Thread -
Life is unpredictable. The more we think we hv figured it all out, the more mysterious it gets. It makes us ponder at its ability to pull off unimaginable tricks! There r some happy surprises n some downright cruel! It is when we r delivered an unexpected blow that

our inner strength is put to test. It is at this time that life summons faith and surrender to Bhagawan..
Faith does not mean we tame life or dictate terms to it! One may wonder if it worthwhile then to pray to Bhagawan who cannot fix our problems!
There is a touching story

from the epic 'Ramayana'.
Rama and Lakshmana were wandering the woods in search of Sita. They came across a serene pool surrounded by fragrant flowers. Lakshmana suggested they bathe in the pool and rest for sometime. Rama took off the bow from his shoulders and put it on the

ground. Hanging the quivers on their bows, they entered the pool to soothe their limbs. After bathing and resting they got ready to leave. When Rama lifted his bow, he heard the faint croak of a frog. He looked down and saw a small frog lying injured where his bow had been kept

Overcome with compassion he immediately picked the frog in his palms. Rama asked the frog why he didnt call for help when the bow hit him!
The frog though in pain said, "Rama the whole world calls you when they are hurt by others, but who is left to call when you yourself decide

Warm wishes, dear Tweeples on #ThiruvalluvarDay and a Happy Maattu Pongal!

Not sure how many of you know, but today is #ThiruvalluvarDay. A day dedicated to Thiruvalluvar (Valluvar) – a Tamizh poet & philosopher.

@HelloNNewman @RajeAiyer

There’s not much information available about Thiruvalluvar, in fact, it is not known whether his name was indeed ‘Thiruvalluvar’. It is believed that he used to live in Mylapore (in Chennai).

@VedicWisdom1 @Mahadevangini

So, why is Thiruvalluvar such a celebrated author? Someone about whom no verifiable information is available, apart from work exalting him. It is because of his work - ‘Tirukkuṟaḷ’ (a collection of couplets on ethics, political and economical matters, and love) is +

@shri_v

+ well known and probably the only non-religious book that has maximum translations (41), though I was able to find list of only 35 languages.

The earliest reference to Thiruvalluvar is found in works called ‘Thiruvalluva Maalai’ (Garland of Thiruvalluvar).

@hathyogi31

This is of utmost significance because this anthology contains fifty-five verses, each written by different poets praising the ancient work of ‘Kural’ and its author ‘Valluvar’. This work is believed to be of poets spanning centuries beginning from around 1st century CE, +

Sweet Puttu and Madurai Chokkanathar

Puttu Chokkanathar Temple is a Shiva temple in Madurai where Puttu is very famous. A beautiful story as why Chokkanathar is called Puttu Chokkanathar.

Once, the Pandya King ordered every one person in a house in Madurai should come for

putting sand on the banks of the river Vaigai to control flood. An old lady, who sold Puttu had no one she can send for the work. Shiva disguised as a young man approached the old lady with a deal. He will do the work for the lady and in return she has to give him Puttu every day

Lady agreed and she gave him Puttu. After having Puttu, instead of working the young man went to sleep. The King, who was supervising the work, beat him with a stick.

But everyone including the king felt the pain in their back

SASTHAMCOTTA SREE DHARMA SASTHA MANDIR, KOLLAM (ker)

It is one among the five ancient Sastha Mandirs in Kerala - AchanKoil, Aryankavu, Kulathupuzha, Sasthamcotta and Sabarimala. The mandir is surrounded on 3 sides by the largest fresh water lake of Kerala, Sasthamkotta lake.

The Mandir is dedicated to Shri Dharma Sastha accompanied by his consort Prabha and son 'Sathyaka'.
After killing Ravana, Sri Ram visited Sasthamkotta on his wayback to Ayodhya. Ram offered pithru tharpan on the banks of the Sasthamcotta Lake.

He deputed Neelan, the chief architect of his vanara sena, to serve Shri Dharma Sastha. It is believed that Neelan is the predecessor of the prevailing monkey clan in the Mandir. The Mandir here is well known for the inhabitance of monkeys.During Onam, a feast is offered to them.

ஏன் மோடி வேண்டும்?-

பிரதமர் மோடி குறித்து பிரணாப் முகர்ஜி சொன்ன வியப்பூட்டும் தகவல்

ஒரு தனியார் தொலைக்காட்சி நிறுவனம் ஒரு விழாவில் பிரணாப் அவர்கள் பங்கேற்பது குறித்த பேட்டி காண சென்றிருந்தது.

பேட்டியின் போது காங்கிரஸின் மூத்த தலைவர், முன்னாள் குடியரசு தலைவராகிய பிரணாப் முகர்ஜியிடம் பிரதமர் மோடி குறித்து கேள்வி கேட்டது.

"நீங்கள் மத்திய அமைச்சராக இருந்த போது குஜராத் முதல்வராக மோடி இருந்தார். அடுத்து நீங்கள் குடியரசுத் தலைவராக இருந்த போது மோடி பிரதமராக இருந்தார்.

இந்த இரண்டு மோடியின் செயல்பாடுகளை நீங்கள் எப்படிப் பார்க்கிறீர்கள்; தவிர, இப்போது நீங்கள் சாதாரண மனிதராக இருக்கும் நிலையில் பிரதமராக மோடியின் செயல்பாடு எப்படி இருக்கிறது."

இதுதான் கேள்வி...

"முதல்வராக, பிரதமராக, மோடியிடம் வித்தியாசம் ஏதும் இல்லை. முதல்வராக இருக்கும் போது மாநில வளர்ச்சிக்கு பாடுபட்டார்.. இப்போது இந்திய வளர்ச்சிக்கு கடுமையாக உழைக்கிறார்.

நான் மத்திய அமைச்சராக இருந்த பொழுது எனக்கு மிகவும் பிடித்த முதல்வராக மோடியே இருந்தார். காரணம் அவரிடம் எதையும் ஒருமுறை சொன்னால் போதும். உடனே அதை புரிந்து கொண்டுவிடுவார்!

குஜராத் வளர்ச்சிக்கு மத்திய அரசிடம் போராடி பல்வேறு திட்டங்களுக்கான தொகையை வாங்குவார்.

Valayanad Devi temple
Kozhikode, Kerala 🚩
#keralatemples

Valayanad Bhagavathi is the family temple of the Zamorin Kings, who were the rulers of Kozhikode. Sthala puranam says how Devi came here A Fight occured between Zamorin and Valluvanad king in which the Zamorians were

defeated. Zamorians thought that Devi's blessings was with Valluvanad king, and started Devi Upasana.
Satisfied with the Pooja, Devi decided to come with Zamorians on a condition that she will stay at the place where they turn back and check her.

After a while of walking Zamorin turned back and Devi stood there as per her condition. But because of their devotion Devi throw her bangle, and the spot where it fell will always have her presence. Thus the bangle Devi threw rotated for a week and landed at the place where the

temple now stands. The place where the bangle rotated for a week came to be known as Azhchavattom (Azhcha means Week) and the place where the bangle fell became Thiruvalayanad, (Vala means Bangle).The Sreechakra, designed by the great Sivayogi Thayyavur Sivasankar👇

remains in the Garbhagriham, where the presence of the Devi is forever present. By worshiping in this temple will help us in success of all our actions,  getting cured of diseases and getting  wisdom.
Valayanad Amme 🙏
🙏🕉🙏

ASHTAVAKRA AND MAHARAJ JANAK

The learned Rishi Uddalaka married off his daughter Sujata to his favourite disciple Kahoda. They continued to reside in his Ashram. Sujata used to hear their discussions when she became pregnant.
The unborn child,thus, acquired mastery on Vedas.

Kahoda was not as skilled as his Guru and made mistakes frequently. Unable to bear this, the unborn child started correcting him from his mother’s womb. Humiliated Kahoda cursed his child to be born with 8 bends in his body. Thus, Ashtavakra was born (meaning one with 8 bends).

Much later, a brahmin from varunlok challenged learned men in Janak’s court for a shastrartha (competition on shastra). Kahoda also participated but lost. So he was taken as captive by the brahmin. When Ashtavakra came to know this, he travelled to Janak’s court to meet him.

In the court, all men ridiculed him due to his twisted body. Ashtavakra told Janak that his court was full of shoemakers and not learned men. They see only skin. They do not see the atma. They have no realization of parmatma. For them, outer skin is what matters.
@GampaSD

All heads hung in shame. Janak bowed down to Ashtavakra and touched his lotus feet
Ashtavakra then challeged the brahmin to have shastraartha and defeated him. As per the rules of challenge the brahmin freed all captives, including Ashtavakra’s father Muni Kahoda.

Narayan Hari🙏🏻

1. The entire world is looking at #India ‘s comparatively low #COVID19 numbers with suspicion. Having lived in #Germany & been to #India last month, here’s a thread of my personal experience and why #India is doing better despite higher population density.

2. Let’s start with how international arrivals are handled. Before flying to #India self-declaration form should be filled out online & Aarogya Setu app installed. #Bengaluru further required Apthamitra & Quarantine watch apps. COVID -ve result is required to reduce quarantine.

3. We(husband & I) both took RT-PCR test 2days before flying & took a hard copy of our -ve certificates. During check in at the #Frankfurt airport our self-declaration forms were checked & phones too to ensure we had installed the required apps. Our contact details were noted.

4. While flying out all restaurants except McDonalds were closed in #Frankfurt airport. Only bakeries were open. Safety enforcement was quite lax even as many lined up at the test center at the airport. There were few hand sanitising stations & no one to enforce mask wearing...

5. & social distancing. Infact, no one at the ticketing office had a mask on. Other than the check-in, there were no other new protocols for international fliers. We went through immigration & boarded just as normal. We flew through #Dubai & the flight to Dubai was mostly empty.

We were all revering Cows and other animals much before all these 'Activists' cropped up. Respecting the environment, the trees and animals are a way of life for Hindus

On the eve of Maattu Pongal, here are a few personal Cow Remembrances 1/n

I was all of 4 when we moved to Vadakara. School was still a year away. We lived in a House named 'Kottaram' (Palace), which had a long backyard. Beyond that was a small house where a Brahmin Family Resided. Mami had a cow. 2/n

Around 2.30 pm, she will call "Konthe" (Colloquial for Kuzhanthai or Child), and that was the sign for me to run across pulling up my half trouser.

A Half Wall separated the houses and I would climb up to watch the guy who milched their cow. 3/n

Once he milched, I will get my quota of a very small glass of raw milk. She never ever took the milk inside without giving me my share fondly. Once I drink it, I played with the calf and then ran back home 4/n

We moved back to Palakkad when I was 9. Grandfathers Agraharam house was 20 kms away and I was a frequent visitor

Thatha and Paatti maintained 3 Cows

The Big Red, Elder Karumi (Blacky) and the Younger Karumi 5/n

Panakala Lakshmi Narasimha Swami
Andhra Pradesh 🚩
#templeAP

Panakala Lakshmi Narasimha Swami Temple is a cave temple and this is situated on the Mangalagiri. Mangalagiri is one of the Ashta swayamvyaktha Kshetram of Maha Vishnu. Mangala Giri hills have three temples.

They are Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple, Panakala Narasimha Swamy, Gandala Narasimha swamy.

In the Panakala Narasimha Swamy temple, we cannot see the Vigraham of Narasimha but mouth which opened wide. Here we can offer Panakam( jaggery water ) to Swamy

We can observe a gurgling sound while pouring this jaggery water into the mouth of Swamy. This will happen every time the we pour the jaggery water.
There are no traces of ant forming near Swamy or near Panakam.
It is said that Vishnu has told Devas that offering Panakam 👇

will cool down his anger after killing demon Namuchi, which was in Krithayugam. Bhagwan said that he would be satisfied with ghee in Threthayugam, with milk in Dwaparayugam and with panakam(Jaggery water) in Kaliyugam.
🙏🕉🙏

MAKAR SANKRANTI: REASONS TO REJOICE

Why do we celebrate the movement of sun in capricorn (उत्तरायण सूर्य)?
When sun is moving towards south, we get limited sunlight and harsh weather. So the movement of sun towards north is a time to rejoice, to rejuvenate, to welcome spring.

Unlike other festivals, which are based on the traditional Indian Calendar, set according to Lunar positions, sankranti is a solar event. Thus, while the dates of all festivals keep changing every year, the date of Makar Sankranti is always the same – 14th January.

It is said that Yama blessed the sesame seed (तिल). So they are regarded as the symbols of immortality. The seed was supposed to have originated when drops of sweat trickled from Vishnu and fell on earth.
Sankranti is incomplete without til and gur(jaggery).

In Maharashtra, they say "Til gud ghya ani goad goad bola" meaning, people should be as sweet with words as til n gur.
Til seeds n oil have the ability to absorb and emit Sattva frequencies more than any other oil. By distributing til and gur, there is an exchange of saattvikta.

NARHARI AND BHAGWAN PANDURANG/VITTHAL

Once a goldsmith by the name of Narhari lived in Pandharpur. He excelled in his craft. He had vowed not to look at Pandurang or visit his mandir ever, as he was a Shiva Bhakt.
One day, a wealthy merchant visited him.

He wanted a gold girdle studded with precious gems, to be made for Prabhu Vitthal. Narhari refused to make it as it was for Vitthal.
After many requests, he agreed to make the girdle but asked the merchant to bring the measurement from the mandir as he himself would not go there

The measurement was given n he made the girdle. When the girdle was put on Vitthal, it was loose. Narhari had to shorten it. Now the girdle became tight. So Narhari was forced to take measurement on his own. He had to go to the mandir but went blindfolded to avoid seeing Vitthal

In the Mandir, when blindfolded Narhari touched Vitthal, he felt as if he was touching Shiva with matted hair, the moon, snake in His neck and Trishul in His hand. Ecstatic with joy, he removed the blindfold to see Shiva but he found the murti of Vitthal with Rukmini there.

He realised the truth that there was no difference between Vitthal and Shiva. Narhari at once fell at the feet of Panduranga. He then took the measurement of the waist of Vitthal and this time the ornament fit the Murti perfectly.

Narayan Hari🙏🏻

Pongal / Makara Sankramam

Pongal is the Harvest festival celebrated worshipping Surya Deva. Pongal is celebrated 4 days. Bhogi Pongal, Thai Pongal, Mattu Pongal and Kanum Pongal. Festival is named after the ceremonial "Pongal", which means "to boil, overflow".

A traditional dish prepared from the new harvest of rice boiled in milk with jaggery. Pongalo Pongal

Another important aspect of this day is the kolam, the traditional design hand-drawn at the entrance of houses.
@SriramKannan77

Makara Sankramam

Makara jyothi is a star that appears in the sky on Makara Sankranti.
Makaravilakku is an annual festival held on Makara Sankranti in Kerala, at Sabarimala temple.

The festival includes the Thiruvabharanam (ornaments of Ayyappan) procession being brought to Sabarimala. After Deeparadhana, Makara Jyothi is seen 3 times at Ponnambalamedu.

Story of Thumba Poo and Shiva

Thumba poo is a tiny white flower which grows in all areas. These flowers are used for treatment for sinus. Small children who have polyps in Nose are told to crush tumbha leaves and apply in nose part.
There is an interesting story of Thumba and

Mahadeva. Thumba flowers were not taken for Shiva Pooja. Saddened to this Thumba prayed sincerely and Mahadeva appeared before her.
She was surprised that Shiva had appeared before her. Instead of saying that she wants to under his feet always, she said
@SriramKannan77

She said that her feet should be on his head. Shiva accepted her prayers. It is because of this Thumba flower is placed in the head of Shiva Linga.
Shambo Mahadeva
Om Namah Sivaye
🙏🕉🙏

AMBALAPUZHA SREE KRISHNA MANDIR (KER)

The mandir is directly associated to the Guruvayoor Sree Krishna Mandir. During the raids of Tipu Sultan in 1789, the murti of Sri Krishna from the Guruvayoor Mandir was brought to the Ambalappuzha Mandir for safe keeping.

Krishna once appeared as a Rishi here and challenged the ruling King to a game of Chess on the condition that the winner gets to choose any prize he wants. As prize, the Rishi wanted a grain of rice, with the condition that each square would double the grain of rice.
@SriRamya21

The king agreed to his terms. Soon the king lost n as he started putting the grains, he realized the huge amount of grains he would have to give. Krishna took pity on him n revealed his true form. He asked the king to provide paal payasam to him each day till the debt was repaid.

Even today, Palpayasa Nedyam/ Payasam (a sweet pudding prepared of rice and milk), is served here. It is believed that Sri Guruvayoorappan reaches here daily at the time of Palpayasa Nedyam to have it.
@vedvyazz @GampaSD @IndiaTales7

Lemurians never had the concept of God, no temples, no rituals.
Even before Prophet or Jesus, they followed those tenets.
They were the most intelligent in the world, but Evil Arya Parpanars cunningly controlled them, built temples and branded them as Hindus.

Thousands of Years back, lemurians taught the world to speak and that language was Tamil.
Many languages still have so many tamil words, but they do not accept because of Evil Aryans who confuse them that it is all Sanskrit.
Sanskrit was derived from Tamil, Aryans stole grammar

Even before Islam and Christianity was known to world, Tamils were practising it. Tamil kings like Chola, Chera, Pandya ruled the world along with Turks, Constatine, Mughals, but Evil Aryans always wrote false history and termed Tamil kings as Hindus.
Gautam Buddha was Tamil.

Evil Parppanar copied Buddha's speeches and wrote Vedas. Vedas was written 200 yrs back by Parppanar Scholars, they appropriated Buddhist Pagodas and converted them to Temples.
In 20th Century, was born the saviour of Lemuria, EVR. He ushered revolution, abused Parpanar.

EVR ensured that no Parpanar or his generations could control Lemurians, only he could control them. He abused as he wished, was supportive of Islam/Christianity, spoke about 'Social Justice', which ensured equality for women. 2 women could marry 1 man..

கோவை திமுக ஹோட்டல் நடத்துநரின் வாட்ஸ் ஆப் பதிவின் சுருக்கம். #திருட்டு_திமுக

சாந்தி கியர்ஸ் சுப்ரமணியம் மலிவு விலை சமூக உணவகத்தை ஆரம்பித்து மற்ற ஹோட்டல்கள் உணவை விட தரமான உணவை அவர்கள் விற்கும் விலையில் மூன்றில் ஒரு பங்கு விலைக்கு கொடுக்க ஆரம்பித்தவுடன் பல ஹோட்டல்கள் அதனால்

பாதிக்கப்பட்டன. பாதிக்கப்பட்ட இவரும் அவரை சந்தித்து இது எப்படி முடிகிறது என்று கேட்டபோது அவர் சொன்னது, பெரிய முதலீடு செய்து ஆடம்பரமாக கடையை கட்டவில்லை, குறைந்த முதலீடு அதிக வியாபாரம், இரண்டாவது அனைத்து பொருட்களையும் விவசாயிகளிடமே நேரடியாக வாங்குவதால் மூன்றில் ஒரு பங்கு விலைக்கு

கொடுக்கமுடிகிறது என்று கூறியிருக்கிறார்.
சில நாட்களில் அந்த ஏரியா திமுக செயலர் அப்பகுதி அனைத்து ஹோட்டல்காரர்களையும் திரட்டி சுப்பிரமணியம் அவர்களை சந்திக்க அழைத்து சென்று விலையை ஏற்ற வேண்டும் என்று அவர்கள் முன்னிலையில் மிரட்டியிருக்கிறார். அசராத சுப்ரமணியம் இன்னும் விலையை

குறைப்பேன், நீங்களும் விவசாயிகளிடம் நேராக வாங்குங்கள் என்று கூறியிருக்கிறார். இறுதியில் கடும் வாக்குவாதம் நடந்து எந்த பலனும் இன்றி முடிந்தது. இவர் சில மாதங்களில் கடையை மூடிவிட்டார். அனால் அவர் ஏன் நம் விலை அதிகம் என்று யோசித்துப் பார்த்திருக்கிறார். ஒன்று ஆடம்பரம் மற்றொன்று

அரசியல்வாதிகள் அதிகாரிகள் மாமூல், இன்னொன்று அரசியல்வாதிகள் சொல்லும் இடங்களில் பொருளை வாங்கி வந்தது. உற்பத்தி ஆகும் இடத்தில் சென்று வாங்கியிருந்தால் அவர் லாபம் பலமடங்கு இருந்திருக்கும் என்பதை உணர்ந்தார். விவசாயிகளிடம் பேசியபோது அவர்கள் விலை இவர் வாங்கும் விலையில் நான்கில் ஒரு

1/ One of the psychological and spiritual effects of concentration of talent (which is what large scale urbanization ultimately is about) is the "rat race".

Large urban areas don't give us space - the sheer physical room, and young children acutely perceive that lack of space.

2/ If you are talented and caught in that rat race, moving to a smaller community may cure it. You will simply stop caring about many of the "prestige traps" that afflict our minds - what brands of clothes, shoes, phones, cars and so on and on. That is profoundly liberating!

3/ From that personal transformation comes other good things. Your talent has a much better "return on psychic effort" in a village because these places have suffered from decades of talent erosion (I call it top soil erosion). Your talent can make a big a difference there.

4/ Over-concentration of this top soil of talent in very large urban centres turns it toxic as well.

The future of civilization may depend on us reversing the top soil erosion, both the physical top soil that helps grow our food and the metaphorical top soil of talent.

5/ Currently fashionable economic doctrines celebrate large scale urbanization as the ultimate good. The spiritual and psychological consequences are not part of the model. Alienation and rat race are subjects for sociologists to study and prestigious economists won't touch them.

BHAKT PUNDALIK AND VITHOBA

Pundalik, son of Janudev n Satyavati, lived in Dandirvan. As Pundalik ill-treated his parents, they decided to leave for Kashi. Pundalik and his wife also went with them. While the old couple had to walk bare-foot, Pundalik rode on horse
@onlyonenetra

One night they halted at the ashram of Rishi Kukkutswami. Just before dawn, Pundalik got up n saw 3 beautiful women in soiled clothes entering the Ashram, cleaning, sweeping and washing clothes. They, then, went in the pooja room, came out spotlessly clean and vanished.
@GampaSD

Next night, same thing happened. So Pundalik went to them and asked their details. The 3 women were Ganga, Yamuna and other holy rivers. They were soiled as people washed their sins in them. They told Pundalik that he was the greatest sinner as he ill-treated his parents.

This changed Pundalik and he became a devoted son. Impressed, Sri Vishnu paid him a visit. At that time, he was tending to his parents. So, Pundalik gave a brick to waiting Vishnu and told him to stand on it till he was free. When he was free, he realised what he had done.

He begged for pardon but Vishnu was immensely pleased. Pundalik requested Vishnu to stay there always. Vishnu took the form of Vithoba and still stands there on a brick, along with Rukmini.
The divine place is Pandharpur, abode of Vithoba/ Vitthala 🙏🏻
@IndiaTales7

Amirthakateshwarar Temple, Melakadambur, Tamil Nadu🚩
#templesTN

Located near Chidambaram is this beautiful Shiva temple. Shiva is Swayambhu here. This is one of the Paadal Petra Sthalam.

Sthala puranam says that Devas after Palazhi Mathanam began to consume it without

worshipping Vinayaka who angrily took away the pot to teach them a lesson. When he passed through this place, a drop of nectar fell on the earth and it became a Swayambu Linga.  Realizing mistake, Indira and Devas came here and prayed to Vinayaka. Ganesha
adviced them to worship

Shiva. Responding to their prayers, Shiva gave them the nectar and stayed here as Amirthakateshwarar (Amirtha-nectar), Kada- pot and Easwara- shiva.Temple structure is like of Chariot. One of the wheels is stuck to Earth as Vigneswara pressed it to Earth

Shambo Mahadeva
🙏🕉🙏