Favorite Flowers to offer for Lord Muruga

Lord Murugan (Karthikeya, Subramanya) can be offered with several flowers, among which the most significant and favorite flowers to Muruga are:

1. Hibiscus – The red hibiscus flower is considered very dear to Lord Murugan.

2. Kurinji Flower (Strobilanthes Kunthiana) – This flower is significant as it represents the Kurinji landscape associated with Murugan.

3. Kanakaambaram (Crossandra) – A commonly found flower in orange color in Murugan temples.

4. Mullai (Jasmine – Arabian Jasmine) – Different varieties of jasmine flowers are offered to Lord Murugan.

5. Kadamba Flower – This flower holds an important place in Murugan worship.

6. Nagalinga Flower (Cannonball Flower) – Used in worship at certain Murugan temples.

7. Sevvarali / Ixora coccinea – A bright red flower with clustered petals, often associated with Murugan.

It is believed that offering these flowers to Lord Murugan brings his divine blessings.

48-Day Fasting Meal Plan for Lord Muruga

 Here’s a simple and balanced meal plan for your 48-day Lord Murugan fasting period. This plan follows a satvik diet (no onion, garlic, or non-veg) while keeping you energetic and healthy.

Morning (Pre-Breakfast) – 6:00 AM to 7:00 AM

✅ Herbal Drink:

• Warm water with honey and lemon (for cleansing the system)
• Tulsi or ginger tea (for immunity & digestion)
• Tender coconut water (for hydration)

✅ Fruits:

• Banana, apple, pomegranate, or any seasonal fruit

Breakfast – 8:00 AM to 9:00 AM

✅ Options:

• Ragi kanji (Finger millet porridge) with jaggery
• Idli with coconut chutney (no onion, no garlic)
• Pongal (Ven Pongal or Ragi Pongal) with pepper & jeera
• Poha with grated coconut
• Millet dosa with homemade tomato chutney

Mid-Morning – 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM

✅ Snacks:

• Dry fruits (almonds, walnuts, raisins)
• Buttermilk (with jeera & curry leaves)
• Fresh fruit juice (without sugar)

Lunch – 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM

✅ Balanced Meal Options:

1. Rice-based meal:

• Steamed rice with moong dal & ghee
• Mixed vegetable sambar (no onion, no garlic)
• Carrot or beetroot poriyal
• Curd or buttermilk

2. Millet-based meal:

• Kodo millet or barnyard millet with rasam
• Kootu (dal with vegetables like ash gourd or pumpkin)

3. One-Pot Meal:

• Lemon rice or coconut rice with sundal (chickpeas)

Evening Snack – 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM

✅ Tea Time:

• Sukku (dry ginger) coffee
• Herbal tea (tulsi or jeera tea)
• Roasted peanuts or makhana (fox nuts)

Dinner – 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM

✅ Light & Easy to Digest Options:

• Vegetable khichdi with ghee
• Thalipeeth (Maharashtrian multigrain roti) with curd
• Ragi or wheat dosa with jaggery
• Bottle gourd soup or dal soup with chapati

Before Bed – 9:00 PM

✅ Warm milk with turmeric or cardamom

Fasting Tips:

• Drink plenty of water throughout the day.
• Avoid deep-fried and processed foods.
• Include more sattvic vegetables like pumpkin, ash gourd, carrots, beets, and greens.
• Cook food with minimal spices (jeera, pepper, turmeric, and ginger are best).
• If doing strict fasting, have only fruits, milk, and tender coconut.

48-Day Lord Murugan Fasting Procedure

 A 48-day fasting (Viratham) for Lord Murugan is commonly observed by devotees of lord muruga, especially before undertaking a pilgrimage to temples like Palani, Thiruchendur, or Swamimalai. It is believed to bring blessings, spiritual purification, and strength.

48-Day Lord Murugan Fasting Procedure

1. Start Date

Begin on a Tuesday or Friday, during a Tamil month like Aadi, Thai, or Panguni for better results.

Some start the viratham 48 days before Thaipusam or Kanda Sashti.

2. Morning Routine

Wake up early (preferably before sunrise).

Take a bath and wear clean, simple clothes (mostly saffron or white).

Visit a Murugan temple or pray at home.

Recite Kanda Sashti Kavasam, Subramanya Bhujangam, or Skanda Guru Kavacham.

Offer fruits, flowers, and sandalwood paste to the idol or image of Murugan.

3. Fasting Rules

Avoid non-vegetarian food, garlic, and onions.

Some follow a one-time meal per day (mostly simple vegetarian food).

Avoid alcohol, smoking, and unnecessary indulgences.

Chant "Om Saravana Bhava" or "Om Velayudha" frequently.

4. Discipline & Devotion

Maintain celibacy and avoid negative thoughts.

Perform daily prayers and read sacred texts like Skanda Purana.

Visit Murugan temples on Tuesdays and Krithigai Nakshatra days.

Offer paal abhishekam (milk anointment) if possible.

5. Breaking the Fast (Udyapan)

On the 48th day, visit a Murugan temple.

Offer a special abhishekam (milk, honey, sandalwood, etc.) and perform Archana.

Distribute prasadam to others.

Some devotees undertake the Padayatra (walking pilgrimage) to a Murugan temple.

Benefits of the 48-Day Murugan Viratham

• Brings mental peace and confidence.
• Removes obstacles and negativities.
• Helps in overcoming debts and family issues.
• Blesses devotees with wisdom, courage, and success.

Visa & Mastercard vs. UPI & RuPay: Is the Global Card Empire Under Threat

Introduction: The Dominance of Visa & Mastercard

For decades, Visa and Mastercard have ruled the digital payments space, processing billions of transactions worldwide. In India, they enjoyed near-monopoly status, facilitating seamless card payments for consumers and businesses alike. Their revenue model thrives on transaction fees, interchange fees, and service charges, making them two of the most profitable financial service providers globally.

However, the rise of India's homegrown digital payment solutions—Unified Payments Interface (UPI) and RuPay—has started to disrupt this duopoly. With the increasing adoption of UPI for peer-to-peer and merchant payments and RuPay gaining traction due to government backing, one can't help but wonder: Is this the beginning of the end for Visa and Mastercard in India?

How Visa & Mastercard Make Money

Visa and Mastercard don’t issue cards themselves but operate as payment networks connecting banks, merchants, and customers. Their primary revenue sources include:

• Interchange Fees: A small percentage of every transaction paid by merchants to card-issuing banks.

• Assessment Fees: Charged to banks for processing transactions via their networks.

• Cross-border Transaction Fees: Extra charges on international transactions.

• Data Processing & Value-Added Services: Providing security, analytics, and fraud prevention tools to financial institutions.

This model has helped them generate billions in annual revenue. In 2023, Visa reported a revenue of $32.7 billion, while Mastercard generated $25.1 billion.

The Disruptive Rise of UPI & RuPay

India’s fintech revolution has brought UPI and RuPay into the limelight, and they are posing a serious challenge to traditional card networks.

• UPI Growth: UPI transactions crossed ₹18.41 lakh crore ($220 billion) in January 2024 alone, with over 10 billion transactions monthly. Unlike card networks, UPI transactions are largely free, making it the preferred choice for merchants and consumers.

• RuPay Expansion: Backed by NPCI (National Payments Corporation of India), RuPay offers lower processing costs and enjoys government incentives, leading to its increasing acceptance in debit and credit card segments.

• Government Push: India’s MDR (Merchant Discount Rate) waivers and incentives for RuPay card adoption are pushing more banks and businesses toward domestic payment solutions.

The Impact on Visa & Mastercard in India

Visa and Mastercard have already started feeling the heat:

• Loss of Market Share: RuPay now commands 65% of debit card issuances in India.

• Revenue Losses: With UPI transactions outpacing card payments, Visa and Mastercard are losing a significant chunk of their potential earnings from merchant fees.

• Regulatory Challenges: India has been vocal about data localization, forcing global payment networks to comply with storing transaction data domestically.

Why Visa & Mastercard's Stock Prices Still Keep Rising

Despite threats from emerging payment systems, Visa and Mastercard’s stocks continue to perform well. Here’s why:

• Global Dominance: India is just one of their many markets. They still control a vast share of credit card transactions globally, especially in the US, Europe, and Latin America.

• Premium Card Business: High-value transactions, international payments, and premium credit cards still heavily rely on Visa and Mastercard.

• Diversification & Innovation: Both companies are investing in digital payments, blockchain, and AI-driven fraud detection to remain competitive.

• Investor Confidence: With consistent revenue growth and high-profit margins, Visa and Mastercard remain attractive long-term investments.

Future Outlook: Can Visa & Mastercard Adapt?

While UPI and RuPay are reshaping India’s payment landscape, Visa and Mastercard are not sitting idle. They are:

• Partnering with fintech firms to enhance digital payment experiences.

• Exploring tokenization and AI-driven fraud prevention to add more value.

• Expanding into Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) and digital banking services.

In conclusion, while UPI and RuPay are strong disruptors in India, Visa and Mastercard’s global presence, adaptability, and premium services ensure they remain dominant players in the long run. The battle is on, but it’s far from over!

Murukku Recipe Offered as Prasadam to Lord Murugan

Ingredients:

1. 2 cups rice flour
2. ½ cup urad dal flour (can be made by roasting and grinding urad dal)
3. 1 teaspoon butter or oil
4. 1 teaspoon cumin seeds or curry leaves (finely chopped)
5. ½ teaspoon black pepper powder (as per taste)
6. Salt as needed
7. 1 cup water (as required)
8. Peanut oil (for frying)

Method:

1. Preparing the Dough:

• In a large bowl, mix rice flour, urad dal flour, cumin seeds, black pepper powder, and salt.
• Add butter or a little oil and mix well.
• Gradually add water and knead into a soft, pliable dough similar to puri dough.

2. Shaping the Murukku:

• Fit the desired disc (murukku plate) into the murukku press.
• Fill the press with the kneaded dough and gently press out murukku shapes onto a greased plate.

3. Frying the Murukku:

• Heat peanut oil in a deep pan.
• Carefully drop the shaped murukku into the hot oil.
• Fry on medium flame until they turn golden brown.
• Drain excess oil using tissue paper and store in an airtight container.

4. Serving:

• Murukku can be enjoyed warm or at room temperature.
• It can be offered as prasadam to Lord Murugan.

Nei Appam – Traditional South Indian Sweet Recipe | Prasadam for Lord Murugan

Nei Appam is a delicious and traditional South Indian sweet dish made with rice, jaggery, banana, and ghee. This golden-brown, crispy-on-the-outside and soft-on-the-inside delicacy is commonly prepared during festivals like Thaipusam, Karthigai Deepam, and Navratri as an offering (Prasadam) to Lord Murugan.

Why You’ll Love This Nei Appam Recipe

1. ✔ Authentic South Indian flavor
2. ✔ Made with wholesome ingredients
3. ✔ Perfect for festive occasions & poojas
4. ✔ Easy to prepare with simple steps

Ingredients:

1. 1 cup raw rice (soaked for 2-3 hours)
2. ¾ cup jaggery (powdered)
3. 1 small banana (optional, for softness)
4. ¼ cup grated coconut
5. ½ teaspoon cardamom powder
6. ¼ teaspoon baking soda (optional, for texture)
7. ¼ cup water (as needed)
8. Ghee (for frying)

Preparation Method:

1. Preparing the Batter:

1. Grind the soaked rice into a smooth batter with a little water.
2. While grinding, add jaggery, banana, grated coconut, and cardamom powder.
3. Mix well and let the batter rest for 30 minutes. Add baking soda if desired.

2. Heating the Ghee:

Heat an appe pan (paniyaram pan) or a deep pan with enough ghee.

3. Frying the Appam:

Pour small ladlefuls of batter into the pan to shape the appams.
Fry on medium flame until golden brown on both sides.

4. Serving:

Drain excess ghee and serve warm as a prasad (offering) to Lord Murugan.
Pro Tips for Perfect Nei Appam

• ✅ Use overripe banana for a softer texture.
• ✅ Ensure the batter is thick yet pourable to get the right shape.
• ✅ Fry on medium flame for even cooking and golden color.
• ✅ Adding a pinch of baking soda can make the appams extra fluffy.

Authentic Panchamirtham Recipe – Traditional Palani Temple Prasad

Specially offered as prasad in the Palani Murugan Temple)

Ingredients:

1. 5 ripe bananas (small varieties like Ilakkiya or Robusta are best)
2. ¼ cup powdered jaggery
3. 2 tablespoons honey
4. 2 tablespoons ghee
5. 2 tablespoons dates (chopped)
6. 1 tablespoon raisins
7. 1 tablespoon cashews (chopped)
8. ½ teaspoon cardamom powder

Method:

1. Mashing the Bananas:

Peel the bananas and mash them well in a bowl.

2. Adding Sweeteners:

Add powdered jaggery, honey, and ghee to the mashed bananas and mix well.

3. Adding Dry Fruits:

Mix in the chopped dates, raisins, and cashews.

4. Enhancing the Flavor:

Sprinkle cardamom powder and mix thoroughly.

5. Serving:

Panchamirtham is usually served raw without cooking. Letting it sit for a while enhances its taste and aroma.