#Thread
Thiruvannamalai (Annamaliayar) Kovil was built before 1100 years & architecture of the Kovil has its contribution from various KINGDOM from Cholas, Pandias, Sambuvarayars Posalas, Vijayanagara, Nayaks, Nagarathargal, Cheftains & Zamindars. The Mandir @LostTemple7
possesses more than 1000 statues & 450 stone inscriptions. The mandir has more than 100 sannidhis. Various moorthies, bronze vigrahas, paintings, 1000 pillar mahal & gopurams are the specialties of the mandir. Mandir is very enormous with an area covers around 25 acres &
East Gopuram built by King Krishnadevaraya with a height of 217 ft (11 storeys) is one of the largest Gopuram in India. Mandir also consists of Vallala Maharaja Gopuram, Kili (means parrot) Gopuram. The main deity of Mandir is Annamalaiyar & Unnamalai Devi.
Ezhuthu Mandap situated in Girivalam path is an excellent art gallery. Skanthashram, Sri Ramana Ashram & Ashtalingas around the Girivalam path are few notable spots. Mandir is Built in the #traditional Dravidian style of #architecture , the Mandir is believed to be the 8th
largest #Hindu mandir in the world. This Mandir is believed to one of the Pancha Bootha in South India, where elements of #nature (fire, air, water, earth, ether) are worshiped. In this mountain-temple town, situate at the foothills of Mount Arunachala, Mahadev Shiva is worshiped
in his fire avatar. The town is sprawled around the iconic Arunachaleswarar Kovil, a spectacular structure boasting 4 huge Gopurams. On full moon nights, the town sees a sea of bhaktas arriving to perform the 14-km walk of Girivalam, around the #Annamalai hill.
It is a mesmeric sight to see barefoot bhaktas gazing at the mandir atop the hill & walking while chanting “Om Arunachala". Karthigai Deepam festival is celebrated on full moon day in the Tamil month of Karthigai (Nov/Dec) & draws huge footfalls. #Girivalam is a popular religious
practice in TN, bhaktas does Pradakshina around the #annamalai Hill on the occasion of full moon every month. Giri+Valam (means Doing #Pradakshina around the hill). The practice is said to bring peace to one's mental & physical health.
The Mandir has 8 lingams known as Ashtalingam which are positioned at different locations facing different directions. These lingams are named as follows :
who undertake #Girivalam, with various benefits. Girivalam is usually practiced barefoot & chant Om #Arunachala mantra. The best time to undertake the 14 km journey around the hill is during the early morning hours, starting from 4.30AM. It usually takes 3-4 hrs to complete the
#DidYouKnow
These are the original Moorthies of Shri Rama, Lakshmana & Sita Mata which were removed and sent to a safe place before Ram Mandir was desecrated by Babur. When Babur marched into Ayodhya, the caretaker of the Mandir Pandit Shyamanand Maharaj fled Ayodhya along with
the Moorthies & handed them over to Swami Eknath Maharaj of Paithan. Later these Moorthies were handed over to the Guru of Shri Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Shri Swami Samarth Ramdas.
When Swami Samarth was on a tour of South India, he placed those Moorthies on the banks of the
holy sangam of rivers Tunga & Bhadra forming #Tungabhadra in a small town called Harihar, Karnataka.
The moorthies have been worshiped since then by the Gurus of Narayan Ashram in Harihar. There was a huge celebration in Harihar after the Ayodhya verdict. The people of Harihar &
The place where the mandir was constructed is believed to be the place where Kannagi, the idol of the Tamil epic Silappatikaram, reassured herself after returning from Madurai. #Thread on Madhurakali Amman/Devi
To know more about Kannagi - pls go thru Thread by @Jayalko1 ji for
Sthala Puranam says, Chelliamman was a local devi of Siruvachur. Her powers became delimited by a tantric, who started using the powers for destructive purposes. Mathura Kaliamman, a form of Maa Kali, happened
to visit the place seeking shelter from Chelliamman for a night. During her stay, Chelliamman revealed her servitude, & Mathura Kaliamman did away with the Tantric & saved Chelliamman. Chelliamman, in order to greet Mathura Kaliamman, moved to the Periaswamimalai, a nearby
Do you know how Lakshmana killed Indrajit (S/O Ravana)?
A fierce battle was going on between Lakshmana & Indrajit. Indrajith power was increasing rapidly & Lakshmana declining, so as per Vibhishan suggestion that Indrajith cannot be killed with any astra at last Lakshmana
started his own hymn on Sri Rama to create a new astra
धर्मात्मा सत्यसन्धश्च रामो दाशरथिर्यदि || ९०-६-७१
पौरुषे चाप्रतिद्वन्द्वस्तदेनं जहि रावणिम् |
Dharmatma satya sandhasya Ramo daasarathir yadi|
Paurushe cha apratidwandwam sarainam jahi Raavaneem||
Meaning of this shloka:
Dharmatma - If Sri Rama followed 100% Dharma whole heartedly
Satya Sandhasya - If Sri Rama never lied in his life time
Ramo Daasarathir Yadi - If Sri Rama really born to king Dasaratha
Paurushe - Real warrior
cha apratidwandwam - if he is supreme purusha of vedas
Did You Know - Which is the World’s oldest Tape Recorder? by Sri Kanchi Paramacharya Mahaswami
Let's go with a #Thread
Once way back in 1940/50s someone was conducting an interview with Kanchi Mahaperiyava. That gentleman recorded the interview in a Tape recorder. @KanchiMatham
Periyava then posed a question:
“Does anyone know which is the oldest known tape recorder?”
Nobody was able to answer. Then Mahaperiyava asked another question:
“How did Vishnu Sahasranamam come to us?”
Everyone said Bhishma Pitamah gave it.
All agreed. Then Mahaperiyava posed
another query:
“When all were listening to Vishnu Sahasranamam, who took Notes at Kurukshetra thousands of years back?”
Again silence.
Mahaperiyava started replying to everyone.
“When Bhishma Pitamah was glorifying Bhagwan Krishna with Sahasranama i.e, His 1000 Names, Everyone
#Thread
Once there was a Formal Debate of Sringeri #Jagadguru Versus a #Missionary!
Following is an interesting debate that took place between the Jagadguru Shankaracharya of Shringeri Sharada piitam, Shrii Shrii Abhinava Vidyathiirtha Mahaswamigal (1931–1989) and a Christian
Missionary, sometime in the year 1973.
The missionary had come to Shringeri to debate with Acharya & establish the "superemacy" of Christianity over the #Hindu dharma. After exchanging a few words of formality,
Jagadguru: What is the purpose of your visit ?
Missionary: Swamiji, I intend to open a Christian church and an ashram just near you mutt.
Jagadguru: What's the objective or motivation for doing so?
Missionary: I want to preach Christianity and help distressed people seek peace and salvation