Margabandhu Stotram - #Thread

"Shambho Mahadeva deva
Shiva Shambho Mahadeva devesha Shambho
Shambho Mahadeva deva...

By reciting this stotra one can have Bhagwan Shiva with them as Marga-bandhu(travel companion) written by Sri Appayya Dikshitar.

This stotra was written praising Sri Margabandheswarar, Virinjipuram,Near Vellore,TN - Magnificent &very ancient temple famous for its compound wall/ Madhil azhagu-has minute stone carvings all around.This place gets its name-Virinjipuram as Brahma(Virinchi)worshiped Siva here

It is said that ,Dhanabalan a pepper merchant lost his loads to thieves.He prayed to Shiva &,he came as a soldier on a horse & retrieved pepper loads but also accompanied Dhanabalan on his journey.Due to this he is called Vazhi Thunai Nathar in Tamil & Margabandu in Sanskrit.

As per sthala purana,Brahma was born as Shivasarma here in archaka family. When Shivsarma’s father died,he had to undertake pooja responsibilities as a small boy.Shivasarma’s mother prayed to Margabandeeswar.Shiva came as an elderly person & conducted Upanayanam Brahmopadhesam

Small boy was then paraded on an elephant with the holy water pot and the temple door opened automatically.While he attempted to do abhishek for Margabandheeswarar,as a small boy,he was unable to reach the head of the lingam,so he surrendered to Shiva stating his inability.

Heard about a Marathan run that is conducted as part of Maha Shivarathri celebrations -Shivalaya Oottam

Marathan run by devotees covering 12 Shiva Alayams/ Temples chanting Govinda..Gopala...

This practice is related to an legend #story of #Mahabharata

Do read this #Thread

Devotees dressed in khawi/safforn cloths,will run /walk to one Shiva Alayam to other,covering 12 Shiva Alayams in Kanyakumari district by foot & total distance is abt 88 Km.
First temple is Thirumalai Mahadevar Temple,Munchirai
During the run,they take holy dips in temple tanks.

Devotees who cover the distance by foot observe Vriddham for a week.During fasting they eat tender coconut,Nungu &Tulsi water.Those who cannot run this distance,visit all 12 temples in vehicles.
After darshan in Thirumalai temple,they go to 2nd temple Tikkurichi Mahadeva Temple.

Followed by darshan at Thirunandikarai Shiva Temple,Ponmanai Thimbilankudi Mahadevar Temple,Thiruppanri Bhagam Shiva Temple,Kalkulam Neelakanda Mahadevar Temple, Melangode Shiva Temple, Thiruvidaikodu Mahadevar Temple.Lastly to Thirunattalam Sankara Narayan Temple.

All these shiva temples,have separate sannathi for Vishnu.
Interestingly,in each of these temples,prasad is Vibuthi or bhasma & at Thirunattalam Sankara Narayan Temple the prasad is sandal paste/Chandan symbolic of unity of Shiva &Vishnu.

Legend #story 👇

#Thread on Sabarimala Yatra

It is said that Sabarimala is part of Shat(6) Chakra temples.

There are 5 sastha temples that one should visit in a specific order before darshan at Sabarimala.

Each of these temples work on one of chakras,from Muladhara to Ajna.The Sabarimala Kshetram
is related to Ajna Chakra.

Soori Muthiyan temple of Sastha
along with -Achankoil, Aryankavu, Kulathupuzha & Erumli are the 5 temples to be visited before Sabarimala - Mukti sthalam.

Those on sabarimala pilgrimage should visit Soori Muthiyan temple to wear the mala & proceed to other 5 temples.

Soori Muthiyan temple is located near Tirunelveli in Tamilnadu - Rest 5 temples are located in kerala.
Do follow this route of sabarimala yatra .Visit all 6 Sastha Kshetrams

Om Swamiye Sharanam Ayyappa 🙏

Source text - Aravind Subramanyam - Shanmatha blog

Do see this video for more details...Very Insightful,Perfectly articulated ,explained clearly the scientific & spiritual reasons for the restrictions in sabarimala

Science and spirituality co-exists

#Hanuman Chalisa - devotional hymn composed by Goswami Tulsidas in praise of Hanuman in Awadhi language.

#Thread

#DoYouKnow - Tulasidas was captured &jailed as he refused to bow down to Mugal Emperor Akbar.Tulasidas composed Hanuman Chalisa in 40 days in Jail.

Chalis means 40. There are 40 couplets,2 dohas in the Hanuman Chalisa that give it its name.

Akbar came know from his ministers about the miracle of reviving a dead man by Tulasi das.
So Akbar had summoned Tulsi Das to his court.He was asked to perform a miracle there.

Tulasi Das told he doesn't know to perform any miracle,he only knows Bhagwan Shri Ram. So,Akbar imprisoned Tulasi Das at Fatehpur Sikhri.He composed Hanuman Chalisa for forty days & on 40th day, suddenly an army of giant monkeys descended upon Fatehpur Sikhri.

Monkeys made a ruckus there. They entered each home as well as Akbar’s harem, scratching people and created a havoc in all nook & corner of the city.Guards informed Akbar about all the happenings.He immediately released Tulasi das ji & requested him to stop the monkey menace.

Tulasi Das stopped the menace of monkeys & told Akbar to leave the place.

It is believed that chanting Hanuman Chalisa helps remove negative vibrations. Many couplets in Hanuuman chalisa are said to help us stay safe from negative energies & thoughts.

Ganga Snan-Taking bath in sacred Ganga River.Will this act wash away our paap and lead to Moksha?#Thread

Lakhs of people perform Ganga Snan all around the year.

There is an interesting story which explains that mere Ganga Snan won’t wash away paap or help in achieving Moksha.

Once Bhagwan Shiva&Parvati Devi was traveling on earth.Parvati saw so many people heading towards River Ganga to take bath.Parvati wondered if all these people will attain Moksha by bathing in Ganga&asked to Shiva.If they get moksha then there would not be enough space in swarga.

Shiva laughed&said that only a few among them will get Moksha.Only a person who has come with firm belief,devotion& pious mind will get Moksha.

Most of these people who take ganga snan have come to perform it as a mere custom.Some are here to show off that they are religious.

Bhagwan Shiva also told Paravati that one who is really praying for Moksha will attain it on this earth itself&for such people taking ganga snan¬ taking it is of same value.
Devi argued that lakhs of people have come from far off places for ganga snan must be spiritual &good.

Shiva agreed to prove that he was right.Shiva disguised as a sick person with leprosy.Parvati devi as his beautiful wife&went to banks of Ganga.Parvati devi as wife started asking people to help her husband perform Ganga Snan so that he will be cured of leprosy,but in vain.