SANKALPA SEVA INTRODUCTION Sankalpa Seva is a type of Seva observed by the devotees of Guru Raghavendra. There are various ways to please the Gurus and the gods. One such way to please our holy guru Raghavendra, and to remove the difficulties in our life, is by the way ofRead More →
HASTODAKA INTRODUCTION Hastodaka refers to offering the food as Neivedyam to Guru Raghavendra, and then it would be offered to the devotees. Whenever, if we have an opportunity to visit the holy Mantralayam Mutt, we must have to compulsorily consume the delicious food provided at the Mantralayam Temple. By takingRead More →
THIRUKALYANAM URCHAVAM INTRODUCTION Thirukalyanam urchavam would be performed to the divine deities in the famous temples like Tirumala to Lord Venkateswara with Ma Padmavathi, Thiruthani to Lord Murugan with Ma Valli and Devasena. This Seva would be usually performed by the newly married couples in the temples, in order toRead More →
VANABHOJANAM INTRODUCTION Vanabhojanam means serving food to the devotees under holy trees, and it would be served in big temples like Tirumala, and also in small temples during the Tamil month of Karthika. The food would be served to the devotees usually under the trees like Vilva, Arasa and Vanni,Read More →
ANNADANA SHELTERS INTRODUCTION Annadana shelters are those places wherein free food would be offered to the people. It would be offered in most of the temples, and also in private Annadana choultries. Food is very essential to survive in our life, and without taking food, we cannot live our life.Read More →
KURUKSHETRA WAR INTRODUCTION The Kurukshetra War is a war between the Pandavas and the Kauravas and it is mentioned in the holy epic Mahabharata. It is believed that at the present place of Haryana, the Kurukshetra war took place. This war was lasted for a period of 18 days, and after that,Read More →
SACRIFICE INTRODUCTION Sacrifice means sacrificing of anything in our life, like giving our food to others, giving all of our belongings for the purpose of construction of temples or to the poor people, donating our kidneys to our near or dears or to an unknown friend, or sacrificing all or ourRead More →
CONTROL OF OUR SENSES INTRODUCTION We can control our senses, only if we purify our mind. It can be controlled only through great efforts, and it is a never ending process. Only by adopting certain measures like doing meditation, yoga, worshipping the almighty from our heart, and also in theRead More →
INTRODUCTION Kantimathi (11th century AD) was the holy mother of Sri Ramanuja, and at her teenage, she got married to Sri Kesava Somayaji, a pious Brahmin scholar, and lived in Srperumbudur, and had one noble son, who was the great Vaishnative saint Sri Ramanuja and his birth name was Ilaya Perumal.Read More →
INTRODUCTION Markandeya was the son of Rishi Mrikandu, and was born with very good features. Similar to his father, he used to worship Lord Shiva at the Ashram and perform pujas and abhishekhams to the Shiva Lingam. According to legend, when he was nearing to lose his life by LordRead More →
INTRODUCTION The relationship between a bhakta and the bhagavan is that of a mother and a child. In this picture itself, we can see that Lord Narasimha is gently holding Bhakt prahalad in his hands. God expects only a true devotion from his devotees, and he didn’t expect any richRead More →
INTRODUCTION Pisharadi (1550-1621) was born in Trikkandiyur, Kerala, and he was a great writer, reader, astrologer and an ardent devotee of Lord Guruvayurappan. He also helped his student Sri Narayana Bhattathiri towards composing the devotional poem Sri Narayaneeyam. WORKS Pravesaka Karanottama Uparagakriyakrama Sphutanirnaya Chayastaka Uparagavimsati Rasigolasphutaniti Venvarohavyakhya Horasaroccaya Pisharadi played a vital role in bringing upRead More →
INTRODUCTION Markandeya was the son of Rishi Mrikandu, and was born with very good features. Similar to his father, he used to worship Lord Shiva at the Ashram and perform pujas and abhishekhams to the Shiva Lingam. According to legend, when he was nearing to lose his life by LordRead More →
INTRODUCTION Venkatamba(16th century AD) was the affectionate sister of Venkatanatha, who was known as Guru Raghavendra after becoming a saint, and she and her husband Sri Lakshminarasimhacharya played a vital role towards upbringing Venkatanatha in a proper manner at his younger age. After the death of her father Sri TimmanacharyaRead More →
INTRODUCTION Vedavati was the holy mother of the great Madhwacharya, whose birth name was Vasudeva, and her consort name was Naddantillaya. The couples were lived at a village in Karnataka. She was a noble woman and got great attachment on her son Vasudeva. The parents were performed Upanayana to VasudevaRead More →
INTRODUCTION Tatya Kote Patil plays an important role in the life of Sai Baba. Tatya maintained good relationship with Baba and was being protected by baba from his childhood. He was a favourite child of Sai. Tatya Kote Patil was born in a farmer’s family. His mother was Bayajabai, andRead More →
INTRODUCTION Shivalingavva Akka (20th century) was a great saint and a holy lady. Shivalingavva Akka was born and brought up in the Jat village, New Delhi. Due to her great thirst in spirituality, she has become a saint, and she was the disciple of Sri.Bhausaheb Maharaj. Due to her goodRead More →
INTRODUCTION Kumara Swamy Desikar (1711–1810), was a Shaivite saint and a spiritual writer and contains great bhakti on Lord Shiva. He was born into a pious Desikar family in Kanchipuram. He wrote books based on the importance of Lord Shiva and used to compose and sing beautiful songs on Lord Shiva in theRead More →
VERKADALAI SWAMIGAL INTRODUCTION Verkadalai Swamigal (20th century) was a great devotee of Lord Shiva, and he was born and brought up in Chennai. It is believed that he has worked in the High Court as an assistant, and after office hours, he used to give discourses on Shiva Puran andRead More →
Benefits of Self Surrender Self surrender is the highest form of bhakti. Self surrender is also known as Atma Nivedana. Eg: Mira, Gopis of Vrindavan. In Kathopanishad it is said, “The Lord chooses that man who has surrendered himself, reveals Himself unto him and bestows the highest wisdom on him.”Read More →