Dr Venganoor Balakrishnan
Worshipping the serpents
Piety is seeing and experiencing godly power in every living being on earth. Since the Vedic period, serpents have been treated with compassion and respect in India.
Onam: Kings & legends
Onam, though celebrated in all south Indian states, is considered the national festival of Kerala. The emotional attachment the Malayalis
Ancestral rites
The last month of the Malayalam Era is Karkkidakam (July 16 to August 17).
There’s reason behind rituals
Indian traditions have always had great regard for women and that is why several rules were formulated keeping their well-being in mind. Most of these traditions are relevant even today and are followed.
Conches, bells and devotees
Indian tradition had its roots in the culture developed by rishis, which gave way to a temple-based culture later on. The temple culture, developed long back, remains pertinent even today.
The ancient rituals in temples, including blowing of conches, sounding of bells and use of flowers, are still prevalent.
When man & God meet
Theyyam is a rite and an art prevalent in north Kerala. Gods, goddesses, beings like yaksha, gandharvas, bhoothas, nagas, ancestors and gallant heroes who died while performing adventurous deeds are worshipped through this folk art.
Theyyam and Thira are, in fact, two ways of worshipping the common man. Usually people worship idols in stone or wood considering them to be representing deities.
Why the gods love Akshayathritheeya
Nowadays, business groups cleverly promote Akshayathritheeya as a day on which one should buy gold. But this is not the sole significance of the day. Akshayathritheeya, which falls on the “thritheeya” day of the bright lunar fortnight of the month of Vaishakha (celebrated this year on May 6)
The power of yagas
Athirathram, which is now being held with much fanfare in Thrissur, Kerala, is the most splendid of all yagas. It is perhaps the most ancient and most powerful ritual in the Indian tradition.
Every Namboothiri family in Kerala is supposed to perform a yaga representing their generation.
Devotion: Key to your karma
There are many people who complain that failure is their fate. They do work hard, sweat over a variety of missions, but invariably end up with failure. They now come to the conclusion that there is no God. Because, if He existed, their long and hard exertion would have had a result.
They grieve that all their prayers were in vain. If God existed, prayers would have been heard and pleas granted. These people however, never care to analyse what, in fact, cause their failure.
Mantras for a happy life
There are certain people who are always happy and contented. Sages of the past ascribe to such people certain qualities that enable them to lead a pleasant life.
Aarogyamaanrunyamavipravaasa
Satbhirmanushyaissaha samprayoga
Swapratyayaa vrithirabheethavaasa
Shadjeevalokasya sukhani raajan
