Annavaram Temple

Annavaram is one of the most famous Holy Shrines in East Godavari Dist. Andhra Pradesh, India and enjoying the pilgrims second larger place after Tirupati . The temple is in the Dravidian style. The glory and richness of Lord SATYADEVA was widely described in Revakhanda of  Skandapuranam. The presiding god Lord Satyadeva with his consort Sri Anantha Lakshmi on one Side and Lord Siva on the other side took his abode on Ratnagiri, which is named after Ratnakara, son of Meru the king of holy mountains.

A unique Yantra based on Tripad Vibhuti Narayan Upanishad exists here. The temple is constructed in two storey, the lower one containing the Yantra and upper one accommodation for Vigrahas of  the Lord.

Like in all Divyakshetrams as surrounded and followed by holy rivers, Sri Satyanarayana Swamy at Annavaram is also followed by sacred Pampa River touching the feet of the hill. Lord Satyadeva the god of truth is showering his everlasting blessings on mankind in his beautiful manifested form of the DIVINE TRINITY namely Hari Hara Hiranya Garbha Thrimurtyatmaka. Hence this temple is attracting the Pilgrims of  both Vishanava and Saiva . Thousands of pilgrims from all over the Country are worshiping Lord Satyadeva every day for getting all sectional differences.

It is thought that this  place was known for constant food giving out (free feeding) by the kind  people of the locality . So this place was called by the name Annavaram(annam means food in Telugu). Another version is like the presiding deity of the temple blesses the devotees with anina varam (pronounced or wanted boon), the place is called Annavaram.

It is expected on an average about one lakh Vratas are performed here every year by couples generally. Marriages, thread marriages (upanayanam) are performed in large number. Chief festival days are Bhishma Ekadasi (Jan/Feb) and Kalyanotsavam, Vysakha Ekadasi (Apr/May) are important.

Hindus perform Sri Satyanarayana Vratham throughout India for weath, education, prosperity, off spring, relief from troubles and sickness and success in business. When it cames  famous that Lord Satyanarayana had manifested Himself on the Ratnagiri hills at Annavaram in exclusive form of combining the Trimurthis i.e. Brahma, Vishnu and Siva the number of pilgrims from far and near swelled to hundreds and thousands. The verage turnout daily is about five thousand now a-days. As Ekadasi is considered to be very promising for the Vratham, the individual devotees perform  it  even on other convenient days. The great popularity behind the  Vratham springs from the experiences narrated in stories and legends and also from the  faith gained by observances in daily life.

Gudi Padwa :  Ugaadi Hindu Festivals

The Hindu New Year day is celebrated as a  Gudi Padwa-in Maharashtra, Ugaadi-in Andhra Pradesh. This festival of Gudi Padwa is celebrated on the first day of the month of Chaitra, according to the lunisolar calendar,it  not only marks just the advent of a new year, but  the victory of the ancient Satvahana king Shalivahana over his enemies also. The ruler’s victory is commemorated by erecting the ‘Gudi’ – a symbol of victory, and performing ritualistic worship. As per the Brahma Puran, Lord Brahma created the universe on this day; therefore, this day carries special importance for the Hindus. The festival is known as Sansar Padvo or Samsar Padwo amongst the Konkanis.

It is also said that Lord Rama returned to Ayodhya on this day after vanquishing Ravana, and the people of Ayodhya celebrated this occasion.

Ugadi is the New Year’s Day for the people of Andhra Pradesh and also for the Telugu people all over the world. Those who live north of the Vindhya hills observe it as “Barhaspatyamana”. People living to the south of the

Vindhya hills observe it as “Sauramana” or “Chandramana”.

Promising days like Ugadi should be used for making resolutions to change our way of life and to purify our behavior by giving up all bad characters. Ugadi is a festival that teaches lessons in selfless service. It is not intended for feasting. It is a sacred day when whole some wisdom should dawn and enlightenment should blossom in the hearts of the people. Ugadi teaches man the lesson that he should perfect himself as an embodiment of divinity.

Agricultural

India is a  principally  agricultural society. Thus celebrations and festivals are usually linked to the turn of the season and to the sowing and reaping of crops. This day is  marked as  the end of one agricultural harvest season and the beginning of a new one. In this context, the Gudhi Padwa is celebrated at the end of the Rabi season.

Astrological

Gudhi Padwa is one of the Sade-Teen Muhurtas (translation from Marathi: 3 and a half favorable dates) in the Indian planetary calendar. The full list is as follows

     Gudi Padwa –         1st Tithi of Chaitra (Bright Half)   

    Vijayadashami -    10th Tithi of Ashwin

    Balipratipada -       1st Tithi of Kartika (Bright Half)

   Akshaya Tritiya     3rd Tithi of Vaishakha

 Festivities

On this  festival day, courtyards in village houses are swept clean and plastered with fresh cow-dung. Even in the city, people use to take the time to  spring cleaning. Women and children work on involved rangoli designs on their doorsteps, the vibrant colours mirroring the burst of colour connected with spring. Everyone dresses up in new clothes and it is a time for family gatherings.

Traditionally, families are supposed to begin the festivities by eating the bittersweet leaves of the neem tree. Sometimes, a paste of neem leaves is prepared and mixed with dhane, gul/gur (known as jaggery in English), and tamarind. All the members of the family consume this paste, which is supposed to purify the blood and  build up the body’s resistant system against diseases.

Maharashtrian families also make shrikhand and Poori on this day. Konkanis make Kanangachi Kheer, a variety of Kheer made of sweet potato, coconut milk, jaggery, rice flour, etc. and Sannas.

  Trimbakeshwar Temple Nashik

Trimbakeshwar – is one of the holy places of not only in Maharashtra but also from India . Nashik. Trimbakeshwar one from  twelve Jyotirlingas in India. It is said about Trimbakeswar that , There is no sacred place like Tryambakeshwar, no river like Godavari, and  no mountain like Brahmagiri etc. Any body who visits Tryambakeshwar attains salvation. The reasons for its being so sacred are: Godavari river originates  here , this is a  place of Tri-Sandhya Gayatri, the birth place of  Lord Ganesha, a place of the first Nath of  Nath Sampradaya consisting of Gorakhnath and others,  a place where Nivrittinath was made to imbibe the holy knowledge by his Guru Gahininath, a place where Nivrittinath made his brothers and sister attain the self by his preaching. This is the holiest place to perform Shraddha ceremony.   Religious book of Hindus Nirnaya Sindhu , contents about   this place as, where Sahyadri mountain and Godavari river exist in  very purifying on the  earth and is as a result very important for performing Shraddha ceremony.

This is the only place where SHIVALINGA is inside of the floor. As it found outside

Elsewhere . There are 3  Shivalinga in  ‘D’ shape of Thumbs Brhma , Vishnu , and Mahesha’s Shivalinga i.e. Triyamkeshwar Shivalinga of Lord Mahesh has always

Flowing water among the three shivalingas .

Rudra Abhishek To Lord Trimbakeshwar

Rudra Abhishek is a ceremony where Panchamrut(contains milk,Curd,Ghee,Huney and Sugar) Pooja is offers to lord Trimbakeshwara with powerful hymns/mantras to fulfills  ones  wishes. This Abhishekha brings  prosperity, fulfillment of all desires, it removes negativity, cut off the negative karma and give all round happiness in life.

It is a very special type of Puja which is done by only Local Brahmins of the Trimbakeshwar at the temple .This brings prosperity, fulfillment and give all grounded happiness in life Ahishekha is perormed by Chanting the verses of Sanskrit sholakas (‘Suktas’) (Rudra )and simultaneously offering either holy leaves, holy water, honey, Milk, curd (yogurt), sugar, cane juice to Lord Trimbakeshwar.

Mahamrityunjaya Mantra is the most influential of all ancient Sanskrit mantras.

This mantra contents many names and forms. Rudra mantra, referring to the infuriated aspect of Shiva; the Tryambakam mantra, refers  to Shiva’s three eyes; and its is sometimes known as the Mrita-Sanjivini mantra because it is a component of  “life-restoring” practice given to the primeval sage Shukra after he had completed an exhausting period of  severity. The Maha Mrityunjaya mantra is hailed by the sages as the heart of the Veda.

Mahamrityunjaya means victory over the death, victory over the illusion of separateness from spirit.

Mahamritunjay jaap anustan is done for a long and healthy life and to get free from prolonged sickness. Specially for those on their death bed.

Mahamritunjay meaning

Lord Trimbakeshwar is  the aspect of the Supreme being and is considered to be the destroyer of evil and sorrow. Use this Mantra for Healing during/after surgery, for illness, emotional trauma, meditation, massage, or preparation for transition.

II   Meaning of Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra  II

II Word to Word Meaning of Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra II

OM                            Almighty God

Tryambakam        three-eyed

Yajamahe               We worship, adore, honor, revere

Sugandhim             Sweet fragrance

Pushti                      A well-nourished condition, thriving, prosperous,                 full, and complete

Vard hanam     One who nourishes, strengthens, causes to increase              (in health, wealth, well-being);            who gladdens,               exhilarates, and restores            health; a good gardener

Urvarukam           disease, attachment, obstacles in life, and            resulting depression

Iva                            Like, just as

Bandhanan            Stem (of the gourd); but more generally, unhealthy            attachment

Mrityor                  From death

Mukshiya              Free us, liberate us

Ma                            Not

Amritat                  Immortality, emancipation

Kanaka Durga Temple  Vijaywada

Kanaka Durga Temple is a famous Hindu Temple of Devi Kanaka Durga located in Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh. The temple is located on the Indrakeeladri hill, on the banks of Krishna River. A very famous  Temple in Vijayawada  Andhra pradesh dedicated to Kanaka Durga Devi

This temple is next to only the temple of Lord Venkateswara Swamy in attracting devotees. Devi is considered to be Shaktipeetham. But, there is no reference in “Ashtadasa Shakti peetha stotram”.

Her original idol in the temple is in the form of Mahishasura mardini. A lion and Mahishasura are also present.  People tell a story for this. Previously, Devi was worshiped by Vamachara devotees who were used to give animal sacrifice to Devi. Later in the period of Shankaracharya, he converted the temple to Dakshinachara by establishing a Srichakra before Kanaka Durga Devi. He stopped sacrificing the animals. Even though people are doing the same. Then to change the behavior of people Shankaracharya decorated the Goddess which seems as today. The deity in the Kanaka Durga temple is regarded as Swayambhu or self-manifested, hence is considered very powerful.

According to a legend, Vijayawada  at present , was once a rocky region scattered with hills that obstructed the flow of River Krishna. The land was thus rendered unhealthy for crop cultivation. Prayer to Lord Shiva for His interference intended to the hills to make way for the river. And lo! the river started flowing without hindrance with all its might, through the tunnels or “Bejjam” bored into the hills by Lord Shiva. That is how the place got its name “Bezawada”.

One mythology associated with this place is that Arjuna prayed to Lord Shiva on top of Indrakeela hill to win(Vijay). His desires  and  blessings had given the name to city as “Vijayawada” after his victory.

At the Kanakadurga temple, the delightful 4-foot-high (1.2 m) idol of the deity is decorated in magnificent ornaments and bright flowers. She is shown eight arms, each holding a powerful weapon, in a standing position over the demon Mahishashura and stabbing him with her trident. The goddess is the essence of beauty

Adjacent to the Kanakadurga temple is the holy place of Malleswara Swamy on the Indrakiladri. By ascending the steps on the hill, one comes across little images of different holy temples, prominent among them are Kali, Shiva, and Krishna.

Kalighat Kali temple  Kolkata

Kalighat Kali temple, Located on the banks of river Hooghly is a very famous temple of the city Kolakata, West Bengal . It is Temple of Goddess kali, which is supposed to be the destroyer as well as liberator. Increasing here more and more Crowds  year by  year. Intact,Kolakata Kalighat Kali temple has come in the top list of must see tourist attraction places. For Hindus, Kali temple at Kalighat, Kolkata is one of the most holy pilgrimage destinations.There is an interesting legend behind the formation of Kali temple, which suggests that when Lord Shiva was energetically performing his dance (Pralay), keeping the corpse of Goddess kali on his shoulders,his spinning wheel sliced off her dead body. Her body slices fell off at different points, where pilgrimage centers were formed later on. Kalighat temple is one such pilgrimage spot, where a toe of her right foot had fallen. It is during the months of Bhadra, Paush and Chaitra (according to the Bengali calendar) that Kali temple at Kalighat turns into a junction point for devotees from allover the world.

Kalighat is regarded as one of the 52 Shakti Peethams of India, where the various parts of Sati’s body are said to have fallen, in the course of Shiva’s Rudra Tandava. Kalighat represents the site where the toes of the right foot of Shakti or Sati fell. (see Daksha Yagna).

Legend is that a devotee discovered a luminant ray of light coming from the Bhagirathi river bed, and upon investigating its source came upon a piece of stone carved in the form of a human toe. He also found a Syayambhu Lingam of Nakuleshwar Bhairav nearby, and started worshipping Kaali in the midst of a thick jungle. This shrine grew to its present form over a period of time, thanks in particular to the Sabarna Roy Chowdhury family of Bengal. This family is also said to have built the Chitreswari Kaali temple at Chitpur. It is believed that there was a pathway through the jungle between Chitpur and Kalighat, and this pathway is said to have become the Chitpur road of Calcutta.Kalighat is also associated with the worship offered to Kaali by a Dasanami Monk by name Chowranga Giri, and the Chowringee area of Calcutta is said to have been named after him. The Dakshineswar  Kaali temple across from the river, near Belur Math, bears an image of Kaali worshipped by the spiritual leader , Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, guru of Swami Vivekananda.

The original temple was a small hut , small temple was constructed by King Manasingha in the early Sixteenth century. The present temple was Reconstructed under the patron ship  of the Sabarna Roy Chowdhury family of Barisha. It was completed in 1809. The Haldar family is the original owners of the temple property. But this was disputed by the Chowdhrys of Barisha. In the nineteen sixties a committee was formed for the administrative management of the temple with representation from the Government and the Haldar family. The responsibility of conducting the worship rests with the Haldars and their heirs, generally known as shebaits.