Mahabharatha - Concluding verses Moral essence.

These 4 verses are found in the end of the epic of Mahabaratha and are supposed to be the moral essence of the great epic.

"Mata pitra sahsrani putra dara satanica
Samsare svanubhutani yanti yasyanti chapare" -1

Thousands of mothers and fathers,
And hundreds of wives and sons,
Are experienced in several births,
And are going to be experienced in the future.

Harsha sthana sahasrani bhaya sthana satani cha
Divase divase moodam avisanti na panditam - 2
Thousands of experiences of happiness
Hundreds of experiences of fears,
Afflict the dim witted man,
But will not affect the wise man.

Urdhva bahur viraumyesha na cha kascid srunoti may
Dharmad arthascha kamasca sa dharma kim na sevyate - 3
I am shouting this loudly,
Raising my hands above,
But no one listens to this,
“Wealth and love comes out of Dharma*,
But no one is bothered to practice his Dharma.”

Na jatu kaman na bhayan na lobbhad Dharmam tyaje jjivitasyapi hetho
Nityo dharmah sukha dukhe tvanitye  Jivo nityo heturasya tvanitye., - 4
Dharma should not be forsaken,
Either due to desire, fear or avarice,
Dharma is permanent but pleasure and sorrow are temporary,
Like soul is permanent but body is temporary.

Kunnandarkoil Cave Temple, Parvathagireeswarar, Tamil Nadu..

Sri Kunnandar Cave Temple, Tamil Nadu

Kunnandarkoil Cave Temple in Kunnandarkoil, a village in Pudukottai district in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu, is dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva. Constructed in Rock-cut architecture, the temple is believed to have been built during the 8th century by Muttaraiyar kings, the cardinals of Pallavas, with later expansion from the Vijayanagar Empire. The rock-cut architecture in the temple is a specimen of the late Pallava Art and an early example of Chola Art. The temple has various inscriptions from Cholas, Chalukyas, Pandyas and Vijayanagar Empire. The temple is considered one of the oldest stone temples in South India. The temple is maintained and administered by Department of Archaeological Survey of India as a protected monument.

The main shrine faces East and the sanctum houses the image of Lingam, an iconic representation of Shiva. Shiva is worshipped as Parvathagiriswarar. The walls of the sanctum are plain, unlike later Chola temples that have niches to house different images. The sanctum is approached through an Arthamandapa, a hall supported by pillars. The sanctum is guarded by Dvarapalas on either sides. The inscriptions are made on the base of the Dvarapalas. There are two portrait images, one of which is identified as the Muttraraiyar chief who built the temple and other being his assistant.

Irattai Pulavar

Know Your Tamil : Irattai Pulavar.
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வெட்டி ஆற்றில் அடித்துக்கொண்டு போனபோது பாடியது : இரட்டை புலவர் .
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"அப்பிலே தோய்த்திட்டு அடுத்தடுத்து நாம் அதனை
  தப்பினால் நம்மை அது தப்பாதோ - இப்புவியில்
  இக்கலிங்கம் போனால்என்? ஏகாலிங்க மாமதுரை
  சொக்கலிங்கம் தானிருக்க சொல்.."
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Meaning :
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துணியைத் தண்ணீரில் நனைத்து திரும்ப திரும்ப அடித்து வெளுத்தாள் அது நம்மை விட்டு தப்பிப்போய் விடாதோ?. இவ்வுலகத்தில் ஒப்பற்ற சிவலிங்கமாக சிவபெருமான் துணையாக உள்ளார்.அதனால் இந்த துணைபோனால் என்ன?..சொல்வாயாக

Shiva Mandira, Narayanapura, Bidar.

Sri Shiva Mandira, Narayanpur, Karnataka...
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Shivmandira is located in the village Narayanpura of Basavakalyan Taluk in Bidar district. This temple was constructed by Chalukyas around 12th Century AD. Near by there is a temple dedicated to Goddess Bhavani known as Bhagyavanthi Temple.

Saffron or Bhagwa Flag

What is Bhagwa Dhwaj or Saffron flag ?
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Nowadays Bhagwa Dhwaj is used by a few Hindu organizations with their own modification on it.It is designated as communal by secular forces. Many of them think it as a religious flag, hardly anyone knows about it. In this post, a brief info is presented.

The Bhagwa Dhwaj is the eternal symbol of Dharma .
It stands for Dharma, advancement, glory, knowledge, sacrifice and valour. The combination of these six aspirations is Bhagwa.
The flag reminds us of the orange hue around the rising Sun, that dispels darkness and radiates light all around. i.e. to destroy Adharma and establish Dharma. The shape of the Bhagwa has another significance: diversity, acceptance, harmony and mutual respect. The two portions remind us that duality, contrast, inequality, diversity are inevitable. For harmonious existence there must be sharing, respect and cooperation, .i.e. one portion upon other.
Whenever we see Bhagwa Dhwaj it reminds us of the great ‘Aaryas’ who have laid their lives to save its honour. ( Arya means Virtuous )

Kalleswara Swamy Temple, Mallapura, Chitradurga, Karnataka..

Sri Kalleswaraswamy Temple, Mallapura, Chitradurga, Karnataka.


Mallapura village is situated at a distance of about 4kms from Chitradurga town on the Bangalore-Hospete National Highway.  Sri Kalleshwara Swamy Temple was built in around 800 years ago. While the Gopura could be attributed to Kadambanaagara style of architecture, Garbhagudi is of Kalyana Chalukya style of architecture. The restoration work of this temple took place during 2011-12. This ruined structure was restored after complete dismantling and strengthening the adhisthana. Major portion of missed stones were substituted with new ones. After the restoration work, the daily pooja is being performed in this temple and which attracting many a number of devotees.
Restoration work was carried by the Sri Manjunatheswara Dharmoththaana Trust under the instruction from Dharmadhikari of Dharmasthala temple Sri Veerendra Hegde.

Harihareswara Temple, Harihara

Sri Harhareswara Temple, Harihara, Karnataka....


The Harihareshwara Temple at Harihar in Karnataka state, India, was built in 1223–1224 CE by Polalva, a commander and minister of the Hoysala Empire King Vira Narasimha II. The temple was consecrated for the deity Harihara, a fusion of the Hindu Gods Vishnu and Shiva. The image of the deity is a fusion of the right vertical half of Shiva and left vertical half of Vishnu. The image holds in its right hand, the attributes of Shiva and in the left hand, those of Vishnu. Lathe turned pillars support the ceiling of the open hall, which has beautiful lotuses.