Siddhivinayak    Temple, Mumbai

Ganesha also known as Pillaiyar, Ganapati, Vighnaharta and Vinayaka, is one of the best-known and most widely worshipped deities. The name Ganesha is a Sanskrit compound, joining the words gana meaning a group and isha   meaning lord or master. Devotion to Ganesha is widely diffused and extends to Jains, Buddhists, and beyond India.

Temple Timings and Tips

Opening Time: 4 AM

Closing Time: 9:15 PM

Open all days of the week



Aartis

Ganesh Pooja: 4.30 a.m. to 5.00 a.m.

Khichadi Naivaidya: 10.00 o' clock in morning

Panchamrut (milk, curd, honey, ghee) Pooja: 11.00 a.m.

Mahanaivedyam: 12.00 noon.

Third Pooja: after sunset

Dhooparti: from 8:30 p.m to 9:15 p.m. & the temple closes for the day.

Bhadrapada and Magh Shudh Pratipada to Panchmi (from 1st day to 5th day) are celebrated on grand scale.

Mekkikattu' - place with many wooden Bhuta Icons, is situated near Shiriyara village 6 km from Barkur town, of Udupi District (Karnataka State, India). According to a legend jambukeshvara a sage was engaged in a strong penance at this place, installed 'nandi' (Having human body and the oxe head of a spirit or pantheon diety or bhuta) the vehicle of Lord Ishvara as the guardian spirit in order to protect himself from disturbances of evil power. To safeguard the place of sanctity he established a number of bhutas in this shrine.

In a spacious hall near the sanctum there are a number of wooden icons representing vanquished soldiers, horses, elephants of Keladi kingdom. Once Keladi ruler marched in order to loot the wealth of Barkur. (Circa 16th century A.D.) Barkur was the wealthy capital of a chieftain of Tulu kingdom. When Keladi army encamped near Mekkikattu before the final assault, the Barkur chief apprehending defeat invoked Nandikeshvara to protect the country by his supernatural powers, Immediately dumbness and immobility overpowered the Keladi soldiers. The army leaders consulted astrologers and were promptly told to compensate whatever loss was caused to their soldiers. Finally every one became normal, In commemoration of the event their king presented the wooden images to the shrine. These wooden images are called 'uru' and the wooden icons hall is called urusaale. This shrine has more than 150 wooden icons, and more than 200 aniconic (idol less) supernatural spirits associated in the area, some of them believed on the seat of wooden bench which is placed in "T"- shape. Few spirits are under a tree. On every 'sanmkramana' (an auspicious day for Hindus) or eventually on 5th and 20th (day) of every month there will be a trance rites or possession as a grand festival.

In the month of February or March the yearly festival take place on the day of 'sankramana' i.e, 14th onwards. Out side three major iron poles are fixed, on this pole another horizontal pole fixed at its axis. At the one end a cradle will be tied, to the other end remains a fixed long rope. The devotees who have taken the oath of offering the service of sedi or sitting in a ritual cradle. During the festival 'sedi' performance considered an important ritual. The main spirit or Bhuta of this temple is called nandikeshvara' or 'aakasha nandi'. This place is also famous for mother deity, and an interesting wooden icons, sanctity places also could be seen at'Mekkikattu'.

Icons of this place is having large collection, similarly in 'Soodigadde' (of Belake region) near Bhatkal one can find similar wood icons in thousands. These are all offered by the devotee to overcome his or her disease. The size of the wooden icons varies, more icons belong to the deity called 'maastiyamma'. Wooden icons are worshiped in the 'Garodi' (shrine dedicated to twin hero's of Tulu culture) and as part of influenced culture one can see wooden image i.e, muslim sufi icon, 'joogi' or of Baaranathpanth of North India etc.

Sri Jagadguru Ajaatha Nagalinga Swamy Mutta-

                            The following temple is a testimony that the "Hinduism" is not a religion, but a way of life. This temple is UNIQUE and one of its kinds. The temple that I’m referring to is Sri Ajaatha Nagalinga Swamy Mata in Navalagunda town in Darward Dist., Karnataka, India. Sri Ajaatha Nagalinga Swamy is a 19th-century Yogi. He was born in Javalagi Village in Sindhanur town of Raichur Dist., Karnataka. He became a yogi at a very young age. He spent his initial life in wondering around, doing miracles, and helping people in distress. He finally settled down at the Mouneshwara cave temple in Dharwad. His teachings were very simple and anyone could easily understand and put it in to practice. He preached; Ones heart is the temple while ones soul is the god. So, one has to have a clean and pure heart. He believed in Advaitha philosophy. In his times he was very popular among villagers, still he is. He has many devotees and many followers.
Ajaatha Nagalinga Swamy He is a yogi who has uncanny resemblance to Jesus Christ. The Picture of Sri Ajaatha Nagalinga Swamy’s hung on the temple walls will concur with my comparison. When there is a mention of Jesus Christ then there should some reference to Bible. Yes, you read me right. There is indeed a very sacred book here and that is the BIBLE. Bible is the sacred book in this Hindu temple. Everyday, the temple priest offers prayers as per Hindu tradition and is kept for display. Every devotee who comes to this temple pays his/her prayers to the bible as well. Bible written in Kannada-the official language of Karnataka state is not read in this temple. Although, bible is very sacred here it is not a ‘CHURCH’ but a ‘HINDU’ Temple.

Bible @ the sacred sanctum The miracle of this temple is the bible, which is growing on its own. There is a very interesting story as how this Bible reached this temple. This Bible is one book and has both Old and New Testaments. Once lived a great Devi devotee by the name Kalappa in Mushteegeri village of Badami town in Bagalkote dist, Karnataka. Kalappa also showed interest in Bible reading; he had a first edition of bible (published in 1865 by Watson machine prints). Sri Ajaatha Nagalinga Swamy met Kalappa and prophesied his next birth. He took the bible from Kalappa, drilled a hole on it with the help of a hook (used to peel coconut from its shell). The yogi then dropped a 1 Re Victorian silver coin in to the perforation. It came out from the other end smoothly. He informed Kalappa that the hole will completely close on its own and when it does, he will be born again in a different avatar. From that day on, the hole started closing.. subsequently the missing words on the bible reappeared magically. As of today, the hole is a size of a needle. Yogi passed away in 1881. The yogi’s followers have erected the place where he is buried, a Shiva lingam. Late Kalappa gave away the Bible to the temple. To this date, the Bible and the Silver coin are preserved in this temple with great care and devotion. And Temple officials have recorded the radius of this hole regularly. Anyone can access it, of course with temple authorities permission.

Bible and the coin
Thole that is closing on its own
The coin that was dropped inside the hole
initial measurement were recorded on the bible itself

Official records of the measurement Besides bible, there are also some interesting items in this temple like the ‘Panja’ (The sword used during Muslim festival ‘Moharam’) and a “Cart” (sidagi in Kannada) used to carry the dead to the burial ground in this very same temple. No where else you will see bible, panja or the cart together in a Hindu temple. This Sidagi was used as yogi’s chariot. Yogi used to sit on it and his followers carried him around. Yogi first found this abandoned cart at a graveyard, and requested his students to carry it while he sat on it. He requested to go around the village. Many villagers objected to this procession, as it is very uncommon for a living person to use a sidagi. Those who objected were mysteriously died, and some faced weird difficulties. They understood that yogi was not an ordinary person and then on they too became a staunch follower of the yogi. Thereby, yogi attracted many devotees from all walks of life. Today, female devotees tie green bangles in memory of yogi’s greatest devotee Beemavva to this cart for either for a prosperous marriage or for children. All their wishes have come true. Sometimes bangles are tied for various reasons too. Moharam too is celebrated in this Hindu temple. This temple resonates communal harmony from every nook and corner.

Panja
Sidagi

Although, yogi is not physically present, some devotees claim they have seen the yogi, while some others say they have heard the yogi speaking, either ways people in this region have great respect for the yogi, who has taught that making peace is more important than making war. This indeed will be one of my favorite Temple stories to this date.

This world has been created by lord Brahma and the entire world is controlled by TRIMURTHI (Bramha,Vishnu & Mahesh). It is worshipped by people in various forms across the globe or universe. There is no physical form for it.


There is no birth or death to the soul that exists in all of our bodies as we all believe.Changes are only to the physical bodies.They are birth, childhood, teenage, adulthood, oldage, and death. Only athma enters into different body and takes form at time as per the good deeds and bad things it has done. There is no birth or death to athma. It can neither be created nor destroyed. Athma takes birth as per the karmas which it has done. It is like a person who is working in an organization gets promoted when he does his duty sincerely, honestly and efficiently or degraded if he does not perform his duties. The same way, an athma gets good and bad birth as per the good and bad things it does.

Naadi Astrology is like a mirror of your karmas in past birth. And there are two options associated with your past sin. Either you can get the bad fate for your sins or you can overcome them by doing the right things with the world ( including all living things).


The texts are mainly written in Vatteluttu, which is an ancient Tamil script. There are different schools of thought as to the author of these leaves. They were written by a Tamil sage called Agathiyar who is said to have had divine revelations. This doctrine of astrology was made famous by astrologers around the Vaitheeswaran Temple in the state of Tamil Nadu. Based on the thumb impression, Nadi leaves are found.
These Nadi leaves were initially stored in the premises of Tanjore Saraswati Mahal Library of Tamil Nadu. The British rulers later showed interest in the Nadi leaves concerned with herbs and medicine, future prediction etc.; but ironically left most of the Nadi prediction leaves to their loyal people. Some leaves got destroyed and the remaining were auctioned during the British rule. These Nadi leaves were obtained and possessed by the families of astrologers in Vaitheeswaran Temple. This was passed down the years from one generation to the other.

BASICS 

Tension or stress is a natural reaction of the events that take place in our

day-to-day life. It can be a friend or a foe of a person. When under control, it

can ignite creative power and productivity in a person and can make him or

her prospective as well. But when out of control, it can take horrible toll on

his or her mental, physical and emotional health and ;) relationships and

this is this second form of it that prevails the world over -whether, in family

or in the office, in park .or in travel in the present age of matter when

everybody tries to grab every pleasure of life by this way or that.

In todays fast-paced world, we are experiencing more stress than ever

before. A study ! conducted until recently shows that more than 45 percent

people suffer adverse health effects from stress.

We all know that anxiety disorders cannot be stopped. We cant simply wish

them away. In fact, they grow on most of us and eventually become chronic.

So, the big question is what to do? Doctors and scientists are trying to find

ways out. Researches are on but the situation is still far from satisfactory.

But then there is hope as well in the form of different astrological paths and

systems such as Ayurveda, Yoga, Pranic healing, acupressure, acupuncture

and herbal medicines.

Where Ayurvedic medicine and Yoga can help us in keeping our body fit

and healthy, consultancy by consultants of different streams can really help

us in easing out the stress and tension people are going through these days.

Astrology acts as a psycho treatment to a person going through a bad phase

and feels very lone. Depression and increased tendencies to commit suicide

can be effectively controlled if correct astro advice is given to a person in

advance to prepare him to accept the upcoming event. One can prepare

oneself mentally to accept the rough patch without much problems.