SRI GURUVAYOORAPPAN: KATHA

The Guruvayur Mandir, Thrissur (Ker) is a famous Sri Krishna Mandir and often referred to as "Bhooloka Vaikuntam"- the abode of Vishnu on Earth.
It is said that Sri Vishnu himself created this murti and presented it to Brahma.
@Ashwinsampathk

Once, King Sutapa and his wife Prishni prayed to Sri Vishnu and asked him to bless them with a son like him. Vishnu told them that he himself would take birth in their family.
Later, in different ages, Sri Vishnu was born to them as Prasnigarbha, Vamana, Rama and Krishna.

In all these births, the couple worshipped this murti which Brahma gave to them. Krishna inherited the murti from them and worshipped it in Dwarka. When Krishna was leaving for Vaikuntha, he gave the murti to Uddhav to take it to a safer place.
@Maha_periyava_ @GampaSD

Uddhav carried the murti with the help of Guru (Brihaspati) n Vayu dev. They installed the murti at this place, thereby giving the name Guruvayoor.

The image of Guruvayoorappan has four hands carrying Shankha (conch), chakra (discus), Gada (mace) and Padma (lotus).
@SriRamya21

The murti is said to be made of a highly powerful stone called Patala Anjanama that has several healing and miraculous properties.
It can be seen from the entrance gate. On the day of Keralite New Year Vishu, the sun’s rays caress the feet of Guruvayoorappan.

Narayan Hari🙏🏻

ETTUMANOOR MAHADEVA, KOTTAYAM (KER)

It is said that once, Shiva was pleased with the prayers of demon Khara. He gave 3 shivlingas to him n told him to worship them regularly. Khara held 2 lingas in his hands and hung one from his neck. While coming back, he fell as he was tired.

He consecrated the 2 lingas in his hand there. These are believed to be Vaikom Shiva and Ettumanoor Shiva. Then he took out the 3rd one hanging around his neck with his teeth and consecrated that too. So it is called Kadichiruthi/Kaduthuruthi (put down with teeth).

After consecrating all, Khara is believed to have become a deer and started worshiping Prabhu. Shiva, then, took the deer in his hand and held it there. So this place was called Udhruthaina Puram, which means Ettumanoor (place where the deer was lifted).

The major attraction in this mandir is “Ezhara Ponnana” or Seven and a half elephants. These statues are made of wood and covered with gold plates. A total of 58 kilo gold is used to create them. It is believed that the King of Travancore has made these idols for Vaikom Mandir.

It was being carried out to Vaikom by water but the boat got stuck on sand. An astrologer came there and told them that, Ettumanoorappan, the presiding Devta of Ettumanoor got attracted to these statues and will not part with it. So the King donated the statues to Ettumanoor.

ADI SHANKARACHARYA AND PADMAPADA/SANANDANA

Once while Adi Shankara was in Kasi he saw Sanandana (one of his prime disciples) standing on the other bank of the Ganga. Sanandana was drying Acharya's clothes. Adi Shankara decided to reveal Sanandana's Guru Bhakti to the world.

He asked Sanandana who was on the other bank to bring the dry clothes to him. Sanandana wanted to fulfill his Guru's wish immediately. He could not wait to find a boat to cross the Ganga. So he started walking over the flowing river just as he would walk over plain dry land.

As Sanandana walked over the Ganga, big lotuses sprung up supporting his every step. Keeping his feet on these lotuses, Sanandana walked over the river and reached his Guru. Then Shankara asked Sanandana, "How did you cross the Ganga?”
@SriRamya21 @VaishnavKrish14

He said, "The very thought of you reduces the deep ocean of samsara to shallow knee-deep waters.” Adi Shankara showed him the lotuses and named him Padmapada. He, later, became Acharya of Dwarka Math.

MORAL: If we have full faith in our Prabhu, He takes care of all our needs.

ARULMIGU KANDA SWAMI KOVIL, TIRUPPORUR (TN)

Mandir dating back to Pallava period. Dedicated to Murugan. After vanquishing Soorapadman at Tiruchendur, Skanda destroyed the rest of the Rakshasas here at Tirupporur ('place of the sacred war').
@twttdc

Sthalapurana says that here, Murugan with his consorts Valli and Devayanai granted protection to devas and expounded the meaning of Pranava to Agastya Muni.

Skanda worshipped Shiva as Vanmeekeswarar to rid himself of the sin of having killed Soorapadman.

The founding guru of Thiruporur was Srimad Chidambaraswamy who was an ardent worshipper of "Madurai Meenakshi Amman". In a vision, Devi bade him to build a mandir for Sri Muruga at Thiruporur. He unearthed the Swayambu murtis of Muruga with his consorts and established the Mandir

The swayambhu murti of Muruga is in the form of a palmyra tree. Beneath it is the murti of Muruga in Brahmasasta form with his consorts on both sides. It is said that the small murtis were made by Chidambaram Swamigal for performing abhisheka and aradhana.

HANUMAN JAYANTI: TODAY
KATHA
#bharatmandir

Hanuman Jayanti falls on the Shukla Purnima of Chaitra month. Hanuman is an incarnation of Shiva and the greatest bhakt of Sri Ram.
On this day, Sri Hanuman was born to Kesari and Anjana.

Once, Maharshi Vishwamitra visited Indra’s court. At that time, apsara Punjiksthala was performing a dance. Maharshi did not pay any attention to her. When Punjiksthala tried to disturb him, he cursed her to be born on earth as a female monkey.
@GunduHuDuGa

When she asked for forgiveness, he told her that she will become the mother of the greatest bhakt of Prabhu on Earth. Later, she was born as the daughter of Kunjar (king of the monkeys) and got married to Kapiraj Kesari. Her name was Anjana and she gave birth to Hanuman.

Once, Ma Sita told him that she was applying sindoor on her forehead for Prabhu’s long life. Hanuman, then smeared his entire body with Sindoor to ensure Ram's immortality.
On this day, people also apply sindoor on their foreheads from Hanuman’s body as it is deemed auspicious.

PARASSINIKKADAVU SREE MUTHAPPAN MANDIR, KANNUR

The Mandir has 2 murtis- senior Muthappan/Thiruvappana or Vellattam, representing Vishnu and the other represents Shiva. Vishnu wears a fish-shaped crown while Shiva wears a green crown on which lies a crescent moon.

Muthappan was the adopted son of a feudal lord, Ayyankara Naduvazhi and Padikutty.
Padikutty, a Shiva devotee, performed sacrifice for having a child. Several days later, she found an infant boy by the side of a river in a basket of green coconut leaf. She took the child home.

When the boy grew up, he loved hunting with bow and arrows. He took his prizes to the poor in the forests and the people living in backward communities.
When admonished by his father, he revealed his cosmic form and that his purpose on earth was to protect the poor/downtrodden.

Muthappan stayed at Kunnathoor for some time and then moved to Parassini. He shot his arrow upwards from Kunnathoor to see where it would land. The arrow landed at Parassini. This is where stands the famous Parassini Mandir. The arrow is still placed at the altar.
@SriRamya21

Muthappa is believed to be at Parassinikkadavu.
All the main poojas are performed by the Thiyyas of Parassini Muthappan family. In special cases Brahmins and Madayans together perform poojas in Sreekovil.
Toddy, roasted fish and wild meat are also offered to Prabhu.
@GampaSD

ADI SHANKAR AND SRI SURESHWARACHARYA

In the town of Mahishmatipura, there lived Mandana Mishra. He was the disciple of Kumarila Bhatta who lead the Poorva Mimamsa school of philosophy.
Kumarila Bhatta, once, asked Adi Shankara to have a debate with Mandana Mishra.

When Adi Shankara arrived at Mandana Mishra’s house, the doors were closed as he was performing some rituals.
Despite this, Adi Shankara went in. This was disliked by Mandana. A debate started between them where in Adi Shankara questioned the need for rituals.
@DubeyYash1911

Ubhaya Bharti, wife of Mandana Mishra, was made the judge as she herself was extremely learned. It was decided that both men would wear a garland. The person whose garland would fade first, would be the loser. Adi Shankara won the debate. Mandana became disciple of Adi Shankar.

He was given the name Sureshwaracharya and he went on to head Sringeri Sri Sharada Peetham.

Metrical commentaries/ vartikas by him gave him the name Vartika-kara. His other works include commentary Manasollasa on Sri Shankara's Dakshinamurthi-stotra and Panchikarana-vartika.
🙏🏻

JABALA SATYAKAMA KATHA: VALUE OF SATYA

Gautama, the son of Rishi Haridruman, was a famed Rishi of Vedic age.

A young boy Satyakama, who was the only son to his mother, Jabala, wished to study in Gautam’s Gurukul. So he went to Jabala asking about his lineage.
@RatanSharda55

Satyakama was an illegitimate child, and would probably be denied the right to study Vedas. It was most embrassing for her to disclose this to her child. She wavered but decided to tell him the truth.
She told him to tell Gautam that his name was Jabala Satyakama.
@SriRamya21

As expected, Gautam asked Satyakama about his gotra. Satyakama told the Rishi what his mother had disclosed to him and traced his descent from his mother. Gautam was struck by the child’s purity and calm.
He decided to take Jabala as a disciple as Satyakama was truthful.

Satyakama was admitted to the inner circle of Gautama, and in course of time became an illumined soul. He later authored ‘Jabala Upanishad’, a treatise on sanyasa. Upakosala Kamalayana was a student of Satyakama Jabala.
@Rs1962224071

SRI KOTHANDARAMAR KSHETRAM, VADUVUR (TN)
#bharatmandir

This is one of the Abhimana Kshetram of Sri Vishnu and is also known as Vakulaaranya Kshetram. Here Sri Kodhandaramar along with Sri Seetha, Lakshmana and Hanuman appear in Thirukalyana kolam.
@GunduHuDuGa

When Rama completed Vanvaas and was preparing to return to Ayodhya, the Rishis prayed to him to stay with them. Torn between duty to return to his kingdom and love towards the Rishis, Rama created His own enchanting divine form as a murti, left it with them and went to Ayodhya.

Centuries later when king Sarabhoji ruled Thanjavur, he had a dream. In the dream, Rama asked him to unearth the vigraha from Thalai Gnayiru (near Thiruthuraipoondi). The King unearthed the murtis and on his way back, he rested at Vaduvur.

The people of Vaduvur pleaded with the king to establish the deities in their Rukmani-Sathyabhama Gopalan Mandir. The King agreed and since then Rama has been the main deity in the Gopalan Kshetram.

GUNDICHA DEVI MANDIR:PURI

Next to Sri Jagannath Mandir, the most important abode of Prabhu is the Sree Gundicha Mandir where Sri Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra travel during the Rath yatra.
Due to this, Rath yatra is also called Sree Gundicha Yatra.
@Shawshanko

It is said that Devi Gundicha was the queen of King Indradyumna, the legendary founder of the 1st great Jagannath Mandir. It is because of the deep devotion of queen Gundicha that Sri Jagannath pays a visit to her house for nine days during Rath Yatra.

It is also believed that Gundicha Ghar is the house of Sri Krishna’s adoring aunt/ mausi Gundicha. Once, Ma Lakshmi left the Sri Mandir and Sri Jagannath and Balbhadra had to roam around for years without food and shelter. At that time, Devi Subhadra resided with Ma Gundicha.

During Rath Yatra, when Prabhu visits Ma Gundicha, she gives a warm welcome to the 3 siblings with a special delicacy made of rice called 'padoapitha'. This rice cake is also known as Podapitha.

Prabhu stays with her for 7 days (plus 2 in travel) every year.

Jai Jagannath🙏🏻

KOODAL AZHAGAR PERUMAL KSHETRAM, MADURAI (TN)

Divya Desam which finds reference in Sangam literature.

The legendary Pandya ruler of Madurai, Malayadhwaja Pandya, father of Meenakshi Amman is said to have attained moksha (salvation) by worshipping here.
#temples #TamilNadu

Koodal means congregation. Here it refers to coming together of Devas to witness the wedding of Sri Meenakshi with Sri Sundareswarar.
Sri Vishnu is in 3 poses- sitting as Sri Koodal Azhagar, reclining as Sri Ranganatha and standing as Sri Surya Narayana Perumal.

Sri Maduravalli / Margadha Valli is the divine consort here.
There is a separate shrine for Sri Andal.
Surprisingly, for a Vaishnava kshetram, there is a sannidhi for Navagrahas.
The mandir is so built by Sri Vishwakarma that the shadow of the Vimana does not fall on ground.

It is said that Sri Andal’s father, Vishnuchittha, won an argument asserting Sri Vishnu’s supremacy. Koodal Azhagar graced the function to honour him.
Here, Vishnuchittha composed Thirupallandu in Vishnu’s praise and got the title Periyalwar (greatest among Vaishnav Rishis)

SHIVA BHAKT CHANDESHWARA

Bhakt Chandeshwara is one among the 63 Nayanars.

He was born into a Brahmin family and was called Visarasarman. When he was a young boy, he found that cows remain uncared for. So he himself started tendering and caring for the cows.

While doing so, he would pour some milk on a lingam, which he made of sand. The news of this wastage of milk reached his father, Datta. He himself came to scold his son. Chandesha was deep in meditation in front of the sand lingam, and he did not see his father.
@DubeyYash1911

Enraged father kicked the sand lingam at which Chandesha’s meditation was interrupted. He struck his father’s leg with a staff. The staff turned into an axe and his father’s leg was severed. Shiva, then, appeared, restored the severed leg of Datta and made Chandesha his gana(गण).

In Shiva mandirs, Chandesha is shown seated, with an axe clasped in hand. Devotees snap their fingers or clap their hands to attract his attention.
As he is considered the guardian of the mandir belongings, devotees clap their hands to show that they are leaving empty-handed.

SRI RAJAGOPALASWAMY, MANNARGUDI (TN)

Called Dakshina Dwaraka/Chambakaranya Kshetram. Here Krishna is shepherd boy with whip in hand and turban on head. There are bangles in his hand and he is adorned with ornaments worn by children. A cow and 2 calves are by His side.
#temples

Once, Rishi Gopila and Gopralaya did tapasya to please Sri Vishnu. Prabhu asked them to go to Dwarka to meet Krishna. By the time the two rishis reached Dwarika, Krishna had left Earth. So the two came to Mannargudi and prayed to Sri Vishnu to reveal his Krishna avtar.

Vishnu, then, appeared as Krishna before them.
The moolavar here has a dangling Kundalam in one ear and an earring in the other ear. It is said that once Krishna and Gopiyars had a bet as to who would bathe the quickest. In his eagerness to win, Krishna ran back in a hurry.

He wore his kundalam in one ear and Gopiyar’s ear ring in the other.

In the Mahabharata, Pulastya tells Bheeshma that anyone staying for a night at MannarKoil earns the merit of having gifted a 1000 cows.

Milk is the main naivedyam here. Dosa is the naivedyam in evening puja

GANESHA’s LOVE FOR MODAK

Among all things offered to Ganesh, it is Modak that is his favourite.
So, here is a story on Ganesh and Modak.
Once, Shiva went to Rishi Atri and Ma Anasuya ashram. Shiva was very hungry but Anasuya insisted on feeding Ganesha first.
@RudraVS

Ganesha was served and he ate on and on. When Anasuya realised that nothing will be left, she served him a single piece of sweet. Ganesh ate it and let out a loud burp indicating that his tummy was now full.
This sweet was Modak. Since then devotees serve Modak to appease Ganesh.

In Maharashtra, Modaks are cooked as both steamed (Ukadiche Modak) or fried dumpling variants. They include grated coconut and jaggery with a hint of nutmeg.
Modak is also known as Kozhakattai in Tamil, Modhaka or Kadubu in Kannada, and Kudumu in Telugu.

SRI DURGA DEVI, KUNJARU GIRI, NEAR UDUPI (KAR)
#bharatmandir

Popularly known by the names: Kunjarugiri, Durgabetta and Vimanagiri and installed by Sri Parashurama.
The high hills look like Kunjara (Elephant) for which the place is known as Kunjaragiri or Kunjarugiri.

It is said that after creating Kerala, Parashurama found a pearl in deep sea which he transformed into a nose ring and adorned it on the murti of Kunjaru Amma here. He also created four tirthas called Dhanus Thirtha, Gada Thirtha, Bana Thirtha n Parashu Thirtha around the hill.

Till day, it is believed that he is performing penance in the cave below the Durga Betta. The shrine of Parashurama is on top of the rock hill by the side of Gada Thirtha.
Sri Madhvacharya is believed to have visited the shrine every day during his childhood.
@padiyare

One day, when he was in the Kunjaru shrine, his mother called and he jumped straight to his house. To this day, his footprints can be seen on a particular rock.

This place is also called Vimanagiri as the Devas came by Vimana to offer floral tribute when the murti was installed

WHY IS CONCH/SHANKH NOT BLOWN IN BADRINATH DHAM

Though the conch always accompanies Sri Vishnu, still in Badrinath Dham, it is not blown.
It is said that once there was a great terror of Rakshasas in this region. So Brahma Rishi Agastya prayed to Bhagwati to end the menace.

Devi Kushmanda ended the Rakshasas but two of them, Aatapi and Vatapi escaped. Aatapi hid in the Mandakini river while Vatapi went into Badrinath Dham and hid inside a conch. Blowing a conch would have made Vatapi come out of the conch. Since then, the practice has continued.

It is also believed that once Ma Lakshmi was meditating in Badrinath Ji while Sri Vishnu killed Shankhachur Rakshasa. He avoided blowing the conch as a sign of victory so as not to disturb Ma Lakshmi. Ever since then, conch blowing was stopped in Badrinath Dham.

Scientifically also, conch sound creates waves of a certain frequency which in turn creates turbulence in the ecological environment. It may cause snow storms in ice-covered Badrinath Dham. So blowing a conch is prohibited here.

VASANT PANCHMI: TODAY

Vasant Panchami is celebrated on fifth day of Shukla Paksha of Magh.
Mata Saraswati, the giver of knowledge, worshipped with yellow flowers, Gulal, water offerings, incense, lamp etc. Panchami is also celebrated as the birthday of Ma Saraswati.

Once, after creating the world, Brahma Ji was very happy and wanted to see his creation with his own eyes. So he set out on a journey. He was disappointed to see complete silence everywhere. Everyone on Earth appeared to be very lonely.
@SriRamya21 @GampaSD @SriramKannan77

He took some water in his Kamandal and sprinkled it in air. A Devi appeared with a harp in her hand. On Brahma Ji’s request, she struck the chords of her harp and music emanated.
Thus, Ma Saraswati was born who blessed the people with voice and filled Earth with music.

The ancient Mandir of Sri Sharda at Sringeri had sandalwood murti. Later, Sri Bharati Krishna Tirtha and Sri Vidyaranya had a mandir built in Kerala style, with timber and tiled roof. Sri Bharati Krishna Tirtha substituted the sandalwood murti with the present golden murti.

SOMVATI AMAVASYA: TODAY
VRAT STORY

Amavasya falling on Monday is Somvati Amavasya. It is said that if a man is suffering from a prolonged disease, his wife can fast on this day n circumambulate a peepal tree as a ritual, praying for his recovery and prolonged life.
@GunduHuDuGa

Once a Rishi told a brahmin that his daughter did not have the line of marriage in her hand. So she should try to please Sona, a washerwoman, of nearby village. If Sona applies Sindoor from her head on the head of the Brahmin’s daughter, her problem would be solved.

The girl started going to Sona’s house early morning and finish all household work before Sona got up. One day, Sona found out the truth and pleased by her humility, she applied sindoor on the girl’s head. That very moment, Sona’s husband died. That day was Somvati Amavasya.

Sona went to a peepal tree she worshipped daily. As she had nothing to offer, she picked some bricks and circumambulated around the tree praying for her husband’s life. By Shiva’s grace, his life was restored
Married women, thus, fast on this day for wellbeing of their husbands.

SRI RANGANATHASWAMY-SRIRANGAM

It is said that Ikshwaku, the ancestor of Sri Rama worshipped the murti of Sri Vishnu. When Dashratha conducted yajna to beget sons, all Kings were invited. Raja Dharmavarman from South also came. He was struck by the beauty of the murti.
@GampaSD

Dashrath was not willing to part with the murti. So Dharmavarman had to return without the murti.
Much later, the coronation of Sri Ram as Raja, was attended by Vibhishana. He also wanted this murti and Sri Ram agreed to give it to him but told him not to keep it anywhere.

On way back, Vibhishana stopped for evening pooja. He saw a child (who was Ganesh) n asked him to hold the murti. The child kept the murti down after sometime. Vishnu then appeared and told sad Vibhishana that he would stay there but would always have his eyes resting on Lanka.

So Prabhu lies in Srirangam, with his head on the Western Side and eyes seeing the south. The entrance to the Mandir is also from the south and the sanctum also faces the southern direction.
Pleased Dharmavarman built a mandir around it which got buried under sand in due course.

After years, a Chola prince went hunting and heard a parrot say a sloka in chaste sanskrit about a Mandir being buried underneath
He undertook excavations which revealed the murti. The prince henceforth came to be called Kili Cholan as he acted according to parrot’s directions.

TIRUPATI LADDU

Also called SriVari laddu. It is offered as Naivedhyam to Sri Venkateswara and prepared within the mandir kitchen (laddu potu) by Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams.

It has Geographical indication tag so only Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams can make and sell it.

The Laddu was invented during the reign of the Pallava dynasty. It is even mentioned in inscriptions dating back to the 1480s when it was known as “manoharam”. Originally, it was served in a loose, chunky form. Its present ball form came in 1940s.

About one tonne of besan flour, 10 tonnes of sugar, 700 kg of cashew nuts, 150 kg of cardamom, 300 to 500 litres of ghee, 500 kg of sugar candy and 540 kg of raisins are used daily to make the prasad.
An average of 1.5 lac laddu are prepared daily.
(Cr:lifebeyondnumbers. com)