Majestic Temples of India

Atham Onam celebrations start from Atham day (the day on Atham (Hastam) Nakshatra and celebrations continue for 10 days till Thiruvonam. The festival commemorates the appearance of Mahabali, the vamana avatar of Mahavishnu. It is said that Mahabali starts his preparation to return to his kingdom in Kerala. People start making Pookalam( floral carpet) from Atham to invite Mahabali. On Atham, thumbapoo is used to make the Pookalam ( floral carpet) with a single circle. Every day different type of flowers are used to signify each Devi Devata.  With each day, the number of flowers and circles increase, on the 10th day of Thiruvonam having a pookkalam will be big depending of the available flowers. Thumbapoo and Tulasi will be used every day. A grand procession called Athachamayam is also carried on the day of Atham in Kochi. This is to mark the beginning of the grand carnival of Onam. Vallam Kali, Vallasadya etc. is held during Onam.  Wishing a Happy Atham to all

Pandava Thoothar Perumal Temple Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu  Pandava Thoothar Perumal Temple or Thirupadagam is located at Kanchipuram is one among 108 Divya Deshams. Shri Krishna is seen here in a sitting position facing east, and murthy is about 25 ft.  Sthala Puranam is associated with Mahabharatha where Shri Krishna goes as Dhuta to Duryodhana's Sabha. Duryodhana insulted Krishna and tried to capture him. Shri Krishna showed Vishwaroopa Darshanam to Dritharashtra and Bhishmar. As Krishna went as Dhuta to pandavas, perumal is called Pandava Dhuta Perumal.  Janamajeya, wished to see Krishna's Vishwaroopam and did tapasya. Thus Janmajeya was given Vishwaroopa Darshanam.  Temple tank is Matsya Theertham. Rohini Nakshatra, daughter of Daksha prajapathi, worshipped Sri Krishna here to get married to Chandra,( moon). Thus People having adverse effects of Rohini Nakshatra prays here.  Om Namo Narayanaya

Vittala Panduranga and Narahari Sonar Narahari Sonar was a great Shiva Bhakta who lived in Pandharpur. He worshipped Mallikarjuna Shiva temple near Vittal Temple, but never wished to  look at Vithoba's temple even once. Narahari Sonar was a gold Smith who was excellent in his work.  One day a merchant who was childless offered to donate a gold kavacham to Panduranga if he is blessed with a child. His prayer was answered and merchant visited Narahari Sonar, and requested him to make kavach. But Narahari Sonar a being a Shiva Bhaktha denied this. Merchant pleaded that he will bring measurements of Panduranga so that Narahari need not come to temple.  Narahari agreed to make the jewel and made jewel with measurement provided, when it was offered to Panduranga it turned out to be very small. Measurement was taken again but this time too big. The temple priests asked to bring Narahari Sonar to take measurements. Narahari Sonar refused first,  but tieing eyes he was brough...

Shri Padmavathi Ammavari Temple Tiruchanur, Andhra Pradesh Padmavathi Devi Temple located just 5 kms from Tirupathi. Mahalakshmi emerged on the golden lotus as Padmavathi at Padmasarovaram, the temple tank, thus place is called Alarmelmangapuram. Tirumala darshan will be complete only after praying here at Padmavathi Ammavari Temple.  Sthala Puranam says that, Padmavathi Devi was found out from lotus tank and  Akasharaja, the ruler of this region raised her. When Padmavathi grew up, Venkateshwara came in search of Devi.  Bhrigu Muni hit Mahavishnu on his chest where Mahalakshmi resides. Angered with this Devi leaves Vaikuntam and stayed at Kolhapur. Mahavishnu arrived at Tirumala Hills as Venkateswara searching upon Devi. Mahalakshmi is born as Padmavati Devi here.  Venkateshwara swamy and Padmavathi Devi's marriage was thus held here. Sukla Paksha Panchami is very famous in the temple, because it is believed that Devi did Prathista of herself on that day. There is a...

Sreekanteshwaram Mahadeva Temple  Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala  Sreekanteshwaram Mahadeva Temple is located in Thiruvananthapuram. There are two Sreekanteswaram Mahadeva Temples, one is Pazhaya(old) Sreekanteswaram Temple and the other is called Sreekanteswaram Mahadeva Temple.  The Pazhaya Sreekanteswaram temple is one among 108 Shiva temples in which Prathista was done by Parasurama. There are two seperate Sreekovils for Paramashiva and Mahavishnu. Shiva is Ugra bhavam here so to reduce Raudra Bhavam, Mahavishnu Prathista is done.  Sreekanteshwaram Mahadeva Temple is a Maha Kshetram. Sthala Puranam says that, there lived a women who was a sweeper. She once kept her broom and pot near a tree. But the pot stuck to ground. Women hit the pot hard to move it but blood came from it. It was told that there is presence of Paramashiva.  Thus Prathishta of Swayambhu lingam was done here. Parvathi Devi is present as Gowri. Mrityunjaya Homam is also famous here.  Om Na...

Thirumoozhikkulam Lakshmana Temple  Ernakulam, Kerala  Thirumoozhikkulam Lakshmana Perumal Temple is located in Ernakulam District of Kerala. Temple is one among the 108 Divya Deshams and perumal is Sukthinathapperumal and Devi as Maduraveni Thaayaar.  Temple is one among the Nalambalam(4) temples worshipped during Ramayana Month ( Karkidaka ).  Sthala Puranam is associated with Ramayana. During Vanavasam Bharatha comes to visit Shri Rama, to bring him back to Ayodhya. But Lakshmana misunderstands this and thinks Bharatha came to fight with Rama. Later he realizes the mistake and asks forgiveness. Bharatha came and embraced Shri Rama and speaks very softly. Thus the name Thiru Moozhikulam, place of soft words.  It is also said that Haritha Maharshi was doing Tapasya to Mahavishnu. Peumal appeared before Maharshi and gives advices which are called "Thiru Mozhi" meaning 'Sacred Words'.  Om Namo Narayanaya

Bhramaramba Mallikarjuna Temple Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh  The Mallikarjuna Temple is located atop the Nallamala Hills, on the banks of the Krishna River. Mallikarjuna Srisailam is one of twelve Jyotirlingas.There are two temples present here, one of Mallikarjuna swamy and the other to the Devi Bhramarambha. Sthala Puranam says that, when Ganesha was married to Sidhi and Buddhi, Karthikeya got angry and went to Kraunch Mountain as Bhramacahri. Paramashiva and Parvati Devi tried to comfort Muruga but could not stop him from leaving. Feeling sad Mahadeva took the form of Jyotirlinga and settled on top of the mountain.  It is assumed that Paramashiva appeared as a burning light, as Swayambhu Lingam. Temple is one of eighteen Shakti Peethas of Parvati Devi. Krishna River here is called Patal Ganga.  Om Nama Shivaya