Pranam Oil lamps were a part of various traditions and cultures around the world, until electric lights became popular. The earliest known oil lamp can be dated back to the Chalcolithic Age, about 5320 years ago. Historically, the lamp was an essential part of our homes and temples, because of two reasons. One, there were no electric lights. Two, homes were built from organic materials so people couldn’t afford to open up huge windows. Generally, the houses in ancient times were dark inside. Even today, have you seen that old homes in villages and slums are generally dark? So a lamp was kept even during the day, and a place of worship was created around it. It is a part of tradition that to create the right kind of atmosphere, the first thing that you do is light a lamp. This comes from the understanding that when you light a lamp, apart from the visual aspect, it fills the whole place with a different kind of energy. Lighting an oil lamp has certain implications. The use of certain vegetable oils, especially if you use sesame oil, castor oil or ghee (clarified butter) to light a lamp, it exudes positivity. It has its own field of energy. Fire <https://isha.sadhguru.org/wisdom/article/fire-element-four-types-of-agni> itself is a source of light and a source of life in many ways. Symbolically, we have always seen fire as the very source of life. It is symbolism; it’s a way of invoking your own inner nature. The world started with the fire. The Rig Vedam started with the fire. Now 24 by 7 lamps called Kedha, Toonga, Makara vilakku etc are found in the literature . But today only a few temples do practice lamp burning throughout near the karbagraham. KR IRS 61221
On Mon, 6 Dec 2021 at 09:36, 'gopala krishnan' via iyer123 < [email protected]> wrote: > QUES ANSW DIVINE 66 > > *DD* > Dear friends, > > These are information posted by members compiled as QA by me in > 1998’s-2008’s and stored in my computer. At this date I have no information > of the members posted. > > BEING COMPILATION THERE MAY BE ERRORS. > > Sincerely, > > *R. Gopalakrishnan, 78, Former AGM Telecom Trivandrum dated 06-12-2021* > > Q1 Every body would have visited Padmanabha swamy temple at Trivandrum. > What are the not much known facts about the temple? > > A1 Elaborate rituals are conducted in the temple, because of the twelve > thousand sacred 'salagramas' which constitute the idol. > > The Siveli Mandapam, the tower and the outer pathways bear the > imprint of master sculptors. An > > example of their fine craftsmanship is seen in a piece of carving > which has the figure of an elephant on one side and that of a bull > on the other. Their forms are so expertly blended that the horns of > the bull appear as the tusks of the elephant when viewed from the > other side and the rolledup trunk of the elephant serves as the hump > for the bull. > > Murajapam - Murajapam is conducted at the SreePadmanabhaswamy > Temple once in six years. It is mainly for the welfare of the country. > Murajapam will conduct when 12 Bhadradeepam joins. > > This year Bhadradeepam started on November 21 and ends on 14th > January 2008. The 14th January 2008 will witness this wonderful and > unique festival of Sree Padmanabha Swamy being worshipped as from > immemorial times by the illumination with one Lakhs of Deepams or One > Hundred Thousand Lights. > > > > This splendor happens once in six years. This day is also the > culmination of a Ritual, which is a Yagna, commencing Fifty Six > Days before. This Ulsav is in the Sree Padmanabha Swamy Temple (in > the heart of this Bhu Bhaga This part of the land) considered as > the Brahmasthan of the city of Thiruvananthapuram. > > > > *The Ottakkal Mandapam is a marvel of ancient workmanship, one slab > of granite weighing so* many tones. All these are the beautiful settings > for the jewel of the Sanctum sanctorum, "Sri Padmanabha Swamy". Namaskaram > should not be done of this mandapam since it s part of the garbhagraha. > > *It was as answer to the prayer to the Lord to be of such proportions > for human eyes to see that the Lord took the form of the length of > three times that of the sage's(Vilvamangalam) Yoga Dandu (staff) of > about eighteen feet.* > > Indian iconography is to the marvel at for the concept and the creation > of a technique by which a form of the divine could be made of an amalgam > known as KATU SARKARA YOGAM. > > This splendid Idol crafted of this complex substance contains *12,000 > saligramo-silas brought from Nepal on elephant's back* > > Annadhanam - Everyday food is offered to devotees from 11.30 to > 12.30 > > He is Vishnu, lying on the serpent Ananta. From His navel rises > Brahma and under his right hand Siva is seen. > > The Bhagavatham is recounting the pilgrimage of Balarama reveals His > coming to worship Sri Padmanabha Swamy after a bath in the holy waters > of Padmathirtha and gifting of ten thousand cows. > > The famous Vaishnava saint, Sri Ramanuja has offered his prayers > here, and so has the ecstatic devotee, Sri Chaithanya Mahaprabhu who > identified this Temple as one among the six Narayanasthals of > Bharatham. > > This is a Mahakshethra and is one of the 13 Vishnu shrines of Kerala > identified as Divya Deshams or Thiruppathies by the great Alwar Saints. > > > The rituals performed here are detailed and much more than in many other > Temples. There are daily three full pujas from dawn to night. Two Utsavams, > the Kalasams, the Kalabham and the recitation of many Puranas take place > here. > > Maharaja Anizhom Thirunal Marthanda is hailed the architect of modern > Travancore. > A grand Yajna was conducted by him known as Lakshadeepam,inclusive of the > lengthy Murajapam. > > *The first Lakshadeepam was in mid January (Makaram 1st )1750 AD. By > the supreme grace* of God it continues unbroken to date. It has been > the privilege of the successive Sri Padmanabha Dasas (The rulers of > Travancore) to ensure its conduct every six years without fail. > > The Lakshadeepam and the Deeparadhana on that day bring to the mind the > thought > of 'Tamaso Ma Jyothirgamays' . > > Q2 What is murajapam? > > A2 The entire fifty-six day Yajna known as the Murajapam, which > preceded the Lakshadeepam, literally means Japa done in cyclic > rotation. > > Q3 Everybody knows about the kedavilakku in south indian temples. Do there > any such temple in north? > > A3 yes. One such is Mahad: (Raigarh Dist.), 24kms from Karjat, 6 kms > from Khopoli or 120 kms from Pune. > > Varadavinayaka as known here, idol facing east, trunk twisted to left, > with Riddi & Siddi, 25ft high dome with pinnacle. > > In the temple of Varadvinayak, one Nandadeep (lamp) is lit and burning > for last 107 years. > > Q4 Which is the temple in the north where 5km is walk is required to > circumbulate once? > > A4 It is Siddhatek: Situated on the banks of river Bhima, in Ahmednagar > district. > > Take Pune - Solapur road via Daund (Daund is 78 kms from Pune and > Daund-Siddhatek is another 18kms). > > Sage Vyasar had performed yagnya (sacrifices) here. It is said that, years > ago there was a heap of ashes from this sacrificial fire. > > > > The swayambhu idol of Shree Siddhivinayaka is placed in brass frame. > Brass idols of Jay and Vijay are placed on both sides of > Siddhivinayaka. *However belly of the idol is not big. Riddhi & Siddhi > are sitting on one lap of Vinayaka*. The pradakshana > (circumnavigation) of the God is said to be very fruitful. One has to > travel 5 kms. To complete one Pradakshana as the idol is attached to > the hill itself. > > Q5 What is the speciality of the Vinayaga temple in Moregaon? > > A5 Moregaon: Moregaon, on the banks of river Karha is in Baramati > Taluka. Shape of this place is like a peacock & long ago there were > many peacocks here, as such called "Moregaon'. > > We drove on Pune-Solapur highway. Moregaon lies on the right side of > Chaufula at a distance of 79 km from Pune *On climbing the steps you > will see a big 'Nandi in front of Ganapati instead of Lord Shiva!! How > come? :-* > > 'Years ago, this Nandi was taken on a cart for its consecration in front > of a near by Shivaalaya. However, the cart carrying Nandi broke down > in front of Mayureshwara' s temple and Nandi sat before Mayureshwar' > s temple for ever. *People tried their best to shift Nandi from this > place but Nandi did not move an inch. * > > The artisan had a dream in the night. Nandi appeared in his dream and > said, "I want to stay before Mayureshwar only. Don't try to shift me > elsewhere forcefully, I won't come." People left with no other > alternative, dropped the idea of shifting Nandi to other place. Hence > this Nandiji was consecrated before Mayureshwar. > > Q6 What is the story connected with Ramanuja and Tirupathi temple? > > A6It is said that Sri Ramanuja, who is considered to be the Avatara of > Adisesha, took the form of a cobra, and went in through the opening > intended for the Abhisheka Tirtha, and prayed to the Lord, whereupon *the > Lord himself took up the two emblems of Lord Vishnu.* > > Q7 Indian mythological scriptures tell us about incarnations of two kinds. > Which are they? > > A7 Some of them take human or animal forms to accomplish brief missions, > others are born in a blessed family and grow up like other children. But > they are extraordinary, both in intelligence and physical strength. > > Q8 We all know about the Navagraha temples around Kumbakonam. Out of this > what is the specility with Sooryanar temple? > > A8 It is to be noted that the first of these, the *Suryanaar* *temple is > the only one that is dedicated to the planet or the celestial body itself.** > All of the other eight are ancient temples dedicated to Shiva.* > > Q9 Do we have navagraha temples near Tirunelveli? > > A9 Yes. It is to be noted that there is another set of nine temples in > *Tirunelveli* district which are said to constitute the Navagraha cluster > of temples in that part of the state. > > Q10 Is there any tradition that the gateway of the temple is intended to > stand for the universe, and the vigraha of the Lord inside for the supreme > spirit ? > > A10 Yes. According to one tradition, the gateway of the temple is > intended to stand for the universe, and the vigraha of the Lord inside for > the supreme spirit. > > Q11 What do the curtain before the idol in Vaishnava temples means? > > A11 There is always a curtain before the Lord, which according to the > Vaishnavite texts *should be of three colors, white, red and black, > representing the three gunas, Satva, Rajah and Tamas.* When the veil of > the gunas is lifted, the resplendent Lord is seen. > > Q12 Is there a tradition that temple is like a human body? > > A12 Yes. According to another tradition, the temple is just like a human > body, which is conceived of as a walking temple of God, with the Jiva in > the centre. *The top of the temple is the head; the Garbha Griha is the > neck, the front mantapa is' the stomach*; the prakara walls are the legs; > the gopura is the feet and the Lord is the Jiva in the body. > > Q13 What is Vimana? > > A13 *The tower over the main shrine is called the ‘Vimana’* and is > generally ornamented with plaster figures right up to the top. > > Q14 We all know about the Nandi in Siva temples. Do any thing like that in > Vaishnavite temples? > > A14 In front of the sanctum is located the Nandi or the bull in the case > of Saiva temples, and *the Garuda in the case of the Vaishnava temples* > with a Bali Peetha and a Dhwaja stambha, in front. > > Q15 what is sthalavriksha? > > A15 Agamas have also given particulars of trees, which are known as > Sthala Vrikshas, which are to be planted in different temples. > > Q16 A very striking question-People performing sraddah know for washing > the feet for the Pithris the Mandala type(circular) and the Viswa devas the > Sthandila type(square type) circles have put.Can you find any analogy for > this in temples? > > A16.Yes. So far as the main shrine and Vimana goes, it can be built on > three plans viz., Square or Circular or Apsidal, The Square pattern is > called the ‘Sthandila’ and the Circular is called the ‘Mandala.’ > > *These two plans are actually derived from the Vedic tradition in which > two different kinds of fire alters viz., namely the ‘Ahavaniya’ and the** > ‘Garhaspatya’* which are square and circular in their shape, are > mentioned. > > Even now in the Sraddha ceremonies that we perform, *the Pithris and the > Viswa devas are given two different types of asanas, the Pithris the > Mandala type(circular) and the Viswa devas the Sthandila type(square type).* > > The Square pattern is called the ‘Sthandila’ and the Circular is called > the ‘Mandala. > > The Apsidal form of temple is rather rare, and only one important temple > of Andhra desa namely the Kaportheswara temple of Chejerla is built in > this model. This is also probably on the Dakshinagni altar model. > > Q17 Do the God is looked upon as king? > > A17 yes. The Lord is looked upon as a reigning king, and due regal honors > is done to him. > > In the Tirupati temple for example, the almanac is read out every day > before the Lord and a statement of accounts also submitted as in a royal > court > > A similar practice is followed in Guvayoor temple in Kerala > > Q18 What are the informative details of Mallikarjuna temple?Where is the > temple? > > A18 On the top of the Srisailam hill, is the famous temple of Lord Siva, > known as Mallikarjuna which is one of the twelve Jyotirlinga. > > The Sthalamahatmyam of the temple has a very interesting story, regarding > the origin of the temple, where *a princess called Chandravati who was > the daughter of a Gupta King called Chandragupta, is said to have offered > daily a garland of Jasmine flowers to the God in Srisailam and eventually > married him*. > > This legend embodied in the Sthalamahatmyam is partly represented in > detail in one of the stone records of the 16th century in this temple. > > It is Interesting to note, that the *Chenchus the local tribes have free > permission, even today, to go into any part of the temple*, Including the > Garbha Griha, enshrining the sacred Linga. Such a catholic form of worship > is unknown anywhere else in Andhra, except at Srisailam and this custom > probably dates back to the Buddhist period when caste rules were not so > rigid. > > There are good travel facilities to the temple. *From Kurnool, Guntur and > other places direct buses now go to Srisailam*. The ghat road from > Dornal, recently opened, takes one straight to the temple by road > > Q19 What are some interesting information about Tirupathi Balaji > temple.? > > *A19 **Tirupati* *is the most sacred Vaishnavite temple of Andhra Desa*. > It has a reputation not only in Andhra but all over India and the presiding > deity Lord Venkateswara is worshipped by North Indian pilgrims as 'Balaji." > The Temple is still very active and live, and is probably the richest > temple in Andhra Desa, and perhaps in the whole of India. > > The group of hills is also called Seshachalam Hills and these seven peaks > are said to represent the seven hoods of Lord Adisesha the king of serpents. > > The consort of Lord Srinivasa is not with him on the top of the hill, but > is worshipped at Alameluma-ngapuram, at the foot of the hills. The shrine > of Lord Venkateswara stands over a ciuster of seven hills*, which are > said to form the Meruparvatha * > > According to the legends, this temple is a sacred place in all the four > yugas, and was known as Vrishabhachala in the Krithayuga, Anjanachala in > the Tretayuga, Seshachala in the Dwaparayuga and Venkatachala in the > present Kaliyuga. > > *Saint Ramanuja, the great Vaishnavite reformer of the twelfth century, is > said to have settled the dispute and established the worship of Lord > Srinivasa here.* > > It is said that Sri Ramanuja, who is considered to be the Avatara of > Adisesha, took the form of a cobra, and went in through the opening > intended for the Abhisheka Tirtha, and prayed to the Lord, whereupon the > Lord himself took up the two emblems of Lord Vishnu. > > * All the jewels and ornaments of the Lord were to be removed on Thursday > and the God was to be dressed only with flowers on that day. * > > . No animals or birds should be killed in hunting and no one should be > allowed to die on the top of the hill but brought down. > > Distance of seven to eight miles round the Swami pushkarini was marked off > as reserved for the Lord and within that limit no other temple should be > constructed. > > The exact period at which the temple was founded is unknown, and tradition > has it that the temple is Swayambhustala > > In the lower Tirupati we have the temple of Sri Kodanda Ramaswami. In > Tiruchanur, which is two miles from Tirupati is the temple of goddess > Alamelumanga, the consort of the Lord on the top of the hill. A visit to > Tirupati will not be complete unless a Darsan of this Goddess is also had. > > Sri Adisankara in the course of his tours is said to have established a > Dhanakarshana Yantra at Tirupati. This is established by the fact that > even today the income of the temple from the offerings of the devotees is > going up by leaps and bounds. > > This is a temple in which the presence of the Lord is actually felt, and > where any prayer is still answered provided there is sincerity and devotion > in the heart of the pilgrim. > > Q20 Where is Ahobilam? > > A20 Ahobalam is a religious centre of very great antiquity. It is situated > at a distance of thirty miles from Nandyal Railway station of Kurnool > District. > > Q21 What is the speciality with the Alampur rock cut temples? > > A21 Alampur which houses a number of sacred shrines like those of > *Sangameswara > and the Nava Brahma temples.* > > On the other hand, they have a close similarity to some of the rock-cut > temples of Western India. There are nine temples here. in the interior of > these temples, one is often likely to wonder whether he is in a rock-cut > shrine or in a structural temple. It is stated that Brahma performed a > great penance at this place for thousands of years, and pleased Lord Siva > who conferred the powers of creation on him. > > The nine Brahma temples here are known as Bala Brahma, Kumara Brahma, > Arka Brahma, Veera Brahma, Viswa Brahma, Taraka Brahma, Garuda Brahma, > Swarga Brahma, and Padma Brahma. > > *These nine aspects are peculiar to these temples alone, and are not found > anywhere else in India.* Daily hundreds of pilgrims visit this holy and > sacred place. > > In addition to these temples here, there is the sacred Sangameswara, which > is the meeting placeof Tungabhadra and Krishna. –Alampur > > *Q22 What is the worth mention speciality of lepakshi temple in Anantaur > in Andhra pradesh?* > > *A22 Lepakshi *is a small village, which lies nine miles east of Hindupur > in Anantapur District of Andhra. Hindupur is a railway station on the > main metre-gauge line between Hyderabad and Bangalore, and from Hindupur > there is a good metalled road to Lepakshi on which several good bus > connections exist > > Lepakshi is famous for its temple of Veerabhadra, and is also a renowned > place where the best specimens of the mural paintings of the Vijayanagar > kings are available. > > Two hundred yards east of the temple is a colossal Nandi, which is the > largest Nandi in India. It is carved out of a monolithic rock, measuring > twenty feet in height and thirty feet in length. It is a remarkable piece > of work and has been done with great > > > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "iyer123" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to [email protected]. > To view this discussion on the web visit > https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/iyer123/532576336.383935.1638763605418%40mail.yahoo.com > <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/iyer123/532576336.383935.1638763605418%40mail.yahoo.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> > . > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Thatha_Patty" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/thatha_patty/CAL5XZooto6VAsJYG_RyuL%2BdRqYo4QYp%2Bm8c-XvECFuS31HbGPw%40mail.gmail.com.
