தெய்வத்தின் குரல்: விபூதி, திருமண்ணின் மகிமை…

“விறகுக்கட்டையை அக்னியானது பஸ்பமாக்குவது போல், ஞானம் என்கிற அக்னி எல்லாக் கருமங்களையும் பஸ்பமாக்குகிறது” என்று பகவத் கீதையில் பகவான் கிருஷ்ணன் அர்ஜுனனுக்கு உபதேசிக்கிறார். பஸ்பமாகிய விபூதி, இவ்விதம் கர்மங்களை எரிந்த பின் நிற்கும் ஞானத்துக்கே அடையாளமாகும்.

‘விபூதி பூதிரைச்வர்யம்’ என்று ‘அமர கோச’த்தில் உள்ளது. அதாவது, விபூதி என்பதும், ஐச்வர்யம் என்பதும் ஒரே பொருள் தரும்.

எந்தப் பொருளையும் தீயிலிட்டால் முதலில் அது கருப்பாக ஆகும். பிறகு இன்னும் அக்னிபுடம் போட்டால் நீற்றுப் போகும். சுத்த வெளுப்பாக ஆகிவிடும். அப்புறம் தீயில் போட்டால் அது மாறாது. அதுவே முடிவான நிலை. இப்படி நீற்றுப்போனதே திருநீறு. நீறு பஸ்மம் எனப்படும். ஈசுவரன் மகா பஸ்மம். எல்லாம் அழிந்த பின்னும் இவற்றை அழித்துவிட்டு எஞ்சி நிற்கிற, அழியாத சத்யமான மகா பஸ்மம். அவன் பஸ்மமாக நீற்று வெளுத்துப் போனதற்கு முந்திய மாறுதல் கருப்பு. அதுதான் கரி. நிலக்கரிதான் இவ்வுலக ஐச்வரியத்தில் இக்காலத்தில் முதலிடம் பெற்றுள்ளது.

ரொம்பவும் விலைமதிப்பான வைரமும் அதுதான். இந்தக் கரியாக மாறிய பொருளைவிட, மிகவும் உயர்ந்தது நீற்றுப்போன திருநீறு. திருநீற்றுக்கு மேலான பொருளே கிடையாது.

பல வர்ணங்களைக்கொண்ட பொருட்களைக் காண்கிறோம். ஆனால், இந்த வர்ணங்களெல்லாம் வஸ்துவை எரித்த பின் மாறிவிடுகின்றன. எல்லாம் கடைசியில் வெளுத்துப் போய்விடும். நாம் ‘சாயம் வெளுத்துப் போய்விட்டது’ என்கிறோம். சாயம் என்பது வேஷம். வேஷம் போனபின் இருப்பதே மெய். மெய்யான ஆத்மாவின் தூய்மைக்குப் பெரிய அடையாளமாக இருப்பது விபூதியான். இதை இந்தப் பொய்யான மெய் (தேகம்) முழுவதிலும் பூசிக்கொள்ள வேண்டும். எல்லாம் எரிந்த பின் எஞ்சி நிற்பது விபூதியின் வெண்மை ஒன்றுதான். மற்ற சாயமெல்லாம் பொய். வெண்மையே உண்மை.

ஞானம் என்னும் தீ மூண்டபின், காரியங்கள் எல்லாம் பஸ்பமாகி விடும் என்று கிருஷ்ண பரமாத்மா உபதேசித்ததில், ‘பஸ்மமாகிவிடும்’ என்றால் எல்லாம் அழிந்து, புத்தர் சொன்னமாதிரி சூன்யமாகிவிடும் என்று அர்த்தமில்லை. விறகுக் கட்டைகள் தீயில் எரிந்து போனபின் எல்லாமே சூன்யமாகிவிடவில்லை. அப்போது எஞ்சி நிற்பது நீறு. அவ்வாறே ஞானம் என்னும் தீயில் கர்மாக்கள் யாவும் எஞ்சி நிற்கும். மிகுந்து நிற்பதே ‘மகா பஸ்ம’மான பரமாத்மா.

திருத்தொண்டத் தொகையில் சுந்தரமூர்த்தி நாயனார் “முழுநீறு பூசிய முனிவர்க்கும் அடியேன்” என்று பாடினார். விபூதியைத் தேகம் முழுவதும் பூசிக்கொள்ள வேண்டும். விபூதியைத் தரித்துக்கொள்வதினால் சகல ஐஸ்வரியங்களையும் அடையலாம். பெரும்பாலான மக்கள் விபூதியை அணிகிறார்கள். திருநீறு என்பதே சாதாரண மக்களால் துன்னூறு எனப்படுகிறது. கோயிலுக்குப் போனாலும் ஏதாவது பீடாபரிகாரமாக வேண்டுமானாலும், “துன்னூறு கொடுங்கள்” என்று மக்கள் கேட்பதை நாம் சகஜமாகப் பார்க்கிறோம். பூத, பிரேத, பைசாச சேஷ்டைகளிலிருந்து காப்பாற்றும் பெரிய ரக்ஷையாக இருப்பது விபூதியே.

வைஷ்ணவர்கள் திருமண் இடுவார்கள். துளசிச் செடியின் அடியில் உள்ள மண்ணை இட்டுக்கொள்வது வழக்கம். மண்ணை இட்டுக் கொள்வதும், திருநீற்றை இட்டுக் கொள்வதும் நமக்கு உயர்ந்த தத்துவத்தையே விளக்குகின்றன. மன்னனும் மாசறக் கற்றோனும் பிடி சாம்பலாகிவிடுகிறார்கள். நாம் கடைசியில் சாம்பலாகத்தான் போகிறோம். இந்த வாழ்க்கை மாயமானது என்பதை விபூதி உணர்த்துகிறது. மண்ணிலே பிறந்த நாம் மண்ணிலேதான் மடியப் போகிறோம். மண்ணிலே பிறந்த மரம் கடைசியில் மட்கி அதே மண்ணோடு மண்ணாகத்தானே ஆகிறது. நம்மை முடிவில் அடக்கிக் கொள்ளப்போகிற தத்துவம் அதுதான், இதை ஞாபகப்படுத்திக் கொள்ளவே நம்மில் சிலர் திருமண் அணிகிறோம்.

ரங்கத்தில், வில்வ விருஷ மண்ணை எடுக்கிறார்கள். வில்வம் லக்ஷ்மி வசிக்குமிடம். பசுவும் லக்ஷ்மியின் வாச ஸ்தானம். விபூதி, பசுவின் சாணத்தை அக்கினியிலிட்டு பஸ்மமாக்குவதிலிருந்து உண்டாகிறது. பசுவின் சாணம் எல்லாத் துர்நாற்றங்களையும் போக்க உதவுகிறது. மண்ணெண்ணையைக் காட்டிலும் அதிக துர்நாற்றம் உள்ள வஸ்து இல்லை எனலாம். அந்த துர்க்கந்தத்தைப் போக்கக்கூடப் பசுவின் சாணத்தை உபயோகிக்கிறோம். நமது உடல் பல துர்க்கந்தங்களை உடையது. இந்த உடலைச் சுத்தப்படுத்தி, இதனுள் உள்ள ஆத்மாவையும் பரிசுத்தப்படுத்தவல்லது பஸ்மமாகிய திருநீறு. மகா பஸ்மமான பரமாத்மாவும் விபூதி என்னும் பஸ்மமும் ஒன்றானபடியால் விபூதியை அணிவதனால் ஈச்வர சாக்ஷாத்காரம் ஏற்படும்.

திருநீற்றையோ திருமண்ணையோ இட வேண்டும். திருமண் இடுவதற்கு, ‘நாமம் போடுவது’ என்று பெயர். மகாவிஷ்ணுவுக்கு கேசவ, நாராயண, மாதவ, கோவிந்த, விஷ்ணு, மதுசூதன, திரிவிக்ரம, வாமன, தர, ஹ்ருஷீகேச, பத்மநாப, தாமோதர என்று பன்னிரண்டு நாமங்கள் முக்கியம். இந்த துவாதச நாமங்களைச் சொல்லிப் பன்னிரண்டு இடங்களில் திருநாமங்களை இட்டுக் கொள்வார்கள். இப்படி பகவந் நாமத்தைச் சொல்லிப் போட்டுக்கொள்வதாலேயே ‘நாமம் போடுவது’ என்று பெயர் வந்துவிட்டது.

திருநீறு, திருமண் இவற்றைத் தரிப்பது பரமாத்ம ஸ்வரூபத்தின் உண்மையையும், உலகில் உள்ள பொருள்களின் அநித்தியமான நிலையையும் நினைவூட்டுகிறது.

Source….www.tamil.the hindu.com

Natarajan

” Will there be’ Human Touch ‘ if everything became online ….? “

 

I had spent an hour in the bank with my Uncle, as he had to transfer some money. 

I couldn’t resist myself & asked…

”Uncle, why don’t we activate your internet banking?”

”Why would I do that?”  He asked…

”Well, then you won’t have to spend an hour here for things like transfer.

You can even do your shopping online. Everything will be so easy!”

I was so excited about initiating him into the world of Net banking.

He asked ”If I do that, I wont have to step out of the house?”

”Yes, yes”! I said. I told him how even grocery can be delivered at door now and how amazon delivers everything!

His answer left me tongue-tied.

He said ”Since I entered this bank today, I have met four of my friends, I have chatted a while with the staff who know me very well by now.

You know I am alone… this is the company that I need. I like to get ready and come to the bank. I have enough time, it is the physical touch that I crave.

Two years back I got sick, The store owner  from whom I buy fruits, came to see me and sat by my bedside and cried.

My wife fell down few days back while on her morning walk. My local grocer saw her and immediately got his car to rush her home as he knows where I live.

Would I have that ‘human’ touch if everything became online?

Why would I want everything delivered to me and force me to interact with just my computer?

I like to know the person that I’m dealing with and not just the ‘seller’ . It creates bonds. Relationships.

Does Amazon or Ebay deliver all this as well?”’

Source…input from a friend of mine…

Natarajan

World’s Eco-Friendliest Country, Bhutan, Celebrates Birth Of New Prince By Planting 108,000 trees…

How does Bhutan, the world’s most eco-friendly and carbon-negative country, celebrate the recent birth of its new prince? By planting trees of course. Lots and lots of trees.

108,000 saplings were planted in the tiny mountain Kingdom to commemorate the first Royal Child of His Majesty King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and Her Majesty Queen Jetsun Pema.

The Bhutanese constitution stipulates that at least 60 percent of land remains forested at all times, but this green-fingered celebration wasn’t just inspired by the country’s commitment to ecological preservation.

“In Buddhism, a tree is the provider and nourisher of all life forms,’ said Tenzin Lekphell, who coordinated the initiative. ‘It symbolizes longevity, health, beauty and even compassion.”

This isn’t the first time that Bhutan has made headlines for its epic tree-planting sessions. In 2015, the country set a Guinness World Record by planting almost 50,000 trees in just one hour. Which is proof, if ever you needed it, that while Bhutan might be small in size, it’s definitely big when it comes to awesomeness.

(h/t: treehugger)

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Source…….www.boredpanda.com

Natarajan

An Oxford professor has won £500,000 for solving a 300-year-old mathematical mystery…!!!

Oxford University professor Sir Andrew Wiles has been awarded the prestigious Abel Prize for his “stunning proof” of Fermat’s Last Theorem.

Wiles life has been dedicated to the three-century-old theorem which has been his “passion from an early age” after he read “The Last Problem” by ET Bell.

His proof was first published in 1994 while working at Princeton University in New Jersey — he will collect the award 22 years later at a ceremony in Oslo in May.

The theorem, created in 1637 by French mathematician Pierre de Fermant, says that there are no solutions in integers — or whole numbers — to the equation  xn + yn = zn when n is greater than 2.

 

Wiles’ work isn’t merely a solution to the theory, his findings have shaped mathematics and the entire approach to the field, and were originally submitted as a 200-page file.

The Abel Prize is awarded by the Norwegian Academy of Sciences and Letters and is widely regarded as the most prestigious award in its field. As well as a trophy, winners of the award also take home six million Norwegian Krone (£500,000, $700,000).

When asked what it feels like to solve a puzzle that has mystified mathematicians for centuries, he said: “It’s thrilling. It’s the experience we live for, this insight, that suddenly you see everything clearly before you that’s been so obscure and so frustrating for so long.”

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The Norwegian academy lauded the professor’s groundbreaking work, saying: “Wiles’ proof was not only the high point of his career — and an epochal moment for mathematics — but also the culmination of a remarkable personal journey that began three decades earlier.”

This isn’t the first time Wiles has been recognised for his contributions to mathematics. He was knighted in 2000, and also won the US National Academy of Science’s Award in Mathematics, the Wolf Prize, and the Royal Medal of the Royal Society.

The Abel Prize was created in honour of Niels Henrik Abel, a Norwegian mathematician who died in 1829. It was created in 2001 and first awarded a year later. Previous winners include economist John F Nash Jr, who was the subject of the film “A Beautiful Mind,” and Sir Michael Atiyah for his work on the Atiyah-Singer theorem.

Source…… Charles Clark in http://www.businessinsider.com

Natarajan

Message for the Day…” To meditate on God, there is no fixed time , or place…”

There are no limitations of time or space for the establishment of oneself in the contemplation of the Omnipresent Lord. For this, there is nothing like a holy place or a special time. Wherever the mind revels in contemplation of the Divine that is the holy place! Whenever it does so, that is the auspicious moment! Then and there, one must meditate on the Lord. Hence scriptures reveal, ‘To meditate on God, there is no fixed time or place. When and where the mind so desires, then and there is the time and place!’ (Na kaala niyamo yathra, na deshasya sthalasya cha Yathrasya ramathe chittham, thathra dhyanena kevalam.) The world can achieve prosperity through disciplined souls whose hearts are pure and who represent the salt of the earth. To promote the welfare of the world, from this very minute, everyone should pray for the advent of such holy personages, and deserve the blessings of the great, and forget the sufferings of your daily living.

Sathya Sai Baba

Butcher’s Broom: Can Fruits Grow on Leaves…….?

Butcher’s Broom, or Ruscus aculeatus, is a low-growing perennial shrub with tough, erect, stems and very rigid leaves that terminate in a sharp spine. From the center of the leaves grow small greenish-white flowers that blossom in early spring and develop into red berries in autumn. The tiny red berries are attached directly to the leaves by a short stem, making it a very strange looking plant.

The Butcher’s broom, however, is not breaking any rules of the plant kingdom, because what appears to be leaves are actually modified stems called cladodes, that have been flattened to not only look like leaves but serve their function as well.

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Photo credit: Gil Costa/Flickr

 

Butcher’s broom is widely distributed, from Iran to the Mediterranean and the southern United States. They have been used for more than 2,000 years as laxative and diuretic and to treat various ailments such as hemorrhoids, varicose veins, itching, and swelling. The young shoots of the plant are also eaten like those of asparagus. The stiff twigs were once bundled together and used by butchers to keep their cutting boards clean, from which came its common English name: butcher’s broom. It is also known by others names such as “Knee Holly”, because of its knee height, “Jew’s Myrtle”, for its use during the Feast of Tabernacles, “Sweet Broom” and “Pettigree”, although its meaning is not clear.

Extracts of butcher’s broom have been used throughout the ages, but the medicinal use of this plant did not become common until the last century. Investigation in the 1950s indicated that butcher’s broom could induce constriction of veins, because of which it is still widely used for treating certain circulatory diseases. It also contains an alkaloid which inhibits the passing of sodium ions across the cell membrane and thus is an effective anti-arrhythmic substance.

Butcher’s broom is also widely planted in gardens and its berries used as decorations.

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Photo credit: www.herbco.com

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Photo credit: stories.rbge.org.uk

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Photo credit: herbier.sesa-aude.fr

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Photo credit: Franz Xaver/Wikimedia

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Photo credit: Hans Hillewaert/Flickr

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Photo credit: Katya/Flickr

Sources: Drugs.com / Botanical.com / Plant World Seeds via mantisshrimp.wordpress.com

Source….www.amusingplanet.com

Natarajan

This 2-Year-Old Was One of the Youngest Rescue Volunteers during Chennai Floods….

At the time when many parts of Tamil Nadu were flooded due to incessant rains last year, and thousands of people were struggling to live through every passing day, there were a few localities in Chennai that remained unaffected. A. Vicky Kumar is the resident of one such area – there were no roadblocks, no power cuts, no loss to life and property. But he was deeply moved on seeing the plight of the rest of the city and his fellow citizens. With the view of helping as much as he could, he gathered about 12 volunteers including his wife Vishakha, and they set out to help in rescue operations. They called themselves ‘The C Team’. Closing their businesses for the entire month of December, the team started visiting slums, relief camps and individual homes to deliver rescue materials like food, clothing and medicines to people in need.

One of the most special volunteers of The C Team was Vicky’s 2-year-old daughter, Jiya. The student of a preschool named Developing Roots in Chennai, Jiya was a part of every field operation the team conducted.

“Many friends and well-wishers told us not to take her along for field work as she may fall sick stepping in to the dirty waters but we never bothered regarding what could happen because the need of the hour was to help the needy,” says Vishakha.

The entire team, including Jiya, were also recognized among thousands of other volunteers who put in their hearts and souls to work for Chennai, and she received a plant sapling and a certificate of appreciation from the music industry maestro Illayaraja, on December 17, 2015.

Jiya will be three years old this March. Kudos to her parents who were not scared of uncertain situations and ensured that their daughter got a glimpse of what such social activities look like, to make her understand the importance of helping others in need.

Have a look at her – busy during work.

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Source….Tanaya Singh in http://www.the betterindia.com

Natarajan

Joke of the Day… Wrong card…!!!

A new business was opening and one of the owner’s friends wanted to send him flowers for the occasion. They arrived at the new business site and the owner read the card, which said: “Rest in Peace.”

The owner was angry and called the florist to complain.

After he had told the florist of the obvious mistake and how angry he was, the florist replied:

 “Sir, I’m really sorry for the mistake, but rather than getting angry, you should imagine this – somewhere, there is a funeral taking place today, and they have flowers with a note saying:
Congratulations on your new location!‘”

Source……www.ba-bamail.com

Natarajan

” You’re Never Too Old to Play Holi. This Ad Proves That Age is no Bar…” !!!

You're Never Too Old to Play Holi. This Ad Proves That Age is no Bar

Screengrab taken from YouTube video uploaded by ParachuteAdvansed

It’s the festival of colour, eating gujiyas and creating mayhem with buckets of water but most of all Holi is about having fun with your loved ones – age no bar whatsoever.

This new ad, made by a popular hair product brand, is set in a senior citizens’ home and shows that you are never too old to play Holi. The video shows an excited resident waking up at the break of dawn to prep for the festival. He changes into an old kurta, waves away his morning tea and pockets gulal to smear on his friends at the old age home. No one notices his excitement except a female resident.

So he goes to the verandah ready to have some fun – only no one else seems interested in playing Holi the way he planned. Even the youngsters who come to visit the residents only sprinkle a dusting of colour as a festive greeting.

As the senior citizen Holi enthusiast sits by disappointed, both fists full of gulal, something awesome happens. We’ll let you watch the video to see how one person’s infectious excitement manages to bring colour to an entire home.

https://youtu.be/gPMjKIUNGDI
Source…..www.ndtv.com and http://www.you tube.com
Natarajan

Soon, Eat Meat Without Killing Animals for It, Thanks to This Indian-American Scientist & His Team !!!

Memphis Meats Inc., a San Francisco-based company founded by three scientists, has developed a new technique to produce meat from stem cells of animals. Uma S Valeti, an Indian-American cardiologist, is the CEO and one of the co-founders of Memphis Meats.

By bringing meat production into the lab, this team can soon make it possible for people to eat meat without actually killing animals.

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Source: YouTube

According Uma Valeti, the meat is sustainable, healthier, safer, and cruelty free. It does not lead to any side effects like bacterial contamination or high saturated fat. Additionally, the technique produces 90 percent less greenhouse emissions and does not require antibiotics as used in traditional meat production.

For the production, the team identifies cells that are capable of renewing themselves, from a targeted animal. These cells are then provided with oxygen and nutrients like sugar, minerals, etc. while they develop inside bio-reactor tanks into skeletal muscle and can be harvested in nine to 21 days. The team is currently working on beef, chicken and pork cells, and have already conducted test runs on beef meat.

“Our goal is to be in restaurants in three years and retail in five years. In 2021, we want to be in retail or even earlier,” Uma Valeti told PTI.

The first manufacturing base will be set up in the US and he added that they are also exploring ideas about setting centres in India and China very soon.

Cardiologist Uma Valeti is an associate professor of medicine at the University of Minnesota and president of the Twin Cities American Heart Association. Other members of the team include Nicholas Genovese, a stem cell biologist, and Will Clem, a biomedical engineer who owns a chain of barbeque restaurants in Memphis, Tennessee.

Currently, even though the source cells can be collected without killing the animals, the process starts with the help of fetal bovine serum that is drawn from the blood of unborn calves. Memphis Meats is working on replacing the serum with a plant-based alternative very soon, to completely end the practice of extracting it from animals.

“Our concept is simple. Instead of farming animals to obtain their meat, why not farm the meat directly? To that end, we’re combining decades of experience in both the culinary and scientific fields to farm real meat cells—without the animals—in a process that is healthier, safer, and more sustainable than conventional animal agriculture,” says their website.

Source…Tanaya Singh in http://www.the betterindia.com

Natarajan