Ayyappan: (Tamil) The popular God of a recently formed sect that focuses on pilgrimage to the top of Sabarimalai, a sacred hill in Kerala, where He is said to appear at night as a divine light. Ayyappan is revered as a son of Vishnu and Siva (Hari-Hara putra). His vahana is the tiger.

(See also: Ayyappan, Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

Ayyappan: (Tamil) The popular God of a recently formed sect that focuses on pilgrimage to the top of Sabarimalai, a sacred hill in Kerala, where He is said to appear at night as a divine light. Ayyappan is revered as a son of Vishnu and Siva (Hari-Hara putra). His vahana is the tiger.

(See also: Ayyappan, Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

  In Hinduism in the south of India, Ayyappan (alternate names Ayyappa, Ayyappaswami) is a god of fertility and growth. He is most venerated in Sabarimala, in Kerala. Pilgrimage to Sabarimalai begins from the 1st of Vrichikam, a Malayalam month coming in the middle of November (probably between 14-16). The most important day for Ayyappan is Makarasamkranthi Day, which is the 1st of Makara (a month of the Malayalam calendar). This day will fall between January 14-16. Currently millions of devotees come from all parts ...

See also:

Ayyappa, Ayyappa - Ayyappaswami in Sabarimala, Ayyappa - Widely accepted story

Read more here: » Ayyappa: Encyclopedia II - Ayyappa - Ayyappaswami in Sabarimala

Yukthivadi (The Rationalist) was the first rationalist/atheist journal published in Malayalam. The contribution made by Yukthivadi to the renaissance of Kerala, India is phenomenal. Yukthivadi started its publication in August 1929 from Ernakulam under the editorial board of M. Ramavarma Thampan, C. Krishnan, C.V.Kunhiraman, Sahodaran K. Ayyappan and M.C.Joseph. In a statement published in the first issue of Yukthivadi, Sahodaran K. Ayyappan wrote: Rationalism is not a religion. It is ...

Read more here: » Yukthivadi: Encyclopedia - Yukthivadi

  The Hindu god Ayyappan is one of southern India’s most revered deities. Known also as Dharmasastha, Hariharan, Manikanta, Ayyanar and Bhoothnath, Lord Ayyapa is worshipped in a number of shrines across India. At Kulathupuzha, in Kerala he is worshipped as a child; at Achankovil in conjunction with his consorts, Pushkala and Poorna; and at Sabarimala as an ascetic, a celibate meditati ...

Including:

• Ayyappa - Ayyappaswami in Sabarimala
• Ayyappa - Widely accepted story

Read more here: » Ayyappa: Encyclopedia - Ayyappa

 It is our tradition from time immemorial to erect a statue of Lord Vinayaka (Elephant God) or the figure of an elephant, as a remedial measure in the case of the entrance of a house or building faces a lane or a street.(The lane or street jutting into the house of building)

The rule says that it is a great defect to have a house facing a lane or street, and those who live in such a house will lose peace of mind.

Read more here: » Vastu Shastra: House facing a Street or Lane

Hinduism Lexicon on A

From aadheenam to axis.

Read more here: » Hinduism: Hinduism Lexicon on A

Shruti Vedas Rig Veda Sama Veda Yajur Veda Atharva Veda Brahmanas Aranyakas Upanishads Smriti Itihāsas Mahābhārata Bhagavad Gītā Ramayana Puranas (List) Tantras Sutras (List) Stotras Ashtavakra Gita Gita Govinda Hatha Yoga Pradipika Vahana is the being or object that serves as the mount or vehicle of a deity in Indian mythology. Vah in Sanskrit ...

Including:

• Vahana - Symbolism
• Vahana - Origins
• Vahana - Vahanas of some major and minor deities

Read more here: » Vahana: Encyclopedia - Vahana

Nārāyana Guru (नारायण गुरु) (1856 - 1928) was a great sage and social reformer of India. Born in Ezhava/Thiyya community (a Backward Community in today's parlance), he demonstrated a path to social emancipation without invoking the dualism of the opressed and the opressor. In contrast to certain other reformers who critized Brahmins and "upper caste" Hindus for the conditions of the "lower castes", Nārāyana Guru stressed on the upliftment of the community through its own efforts by the establishme ...

Including:

• Narayana Guru - Early Life
• Narayana Guru - Transformation as Master Yogi and Seeker of Truth
• Narayana Guru - Enlightenment and its Poetic Expression
• Narayana Guru - Consecration of Siva Lingam at Aruvippuram
• Narayana Guru - Nārāyana Guru’s Philosophy
• Narayana Guru - Nārāyana Guru Rationalism and Atheism
• Narayana Guru - Works by Nārāyana Guru
• Narayana Guru - In Malayalam
• Narayana Guru - In Sanskrit
• Narayana Guru - Notes
• Narayana Guru - Bibiliography/Reference

Read more here: » Narayana Guru: Encyclopedia - Narayana Guru

Chattampi Swamikal (b:1853 - d:1925) was one of Kerala’s famed social reform activists and learned men. Chattampi Swamikal worked in parallel with his contemporary and soul mate Sree Nārāyana Guru to bring social equality to an otherwise heavily ritualistic and caste ridden Hindu society that prevailed around the late 19th and early 20th centuries across the present-day Kerala (erstwhi ...

Including:

• Chattampi Swamikal - Early life
• Chattampi Swamikal - Soul mate of Nānu Āśān
• Chattampi Swamikal - Maha Samadhi
• Chattampi Swamikal - Teachings of Chattampi Swamikal
• Chattampi Swamikal - Literary works of Chattampi Swamikal

Read more here: » Chattampi Swamikal: Encyclopedia - Chattampi Swamikal

The people of the Haripad village decided to build a Sree Ayyappan temple. Before the installation of the idol the people had a vision that they should install the idol of Sri Subramanya Swamy which they will find in the Kayamkulam river. The exact location of the idol will be under a whirlpool in the river. The people found the idol as per the vision and brought back Subramanya vigrah in a boat, escorted by the devotees in other boats ceremoniously. In remembrance of this event a three day water festival is conducted each y ...

See also:

Payippad Jalotsavam, Payippad Jalotsavam - The legend, Payippad Jalotsavam - Other renowned boat races in Kerala

Read more here: » Payippad Jalotsavam: Encyclopedia II - Payippad Jalotsavam - The legend

Eventhough Nārāyana Guru had built a number of temples and composed many poems in praise of popular Hindu deities, he had many atheist followers. This shows his love for humanity as a whole which is irrespective of any faith based affiliations. Many of his atheist followers in fact considered him as an atheist1. For instance, one of his prominent disciples Sahodaran Ayyappan was a militant atheist and one of the founders of Yukthivadi, the first rationalist/atheist magazine in Malayalam. When Sahodaran Ayyappan modified N ...

See also:

Narayana Guru, Narayana Guru - Early Life, Narayana Guru - Transformation as Master, Yogi and Seeker of Truth, Narayana Guru - Enlightenment and its Poetic Expression, Narayana Guru - Consecration of Siva Lingam at Aruvippuram, Narayana Guru - Nārāyana Guru’s Philosophy, Narayana Guru - Nārāyana Guru, Rationalism and Atheism, Narayana Guru - Works by Nārāyana Guru, Narayana Guru - In Malayalam, Narayana Guru - In Sanskrit, Narayana Guru - Notes, Narayana Guru - Bibiliography/Reference

Read more here: » Narayana Guru: Encyclopedia II - Narayana Guru - Nārāyana Guru, Rationalism and Atheism

Eventhough Nārāyana Guru had built a number of temples and composed many poems in praise of popular Hindu deities, he had many atheist followers. This shows his love for humanity as a whole which is irrespective of any faith based affiliations. Many of his atheist followers in fact considered him as an atheist1. For instance, one of his prominent disciples Sahodaran Ayyappan was a militant atheist and one of the founders of Yukthivadi, the first rationalist/atheist magazine in Malayalam. When Sahodaran Ayyappan modified N ...

See also:

Narayana Guru, Narayana Guru - Early Life, Narayana Guru - Transformation as Master Yogi and Seeker of Truth, Narayana Guru - Enlightenment and its Poetic Expression, Narayana Guru - Consecration of Siva Lingam at Aruvippuram, Narayana Guru - Nārāyana Guru’s Philosophy, Narayana Guru - Nārāyana Guru Rationalism and Atheism, Narayana Guru - Works by Nārāyana Guru, Narayana Guru - In Malayalam, Narayana Guru - In Sanskrit, Narayana Guru - Notes, Narayana Guru - Bibiliography/Reference

Read more here: » Narayana Guru: Encyclopedia II - Narayana Guru - Nārāyana Guru Rationalism and Atheism

Modern Romantics Kuttippurathu Kesavan Nair (1883-1959) Nalappat Narayana Menon (1887-1955) G. Sankara Kurup (1900-1978) Edappalli Raghavan Pillai (1909-1936) Changampuzha Krishna Pillai (1911-1948) Vyloppilli Sreedhara Menon (1911-1985) Other Modern Poets Vayalar Ramavarma Edasseri Govindan Nair O. N. V. Kurup Kadammanitta Ramakrishnan Satchidanandan Sugathakumari Vishnunarayanan Namboothir ...

See also:

Malayalam literature, Malayalam literature - Poetry, Malayalam literature - Fiction, Malayalam literature - Literary Criticism, Malayalam literature - Others

Read more here: » Malayalam literature: Encyclopedia II - Malayalam literature - Poetry

In iconography, the vahana is both the symbol and the emblem of the deity that it carries. Nandi the bull, vahana of Shiva, represents strength and virility. Parvani the peacock, vahana of Skanda, represents splendour and majesty. The swan, mount of Saraswati, represents grace and beauty. As the assistant of a deity, the vahana serves the function of doubling his or her powers. Durga the warrior could not have destroyed the demon Mahishasura without the aid of her mount, Manashthala the lion. Lakshmi, goddess of fortune, dispenses bot ...

See also:

Vahana, Vahana - Symbolism, Vahana - Origins, Vahana - Vahanas of some major and minor deities

Read more here: » Vahana: Encyclopedia II - Vahana - Symbolism

List of Hindu deities - Aspects of Brahma. Prajapati List of Hindu deities - Aspects of Shiva. Mahadeva Prajapati List of Hindu deities - Aspects of Devi. Bhavani Durga Jagaddhatri Parvati Shakti Uma Mahavidya Kali Tara Tripura Sundari Bhuvaneshvari Bhairavi Chhinnamasta Dhumavati Bagalam ...

See also:

List of Hindu deities, List of Hindu deities - A, List of Hindu deities - B, List of Hindu deities - C, List of Hindu deities - D, List of Hindu deities - E, List of Hindu deities - G, List of Hindu deities - H, List of Hindu deities - I, List of Hindu deities - K, List of Hindu deities - L, List of Hindu deities - M, List of Hindu deities - N, List of Hindu deities - P, List of Hindu deities - R, List of Hindu deities - S, List of Hindu deities - T, List of Hindu deities - U, List of Hindu deities - V, List of Hindu deities - Y, List of Hindu deities - Aspects, List of Hindu deities - Aspects of Brahma, List of Hindu deities - Aspects of Shiva, List of Hindu deities - Aspects of Devi, List of Hindu deities - Aspects of Vishnu, List of Hindu deities - Incarnations, List of Hindu deities - Mental son of Brahma, List of Hindu deities - Incarnations of Vayu, List of Hindu deities - Avatara of Lakshmi, List of Hindu deities - Manifestation of Durga, List of Hindu deities - Avatars of Vishnu

Read more here: » List of Hindu deities: Encyclopedia II - List of Hindu deities - Aspects

19th Century O. Chandhu Menon (1847-1900) C. V. Raman Pillai (1858-1922) Modern Karur Neelakanta Pillai (1898-1974) P. Kesava Dev (1904-1983) Vaikom Muhammad Basheer (1908-1994) Baalyakaalasakhi Premalekhanam Ponkunnam Varkey (1908-2004) S. K. Pottakkat (1913-1982) Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai (1914 -1999) P. C. Kuttikrishnan (1915-1979) Lalithambika Antharjanam (1909 ...

See also:

Malayalam literature, Malayalam literature - Poetry, Malayalam literature - Fiction, Malayalam literature - Literary Criticism, Malayalam literature - Others

Read more here: » Malayalam literature: Encyclopedia II - Malayalam literature - Fiction

The vahana of a deity can vary according to the source, the time, and the place. In popular tradition, the origin of each vahana is told in thousands of different ways. While Ganesh was still a child, a giant mouse began to terrorize all his friends. Ganesh trapped him with his lasso and made him his mount. Mushika was originally a gandharva, or celestial musician. After absentmindedly walking over the feet of rishi Vamadeva, he was cursed and transformed into a mouse. However, after the sage had calmed down, he promised him that one day, the gods themselves would bow down before him. This came to pa ...

See also:

Vahana, Vahana - Symbolism, Vahana - Origins, Vahana - Vahanas of some major and minor deities

Read more here: » Vahana: Encyclopedia II - Vahana - Origins

List of Hindu deities - Mental son of Brahma. Narada List of Hindu deities - Incarnations of Vayu. Hanuman Bhima Shri Madhvacharya List of Hindu deities - Avatara of Lakshmi. Sita Devi List of Hindu deities - Manifestation of Durga. Chandanayika See also:

List of Hindu deities, List of Hindu deities - A, List of Hindu deities - B, List of Hindu deities - C, List of Hindu deities - D, List of Hindu deities - E, List of Hindu deities - G, List of Hindu deities - H, List of Hindu deities - I, List of Hindu deities - K, List of Hindu deities - L, List of Hindu deities - M, List of Hindu deities - N, List of Hindu deities - P, List of Hindu deities - R, List of Hindu deities - S, List of Hindu deities - T, List of Hindu deities - U, List of Hindu deities - V, List of Hindu deities - Y, List of Hindu deities - Aspects, List of Hindu deities - Aspects of Brahma, List of Hindu deities - Aspects of Shiva, List of Hindu deities - Aspects of Devi, List of Hindu deities - Aspects of Vishnu, List of Hindu deities - Incarnations, List of Hindu deities - Mental son of Brahma, List of Hindu deities - Incarnations of Vayu, List of Hindu deities - Avatara of Lakshmi, List of Hindu deities - Manifestation of Durga, List of Hindu deities - Avatars of Vishnu

Read more here: » List of Hindu deities: Encyclopedia II - List of Hindu deities - Incarnations

From ancient times, Thrissur district has played a significant part in the political history of south India. The early political history of the district is interlinked with that of the Cheras of the Sangam age, who ruled over vast portions of Kerala with their capital at Vanchi. The whole of the present Thrissur district was included in the early Chera empire. The district can claim to have played a significant part in fostering the trade relations between Kerala and the outside world in the ancient and medieval period. It can also cl ...

See also:

Thrissur, Thrissur - History, Thrissur - Geography, Thrissur - Culture, Thrissur - Some of the Hindu temples around Thrissur, Thrissur - Institutions of Higher Education, Thrissur - Places in Thrissur District, Thrissur - Media

Read more here: » Thrissur: Encyclopedia II - Thrissur - History