” ஹனுமனுக்கு வடை மாலை , ஜாங்கிரி மாலை ஏன்…? “

December 15, 2014NatarajanLeave a comment

ஒரு முறை வட நாட்டில் இருந்து ஓர் அன்பர் மஹபெரியவாளைத தரிசிக்க வந்தார். மனம் குளிரும்வண்ணம் அவரது தரிசனம் முடிந்த பிறகு சற்றே நெளிந்தவாறு நின்றார். இவரது மனதில் ஏதோ கேள்வி இழையோடுகிறது போலும் என்று தீர்மானித்த பெரியவா,

“என்ன சந்தேகம். கேளுங்கோ” என்றார்.

அந்த வட நாட்டு அன்பருக்கு ஆஞ்சநேயர் குறித்த ஒரு சந்தேகம் நெடு நாட்களாகவே இருந்து வந்தது.

இதுகுறித்துப் பலரிடமும் விளக்கம் கேட்டு விட்டார். ஆனால் எவரிடம் இருந்தும் சரியான பதில் வரவில்லை. அவர், அந்த சந்தேகத்தை மஹா பெரியவாளிடம் கேட்கலாமா என்று யோசித்துக் கொண்டிருந்த போதுதான், ஸ்வாமிகளே உத்தரவு கொடுத்து விட்டார்.

“ஆஞ்சநேயரைப் பற்றி எனக்கு ஒரு சந்தேகம்…” இழுத்தார் அன்பர்.

“வாயுபுத்திரனைப் பத்தியா… கேளேன்” என்றார் ஸ்வாமிகள்.

“ஸ்வாமி.. ஆஞ்சநேயர் பலருக்கும் இஷ்ட தெய்வமாக இருக்கிறார். எல்லாருமே அவரை வணங்கி அருள்பெறுகிறார்கள். ஆனால் அவருக்கு அணிவிக்கப்படும் மாலை பற்றித் தான் என் சந்தேகம்….”
பெரியவா மெளனமாக இருக்கவே… அன்பரே தொடர்ந்தார்: “அனுமனுக்குத் தென்னிந்தியாவில் காரமானமிளகு கலந்த வடை மாலை சாற்றுகிறார்கள். ஆனால் நான் வசிக்கும் வட இந்தியாவிலோ ஜாங்கிரி மாலைசாற்றுகிறார்கள். ஏன் இப்படி வித்தியாசப்படுகிறது ?”

பதிலுக்காக மஹபெரியவாளையே பார்த்துக் கொண்டிருந்தார் வட நாட்டில் இருந்து வந்த அன்பர்.

தன்னுடைய நீண்ட நாளைய சந்தேகத்துக்கு, பெரியவாளிடம் இருந்தாவது தகுந்த பதில் வருமா என்கிற எதிர்பார்ப்பு அவரது முகத்தில் இருந்தது. கேள்வி கேட்ட வட நாட்டு அன்பர் மட்டுமல்ல… பெரியவா சொல்லப்போகும் பதிலுக்காக அன்று அங்கு கூடிஇருந்த அனைவருமே ஆவலுடன் இருந்தனர்.

ஒரு புன்முறுவலுக்குப் பிறகு பெரியவா பதில் சொல்ல ஆரம்பித்தார்.

“பெரும்பாலோர் வீட்டில் கைக்குழந்தைகள் சாப்பிடுவதற்கு அடம் செய்தால், வீட்டுக்கு வெளியே குழந்தையை இடுப்பில் தூக்கிக் கொண்டு வந்து, ‘அதோ பார் நிலா…’ என்று சந்திரனை அந்தக் குழந்தைக்கு வேடிக்கை காட்டி உணவை சாப்பிட வைப்பார்கள் பெண்கள். அழகான நிலாவையும் வெளிக்காற்றையும் சுவாசிக்க நேரும் குழந்தைகள் அடம் பண்ணாமல் சமர்த்தாக உணவை சாப்பிட்டு விடும் . சம்பந்தப்பட்ட அம்மாக்களுக்கும் இது சந்தோஷத்தைத் தரும். உங்களில் பலர் வீடுகளிலும் இது நிகழ்ந்திருக்கும்.

சாதாரண குழந்தைகளுக்கு நிலா விளையாட்டுப் பொருள் என்றால், ராமதூதனான அனுமனுக்கு சூரியன் விளையாட்டுப் பொருள் ஆனது. அதுவும் எப்படி ? பார்ப்பதற்கு ஏதோ ஒரு பழம் போல் காட்சி தந்த சூரியனைஅடுத்த கணமே தன் கையில் பிடித்துச் சாப்பிட வேண்டும் என்று தீராத ஆசை ஏற்பட்டது அனுமனுக்கு.

அனுமன் கைக்குழந்தையாக விளையாடிக் கொண்டிருந்தபோது வானத்தில் செக்கச்செவேல் என்று ஒரு பழம்போல்‘ஜிவுஜிவு’ என்று தோற்றமளித்த சூரியன், அவரை மிகவும் கவர்ந்து விட்டது. மனித வாழ்க்கையின் ஜீவாதாரத்துக்குக் காரணமான சூரியனை, சாப்பிடுவதற்கு உகந்த ஒரு பழம் என்று நினைத்து விட்டார் அனுமன். வாயுபுத்திரன் அல்லவா ? அடுத்த கணமே அது தன் கையில் வந்து விட வேண்டும் என்று விரும்பினார். வாயு வேகத்தில் வானத்தில் பறந்தார். பிறந்து சில நாட்களே ஆன ஒரு பச்சிளங்குழந்தை சூரியனையே விழுங்குவதற்காக இப்படிப் பறந்து செல்வது கண்டு தேவர்கள் திகைத்தனர்.வாயுபுத்திரனின் வேகத்தை எவராலும் தடுக்க முடியவில்லை.

அதே நேரத்தில் ராகு கிரஹமும் சூரியனைப் பிடித்து கிரஹண காலத்தை உண்டுபண்ணுவதற்காக நகர்ந்து கொண்டிருந்தது. ஆனால், அனுமன் சென்ற வேகத்தில் ராகு பகவானால் செல்ல முடியவில்லை. சூரியனைப் பிடிப்பதற்காக நடந்த இந்த ரேசில் அனுமனிடம் ராகு பகவான் தோற்றுப் போனார். இந்த நிகழ்ச்சியின் முடிவாக, அனுமனுக்கு ஒரு அங்கீகாரம் கொடுத்தார் ராகு பகவான். அதாவது, தனக்கு மிகவும் உகந்த தானியமான உளுந்தால் உணவுப் பண்டம் தயாரித்து எவர் ஒருவர் அனுமனை வணங்குகிறாரோ ,அவரை எந்தக் காலத்திலும் தான் பீடிப்பதில்லை எனவும், தன்னால் வரும் தோஷங்கள்
அனைத்தும் நிவர்த்திஆகி விடும் எனவும் ராகு பகவான் அனுமனிடம் தெரிவித்தார். இந்த உணவுப் பண்டம் எப்படி இருக்கவேண்டும் என்றும் ராகு பகவான் அனுமனிடம் சொன்னார். அதாவது தன் உடல் போல்(பாம்பு போல்) வளைந்து இருக்க வேண்டும் எனவும் சொன்னார். அதைதான் உளுந்தினால் ஆன மாலைகளாகத் தயாரித்து அனுமனுக்கு சமர்ப்பிக்கிறோம். ஆக, ராகு தோஷத்தால் பாதிக்கப்பட்டிருப்பவர் உளுந்து தானியத்தால் ஆனவடை மாலைகளை அனுமனுக்குச் சார்த்தி வழிபட்டால், ராகு தோஷம் நிவர்த்தி ஆகி விடும் என்பது இதில் இருந்து தெரிகிறது.

இப்போது மிளகு வடை மற்றும் ஜாங்கிரி விஷயத்துக்கு வருகிறேன்.

வடையாகட்டும்… ஜாங்கிரி ஆகட்டும். இரண்டுமே உளுந்தினால் செய்யப்பட்டவை தான். தென்னிந்தியாவில் இருப்பவர்கள் அனுமனுக்கு உளுந்து வடை மாலை சாற்றுகிறார்கள். இங்கே உப்பளங்கள் அதிகம் உள்ளன. இங்கிருந்து பல வெளி நாடுகளுக்கும் உப்பு அதிக அளவில் ஏற்றுமதி ஆகிறது. ஆகவே, உப்பும் உளுந்தும் கலந்து கூடவே மிளகும் சேர்த்து பாம்பின் உடல் போல் மாலையாகத் தயாரித்து, அனுமனுக்கு சார்த்தி வழிபடும் வழக்கம் நம்மூரில் அதிகம் உண்டு.

வட இந்தியாவில் பல மாநிலங்களில் கரும்பு விளைச்சல் அமோகமாக இருக்கிறது. சர்க்கரை பெருமளவில் அங்கு உற்பத்தி ஆகி, வெளிநாடுகளுக்கெல்லாம் ஏற்றுமதி ஆகிறது. தவிர, வட இந்தியர்கள் இனிப்புப்பண்டங்களை அதிகம் விரும்பிச் சாப்பிடுபவர்கள். அதுவும், அவர்களுக்குக் காலை நேரத்திலேயே —அதாவது பிரேக் ஃபாஸ்ட் வேளையில் இனிப்புப் பண்டங்களையும் ரெகுலர் டிஃபனோடு சேர்த்துக்
கொள்வார்கள். அவர்கள் இனிப்பு விரும்பிகள். எனவேதான், அவர்கள் உளுந்தினால் ஆன ஜாங்கிரி மாலையை அனுமனுக்கு சாரதி வழிபடுகிறார்கள்.

எது எப்படியோ… அனுமனிடம் ராகு பகவான் கேட்டுக் கொண்டபடி உளுந்து மாலைகள் அனுமனுக்கு விழுந்துகொண்டே இருக்கின்றன.

அது உப்பாக இருந்தால் என்ன… சர்க்கரையாக இருந்தால் என்ன.. மாலை சார்த்திவழிபடும் பக்தர்களுக்கு ராகு தோஷம் தொலைந்து போனால் சரி” என்று சொல்லி விட்டு, இடி இடியெனச்சிரித்தார் மஹபெரியவா.

பெரியவாளின் விளக்கமான இந்த பதிலைக் கேட்ட வட நாட்டு அன்பர் முகத்தில் பரவசம். சடாரென மகானின திருப்பாதங்களுக்கு ஒரு நமஸ்காரம் செய்து தன் நன்றியைத் தெரிவித்தார். கூடி இருந்த அநேகபக்தர்களும் பெரியவாளின் விளக்கத்தால் நெகிழ்ந்து போனார்கள்.

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

Message For the Day…” Learn From The WATCH the Lesson it Teaches to us …”

December 15, 2014NatarajanLeave a comment

You dread that it is very difficult, nay, impossible, to realise God. It is very simple; its very simplicity makes you feel that there must be some hidden trap. You do not appreciate simple things and habits. For example, there is nothing so simple as speaking the truth; yet how many stick to Truth! If you venture into untruth, you have to invent new stories all along the line and keep in memory all the stories and all the persons to whom you have related them. Each student has a watch on his wrist. And, you look at the watch at least a hundred times a day. Well, learn from the watch a great lesson. When you watch the watch, remember the five letters of the word, WATCH; each is giving you a fine lesson for life: W tells you ‘Watch your Words’; A warns you ‘Watch your Action’; T indicates ‘Watch your Thoughts’; C advises ‘Watch your Character’; and H declares ‘Watch your Heart.’ When you are consulting your watch, imbibe this lesson that the watch is imparting.

Sathya Sai Baba

” Origin of Filter Coffee … Not From India “… Surprising !!!… Read More !!!

December 14, 2014December 14, 2014NatarajanLeave a comment

The Heartbreaking Truth About Indian Foods That Are Not Indian at All !!!

Rutu Ladage in http://www.indiatimes.com

You’ve been eating and drinking them all your life without knowing the actual origins! We bet you never knew these Indian foods are not Indian at all but are a gift of foreign influences.

1. Samosa

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That delicious samosa you always munch on as a tea-time snack or when sudden hunger-pangs hit is not Indian at all! The triangular potato/meat-filled savoury dish that is easily found on every street-corner actually has origins in the Middle East. Originally called ‘sambosa‘, the Indian samosa was actually introduced to the country sometime between the 13th and 14th century by traders of the Middle East. But whatever, we’re just happy we get to hog these yummy yummy snacks!

2. Gulab Jamuns

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Ooh. We’re sure your mouth is already watering. The very thought of these calorie-filled dough balls, deep-fried and then soaked is enough to send anyone to food heaven. And what’s more, this dish is so versatile that you can enjoy it hot, cold or simply at room temperature. But the favourite Indian dessert originated in the Mediterranean and Persia. Though the original form of the dessert is called luqmat al qadi and made of dough balls deep fried, soaked in honey syrup and sprinkled with sugar, once it reached India, the recipe was modified. How we wish it was lunch-time already!

3. Vindaloo

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The very sound takes you to the beaches of Goa and a relaxed family lunch. But the very spicy meat curry is not Goan at all! Vindaloo has it’s roots in Portuguese cuisine and it has been adapted from the very famous carne de vinha d’alhos which is the Portuguese name for Vindaloo. Originally, Vindaloo was made of wine, pork and garlic and that is how it derived it’s name (vin – wine, alhos – garlic) though Indians modified it by using palm vinegar, pork/beef/chicken and multiple spices. Though the original recipe does not use potatoes, Indians modified the recipe further by using potatoes as the word “aloo” in Vindaloo means potato in Hindi. Now you know where that sudden piece of potato popped up from between those meat chunks.

4. Shukto

Mix and Stir

This mouth-watering Bengali delicacy is another surprise which has it’s origins in Portuguese cuisine. The Portuguese influence extended all the way from Goa to Eastern Bengal or Bangladesh and the influences are visible in Bengali food even today. Shukto is prepared from Karela or Bitter Gourd which is Indian in origin but was prepared by the Portuguese in olden days. Slowly, Indian influences like multiple other vegetables and a dash of milk/sweet to cut the spice were added to the dish. Just be happy you get to savour this amazing dish today!

5. Chai

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The unassuming comfort drink of almost every Indian is in no way true desi. Famous the world over as chai (Starbucks has a Chai Latte on their menu), tea has it’s origins in China. While the Chinese used it as a medicinal drink, the Britains soon discovered it and loved it’s versatile nature. Now, the British being British wanted to cut China’s monopoly in the tea market. So, they brought the humble ‘chai’ to India (by teaching cultivation techniques to the tribals in North-East India plus offering incentives to Britons who wanted to cultivate in India). And it has been a part of India ever since! In fact, it was only in the 1950s that tea became so popular. Now, don’t suddenly look down into that cup you’re sipping from while reading this!

6. Dal Bhaat

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Dal Bhaat or Dal-rice is a comfort food all over India. There are even variations of this food like the Khichdi which are very popular among Indians. Though dal bhaat seems like a very simple, Indian dish, it is not Indian at all. Dal bhaat is actually of Nepali origin and it was through North Indian influences that the dish entered India and spread throughout the region. We’re sure you’re going to dream of the Himalayas the next time you’re eating this simple food!

7. Rajma

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Rajma chawal has quickly spread from being a North Indian staple to being loved by most Indians. The dish which is as popular as the North Indian chole-bhature is a wholesome meal in itself. However, the preparation of Rajma or the kidney bean in Rajma chawal is not Indian. The bean was brought to India through Central Mexico and Guatemala. The initial preparation or soaking and boiling the beans and adding a few spices is adapted from Mexican recipes. Rajma is a staple in Mexican diet even today though it’s Indian variants are quite different from the Mexican preparations. The bean and recipes prepared using Rajma are famous in North India and the locals often add Indian spices and vegetables like onions and tomatoes to make it tangy. Cool, isn’t it?

8. Bandel Cheese

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This is another staple Bengali dish which has Portuguese influences. While the cheese was developed in India and has it’s origins in Eastern India, it was created by the Portuguese using their own techniques for making cheese and breads. The cheese which has developed into a wide variety today was originally available in just one variety. Over time, people experimented and created the smoked flavor of Bandel cheese. It was the fermentation techniques of the Portuguese that helped developed this cheese and in the olden days, it was made by Burmese cooks under Portuguese supervision.

9. Naan

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This is one dish that is loved all over the world. A type of leavened bread, Naan is a staple of North India and is available in almost all North Indian restaurants across the country. The Americans and Europeans have recently discovered the joys of this bread and love pairing it with their chicken tikka. However, naan is not Indian but was brought to India during the Mughal era. Naan has it’s roots in Persian cuisine though the form of leavened bread is actually Iranian. The soft, melt-in-the-mouth bread is surely a favourite but trying different forms with rose-water, khus or stuffed naan might actually tingle your taste buds!

10. Jalebi

We even have an item number associated with this delicious sweet! How can it not be Indian? But it isn’t. Jalebi is actually from the Middle East though different variations of the sweet were found across different Asian regions. Originally called zalabiya (Arabic)or the zalibiya (Persian), the dish was brought to India by Persian invaders. Today, the dessert Jalebi is famous all over the country in different forms. While North India loves their thin and crispy jalebis, the South Indian version consists of thicker and have a slightly different shape. Jaangiri and Imartee are variations of the Jalebi. Wow! So many variations of just one sweet. No wonder you thought it was Indian!

11. Filter Coffee

“What?”, you say, “How can Filter coffee not be Indian? Well, filter coffee became popular in India pretty late, in the 1950s, around the same time Chai began to get traction. Coffee was not a part of India till the 16th century when it was smuggled into the country, by Baba Budan, on his pilgrimage to Mecca. On returning, he cultivated coffee and the drink soon became popular. Indians would drink coffee without milk or sugar in place of liqueur. Filter coffee was popularised by Coffee Cess Committee when they set up their first Coffee House in then Bombay in 1936. So much information! Time for a kaapi break?

source:::: http://www.indiatimes.com

Natarajan

A Briton Who is Cleaning Up India ….

December 14, 2014NatarajanLeave a comment

There is a reason Jodie Underhill is called the ‘garbage girl’.

Archana Masih/Rediff.com meets the young lady who has been dirtying her hands in a crusade against filth.

“The first thing I saw were the beautiful mountains, but when I looked over the edge what I saw was — garbage,” says Jodie Underhill remembering her trek to Triund, near McLeodganj a few years ago.

Left: Jodie Underhill, CEO-Founder, Waste Warriors. Photograph: Seema Pant/Rediff.com

After spending three months travelling through Mumbai, Goa, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, she had made her way to Dharamsala in 2008.

“India is such a beautiful country, but I haven’t seen filth on this scale. People just don’t care,” she continues talking about her battle with garbage in her office-cum-home in Dehradun; which is also a refuge to Bella, a donkey that broke its leg in a car accident across the road.

“I thought Dharamsala would be my salvation. It was the home of the Dalai Lama and would be clean, but I was wrong. I got off the tourist bus at 6 am to see a big pile of garbage at my feet. I couldn’t take it anymore.”

A native of England, Underhill, who had come to volunteer at a Tibetan school, then spent two weeks walking around McLeodganj with a placard saying ‘Volunteers Needed.’

Hundreds of people, mostly foreigners, turned up for her first clean up.

She and the volunteers went on to clean a children’s park that had been made into a dumping ground and started a waste collection system from home and shops in Triund so that people stopped throwing garbage down the mountains.

“With every piece of glass, plastic or trash you picked, it felt you were rescuing nature in a small way,” she says.

Since then waste is collected from 250 households and brought down on mules. Her NGO also maintains an 8-km-long popular trekking trail.

Underhill, who is often called ‘pagal (mad) for her passion for cleaning up and disposing off waste in the correct way, moved to Dehradun in 2012 to start Waste Warriors with funding from Max-India.

One of its projects was Gandhi Park, the only park in the city, which costs Rs 20,000 a month to maintain.

The organisation and its staff of 24 waste workers maintain certain shopping complexes, forest areas and localities in cooperation with shopkeepers and locals. She also conducts workshops in schools and has conducted a programme on waste management with the Indian Army.

“In India, people have a terrible attitude towards those who clear waste. They are the invisible people. Without them India would have disappeared under its garbage,” says the 38 year old, who won Times Now’s Amazing Indian Award in 2012 and a Rs 4 lakh (Rs 400,000) grant from the Mahindra Rise competition that supports new ideas.

In addition, Mahindra also gave Waste Warriors two pick-up trucks. It was the first time Waste Warriors moved on from the sole cycle rickshaw it had used till then to collect waste. Individual donations also help the organisation with funds — one of them being Telugu movie superstar Chiranjeevi’s contribution of Rs 5 lakhs (Rs 500,000).

When Underhill, a CEO without a salary, could not get a reduction in her visa extension fee of Rs 32,000 recently, Michael Dalvi, the former Ranji Trophy player, donated the amount to the NGO.

Waste Warriors charges Rs 100 from a chaiwallah to Rs 5,000 from a bank to collect and dispose the garbage responsibly. In a particular complex in Dehradun, the waste was earlier being dumped into a parking lot.

Struggling to raise funds and at times confronted with local governmental indifference, working with garbage hasn’t been easy for Underhill. It also elicits prejudice. She was once reported as a prostitute to the Foreigners Registration Office because residents disapproved of her living with two sweepers and her clean-up rounds in a cycle rickshaw.

“I shared their home. It was convenient as I worked with them,” she says and is grateful to have found the present space where Waste Warriors does waste segregation, composting and even provides shelter to cows, donkeys and dogs

Getting down on her knees as she goes through a pile of garbage her waste warriors had brought in, she picks up a plastic bag with rotting, smelly foodstuff.

“This plastic will take hundreds of years to decompose,” she says, reiterating the 5 important things all of us MUST do:

Segregate dry and liquid waste.
Stop using plastic.
Recycle.
Compost food/ garden waste.
Stop LITTERING and PEEING anywhere you feel like!

Image: Jodie Underhill with Bella, an injured donkey that she has given refuge. Photograph: Seema Pant/Rediff.com

“To change mindsets and habits is not impossible, but difficult. Stopping littering, dumping, burning is equivalent to giving up alcohol or drug addiction,” says Underhill, whose NGO is also working with six villages surrounding the Corbett National Park and aims to expand to 120 villages in the next five years.

With no awareness or mechanism, villagers have been dumping their waste into the Corbett tiger reserve. Funding for the first year has been provided by Mahindra. Waste Warriors has projects in Dharamsala, Dehradun, Corbett and has recently started work in Rishikesh. It aims at having similar projects around the country.

Underhill is quite obviously, excited about the Swachh Bharat initiative, and is eager to make a presentation to the prime minister. “I’d like to tell him what needs to be done because I work in the field,” she says.

“The PM is doing the right thing, but sweeping is not enough, it also has to be disposed properly. We need infrastructure, technology and mass scale awareness,” says Underhill.

“The municipal solid waste rules that came into being 14 years ago need to be enforced and read by every government official. This piece of legislation is the key to cleaning India.”

Yet she feels no government can work wonders unless the people bring about the transformation themselves.

Back in England, her parents think she has lost her mind to be working with garbage in India. But she feels India is home.

“English parents are like Indian parents. They want you to get married and have kids. I say I want to make a difference for other kids,” says Underhill who hasn’t been home for a couple of years.

“What are we leaving behind for them — a planet that has nothing left? Millions are going to die if we don’t change the way we live.”

Archana Masih/Rediff.com in Dehradun

Related News: Jodie Underhill, Waste Warriors, NGO, Corbett, Bella

SOURCE:::: http://www.rediff.com

Natarajan

Joke of the Day…” Only one Parachute Left Now … ” !!!

December 14, 2014NatarajanLeave a comment

Four people are in an airplane, the pilot, the smartest man in the world, the richest man in the world, and a punk teenager. The airplane experiences some difficulties, and the pilot informs the three passengers that the plane is going to crash, and there are only three parachutes on the plane. The richest man in the world takes one, because he says that his lawyers will sue everyone else on the plane if he doesn’t survive. The smartest man in the world takes a parachute, because he thinks that the world would be a worse place without him. The pilot says to the punk “There’s only one parachute left, I’ll fight you for it.” “That won’t be necessary,” said the punk, “The smartest man in the world took my backpack.”

SOURCE:::: http://www.joke a day.com

Natarajan

Medicinal Values of Garlic !!!

December 14, 2014NatarajanLeave a comment

How Garlic Does More Than Ward Off Vampires

An old saying goes that if you eat garlic, you are sure to shy away vampires at night. But what is the origin of this saying and does it really have any significance?

The notion that garlic can kill off vampires and other creatures of the night was a folk belief that was once common among Central European communities. It was thought that garlic’s overwhelming pungency would ward off demons, werewolves and vampires, and traditionally would be worn, hung in windows or rubbed around the entrance to the house. Other cultures believe that garlic is a relic of Satan that should be avoided at all costs. Although these superstitions may seem outlandish, there happens to be a bit of useful truth in their purpose.

Image: Keerati/ freedigitalphotos.net

Garlic is the most powerful antibiotic cure nature has to offer. This unsuspecting herb can be used to treat a number of heart and blood-related conditions, such as high blood pressure or high cholesterol, and is even used by some to prevent common cancers, like stomach, colon and even breast cancer. This is due to a chemical in the garlic called allicin, the same element that makes the garlic smell and probably the reason for the folk belief on vampires.

Studies have shown that allicin can aid tremendously in weight loss and may even help cure the common cold. Yet it is important to note that the wonderful powers of garlic are optimized when the garlic is completely raw, peeled and crushed, and when it is consumed only as a medicine. The ways to use garlic to fend off real-life vampires like the flu and other diseases:

1. Cold and Fever Cure

An effective cold and fever cure is garlic tea. To make the tea boil some water and crush 1-2 cloves of fresh garlic (peeled) into the bottom of the mug. Then add the hot water, lemon and a bit of honey (to ease the taste) and drink it all down at once. Repeat as often as possible until the fever or cold symptoms subside.

Image: artur84/ freedigitalphotos.net

2. Treat Skin and Fungal Infections

To treat skin or fungal infections, garlic can be used topically on a daily basis. Apply a sliced of garlic to a wart spot regularly (about 2-3 times per day) and be amazed at the improvement! The wart or corn may not completely disappear, but any discomfort will subside.

3. Garlic as an Antibiotic

As mentioned above, in order to use garlic as an antibiotic, it is best not to consume the herb regularly. Studies have shown that eating raw garlic at the onset of food poisoning can kill off the deadly E.coli, Staph and Salmonella bacteria. Chop up garlic and drink it in a tea, this time without lemon, and a bit of honey, and the poisoning is sure to subside.

4. For Those That Can’t Stand the Taste

If you are not a big fan of garlic or its taste, there are some allicin supplements that can be store-bought and taken as needed. It is important to remember, however, that the potency of the allicin depends on its preparation, and it can change into a different chemical quickly. For this reason, it is best to buy the most natural version of an allicin vitamin where it is available, or stomach the taste of raw garlic just when you are sick.

5. Bug Repellent

Another way to use garlic harks back to the tell-tale vampire myth. Smearing garlic over the skin not only prevents against bacterial or fungal infections, but can also ward off mosquitos and ticks quite effectively. One village in India uses only garlic to deter the deadly Malaria mosquitos and can attest to the natural and harmless effectiveness of garlic. All that remains is to overcome the sharp smell!

Garlic in its many forms can be used to treat and prevent a variety of diseases and conditions, and, just as the folklore suggests, is nature’s miracle solution for warding off the bad.

SOURCE:::: http://www.ba-bamail.com

Natarajan

Interesting Facts of Human Brain !!!

December 14, 2014December 14, 2014NatarajanLeave a comment

Facts About Human Psychology

The human brain is an interesting and powerful organ, but understanding why it does what it does is a process that we’re still studying. The conscious mind and the subconscious mind, psychological effects on our decisions, our habits, etc’, all occur in the brain, yet most of us aren’t aware when these processes take place. This list encompasses 15 of the more interesting facts about our behavior.

1. We blame a person’s behavior on their personality, unless it’s us

One classic examples is driving – how many times have you seen someone cut you off on the road, and the first thing on your mind was “What a crazy *#%&#@”, but 15 minutes later, you tell yourself it’s OK to cut another person because you’re “in a hurry, and it’s just this one time”. We tend to attribute our decisions to external forces, and other people’s bad behavior on their internal attributes. Sadly, it’s a very difficult behavior to stop…

2. We overestimate how we would react to future events

How many times were you sure that your reaction to future events would be one way, only for that event to arrive, and your reaction is significantly different? The reason behind this is that most of us are bad at predicting the future. You think that getting the job of your dreams or marrying that special person will make you happy, but when you do – you’re pretty much the same. Studies show that an individual’s level of happiness will almost always revert to an average level.

3. Our strongest memories are usually inaccurate

We feel like the memories of traumatic events “burn” themselves into our minds, to remain there forever (this is known as “Flashbulb Memories”). Studies have shown that the stronger the emotional state you were in during that event, the more the memory is inaccurate.

4. We can only sustain a high level of concentration for 10 minutes

Do you think you can concentrate on a task for more than 10 minutes? Studies indicate otherwise. On average, a person’s attention span peaks after 10 minutes and then the mind will start wandering.

5. Our brains wander for about 30% of the day

On average, we spend about 30% of our day daydreaming (though some people do it more). On the up side of this, researchers point out that people who tend to daydream more are better at solving problems and tend to be more creative.

6. Humans can’t multitask!

You may hear people claiming that they’re natural multitaskers, and you even see it in some job requirements, but humans simply cannot multitask. Sure, you can listen to music while you work, but your brain can only process one higher-function task at a time. That means that you’ll either be doing work and mainly ignore the music or listen to the music and ignore your work. People simply cannot think about two things at once.

7. Most of your decisions are made subconsciously

Do you think about all the decisions you make, weighing all the options and calculating the impact of each outcome? You might think so, but you’re wrong. The majority of your decisions are made in your subconscious because otherwise – your conscious mind would be overwhelmed with information, and you’ll probably get mentally frozen. The reason for this is that your brain receives over 11 million bits of information every second, and there’s simply not enough “brain power” to go through all of it consciously.

8. We can only store between 5 and 9 bits of information at once

The average human can only keep an average of 7 bits of information at once in their short-term memory. Each of the 7 bits of information can be comprised of several pieces of relevant data. The best example is remembering a phone number – it can be anywhere between 9 and 14 digits long, so we break it into segments like country code, area code, and a set of numbers we split (usually to 3-4 digit groups).

9. We prefer shorter lines of text, but read longer ones better

Sounds counterintuitive, but while we might prefer to read narrow columns, we’ll read the same information faster if it’s spread to the width of the page. The only reason you don’t notice that is because you visually prefer the shorter layout.

10. We want more choices, but choose better with fewer options

Professor Dan Ariely tells in his book “Predictably Irrational” about an experiment he and his colleagues performed: They set up two booths that offered jam for sale. One booth had 24 different kinds of jams while the other only had six kinds of jam. The table with fewer options managed to sell six times more jams than the one with more options. This reverts us back to #8 – our brain just cannot process too many options.

11. We think other people are more easily influenced than us

We can see the effect advertising has on other people more clearly than its impact on ourselves – this is known as the “Third Person Effect”. We can tell how an ad affects our peers, but deny its effects on ourselves, and it gets worse when it’s an ad for something we have no interest it. You have likely not realized it, but all the advertisements you see every day have a subconscious effect on your mood, desires and even attitude.

12. Your brain doesn’t stop working when you sleep

Your brain is just as active when you sleep as it is when you’re awake. Scientists have discovered that the only time your brain clears out toxins and waste is when you sleep. It is also believed that during the sleep cycles, your brain sorts out all the data from the previous day and creates new associations.

13. “Wisdom of the Crowd” is not very wise

Psychologists refer to this as “Groupthink” – the larger the group of individuals, the more likely it is to make choices based on emotions rather than logic and common sense.

14. Crowds are easily swayed 15 Things Psychology Tells Us

People with a dominant or charismatic personalities can easily affect crowd opinions and maneuver groups to do their bidding. They appeal to the group’s emotions, taking advantage of the effect in #13. (Oddly enough, research proves that two heads are still better than one)

15. It takes a person 66 days to form a habit

There is a lot of research data that suggests that following a pattern for 66 days will make it habitual. If, for example, you want to be better about cleaning your home or going to the gym – make a conscious effort to do it for 66 days, after which it will become a habit and will be easier to persevere. (This also works for breaking habits)

SOURCE::::www.ba-bamail.com

Natarajan

Few Natural Remedies to cure Chapped Lips …

December 14, 2014NatarajanLeave a comment

Winter season is here, which means many of us will suffer from chapped lips. It seems that no matter how much we bundle up, our lips constantly remain exposed to the harsh winter winds. It’s important to keep a scarf wrapped around your mouth as a preventative measure.

Chapped lips, also referred to as dry lips, occurs when the lips aren’t properly moisturized or due to certain illnesses. There are a number of external factors that can cause your lips to crack and peel. Here are a few of the most common causes and symptoms:

Causes:

Dehydration
Malnutrition
Excessive Licking of Lips
Cheilitis
Exposure to Sun
Allergic Reaction
Smoking
Kawasaki Disease

Symptoms:

Redness
Dryness
Swelling
Flaking
Sore Lips
Cracking
Bleeding

10 Natural Remedies to Treat Chapped Lips:

1) Honey – Honey can cure almost anything, including chapped lips. Honey acts as a natural lip balm, and moisturizes your lips with its powerful antibacterial properties. Dab a little honey on your lips a couple of times during the day, and an extra dose before bed to prevent chaffing.

2) Sugar – Sugar might not be great for your teeth, but it’s certainly an effective treatment for chapped lips! The sugar helps exfoliate dead cells, while restoring them back their natural state. Here’s a quick recipe on how to prepare a natural sugar lip balm:

How to Prepare It:

Mix 1 teaspoon of honey with 2 teaspoons of sugar.
Apply the sugary sweet lip balm mixture to the damaged areas and allow it to sit for several minutes.
Gently rub the mixture around on your lips to loosen the dead skin cells.
Wash the mixture off with lukewarm water.

3) Water – One of the most common causes of cracked lips is dehydration. It’s extremely important to keep yourself properly hydrated during the day to prevent dry mouth. Try to drink at least 6-8 glasses of water a day. Make sure you carry a large water bottle when you leave the house, so you can stay fully hydrated no matter where you go.

4) Petroleum Jelly – A little Vaseline can cure those dry lips. The petroleum jelly moisturizes your lips, and helps to repair the dead cells. Vaseline also lasts for a long time, and comes available in tiny tubes that fit inside your pocket. Alternatively, you can also apply a bit of honey to your lips, wait for it to dry a few seconds, and add a light smear of petroleum jelly. Remove the substance with a cotton ball dipped in warm water.

5) Aloe Vera Gel – Aloe vera is a multi-purpose skin treatment. It can be used to get rid of chapped lips as well. Place a small amount of the gel to the damaged lips a few times during the day. The aloe vera keeps your lips fully hydrated, which allows the dryness to heal much quicker. The taste may be a bit unpleasant, but the results are worth it.

6) Coconut Oil – The minerals found within the coconut oil helps to moisturize the uncomfortable dryness, and softens the cracked areas of your lips. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to apply the coconut oil:

How to Prepare It:

Mix a teaspoon of coconut oil together with a teaspoon of sea salt into a bowl.
Apply the mixture all over the chapped lips, by gently using your fingers in a small circular motion.
Continue the circular motion for about a minute, before rinsing with a warm washcloth.

7) Castor Oil – Did you know that castor oil can actually be used to nourish and repair dry lips? Castor oil stops the peeling, and works like magic too. Place a dab of the oil over the chapped lips, and cover it with a thin layer of petroleum jelly. Glycerin may be used in place of Vaseline, and here’s how to prepare the mixture:

How to Prepare It:

Mix one teaspoon of castor oil, with a teaspoon of glycerin and a few drops of lemon juice into a small bowl.
Apply the mixture over your dry lips before going to sleep, and wash it off in the morning with a cotton ball dipped in warm water. -Repeat this treatment daily until your lips are smooth again.

8) Cucumber – Sliced cucumbers can reduce puffiness in the eyes, and work wonders for flaky or dry lips. Cucumbers are high in ascorbic acid, which stimulates the production of collagen. Here’s how to prepare a cucumber lip balm to treat the chapped lips:

How to Prepare It:

Take a small cucumber slice and gently rub it on your dry lips.
Let the cucumber juice sit on your lips for around 15 to 20 minutes, and then wash your lips with lukewarm water.
Repeat this process a periodically throughout the day to allow your lips to heal quicker.

9) Rose Petals – Rose petals contain natural oils that provide instant relief against cracked lips. The natural astringent properties of the rose petals offer a soothing effect on the capillaries beneath the skin surface. They also give your lips beautiful color, while kissing the dryness and inflammation goodbye!

How to Prepare It:

Grab a handful of rose petals, and clean them thoroughly in water.
Allow the petals to soak in a milk for a few hours.
Mash the petals in the milk until they begin to form a thick paste.
Apply the paste on your cracked lips a few times per day, and every night before bed.

10) Milk Cream – The high fat content found inside the milk cream is used to eliminate chapped lips. Put a little milk cream on your dry lips, and let the thick heavy cream go to work for about 10 minutes or so. Gently wash your lips afterward with a cotton ball dipped in lukewarm water. Try adding a little lime juice for twice the relief and twice the nourishing benefit!

Strange … But True !!!

December 14, 2014NatarajanLeave a comment

The U.S. Accidentally Dropped An Atomic Bomb On South Carolina In 1958 !!!

The Cold War is over, but there are still plenty of remnants from its troubles across the American landscape. One major reminder of this era is the crater in Mars Bluffs, South Carolina, where the Air Force accidentally dropped an atomic bomb in 1958. This site was one of the biggest military blunders of the entire Cold War. It’s a miracle that no one was killed.

Walter Gregg and his family were minding their own business on March 11, 1958. Suddenly, a giant explosion out of nowhere rocked the property and nearly destroyed their house. After Gregg accounted for his family members (none of whom were injured), he wondered what exactly happened.

Atlas Obscura

Unbeknownst to Gregg, on that same spring morning, a B-47 Stratojet was flying in the skies over his property. The bomber was on its way to the U.K. to take part in a war game exercise. At that time, all bombers in the air were required to carry an atomic payload. This was because of the off-chance that nuclear war broke out while they were in the air. This particular bomber carried a Mark 6 atomic bomb, like the one pictured below.

Wikipedia

Luckily, this particular Mark 6 bomb did not have its nuclear rod inserted. Otherwise, what happened would have been much, much worse.

Imgur

As the bomber passed over Gregg’s house, a warning light went off. Something was wrong with the bomb’s docking system. Apparently, the locking pin was not engaged properly. That’s when navigator Captain Bruce Kulka went to investigate. However, while he was trying to fix the locking pin, Kulka accidentally pressed the bomb’s emergency release.

Wikipedia

The weight of the 8,500 pound bomb forced the bay doors open. The bomb plummeted towards the woods of Mars Bluff. When the bomb landed, it left a 75-foot-wide, and 30-foot-deep crater in the forest near Gregg’s house. Here is what the impact site looks like today.

Wikipedia

Luckily, no one died in the explosion, but it did level several buildings on Gregg’s property and damage nearby houses. Just imagine how much worse it would have been if the bomb was armed with its nuclear material.

The military paid Gregg and his family $54,000 to rebuild what was destroyed by the bomb and to keep things quiet. It was also around this time when a new rule was put in place requiring planes to make sure that their payloads were locked before take-off.

Kelly Michals

You can still see some pieces of the original bomb dropped on Mars Bluff at a local museum.

Kelly Michals

Via: Atlas Obscura

Talk about a big “oopsie.” I can’t believe the flight crew didn’t think to check if the bomb was secured properly before taking off. This could have kicked off World War III if the bomb was actually armed with its nuclear rod. What a simple mistake. Luckily, we’re all around now to laugh about it.

Image of the day…” MoonLight Skating in Sweden …” !!!

December 14, 2014NatarajanLeave a comment

“Nights like these are almost to good to be true.” See this touching, just-released video.

Master sky photographer Göran Strand of Sweden – whose beautiful photo The Father, The Son and the Moon is also featured here at EarthSky this week – mentioned a couple of days ago that he soon would have something more “exotic” to show us. Today (December 10, 2014), he wrote with word of a new video he’s just completed and posted at YouTube. He wrote:

Now I finished the movie showing me and a couple of my friends tour skating on a frozen lake near Östersund, Sweden [a couple of nights ago]. This night was really magic, no wind, lots of ice crystals in the air and an almost full moon that shined upon us during our two hours out on the ice. To the right of the moon, you can see the constellation of Orion and, down left of the moon, you can see planet Jupiter shining brightly.

Nights like these are almost to good to be true.

Hope you like it.

Visit Göran Strand’s website: http://www.astrofotografen.se

Visit Göran on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/fotografgoranstrand

Follow Göran on Twitter: http://twitter.com/Astrofotografen

Göran Strand on Instagram: http://instagram.com/Astrofotografen

SOURCE::: http://www.earthsky.org and You Tube

Natarajan

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Message For the Day…” Learn From The WATCH the Lesson it Teaches to us …”