Saptharishiswarar is one of the names for Lord Shiva. He is worshipped in this name at South India in an ancient temple. This ancient shiva temple dates back to 6600 years approximately. The exact age of the temple cannot be determined. The temple is located in South India in a small village called Thiruthalayur. The village located en route of Pulivalam to Musri is in Thurayur taluk of Tiruchy district in Tamil Nadu. History states the temple was erected by emperor PURAR approximately 6600 years back. The intention of erecting the temple was to ward of the Brahmahati Dosha, the emperor had. The temple is located in the river bed of Ayyaru, but the river has vanished long back and the lands around are cultivated lands now.
Shiva also known as Mahadeva is one of the principal deities of Hinduism. He is one of the supreme beings within Shaivism, one of the major traditions within contemporary Hinduism.
South India is the area including the five southern Indian states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Telangana, as well as the three union territories of Andaman and Nicobar islands, Lakshadweep and Puducherry, occupying 19% of India's area. Covering the southern part of the peninsular Deccan Plateau, South India is bounded by the Bay of Bengal in the east, the Arabian Sea in the west and the Indian Ocean in the south. The geography of the region is diverse with two mountain ranges–the Western and Eastern Ghats, bordering the plateau heartland. Godavari, Krishna, Kaveri, Tungabhadra, Periyar, Vaigai, Palar River, Ponnaiyar, Thamiraparani rivers are important non-perennial sources of water. Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Coimbatore, Kochi, Trivandrum, Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada-Guntur, Rajamahendravaram-Kakinada, Vellore, Tiruchirapalli, Madurai, Mysuru, Mangalore and Kozhikode are the largest urban areas.
Musri, or Muzri, was a small ancient kingdom, in northern areas of Iraqi Kurdistan. The area is now inhabited by Muzuri (Mussouri) Kurds.
There are 2 shivalingas in the temple. The Shivalinga in the main altar was worshiped by the saptha rishis. The other liga was erected by King Ravana and worshiped by him on the way from Kailash back to Lanka after obtaining a boon from lord Shiva for 35million years of life. King Ravana on his way back from Kailash saw this temple from his Viman and came down and made a linga and started worshipping it. The seven saints, Saptha Rishis on seeing Ravana hid in a tree behind the temple. A tree present behind the temple called Marutha Maram in native language exists. There are multiple knots on the tree and 7 prominent ones which are believed to be the rishis in the tree.
Ravana is described in the Hindu epic Ramayana as the great king of Lanka.
Since Ravana had 35million years to live, Lord Vishnu wanted it to be shortened. So he assumed the form of an old brahman at a place called Kathri Medu approximately 1km from Thiruthlayaur to tackle Ravana. As Ravana was passing by he saw the old man watering a Thulasi plant in pot with a pitcher with holes in it. King Ravana addressed the old man and the old man being pleased blessed him and told him to request more years of life from Lord Shiva. King Ravana took to the suggestion and started severe prayers to Lord Shiva. Ravana started cutting his ow head one by one as he had 10 heads. When he was about to cut his 10th and last head, pleased with his worship Lord Shiva appeared in front of him and granted a boon. Ravana asked for 5million years of life. The Lord granted him and vanished. Then Ravana realised he was tricked as he failed to mention that this 5million years was to be in addition to the 35million years he already had. But it was late and his life span was reduced from 35million years to 5million years.
In Hinduism, Brahman connotes the highest Universal Principle, the Ultimate Reality in the universe. In major schools of Hindu philosophy, it is the material, efficient, formal and final cause of all that exists. It is the pervasive, genderless, infinite, eternal truth and bliss which does not change, yet is the cause of all changes. Brahman as a metaphysical concept is the single binding unity behind diversity in all that exists in the universe.In shivaism the brahman is none other than the eternal source of knowledge, lord parashiva. In shaktism the eternal power or brahman is devi or durga with her consort as lord sadashiv. In vaishnavism the supreme power lies in the hands of Adinarayan or shri maha krishna.
Other interesting facts about the temple are a Ruthra Pasupathi Nayanar, one of the 64 Nayanmars, lived here and worshiped Lord Shiva. Also it i noted that for a period of 6 months the light from the sun in the morning falls on the feet or the base of the Shiva Linga for about 15 minutes during the day. A pond that adorns the front of the temple has water in it based on the monsoon that year. The pond had intricate canals constructed which lead water to the base of the shiva linga. But over the years the canal seems to have given way and water does not flow down to the linga as described in literature. Also noted according to folklore is the pond does not have any frogs in it. It is said Mandothari who was Ravana's wife assumed the form of a frog and guarded the temple when Ravana was in prayer and did not let anyone into the temple.
Monsoon is traditionally defined as a seasonal reversing wind accompanied by corresponding changes in precipitation, but is now used to describe seasonal changes in atmospheric circulation and precipitation associated with the asymmetric heating of land and sea. Usually, the term monsoon is used to refer to the rainy phase of a seasonally changing pattern, although technically there is also a dry phase. The term is sometimes incorrectly used for locally heavy but short-term rains.
Folklore is the expressive body of culture shared by a particular group of people; it encompasses the traditions common to that culture, subculture or group. These include oral traditions such as tales, proverbs and jokes. They include material culture, ranging from traditional building styles to handmade toys common to the group. Folklore also includes customary lore, the forms and rituals of celebrations such as Christmas and weddings, folk dances and initiation rites. Each one of these, either singly or in combination, is considered a folklore artifact. Just as essential as the form, folklore also encompasses the transmission of these artifacts from one region to another or from one generation to the next. Folklore is not something one can typically gain in a formal school curriculum or study in the fine arts. Instead, these traditions are passed along informally from one individual to another either through verbal instruction or demonstration. The academic study of folklore is called folklore studies or folkloristics, and it can be explored at undergraduate, graduate and Ph.D. levels.
There is not much history about Kungumabal. Such a great temple now stands in almost desolate ruins. It needs to be revived by proper construction.
Trimbakeshwar Shiva Temple is an ancient Hindu temple in the town of Trimbak, in the Trimbakeshwar tehsil in the Nashik District of Maharashtra, India, 28 km from the city of Nashik and 40 km from nashik road. It is dedicated to the god Shiv and is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas, where the Hindu genealogy registers at Trimbakeshwar, Maharashtra are kept. The origin of the sacred Godavari river is near Trimbak.
Srikalahasti Temple is located in the town of Srikalahasti, in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India. It is one of the most famous Shiva temples in South India, and is said to be the site where Kannappa was ready to offer both his eyes to cover blood flowing from the Siva linga before the Siva stopped him and granted him mukti.
Varadvinayak, also spelt as Varadavinayaka, is one of the Ashtavinayak temples of the Hindu deity Ganesha. It is located in Mhad village situated in Khalapur taluka near Karjat and Khopoli of Raigad District, Maharashtra, India. The temple was built (restored) by Peshwa General Ramji Mahadev Biwalkar in 1725AD.
Gokarna is a small temple town on the western coast of India in the Kumta taluk of Uttara Kannada district of the state of Karnataka. The main temple and deity is Lord Shiva, who is also known as Mahabaleshwara. This temple houses what is believed to be original image of Lord Shiva's linga (Atmalinga). There are many other temples all over this small town. Ankola and Kumta on NH66 are the main towns where as Bhatkal and Karwar are the main small cities near Gokarna where almost all trains have halts and are connected to major cities like Bombay, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Madras and Mangalore with private buses.
The Pancharama Kshetras are five ancient Hindu temples of Lord Shiva in Andhra Pradesh. The Sivalingas at these temples are made from a single Sivalinga.
Trimbak is a city and a municipal council in Nashik District in the Indian state of Maharashtra. The Trimbakeshwar Shiva Temple is located here, one of the twelve Jyotirlingas, where the Hindu genealogy registers at Trimbakeshwar, Maharashtra are kept.. The origin of the sacred Godavari river is near Trimbak.
Shiva Puja is the name of the action in Hinduism by which one worships Lord Siva through traditional and ancient rites with the use of mantra, tantra, kriyas, mudras, and abhishekam.
Thirumandhamkunnu Temple is a historically significant Hindu temple in Angadipuram, Perinthalmanna, which was the capital of Valluvanad Rajavamsham,in Malappuram district, Kerala state, South India. The temple deity, Thirumandhamkunnil amma, was the paradevatha of the kings of Valluvanad, the local feudal kings ruled the area in the Middle Ages. The Nair warriors of Valluvanad king set out from this temple to Thirunavaya, to participate in the famous Mamankam festival. A memorial structure called the chaver thara can be found in front of the main entrance of the Thirumanthamkunnu Temple.
Murdeshwara is a town in Bhatkala Taluk of Uttara Kannada district in the state of Karnataka, India. The town is located 13 kms from the taluk headquarters of Bhatkala. Murdeshwara is famous for the world's second tallest Shiva statue, the town lies on the coast of the Arabian Sea and is also famous for the Murdeshwara Temple. Murdeshwar has a railway station on the Mangaluru-Mumbai Konkan railway route.
Baijnath is a town in Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh. It is about 50 kilometres from Dharamshala which is the district headquarters. The ancient temple of Lord Shiva (Baijnath) is situated here giving the town its name.
The Vaikom Mahadeva Temple is a temple for the Hindu god Shiva in Vaikom, Kerala. The temple, along with Ettumanoor Siva Temple, Kaduthuruthy Thaliyil Mahadeva Temple is considered a powerful trisome. The belief is that if a devotee worships at these three temples before 'Ucha pooja', all the wishes are fulfilled.
Trikkur Mahadeva Temple is a rock-cut cave temple in Trikkur village in Thrissur District in Kerala believed to have been built in the 7th or 8th century. Being a cave temple, Buddhist and Jain monks uses the site to meditate alongside the Hindu monks. It is a protected monument under the Department of Archaeology, Govt of Kerala since 1966. The temple and its premises are now owned by Paliyam Trust which is managed by Kshetra Samrakshana Samiti.
The Mahabaleshwar Temple, Gokarna is a 4th-century CE Hindu temple located in Gokarna, Uttara Kannada district, Karnataka state, India which is built in the classical Dravidian architectural style. It is a site of religious pilgrimage. The temple faces the Karwar city beach on the Arabian Sea in which Hindu pilgrims cleanse before visiting the temple for worship. The temple is considered as holy as the Shiva temple at Varanasi or Kāśi (Kashi) in North India on the banks of the Ganges River. Hence, the Mahabaleshwar temple, Gokarna is known as the Dakshin Kasi. The temple deifies the Pranalinga also called Atmalinga or Shiva Linga In legend, it is said that the deity of the temple will bestow immense blessings to devotees, even to those who only glimpse it. Currently the administrative charge of the temple is with Sri Ramachandrapura Mutt, as per the guidance of Adiguru Shankaracharya during the establishment of the Matha.
Jaya Parvati Vrat is observed in Ashada Maas by unmarried girls and married women in Gujarat and some other Western India parts. This vrat is observed for five days for 5, 7, 9, or maybe even 11 years.
Ernakulam Shiva Temple, also known as Ernakulathappan Temple is one of the major temples of Kerala, located in heart of Ernakulam, the downtown area of the city of Kochi. The temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva, is considered as the city temple, with the presiding deity as the protector of the city, as per local Hindu faiths and traditions. As per the common practice in Kerala, the deity is reverently called Ernakulathappan, which means Lord of Ernakulam. The temple is located within the Durbar Hall Ground. The temple history itself has deep association with history of the city and was one of the 7 royal temples of Kochi Maharajas. The temple is now under administration of Cochin Devasom Board. The temple in its current form was built under active patronage of Diwan Sri Edakkunni Sankara Warrier in year 1846 and raised it level of a Royal temple in the Kochi Kingdom. The temple is built on 1-acre (4,000 m2) land. The temple is one of the major Shiva temples in Kerala counted along with the Ettumanoor Mahadevar Temple, Kaduthruthy Mahadeva Temple, Vaikom Temple, Chengannur Mahadeva Temple and Vadakkunathan temple.
Ananda Ramayana is a Sanskrit text written during the 15th century by an unknown person. The text has received little attention from scholars to date, though in some traditions, it is considered one of the principles sources of Rama stories.
The Karaneeswarar Temple is a 12th-century Hindu temple in the neighbourhood of Mylapore in Chennai, India. The temple is dedicated to Shiva. The main deity is a shivalinga. There are also shrines to Sarvamangala Vinayaka, Dandapani, Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswathi.
Ravananugraha or Ravananugraha-murti is a benevolent aspect of the Hindu god Shiva, depicted seated on his abode Mount Kailash with his consort Parvati, while the rakshasa-king (demon-king) Ravana of Lanka tries to shake it. The depiction is labelled variously as Ravana Lifting Mount Kailash or Ravana Shaking Mount Kailash. According to Hindu scriptures, Ravana once tried to lift Mount Kailash, but Shiva pushed the mountain into place and trapped Ravana beneath it. For a thousand years, the imprisoned Ravana sang hymns in praise of Shiva, who finally blessed him and granted him an invincible sword or a powerful linga to worship.
The Bhimeswar Dwadas Jyotirlinga Dham, one of the Jyotirlingas, is located at Dakini hill near Pamohi in Guwahati. It is situated at the hill just besides the Deepor Beel. It is believed that Lord Shiva had incarnated here to destroy a demon called Bhimasura and protect his devotees.
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