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Brahmotsava
A brahmotsava (), also rendered mahotsava and tiruvila () is the principal festival of a Hindu temple. Commonly held in South India, the ''murti''s of a temple's deities are dressed in silk garments, decorated with ornaments, garlands, and other paraphernalia. They are carried from the sanctum to the streets upon palanquins or chariots by adherents, accompanied by musicians and crowds of devotees, who ritually venerate the deity. Brahmotsavas are held in a grand-scale in major temples of Tamil Nadu, such as the Ranganathaswamy Temple of Srirangam, the Nataraja Temple of Chidambaram, and the Meenakshi Temple of Madurai. Etymology Literally meaning "the festival of Brahma", the creator deity is regarded to conduct the ceremony of this event. Description The event is commonly classified into three categories based on duration: ''sāttvika'' (nine days), ''rājasa'' (seven days), and ''tāmasa'' (five days). In Tamil Nadu, an annual brahmotsava festival occurs for a period ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Srivari Brahmotsavam
Sri Venkateswara Swami Vari Brahmotsavam or Srivari Brahmotsavam is the most significant annual fête celebrated at the Venkateswara Temple in Tirumala-Tirupati, Tirupati district, Andhra Pradesh, India. which falls between the Telugu calendar of Aasveeyujamu and the Gregorian calendar months of September or October. The ''Utsava-murti'' (processional deity) of the presiding deity, Venkateswara, and his consorts Sridevi and Bhudevi are taken on a procession on several ''vahanams'' on the streets surrounding the temple. The celebration attracts pilgrims and tourists from all over India and around the world. A ''Brahmotsavam'' is a cleansing ceremony in honor of Lord Brahma, and the ceremony at Tirumala is the largest. Etymology The word ''Brahmotsavam'' is a combination of two Sanskrit words—''Brahma'' and ''utsavam'' (festival)—and Brahma reportedly conducted the first festival. ''Brahma'' also means "grand" or "large". Srivari Brahmotsavam is also known as "Venkateswara S ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Venkateshvara
Venkateswara (, ), also known as Venkatachalapati, Venkata, Balaji and Srinivasa, is a Hindu deity, described as a form or avatar of the god Vishnu. He is the presiding deity of Venkateswara Temple, Tirupati. His consorts, Padmavati and Bhudevi, are avatars of the goddess Lakshmi, the consort of Vishnu. Etymology and other names Venkateswara literally means "Lord of Venkata". The word is a combination of the words ''Venkata'' (the name of a hill in Andhra Pradesh) and ''iśvara'' ("Lord"). According to the ''Brahmanda'' and '' Bhavishyottara'' Puranas, the word "Venkata" means "destroyer of sins", deriving from the Sanskrit words ''vem'' (sins) and ''kata'' (power of immunity). Venkateswara is known by many names such as Srinivasa (''in whom Lakshmi dwells''), Narayana (''The Primordial One''), Perumal (''the great lord''), Malayappa (''the lord of the Hill'') and Govinda (Protector of Cows). In Tamil, he is commonly called "Elumalayan", meaning Lord of Seven Hills. In Telu ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Tirumala
Tirumala is a Hindu religious temple town in Tirupati district of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. It is one of the neighbourhoods of the Tirupati city. The town is a part of Tirupati Urban Development Authority and located in Tirupati (urban) mandal of Tirupati revenue division. The town is strictly vegetarian. It is a hill town where Tirumala Venkateswara Temple is located, a popular shrine of Vishnu. Vishnu is believed to reside here with his full power, as in Vaikuntha, and thus the place is also called 'Bhuloka Vaikuntha'. Etymology The word Tirumala is of Dravidian origin. The term “Tiru” means sacred or holy, and “Mala” means mountain or hill. The prefix "Tiru" (or "Thiru") is a widely recognised Dravidian word and is used in many South Indian place names. Geography Tirumala is located above sea level and covers an area of approximately . Surrounding the hills are seven peaks of the Seshachalam range of Eastern Ghats namely Seshadri, Neeladri, ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ranganathaswamy Temple, Srirangam
The Ranganathaswamy Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Ranganatha (a form of Vishnu) and his consort Ranganayaki (a form of Lakshmi). The temple is located in Srirangam, Tamil Nadu, India. Constructed in the Tamil Architectural style, the temple is glorified by the Tamil poet-saints called the Alvars in their canon, the Naalayira Divya Prabhandam, and has the unique distinction of being the foremost among the 108 Divya Desams dedicated to the god Vishnu. The Andal Rangamannar swamy Temple temple stands shanti nagar constituency in active worship with a continuous historical presence as a Hin/du temple. Some of these structures have been renovated, expanded and rebuilt over the centuries as a living temple. The temple is an thriving Hindu house of worship and follows the Tenkalai tradition of Sri Vaishnavism, based on the Pancharatra agama. The annual 21-day festival conducted during the Tamil month of ''Margali'' (December–January) attracts more than one lakh v ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Bhoota (ghost)
A ''bhoota'' (, ''bhūta'') is a supernatural creature, usually the ghost of a deceased person, in the popular culture, literature and some ancient texts of the Indian subcontinent. Interpretations of how bhootas come into existence vary by region and community, but they are usually considered to be perturbed and restless ghost, restless due to some factor that prevents them from moving on (to reincarnation, transmigration, non-being, nirvana, or swarga or naraka, depending on tradition). This could be a violent death, unsettled matters in their lives, or simply the failure of their survivors to perform proper funerals. Belief in ghosts has been deeply ingrained in the minds of the people of Indian subcontinent, the subcontinent for generations. There are many allegedly haunted places in Indian subcontinent, the subcontinent, such as cremation grounds, dilapidated buildings, palaces, havelis, forts, forest bungalows, burning ghats, etc. Ghosts also occupy a significant place in ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Nandi (Hinduism)
Nandi (), also known as Nandikeshvara or Nandideva, is the bull ''vahana'' (mount) of the Hindu god Shiva. He is also the guardian deity of Kailash, the abode of Shiva. Almost all Shiva temples display stone images of a seated Nandi, generally facing the main shrine. Etymology The Sanskrit word ''nandi'' () means happy, joy, and satisfaction, the properties of divine guardian of Shiva-Nandi. The application of the name Nandi to the bull (Sanskrit: ''Vṛṣabha'') is a development of recent syncretism of different regional beliefs within Shaivism. The name Nandi was widely used instead for an anthropomorphic door-keeper of Kailash, rather than his mount in the oldest Shaivite texts in Sanskrit, Tamil, and other Indian languages. Siddhanta texts distinguish between Nandi and ''Vṛṣabha''. Legend Nandi is described as the son of the sage Shilada. Shilada underwent severe penance to have a boon– a child with immortality and blessings of Shiva, and received Nandi as hi ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Sthala Vriksha
A Sthala Vriksha (), also rendered Sthala Vruksham refers to a sacred tree associated with a site, most often a Hindu temple. Such trees form a prominent feature of koils, Hindu temples of the Dravidian style. Besides the dominant feature of a temple's architecture, comprising the gopuram (gateway tower), vimanam (tower), and the sanctum, the temple tree is also considered holy. Some temples and historical places derive their names from such trees. In the contemporary era, the importance of these trees are reiterated by doing pujas to them, and tying sacred threads and bells during days of religious importance. Significance Several historical Hindu temples are associated with a tree. Trees are found to symbolise growth and prosperity. In South Indian village folklore, there is a tree or forest associated with goddesses like Kali, Amman, Mariamman, or Ellai Pidari. When the trees or the forests are not properly maintained, the residents are believed to get punished in the form ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Darshan (Indian Religions)
In Indian religions, a ''darshan'' (Sanskrit: दर्शन, ; 'showing, appearance, view, sight') or ''darshanam'' is the auspicious sight of a deity or a holy person. The term also refers to any one of the six traditional schools of Hindu philosophy and their literature on spirituality and soteriology. Etymology The word ''darshana'', also in the forms of ''darśana'' or ''darshanam'', comes from the Sanskrit root of दर्शन ''dṛś'' 'to look at', 'to view', vision (spirituality), vision, apparition or glimpse. Definition ''Darshana'' is described as an "auspicious sight" of a holy person, which bestows merit on the viewer. It is most commonly used for theophany, meaning a manifestation or vision of the divine. In Hinduism In Hindu worship, it refers to seeing a deity (especially in image form), or a very holy person or artifact. One can receive ''darshana'' or a glimpse of the deity in the temple, or from a great saintly person, such as a great guru. One can ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Pujari
Pūjari is a designation given to a Hindu temple priest who performs pūja. The word comes from the Sanskrit word "पूजा" meaning worship. They are responsible for performing temple rituals, including ''pūjā'' and ''aarti''. ''Pujari'' are mainly drawn from the Hindu Brahmin and Billava History See also *''Goswami'' *''Pandit A pandit (; ; also spelled pundit, pronounced ; abbreviated Pt. or Pdt.) is an individual with specialised knowledge or a teacher of any field of knowledge in Hinduism, particularly the Vedic scriptures, dharma, or Hindu philosophy; in colonial-e ...'' *'' Purohit'' *'' Yogi'' *'' Bairagi'' References External links * Surnames of Indian origin * Hindu priests Titles and occupations in Hinduism {{hindu-stub ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Dhvajastambha
The dhvajastambha (ध्वजस्तम्भ) refers to the flagstaff erected in front of the ''mukhamaṇḍapa'' (front pavilion) of a Hindu temple. The ''dhvajastambha'' is usually built within the temple walls (''prākāra''). They are traditionally built of wood and stone, where the wooden variety is often finished with a metal covering (''kavaca''). The dhvajastambha is a common feature in South Indian temples. Two other objects that are grouped together with this flagstaff are the '' bali pitham'' (altar for offerings) and the vehicle (vahana) of the deity to whom the temple is dedicated. Symbolically, these three objects are shields that protect the sanctuary of the temple from the impure and undevoted. Hiltebeitel, Alf (1991). The Cult of Draupadi, Volume 2: On Hindu Ritual and the Goddess'. University of Chicago Press. . pp. 91-92. See also * Dhvaja * Gopuram * Vahana * Hindu temple architecture Hindu temple architecture as the main form of Hindu architecture ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Shiva
Shiva (; , ), also known as Mahadeva (; , , Help:IPA/Sanskrit, [mɐɦaːd̪eːʋɐh]) and Hara, is one of the Hindu deities, principal deities of Hinduism. He is the God in Hinduism, Supreme Being in Shaivism, one of the major traditions within Hinduism. Shiva is known as ''The Destroyer'' within the Trimurti, the Hinduism, Hindu trinity which also includes Brahma and Vishnu. In the Shaivite tradition, Shiva is the Supreme Lord who creates, protects and transforms the universe. In the goddess-oriented Shaktism, Shakta tradition, the Supreme Goddess (Devi) is regarded as the energy and creative power (Shakti) and the equal complementary partner of Shiva. Shiva is one of the five equivalent deities in Panchayatana puja of the Smarta Tradition, Smarta tradition of Hinduism. Shiva has many aspects, benevolent as well as fearsome. In benevolent aspects, he is depicted as an Omniscience, omniscient yogi who lives an Asceticism#Hinduism, ascetic life on Kailasa as well as a house ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Dhvaja
Dhvaja (; ) is the Sanskrit term for a banner or a flag. Flags are featured in the iconography, mythology, and architecture of Indian religions such as Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism. They are one of the ashtamangala, the eight auspicious emblems of these religions. Hinduism In Hindu iconography, deities are often portrayed with flags, often represented carried or present alongside their mounts. Such flags are often venerated due to their association of a given deity, and also due to the fact that they are regarded to be imbued by their divine attributes. A flag staff or a votive column ( dhvajastambha) is often erected in front of temples or on top of their roofs. These columns are regarded to symbolise the world axis, and a pillar between earth and heaven. A chapter from the epic Mahabharata describes the various flags and their devices borne by the warriors of the Kurukshetra War: * Abhimanyu - Deer * Arjuna - Hanuman * Ashvatthama - Lion's tail with golden rays * Bh ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
