Sankatahara Chaturthi

Sankatahara Chaturthi vratham occurs during the fourth day of the Theypirai or Krishna Paksha, every month. The vrata starts before the sunrise and lasts until moon rise. Sankata (means problems) and Hara (means killing or removing) and therefore Sankata Hara Chadurthi is a day to invoke Lord Ganesh's blessings to remove all problems in life. Sankata Hara Chathurthi vrattam is very auspicious for removing all obstacles in life and to convert your problems into opportunities. Every month, the chadurthi falling after the full moon or Pournami is Sankatahara Chaurthi. When Sankatahara Chadurthi falls on a Tuesday it is considered very auspicious and known as Angaraki Sankatahara Chadurthi. Lord Ganesha Temples conduct special poojas on the day.

Sankata hara Ganesha stotram :

As the name indicates, the SANKATA HARA GANESHA STOTRAM is a very powerful slokam. This sloka is chanted daily for three times to get rid of all the problems. All the problems get destroyed by chanting this stotra of Lord Ganesha. Number 3 is very dear to Lord Ganesha. Hence, it is desirable to chant this thrice if possible.

Pranamya Sirasa devam Gauri Puthram Vinayakam

Bhaktavasam Smarennithyam Ayuh Kamartha Siddaye !

Prathamam Vakrathundam cha Ekadantham Dvithiyakam

Thrithiyam Krishna Pingaaksham Gajavakthram Chathurthakam

Lambodaram Panchamam cha Shashtam Vikatameva cha

Saptamam Vighna Rajam cha Dhoomravarnam thathashtakam

Navamam Phala Chandram cha Dasamam thu Vinayakam

Ekadasam Ganapathim Dwadasam thu Gajananam !!

Dwadasaithani Namaani Thri Sandhyam Yah Pathennarah

Na cha Vighna Bhayam thasya Sarva Siddhi karim Prabho!

Vidyarthi Labhate VidyamDhanarthi Labhate Dhanam

Puthrarthi Labhate PutraamMokshaarthi Labhate Gatim

Japeth Ganapthi Stotram Shadbhirmaasai Phalam Labheth,

Samvatsarena Siddhim cha Labhate Naathra Samsayaha !

Ashtabhyo Brahmanebhyash cha Likhitwa yah Samarpayeth

Thasya Vidya bhavetsarva Ganeshasya Prasadathaha !!

Sankatahara Chaturthi Pooja Songs:
http://www.raaga.com/channels/sanskrit/moviedetail.asp?mid=S0000022

This information was collected by my friend , Vidyo.

Thiruvillakku sthothram

Thiruvillakku sthothram :

Villakke ! Thiruvillake ! vendan udanpirappe !

Jyothi manivillake sridevi ponmaniye

Andhi villakke alankara nayagiye

Gandhi villakke kamakshi thayare

Pasumpon villakku vaithu panchu thiri pottu,

Kulam pola nei vittu Kolamudan yetri vaithen

Yetrinen nei villakku yendan kudi villanga Vaithen

thiruvillakku maligaiyum thaan villanga

Maligaiyil jyothiyulla mathavai kandukonden

Mangalya pichchai madipichchai tharumamma !

Santhana pichchaiyudan dhanangalum tharumamma !

Petti niraya booshanangal tharumamma !

Patti niraya paal pasuvai tharumamma !

Kottil niraya gudiraigalai tharumamma !

Pugazhudambai thandhu yen pakkathil nillumamma !

Allum pagalum endran andaiyile nillumamma !

Sevithezhundirunden devi vadivu kanden

Vajjira kridam kanden vaidurya meni kanden

Muthu kondai kanden muzhupachchai maalai kanden

Souri mudiyakanden thazhai madal sooda kanden

Pinnazhagu kanden piraipola netri kanden

Saandhudan netrikkanden thayaar vadivamkanden

Kamala thirumugathil kasthuri pottu kanden

Maarbil padhakkam minna maalai asaya kanden

Kaivalayal kalakalenna kanaiyazhi minna kanden

Thanga oddiyanam thagathagena jolikka kanden

Kaalir chilambu kanden paalazhi peeli kanden

Mangala nayagiyai manam kulira kandukonden

Annaiye arunthunaiye arugirundu kaathiduvai

Vandha vinai agatri mahabaakkyam thandhiduvai !

Thaayare undhan thaaladiyil charanam yendren

Maadhave undhan malaradiyil naan panindhen

Kudumbakodivillakke kutrangal poruthiduvai

Kuraigal theerthiduvai kudumbaththai kaathiduvai

Thandhaiyum thaayum neeye dhayavudane rakshippai !

Karunaikadal neeye karpagavalli neeye !

Sakalakalavalli thaaye rakshippai

Thanjam unai adaindhen !

dhukkammellam Pokkiduvai !

Abiramavalli amma ! adaikkalam neeye amma !

Sarva mangala mangalye sive sarvartha saadhike

Saranye thriyambake devi narayani namosthuthe

Aayur dehi dhanam dehi vidyam dehi maheshwari

Samastham akilam dehi dehi me parameswari

Anyatha charanam naasthi thvameva charanam ma ma

Dhasmath kaarunya paavena raksha raksha maheswari

Thiruchitrambalam.

Kanchipuram

• Location : 75-Km From Chennai, Tamil Nadu
• Called : Religious Capital Of South India
• Famous Temples In Kanchipuram : Kamakshi Amman Temple, Varadaraja Temple, Kailashanathar Temple, Ekambareshwar Temple, Kumara Kottam, Ulahalanda Perumal Temple
• Important Festivals Celebrated : Brahmotsavam -Varadaraja Temple InMay; Garuda Sevai- Varadaraja TempleIn June; Float Festival -Varadaraja Temple In February And November; KamakshiAmmam Festival - February; Mahashivaratri Festival - Kailashanatha Temple In February; Panguni Uthiram -EkambareshwaraTemple In March-April.

Land Of Thousand Temples Kanchipuram is a small, rural town about 75-km from Chennai in the state of Tamil Nadu. With the Sankara Mutt acting as the hub of Hindu activities and the temples, Kanchipuram is one of the most highly visited pilgrimage spots in India, and can rightfully be called the "Religious Capital of South India". Kanchipuram was under the Pallavas from the 6th to 8th century AD and later became the citadel of the Cholas, Vijayanagar Kings, the Muslim and the British. It has been a center of Tamil learning, cultural and religious background for centuries. Kanchipuram has magnificent temples of unique architectural beauty bearing eloquent testimony to its glorious Dravidian heritage.All the religious cities in India support one of the two sects in Hinduism - Vaishnavism and Shaivism, but Kanchipuram has blended itself equally to both the sects, dividing itself into Vishnu Kanchi, surrounding the Varadaraja Temple, and Shiva Kanchi, surrounding the Ekambareshwar (also spelt as Ekambareshwa) Temple, while the Kamakshi Amman Temple stands in between as a place of Shakti worship.
Kailashanathar Temple :


Dedicated to Lord Shiva, Kailashanathar (also spelt as Kailashnatha) is one of the earliest temples built by the Pallava ruler Rajasimha Pallava and was completed by his son, Mahendra Varma Pallava in the 8th century AD. It is the oldest structure in Kanchipuram and the finest example of Pallava architecture in South India. The temple is situated among several low-roofed houses just over 1-km west of the town center. Of all the temples in India, no other edifice has been so elaborately filled with all the 64 aspects of Lord Shiva. The temple is unique in its architecture and is viewed more as an architectural wonder than as a holy place. Hence, it is never crowded with locals. But, once in a year during Shivaratri festival large crowds visit the temple and there could be hours of waiting in long queues.
Kamakshi Amman Temple :
India has three main cities where the Goddess Shakti is worshipped. Kanchipuram holds the most important rank among the three. In the same order, the three places are Kanchipuram, where the Goddess Kamakshi is worshipped, Madurai, where the Goddess Meenakshi is worshipped, and Kashi, where the deity is 'Visaalakshi'.The Kamakshi Amman temple is the hub of all religious activities in Kanchipuram. The temple is also in closer control of the Shankara Mutt, unlike the other temples, which are governed either by the Department of Archeology, Government of India, or the Hindu Temples Department of the Tamil Nadu Government. The kings of the Chola Empire built the temple in 14th century AD.The main tower over the sanctum (Vimanam) of the temple is gold plated. Also of significance is the Golden Chariot in this temple. The Golden Chariot is taken in a procession around the temple on Friday evenings around 7.00 p.m. This temple also features an Art Gallery with pictures depicting the history of Sri Adishankaracharya and the Shankara Mutt.
Kumara Kottam :
Kumara Kottam is located in between the Kamakshi and Ekambareshwar temples in the Somaskanda formation in the town of Kanchipuram. It is a well-visited temple with two Prakarams and a complete pantheon of Parivara Devatas enshrined in their respective shrines.In the sanctum, Muruga is in a seated pose. Valli, Deivayani are absent here, but their festival idols are kept here. In accordance with the function of Creation he has assumed, his right arm is in Abaya pose, the upper hand holds the rosary, and the lower left arm is on the thigh in Katyavailambita pose with the left arm holding the Kamandalam. The posture is also called "Brahma Chattam".Here only honey is used for ablutions. When one comes out after worshipping the main deity, one can see the festival idols. In the front part of the temple in the mirror room one can see the marble figure of Ramalinga Swamigal.
Varadaraja Temple :
The Varadaraja temple is one of the important shrines of Sri Vaishnavites, also known as "Hastigiri" and is one of the celebrated Vaishnava Divya Desams, located in Vishnu Kanchi or "the Little Kanchi". Originally it was known as "Attiyuran". The main deity here is Varadaraja Perumal in a standing posture facing west and the Lord here is also known as "Devaraja", "Pranatharthihara", "Deva Perumal", "Athiyooran" and "Perarulalan".Varadaraja temple with superb art has a magnificent history, which is associated with Sri Ramanuja, who used to serve here. Many miracles are said to have occurred. It was with his ministry that the temple, then already several centuries old, began to gain fame.
Ulahalanda Perumal Temple :
Ulahalanda Perumal temple, situated about half a kilometre from the centre of the town near Kamakshi Amman temple is one of the oldest temples in Kanchipuram. The deity Ulahalanda Perumal in this temple represents the "Vamana Roopam", an incarnation of Lord Vishnu taken to save the Devas from the Demon king Mahabali. The deity Ulahalanda Perumal is depicted by a huge image of about 35 feet high.
Festivals Celebrated In Kanchipuram :
Some of the important festivals celebrated in Kanchipuram are the Brahmotsavam -Varadaraja temple in May; Garuda Sevai- Varadaraja temple in June; Float festival -Varadaraja temple in February and November; Kamakshi Ammam Festival - February; Mahashivaratri festival - Kailashanatha temple in February; Panguni Uthiram -Ekambareshwara temple in March-April.
This posting was prepared by my friend Vidyo ..