Sunday, July 18, 2010
Ayurvedam
Ayurveda-literally "Science of Life"-is based on the twin principles of wholeness and balance. As a holistic healing tradition, Ayurveda recommends treating the " whole" person-body, mind, senses, emotions and spirit- instead of following the "one- cause-one-cure" principle and focusing on the symptoms of the moment. The premise is that if the roots are nourished and watered, the plant will flourish. Diet, sleep, lifestyle, daily and seasonal routines and internal cleansing are just as, or more, important than herbs and potions in order to maintain good health. And Ayurveda is equally about maintaining or preserving good health as it is about treating disorders - " Swaasthasya Rakshanam " is one of the goals of Ayurveda.
Payyannur
Payyanur is a municipality situated in the Kannur district of Kerala , India . The place derives its name from the renowned Sri Subrahmanya Swami Temple located here. Payyan is an appellation of Lord Subrahmanya and ooru means "the place". Thus Payyanur means the land of Lord Subrahmanya. Payyanur is also well known for Pavithra Mothiram , Astrology, art forms like Theyyam and Poorakkali , and historical movements like that held at Korom .
Pavithra Mothiram
Payyanur Pavithram or Pavithra Mothiram is internationally famous like" Aranmula Mirror "or "Ambalapuzha Palpayasam". Pavithram is the particular ring worn during performing vedic or holy rituals or during the " pithrubali" (ceremony performed for the well-being of the forefathers or departed souls) in the Hindu tradition. The traditional Pavitram is usually made of "dharba" grass. The formation of Payyanur Pavitram is closely related with Payyanur Sree Subrahmanya Swami Temple. According to the legends, Pavitram made of gold was recommended to avoid the inconvenience of making it many times a day for the various poojas and rituals. [ citation needed ] Payyanur Pavithra Mothiram is a uniquely crafted ring shaped like a knot and considered being a sacred ornament. Usually Payyanur Pavithram is being made of Gold and Silver. The Pavithram is to be worn on the right ring finger by the person performing Vedic Karmas. It is believed that this ring will bring luck and grace to anyone who wears it with the deep devotion. The three lines on the top of the ring represents the three vital "nadees"( nerves) of the human body, Ida, Pingala and Sushumna. The knot between these three nerves together can awake or arose the "Kundalini sakthi" (vital energy of the body) of the human body. It is believed that the Pavithram brings the "Trimoorthi Chaithanyam" ( the vigor or the effect due to the presence of the trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva).The person who wear Pavithram as well as the Goldsmith who makes it has to have to impose some sort of self control or discipline over themselves. They should be pure vegetarian and shouldn't take alcohol and should keep way from immoral activities. If wore by women, they have to remove the ring during the period of menstruation. According to tradition, the Pavithram, before handed over to the customer, is taken to Payyanur Perumal Temple for special poojas and a part of the cost of the ring will be given to the temple as an offering. Payyanur Pavithram is being exhibited in many of the museums of India as well as abroad. It is relevant to mention the name of late C.V. Kunhambu, who ws an expert in the making of Payyanur Pavithram and was also a great freedom fighter. national movement -payyannur has a great history of national movement . a kumhiraman adiyodi and n subrahmanya shenoy were the main leaders
Pavithra Mothiram
Payyanur Pavithram or Pavithra Mothiram is internationally famous like" Aranmula Mirror "or "Ambalapuzha Palpayasam". Pavithram is the particular ring worn during performing vedic or holy rituals or during the " pithrubali" (ceremony performed for the well-being of the forefathers or departed souls) in the Hindu tradition. The traditional Pavitram is usually made of "dharba" grass. The formation of Payyanur Pavitram is closely related with Payyanur Sree Subrahmanya Swami Temple. According to the legends, Pavitram made of gold was recommended to avoid the inconvenience of making it many times a day for the various poojas and rituals. [ citation needed ] Payyanur Pavithra Mothiram is a uniquely crafted ring shaped like a knot and considered being a sacred ornament. Usually Payyanur Pavithram is being made of Gold and Silver. The Pavithram is to be worn on the right ring finger by the person performing Vedic Karmas. It is believed that this ring will bring luck and grace to anyone who wears it with the deep devotion. The three lines on the top of the ring represents the three vital "nadees"( nerves) of the human body, Ida, Pingala and Sushumna. The knot between these three nerves together can awake or arose the "Kundalini sakthi" (vital energy of the body) of the human body. It is believed that the Pavithram brings the "Trimoorthi Chaithanyam" ( the vigor or the effect due to the presence of the trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva).The person who wear Pavithram as well as the Goldsmith who makes it has to have to impose some sort of self control or discipline over themselves. They should be pure vegetarian and shouldn't take alcohol and should keep way from immoral activities. If wore by women, they have to remove the ring during the period of menstruation. According to tradition, the Pavithram, before handed over to the customer, is taken to Payyanur Perumal Temple for special poojas and a part of the cost of the ring will be given to the temple as an offering. Payyanur Pavithram is being exhibited in many of the museums of India as well as abroad. It is relevant to mention the name of late C.V. Kunhambu, who ws an expert in the making of Payyanur Pavithram and was also a great freedom fighter. national movement -payyannur has a great history of national movement . a kumhiraman adiyodi and n subrahmanya shenoy were the main leaders
Saturday, July 17, 2010
Hinduisum
Hinduism is a way of living according to the one's understanding of principles of Vedas and Upanishads. Veda is revealed knowledge. Just as the knowledge of gravity was revealed to Newton, similarly, in India, many Rishis or Seers were awakened to certain transcendental Eternal Truths. These Rishis realized that their real nature was not concerned with or linked with 'body or mind', nor was it dependent on sense perceptions, but was in fact identical with the Universal Consciousness.
Saturday, July 10, 2010
Sri Narayana Guru
Sri Narayana Guru was a prophet, sage and Hindu saint and also a social reformer of India. He was born in the family of Ezhavas, in a period when people from backward communities, like, the Ezhavas faced much social injustices in the caste-ridden Kerala society. Gurudevan, as he was fondly known to his followers, revolted against casteism and worked on propagating new values of freedom in spirituality and of social equality, thereby transforming the Kerala society and as such he is adored as a prophet. India as a whole may have produced its Gandhi, but Keralites are inclined to take more pride in their own great spiritual and social leader, the contemporary of Gandhi, the low-caste sage Sri Narayana Guru, with his tireless preaching of the doctrine of `One Caste, One Religion, One God.` He preached for moral and religious universalism.
Life of Sri Narayana Guru
Narayana Guru was born in the 20 th of August, 1856 , in a village called Chempazhanthi which is situated close to Thiruvananthapuram . He was the son of a farmer called, Madan Asan and mother Kutti Amma. The boy was called Nanu. His father was also a teacher, educated in Sanskrit and well- versed in Ayurveda and astrology. Nanu had three sisters. He used to listen to his father with much interest while he narrates the tales from the Mahabharata and the Ramayana to the common village folks. Nanu was introduced into traditional education pattern Ezhuthinirithal, by a local school master and also a village officer called Chempazhanthi Pillai. He carried on his studies at home under the guidance of his uncle Krishnan Vaidyan, a famous Ayurvedic physician and a scholar of Sanskrit and his father, where he was trained with the basics of the Sanskrit and Tamil languages and traditional subjects like Balaprobhodhanam, Siddharupam and Amarakosam.
.At a young age, Nanu possessed a sharp mind and admitted in the reputed school, Kummampilli Raman Pillai Asan at a village called Karunagapalli, which was fifty miles from his home, when he was only twenty one years old. He stayed as a guest in the family home Varanapally close to Kayamkulam. Nanu, with other students, was given teachings on Sanskrit language and drama, poetry and literary criticism, along with logical rhetoric. He learned the Upanishad and the Vedas . He started teaching in a nearby school and his knowledge earned him the name `Nanu Asan`. Due to pressure from his family, Nanu got married to a traditional village doctor`s daughter called Kaliamma. His marriage was very simple with the sisters of the groom investing the bridealong with the `Thaali` (wedding knot) on his behalf. The bride stayed with her parents because Nanu Asan soon after became a wanderer. After the death of his wife and father, Nanu Asan carried on his life as a wandering Sanyasi and became a `Parivrajaka` (who wanders one place to another in the pursuit of Truth). During those days Nanu came across Kunjan Pillai, who was later called Chattampi Swamikal. Kunjan Pillai, who discovered and apprized the philosophy of Nanu Asan and his passion towards Yoga , acquainted him to a Hatha yogi, Thycaud Ayyavu. Under the guidance of the Yogi, Nanu learned several Yogic practices like Hatha Yoga and this experience had a deep impact in the later parts of the life of Narayana Guru.
Sri Narayana Guru went to his hermitage in the hilly forest regions of Maruthwamala, where he practiced an austere life by undertaking yoga and meditative thought and followed severe sustenance rituals. This period lasted for eight years. After completing a modest life of more than 30 years thriving in knowledge and rough experiences, this epoch is regarded as the completion of the meditative recluse; the period at which Sri Narayana Guru is believed to have got Enlightenment.
Reform Work of Sri Narayana Guru
Subdued for centuries by the Brahmin and the Nayar castes, regarded as outside the fourfold structure of the caste system, the Ezhavas, nevertheless, retained a pride even in their position as the leading caste of the outcastes, and during the nineteenth century developed a great will to rise above the limitations which society had laid upon them, a will personified most dynamically in the teachings of Sri Narayana Guru, who was himself an Ezhava. Revolution was motivated and catalyzed by a most unbelievable revolutionary, a conventional Shaivite vedantin, an ascetic and monk who wrote a number of devotional songs in Tamil, Sanskrit and Malayalam and he was Sri Narayana Guru.
When one discusses about Sri Narayana Guru, one uses superlatives in order to compare the great saint with a list of notables. Guru was the famous reformer in Hinduism to come out to the southern parts of India since the incomparable Adi Sankara . Narayana Guru was the champion of the rights of lower caste oppressed Hindus in the twentieth century, and was more flourishing than the better known Dr. Ambedkar and Mahatma Gandhi . He overturned the social system of entire Kerala , while following simple means unlike the works of EV Ramaswamy Naicker in the state of Tamil Nadu . The revolutionary reformer, whose call for self improvement and self reliance touched delicately the heart of the oppressed class all over the world.
.Similarities are there with regard to the blacks struggling in the United States, led by Dr. Martin Luther King to that of Sri Narayana Guru of India. Narayana Guru brought to the underprivileged Kerala class the realization that they are also human beings and are also subject to get respect. The reason today that in the state of Kerala, there prevail a self-asserting egalitarianism is mainly due to the intellectual and spiritual revival brought by Sri Narayana Guru. The fact that Sri Guru did this wholly in the fabric of Hinduism is noteworthy.
One of the major strengths of Hinduism is its capacity for renaissance, renewal and reform and in this case, the authority of personality of a great saint was sufficient to cleanse the Hinduism of Kerala of the amassed dross ofabout a millennium. Guru gave much importance to the requirement for the social and spiritual upliftment of the unfortunate with the help of their own efforts by the institution of educational institutions and temples.
Advaita Ashram at Aluva
Sri Narayana Guru founded an Ashram at Aluva in the year 1913 , which was called the Advaita Ashram. This event was vital in the life of Sri Guru. The concerned Ashram was devoted to the great principle - `Om Sahodaryam Sarvatra` (it means, each and very unman being is equal in the eyes of God). In the year 1921 , a Conference of Universal Brotherhood organised at Alwaye and in the year 1924 , an all religion conference was organized there. The Guru gave importance to the requirement for a Brahma Vidyalayam for comparative study of several religious faiths. Narayana Gurukulam is the name of an institution which was founded in the Nilgiri Hills of Tamil Nadu by Bodhananda Swamikal and afterwards given over to Nataraja Guru.
Books by Sri Narayana Guru
Some of the works of Sri Narayana Guru in Sanskrit are Darsana Mala, Brahmavidya Panchakam, Slokathrayi, Nirvruthi Panchakam, Vedantha Suthram, Municharya Panchakam, Homa Manthram, Asramam, Charama Slokangal, Dharmam, Chidambarashtakam, Bhadrakaliashtakam,Sree Vasudeva Ashtakam, Guhashtakam, Vinayaka Ashtakam and Genani Navamanjari. His works in Malayalam include Swanubavageethi, Advaitha Deepika, Atmopadesa Satakam, Arivu, Jeevakarunya Panchakam, Daiva Dasakam, Anukamba Dasakam, Daiva Chintanam - 1 & 2 , Jathi Lakshanam, Chijanda Chinthakam, Jathi Nirnayam, Athma Vilasam and Shiva Satakam Thevarappathinkanga is one of his works in Tamil language. Sri Narayana Guru became severely ill in the month of September, 1928 and stayed bedridden for a certain period. His devotees flocked in huge numbers to have a look of their Gurudevan. The same year, the birthday of Gurudevan was observed in several places, mainly in Mangalore , Kerala, Chennai , Sri Lanka and Europe. On the 20 th of September, 1928 Sri Narayana Guru died.
Narayana Guru is idolized for his knowledge of the Vedas, openness to other`s views, poetic proficiency, non- violent philosophy and his persistent resolve to correct the social wrongs. Narayana Guru was involved in fixing the spiritual bases for social reform in the state of Kerala and was also among the most-renowned social reformers who dealt with the caste system in India . He established a path leading to social emancipation while not fuelling the dualism of the oppressor and the oppressed.
Life of Sri Narayana Guru
Narayana Guru was born in the 20 th of August, 1856 , in a village called Chempazhanthi which is situated close to Thiruvananthapuram . He was the son of a farmer called, Madan Asan and mother Kutti Amma. The boy was called Nanu. His father was also a teacher, educated in Sanskrit and well- versed in Ayurveda and astrology. Nanu had three sisters. He used to listen to his father with much interest while he narrates the tales from the Mahabharata and the Ramayana to the common village folks. Nanu was introduced into traditional education pattern Ezhuthinirithal, by a local school master and also a village officer called Chempazhanthi Pillai. He carried on his studies at home under the guidance of his uncle Krishnan Vaidyan, a famous Ayurvedic physician and a scholar of Sanskrit and his father, where he was trained with the basics of the Sanskrit and Tamil languages and traditional subjects like Balaprobhodhanam, Siddharupam and Amarakosam.
.At a young age, Nanu possessed a sharp mind and admitted in the reputed school, Kummampilli Raman Pillai Asan at a village called Karunagapalli, which was fifty miles from his home, when he was only twenty one years old. He stayed as a guest in the family home Varanapally close to Kayamkulam. Nanu, with other students, was given teachings on Sanskrit language and drama, poetry and literary criticism, along with logical rhetoric. He learned the Upanishad and the Vedas . He started teaching in a nearby school and his knowledge earned him the name `Nanu Asan`. Due to pressure from his family, Nanu got married to a traditional village doctor`s daughter called Kaliamma. His marriage was very simple with the sisters of the groom investing the bridealong with the `Thaali` (wedding knot) on his behalf. The bride stayed with her parents because Nanu Asan soon after became a wanderer. After the death of his wife and father, Nanu Asan carried on his life as a wandering Sanyasi and became a `Parivrajaka` (who wanders one place to another in the pursuit of Truth). During those days Nanu came across Kunjan Pillai, who was later called Chattampi Swamikal. Kunjan Pillai, who discovered and apprized the philosophy of Nanu Asan and his passion towards Yoga , acquainted him to a Hatha yogi, Thycaud Ayyavu. Under the guidance of the Yogi, Nanu learned several Yogic practices like Hatha Yoga and this experience had a deep impact in the later parts of the life of Narayana Guru.
Sri Narayana Guru went to his hermitage in the hilly forest regions of Maruthwamala, where he practiced an austere life by undertaking yoga and meditative thought and followed severe sustenance rituals. This period lasted for eight years. After completing a modest life of more than 30 years thriving in knowledge and rough experiences, this epoch is regarded as the completion of the meditative recluse; the period at which Sri Narayana Guru is believed to have got Enlightenment.
Reform Work of Sri Narayana Guru
Subdued for centuries by the Brahmin and the Nayar castes, regarded as outside the fourfold structure of the caste system, the Ezhavas, nevertheless, retained a pride even in their position as the leading caste of the outcastes, and during the nineteenth century developed a great will to rise above the limitations which society had laid upon them, a will personified most dynamically in the teachings of Sri Narayana Guru, who was himself an Ezhava. Revolution was motivated and catalyzed by a most unbelievable revolutionary, a conventional Shaivite vedantin, an ascetic and monk who wrote a number of devotional songs in Tamil, Sanskrit and Malayalam and he was Sri Narayana Guru.
When one discusses about Sri Narayana Guru, one uses superlatives in order to compare the great saint with a list of notables. Guru was the famous reformer in Hinduism to come out to the southern parts of India since the incomparable Adi Sankara . Narayana Guru was the champion of the rights of lower caste oppressed Hindus in the twentieth century, and was more flourishing than the better known Dr. Ambedkar and Mahatma Gandhi . He overturned the social system of entire Kerala , while following simple means unlike the works of EV Ramaswamy Naicker in the state of Tamil Nadu . The revolutionary reformer, whose call for self improvement and self reliance touched delicately the heart of the oppressed class all over the world.
.Similarities are there with regard to the blacks struggling in the United States, led by Dr. Martin Luther King to that of Sri Narayana Guru of India. Narayana Guru brought to the underprivileged Kerala class the realization that they are also human beings and are also subject to get respect. The reason today that in the state of Kerala, there prevail a self-asserting egalitarianism is mainly due to the intellectual and spiritual revival brought by Sri Narayana Guru. The fact that Sri Guru did this wholly in the fabric of Hinduism is noteworthy.
One of the major strengths of Hinduism is its capacity for renaissance, renewal and reform and in this case, the authority of personality of a great saint was sufficient to cleanse the Hinduism of Kerala of the amassed dross ofabout a millennium. Guru gave much importance to the requirement for the social and spiritual upliftment of the unfortunate with the help of their own efforts by the institution of educational institutions and temples.
Advaita Ashram at Aluva
Sri Narayana Guru founded an Ashram at Aluva in the year 1913 , which was called the Advaita Ashram. This event was vital in the life of Sri Guru. The concerned Ashram was devoted to the great principle - `Om Sahodaryam Sarvatra` (it means, each and very unman being is equal in the eyes of God). In the year 1921 , a Conference of Universal Brotherhood organised at Alwaye and in the year 1924 , an all religion conference was organized there. The Guru gave importance to the requirement for a Brahma Vidyalayam for comparative study of several religious faiths. Narayana Gurukulam is the name of an institution which was founded in the Nilgiri Hills of Tamil Nadu by Bodhananda Swamikal and afterwards given over to Nataraja Guru.
Books by Sri Narayana Guru
Some of the works of Sri Narayana Guru in Sanskrit are Darsana Mala, Brahmavidya Panchakam, Slokathrayi, Nirvruthi Panchakam, Vedantha Suthram, Municharya Panchakam, Homa Manthram, Asramam, Charama Slokangal, Dharmam, Chidambarashtakam, Bhadrakaliashtakam,Sree Vasudeva Ashtakam, Guhashtakam, Vinayaka Ashtakam and Genani Navamanjari. His works in Malayalam include Swanubavageethi, Advaitha Deepika, Atmopadesa Satakam, Arivu, Jeevakarunya Panchakam, Daiva Dasakam, Anukamba Dasakam, Daiva Chintanam - 1 & 2 , Jathi Lakshanam, Chijanda Chinthakam, Jathi Nirnayam, Athma Vilasam and Shiva Satakam Thevarappathinkanga is one of his works in Tamil language. Sri Narayana Guru became severely ill in the month of September, 1928 and stayed bedridden for a certain period. His devotees flocked in huge numbers to have a look of their Gurudevan. The same year, the birthday of Gurudevan was observed in several places, mainly in Mangalore , Kerala, Chennai , Sri Lanka and Europe. On the 20 th of September, 1928 Sri Narayana Guru died.
Narayana Guru is idolized for his knowledge of the Vedas, openness to other`s views, poetic proficiency, non- violent philosophy and his persistent resolve to correct the social wrongs. Narayana Guru was involved in fixing the spiritual bases for social reform in the state of Kerala and was also among the most-renowned social reformers who dealt with the caste system in India . He established a path leading to social emancipation while not fuelling the dualism of the oppressor and the oppressed.
Monday, July 5, 2010
Donete your eyes
"Close your eyes and you will see my world." This is the voice of the blind to the ones who can see each second, this beautiful creation. Just close your eyes for a minute and you can feel deep in your heart how a blind person sees this world every day. No words describe that pain. At the same time no words can explain the joy when someone can see the world because you or your loved one donated their eyes. It's not true that only wealthy people, by donating money,can help the needy. You will be on top of the world when you donate your tissues and organs to a noble cause and the best part of it is anybody can do it.And anyway you do not need them when you die. So, why not donate them? How many of you know that -the eye bank accepts the eye donation starting from 2 years of age. -they should be donated within 6 hours of death. -you can donate your eyes,even if you have certain retinal problems or macular degeneration or had a laser treatment. -if not for procedures, your tissue can be used for other research or study purposes. Of course,it's a very hard subject to speak about to the grieving family. But when they give it a moment and think wisely, they will understand their loved one will continue to live, somewhere around them, through someone else's eyes (or heart or liver.) As it's a huge message to deliver in few words, I have given a few links below giving more details about eye donation: 1. http://www.eyedonation.org/ faq.html 2. http://www.restoresight.org/ donation/ In each country, the eye banks follow certain procedures and criteria according to legal requirements and they document your consent for donation. Although many organizations make an enormous effort to educate the public about tissue donations, it's impossible to cover the whole population [especially the rural areas]. The best way to become a donor is to talk to your physician on your next visit or contact your local eye and tissue bank in your area, find out whether you qualify as a donor and pledge a promising new life or lives[if you are donating multiple organs] for others. By now, I think who ever is reading this article will reflect, "Why not me?". Eye banks are open 24 hours a day. So call them up and get more details. Last but not least,not only your eyes but also your skin, bones, liver, and heart will also be of use to others in organ donation centers. I am hoping at least some of you will speak to your doctor on your next visit and save someone's life. Spread the word to others and " DONATE".
by
Divya Rajesh
by
Divya Rajesh
stop child work
Chacha Nehru had said that kids are like Flowers but these flowers are being crushed under the curse called Child Labor In many parts of India children who are under 14 are made to work forcefully or due to financial problems in various industries. Lets understand what is child labor is ? Child labor is making children who are less then 14 years of age to work Though there have been many rules and laws to prevent child labor still this demon is increasing its grip over kids in our Country. In various parts of states like Bihar or UP the children are sold to Businessman for small sum who in turn take these children to Metros like Mumbai and Delhi and make them work at the factories, Hotels or shops Now question arises why these Parents sell these children main reason being poverty to continue their own livelihood parents sell there Kids Sounds strange but that’s the reality in Modern India. So Children who should go to School to study and play are working for more than 18 Hrs in small factories. This causes various deformities in these children due to long Hours of work in damp rooms and with few morsels of food. Industries where child labor is very prominent is Bidi, Fireworks, Diamonds, Hotels. This is very useful to Businessman as they can make these Children work for long hours without spending much Money. Though Indian industries will grow by this in terms of profit but will our nation get profited by spoiling present of these Child's. Answer is a definite NO NO!! Another perspective is girl childs amongst these children are exploited by these Owners and sometimes these girls are put into flesh trade where they trapped for lifetime. We say that India is developing nation which wants to become Superpower tomorrow but are we going to achieve this with children working in these factories. If we do not take step forward to stop child labor today than we will loose future Industrialists, Army officers, Pilots , Scientists, Doctors and India will take many many years to become Superpower. Always our politicians want to depict in front of Foreigners our Military Power, Industrial Development ,Rich Culture traditions as all these are our strong points but no one wants to show problems like Child labor. Development in all these fields is good we are very much proud of that but we of course shouldn’t be closing our eyes when it comes to clean mess in our Society. What can be done to control stop child labor : 1) It has been observed that 80 % Child labor cases are cause of parental poverty So government should build factories or should give lease on Agriculture in these areas So that it can generate jobs and parents do not have to sell the children. 2) There is law against child labor but its not harsh and there are many loopholes. So whenever anyone is caught promoting this act he should be booked for Life Imprisonment His industrial license should be canceled. If we do this for few years no one would dare to make child work in their Industry. 3) We as people should consider our responsibility whenever a maid sends her girl who is under 14 to work at your Home ask her to go back if you don’t you promote child labor . Also when you see a small boys working as waiter in Hotel tell owner that you can complaint and ask him to stop taking work from this Kid. 4) People hesitate to report these cases as they have problems of Police So Government can start a helpline where public can call and report incidents and later Cops would take action on these incidents. If we implement all this and eradicate this curse from our Society then India would soon emerge as Superpower in world Horizon with its future in safe hands.
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