DALPATRAM INTRODUCTION Dalpatram Dahyabhai Travadi (1820–1898) was a Gujarati poet lived during the 19th century. He was a social reformer and conducted lectures for improving the standard of living of the poor people. He was against caste discrimination and child marriage, and encouraged in the remarriage of widows. Dalpatram was born in the year 1820 at a city of Surendranagar district in a Brahmin family. At his young age itself he used to chant the Mantras and studied the religious scriptures. He was a child genius and showed his extraordinary literary skills by composing bhakti songs on Lord Krishna at the age of 12. He had trained in…
Author: hinduscriptures
BHAKTA DAYARAM INTRODUCTION Dayaram (1777–1853) was a Gujarati poet and he was well known in Gujarati literature and he was a strict follower of Vaishnavism. Similar to the great Vittal devotees, Narsi Mehta, Thukaram and Meera, he is considered as a main person in the Krishna Bhakti movement in Gujarat. Dayaram was born in the year 1777 in Chanod, Gujarat on the banks of the Holy Narmada River in a pious Gujarati Brahmin family. Though he has not completed his school education, he was interested in singing devotional songs on Lord Krishna in the Vishnu temples. Due to the death of his parents, he lived with his relatives in a village at Gujarat.…
DWAJASTHAMBAM AND BALI PEETAM INTRODUCTION A Dwajasthambham also called as kodi maram is a flagstaff, which is found in most of the Hindu temples. When we enter into the temple we can find the Bali Peetam situated near the Dwajasthambham. The word Bali means “Sacrifice”. Unfortunately, the meaning has been misunderstood and people used to sacrifice the animals inside the temple on the Bali Peetam. But the main purpose of having a Bali Peetam in the temple is entirely different. According to the Agama Sastra, when we enter into the temple we should Surrender our Ego and Bad Thoughts in front of the Bali Peetam and enter…
GARBHAGRIHA INTRODUCTION Garbhagriha is the main Sanctum of the chief deity of the temple. Although the term is related mainly with Hindu temples, it is also associated with Jain and Buddhist temples. The room has a single entrance, without any windows. It is usually constructed in a spacious manner, in order to be seen by the worshippers outside. Entrance to the Hindu Garbhagraha is restricted only to priests and other devotees are allowed to sit only outside the sanctum of the temple. The entrance of the Garbhagraha would be covered with the divine guards of the deities on both the sides, who appear in a fierce…
KANUA BABA INTRODUCTION Kanua Baba is a saint of Uttar Pradesh, India, and he lived before few centuries ago. He was a kind and a noble saint who had done many wonders in the life of his devotees. He was a great devotee of Mata Durga Devi, and used to perform pujas to her at her temples. Kanua Baba was considered similar to Shirdi Baba, and he healed the diseases of the people through his divine touch. He is considered as a divine AMSA of Lord Kala Bhairava, and protects his devotees during their difficulties and dangers. He set up an ashram…
LORD KORAGAJJA INTRODUCTION Lord Koragajja is a form of Lord Shiva, and he is worshipped as the main deity in Mangalore. Some sects of Mangalore people worship him as their Kula Deva. Koragajja is considered as one of the most sacred god in Mangalore, and he is considered as very powerful and he is worshipped as the Ishta Deva by the village people in Mangalore. He is also known by various other names in other places, but in Mangalore he is called as Koragajja. He is the giver of the boons, and the fulfilment of our wishes. People used to…
SWAMI UMESH YOGI INTRODUCTION Swami Umesh Yogi is a disciple of Shri Baba Ji Maharaj. He was born in a Brahmin family in India and he started his Spiritual work with the guidance of his Guru Shri Baba Ji, who follows the tradition of AdiShankracharya. He has studied yoga and meditation from his younger age itself. Swami Umesh Yogi has travelled to foreign countries and spread his spiritual mission. Swami ji is a social reformer, thinker and writer and conveyed the Peace message “LOVE OTHERS, DEVELOP FRIENDSHIP WITH OTHERS, BE GENEROUS AND BEHAVE WITH OTHERS IN A KIND MANNER,…
SWAMI MITRANANDA INTRODUCTION Swami Mitrananda is an obedient disciple of Swamy Chinmayananda. He is a great scholar and a spiritual personality who is presently living in Chennai and looking after the spiritual activities of the Chinmaya Mission, Chennai centre. Chinmaya Mission Chennai Address is: No.2, 13th Avenue, Harrington Road Chetpet, Chennai – 600031. He is serving as a Teacher of the Chinmaya Mission, Chennai by teaching spiritual subjects to the students in an easily understandable manner, he is serving as a Director of All India Chinmaya Yuva Kendra, and he is publishing the magazine Chinmaya Udghosh for imparting spiritual…
SWAMI UDIT CHAITANYA INTRODUCTION Swami Udit Chaitanya belongs to Kerala, and he has completed his Vedic studies in Mumbai. After becoming a great Vedic scholar, he worked for a few years in Chinmaya Mission. He was inspired by the teachings of Swami Sevananda, and began to teach and preach the Hindu Holy Scriptures to the people in India and in abroad. Swami has dedicated his life towards spreading the message of love and affection, faith on god, simplicity and kindness, and he taught many good things to the people for their welfare. Swami is the founder of the Bhagavatham Village…
SWAMI TADATMANANDA INTRODUCTION Swami Tadatmananda (1932 – 2008) had joined in the Ramakrishna Mutt, California centre during the year 1959, and he has become a saint in the year 1971. His birth name was John Markovich, and he was born in Michigan in the year 1932 to a pious Christian family. While attending the primary school, John used to draw beautiful pictures of the great Lord Jesus Christ, and due to that, he was appreciated by the teachers and by his fellow students. He was highly recognized for his skills, and due to that, he used to draw spiritual pictures…
SWAMI TAPASYANANDA INTRODUCTION Swami Tapasyananda served as a saint in the Ramakrishna Mission, and he was a disciple of Swami Shivananda, one of the chief disciples of Sri Ramakrishna. He was a great scholar, and he has written many books in English, and also translated the Hindu scriptures in English. His translation of Bhagavata Purana had received a wide recognition, and he was praised for his wonderful work by the devotees of Sri Ramakrishna and by the general public. He was the president of Ramakrishna Mutt, Chennai during the period: 1971 to 1991. WORKS Sri Ramakrishna life history Sri Sarada Devi life history Swami Vivekananda life history Swami…
SWAMI ADVAYANANDA INTRODUCTION Swami Advayananda, started his spiritual journey with the Chinmaya Mission at his young age itself. Inspired by Swami Chinmayananda, he has joined in Chinamaya Mission in the year 1992. He has become a saint in the year 2003 through the guidance of Swami Tejomayananda, the Head of the Chinmaya Mission. He administered the Chinmaya International Residential School (CIRS), Coimbatore in the year 1996, and he became the head of the Sandeepany Vidyamandir in the year 2000 and conducted Vedic classes for young students at Coimbatore, and also established Sandeepany Sadhanalaya, the premier Institute of Vedic studies of…
MATA BISILAMMA Among the various village goddesses, Mata Bisilamma contains supreme powers, and safeguards her devotees throughout their life. She is our affectionate mother, who responds immediately to our urgent call. She protects her devotees from their enemies, thieves and from bad elements etc. In case of her true devotees, she even used to slightly change their fate also, and gives all kinds of prosperities to them. The temple for Mata Bisilamma and Mata Madduramma is situated in a village in Karnataka. Her temple contains no roof, and she doesn’t want her temple to be built with roof, since she…
SRIPADA KRISHNAMURTHY SASTRY INTRODUCTION Krishna Murthy Sastry, of Sripada family (1866 –1960), was born in Devarapalli of West Godavari district in a pious Telugu family, and he was the chief poet of Andhra Pradesh. He has written lot of devotional works in Telugu. His famous work, Sri Krishna Charitam, which explains the life history of Lord Krishna written in Sanskrit Language, was praised for its clarity. At his teenage, He was married to a noble girl, and both of them lived in a comfortable manner. He was considered as a man of wisdom, courage, kindness and bravery. He contains good mental as well as physical strength,…
NIJAGUNA SHIVAYOGI INTRODUCTION Nijaguna Shivayogi (15th century AD) was a great saint and a devotional writer in the Kannada language. He was a follower of Lord Shiva, and he was the ruler of a small region in Mysore. His famous text Vivekachintamani, was written in a simple style and it was stolen the hearts of thousands of readers during his period. The holy text Vivekachintamani, contains astronomy, medicine and spirituality. He also wrote texts in praise of the great Shaivite saints, and he was highly appreciated for his notable works. His other works include: Paramanubhava Bodhe Paramartha Gita Anubhavasara Though he was a ruler of the kingdom,…
GARIMELLA SATYANARAYANA INTRODUCTION Garimella Satyanarayana (1893–1952) was a poet and freedom fighter and he fought against the British Government and he expressed his feelings through his patriotic songs and writings, and due to that, several times, he was imprisoned by the British government. Garimella Satyanarayana was born in a poor family in a village in Srikakulam district in the year 1893 to a pious Telugu family. His parents were ardent devotees of Lord Vishnu, and hence they have named their son as Satyanarayana. Satyanarayana was very interested in writing patriotic songs and he himself used to sing songs. He also interested in spirituality and used to visit…
KASULA PURUSHOTTAMA KAVI INTRODUCTION Kasula Purushottama Kavi(18th century AD) was born in Krishna District, Andhra Pradesh in a pious Telugu family. He served as a court poet under small kings, and he composed beautiful songs on Lord Vishnu which was highly praised by the kings and the scholars. His popular works are: Hamsaladevi Gopala Satakam. Manasa Bodha Satakam. Bhakta Kalpadruma Satakam. In the town of Srikakulam in Krishna District, there is an ancient temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu. The great Poet Sri Purushottama used to visit the temple and worship the great Lord Vishnu. The famous quotes of the great poet are as follows Our…
NANNE CHODA INTRODUCTION Nanne Choda (12th Century AD) was a famous Telugu poet and he was honoured with the titles Tekanadityudu and Kaviraja Sikhamani. He is one of the famous ancient bhakti poets. He was born in a pious Hindu Telugu family. He dedicated his work to the Shaivite saint, Sri.Jangama Mallikarjuna Yogi. Nanne Choda’s important work is Kumara Sambavam in Telugu. He was the first writer in Prabhada style and he used the mixture of Sanskrit and Telugu words. He was a doyen in penning beautiful poems, and apart from Bhakti poems, he had written poems on the beautiful scenery, mountains and forests, and he was the admirer of the beauty of the…
KRISHNADHWARI INTRODUCTION Krishnadhwari (16th century AD) was a famous Telugu poet who resided in the court of Thanjavur Nayak king Sri Ranghunatha Nayak. He is praised for his famous poem Naishadha Parijaatheeyamu, which relates the story of Nala and Krishna. Similar to Tenali Rama, he used to relax the mind of the King Raghunatha Nayak through his clever, witty and joyful speech. Once when there was a severe drought in Thanjavur area, Krishnadhwari had advised the king to welcome the great saint Sri Raghavendra Swamy to the palace. And after the performance of various fire sacrifices by Guru Raghavendra, the Thanjavur kingdom began to…
TIRUMALAMMA INTRODUCTION Tirumalamma also called as Timmakka was a popular Telugu devotional poet who wrote Subhadra Kalyanam in Telugu language. She was the wife of the famous singer-poet Annamacharya. Mata Timmakka is considered as a divine incarnation of Mata Lakshmi’s favourite Padmam(Lotus Flower). Timmakka was born in a Brahmin’s family, and she is considered as the first Telugu woman poet. After she had married with Sri Annamacharya, she served as a dutiful wife to her husband, and behaved kindly with everyone. Even though, she was an expert in writing poems, she didn’t showed pride among others. She was a noble woman, who was liked by everyone, due to…