THE KATHA OF SHANI DEV

Shani literally means the “slow-moving-one”. He is the son of Surya and Chhaya. When he was in his mother’s womb, she was engrossed in penance of Shiva in blazing sun and didn’t even care to have food. So, Shani Dev was born with dark skin.

Once when Hanuman was praying to Sri Ram, Shani Dev came to him and asked Hanuman to fight with him. Hanuman Ji tied Shani in his tail and tightened the coil. He, then, moved his tail in all directions. Shani Dev started bleeding and was in immense pain.
@SriRamya21

To relieve his pain, Hanuman ji gave Shani Dev some oil and sesame seeds. Since then, it has become a practice to worship Shani Dev with oil and sesame seeds.
It not only soothes his pain, but also makes him beneficent towards Ram and Hanuman devotees.
@swamy64
@VaishnavKrish14

Ravana,once, took all the 9 planets as captive. When Hanuman went in search of Ma Sita, he freed Shani Dev.

Shani Dev then said to Hanuman that the effect of Shani’s inauspiciousness will never affect him in any way. He also promised not to trouble anyone who was a Ram Bhakta.

Shani is also a Devta of justice. He is known to give one the fruits of his deeds in his present life itself. He keeps a faithful account of our previous Karma.
The Shani Mandir at Shingnapur (Maha) is the most famous Shani Mandir. Even to this day, people do’nt lock doors here.

KUKKE SUBRAMANYA KSHETRAM, KARNATAKA
#bharatmandir

In this 5000 year old kshetram, Sri Subramanya is worshipped as a snake.
Ashlesha Bali (prayers to seek protection from black snake) and Sarpa dosha parihara are two popular pujas offered here.

@LostTemple7

Subramanya came here after killing Taraka, Shoorapadmasura and others in a war. He washed his Vel (Shakti Ayudha) in the river. From then the river is famous as Kumaradhara.
Later, he married Devasena, the daughter of Indra, on the banks of River Kumaradhara.

Naagraj Vasuki who was meditating here prayed to Subramanya to stay along with him permanently at this place and his wish was granted. It is believed that Sri Subramanya has his spiritual presence in this shrine along with his consort Devasena and Vasuki.

There is a Garuda pillar covered with silver between the sanctuary and the portico entrance. It is said that the pillar was charmed and planted there to shield the devotees from the poison flames streaming from the breath of Vasuki who resides inside.

SRI GANESHA, GULUR (KAR)
#bharatmandir

Gulur village in Tumkur is famous for the unique way of celebrating Ganapati festival.
Gulur has a striking murti of Ganesha in black stone. In front of it stands another impressive 9-feet clay murti of Ganesha that is remade every year.

Once, a poor brahmin was facing difficult times. In his dream, Ganesha advised him to offer prayers to him. The brahmin met Maharishi Agastya by chance. Maharishi asked him to collect sand from nearby lake to make Ganesha murti. A murti approx 8-9 feet was made.

Pooja was performed for 30 days and later the murti was immersed in lake. After this,
all problems of the brahmin disappeared. Since then, this practice has continued. Every year, mud from lake near Gulur is collected and moulded by artisans.

The 9 ft tall Ganesha murti takes 108 days approx for completion.
Puja begins on the day of Bali Padyami (Deepavali) and continues for about one month. The annual jatra is held on the third day after the completion of the Kartika Masa.

STORY OF KAVADI ON THAIPUSAM

Bearing Kavadi to Sri Murugan on Thaipusam is of great significance as it brings peace and good luck. So why is Kavadi bore?

Idumban was a highly devoted student of Rishi Agasthiar. One day, Rishi asked him to bring 2 hills occupied by Sri Murugan.

The two hills were Sivagiri and Shakthigiri. As a trial, Idumban first lifted them up n both the mountains came up easily. Satisfied with his efforts, he kept them back and started preparing to take them to his Guru.
Sri Murugan decided to test Idumban’s determination n devotion.

He took the form of a young boy and stood atop a hill. Idumban tried to lift the hills this time but failed. He asked the boy to get down but the boy refused. So Idumban attacked him but got defeated. Then realising who the boy was, Idumban bowed in reverence.
@GampaSD

Pleased Murugan appointed him as his guard and declared that people who carry Kavadi, which symbolises the hills of burden taken by Idumban, will be blessed.
It is believed that the burden in the life of a devotee who carries Kavadi is lessened by Murugan.
@SriRamya21

VEERBHADRA MANDIR, LEPAKSHI (AP)

Constructed at Penukonda during King Achutaraya’s reign in 1530 by Virupanna Nayaka and Viranna, brothers who were Governors in Vijayanagar Empire.

This is one of the divyakshetras, (Shiva’s significant pilgrimage place) as per Skanda Purana.

Legend is that the mandir was built by Maharshi Agastya.
It is believed that Pakshi Jatayu fell here after battle with Ravana to rescue Ma Sita.
Sri Rama is believed to have said to the brave bird “Le Pakshi” — ‘rise, bird’ in Telugu. From this, the place got it’s name.

The mandir is dedicated to Veerbhadra whom Shiva created in anger after Daksha Yagna.

The mandir floor also has a huge footprint believed to be that of Ma Sita that was created when Ravana stopped here for sometime after abducting her. The footprint is always moist.

The monolith Nandi sculpted from a single block stone is positioned in such a way that it faces Nagalinga inside the mandir complex.

The Hall has the famous Hanging pillar that doesn’t touch the ground. One can pass thin objects like piece of cloth from one side to other.

ARUDRA DARSHAN: TODAY

This day falls on the full moon night when the Tiruvadirai (Arudra) star rules over. This is also the longest night of the year.
Arudra is the star that symbolizes golden red flame, which is none else than Shiva at his cosmic dance (Nataraj).
@vedvyazz

Natraj stands in dancing posture with one leg lifted n other seated on the demon signifying ignorance. He indicates mastery on ego, desires n evil and holds all 5 elements in him through Damaru (ether), flowing hair (air), Flame in hand (fire), Ganga(water) n rested foot (earth)

On the day of Arudra Darshan, people receive a special kind of dish as prasad namely Kali (in Tamil), which is a sweet dish indicating bliss. It is said eating this shall remove all the afflictions of people and make them blissful.
@desi_thug1

SRI RAMESHWARA MANDIR, THIRTHAHALLI (KAR)

The Shiv Lingam here is said to have been installed by Parashurama himself. Hence, the Mandir is considered Parashurama Tirtha. The shivlinga in the mandir is known as "Mood Linga".

Parashurama beheaded Renuka’s head with an axe on the orders of his father, the great Rishi Jamadagni.
He, then, tried to wash the blood stains off the axe by dipping it in various rivers
A sesame-sized stain remained, until he dipped his axe in the Tunga River near Thirthahalli

The day Parashurama cleaned his axe to remove the sesame-sized (Ellu in Kannada) blood stain; was Amavasya of Margshirsh month.
That particular day is termed as Ellu-Amavasya day. Every year on this day a fair termed Ellu Amavasya Jatre is celebrated.
@SriRamya21 @JumbuTweeple

The Ellu Amavasya Jatre lasts for more than 5 days but 3 days are very important.
On the day of Ellamavasye, the Utsava Moorthi of Sri Rameshwara is taken to the river and holy Abhishekam is carried out on the murti in the Parashurama Thirtha.

On 2nd day, the Mandir chariot is decorated with flowers and pulled along the main street of Thirthahalli.

On 3rd day, the Utsava Moorthi is taken on a Teppa (raft) on river Tunga towards the river bank at Kuruvalli and brought back.

This is called Teppotsava (raft-festival).

SRI VADAKUNNATHAN, THRISSUR (KER)
#bharatmandir

One of the oldest and largest Shiva kshetram of Kerela and first among 108 Shiva Mandirs set up by Parashurama.

Adi Shankaracharya is said to have been born to Devi Aryamba and Shivaguru after years of prayer to Vadakunnathan.

It is believed that Shiva and Parvati came here at the request of Parashurama but disappeared suddenly.
Parashurama saw a radiant light emanating from a Lingam at the base of a huge banyan tree. This place is the Mula sthana where Shiva manifested himself in the form of a lingam

The daily Abhisheka of Shiva with Ghee covers the shivlingam making it invisible.
The ghee doesn't melt even in scorching summers. A portion of the ghee, after Abhisheka is given back to the devotees as it is believed to have miraculous power to kill all the diseases.

Famous Thrissur Pooram is conducted in the premises of Sri Vadakkunnathan.

Murtis from the nearby mandirs are brought here in grand processions. They offer their tribute to Shiva and leave for their respective kshetrams.
@GunduHuDuGa

SRI VISHNU’s PANCHJANYA SHANKHA

In “Nachiyar Thirumozhi” Sri Andal yearningly asks Panchajanya how Prabhu’s lips smell.
“Karpooram naarumo kamala poo naarumo?”
Do they smell of camphor or lotuses, she wonders, envying the conch’s closeness to Krishna.
@onlyonenetra

Panchjanya/Shankhasur was a demon who lived in a conch in the depths of ocean. He kidnapped the son of Rishi Sandipani (Guru of Sri Krishna) and kept him as captive in this conch.
As Guru Dakshina, Sandipani asked Krishna to bring back his son.
@desi_thug1 @DetheEsha @vedvyazz

Krishna slew the demon, brought back his Guru-Bhai and took the conch which he gave the name Panchjanya.

Sinch then, the 5-fingered Panchjanya became a symbol of terror for evil and the herald of peace for the devoted.
@SriRamya21 @ramapriya1989

SRI MURUGAN AND AVVAIYAR

Avvaiyar was a great poetess and devotee of Sri Murugan. Once, she want to visit Murugan Mandir.
Since, she walked all the way, she got tired. So she decided to rest under a jamun tree.
Suddenly, she heard the voice of a child.
@twttdc

The boy was sitting on the branch of a tree and asked her whether she wanted a fruit. When she said yes, the boy asked her whether she wanted the fruit hot or cold.
Avvaiyar thought the child was teasing her. So she asked for a hot fruit as the day was cold.

The boy shook the tree. When the fruit fell down, Avvaiyar blew at it to remove the sand in which the fruit had fallen. The boy then smiled and asked her whether the fruit was so hot that she needed to blow at it.
Avvaiyar was stunned, she realized she had become complacent.

She had a momentary pride and thought that the boy was illiterate and she was knowledgeable. This incident made her realise that nobody should be neglected. She then requested the boy to reveal his true image. The boy revealed that he was Sri Murugan himself.

Pazhamudircholai Murugan Mandir is believed to be the spot where Sri Murugan gave darshan to Avvaiyar.

A popular mandir associated with Avvaiyar is the Avvaiyar Amman Mandir at Nagercoil in Tamil Nadu.

Aathichudi is a Tamil Classic text credited to Avvaiyar.

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

SRI MURUDESHWARA KSHETRAM
BHATKAL TALUKA, KARNATAKA

Murudeshwara is another name for Shiva.
Once, Ravana prayed to Shiva to get his powerful Atmalinga.
Pleased by his penance, Shiva gave him the Atmalinga but warned him not to place it on the ground before reaching destination

To prevent Ravana from becoming all powerful, Sri Vishnu covered the Sun with his chakra. As Ravana always did Sandhya prayers, he needed to put the Atmalinga down. Sri Ganesh appeared as a child and agreed to hold the Atmalinga for Ravana.
@DubeyYash1911

However, Ganesha put down the linga before Ravana’s return. Vishnu also uncovered the Sun.
Furious Ravana tried to lift the linga but failed. It’s shape now looked like a cow’s ear. This place is known as Gokarna (Go means Cow and karna means Ear in sanskrit).

The case of linga fell 23 miles away at Sajjeshwar. He threw the lid to the south 27 miles away at Guneshwara in the form of “Vamdev Linga”. The thread winding the linga was flung to south at Dhareshwara and it came to be known as “Tathpurusha Linga”.

The cloth wrapped on the linga fell at Kanduka hills and took the form of Aghora at Murudeshwar.
The word Mrida comes from trampling of cloth and also means happiness.
So Murudeshwara is the Lord of happiness.
Praying to Shiva at these Panchkshtras frees one from all sins.

SRI APATSAHAYESWARAR, ALANGUDI (TN)
#bharatmandir

Navgraha kshetram dedicated to Shiva and where Sri Dakshinamurthy is worshipped as Guru Bhagwan (Jupiter/Brihaspati).
The shrine is renowned for its tri-glories, i.e. Moorthy, sthalam and theertham (Holy Water).

This place is believed to be the one where Shiva consumed the deadly poison (Ala Visham) that came out after samudra manthan. Hence, Shiva came to be called Apatsahayesvarar (One who defends from danger).
Kshetram is believed to have been constructed by Amuthokar (a Shiva bhakt).

He was the minister of King Masukuntha Chakravarti and was beheaded as he refused to give half of his Punya (merit) to the King.
On his death, the sthalam reverberated with the sound ‘Amuthokar’. Frightened King prayed to Apatsahayeswarar and was relieved from all Doshas.

Alangudi is surrounded by 3 holy rivers-Cauvery, Kolidam and Vennaru. Fifteen theerthams are around this kshetram. Amrita Pushkarani encircling the Kshetram is very famous. Chakra theertham in front of the shrine is believed to have been created by Sri Vishnu’s Chakra.

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.
🙏🏻

KASHI VISHWANATH JYOTIRLINGA: VARANASI (UP)

Kashi is the Avimukta kshetra where the Avimukteshwar Linga is eternal. Even the most sinful person can attain Moksha in Kashi.

Kaal Bhairav is the Nagar Kotwal (guardian) of this eternal city of Vishwanath, on the banks of Ganga.

Shiva Mahapurana says that for purpose of creation, Shiva created a city called Panchakoshi.
Here, Sri Vishnu immersed himself in deep penance.
Many watersprings originated from his body. As he tilted his head, a gemstone fell from his ear giving this place the name Manikarnika.

The entire Panch Koshi area of Manikarnika was gathered into the Trident of Shiva.
Then from the navel of Vishnu emerged a lotus flower with Brahma in it and the process of creation was started with Brahma. Shiva kept Panchakoshi city away from the entire universe.

Shiva Himself established the Avimukta JyotirLinga in Kashi.
Then he removed Kashi from His Trident and set it in this mortal world.
The city remains as it is even at the time of pralaya.
During pralaya, Shiva keeps it back on his trident. This makes Kashi an eternal city.

The present mandir was built by Ahalya Devi Holkar in 1777 AD.
The Kaal Bhairav mandir was built by Srimant Baji Rao Peshwa in 1852 AD.
King Ranjit Singh had the Kashi Vishwanath Mandir towers covered in gold.
A huge bell was donated by the King of Nepal.

RATHA SAPTAMI: TODAY

Ratha/Arogya Saptami is dedicated to Bhagwan Surya who was born to Rishi Kashyapa and Aditi on the Saptami Tithi of Magha Shukla Paksha. So Ratha Saptami is also known as Surya Jayanti.
Today, we worship Surya for sustaining life on Earth.
@RatanSharda55

The symbolic representation of Ratha Saptami shows Surya turning his Ratha drawn by seven horses, with Arun as the charioteer, towards the northern hemisphere, in a north-easterly direction. The seven horses here represent the seven colours of the rainbow or 7 days of the week.

The chariot has 12 wheels, which represents the 12 signs (each of 30 degrees) of the Zodiac (360 degrees) and constituting a full year, named Samvatsara.
It is believed that taking a bath during Arunodaya or sunrise in a sacred river on this day can help to get rid from sins.

As per a katha, once a noble king who had no heir prayed to Prabhu and was blessed with a son. However, after his son fell terminally ill, a Rishi advised him to perform the Ratha Saptami puja. After Ratha Saptami puja, his son's health was restored and he went on to become King.

KAMADA EKADASHI: TODAY

Also called Chaitra Shukla Ekadashi which is celebrated after Navratri and Ramanavami.

Kamada signifies a grant of desires.

It is believed that observing vrat on this day fulfils worldly desires, cleanses the consciousness and nullifies curses.

Once, an Apsara Lalita and Gandharva Lalit served in the court of Bhagipur king Pundarika. One day due to the absence of his beloved Lalita, Gandharva Lalit could not perform well in the court and Pundarik got annoyed. He cursed Lalit to transform into an ugly demon
@GunduHuDuGa

Lalita also went after Lalit in sorrow. Years passed and she reached Vindhyachal mountain where she came across Rishi Shringi. He advised her to observe the fast of Kamada Ekadashi.
Lalita observed the vrat with dedication and by Vishnu’s grace, Lalit regained his original form.

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.

SREE KALLIL BHAGAWATHI MANDIR, METHALA (Ker)

Kallil in Malayalam means 'in stone'.
Bhagavathi’s prathishta is in a cave beneath a massive rock that stands without a support on the ground. It appears as if the huge boulder is mysteriously suspended in the air.
@iamkamyabuch

Once, people gathering forest resources in the dense forest saw a beautiful lady toying with huge stones. The lady hid herself in the cave forming a cover with the stones she was playing with. The stone that went up became the roof and the one fallen down became her seat.

The Mandir is on a hilltop which can be reached climbing 64 steps, inside a vast forest of 28 acres. It is protected by the ASI. It is believed that earlier Jain monks used the place for tapasya due to the presence of stone carved murtis of Jain Tirthankaras here.

The procession of Devi during the festival is on a female elephant. It is believed that once a tusker was used. Devi cursed the animal and turned it into a rock. The rock in the nearby land is still called elephant rock and is believed to be the elephant which was once cursed.