypertension. Yogurt in face packs acts as a...

PANCHAMRITA  पयोदधि घृतं चैव मधु च शर्करायुतं । पञ्चामृतं मयानीतं स्नानार्थं प्रतिगृह्यताम् ॥ Panchamrita Abhishek is a Hindu ritual performed at all homes and temples where the idols are bathed with Panchamrita with chanting of mantras. The oldest reference to Panchamrita is,perhaps, in Mahabharata which says that it emerged in Samudra Manthan. It is a combination of two words, “Pancha” means five and “Amrita” means nectar of Devas. Panchamrita is a mixture of 5 ingredients-Milk, Curd, Honey, jaggery and Ghee. Symbolic meaning: Milk-purity and piousness Curd-prosperity and progeny Honey-sweet speech and unity Jaggery-sweetness and bliss Ghee-knowledge and victory When ripe fruits of Banana and Mangoes are also used, it is known as Phala Panchamrita where Phala means fruits. Five Devas reside in Panchamrita- Milk- has Soma Curd-has Vayu Honey-has Vishwedeva Ghee-has Surya Jaggery-has Savitru Offering these together in Panchamrita signifies “May the quality of Devas blossom in our l...

NEELAKURINJI: A RARE FLOWER  The Anamalai hills near Munnar in Kerala have the highest concentration of Neelakurinji (blue flower): flower that blooms only once in 12 years.(last in 2018). Each shrub reproduces once in its life time and dies after flowering. The honey from the neelakurinji is very special. It lasts for about 15 years without getting spoilt. The Kurinjimala Sanctuary gives the most spectacular view of Neelakurinji. Nilgiri Hills (the blue mountains) got the name from this very flower.

SAPHALA EKADASHI: LUMPAKA’s STORY 1st Ekadashi of the year. If performed with devotion and sincerity, it removes sins of previous births and wins the blessings of Shri Hari Vishnu. A king called Mahishmata had four sons. The eldest son Lumpaka was given to evil ways. So the King exiled him. Lumpaka started living in the nearby forest and became a dacoit robbing passers by. He lived only on raw meat and fruits inhabiting a tree under which there was a murti of Sri Vishnu. However, Lumpaka never bothered to worship it at all. Two days before Saphala Ekadashi, Lumpaka fell ill and could not fetch any food to eat. So he observed fast for 2 days. On the day of Saphala Ekadashi, he saw the Vishnu murti and prayed to Vishnu to relieve him from his illness. The whole day he observed fast unintentionally and offered the fruits fallen from the tree to Sri Vishnu. Even this unintentional act of worship washed away his sins and he became virtuous. He was accepted back by his father and became a me...

YANTRODHARAK HANUMANTHA, HAMPI (KAR) Here, on a hill near Tungabhadra River, the image of Sri Hanuman is enclosed in a hexagonal amulet in prayer mudra. It is said that the shrine is built where Hanuman met Sri Ram for the 1st time. Other belief is that Sri Vyasaraja used to pray to Hanuman in this place by drawing his image on the rocks. By the time he finished his prayers, the picture used to disappear. When this happened for 12 days in a row, he pleaded with Sri Hanuman to appear before him. Hanuman appeared and asked Sri Vyasaraja to constrain him in a six-sided amulet and build a shrine. 12 monkeys are carved around this amulet. They represent the 12 days Sri Vyasaraja prayed to Hanuman. Each monkey holds the tail of the monkey in front of him but faces backward. Nearby, there is a shrine dedicated to Sri Ram. There is a fig tree also. At its foot, there are snake-stones showing snake worship. Yantrodharak Hanuman Stotram is believed to have been written here. Chanting it thrice ...