Garuda Panchami

Garuda Panchami  is a festival dedicated to Garuda, Lord Vishnu�s vahanam.It is observed on Shravan Sukla Paksha Panchami, the fifth day of the waxing phase of the moon in the month of Shravana.

Garuda is commonly referred to as Pakshiraja, Vainateya, Suparna, Garuthman, Periya Tiruvadi, Vinatasuta, Vishnuvahana, Nagantaka and Kashyapeya. Garuda is engaged in eternal service to Lord Narayana at Sri Vaikuntam.

It is believed that his radiance is equal to that of  the SUN. Lord Garuthmantha on this Garuda Panchami freed his mother from slavery by bringing AMRUTHAM, by defeating all Gods protecting it. He is very powerful and has immense strength. Even Vajrayudha the primary weapon of King Indra could not harm Garuthmantha.

2016 Date : 7th August.

Naga Panchami

Nag Panchami is a  festival which is celebrated by the Hindus in several parts of India. This festival is celebrated on Panchami in Shravan month (July/August). On this day people worship  Naga devata (Cobras) and people go to temples where snake pits and worship the snakes. They offer milk and silver jewelry to the Cobras to protect them from all kinds of evils. People take Fast on this day. 

Naga Panchami is one of the most ancient fasts in India and also finds mention in the Puranas. It is believed to be one of the most auspicious days of the entire year. According to the Bhavishya Purana, when men bathe the snakes Vasuki, Takshaka, Kaliya, Manibhadra, Airavata, Dhritarashtra, Karkotaka and Dhananjaya with milk, on the fifth day of the bright fortnight of Shravan, they ensure freedom from danger for their families. As per a legend, on the day of Naga Panchami, ploughing a field is forbidden.

In India, snakes are so revered that temples have also been erected in their honor. There is a particularly famous one in Mysore, at a place called Subramania (Sheshnaga).

The temples dedicated snakes (sarpa) are flocked by devotees, who carry milk and turmeric powder as offerings for the deity. In fact, in some part of the country, Nag Panchami is called 'snake day'. In some regions, live cobras are given a ceremonious bath in milk and offered rice, because it is believed that by treating them properly, one could get immunity from their bites. Women also take part in the celebrations. They would get up early in the morning, take bath and head to the nearest Snake temple, carrying pots of milk and flowers to the deity. According to the legends, if a snake drinks milk, then it is a symbol of good luck. 

2016 Date : 7^th August,Sunday.

2017 Date : 27th July.

SRI VEERA ANJANEYA SWAMY TEMPLE - PONNUR(GUNTUR)

Sri Veera Anjaneya Swamy Temple is denity to lord anjaneya swamy. It was built in 1969 by kota jagannadha swamy Temple history can stated as daily Yagas are performed in the yaga shala. Pooja is performed daily to Shiva Lingas near the foot of Lord Shiva with Chandanam which is removed only once in a Year.

5 Lingas are located near the feet of Lord Shiva which look similar inspite of various sizes. Idol of Goddess Parvati Devi on Black Stone. Five Akkanda Deppas are located in 5 Storied Building. Lord's History is painted on the walls of Temple.

Here Ponnur is famous for Sahasra Lingas. Idol of Lord Shiva, 24 feet Hanuman Idol of 12 feet width, 4 feet thickness on a single black stone brought from Edlapaadu, Chilkaluri peta under supervision of Bhavannarayana. 30 Feet Garuthmantha Idol of 15 feet width, 6 feet Thickness

Others temples located near by are Sahasra Lingeshwara Swamy Temple Sri Vinayaka Swamy, Navagrahas, Nandhi, Sri Pandu Ranga Temple, Sri Garauthmantha Temple, Sri Dashavathara Temples.

Location of ponnur on is the highway of Guntur-Chirala state highway, about 29 km south of Guntur Timings : 6.00 am to 7.00 pm

To reach Ponnur it is well connected by road and even by rail. By road, Ponnur is connected with Guntur,Tenali and Narasaraopet Bapatla Railway Station is the nearest station served by the South Central Railways. The nearest air terminal is vijayawada

Krishna Pushkaralu 2016

Krishna Pushkaralu is a festival of River Krishna which normally occurs once in 12 years. It takes place during the transit of Bruhaspati (Jupiter) into Kanya Rasi (Virgo Zodiac Sign). 

Vijayawada is located on the banks of the Krishna River. Vijayawada is very much famous for Krishna Pushkaralu. During the celebrations, devotees will take a dip in the sacred Krishna River to wash away their sins.

As per the legend, there lived a Brahmin in a village. He did severe penance towards Lord Shiva. As a result of it, Lord Shiva granted a boon because of which he was blessed with a power to purify the holy rivers. Thenceforth he was known as Pushkar (the one who nourishes). While traveling from one zodiac sign to another, Brihaspati aka Jupiter requested Pushkar to make the 12 sacred rivers holy. Various pujas and rituals were performed during the Pushkaralu.

The festival lasts as long as Jupiter remains in the corresponding zodiac sign. Major crowds will throng during the first 12 days. The first 12 days when the Jupiter enters the zodiac sign and the last 12 days when it exits the zodiac sign are considered as most auspicious. 

ABOUT KRISHNA RIVER:

The Krishna river is the fourth largest river, which is about 1,300 kilometers long. It originates from Mahabaleswar of Maharashtra and exits into the Bay of Bengal at Hamsaladeevi. The river flows through Karnataka and ends its journey in Andhra Pradesh before reaching its final destination viz., Bay of Bengal. En route, the river crosses Panchgani, Wai, Narsobachi Wadi and enters Karnataka at Kurundwad, and flows through Belgaum, Bijapur, and Gulbarga districts. Finally, it enters Andhra Pradesh near Deosugur and continues to flow through Mehbubnagar, Kurnool, Guntur and Krishna districts.

It has many tributaries and Tungabhadra is the principal one and the other ones include Mallaprabha, Koyna, Bhima, Ghataprabha, Yerla, Warna, Dindi, Musi, Dudhganga.

Krishna Pushkaralu Dates : 12^th August 2016 � 23^rd August 2016.

Naina Devi Mela 2016

The word Naina is synonymous with Sati�s eyes. The temple of Naina Devi is situated on the top of a hill of Nainital named Naina hill. The Naina Devi Temple is an important pilgrimage and attracts thousands of devotees from far and near every year. There is a myth behind this beautiful place about goddess Sati or Parvati. There is a beautiful lake too known as Naina Lake. It�s said this lake this is the two blue eyes of goddess Naina.

During the time period of August or September a large fair is organized to celebrate the importance of goddess Naina and so the Naina Mata Festival. During the time of fair people of this place adorn their houses and shops to celebrate this festival. In this Naina Devi Fair folk cultural programs are organized. People perform folk music and folk dances. The fair lasts fort eight days and all the days and nights during it are celebrated with joy and delight along with the religious sentiments. 

2016 Dates : 3^rdAugust � 10^th  August .

Naina Devi Temple - Himachal Pradesh.

Naina Devi Temple is a holy place which is dedicated to Shri Naina Devi, one of the forms of Maa Shakti. The Temple is located on the top of a hill in Bilaspur district of Himachal Pradesh, Naina Devi Mandir is one amongst the 51 Shakti Peethas. The temple is situated on Shivalik Mountain and devotees however have to cover a distance of above 2 km on foot. 

In the temple area one can view a huge Peepal tree that is acclaimed to be present from past many centuries. While on the right side of the entrance to the main holy shrine idols of Lord Hanuman and Ganesha are placed. As one passes the main gate of the shrine, two striking statues of lions are visible and the main shrine reveals the images of three deities namely Goddess Kali which can be traced on the extreme left. In the centre, image of Naina Devi is visible, while Lord Ganesha is on the right side. The Temple is perched and situated over a small yet scenic hill. From the suburbs of the Naina Devi temple, one can spot the picturesque Govind Sagar Lake. Close to the main shrine, there is a small cave called Shri Naina Devi Cave. 

Temple History :

The Naina Devi temple is situated in the middle of a 1567 yard long, 167 yard wide and 93 feet deep lake. Since 1918 every year, a grand statue-immersion ceremony has been taking place here, on Bhadrapad Shukla Ashtami. Naina Devi temple serves as a major tourist spot of Nainital and Himachal Pradesh. It has been believed that the current temple at Nainital actually replaces the original 15th century temple, which was built during Kushan dynasty reign and got destroyed in a landslide, in 1880. 

There are people who also say that a devotee of Maa Naina, Moti Ram Shah, was the person who established this temple in 1842 and it got destroyed in 1880 landslide. In short, the truth of the story of Naina Devi temple, before 1880, varies according to the beliefs of different people. While whatever could be the past, there is one fact related to the temple, over which there is no contradiction, that the temple was reconstructed in 1883. 

Significance of the temple :

According to Hindu mythology the consort of Lord Shiva, Sati killed herself by jumping in the sacrificial fire as her father Daksha Prajapati insulted her husband. Then later Shiva started roaming the entire universe with the body of Sati in his arms. Lord Vishnu dismembered the dead body of Sati for purpose of calming down the anger of Shiva. Various body parts of Sati fell at fifty-one different places in India that later became sacred as Shakti Peeths. Thousands of pilgrims all over the country gather here every year on Navratri and Savana (Monsoon) to worship Goddess Parvati.

This temple is also known as Mahishapitha as it has the association with Mahishasur. Brahma the creator gave a boon to Mahishasur that he could only be defeated by a maiden. His story has a major section in the Devi Mahatmya and could be found in greater detail in the Devi Bhagavata Purana. He troubled the Gods and made life impossible for the righteous people of that time. To protect themselves the Devagan got together and combined their Shakti�s (Goddess power within them) to create a new Devi powerful enough to defeat him. 

She has been incarnated on a nearby hill called Mahishapith. Hearing about her unearthly beauty Mahishasur wanted to marry the Divine maiden and while she agreed to get married only on the condition that he could defeat her in battle. The Devi defeated his armies and finally Mahishasur, the Devi plucked out both his eyes and gave his skull to Brahma. The Gods showered the Devi with flowers called out the name �Jay Naina�. 

Time to Visit :

Naina Devi Temple welcomes the piligrims thoughout the year. People mostly visit the temple on the auspicious occasion of 3 festivals Navratris, Shravani and Chaitra .The Navaratri is usually celebrated in Sept -Oct which is the largest fair and two more annual melas are the Shravani Mela in July-August & Chaitra mela in March-April which attracts lakhs of people of divergent religious faith, caste, creed and culture. These colourful melas become the melting pot for the Hindus, Sikhs and others-a unique sight of real Unity in Diversity.

Temple Timings :

5 am to 9 pm.

How to get There :

    i.        By Air - to Visit Naina Devi Temple, Chandigarh and Bhuntar are the nearest airports, located at 135-km and 131-km from Bilaspur.

   ii.        By Railways - the nearest broad gauge railway station is at Kiratpur Sahib and the nearest narrow gauge railway station is at Shimla.

 iii.        By Road - the Temple is situated on the National Highway No. 21. Deluxe Buses and even ordinary Buses are available from Chandigarh to Biaspur via Kiratpur on the way to Manali crossing Mandi and Kullu.

TTD TO OBSERVE TARIGONDA VENGAMAMBA 199TH VARDHANTI

The temple management of TTD will be observing Vengamamba 199th Vardhanti in Tirupati, Tirumala and Tarigonda on 11th and 12th of August.

TTD is organising harikatha, cultural, spiritual discourses at Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple in Tarigonda, Annamacharya Kalamandiram in Tirupati for the occasion.

Meanwhile in Tirumala, the officials will perform floral tributes to Vengamamba Samadhi located in the hill town.

Vengamamba, a great saint poetess, who belonged to 18th century attained salvation through her great devotion towards Lord Sri Lakshmi Narasimha and Tirumala Venkateswara Swamy. She penned many great works in the praise of the deities. She also pioneered Annaprasadam in Tirumala. Even today in Tirumala temple, Vengamamba Mutyala Harati is performed during Ekanta Seva.