Thalappoli
Thalappoli is a ritual ceremony performed as a vow in Hindu temples in Kerala, India. It is also performed to usher the bride and groom to the wedding hall and the special guests to public events. Ritual Thalappoli is a ritual ceremony performed as a vow in Hindu temples in Kerala, India. Bathed and dressed in beautiful traditional clothes and Kerala ornaments, the women, mainly girls, line up with holding a ''thalam'' (a metal plate) in their hands filled with fresh paddy, flowers, rice, coconut (usually broken into two pieces), a lighted lamp and go around the temple with kurava (traditional form of sound), shouts and playing of instruments. This was regularly practiced in the temples of bhagavathy (Bhadrakali). Thalappoli festivalis observed in many Hindu temples across Kerala. some noted temples include Kodungallur Bhagavathy Temple, Pattupurackal Bhagavathy Temple, Chengannur Mahadeva Temple, Thalappoli performed by virgins girls is an important ceremony in Attukal Temple ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Kodungallur Bhagavathy Temple
Sree Kurumba Bhagavati Temple (alternatively Kodungallur Devi Temple) is a Hindu temple at Kodungallur, Thrissur District, Kerala state, India. It is dedicated to the goddess Bhadrakali, a form of Mahakali or simply Durga or Aadi Parashakthi worshipped and significantly revered in Kerala. The goddess is known also by the names "Sri Kurumba"" (The Mother of Kodungallur). This temple is the head of 64 Bhadrakali temples in Kerala especially Malabar. This Mahakali temple is one of the oldest functioning temples in India. This is attested by numerous Tamil poems and inscriptions of different times. The goddess of the temple represents the goddess in her fierce ('ugra') form, facing North, featuring eight hands with various attributes. One is holding the head of the demon king Daruka, another a sickle-shaped sword, next an anklet, another a bell, among others. Routine worship at the temple every day at 03:00 and ends at 21:00 local time. The temple is often accredited as the origin ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Bhadrakali
Bhadrakali ( IAST: Bhadrakālī; ), also known as Mahakali and Kali, is a Hindu goddess. According to Shaktism, she is one of the fierce forms of the Supreme Goddess Shakti, or Adi Parashakti, mentioned in the Devi Mahatmyam. In Vaishnavism, Bhadrakali is among the many epithets of Yogamaya, the internal potency of illusion of the preserver deity, Vishnu. According to several Puranas, Bhadrakali is a form of the goddess Parvati. She is worshipped in Kerala as Bhagavati, Mahakali, Chamunda, Sree Kurumba, and Kariam Kali Murti. She is purported to be the auspicious and fortunate form of Mahakali who protects the good, known as Bhadra. Etymology In Sanskrit, ''Bhadra'' means ''auspicious.'' Another interpretation of this name is that ''Bhadra'' comes from 'Bha' and 'dra', The letter 'Bha' means 'delusion' or 'Maya'and 'dra' is used as a superlative i.e. meaning 'the most/the greatest etc.' which makes the meaning of Bhadra as ''Maha Maya''. In other words, maya r ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Chengannur Mahadeva Temple
Chengannur Mahadeva Temple (also called Bhagavathy Temple) is a prominent Hindu temple, dedicated to Shiva and located in the town of Chengannur in the South Indian state of Kerala. The temple is one of the major Shiva temples in Kerala counted along with the Ettumanoor Mahadevar Temple, Kaduthruthy Mahadeva Temple, Vaikom Temple, Ernakulam Shiva Temple and Vadakkunathan temple. There are shrines for Ganesha, Dakshinamurthy, Subramanya, Sastha, Krishna, Nilagriva, Sthalisha, Hanuman, Ganga and Serpent deities inside and outside the temple complex. The temple is popularly counted as one of the major Bhagavathy temples in Kerala. The temple celebrates a rare menstruation festival for Bhagavathy, called Thripputhu, during when the temple is closed for three days during the irregular menstruation of the deity. There are five daily poojas done in temple, three Sarabalies for Shiva and three for Bhagavathy. Tantric worship is done by Thazhaman. The yearly festival is celebra ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Chavara
Chavara is a village in Karunagappally taluk, Kollam district, Kerala, India. It is a part of Kollam Lok Sabha constituency. The current MLA of the Chavara constituency is Dr. Sujith Vijayan Pillai of the LDF. Location and tourism Chavara is situated on the shores of the Arabian sea and the major freshwater lake in Kerala, Ashtamudi, which flows through it. Chavara has many lakes and lagoons including Sasthamkota Lake. Popular tourist destinations are Kattilmekkathil Devi Temple, St Andrew's Church, Kovilthottam, Kottankulangara Devi Temple , Kovilthottam Lighthouse as well as the area around Ashtamudi lake. .Some important areas around Ashtamudi lake in Chavara are Kurishumoodu, the Old Portuguese cross, Karattal kadavu, TS canal, Idathuruthu and fisherman colony, Koyivila boat jetty, Arinallor Kadavu and Cherikadavu backwater. Industries The village has a high supply of rare-earth elements in its sand, mainly titanium on its beaches. The major industries in the publ ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Kerala Folklore
Kerala ( ; ) is a state on the Malabar Coast of India. It was formed on 1 November 1956, following the passage of the States Reorganisation Act, by combining Malayalam-speaking regions of the erstwhile regions of Cochin, Malabar, South Canara, and Thiruvithamkoor. Spread over , Kerala is the 21st largest Indian state by area. It is bordered by Karnataka to the north and northeast, Tamil Nadu to the east and south, and the Lakshadweep Sea to the west. With 33 million inhabitants as per the 2011 census, Kerala is the 13th-largest Indian state by population. It is divided into 14 districts with the capital being Thiruvananthapuram. Malayalam is the most widely spoken language and is also the official language of the state. The Chera dynasty was the first prominent kingdom based in Kerala. The Ay kingdom in the deep south and the Ezhimala kingdom in the north formed the other kingdoms in the early years of the Common Era (CE). The region had been a prominent spice exporter s ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Hindu Rituals
Samskara ( IAST: , sometimes spelled ''samskara'') are sacraments in Hinduism and other Indian religions, described in ancient Sanskrit texts, as well as a concept in the karma theory of Indian philosophies. The word literally means "putting together, making perfect, getting ready, to prepare", or "a sacred or sanctifying ceremony" in ancient Sanskrit and Pali texts of India. In the context of karma theory, samskaras are dispositions, character or behavioural traits, that exist as default from birth or prepared and perfected by a person over one's lifetime, that exist as imprints on the subconscious according to various schools of Hindu philosophy such as the Yoga school. These perfected or default imprints of karma within a person, influences that person's nature, response and states of mind.Stephen H. Phillips (2009), Yoga, Karma, and Rebirth: A Brief History and Philosophy, Columbia University Press, , Chapter 3 In another context, Samskara refers to the diverse sacraments ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Puja Thali
A puja thali () is a tray or large container on which puja materials are accumulated and decorated. On Hindu religious occasions, festivals, traditions and rituals, the puja thali maintains an auspicious role. A puja thali may be made of steel, gold, silver, brass, or any other metal; it may be rounded, oval, or any other shaped or with little engravings and other decorations. Materials The following materials must be in a puja thali : * Turmeric paste/ sindura (Vermilion) paste/Rangoli color for holy symbols like ' Om', 'Swastika' etc. * Akshata (unbroken rice grains). * Diyas and incense sticks (Agarwood). * Coconuts * Flowers (marigolds, roses, and various designs with single color petals or a combination of different colors). * Prasadam. * Holy water in a container. Along with these, a ghanta (bell), a conch (Shankha), a kalasha (holy pitcher) with holy water, ghee, camphor, betel-leaves, tulasi, milk, fresh fruits, sandalwood-paste, kumkuma, murti (earthen images) of deities ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Kesari (magazine)
Kesari is a weekly Malayalam language magazine affiliated publication of the Hindu nationalist volunteer organisation Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and it is also known as the mouthpiece of the RSS Kerala. History ''Kesari'' was started in 1951 by prominent RSS activists in kozhikode including Shankara Shastri. Kesari was first issued in on Tuesday, November 27, 1951, with P. Parameswaran as the editor in chief. In 1962, a trust called Hindustan Prakashan was formed and Kesari's ownership was vested in it. Kesari, like other newspapers, was registered under the Press Act, which came into force in 1957. Padma Vibhushan P. Parameswaran and R Venugopal have held senior posts in Kesari. Controversies *An article in Kesari about former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru caused controversy nationally. *An article in Kesari Weekly highlighting the relevance of RSS-CPM friendship led to controversy in Kerala. *An article praising Pinarayi Vijayan appeared on Kesari's website.but Kesa ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Kottankulangara Devi Temple
The Kottankulangara Devi Temple is a Hindu temple to the goddess Durga Bhagavathy or Aadi Shakthi, the supreme mother of power, located in the village of Chavara, Kerala, India. Early history The plot of land where the temple is situated was once part of a forest, a tranquil area surrounded by a thick growth of trees, plants and creepers. On the northwest corner of the plot there existed a small deep pond known as Bhoothakulam. People living in the area believed it was a shelter for poisonous snakes. On the eastern side there was a huge extensive deep pond. During days of rain, a stream originated from there making the surrounding area fertile and cultivable. As this place was full of grass and pure water, the cow-herders from the neighbouring area would congregate there with their cattle. Legend According to the legend, a group of cow-herders got a coconut from this place. They found a stone on the southern part of Bhoothakulam. When they hit the coconut on the stone (intendin ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Guruvayur Temple
Guruvayur Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Guruvayurappan, a form of Vishnu, located in the town of Guruvayur in Kerala, India. It is one of the most important places of worship for Hindus in Kerala and Tamil Nadu and is often referred to as ''Bhuloka Vaikunta'' (Vaikuntha in the earthly realm). The presiding deity of the Guruvayur Temple is Guruvayurappan: Vishnu, worshipped in the form of Krishna. The central icon is a four-armed standing Vishnu carrying the conch Panchajanya, the discus Sudarshana, the mace Kaumodaki, and a lotus with a tulsi garland. This image represents the majestic form of Vishnu as revealed to Krishna's parents Vasudeva and Devaki around the time of his birth. Worship proceeds according to routines laid down by Adi Shankara and later written formally in the Tantric way, the inter-religious spiritual movement that arose in medieval India, by Chennas Narayanan Nambudiri. The Chennas Nambudiris are the hereditary tantris (high priests) of the Guruva ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |