STORY OF DEVI KANNAGI

Kannagi is worshipped as Devi in many areas. She is the epitome of chastity. In Kerela, she is worshipped as Bhadrakali and Attukal Devi.
For Sinhalese Buddhists of Sri Lanka, she is Devi Pattini and Kannaki Amman for the Sri Lankan Tamil Hindus.

Kannagi was the wife of Kovalan, a merchant from Kaveripattinam. He left Kannagi for a dancer Madhavi and spent all his wealth on her. Kovalan, later, returned to Kannagi when he was penniless. The only asset left was a pair of anklets filled with rubies.
@GampaSD @RajeAiyer

Both went to Madurai which was ruled by Pandyan Nedunj Cheliyan 1. Kovalan wanted to sell the anklets and restart his life. However, around the time he set out to sell the anklets, one anklet (out of a pair) was stolen from the queen by someone and it resembled Kannagi’s anklet.

Kovalan was caught and beheaded without any trial. Furious Kannagi reached the court and broke open the anklet to prove Kovalan’s innocence. She flung her anklet and cursed that the entire city would burn. The entire city caught fire and her curse became a reality
@DubeyYash1911

After this, Kannagi on her way to Kodungalloor in Kerala, gave "Darsan" to the natives at Attukal in Thiruvananthapuram. It is said that the Devi finally reached Kodungalloor and settled at Kodungalloor Devi Mandir.

Kannagi is also the main character of the epic Silapathikaram.

SRI SIDDHI VINAYAK (VIGNESHWARA SWAMY), AINAVILLI (AP)

Ganapati is famous here for quickly granting wishes of Bhaktas.

Siddhi Vinayaka murti is placed in southwest corner and faces south.
It is believed that it brings wealth and prosperity if one installs Ganapati this way.

Kshetra Purana says that Daksha Prajapati performed puja of Vinayaka at this place before performing Daksha Yagna.

Another legend says that Vyasa Maharshi, during the beginning of his tour of South, had installed this Ganesha murti, reputed to fulfill the wishes of Bhaktas.

Main festivals celebrated here are Vinayaka Chaturthi, Kartika Masam and Prabha Festival.

The complex also has mandir for Kala Bhairava who is considered kshetrapalaka.

The mandir is famous for performing pooja for new automobile vehicles and students praying before exams.

WHY DOES KRISHNA WEAR MOR-PANKH

Mormukutdhari (मोरमुकुटधारी) is one of the names of Krishna.
It so happened that once Krishna was playing his flute and roaming with his cows in the forest. The soulful music enchanted the peacocks and they danced. Krishna,too, danced with them.

When the dance ended, the King of peacocks expressed his gratitude to Krishna. He requested Krishna to accept his plummage (feathers) and wear them on his crown as decoration. Since then, Krishna started wearing mor-pankh in his crown.
@vedvyazz @SriRamya21 @satya_AmitSingh

Another meaning of wearing mor-pankh is that a peacock feather contains all the seven primary colours in it. Just as the Universe is covered by akasha (ether) which appears blue during the day and black at night, so Krishna is identified by both blue and black colours.

By wearing the peacock feather, Krishna implies that the entire range of colours are present in him.

It is also said that Krishna wears mor-pankh to honour Bhagwan Kartikeya whose mount is peacock.
@iamkamyabuch @youngndharmic

DODDA BASAVANA GUDI/ NANDI KSHETRAM, BENGALURU
#karnatakatemples

The biggest and exclusive shrine dedicated to Nandi.
The massive Nandi is carved out of a single rock of granite. Kempe Gowda, the founder of Bengaluru, built the shrine in 1586.

Years back, groundnut was grown in this area. Every full moon night, farmers found their fields plundered. So farmers waited in their fields one full moon night. When they heard noise, one farmer threw his crowbar in that direction. To their horror, they found a huge golden bull.

The farmers fled away. When they returned next day, they found a huge stone bull in that same place. When the matter was reported to Kempe Gowda, he built a Nandi shrine there.

The farmers started the practice of a groundnut fare, kadalekai parishe, every year in Karthika.

It is said that the murti keeps on growing in size. The farmers nailed an iron peg on the head of Nandi, which is visible in the form of a trishula even to this date.

River Vrishabhavati is said to have its origin at the feet of Nandi, here.

YALAGUR HANUMAN KSHETRAM, YALAGUR (KAR)
#bharatmandir

Also called Speaking Hanuman.
Once, Hanuman was asked by Rama to establish himself in 7 different places. So, swayambhu (self-manifested) murtis of Hanuman emerged and Yalagur is said to be the head of all these 7 murtis.

It is said that a pujari had a dream to break open the stone he was performing puja on. When he did so, a murti emerged which was broken. Hanuman guided him to put the pieces together for 7 days in a place. The anxious pujari could not wait and opened the door on 7th day itself.

He found a hanuman murti complete on upper part but incomplete in lower part.
Later a shrine was built there and even today we can see the unjoined parts in Yalguresh murti.

There is a belief that Yalguresh can tell whether one will succeed in his task or not.
@GunduHuDuGa

The person is made to sit before the murti and speak out his wish. If the flower on the murti falls to his right, the person will succeed. If it falls on the left side, his task would fail.
This is why, Hanuman is called “Speaking Hanumantha” here.

JAGANNATH PURI AND BAISI PAHACH

Baisi is 22 and ‘Pahacha’ is Step. So Baisi Pahacha means 22 Steps. These steps are found at the ‘Simha Dwara’ of Jagannath Puri. The devotees have to climb these 22 holy steps to reach the second inner gate (Baisi Pahacha Gumuta).
@Shawshanko

A black stone known as ‘Yama Shila’ is engraved in the middle of the 3rd step. As per belief, devotees must step on this stone while going up as it frees them from ‘Yama Danda’ (Punishment of Yama) but must not step on this stone on their way back as it will take away all Punya.

There is a small stone on the 7th step known as ‘Pitru Shila’. Devotees offer Anna Mahaprasada, the holy rice of the mandir that has been offered to Sri Jagannath, to this stone for feeding their ancestors to liberate their departed souls.

It is said that Madana Mohana, the representative murti of Sri Jagannath, offers Pinda Daana on these steps to his ancestors (Nanda and Yashoda, Devaki and Vasudeva, Koushalya and Dasaratha)
जय जगन्नाथ🙏🏻

SHRINATHJI: NATHDWARA (Guj)

Shrinathji is Sri Krishna manifested as a 7 year-old Balak/child. He is portrayed lifting the Govardhana Giri.
Shrinathji is also addressed as Thakurji. Devotees believe that he would one day ultimately return to Govardhan.
@RatanSharda55

It is said that when Aurangzeb was attacking mandirs, it was decided to take this murti to South from Govardhan. The wheels of the chariot got stuck in Nathdwara and Shrinathji, thus, stayed here. The chariot on which he came to Nathdwara can still be seen in the mandir premises.

Gopis living in Braj used to love Krishna so intensely that they would try and make up just about any excuse to go over to Yashoda’s place to get a glimpse of Nandgopal. Yashoda, then decided that they could visit him only at particular times of the day.
@VedicCulture__

Based on this belief, Vallabhacharya stipulated that his Prabhu would give his devotees darshan at particular hours in a day and decided on 8 times per day, when the doors would be opened to have a glimpse of Srinathji. Out of these, most impressive is Rajbhog darshan.

Just before Rajbhog darshan opens to the public, the pujari asks the sevak to bring Shreeji’s garland. Then, Mahadev is called for, asking him to take a darshan. No one else is permitted to step into this area. Songs composed by Shri Kumbhan Dasji are sung for this darshan.

HOW KRISHNA LEFT EARTH:BHALKA TEERTH

It was the end of Mahabharata war. The loss of all her sons filled Gandhari, mother of Kauravas, with grief and anger.
She chided Krishna n cursed him, “36 years from today, you will die. Dwaraka will be flooded. Yadava clan will end”

Time passed. Once, Rishi Durvasa visited Krishna and as per his wish, Krishna applied Payasam (rice kheer) on his body. As his legs were resting on the ground, he could not apply it to his feet. Durvasa said, “You have not applied Payasam to my foot. Your death is in your foot.”

36 years later, Krishna lay down under a tree and went into Yoga Samadhi. A hunter Jara while hunting, misunderstood the moving foot of Krishna as a hidden deer and shot a lethal arrow that pierced into Krishna’s feet.
@iamkamyabuch @BahuRaani

Krishna told the grieving Jara that in his previous birth, Jara was Bali (brother of Sugreev). Rama had killed Bali from behind and in this birth, the same fate was met by Prabhu himself.
This is how Prabhu showed that the law of karma remains the same for all.

Bhalka Tirtha Veraval (भालका तीर्थ) which is about 4 kilometers from the Somnath Mandir is believed to be the place where Krishna gave up his mortal body and ascended to Baikunth. The name Bhalka is said to be derived from the word Bhal which means arrow.
@desi_thug1

DEVI GHUSHMA AND GHUSHMESHWAR JYOTIRLINGA (MAHA)

There was a pious brahmin, Sudharma, who lived with his wife Sudeha, in the forest of Devgiri. The couple was childless.
On the insistence of Sudeha, the brahmin married her sister Ghushma.
Ghushma was an ardent Shiv devotee.

Daily, she made 101 shivlingas from mud, worshipped them and immersed them in the river.
When Ghushma was blessed with a son, Sudeha started disliking Ghushma and ill-treated her.
Time passed and Ghushma’s son got married.
One night, jealous Sudeha killed this son.
@SriRamya21

She threw his body in the same river in which Ghushma immersed shivlingas.
While everyone was lamenting the loss of her son, she continued her puja.
Her intense worship pleased Shiva who appeared and revived her son.
Shiva, then, wanted to punish Sudeha but Ghushma stopped him

She requested Mahadev to be present there always.
Mahadev granted her wish and appeared as a shivlinga which got the name Ghushmeshwar (on the name of Ghushma) and revered as a Jyotirlinga.

Mahadev🙏🏻
@DubeyYash1911 @kaalicharan_ji

PANCHMUKHI GANESH: SIGNIFICANCE

Panchamukhi or 5-faced Ganesha is a representation of all forces. He is also known as Heramba Ganpati, mostly in Nepal. It means protector of the weak.
The 5 heads signify 5 layers of Atman- the inner self.
@RudraVS @RatanSharda55 @onlyonenetra

In the system of yoga,
there are five koshas or sheaths that are barriers to accessing the true Self: the physical body, the energy body, the mental body, the wisdom body, and the bliss body.  
Each head of Ganpati represents one kosha.
@SriRamya21 @iamkamyabuch @DetheEsha

ANNAMAYA KOSHA- The first head of Ganpati.
This represents the physical/flesh body made of matter like skin, muscles,bones, etc.
@Dauhshanti

PRANAMAYA KOSHA-2nd head of Ganpati.
This is breath or energy body. It includes the movement of blood, lymph and breath through the body.
@JumbuTweeple

MANOMAYA KOSHA-3rd head of Ganpati.
This represents the mental body, central nervous system; where physical sensations turn to emotional sensations.

SRI KAMAKSHI AMMAN KSHETRAM, MANGADU (TN)

At this place, Ma Kamakshi did extreme tapasya before her wedding with Sri Ekambareswarar in Kanchipuram.
Once, Ma Parvati playfully closed the eyes of Mahadev with her palms. The whole universe fell in eternal darkness immediately.

Shiva ordained her to perform Tapasya. Parvati ji came down to this place and performed tapasya amidst "Panchagni" resting her left leg on the sacred fire and folding her right leg. Later, when she left this place, the heat of the fire that she had created became unbearable.

Adi Shankaracharya is believed to have visited Mangadu and installed a Sri Ardhameru Chakram at this place. This was done to calm down the heat of this fire. The chakra has 43 Trikonas (triangles). It is made of Astagandham.
@upma23

Hence no abishek is offered to it and only Kumkuma archana is performed. On Vijayadasami, the Chakra is covered with gold while on other days, it has a silver cover.

It is believed that hurdles in marriage are eliminated by praying to Mangadu Kamakshi.

SRI GALI ANJANEYA SWAMY MANDIR, BENGALURU (KAR)

Gali means air and it is said that the murti of Anjaneya was open to air more than 800 years back at the sangam of river Vrishabhavathi and Paschmavahini.

On one of his visits, Sri Vyasaraya Tirtha did Punar pratishtha here.

Sri Anjaneya is shant swaroopi (Calm) here.

He is smeared with sindura. Left hand rests on hip while right hand is in abhya mudra offering nirbhayathvam to bhaktas.

A unique feature is that Anjaneya has moustache and is yathurmuki (facing bhaktas directly with both eyes).

The Rath utsav is held for the last hundred and twenty years.

People visit here to get the blessings of Gali Anjaneya and to get rid of troubles in their life.

They throng here with great faith to get 'Purna Kripa Drishti' from Sri Anjaneya.

AMBABAI MAHALAKSHMI, KOLHAPUR (MAHA)
#bharatmandir

Considered most sacred abode of Devi Lakshmi in the world.

Mahalakshmi is the Devi of Maharashtra.

The history of the Mandir goes back to the time when Maharshi Bhrigu paid a visit to Sri Vishnu who was resting on sheshnag.

To test Prabhu, Maharshi Bhrigu kicked him on his chest. Instead of getting angry, Sri Vishnu pressed Bhrigu’s foot and asked him whether he got hurt.
Devi Lakshmi was offended by Vishnu’s humility as she took this incident as an insult and left Vaikuntha.
@GunduHuDuGa

The place where she decided to live was this Kolhapur.
It is said that the region had a demon Kolhasur who used to suck all the water from the river. To end people’s misery, Devi Lakshmi killed him. His dying wish was that the place be known on his name, hence Kolhapur.

Both Sri Lakshmi and Sri Vishnu reside in this area eternally and shall not leave even at the time of Mahapralayakala(where the whole world is supposed to drown in water). This region is eternally blessed and is believed to be held by Ma in her right hand.
@onlyonenetra

Kirnotsav (festival of Sun Rays) is celebrated here when the rays of the sun fall directly on Mahalakshmi at the time of sunset. It is said that Suryadev comes to pay his homage to Mahalakshmi.

SRI MAHABALESHWARA SWAMI, GOKARNA (KAR)
#bharatmandir

Dedicated to Shiva, as Mahabaleshwar.
This place is called Dakshin Kashi and considered as one of the seven Mukti Sthala (place of salvation) in Karnataka.
Devotees perform the last rites of their deceased relatives here.

Once, as a boon to Ravana for his penance, Shiva gave his Atmalinga to him. The only condition was that the atmalinga should not be kept anywhere on the way to Lanka.
On the way, Ravana stopped for sandhya pooja and for this, he needed to put the atmalinga down.
@GunduHuDuGa

Ganesha appeared disguised as a child before Ravana and offered help. When Ravana went away, Ganesha put the atmalinga down on the ground.
On coming back, Ravana tried to pull the lingam but failed. Due to pulling, it’s shape became like cow’s ear (hence called gokarna).

In anger, Ravana threw the case of linga which fell at Sajjeshwar, lid fell at Guneshwara, thread winding the linga fell at Dhareshwara and cloth fell at Murudeshwar.
As he addressed the lingam as ‘Mahabala’(the strongest), so Shiva came to be called Mahabaleshwar.

DEVI SHANTA: SRI RAM’s SISTER

Mahabharata refers to Raja Rompada, ruler of Anga, who once visited his close friend Raja Dashrath of Ayodhya. As Rompada had no children, Dashrath fulfilled his wish and gave his daughter, Shanta, in adoption to Rompada.

Once, Rompada was so busy talking to Shanta that he ignored a brahmin who sought his help. The return of the brahmin, empty-handed angered Indra and resulted in a severe draught in Anga
At the same time, in Ayodhya, Dashrath was advised to do Putra Kameshthi Yajna to beget sons.

Only Rishi Rishyashringa could solve both problems: end draught through his yagna and complete the yagna for Dashrath to enable him to get sons.
To bring him to perform Yajna, Shanta decided to set off. Her self-less devotion pleased Rishyashringa and he accepted her as wife.

Yagna by Rishyashringa ended the draught in Anga. Later, Dashrath was blessed with 4 sons through putra kameshthi yagna done by Rishyashringa.
In the Shringi Rishi Mandir, Kullu (HP) Devi Shanta is worshipped along with Rishyashringa Rishi.

Cr: various internet sites

SHREE MUMBADEVI MANDIR, MUMBAI (MAHA)

Mumbadevi is the patron Devi of Mumbai city.
The word Mumba comes from Maha and Amba.
She is also the patron Devi of Agri (salt collectors) and Kolis (Fishermen).
The fishermen regard her as their protector and as Maha Shakti.
@LostTemple7

Legend says that Devi came to earth to end the demon Mumbarka.
After his defeat, Mumbarka begged Devi to take his name. Thus, Devi came to be called Mumba Devi.
The demon Mumbarka also build a mandir and dedicated it to Mumba Devi. The present mandir was reconstructed in 1737.

The murti of Mumba Devi symbolises Mother Earth.
Devi Annapurna on a peacock stands on her left.
Navratri witnesses a huge number of Bhaktas.
Devi blesses her worshippers with good health and prosperity and also known to bless childless couples.

ANJANEYA SWAMI, MULBAGAL (KAR)
#bharatmandir

Mulabagilu is originated from the word 'Moodalabagilu' in Kannada which means eastern door.  It is said to be the eastern gate of the Vijayanagara empire.

The Kshetra palaka Sri Anjaneya was installed by Pandava Arjuna.

After Mahabharata war, Arjun realised Hanuman’s on the flag that was tied to his chariot in war. Later Arjuna went on a pilgrimage along with the Hanuman flag. On the way he installed the power of Hanuman on the flag in the murti in Mulbagal (also called Shathaka vatpuri).

The murti is made on granite and about 12 feet tall.
There is a Venkateswara murti believed to have been installed by Maharshi Vasishtha.
A lizard is carved on the wall and people take its blessings as it is believed that it would free them from ills of lizard falling on body.

SREE KOODALMANIKYAM MANDIR, IRINJALAKUDA (ker)

Koodalmanikyam is the Malayalam translation of the Sanskrit word Sangameswara.
The mandir is one of 4 in Kerala that form a set called "nalambalam" each dedicated to one of the 4 brothers Rama, Bharata, Lakshmana and Shatrughna.

The pratishtha at Koodalmanikyam is Chathurbahu Vishnu with Conch, Chakra, Gada and Japamaala. The general belief, however, is that the murti is of Bharatha, the brother of Sree Rama.

It is said that one day, the murti was emitting radiance from its forehead.

Some people brought a Quartz (Manikyam) to compare with its brightness. As they were comparing the brightness of the two, the stone mysteriously slipped from the hand and merged with the one on the murti. The merging of the two manikyams led to the name 'Koodalmanikyam'.

The mandir pond, Kulipini Teertham is named after Rishi Kulipini who did tapasya here and prayed to River Ganga to bless with her presence. Archakas after bath at the outside pond have to take a dip in Kulipini Theertham before entering the Mandir.

A visit to the Mandir is known to cure stomach related ailments. Also, if there are some functions in families, people offer lotus garlands to Prabhu praying that the function goes off well and there are no rains in between the function.
(Cr: @VinodNGK and various sites)

SREE SUBRAMANYA SWAMI MANDIR, THIRUPPARANKUNRAM (TN)

Cave Mandir where Subramanya (Sri Murugan) graces devotees in a seated, wedding form with his consort Deivanai.

The Mandir is believed to have been constructed by the Pandyas in the 6th century.
@RatanSharda55
@twttdc

At the end of the battle in Thiruchendur, after vanquishing Soorapadman, Subramanya and his troops came to rest here. It is said that here Subramanya worships Shiva in the form of Parangirinathar.

Subramanya asked Viswakarma, the divine architect, to construct a beautiful abode.

Indra, the king of Devas, offered his daughter Deivanai’s hand in marriage to Subramanya. The marriage took place here.
Up to this day, it is considered auspicious to get married here, more so during the festival of marriage ‘Panguni Uthiram’.
@almightykarthik @pardhu_leo

Here, only a scented paste called 'punugu' consisting of civet musk and other scented ingredients is applied to Sri Murugan.

Abhishegam is performed only to the Vel, Sri Muruga’s weapon. Great importance is given to the Vel, as Muruga came here after defeating Soorapadman.