The Pournami day of the Tamil month Vaikasi (May-June) coming under the Visaakam star is called Vaikaasi Visaakam.What's special about this day?

In simple words, the Mahabhaarata was a fight between good and evil, namely the Pandavas and the Kauravas. The Pandavas were only five in number while the Kauravas were a hundred men. What does this signify?

It means that in our daily life, we face problems, too many of them, and our life itself is a Kurukshetra. In this, the good forces are few and the bad ones dominate. What an apt analogy!
But, the confused, despondent Arjuna is awakened by the Saarathy, and the Pandavas go on to rout the Kauravas. That is, shedding one’s ignorance and strengthening the resolve to defend Dharma are the only things that are needed to defeat even a seemingly monstrous opposition.

Everyone must have seen the beautiful picture of Arjuna in the chariot driven by Krishna, with the flag of Hanuman, in the Kurukshetra battlefield. Here, the horses pulling the chariot represent the s... Read More  

This is THE festival of Madurai that attracts huge crowds every year.Chithirai is the first month of the Tamil solar year (April-May) and Thiruvizha in Tamil means festival.What takes place in this 10 day festival is indeed a spectacular exhibition of religious fervour.

The celebrations begin with the ceremonial hoisting of the flag (Kodi Yetram). Most festivals atleast in Tamilnadu and Kerala have this as the beginning.This is followed by the Pattaabhisekam, or the coronation of Mother Meenakshi as the queen of Madurai.Then, She starts on Her DigVijayam, or conquest of the world.After this happpens the much awaited celestial wedding of the divine couple-Meenakshi and Sundareswarar.Following the wedding is the Ther Thiruvizha where the devout take the richly adorned chariots in procession through the city of Madurai.

With all the spotlight on the divine couple, here c... Read More  

Gange cha Yamune chaiva Godavari Saraswati
Narmade Sindhu Kaveri jalesmin sannidhim kuru

“In this water, I invoke the sacred waters of the Ganga, Yamuna, Godavari, Saraswati, Narmada, Sindhu and Kaveri.”
The Kanchi Paramachaarya brings out the strong message that the concept of “national integration” is nothing new to us Indians, and that we have been aware of this for centuries.
The above Shloka is chanted by the devout while having a bath anywhere. By chanting the names of important rivers in the subcontinent during one’s bath, one is reminded of the length and breadth of this great Desam, contrary to the popular notion that “India” as a nation is just a British creation.
To quote another example, Hindus perform rituals for their departed family members ... Read More  

There is a famous temple near my native place dedicated to the Mrutyunjaya, Lord Shiva who relieves the faithful of diseases. Vaitheeswaran Kovil, situated about 15 km from Mayilaaduthurai in Tamilnadu, is a temple where the presiding deity is Vaitheeswaran, meaning the “Lord of medicine”. One of the Navagraha temples situated in this region of Tamilnadu (Mars, Read More  

Thai Poosam is celebrated on the Pournami day of the Tamil month of "Thai", falling on the Poosam Nakshatra. The Poosam (Pushya) star is very auspicious for the inner growth of an individual.
Thai Poosam is the day Taarakaasura, the demon who troubled a lot of people, was destroyed by Lord Murugan. For the difficult task of annihilating the ferocious demon, Murugan was given 12 weapons! 11 of these were given by His father Shiva, and one was given by His mother Paarvathi. The one given by the mother is the "Vel" (spear).

Significance of the Vel:
Murugan is known as Velaayudha or Dhandapaani, the one with the "Vel/Dhanda" weapon in His hand. There is probably no depiction of Him without this powerful symbol. The Vel is the supreme wisdom that destroys negative tendencies and helps the devotee in ascension to higher
stages of spiritual growth, u... Read More  

Significance of the Pradosham
Everyday, twilight time (approx 5-6 PM) is known as the Dina (daily) Pradosha Kaalam, and the Pradosham on the 13th lunar day (Shukla/Krishna Paksha Trayodashi) is very special for the worship of Lord Shiva. Even more special is a Pradosham on a saturday, called Shani Pradosham. "Dosham" is the effect of a sin, and PraDosham means relief from this. That is, the devout who worship Lord Shiva during this time are liberated from Karmic effects, and this finally leads to Moksham, the ultimate liberation.

What has Shiva got to do with Pradosham?
The Guru Charitra, the book on Lord Dattatreya, explains this.
During the Samudra Manthanam, the churning of the sea in search of Amritham, the ambrosia of immortality, pleasant things happened, like the emergence of Lakshmi, Kamadhenu, etc. However, along wit... Read More  

I am obviously referring to the Hindu religion.
However, it's not the tolerance that politicians call secularism, that is referred to here.
Here we will see why different and even contrasting ways of worship are accepted in
Hinduism, and why there is no Visa issued to hell if you dont't follow a particular form of worship!

People have different behaviours, and vastly varying thought processes. In such a situation, enforcing one way of worship on a person is bound to create frustration. So, we have 3 versions of worship-Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga and Bhakti Yoga.

Consider the following (highly simplistic) concept of God:
1. Performing actions (rituals,etc) that will help everyone is good.
2. Knowledge is good. By gaining knowledge, mankind benefits.
3. God is good and will protect us.
Belief in the above 3 are the Karma, Jnana and Bhakti ... Read More