Culture
Hinduism, Christianity, Islam and other religions advocate regular prayers in congregations. Temple Prayers, Satsangam, Music, and Vedic Observance are the cultural habits followed from young age. All these inculcate noble sentiments and respect for values and character building.
Satsangam
Satsangam literally means keeping good company. It helps in recharging energy and keeping a relaxed mind for a better performance in all endeavours. The main events in such congregations are Bhajans and literary discourses.
Bhajans
Generally,Bhajans are devotional songs set to ragas and sung together by the entire group. Saints namely Nanak, Kabir, Meera, Narottama Dasa,Surdas and Tulsidas have composed several devotional songs which are easy to sing as bhajans.Sri Vittaldas Jaya Krishna Deekshithar and Sri Udayalur A.Kalyana Raman are known for popularising abhangs and namasankeertanam.
Traditions of bhajan are Nirguni, Gorakhanathi, Vallabhapanthi, Ashtachhap, Madhura-bhakti and the traditional South Indian form Sampradya Bhajan . Among the above, Sampradaya Bhajan is very popular. It is the collection of Kirtanas (songs) and Namavalis (songs composed of names of Hindu gods like Lord Rama, Lord Krishna etc.) in a specific order. Marudhanallur Sadguru Sri Venkataramana Swamigal was instrumental in establishing the format and had chosen the songs himself. Later Sri Pudukottai Gopala Krishna Bhagavathar, and Sri krishna Premi popularised the Kirtanas and Namavalis that are to be sung in any Bhajan. Swami Haridas Giri spread this traditional form of art worldwide.
The trinity of gurus as far as Bhajans are considered as Bodhendra Swamigal, Sridhara Ayyaval and Marudhanallur Sadguru Swamigal. In tradition, the bhajans are typically rendered in the following order:
- • Dhyana Slokam.
- • Sangraha Thodaya Mangalam.
- • Guru Dhyanam.
- • Guru Abhangs.
- • Sadhu Keertanas.
- • Jayadeva Ashtapadi (Geeta Govindam).
- • Narayana Teertha Krishna leela Tharangini.
- • Panchapati (Five songs in Telugu (Bhadrachala Ramadas), Kannada (Sri Purandara dasa), Sanskrit (Sri Sadasiva Brahmendral), Tamil (Sri Gopalakrishna Bharathi) and compositions of Sri Tyagaraja Swamigal Kabir Das, Meera Bai, Tulsidas, Surdas.
- • Dyana keertanais.
- • Pooja Sampradaya Kritis.
- • Divya namam and deepa pradakshinam.
- • Dolotsavam Anjaneya Keertanai.
Literary Discourse
At all important Temples/Centres literary discourses by scholars such as Sri.Sundar Kumar, Sri. Krishna Premi, Sri.Velukkudi Krishnan, Sri Vittal Das Jayakrishna Deekshithar are conducted at regular intervals. Listening to such discourses enhances moral values and self-confidence.
Music
Music is recognised globally as it reduces anxiety and stress in individuals. Learning music in very young age moulds the personality. The singer and listener are both benefitted. Music has therapy value and is a good catalyst for enhancing team spirit. Regular performance of Carnatic music, Hindusthani Music, Light Music, etc are hosted in many places.
Vedic Observance
Vedas have prescribed that workship of Gods, saints, One’s ancestors called pithrus, service to humanity, protection of animals, birds and environment are mandatory for welfare of world. Sandhya Vandhanam including Gayathri Japam, Tharpanam, feeding of cows and other animals and birds, maintenance of purity of rivers and other water bodies, Growing of trees, etc. go a long way in broadening the attitude of individuals and inculcates compassion and empathy which are vital for success.
Temples
All the locations have Temples and people throng them for prayers. The famous Temples which are very popular are as under:
Navagraha Temples in Tamil Nadu
Sooryanar Temple- Thirunallar
Sooriyanar Koil is dedicated to Sun God and the other planets. The other eight Temples mentioned below are dedicated to the respective Navagraham and the presiding deities are Lord Siva and Goddess Parvathi. Worship in Navagraha Temples ensures their Blessings, minimizes bad luck and promotes success and good health.
- • Chandra Navagrahastalam -Thingaloor
- • Angaarakan Navagrahastalam - Vaitheeshwaran Koil
- • Budha Navagrahastalam - Thiruvenkadu
- • Guru Navagrahastalam - Alangudi
- • Sukra Navagrahastalam - Kanjanur
- • Shani Navagrahastalam - Thirunallar
- • Raahu Navagrahastalam - Thirunageswaram
- • Ketu Navagrahastalam - Keezhperumpallam
GURU / SAINT’S TEMPLES/ASHRAMS
Tamil Nadu
- • Sri Seshadri Swamigal Thiruvannamalai
- • Sri Ramana Maharishi. Thiruvannamalai
- • Yogi Ramsurathkumar, Thiruvannamalai
- • Sri Sivashankar Baba, Kelambakkam, Near Chennai
- • Sri Maha Swamigal Chandrasekarendra Saraswathi, Kanchipuram
- • Sri Sankara Mutt, Kanchipuram
- • Sri. Bhagawan Nama Bodhendral, Govindapuram, Kumbakonam
- • Sri Sadasiva Bhrammendral, Nerur near Trichy
- • Sri Dayananda Saraswathi, Coimbatore
Karnataka
- • Sri Raghavendraswami, Mantralayam
- • Sri Sankara Mutt. - Sringeri.
Andhra Pradesh
- • Sri Sai Baba, Puttabathi
Maharashtra
- • Sri Sai Baba, Shirdi
Ganapathy Temples
Tamil Nadu
- • Sri Mahaganapathi Temple, Ganapathi Agaram.
- • Karpaga Vinayagar Temple, Pillayarpatti.
- • Rockfort Uchi pillayar Temple, Tiruchirapalli.
- • Sri Vijayaganapathi Temple, Ullagaram.
- • Kaarya siddhi ganapathi, Natham village panchetty.
- • Sri Kani Vaangiya Vinayagar(sri vilvanatheeswarar temple), Thiruvalam, Vellore
- • Shenbakkam Vinayaka Temple, near vellore
Andhra Pradesh
- • Kanipakam Vinayaka Temple, Kanipakam, Chittoor Distt.
- • Biccavolu Maha Ganapathi.
- • Sri Maha Ganapathi Temple, Sapthagiri Colony, Vedayapalem, Nellore.
- • Sri Varasiddhi Vinayaka Temple, Secunderabad.
- • Sri Sakthi Ganapathi Devalayam, Kothi, Hyderabad.
- • Sakshi Ganapathi Temple at Srisailam Temple complex.
- • Dodda Ganapati at Lepakshi Temple complex.
- • Lakshmi Ganapati Temple at Road No:8, S V Nagar, Nagaram, Hyderabad.
Maharashtra
- • Dashabhuja Temple in Pune
- • Maha Ganapati Rajur in Jalna district
- • Laksh Vinayak Verul (near Ellora caves) Aurangabad
- • Ashtavinayak, a group of eight Ganesha temples around Pune
- • Girijatmaja Vinayak Temple, Pune
- • Chintamani Temple, Pune
- • Ganapatipule Ganapati Temple, Ganapatipule, district of Ratnagiri
- • Kadicha Ganapati Temple, Nagpur
- • Shri SiddhiVinayak Temple, Prabhadevi (near Mumbai)
- • Mahagnapati Temple, Wai, District of Satara
- • Dagadusheth Halwai Ganapati Temple, Pune
- • Shree Navshya Ganapati, Nashik
Karnataka
- • Sri idagunji maha ganapathi, Honnavara.
- • Shree Maha Ganapathi Temple, Lakkasandra, Bangalore
- • GDP Temples, Shimoga.
- • Ganapati Temple, Pernankila, Udupi District
- • Anegudde Sri Vinayaka Temple, Anegudde, Udupi district
Kerala
- • Ganapathi Temple in Kottarakkara.
- • Malliyoor MahaGanapathi Temple, Malliyoor, Kottayam.
- • Sree MahaGanapathy Temple, Panniyali, Omalloor, Pathanamthitta.
- • Maha Ganapathi Temple, Pampa.
- • Edappally Ganapathy temple, Kochi.
- • Suryakalady Maha Ganapathi Temple, Nattassery, Kottayam.
- • Ganapathi Temple, Pazhavangadi, Thiruvananthapuram.
- • Velam Mahaganapathi Temple, Mayyil.
Madhya Pradesh
- • Chintaman Ganesh Temple,Ujjain.
- • Bada Ganpati Temple, Indore.
- • Khajrana Ganesh Temple, Indore.
Uttar Pradesh
- • Shree Ganesh Mandir, Jhansi.
Orissa
- • Sri Sri Sri Sidha Binayak Pitha, Berhampur, Ganjam.
Delhi
- • Shri Subha Siddhi Vinayaka Mandir, Pkt-4, Mayur Vihar Vinayaka Mandir, Sarojini Nagar.
SUBRAMANYA TEMPLES
Tamil Nadu
- • Tirupparamkundram.
- • Tiruchendur.
- • Tiruvavinankudi (Palani).
- • Tiruverakam (Swamimalai).
- • Tiruttani.
- • Pazhamudircholai.
- • Arupadaiveedu-Besant Nagar, Chennai.
- • Vallimalai.
- • Ratnagiri, Vellore.
- • Marudamalai, Coimbatore.
- • Viralimalai, Trichy.
- • Vadapalani, Chennai.
- • Sholinganallur, Chennai.
Karnataka
- • Subramanya near Mangalore.
Kerala
- • Udayanapuram in Vaikom.
Sivan Temples
Tamil Nadu
- • Sri Kapaleeswarar Temple, Mylapore, Chennai.
- • Rameshwaram.
- • Thiruvannamalai.
- • Thiruvanaikkaval.
- • Chidambaram.
- • Kanchipuram.
Gujarat
- • Somnath Near Vevaral.
- • Nageshwar near Dwarka.
Maharashtra
- • Trimbakeshwar near Nashik.
- • Bhimashankar, Off Pune.
- • Grishneshwar near Ellora caves / Auranbabad.
- • Aundha Nagnath Temple near Nanded.
- • Parli Baidyanath near Bid.
Andhra Pradesh
- • Srisailam.
- • Kalahasthi.
Madhya Pradesh
- • Omkareshwar.
- • Mahakaleshwar.
Jharkand
- • Baidyanath, Deoghar.
Uttar Pradesh
- • Kashi Vishwanath, Varanasi.
Uttaranchal
- • Kedarnath.
Vishnu Temples including divya desams.
Tamil Nadu
Chennai
- • Thiruvallikeni.
- • Thiruneermalai.
- • Thiruvidandai.
- • Thirukadalmallai.
- • Thiruninravur.
- • Thiruvallur.
- • Thirukkadigai.
Kancheepuram
- • Thiruvengadam.
- • Tirukkacchi.
- • Ashtabujakaram.
- • Tiruvekkaa.
- • Tiruththanka.
- • Tiruvelukkai.
- • Tirukalvanoor.
- • Tiru oorakam.
- • Tiru neeragam.
- • Tiru kaaragam.
- • Tirukaarvaanam.
- • Tiru parameswara vinnagaram.
- • Tiru pavala vannam.
- • Tiru paadagam.
- • Tiru nilaaththingal thundam.
- • Thiruputkuzhi.
Thanjavur
- • Thiruccithra kootam.
- • Thirukkannangudi.
- • Thirunagai.
- • Thiru Thanjai.
- • Tirukkoilur.
- • Thirukkoodaloor.
- • Thiru Kavith Thalam.
- • Thiru Adhanoor.
- • Thirupullabhoothangudi.
- • Thirukkudandhai.
- • Thiruccherai.
- • Thirunandipura Vinnagaram.
- • ThiruNaraiyoor.
- • Thiruvinnagar.
- • Thiruvelliyangudi.
- • Thirukkanamangai.
- • Thirukkkannapuram.
- • Thirukkandiyur.
- • Thiru Pandurangan Kumbakonam.
Mayiladuthurai and Sirkazhi
- • Thiruvazhunthoor.
- • Thiruindaloor.
- • Kazheesirama Vinnagaram.
- • Thirukkavalampadi.
- • Thiruchsemponsey.
- • Thiruarimeya Vinnagaram.
- • Thiru Vanpurushothamam.
- • Thiruvaikunda vinnagaram.
- • Thirumanimadam.
- • Thiruthevanartthogai.
- • Thiruthetriyambalam.
- • Thirumanikkoodam.
- • Thiruvellakkulam.
- • Thiruppaarththanpalli.
- • Thalai Sanga Nanmathiyam.
- • Thiruchsirupuliyoor.
- • Thiruvali-Thirunagari.
Trichy
- • Sri Rangam.
- • Thirukkozhi.
- • Thirukkarambanoor.
- • Thiruvellarai.
- • Thiru Anbil.
- • Thirupper Nagar.
- • Thiruvanthipuram.
Madurai
- • Thirumeyyam.
- • Thirukoshtiyur.
- • Koodal Azhagar Temple.
- • Azhagar Kovil.
- • Tirumogoor.
- • Srivilliputhur.
- • Tiruththangal.
- • Thirupullani.
Thirunelveli
- • Thiruvaramangai.
- • Thirukkurungudi.
- • Srivaikundam.
- • Thiruvaragunamangai.
- • Thiruppulingudi.
- • Thirukkurugoor.
- • Thirutthulaivillimangalam.
- • Thirukkoloor.
- • Thirukkulandhai.
- • Thentirupperai.
- • Thiruvattaru.
- • Thiruvanparisaram.
- • Guruvayur.
- • Varkala.
- • Thiruvananthapuram.
- • Thirukatkarai.
- • Moozhikkalam.
- • Tiruvalla.
- • Thirukadithanam.
- • Sengunroor.
- • Thiruppuliyoor.
- • Thiruvaaranvilai.
- • Thiruvanvandoor.
- • Thiru naavaay.
- • Viththuvakkodu.
- • Tirupathi.
- • Ahobilam.
- • Naimisaranya.
- • Mathura.
- • Gokul.
- • Ayodhya.
- • Brindaban.
- • Dwaraka.
- • Devprayag.
- • Badrinath.
- • Pandurangan Temple, Pandaripuram.
- • Mukthinath, Saligramam.
Kanyakumari
Kerala
Andhra Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh
Gujarat
Uttrakhand
Maharashtra
Nepal
GODDESS TEMPLES.
Tamil Nadu
- • Kalikamba Temple,Chennai.
- • Ashtalakshmi Temple, Chennai.
- • Meenakshi Temple, Madurai.
- • Gandhimathi Temple, Thirunelveli.
- • Akilendeswari Temple,Thiruvanaikkaval.
- • Kamakshi Amman Temple, Kanchipuram.
- • Kanyakumari Temple, Kanyakumari.
- • Karumariamman Temple, Thiruverkadu.
- • Mariamman Temple,Samayapuram near Trichy.
- • Mariamman Temple, Thanjavur.
- • Saraswathy Temple, Koothanur.
Kerala
- • Bhagawati Temple, Chottanikara.
- • Bhagawati Temple, Koungallur.
Assam
- • Kamakhya Devi Temple.
Gujarat
- • Ambaji Shrine in Arasur.
West Bengal
- • Kali Temple in Kalighat, Calcutta.
Maharashtra
- • Mahalakshmi Temple, Kolhapur.
- • Bhavani Temple, Tuljapur.
Jammu
- • Vaishnao Devi Temple.
Karnataka
- • Mookambika Temple at Kollur.
- • Chamudeswari Temple, Mangalore.
- • Sarada Temple, Sringeri.