Vedanta Sangamam

Anukyai a Necessary Ritual  Well well...firstly I consider myself eligible to comment on the incidents that took place at the Seafield Mariamman Temple recently. Simple because I have been living in Subang Jaya for the past 16 years. Ever since then I have been visiting and worshiping in this temple. Secondly, when everyone has their version of the story, I too can have my version simply because I have been involved with temple rituals and I understand the Agamas.😉 Anukyai (permission) is an important ritual as per the Agamas. This ritual is to seek permission from the Moolavar (main residing and prevailing deity of a temple) for any initiatives that the temple management wish to pursue. Bearing in mind, as per the Agamas, the temple does not belong to a single person or a group of persons. A temple is considered the abodes of the God and the rightful owner is the Moolavar, Sri Maha Mariamman Herself. The temple management, priest and devotees are just executors of the Almig

Yaksha Prashnam Note: This is not my write up but an extraction and sharing from a website. This is something that is worth reading and to be treasured.  Questions of the Yaksha to Dharmaputra (Yudishtira) and his replies Background setting In the forsts Pandava princes spent nearly 12 years and were leading a life of courage and discipline. Once a Brahmana came to the princes and said that his Arani (The pair of wooden blocks to generate fire by friction) were entangled in the deer’s horns and the deer ran into the forest. He was upset as he was not able to start a fire and perform his daily rituals. The Pandava princes set out to catch hold of the deer and retrieve the Arani. The Pandavas followed the hoof marks of the deer throughout the day and reached deep in the forest. Dharma Puthra, the eldest of the Pandavas, became very tired and wanted to drink some water before carrying on the chase any further. Sahadeva, the youngest brother volunteered to bring the water. He s

A Meaningful Deepavali Deepavali--- Deepa Avali means fleet/row of lamps. Similar to the terms such as   Naamaavali- a string of names of the God or Swaravali- a string of musical notes- Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Da Ni. Why a fleet of lamps? In ancient days, houses a lit up whenever there is victory of good over evil and whenever Dharma is restored. Example, when Satyabama slayed NarakaSura, her own son, when Raama saved Sita and bestowed Dharma in Lanka, when Bheema slayed BakaSura, the citizens lit up oil lamps in their houses to signify restoration of peace, happiness and reinstatement of righteousness. From a distance if you look down from a hill peak, the lights will form a Deepavali, hence the day of celebration is called ‘Deepavali’. NarakaSura was considered to be born to Bhudevi (mother earth) and fathered by MahaVishnu himself during his Varaha Avataram the 3rd reincarnation of MahaVishnu). As promised by Mother Earth, NarakaSura could enjoy a long reign which only broug