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🙏🏻
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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.
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).
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.
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.
Once, Devaki told Krishna of her desire to see him as a child since he was with Yashoda in his childhood.
Krishna immediately assumed his child form, played with Devaki, smeared butter on his face and playfully snatched the churn and rope from her.
Rani Rukmini witnessed this scene and got a murti of child Krishna made who was holding a churning rod and rope. When Krishna went back to Vaikuntha, Arjun deposited the murti in Rukminivana. Over time, the murti got covered under mud and clay. @SriRamya21@VaishnavKrish14
Centuries later, a ship found this heavy lump of clay and the sailors loaded it on the ship as ballast. While sailing near Udupi, the ship got stuck on a sandbank where Madhavacharya was absorbed in composing Dvadasha-stotra. Seeing the stuck ship, Madhvacharya waved his cloth.
Once while Adi Shankara was in Kasi he saw Sanandana (one of his prime disciples) standing on the other bank of the Ganga. Sanandana was drying Acharya's clothes. Adi Shankara decided to reveal Sanandana's Guru Bhakti to the world.
He asked Sanandana who was on the other bank to bring the dry clothes to him. Sanandana wanted to fulfill his Guru's wish immediately. He could not wait to find a boat to cross the Ganga. So he started walking over the flowing river just as he would walk over plain dry land.
As Sanandana walked over the Ganga, big lotuses sprung up supporting his every step. Keeping his feet on these lotuses, Sanandana walked over the river and reached his Guru. Then Shankara asked Sanandana, "How did you cross the Ganga?” @SriRamya21@VaishnavKrish14