Pranam
Kal garuda
At many Hindu temples in India, there are some amazing wonders that are
mystical in nature and no explanation is satisfactory as to how such things
occur. They baffle our imagination and remain as an enigma. One such a
riddle is the stone Garuda (stone Eagle), the mount (Vahana) of the Hindu
God Vishnu. When it is taken out in a temple procession from its shrine, it
is interesting to note that stone garuda’s weight keeps increasing and when
it is taken back to its shrine, reversal in weight occurs. That the weight
of the same stone image at different places is at variance is a mystery. It
is a true recurrence during the festival season in a Vishnu temple in Tamil
Nadu and it is not a cock and bull story to impress on the people
Nachiyar Kovil, a small town near the temple town of Kumbakonam in the
South Indian state of Tamil Nadu, is famous for the Vishnu temple and also
for brass lamps of various sizes and designs. There are many small-scale
industries here, making all kinds of beautiful temple lamps using an alloy
of ve metals and they are known for their artistic work of exceptional
beauty. Built in the Dravidian style of architecture, this temple (5th
century AD) that follows Thekalai tradition, is one of the 108 Divyadesam
dedicated to Vishnu and is gloried in the Divya Prabandham, the early
medieval Tamil canon of the Azhwar saints from the 6th to 9th centuries AD.
Here the presiding deity is Srinivasa Perumal and his consort Lakshmi as
Nachiyar. This temple is also referred to as Thirunarayur Nambi Temple.
In this divyadesam, Goddess Vanjulavalli Nachiyar is given much
importance over Lord Srinivasa perumal and the tradition here is, on all
festive occasions, the rst rights are reserved for Nachiyar - goddess. In
the festival procession, Vanjulavalli Thaayar leads the way ahead of
Srinivasa perumal and even the food is served rst to Vanjulavalli Nachiyar
at this temple. Kal Garuda, an image of Vishnu's mount or Vahana, is the
most prominent feature of this temple.This vahana is the only one made of
stone among the 108 Divya Desam shrines. According to the temple legend,
the sculptor who made the idol of Garuda, became frustrated as the bird
flew away each time when he made a new image with the wings. Driven by
frustration, he threw a stone at Garuda, who unfortunately, got injured
and decided to stay at the temple as Kal Garuda to bless the people. The
Garuda image here is made of *Saligrama stone* (available in the Himalayan
region) and is located outside the main sanctum and near the Thayyar shrine.
During the annual festival procession in the Tamil months of
Margazhi (December– January) and Panguni (March - April), the festive
images (Utsavar) are normally taken out in procession on silver plated
Garuda made of clay or some metal. Kal Garuda (stone Eagle), mount of
Vishnu, Nachiyar Kovil Now occurs the mystifying thing that may scratch our
brain.
1 The kal garuda (stone bird) requires just four people to carry him
from his shrine and as he moves ahead at each phase, it needs people in
multiples of 8, 16, 32, 64 to carry the vahana, before reaching the
Vahana Mantapam (hall) near the temple entrance. Here Garuda is adorned
with silk dhoti, jewels and special ower garland sent by the Srirangam
temple. With Tahayyar - goddess leading the procession, Kal garudar begins
his 6 hour long journey at 7 pm with handsome Perumal atop the vahana. As
the Kal garuda Vahaha in the procession has moved out of the temple and on
the street, it now requires 128 people to carry him around. The puzzle is
the weight of the stone image is the same no matter how many people carry
it. Otherwise, stone itself would become big or density of the stone image
would be way high. It does not happen that way. Does any *supernatural
force* act on the mysterious stone image of Garuda and increase it's
weight? When the garuda Vahana along with the procession returns to the
temple in the early morning, reversal in weight takes place. The number
of people needed to carry it decreases in multiples of 128, 64, 32, 16, 8,
and at last in its own shrine stone Garuda needs just four people to set it
back in its place.
2 Yet another note-worthy feature is, it is said, *drops of sweat* are
observed on the image of Kal Garuda during the sixhour-long procession on
this festive occasion, Garuda receives honors from Srinivasa Perumal
(presiding deity) in the form of dress and ornaments, etc for his services
On Wed, 20 Jan 2021 at 20:36, 'gopala krishnan' via iyer123 <
[email protected]> wrote:
> *CULTURAL QA 01-2021-14*
>
> *Being a compilation there may be errors*
>
> *Q1 Which fruits are good for health in covid-19 (Corona)?*
>
> A1 Anuradha Kamath November 11-2020-Ayurvedic practitioner,
> Writer, Spiritual aspirant.
>
> Here are Fruits that are good for health during Covid 19.
>
> Especially fruits containing Vitamin C And Vit D are excellent to
> increase immunity and restore health during this viral infection. Here are
> some fruits and preparations
>
> Amla juice, candy morabba powder lehya etc…
>
> Amla contains vitaminC, it has immunity boosting antioxidants too.VitC is
> 5 times more than lemon in Amla !!
>
> Amla juice ,Amla chutney Amla morabba etc are useful in Covid infection to
> reduce infection as well as increase immunity and strength .
>
> Thriphala juice and Qwaatha. Thriphala is containing 3 fruits named
> Amalaki vibhithaki and Hareethaki. Thriphala juice or Thriphala qwaatha is
> one of best dwtox during covid infection.
>
> It is good to increase immunity all the 3 ingredients are rich in
> antioxidants gallic acid mallic acid which increase immunity.
>
> It has antiviral antibacterial and antimicrobial actions too.Thus 3
> myrabolans are best choice during Covid 19 infection. Intake of fruits for
> Covid 19 and washing properly to make it clean .
>
> Vit C ,Zinc and Vit D containing fruits Adand vegetables too
>
> Fruits that are hydrating and energezing..Rain bow coloured fruits are
> good..
>
> *Q2 Who are Brahma and Brahmani?*
>
> A2 Varada Amonkar 20-1-2021-I've researched and read lot
> regarding Indian epics.
>
> Brahmani is shakti of Lord Brahma who is also called Goddess Saraswati.
> She is one of Matrika goddesses and is also called Goddess Brahmani.
>
> Varaha Purana states that-
>
> “Vishnu too created one highly strong Shakti named Devi Vaishnavi and
> other Deities followed suit and created their Shakti counter-parts viz.
> Brahmi from Brahma, Goddess Kaumari from Kartikeya, Goddess Mahendri from
> Indra, Yami or Poushunyam from Yama, Varahi from Varaha Deva and Maheswari
> from Narayan.”
>
> *Q3 What are the small lessons that life teaches every day?*
>
> A3 Ritesh Kumar Mishra Updated January 1-2021-Keen to share
> philosophic topics.
>
> Once there was a person who was very hard-working and *focused on earning
> more and more money for a better livi*ng. It was his goal to accumulate
> as much wealth as he could. He worked very hard and made a great career.
> The man was so busy with all his work that he never got time to meet his
> family or spent quality time.
>
> Before long he realized that he worked all his life and didn’t enjoy
> anything throughout his journey. So, *he decided he should take a break
> from work and live in the luxury that he owned.*
>
> Just when he decided to enjoy his life, death came to him. Now being a
> wealthy person he tried to buy time from death in exchange for his
> wealth, but death was unmoved.
>
> He was so desperate to live that he made many proposals to death but in
> vain, because they were all rejected by death.
>
> He made last proposal to death where he asked for one hour so that *he
> can adore nature and spend quality time with his family, but death was
> unmoved.*
>
> Finally man requested death to give him one minute so that he can write
> goodbye note to his family. Death conceded his proposal.
>
> The man wrote in his note, “Spend time given to you the right way. Listen
> to your heart and check if the surroundings you are living in have true
> value. Cherish every minute of your life because once time passes and death
> comes, you can’t even buy one hour with your accumulated wealth or
> assets.”
>
> Moral: We never know how much time we have left to stay on this planet, so
> we should enjoy each moment of our life. Give time to what’s important.
> Spend time with family and enjoy life as much as you can.
>
> *Q4 Can you tell about a few temples having wonders ?*
>
> A4 A few such temples are listed below:-
>
> 1) Nachiyar Kovil (temple) : The Growing Garuda
>
> Being one of the 108 Divya Desams, this temple honours the woman deity
> Nachiyar first and then Lord Srinivasa, the male deity joins the procession.
>
>
>
> *The mystery unfolds only when the Kal Garuda (The Stone Eagle Structure)
> is taken out during the procession.*
>
> Initially, only four people are required to carry the stone Garuda out of
> the sanctum sanctorum and the number multiplies to 8, 16, and 32 men.
>
> The weight of the stone Garuda keeps increasing from the moment it is
> taken out of its holy shrine.
>
> 2)Betta Bhairaveshwara Temple: The Unknown
>
> There lies a small temple at the top the Pandava Gudda Hills in Sakleshpur
> of Karnataka. The picturesque views keep the charm of this old shrine
> intact.
>
> No one knows who built this temple but Indian Epic Mahabaratha has a great
> connection with this temple.
>
> There is a staunch belief that Pandavas stayed near this temple for a
> while during their exile.
>
> Dedicated to Lord Shiva, Betta Bhairaveshwara Temple celebrates an Annual
> Abhisheka during the January month where devotees throng in huge number.
>
>
>
> 3)Hasanamba Temple : Rarity at its Peak
>
> This temple is opened only once in a year, exactly in the first Thursday
> after the full moon in the Ashwayuja month (according to Hindu Calendar).
>
> The temple remains open just for a week or 10 days during the festival of
> lights, Diwali. The lamp, flowers, and prasad remain unspoilt when the
> temple doors are opened after a year.
>
> It is also observed that a mystical stone here inches closer every year
> toward Goddess Sakthi. It is believed Kali Yuga (The Last Cycle of the
> World according to Hindu beliefs) will come to an end once the stone
> reaches the feet of the Goddess.
>
> 4) Growing idol of Lord Vinayaka at Kanipakam
>
> An unbelievable truth about the divine image of Lord Vinayak of Kanipakam
> is that the *idol is reportedly growing in size with the passage of time.*
>
> Currently, only the knees and abdomen of the idol are visible.
>
> The testimony to the fact is the silver kavacham (armour) offered to the
> idol by one of the ardent devotees about fifty years ago, which does not
> fit the idol today.
>
>
>
> 5)Janardhana temple at Varkala, Kerala
>
> The idol of Janardhana has Aabhojana in its right hand. People believe
> that this hand is rising slowly toward his mouth.
>
> The day that the idol Janardhanaswami eats the aabhojana the kaliyuga will
> be over and the world will face the great deluge.
>
> My note-There is a Naga pushpa tree in front of the temple . The flowers
> appear as Phanam(expanded hood) of the of snakes. One would feel fearful
> on first seeing the flower.
>
> 6)Yaganti Temple Mysterious Growing Nandi
>
> Sri Yaganti Uma Maheshwari temple is located at Kurnool district.
>
> It is said that - The Basavanna (stone nandi) of Yaganti will come alive
> and shout when Kali Yuga ends.
>
> It is said that people used to do Pradakshinas (rounds) around it in the
> past. The temple staff has already removed one pillar as the size of the
> Nandi has increased.
>
> The devotees believe that the Nandi (Bullock, Lord Shiva’s) idol in front
> of the temple is continuously increasing its size.
>
> The locals say that the idol was initially much smaller than its present
> size. They say that certain experimentation was carried out on this idol.
>
> It was said that the type of rock out of which the idol is carved has a
> growing or enlarging nature associated with it.
>
> As per Archaeological Survey of India the rock grows at the rate of 1 inch
> per 20 years (10 mm per 8 years).
>
> Source : The 8 Mysterious and Interesting Temples to Visit in India | The
> Strangest Temples of India (Part 1)
>
> Q5 Lord Krishna used Sudarshan Chakra many times even in presence
> of a lot of people. How is it possible that no one realised he is a divine
> being?
>
> A5 Bhanu Kiran September 21-2020-Exploring ancient texts of
> Sanatana Dharma
>
> When Krishna was born, he had four arms. Devaki asked him to appear like
> a ordinary human being so that Kamsa doesn’t recognize his true identity. It
> was only after Kamsa was slayed, people started to learn Krishna was a
> divine being through the famous sages who openly declared this fact. In
> Bhagavad Gita, Arjuna mentions four sages who proclaimed Krishna as a
> supreme godhead.
>
> Arjuna said: You are the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the ultimate
> abode, the purest, the Absolute Truth. You are the eternal, transcendental,
> original person, the unborn, the greatest. All the great sages such as
> Nārada, Asita, Devala and Vyāsa confirm this truth about You, and now You
> Yourself are declaring it to me.[1]
>
> In the Rajasuya sacrifice of the Pandavas, Bhishma asks Yudhishthira to
> make Krishna as the chief guest giving his justification as follows:
>
> He that approveth not the worship offered unto Krishna, the oldest one in
> the universe, deserveth neither soft words nor conciliation. The chief of
> warriors of the Kshatriya rare who having overcome a Kshatriya in battle
> and brought him under his power, setteth him free, becometh the guru
> (preceptor or master) of the vanquished one. I do not behold in this
> assembly of kings even one ruler of men who hath not been vanquished in
> battle by the energy of this son of the Satwata race. This one (meaning
> Krishna) here, of undefiled glory, deserveth to be worshipped not by
> ourselves alone, but being of mighty arms, he deserveth to be worshipped
> by the three worlds also. Innumerable warriors among Kshatriyas have been
> vanquished in battle by Krishna. The whole universe without limit is
> established in him of the Vrishni race. [2]
>
> Draupadi also knew Krishna is incarnation of Lord Vishnu as she directly
> mentioned Krishna as Govinda during Vastraharan.
>
> O Govinda, O thou who dwellest in Dwaraka, O Krishna, O thou who art fond
> of cow-herdesses (of Vrindavana). O Kesava, seest thou not that the
> Kauravas are humiliating me. O Lord, O husband of Lakshmi, O Lord of Vraja
> (Vrindavana), O destroyer of all afflictions, O Janarddana, rescue me who
> am sinking in the Kaurava Ocean. O Krishna, O Krishna, O thou great yogin,
> thou soul of the universe, Thou creator of all things, O Govinda, save me
> who am distressed[3]
>
> Krishna went as a peace messenger to Kuru Sabha. There he tried to
> convince Duryodhana to return the Indraprasta kingdom back to Pandavas. But
> despite all his efforts, Duryodhana did not agree. Krishna gets frustrated
> and suggested to Dhritarashtra that for a sake of family, an individual
> may be sacrificed and Duryodhana should be tied and handed over to Pandavas.
> Duryodhana attempts to seize Krishna and his plan fails as Krishna showed
> his Virata Roopa.
>
> Here, however, are all the Pandavas and all the Vrishnis and Andhakas.
> Here are all the Adityas, the Rudras, and the Vasus, with all the great
> Rishis. Saying this Kesava, that slayer of hostile heroes burst out into a
> loud laughter. And as the high-souled Sauri laughed, from his body, that
> resembled a blazing fire, issued myriads of gods, each of lightning
> effulgence, and not bigger than the thumb. And on his forehead appeared
> Brahman, and on his breast Rudra. And on his arms appeared the regents of
> the world, and from his mouth issued Agni, the Adityas, the Sadhyas, the
> Vasus, the Aswins, the Marutas, with Indra, and the Viswedevas. And myriads
> of Yakshas, and the Gandharvas, and Rakshasas also, of the same measure and
> form, issued thence. And from his two arms issued Sankarshana and
> Dhananjaya. And Arjuna stood on his right, bow in hand, and Rama stood on
> his left, armed with the plough. And behind him stood Bhima, and
> Yudhishthira, and the two sons of Madri, and before him were all the
> Andhakas and the Vrishnis with Pradyumna and other chiefs bearing mighty
> weapons upraised. And on his diverse arms were seen the conch, the discus,
> the mace, the bow called Saranga, the plough, the javelin, the Nandaka, and
> every other weapon, all shining with effulgence, and upraised for striking.
> And from his eyes and nose and ears and every part of his body, issued
> fierce sparks of fire mixed with smoke. And from the pores of his body
> issued sparks of fire like unto the rays of the sun. And beholding that
> awful form of the high-souled Kesava, all the kings closed their eyes with
> affrighted hearts, except Drona, and Bhishma, and Vidura, endued with great
> intelligence, greatly blessed Sanjaya, and the Rishis, possessed of wealth
> of asceticism, for the divine Janardana gave unto them this divine sight on
> the occasion. And beholding in the (Kuru) court that highly wonderful
> sight, celestial drums beat (in the sky) and a floral shower fell (upon
> him). [4]
>
> Despite all these efforts, Duryodhana still refused to accept Krishna's
> divinity even after seeing it with his own eyes.
>
> Footnotes
>
> [1] Bg. 10.12-13
>
> [2] Sabha Parva: Rajasuyika Parva: Section XXXVII
>
> [3] Sabha Parva: Sisupala-badha Parva: Section LXVII
>
> [4] Udyoga Parva: Bhagwat Yana Parva: section CXXXInswer
>
> *Q6 Why is the Meenakshi goddess green?*
>
> A6 Devala Rees November 11-2020-There’s no particular reason.
> She’s just green.
>
> There are certainly some associations. She is sometimes associated with
> the goddess Matangi, who is also green. The color green is additionally
> associated with Budha, and is a symbol of intelligence or knowledge/wisdom.
> It’s generally an auspicious color, being the color of thriving,
> well-watered plant life, which means abundant food and overall harmony in
> nature.
>
> But ultimately, it’s simply that Bhaktas who have seen visions of the real
> goddess Meenakshi report that Her skin is green. That’s just what She
> looks like.
>
> All the above QA are based on Quora digest to me on 17-1-2021. Quora
> answers need not be 100% correct answers
>
> *Compiled and posted by R. Gopala krishnan on 20-1-2021*
>
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