Hindu Images

स्त्वंहंसि पासि विदधासि महेश्वरोऽसि ॥

हे काशीश्वर ! एक तुम्हीं करूणावश इस जगत् की उत्पति, पालन और संहार करते हो; प्रभो ! तुम ही इसके एक मात्र स्वामी हो || 🙏

last quarter of the 8th century

India (Jammu & Kashmir, ancient kingdom of Kashmir)

source : The Metropolitan Museum, NY

This complex form of Vishnu, first referred to by the name Vaikuntha in the seventh-century Vishnudharmottarapurana, is four-faced (chaturmurti), with the heads of a lion (right) and a boar (left) flanking a human head. He is also identifiable in this form by the epithet Para-Vasudeva, “the highest god.” The lion and boar represent Vishnu’s Varaha and Narasimha avatars. Carved in low relief on the back of the halo is the fourth face, a grimacing representation with fangs and a vertical third eye on the forehead. The small attendant on Vishnu’s left is Chakrapurusha, the personification of his war discus, originally balanced on his right by Gadadevi, the female personification of his battle mace. The earth goddess Prithvi, stands between Vishnu’s legs. from the eighth through the tenth century, this four-faced Vishnu was the paramount cult icon in the kingdom of Kashmir.

तेहि न भजसि मन मंद को कृपाल संकर सरिस॥

(श्रीरामचरितमानस)

jarata sakala sura bṛṃda biṣama garala jehiṃ pāna kiya।

tehi na bhajasi mana maṃda ko kṛpāla saṃkara sarisa॥

(śrīrāmacaritamānasa)

जिस भीषण हलाहल विष से सब देवतागण जल रहे थे उसको जिन्होंने स्वयं पान कर लिया, रे मन्द मन! तू उन शंकरजी को क्यों नहीं भजता? उनके समान कृपालु (और) कौन है?

O stupid mind, how is it that you do not worship Him who drank the deadly venom (churned out of the ocean of milk ), the very presence of which was burning all the host of gods? Who else is so merciful as Lord Shankara?

पूज्य पिता दशरथ ने अंतिम श्रद्धांजलि

नहीं पाई रे

अधम जटायो के पंखन पर असुवन

धार बहाई रे।। ❤️

The legend of the temple is also associated with Narasimha, an avatar of Hindu god Vishnu. When Ma Lakshmi, was doing penance at this place. Hanuman ji (locally called Anjaneyar) was carrying an image made of Saligrama and Lakshmi ma requested him to get her a view of Vishnu in the form of Narasimha.

Hanuman entrusted the saligrama to her and asked her to hold it until he returns. She placed the image at this place, which grew into a mount before Hanuman could return. Bhagwan Narasimha appeared before both of them and set his abode at this place. The Narasimhaswamy temple is located right at the foot hills is also associated with this legend and Hanuman ji is believed to have worshipped him in standing posture form a distance to the temple.

During the Tamil month of Panguni (March - April) the image of presiding deities here are taken around the streets of the temple.The idol in the picture is carved out of a single stone and believed to be existing from the 5th century. Since today is Saturday, Hanuman ji is worshipped across in India today.

pc to respected owner.

॥ नारायण ॥

प्रसन्नवदनं ध्यायेत् सर्वविघ्नोपशान्तये॥

Bhootnath One of the infinite names of Parmeshwar Shiva is Bhootnath, where "Bhoot" refers to all that exists and "Nath" refers to the lord. So, Bhootnath is none other than the Lord Of All that exists. But in case of Bhootnath, "Bhoot" also refers to the Panch Mahabhootas. And as per Charaka Samhita(26.10), All the living and non-living objects in the universe are made up of Panch Mahabhuta. Also each of Panch Mahabhootas has inherent function which is associated with each of five sense organs(the five jnanyendriyas).

They are as follows:

1. Akash Mahabhoota-shabda(sound)-ears

2. Vayu Mahabhoota-sparsh(touch)-skin

3. Agni Mahabhoota-rupa(vision)-eyes

4. Jal Mahabhoota-rasa(taste)-tongue

5. Prithvi Mahabhoota-gandha(smell)-nose

Each Mahabhoota also has the inherent function of its predecessor for example, Prithvi Mahabhoota has functions of all the other Mahabhootas as it comes last.

From the above details it is very clear that whatever you hear, touch, see, taste or smell has a single lord who is none other than Bhootnath Shiva.

The temple houses the goddess Nookambika. The King who ruled this area - Sri Kakarlapudi Appala Raju garu, built this temple to Kakatambika, a family goddess. She would later be called Nookambika or Nookalamma. On "Kottha Amavasya", a day before Ugadi, thousands of people from throughout Andhra Pradesh come to the temple for worship.

Sri Sri Sri Nookambika Ammavaru is one of the nine Shakti forms and popularly known as Sri Anagha Devi in ancient days. After a few years in the era of Kakatiya kings, the temple was renovated and the same goddess was worshipped with the name Sri Kakatamba. Daily pujas and diparadhanas are performed here. As the kings lost their dynasties, the daily pujas and other rituals were interrupted and slowly the temple lost its previous glory.

सुत बिलोकि हरषीं महतारी।बार बार आरती उतारी॥

|| श्री रघुनाथजी का राज्याभिषेक || 🚩

The Chennakeshava Mandir, also referred to as Keshava, Kesava or Vijayanarayana Mandir of Belur, is a 12th-century Hindu Mandir in the Hassan district of Karnataka, India.