NAVAGRAHA TEMPLES IN MYLAPORE & Nine kinds of neivedhyams

 Always, Number 9 has many important things connected....

Nava Vidha Bhakthi

Navarathri

Nava rasams

Nava dhanyams

Navarathnams....

Navagrahams.......Suryan (Sun), Chandran (Moon), Chevvai (Mars), Budhan (Mercury), Guru (Jupiter), Sukran (Venus), Shani (Saturn), Rahu and Kethu...

very recently, me and my husband were blessed to come to know of these temples, which are situated right in Mylapore, all within 3-4 kms radius, and we also finished them in a single day, hoping to attain Moksham (ha..ha..)..and I just wanted to share about these temples, which many of you may have known, may not have known.......For people, who are unable to visit Suryanar temple, Thingalur, Vaitheeswaran koil, Thiruvenkadu, Aalangudi, Kanjanur, Thirunageswaram and Keezha perum pallam.....isn't this the best??? Especially for people living in Chennai??

                                                   1. VIRUPAKSHEESWARAR (Suryan)

Shivan is known as Virupaksheeswarar , which means, he has eyes in his forehead, and ambal is called Visalakshi. It is located on Bazaar street, Mylapore. His favorite prasaadham is Curd based dishes...

Curd vadas

                                  2. THEERTHAPALEESWARAR TEMPLE (Chandran)

Ambal name is Tripurasundari. Here Sage Agasthya got cured of his illness, and this temple is believed to cure all kinds of ailments

Here, Shiva is believed to like slightly watery prasaadhams, payasams, and Gulab jamun is his favorite.

Gulab jamun 

3. KARANEESWARAR TEMPLE (Guru bhagawan)

Ambal is called Swarnambika, this teemple is on Saidapet road, very famous Guru sthalam, his favourite prasaadham is Kesari

Kesari 

 4. MALLEESWARAR TEMPLE (Budhan)

Here, the ambal name is Maragadhambal. Lingam was found amidst Malli (jasmine ) bushes, and hence Shiva got this name. It is strongly believed that offering jasmine garlands continuosly for 6 weeks helps unmarried individuals find suitable spouse.  His favourite prasaadham is Laddu

Laddos

5. VALEESWARAR TEMPLE (Chevvai )

This temple is supposed to be worshipped by Vali, ambal name is Periya nayagi, For good physical and mental health Valeeswarar showers lot of blessings. His favourite prasaadham is Ellu saadham

Ellu saadham

6. MUNDAGAKANNI AMMAN (Rahu )

Amman is supposed to be Lotus Eyed, has several Sarppams (Snakes) in the temple, and probably, that is why it is the Rahu Sthalam, I suppose. It is a strong belief that when you pray genuinely and offer yr full form or legs or hands, eyes, ears...all available in this silver like metal....whatever it may be, the great Lotuseyed amman cures completely. Her favorite prasaadham is Chakkarai pongal

Chakkarai pongal

7. KOLAVIZHI AMMAN ( Kethu )

She is supposed to be the Ellai amman of Mylapore, always Kapaleeshwara temple start after offering first poojas to her. She appears in the form of Bhadrakali, with eight hands, holding various weapons, all to protect us from the bad shakthis. Her favorite prasaadham is Lemon rice

Lemon rice

8. KAPALEESHWARAR TEMPLE ( Shani)

Kayilaiye Mayilai, Mylaiye Kayilai.....is the normal saying. Here, Parvathi took the form of peahen and did thapas to attain Shiva. Karpagambal sametha Kapaleeshwarar.  A very powerful temple, and it is famous as Shani sthalam too. His favorite prasaadham is Puli saadham

Puli saadham

9. VELLEESWARAR TEMPLE ( Sukran)

Ambal name is Thripura sundari.  This temple is very famous for his Sukran sannidhi, all kinds of Eye illness gets treated here, there is special shlokam written for this. When Asura king Mahabali was about to pour water from his kamandalam, to Lord Vishnu as  Vamana avatar, Sukracharya tried to stop him, by blocking the water outlet in the kamandala, and his eye was pricked with a dharbai by Vamana, and he became blind, then here he prayed to Shiva and got back his vision. Sarabeswara in this temple is also very famous. His favorite prasaadham is Sundal

Thengai mangai pattani sundal 

Excluding Mundaga kanni amman and Kolavizhi amman, the 7 Shiva temples are known as Saptha sthana temples

I feel so happy and blessed to have shared these details with you all!!! 

MICROWAVE THERATTUPAAL, how to make an instant, quick Therattupaal

 We all have changed a lot.......

From Bell metal /bronze to Stainless steel

From Calcutta Aluminium Bandlis to anodised pans

From Rukmini cooker to Pressure Cooker/Instapot

From deep frying to Air fryer

From reheating to microwave

From அம்மி, இயந்திரம் to blender

From ஆட்டுக்கல் to grinder

From விறகு அடுப்பு to Kerosene /gas/induction stoves

From Srirangam Cast iron dosa tavas to Anodised tavas

So.......why not microwave 7-8 minutes Therattupaal instead of the usual 3-4 hours of condensing the milk....... traditional therattupaal??

Infact, it was tastier, quicker, no fear of sticking at the bottom of the bandli.......

Ingredients

Amul /Milkmaid/Milky mist condensed  milk tin - 400 gms(I used Amul)

Curds - 2 tbsps

Melted ghee - 2 tsps

Cardamom powder optional

Recipe Cuisine: Indian; Category: Indian sweets

Cooking time: 7 - 8 minutes

Yields about 200 gms of therattupaal

Condensed milk tin taken

Poured into a bowl...a word of caution...take a very big bowl, because the condensed milk raises to the brim, in fact, later, I needed to change to a large bowl

2 tsps melted ghee poured in

2 tbsps curd added

all mixed well

after 2 minutes microwaving

wait for a minute, then microwave for 2 minutes again. Bowl will be very very hot, be careful, use your pot holders

after 2 minutes microwaving again...

After 1 minute more microwaving...

Corners will turn mild golden colour, it will start leaving the sides

Isn't it perfect????

Enjoy the hot, tasty, perfect therattupaal, made in minutes......திரட்டுப்பால்....this is how it is called in tamil...all milk collected and condensed.....Enjoy!!!

This post first appeared in www.malpatskitchen.com

LAUKI TIKKIS, How to make the Nutritious Bottle gourd tikkis

 THE SIMPLE LAUKI/ BOTTLE GOURD.....

Many families, Don't know due to what reason...avoid the Great Lauki...They are unaware of its health benefits......

Offers many potential benefits, helpful in liver functions

Good for brain

Antioxidant, good for diabetes

It is very low in calories, so good for weight watchers!!

Good source of Vitamin C, which is an essentialvitamin for overall skin health

Ingredients

 Medium sized Lauki / Bottle gourd - 1

Potatoes, medium sized - 3, pressure cooked and mashed

Besan - 2 tsps

Sooji / rava - 2 tsps

Oats - 1/3 cup, coarsely pulsed

Mint leaves - handful, washed & drained

Coriander leaves - 1 handful, washed & drained

Ginger paste - 1 tsp

Small onions - 6, finely chopped

Jeera - 1 tsp

Green chilli - 1. very finely chopped

Chilli powder - 1/2 tsp

Dhania powder - 1 tsp

Jeera powder - 1 tsp

Kitchen king masala - 1 tsp

4 -5  tbsps oil to pan fry the tikkis

Salt to taste

Recipe Cuisine: North Indian; Category: Anytime meals

Prep time: 30 mts; Cooking time: 20 mts

Yields 12 Tikkis

Bottle gourd, washed, wiped and kept ready

Skin peeled, grated , gratings put on a fine towel over a strainer, with a vessel below

Then, the towel closed, this is very easy to squeeze out the water, Atleast for 20 - 25 minutes, this has to remain like this

Mashed potato taken in a bowl

2 tsps sooji and 2 tsps besan added

Oats taken in a blender

Coarsely pulsed and added

Mint and Coriander leaves added

Chopped onions and ginger paste

Chilli, dhania, jeera and Kitchen King masala powders added

Jeera enters the pan now

Finely chopped green chillies and salt to taste added

Everything kneaded to a stiff now. If we do not keep the lauki gratings in the cloth, you cannot squeeze water to this level. That water, is not going to be wasted, it is going to be added to soup. It can be added to anything, since it is bland and has no specific flavour.

Shaped into tikkis

Cling wrapped and refrigerated for 3 - 4 hours

Heat 3-4 tbsps oil in a pan, refrigerated, firm tikkis placed one by one gently, on lowest flames. Again, this shows how "Shraddha" and "Saburi" are needed in every minute of our lives!!!!

When golden at the bottom, gently flip the tikkis, like this, patiently, tikkis have to be turned both sides 5 to 6 times, till finally done.

Look at the golden colored, healthy tikkis, loaded with nutrition!!! Wow!!!

Served with Sweet potato & Yellow pumpkin soup

This post appeared first on www.malpatskitchen.com