Thursday, November 15, 2012
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
The Power of Om
During meditation, when we chant Om, we create within ourselves a vibration that attunes sympathy with the cosmic vibration and we start thinking universally. The momentary silence between each chant becomes palpable. Mind moves between the opposites of sound and silence until, at last, it ceases the sound. In the silence, the single thought—Om—is quenched; there is no thought. This is the state of trance, where the mind and the intellect are transcended as the individual self merges with the Infinite Self in the pious moment of realization. It is a moment when the petty worldly affairs are lost in the desire for the universal. Such is the immeasurable power of Om.Thursday, November 1, 2012
Lord Hanuman - God of India
Lord Hanuman is a commonly worshipped Hindu God, who aided Lord Rama in his fight against evil forces. He is in the form of a mighty ape and is the most popular idols of Hindu worship. Hanumanji is an ardent devotee of Lord Ram and a central character in the Indian epic Ramayana and was also very dear to Lord Rama.
Birth of Lord Hanuman
The story behind the birth of Lord Hanuman says that he was born to Anjani, a female vanara (monkey) and Kesari, a male vanara, in Anjana Giri Mountain. Vrihaspati had an attendant called Punjikasthala who was cursed to form a female monkey. Her curse could only be nullified if she gave birth to the incarnation of Lord Shiva. She was reborn as Anjana and performed intense things to please Mahadeva, who finally granted her the boon that would cure her of the curse. Later when Agni, the God of Fire, gave Dasarath, the king of Ayodhya a bowl of sacred dessert to share among his wives so that they could have divine children, a part of it was snatched away by an eagle and it dropped it on top of Anjana Giri Mountain where Anjana was meditating and Pavana, the Hindu God of Wind tried to drop it to her stretched hands. After she ate the divine dessert, she gave birth to Hanuman. Thus it is believed that Lord Shiva incarnated as monkey was born as Hanuman to Anjana, by the blessings of Pavana, who was later known as Hanuman’s god father. He was born at the auspicious hour of the morning of the 8th of the Lunar month, Chaitra at 4’o clock on the most blessed day of Tuesday.
It is widely believed that performing Hanuman pooja will help to attain strength, wisdom and knowledge.
Power of Lord Hanuman
It is believed that Lord Hanuman has the power to assume any form according to his wish. Hanumanji was well versed in Vedas and he is one of the main characters of Indian epic Ramayana. His knowledge in scriptures, his courage, and his super human strength makes everybody attached to him.
Mantras of Lord Hanuman
Here are some of the most popular mantras of Lord Hanuman. Click on each stotra for lyrics of Hanuman mantras
Hanuman Chalisa
Hanuman Gayatri
Anjaneya Ashtottara Shatanamavali
Hanuman Bajrang Baan
Sankat Mochan Hanuman Ashtak
Maruti Strotam
Famous Temples of Lord Hanuman
There are numerous temples dedicated to Lord Hanuman. Below is the list of some of the most famous Lord Hanuman Temples are
Birth of Lord Hanuman
The story behind the birth of Lord Hanuman says that he was born to Anjani, a female vanara (monkey) and Kesari, a male vanara, in Anjana Giri Mountain. Vrihaspati had an attendant called Punjikasthala who was cursed to form a female monkey. Her curse could only be nullified if she gave birth to the incarnation of Lord Shiva. She was reborn as Anjana and performed intense things to please Mahadeva, who finally granted her the boon that would cure her of the curse. Later when Agni, the God of Fire, gave Dasarath, the king of Ayodhya a bowl of sacred dessert to share among his wives so that they could have divine children, a part of it was snatched away by an eagle and it dropped it on top of Anjana Giri Mountain where Anjana was meditating and Pavana, the Hindu God of Wind tried to drop it to her stretched hands. After she ate the divine dessert, she gave birth to Hanuman. Thus it is believed that Lord Shiva incarnated as monkey was born as Hanuman to Anjana, by the blessings of Pavana, who was later known as Hanuman’s god father. He was born at the auspicious hour of the morning of the 8th of the Lunar month, Chaitra at 4’o clock on the most blessed day of Tuesday.
It is widely believed that performing Hanuman pooja will help to attain strength, wisdom and knowledge.
Power of Lord Hanuman
It is believed that Lord Hanuman has the power to assume any form according to his wish. Hanumanji was well versed in Vedas and he is one of the main characters of Indian epic Ramayana. His knowledge in scriptures, his courage, and his super human strength makes everybody attached to him.
Mantras of Lord Hanuman
Here are some of the most popular mantras of Lord Hanuman. Click on each stotra for lyrics of Hanuman mantras
Hanuman Chalisa
Hanuman Gayatri
Anjaneya Ashtottara Shatanamavali
Hanuman Bajrang Baan
Sankat Mochan Hanuman Ashtak
Maruti Strotam
Famous Temples of Lord Hanuman
There are numerous temples dedicated to Lord Hanuman. Below is the list of some of the most famous Lord Hanuman Temples are
- Sankat Mochan Shri Hanuman Mandir in Punjab
- Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple in Varanasi
- Anjaneyar Temple in Namakkal Tamilnadu
- Sree Hanuman Swamy Temple in Palayam Thiruvananthapuram
- Ragigudda Anjaneya Temple in JP Nagar, Bangalore, Karnataka
- Shri Hanuman Temple in Sarangpur, Gujarat
- Hanuman Temple near Nuwara Eliya in Sri Lanka
Lord Ayyappa Hindu God of Sabarimala
Lord Ayyappa or Ayyappan is a popular Hindu Godworshipped across India but mainly in South India. The incarnation of Ayyappan is very special as he was born out of the union of Lord Shiva and the enchantress Mohini, who is regarded as the avatar ofLord Vishnu. Hence he is also known as ‘Hariharaputhra’ which literally means the son of both Hari (Lord Vishnu) and Haran (Lord Shiva). Some of the other popular names of Lord Ayyappa include Sree Dharma Shasta, Hariharaputhran, Iyyappan, Swamy, lrumudi Priyan, Sabarigiri Vasan, Pamba Vasan, and Manikandan. Sree Dharma Sastha Temple or Sabarimala Temple in Kerala is the most famous Lord Ayyappa temple in India, visited by more than 30 million devotees every year.
Ayyappa Main Mantra
Swamiye Saranam Ayyappa
Meaning of the mantra "Swamiye Saranam Ayyappa" is "Oh Lord Ayyappa! I seek refuge in you"
Appearance of Lord Ayyappa
Lord Ayyappa is seen sitting on his ‘peethom’ with his right hand showering blessings to his devotees. Lord Vishnu gifted the new born deity with a little bejeweled bell necklace and so the name Manikandan came into existence. He wears a huge garland around his neck and appears in a very calm posture. The Vahana (Vehicle) of Lord Ayyappa is Tiger.
How Lord Ayyappa is worshipped
There are strict religious adherences to receive Lord Ayyappa’s blessings. First the devotees should observe a 41 day penance before visiting him in the temple. They should keep themselves completely away from all physical pleasures and family ties and live like a ‘Brahmachamri’. The devotees, on coming to Sabarimala Temple should have bath in river Pampa, adorn themselves with three eyed coconut and ‘aantha’ garland and then take the steep climb of the 18 steps to Sabarimala Ayyappa Sannidhanam. There is no difference in caste creed or religion to visit Sabarimala Temple. Sabarimala remains open for 41 continuous days starting from the Malayalam month of Vrischikam to Dhanu) (mid November to mid January) and also on the first five days of all Malayalam months. The most important day is the ‘Makarasankrathi’ where it is believed that a fire called ‘jyoti’ appears to worship Lord Ayyappa.
Another special activity of worshipping Ayyappa is the “Thiyattu”. People who do ‘Thiyattu’ are called the Thiyadis. One who does Thiyaddi for Lord Ayyappa is called Thiyadi Nambiar. Here a ‘Kalam pooja’, kalam pattu and Thottampattu are organized. In Kalam Pattu Thiyadi Nambiar tells about the story of Lord Ayyappa. All the Thiyyadi Nambiar families consider ‘Thiyadikkavu’ as ‘Ayappan kavu’. Worshipping the ‘Kalam’ is similar to worshipping Lord Ayyappa in temple.
Ayyappa Main Mantra
Swamiye Saranam Ayyappa
Meaning of the mantra "Swamiye Saranam Ayyappa" is "Oh Lord Ayyappa! I seek refuge in you"
Appearance of Lord Ayyappa
Lord Ayyappa is seen sitting on his ‘peethom’ with his right hand showering blessings to his devotees. Lord Vishnu gifted the new born deity with a little bejeweled bell necklace and so the name Manikandan came into existence. He wears a huge garland around his neck and appears in a very calm posture. The Vahana (Vehicle) of Lord Ayyappa is Tiger.
How Lord Ayyappa is worshipped
There are strict religious adherences to receive Lord Ayyappa’s blessings. First the devotees should observe a 41 day penance before visiting him in the temple. They should keep themselves completely away from all physical pleasures and family ties and live like a ‘Brahmachamri’. The devotees, on coming to Sabarimala Temple should have bath in river Pampa, adorn themselves with three eyed coconut and ‘aantha’ garland and then take the steep climb of the 18 steps to Sabarimala Ayyappa Sannidhanam. There is no difference in caste creed or religion to visit Sabarimala Temple. Sabarimala remains open for 41 continuous days starting from the Malayalam month of Vrischikam to Dhanu) (mid November to mid January) and also on the first five days of all Malayalam months. The most important day is the ‘Makarasankrathi’ where it is believed that a fire called ‘jyoti’ appears to worship Lord Ayyappa.
Another special activity of worshipping Ayyappa is the “Thiyattu”. People who do ‘Thiyattu’ are called the Thiyadis. One who does Thiyaddi for Lord Ayyappa is called Thiyadi Nambiar. Here a ‘Kalam pooja’, kalam pattu and Thottampattu are organized. In Kalam Pattu Thiyadi Nambiar tells about the story of Lord Ayyappa. All the Thiyyadi Nambiar families consider ‘Thiyadikkavu’ as ‘Ayappan kavu’. Worshipping the ‘Kalam’ is similar to worshipping Lord Ayyappa in temple.
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