Monday, March 05, 2012
HOME SAFETY
This is a shocking episode that happened on 13th May 2011 in Pune, India . This may be a good, useful lesson in safety for all of us. A housewife died due to burns sustained in the kitchen. Her husband too was hospitalized for injuries due to burns while trying to rescue his wife. How it happened:-The gas stove was on and cooking under process. The lady observed some cockroaches near the sink and grabbed a can of insect repellent and sprayed it near the gas stove, which was on. There was an explosion and in no time the poor woman was covered in flames, sustaining 65% burns. Her husband rushed in, tried to douse the flames and his clothes too caught fire. The husband still in hospital, in the burns ward, still unaware that his wife was declared dead on arrival. Let us understand:-All insect repellents such as "Hit", "Mortein" etc. have highly volatile and inflammable solvents. The atomised nano spary particles spread extremely rapidly and one spark is enough to ignite this explosive mixture with oxygen present in air. Did the poor lady realise the hazard involved?Apparently not! Please educate your family about this and spread the word around.... who knows you may save more than a life...
Sunday, February 26, 2012
ISKCON Concert video links
My Carnatic vocal performance was held in in ISKCON, Shri Radha Krishna temple, Rajaji nagar on 5/2/2012 from 11:30 am to 1 pm in the main temple hall.
Here are the few you tube video links of a few parts of the concert.
Meera bhajan link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cz3tYffduBw&context=C325efeaADOEgsToPDskIKUEBXPqPNNEuYQDKjKWEJ
Govardhana gireesham:
http://youtu.be/888YrkXsxsQ
All Glories to God!
Here are the few you tube video links of a few parts of the concert.
Meera bhajan link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cz3tYffduBw&context=C325efeaADOEgsToPDskIKUEBXPqPNNEuYQDKjKWEJ
Govardhana gireesham:
http://youtu.be/888YrkXsxsQ
All Glories to God!
Friday, February 24, 2012
THE ICON OF INSPIRATION
At the age of 42, James Hanlon went blind and eventually deaf. But far from accepting his career was over, he went on to help ease the pain of polio victims
WHAT MAKES some people carry on in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds? It's a question frequently asked but seldom answered, at least with any degree of certainty.
The story of Dr James Hanlon, Dublin's blind and deaf physician, is no ordinary tale of triumph over adversity.
His resolution not to be undone by the tragic events of his life and to remain true to his vocation baffled as many as it inspired.
And yet his story is not widely known to this generation.
When he died in 1961, at the age of just 53, his passing drew tributes and condolences from across the world.
Pope John XXIII ordered that news of his death be announced on Vatican radio.
An *Irish Times* obituary, from the time, described him as a doctor who"overcame blindness and impaired hearing to lead a brilliant medical career".
Hanlon had been one of the more prominent ear, nose and throat surgeons in the capital in the 1940s.
As a consultant surgeon, he had completed a number of postgraduate studies abroad, most notably in pre-war Vienna, where he was schooled in the latest tonsillectomy techniques which he went on to pioneer in Ireland.
As well as working in the Royal Victoria Eye and Ear Hospital and StLawrences (later known as the Richmond), he and two colleagues established a private hospital in Dublin's Leeson Street.
As a 42-year-old surgeon, at the height of his professional powers, his life took a strange and tragic turn.
He developed a freak ocular infection when a patient coughed sputum into his left eye during a routine medical examination.
After an unsuccessful operation in London, infection began to impair his vision, and before long, spread to the other eye, through a process known as sympathetic ophthalmia. Within the space of a few months, Hanlon went blind. His troubles, however, were not to end there. His doctors had attempted to control the infection by using relatively large doses, by today's standards, of streptomycin - a new antibiotic at the time - which had severe side effects on his hearing, eventually making him deaf as wellas blind.
Veronica Freeman, the eldest of his four children, who was 10 at the time,recalls the shock of seeing her father returning from London after the operation with his sight all but gone and his hearing on a similar trajectory.
Watching from an upstairs window, she recounts seeing her father being shepherded into the house on his brother's arm; radically altered from the energetic, young physician who had left for London just weeks previous.
"He seemed suddenly older, not like my dad at all."
She remembers he became depressed for a time, secretly admitting to his wife's sister that he felt himself a burden on the family and better off dead.
His wife, Betty, with the help of some friends, decided to organise a trip to the Lourdes shrine in an attempt to revive his spirits.
While he was no more devout than most Catholics of the time, Veronica says,he returned from France a changed man: imbued with a new sense of optimism.
He told a family member that although he wasn't cured, it didn't seem to matter anymore. "Even though my eyes and ears don't work, I'm the very same person I was. The only question is what can I do now?"
From that point on, Hanlon threw himself into the only field of medicine he felt he could still practise as a deaf-blind person, physiotherapy.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, as it had never been attempted before, anapplication to study the discipline at a prominent Dublin college was refused on the grounds it was simply "not possible" given his disabilities.
Veronica says her father bluntly told the college authorities: "Look, don't tell me what's not possible. Let me try first and I'll tell you if it'spossible or not."
Undeterred by the initial rejection, however, he applied to study in London and received special permission to attend lectures in the company of asecretary who interpreted the classes for him on the palms of his hands, a process of communication for deaf-blind people known as tactile signing.
Within six months and partly because of his previous medical training, the college awarded him an honorary degree.
Back in Dublin, Hanlon began working with a physiotherapist named Kathleen O'Rourke, who ran a remedial clinic for polio victims from the top floor of her apartment on the corner of Pembroke Street and Leeson Street.
In an era when there was no known cure for polio, outbreaks such as those in Dublin and Cork in the 1940s and '50s affected thousands and caused near hysteria.
Many of those who survived were left battling with the debilitating aftermath of the disease, known as post-polio syndrome. The syndrome typically left patients with severe muscle and joint pain, often badly impairing mobility.
O'Rourke, who specialised in treating polio victims with intense physiotherapy, would eventually go on to establish Dublin's Central Remedial Clinic, now based in Clontarf.
Hanlon soon became adept at diagnosing the early signs of the disease.
Veronica remains convinced of her father's success in detecting the various stages of the disease was linked to his own disabilities which, she believes, enabled him to perceive non-visual signals from the body.
She recounts one episode where he recognised one patient's symptoms on the basis of the subtle vibrations her gait made on the floor as she entered his consulting rooms.
As a result of his success with polio patients, other physicians began to refer patients to "the blind doctor", as he was affectionately known,especially those with less obvious symptoms.
He eventually returned to work for the Richmond hospital; this time as a consultant physiotherapist as well as taking private rooms on Fitzwilliam Square.
Veronica says her father became so adept at translating tactile signing,which his wife Betty or his long-time secretary Josephine Kearney would perform on his hand during consultations, that he could answer patients in real time, giving the impression of normal conversation.
When asked if he noticed anything unusual about his doctor, one young patient only noted the fact that his doctor mysteriously wore sunglasses in winter.
As a schoolboy in Clongowes Wood and later in Blackrock College, Hanlon had excelled at sport, particularly rugby and diving.
He was also a first-rate golfer, playing off a handicap of two and winning the prestigious Lumsden Cup in 1939.
There is, perhaps, one anecdote which typifies, more than any other,Hanlon's courage in the face of adversity.
He would, on occasion, arrange to meet Irish champion diver Eddie Heron at the Blackrock Baths in Dublin. To the disbelief of onlookers, Heron would guide Hanlon up to the high diving board, where both men would dive in unison.
According to Veronica, Heron would tap her father on his side, a split second before entering the water, so he could correct his position.
At the time, the demand for remedial polio services at the Central Remedial Clinic, then based in Goatstown, had become so great that a plan was hatched to move the clinic to a bigger campus in Clontarf.
Hanlon, who was by now something of a minor celebrity, his story having featured on a BBC programme called*Silver Lining* , was asked to lead a fundraising team to the US to drum up financial support for the new clinic.
As well as appearing on the *Ed Sullivan Show* , Hanlon met the famous deaf-blind author and activist Helen Keller while in the US.
Having expressed his admiration for her, Keller surprised Hanlon by informing him it was she who should be in awe of him since she had been blind and deaf since birth and had known little else in contrast to the loss he had suffered.
Looking back, Veronica remembers her childhood as a remarkably normal and happy time.
As she and her siblings - John, Elizabeth and Jim - learned to sign, they began to act as their father's eyes and ears, reporting the day's events to him, she says.
By 1961, however, Hanlon's heart had begun to deteriorate; he suffered several heart attacks in the early part of the year.
Against his doctor's advice, he travelled to Lourdes in the summer, as he had done every year since losing his sight.
On a warm night in June after visiting the shrine's baths, Hanlon died in the Asile hospital on the grounds of the Lourdes shrine, and was buried in an Irish plot in Lourdes.
Announcing his death, a French television report described him as a man of great courage and as a "hero for all".
To this day, flowers are still left at the commemorative plaque dedicated to Hanlon at the entrance to the cemetery.
Source:http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/health/2012/0124/1224310666041.html
My Salutations to this Great Doctor.
All Glories to God!
WHAT MAKES some people carry on in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds? It's a question frequently asked but seldom answered, at least with any degree of certainty.
The story of Dr James Hanlon, Dublin's blind and deaf physician, is no ordinary tale of triumph over adversity.
His resolution not to be undone by the tragic events of his life and to remain true to his vocation baffled as many as it inspired.
And yet his story is not widely known to this generation.
When he died in 1961, at the age of just 53, his passing drew tributes and condolences from across the world.
Pope John XXIII ordered that news of his death be announced on Vatican radio.
An *Irish Times* obituary, from the time, described him as a doctor who"overcame blindness and impaired hearing to lead a brilliant medical career".
Hanlon had been one of the more prominent ear, nose and throat surgeons in the capital in the 1940s.
As a consultant surgeon, he had completed a number of postgraduate studies abroad, most notably in pre-war Vienna, where he was schooled in the latest tonsillectomy techniques which he went on to pioneer in Ireland.
As well as working in the Royal Victoria Eye and Ear Hospital and StLawrences (later known as the Richmond), he and two colleagues established a private hospital in Dublin's Leeson Street.
As a 42-year-old surgeon, at the height of his professional powers, his life took a strange and tragic turn.
He developed a freak ocular infection when a patient coughed sputum into his left eye during a routine medical examination.
After an unsuccessful operation in London, infection began to impair his vision, and before long, spread to the other eye, through a process known as sympathetic ophthalmia. Within the space of a few months, Hanlon went blind. His troubles, however, were not to end there. His doctors had attempted to control the infection by using relatively large doses, by today's standards, of streptomycin - a new antibiotic at the time - which had severe side effects on his hearing, eventually making him deaf as wellas blind.
Veronica Freeman, the eldest of his four children, who was 10 at the time,recalls the shock of seeing her father returning from London after the operation with his sight all but gone and his hearing on a similar trajectory.
Watching from an upstairs window, she recounts seeing her father being shepherded into the house on his brother's arm; radically altered from the energetic, young physician who had left for London just weeks previous.
"He seemed suddenly older, not like my dad at all."
She remembers he became depressed for a time, secretly admitting to his wife's sister that he felt himself a burden on the family and better off dead.
His wife, Betty, with the help of some friends, decided to organise a trip to the Lourdes shrine in an attempt to revive his spirits.
While he was no more devout than most Catholics of the time, Veronica says,he returned from France a changed man: imbued with a new sense of optimism.
He told a family member that although he wasn't cured, it didn't seem to matter anymore. "Even though my eyes and ears don't work, I'm the very same person I was. The only question is what can I do now?"
From that point on, Hanlon threw himself into the only field of medicine he felt he could still practise as a deaf-blind person, physiotherapy.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, as it had never been attempted before, anapplication to study the discipline at a prominent Dublin college was refused on the grounds it was simply "not possible" given his disabilities.
Veronica says her father bluntly told the college authorities: "Look, don't tell me what's not possible. Let me try first and I'll tell you if it'spossible or not."
Undeterred by the initial rejection, however, he applied to study in London and received special permission to attend lectures in the company of asecretary who interpreted the classes for him on the palms of his hands, a process of communication for deaf-blind people known as tactile signing.
Within six months and partly because of his previous medical training, the college awarded him an honorary degree.
Back in Dublin, Hanlon began working with a physiotherapist named Kathleen O'Rourke, who ran a remedial clinic for polio victims from the top floor of her apartment on the corner of Pembroke Street and Leeson Street.
In an era when there was no known cure for polio, outbreaks such as those in Dublin and Cork in the 1940s and '50s affected thousands and caused near hysteria.
Many of those who survived were left battling with the debilitating aftermath of the disease, known as post-polio syndrome. The syndrome typically left patients with severe muscle and joint pain, often badly impairing mobility.
O'Rourke, who specialised in treating polio victims with intense physiotherapy, would eventually go on to establish Dublin's Central Remedial Clinic, now based in Clontarf.
Hanlon soon became adept at diagnosing the early signs of the disease.
Veronica remains convinced of her father's success in detecting the various stages of the disease was linked to his own disabilities which, she believes, enabled him to perceive non-visual signals from the body.
She recounts one episode where he recognised one patient's symptoms on the basis of the subtle vibrations her gait made on the floor as she entered his consulting rooms.
As a result of his success with polio patients, other physicians began to refer patients to "the blind doctor", as he was affectionately known,especially those with less obvious symptoms.
He eventually returned to work for the Richmond hospital; this time as a consultant physiotherapist as well as taking private rooms on Fitzwilliam Square.
Veronica says her father became so adept at translating tactile signing,which his wife Betty or his long-time secretary Josephine Kearney would perform on his hand during consultations, that he could answer patients in real time, giving the impression of normal conversation.
When asked if he noticed anything unusual about his doctor, one young patient only noted the fact that his doctor mysteriously wore sunglasses in winter.
As a schoolboy in Clongowes Wood and later in Blackrock College, Hanlon had excelled at sport, particularly rugby and diving.
He was also a first-rate golfer, playing off a handicap of two and winning the prestigious Lumsden Cup in 1939.
There is, perhaps, one anecdote which typifies, more than any other,Hanlon's courage in the face of adversity.
He would, on occasion, arrange to meet Irish champion diver Eddie Heron at the Blackrock Baths in Dublin. To the disbelief of onlookers, Heron would guide Hanlon up to the high diving board, where both men would dive in unison.
According to Veronica, Heron would tap her father on his side, a split second before entering the water, so he could correct his position.
At the time, the demand for remedial polio services at the Central Remedial Clinic, then based in Goatstown, had become so great that a plan was hatched to move the clinic to a bigger campus in Clontarf.
Hanlon, who was by now something of a minor celebrity, his story having featured on a BBC programme called*Silver Lining* , was asked to lead a fundraising team to the US to drum up financial support for the new clinic.
As well as appearing on the *Ed Sullivan Show* , Hanlon met the famous deaf-blind author and activist Helen Keller while in the US.
Having expressed his admiration for her, Keller surprised Hanlon by informing him it was she who should be in awe of him since she had been blind and deaf since birth and had known little else in contrast to the loss he had suffered.
Looking back, Veronica remembers her childhood as a remarkably normal and happy time.
As she and her siblings - John, Elizabeth and Jim - learned to sign, they began to act as their father's eyes and ears, reporting the day's events to him, she says.
By 1961, however, Hanlon's heart had begun to deteriorate; he suffered several heart attacks in the early part of the year.
Against his doctor's advice, he travelled to Lourdes in the summer, as he had done every year since losing his sight.
On a warm night in June after visiting the shrine's baths, Hanlon died in the Asile hospital on the grounds of the Lourdes shrine, and was buried in an Irish plot in Lourdes.
Announcing his death, a French television report described him as a man of great courage and as a "hero for all".
To this day, flowers are still left at the commemorative plaque dedicated to Hanlon at the entrance to the cemetery.
Source:http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/health/2012/0124/1224310666041.html
My Salutations to this Great Doctor.
All Glories to God!
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Goodness and Suffering
Why do good people suffer or why do bad things happen to good people? This question seems to be very common these days. It seems as though good people get the brunt of all suffering, while evil-doers enjoy life. But if we observe closely, we see that everyone undergoes suffering in some form or the other. Keeping this in mind, our question becomes meaningless. Just because a person is good, it does not mean there would be no suffering in his/her life.
But what do we mean by ‘good’? In Sanskrit, ‘sadhu’ is the word used for a good person. Sadhu comes from the word ‘saadh’, meaning ‘to accomplish’. If we work for ourselves and achieve great things, there is nothing laudable about it, but if we help others to achieve their goals, then it is an accomplishment.If someone is good to you and you reciprocate, that is common courtesy. But if someone is harming you, and despite that you continue to wish that person well without expecting anything in return, it is real goodness. A sadhu bathing in the river saw a drowning insect. He saved it from drowning and was stung in return. Again, the insect fell back into the river and the sadhu pulled it out of the water and placed it under a shady tree. On seeing this, a person asked the sadhu, “Why did you do that?” He replied, “The insect did not give up its nature, so why should I?”
How can we achieve this goodness in our lives? To reach any target, we must first have a goal. Similarly, for achieving goodness, we must have a standard of goodness which is known to us, because only then can we rise up to the required levels. As long as we see differences in the world around us, true goodnesswill not manifest. This can be achieved only when we become aware of our oneness with others. An example will illustrate this point better. Every organ of my body is part of one whole. If the finger goes into the eye, there is instant forgiveness, because of the complete identification of oneness with the finger.
Now that we know what is good, let us see what suffering is. Objective suffering befalls all people, good or bad. Situations leading to suffering could have their roots in past actions. Objectively, the existence of pain or any other physical handicap cannot be denied, but the degree of sorrow this leads to is entirely subjective.
Riches or positions of power do not guarantee happiness. People may become miserable over small matters. If a person claims that he is good and is suffering, while the dishonest person is flourishing, we can be very sure that the person is not good. For a good man, the real suffering is to do something against his convictions. Suppose a pure vegetarian is faced with a situation of remaining hungry or eating beef, the chances are that the former option would be more acceptable.
All our spiritual practices cannot eliminate suffering, but they protect the mind and make suffering acceptable, just as on a rainy day, we cannot stop the rain, but can protect ourselves from getting wet with an umbrella. Bhagavan Krishna says, “A good person never suffers.” By some logic we feel that suffering and enjoyment is related to past actions. If we observe at the subtle level, we find immediate results of our actions. The moment a good thought enters our mind, we feel elation, and similarly a wicked thought causes agitation.
Real suffering is when we lose our goodness.
Compromising with goodness is the greatest suffering.
Even though superficially it may appear that evil doers are flourishing, it should not be an excuse to compromise.
The problem arises when one does not have an ideal or when one is not able to live up to one’s ideal.
But the greatest problem is when one believes that the ideal is not worth living up to and has lost its utility.
Remember,
A good man will stand by his convictions, because “If you do not stand for something, you will fall for everything.”
But what do we mean by ‘good’? In Sanskrit, ‘sadhu’ is the word used for a good person. Sadhu comes from the word ‘saadh’, meaning ‘to accomplish’. If we work for ourselves and achieve great things, there is nothing laudable about it, but if we help others to achieve their goals, then it is an accomplishment.If someone is good to you and you reciprocate, that is common courtesy. But if someone is harming you, and despite that you continue to wish that person well without expecting anything in return, it is real goodness. A sadhu bathing in the river saw a drowning insect. He saved it from drowning and was stung in return. Again, the insect fell back into the river and the sadhu pulled it out of the water and placed it under a shady tree. On seeing this, a person asked the sadhu, “Why did you do that?” He replied, “The insect did not give up its nature, so why should I?”
How can we achieve this goodness in our lives? To reach any target, we must first have a goal. Similarly, for achieving goodness, we must have a standard of goodness which is known to us, because only then can we rise up to the required levels. As long as we see differences in the world around us, true goodnesswill not manifest. This can be achieved only when we become aware of our oneness with others. An example will illustrate this point better. Every organ of my body is part of one whole. If the finger goes into the eye, there is instant forgiveness, because of the complete identification of oneness with the finger.
Now that we know what is good, let us see what suffering is. Objective suffering befalls all people, good or bad. Situations leading to suffering could have their roots in past actions. Objectively, the existence of pain or any other physical handicap cannot be denied, but the degree of sorrow this leads to is entirely subjective.
Riches or positions of power do not guarantee happiness. People may become miserable over small matters. If a person claims that he is good and is suffering, while the dishonest person is flourishing, we can be very sure that the person is not good. For a good man, the real suffering is to do something against his convictions. Suppose a pure vegetarian is faced with a situation of remaining hungry or eating beef, the chances are that the former option would be more acceptable.
All our spiritual practices cannot eliminate suffering, but they protect the mind and make suffering acceptable, just as on a rainy day, we cannot stop the rain, but can protect ourselves from getting wet with an umbrella. Bhagavan Krishna says, “A good person never suffers.” By some logic we feel that suffering and enjoyment is related to past actions. If we observe at the subtle level, we find immediate results of our actions. The moment a good thought enters our mind, we feel elation, and similarly a wicked thought causes agitation.
Real suffering is when we lose our goodness.
Compromising with goodness is the greatest suffering.
Even though superficially it may appear that evil doers are flourishing, it should not be an excuse to compromise.
The problem arises when one does not have an ideal or when one is not able to live up to one’s ideal.
But the greatest problem is when one believes that the ideal is not worth living up to and has lost its utility.
Remember,
A good man will stand by his convictions, because “If you do not stand for something, you will fall for everything.”
The Biased Belief
A person decided to open up his bar business, which was right opposite to achurch. The church & its congregation started a campaign to block the bar from opening with petitions and prayed daily against his business.
Workprogressed. However, when it was almost complete and was about to open afew days later, a strong lightning struck the bar and it was burnt to the ground. The church folk were rather smug in their outlook after that, till the bar owner sued the church authorities for $2million on the grounds that the church through its congregation & prayers was ultimately responsible for the demise of his bar shop, either through direct or indirect actions or means.
In its reply to the court, the church vehemently denied all responsibilities or any connection that their prayers were reasons to the bar shop's demise. In support of their claim they referred to the Benson study at Harvard that inter-cessionary prayer had no impact! As the case made its way into court, the judge looked over the paperwork and at the hearing, commented : 'I don't know how I am going to decide this case, but it appears from the paperwork, we have a bar owner who believes in the power of prayers and we have an entire church and its devotees that doesn't !!'
The 3 Steps in Life
Three simple rules in life:
1. If you don’t GO after what you want,You will never have it.
2. If you don’t ASK, The answer will always be NO.
3. If you don’t STEP forward, You will always be in the same place.
1. If you don’t GO after what you want,You will never have it.
2. If you don’t ASK, The answer will always be NO.
3. If you don’t STEP forward, You will always be in the same place.
Reason For Stress
A group of alumni, highly established in their careers, got together to visit their old university professor.
The Conversation soon turned into complaints about stress in work and life.
The professor went to the kitchen and returned with a large pot of coffee and an assortment of cups
– porcelain, plastic, glass, crystal, some plain looking, some expensive, some exquisite -
telling them to help themselves to hot coffee.
When all the students had a cup of coffee in hand, the professor said: "If you noticed, all the nice looking expensive cups
have been taken up, leaving behind the plain and cheap ones. While it is but normal for you to want only the best for yourselves, that is
the source of your problems and stress. What all of you really wanted was coffee, not the cup, but you consciously went for the best cups
and were eyeing each other's cups
Now if life is coffee, then the jobs, money and position in society are the cups. They are just tools to hold and contain Life, but the quality of Life
doesn't change
"Sometimes, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the coffee in it."
Don't let the cups drive you in LIFE ...
The Conversation soon turned into complaints about stress in work and life.
The professor went to the kitchen and returned with a large pot of coffee and an assortment of cups
– porcelain, plastic, glass, crystal, some plain looking, some expensive, some exquisite -
telling them to help themselves to hot coffee.
When all the students had a cup of coffee in hand, the professor said: "If you noticed, all the nice looking expensive cups
have been taken up, leaving behind the plain and cheap ones. While it is but normal for you to want only the best for yourselves, that is
the source of your problems and stress. What all of you really wanted was coffee, not the cup, but you consciously went for the best cups
and were eyeing each other's cups
Now if life is coffee, then the jobs, money and position in society are the cups. They are just tools to hold and contain Life, but the quality of Life
doesn't change
"Sometimes, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the coffee in it."
Don't let the cups drive you in LIFE ...
Thursday, February 02, 2012
Why To Visit a Temple?
Well, here is a scientific explanation..........just read on. The write-up definitely makes sense and is convincing.
There are hundreds of temples all over India in different size, shape and locations but not all of them are considered to be in the Vedic way. Generally,the temples are located in a place where earth's magnetic waves pass through. In simple terms, these temples are located strategically at a place where the positive energy is abundantly available from the magnetic wave distribution of north/ south pole thrust. Because of its location, where high magnetic values are available, the Main Idol is placed in the center, and also because they place a copper plate written with some Vedic scripts, which is buried, beneath the Main Idol's placement known as "Garbhagriha" or Moolasthan, the copper absorbs the earthsmagnetic waves and radiates to the surroundings. Thus a person who regularly visits a temple and makes clockwise pradakshina of the Main Idol's placement,automatically receives the beamed magnetic waves which gets absorbed by his body. This is very slow and a regular visit will make him absorb more energy,known as positive energy. In addition, the Sanctum Sanctorum is completely enclosed on three sides. The effect of all energies is very high here. The lamp that is lit radiates the heat and light energy. The ringing of the bells and the chanting of prayers gives sound energy. The fragrance from the flowers, the burning of camphor give out chemical energy. The effect of all these energies is activated by the positive energy that comes out of the idol. This is in addition to the north/south pole magnetic energy that is absorbed by the copper plate and utensils that are kept in the Moolasthan.The water used for the Pooja is mixed with Cardamom, Benzoine, Holy Basil (Tulsi), Clove, etc is the "Theertham". This water becomes more energized because it receives the positiveness of all these energies combined. When persons go to the temple for Deepaaraadhana, and when the doors open up, the positive energy gushes out on to the people who are there. The water that is sprinkled on to the people passes on the energy to all. That is the reason why, men are not allowed to wear shirts to the temple and ladies have to wear more ornaments because it is through these jewels (metal) that positive energy is absorbed in ladies. It is proved that Theertham is a very good blood purifier, as it is highly energized. In addition, temples offer holy water (about three spoons). This water is mainly a source of magneto therapy as they place the copper water vessel at the Garbhagriha. It also contains cardamom, clove, saffron, etc to add taste and Tulsi (holy Basil ) leaves are put into the water to increase its medicinal value! The clove essence protects one from tooth decay, the saffron & Tulsi leave essence protects one from common cold and cough, cardamom and benzol known as Pachha Karpuram , acts as mouth refreshing agents. This way, one's health also is protected, by regularly visiting Temples !
All Glories to God!
There are hundreds of temples all over India in different size, shape and locations but not all of them are considered to be in the Vedic way. Generally,the temples are located in a place where earth's magnetic waves pass through. In simple terms, these temples are located strategically at a place where the positive energy is abundantly available from the magnetic wave distribution of north/ south pole thrust. Because of its location, where high magnetic values are available, the Main Idol is placed in the center, and also because they place a copper plate written with some Vedic scripts, which is buried, beneath the Main Idol's placement known as "Garbhagriha" or Moolasthan, the copper absorbs the earthsmagnetic waves and radiates to the surroundings. Thus a person who regularly visits a temple and makes clockwise pradakshina of the Main Idol's placement,automatically receives the beamed magnetic waves which gets absorbed by his body. This is very slow and a regular visit will make him absorb more energy,known as positive energy. In addition, the Sanctum Sanctorum is completely enclosed on three sides. The effect of all energies is very high here. The lamp that is lit radiates the heat and light energy. The ringing of the bells and the chanting of prayers gives sound energy. The fragrance from the flowers, the burning of camphor give out chemical energy. The effect of all these energies is activated by the positive energy that comes out of the idol. This is in addition to the north/south pole magnetic energy that is absorbed by the copper plate and utensils that are kept in the Moolasthan.The water used for the Pooja is mixed with Cardamom, Benzoine, Holy Basil (Tulsi), Clove, etc is the "Theertham". This water becomes more energized because it receives the positiveness of all these energies combined. When persons go to the temple for Deepaaraadhana, and when the doors open up, the positive energy gushes out on to the people who are there. The water that is sprinkled on to the people passes on the energy to all. That is the reason why, men are not allowed to wear shirts to the temple and ladies have to wear more ornaments because it is through these jewels (metal) that positive energy is absorbed in ladies. It is proved that Theertham is a very good blood purifier, as it is highly energized. In addition, temples offer holy water (about three spoons). This water is mainly a source of magneto therapy as they place the copper water vessel at the Garbhagriha. It also contains cardamom, clove, saffron, etc to add taste and Tulsi (holy Basil ) leaves are put into the water to increase its medicinal value! The clove essence protects one from tooth decay, the saffron & Tulsi leave essence protects one from common cold and cough, cardamom and benzol known as Pachha Karpuram , acts as mouth refreshing agents. This way, one's health also is protected, by regularly visiting Temples !
All Glories to God!
The First Words on Gramophone.
I received this Message through an e-mail.
This is one more instance of our rich past every Indian should be proud of. Trust you enjoy reading this as much as I have.
First Words on Gramaphone.
Did you know this?
HMV Company had once published a pamphlet giving the history ofgramophone record. Gramophone was invented by Thomas Alva Edison in the 19th century. Edison, who had invented many other gadgets like electric light and the motion picture camera, had become a legend even in his own time.
When He invented the gramophone record, which could record human voice for posterity, he wanted to record the voice of an eminent scholar on his firstpiece. For that he chose Prof. Max Muller of Germany, another great personality of the 19th century. He wrote to Max Muller saying, "I want to meet you and record your voice. When should I come?"Max Muller who had great respect for Edison asked him to come on a suitable time when most of the scholars of the Europe would be gathering in England.
Accordingly, Edison took a ship and went to England. He was introduced to the audience. All cheered Edison's presence. Later at the request of Edison,Max Muller came on the stage and spoke in front of the instrument. Then Edison went back to his laboratory and by afternoon came back with a disc. He played the gramophone disc from his instrument. The audience was thrilled to hear the voice of Max Muller from the instrument. They were glad that voices of greatpersons like Max Muller could be stored for the benefit of posterity.
After several rounds of applause and congratulations to ThomasAlva Edison, Max Muller came to the stage and addressed the scholars and asked them, "You heard my original voice in the morning. Then you heard the same voice coming out from this instrument in the afternoon. Did you understand what I said in the morning or what you heard this afternoon?"
The audience fell silent because they could not understand the language in which Max Muller had spoken. It was `Greek and Latin' to them as they say. But had it been Greek or Latin, they would have definitely understood because they were from various parts of Europe. It was in a language which the European scholars had never heard.
Max Muller then explained what he had spoken. He said that the language he spoke was Sanskrit and it was the first sloka of Rig Veda, which says "AgniMeele Purohitam." This was the first recorded public version on the gramophone plate.
Why did Max Muller choose this? Addressing the audience he said, "Vedas are the oldest text of the human race. And Agni Meele Purohitam is the first verse of Rig Veda. In the most primordial time, when the people did not know how even to cover their bodies and lived by hunting and housed in caves, Indians had attained high civilization and they gave the world universal philosophies in the form of the Vedas."
Such is the illustrious legacy of our country!
When "Agni Meele Purohitam" was replayed the entire audience stood upin silence as a mark of respect for the ancient Hindu sages.
This verse means:
"Oh Agni, You who gleam in the darkness, To You we come day by day,with devotion and bearing homage. So be of easy access to us, Agni, as a father to his son, abide with us for our well being."
VANDE MAATHARAM!
All Glories to the Vedas & All the Rishees & all the great ones of our Mother India.
Jai Hindh!
Wednesday, February 01, 2012
Realizing God
Here is a thought to understand the presence of God ! Let us pray and have His Bliss !
block quote
PLEASE READ BELOW MESSAGE BY PREMA PANDURANGAJI.
19 Dec 2010
KOCHI: Once a month, Prema Pandurang, the renowned preacher of
Hinduism, goes to the Sri Venkateswara temple at Tirupati. One day,
while she was standing in the queue, she noticed that the chairman of
the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam was sitting in the VIP enclosure
which is placed very near the Lord.
“I told myself, ‘You have to be a chairman to sit in that place,’”
says Premaji. “I am just a preacher.” Ten minutes after the chairman
left, suddenly a priest held Premaji’s hand, pulled her from the queue
and made her sit exactly where the chairman had sat! “It was a
miracle,” she says. “Lord Venkateswara had heard my thoughts. I tell
my devotees, ‘Send a SMS to the Lord and if you don’t get a reply, I
will give up preaching.’ The Lord is not like a telephone operator
busy with other lines. He is always there for you.”
At the temple, she says, one can experience powerful positive
vibrations which grip you. “You forget your wife, husband, children,
friends and relatives,” says Premaji. “You are moving towards the Lord
and you feel that He is pulling you towards Him. This is the
experience of everybody.” When asked for a proof of God’s existence,
Premaji says that once Mahatma Gandhi was questioned by a reporter
about whether he believed in God. When he replied in the affirmative,
the reporter asked, “Can you prove His existence?” The Mahatma
replied, “No, I cannot prove it. But to me, He is more present in this
room than you.”
Premaji smiles and continues. “Just ask God to give you evidence and
he will do so. But the thirst to know God should be there. Soon you
will see miracles taking place in your life.”
She recounts one such occurrence. On May 23, 1991, at Sriperumbadur,
two days after Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi had been assassinated, a
Guruvayurappa temple was going to be inaugurated. The Namboodiri
priest had come all the way from Guruvayur to conduct the puja. To
begin the prayers he needed flowers. “I said, ‘Swamiji, where can I
get flowers now?’ There is a curfew in the city. All the shops are
closed. The army is patrolling the streets.” The priest said that he
could not begin without flowers.
Suddenly, Premaji’s close friend, Krishnakumar Warrier of Ayurveda
Pharmacy, said, “Why don’t you pray to the Lord?” Premaji followed
Krishnakumar’s advice and sat in front of an idol of Lord Krishna. She
told the Lord, “I am a very small person. This is the first temple I
have built. Is there not a single flower that I can offer to you?”
A few minutes later, when Premaji stepped out of the puja room, a
villager came up and said, “Amma, do you want flowers?” Two staff
members went with him in a jeep and returned with 500 lotuses. The
Namboodiri priest said, “I have not seen so many flowers in Guruvayur
itself.”
Premaji pauses and says, “How can you not believe in God? In my
speeches, I want people to realise that this mighty power is within us
and yet we are not making use of it. You are not able to access God
because you don’t desire it. You are running after worldly pleasures.
There is nothing wrong with that but always remember that these are
the gifts from God. People tend to focus on the gifts and not the
giver.”
Premaji gives an example. “A mother buys a doll for her child,” she
says. “The daughter is so busy hugging the doll that she has forgotten
to thank the mother for the gift. So please remember God at all
times.”
source:
http://expressbuzz.com/cities/kochi/%E2%80%98remember-god-at-all-times%E2%80%99/232654.html
block quote
PLEASE READ BELOW MESSAGE BY PREMA PANDURANGAJI.
19 Dec 2010
KOCHI: Once a month, Prema Pandurang, the renowned preacher of
Hinduism, goes to the Sri Venkateswara temple at Tirupati. One day,
while she was standing in the queue, she noticed that the chairman of
the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam was sitting in the VIP enclosure
which is placed very near the Lord.
“I told myself, ‘You have to be a chairman to sit in that place,’”
says Premaji. “I am just a preacher.” Ten minutes after the chairman
left, suddenly a priest held Premaji’s hand, pulled her from the queue
and made her sit exactly where the chairman had sat! “It was a
miracle,” she says. “Lord Venkateswara had heard my thoughts. I tell
my devotees, ‘Send a SMS to the Lord and if you don’t get a reply, I
will give up preaching.’ The Lord is not like a telephone operator
busy with other lines. He is always there for you.”
At the temple, she says, one can experience powerful positive
vibrations which grip you. “You forget your wife, husband, children,
friends and relatives,” says Premaji. “You are moving towards the Lord
and you feel that He is pulling you towards Him. This is the
experience of everybody.” When asked for a proof of God’s existence,
Premaji says that once Mahatma Gandhi was questioned by a reporter
about whether he believed in God. When he replied in the affirmative,
the reporter asked, “Can you prove His existence?” The Mahatma
replied, “No, I cannot prove it. But to me, He is more present in this
room than you.”
Premaji smiles and continues. “Just ask God to give you evidence and
he will do so. But the thirst to know God should be there. Soon you
will see miracles taking place in your life.”
She recounts one such occurrence. On May 23, 1991, at Sriperumbadur,
two days after Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi had been assassinated, a
Guruvayurappa temple was going to be inaugurated. The Namboodiri
priest had come all the way from Guruvayur to conduct the puja. To
begin the prayers he needed flowers. “I said, ‘Swamiji, where can I
get flowers now?’ There is a curfew in the city. All the shops are
closed. The army is patrolling the streets.” The priest said that he
could not begin without flowers.
Suddenly, Premaji’s close friend, Krishnakumar Warrier of Ayurveda
Pharmacy, said, “Why don’t you pray to the Lord?” Premaji followed
Krishnakumar’s advice and sat in front of an idol of Lord Krishna. She
told the Lord, “I am a very small person. This is the first temple I
have built. Is there not a single flower that I can offer to you?”
A few minutes later, when Premaji stepped out of the puja room, a
villager came up and said, “Amma, do you want flowers?” Two staff
members went with him in a jeep and returned with 500 lotuses. The
Namboodiri priest said, “I have not seen so many flowers in Guruvayur
itself.”
Premaji pauses and says, “How can you not believe in God? In my
speeches, I want people to realise that this mighty power is within us
and yet we are not making use of it. You are not able to access God
because you don’t desire it. You are running after worldly pleasures.
There is nothing wrong with that but always remember that these are
the gifts from God. People tend to focus on the gifts and not the
giver.”
Premaji gives an example. “A mother buys a doll for her child,” she
says. “The daughter is so busy hugging the doll that she has forgotten
to thank the mother for the gift. So please remember God at all
times.”
source:
http://expressbuzz.com/cities/kochi/%E2%80%98remember-god-at-all-times%E2%80%99/232654.html
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Pretension Results in Pain
There is a famous quote that the *grass appears greener on the other side*.
So we always have a tendency to compare our position with others and to
imitate to be like them. But the reality is when we try to imitate others,
we would not be able to sustain the show also for a long time.
In this regard, we may find an interesting small story about a donkey and a dhobi. The
donkey had to carry loads of clothes every day for his master. He was very
bored with his tiresome daily routine and always thought that the animals
in the forest are very lucky as they were roaming freely all day and did
not have to do any hard work like him. He felt that among all the wild
animals, animals like lions and tigers are the most luckiest as every other
animal in the forest are afraid of them. He yearned to become a tiger. So
one night when the dhobi was fast asleep, he left for the forest. As soon
as he entered the forest, he started enjoying the chill breeze and was very
elated about his new life there. To his surprise he came across the skin of
a dead tiger. He considered himself very lucky and quickly got into that
skin. And now as he walked in the forest, even the smaller animals started
fleeing away from him, thinking that he is a tiger. Pleased by this
experience, the donkey decided to have some fun with the villagers and his
master as well. So he went back to the village and everyone, including the
dhobi started running away as soon as they saw him. The donkey felt
very happy and soon he reached the master's house. The place and
surroundings were very familiar to him and he felt 'at home'. Soon he saw
the fresh juicy grass in the garden and started relishing it. And out of
joy he started braying loudly. The dhobi realised that it was the sound of
his lost donkey and when he peeped out of his window, he was surprised to
see tiger eating grass. Not realising that he is being watched, the donkey
brayed again and then the dhobi started beating him with a stick and the
tiger skin fell-off and the donkey got exposed.
The moral of the story is that we should not artificially try to be what we
are not. Posing before others for cheap adoration and power is cheating.
Such pretension results in pain. So it is better to be ourselves than to
pretend. In Bhagavad Gita verse 3.6 Lord Krishna says,
*karmendriyaani samyamya / ya aaste manasaa smaran
indriyaarthaan vimudhaatma / mityaacarah sa ucyate*
"*One who restrains the senses of action but whose mind dwells on sense
objects certainly deludes himself and is called a pretender.*"
This wonderful story is taken from the mailing list
All Glories to God!
Friday, January 06, 2012
CLEAN AND UNCLEAN
This is a very nice story!
I pray God not to give me such fault finding nature for ever. Let me blame myself for All my mistakes, & let me have the quality of appreciating others for even their smallest goodness.
All Glories to God!
Once a lady in a house saw her new neighbour hang the clothes for drying
through her window. She thought for herself that her neighbour is very
dirty and is not washing the clothes properly, as the hung clothes had
stain and dirt even after washing. She observed the same for months
together, and thus nick named her new neighbor as 'The Unclean lady'. Then
suddenly one fine day, she found the clothes of her neighbour sparkling
bright, and immediately reported the same to her husband. Her husband just
smiled at her. When the wife wanted to know the reason for his smile, he
simply replied, "It's only today that I have cleaned our glass windows
after a long time. So you are able to see through it clearly now."
Same is the case with us. We have so many dirt accumulated within us, and
instead of purifying ourselves first, we constantly try to find fault in
others.
I pray God not to give me such fault finding nature for ever. Let me blame myself for All my mistakes, & let me have the quality of appreciating others for even their smallest goodness.
All Glories to God!
Wednesday, January 04, 2012
For the visually challenged, internet opens up a new world
This Article has reference about me. This was published in Deccan Herald on Wednesday, Jan 4th, 2012, in Panorama
For the visually challenged, internet opens up a new world
L Subramani
For several persons with vision challenge, the internet is the gateway to a brave new world.
So, have they forgotten the raised dots, which Louis Braille -- whose 203rd birthday falls today, January 4 -- invented? Not really, but the computer has
opened up umpteen opportunities which did not exist before.
Every day, Vijayalakshmi (25) opens her personal computer with a reverence only accorded for ‘Thamburas’ and Harmoniums in her line of work. As the synthesized
voice of her screen reader rambles on at the background, she locates the icon she wanted on the desktop and presses the ‘enter’ key hard on it. With a
‘wooop’ sound, the world of Voice Over IP (VOIP), better known amongst the ardent net users as ‘Skype’ opens up.
Skype is worth the hype for several visually challenged persons like Vijayalakshmi, as it has become the lifeline –the way to use their expertise and earn
a livelihood. “I have been doing this for more than three years,” says Vijayalakshmi, the Bangalore-based Carnatic musician who uses Skype to teach nearly
a dozen students, most of whom are NRIs abroad.
“I can’t imagine living without Skype, or, for that matter, without the internet. Not only it turns out to be a wonderful medium for us to expand our professional
and business horizons, but it is also an amazing source of learning. YouTube, for instance, has so many videos (related to music) which I refer to learn.
As visually challenged, we may not be accessing the content in any other method or format.”
While students get in touch with her through Skype to receive their voice lessons, they transfer the fee to her account, sparing Vijayalakshmi the arduous
trips outside home or standing in the long queues to deposit her earnings.
Similarly, there are several thousands of persons with vision challenge who use the net to teach spoken English, creating web content and do medical transcription,
which would have made Louis Braille proud.
Ten years ago, internet was merely a tool for learning and exchanging emails. It had since evolved into a huge social medium that connects the blind with
several professional groups and provide them the best opportunity to earn exposing only their advantages. Many of the visually challenged have formed professional
and interest based groups in Facebook, while others have also taken advantage of Linkedin.
“In the last few years, web accessibility has become an important feature for any website,” said Akhilesh Malani, who works as an accessibility head for
an online start-up offering testing services.
Several tools
“We test for the website’s ability to function with several tools –like the screen reading software the blind use- to ensure they can be used by everyone
without feeling disadvantaged in any way. Thanks to the internet, I, as a visually challenged person, am able to pursue the rather difficult testing job
and continue to learn.”
It came as a scare for many of them, when the news emerged in August that government is targeting social networking platforms (Facebook, twitter and Skype)
to provide access to the user content. “(News of Skype being the target) came as a shock,” admits Maria Durrani, a visually challenged person from Mysore,
who does combined shows for a few online radio stations.
“We’re sure the government has several issues with social networking sites,” said Akhilesh. “things like terror threats, objectionable contents etc, were
on the papers even a few days ago. We’ve nothing against the government taking action against genuine offenders, but at a time when the options of finding
accessible websites (especially those developed for Indians) is pathetically less, banning open and free sites would spell doom for many of us who depend
on them for survival and sanity.”
Despite admitting the vital role internet has come to play in their lives, the visually challenged also acknowledge the special place Braille scripts have
in their lives. “I know Braille, though I don’t use it much,” said Vijayalakshmi.
“We’re still curious about the history of Braille, the way it was invented (when young Louis became blind and created the first raised dots from a similar
set of military scripts used in French army). There’s always the inspiration in it, like how people look at the old typewriters and tele printers.”
“It’s the equivalent of writing long hand,” Maria pointed out. “We may not use it much, but we still find it useful in situations where we can’t use computers
or electronic gadgets.”
Like many habits and practices that evolve with generational changes, use of Braille seem to have reduced amongst the younger generation of visually challenged
who are used to working with computers and other electronic gadgets.
“Braille has its most prolific users amongst the 30 and 40 somethings,” said Dr Rajdeep Manwani, a professor with Bagwan Mahaveer Jain College in the city.
“Braille has certainly been adored by one and all (amongst the visually challenged community) for its simplicity and availability, but when it comes to
its application, it must be said that the younger generation prefer electronic gadgets for the dotted scripts. The fact that modern gadgets give them parity
with others –as computers are used by the visually challenged the same way as the able-bodied peers save for the screen reader—certainly influence their
decision.”
Here is the link:
http://www.deccanherald.com/content/216568/for-visually-challenged-internet-opens.html
All glories to God!
For the visually challenged, internet opens up a new world
L Subramani
For several persons with vision challenge, the internet is the gateway to a brave new world.
So, have they forgotten the raised dots, which Louis Braille -- whose 203rd birthday falls today, January 4 -- invented? Not really, but the computer has
opened up umpteen opportunities which did not exist before.
Every day, Vijayalakshmi (25) opens her personal computer with a reverence only accorded for ‘Thamburas’ and Harmoniums in her line of work. As the synthesized
voice of her screen reader rambles on at the background, she locates the icon she wanted on the desktop and presses the ‘enter’ key hard on it. With a
‘wooop’ sound, the world of Voice Over IP (VOIP), better known amongst the ardent net users as ‘Skype’ opens up.
Skype is worth the hype for several visually challenged persons like Vijayalakshmi, as it has become the lifeline –the way to use their expertise and earn
a livelihood. “I have been doing this for more than three years,” says Vijayalakshmi, the Bangalore-based Carnatic musician who uses Skype to teach nearly
a dozen students, most of whom are NRIs abroad.
“I can’t imagine living without Skype, or, for that matter, without the internet. Not only it turns out to be a wonderful medium for us to expand our professional
and business horizons, but it is also an amazing source of learning. YouTube, for instance, has so many videos (related to music) which I refer to learn.
As visually challenged, we may not be accessing the content in any other method or format.”
While students get in touch with her through Skype to receive their voice lessons, they transfer the fee to her account, sparing Vijayalakshmi the arduous
trips outside home or standing in the long queues to deposit her earnings.
Similarly, there are several thousands of persons with vision challenge who use the net to teach spoken English, creating web content and do medical transcription,
which would have made Louis Braille proud.
Ten years ago, internet was merely a tool for learning and exchanging emails. It had since evolved into a huge social medium that connects the blind with
several professional groups and provide them the best opportunity to earn exposing only their advantages. Many of the visually challenged have formed professional
and interest based groups in Facebook, while others have also taken advantage of Linkedin.
“In the last few years, web accessibility has become an important feature for any website,” said Akhilesh Malani, who works as an accessibility head for
an online start-up offering testing services.
Several tools
“We test for the website’s ability to function with several tools –like the screen reading software the blind use- to ensure they can be used by everyone
without feeling disadvantaged in any way. Thanks to the internet, I, as a visually challenged person, am able to pursue the rather difficult testing job
and continue to learn.”
It came as a scare for many of them, when the news emerged in August that government is targeting social networking platforms (Facebook, twitter and Skype)
to provide access to the user content. “(News of Skype being the target) came as a shock,” admits Maria Durrani, a visually challenged person from Mysore,
who does combined shows for a few online radio stations.
“We’re sure the government has several issues with social networking sites,” said Akhilesh. “things like terror threats, objectionable contents etc, were
on the papers even a few days ago. We’ve nothing against the government taking action against genuine offenders, but at a time when the options of finding
accessible websites (especially those developed for Indians) is pathetically less, banning open and free sites would spell doom for many of us who depend
on them for survival and sanity.”
Despite admitting the vital role internet has come to play in their lives, the visually challenged also acknowledge the special place Braille scripts have
in their lives. “I know Braille, though I don’t use it much,” said Vijayalakshmi.
“We’re still curious about the history of Braille, the way it was invented (when young Louis became blind and created the first raised dots from a similar
set of military scripts used in French army). There’s always the inspiration in it, like how people look at the old typewriters and tele printers.”
“It’s the equivalent of writing long hand,” Maria pointed out. “We may not use it much, but we still find it useful in situations where we can’t use computers
or electronic gadgets.”
Like many habits and practices that evolve with generational changes, use of Braille seem to have reduced amongst the younger generation of visually challenged
who are used to working with computers and other electronic gadgets.
“Braille has its most prolific users amongst the 30 and 40 somethings,” said Dr Rajdeep Manwani, a professor with Bagwan Mahaveer Jain College in the city.
“Braille has certainly been adored by one and all (amongst the visually challenged community) for its simplicity and availability, but when it comes to
its application, it must be said that the younger generation prefer electronic gadgets for the dotted scripts. The fact that modern gadgets give them parity
with others –as computers are used by the visually challenged the same way as the able-bodied peers save for the screen reader—certainly influence their
decision.”
Here is the link:
http://www.deccanherald.com/content/216568/for-visually-challenged-internet-opens.html
All glories to God!
Sunday, January 01, 2012
THE COMPLETE VANDEMAATARAM
During the first week of August 2011, I received a call from Aksharam (Bangalore office of Samskritha bhaarathi in Girinagar), to sing Vandamaatharam on the day of ‘Bhaaratha maatha pooja’, which was on August 13th 2011.
Surprisingly, they wanted me to sing the complete version of the song, which I wasn’t aware of. From the schooldays, we were taught to sing up to “shubhra jyotsnaam…” paragraph. But, I explored on the net & found 4 more paragraphs apart from the 3 I already knew.
Then I learnt it in full & sang on the event in the raga Desh & Eka tala. That was a very great & unique learning experience for me.
Below is the complete lyrics & meaning of Vande Maatharam.
Vande maataraM
sujalaaM suphalaaM malayaja shiitalaaM
SasyashyaamalaaM maataram ||
Shubhrajyotsnaa pulakitayaaminiiM
pullakusumita drumadala shobhiniiM
suhaasiniiM sumadhura bhaashhiNiiM
sukhadaaM varadaaM maataraM ||
Koti koti kantha kalakalaninaada karaale
koti koti bhujairdhRutha kharakaravaale
kepale maa tumee apale
bahubaladhaariNiiM namaami taariNiiM
ripudalavaariNiiM maataraM ||
Tumi vidyaa tumi dharma
tumi hR^idi tumi marma
tvaM hi praaNaaH shariire
Baahute tumi maa shakti
hR^idaye tumi maa bhakti
tomaara i pratimaa gaDi
mandire mandire ||
TvaM hi durgaa dashapraharaNadhaariNii
kamalaa kamaladala vihaariNii
vaaNii vidyaadaayinii namaami tvaaM
Namaami kamalaaM amalaaM atulaaM
SujalaaM suphalaaM maataraM ||
ShyaamalaaM saralaaM susmitaaM bhuushhitaaM
DharaNiiM bharaNiiM maataraM |"
Translation by Shree Aurobindo
Mother, I bow to thee!
Rich with thy hurrying streams,
bright with orchard gleams,
Cool with thy winds of delight,
Dark fields waving Mother of might,
Mother free.
Glory of moonlight dreams,
Over thy branches and lordly streams,
Clad in thy blossoming trees,
Mother, giver of ease
Laughing low and sweet!
Mother I kiss thy feet,
Speaker sweet and low!
Mother, to thee I bow.
Who hath said thou art weak in thy lands
When the sword flesh out in the seventy million hands
And seventy million voices roar
Thy dreadful name from shore to shore?
With many strengths who art mighty and stored,
To thee I call Mother and Lord!
Though who savest, arise and save!
To her I cry who ever her foeman drove
Back from plain and Sea
And shook herself free.
Thou art wisdom, thou art law,
Thou art heart, our soul, our breath
Though art love divine, the awe
In our hearts that conquers death.
Thine the strength that nervs the arm,
Thine the beauty, thine the charm.
Every image made divine
In our temples is but thine.
Thou art Durga, Lady and Queen,
With her hands that strike and her
swords of sheen,
Thou art Lakshmi lotus-throned,
And the Muse a hundred-toned,
Pure and perfect without peer,
Mother lend thine ear,
Rich with thy hurrying streams,
Bright with thy orchard gleems,
Dark of hue O candid-fair
In thy soul, with jewelled hair
And thy glorious smile divine,
Lovilest of all earthly lands,
Showering wealth from well-stored hands!
Mother, mother mine!
Mother sweet, I bow to thee,
Mother great and free!
Jai Hindh!
All Glories to God!
Surprisingly, they wanted me to sing the complete version of the song, which I wasn’t aware of. From the schooldays, we were taught to sing up to “shubhra jyotsnaam…” paragraph. But, I explored on the net & found 4 more paragraphs apart from the 3 I already knew.
Then I learnt it in full & sang on the event in the raga Desh & Eka tala. That was a very great & unique learning experience for me.
Below is the complete lyrics & meaning of Vande Maatharam.
Vande maataraM
sujalaaM suphalaaM malayaja shiitalaaM
SasyashyaamalaaM maataram ||
Shubhrajyotsnaa pulakitayaaminiiM
pullakusumita drumadala shobhiniiM
suhaasiniiM sumadhura bhaashhiNiiM
sukhadaaM varadaaM maataraM ||
Koti koti kantha kalakalaninaada karaale
koti koti bhujairdhRutha kharakaravaale
kepale maa tumee apale
bahubaladhaariNiiM namaami taariNiiM
ripudalavaariNiiM maataraM ||
Tumi vidyaa tumi dharma
tumi hR^idi tumi marma
tvaM hi praaNaaH shariire
Baahute tumi maa shakti
hR^idaye tumi maa bhakti
tomaara i pratimaa gaDi
mandire mandire ||
TvaM hi durgaa dashapraharaNadhaariNii
kamalaa kamaladala vihaariNii
vaaNii vidyaadaayinii namaami tvaaM
Namaami kamalaaM amalaaM atulaaM
SujalaaM suphalaaM maataraM ||
ShyaamalaaM saralaaM susmitaaM bhuushhitaaM
DharaNiiM bharaNiiM maataraM |"
Translation by Shree Aurobindo
Mother, I bow to thee!
Rich with thy hurrying streams,
bright with orchard gleams,
Cool with thy winds of delight,
Dark fields waving Mother of might,
Mother free.
Glory of moonlight dreams,
Over thy branches and lordly streams,
Clad in thy blossoming trees,
Mother, giver of ease
Laughing low and sweet!
Mother I kiss thy feet,
Speaker sweet and low!
Mother, to thee I bow.
Who hath said thou art weak in thy lands
When the sword flesh out in the seventy million hands
And seventy million voices roar
Thy dreadful name from shore to shore?
With many strengths who art mighty and stored,
To thee I call Mother and Lord!
Though who savest, arise and save!
To her I cry who ever her foeman drove
Back from plain and Sea
And shook herself free.
Thou art wisdom, thou art law,
Thou art heart, our soul, our breath
Though art love divine, the awe
In our hearts that conquers death.
Thine the strength that nervs the arm,
Thine the beauty, thine the charm.
Every image made divine
In our temples is but thine.
Thou art Durga, Lady and Queen,
With her hands that strike and her
swords of sheen,
Thou art Lakshmi lotus-throned,
And the Muse a hundred-toned,
Pure and perfect without peer,
Mother lend thine ear,
Rich with thy hurrying streams,
Bright with thy orchard gleems,
Dark of hue O candid-fair
In thy soul, with jewelled hair
And thy glorious smile divine,
Lovilest of all earthly lands,
Showering wealth from well-stored hands!
Mother, mother mine!
Mother sweet, I bow to thee,
Mother great and free!
Jai Hindh!
All Glories to God!
Sunday, December 25, 2011
A SPIRITUAL INVESTMENT
Making financial investments is a crucial requirement nowadays for everyone
considering the unsteady economic conditions now. We try to invest our
money in bank, in the form of saving certificates, insurance or pension
policies. Insurance policies are meant to provide financial assistance to
our families after we die/after policy maturity. Also we invest in
houses/real estate so that our dependants can enjoy these assets even after
we leave this world/ make use of the asset for their living. But
unfortunately, there is no investment/insurance scheme offered by banks or
insurance companies, which will accompany us after we die. The scriptures
point out the spiritual investment we can make in this connection and this
investment will protect us even after death.
In the Mahabharata, Vidura instructs Dhrtarashtra about handing over the
kingdom back to the Pandavas. Their conversation lasted for an entire night
and this is popularly known as Vidura Niti. In this section, Mahatma Vidura
explains how one should perform activities in this world in the following
sloka in Mahabharata Udyoga Parva.
*divasenaiva tat kuryaad yena raatrau sukham vaset
ashta maasena tat kuryaad yena varshaah sukham vaset
purve vayasi tat kuryaad yena vriddhasukham vaset
yaavat jivena tat kuryaad yena pretya sukham vaset
*
"*Do those activities during the day, which will make you to pass the night
in happiness; and do those activities during eight months of the year,
which will enable you to pass the rainy season happily. Do those activities
during youth which will ensure a happy old age; and do those activities
during your life in this world, which will enable you to achieve eternal
life after death*."
There is an interesting story in this regard. A beggar entered into a
foreign country (island) where he was resting under a tree. The people of
the island were looking for a person to be their king. The priests in the
island arranged for an elephant in the temple to carry a garland and
whoever is garlanded by the elephant would be the king. The elephant chose
the beggar and garlanded him and he became the king. He was quiet happy to
see the opulent palaces with all arrangements for nice arrangements and
everyone at his beck and call. At that time an old man came to him and
said, "See young man, the rule of this island is that you can be the king
here only for 5 years. After this, the people will send you to an unmanned
island which is far from here. This same fate happened to all kings who
were selected before you. So all of the enjoyment you have here is
temporary." The king became shocked and enquired,"What happened to those
kings who were sent to that island?". The old man replied, "There is lot of
wild animals in that island. So they might have killed them. Same will be
your fate after 5 years." The king was scared and asked the old man what to
do. The old man said, "Please rule the kingdom to the best of your ability
and at the same time start doing developments in that island where you will
be sent after 5 years. In these 5 years the people will listen to you and
carry out whatever you say. Please utilize it. Ensure that the island is a
perfect place to live by that time. I instructed the same thing to the
previous kings. No one listened to me and they wailed away the 5 years
enjoying the kingly life. At least you don’t repeat that mistake." The king
took this instruction seriously and he first sent a batch of soldiers to
clear out the forest area and fence it. Then in the second year he sent
workers to the island to construct a beautiful township with all
facilities. Then in the next year he sent farmers to create fields and
growing crops. In the next year he sent a good number of people to live
there. In this way he was making constant developments in the unmanned
island. As expected, the people expelled the king and send him to the
unmanned island. But by this time, the island was a beautiful township and
many people were waiting to receive him. The king just landed their and
started his new life happily thanks to the old man's advice.
In this story we can see that the king utilized his temporary tenure very
wisely under the guidance of the old man. In the same way after attaining
the human form of life, one should make this spiritual investment under the
guidance of the pure devotees of the Lord, since the human body with all
the senses and faculty of advanced intelligence is very suitable for God
realization. When they're in good working condition if we engage them in
devotional service, we can accrue permanent spiritual assets which can take
us back to the Lord's eternal abode. Sometimes, the investment we make in
financial market may not give us the expected result. The stock market may
crash or the money we get from our investments may be lost in medical
treatment if we get a terminal disease. However there is no loss or
diminution of investment in this spiritual endeavor as the Lord personally
takes care of our spiritual advancement as stated in the Bhagavad Gita
(2.40).
*nehaabhikrama nasho’sti / pratyavaayo na vidyate
svalpam apyasya dharmasya / traayate mahato bhayaat
*
"*In this endeavor there is no loss or diminution, and a little advancement
on this path can protect one from the most dangerous type of fear*."
"SARVAM SHRI KRISHNAARPANAMASTHU"!
considering the unsteady economic conditions now. We try to invest our
money in bank, in the form of saving certificates, insurance or pension
policies. Insurance policies are meant to provide financial assistance to
our families after we die/after policy maturity. Also we invest in
houses/real estate so that our dependants can enjoy these assets even after
we leave this world/ make use of the asset for their living. But
unfortunately, there is no investment/insurance scheme offered by banks or
insurance companies, which will accompany us after we die. The scriptures
point out the spiritual investment we can make in this connection and this
investment will protect us even after death.
In the Mahabharata, Vidura instructs Dhrtarashtra about handing over the
kingdom back to the Pandavas. Their conversation lasted for an entire night
and this is popularly known as Vidura Niti. In this section, Mahatma Vidura
explains how one should perform activities in this world in the following
sloka in Mahabharata Udyoga Parva.
*divasenaiva tat kuryaad yena raatrau sukham vaset
ashta maasena tat kuryaad yena varshaah sukham vaset
purve vayasi tat kuryaad yena vriddhasukham vaset
yaavat jivena tat kuryaad yena pretya sukham vaset
*
"*Do those activities during the day, which will make you to pass the night
in happiness; and do those activities during eight months of the year,
which will enable you to pass the rainy season happily. Do those activities
during youth which will ensure a happy old age; and do those activities
during your life in this world, which will enable you to achieve eternal
life after death*."
There is an interesting story in this regard. A beggar entered into a
foreign country (island) where he was resting under a tree. The people of
the island were looking for a person to be their king. The priests in the
island arranged for an elephant in the temple to carry a garland and
whoever is garlanded by the elephant would be the king. The elephant chose
the beggar and garlanded him and he became the king. He was quiet happy to
see the opulent palaces with all arrangements for nice arrangements and
everyone at his beck and call. At that time an old man came to him and
said, "See young man, the rule of this island is that you can be the king
here only for 5 years. After this, the people will send you to an unmanned
island which is far from here. This same fate happened to all kings who
were selected before you. So all of the enjoyment you have here is
temporary." The king became shocked and enquired,"What happened to those
kings who were sent to that island?". The old man replied, "There is lot of
wild animals in that island. So they might have killed them. Same will be
your fate after 5 years." The king was scared and asked the old man what to
do. The old man said, "Please rule the kingdom to the best of your ability
and at the same time start doing developments in that island where you will
be sent after 5 years. In these 5 years the people will listen to you and
carry out whatever you say. Please utilize it. Ensure that the island is a
perfect place to live by that time. I instructed the same thing to the
previous kings. No one listened to me and they wailed away the 5 years
enjoying the kingly life. At least you don’t repeat that mistake." The king
took this instruction seriously and he first sent a batch of soldiers to
clear out the forest area and fence it. Then in the second year he sent
workers to the island to construct a beautiful township with all
facilities. Then in the next year he sent farmers to create fields and
growing crops. In the next year he sent a good number of people to live
there. In this way he was making constant developments in the unmanned
island. As expected, the people expelled the king and send him to the
unmanned island. But by this time, the island was a beautiful township and
many people were waiting to receive him. The king just landed their and
started his new life happily thanks to the old man's advice.
In this story we can see that the king utilized his temporary tenure very
wisely under the guidance of the old man. In the same way after attaining
the human form of life, one should make this spiritual investment under the
guidance of the pure devotees of the Lord, since the human body with all
the senses and faculty of advanced intelligence is very suitable for God
realization. When they're in good working condition if we engage them in
devotional service, we can accrue permanent spiritual assets which can take
us back to the Lord's eternal abode. Sometimes, the investment we make in
financial market may not give us the expected result. The stock market may
crash or the money we get from our investments may be lost in medical
treatment if we get a terminal disease. However there is no loss or
diminution of investment in this spiritual endeavor as the Lord personally
takes care of our spiritual advancement as stated in the Bhagavad Gita
(2.40).
*nehaabhikrama nasho’sti / pratyavaayo na vidyate
svalpam apyasya dharmasya / traayate mahato bhayaat
*
"*In this endeavor there is no loss or diminution, and a little advancement
on this path can protect one from the most dangerous type of fear*."
"SARVAM SHRI KRISHNAARPANAMASTHU"!
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