“நாள் என்ன செய்யும் , கோள் என்ன செய்யும் ? … கோளறு திருப்பதிகம் படியுங்க…”

Kolaru thirupathigam
English and Tamil Lyrics
(The ten verses that remove all ills)
By Thirujnana Sambandar

 

 

Here is a remarkable prayer addressed to Shiva composed by Sambandar , one of great saivite saints who were called as Nayanmar. Once the Pandya country of Tamil Nadu was under the influence of Jains , with the king himself converting himself to jain religion. At that time the queen who was a saivite requested Sambandar and Thirunavukkarasar to visit their country and bring it back to saivism. At that time it seems both saints were in the holy place of Thirumaraikkadu(Vedaranyam). . Thirunavukkarasar was little worried to go because , it was at that time thought that the Jains were experts in evil magic. Then Sambandar sang this prayer, which essentially tells that neither the planets, nor the evil mantras nor the wild animals nor any other thing that can cause harm, can cause harm to the devotee of Lord Shiva. If this prayer is sung with devotion, it would definitely save us from anything that causes evil.
Kolaru Pathigam Benefits
Kolaru Pathigam (10 Tamil verses on Lord Siva to disarm the planets) composed by saint Thirugnaana Sambandar, can be recited mentally before proceeding to the exam hall. The above verses were composed when he was told that the time was inauspicious to proceed to challenge his adversaries in an intellectual-spiritual debate.
The blessed young saint said the planets would never affect the devotees of the Lord and sang the ten verses, for the benefit of his followers.
Here is the lyrics of Kolaru pathigam,

1.Veyurur tholi pangan, Vidam unda kandan, Miga nalla veenai thadavi,
Masaru thingal, gangai mudi mel aninthen, ulame pugundhu adhanal,
Jnayiru , thingal, chevvai , budhan , vyazhan Velli, sani , pambu irandum udane,
Aasaru nalla, nalla avai nalla , nalla adiyar avarkku migave.

Friend of the lady with Bamboo like shoulders , God having a neck affected by swallowing poison,
One who plays Veena faultlessly , One who wears the spotless moon and Ganga on his head,
Entered inside my mind and immediately made Sun, moon, mars , mercury , Jupiter , Venus Saturn and the two snakes,
Cut away desires and are good , they are good , and are very good to devotees of Shiva.

2.Enbodu kombaodamai ivai marbilanga, erutheri ezhai udane,
Pon pothi matha maalai punal choodi vanthen ulame pugundhu adanal,
Onbathodu ondrodu ezhu pathinettodu aarum udaya natkal avai tham,
Anbodu nalla nalla Avai nalla nalla adiyaar avarkku migave.

With his chest adorned with garland of bones, boar’s tusk and tortoise shell,
And also wearing garland of datura flowers with their golden pollen,
And decorating his head with the ganges river, he along with Parvathi comes riding on a bull
And he has entered my mind and stays there and so the inauspicious stars that are
Ninth, seventeenth, eighteenth and twenty fourth among the twenty seven,
Do only good and good with love , for they are good , good for the devotees of Shiva.

3.Uru valar pavala meni oli neeru aninthu, umayodum vellai vidai mel,
Murugalar kondrai thingal mudi mel aninthu yen, ulame pugundhu ,athanaal,
THirumagal kalaya thoorthi cheyya mathu bhoomi disai deivamana palavum,
Aruneri nalla nalla Avai nalla nalla adiyaar avarkku migave.

With his growing radiant coral like body wearing the shining holy ash.
Along with Goddess Parvathi on the white bull, wearing the golden kondrai * flowers
As well as the crescent on his head , he came and entered in to my mind and so ,
The Goddess Lakshmi , Kali , mother earth and the various Gods that god the directions,
Does only good and good with love , for they are good , good for the devotees of Shiva.
* Indian Laburnum

4.Mathi nuthal mangayodu vada aali runthu marai othum engal paraman,
Nathiyodu kondrai malai mudi mel anithu yen ulame pugundhu athanal,
Kothiyuru kalan angi namanodu doothar kodu noygal aana palavum,
Athiguna nalla nalla Avai nalla nalla adiyaar avarkku migave

With the lady with the crescent like forehead sitting below a banyan tree and teaching Vedas,
Our God wears on his head kondrai flowers along with the river and has entered in to my mind and so,
The very angry god of death along with his messengers and various great diseases,
Does only good and good with love , for they are good , good for the devotees of Shiva.

5.Nanju ani kandan yendhai madavaal thanodum , vidayeru thangal paraman,
THunji yarul vanni kondrai mudi mel aninthu , yen ulame pugandha adhanal,
Venchina avunarodum , urumudiyum minnum migayana bhootham avayum
Anjidum nalla nalla Avai nalla nalla adiyaar avarkku migave

With my father who decorates his neck with poison along with Parvathi riding on a bull,
Showing his grace and Wearing vanni* leaves and kondrai **flowers has entered in to my mind and so,
The angry asuras , roaring thunder, lightning and those ghosts that we are afraid,
Do only good and good with love , for they are good , good for the devotees of Shiva.
*Indian Mesquite **Indian Laburnum

6.Valari thala thadai vari kovanathar madavaal thanodum udanay,
Naanmalar vanni kondrai nadhi choodi vandhu en ulame pugundhu athanal,
Kolari uzhuvayodu kolai yanai kezhal kodu nagamodu karadi,
Alari nalla nalla Avai nalla nalla adiyaar avarkku migave

With Siva wearing a striped tigers skin and loin cloth, and along with Parvathi,
And wearing vanni leaves and kondari flowers has entered in to my mind and so,
Powerful deadly tigers , murderous elephants , boars, cobras , bears and lions,
Do only good and good with love , for they are good , good for the devotees of Shiva.

7.Cheppila mulai nan mangai oru bhagamaga vidai yeru chelvan adaivaar,
Oppilamathiyum appum mudi mel aninthen ulame pugantha athanaal,
Veppodu kulirum vadam migayana pithum , vinayana vandhu naliyaa,
Appadi nalla nalla Avai nalla nalla adiyaar avarkku migave

With the famous good young damsel occupying one side , he is the source of all wealth,
And keeping on his head , the incomparable moon as well as the river , he entered in to my mind,
And so fevers with chills , rheumatism, excess of bile which come and trouble ,
Do only good and good with love , for they are good , good for the devotees of Shiva.

8.Vel pada vizhi cheythanru vidai melirunthu madaval thanodum udanay,
Van mathi vanni konrai malar choodi vandhen ulame pugundhu adhanaal,
Ezhkadal choozh ilangai arayan thanodum idarana vandhu naliyaa,
Aazhkadal nalla nalla Avai nalla nalla adiyaar avarkku migave

With his angry eye he burnt Manmatha when he shot an arrow and along with Parvathi he rides the bull,
And wearing the crescent of the sky , Vanni leaves and Kondrai flowers , he entered in to my heart,
And so the king of Lanka which is surrounded by ebbing sea and other afflictions surrounding the sea,
Do only good and good with love , for they are good , good for the devotees of Shiva.

9.Pala pala vedamagum paranaari bhagan, vasuverum yengal paraman,
Chala magalodu erukku mudi mel aninthu yen ulame pugundhu adhannal,
Malar misayonum malum maraiyodu devar varukalamana palavum,
Alaikadal meru nalla nalla Avai nalla nalla adiyaar avarkku migave

With his ability to assume many forms, the consort of Parvathi who is our lord rides on a bull,
And wearing the erukku *flower on his head , he entered my heart,
And Lord Brahma, Vishnu , Vedas, devas and several things that are yet to come,
Do only good and good with love , for they are good , good for the devotees of Shiva.
*Calotropis gigantean

10.Kothaalar kuzhaviyodu visayar nalgu gunamaai veda vigithan,
Mathamum madhiya nagam mudi mel aninthen ulame pugundhu adhanal,
Putharodu amanavathil azhivirkkum annan thiruneeru chemmai thidame ,
Athagu nalla nalla Avai nalla nalla adiyaar avarkku migave

Along with the pretty lady wearing flowers , that varied God of Vedas went to give a boon to Arjuna,
And wearing datura flowers , moon and the serpent , he entered my heart,
And the sacred of ash of his will defeat the budhists and jains without any doubt and,
Do only good and good with love , for they are good , good for the devotees of Shiva.

11.Thenavar pozhi kola alai vilai chen nel , thunni valar chembon engum thigaza,
Naan mugan aadhiyaya biramapurathu marai Jnana Jnana munivan,
Thanuru kolu naalum adiyarai vandhu naliyatha vannam urai chei,
Aana chol maalai oodhum adiyargal vaanil arasalvr aanai namathe.

The saint Thirujnana Sambandar of Brahma puram , where Brahma is worshipped,
And which has honey bees, sugar cane , paddy in an abundant measure,
Is ordering that those devotes who read this garland of words ,
Would not suffer the ill effects caused by planets , stars and others and would rule the heavens

கோளறு திருப்பதிகம்

திருஞானசம்பந்தர், தமிழ்நாட்டில், சைவ சமயத்தவர்களால் நாயன்மார்கள் என அழைக்கப்படும் அறுபத்து மூவருள் முதலாக வைத்து எண்ணப்படும் நால்வருள் ஒருவராவார். இவர் கி.பி. ஏழாம் நூற்றாண்டில், சீர்காழி என்னும் ஊரில், பிராமணக் குடும்பத்திற் பிறந்தார். இவரது தந்தையார் சிவபாதவிருதயர், தாயார் இசைஞானியார்.
திருஞான சம்பந்தரும், திருநாவுக்கரசரும் பல சிவத்தலங்களுக்கும் ஒன்றாகவே சென்று பாடல்களால் இறைவனை அர்ச்சித்துள்ளனர். திருஞான சம்பந்தரும், திருநாவுக்கரசரும் திருமறைக்காடு (வேதாரண்யம்) என்கிற திருத்தலத்தில் இருந்தபோது மதுரையில் அரசாண்ட பாண்டிய மன்னன் சமணமதத்தில் பற்றுக் கொண்டிருந்தான். அவனுடைய மனைவி மங்கையர்க்கரசியோ சைவ மதத்தில் பற்றுக் கொண்டிருந்தார். பாண்டிய நாட்டில் சமண மதம் ஓங்குவதைத் தடுக்கும் பொருட்டு திருஞான சம்பந்தர் மதுரைக்கு எழுந்தருளி அங்கே சைவம் தழைக்க உதவ வேண்டும் என்கிற வேண்டுகோளுடன் அவருக்கு அழைப்பு விடுத்தார். அரசியாரின் அழைப்பினை மதுரை ஏவலர்கள் திருமறைக்காடு வந்து திருஞான சம்பந்தரிடம் தெரிவித்தனர். திருஞான சம்பந்தர் மதுரை செல்ல உடன்பட்டு திருநாவுக்கரசரிடம் விடைபெறச் சென்றார். திருநாவுக்கரசர், அந்தக் கணத்தில் கோள்களின் அமைப்பும் அன்றைய நாளும் தீமை பயக்கும் அறிகுறிகள் காட்டுவதாகக் கூறி சம்பந்தரின் பயணத்தை ஒத்திப்போடச் சொன்னார்.

“சிவனடியையே சிந்திக்கும் சிவனடியார்களை நாளும் கோளும் என்ன செய்து விடும்? அவை நன்மையே பயக்கும்” என்று கூறி பத்து பாடல்கள் பாடினார் திருஞான சம்பந்தர். அந்தப் பாடல்களின் தொகுப்பான பதிகமே (பத்து பாடல்களின் தொகுப்புக்குப் பதிகம் என்று பெயர்) கோளறு பதிகம் எனப் பெயர் பெற்றது. (பதிகப்பயனுடன் சேர்த்து மொத்தம் பதினொரு பாடல்கள்)

கிரகங்கள் அவற்றின் பெயர்ச்சிகள் என்கிற பெயரால் பல்வேறு நம்பிக்கைகளில் தம்மை இழக்கும் மக்கள், இந்தப் பதிகத்தைப் படித்தால் கோள்கள் எந்த நேரத்திலும் நன்மையே பயக்கும் என்பது சைவ சமயத்தாருக்கு ஞான சம்பந்தரால் சொல்லப்பட்டிருக்கும் செய்தி. இன்றும் ஏதாவது முக்கிய காரியமாகக் கிளம்பும் போதும், சகுனம் சரியில்லாத போதும், நல்லபடியாக முடிய வேண்டும் என்கிற வேண்டுகோளுடன் இந்தப் பதிகத்தை முழுதாகவோ முதல் பாடலை மட்டுமோ அவசரமாக முணுமுணுத்து விட்டுச் செல்லும் வழக்கம் பலரிடம் உண்டு. ஒவ்வொரு செவ்வாய் மற்றும் வெள்ளி கிழமைகளில் கோளறு பதிகத்தினை பாராயணம் செய்து வரவும்। (விக்கிப்பீடியாவில் இருந்து)
A 10-stanza poem from Thevaram by Thirugnanasambar to ward of
all planetary afflictions. Recite on all Tuesdays and Fridays.

“வேய் உறு தோளிபங்கன் விடமுண்ட கண்டன்
மிக நல்ல வீணை தடவி
மாசறு திங்கள் கங்கை முடிமேல் அணிந்து என்
உளமே புகுந்த அதனால்
ஞாயிறு திங்கள் செவ்வாய் புதன் வியாழம் வெள்ளி
சனி பாம்பிரண்டு முடனே
ஆசறு நல்லநல்ல அவை நல்ல நல்ல
அடியாரவர்க்கு மிகவே.”

“என்பொடு கொம்பொடாமை இவை மார்பிலங்க
எருதேறி யேழை யுடனே
பொன்பொதி மத்தமாலை புனல்சூடி வந்தென்
உளமே புகுந்த அதனால்
ஒன்பதொ டொன்றொடேழு பதினெட்டொ டாறும்
உடனாய நாள்க ளவைதாம்
அன்பொடு நல்லநல்ல அவைநல்ல நல்ல
அடியாரவர்க்கு மிகவே. ”

“உருவளர் பவளமேனி ஒளிநீ ற*ணிந்து
உமையோடும் வெள்ளை விடைமேல்
முருக*லர் கொன்றைதிங்கள் முடிமேல*ணிந்தென்
உளமே புகுந்த அதனால்
திருமகள் கலையதூர்தி செயமாது பூமி
திசை தெய்வமான பலவும்
அருநெதி நல்லநல்ல அவை நல்லநல்ல
அடியாரவர்க்கு மிகவே. ”

“மதிநுதன் மங்கையோடு வடவா லிருந்து
மறையோது மெங்கள் பரமன்
நதியொடு கொன்றைமாலை முடிமேல் அணிந்தென்
உளமே புகுந்த அதனால்
கொதியுறு காலன் அங்கி நமனோடு தூதர்
கொடுநோய்களான பலவும்
அதிகுணம் நல்லநல்ல அவை நல்லநல்ல
அடியாரவர்க்கு மிகவே.”

“நஞ்ச*ணி கண்டனெந்தை மடவாள் தனோடும்
விடையேறு நங்கள் பரமன்
துஞ்சிருள் வன்னி கொன்றை முடிமேல் அணிந்தென்
உளமே புகுந்த அதனால்
வெஞ்சின அவுணரோடும் உருமிடியும் மின்னும்
மிகையான பூதமவையும்
அஞ்சிடும் நல்லநல்ல அவை நல்லநல்ல
அடியாரவர்க்கு மிகவே.”

“வாள்வரி அதளதாடை வரி கோவணத்தர்
மடவாள் தனோடும் உடனாய்
நாள்மலர் வன்னி கொன்றை நதிசூடி வந்தென்
உளமே புகுந்த அதனால்
கோளரி உழுவையோடு கொலையானை கேழல்
கொடு நாகமோடு கரடி
ஆளரி நல்லநல்ல அவை நல்லநல்ல
அடியாரவர்க்கு மிகவே.”

“செப்பிள முலைநன்மங்கை ஒருபாகமாக
விடையேறு செல்வ னடைவார்
ஒப்பிள மதியும் அப்பும் முடிமேல் அணிந்தென்
உளமே புகுந்த அதனால்
வெப்பொடு குளிரும் வாத மிகையான* பித்தும்
வினையான வந்து நலியா
அப்படி நல்லநல்ல அவை நல்லநல்ல
அடியாரவர்க்கு மிகவே.”

“வேள்பட விழிசெய்தென்று விடைமேலிருந்து
மடவாள் தனோடும் உடனாய்
வாள்மதி வன்னி கொன்றை மலர்சூடி வந்தென்
உளமே புகுந்த வதனால்
ஏழ்கடல் சூழிலங்கை அரையன் ற*னோடும்
இடரான வந்து நலியா
ஆழ்கடல் நல்லநல்ல அவை நல்லநல்ல
அடியாரவர்க்கு மிகவே.”

“பலபல வேடமாகும் பரனாரி பாகன்
பசுவேறும் எங்கள் பரமன்
சலமக ளோடெருக்கு முடிமேல் அணிந்தென்
உளமே புகுந்த அதனால்
மலர்மிசை யோனுமாலும் மறையோடு தேவர்
வருகால மான பலவும்
அலைகடல் மேருநல்ல அவை நல்லநல்ல
அடியாரவர்க்கு மிகவே.”

“கொத்தலர் குழலியோடு விசையற்கு நல்கு
குணமாய வேட விகிர்தன்
மத்தமும் மதியும்நாக முடிமேல் அணிந்தென்
உளமே புகுந்த அதனால்
புத்தரொ டமணைவாதில் அழிவிக்கும் அண்ணல்
திருநீறு செம்மை திடமே
அத்தகு நல்லநல்ல அவை நல்லநல்ல
அடியார*வர்க்கு மிகவே.”

“தேனமர் பொழில்கொள் ஆலை விளைசெந்நெல் துன்னி
வளர் செம்பொன் எங்கும் திகழ
நான்முகன் ஆதியாய பிரமா புரத்து
மறைஞான ஞான முனிவன்
தானுறு கோளும் நாளும் அடியாரை வந்து
நலியாத வண்ணம் உரைசெய்
ஆன சொல்மாலை யோதும் அடியார்கள் வானில்
அரசாள்வர் ஆணை நமதே.”

 

SOURCE:::: http://www.periva.proboards.com

Natarajan

Sundar Pichai Takes Control of Key Google Products….

In a major move by Google CEO Larry Page, Sundar Pichai, the Google executive responsible for Android, Chrome, and Google Apps will now also be seen looking after other key Google products, according to recode.net.

 

Page had sent out a memo to the staff on Friday on the change in the leadership of certain areas of Google’s business.

Pichai will be in charge of research, search, maps, Google+, commerce and ad products, and infrastructure, apart from his existing responsibilities. Six executives for Google’s newly added products who were directly reporting to Page will now be reporting to Pichai.

According to recode.net, this move was taken due to Page’s concern that Google may become less innovative as time progressed. Page believes that it would reduce bottleneck and he will be free to be able to expand existing business. It would help him focus on the ‘bigger picture’, reported recode.net.

For Pichai who’s initial role was to manage Chrome and later the OS and a line of netbooks, this new responsibility is a big accomplishment.

His previous promotion was in March 2012 when he took control of Google Apps and later in March 2013, when Android too came his way.

According to recode.net, Pichai is known to be ‘well-liked exec is seen as an ambassador and partnership maker’. However it adds that this move does not mean he is being considered as Google’s heir apparent.

Pichai is an Indian citizen born in Chennai in 1972. He joined Google 2004. Before that he worked at Applied Materials and at McKinsey & Co.

He is an alumnus of the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, Stanford University and the Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur.

SOURCE::::  http://www.dnaindia.com/

Natarajan

 

Joke of the Day…” That is Crowbar from Sears …” !!!

 There was this little guy sitting in a bar, drinking his beer, minding his own business when all of a sudden this great big dude comes in and — WHACK!! — knocks him off the bar stool and onto the floor. The big dude says, “That was a karate chop from Korea.” The little guy thinks “GEEZ,” but he gets back up on the stool and starts drinking again when all of a sudden — WHACK!! — the big dude knocks him down AGAIN and says, “That was a judo chop from Japan.” So the little guy has had enough of this… He gets up, brushes himself off and quietly leaves. The little guy is gone for an hour or so when he returned. Without saying a word, he walks up behind the big dude and — WHAM!!!” — knocks the big dude off his stool, knocking him out cold!!! The little guy looks at the bartender and says, “When he gets up, tell him that’s a crowbar from Sears.  

SOURCE:::: Joke a day.com

Natarajan

 

Incredible Images ….. Spectacular Earth !!!

Dave Kan in Noosa, Queensland, Australia: ‘I was finishing up a photo shoot when a wild kangaroo appeared out of nowhere and bounded onto the lake, as if walking on water. This, along with the picturesque sunset combined to create an absolute visual treat!’

Dave Kan in Noosa, Queensland, Australia: 'I was finishing up a photo shoot when a wild kangaroo appeared out of nowhere and bounded onto the lake, as if walking on water. This, along with the picturesque sunset combined to create an absolute visual treat!'

Rick Loesche on Sanibel Island, Florida: An island bird gulps down a tiny crab for a meal

Rick Loesche on Sanibel Island, Florida: An island bird gulps down a tiny crab for a meal 

Hendy MP in Sambas, West Kalimantan, Indonesia: A lemur species gets ready to fly in this photo captured in the early afternoon

Hendy MP in Sambas, West Kalimantan, Indonesia: A lemur species gets ready to fly in this photo captured in the early afternoon

Source::::::ASHLEY COLLMAN FOR MAILONLINE   www.dailymail.co.uk   & National Geographic

Natarajan

 

 

Picture of the Day…. View From Eiffel Tower Thro the Eyes of an Eagle !!!

Still from a video filmed from the back of an eagle as it soars over Paris after taking off from the Eiffel tower. In a world's first, a white-tailed eagle soared from the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris and flew over the Seine down into the Trocadero Gardens with a camera mounted on its back.

Still from a video filmed from the back of an eagle as it soars over Paris after taking off from the Eiffel tower. In a world’s first, a white-tailed eagle soared from the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris and flew over the Seine down into the Trocadero Gardens with a camera mounted on its back.Picture: Sony/SWNS 

SOURCE:::The Telegraph UK

Natarajan

Why an Apple a Day Keeps You Away From Your Doctor !!!

Why Are Apples So Healthy?

We all know that old saying: “An apple a day keeps the doctor away.
But have you ever wondered why that is? How one apple a day can bring about significant health benefits? If you have, then you’ll be glad to read this article. From strengthening the immune system, through preventing cancerous growths and to losing weight, say hello to your one apple a day!
 
How do apples do what they do?
An important research published in 2008 by the German cancer research center, showed that apples offer a significant health advantage. When comparing between a group that had less than one apple per day and a group that had one or more apples a day, the latter was found to have less risk of mouth cancer, larynx cancer, breast cancer, intestinal cancer, kidney cancer and ovarian cancer.
These findings support a new research performed at Cornell university, showing that the peel of the apple has strong anti-oxidant properties, a powerful block against the influences of breast cancer cells. Researchers found that the higher the concentraion of apples, the lower the concentration of cancerous cells.
Cancerous growths are uncontrollable growths of cells independently spreading through the body. The growths are based on three principal levels: The first stage causes mutations in cell DNA. The second, when the growth becomes malignant and grows faster, and finally when it metastases and spreads throughout the body.
In the case of a cancerous growth, apples aren’t only used as anti-oxidants, but also improve the function of the immune system, which helps clean out the growths at the early stages.
In addition to boosting the immune system and fighting cancerous growths, apples also help control the levels of cholesterol and sugars in the blood, prevent heart disease and improve mouth hygiene. The fact that they contain more than 80% water and a long line of essential vitamins, makes them one of the healthiest foods available.
The secret is in the nutritional fibers
 
Apples are considered a vital source of nutritional fibers. Eating one apple a day (with peel) can award us about 4.4 grams of nutritional fibers, which is 1/5 of our entire day’s recommended amount.
Nutritional fibers are materials found in foods that come from plants, and have a very important role in stimulating the digestive system and encouraging its function. Since they are not digested and taken apart in the body, they sate our hunger for a longer period of time. Extensive research has shown that those that do not get their daily recommended amount (at least 25 grams a day), deny themselves a host of health benefits. In addition, the researchers found that consuming these fibers is quite the effective method of losing weight.
The secret is in the chewing. Drinking apple juice will not bring about the same health benefits. We’d be happy to receive the essential sugars and vitamins, but we would not get the fibers.
A research conducted in China found that chewing can help the body regulate the amount of calories it absorbs from food.
What does this have to do with apples?
Everything. Apples are a terrific source of nutritional fibers, especially a group of fibers called Pectin. This is a group of complex carbohydrates that regulate our bowels, improve good cholesterol rates and is a powerful anti-oxidant and anti-bacterial.
Researchers from UCLA have shown that consuming pectin instead of regular fibers, doubles the time it takes the stomach to empty from one hour to two. Meaning that we don’t feel hungry for a longer time. In fact, a recent research paper entitled: “Weight Loss Associated with a Daily Intake of Three Apples or Three Pears among Overweight Women”, shows that women suffering from overweight and were instructed to eat an apple or pear before each meal, lost significant weight, just for doing so. The women in the experiment were asked to eat regularly and just add the apple before the meal. What happened was that the apples and fibers crowded the stomach, increased the feeling of being full, and made the body absorb less calories.
Other sources of nutritional fibers are: Pears, Peaches, peas, carrots, seeds, nuts, peel of fruits and vegetables, legumes, whole grains, oats and whole wheat. But apples offer many more advantages.
So if you want to:
Lose weight, eat one apple a day.
Strengthen your immune system, eat one apple a day.
Control the level of cholesterol, eat one apple a day.
Prevent the spread of cancerous cells, eat one apple a day.
And if you want to keep the doctor away – EAT ONE APPLE A DAY!  
SOURCE::::: ba-ba mail site
Natarajan

” For Many Years , It Upset Me That I was a Businessman…” Says Dilip Kapur

I wondered what mistakes I made in my life to be a businessman. Deep down, I still have doubts about it.’

Shobha Warrier meets the amazing Dilip Kapur who built a Rs 160 crore business with just Rs 25,000.

Image: Dilip Kapur whose Hidesign has grown from its artisan roots to an international brand. Photograph: Sreeram Selvaraj

Business was not Dilip Kapur’s first love. He actually wanted to “change the world.” But as fate would have it, what started as a hobby, is today a business worth over Rs 160 crore (Rs 1.6 billion) with 76 exclusive showrooms and a distribution network in 23 countries.

Founded in 1978 as a two man workshop, Dilip Kapur’s Hidesign has grown into a global brand recognised for quality, ecological values and personalised service.

“For many years, it upset me that I was a businessman. I wondered what mistakes I made in my life to be one. Deep down, I still have doubts about it. Business is not something I wanted to do,” says Kapur, the founder-president of Hidesign, the leather goods manufacturer based in Pondicherry/Puducherry, adding that even today he has many questions about doing business.

Kapur’s father, a rich businessman in Delhi, relinquished all his wealth and moved to Pondicherry in 1954 when Kapur was just five, and joined the Aurobindo Ashram.

After studying in the Ashram school as a free spirited boy, Kapoor studied at the Phillips Academy, Andover, Massachusetts, and later at Princeton University, graduating in liberal arts. He did his PhD in international affairs at Princeton.

When he was at university, the Vietnam War broke and along with that, the hippie and ant-Vietnam movements. “I was a hippie with long hair!’ he remembers. “We all thought we would be able to change the world.”

Image: Hidesign’s leather collection includes handbags, clutches, briefcases, laptop cases, wallets, belts and garments. Photograph: Sreeram Selvaraj

As the war ended, he got a job and that was the first time he was introduced to leather. “I loved the look of it. Unlike cloth, it was very tactile; you can touch it and feel it. There is a three dimension feel to leather; you can see through leather. It is more living unlike cloth.”

As part of his training, he made bills once a week and that was when he noticed that all the rare leather imported from England was called E I Leather. He found out that E I Leather, described as the finest vegetable tanned leather in the world, actually stood for East India Leather.

Considered to be the best for hand colouring, highly expensive shoes and bags in Italy, and the UK were made from this brand of leather. A huge surprise awaited him when he was told that E I Leather was imported from Madras (now Chennai)!

“They were importing from my homeland and I didn’t know. It was one of our heritages which we have lost. India used to be a big centre for vegetable tanned leather, the other two were Italy and Brazil. But when chemical tanning came to India, vegetable tanning slowly vanished.”

With every passing day Kapur realised he disliked the US more. “I really believed Vietnam was American imperialism. Maybe because I was an Indian, I felt connected to Vietnam. The arrogance of America upset me a lot; they thought they could do anything to any country. I admired Vietnam for the way they fought America. The Vietnam War was only one of the reasons why I decided to come back; I always knew one day I was going to come back,” he says.

“I had this pride that I was an Indian and wanted to live in India. No Indian who went to America at that time came back.”

Image: Hidesign has three design teams based in Milan, London and Pondicherry. Photograph: Sreeram Selvaraj

Back in Pondicherry in 1978, there was nothing much for him to do except plant trees and plan the affairs of Auroville. As he helped build Auroville, he indulged in his hobby of designing leather bags, and went searching for the source of E I Leather.

To his disappointment, tanner after tanner that he visited told him that they had stopped using the E I process and shifted to the more modern chrome tanning process.

“The disastrous results were apparent all around the tanneries. Where tannery waste water had once nurtured surrounding fields, now these areas were poisoned deserts with high incidence of cancer and skin diseases. Farmers, tanners, tanneries and environment, once bound together in a symbiotic and mutually beneficial relationship, were now enemies.”

Thus began his search to find the last remaining skilled tanners of E I Leather to dedicate himself “to research more innovative methods of tanning, based firmly on a heritage that had once created the greatest leather in the world!”

What he did next was visit the cobbler’s colony looking for the best cobbler there. All fingers pointed towards Murugan, a cobbler who could make his own patterns.

Murugan became Kapur’s first employee and continues to be part of Hidesign’s 35-year long journey.

Image: Hidesign sees great value in natural beauty. Photograph: Sreeram Selvaraj

Kapur was pleasantly surprised when a friend of his bought the very first handmade bag he designed for Rs 300.

“I just couldn’t believe that somebody would actually buy a bag I made. This friend knew I was making a bag and when I finished it, she found it so beautiful that she bought it. It was very unexpected.”

Kapur was now making one bag a day and gifting them to family members. It caught the attention of a German friend in Auroville. He modelled with the bags for the catalogue of the World Hunger Organisation and placed an order for 1,400 bags.

“Imagine, I had just started my business and had only one cobbler working for me. The realisation that people would place an order for what you did as a hobby, was amazing. After six months, I supplied 200 bags to him. That was all I could make.”

When such a big order landed his way, Kapur knew it was time to expand. With Rs 25,000 as capital, he expanded his hobby into a business. Most of the money was spent on buying leather, other accessories and a sewing machine.

“If I knew it would grow into a business, I would have closed it down at that time itself. I am not a Socialist or a Communist. I am not even a capitalist; I am a liberalist!” exclaims Kapur.

Image: Hidesign’s leathers are full grain and have not been corrected with paint and pigment to hide natural defects. Photograph: Sreeram Selvaraj

The bags were packed off with the name Hide (leather) and Design with ‘de’ in shadows, but a London company made it one word, Hidesign saying two ‘de’s would not read good. That was how Hidesign was born.

Soon, another order was placed by a friend who used to stay in Auroville but had gone back to Australia.

The next big step in Kapur’s journey was the British store chain John Lewis stocked Hidesign bags.

“We only had rebels as our customers in the first few years. It took us ten years to conquer the mainstream market. By then, the whole culture of the world had changed and people became less conservative and more casual. The biggest break was John Lewis buying our products.”

Image: Hidesign’s products are individually handcrafted using the finest leather. Photograph: Sreeram Selvaraj

Having left India at the age of 15, Kapur felt like a foreigner having no knowledge of the country. So, when he started designing bags, he was doing that for himself and people like him who liked anything that looked natural and rustic. He felt awkward when they moved from the ‘rebel camp’ to the ‘mainstream camp.’

“It was like a progression even though they (John Lewis) forced us to go mainstream. Our leather used to be handmade, but they wanted us to make it a little more even. Till then, we were catering only to the ‘alternate culture’. At John Lewis, our customers were the normal Europeans who were till then buying Italian bags. Yes, it was exciting to replace high-end Italian bags.”

Kapur felt this was the “end of innocence.”

In 1992 Hidesign’s Boxy Bag won the Accessory of the Year award from Accessory Magazine. Kapur had designed a little suitcase like a box with a long strap. The distributor collected the award from Princess Diana. She gave the award and took the bag home.

Stephen Spielberg picked a Hidesign bag and used it in a movie. Bob Hawke, Australia’s former prime minister, carried a Hidesign bag all the time.

The biggest surprise for Kapur was when India became a big market. By now, the number of people working for him had increased and the small unit became a big factory. Today, 3,000 people work for Hidesign, which has 2,000 stores.

“When we started selling in India in 2000, we sold only 6 per cent of our products here. We couldn’t even find a distributor in India who understood our products. So we opened our own stores, first in Delhi and then in Bangalore. Now, India is our biggest market, 65 per cent of our sales are in India. Our customers are from the 25 to 35 age group.”

“After liberalisation the world came to India and Indians went to the world. Suddenly you see many Indians having the same lifestyle as a person in San Fransisco and London.”

Image: The natural and ecological tanning process enhances the intrinsic characteristics and individuality of Hidesign’s leather. Photograph: Sreeram Selvaraj

Until 2005, most of Hidesign’s Indian customers were men, but post-2005, women became big fans of Hidesign. Internationally, 70 per cent of its customers are still men.

A businessman who was never ambitious, Kapur now wants Hidesign to grow and become a leader in India.

“I want to see it as an important brand internationally, but I don’t think in terms of numbers and rupees. We want to stay natural and ecological. That is very important to us. Hidesign is part of a movement that makes people conscious of the environment and never exploit any human being. We should have a reason to be there and a story to tell.”

Shobha Warrier/Rediff.com in Pondicherry

SOURCE:::::Rediff.com
Natarajan

” Cars. Homes and Jewellery as Diwali Bonus and Incentive for Dedicated Workers … “

A diamond merchant from Surat has put a smile on his employees faces after he gifted them cars, homes and jewellery as Diwali bonus in a stunning act of generosity, Oprah-style.

Surat-based diamond firm Hari Krishna Exports has given Rs 4 lakh each to 1,268 employees, including cleaning staff, to buy cars, flats and jewellery.

This novel reward, which is apart from the annual Diwali bonus, would cost the company Rs 50 crore.

“Besides Diwali bonus, which is given to all employees, we have been running a programme to reward loyal, hardworking and dedicated staff. After one-year of evaluation of their performance, we have selected 1,268 such employees,” Hari Krishna Exports Chairman and Managing Director Savaji Dholakia said in Ahmedabad.

Out of its 6,000 employees, the management selected 1,268 employees for their exceptional work, devotion and loyalty towards the company, Dholakia said.

“We have allotted Rs 4 lakh to each of these employees, which comes to around Rs 50 crore. It was left to them to choose which gift they want. For example, those who had a car and a flat, opted for jewellery. This will boost their morale and encourage them and others to work hard,” Dholakia said.

Dholakia said 491 employees accepted the gift to buy cars, while 207 employees opted to buy flats and 570 chose jewellery.

Each of the selected employees would get Rs 4 lakh to buy a Fiat ‘Punto Evo’ car, or a residential apartment or get gold jewellery worth Rs 4 lakh, Dholakia said.

Meanwhile, Fiat Group Automobiles India said it has delivered the biggest single bulk order of 455 Punto cars to a prominent business house in Surat.

“The order comprises of 190 Punto Evo 1.2 Petrol and 265 Punto Evo 1.3 Diesel in New Pearl White and Minimal Grey colours was taken by Sukrit Autolink, FIAT exclusive dealer in Surat,” the auto maker said in a statement.

The 1,268 employees of Hari Krishna Exports range from managers to diamond polishers to even cleaning staff, Dholakia said.

The diamond trading firm had registered a turnover of over Rs 6,000 crore last year, he said.

Image: The cars which were handed out to the employees on Sunday by diamond merchant (below) Savjibhai Dholakia

SOURCE:::: Rediff.com
Natarajan

” A Blessing is Something Money can Never Buy …”

 

Diwali is round the corner. While most people, staying away from their parents, have already planned a trip back home, there are a few who can’t. Maybe it’s work, maybe it’s studies or maybe it’s the distance.

This video beautifully captures the emotional journey of an abrupt decision to spend the festive days with your close ones. Because having a place to go is home, having someone to love is family & having both is a blessing.

And that blessing is something money can never buy.

SOURCE::::  Storypick and youtube

Natarajan