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Kanaka Durga Temple
Kanaka Durga Temple, officially known as Sri Durga Malleswara Swamyvarla Devasthanam, is a Hindu temple dedicated to Kanaka Durga. The deity in this temple is also popularly referred as ''Kanaka Durga''. The temple is located in Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh, India on the Indrakeeladri hill on the banks of Krishna River. Kaalika Purana, Durgaa Sapthashati and other Vedic literature have mentioned about Kanaka Durga on the Indrakeelaadri and have described the deity as Swayambhu, (self-manifested) in Triteeya Kalpa. Goddess legend The popular legend is about the triumph of Kanaka Durga over the demon King Mahishasura. It is said that the growing menace of demons became unbearable for the natives. Sage Indrakila practiced severe penance, and when the goddess appeared the sage pleaded to her to reside on his head and keep a vigil on the wicked demons. As per his wishes of killing the demons, Durga made Indrakila her permanent abode. Later, she also slayed the demon king Mahishasura ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
India
India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area; the List of countries by population (United Nations), most populous country since 2023; and, since its independence in 1947, the world's most populous democracy. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the south, the Arabian Sea on the southwest, and the Bay of Bengal on the southeast, it shares land borders with Pakistan to the west; China, Nepal, and Bhutan to the north; and Bangladesh and Myanmar to the east. In the Indian Ocean, India is near Sri Lanka and the Maldives; its Andaman and Nicobar Islands share a maritime border with Thailand, Myanmar, and Indonesia. Modern humans arrived on the Indian subcontinent from Africa no later than 55,000 years ago., "Y-Chromosome and Mt-DNA data support the colonization of South Asia by modern humans originating in Africa. ... Coalescence dates for most non-European populations averag ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Hanuman
Hanuman (; , ), also known as Maruti, Bajrangabali, and Anjaneya, is a deity in Hinduism, revered as a divine ''vanara'', and a devoted companion of the deity Rama. Central to the ''Ramayana'', Hanuman is celebrated for his unwavering devotion to Rama and is considered a '' chiranjivi''. He is traditionally believed to be the spiritual offspring of the wind deity Vayu, who is said to have played a significant role in his birth. In Shaiva tradition, he is regarded to be an incarnation of Shiva, while in most of the Vaishnava traditions he is the son and incarnation of Vayu. His tales are recounted not only in the ''Ramayana'' but also in the '' Mahabharata'' and various ''Puranas''. Devotional practices centered around Hanuman were not prominent in these texts or in early archaeological evidence. His theological significance and the cultivation of a devoted following emerged roughly a millennium after the ''Ramayana'' was composed, during the second millennium CE.Paula Richman ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Saraswati
Saraswati (, ), also spelled as Sarasvati, is one of the principal Devi, goddesses in Hinduism, revered as the goddess of knowledge, education, learning, arts, speech, poetry, music, purification, language and culture. Together with the goddesses Lakshmi and Parvati, she forms the trinity of chief goddesses, known as the Tridevi. Sarasvati is a pan-Indian deity, venerated not only in Hinduism but also in Jainism and Buddhism.Ludvik (2007), pp. 1, 11. She is one of the prominent goddesses in the Historical Vedic religion, Vedic tradition (1500 to 500 BCE) who retains her significance in later Hinduism. In the Vedas, her characteristics and attributes are closely connected with the Sarasvati River, making her one of the earliest examples of a Rivers in Hinduism, river goddess in Indian tradition. As a deity associated with a river, Sarasvati is revered for her dual abilities to purify and to nurture fertility. In later Vedic literature, particularly the Brahmanas, Sarasvati is i ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Tripura Sundari
Tripura Sundari (Sanskrit: त्रिपुरसुन्दरी, IAST: Tripura Sundarī), also known as Lalita, Shodashi, Kamakshi, and Rajarajeshvari, is a Hindu goddess, revered primarily within the Shaktism tradition and recognized as one of the ten Mahavidyas. She embodies the essence of the supreme goddess Mahadevi. Central to the Shakta texts, she is widely praised in the ''Lalita Sahasranama'' and '' Saundarya Lahari''. In the Lalitopakhyana of the '' Brahmanda Purana'', she is referred to as Adi Parashakti. The term "Tripura" conveys the concept of three cities or worlds, while "Sundari" translates to "beautiful woman." She signifies the most beautiful woman across the three realms, with associations to the yoni symbol and the powers of creation, preservation, and destruction. According to the Srikula tradition in Shaktism, Tripura Sundari is the foremost of the Mahavidyas, the supreme divinity of Hinduism and also the primary goddess of Sri Vidya. The '' Tripu ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Gayatri
Gayatri (Sanskrit: गायत्री, IAST: Gāyatrī) is the personified form of the Gayatri Mantra, a popular hymn from Vedic texts. She is also known as Savitri, and holds the title of ''Vedamata'' ('mother of the Vedas'). Gayatri is the manifestation of Saraswati and is often associated with savitr, Savitṛ, a solar Devi, deity in the Vedas, and her consort in the Puranas is the creator god Brahma. Gayatri is also an epithet for the various goddesses and she is also identified as "Chaitanya (consciousness), Supreme pure consciousness". Origin Gayatri was the name initially applied to a metre of the Rig Veda consisting of 24 syllables. In particular, it refers to the Gayatri Mantra and the Goddess Gāyatrī as that mantra personified. The Gayatri mantra composed in this triplet form is the most famous. Most of the scholars identify Gayatri as the feminine form of Gayatra, another name of the Vedic Solar god which is also one of the synonyms of Savitri and Savitr, Savit ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Annapurna (goddess)
Annapurna, Annapurneshwari, Annada or Annapoorna (Sanskrit: अन्नपूर्णा, IAST: Annapūrṇā, lit. ''filled with or possessed of food'') is a manifestation of Parvati and is known as the Hindu goddess of food and feeding. Worship and offering of food are highly praised in Hinduism, and therefore, the goddess Annapurna is regarded as a popular deity. She is a manifestation of the goddess Parvati, the paredra of Shiva, and is eulogized in the '' Annada Mangal'', a narrative poem in Bengali by Bharatchandra Ray. The ''Annapurna Sahasranam'' is dedicated to the goddess and praises her one thousand names, while the ''Annapurna Shatanama Stotram'' is dedicated to her 108 names. A few temples exist that are dedicated to her, some of the most prominent being the Annapoorneshwari Temple established by Agastya at Horanadu and Annapurna Devi Mandir in Varanasi. Since Akshaya Tritiya is considered to be the birthdate of Annapurna, the day is believed to be very aus ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Bala Tripurasundari
Bala Tripurasundari (), also known as Balambika, is variously described as the younger aspect and daughter of the Hindu goddess Tripura Sundari. She is a tutelary goddess of the Tantric Shri Vidya tradition. Literature In the Brahmanda Purana, Bala Tripurasundari is mentioned in chapter 26 of the Lalita Mahatmya, where she seeks to battle against the forces of the asura Bhandasura. Bearing the appearance of a nine year old, but possessing great prowess, she sought her mother's permission to slay the sons of the asura. The goddess Tripura Sundari demurred, raising objections of her daughter's young age, her love for her, as well as pointing out there were a number of Matrikas ready to join the fray. When her daughter insisted, the goddess gave in, offering her her very own armour and a number of weapons. She slew the thirty sons of Bhandasura in battle.Shastri, J.L.: "The Brahmanda Purana - Part IV" pages=1174-1175. Motilal Barnasidass Publishers, reprint 1999 See also * ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Navaratri
Navaratri () is an annual Hindu festival observed in honor of the goddess Durga, an aspect of Adi Parashakti, the supreme goddess. It spans over nine nights, first in the month of Chaitra (March/April of the Gregorian calendar), and again in the month of Ashvin (September–October). It is observed for different reasons and celebrated differently in various parts of the Hindu Indian cultural sphere. Theoretically, there are four seasonal ''Navaratris''. However, in practice, it is the post-monsoon autumn festival called Sharada Navaratri. There are 2 Gupta Navaratris or "Secret Navaratris" as well, one starting on the Shukla Paksha Pratipada of the Magha Month (Magha Gupta Navaratri) and another starting in the Shukla Paksha Pratipada of Ashadha Month. Etymology and nomenclature The word ''Navarātram'' means "a period of nine nights" in Sanskrit, ''nava'' meaning "nine" and ''ratri'' meaning "night". Dates and celebrations In the eastern and northeastern states of ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Varalakshmi Vratam
Varalakshmi Vratam (), also called Varalakshmi Puja, is a Hindu observance to propitiate the goddess of prosperity, Lakshmi. Varalakshmi is the manifestation of Lakshmi who grants boons (''varam''). It is a puja primarily performed by married Hindu women in the states of South India. This occasion is observed on the Friday before the day of the full moon - Purnima - in the Hindu month of Shravana, which corresponds to the Gregorian months of July – August. The Varalakshmi Vratam is primarily performed by married women (''sumangali''), for their own well-being, and in order to ask the goddess to bless their husbands with health and longevity. Ceremony On this occasion, women worship the goddess Lakshmi with utmost devotion, offering fruits, sweets and flowers, usually a kalasham (representing the deity) is decorated with a sari, flowers and gold jewellery, with offerings placed in front. The puja begins with the formal welcome of Lakshmi into one's house. A wooden tray ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Shraavana
Śrāvaṇa () is the fifth month of the Hindu calendar. In India's national civil calendar, Śrāvaṇa is the fifth month of the year, typically beginning in mid to late July and ending in late August. In the Tamil calendar, it is known as Āadi and is the fifth month of the solar year. In lunar religious calendars, Śrāvaṇa begins on the new moon (according to the amanta tradition) or the full moon (according to the purnimanta tradition) and is the fifth month of the year. ''Srabon'' (; also spelt ''Sravan'') is the fourth month of the solar Bengali calendar. It is also the fourth month of the Nepali calendar. Śrāvaṇa is also the second month of ''Varsha'' (the rainy season). In the solar Assamese calendar it is the fourth month of the year, and is called ''Xaün''. The month of Shravana is very important for the entire Indian subcontinent, as it is connected to the arrival of the south-west monsoons. For many Hindus, the month of Shravana is a month of fasting ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Swayambhu
Svayambhu () is a Sanskrit word that means "self-born", "self-manifested", "self-existing", or "that that is created by its own accord". Various deities and entities featured in Hindu literature and tradition are regarded to be svayambhu, such as Brahman in the Upanishads, and the Trimurti of Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva, and Manu in the Puranas. The term svayambhu is also used to describe the belief of a self-manifested image (''murti'') of a deity present in a temple, which is described to be not of human creation, but of natural or divine origin. Such images are described in some of the regional legends of religious sites called the sthala puranas. Some of the best examples of such images include the twelve Jyotirlinga images of Shiva, and Venkateswara image of Vishnu. Etymology Svayambhu is a portmanteau of the Sanskrit words ''svayam'' (स्वयम्) which means 'self' or 'on its own' and ''bhū'' (भू) which means 'to take birth' or 'arising'. Literature A ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
