What are some mysterious facts about the Tiruchendur Murugan Temple?

Tiruchendur Murugan shrine is known for its miraculous powers.

Tsunami : It remained untouched by massive 2004 Tsunami that wreaked havoc in Tamilnadu.

Sea water did not enter temple walls and main santo sanctum remained safe.

Ocean : This rare Murugan shrine faces ocean (Bay of Bengal, Indian Ocean).

Western faced : It is a rare Murugan temple with western facing Rajagopuram.

Rajagopuram is the main gateway tower.

Eastern faced : Well, main deity (Lord Murugan) faces east towards ocean.

Living : It is also known as Senthil Andavar , a living deity.

Well, in humid climate , Lord Murugan sweats like human beings.

Thus, priests traditionally fan Lord Murugan.

Fact : Lord Murugan is also known as Sri Karthikeya ; Sri Skand , Shadanan.

Prayer : Sri Ganeshaya Namah Jai Sri Umanandan Murugan Sri Ram Jai Ram Jai Jai Ram Namo Parvatipataye Har Har Mahadev Jai Jai Hanuman Gosai Kripa Karo Gurudev Ki Nai

Pic Credits : Google Images / Web

What is the significance of the Hanuman temple near the Vaishno Devi shrine?

Sri Hanuman ji is associated with legend of Mata Vaishno devi.

Rama : Folklores claim, Lord Rama gave a word to Goddess Trikuta that he would marry her as Kalki.

Ever since, his ardent devotee Lord Hanuman stays here to serve Goddess Trikuta.

Guard : Lord Hanuman ji proverbially serves Goddess Vaishno devi as his guard.

One legend claims, Lord Hanuman ji saved Goddess Vaishnavi from Bhairo.

Seers and devotees point out, presence of monkeys around this renowned shrine.

Banganga : When Hanuman ji proverbially felt thirst ; her asked water from Goddess.

Goddess Vaishnodevi instantly hit a water source with an arrow. This place is known as Banganga.

Pilgrims seek blessings from Lord Hanuman ji at Banganga before continuing their pilgrimage.

Facts : Goddess Vaishanavi is worshipped as Sri Durga , Vishnumaya, Mahalakshmi ji.

Hanuman ji is the greatest devotee of Jagadambe (cosmic mother)

Prayer : Sri Ganeshaya Namah Sri Ram Jai Ram Jai Jai Ram Namo Parvatipataye Har Har Mahadev

Jai Jai Jai Hanuman Gosai Kripa Karo Gurudev Ki Nai

Pic Credits : Google Images / Web

Do you think there was a Hindu temple at the site of the Qutb Minar?

 

It is definitely being possible that Qutb Minar was being built on site of Hindu Temple

Please don't be abuse me in comments. I am simply saying what I am being told by my home elders.

In our religion, it is regarded a matter of pride to construct a place for saying Azaan five times a day by destroying other religious buildings

If two choice is being given - one to build on empty land and other to build by destroying a temple - many elders will advise to destroy the temple and build the place for offering prayers

In Islam, this is called Nasr Ala Al Kuffar (Victory over Non Believer)

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So wherever there is major mosque in India or place to offer Azaan (Qutb Minar is building where prayers were offered), built when Mughals or Mussalman rulers were ruling India, then definitely 99% it is being built by destroying some temple

Even Christians in old days have same policy , they are also destroying existing religious building to build church even if there is empty land nearby

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However Taj Mahal is definitely not being built on temple or it is not being deliberate

In Islam, Monument to someone is never built by destroying a temple. Monument is always built on empty land or land where other musalmaan are buried

We are believing in Barzakh - Barzakh is when dead Mussalman is going to afterlife - and Barzakh will never happen if there is pain or destroying on that site

So even if they build Taj Mahal on temple site , they definitely don't know or it is not being deliberate

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Today all this is old history now

When Mussalman Rulers were strong, they destroy many temple and church and built masjid

When Christian was strong, they destroy many jewish temple and built Church

Both prefer to build church or masjid only by destroying other religious place because it is seen as fighting for religion and other religion was seen as enemy

Today there are temple in Pakistan which is given respect by locals

When I was young, my cousins and I went to Hanuman temple in Karachi where they welcome Mussalman and give us very tasty poori and halvah on some day

Our grandmother would curse us but we would laugh

Why is the food never futile in Puri Jagannath Temple?

 The first thought that might come to your mind is that this is a miracle of God! It is not just food but the Prasad of the Gods and that's why, it is a divine blessing that the prasad does not go to waste. But that's not entirely true and I am not mocking or trying to hurt anybody's sentiments here. I am just sharing what happens behind the scenes and why the prasad is never wasted, as told to me by a priest and observed with my own eyes.

In recent times, I have had the opportunity to visit the Jagannath Temple in Puri in January 2018 and December 2019. During my second visit, I chose to have the prasad that is offered. The prices are extorbitant, by the way! The temple committee has a rate chart starting from 500 rupees for which you get two sweets only and all the way to 1 lakh rupees. I opted for the 1,500 rupees Prasad in which only one person can have the very basic Prasad consisting of rice, dal and two types of sabzi.

They are collecting funds for the temple in the name of Prasad, but let's leave that aside. My priest-cum-guide told me two interesting things. He told me that the food in the temple is cooked in three earthern pots, one kept above the other and the food on the topmost pot gets cooked first followed by the middle one and then the last. People consider it the blessing of God, but Class 7 Physics taught me the principles of convection and this was expected.

What he told me next was that no matter the number of devotees coming to the temple, which ranges between 5,000 to 50,000 per day, the prasad never goes to waste. This made me curious and I asked how they manage to budget the food every day, to which I was told that they cook on a batch system by checking the number of devotees paying for the prasad. You pay for the prasad first, then go for darshan, which takes at least an hour on average and after coming out of the main shrine, one gets the prasad. Since the food is cooked on the basis of pre-payment of the meals, they never end up over-preparing. And if there is still a surplus, that is distributed among the poor outside the temple premises.

Why is the Nageshwar Temple famous in India?

Nagraj : Sri Nageshwar means lord of snakes (Lord Shiva)

Jyotirlinga : It is eighth among 12 Jyotirlinga dedicated to Lord Shiva.

Shiva : Here Lord Shiva and Goddess Uma are worshipped as Nag dev and Nag Devi.

Darukavan : It is situated in proverbial Darukavan.

Dwarka : Present day, Dwarka derives its name from Darukavan (Daruka forest)

Underground : Interestingly, its inner sancto sanctum is underground.

Belief : Many afflicted with Kaal Sarp Dosh and Nag shrap perform puja at Nageshwar Jyotirlinga.

Facts :In hindu philosophy; Nags are seen as vanguard of mystical Kundalini Shakti.

They are also seen as protectors of divine treasures or blessings.

Well, Lord Shiva and Goddess Uma as cosmic parents are seen as protectors of flora and fauna.

Prayer : Sri Ganeshaya Namah Jai Sita Ram Narayan Sri Nageshwaraya Namah Shivaya Namo Parvatipataye Har Har Mahadev Shiv Shambo Nase Rog Hare Sab Peera Japath Nirtantar Hanumanth Beera Sri Ram Jai Ram Jai Jai Ram

Pic Credits : Google Images / Web

Where is Brihadeeswara Temple located? In which year was it built and by whom? Who is it dedicated to and why?

This is the Brihadeshwara Temple

Now remember - whenever a Temple in the South has the word “Eshwara” joined to it - it is always dedicated to Lord Shiva

It was built in the Chola Period

King RajaRaja Chola (Whom you will be seeing shortly in Ponniyin Selvan as Arulmozhi Varman) was the one who ordered the Temple Built - though i dont know if he lived to see it completed.

The Sheer Geometry is Amazing!!!!

The Gopuram is a Super Example of Engineering that so far nobody has been able to decipher

The Institute of Civil Engineers in USA - listed this temple among the 20 Structures in the World whose Engineering remains a Complete Mystery for that time and period.

It is located in Tanjore or Thanjavur

What are some lesser known facts about Puri Jagannath temple?

Khichdi : Lord Jagannath proverbially loves Khichdi more than any other food.

Seers and devotees credit it to Karma bai, an ardent devotee of Lord Sri Krishna.

Legend : Karma bai was born in a Vaishanav family in Rajasthan.

She was a child widow and spent her days in devotion and domestic chores.

Her father , a Jat farmer was a great devotee of Lord Sri Krishna.

Once , he went out to some other city and asked little Karma to offer Naivadaya Bhog to Krishna.

Well, he also advised her to offer Naivadya bhog first ; then only consume food.

Being a small girl; she could only prepare Khichdi as Bhog.

But, she kept on trying to offer Khichdi to Lord but he did not eat it.

Unwavering : Interestingly, she refused to eat or drink anything as she felt it would hurt her Krishna.

Seers point out ; Lord Krishna got too appeased by her utmost devotion and consumed Khichdi.

This ritual went on till her father returned back and saw this miracle.

Naturally, she became famous across Rajasthan and priests of Puri invited her to offer Bhog to Krishna.

She prepared Khichdi bhog for Lord for years and spent her entire in Puri till her last.

Facts :Karma bai is an integral part of Sri Jagannath Yatra.

Well, priests offer Khichdi in her name to Lord Jagannath ji.

Her Samadhi is next to Lord Jagannath Puri.

Seers and devotees seek her blessings for prosperous and serene life.

Well : साधवो हृदयं मह्यं साधूनां हृदयं त्वहम् ।

मदन्यत् ते न जानन्ति नाहं तेभ्यो मनागपि ॥ ६८ (Srimad Bhagwad Purana)

(The true devotee dwells in my heart ; so do I in his /her heart. He or she only knows me and so do I )

Prayer : Sri Ganeshaya Namah Jai Sita Ram Jai Balbhadra ji Ma Subhadra and Jagannath ji Namo Parvatipataye Har Har Mahadev Shambo Jai Jai Hanuman Gosai Kripa Karo Gurudev Ki Nai

Pranam to Ma Karma Bai , a pious and great devotee !

Pic Credits : Google Images / Web

How many Brahmins died when the Somnath temple was attacked?

Attack: Mahmud of Ghazni plundered Somnath shrine- once the richest shrine of India.

He first attacked Somnath shrine in 1025 AD.

Well, he attacked India nearly seventeen times for its wealth and his religious campaign.

Some historians believe; Somnath shrine was attacked nearly seventeen times by different invaders.

Zealot : Ancient Indian history experts guide ; he attacked it for sheer religious reasons.

He along with his soldiers desecrated Garbh Grih , the inner sanctum sanctorum.

Protection : Well, priests and soldiers did try hard to repulse attack ; but failed.

Killing : Alas, more than 4000 priests and nearly 50000 devotees were reportedly killed by plunderers

Facts : Historians claim ; political differences and adverse geographical conditions undermined defense of Somnath shrine.

Post independence ; Dr. Rajendra Prasad (Indian president) and Sardar Patel (union home minister) started campaign to build Sri Somanth Jyotirlinga.

In 1995 ; Dr. Shankar Dayal Sharma (Indian president) dedicated to nation.

Given its rich history ; Sri Somnath Jyotirlinga is a symbol of national heritage.

Prayer : Sri Ganeshaya Namah Jai Sri Sita Ram Narayan Jai Umapati Baba Somnath ji Namo Parvatipataye Har Har Mahadev Shiv Shambo Kaun Nahi Janath Hai Jag Mai Kapi Sankatmochan Naam Tiharo

Pic Credits : Google Images / Web

What secrets do you find in temples in India?

 When Shri Tirupati Balaji asks you for a necklace of 108 gold coins!

Yes, this is a true incident of 1980.

Mr. Prasad, personal secretary to former Prime Minister Narasimha Rao, was appointed as Chief Officer at Tirupati at that time.

One day he received a call from a servant of the temple: -

"Sir! Around 20 devotees have come here and are wishing to present a necklace made of gold coins to the Lord. They want have audience with lord wearing the same necklace."

In the Tirupati temple, it has been arranged since ancient times that any devotee who is offering jewelery and if he wants to see the Lord wearing it on the same day, then he also has to pay a fixed sum equivalent to the jewelery which is called “Vartan”.

In the old times, this system was implemented to create co-ordination between the king-emperors and the zamindars.

Prasad left for the temple immediately after listening to the phone.

When he went there, he saw 20 devotees were present there. Their(Devotees) chief Nagraj Rao, without knowing anything about Shri Prasad, started telling his story:

• I am a resident of Chikkamagaluru District Karnataka and have been working as a teacher for the last 20 years.

• 16 years ago, Shri Balaji appeared to me in a dream and said that “make me a gold necklace with 108 gold coins”. When I woke up in the morning, some devotees who came from home to visit Tirumala came to my house and offered laddus. I remembered my dream but I did not pay attention.

• That same night, I saw God in my dream and the previous night's order was repeated. The next day, I first told my whole family about the dream. We were so poor that we could not even buy 1 silver coin.

• In the end, the idea was that after making a necklace of 108 copper coins and offering a gold layer on it, we will offer it to Shri Balaji.

• But on the day the idea came, the Lord came again in the night in dream and said that you should offer gold, not copper.

• When the family heard this in the morning, they decided that it should be as the Lord desired. 16 years ago I was a lonely householder. There was some land which was barren. So, all of us, gave up food for a time and prepared 2 gold coins in 6 months out of the money left over from it.

• Time passed, other family members got good jobs. The land became fertile and the economic situation began to improve.

• Now after 16 years, we were able to get a necklace of 108 gold coins, which are painted with the Gods and Goddesses.

• On the day the necklace was made, the Lord came again in my dream and said, "The necklace is made, now I am happy. Do come to Tirumala with the whole family and offer me the necklace and see me. If there is any problem then a person (Only face shown) will help you there.

Saying this, Nagraj Rao fell silent.

But suddenly looking at the prasad, he said, "Oh you! You are the one about whom the Lord had said that this person will help you in every situation!"

Prasad was silent! His tears came out in Bhavatirek. Then many questions started emerging in the mind: -

• How can I get them to see the God while the God wore the necklace, as these devotees can't not pay the Vartan which is about 2 lakhs. They only have money left to go home. Far from Abhishek service, they cannot buy tickets even for normal service!

• What answer will I give to the temple trust, if I let them go against the rules!

• He has unwavering faith in God and God has appointed me to do his work. How can I break their trust!

These questions were resolved and Prasad immediately ordered his people "This is a special puja in Tirupati.

The next day, on Friday morning, all 20 devotees were offered abhishek and after that the same 108 gold coins necklace was given to Prabhu.

Premashru in the eyes of the family and on their lips were singing "Govinda! Govinda!"

After 16 years of penance, such visions were received!

After some time when the trust met them and this incident was told, all of them were Bhagavad Bhaktas, at first they were very happy and arranged that the Vartan tradition could be abandoned for special reasons and seeing the devotion of the devotee.

When you are disappointed with your heart, when you have lost from all sides, just close your eyes and say "Govinda!" Remember the name.

God definitely comes to help by taking the form of anyone.

Is there any temple in India exclusively dedicated to Lord Parashurama?

 Kerala itself is called Parasurama Kshetra. Because Parasurama uplifted this state from drowning into the sea. When Parasurama threw his axe across the sea, and the water receded as far as it reached. The new area of land extended from Gokarna to Kanyakumari, as per the legend. The Parasurama temple is nearer to the Anantha Padmanabha Swami temple in Thiruvananthapuram.

Tiruvallam Parasurama temple is world famous as only temple of Parasurama. And it is also famous as Gaya, where Pithru Tarpanas (Balitarpana or Shraadham) are being conducted daily and we can watch many people doing ceremonies to their ancestors. The river nearby is called as Karamana river.

It counts among the 108 Abhimana Kshethrams in Sri Vaishnava tradition. The temple is 6 km from Kovalam Beach, 5 km from Thiruvananthapuram International Airport, 3 km from Thiruvananthapuram, and 3 km from Attukal Temple.

The heritage structure of temple is very great and is placed under the list of monuments of national importance. The idol of Parasurama is very beautiful.

Why is Ayodhya and the Ram temple such a big deal?

 

Ram : Lord Ram happens to be integral part of Hindu faith.

He is also worshipped by Ganpatya ; Sourya ; Smarta ; Vaishnav; Shaiva ; Shakta sects of Hinduism.

He is also adored by Nirguna sampadya (Kabir ; Nanak)

Tarak : Lord Shiva proverbially teaches Rama Nama to departing soul in Kashi ( Varanasi / Banaras)

It is known as Tarak Mantra (one that frees from cycle of birth and death)

Vishnu Sahasranama : This great hymn states taking Rama Nama thrice equals to thousand names of Lord Sri Hari Vishnu.

Ayodhya : Lord Rama was born in Ayodhya . It means invincible or unassailable in Sanskrit.

Sacred texts describe it as the best city ruled by Maryada Purushotam Ram, the best upholder of ethics.

Many ancient texts describe it as super prosperous state ruled by a selfless ruler.

Babar : Lord Ram’s abode was desecrated by Mir Baqi, a commander of Babar- a known iconoclast.

In 1528; He reportedly built a mosque at the abode of Lord Rama.

For centuries ; Lord Rama had no place and his idol was placed under a makeshift temple.

Naturally, it led to communal tensions and unrest among many Hindu devotees.

Politics : Ram Mandir issue changed national politics.

Many political commentators point out; it turned newly formed BJP into invincible National party.

It also led to unseen communal clashes ; demolition of Babri mosque ; terrorist attacks.

Temple : Finally , after Supreme court ruling ; a grand Ram Temple was built in 2024.

Lord Rama got his abode back.

Facts :Many jurists ; political analysts point out ; it should have been done years back.

People from all walks of life donated and contributed to Ram temple.

Lord Rama has got every right to reclaim his birth place.

Last, Lord Rama belongs to all !

Prayer : Sri Ganeshaya Namah Jai Sri Sita Ram Narayan Namo Parvatipataye Har Har Har Mahadev Shiv Shambo ! Jai Jai Hanuman Gosai Kripa Karo Gurudev Ki Nai !

Pic Credits : Google Images / Web