Why the hair of the head is offered

to the Deity in the Temples ?

The custom  with  strong belief that we have

 since the long time that we offer the hair of

the head to the Deity for making a

 religious vow for ourselves if evil affect is

averted or if we pass in the examination or

if we recover from the illness or if we win in the election etc.,

Offering the hair to the Deity in the

temple is making a religious vow.

  If that vow is not fulfilled, then we feel

vcry bad about ourselves and also feel

 somthing negative and bad things

 will happen to us and to the family members.

So we fear of that if the religious vow is not fulfilled.

Hence,  in this regard we never

 neglect and postpone the custom to follow.

Offering the hair of the head  to the Deity

 in the Temple means, used in connection

 with tonsure at the holy places (pilgrim places) 

of Tirumala, Annavaram, Simhachalam, etc.,

 also some other famous holy pilgrim centres.

Here we have to think in other aspect also

that the man is struggling for existence in the life.

 For his existence he does  and practise anything

 that was deviant from custom which was

 excommunicated in the ancient time

and also he tells lies, he deceives, becomes guilty.

What ever the consequences of man’s sins

for all his  evil actions reaches to the hair of the head.

Means the results of the sin belong to the hair.

Therefore, the hair which is the abode of

all our  sins is offered to the  Deity in the Temples

 to fulfil the religious vows from  get rid of our sins

 and also we pray to the Lord that we are   leaving off all our  sins.

And Pray to Him from hereafter   that we will

live virtuously and righteously .

So, the meaning for  offering of hair of

the head to the Deity signify that.

Why do we fondle the tail of the

 Nandeeswara statue in the Sivalayam ?

We see the Nandeeswara statue installed

 in front of the Lord Siva in the temple.

In the temple, in the innermost chamber

 (Garbha sthanam) where the main image

of the lord Siva is installed and outside of the

 Garbha sthanam the Nandeeswara’s idol is installed.

The Temple construction ( Alaya nirmanam)

and the installation of the Deities ( Devata vigraha pratishta)

in the temple is completly  done according to the Sastras.

 The process of that takes three to five days

by strictly performing the sacred Homas,

chanting the Hymns of the Vedas and other Mantras etc.,

 Once the Alayanirmanam and the Vigraha Pratishta

 are completed  as per the Sastras, next day onwards

 (afterwards) the daily pooja and dhoopa deepas and

chanting the Mantras must be performed without fail.

In the Sivalayam, the innermost chamber,

the lord Eswara’s Idol or image is installed and 

outside of Garbhalayam infront of the lord Siva’s 

idol or Siva linga  the Nandeeswara’s idol which is

also constructed with the precious stone and isntalled there.

Here the Nandeeswara is not the Bull .

It is not belonging to that species.

The Nandi is the most obedient and

made respectful offering of his egoism to the lord 

 and also the great devotee of Him.

The Nandeeswara always stands before

 the entrance of the Mount Kailasa

of the place where the Lord Eswara dwells.

If we fondle the tail of the callte like cow, buffalow,

the bull, by nature they feel very happy

and offering their submission to us.

In  the Siva Temple, when we visit there,

all we compulsorily do the fondle

(treat with fondness) the Nandeeswara.

Then the Nandi feels so happy and do the Nivedana 

(appeal to the higher authority of) to  the lord Siva

 that  we, the devotees  have visited there to obtain

the darshan of the God and make us to have the darshan.

The   Bull (Ox) is the representation

 for the Dharma and so by doing the fondle

 ( treating with fondness) of the Nandi is the symbol

 for that we are instigating the Dharma and

 also shows  that we  follow the Dharma.

Why do we cut the foot stalk and also

 end part  of the betel leaf for betel-nut paan ?

The betel-nut paan is known as Taambulam.

 Most of the people chew betel leaves and arecanut

 which is called Tambulam on different occasion.

This custom has been followed since the long, long time.

In general, betel leaves  with arecanut on top of it

 given to a person by another person as a significance

of commencing a new auspicious work and  this

custom is followed on  different  auspicious occasions and festival time

But, if  the foot stalk of the betel leaf  is eaten (chewed)

there are  more chances to get disease and if the

end part of the betel leaf is eaten that is considered  for sin.

If the  reins of the betel leaf  are eaten , that would

cause for decreasing of the intelligence  means

there are chances for developing the buddhi maandyam which is known as foolishness.

When the betel leaves are chewed , the extract

liquid which is brew  in the mouth, should be spitted.

The reason, the foot stalk, the reins and the end part

of the betel leaves are still remained in the mouth.

So then they should also be spitted out with the brew called the extract liquid.

In the Tambulam, the betel nut powder  which is

pieces of arecanut can be eaten. The two betel nuts should not be used.

It is said that the  Tambul (betel leaves with arecanut )

 must not be eaten  (chewed) by the diseased people like

those who are injured , those who are suffering

with the eye diseases,  TB (Tuberculosis) patients.

So those diseased people should not eat the Pan or Tambulam.

For the tambulam, the lime is also applied on the betel leaves .

It is used with the betel leaves and the nut.

The lime which is applied on the betel leaves

must be done by using the  middle finger or the

thumbfinger  what our elders say. It is said,

because of doing so, the longvity will be icreased.

By doing and using with those two fingers ,

there would be stimulation in the nerves of the heart,

and that  it will be caused for the  smooth functioning of the heart system.

How to worship the God with  flowers  ?

Worshipping the God with the flowers  means,

 which fingers are used on that Pooja occasion.

The  offering of  flowers to the Lord

 is one of the Pooja Paddhathi.

 The fragrant and fresh flowers

are used for the Pooja.

We can not see anywhere without

flowers there will not be any  worship of the God.

The plants and trees blossom their

 flowers only for worhsipping the God.

They bloom without expecting any return

 to serve the God by way of ornamentation and worship.

When we worship the God with flowers,

the five fingers must not be used

while taking them  to offer and beautify Him.

The middle finger (madhyama)  and

the ring (anamika) finger are used and

take the flowers with those two fingers and 

offer with devotionally , modesty and obedience.

The flowers which are used and worshipped

 for the Bhagavan should be taken

with the thumb and index finger.

Why do we light a lamp ?

In almost every Indian home a lamp is lit daily before the altar of the Lord. In some houses it is lit at dawn, in some, twice a day – at dawn and dusk – and in a few it is maintained continuously – Akhanda Deepa. All auspicious functions commence with the lighting of the lamp, which is often maintained right through the occasion.

Light symbolizes knowledge, and darkness – ignorance. The Lord is the “Knowledge Principle” (Chaitanya) who is the source, the enlivener and the illuminator of all knowledge. Hence light is worshiped as the Lord himself.

Knowledge removes ignorance just as light removes darkness. Also knowledge is a lasting inner wealth by which all outer achievement can be accomplished. Hence we light the lamp to bow down to knowledge as the greatest of all forms of wealth.

Why not light a bulb or tube light? That too would remove darkness. But the traditional oil lamp has a further spiritual significance. The oil or ghee in the lamp symbolizes our vaasanas or negative tendencies and the wick, the ego. When lit by spiritual knowledge, the vaasanas get slowly exhausted and the ego too finally perishes. The flame of a lamp always burns upwards. Similarly we should acquire such knowledge as to take us towards higher ideals.

Whilst lighting the lamp we thus pray:

Deepajyothi parabrahma
Deepa sarva tamopahaha
Deepena saadhyate saram
Sandhyaa deepo namostute

I prostrate to the dawn/dusk lamp; whose light is the Knowledge Principle (the Supreme Lord), which removes the darkness of ignorance and by which all can be achieved in life.

 When the Panchangam was formed ?

The Panchangam means it is Almanac which

 shows planetary positions, and their movements,

the  timings of auspiciousness and evilness every thing .

All the Hindus believe it greatly and follow

it for every thing in their day to day life.

 It covers everything of Planets, their positions, Astrology ,

 Vastu, what are to be performed and what should

 not be performed etc., everything is studied and compiled there in.

The Panchangam consists of five sections which are 

Tidhi, Vaara Nakshatram, Yogam and Karanam.

The Panchangam was born five thousand

 years ago, mostly in the Dwapara yuga.

It was composed by the great and holy Sages

by calculating the stars and planets and

 their positions and the consequences

of their combinations etc.,. according to the  transit position of

Planets in the different signs of the Zodiac.

The Zodiac consists of Stars with padas.

But the Zodiac is divided into twelve signs (Rasis).

In our country the people follow the Soura maana

 paddhathi and Chandra maana paddhathi.

Means some states observe their traditions

and customs as per Solar system  and

some other follow the Lunar system.

But astrological wise  and vastu wise  and

other good and bd wise the system of study is same. 

Only for the Calendar purpose means

to follow their traditional months (maasa)

they observe the Solar and Lunar systems respectively.

As per Panchangam and the Astrological

science we consider mainly the nine planets only.

They are Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury,

Jupiter, Venus, Saturn, Rahu and Ketu.

The other three planets like Uranus, Neptune

and Pluto are the three planets which are

 not considered mostly.

But rarely they are studied on  particular occasions.

All the planets circulate round the Sun.

 As per science the planets are brightened by the Sun and its light.

Where the Goddess Sree Maha Lakshmi does not stay ?

We know the sentence, “ Dhanamoolamidam Jagat “.

 The entire Globe rotates round the money.

There was also a funny  dialogue , “the man created

currency note ( currency bill) is higher

 than  even the God created man”.   

Such a value is given to the money.

Money is necessary for our livelihood

but one should not have the covetousness (greed).

The greed harms and ruins the man.

The Goddess, Sree Lakshmidevi is the

presiding Deity  and also symbol for the wealth.

The money does not stay permanently

at one place what we know.

But the Goddess Sree Lakshmi will not

stay at certain  miserable places .

It is said in the scriptures, Where  the people

who wear soiled cloths which are complete dirt 

the Goddess Sree Mahalakshmi

does not stay, She will go leave that place.

So they will become poor.

And  the people who sleep at both the

twilights ( Dwi Sandhya kaalam)( both at the

time of Sun rise and Sun sets) ,

the Goddess does not stay there.

Those who  trample upon the  money,

Gold, Pady, Grain, Reading Books and

also elders’ feet, there the Goddess ,

Sree Lakshmi will not stay and leave that place.

Of all the above, where there is  women

weep and shed tears there Sree Lakshmidevi

will not stay even a second what the Sastras say.

The Goddess leaves those places without any second option.

There Her elder sister, the Jyeshta devi

enters means the unfortune (miserablity) comes.

What kind of food items must not

be eaten in the Kartika Masam ?

The Kartika Masam  enters either in the

 month of October or in the

November as per the Hindu Almanac systems. 

After Asweeyuja Maasa the kartika masam begins.

That means, when once the Deepavali

Festival is over, immediately

the next day this month  enters.

 It is one of the sacred months for all the devotees.

Every where, according to the  Desa,

Kala, Mana Paristithi ( the situations of the place,

 time, and other environmen, etc., ) the customs

 and the traditional observance, changes a little bit.

In the Kartika masam,  the God Maheswara

 is worshipped with Abhishekam and also

 chantings of  Rudram, Namakam and Chamakam.

 Most of the devotees worship the lord Siva

by observing fasting and take one day meal 

after twilight means after the Moon rises.

 All most all the devotees should observe strictly

 to eat only the Sakhaaharam (vegetarian food only).

In this month , the tree called Emblic

myrobalam (Amalaki tree)  is also  worshipped.

Though  this Kartika masam is observed

for lord Siva,  worshipping the Amalaki Tree

( ree Emblic myrobalam) is also one

of the religious customs being observed .

Because, the tree is treated as the  symbol

 for lord Sree Maha Vishnu. So in this month, 

one way the lord Siva and  also another

way the God Sree Vishnu  both are adored devotionally.

Here, regarding our food in this month, 

it  is restricted to  certain food items which should not be eaten.

The Onion should not be used

in the cooking dishes.

So Onion is restricted to eat.

The other food items are Garlic, Asafoetida

 called Ferula Asafoetida ( Hinguh in sanskrit),

the vegetable Radish, the vegetable  Drumstick

 ((Simbhi in sanskrit), the vegetable battle Gourd

of a creeper called Lagenarius vulgaris

(Seethala in sanskrit), the Brinjal  (Vartakah),

the Pumpkin  creeper called Cucurbita maxima

(Kushmandah in sanskrit) ,  the Water melon, t

he Wood apple,  the leftover food  of the

previous meal, the Black gram,  the Green Gram,

the Bengal gram, the Red Gram and the Horse gram 

all these items should not be eaten or used in the dishes.

On the day of Ashtami thidhi the Coconut is restricted to eat.  

 And on Sundays the Emblic fruit should not be eaten.

Are you bringing up  (cultivating) the 

Plantain tree at your backyard ?

The fruits are the highest  ambrosia  in this

 Globe in the health point of view. 

They are the best medicine for

 nourshing the bodies.

All the people in the world like

to eat all kinds of fruits.

But all  the fruits are yeilded only in some

particular  seasons  except the Banana tree. 

In a year , 365 days the plantain tree

produces its fruits and available everywhere.

The Banana fruit contains the Megnisium

more which is good for health, but it is medically

advised that fruit should not be taken by the kidney patients.

Those who are backyard in their house,

most of the people try to bring up the plaintain trees.

One tree yeilds only once in a year. After that,

 the plantain tree is used for in different necessary situations.

The flower  and the trunk are cooked

as dishes which is good for health.

The plantain leaves are used as plates

to eat our food on which is scientifically good.

The trunks with their  leaves  are used for

auspicious occasions and also in the festival time.

No Temple, or no house can not be

seen without a banana and leaves.

Such a traditional and useful

 custom which  we follow can be estimated.

So, in all aspects the plantain tree is useful and benefit to us.

 

To bring up the Plantain tree in the

backyard is advisable.

 But according to the some Vastu siddhantam ,

 it is said, in the southern direction of the

backyard, growing up the tree is meant

for the prosperity of the family in future time also.

In the direction of West, cultivating

the plantain tree  causes for fortune for acquiring wealth.

In the backyard of the house, in the

northern side, if the plantain tree is

cultivated that would be caused for loosing money.

If the Banana Tree is grown up in the

Eastern direction of the backyard, that would give us honour and fame.

If the plantain tree is cultivated in the

eastern side , that would be most auspicious to us.

In the Nairuthi disa means in the South west

 direction of the backyard, if the plantain

 tree is brought up  that gives the progeny.

If the Banana tree is cultivated in the Eesaanya

disa means North eastern direction, we can have the name and fame.

Why the women should not learn  Veda Vidya ?

The supreme sacred scriptures are Chaturvedas.

From the Vedas all other Upanishads,

and other Sastras have been derived .

From the ancient time, the Vedas

are being learnt by the men only.

Women were restricted to learn

them due to some reasons.

The women were ( are) unable to  learn the Vedas.

Ofcourse, Gaargi   and some other women learnt

the Vedas and gave some commentary on them.

It was in the ancient period.

To learn  the Veda Vidya, the women’s physique does not permit.

The  philology of the Vedas (Sabda Saastram)

 must be chanted and given up outside and  also more soundly.

 The system of philology of the Vedas are

 difficult to learn by heart and and also recite.

Very disciplinly,  very orderly  and regularly at

 particular time that should be learnt by a learned scholar .

And more over, the larning process of the

Veda Vidya is quite different than other vidya. 

In a lenghthy way, slowly, orderly manner

 by maintaining the breathing,

the Veda Vidya should be learnt.

By doing this process of learning,

the negative effect will be occured  on the womb. 

For the women, the motherwood is a large treasure.

For giving  a birth to another human being

is occured through the womb of a woman

which is an unprecedented reward given by the God.

By learning through the Veda Vidya that would be a

harmfulness to the womb (Garbhanaasanam).

 Hence, it was said strictly the women  should not learn the Vedas.

The women can do the Japa and  worship the God or

Goddess by chanting the Stotras.

 With this nothing harm will happen.

There is quite difference in between chanting the

Mantras while worshipping the God and learning the Vedas.