Akasa Ganga is a sacred waterfall at the foothill of Tirumala. About 5km from Tirupati Temple, water from Akasha Ganga is taken for abhishekam for Venkateswara Swamy. It is said that Theertham originates from lotus feet of Venkateswara.
There is a beautiful story about the origin of Akasha Ganga. Srisaila Purna, the main priest of Tirupati Temple used to perform abhishekam with pure devotion. Water was taken from Papanasana Theertha located very far. One day when Srisaila Purna was returning with water, when
A hunter requested water. Srisaila Purna denied water which was meant for Abhishekam & walked away. Hunter followed him & made a hole with an arrow on the pot & drank whole water. Srisaila Purna scolded the hunter as time for abhishekam was nearing & too late to fetch water again
Srirangam Ranganathaswamy Temple, located in Trichy is Bhooloka Vaikuntam. This is largest functioning temple in the world, around 21 gopurams, spread over 156 acres. Perumal is Ranganathar & Thayar Ranganayaki @LostTemple7
Ranganathaswamy Temple is first & most important of all 108 Divya Desham. Sthala Puranam is related to creation time when Mahavishnu took the form of Ranganathar for Brahma to worship. Ranganathar informed Brahma about his presence in 8 Swayamvaktha Kshetra where Srirangam is 1st
Brahma carried Ranga Vimana, did Prathista near river Viraja, asked Surya Deva to do pooja. Later Ikshvaku performed tapasya to allow Brahma for Vimana at Ayodhya. Thus Vigraham was worshipped by Shri Rama too. Later When Shri Rama returned from Lanka after war as a token of gift
Malekal Thirupati Shri Venkateswara Swamy temple, located in Hassan is very ancient temple of about 800 yr old. It is said that Agasthya Muni worshipped Venkateshwara Swamy here. Temple is architectural Marvel. @LostTemple7
Sthala Puranam says that, Vashishta Muni worshipped Venkateshwara Swamy & did tapasya here for about 800 years. On the day of Ashada Shuddha Dwadashi, Venkateshwara Swamy gave Darshanam to Vashishta Muni. Maha Rathothsava is held in the temple every year to celebrate this event.
The Vigraham was forgotten for many years, until, Thimmappa Nayaka, then ruler got a dream to worship Venkateshwara Swamy, the place where Vashishta Muni worshipped Venkateshwara, was once called Malekallu, but after the Prathista of Vigraham
The 15-day period starting from today and ending on October 6 which is Mahalaya Amavasya, is very auspicious to perform Tarpanam for our ancestors. Also called Pitru Paksha this period marks presence of ancestors on the earth to bless their children.
Importance of this period is related to Karna. Karna who died in Mahabharata war reaches Heaven & he was offered gold & jewels as food. Karna requested real food but Indra Deva, told that Karna had donated only gold all his life, never offered Shradha to his ancestors. Karna said
Karna was unaware of his ancestors, that's the reason why he couldn't do Shraddha Karyam. He was permitted to return to earth for a 15 day period, so that he could perform Shraddha and donate food and water in their memory. This period is known as Pitru Paksha/ Mahalaya Paksha
Meenakshi Amman Kovil, also known as Meenakshi Sundareshwarar Kovil is situated at Madurai. Temple has great historic importance & is architectural Wonder. Paramashiva, came as Sundareswarar and married Parvati Devi ( Meenakshi) here.
Sthala Puranam says that Devi Meenakshi emerged from a Yajna as a 3 year old girl. Yajnam was performed by Malayadwaja Pandya Raja. Meenakshi was born with three breasts and it was said to Raja that her third breast will disappear as soon as she meets the one who will marry her.
Meenakshi ruled Madurai, captured all neighboring kingdom. When she went to Kailasam & met Paramashiva her third breast disappeared & thus she knew that she had met her future husband. Divine marriage took place here which was attended by all Devi Devatas.
Kovil is a real wonder.
Vaitheeshwaran Koil is located in Nagapattinam district of Tamil Nadu. Paramashiva is Vaidyanathar ( who heals diseases)here & Devi Thayyal Nayagi. Temple is one among the Navagraha Parihara Sthalam of Angaraka ( Mars)
Sthala Puranam is about Angaraka (Mars), who suffered from leprosy, Vaidyanatha Swamy cured Angaraka. Temple is famous to heal Skin related illness. Thayyalanayaki Ambal stands holding Sanjeevi thailam, which cures diseases. Subramanya is worshipped as Selva Muthukumaraswamy.
There is Sannidhi is for Dhanwanthara Murthy and Angaraka here. It is believed that a bath in Siddhamirtham tank will cure all diseases. Another story is related to Ramayana where Shri Rama & Lakshmana did final rituals for Jatayu here. There is a temple tank Jatayu Kundam.
Pancha Dwaraka Kshetra are 5 important Kshetra of Shri Krishna located in Gujarat and Rajasthan.
1. Dwarkadhish Temple, Dwaraka, Gujarat is situated on the banks of the Gomti river. It is also considered as one among the 108 Divya desams.
2. Bet Dwarka, Gujarat. Bet means island, it is said Bet was residence of Krishna. Vigraham believed to be created by Rukmini Devi.
3. Dakor Ranchchodji, Gujarat. Krishna, escaped from the battlefield at Mathura in order to avoid Jarasandha. So he is called Ranchhod here.
4. Nathdwara Shrinathji Temple
Nathdwara Shrinathji Temple is situated in Udaipur, Rajasthan is called Haveli of Srinathji. This temple was built by a Goswami priest on the orders of Maharana Raj Singh of Mewar.
Ulagalantha Perumal Temple #TamilNaduTemples #Ekadashi
Trivikrama roopa of Perumal is worshipped in Ulagalantha Perumal Temple, means who measured whole world. Temple is one among 108 Divya Desam. Mahavishnu is Ulagalantha Perumal & Devi Poongothai Nachiyar. @LostTemple7
Situated in Kanchipuram, temple is also one of the 5 Krishnaranya ( krishna) Kshetram. Thiruvikrama Perumal holds Shankha on right hand & Chakra on left hand, and right leg is raised, ready to step on Bali. Sthala Puranam is about Bali, who won Indra Deva and other 3 world.
Mahavishnu took Vamana avatar ( a small Brahmin boy) & asked asura King Bali, 3 feet land. Mahabali agreed to give land, in spite of Guru Shukracharya's warning. Vamana took his Vishwaroopam & measured Land and sky in two steps & asked for the third place.
Ashtavinayaka Temples
8 Punya Kshetra of Ganesha #Thread
Vinayaka relieve us from all Vignas & should be worshipped first. Parvathi Devi made Ganapathy with turmeric paste to guard her. There are 8 important temples of Ganesha which is considered very sacred. @LostTemple7
1.Mayureshwar Temple
First temple to be worshipped, at Morgaon near Pune. Ganesha destroyed asura Sindhu here. Prathishta of Ganesha was done by Brahma Deva
2.Siddhivinayak Temple
Mahavishnu destroyed Asuras, Madhu and Kaitabh, after worshipping & doing Prathista of Ganapathi.
3.Ballaleshwar Pali Temple
Situated at Raigad district. Ganesha saved his devotee, Ballala, who was being beaten by his father, Kalyani Seth. Ganesha is Swayambhu.
4.Varadavinayak Temple
Ganesha is worshipped in the form of Varada Vinayaka, the giver of all wish and success.
Garbarakshambigai Amman Temple is located in Thanjavur District. Parvathi Devi is Garbarakshambigai here. Garbha means Womb, Raksha is protects, Ambigai is Devi, thus name Garbharakshambikai. @LostTemple7
Paramashiva is Mullaivananathar here.
Garbarakshambigai Amman here blesses childless & pregnant women with child, safeguard pregnancies & ensure an easy delivery. It is believed that those worship Devi with Shraddha are blessed with children.
Sthala Puranam says that👇
Niruthuva & his wife Vedikai was living here. One day, when Niruthuva went out, a Muni named Urdhvapada arrived seeking food. Vedikai was pregnant & couldn't bring food because of tiredness. Urdhvapada thought this as humiliation & cursed her due to which her foetus was in danger
Thiruvanaikaval Jambukeswarar Kovil is located in Trichy, which is one among the Pancha Bhoota Sthalams representing Water. There is an underground stream which makes Shivalingam submerged with water called Appu linga.
Sthala Puranam says that Devi Akhilandeswari made a Shivalingam with water from river Cauvery & did Tapasya. Pleased by this Paramashiva appears & gave Gnana Upadesham, thus temple is Upadesha Sthala. It is said that Adi Sankaracharya offered ear rings to Devi here. @LostTemple7
Another story is about an Elephant & spider, who were previously Pushpadanta & Malyavan, great devotees. Both elephant & spider collected water from river, did abhishekam to the Shivalingam. Shiva, in the form of Jambukeswara, was pleased by devotion & relieved them from curse.
Ekambareswarar Temple is located in Kanchipuram District. Temple is one among the Pancha Bhoota Sthalams representing Earth, Prithvi Lingam. Paramashiva is worshipped as Ekambareswarar. Sthala Vriksham is mango tree of 3500 year old
Sthala Puranam says that, Kamakshi Amman( Parvathi Devi) undertook tapasya here standing on a single leg under a mango tree near Vegavathi river. In order to test her, Paramashiva sent fire on her. Devi prayed to her brother Mahavishnu, who showered Moon rays to cool the fire.
Paramashiva then sent the river Ganga to disrupt tapasya. On Devi's request Ganga Mata remained calm. Parvathi Devi made a Shiva Linga out of sand and did tapasya for many years. Mango tree here is of 3500 years. This tree has 4 branches, which represents 4 Vedas.
#Story of Tirupati Venkateswara Swamy & Hathiram Baba
Hathiram Bhavaji was a great devotee of Shri Ram. Once he visited Tirupati & decided to stay there & became great devotee of Venkateswara swamy. Because of Baba's deep devotion, Venkateswarar used to come & play dice with him
One day, while playing, Prabhu left that place urgently & left his necklace at Baba’s ashram. Priests opened the temple & noticed that an ornament was missing & started to search of it. When Baba found the ornament he went temple to return it. But he was caught
assuming him theif
Bhavaji was taken to the king & when he told exactly what happened no one believed him. King ordered to fill Bhavaji’s prison cell with sugarcane & asked him to eat every bit of sugarcane before the sunrise to escape from punishment. Knowing this was impossible, Baba prayed and
Sri Parasurameswara Temple Gudimallam is located in Chittoor District. Gudimallam Temple is considered to be most ancient Shiva temples in India, situated in the banks of river Swarnamukhi. @LostTemple7
Temple is famous for Eka Sila Vigraham, with Tri murties, Brahma in Yaksha Roopa, Vishnu in Parasurama Avatar & Shiva as purusha Linga.Sthala Puranam is associated with Parashurama. Parasurama beheaded his mother as instructed by his father. Even though he revived her
Parasurama wanted to relieve from this sin. According to advice of Rishis, he perform tapasya here. Each day a flower will bloom to offer to Mahadev. Parasurama asks Chitrasena ( Form of Brahma) to help in guarding flower. One day, Chitrasena wished to worship Shiva and used the
One of oldest Cave Temples (Rock Cut) of Tamilnadu situated near Karaikudi. Pillayar is the tamil name for Ganesha. Shri Karpaga Vinayagar Sannidhi is a cave where the 6 feet of Vinayagar has been carved @LostTemple7
There is no provision for the pradakshina. Vinayaga appears with 2 hands unlike in other places where seen with 4 hands.Pillaiyar's Thumbikai (trunk)is curled towards his right side & ganesha is also known as Valampuri Pillaiyar. It is believed worshipping Valampuri Vinayagar
who is seated facing north are blessed with prosperity. There are three Lingams - Thiruveeswarar, Marudheeswarar & Senchadeswarar and Mata Sivagami amman, Vadamalar Mangaiamman & Soundara Nayaga Amman all appear
Vinayaka Chaturthi :Tomorrow #Thread
एकदन्ताय विद्महे वक्रतुण्डाय धीमहि
तन्नो दन्ती प्रचोदयात्
Ganesha is remover of all Vignas.
Vinayaka Chaturthi/ Ganesh Chaturti is celebrated as arrival of Ganesha Chaturthi after Amavasya during Shukla Paksh is celebrated as Ganesh Chaturthi
Parvathi Devi made Ganesha using turmeric paste to guard the entrance while she went to bath. Paramashiva arrived at the entrance but Ganesha didn't allow Shiva to pass through. This angered Mahadev and he severed Ganesha’s head. When Parvati heard this, she was heartbroken.
Seeing Devi's grief Mahedev promised to bring back Ganesha and instructed Bhootaganas to find a proper head. But they found only head of an elephant. That is how Ganesha came back to life with the head of an elephant. Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated in a grand manner for 10 days
Unique Temple which remains open even during eclipse
Tiruvarpu Shri Krishna Temple is very unique temple, located in Kottayam of Kerala. This is the Temple which opens first in India at 2 Am. Shri Krishna is very Hungry here. Situated on the banks of #Keralatemples @LostTemple7
River Meenachil, temple closes only at 1:55 am & opens at 2:00 Am. Thiruvaarppu Krishna vigraham is on a rounded brass vessel called varpu. Chathurbahu roopa of Krishna is worshipped, after killing Kamsa. There are many stories about the temple, one is connected with Mahabharata
During exile period of Pandavas, Krishna gave them this Vigraham to worship daily & later after Vanavasa, same was given to people of Cherthala as per request. Later Vilwamangalam Swamy discovered same Vigraham from Meenachil river & kept under a brass vessel to do Prathista. But
Sringeri Saradambal Temple is located in Chikmagalur of Karnataka. Saraswathi Devi is worshipped here as Saradambal & Temple is situated on the banks of River Tunga. Adi Shankaracharya did Prathista of Vigraham here. @LostTemple7
Sthala Puranam says that Shankaracharya was travelling across the country with Shisyas when he reached this spot, called Shringa Giri, meaning Peak. Shankaracharya saw a strange scene of a serpent providing shade from the hot sun for a pregnant toad. He was amazed by this sight.
Saraswathi Devi was with him in the form a girl, Bharati. Devi decided to stay here. Adi Shankaracharya also stayed here and established Sharada Peetham, one of the Mathas he established across India. Saradambal Vigraham was first made of sandalwood & Prathista was done above
Udupi Krishna Temple is located at the district of Udupi. Vigraham of Shri Krishna is considered most beautiful & can be seen only through Navadwara,9 holes called Navagraha Kitiki. Udupi is also called Mathura of South @LostTemple7
Sthala Puranam says that, Rukmini Devi requested Krishna for a Vigraham of Balakrishna. Shri Krishna asks Vishwakarma to create a Vigraham & a beautiful Saligrama Vigraham of Balakrishna was made. This Vigraham was taken to Dwaraka and worshipped with sandalwood paste for long
After the flood in Dwaraka, Vigraham was washed away and covered with rocky mud, was found by a sailor. His found difficulty in sailing in ship due to weather.
Madhvacharya knew this meditating on the shore, requested Mahavishnu to calm down the sea and control the weather.
Pancha Bhoota Sthalam is 5 temples dedicated to Shiva, representing 5 elements of nature - Earth, Water, Fire, Air, Space. Mahadev is worshipped as the controller of each 5 elements. Pancha means 5, Bhoota is elements & Sthala is place. 4 temples are located in TN and 1 in Andhra
All these temples are geographically placed in almost a straight line. Among the five temples, three temples, which are Chidambaram Nataraja Temple, Ekambareswarar Temple, Srikalahasti Temples lie exactly straight.
Ahobilam Narasimha Swamy Kshetram is located in Kurnool of Andhra. It is here Narasimha Swamy appeared to destroy Hiranyakashipu & protected his Bhakta Prahlada. Temple is one among 108 Divya Deshams. @LostTemple7
Ahobilam has Nava (9) Narasimha Kshetras. Sthala Puranam says that, Prahlada was troubled by his own father Hiranyakashipu. To destroy Hiranyakashipu and to protect Prahlada Narasimhar appeared here in Ugra Bhavam. Ahobila Narasimha is the main temple on Upper Ahobilam
Malola Narasimha is shantaroopa, together with the Mata Lakshmi on lap. Yogananda Narasimha, after killing Hiranyakashipu, Narasimhar taught Prahlada yogic powers.Jwala Narasimha is said to be the place where in Kroda Bhavam Swamy decided to tore Hiranyakashipu.
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