Save Trees for Green Earth

Now a days, global warming is signaling a warning alarm to the whole globe. Increase in sea level, depletion of ozone layer which results in dangerous health problems, decrease in water level of rivers, ponds, wells etc.. are all just to name a few. To increase the greenery by planting more trees, several governments & organizations have come forward with Save Tree Campaigns. This is the present scenario; but what was it like in the past ? Again, as in every field, India had long before started campaigning for Green Earth. Yea, if one looks at the Upanishads, Vedas etc..it will be more clear. One will come across this hymn  “ten wells equal to one pond, ten ponds equal to one lake, ten lakes equals to one son, ten sons equal to one tree”  which shows the importance to have trees. Yet another hymn says “Oh Earth, whatever I take from you, let it sprout again at the earliest. Oh Holy, let me never break your heart”. One can see such innumerable hymns.

 

Another way which I feel very intelligible way of protecting birds, animals & trees is, by giving responsibility to each and every person to protect  and nurture it. That’s what our forefathers have done. They proposed a bird, an animal and a tree for each and every birth star ( Nakshathram ) to be taken care of. For eg… one who is born on star Aswathy is supposed to protect Pullu, Kuthira & Kanjiram which will in turn bring prosperity to him / her. How good an idea it was !!!!

 

Also, it was mentioned that each GOD / GODDESS loves particular flower. Hence for ‘poojas’ to particular GOD/GODESS, people are supposed to bring their particular flower.

 

So, all these Indian believes have a goal of maintaining environment healthy by protecting flowers, birds, animals and trees.

 

I could gather some info as to the Birthstar and related bird, animal and tree. Most of the names are in Malayalam as it is a difficult task to find out English names for all. If someone can help me getting it, you are most welcome to post comment.

 

Birth Star	Tree - In Malayalam	Animal	Bird
ASWATHY	Kanjiram	Horse ( Kuthira )	( Pullu )
BHARANI	Nelli	Elephant ( Aana )	( Pullu )
KARTHIKA	Atthi	Goat ( Aadu )	( Pullu )
ROHINI	Njaval	Snake ( Pambu )	( Pullu )
MAKAYIRAM	Karingali	Snake ( Pambu )	( Pullu )
THIRUVATHIRA	Karimaram	Dog ( Patti )	( Uppan )
PUNARTHAM	Mula	Cat ( Poocha )	( Uppan )
POOYAM	Arayal	Goat ( Aadu )	( Uppan )
AYILYAM	Nakam	Cat ( Poocha )	( Uppan )
MAKAM	Peral	Rat ( Eli )	( Uppan )
POORAM	Plashu	Rat ( Chundeli )	( Uppan )
UTRAM	Itthi	Camel ( Ottakam )	Crow ( Kakka )
ATHAM	Ambazham	Ox ( Pothu )	Crow ( Kakka )
CHITHIRA	Koovalam	Tiger ( Puli )	Crow ( Kakka )
CHOTHY	Neermaruthu	Buffalo ( Eruma )	Crow ( Kakka )
VISHAKAM	Vayankathavu	Lion ( Simham )	Crow ( Kakka )
ANIZHAM	Ilanji	Deer ( Maan )	Crow ( Kakka )
TRIKETTA	Vetti	( Kezhamaan )	Chicken ( Kozhi )
MOOLAM	Pine	Dog ( Patti )	Chicken ( Kozhi )
POORADAM	Vanji	Monkey ( Kurangu )	Chicken ( Kozhi )
UTHARADAM	Plavu	Bull ( Kaala )	Chicken ( Kozhi )
THIRUVONAM	Erikku	Monkey ( Kurangu )	Chicken ( Kozhi )
AVITTAM	Vanni	( Nallal )	Peacock ( Mayil )
CHATHAYAM	Kadambu	Horse ( Kuthira )	Peacock ( Mayil )
PURURUTTATHY	Thenmavu	Human ( Manushyan )	Peacock ( Mayil )
UTHRITTATHY	Karimpana	Cow ( Pashu )	Peacock ( Mayil )
REVATHI	Irippa	Elephant ( Aana )	Peacock ( Mayil )

Battery

Agastya Muni was one among Saptarshis. Let me not go much into Saptarshis...you may 'google' it if you need to find out more. My point is ..Agastya is beleived to be author of Agastya Samhita. There's an interesting part in Agastya samhita which explain how to create a Battery !!! Yea it describes the procedure for creation of battery as : " Place copper plates in an earther pot, cover it with copper sulphate and wet saw dust. Spread zinc powder and cover it with mercury. Due to chemical reaction, + ve & - ve energy are created. The water is decomposed into oxygen and hydrogen " Well explained, isn't it ? This cell could create about 1.4v electricity. Because Agastya Muni couldn't present a paper on the same & take a patent, all credit for invention of battery goes to Mr.xxx :)

We Indians taught everyone free of charge. Same techniques were sold to us at a later period for huge amount.

Christmas & India

Many would think what has Christmas to do with India. As Christmas is related to Jesus’s birth, it is very much related to India. Still confused ?? OK..Let me explain. Holy book of Christians ( Holy Bible ) says 3 kings from the east went to see infant Jesus, offered gifts & worshipped him. Not much description about these kings was given in the Bible. But it states clearly “we have seen the star & came to worship him”. Who at that time ( 2000 years back )was looking at stars for signs; other than Indians. To be Specific; Indian Astrologers. We know that India had developed a good portion of astrology. Indian astrologers were really very efficient & could predict things from observing stars & their positions. So, there’s a 99% of chance that atleast 1 among 3 wise men was an Indian. Moreover, there’s a place in Kerala known by name “Piravom” which  somewhat means “birth”. Pazhoor padipura is a temple in Piravom which is believed to be nearly 1800 years old & astrologers here are well known. Still people from all over the state and country visit the astrologers in Pazhoor padipura. Rajadhiraja St. Mary's Syrian Orthodox Cathedral (old name, Piravom Valiya Palli), situated in Piravom is also believed to be 1900 years old. It’s popularly known as “Church of the Kings” ( Mostly 3 wise men who went to see Infant Jesus ).

If one looks into history of Christmas Cake also, Indian history is connected. Around 16 th century AD, it became popular to make Christmas cakes ( boiled plum cakes ). These had dried fruits in season & spices .These represented the exotic spices of the East and the gifts of the wise men. Such things were first brought to Europe and Britain particularly, by the Crusaders coming back from the wars.

So, I hope now you can make sense of the title of my post :)

Rolls Royce vs Indian King

One day during his visit to London, Maharaja Umaid Singh of  Jodhpur was walking in casual dress in Bond Street. He saw a Rolls Royce showroom and went inside to inquire about the Price and Features etc of their cars.
Considering him  just another Poor Indian citizen, showroom salesmen insulted him and almost showed him the way out of the showroom. After this insult, Maharaja came back to his Hotel room and asked his secretary to call the showroom that King of  Jodhpur city is interested in purchasing their few Cars.

After few hours King reached the Rolls Royce showroom again but with his full astonishing royal manner and in his royal costume. Until he reached the showroom there was already red carpet on the floor and all the salesmen were bent with respect. The King purchased all the six cars that they had at showroom at that time and paid full amount with delivery costs.

After reaching India, King ordered municipal department to use all those six Rolls Royce cars for cleaning and transporting city’s waste. World’s number one Rolls Royce cars were being used for transportation of City’s waste, the news spread all over the world rapidly and the reputation of Rolls Royce Company was in drains.

Whenever someone used to boast in Europe or America that he owned a Rolls Royce, people used to laugh saying, “which one? The same that is used in India for carrying the waste of the City?”

Due to such reputation damages, sales of Rolls Royce dropped rapidly and revenue of company owners started falling down. 

Then the Management of Rolls Royce ( top Manager ), flew to Jodhpur to meet the King of Jodhpur asking an appointment. The King, didn't grant his time unitl 3 days. At that time, there were no hotels in Jodhpur where the Manager of Rolls Royce could stay. Hence, he flew to Mumbai and stayed there. On third day, he flew back to Jodhpur and met the King. Manager asked the King for pardon and asked if the King would return the Rolls Royce cars to the company. Now, the ball was in the King's court. He put forward 3 conditions for return of the cars to the company. Condition 1: The Manager has to write an apology to the King for their act and has to promise the King no Indian would be treated badly in future. Condition 2: Company has to pay the King 3 times purchase price if the King has to return the cars(eg.if the King bought the car for Rs.1 Lakh, company has to pay him Rs.3 Lakhs to buy back the car ). Condition 3: An Exclusive Car to be made only for the King and no replica of the same car to be available in the world. Manager of Rolls Royce agreed on all 3 conditions of the King. The Exclusive Model Rolls Royce is on display even now in Jodhpur and is still in driving condition.

He is also famous to be known as the first Indian to own an aircraft and a pilot license.

Source: from former private secretary of the Royal Family.

Natyashastra & Classical Dances of India

Unlike other forms of dance from all over the world, what differntiates Indian classical dance is, the spiritual side of it. While some of them tells us the stories of 'Devis', 'Devas', some tells us how to please God. When most forms of dance from other parts of the world is merely for entertainment / leisure, Indian classical dances is all about Spiritual need of every human being.

Natyashastra is the most detail and elaborate of all treatises on dramatic criticism and acting ever written in any language and is regarded as the oldest surviving text on stagecraft in the world. Written by the great dramatist of ancient India, Bharata, Natyashastra is reckoned as the poetics of Indian drama.The background of Natyashastra is framed in a situation where a number of munis approach Bharata to know about the secrets of Natyaveda. The answer to this question comprises the rest of the book. It is also a text of drama. The whole text is in the form of dialogue and various forms of enactments, gestures, music etc. have been visually presented to its readers or more appropriately to its viewers.

Bharathanatyam is perphaps the oldest among the contemporary classical dance forms of India, which arouse somewhere around 500 BC. Bharatanatyam is thought to have created by Bharata Muni, who wrote the Natya Shastra. It is said to be originated in Thanjavoor of Tamil Nadu. This dance form cannot be adequately danced by anyone without reverence for technique and for spiritual life. It is an art that lifts one from temporal to eternal values. The intimate association of dance with religion and as a ritual, a form of worship in the temples is well established.

Sangeet Natak Academy confers classical status on eight Indian dance styles. They are :

Bharatanatyam - Tamil Classical Dance

Odissi - Orissa Classical Dance

Kuchipudi - Telugu Classical Dance

Manipuri - Manipur Classical Dance

Mohiniaattam - Kerala Classical Dance

Sattriya - Assamese Classical Dance

Kathakali - Kerala Classical Dance

Kathak - North Indian Classical Dance

 

Yet Another Set of Info

Science We Indians Knew thousands of years back !!!

Lecture by Dr. N. GopalaKrishnan,Scientist and Director,
Indian Institute of Scientific Heritage - Not Just Awesome ; but far beyond that ...