Peaceful Realm Prevailed In India

Chandra Gupta II ( AD 376 - 415 ) became the sovereign King of almost all of Northern India and even some parts of present day Andhra Pradesh were under his influence. Kalidasa, greatest of India's poets and dramatist is traditionally associated with King Vikramadithya ( most probably another name of Chandra Gupta II ). It is during his reign that India reached it's zenithal stage of prosperity and happiness. This can be accounted from words of a Chinese Travellor - Fa hsien. He was a Chinese monk who came to India to obtain authentic copies of Buddhist Scriptures. He was in India for almost 6 years, travelling the length and breadth of India. He did note the peacefulness of India, rarity of serious crimes and the smoothness of administration. He stated that one could travel all over India without molestation and no documents were needed for travelling. People had great respect to each other and most of them were vegetarians.


At this time, India was perhaps the happiest and most civilized region in the world. ( Roman empire was nearing its final stage, China was passing through a period of troubles between 2 great periods of the Hans and T'angs )

Naval Conquest of Indian Kings

Its remarkable to say that our Kings were very good at Naval Expeditions too. King Raja Raja Chola ( AD 985 - 1014 ) & King Rajendra Chola (  AD 1014 - 1042 ) were regarded as the best Naval Expeditors ever. And yes, our Kings didn't just want to conquer some countries & ruthlessly loot them ( Conquest & looting was the practice of the Kings of rest of the world ). Our Kings were actually defending their subjects from the piratical activities of the Indonesian Kings ( ? ) who interfered with the flourishing trade between South India & China. Parts of Burma, Malaya & Sumatra were conquered.   Imagine the resources we had almost a 1000 years back to travel all the way by sea with all those troops, that also for the benefit of their subjects. Truly GREAT KINGS !!!!!

Recently I came across another interesting fact about the Chola Kings. They were not only great in expeditions, but also in maintaining their kingdoms. They had a council where people were elected. This council had a say in main decisions made by the king ( Democracy ?? ). Please find the image which says of qualifications and disqualifications for a candidate.

Plastic Surgery

So while checking as to who did first plastic surgery, google gives different answers. Some say in 1917, a British sailor - Walter Yeo is the first person to have undergone plastic surgery.

But in reality, during 6 th century BC, Susruta is believed to have undertaken Plastic Surgeries. He had contributed a lot towards Ayurveda - Indian medication.

British physicians traveled to India to see plastic surgeries being performed by native methods. Reports on Indian plastic surgery performed by a man named Kumar Vaidya were published in the Gentlemans's Magazine in 1794. Joseph Constantine Carpue spent 20 years in India to study these local plastic surgery methods. Joseph was able to perform the first major surgery in the western world (to be specific, in England) by 1815. Later, in Europe it became known as "Carpue's Operation".

( Below is added on 21 Jan 2015 )

"Sushruta was the first medical person to use leeches in medical treatment. In the last two decades, the FDA of United States has accepted leeches as a medical device,"- Dr Ashwin Sawant said during a symposium at the ISC ( Indian Science Congress ). "A drilled tooth dating back 7,000 ( BC 5000 ) years was found at a place now in Pakistan" - he quoted.
"Sushruta was the first to say that the human heart is the centre of the body's circulation system. However, we give credit to William Harvey for the discovery of the circulation of blood" - he added.

Iron Pillar of Delhi

This pillar is made of iron ( not sure if any other ingredient is also used ) and is 7 mtr tall. Though it's date of establishment is not sure, it' widely accepted as somewhere around in 900 BC. Amazing fact about the pillar is that, though for all these past centuries it was exposed to wars / sun / rain / pollution etc...it has not yet corroded. What technique would have our forefathers used ? It has not yet been discovered as to what all other ingredients are used in it's making. It's a marvelous work of ancient India. Just a small piece of work to astonish the modern world.

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 :)