Before we get too far into 2021, I thought I’d write a thread recapping some of the research that came out of my lab in 2020. Most of this work was led by my talented team of graduate students, Kerrianne Morrison, @kmdebrabander, and @DesiRJones.

Importance of Famous Payyannur Pavithra Mothiram or Ring

Payyanur Sri Subramanya Swami Temple 🚩
Kerala

Temple, constructed by Parasurama is known as the 'Pazhani' of Kerala.The place got its name from 'Payyante Ooru' where Payyan is another name by which Subramanya was called.

There are references about this temple in Brahmanda purana. Muni Garga mentions this temple and the place to  the Pandavas when they were in Vanavasa. Temple was destroyed two times, once due to fire and then during the attack of Tipu Sultan.

Important tradition here is wearing of Pavithram by the temple priest. Pavithram is a sort of  ring worn during performing Vedic rituals or during the "pithrubali". Usually worn while performing Tarpana or Shradham. The traditional Pavitram is usually made of Dharbha grass

MINUTE DETAILS ABOUT THE ATTACK ON SHAISTA KHAN AT LAL MAHAL

Remarkable Commando op

A long 🧵 but worth your time

Aurangzeb sent his maternal uncle Shaista Khan with powerful army over 1,50,000 on the request of Badibegum Sahiba, Adilshahi sultanate

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Shaista Khan entered Deccan to kill Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj & to destroy his empire. Shahista Khan captured a lot of province and fort of Chakan near Pune.

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Till 3 years he gave lot of troubles to the subjects of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and he personally made Lal Mahal his destination to live at , which was the property of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj . Lal Mahal, where Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj spent his childhood.

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1. In the April 1663 Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj personally made a surprise attack on Shahista Khan in the Lal Mahal Pune.

2. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj attacked with 300 soldiers at the midnight while Lal Mahal had strong security of 1.5 lac soldiers for Shahista Khan.

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3. He entered in Pune, he made a drama of wedding ceremony to enter in Pune near Lal Mahal.

4. During the night they made big hole at the wall of Lal Mahal and entered into the palace.

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RISHI ASHTAVAKRA(DEVAL)

Those who are well versed in our ancient scriptures must definitely have come across the name of Ashtavakra Muni. Who was he and what is the story behind his body getting crooked from all sides.

Muni Asit was the son of Pracheta Rishi.

He was childless and this caused a lot of worry to him. But an Akashvani assured him that he should go to Shivji to get all his
worries nullified.

So he along with his wife go to Shivji and after paying him obeisance start singing Shivji's praises.

He describes Shiv as the one who is beyond any other thing, whose glory has no words to describe. After this the couple stands with folded hands in front of Rudradev. The strotras sung in praise of Shiv possess magical qualities even today.

Shiv gets satisfied by them soon and is ready to grant a boon.

Shiva told him that, he very well knew what the Muni desired. He then gives him the "Sansaar Vijay' mantra and asks him to keep reciting it. The Isht devi would come at an appropriate time and fulfill his wish.

Asit Muni kept reciting this mantra for hundred years. The Devi appeared and granted him the boon of a son as a Shivansh. A son was born and was named as Deval. He grew upto be a great scholar well versed and a handsome young man. Asit Muni got him married to Ratnamalavati.