Archive for December, 2008

Brammaopadesam /upanayanam

BRAMMOPADESAM (SAMSKARA NO:8) UPA-NAYANAM-STARTING JOURNEY TOWARDS BRAHMAN. Out of the 40 Samskarams ordained for us, Upa-Nayana Samskara is coming as the 8th Samskara. Samskara is nothing but the process of purifying and refining a person and making him fit for sadhana. Samskara literally means to do well. By Samskara we wanted to convert the prakruthi [...]

Bhima ratha shanti -70th Birthday

70th birthday is celebrated as “Bhima ratha shanti“. Rituals similar to 60th birthday are conducted (including joyous activities like tying another mangala sutra).  80th birthday (or seeing 1000 Pournamis)is celebrated with kanaka Abhishekam (showering gold coins on the person who has attained 80 years)in addition to the usual shanti homams.

Shasti-Abtha-poorthi

Shasti-Abtha-poorthi – The Tradition & Significance The term Shasti in numerology denotes sixty (60). In an individual’s life, the completion of sixty years is referred to as Shastipoorthi. This term is derived from Sanskrit.Which means Shasti Sixty; abda completion. The sixtieth year in everyone’s life is a significant milestone. A memorable turning point. A touching [...]

Ayushya Homam -first anniversary

Ayusha Homam is performed to Lord Shiva, so that the devotee performing this homam will get longevity in life. Apa mrityu, Akala Maranam etc., are terms indicating untimely and unfortunate death. The best remedy is to perform Ayushya Homam on every birthday, as reckoned by the birth star not by the English date.

All about Iyer Community

source: Wikipedia  (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iyers) Iyers are South Indian Brahmins who reside in the states of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. Iyers are predominantly Smarthas or followers of the Smriti texts. The word Iyer is derived from the title Ayy? which is often used by Tamils to designate respectable people. There are number of etymologies [...]

Devi Mahatmyam reading during Navarathri

It is a long tradition that one reads the devi-bhagavatam or the devi mahatmyam (durga saptasati, 700 verses on Durga) during the 7 Days Navarathri period. If you refer to the agni purana, then it is said that the Puratashi and Panguni (in Tamil months) i.e. Ashvin and Chaitra are like the two jaws of [...]

Excerpts from Devi Mahatmiyam

Devii Maahaatmya, adhyaaya 5, shlokas 14-80. Sarva Mangala Mangalyae Shivae Savartha Sadikae Sharanyae Tryambakae Gauri Narayani Namostutae Salutations to the three-eyed Goddess, Gauri, the spouse of Shiva, who blesses us by fulfilling all our desires. We salute the Goddess Narayani who showers the highest blessings on us.

Upanayana

In the life of a Hindu boy of the three communities, namely Brahmins, Kshatriyas, and Vysyas, Upanayana marks the beginning of Brahmacharya Ashrama which is set apart for the study of Vedas; this stage is said to be the second birth for him. Mere wearing of a sacred thread initiated on the Upanayana day does [...]

Samskar – Hindu Rites of Passage

Rites of passage rituals are the most common special occasion rituals performed by Hindus. These are usually performed by individuals rather than brahmins and are conducted within the family. Hindus believe that there are four stages in life. Those being childhood, youth, middle age, and old age. These rituals are called samskars.

Mahalaya Amavasya and Pitri-paksha

The dark fortnight of Aswini Month is known as Mahalaya Paksha or the fortnight especially sacred for offering oblations to the departed ancestors. The last day of this period, the new moon day (Amavasya), is considered as the most important day in the year for performing obsequies and rites (or in simple terms offerings to [...]