Ambalpady Sri Mahakali Temple

Posted on February 13, 2011 by

Ambalpadi Mahakali

I visited Ambalpady Mahakali temple around three months ago but couldn’t post because of some personal reasons.  I heard this temple name around 10 years back in Hubli.  There in a hotel they had kept picture of the goddess to get rid of a spirit.  This temple is situated around 2-3 km from Udupi, Karnataka on NH-17.  Idol of goddess is big around 6 feet height.  In most of the temples where Shakti (mother goddess) is worshipped there Shiva is also worshipped but here in this temple premises another temple of Lakshmi Janardhan is also situated.  

Mahakali Temple Ambalpadi

The name Ambalpady is derived from Amba meaning mother and Padi meaning “Top of a hill” in local language Tulu.  One more specialty of this temple is “Oracle” where mother goddess talks to its devotees through a person called PATHRI.  This happens on every Friday evening from 5:00 p.m. to 9 p.m.  During this occasion personal problems of people are heard and provided solutions.

Lakshmi Janardhana AmbalpadiLakshmi Janardhan is the form of God Mahavishnu.  Most of the devotees visiting Mahakali temple also visit this temple.  I visited this temple in the morning hours and there were very less devotees in the premises.   In my opinion it is better to visit temples in the non-festive season as it will be less crowded.  We can have a better “Darshan” of the deity. 

Ambalpadi Mahakali Temple entranceSome of the Pooja done at Ambalpady temple are Theertha Snana, Kunkumarchane, Panchamrutha Abhisheka, Saptashati Parayana, Chandika Homa, Raksha Yantra, Mahapooja, etc.

Ambalpadi Mahakali Temple

How to reach:

Nearest Railway Station: Udupi.

Nearest Airport: Mangalore.

By Bus: Reach Udupi and ask anybody about Ambalpady you will get the directions to reach the temple.

Udupi is on NH-17 around 1 hour journey from Mangalore.

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Thira – Sacred dance of God – Part II

Posted on February 5, 2011 by

Bhagavati Thira I mentioned in my last post that “Thira” is the furious form of God and hence this performance is done after midnight.  Dressing and make-up of this is little fearsome.  Above is the photograph of “Bhagavati Thira”.

Kuttichathan ThiraAbove is the picture of Kuttichathan.  Kuttichathan Thira is more interesting because while dressing him up only people around him will start singing legend of Kuttichathan.  At this point in time, god himself will get into his body and he starts blessing each one of the devotees.  I could not understand completely the legend behind Kuttichathan as they were singing in Malayalam but this was awesome.Gulikan Thira - 2Gulikan Thira was dressed very simple with coconut tree leaves when it was started but in the middle of the “Thira” there is a custom of putting a face mask which was designed as the face of a devil.  This was actually depicting the furious face of Gulikan as shown in the above picture.  He has to carry a long head dress made of bamboo splicing decorated with clothes and flowers.  This is very much difficult to balance as it is very long as much as more than 50 feet.  This Thira also ends with blessing the devotees, answering queries, and providing solutions.

Naga Kaali Thira - 3Naga Kali Thira was very much attractive with aggressive form of dance and also the way it was dressed.  Facial expression was also scary, at times used to roll the eyes and protruding tongue.  During the festival Swamiji was also used to get into trance and dance with the artists performing Theyyam.  During this period he will hold “Ayudham” and starts dancing.  At times, he was also hitting his head with the “Ayudham” and blood used come out like a fountain.

Swamiji in Trance After the Thira/Theyyam performance, a pooja called “Guruthi Pooja” was performed.  At the end of the this pooja sacrifice of sheep or goat and cock are done.  After all the pooja/Theyyam was done devotees were fed with prasadam and the whole festival was joyously ended.

For more pictures please visit : Thira – Sacred Dance of God pictures

Contact – www.pratyangirabhagavati.org

Posted in Festivals, Kanrataka, Mysore, Temples | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Kola – Sacred dance of God – Part I

Posted on February 4, 2011 by

Bhagavati Kola

In Pratyangira Bhagavati Temple during festival Kola is held whole night.  Kola is a type of sacred dance.  For each of the deities in the temple, there are different Kola’s.  Here in this temple, they conduct totally four “Kola” and four “Thira” for each of the four different deities.  Kola is performed before midnight and is a milder form of the God.  For example, Bhagavati has milder form such as “Lalithambika”as well as ferocious form like “Pratyangira”.  Above is the picture of Bhagavati Kola. 

Kuttichathan Kola A person will be dressed with costumes and make-up pertaining to one particular deity.  When the Kola comes out to dance it is believed that the God will get into his body and starts dancing.  Each of the Kola is dressed differently and also they dance in a different manner.  According to me, most attractive ones are “Kuttichathan and Naga Kali”.  Above is the picture of Kuttichathan Kola.

Naga Kali Kola Kuttichathan as the name itself says, he dances like a child and his face looks very innocent.  Whereas, Naga Kali’s dance is rigorous and runs all around the temple.  People really enjoy Naga Kali’s dance but feel little scared as it jumps and runs.  Above one is Naga Kali Kola.

Gulikan KolaEach Kola starts with dance and then he will speak to “Tantri” about the worship done whole year at the temple.  If there is anything wrong in the “Pooja” done that also will be told.  God inside the Kola also speaks about how he blessed his devotees who come to the temple.  At the end of each Kola, he will speak to the devotees and will suggest solutions to their problems.  Above is the picture of Gulikan Kola.

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Annual Celebrations @ Pratyangira Temple

Posted on January 25, 2011 by

Pratyangira-DecoratedAnnual Celebration of the “Pratyangira Yogeshwari Bhagavati Temple” was held on Saturday and Sunday (22nd and 23rd January 2011).  Festive activities were started on Saturday morning with special worship of the goddess.  Temple was elegantly decorated with flowers and oil lamps were burning in front of every deity in the temple as well as in the “Deepastambha”.  Temple was looking beautiful and lot of people were gathered to get the blessings of the goddess “Pratyangira Bhagavati”.

Pratyangira Temple - During FestivalThe deities worshipped at this temple are Pratyangira Bhagavati, Kuttichathan, Agoramoorthy, Naga Kali, Smashan Kali, and Gulikan.  Brahmarakshas is also worshipped at this temple as kshetrapala.  During the annual celebration of this temple, “Kola” and “Thira/Theyyam” are played as part of the festival.

Pratyangira-Other Deities-DecoratedAs the festival starts in the evening a ritual called “Kola or Vellattam” is performed and musical instruments called “Chande” are played.  According to Hindu mythology “Chande” is a musical instrument that is used to declare the war and various gods very much like this instrument.  During “Kola”, a person is dressed colorfully particular to one god and starts dancing.  It is believed that god will enter into the person’s body during “Vellattam” and god himself will be dancing.  This continuous whole night until the next day morning.  End of the festival, a pooja called “Guruthi pooja” is performed and during which sacrifice of animals is done (sheep and cock).

Glowing Temple in the EveningLot of people from nearby villages and town as well as devotees from places such as Mysore and Bangalore also visit this celebration and get the blessings of the goddess.  Since this temple is situated around 20 KM away from Mysore in a village area during the night time it looks beautiful.  End of this celebration prasadam is distributed to all devotees.

People Playing - Chande

Below is the picture of the temple in the night.

Pratyangira Temple in Night

Contact Address:

Sri Yogavidananda

Pratyangira Yogeshwari Bhagavati Temple

Shettinayakanahalli, Beerihundi Post

Gaddige Road, Mysore – 26

Phone: 9880546818 – 9342123976

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World Sanskrit Book Fair at Bangalore

Posted on January 8, 2011 by

Welcome World Sanskrit Bookfair

World Sanskrit Book Fair is being held from January 06, 2011 to January 10, 2011 at National High School Grounds, Basavanagudi.  It was amazing to see Sanskrit books on various topics.  Sanskrit Institutions from different states of India are participating in this book fair.  Some of the books displayed here are very difficult to get outside in bookstalls as they are available from only selected publications like Chaukamba Publications, Delhi.

World Sanskrit Bookfair entrance

Books displayed at various stalls included books on Tantra, Veda, Upanishad, Bhagavad Gita, Ramayana, Mahabharata, books on Indian Culture, Sriman Narayaneeyam (commentary in English in 3 volumes), etc.  Some of the books are useful for Sanskrit learners, some of them are useful for teachers and many of them are for scholars.

World Sanskrit Bookfair Inside

Books on Ayurveda, Yoga, devotional song CD’s/DVD’s, self-learning materials for Sanskrit and Veda are also available.

World Sanskrit Bookfair Board

Venue:

National High School Grounds, Basavanagudi – Bangalore

How to reach:

By Bus:  Catch any bus from Majestic / Market going towards Srinagar, Hanumanthnagar, Girinagar and get down at Ramakrishna Ashram – Basavanagudi

By own Vehicle:  National High School Grounds is nearby Ramakrishna Ashram Basavanagudi / Gandhi Bazar / Lalbagh.

World Sanskrit Bookfair conference hall

“DRISHYA KAVYA VAIBHAVAM” 

8th and 9th January 2011 Kuvempu Kalakshetra, K. R. Road

08-01-2011 Saturday

  • Kavya-Chitra – 10.00 a.m. to 12 p.m. (Dr. Ra Ganesh, Sri B.K.S Verma & Vid Venugopal)
  • Garba Dance Part-I 12.10 p.m. to 12.20 p.m.(Troupe from Gujarat)
  • Bihoo Dance – 12.25 p.m. to 12.45 p.m. (Troupe from Assam)
  • Vyakaranaparivar – 12.45 p.m. to 1.00 p.m. (Kanya Gurukul Mahavidyalay, Meerut)
  • Garba Dance Part-II 1.10 p.m. to 1.30 p.m.(Troupe from Gujarat)
  • Veethi Natakam – 1.30 p.m. to 2.00 p.m.(Students of “Shubham Karoti Gurukula” Bangalore)
  • Ashtavakra – Puppet show – 3.00 p.m. to 4.00 p.m. (Dhaatu Puppet Theater, Director: Anupama Hosakere)
  • Balacharitam – Film show – 4.00 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. (Abhinaya Bharati, Director Dr. S.R. Leela)
  • Pala – Katha Rupakam – 5.45 p.m. to 6.30 p.m. (Troupe from Orissa)

09-01-2011 Sunday

  • Balacharitam – Film show 12.00 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. (Abhinaya Bharati, Director Dr. S.R. Leela)
  • Yakshagana – 12.30 a.m. to 2.00 p.m. (Troupe from Sringeri, Karnataka )
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Kollur Sri Mookambika Kshetra

Posted on January 6, 2011 by

Sri Mookambika is the family deity for many Malayalis (people from Kerala) hence we can see lot of people talking Malayalam in Kollur.  K.J. Yesudas, a famous singer from India is a great devotee of goddess though he is a Christian by birth.  There are thousands of devotees who are blessed by the goddess.

Kollur Mookambika

In Sanskrit Mooka meaning dumb and Ambika is the name of Parwathi, wife of Lord Shiva.  According to the legend, a demon called Kaumasura was doing penance to please Lord Shiva and get a boon so that he should not die (to live forever).  By understanding his intent of penance Goddess Parwathi made him dumb so that when Lord Shiva appears before him he should not be able to ask for a boon.  Thus Kaumasura became Mookasura.  Later goddess killed Mookasura, hence named as Mookambika and stayed permanently at Kollur to bless the world.

Kollur Mookambika Temple

According to sthala purana, Kola Maharshi (monk) did penance in Kollur.  Lord Shiva pleased by his penance appeared before him and offered a boon.  Kola Maharshi wished nothing other than welfare of the mankind.  Lord told him that he would appear as a Swayambu Linga (A lingam which appeared by itself) but monk also wanted to worship Devi, so a swarna rekha appeared on the Lingam.  Thus, Shiva and Shakthi are kept together in the Lingam and worshipped.  Also, it is believed that all other deities are residing in the Lingam in non-form (aroopa).  Also, it is believed that Adi Shankaracharya installed Devi vigraha (idol) in Kollur and meditated in Kodachadri hills.  

Chariot - Kollur

Above is a picture of chariot made of wood with beautiful carvings.  This is a form of vehicle on which deity is carried during festive occasion.  In most of the temples, chariot is made of wood but there are chariots made of silver and even gold in some of the temples.  Devotees pull the chariot through the streets during the celebration.  

Elephant - Mookambika

In most of the temples in Karnataka as well as in Kerala elephants are kept and everyday during the “Maha Mangalarathi” they come to the temple entrance and start trumpeting and this is considered as auspicious.

In India God is worshipped with variety of flowers, leaves, water, milk and many more things.  “Pushpalankara” is a form of decorating the deity with flowers.  “Deepalankara” is also a form of decoration in which hundreds of “deepam” are lit up in front of the god and also around the temple.  Below is the picture of “Deepasthambham” in kollur.  (deepam – an oil lamp that is lit up while worshipping god)

Deepastambha - Kollur

For details regarding temple timings, route to visit the temple, Seva list etc please visit:  http://www.mookambikatemple.org/ and also http://www.kollur.com/

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Sri Sringeri Sharadha Peetham

Posted on January 3, 2011 by

Sringeri Sharadamba

“Hindu”  is an amazing religion which is the only one to offer myriad of gods to choose one of them as favorite deity.  Every form of god is specific to some kind of character.  For example, “Chamunda” is a female form of god which killed many demons whereas “Sharadamba or Saraswathi” is a form which bestows the power of fast learning.

Bharathiteertha Swamiji - SringeriSri Sringeri Sharadha Peetham hosts “Sharadamba” as the main deity.  Also, Sringeri is famous for its seers who are well versed in all the four Vedas and for their tough religious practices (katora sadhana), many of them became “Jeevanmuktas” (became liberated souls while living).  Sri Chandrasekhara Bharati was one of the seers of Sringeri who was titled as “Avadhoota Shikhamani” and used to be immersed completely in the universal truth. 

Sharadamba Temple - Sringeri

Sringeri is a very much famous pilgrimage center in Karnataka and is located amidst of beautiful sceneries in Western Ghats.  Holy River Tunga is flowing near the temple and adds serenity to the environment.   Sri Sharadamba is installed by Sri Sri Adi Shankaracharya.  Sringeri is near “Teerthahalli” and comes under Chikmagalur district.   Sringeri can be reached from Bangalore or Hubli via Shimoga and Teerthahalli, and from Mangalore via Karkala.

Vidya Shankara Temple

Visit “Guru Nivasa” to get the “Darshana” of the present seer Sri Sri Jagadguru Bharathi Tirtha Swamiji.  Also, we can walk around and see many other small temples, Veda Patashala (Veda School), Goshala (cattle shed), Gajashala (elephant stable), fishes in the river, and Nrisimha Bharati Yaga Mantapa.  Lunch and Dinner are provided in the Mutt everyday free of cost.  

Gurunivasa

How to reach:

From Bangalore – Reach Shimoga and go via Teerthahalli.   Distance around 350 Km.

From Mangalore – Via Karkala.  Distance around 105 Km.

Temple timings: Morning 5:30 to Night 9:00

For more information please visit: http://www.sringerimutt.info/contacts.html

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