Dear Gopalakrishna Sir, Your posts make me realize the enormous loss I sustained by totally concentrating on books in English.What a wonderful life you have been leading,an Engineer but very familiar with our spiritual heritage. YM
On Sun, Apr 3, 2022 at 6:14 AM 'gopala krishnan' via iyer123 < [email protected]> wrote: > QUES ANSW DIVINE 04-2022-03 > > Dear friends, > > These are information compiled as QA by me in 1998’s-2004’s and stored in > my computer. They are posted by *very learnt members*. > > *BEING COMPILATION THERE MAY BE ERRORS.* > > Sincerely, > > *R. Gopalakrishnan, 78, dated 03-04-2022* > > Q1 What is abhang? > > A1 Abhang or Abhanga is a form of devotional poetry sung in praise of > the Hindu god Vitthala also known as Vithoba. > > Bhajans focus on the inward journey, abhangs are more exuberant > expressions of the communitarian experience. *Abhangs were first sung by > the Varkari saints like Tukaram in their native language, Marathi* > > Q2 Do Adi sanakara asked the local chief to ear mark a corner of the area > surrounding the house for cremation of the dead of the family? > > A2 There is a legend like that for the origin of cremation area in the > compound > > ADI SHANKARA became a sanyasin at an early age, but had to be near the > death bed of his mother as promised by him for getting permission from her > to take SANYASA and as given by swami SIVANANDA “ Sankara received news > that his mother was seriously ailing. He left his disciples and proceeded > toKaladi alone. His mother was then bedridden. Sankara touched her feet in > reverence. He praised Lord Hari. Hari’s messengers came. Sankara's mother > gave up her physical body and went along with those messengers to the > abode of Hari.”(Kindly Read MATHRU PANCHAKAM- A good translation is given > by Brahma Sri. P.R.RAMACHANDER, and in the Blogger called > PALLASSANAS > > > Sankara encountered serious difficulties in performing the funeral > rites of his mother. Usually, Sannyasins do not perform any of the rites > or ceremonies which are enjoined on the householders. The Nambudiri > Brahmins > were all against Sankara. > > Sankara's relatives also did not help him. They did not come forward to > assist him even in carrying the dead body to the place of cremation > and refused to give fire for igniting the funeral pyre. *At last > Sankara determined to perform the funeral rites all alone. * > > As he could not carry the entire dead body, he cut it into pieces and > removed the pieces one by one to the backyard of the house. He then > made a pyre there of stems of plantain trees and set fire to it by > his Yogic power. Sankara wanted to teach the Nambudiris a lesson. He > then made the local chief issue an edict that a corner should be set > apart in each *Illam* or house of the Nambudiri Brahmins to burn the > dead of the family and that they should cut the dead body into parts > and then burn the same. This practice continues even today amongst > Nambudiri Brahmins.” > > *My note- Tamil Brahmins settled in Kerala took prority in having samooha > matam and separate cremation ground*. In many places cremation grounds > near highways have been taken away for high way expansion by Government. My > home is an example. *Cremation ground of about 20 cents of land near > highway, in my boyhood days, now the remaining after highway expansion is > about 2 cents of land. * > > Q3 What are the details of Hemambika temple at Palakkad? > > A3 Sage Parasurama reclaimed vast area of land from the sea, hence this > is known as Parasurama Kshetra. It is believed that Parasurama > consecrated four temples for Goddess Ambika,Balambika at cape comerin, > Lokambika at Loknarkav near Badakara, Mookambika at Kollur and Hemambika > at palakkad > > Originally this temple was in the midst of the western ghats with thick > forest.This area was known as Neelimala, Akamala and Karimala. *Goddess > Durga (Hemambika) was at Karimala*. According to the legend two Namboodri > Brahmins used to visit this Holy place daily for worship crossing the > protected wild forest tracks on feet. > > The elderly Namboodris later became very old and found difficult to carry > out the daily routine of worship in the mountain. > > One night Goddess appeared before Karur Namboodri in his dream and > consoled that she will be seen at the temple pond near his house and > he can worship from there. Early next morning the radiant devotee rushed > towards the pond and found two beautiful hands coming out from the > middle of lake.Karur Namboodri in his excitement jumped into the pond > and swim to the centre and caught hold of the hands. > > Immediately the hands turned into stone and became stationary. The > present kallaikulangara temple derive its name from this incident. > Kaimuk and karur Namboodris began to worship the hands. The present > temple is constructed on the land reclaimed from the pond lake. > > The temple was built with the help of the local ruler Sekhari varma > valiaraj of Palakkad.Now the temple is under the control of Malabar > Devoswam board who look after the daily routine shedule. > > It was Adi shankara who brought an order in the mode of daily worship and > decided upon the different offerings to the diety.The Goddess is worshipped > as Saraswathi in the morning as lakshmi in the noon and Durga in the > evening. > > Q4 Everybody knows Sage Vedavyasa, born of Sathyavati and Sage Parasara > Maharishi, divided the Vedas into four groups (the Vedas were imparted by > God to Brahma), so as to be accessible to Humanity at large. It is told the > same was taught to four disciples Name the disciples and part taught > > A4 Vedavyasa taught them to his disciples the four Vedas as follows: > > Rik Veda was taught to Paila > > Sama Veda was taught to Jaimini > > Yajur Veda was taught to Vaisampayana and Atharvana Veda was > taught to Sumanthu > > Q5 What is the granite used for Guruayoorappan? > > A5 The idol of Lord Krishna is a 'Pathalanjana Shila' - a variation of > black granite that is harder than metal and considered sacred. A pair > of elephant tusks adorns the doorway of the sanctum sanctorum. > > Q6 3Where is Kadayanallur? How do the place got named so? > > A6 Kadayanallur is a small town in the Tirunelveli District of the state of > Tamil Nadu in southern India. The name Kadayanallur comes from > "Kadaikaleeswara" > , the name of the presiding deity of Kadaikaleeswarar kovil, a Hindu > temple located in Kadayanallur. It is located in the foothills of > the Western Ghats near the kuttralam Waterfalls and Tenkasi. > > Q7 Do While performing Nivedyam to Krishna Tulsi is a must? > > A7 When devotees make such food offerings, they should remember to > place tulasi leaves or flowers on them because Lord Vishnu does not > accept any food without tulasi. Tulasi is most beloved of Lord Krishna > and thus her leaves and flowers are also most dear to Him. > > Q8 Do Tulasi and Lekshmi are co- wives of Vishnu. Do they live together? > Whether thulasi leaves are offered to Lord Siva? > > A8 Tulsi is seen as Lakshmi's co-wife for her unconditional devotion to > Vishnu, but as Laksmi is very jealous of her, she resides in the home whereas > Tulsi remains in the courtyard. > > By convention, the Tulsi Leaf is not offered to Shiva, just as Bel Leaves, > dear to Shiva, are not offered to Vishnu. Tulsi leaves are also not > offered to Goddess Lakshmi as she was once annoyed during her love sport > with Vishnu, when his attention got diverted towards Tulsi. > > Q9 Do Tulasi leaves are used in cooking too? > > A 9 Not in India but in other countries. Tulsi is used in cooking for > its flavorful foliate. In fact, it is often used to flavor Mediterranean > and Italian cuisine. The fresh or dried leaves add a distinctive > flavor to many foods, such as pasta, rice and salads and its purple > colour makes it an excellent garnish. > > Q10 What are the medicinal use of Tulsi leaves and Tulsi seeds? > > A10 The juice of fresh leaves, flower tops and slender roots is a very > good antidote for snakeand scorpion bite. -Tusli seeds are known for > their killer action on abdominal worms. > > Children suffering from roundworm infection can be safely given a > quarter of a teaspoon of crushed tulsi seeds at bed time for at least > three consecutive days. > > Q11 What is the benefit of watering Tulasi? > > A11 If one waters her or makes her wet, the fear of Yamaraja (death > personified) is destroyed." - From the Skanda Purana > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "iyer123" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to [email protected]. > To view this discussion on the web visit > https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/iyer123/1565110458.733282.1648946672695%40mail.yahoo.com > <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/iyer123/1565110458.733282.1648946672695%40mail.yahoo.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> > . > -- *Mar* -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Thatha_Patty" group. 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