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In the course of one’s day to day activities a number of small creatures and insects may be destroyed. In these and other ways, sins may be committed, knowingly or unknowingly. For removing such sins, the scriptures have prescribed five types of Yajnas or worships –Brahma Yajna, Deva Yajna, Pitru Yajna, Manushya Yajna and Bhuta Yajna. Brahma Yajna is the study of sacred books and scriptures.Deva Yajna involves offering worship, bhajans, etc. Pitru Yajna refers to ceremonies to departed ancestors. The fourth one, Manushya Yajna, refers to extending hospitality to guests, invited and uninvited.Bhuta Yajna refers to offering food to animals, birds and insects, and looking after wild animals. By engaging in such service and thereby fulfilling the requirements of these Yajnas, we can atone for sins of various kinds that might have been committed
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environment
Gen Next … or Gen Lost … ?
One of the biggest treats when we were children was being taken to India Gate on a cool summer evening or a not-too-severe winter one and let loose to play in the lawns.
We invariably got a bright coloured balloon, a Kwality ice cream of our choice and, if we had been particularly good, one of the incredibly innovative local toys priced at Rs 5 at most being sold by hawkers (incidentally, these are great even today) — stuff that was never available in the big shops.
On Diwali, as a special treat, we were often driven around and down from Rashtrapati Bhavan to India Gate to admire, with “oohs” and “aahs”, the illuminated buildings all the way, including the circular Parliament House.
I still remember how these lights were missing the year Indira Gandhi was assassinated.
The Shankarlal Music Festival, Kamani and Shriram Bhartiya Kala Kendra’s Ramlila were also a part and parcel of growing up for us.
We were regularly “subjected” (back then, it felt like that) to Bhimsen Joshi, Alarmel Valli, Pandit Jasraj and Hariprasad Chaurasia — whether it bored us or not.
Then, whenever we had some aunts, uncles or relatives visiting (which was alarmingly often back then), we’d be bundled off to Agra to see the Taj Mahal, Fatehpur Sikri and Agra Fort.
I remember feeling quite involved in the lives of the various Mughal kings as guides in Agra held forth in their broken English on tales from their past — some imagined and some real, I suspect.
I even recall wanting to meet Akbar after having gone repeatedly to his stunning Fatehpur Sikri and Salim Chishti’s dargah – something in the way he had built these monuments made me feel he was worth meeting.
Needless to add that Red fort, Old Fort (and boating there), Qutub Minar and so on were all old hat for us — I had seen the sound and light show so many times that I could tell you what was coming next.
The Ramlila’s main high drama bits (when Ram breaks the bow and Parshuram is furious or the fight Jatayu puts up to save Sita from Ravan), dialogues and songs are still firmly etched in my memory.
Well, I happened to be at a lunch recently where I found seven children (in the age group of 9 to 15) and on impulse I asked them something about Barack Obama, the Republic Day and then India Gate.
I was a bit surprised to learn that only two of them could clearly tell me where India Gate is (only one knew why it exists).
A few seemed to recall having driven past it sometime.
Two looked almost totally blank and muttered that they had heard of it, they knew it was in Delhi, yes, but they couldn’t quite be sure who had built it — or why.
They vaguely remembered reading about it in their textbooks.
None had been there for an ice cream at all.
Lodi Garden and Nehru Park sounded “familiar” to a couple of them; one said he was sure his father went jogging to one of these regularly.
Intrigued, I asked about Agra.
All of them perked up and mentioned the Taj Mahal, although only three had seen it.
Agra Fort, Fatehpur Sikri and Salim Chishti’s dargah drew a total blank.
None of them had seen the Red Fort or the Old Fort (of course the sound and light show was unheard of), although school day trips had taken five of them to Qutub Minar.
Needless to add that none was exasperatingly familiar — as we used to be — with any of the well-known classical singers and dancers I mentioned and I mentioned quite a few.
I refer to Delhi and Gurgaon but speak to parents in any city and you will realise how little time and effort is going into making children aware of their own country, culture and heritage.
Even the festivals we (I speak of people like us, which, of course, represents a miniscule part of Indian society) celebrate today — Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day and Halloween — are largely borrowed.
I don’t know what we as parents are thinking of but how are we allowing an entire generation to grow up with no clear sense of identity and no knowledge of their incredibly rich cultural heritage – something we have to be proud in a country where there is a lot not to be proud of?
Can India be reduced only to malls, Bollywood and cricket?
Are we content to allow our children to relate to Eminem, Justin Bieber and Lady Gaga but have absolutely no knowledge of any Indian artist barring, say, the Shah Rukh Khans of the world?
Can American sitcoms be the answer?
And have we collectively ever stopped to think: if these children grow up not knowing where they are coming from, how will they ever know where they are going?
SOURCE::::: Anjuli Bharghava in http://www.rediff.com
Natarajan
” How the Fight Started…” … Start Your Week with a Hearty Laugh …!!!
The Unreasonable Mother-in-law
One year, I decided to buy my mother-in-law a cemetery plot as a
Christmas gift…
The next year, I didn’t buy her a gift.
When she asked me why, I replied,
“Well, you still haven’t used the gift I bought you last year!”
And that is when the fight started….
The Humour-less Wife
I took my wife to a restaurant.
The waiter, for some reason, took my order first.
“I’ll have the rump steak, rare, please.”
He said, “Aren’t you worried about the mad cow?”
“Nah, she can order for herself.”
And that’s when the fight started..
The Mis-informed Wife
My wife and I were sitting at a table at her high school reunion, and
she kept staring at a drunken man swigging his drink as he sat alone at
a nearby table.
I asked her, “Do you know him?”
“Yes”, she sighed,
“He’s my old boyfriend…. I understand he took to drinking right after we
split up those many years ago, and I hear he hasn’t been sober since.”
“My World!” I said, “Who would think a person could go on celebrating that
long?”
And that’s when the fight started….
The Lazy Wife
My wife sat down next to me as I was flipping channels.
She asked, “What’s on TV?”
I said, “Dust.”
And that’s when the fight started….
The Lazy Wife
My wife sat down next to me as I was flipping channels.
She asked, “What’s on TV?”
I said, “Dust.”
And that’s when the fight started….
SOURCE:::: input from a friend of mine
Natarajan
Joke of the Day…” Highway 105…” !!!
Three college professors were driving down the highway at a very slow speed. A policeman pulled them over and explained that driving so slowly on the highway could be hazardous. The driver pointed out the sign that read “20.” He explained that he was going 20 mph because of the sign. The policeman pointed out that the sign indicated they were driving on Highway 20.
Somewhat embarrassed the professor apologized and promised to be more observant.
As the policeman turned to walk back to his car, he noticed the other two professors on the floor …looking scared to death! He asked the driver, “What’s wrong with them?”
The driver replied, “We just turned off Highway 105.”
SOURCE:::: http://www.joke aday.com
Natarajan
Image of the Day… Full Moon and Jupiter on 3 rd and 4th Feb 2015….
The moon and Jupiter on February 3 – over Atlantic Beach, Florida – posted to EarthSky Facebook by Eve Baker.
What a sight … the full moon coupled up with Jupiter on the night of February 3-4, 2015.
EarthSky Facebook friend Duke Marsh caught the February 3 moon and Jupiter from New Albany, Indiana.
SOURCE:::: http://www.earthskynews.org
Natarajan
Message For the Day…” Primary Virtues Needed for a True Spiritual Aspirant…”
Mind control, restraining the senses, transcending the worldly dualities, forbearance, unwavering faith, and equanimity are the primary virtues that must exist in a true spiritual aspirant. In addition, there must be an intense longing for liberation(moksha). This longing cannot arise from riches or scholarships. Nor can it emerge from wealth, progeny, rites and rituals recommended in the scriptures, or acts of charity. Moksha can come only from the conquest of ignorance (ajnana). A person might master all the scriptures along with all the learned commentaries written on them by experts, or propitiate all the gods by performing the prescribed modes of worship and ceremonies. But this cannot grant the boon of liberation. Just like a person who may have every ingredient needed for cooking, but if fire is not available, can he prepare the meal? Success in acquiring self-knowledge alone can confer salvation .
Message For the Day…” When You are Ready to Receive the Teachings of a Guru …”
You have worked very hard in your life discharging worldly duties and come to Prasanthi Nilayam, seeking rest for the body and peace for the mind. That being so, it might look strange if you were asked to undertake some kind of work here also. In the olden days the Guru would collect his disciples in the forest and give them different types of work, sometimes for 10 to 12 years. This was done with a purpose. One important object of work is purification of the Chittha (heart). Once the heart is purified one is ready to receive the teachings of the Guru.Therefore in earlier times the disciples were given work in the beginning so that they slowly get purified. Only when the teacher was satisfied regarding the student’s ripeness for receiving spiritual instruction, would he start teaching Brahma Vidya (the supreme knowledge).
Meet Tanishq …9 year old Child Prodigy…Already a Student in American River College , California !!!
Lets congratulate Tanishq for making India proud with his super intelligence. He took entire America by surprise when he was tested for extraordinary intelligence and scored 99.9 percentile. At 7, he gave lectures to students who were twice of his age. Today, he is only 9 and already completed one third of the credits needed for a college degree at the American River College in Sacramento, California. Tanishq is born to mother Dr Taji and father Bijou Abraham, speaks his mother tongue Malayalam at home and wants to become a scientist.
We wish you a bright future ahead, Tanishq!!! Tanishq attracted intense media attention after he joined the Mensa programme for gifted children at the age of four-and-half years. He was recently featured on the premiere episode of Prodigies, a new bi-weekly YouTube series showcasing the youngest and brightest as they challenge themselves to reach new heights. I like particle physics, anti-matter, the fate of the universe and the Big Bang, he said in the video. It got a quarter million hits and lots of media publicity, both good and bad, according to his mother Dr Taji Abraham, a doctor of veterinary medicine. His father Bijou Abraham is a software professional.
In the last two years since Tanishq started to attend college, he finished two subjects each semester. More subjects are not allowed. He has already completed astronomy, geology, and biotechnology. He sits with students twice his age and earns straight As in all subjects. He topped the class in astronomy and geology. Of the 60 units needed for an associate degree, he has completed 24 so far.
Initially the students thought I am the student and Tanishq came with me, Taji said. When they knew that Tanishq was the student, they were surprised and curious. When some of the videos not fit for children to watch are shown in classes, she will ask him to close his eyes. Tanishq tapes the lectures as he is not good at writing by hand. He told India Abroad that while writing essays was most difficult, typing is no problem.
The media is not always kind, Taji said. A recent New York Times article criticised her, asking why she was letting him take on such an academic load. Others said that children ought not to be in college. We dont mind the criticism, Taji said. We are parents and we should take care of our children. We know their needs. He is happy going to college and studying there.The parents saw their childrens special skills when they were about two-and-a-half years old.
At age 4.5, Tanishq was tested, and he scored in the 99.9 percentile on the standardised intelligence test and was inducted into Mensa — an organisation for people with an IQ of 148 and above, or in the top two per cent of the population. Hes a real asset, Professor Stephen Sterling, Tanishqs physical geology instructor, was quoted as saying. Hes the top student. The students love him and look up to him because they respect him (as they would) a peer.
According to Dr Paulo Alfonso, another professor who taught astronomy and who is also in the video, He ended up in the class being the student with the highest grade. How many people at the age of seven or eight can discuss the expansion of the universe? He is different in a positive way. Tanishq is at the middle school level though he and his sister have been home-schooled. Their parents teach them and once a month the charter school officials come and check the status. The children do not want to go to school with other children.
They tried it earlier, but found that neither other students nor teachers were kind to them. Home-schooling has not affected their social skills, Taji said, adding that she spends all her time with the children. Both children know Hindi and watch Hindi movies frequently. To their surprise, Tanishq knows his mother tongue, Malayalam, though they have not taught him nor use it frequently at home. Tanishq wants to be many things, though the preference is for being a scientist, discovering something big.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
1. At age of 2, Tanishq could count from 1-100
2. At age of 4-1/2 he scored in the 99.9 percentile on the standardized intelligence test and inducted into Mensa
3. Skipped first grade to perform 4th and 5th grade math
4. Admitted to American River College at age of 8 – youngest student ever at school
5. Occasionally gives guest lectures to college classmates Performs in the San Francisco Boys Chorus
6. Sang the National Anthem at the San Francisco Giants and Oakland As games
7. Sister Tiara, 6, is in MENSA too scoring in the 98.8 percentile
SOURCE:::: http://www.mastegg.com
Natarajan
Joke of the Day… ” Your Surgeon was Different …” !!!
A surgeon was checking on a patient who had a hernia operation three days before.
The doctor asked the man why he had not gotten out of bed.
“I hurt,” the man said. “You don’t know how it feels.”
“I know exactly how it feels,” the doctor said. “I had the same procedure last month, and I was back at work two days later. There’s no difference in our operations.”
“Oh yes there is,” said the patient. “You had a different surgeon.”
SOURCE:::: http://www.joke a day.com
Natarajan
Take off with Natarajan 