An Ode to Lord Sri Krishna!

There is simply nobody like Lord Krishna who is the ultimate universal unique leela manifesting form of divinity that has ever graced human kind. Not a single super hero in the history of mankind can hold a candle in front of Krishna. The way he transforms himself according to the prevailing undertone makes you wonder with awe about the divine persona that he possesses. He is the eternal lover, the evergreen charmer, the miracle maker, life provider, form multiplier, power enhancer, size changer, high flier, master strategist, astute philosopher, dutiful teacher, wisdom spreader, supreme protector, problem solver, Mukti deliverer all rolled into one.

As the world celebrates Lord Krishna on his 5252nd Birthday during this Aadi Maasa Krishna Ashtami (16th Aug 2025), this is a small ode from my side to the magnificence of majesty that is the mesmerising Lord Sri Krishna. Took a stab at a few instrumental bits of 4 delightful Krishna based bhajans viz

1) Adharam Madharam

2) Achutam Kesavam

3) Sri Krishna Govinda Hare Murare

4) Hare Krishna Hare Rama Chant

'Adharam Madhuram' is a recent favorite and I've lapped on to this ear worm ever since I gave it a listen just around a month back. It's a nectar filled sweetheart that makes you drool over. 'Achutam Kesavam' has that lilt factor going all over it. One of the most sought after Krishna bhajans one could ever think of. 'Sri Krishna Govinda Hare Murare' is another mellifluous number set to tune in Pahadi Ragam. I especially adore the alternate usage of the 2 Madhyamams which elevates this tune to exceptional heights. Coming to the 'Hare Krishna Chanting', I reckon there are a number of versions but I've chosen this one which has an energetic zest to it. This is also sung in many Iskcons to get the adrenalin pumping and keep the crowd on their feet.

May the all conquering all encompassing all pervading force of Lord Krishna continue to enthral, entrance & entangle by sweeping generations of lifetimes and histories to come in future. Happy 5252nd Solar Return Dear Lord Krishna🪈. 

The ways of the Divine - Sri Rangam Calling!🛕

There is something intrinsically sacrosanct about last minute plans especially when invoking the divine. Our decision to go to Sri Rangam was impromptu and took place at the eleventh hour. Now looking at it in hindsight, it was certainly one of the best decisions ever made as the Lord arranged everything for us at his own accord which we savoured to our heart's content. 

Even though a thought had been looming to visit Sri Rangam for almost a week, the action to eventually go was implanted only around the early hours of the evening when we boarded the bus and decided to walk the tightrope. The divine was calling and we just followed its ways and everything crystallised as per his beck & call. We reached Sri Rangam in the wee hours of the morning on 10th Aug 2025 without having an accommodation and he just magically led us to stay at a comfortable place within striking distance of the iconic Sri Ranganatha Swamy Temple. No amount of planning would have ever resulted in getting us a place in the proximity of a sanctorum circulating the pure air of divinity around for us to breathe and get purified.

Appended below is the list of temples that were visited in and around Sri Rangam (Trichy) on 10th & 11th August 2025

Divya Desams:
1) Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple, Sri Rangam
2) Sri Purushottaman Perumal Temple (Uthamar Kovil), Thirukkarambanoor
3) Sri Appakudathan Perumal Temple, Thirupper Nagar
4) Sri Vadivazhagiya Nambi Perumal Temple, Thiru Anbil
5) Sri Pundarikakshan Perumal Temple, Thiruvellarai

Pancha Bhoota Element: (Water)

6) Jambukeshwarar Temple, Thiruvanaikaval

Amman:
7) Arulmigu Mariamman Temple, Samayapuram

Krishna:
8) Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu Footprints, Sri Rangam
9) Sri Jagannath Mutt, Sri Rangam

Divya Desam: 
Divya Desams are special 108 temples of Lord Vishnu and his consort Lakshmi which have been mentioned in the works of the 12 Alwars (Poet Saints of Vishnu) who are known for their meticulous devotion having compiled the Divya Prabandham consisting of 4000 verses. Out of 108, only 106 are in the physical realm belonging in Planet Earth with 105 of these located in India and the one located outside India happens to be at Saligramam in Nepal. The two Divya Desams not located on Earth happen to be Kshira Sagara - the divine ocean in Heaven and Vaikunta - the heavenly abode of Vishnu & Lakshmi. Out of the total 108 Divya Desams, 6 of them happen to be around theTrichy border.

We managed to cover 5 of these 6 having our base location just about a stone's throw away from the magnificent Sri Ranganatha Swamy Temple. Listed below are brief insights on the 5 Divya Desams that were covered during our yatra.

Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple, Sri Rangam
This is a dazzling architectural marvel alluring in form and glittering in structure. It is considered as one of the foremost Vaishnava temple. It is the numero-uno in the list of the 108 Divya Desam temples and thronged by people all over the globe with it being listed as the largest functioning Hindu temple in the world. The temple tower known as Gopuram in Srirangam is termed as the "Raja Gopuram" and is said to be the largest Gopuram in the whole of Asia. Sri Rangam hosts tonnes of deities across Hindu mythology with the main deity being Lord Ranganatha, a reclining form of Vishnu. He is seen along with his primary consort Ranganayaki and two secondary consorts besides to the left & right of her viz Bhu Devi and Nila Devi. The most interesting fact about Sri Rangam temple is that it would not even have seen the light of the day. As legend goes, it is believed that this deity rose from the Ocean (Paarkadal) as a result of Brahma’s penance after which Ikshvaku, a descendant king of the Sun God (Surya), brought this idol to his capital in Ayodhya. This was then handed over to Lord Rama who is said to have received the idol by way of inheritance and worshipped it with great reverence. He had then requested Vibheeshana, the brother of Ravana, to install this deity in Sri Lanka with instructions to not rest the idol elsewhere. Vibheeshana, being a devout Brahmin, performed daily rituals at dusk and dawn every day. It so happened that he could not return to Lanka before sunset and set the deity down before commencing his evening ritual. It is then inferred that the idol bonded to the soil of the earth and could not be displaced by anybody and from then on it has stayed put right here in our very own Sri Rangam. The best way to worship the idols at Sri Ranganatha Swamy Temple is by taking all the time in the world by traversing through the acres of land consisting of towers aplenty with multitude of shrines. One should definitely ensure not to miss the Ramanuja Shrine (Udayavar Sannidhi) where the mortal remains of the holy saint is preserved to this day using natural substances such as sandalwood and saffron. Ramanujacharya was said to be born in 1017 and died at the ripe age of 120 in 1137. Since then for the last 888 years as of 2025, his soul has remained still intact in a seated position. Application of camphor & vermilion on his body twice a year gives his holy presence an ochre (orangish yellow brown) tint. It is gravity defying and has to be seen to be believed.
Divya Desam # - 1
Vishnu Name - Ranganatha Perumal
Lakshmi Name - Ranganayaki Thayar

Sri Purushottaman Perumal Temple (Uthamar Kovil), Thirukkarambanoor

This is a rare Vaishnava temple dedicated to the Trimurtis of Hinduism viz Lord Vishnu - the preserver of the universe, Lord Shiva - the destroyer of the universe and Lord Brahma - the creator of the universe. This is 3rd on the list of the Divya Desams. The God Vishnu here also is in reclining form and termed as Sri Purushottaman Perumal and his consort goes by the name of Poornavali Thayar. It is also known as Bhikshandar Kovil as Lord Shiva was relieved of his doshas. This temple also talks about husband & wife living in unity and understanding termed as "Uthamba" meaning best, so it also came to be known as Uthamar Kovil. Lord Vishnu is said to have emerged as a Kadamba tree to test the devotion of Lord Bramma and hence this place also goes by the name of Kadhambanur or Karambanur.

Divya Desam # - 3

Vishnu Name - Purushottaman Perumal

Lakshmi Name - Poornavali Thayar

Sri Appakudathan Perumal Temple, Thirupper Nagar

The name of the Vishnu God here is Sri Appakkudathaan Perumal again seen in a sleeping posture and he is seen with his consort Sri Kamalavalli Thayar. This is 6th on the list of the Divya Desams. The temple is one of the five Pancharanga Kshetrams, a group of five Hindu temples on the banks of the River Kaveri. Appam is a popular sweet dish prepared here in the temple daily as Neivedya and legend has it that Perumal got the name as Appakudathan since he received a pot of Appam from King Upamanyu.

Divya Desam # - 6

Vishnu Name - Appakudathan Perumal

Lakshmi Name - Kamalavalli Thayar

Sri Vadivazhagiya Nambi Perumal Temple, Thiru Anbil

This is another Vishnu seen in a reclining avatar and here he goes by the name of Sundara Raja Perumal and the Goddess is referred to as Sri Sundaravalli Thayar. This temple comes as the 5th of the Divya Desams. Vadiva Azhagiya or Sundara means "Beautiful" and it is believed that Lord Vishnu came as a handsome young man in front of Lord Brahma and mentioned that his physical appearance is just temporary and one has to be good at heart.

Divya Desam # - 5

Vishnu Name - Sundararaja Perumal

Lakshmi Name - Sundaravalli Thayar

Sri Pundarikakshan Perumal Temple, Thiruvellarai

The God Vishnu goes by the name of Pundarikakshan and the Goddess name is Pankajavalli Thayar. This is 4th on the list of Divya Desams. 'Pundari' denotes beautiful eyes and the Lord is said to be possessing enchanting eyes. Here, you would see Lord Vishnu in a standing posture with the Sun and Moon spanning the Lord on left & right and seated along on both sides are Markandeya Rishi and Bhooma Devi doing penance for the world. In this temple you would also witness Garuda in standing posture and Adishesha in a Manly avatar. This temple is said to be built by Sibi Chakravarthy.

Divya Desam # - 3

Vishnu Name - Pundarikaksha Perumal

Lakshmi Name - Pankajavalli Thayar

Pancha Bhoota Sthala

Pancha Bhoota Sthalam refers to 5 temples designated to Lord Shiva pertaining to the 5 primordial elements of nature viz Earth, Water, Fire, Air and Ether. From the name it can be figured out that Pancha means "5", Bhoota refers to "element" and Sthala denotes "place". All these temples are located in South India with 4 of them being in Tamil Nadu (Earth, Water, Fire & Ether) and the remaining one representing Air element located in Andhra Pradesh. The 5 Pancha Sthalas are as listed below:

Earth - Ekambareshwar Temple - Kanchipuram - Tamil Nadu

Water - Jambukeshwarar Temple - Trichy - Tamil Nadu

Fire - Annamalaiyar Temple - Tiruvannamalai - Tamil Nadu

Air - Sri Kalahasti Temple - Kalahasti - Andhra Pradesh

Ether - Thillai Natarajar Temple - Chidambaram - Tamil Nadu

Jambukeshwarar Temple, Thiruvanaikaval

During our visit to Trichy, we got an opportunity to visit the magnificent Jambukeshwarar Temple dedicated to the Water element. 'Water' is often referred to as the universal solvent and has a major bearing to do with one's personal emotions, feelings, intuitions and flow of creativity. Hence it was a blessing to worship at this temple. Also this temple is said to be associated with Pooradam or Poorva Ashada Nakshatra because its Devata is said to be Apah - The God of Water. The main deities here are Shiva who goes by the name "Jambukeshwara" and his consort Parvathi who takes the name of "Akilandeshwari". Legend has it that the sanctum of Jambukeswara has an underground water stream which in spite of pumping water out is always filled with water. The folklore goes like Parvathi mocking Shiva for his deep penance for which Shiva condemns her act and sends her to Earth in order to do penance. Goddess Akilandeshwari realising her folly is believed to have performed penance to atone her mistake. It is said that she found the Jambu forest (Thiruvanaikoil) to conduct her penance and made a lingam out of the water from river Kaveri under the Venn Naaval tree and commenced her worship. The lingam is said to be known as Appu Lingam.

Nature Element  - Water

Shiva Name - Jambukeshwara

Parvathi Name - Akilandeshwari

Arulmigu Mariamman Temple, Samayapuram

Apart from all the homage towards Lord Vishnu & the Divya Desams and also visiting the Shiva water element temple, we were also fortunate to receive honourable Mariamma's blessings showered upon us at Samayapuram. It was a massive temple that was packed to the rafters. We bought the necessary essentials to gift her such as flowers, a pair of eyes stickers (known to cure eye related issues), a Thali charadu (yellow thread) and waded through the long queue to get a magical glimpse of her. The aura around the sanctum felt very energetic with a powerful vibe prevalent throughout. The deity Mariamman is said to be a supreme form of Kali//Durga/Adi Shakthi and made of sand, clay and medicinal herbs unlike many of the traditional stone idols.

Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu Footprints, Sri Rangam

The blessings continued to pour thanks largely to my blessed friend who being a supreme Krishna Bhakt, whose bonding towards the Lord has no bounds and is unconditionally pure insisted on visiting the abode of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu who was an ardent devotee of Lord Krishna during the late 15th and early 16th century. That was like the harbinger for many superlative things to follow. The Pujari there who had been maintaining this small shrine regaled us with stories glorifying on the Lord and he was also instrumental in accompanying and giving us interesting anecdotes during our visit to few of the Divya Desams. Got to learn more about the legend of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu from both my friend and the Pujari along with also receiving an English translated copy of the Bhagawad Gita which felt very gratifying. It is believed that Chaitanya Mahaprabhu who is strongly considered to be Krishna himself laid his footprints on the holy town of Sri Rangam spending 4 months over there in the year 1510 where he observed Chaturmasya Vrata on the banks of the River Kaveri.

Sri Jagannath Mutt, Sri Rangam

Through our conversation with the Pujari at the Chaitanya Mahaprabhu shrine, one thing led to another and we also received the information of a Jagannath Mutt being located nearby at North Chitrai street by the side of Sri Rangam temple paying obeisance to Lord Jagannath. This place also gained extra prominence and propitiousness when we heard that this was the very same place where Mahaprabhu actually spent his time in Srirangam over 500 years back in 1510. There was no way we could miss this and hence decided to pay our reverence at this holy habitat too.

On the whole it was a momentous, memorable and mystical Mandir yatra. We covered plethora of temples over our 2 day stay and the best part of the whole visit was that nothing at all appeared rushed. It was not just us but even the holy idols which we carried in the form of 'Adishesha' and 'Anantha' also obtained boundless blessings. We got all the time to wing our way through, soak in, immerse and feel the divine in all it's splendour without ever thinking about the time at hand. It felt like as if the divine personally accompanied us everywhere making all the necessary arrangements along the way. We just went with the flow with almost every single decision taken just at that opportune moment and it paved the way for us to get enshrined with majestic blessings all the way through his divine enclosures.

P.S: Please note that majority of the pictures and selective capsules of information pertaining to the history, lineage & culture of the temples have been sourced from the net. Credits to the original sharers and outlets.

The Divinity Emanating from the Nakshatras!🌟

                            

An ocean of information is hidden underneath the layers of Nakshatras. It's astounding to even fathom the amount of knowledge that is woven around the stars. Apart from Nakshatras being prominent in the South of India especially when it comes to performing Abhishek for God, even from an astrological parlance it opens the door to a whole new realm of data pointers that can be so evocative.

This article is largely focused on the divine element interspersed within the Nakshatras. The Nakshatras are basically a bunch of stars forming a pattern within the 360° zodiac and are said to be divided into 27 numbers beginning from Ashwini located in the first zodiac sign of Aries to Revathi which is placed in the twelfth and final zodiac sign of Pisces. There is however a view point also of the Nakshatra cycle beginning from Krithika which connotes the 'Head' till Bharani which signifies the 'end of life' as it's ruled by Lord 'Yama'. However for all practical purposes it makes sense to follow the order from Ashwini to Revathi for ease of use and counting purposes.

There is a lot of spiritual information intertwined within the stars. When it comes to the Nakshatras, it's the Nakshatra occupied by the Moon that is primary and considered sacrosanct. The whole 'Tara' sequence originates based on which Nakshatra the Moon is placed in one's birth horoscope. The planet Moon after all is the imprint and denotes the signification of the mind. It governs our thoughts, emotions and actions. Moon is the Body that nurtures us and instils a feeling of care, longing and sensitivity. It also has an element of freewill and there is a popular tamil saying that goes "விதியை மதியால் வெல்லலாம்" or "Vidhiyai Madhiyaal Vellalaam" which translates as what cannot be overcome by destiny can be won over by one's mind (Moon). Even from the tutelage of a Horoscope, two of the most important timing events viz Dasa Bukthi which expounds the sequence of important time periods and Transits which are the planets circulating signs currently in operation within the zodiac is reckoned mainly from the Moon. Having established this framework, let's go about seeing how it needs to be played out.

First up sharing all the divine enclosures incorporated within each Nakshatra such as the Deity, God to worship, birth star temples, Siddhar or Rishi to take obeisance, form of Ganapathy, associated Bhairava, connected Mantra, offering (Dhanyam), type of Abhishekham etc. After the listing of this information, we will take a look at how best one can invoke the divine having been born in a particular Nakshatra with a specific illustration and also look at the Navatara sequence to understand the results provided by each of the 27 Tara's.

Divine Results for 27 Nakshatras

1) Ashwini

Devata: Ashwini Kumars - Physicians to the Gods

Adi Devata: Saraswati (Any God related to healing, learning can be considered)

Rishi: Marici
Siddhar: Kalanginathar

Ganapathy: Dvija Ganapathy
Bhairava: Nyana Bhairava

Temple: Piravi Marundeeswarar in Tiruthuraipoondi

Abhishekam: Sandhana Kappu (Sandalwood Paste)

Dhanyam: Manjal Sadham (Yellow Rice/Lemon Rice) 

Mantra: Om Am Am

2) Bharani

Devata: Yama - God of Death or Dharma

Adi Devata: Durga (Any God of justice like Kali, Amman can also be considered. This is also said to be the birth star of Navagraha Rahu)

Rishi: Vasishta

Siddhar: Bhogar

Ganapathy: Siddhi Ganapathy
Bhairava: Maha Bhairava

Temple: Agneeswarar in Nalladai

Abhishekam: Pachcha Arisi (Raw Rice)

Dhanyam: Nelli Oorga, Nelli Podi Sadham (Gooseberry Pickle/Gooseberry Powder Rice) 

Mantra: Om Im Im

3) Karthigai / Krithika

Devata: Agni - God of Fire

Adi Devata: Agni (Any God of Fire like Agneeshwarar or Annamalaiyar can be considered, Karthikeya worship is also auspicious for this Nakshatra) 

Rishi: Angiras

Siddhar: Romarishi
Ganapathy: Uchhista Ganapathy

Bhairava: Swarna Bhairava

Temple: Gaathra Sundareswarar in Kanjanagaram

Abhishekam: Nelikkai Podi (Gooseberry Powder)

Dhanyam: Vazha Kuzhambu Sadham (Banana Flower Rice) 

Mantra: Om Um Um

4) Rohini

Devata: Brahma/Prajapati - The Creator  

Adi Devata: Sri Krishna (Any powerful Leela manifesting God or form of Krishna like Jagannath can also be considered)  

Rishi: Atri

Siddhar: Machamuni
Ganapathy: Vigna Ganapathy

Bhairava: Kala Bhairava

Temple: Sri Pandava Dhoodha Perumal in Kancheepuram

Abhishekam: Manjal Podi (Yellow Powder)

Dhanyam: Thayir Sadham (Curd Rice) 

Mantra: Om Rm Rm Rm Rm

5) Mrigaseerisham / Mrigashira

Devata: Soma/Chandra - The Moon God

Adi Devata: Chandran (Any Shiva God in Moon form like Chandra Sudeshwarar or Chandra Mouleeswar can be considered. This is also said to be the birth star of Navagraha Moon (Chandran)) 

Rishi: Pulastya

Siddhar: Pambatti & Sattaimuni
Ganapathy: Kshipra Ganapathy

Bhairava: Ksetrabala Bhairava

Temple: Aadhi Narayana Perumal in Enkan

Abhishekam: Vasanadhi Dravyangal (Perfumed Items Mixed Powder)

Dhanyam: Paruppu Sadham (Dal Rice) 

Mantra: Om Em

6) Thiruvadirai / Aarudra

Devata: Rudra - The Storm God

Adi Devata: Shiva (Any Shiva God in a hardcore form such as Nataraja Shiva, Rudra, Shiva Linga can be considered)

Rishi: Pulaha

Siddhar: Idaikadhar
Ganapathy: Heramba Ganapathy

Bhairava: Vaduga Bhairava

Temple: Abhaya Varadeeswarar in Athirampattinam

Abhishekam: Panja Kaviyam (Five Cow Derivatives)

Dhanyam: Kamangali Koozh (Porridge) 

Mantra: Om Aim

7) Punarpoosam / Punarvasu

Devata: Aditi - Mother of the Gods (12 Adityas)

Adi Devata: Sri Rama (Any God representing motherly love such as the Holy Mother can also be invoked)

Rishi: Kratu

Siddhar: Dhanvantri

Ganapathy: Lakshmi Ganapathy
Bhairava: Vijaya Bhairava

Temple: Athitheeswarar in Vaniyambadi

Abhishekam: Panjamritam (Five Food Mixture)

Dhanyam: Paal Sadham (Milk Rice) 

Mantra: Om Aum

8) Poosam / Pushya

Devata: Brihaspati - Priest of the Gods

Adi Devata: Guru (Any God in a Guru form like Dhakshinamurthy, Raghavendra, Guruvayurappa, Saibaba can also be considered. This is also said to be the birth star of Navagraha Jupiter (Guru))  

Rishi: Marici

Siddhar: Kamalamuni

Ganapathy: Maha Ganapathy
Bhairava: Aasina Bhairava

Temple: Akshayapureeswarar in Vilankulam

Abhishekam: Palamritam Maa Palaa Vazhai (Mango, Jackfruit, Banana)

Dhanyam: Sambar Sadham (Sambar Rice) 

Mantra: Om Kam

9) Aayilyam / Ashlesha

Devata: Nagas/Sarpa - The Snake God

Adi Devata: Adiseshan (Any God in snake form like Nagamman can also be considered. This is also said to be the birth star of Navagraha Ketu))

Rishi: Vasishta

Siddhar: Agathiyar
Ganapathy: Vijaya Ganapathy

Bhairava: Pathala Bhairava

Temple: Karkadeswarar in Thirunandudevankudi

Abhishekam: Pasum Pal (Cows Milk)

Dhanyam: Mor Kuzhambu (Butter Gravy)

Mantra: Om Kham Gam

10) Magam / Magha

Devata: Pitris - The Forefathers and Ancestors

Adi Devata: Shukra (Any God invoking Kula Deiva or Pitrus such as visiting Rameshwaram temple can also be auspicious for this Nakshatra)

Rishi: Angiras

Siddhar: Sivavaakiyar

Ganapathy: Nritya Ganapathy
Bhairava: Naradhana Bhairava

Temple: Mahalingeswarar in Thavasimadai

Abhishekam: Pasu Neyi (Cows Ghee)

Dhanyam: Keerai Kuzhambu (Spinach Gravy)

Mantra: Om Gham Nam

11) Pooram / Poorva Phalguni

Devata: Aryaman - God Of Patronage And Favours

Adi Devata: Parvathi (God of favours such as Andal Devi can also be worshipped)

Rishi: Atri

Siddhar: Ramadevar

Ganapathy: Urdhva Ganapathy
Bhairava: Kottai Bhairava

Temple: Hari Theertheswarar in Thiruvarangulam

Abhishekam: Pasum Pal Thayir (Cows Milk Yoghurt)

Dhanyam: Pazha Pazham Payasam (Jackfruit Kheer)

Mantra: Om Cam

12) Uthiram / Uttara Phalguni

Devata: Bhaga - God of Bliss and Prosperity

Adi Devata: Sastha (In similar lines, Ayyappa and Ayyanar can also be worshipped)

Rishi: Pulastya

Siddhar: Kagabujandar

Ganapathy: Ekakshara Ganapathy
Bhairava: Jadamandala Bhairava

Temple: Karkadeswarar in Thirunandudevankudi

Abhishekam: Then Kalkandu (Honey, Sugar Crystals)

Dhanyam: Puliyogare (Tamarind Rice)

Mantra: Om Cham

13) Hastham / Hastha

Devata: Savitar - The Sun God

Adi Devata: Suriyan or Aadhavan (Any solar God like Surya Narayana can be worshipped, Gayatri Devi who is an aspect of Saraswati, Lakshmi and Parvati is also taken into account for this Nakshatra. This is also said to be the birth star of Navagraha Sun (Suriyan))

Rishi: Pulaha

Siddhar: Karuvurar

Ganapathy: Vara Ganapathy
Bhairava: Yoga Bhairava

Temple: Karkadeswarar in Thirunandudevankudi

Abhishekam: Then (Honey)

Dhanyam: Thengai Sadham (Coconut Rice)

Mantra: Om Jam Jham Nam

14) Chithirai / Chitra

Devata: Tvastar - The God of Creative Power

Adi Devata: Vishwakarma (The Sudarshan chakra embodying deity Chakrathalwar can be considered for worship and so is Ma Kamakshi)

Rishi: Kratu

Siddhar: Punnakeeshar

Ganapathy: Tryakshara Ganapathy
Bhairava: Chakra Bhairava

Temple: Karkadeswarar in Thirunandudevankudi

Abhishekam: Karumbu Saaru (Sugarcane Juice)

Dhanyam: Chakra Pongal (Sweet Pongal)

Mantra: Om Tam Tham

15) Swathi

Devata: Vayu - The Wind God

Adi Devata: Mahalakshmi (It is said that invoking Lord Narasimha is also vital for this Nakshatra)

Rishi: Marici

Siddhar: Pulipani

Ganapathy: Kshipra Prasada Ganapathy
Bhairava: Jadamuni Bhairava

Temple: Karkadeswarar in Thirunandudevankudi

Abhishekam: Elumiccai Pala Saaru (Lime Juice)

Dhanyam: Paruppu Podi Sadham (Dal Powder Rice)

Mantra: Om Dam

16) Visagam / Vishakha

Devata: Indragni - The Chief of the Gods of Fire

Adi Devata: Subrahmanya (All forms of Subramanya be it Muruga, Karthikeya, Velavan, Kumaran etc can be considered)

Rishi: Vasishta

Siddhar: Nandeesar & Kudambai

Ganapathy: Haridra Ganapathy
Bhairava: Kottai Bhairava

Temple: Karkadeswarar in Thirunandudevankudi

Abhishekam: Neyi Kalandha Porul (Items mixed with Ghee)

Dhanyam: Karugapillai Podi Sadham (Curry Leaves Powder Rice)

Mantra: Om Dham Nam

17) Anusham / Anuradha

Devata: Mitra - The God of Friendship

Adi Devata: Vayu (This Nakshatra represents the symbol of lotus, hence worshipping Lakshmi Narayan - the dual representation of Narayan & his consort Lakshmi seated on a lotus can be considered. This also happens to be the birth Nakshatra of Maha Periyava)

Rishi: Angiras

Siddhar: Valmiki

Ganapathy: Ekadanta Ganapathy
Bhairava: Swarna Bhairava

Temple: Karkadeswarar in Thirunandudevankudi

Abhishekam: Elaneeru (Tender Coconut)

Dhanyam: Ven Pongal (Savoury Pongal)

Mantra: Om Tam Tham Dam

18) Kettai / Jyeshta

Devata: Indra  - Chief of the Gods

Adi Devata: Devendran (Varaha Peruman - the bow avatar of Vishnu or Varahi the feminine form with Shakti energy can also be worshipped)

Rishi: Atri

Siddhar: Vyasa

Ganapathy: Srishti Ganapathy
Bhairava: Kadayudha Bhairava

Temple: Karkadeswarar in Thirunandudevankudi

Abhishekam: Pasum Saana Vibhudhi (Cow Dung Holy Ash)

Dhanyam: Manga Sadham (Mango Rice)

Mantra: Om Dham

19) Moolam / Moola

Devata: Nirriti - God of Dissolution

Adi Devata: Asura or Arakkan (Anjaneya can be worshipped for this Nakshatra)

Rishi: Pulastya

Siddhar: Patanjali

Ganapathy: Uddanda Ganapathy
Bhairava: Sattainatha Bhairava

Temple: Karkadeswarar in Thirunandudevankudi

Abhishekam: Sandhanam (Sandalwood)

Dhanyam: Adirasam (South Indian Sweet)

Mantra: Om Nam Pam Pham

20) Pooradam / Poorva Ashada

Devata: Jala/Apah - The God of Water

Adi Devata: Varunan (Jambukeshwarar representing the water element of Shiva can be worshipped for this Nakshatra. Though off Hinduism, the 'God of Water Jesus' too can be considered)

Rishi: Pulaha

Siddhar: Ramadevar

Ganapathy: Rinamochana Ganapathy
Bhairava: Veera Bhairava

Temple: Karkadeswarar in Thirunandudevankudi

Abhishekam: Pasum Pal and Vilvam (Cows Milk and Bael Leaf)

Dhanyam: Poli (Indian Flatbread Sweet)

Mantra: Om Bam

21) Uthiradam / Uttara Ashada

Devata: Vishwadeva - Universal God 

Adi Devata: Vinayaka (Any form of Vinayak can be considered such as Bala, Taruna, Heramba etc. This is also said to be the birth star of Navagraha Mars (Chevvai))

Rishi: Kratu

Siddhar: Konganar

Ganapathy: Dhundi Ganapathy
Bhairava: Vaduga Nathar Bhairava

Temple: Karkadeswarar in Thirunandudevankudi

Abhishekam: Thara Abhishekham in Sembu Pathram (Water dripping in Copper vessel)

Dhanyam: Kadala Maavu Porul (Peanut Flour Items)

Mantra: Om Bham

22) Tiruvonam / Shravana

Devata: Vishnu - Preserver of Universe

Adi Devata: Vishnu (Any form of Lord Maha Vishnu can be invoked for this Nakshatra with 'Pallikonda Perumal' which is Vishnu in a reclining posture and 'Hayagriva' being an avatar of Vishnu with horses head and human body being specifically mentioned)

Rishi: Vasishta

Siddhar: Dakshinamurthy

Ganapathy: Dvimukh Ganapathy
Bhairava: Marthanda Bhairava

Temple: Karkadeswarar in Thirunandudevankudi

Abhishekam: Sembu Pathram Neer (Water in Copper vessel)

Dhanyam: Arasi Idly, Kesari (Rice cake, saffron sweet)

Mantra: Om Mam

23) Avittam / Dhanishta

Devata: Ashta Vasu - Deities of Earthly Abundance

Adi Devata: Indirani (Ananda Shayana Perumal, the sleeping form of Vishnu can be considered for this Nakshtra. This is also said to be the birth star of Navagraha Mercury (Buddha))

Rishi: Angiras

Siddhar: Thirumoolar

Ganapathy: Trimukha Ganapathy
Bhairava: Ashta Bhairava

Temple: Karkadeswarar in Thirunandudevankudi

Abhishekam: Sangu Abhishekam (Conch Shell)

Dhanyam: Aval (Flattened Rice or Upma)

Mantra: Om Yam Ram

24) Sadayam / Satabhisha

Devata: Varuna - The God of Celestial Oceans

Adi Devata: Yaman (Mrityunjeshwarar the death defying form of Shiva can be considered for worship)

Rishi: Atri

Siddhar: Kowbalar

Ganapathy: Sinha Ganapathy
Bhairava: Sarpa Bhairava

Temple: Karkadeswarar in Thirunandudevankudi

Abhishekam: Panneer (Rose Water)

Dhanyam: Idiyappam, Rava Semiya (String Hoppers, Vermicelli)

Mantra: Om Lam

25) Pooraratathi / Poorva Bhadrapada

Devata: Ajaikapada - Fire Dragon and the one legged Rudra

Adi Devata: Kuberan (Any wealth related God like Kubera Lakshmi can be considered. It is however a predominant Shiva related Nakshatra being ruled by Rudra with Eka Pada Shiva said to be invoked)

Rishi: Pulastya

Siddhar: Jothimuni

Ganapathy: Yoga Ganapathy

Bhairava: Kottai Bhairava

Temple: Karkadeswarar in Thirunandudevankudi

Abhishekam: Thanga Pathram Neer (Water in Gold Vessel)

Dhanyam: Puttu (Steamed Rice Cake)

Mantra: Om Vam Sam

26) Uthiratathi / Uttara Bhadrapada

Devata: Ahir Budhanya - Cosmic Serpent and one of the Rudras

Adi Devata: Kamadhenu (Any God in calf form can be considered. As it is related to cows, energy of this Nakshatra is said to reside in Tirupathi Venkatachalapathi temple in Tirumala. It is however a predominant Shiva related Nakshatra being ruled by Rudra with Maha Eshwar being said to be invoked)

Rishi: Pulaha

Siddhar: Thamaragar

Ganapathy: Durga Ganapathy

Bhairava: Vengala Osai Bhairava

Temple: Karkadeswarar in Thirunandudevankudi

Abhishekam: Velli Pathram Neer (Water in Silver Vessel)

Dhanyam: Ulundhu Vadai, Ulundhu Paruppu Sadham (Urad Dal items)

Mantra: Om Sam Sam Ham

27) Revathi

Devata: Pooshan - The Nourishing and Protective God

Adi Devata: Shani (Aranganatha Perumal in Sri Ranganatha temple and also Madurai Meenakshi can be invoked for this Nakshatra. This is also said to be the birth star of Navagraha Saturn (Shani))

Rishi: Kratu

Siddhar: Sundaranandar

Ganapathy: Sankatahara Ganapathy
Bhairava: Samharamurthy Bhairava

Temple: Karkadeswarar in Thirunandudevankudi

Abhishekam: Snamanam Aivagai Theertham (Five types of holy water)

Dhanyam: Kothumalli Thogayal Sadham (Coriander Rice)

Mantra: Om Am Ah Lam Ksam

Concept of God as per Hinduism and the Associated Nakshatras

Some observations worth inferring is that when it comes to the Trimurti concept of Hinduism represented by the 3 Primary deities Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva that embody the functions of creation, preservation and destruction respectively, it is interesting to note that they tend to rule the following Nakshatras viz:

Brahma - Rohini

Vishnu - Tiruvonam (Shravana)

Shiva - Tiruvadirai (Arudra)

Though there are a number of Nakshatras ruled by forms of Shiva, Tiruvadirai reigns supreme on being the hardcore ruler of Rudra. Similar is the case with Tiruvonam which is the de facto Nakshatra invoking Maha Vishnu.

When it comes to the concept of Tridevi who are the respective consorts of the Trimurtis and known as Saraswathi (Brahma's consort), Lakshmi (Vishnu's consort) and Parvathi (Shiva's consort), they are also said to invoke certain Nakshatras. Saraswathi is known to be the Goddess of learning & education, Lakshmi - the goddess of wealth & prosperity and Parvathi - the goddess of love and devotion. Her highness Parvathi is also known for her fierce form of Durga & Kali representing power and protection. The Nakshatra's ruled by the Tridevi's are as under:

Saraswathi - Ashwini

Lakshmi - Swathi

Parvathi - Pooram (Poorva Phalguni)

Durga (Parvathi fierce form) - Bharani

Hinduism according to Vedic scriptures has this concept of classifying the deities into 33 types. The 33 Gods are further divided as 12 Adityas, 11 Rudras, 8 Vasus, and 2 Ashwins. There is however a slight variation in the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad which classifies the 33 deities as 12 Adityas, 11 Rudras, 8 Vasus with the remaining 2 being made up by Indra and Prajapati. Based on this concept, we can classify these sub classification of deities to be ruling different Nakshatras

12 Adityas - Punarpoosam (Punarvasu)

11 Rudras - Tiruvadirai (Arudra)

8 Vasus - Avittam (Dhanishta)

2 Ashwins - Ashwini

With respect to the 12 Adityas, the deity of Punarpoosam (Punarvasu) is said to be 'Aditi' - the mother of the 12 Adityas. The 12 Adityas are characterised by the following names viz Dhata, Aryama, Mitra, Varuna, Indra, Vivasvan, Tvastha, Vishnu, Amshuman, Bhaga, Poosan and Parjanya. Many of these are themselves ruled by different Nakshatras such as Aryama - Pooram (Poorva Phalguni), Mitra - Anusham (Anuradha), Varuna - Sadayam (Satabhisha), Indra - Kettai (Jyeshta), Tvastha - Chithirai (Chitra), Vishnu - Tiruvonam (Shravana), Bhaga - Uthiram (Uttara Phalguni) and Poosan - Revathi

When it comes to the 11 Rudras, the ruler of Rudra is Tiruvadirai (Arudra). The 11 avatars of Rudras listed in the Shiva Purana include the names 1) Kapali 2) Pingal 3) Bheem 4) Virupaksha 5) Vilohita 6) Shastra 7) Aja Ekapaad 8) Ahir Budhanya 9) Shambhu 10) Chand and 11) Bhava. Out of this Aja Ekapaad is ruled by the Nakshatra Poorattathi (Poorva Bhadrapada) and Ahir Budhanya is ruled by the Nakshatra Uthirattathi (Uttara Bhadrapada)

The 8 Vasus describe the material elements of Agni (Fire), Prithvi (Earth), Vayu (Air), Apah (Water), Akash (Sky/Ether), Nakshatra (Stars) and the luminaries Aditya (Sun) and Soma (Moon). These are all collectively ruled by the star Avittam (Dhanishta). However individually some of these elements such as Fire can be linked to Karthigai (Krithika), Vayu to Swathi, Apah to Pooradam (Poorva Ashada), Sun to Hastham (Hastha) and Moon to Mrigasheerisham (Mrigashira).

The 2 Ashwins are collectively referred to as Ashwini Kumars and are said to be twin solar deities by names Nasatya and Dasra. The Ashwins are said to be sons of the Sun God Surya and his wife Sanjana. The Ashwins are especially known for their medicinal and healing abilities. The twin solar deities are associated with the Nakshatra Ashwini. Considering the alternate context of the final 2 Gods being mentioned as Indra & Prajapati, then in that case Indra is associated with the Nakshatra of Kettai (Jyeshya) and Prajapati is connected to the Nakshatra of Rohini.

Worshipping of the Nakshatras with Illustration

When it comes to worshipping the divine elements associated with the Nakshatra's there are some notions being fed currently that one should not inculcate the deities of the stars that are not in a favourable Tara (star progression). Also there is a view of only the Janma Nakshatra taking precedence when it comes to prayers. This is correct because offering prayers on your birth Nakshatra acts as a shield of protection but there are also other Nakshatras which attain prominence when invoking the divine. It should however be noted that the Janma Nakshatra holds forte and is the reckoning point when ascertaining the divinity with respect to the other Nakshatras.

Based on the Nakshatra in which the Moon is placed in one's birth horoscope, it would be beneficial and a blessing to take obeisance to the respective celestial entities. Lets take the illustration of one Nakshatra viz Tiruvonam aka Shravana and see how best the divine can be invoked. The ancient text 'Kumaraswamiyam' by Lord Muruga recognises a domicile or place of power for every Nakshatra and for Shravana "any place of worship" is considered as it's abode. Thus, just going to any temple by default activates the energy of Shravana Nakshatra. 

Seeing it from the lens of Tara Bala, first up one being born in the Janma Nakshatra of Shravana, that particular day in operation is supposed to infuse tension. Hence worshipping Vishnu by chanting Vishnu Sahasranam or praying to any form representing the Lord such as Perumal or Hayagriva for instance can give them protection. Taking the lineage name of their Rishi which in this case is Rishi Vasishta and obtaining the blessings of their Siddhar Dakshinamurthy can keep them preserved and in good stead. Also there is a general norm of stating one's Janma Nakshatra along with the respective Rasi, Gothra and other particulars provided to the priest to perform Archana in their name. Their Karma Nakshatra viz 10th from their natal Moon is where their past life connection lies. Hence anything related to Rohini Nakshatra can make them have a close initiation based on the Karmas of their past life. On personal observation, have witnessed that these natives have a strong connect with their Karma hence you may see an association with Brahma - the creator, Lord Krishna, Kala Bhairava etc. Rohini is said to represent "Chariot" which can be related to a "Car" in present day world and in fact it might be startling to believe but have actually come across many Tiruvonam (Shravana) natives stating that they absolutely love driving vehicles. It's like as if this trait has been ingrained right from their previous life and those with positive karma tend to be pro's at relevant significations pertaining to their Karma star. The 19th Nakshatra Adhana is the one denoting their "Praptha" and which they have a deep longing and feeling for. Hence for Shravana, the 19th Nakshatra happens to be Hastha and invoking Lord Surya Narayana or doing related stuff such as Yoga, Surya Namaskara, Gayathri chanting etc will help keep their destiny in order.

Other than the Janma/Anujanma/Trijanma Nakshatra, divinities of other Nakshatras can also be initiated such as for instance from the 6th Sadhaka (Achievements) Tara set, the 6th Nakshatra is said to be 'Deiva Anukoolam' translated as favours from God, hence worshipping Shani on Revathi Nakshatra or visiting Sri Rangam can be really beneficial. The 15th Nakshatra mentions about getting attachments from near and dear hence in this case being Ayilyam or Ashlesha, worshipping Snake God or Maharishi Agathiyar can help in forming an intimate connection. The 24th Nakshatra Kettai or Jyeshta mentions about unexpected victories and coming unscathed from any sort of problems - thus invoking Varahi can give them this power. 

From the 4th Nakshatra set known as Kshemam (comforts), invoking the 13th Nakshatra Punarpoosam/Punarvasu significations is said to be extremely beneficial and this also relates to Jeeva Samadhi. So worshipping Lord Rama/Holy Mother/Sage Dhanvantri etc can be very benevolent and comforting. Coming to the 9th Nakshatra set known as Parama Mitra (Extremely friendly), connecting to Agni Bhagwan and Krithika, their 9th Nakshatra by taking refuge at Tiruvannamalai can help enhance their fire energy and make it work very favourably. And then there is the 27th Nakshatra signalling a full completion cycle. This Nakshatra mentions about bowing your head in front of God for seeking favours and this one being Uthiradam or Uttara Ashada, taking obeisance of Lord Ganapathi will be of great support and getting benefits. 

For activating money & prosperity, they should touch upon their 2nd Nakshatra set Sampat (Wealth) especially their 2nd Nakshatra Avittam or Dhanishta and 20th Nakshatra Chithirai or Chitra. For Avittam, praying to Ananda Sayana Perumal can be helpful and since this Nakshatra is also known to be birth star of Mercury (Buddha) which is said to rule 64 Kalas (arts or skills), taking up any skilful activity can be fruitful to activate finance. Likewise their 20th Nakshatra is Chitra which is everything to do with creativity. Thus utilising their creative flair can yield rich dividends. This Nakshatra also talks about embroidered clothes. Thus Shravana individuals, if they do take an active interest with respect to the clothes they adorn, money may indirectly flow to them. With respect to the 8th Nakshatra set Mitra (Friendly), praying to their 8th Nakshatra Bharani and getting blessings of Durga/Kali/Amman can give them good clarity and thought process. Similarly 17th Nakshatra Pooram when they pray to Parvathi/Andal can help in their relationships soaring and bonding being strong. Lastly on this set, calling upon their 20th Nakshatra Pooradam which is predominantly connected to the water element and praying to Jambukeshwarar or taking the hand of Almighty Jesus can be very beneficial in getting support from the society and community. It doesn't mean that the divine pertaining to other Nakshatras cannot be invoked. However it should be noted that any Tara which comes as a negative one to their Janma Tara, it would probably be prudent to provide a Dhanyam (offering) and then take blessings and prayers. 

Results of Navatara Cycle - Janma, Anujanma and Trijanma

Listed below is a general gist of the results provided by the sequence order of Nakshatras. Nakshatra's are 27 in number and divided into 3 cycles viz Janma Nakshatra cycle, Anujanma Nakshatra cycle and the Trijanma Nakshatra cycle. The Janma indicates current birth, Anujanma rebirth or associated with the past and Trijanma future birth or that at the tertiary soul level. In each of these cycles, the Taras are divided into 9 and said to denote different significations. First let's look at the general significations for the 9 Taras followed by the specific significations for each of the 27 Taras as framed by the ancient holy text 'Kumaraswamiyam'

Janma Tara: (1,10,19)

This in essence is the birth Nakshatra and establishes one's individuality, existence and health. The default ruler of Janma Tara happens to be Sun.

Janma Cycle - Tara 1 - Janma (Mana Klesham, Padhattam, Prachana)
The Janma Nakshatra day is said to infuse plenty of tensions, cause anxiety, create problems and make the mind fickle. The mind always tends to be unsteady during days of Janma Nakshatras and it can be related to the prevailing environment when a child is about to take birth which is associated with a lot of difficulty and stress. This day especially requires protection and hence invoking God's blessings can be beneficial. This is one of the main reasons why in the temple we offer obeisance to the Lord on our Janma Nakshatra day.

Anujanma Cycle - Tara 10 - Karma (Karyam)
The Janma Nakshatra in the Anujanma cycle is heavily dependent upon our past life karma. A lot of our actions in our present life plays out based on what we were in the past and hence the initiations in this birth tend to be related a lot to our previous existence. There is even a chance of getting cheated and hurt but on the other side can also lead to fulfilment. It is witnessed that the deity associated with the Karma Nakshatra has a strong hold on us.

Trijanma Cycle - Tara 19 - Aadhangam (Praptham)
The Janma Nakshatra in the Trijanma cycle is associated with deep feelings, emotions and longing. We tend to receive results based upon our earlier destiny in the future periods. This is generally said to be the most auspicious Tara in this set of Janma Tara cycle.

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Sampat Tara: (2,11,20)

This denotes all things related with wealth, prosperity and happiness. The default ruler of Sampat Tara is Mercury.

Janma Cycle - Tara 2 - Sampat (Dhanam, Selvam, Sandosham)
The second Nakshatra in the Janma cycle is said to be highly propitious especially with money related matters and doesn't associate with any negative connotations

Anujanma Cycle - Tara 11 - Samudaya Pagai (Uravugal Thundippu)
The 11th Tara or the second Nakshatra in the Anujanma cycle has a hitch because it mentions that this time can lead to problems with society and ties being severed with close members. Thus, though it is a favorable Nakshatra at large, it comes with its own issues.

Trijanma Cycle - Tara 20 - Subham (Subhiksham)
The 20th Tara or the second Nakshatra in the Trijanma cycle is extremely favourable and is said to be highly auspicious, propitious and fortunate. Thus invoking 20th Nakshatra significations can be highly beneficial.

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Vipat Tara: (3,12,21)

As the name suggests, this translates to all sorts of dangers. It can be with regard to getting hurt, embroiled into issues and all such kind. Vipat Tara's default ruler is Rahu.

Janma Cycle - Tara 3 - Vipat (Ilappu)
The third Nakshatra in the Janma cycle is said to be highly dangerous and losses can take place when it is in operation

Anujanma Cycle - Tara 12 - Dharma Sangadam (Badhippu)
The 12th Tara or the third Nakshatra in the Anujanma cycle is on similar lines to it's Janma counterpart and can indicate troubles, difficulty or embarrassment

Trijanma Cycle - Tara 21 - Maarupattu Soolnilai (Vendatha Velai)
The 21st Tara or the third Nakshatra in the Trijanma cycle can indicate things taking place completely opposite to the direction expected and leads to needless efforts

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Kshema Tara: (4,13,22)

The word 'Kshemam' as such endorses about being in good health and a comfortable state of mind. Hence this is about the well being of the individual concerned by possessing the requisite vitality and being in good spirits. Kshema Tara is default ruled by Jupiter.

Janma Cycle - Tara 4 - Kshemam (Sowkiyam, Vaama Vedhai)
The fourth Nakshatra in the Janma cycle is said to denote comforts and safety but however there is a forewarning as this Tara also connotes 'Vaama Vedhai' which can create hostility or argument when any important work or meeting is said to take place eventually leading to issues, mind problems and mental pain. Thus, it advises the avoidance of something important taking place when the 4th Nakshatra is in transit.

Anujanma Cycle - Tara 13 - Adhigga Sirappu (Padhavi Uyarvu, Jeeva Samadhi)
The 13th Tara or the fourth Nakshatra in the Anujanma cycle is excellent in every way possible. It is the Tara that can lift you up to great heights and this is also the Tara specifically mentioned to invoke Jeeva Samadhi for getting spiritual enlightenment

Trijanma Cycle - Tara 22 - Vainasika (Vadha Vainasikam)
The 22nd Tara or the fourth Nakshatra in the Trijanma cycle on the contrary is said to be destructive of every kind. Counted from this Nakshatra to your Janma Nakshatra it will be 7 and counted from your Janma Nakshatra, this will be 22nd. 7th is inauspicious and 22nd is destruction so it can tend to be extremely unfavourable. However it is mentioned that only the 88th pada is very harmful which would be the 4th pada of the 22nd star if one were born in the 1st pada of Janma Nakshatra, For the other 3 padas, it will move to the 23rd star 1st, 2nd and 3rd pada. Irrespective it is expected to exercise caution when the 22nd Nakshatra is in operation.

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Pratyek Tara: (5,14,23)

This is a negative Tara and denotes all sorts of obstacles. It is said to cause plenty of confusions onto the mind in addition to being a stumbling block with regard to completion of tasks and activities. The ruler of this Tara is Ketu.

Janma Cycle - Tara 5 - Pratyek (Karya Naasam, Kolappam)
The fifth Nakshatra in the Janma cycle indicates that any task performed on this Tara can lead to loss and ruin. It is also associated with plenty of confusions when doing an activity

Anujanma Cycle - Tara 14 - Samanyam (Kashtam)
The 14th Tara or the fifth Nakshatra in the Anujanma cycle can lead to issues of risk and needless difficulties. Hence it advocates being cautious when this is in operation

Trijanma Cycle - Tara 23 - Karya Vignam (Kettu Pogudhal)
The 23rd Tara or the fifth Nakshatra in the Trijanma cycle leads to obstacles or impediment in the task being performed and leads to spoilage of work

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Sadhak Tara:(6,15,24)

This talks about all achievements and benefits which one is entitled to and is said to be the Tara which is said to especially invoke the support of the divine. The ruler of this Tara is Moon.

Janma Cycle - Tara 6 - Sadhak (Deiva Anukoolam)
The sixth Nakshatra in the Janma cycle is said to be the one in which God's blessings are said to arise. Hence worshipping and offering prayers with respect to the deities and articles denoted by the 6th Tara from Janma Nakshatra is essential to have the Almighty's support.

Anujanma Cycle - Tara 15 - Banda Sirippu (Uravugal Menpadum)
The 15th Tara or the sixth Nakshatra in the Anujanma cycle mentions about getting very good support from near and dear one's with relationships blossoming. Catching hold of the deities of this Tara can prove to be really beneficial 

Trijanma Cycle - Tara 24 - Edhirpaaratha Vetri (Prachana Theervu, Idam)
The 24th Tara or the sixth Nakshatra in the Trijanma cycle mentions about name & fame, unexpected victories especially in place of stay. It also talks about emerging successful despite whatever issues that may be prevalent. As its a problem solving Nakshatra, praying to the divinity can lead to benefits

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Vadha Tara:(7,16,25)

This is an inauspicious Tara and is of a killing nature. It is strewn with negativity and denotes all sorts of denials, ill-luck and misfortune. The ruler of this Tara is Saturn.

Janma Cycle - Tara 7 - Vadha (Vedhanai)
The seventh Nakshatra in the Janma cycle is said to bring disappointments and sufferings.

Anujanma Cycle - Tara 16 - Sangathiyam (Vambu Valakku Sandai)
The 16th Tara or the seventh Nakshatra in the Anujanma cycle mentions about getting embroiled in needless issues and fights taking place.

Trijanma Cycle - Tara 25 - Manatham (Thanmana Sodhanai, Mudivu Eduka Mudiyadhu)
The 25th Tara or the seventh Nakshatra in the Trijanma cycle mentions about tremendous turmoil in the mind making it very difficult to be steady or make any decision. It's ideal to avoid this Tara whenever something important needs to take place.

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Mitra Tara:(8,17,26)

This set in essence is supposed to be one of the most auspicious Tara sets in the Navatara sequence. As the name suggests it denotes friendliness and shows the way forward by providing good clarity

Janma Cycle - Tara 8 - Mitra (Natpu)
The eighth Nakshatra in the Janma cycle is said to be friendly and favourable

Anujanma Cycle - Tara 17 - Nanmai (Miga Arumai)
The 17th Tara or the eighth Nakshatra in the Anujanma cycle mentions about auspicious and favourable things taking place. The 17th Nakshatra however could indicate 'Chandrashtama' - a concept where transit Moon moves to the 8th place from natal position but that is only expected to last for few hours and won't hamper the general good significations

Trijanma Cycle - Tara 26 - Jati (Amaippu)
The 26th Tara or the eighth Nakshatra in the Trijanma cycle mentions about getting good name and appreciation from the community

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Paramamitra Tara:(9,18,27)

From the name, it indicates that it's very friendly. However there is a mention of too much of anything not being good and hence a slight caution needs to be exercised in order to ensure that any kind of friendship doesn't go overboard thus causing irritation and bitterness

Janma Cycle - Tara 9 - Parama Mitra (Adhiga Natpu)
The ninth Nakshatra in the Janma cycle is said to be extremely friendly but indicates that no friendship should be taken for granted which can cause bitterness

Anujanma Cycle - Tara 18 - Pana Pagai (Dekshina Vedai)
The 18th Tara or the ninth Nakshatra in the Anujanma cycle mentions about this day being problematic especially with any money related transactions. It also mentions about unnecessary expenses taking place and some changing of hands

Trijanma Cycle - Tara 27 - Vanangum Nilai (Abhishekham, Mudivu)
The 27th Tara or the ninth Nakshatra in the Trijanma cycle is the last Nakshatra from one's Janma Nakshatra. This specifically talks about invoking the blessings of God and is said to be very friendly towards auspicious happenings taking place

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Offerings when Negative Tara is in Operation

In general, it is witnessed that the Tara sets of 1 (Janma), 3 (Vipat), 5 (Pratyek), 7 (Vadha) are advised to be avoided especially for performing any activity as the Tara Bala is said to be weak on these days. However in cases where it is unavoidable, it can still be proceeded by donating the following items when these Tara's are in operation

Janma Tara: Kaigari - Vegetables

Vipat Tara: Vellam - Jaggery

Pratyek Tara: Uppu - Salt

Vadha Tara: Ellu - Sesame

Vedha Nakshatras - Enemy and Repellent to Each Other

Also irrespective of Tara being favourable or unfavourable, there is also a concept of Vedha Nakshatras where certain Nakshatras are said to repel one another. They may be in favourable Tara progression but if they happen to be Vedha (repel), it is better not to invoke the items related to that particular Nakshatra unless prior precaution is taken. The Nakshatra's that are Vedha to each other are as follows:

Ashwini X Kettai (Jyeshta)

Bharani X Anusham (Anuradha)

Karthigai (Krithika) X Visagam (Vishakha)

Rohini X Swathi

Mrigaseerisham (Mrigashira) X Chithirai (Chitra) X Avittam (Dhanishta)

Tiruvadirai (Arudra) X Tiruvonam (Shravana)

Punarpoosam (Punarvasu) X Uthiradam (Uttara Ashada)

Poosam (Pushya) X Pooradam (Poorva Ashada)

Ayilyam (Ashlesha) X Moolam (Moola)

Magam (Magha) X Revathi

Pooram (Poorva Phalguni) X Uthirattathi (Uttara Bhadrapada)

Uthiram (Uttara Phalguni) X Poorattathi (Poorva Bhadrapada)

Hastham (Hastha) X Sadayam (Satabhisha)

Aroma - Vegetarian Multicuisine!

Aroma is a recent multi cuisine restaurant that has cropped up in Chennai's evergreen food favourite area of Nungambakkam. The area however has lost a bit of sheen due to all the construction work going on making traffic a nightmare along with also plenty of upheavals not giving it the usual glittering picture that this side of the woods is usually accustomed to. We however traversed our way through to Wallace Garden Road after veering our way out from road racing activities.

Talking about options, Aroma literally serves a slug fest of options on the vegetarian front. Except barring South Indian, they seem to have all bases covered. Mexican, Italian, Oriental, Japanese to North Indian and what not. Also it's not just the type of cuisines but each of these have various sub classifications underlined. With too many options stacked up, it becomes quite a task to go about with the order.

Finally we decided to have a mix & match of different cuisine options. We ordered these items from the carefully crafted menu pages which detailed an inscription of the choices available.

Soup - Creamy Asparagus Soup
Tongue of ticklers - Atrangi Nachos
Japanese Wasabi Connection - Thai Spiced Uramaki
Starters Oriental & Thai - Teriyaki Mushroom Chilli
Indian confronts - Gongura Paneer Masala & Dal Makhni
Rice & Pulao - Veg Pulao
Indian Breads - Garlic Butter Naan

The Asparagus Soup was well made with a creamy blend infused with cream giving a subtle hint of the asparagus flavour. This green looking soup both looked and appeared healthy. The Nachos was a bit of a down turn. Creme center has been quite the benchmark when it comes to this prideful flavoured dish but though it came in a large quantity, it somehow did not meld well. They had stacked the tortilla chips like a tent with cheese slathered over with the kidney beans submerged to the bottom. Somehow the concoction didn't work that well. This was at best passable.

Among the starters both of them hit the bulls eye. The sushi especially was delivered to us in a layered chamber. It had ingredients of cucumber, asparagus, bell peppers etc and went well with the soya sauce and a touch of layered drip smothered over it. The mushroom chilli starter also was well played. It gave the perfect crunch & bite with the correct blend of spice.

On the main course section, the Naan was usual standard types. Just however felt it could have been a tad softer. The veg pulao was done up really nicely and felt flavourful. The presence of cashew nuts added a nice touch. On the gravies the Dal Makhni though not of the hardcore traditional kind tasted really nice. For the gongura paneer, they got this done in the Andhra style with chillies and obtained that black paste. It was a great tasting dish but my only grouse was that there were very little pieces of paneer in it though the mix of gongura curry they got was spot on.

The service was up to speed and friendly. We never really had much waiting time for our dishes. The prices appear par for the course in a multi cuisine restaurant. The ambiance gives an attractive vibe. There is a lot of greenness to it and the ceilings which have been adorned throughout with green plants linked through yellow bulb lights gives it a very fresh appealing look.

Overall it was a satisfactory lunch visit. They have a host of other options which we couldn't even try such as pastas, pizzas, sizzlers, desserts, chaats, charcoal based creations and so much more. Probably Aroma is already giving a signal to give it another shot without too much waiting period.

Reef - Igniting the Buffet Vibes!

It was our second visit to the Sheraton Grand Resort after having first gone there to experience their fine dining restaurant C Salt. This time we wanted to engage on the buffet in the restaurant titled "The Reef". It was an evening rendezvous with the restaurant being quiet and giving a peaceful yet inviting vibe. We were one of the first to arrive and were greeted to a sumptuous buffet spread.

This one ticks the box on almost all counts. Apart from having various multi cuisine options, there were also live counters ringing in the fray with respect to options such as Dosa, Chaat, Pizza and Pasta. Though it's set up at a distance away from the beach the blow of the breeze just outside the restaurant gives a comforting feel. The ambience inside is cozy and dim. It's quite a large enclosure with well spread out tables and the pastel shades of the seating ignites a comfortable vibe with the interiors being quite tastefully done up.

I've been to a bunch of buffets at star properties within the city as well to these resort type settings. It's quite a call as to where to place this one but this definitely can be said to be belonging in the top tier category. The first thing you look for at a buffet are the options at hand and this one was lavish virtually catering to all sections at hand. I enjoyed the Greek fare with variety of Hummus and pita bread. The salads had a large offering with plenty to choose from. The starters alone could have been a tad better. They had some nice cutlet tikki type entres but we missed the good old Panneer and Gobi which has kind of become a staple.

A few dishes stood out being on the unique side. The first one among that was the Hasselback potatoes with saffron sauce. The potatoes felt jocularly joyful when submerged in that yellow saffron gravy. Another item which stood out was the poached pears with ricotta and nuts. This looked pretty appealing with the pears engraved in red cut over and inserted with pieces of nuts and smudged ricotta. The apple & pear waldorf salad also passed the colours in fine fashion both on looks and taste.

On the main course side, I got myself a nicely done up podi dosai. They had various kinds of podis available. Apart from that went for a standard veg pizza and pink sauce pasta which tasted decent. Also had a small shot at a Dahi Papdi Chaat. On the North Indian front, got myself a cheesy garlic Naan and to accompany was Paneer Butter Masala, Dal Makhni and an Aloo Dum gravy. The dessert section did see it's share of finely curated pastries and sweets.

The service was par for the course. Just felt the replacement of plates & refilling of water could have been done a tad quicker. The pricing is definitely at the high end but we did get a flat discount yet we still ended up paying 2200 bucks per person.

Overall the experience is worth it. It's a lovely sea facing resort where you can relax and laze around. Also at the restaurant it infuses an insouciant vibe which makes it laidback, appealing and comforting. It's a lovely space to spend some quite time with family with a bristle of calmness around that you don't get in most of the city buffet restaurants. If you're heading over this neck of the woods and on the mood to gorge on a delectable spread, "Reef" can certainly satiate that to your heart's content.

Kadhal Kavithaigal - SPB's field territory!

Some compositions are just tailor made and feels like it's been composed exclusively for SPB to do full justice. And boy oh boy does he do a wondrous job of it by elevating the number a further notch through his energetic rendering. The song in question is Kadhal Kavidhaigal from the movie Gopura Vaasalile.

It's a love byte set to tune in Malayamalava Gowla ragam. The prelude begins with the lady conveying her excitement towards her lover through the words "I love this lovable idiot" and then gets taken over by a gush of violins galloping in a gorgeous gusto followed by the chiming in of the wind flute to add some chirpiness.

And when SPB begins singing Kadhal Kavithaigal Padithidum it's a chilling feeling with love abounding in breathtaking fashion. There is an extra zep in his soulful rendition that brings out the love pep brimming in full finesse. Chitra complements SPB beautifully but the out and out show-stealer of this riveting composition is the man with the golden vintage voice.

This song also touches upon the 'Thala' in a lovely manner. Normally when a melody starts with the beat, it's termed as 'Samam' but when it starts at a different point from the beat it's known as 'Vishamam'. When melody starts first followed by the beat it's called 'Athitha Eduppu' whereas if the melody starts after the beat it's known as 'Anaagatha Eduppu'. This song employs Athitha Eduppu by having the melody line starting ahead of the beat.

I attempted a small take on the veena beginning from the Charanam and then connecting it back to the Pallavi where SPB is in his true elements decisively lighting up and lilting the number to glory beyond uncharted territory. This is an evergreen love song for the ages that always leaves a smile on your face. Sharing this sizzling song as an ode to SPB as a remembrance on his birth month anniversary and on the occasion of World Music Day.

Kapi and Captivating!

Ilaiyaraaja is a magician when handling Carnatic Raga's as he knows how to bring out the inherent subtlety of it without diluting the essence one bit. Even if he adds an alien note or two, it just doesn't seem out of place at all. Prima-facie all this appears to be a mystery but the way he manages to do it is simply impossible to comprehend.

One of the Raga's where he has showcased his mastery time and again is 'Kapi'. Kapi is a derivative of the 22nd Melakarta Ragam Karaharapriya and uses a pentatonic scale on the ascendancy but on the descendancy it touches all 7 notes. It is a mood inducing raga known for it's twists and turns. Both the Nishadams (Ni2 and Ni3) are used judiciously and you'll see a leapfrogging texture that adds a distinctive unique quality to it. 

A majority of the compositions which Ilaiyaraaja has employed in Kapi ragam have been nothing short of astounding. He is literally seen toying with the ragam and since this is an experimental scale, you'll see pyrotechnics at play eventually resulting in an aural spectacle.

I have handpicked 2 masterful compositions of his in Kapi Raaga - one from Kannada (Sandalwood) and another from Malayalam (Mollywood) to showcase the prowess in using Kapi Ragam. 'Jeeva Hoovagidhe' has been a perennial favorite and is an evergreen iconic love composition sung by Dr Rajkumar & S Janaki. 'Thumbi Vaa' is a song which has been redone in multiple languages but nothing beats the original from the movie Olangal sung by S Janaki with chorus back up.

I've attempted a tiny lunge at both these songs trying to intersperse one onto another to show the delightful curvy flavour that is Kapi. Began with the middle portion of Jeeva Hoovagidhe which gets transported back to the starting portion. From there picked up on the Charanam of Thumbi Vaa and traversed along to the opening bits of the song finally ending with a touch of the famed 'I Love You' line from Jeeva Hoovagidhe.

Coffee comes in many different flavours and the decoction plays a role in determining the firmness of it. It can be light, medium, strong or whatever. Similarly Kapi ragam like it's drinking mate has a quality where the concoction that is thrown up decides the variety of the outcome. And IR is simply a kingmaker in knowing how to handle the mix as seen from these 2 captivating Kapi numbers.