Regional Traditions, Sacred Pujas and the Glory of Mysuru Nada Habba

Dasara, also known as Dussehra, Vijayadashami and Navaratri Vijayotsava in different contexts, is one of India's most significant Hindu festivals. Celebrated over nine nights and culminating on the tenth day, it honours the victory of Dharma over Adharma, the triumph of divine power over evil, and the renewal of courage, wisdom and righteousness. From Goddess Durga's victory in eastern India to Lord Rama's triumph in northern India and the royal grandeur of Mysuru Nada Habba, Dasara brings together diverse traditions through a shared spirit of devotion.

For devotees, Dasara is also a sacred period for performing Durga Puja, Chandi Homa, Saraswati Puja, Ayudha Puja, and other traditional rituals seeking divine blessings, knowledge, prosperity and success

There are temples in Tamil Nadu that are famous because of their size, temples that are celebrated for their architecture, and temples that are remembered because of a particular legend. Then there are temples where several layers of Tamil spiritual, literary and architectural heritage come together so closely that every part of the temple seems to tell a different story. 

Sri Nethrarpaneswarar Temple at Thiruveezhimizhalai belongs to this special category. 

Situated in the fertile Cauvery region, Thiruveezhimizhalai is a celebrated Devaram Paadal Petra Sthalam, praised by the three great Shaiva Nayanmars—Thirugnanasambandar, Thirunavukkarasar, popularly known as Appar, and Sundarar. The temple is associated with 23 Devaram pathigams: 14 by Thirugnanasambandar, 8 by Appar and 1 by S

There are certain days in the Hindu lunar calendar that seem to carry a special spiritual character. Ashtami Tithi, the eighth lunar day, is one of them. AstroPuja takes you into a spiritual journey in the annals of astrology, spirituality and interactions. 

Ashtami occurs twice every lunar month—once during Shukla Paksha, the waxing Moon, and once during Krishna Paksha, the waning Moon. Across different traditions, these Ashtamis are associated with worship of powerful forms of the Divine, including Goddess Durga, Lord Krishna, Kaal Bhairava, Batuk Bhairav and Radha. 

At first, these associations may seem unrelated. Krishna represents divine love and dharma; Durga represents Shakti and v