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Thiruvathira
Thiruvathira (also known as Thiruvathirai or Arudhra Darisanam) is a Hindu festival predominantly observed in the Indian states of Kerala and Tamil Nadu. The term ''Thiruvathirai'' (Arudhra) in Tamil translates to "sacred grand wave," symbolizing the cosmic dance of Lord Shiva. In Tamil Nadu, the festival holds special significance at the Nataraja Temple in Chidambaram, where the annual Arudhra Darshanam is celebrated with grandeur. This event commemorates the celestial dance of Lord Nataraja, an embodiment of Shiva. In Kerala, the festival is observed during the Malayalam month of Makaram (January–February) under the Thiruvathira asterism (star). A notable celebration occurs at the Mathira Peedika Devi Temple in Kadakkal, Kollam district, administered by the Thiruvithamcore Devaswom Board. Devotees gather here to honour Lord Shiva through rituals, fasting, and traditional performances like '' Thiruvathira Kali'' (a circular dance). Arudra Darshan in Chidambaram (Thi ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Thiruvathirakkali
Thiruvathirakali is a unique group dance of women in Kerala. The dance is performed by women in small groups, both as part of and apart from religious rituals. Generally on Onam and Thiruvathira day in the month of Dhanumas, women perform this art form by singing the praises of Shiva Parvati Parvati (, , IPA: /Sanskrit phonology, pɑɾʋət̪iː/), also known as Uma (, , IPA: Sanskrit phonology, /ʊmɑː/) and Gauri (, , IPA: /Sanskrit phonology, gə͡ʊɾiː/), is one of the principal goddesses in Hinduism, revered as the Devi, ... in Shiva temples etc. Thiruvathirakali is considered a must especially for women who observe Thiruvathira Vradam. This art form is also known as Kaikottikali and Kummikali with slight variations. The dance is believed to bring a long and auspicious married life and marriage of choice. This play is performed at night on Thiruvathira day. The first Thiruvathira after the marriage of girls is called Poothiruvathira. Ceremonies and Rituals In anc ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Shiva
Shiva (; , ), also known as Mahadeva (; , , Help:IPA/Sanskrit, [mɐɦaːd̪eːʋɐh]) and Hara, is one of the Hindu deities, principal deities of Hinduism. He is the God in Hinduism, Supreme Being in Shaivism, one of the major traditions within Hinduism. Shiva is known as ''The Destroyer'' within the Trimurti, the Hinduism, Hindu trinity which also includes Brahma and Vishnu. In the Shaivite tradition, Shiva is the Supreme Lord who creates, protects and transforms the universe. In the goddess-oriented Shaktism, Shakta tradition, the Supreme Goddess (Devi) is regarded as the energy and creative power (Shakti) and the equal complementary partner of Shiva. Shiva is one of the five equivalent deities in Panchayatana puja of the Smarta Tradition, Smarta tradition of Hinduism. Shiva has many aspects, benevolent as well as fearsome. In benevolent aspects, he is depicted as an Omniscience, omniscient yogi who lives an Asceticism#Hinduism, ascetic life on Kailasa as well as a house ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Kadakkal
Kadakkal is a historic city located in the eastern part of Kollam district, Kerala. It is 44 km away from both Kollam City and Thiruvananthapuram. State highway 64 passes through the town. Kadakkal is well known for the social revolutionary activities held in the pre-independent period of India. The town is an important business centre and is known for its Trade (Kadakkal Chantha), Kadakkal Viplavam Kadakkal Riot Case, Festivals (Kadakkal Thiruvathira), Religious unity and spice production. Kadakkal is reachable through Nilamel, and is well connected to nearby villages like Anchal, Kilimanoor, Parippally and Madathara. Kadakkal is one of the place which facilitates the easiest roadway access to the neighbouring state Tamil Nadu and is one of the upcoming Municipalities in Kollam district. The town is only 50 km away from Tamil Nadu border, Trivandrum central and Kollam city. History Kadakkal is known for a long time, where one of the notable movements of Indian indep ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Malayalam Calendar
The Malayalam Calendar, or the Kollam Era (), is a sidereal solar calendar used in Kerala. The origin of the calendar has been dated to 825 CE, commemorating the establishment of Kollam. There are many theories regarding the origin of the era, but according to recent scholarship, it commemorated the foundation of Kollam by Maruwan Sapir Iso, who was the leader of Persian Christian Settlers and trading guilds like Anjuvannam following the liberation of the Kingdom of Venad from the Chola rule by or with the assistance of the Chera emperor at Kodungallur. The Quilon Syrian copper plates were grants and privileges given to the trading guilds involved in the establishment of Kollam by Sthanu Ravi Varma. Kollam was the capital of Venadu and an important port town of the Chera Kingdom in that period. Kollam Aandu was adapted in the entire Chera Kingdom (the contemporary states of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Kerala), the majority of which is now in Kerala. In Malayalam-sp ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Manikkavacakar
Manikkavacakar was a 3rd-century Tamil saint and poet who wrote '' Thiruvasagam and Thirukkovaiyar'', books of Shaiva hymns. Tamil scholars and researchers share that he was a minister to the Pandya king Nedunjeliyan II (3rd Century CE) and lived in Madurai (or) he was a minister to the Pandya king Arikesari (6th Century CE ). He is revered as one of the Nalvar (''"group of four"'' in Tamil), a set of four prominent Tamil saints alongside Appar, Sundarar and Sambandar. The other three contributed to the first seven volumes (Tevaram) of the twelve-volume Saivite work Tirumurai, the key devotional text of Shaiva Siddhanta. Manikkavacakar's ''Thiruvasagam'' and Thirukkovaiyar form the eighth volume. These eight volumes are considered to be the ''Tamil Vedas'' by the Shaivites, and the four saints are revered as ''Samaya Kuravar'' (''religious preceptors'') His works are celebrated for their poetic expression of the anguish of being separated from God, and the joy of God-experie ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Tamil Calendar
The Tamil calendar (தமிழ் நாட்காட்டி) is a Sidereal time, sidereal solar calendar used by the Tamil people of the Indian subcontinent. It is also used in Puducherry (union territory), Puducherry, and by the Tamil people, Tamil population in Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Singapore, Myanmar and Mauritius. It is used in contemporary times for cultural, religious and agricultural events, with the Gregorian calendar largely used for official purposes both within and outside India. The Tamil calendar is based on the solar calendar. Description The calendar follows a 60-year cycle that is also very ancient and is observed by most traditional calendars of India and China. This is related to 5 12-year revolutions of Jupiter around the Sun and one that adds up to 60 years and the orbit of Nakshatras (stars) as described in the Surya Siddhanta. In the Gregorian year , the Tamil year starts on 14 April , Kaliyuga . The Vikrama era, Vikrama and Shalivahana era, S ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Purnima
Pūrṇimā () is the word for full moon in Sanskrit. The day of Purnima is the day ('' Tithi'') in each month when the full moon occurs, and marks the division in each month between the two lunar fortnights (paksha), and the Moon is aligned exactly in a straight line, called a syzygy, with the Sun and Earth. Full moon is considered the third of the four primary phases of the Moon; the other three phases are new moon, first quarter moon, and third quarter moon. The full moon shows 100% illumination, causes high tides, and can concur with lunar eclipses. Festivals The following festivals occur on the purnima. The Manava Purana (one of the Upapuranas) contains a list of the festivals that fall on the full moon. * Kartik Purnima, significant to both Vaishnava and Shaiva traditions, is celebrated on the full moon day of the month of Kartika. It is also called Tripura Purnima. * Shravana Purnima is the full moon day of the month of Shravana. This day has a number of differen ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Tandava
Tandavam (also spelled as ), also known as , is a divine dance performed by Hindu god Shiva. Shiva is depicted as dancing the Tandava in his form of Nataraja. The ''Natya Shastra'', a Sanskrit treatise on the performing arts, describes various aspects of the Tandava. Description Tandava, as performed in the sacred dance-drama of India, has vigorous, brisk movements. Performed with joy, the dance is called '' Ananda Tandava''. Performed in a violent mood, the dance is called ''Raudra'' or ''Rudra Tandava''. The types of Tandava found in the Hindu texts are: Ananda Tandava, Tripura Tandava, Sandhya Tandava, Samhara Tandava, Kali (Kalika) Tandava, Uma Tandava, Shiva Tandava, Krishna Tandava and Gauri Tandava. Tandava mudras and postures occur within the person by itself without volition, if his Kundalini (shakti within) is invoked. Mudras and postures of sculptures in ancient Indian temples are a mere depiction of spirituality (invoked spirit, the kundalini), which actually is s ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Vyaghrapada
Vyaghrapada () is a sage featured in Hindu literature. Legends According to one legend, Vyaghrapada was entrusted with the task of picking up fresh flowers, untouched even by honeybees, for offering to Shiva in his aspect as Nataraja in the temple complex of Chidambaram, located in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. While plucking the flowers, Vyaghrapada was wounded on account of thorns and sharp stones. Shiva conferred on him feet of tigers to relieve him of his pain. Now bearing tiger's feet, the sage easily moved from place to place, including climbing rough trees to pluck fresh flowers untouched even by the honeybees. Both the sages Patanjali and Vyaghrapada venerated Shiva, and in response, the deity performed the ananda tandava, his dance of bliss. According to another legend, Sage Vyaghrapada is associated with the king known as Lokeshavikrama, whom he adopts as his son, as described in a sthala purana. Other places associated with Vyaghrapada In addition to Chidambaram, ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Shesha
Shesha (), also known by his epithets Sheshanaga () and Adishesha (), is a serpentine demigod ( naga) and king of the serpents ( Nagaraja), as well as a primordial being of creation in Hinduism. In the Puranas, Shesha is said to hold all the planets of the universe on his hoods and to constantly sing the glories of Vishnu from all his mouths. He is sometimes referred to as Ananta Shesha. The Narayana form of Vishnu is often depicted as resting on Shesha, accompanied by his consort Lakshmi. Shesha is considered as one of the two mounts of Vishnu alongside Garuda. He is said to have descended upon Earth in the following human forms or incarnations: Lakshmana, brother of Vishnu's incarnation Rama during the Treta Yuga, and according to some traditions, as Balarama, brother of Vishnu's incarnation Krishna during the Dvapara Yuga. According to the Mahabharata (Adi Parva), his father was Kashyapa and his mother Kadru, though in other accounts, he is usually a primordial being cre ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Thiruvabharanam
Thiruvabharanam is the sacred ornaments of Ayyappan, the presiding deity of Sabarimala temple. The ornaments are made of gold. It is believed that these ornaments are made at the orders of the Pandalam King, who adopted Ayyappan as his child. Thiruvabharanam is kept at Srambickal Palace, which is close to the Valiyakoikkal Temple, inside the Pandalam Palace premises. At the end of the pilgrim season every year, the ornaments are taken to Sabarimala as a procession and poojas are performed on the idol adorned with the ornaments. After the season, the ornaments are taken back to the Srambickal Palace for safe custody. Thiruvabharanam and the caskets are made available for darshan at Srambickal palace during the pilgrim season (typically from 2nd week of November till the eve of the procession day) and at Valiyakoikkal Temple on the day of the procession. Caskets Three caskets are used for carrying Thiruvabharanam, pooja utensils, and special flags to Sabarimala. They are the Thr ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Courtallam
Courtallam, natively spelt Kutrālam or Kuttālam, is a panchayat town situated at a mean elevation of in the foothills of the Western Ghats in Tenkasi district of Tamil Nadu, India. The Coutrallam Falls on the Chittar River is a major tourist attraction. Climate Demographics India census, Courtallam had a population of 2,368. Males constitute 41% of the population and females 59%. Courtallam has an average literacy rate of 75%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 78% and, female literacy is 74%. 7% of the population is under 6 years of age. Location Located in the Western Ghats, Courtallam is part of the Agasthiamalai range, the mountain bearing the name of sage Agastya who is believed to have lived in the area.The cascades of Courtallam Frontline Magazine, pg 60, 15-28 Septembe ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
