World Of Joy: June 2015

Ajit

Famous temple of Kshira-chora Gopinatha, the Krishna Deity who stole condensed milk (Kshira) for His dear-most devotee, Sr Madhavendra Puri, lies in a small pastoral village named Remuna in the Balasore (Baleshwar) district of Orissa. Balasore is halfway between Puri and Kolkata, is the nearest railway junction to Remuna. Remuna is called Gupta Vrindavana because Gopinatha had many pastimes here in the mood of Vrindavana with His intimate vraja-madhurya premi bhaktas.

Between 5am-7am visitors can have full darshana of the Deity while the pujari baths and dresses Gopinatha. One can clearly see cows, cowherd boys and asta-sakhis carved in black stone bas-relief Deity of Kshira-Chora Gopinatha. On Gopinatha's right & left are black stone Deities of Govinda and Madana-Mohana brought. There are also Deities of Radha-Rasabihari, Lord Jagannatha and Mahaprabhu. All Vaishnavas are welcome here for Gopinatha's special darshana, and the indescribably mouth-watering milk sweet known as amrta-keli, prepared from condensed milk, cream, sugar and a smidgen of raisins.

How Gopinatha Got the Name Kshira-Chora

THE NAME "Kshira-Chora" means "one who stole condensed milk." When Lord Chaitanya visited the Gopinatha temple in Remuna, He told the devotees traveling with Him how the Deity had come to receive that name. Lord Chaitanya had heard the story from His spiritual master, Isvara Puri, a disciple of Madhavendra Puri. As related in Chaitanya-caritamrta, it is Madhavendra Puri for whom the condensed milk was stolen.

Over 500 years ago Madhavendra Puri was going to Puri to get some sandalwood for his Sri Gopal deity in Vrindavana. After a few days in Navadvipa, Sri Puri started for Orissa. Within a few days he arrived at Remuna where Gopinatha is situated. Seeing the beauty of the Deity, Madhavendra Puri was overwhelmed.

In the corridor of the temple, from which people generally viewed the Deity, Madhavendra Puri chanted and danced. Then he sat down there and asked a brahmana what kinds of foods they offered to the Deity. Madhavendra Puri thought: "I shall inquire from the priest what foods are offered to Gopinatha so that by making arrangements in our kitchen, we can also offer similar foods to Sri Gopala."

When the brahmana priest was questioned in this matter, he explained in detail the types of food that were offered to the Deity of Gopinatha. The brahmana priest said: "In the evening the Deity is offered sweet rice in twelve earthen pots. Because the taste is as good as nectar, it is named amrta keli. This sweet rice is celebrated throughout the world as gopinatha-kheer. It is not offered anywhere else in the world."

While Madhavendra Puri was talking with the brahmana priest, the sweet rice was placed before the Deity as an offering. Seeing this Madhavendra Puri thought "If, without my asking, a little sweet rice is given to me, I could then taste it and make a similar preparation to offer my Lord Gopala." Then immediately Madhavendra Puri realised his mistake in desiring to taste the sweet rice, and he immediately repented, "I have committed an offence. I have desired to taste the preparation before it was offered to the Lord." Thinking in this way Puri Gosvami left and went to a near-by vacant marketplace. Sitting there he began to chant.

After finishing the worship to Gopinath the Pujari (priest) rested. In a dream Gopinath told him to get up and take the pot of khira that he had hidden under his garments and to give it to Madhavendra Puri. The Pujari got up, found the sweet, and brought it to Madhavendra Puri. The Pujari told him For you Sri Gopinath has stolen khira. There is no other fortunate man like you. This is how the deity got the name "Khira Chora Gopinatha". 'Khira' means milk, and 'Chora' means thief.

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Sakshigopal Temple

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This is 20km west of Jagannatha Puri in a town called Saksi-Gopala. It is easily reachable by taxi, bus or train. Vrajranabha (Sri Krishna’s great-grandson) installed two Gopala Deities in Vraja Mandala: Saksi-Gopala and Madna Gopala (Madana Mohana). The Saksi-Gopala Deity here, being 5000 years old, is exceptionally special one.

This is an important Temple that is dedicated to Sakshi Gopal. Sakshi Gopal means "The Witness Gopal". This Deity was originally in Vrndavan. Once two Vidyanagara Brahmins, one elderly and the other young, after touring many places of pilgrimage finally reached Vrindavan. While in Vrindavan, to reciprocate with the younger Brahmin the service he had rendered him, the older Brahmin promised his daughter in marriage. He made this promise before the Gopal Deity in Vrindavan.

Sometime later, after having returned to Vidyanagara, the young Brahmin reminded the older Brahmin of his promise. Due to pressure from his family members, the elderly Brahmin said he could not remember having made any such promise. The young Brahmin then returned to the Vrindavan and told the whole story to Gopalji. Being obliged by the young man's devotional attitude Sri Gopal followed him to South India, where he bore witness to the elderly Brahmin's promise. Hence by the Lords grace the marriage was performed. The deity was later moved to Cuttack, then to the Jagannath temple and finally to its present location, 15 km from Puri.

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Alalanath Temple

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This is also known as Brahmagiri. It is about 25 km from Jagannath puri.

The word anavasara is used when Shri Jagannathaji cannot be seen in the temple before Ratha Yatra. After the bathing ceremony (snana-yatra), Lord Jagannatha apparently becomes sick. He is therefore removed to His private apartment, where no one can see Him. Actually, during this period renovations are made on the body of the Jagannatha Deity. This is called nava-yauvana. During the Ratha-yatra ceremony, Lord Jagannatha once again comes before the public. Thus for fifteen days after the bathing ceremony, Lord Jagannatha is not visible to any visitors. Hence people who cannot take darshan of Jagannatha go to Alalanath to have darshan of Lord Jagannatha. There is a temple of Lord Jagannath here, and a large stone slab marked with the impression of Sri Chaitanya's transcendental body. The stone melted while he lay there in ecstasy.

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Surya Namaskar Mantra for advanced practioner

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There are 12 mantras with four parts to each mantra. The first part is the chanting of Aum, the second part is the chanting of a ‘bija mantra’, the third part is a part of a Rik from the Rig Veda and the fourth part is the addressing of one of the 12 names of Sun. There are six bija mantras. Each mantra consists of ‘h’, ‘r’, vowel and ends in ‘m’. The bija mantras are: ‘hraam’, ‘hreem’, ‘hruum’, ‘hraim’, ‘hroum’ and ‘hraha’ (where the vowels are ‘aa’, ‘ee’, ‘uu’, ‘ai’, ‘ou’ and ‘visarga or hah’. The twelve names of Sun are: Mitra, Ravi, Surya, Bhanu, Khaga, Pushan, Hiranyagarbha, Marichi, Aditya, Savitha, Arka & Bhaskara. These six Bija Mantras are repeated in sequence to cover the twelve names of the Sun God. The three Rig
Vedic hymns are used in the 12 mantras (one-quarter of the hymn used with each of these 12 names).

The chanting of AUM mantra activates stomach, heart, brain and the overall body/mind, thus creating vibrations in the associated chakras. Digestion, respiratory and sensory activities go thru the powerful lens of AUM turning intellect and memory into sharp and powerful tools.

The root alphabets of the Bija Mantra or Bija akshara are:

‘h’ –Heart is the source of its pronunciation. It empowers the heart to perform all its functions in a better manner.

‘r’ – The center of the forehead is the source of its pronunciation. The palate and the brain are gently buffeted by the vibration. The result is good taste and better intellect.

‘swar (vowel) – ‘a’, ‘i or e’, ‘u’, ‘ai’, ‘ou’, ‘ha’ - various organs are impacted by the sound vibrations, making these organs strong and sensitive.

Long aa as in ‘hraam’: vibrations stimulate brain, heart & respiratory organs
Long ee as in ‘hreem’: vibrations work on palate, vocal cord & nasal area
Long uu as in ‘hruum’: vibrations work on stomach, small intestine, pancreas (make digestive system strong)
Combined Vowel ‘ai’ as in ‘hraim’: vibrations work on kidney and urinary passage making the organs strong and sensitive.
Combined Vowel ‘ou’ as in ‘hroum’: vibrations work on excretory system making organs strong and sensitive.

‘visarga’ (hah) as in ‘hraha;– sound vibrations work on the chest and the vocal cord.

‘anunasik’ – created in the nasal area, the vibrations keep the nasal passage clean, soft and wet.

The back bending of the body (as in step 2 when the front of the body gets elongation while the back and the spine gets compressed), the forward bending to touch the ground with the hands (as in step3 when the front of the body gets compressed while the back and the spine gets elongated), the stretching and bending in other poses (as in steps 4, 5 and 6) as well as in steps 7 thru 12 provide the type of benefits to the human body that are not available by any other exercise regimen.

The mantras chanted while performing the Namaskar generate minute vibrations in the body which helps and corrects functioning of all systems of glands in the body. The whole Namaskar process tones up the functioning of all systems in the body like sensory, respiratory, circulatory, digestive and nervous systems. Balanced state of mind and concentration and wide memory powers also result.

These explanations are provided here to illustrate how our ancient masters have, by their insight, study and research, understood how the various organs of the body can be kept in optimal and strong functioning levels. Their knowledge and understanding of the externals and the internals are amazing. Modern science is only gradually scratching the surface of the vast knowledge hidden in our hoary scriptures and in the practices of our Rishis.

The mantras are chanted in the following manner:

Aum followed by bija mantra followed by one paada of the Rik (from Rig Veda) followed by one of the names of Sun. The 12 mantras (with the 6 bija mantras appearing twice) are:

Om Hraam ‘Udhyannadhyamitramahaha’ Mitraya Namaha (Mitra - friend)
Om Hreem ‘Aarohannuththaraamdivamm’ Ravaye Namaha (Ravi - radiance)
Om Hruum ‘Hridrogam mama surya’ Suryaya Namaha (Surya – dispeller of darkness)
Om Hraim ‘Harimaanam cha naashaya’ Bhanave Namaha (Bhanu – Shining with luster)
Om Hroum ‘Shukeshu May Harimaanamm’ Khagaya Namaha (Khaga – all pervading)
Om Hraha ‘Ropanaakaasu dhadhmasi’ Pooshne Namaha (Pushan – mystic fire which gives)
Om Hraam ‘Atho Haaridraveshu May’ Hiranyagarbhaya Namaha (hiranyagarbha – golden colored)
Om Hreem ‘Harimaanannidhadhmasi’ Marichaye Namaha (Marichi – Ray of light)
Om Hruum ‘Udagaadhayamaadithyah’ Adityaya Namaha (Aditya – Sun, aspect of Vishnu, Son of Aditi)
Om Hraim ‘Vishwena Sahasaa Saha’ Savitre Namaha (Savitru – Light of enlightenment)
Om Hroum ‘Dwishantham Mama Randhayann’ Arkaya Namaha (Arkah – a ray of light, a flash of lightning, Sun)
Om Hraha ‘Mo Aham dwishatho Rattham’ Bhaskaraya Namaha (Bhaskara – Shining Light)

The meaning of the 12 paadas used in quotes in each of the above 12 mantraas comprising the
3 riks is:

“O, radiant Sun rising in the sky, please destroy the disease in my heart as well as diseases of my external body. Let inner and outer diseases of my body be destroyed by brilliantly shining Sun-the son of Aditi.”
The Saashtaanga Namaskaram of step 6 (Prostrations with 8 limbs/organs opened/stretched out) is said to include the following 8 limbs/organs):
Urasaa Shirasaa Drishtyaa Manasaa Vachasaa Thathaa, Padbhyaam Karaabhyaam Karnabhyaam Pranaamo Ashtaanga Ityuchyathey (Thighs, Head, Eyes/Sight, Mind, Word, Feet, Hands, Ears/Hearing)

In the above 12 mantras, the four parts of the mantra must be noted carefully – the Aum (1st), bija mantra (2nd), the Rik (3rd – within quote marks) and namaskara word (namaha at the end) addressed ‘to one of the 12 names of the Sun’ (4th). Those who are having difficulty to chant
the Rik or the 3rd part of the mantra, within quotes shown in the above 12 mantras, may drop the same and practice each mantra with the 1st, 2nd and 4th parts of the mantra above. When they become fully comfortable with the chanting of the mantras with the 1st, 2nd and 4th part, they are encouraged to add the missed 3rd part of the mantra and learn the full 4-part mantra.

Each of the above mantras is to be chanted for each of the steps discussed above with the associated breathing specified for that step. This then constitutes one Surya Namaskara. It is not easy to chant mantras during ‘inhalation’ (and sometimes during exhalation too). Two options are provided; first option is to chant the mantra in the mind (without any sound); the second, and preferred, method is to do the pose and the breathing associated with the particular step (each of the 12-steps) and then at the end of each of the poses, have normal breathing (inhalation and exhalation) and chant the mantra. This also has the added benefit of holding each of the poses for longer periods of time.

The second Surya Namaskara is done as follows: 2 of the mantras are taken together for the first six steps; 4 of the mantras are taken together for the next 3 steps, 6 of the above mantras are taken together for the next 2 steps, all 12 of the above mantras are taken together for the last of the 12 steps. The mantras for this namaskara are shown below:

Om Hraam Hreem ‘Udhyannadhyamitramahaha Aarohannuththaraamdivamm’ Mitra Ravibhyaam Namaha
Om Hruum Hraim ‘Hridrogam mama surya Harimaanam cha naashaya’ Surya Bhanubhyaam Namaha
Om Hroum Hraha ‘Shukeshu May Harimaanamm Ropanaakaasu dhadhmasi’ Khaga Pooshabhyaam Namaha
Om Hraam Hreem ‘Atho Haaridraveshu May Harimaanannidhadhmasi’ Hiranyagarbha Marichibhyaam Namaha
Om Hruum Hraim ‘Udagaadhayamaadithyah Vishwena Sahasaa Saha’ Aditya Savithrubhyaam Namaha
Om Hroum Hraha ‘Dwishantham Mama Randhayann Mo Aham dwishatho Rattham’ Arka Bhaskaraabhyaam Namaha
Om Hraam Hreem Hruum Hraim ‘Udhyannadhyamitramahaha Aarohannuththaraamdivamm Hridrogam mama surya Harimaanam cha naashaya’ Mitra Ravi Surya Bhanubhyo Namaha
Om Hroum Hraha Hraam Hreem ‘Shukeshu May Harimaanamm Ropanaakaasu dhadhmasi Atho Haaridraveshu May Harimaanannidhadhmasi’ Khaga Poosha Hiranyagarbha Marichibhyo Namaha
Om Hruum Hraim Hroum Hraha ‘Udagaadhayamaadithyah Vishwena Sahasaa Saha Dwishantham Mama Randhayann Mo Aham dwishatho Rattham’ Aditya Savithru Arka Bhaskarebhyo Namaha
Om Hraam Hreem Hruum Hraim Hroum Hraha ‘Udhyannadhyamitramahaha Aarohannuththaraamdivamm Hridrogam mama surya Harimaanam cha naashaya Shukeshu May Harimaanamm Ropanaakaasu dhadhmasi’ Mitra Ravi Surya Bhanu Khaga Pooshabhyo Namaha
Om Hraam Hreem Hruum Hraim Hroum Hraha ‘Atho Haaridraveshu May Harimaanannidhadhmasi Udagaadhayamaadithyah Vishwena Sahasaa Saha Dwishantham Mama Randhayann Mo Aham dwishatho Rattham’ Hiranyagarbha Marichi Aditya Savithru Arka Bhaskarebhyo Namaha
Om Hraam Hreem Hruum Hraim Hroum Hraha Hraam Hreem Hruum Hraim Hroum Hraha ‘Udhyannadhyamitramahaha Aarohannuththaraamdivamm Hridrogam mama surya Harimaanam cha naashaya Shukeshu May Harimaanamm Ropanaakaasu dhadhmasi Atho Haaridraveshu May Harimaanannidhadhmasi Udagaadhayamaadithyah Vishwena Sahasaa Saha Dwishantham Mama Randhayann Mo Aham dwishatho Rattham’ Mitra Ravi Surya Bhanu Khaga Poosha Hiranyagarbha Marichi Aditya Savithru Arka Bhaskarebhyo Namaha

Thus 2 Namaskarams are performed. These 2 Namaskarams together is defined as ‘one set’ of Surya Namaskara.

The above set of 2 Surya Namaskaraas is repeated 12 times to perform 12 sets or 24 Surya Namaskaraas.

Beginning practitioners are advised to start performing one set of 2 Namaskaraas for few days, get comfortable and then gradually increase the set of 2 namaskaraas to 2, 3, 6, 12 sets, taking Surya Namaskar 11 into account their ability to do these namaskaaraas over a period of as many days as it takes to reach comfortable levels before increasing the set of Surya Namskaara from 1 set to 2 sets, from 2 sets to 3 sets, from 3 sets to 6 sets, from 6 sets to 12 sets to complete the 12 set of 2 Namaskaaras each for the 24 Namaskaraas. They are requested to maintain this 12 set (or 24) Namaskaaraas for a period of a two weeks to a month before increasing them in sets of 12 to their desired level.

Still another easier option for beginners is to perform one ‘saashtaanga’ namaskaara for one mantra, thus 24 saashtaanga namaskaraas for the 24 mantras (first 12 namaskaaraas for the 12 mantras) plus next 6 namaskaaraas (13 to18) taking two mantras together plus the next three namaskaaraas (19 to 21) taking four mantras together plus the next two namaksaaraas taking six mantras together (22 and 23) plus the last namaskaara (the 24th) taking all 12 mantras together. It is also customary to add the following mantra at the end of each ‘saashtaanga namaskara’: “Chchaaya Samjna Sametha Sri SuryaNarayanaSwamine Namaha, Aum Namo Naaraayanaaya, Swamin Praseeda Praseeda”.

The above 24 ‘saashtaanga’ namaskaaraas (or the one set of 2 Surya Namaskaara with postures and mantras) form part of the ‘poorvanga Surya Namaskaraa’ (poorvanga means the first part). There is the ‘uttaraanga’ or the second part of the Surya Namaskaara (also known as ‘Aruna Prasnah’). The second part consists of 133 mantraas in 33 ‘anuvaakaas’ (or lessons), sometimes counted as 34 including opening paryer, and one saashtanga namaskaara for each of the mantras for a total of 133 Namskaaraas, thus the complete Surya Namaskaara (the ‘poorvanga and ‘uttaraanga’ together) consists of 157 ‘saashtanga namaskaaraas’.

Other combinations of these Namaskaraas are also in vogue and various practitioners have used such combinations. For example, the 1 set (or 2) Surya Namaskaaraa with the 12 postures and stipulated breathing for each of those postures is used for the ‘poorvanga’ part. For the ‘uttaraanga’ part, the one 12-step Surya namaskaaraa (or yoga surya namaskaara, as it is also known as) for each anuvaka of ‘aruna prasnah’ is performed, or 33 (or 34) yogic Surya Namaskaaraas for the uttaraanga portion. This results in 35 (or 36) yogic Surya Namaskaaras for the poorvanga and uttaraanga part together.

Additional suggestions include the use of some of the postures, and associated breathing patterns, of the yoga surya namaksaara to be used while performing the 24 poorvanga and/or the 133 uttaranga ‘saashtanga’ namaksaaraas.

These various options and suggestions are included in this write-up so as to allow each practitioner to adopt the ideas that most suit them. We must note that these namaskaaraas must be performed with joy and at individual pace involving ‘our pancha kosas’ fully. Start Surya Namaskar 12 small, enjoy as you go, derive the full pleasure and benefits and then gradually increase the namaskaaraas – this is the suggested approach.

SUGGESTIONS FOR PROPER USE, DO’S AND DON’TS

The following suggestions for optimal benefit from yoga and surya namaskar along with few of
the Do’s and Don’ts are provided below:

Smile always, ABC (Always Breathe Consciously), Enjoy the sessions.
Try to involve the 'pancha kosas' - body, prana, mind, intellect & bliss kosas.
Practice only one of the 2 modules provided. Please start with Module 2 (sitting and lying down poses). When you are comfortable fully with the yoga, then you may switch over to Module 1. Afterwards, you can combine both Module 1 and Module 2. About 30 to 45 minutes of time may be allotted.
Proceed slowly with Surya Namaskar. Do not try to do very fast, all movements to be done slowly. Also the number - start with 1 set, then move on to 2, 3, 6, 12 sets over a period of time - whatever you are physically capable of and also based on time availability. Doing fewer on weekdays and larger numbers on weekends can also be considered.
Surya Namaskar can be done during morning and evening. Morning time face the rising Sun - the East direction, evening time face the setting sun, the West. Yoga is done to loosen the joints, muscles, limbs etc. before attempting Surya Namaskar. 6. DRT or Shavasana for 10 minutes must be done after Surya Namaskar. 3 to 5 alternate nostril pranayama, breathing slowly during both inhalation and exhalation, must follow the DRT.
Surya Namaskar must be done on empty stomach. At least 2 hours must elapse, after any meals are taken, before you do Surya Namaskar. Likewise, food must be taken only after at least 20 minutes after Surya Namaskar.
Mat must be used for Surya Namaskar (and not on the floor).
If the assigned breath is not able to be done in one breathing during a pose, try to do more breaths per pose early on. Over a period of time, you will be able to do it in one breath.
People suffering from hernia or back-problem must avoid Surya Namaskar. Pregnant women must also avoid Surya Namaskar certainly from third month onwards (even earlier, perhaps, once pregnancy is known or anticipated).
After a few weeks of yoga, one can consider 24 x 7 yoga, that is to say, whenever one finds time, one can do some aspects of yoga. For example, slow breathing consciously while taking a walk, trying butterfly in sitting position while sitting down, about 10 minutes of shavasana when convenient during the day, sitting in vajrasana or padmasana while watching TV and so on. Here 24 X 7 is used to indicate whenever convenient during every day of the week (and not used in the sense of 24 hours, 7 days a week).

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Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev answers celebrity questions on Yoga

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In the first of a two-part series on International Yoga Day, spiritual guru and philanthropist Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev answers celebrity questions and dispels myths about Yoga.

Shekhar Kapur, filmmaker: Why does everyone talk only about yoga’s physical aspects?

Sadhguru: One aspect of yoga is towards ensuring your body isn’t an issue. The body is full of compulsions. It can be a terrible bondage. Or, it can be a stepping stone for something extraordinarily beautiful beyond your imagination. If you yourself are an issue, what other issue can you handle in the world? Physical yoga is relevant to prepare the body, mind, emotions and energies so they are not an issue. But there are other dimensions and aspects to yoga, and to reduce it to an exercise form would be a crime!

Virender Sehwag, cricketer: While batting, sometimes the thought comes, ‘Just hit the ball!” How do I control these thoughts?

Sadhguru: In the human mind, there is perception, memory and imagination. There is memory of the game. There is imagination of carrying the cup. There is a reality of a ball coming at you. Memory is about what is over, imagination is about what is yet to happen. You can only fancy with these two. It is only reality that you can handle. People are unable to keep these things separate. What you need is clarity.
Yoga is a tool towards bringing this into your life.

Juhi Chawla, actor: What’s the difference between yoga and meditation?

Sadhguru: The English word “meditation” doesn’t mean anything because if you sit with closed eyes, you are “meditating”. But with eyes closed, you could do many things — japa, tapa, dharana, dhyana, samadhi, shoonya. Or you might have mastered the art of sleeping in vertical postures! If you mean meditation as dhyana, it is one aspect of yoga. “Yoga” is an all-inclusive word. It isn’t suggesting any particular practice. No matter what you’re doing — maybe just jogging or watching the ocean — if you use it as a process to reach your higher nature, that’s yoga.

KV Kamath, banker: How does one deal with egos?

Sadhguru: Many people have taken this mode: When they’re joyful, Mr Ego is absent. Whenever they do something nasty, they blame it on Mr Ego. This is just one more way of passing the buck. If you say, ‘me and my ego reside within this body’, it means there are two of you. If there are two of you, that means you are either schizophrenic or possessed!
You are an individual. If you are an individual, you understand that whether you are wonderful or horrible, it is you. If you realise this, would you want to be horrible?

Anupam Kher, actor: Why are people unhappy?

Sadhguru: People are unhappy because they haven’t taken charge of the fundamental instruments of life given to them. The human mechanism is the most sophisticated gadget on the planet. Most people are using way below 1% of its potential. What it means to be human hasn’t even been attended to.

Yoga gives you access to the very source of creation throbbing within you. There is an intelligence here that can transform a piece of bread into a sophisticated machine. If even a drop of this intelligence enters your daily life, you will live magically.

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Surya Namaskar Mantra

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Mantras refer to a combination of syllables, sounds, or phrases, which can be chanted or sung. In case of Sun Salutation, they are sung in praise of the Sun. It has subtle yet penetrating effects on both mind and body. There are 12 mantras which praise different qualities of Sun and add a profound spiritual touch to the entire practice.

How to chant the Sun Salutation mantras?
The only rule to remember is to chant them with gratefulness. Each sun salutation mantra has a specific meaning, but it is not important to delve into what each mantra means.

How to include mantras in Surya Namaskar?
You can either chant the sun salutation mantras verbally or in your mind.

Now let's see how you can chant the mantras while doing the Sun Salutation sequence. One set of Sun Salutation comprises two rounds – one with the right leg, one with the other. It is ideally recommended to practice 12 sets of Sun Salutation daily. But you can choose your own number, according to what seems comfortable. If you choose to do 6 sets or more, chant one mantra each at the start of every new sequence. Recite the first mantra as you start one set, finish the two rounds in that set and then start the next set with the second mantra and so on. This way, you would have chanted 12 mantras with 12 sets of Sun Salutation.

If you practice less than 12 rounds of Sun Salutation – 2 or 4 – you can recite one mantra each with every posture in the sequence. This would make it 12 Sun Salutation mantras corresponding to 12 poses of Surya Namaskar.

1. Pranamasana (Prayer pose)

What to chant:
Om Mitraaya Namaha

Meaning:
Who is friendly to all

2. Hastauttanasana (Raised Arms pose)

What to chant:
Om Ravaye Namaha

Meaning:
The shining one, the radiant one

3. Hasta Padasana (Hand to Foot pose)
What to chant:
Om Suryaya Namaha

Meaning:
Who is the dispeller of darkness and responsible for bringing activity

4. Ashwa Sanchalanasana (Equestrian pose)

What to chant:
Om Bhaanave Namaha

Meaning:
One who illumines, the bright one

5. Dandasana (Stick pose)

What to chant:
Om Khagaya Namaha

Meaning:
Who is all-pervading, one who moves through the sky

6. Ashtanga Namaskara (Salute With Eight Parts Or Points)
What to chant:
Om Pooshne Namaha

Meaning:
Giver of nourishment and fulfillment

7. Bhujangasana (Cobra pose)
What to chant:
Om Hiranyagarbhaaya Namaha

Meaning:
Who has golden color brilliance

8. Parvatasana (Mountain pose)
What to chant:
Om Mareechaye Namaha

Meaning:
The giver of light with infinite number of rays

9. Ashwa Sanchalanasana (Equestrian pose)
What to chant:
Om Aadityaaya Namaha

Meaning:
The son of Aditi – the cosmic divine Mother

10. Hasta Padasana (Hand to Foot pose)
What to chant:
Om Savitre Namaha

Meaning:
One who is responsible for life

11. Hastauttanasana (Raised Arms pose)
What to chant:
Om Aarkaaya Namaha

Meaning:
Worthy of praise and glory

12. Tadasana

What to chant:
Om Bhaaskaraya Namaha

Meaning:
Giver of wisdom and cosmic illumination

This is the simple steps to chant mantra while doing Surya Namaskara. The advanced practitioners can follow the below way.

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Ratha Yatra

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The Jagannath triad are usually worshiped in the sanctum of the temple at Puri, but once during the month of Asadha (Rainy Season of Odisha, usually falling in month of June or July), they are brought out onto the Bada Danda (main street of Puri) and travel (3 km) to the Shri Gundicha Temple, in huge chariots (ratha), allowing the public to have darshana (Holy view). This festival is known as Rath Yatra, meaning the journey (yatra) of the chariots (ratha). The Rathas are huge wheeled wooden structures, which are built anew every year and are pulled by the devotees. The chariot for Jagannath is approximately 45 feet high and 35 feet square and takes about 2 months to construct. The artists and painters of Puri decorate the cars and paint flower petals and other designs on the wheels, the wood-carved charioteer and horses, and the inverted lotuses on the wall behind the throne. The Ratha-Yatra is also termed as the Shri Gundicha yatra.

There are many significant rituals performed during Ratha yatra.

Chhera Pahara

This the most significant ritual associated with the Ratha-Yatra. During the festival, the Gajapati King wears the outfit of a sweeper and sweeps all around the deities and chariots in the Chera Pahara (sweeping with water) ritual. The Gajapati King cleanses the road before the chariots with a gold-handled broom and sprinkles sandalwood water and powder with utmost devotion. As per the custom, although the Gajapati King has been considered the most exalted person in the Kalingan kingdom, he still renders the menial service to Jagannath. This ritual signified that under the lordship of Jagannath, there is no distinction between the powerful sovereign Gajapati King and the most humble devotee.

Chera pahara is held on two days, on the first day of the Ratha Yatra, when the deities are taken to garden house at Mausi Maa Temple and again on the last day of the festival, when the deities are ceremoniously brought back to the Shri Mandir.

Pahandi Bije

The deities are taken out from the Shri Mandir to the Chariots in Pahandi Bije.

In the Ratha Yatra, the three deities are taken from the Jagannath Temple in the chariots to the Gundicha Temple, where they stay for nine days. Thereafter, the deities again ride the chariots back to Shri Mandir in bahuda yatra. On the way back, the three chariots halt at the Mausi Maa Temple and the deities are offered Poda Pitha, a kind of baked cake which are generally consumed by the poor sections only.

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Nabakalebara

Ajit

Nabakalebar is all about transformation of Puri temple, Odisha lords into the new body. The new wooden idols of Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra, Goddess Subhadra and Sudarshan are welcoming to the temple with great celebration and it is a great occasion for Odisha people. The new idols are carved and old ones are cremated with rituals mentioned in the century old Odia scriptures.

Depend on the almanac positions of Hindu calendar the transformation or the Nabakalebar takes place once in every 12 to 19 years. Usually it is held in that year when the month of Ashadha is followed by another Ashadha. The previous Nabakalebars were taken place in the years like 1969, 1978 and 1996 and this year again all devotees are getting the opportunity to see changing form of lords.

From a religious point of view the temple management and priest have to identify the holy tree with a group of search team as prescribed in the temple records. They trace the trees with support of divine dream, then next they start their stopover at Kakatpur, the abode of Goddess Mangala. After that carving of the idols, transfer of Bramha from old to new idol and finally sacred burial of old bodies of Lords are the major rituals which are combinely named as the process of Nabakalebar.

Ritual Procedures

The search party for the holy Margo (Neem) trees should be of 1 member of the Pati Mahapatra family, 20 Dayitapatis, 1 Lenka, 9 Maharanas, 16 Brahmanas, 3 Deulakaranas, 30 Police officers and 2 police inspectors.
The search function will start after Lord Jagannath's blessings and after the midday meal offering to the deities.
The procession starts from temple to near Puri Kings' palace to seek his permission.
Then the procession continues to the gardens of the temple known as Jagannath-Ballabha then from there within two days the team prepares all their arrangements to start their journey towards Kakatpur.
Because it is a belief that only Goddess Bimala or Mangala can only say about the exact location of the holy trees. It is auspicious to stay there before starting their search mission. The Dayitapati will get dream about the different locations of all four deities.
It is true that on the exact location there should be so many Margo trees, but the team has to choose the specific marking and feature based symptoms on those trees.
After getting the trees a great holy sacrifice is performed by inviting all the Gods and Goddess to give their blessings at that auspicious time.
The auspicious time actually allows cutting procedure of the holy trees. The Pati Mahapatra will touch the trees with golden axe, the Dayitapati will touch it with a silver axe and the maharana family will touch it with iron axe. At the time of cutting the trees 108 names of God will be chanted.
The tree logs will arrive to Puri temple through wooden cart secretively.
Nobody is allowed to go to see the sculptures for 21 days. The carpenters close the main door and work whole day and night there.
The ceremony will take place three days before the car festival. After buring the old deities the new deities are come in front of their devotees on the Rath Yatra.

Features of Holy Trees For Nabakalebar

Nabakalebar is the periodical replenishment of the wooden images of Lord, Jagannath, Balabhadra, Subhadra and Sudarshan that is happened in Puri temple of Odisha. The deities are going to change their bodies during leap month. So the procedure is like this, one lunar month of the Ashadha is followed by another lunar month of Ashadha. The Margo trees are selected every time for making deities. Any ordinary tree with extraordinary features can only become the body of the deity or Daru Bramha. The Darus should be different for each deity.

Lord Jagannath Daru features

The holy tree must have 4 main branches.
The bark of the Margo tree should be dark colored.
The sign of Sankha and Chakra should be present in the tree.
There should be a cremation ground near the tree.
An out hill near the tree and a snake hole at the roots of the tree should be present.
It should be that holy tree, which doesn’t have any birds' nest.
The tree should be near the river or a pond or a crossing of the three ways or else to be surrounded by 3 mountains.
The tree should not stand alone but be surrounded preferably with the trees of Varuna, Sahada, and Belva.
There should be a temple dedicated to Shiva in the neighborhood.
There should be some hermitage or monastery nearby.
The holy tree should be free from Parasite plants and Creepers.

Lord Balabhadra Daru Features

The holy tree must have Seven Branches.
The skin of the tree must be light brown or white color.
It should have a sign of plough and pestle etc.
Nearby tree there should be a hermitage and also a graveyard.

Goddess Subhadra Daru Features

The tree should have Seven Branches.
The skin of the tree should be light brown or white color.
It should have a sign of plough and pestle etc.
Nearby tree there should be a hermitage and a graveyard.

Lord Sudarshan Daru Features

The holy Margo tree should have three branches.
The bark of the tree should be barkish.
The tree should have a sign of Chakra with a small depression in the middle.

Sacred Time Of Nabakalebar

Nabakalebar is the festival of Transformation of Deities into new bodies from old bodies. Based on Hindu calendar calculation and date within every twelve to nineteen years this festival gets organized. On this occasion the wooden images of the deities are replace by new ones in the Puri Jagannath temple.

During full moons of two Ashadh months (June-July) this festival has taken place. In every three years a lunar month is excluded to balance in between lunar and solar years to calculate this Naba kalebar period. The specific month, which was excluded from the calculation known as Adhimasa or Mala masa due to be believed as most inauspicious period for any rituals and religious ceremonies is taken place to conduct this Naba kalebar festival. Inauspicious month for the sacred renewal ceremony is named as Purusottama Masa. 1863, 1893, 1931, 1950, 1969, 1978 and 1996 are the consecutive years within last 100 years for Nabakalebar ceremony. This time it is this year 2015, July 18th is the sacred date for Nabakalebar.

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History of Jagannath Puri Temple

Ajit

King Indradyumna was a great devotee of Lord Vishnu and was eager to meet him face to face. Once a brahmana came to the palace of the King Indrayumna and told him about an incarnation of Lord Vishnu named Nila Madhava. The king then sent different brahmanas out to search for Lord Nila Madhava. They all returned unsuccessful except a priest named Vidyapati. After traveling for a while Vidyapati came to an area inhabited by non-Aryans called sabaras. He stayed at the house of a local chief, called Visvavasu. When he arrived Visvavasu was not there, but his daughter Lalita was. Vidyapati stayed there for some time and eventually married Lalita, the daughter of the Sabara.

Vidyapati noticed some peculiar behaviour of his host. Visvavasu would go out every day around noon and would return back to the house scented with fragrances of sandalwood, camphor and musk. Vidyapati asked his wife about this and she informed him that his father would go daily to worship Nila Madhava. Lalita had been told by her father not to tell anyone about Nila Madhava, but she had overstepped that order by telling her husband. Vidyapati repeatedly requested to see Nila Madhava. Finally Visvavasu bound Vidyapati's eyes and took him to see Nila Madhava. Vidyapati secretly carried some mustard seeds in his cloth and he dropped them onto the path as he was walking. When he reached Nila Madhava, the blind fold was removed and Vidyapati saw Nila Madhava. Visvavasu went out to collect some forest flowers to worship and Vidyapati stayed near the Deity. During this time a crow fell off the branch of a tree into a nearby lake and drowned. It immediately took a four armed Vaikuntha form and started back to the spiritual world. Vidyapati then climbed up onto the tree and was about to jump into the lake. A voice came from the sky and said "Since you have seen Nila Madhava, you should inform King Indradyumna."

Visvavasu returned and started his daily worship of Nila Madhava. Suddenly the Lord spoke to him and said, "I have accepted for many days the simple forest flowers and roots offered to me by you. Now I desire the royal worship offered to me in devotion by King Indradyumna." Visvavasu felt cheated by his son-in-law; therefore, he bound him up and kept in his house. After repeatedly being requested by his daughter he let him go.

The brahmana then went to King Indradyumna and told him about his discovery. By following the mustard seeds, which had grown into small plants, they were able to follow the path to Nila Madhava. When they reached the spot, they could not find him. King Indradyumna had the village besieged and arrested Visvavasu. Suddenly a voice came from the sky, “Release this sabara. On top of Nila hill you should construct a temple. There I will manifest as Daru-brahman (the Absolute Truth manifested in a wooden form). You will not see me as Nila Madhava.

The King constructed a temple. The King wanted Lord Brahma to consecrate the temple. So he travelled to Brahmaloka and waited there for him. During this time the temple became covered by sand. While he was gone, first Suradeva and then Galamadhava became king of the area. King Galamadhava uncovered the temple from the sand. Shortly afterwards, King Indradyumna return from Brahma's abode. Indradyumna claimed that he had built the temple and Galamadhava also claimed the same thing. There was an old crow in the nearby banyan tree who was constantly singing the glories of Lord Rama. The crow had seen the construction of the temple and said that Indradyumna had built the temple and that Galamadhava had just uncovered it. Because he had not told the truth Galamadhava was ordered by Brahma to live outside the temple compound on the western side of Indradyumna Sarovara Lake.

Indradyumna then asked Lord Brahma to consecrate the temple and the surrounding area, which was called Sri Kshetra and gives the highest type of liberation. Lord Brahma told him that Sri Kshetra is manifested by the Supreme Lord's internal potency and that the Supreme Lord manifests Himself. Therefore he could not install the Lord here, but Lord Jagannath and his abode are eternally situated in the material world. He said he would install the flag on the temple and that anyone who sees this flag and offers prostrated obeisance would easily be liberated.

After a while King Indradyumna became frustrated with not seeing Nila Madhava. He decided to lie on a bed of Kusa grass and to fast until death. Lord Jagannath came to him in a dream and told him I shall come floating from the sea in my wooden form as Daru-brahman at the place called Bakimuhan.

The King went to this place and saw a huge piece of wood which had the marks of a conch, club, disc and lotus on it. Many men and elephants tried to move Daru-brahman, but they could not move Him. That night Lord Jagannatha spoke to Indradyumna in a dream and told him to bring Visvavasu, who used to serve Nila Madhava and bring a golden chariot in front of Daru-brahman. The king did this and Daru-brahman easily was placed onto the chariot.

Lord Brahma then performed a sacrifice and established a Deity of Narasimhadeva on the raised platform of the sacrifice arena. It is said that the Deity of Narasimha in the present temple compound, which is on the western side of the Mukti-Mandapa, is the original Narasimha Deity.

King Indradyumna had the best sculptors come to carve the Deity of Lord Jagannath from Daru-brahman. As soon as they started their chisels broke to pieces. The Supreme Lord Himself came in Disguise as an old artist who called Himself Ananta Maharana (According to the Narada Purana, Visvakarma, the architect of the demigods carved the Deities by the desire of Lord Vishnu, who took the form of an old brahmana). He said that if he was able to work behind closed doors for 21 days then the deities could be carved. The old sculptor then took Daru-brahman into the temple and the doors were closed. After 14 days passed, the king could not hear any sounds of the artist's tools and he became fully anxious. The king then personally opened the door of the temple by force.

The King did not see the sculptor, but instead he saw the three forms of Lord Jagannath, Subhadra and Lord Balarama. Their fingers and toes were unfinished. Thinking himself a great offender the king decided to give up his life. He then lay on a bed of Kusa grass and began to fast. Lord Jagannath appeared to him in a dream. He told the king that He is eternally situated here in Nilachala in the form of Lord Jagannath as Daru-brahman. In the material world, I descended in 24 Deity incarnations along with my abode. I have no material hands and feet, but with my transcendental senses I accept all the items offered by My devotees. The fact that you broke your promise is part of the pastime for me to manifest in the form of Jagannath. Those devotees whose eyes are smeared with the salve of love will always see Me as Syamasundara, holding a flute.

The King prayed to Lord Jagannath that those in the family of the sculptor who manifested your form will continue to assist in constructing the three carts. He also told him that the descendants of Visvavasu, who served Me as Nila Madhava, should generations after generations serve Me. They shall be called as dayitas. The descendants of Vidyapati born from his brahmana wife should perform the Deity worship to me. The descendants born from his sabari wife, Lalita, should cook My food. They shall be known as suyaras.

King Indradyumna then requested Lord Jagannath, that the doors of the temple should be closed only 3 hours a day. The King also requested that he would not have any descendants, so that no one in the future would claim the temple of Lord Jagannath as their own property.

It is said in the Narada Purana (Uttara Khanda 52.123), that the Supreme Lord Narayana told Lakshmi Devi: "In that great abode known as Purushottama-kshetra, which is rarely achieved among all the three worlds, the Kesava Deity, who was fashioned by the Supreme Lord Himself is situated. If men simply see that Deity, they will be easily able to come to My abode."

In Skanda-Purana (Utkala-khanda) it is mentioned that this most beautiful Sri Kshetra is spread over 10 yojanas (128km or 80 miles) and surrounded by sands. Utkala is another name of Orissa. Utkala is described in scriptures as the most holy place on this planet. Utkala is divided into four parts which represent the weapons of Lord Vishnu. These four kshetras are known as Sankha-kshetra (Puri town), Padma-kshetra (Konark), Cakra-kshetra (Bhubaneswar) and Gada-kshetra(Jajapura, where the Viraja Devi temple is). Within this area of 10 yojanas, Puri is known as Sankha-kshetra because its shape resembles a conch shell. This Puri-kshetra covers an area of 5 krosa, 3 of which are immersed under the ocean, and 2 on land. This land is covered with golden sands and deChorated with a blue mountain. The Lord Himself in His arca-vigraha form is residing here on the bank of the ocean atop the blue mountain. Sankha-kshetra spreads from east to west. Its head is towards west where Lokanatha Mahadeva resides.

Puri-dhama is known by different names: Purushottama-kshetra, Sri Kshetra, Nilachala-dhama, Jagannatha-dhama, Yamanika-tirtha, Martya Vaikuntha, Nilagiri, Sankha-kshetra, Dasa-avatara-kshetra and Narasimha-kshetra. Glories of Sri Purushottama-kshetra Jagannatha Puri Dhama are mentioned in different Puranas: Skanda Purana, Brahma Purana, Vamadeva Samhita, Kapila Samhita, Padma Purana and Niladri Purana.

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Interesting facts about Jagannath Temple

Ajit

Here are some of the amazing and interesting facts about the place:

1. The flag atop the temple always flaps in the opposite direction of air.

2. From any place in Puri you will always find the Sudarshan Charka (Charka at top of Temple) facing you.

3. Normally during day-time, air comes from sea to land & during evening, the vice-versa occurs. But in Puri it’s totally opposite.

4. No bird or planes fly above the temple.

5. The shadow of the main dome is invisible at any time of the day.

6. The quantity of cooked food inside the Temple remains same for the entire year. But that same quantity of prasadam can feed few thousand people & 20 lakh people, still it won’t get wasted.

7. In the Temple kitchen, 7 pots are kept one on top of another and cooked on firewood. In this process the contents in the top pot get cooked first & then the bottom one.

8. After entering from Singhadwara’s first step (from inside of the Temple), you cannot hear any sound produced by the ocean. But, when you cross the same step (from outside of the Temple) you can hear it. This can be noticed clearly during evening.

9. The Chariot Festival at Puri was initially performed with 2 sets of chariots (A total of 6 Chariots). As there was a river flowing thru in between Sri Mandira and Mausi maa temple, the first set of chariots were used to bring the lords till the river, then the lords had to ferry across the river in three giant wooden boats and aboard the other set of chariots till Mausi maa temple. Amazing but true.

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Anger Quotes

Ajit

Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else, you are the one who gets burned.
Buddha

Anger is a feeling that makes your mouth work faster than your mind.

Never reply when you are angry
Never make a promise when you are happy
Never make a decision when you are sad

One without anger is the one who is happiest
Buddha

You will not be punished for anger
You will be punished by your anger
Buddha

Holding on to anger is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die.
Buddha

Anger and intolerance are the enemies of correct understanding.
Mahatma Gandhi

No matter hard the past,
You can always begin again.
Buddha

When anger rises, think of the consequences.
Confucius

Forgive people in yo life, even those who are not sorry for their actions.
Holding on to anger only hurts you, not them.

Anger doesn't solve anything.
It builds nothing,
but it can destroy everything.

When angry count to ten before you speak. If very angry, count to one hundred.
Thomas Jefferson

The more anger towards the past you carry in your heart,
The less capable you are of loving in the present.

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The Story Of Jyothi Reddy

Ajit

One person proved all these wrong just by her perseverance, hard work, spirit of never-die approach, self confidence, etc. She is none other than Mrs. Anil Jyothi Reddy. Her story is an apt example of rags-to-rich transformation.

You are the creator of your own destiny

Nothing can stop a human being from becoming what he/she wants to achieve in life.
This has been proved by Mrs. Jyothi Reddy with her spectacular travel from a field laborer to the CEO of an organization in the US. This is the true story of Ms. Jyothi Reddy who now owns a software company in the United States of America and who has a great vision to change many lives of women in rural India.

Early Struggle

Jyothi was born in 1970 and she was the youngest among the five girl children in a poor family in India. Due to her family’s financial situation, she was admitted into a welfare orphanage. To get the admission, she had to become a motherless child. It was a heart breaking situation for Jyothi as she could not see her mother during the days when she was in the orphanage. There was nobody to share her happiness and sorrow. Instead of getting down with the situation, Jyothi developed a strong will to make her future bright. She promised herself to work towards creating a better life for her. She learned the way of dealing with life in a hard and practical manner. The hardship taught her the value of life and made her think beyond the situation.

She attended a government school while at the orphanage and she also took vocational course while residing in the superintendent's house. Jyothi used to help her superintendent with their household work. She realized that to lead a beautiful life, she should get a decent job first. She started thinking for the ways to get into a job.

"Man proposes and God disposes" - Same happened to Jyothi as she had to marry at 16 to her cousin, instead of working on to make her dreams come true. After having 2 children, the situation became even worse as she had to work in the fields for a daily wage of Rs. 5 to take care of her children. These situations made her even stronger to stand and fight for life.

Gradual Growth with Perseverance

Then came an opportunity in the form of NYK (Nehru Yuva Kendra), a Central Government scheme which sought to create awareness among the youth. She took the opportunity and became a NYK Volunteer and later started teaching. But the money she was making was not sufficient to run the family. She used to stitch petticoats at night to make more money. She also learned typewriting. Apart from her bad financial situation, she also had to fight with family and society to do what she wanted to do. She studied and obtained a BA from Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Open University in 1994 and studied for a postgraduate degree from the Kakatiya University on weekends and obtained it in 1997. This made her get a special teacher job for a salary of Rs. 398 per month. She used to travel for two hours to reach her school. She utilized this time to sell sarees to her co-passengers which gave her some extra income. Her struggle for life made her become conscious about the time and it showed her the ways to utilize the time available creatively.

Her job was regularized and she started making decent money. But she did not want to settle for anything, as her passion to reach a higher level always was haunting her to find the next best. A relative's visit from the US made her think about going to the land of dreams, United States. She studied computer courses to get the eligibility to work in the US. She went to US by leaving her two daughters in a missionary hostel.

Struggle to get Foothold

It was not an easy journey for her to settle in the US. She had to work in a gas station, work as a baby sitter, load/unload goods and work at a video shop for her survival. She then joined a company called CS America as a recruiter with an aid of a close relative. Later she got another offer from a different company, but it did not stay and she had to go back to babysitting and gas station for survival. That was the beginning of her entrepreneurial dreams. She wanted to start her own business and was looking for the suitable line of business to start.

Entry into Entrepreneurial World

When she visited Mexico for stamping, she realized that she could start a consulting company as she was familiar with the paperwork involved with the Visa Processing. With her savings of $40000, she opened an office in Phoenix in 2011. She has been successfully running her company KEYSS since then.

Her two daughters moved to US and completed their education in the American schools.

Social Responsibility

Her practical experiences with a struggling life made her think about doing her part in helping the people in need. Whenever she visits India, she goes to old age homes, orphanages and provides a helping hand to them. She also visits educational institutes to inspire and empower the future generations.

Self Motives and Tireless Effort

Today, her next dream to see that every Orphan in India to get his/her own Identity, recognition and enjoy equal opportunity. Towards reaching that goal, she has been interacting and sensitizing various Government agencies, policy makers, politicians as well as Non-Government Organizations.

In this direction, she had joined hands with other likeminded NGOs Prajadharana Welfare Society, MV Foundation and Child Rights Advocacy Forum (CRAF) and formed a Pressure Group Force for Orphan Rights and Community Empowerment (FORCE). She has already organized a National Seminar at Hyderabad during December 19 - 21, 2011 and submitted a memorandum to the Central Government. She is also organizing National Consultations for Orphans Rights with Parliament Members (MPs) and other Law Makers from 16 – 21, May 2012 at New Delhi.

Need-based Support to Orphans

Through such mission, she wants to help and make all young orphans between the age group of 18 - 35 to get financial independence. Using Vocational Training, she intends to train them and enable them become self confident and self-reliant and improve their employability.

She is also working on her vision which empowers the rural women with skills and makes them self-sufficient.

This is how a girl from a village created her own destiny and went to the top of the world and started helping many.

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Sudha Chandran: A journey of Dancing Will Power

Ajit

Some people are just born to dance. And dance they do, despite any personal setbacks or tragedies. One such amazing personality is a woman by the name of Sudha Chandran. Born to a family that were passionate lovers of art, and it came as no surprise that Sudha shared the same feelings. Exposed to a rich cultural heritage, she started dancing on her own at the age of three. Her zest and dedication was so great that her father decided to get her enrolled at a famous dance school in Mumbai at the age of five.Seeing such a small child, the principal initially refused to take her in, but decided to watch Sudha dance at the insistence of her father. Greatly surprised and taken in by such graceful dance, he approved her formal dance training without hesitation. Sudha’s dedication to dance delivered results and she gave her first dance performance on stage at the age of eight. By the age of 17, she had presented 75 widely appreciated stage programs.
Life went on normally until that fateful night on May 2, 1981 when suddenly the bus Sudha was travelling in collided with a truck, killing the bus driver on the spot. Sitting two seats behind the driver, her legs became trapped and the rescuers had to struggle for a long time to pull her out.

Her right leg critically injured, Sudha was immediately rushed to the hospital where the doctor treating her injuries made the serious mistake of plastering the leg. Few days later, she noticed the colour of her skin was changing and upon inspection, it was noted that gangrene had set in. The doctors had no choice but to amputate her leg in order to save her life.

This drastic change left Sudha completely shattered and heartbroken – she could no longer pursue the passion of her life, the dance she cherished above all else. She was unable to sleep, became restless and remained in a state of shock for some time.
After this short low point in her life, Sudha’s confidence started returning. Determined to grow stronger, she refused the assistance of a wheelchair, choosing to practice walking instead with the help of a wooden leg and crutches.

Six months after the amputation, Sudha read an article about Dr. Sethi of Jaipur who had started manufacturing artificial legs of such quality that the amputee could work on an agricultural farm and even climb a tree. Dr. Sethi, recipient of Raman Magasassay Award and artificial limb specialist, examined Sudha and assured her that she will be able to walk normally again. When asked whether she will be able to dance again, the doctor replied, “Yes, why not? When using this, a farmer can work in wet soil and climb a tree, then why can’t you dance?”

Taking up the challenge to fulfill Sudha’s dream of dancing, Dr. Sethi had an easily rotatable aluminum foot manufactured for her. Excited with this new challenge, Sudha was able to easily learn to walk on the new leg however dancing on it was quite different altogether. The artificial leg would need constant changes to compete with the challenges of the dance steps but that did not reduce the problem. Her leg would often bleed as the movements became faster and faster, increasing the severity of the pain.

Initially disappointed, Sudha visited Dr. Sethi with her dance teacher. Highly impressed with her will power, Dr. Sethi carefully took note of each and every dance step and had a new leg rebuilt. Sudha continued practicing again, and mastered all the dance step despite the pain and bleeding that were constant companions. She eagerly awaited an opportunity to perform on stage once again.

The opportunity came on January 28, 1984. Initially extremely nervous, Sudha’s passion for dance overshadowing her disability on stage, she danced so proficiently that it left the audience mesmerized. At the end of her performance, the hall echoed with sounds of thunderous claps.

Sudha had become a star overnight! Every newspaper and magazine splattered her story across India. Ramoji Rao, the famous Telegu film producer was so impressed by her that he decided to produce a film based on her life and insisted on giving her the casting role. Nervous at first, Sudha finally agreed to take on the role since it was based on her own life story. Conveying a message of perseverance against all adversity the film touched many hearts, bringing people to tears. It was a super hit!

On seeing the outstanding success of the film, its producer made the film in Hindi as well, titled “Nache Mayuri”. Sudha’s talent had spread throughout the entire nation. The film easily crossed borders and was watched and appreciated in several countries.

Marrying the man of her dream, Ravi, she also continued her studies and received a post-graduation degree. Sudha continued to work as an actor both in movies and in TV serials.

Through sheer determination and will power, Sudha has proven to the world that despite a disability, one can touch the peak of success. She continues to be an inspirational source to many who face similar challenges in their lives.

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Man who cut the mountain

Ajit

People often ask: how can I make a difference in the world? I am just one person among billions of others, what could I possibly do that would change anything? Everyone else should have to change in order for me to make a difference.
~~Dashrath Manjhi

Well, here is a story of a man who single-handedly moved a mountain! He cut down a mountain single handed for 22 years - day and night, to ensure no one else dies without medical care like his wife.

Dashrath Manjhi carved a path 360-foot-long (110 m) through-cut, 25-foot-deep (7.6 m) in places and 30-foot-wide (9.1 m) to form a road through a mountain in the Gehlour hills, working day and night for 22 years from 1960 to 1982. His feat reduced the distance between the Atri and Wazirganj blocks of the Gaya district from 80 km to 13 km, bringing him national acclaim. Though initially mocked for his efforts, this only served to strengthen his resolve. But as time went by, the unfazed farmer continued to split the troublesome hill in half, he started getting some help. "Though most villagers taunted me at first, there were quite a few who lent me support later by giving me food and helping me buy my tools," he remembered. Now all the people of Gaya district have nothing but gratitude of the "Mountain Man" who made their lives so much easier.

Recognition

For his glorious feat, this Bihari old man became popularly known as the 'Mountain Man'. He died on 17 August 2007 at the age of 73, while suffering from gall bladder cancer in All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi. He was given a state funeral by the Government of Bihar. Later, Nitish Kumar, the then Chief Minister of Bihar proposed to build a 3 km metalled road from Gahlaur to Amethi, naming the project as Dashrath Manjhi Road. A hospital in his name is also proposed for serving the villagers.

Some invaluable lessons to learn from this Legend

He never got panicked by measuring the whole task at once; instead, he started keeping his tiny steps one by one, faced difficulties on its encountering and progressed while solving them one by one. There is no point thinking much about the task that looks seemingly unconquerable and impossible; nobody completes them in one step. What matters the most is your small steps through which you reach there. So focus on your task and accomplish them with great care.

Patience is the greatest virtue that leads us to success.

Dashrath Manjhi cut through the hill for long 22 years. His patience give him the courage to overcome extreme pain, frustration, disappointments and personal loss.

Dream the impossible!

Dashrath Manjhi dreamt of making a walkway through two arrogant and treacherous rocky hills. He planned accordingly, accomplished the task and walked his dream. He was a legend who taught us to dare to dream the impossible. If you keep working on, the near-impossible task will seem a lot easier tomorrow.

Attitude matters!

Don’t ever blame difficulties if you crumble if front of them; it is not the difficulties but the attitude that lets you down. If Dashrath Manjhi could triumph over difficulties, it was his attitude that kept him stay focused and going.

Stay positive!

Your positive thoughts and words initiate you to reach your destiny along with your own values.

Don’t lose heart if people call you mad and crazy for you unique thoughts.

The same people appreciate you, promote you and example your tale for encouragement on successfully completion of your plans. When Dashrath Manjhi began working on his plan, people called him mad and discouraged him with impossibilities, but these same people appreciated him and used the way that he created.

Labels: Inspiration 0 comments | |

Home remedy for cuts and wounds

Ajit

Turmeric powder

With its high antiseptic properties, dabbing a generous amount of turmeric powder on a fresh cut will help stop the oozing of blood and also prevent infections.

Apple Cider Vinegar

With its anti-itching properties, Apple Cider Vinegar is a good option to heal wounds.

Sugar

The excessive intake of sugar may be harmful to your body but the same granulated sugar can actually work wonders on your wound. It absorbs the water present in the wound. Sprinkle it on the affected area, but make sure you clean the wound in the next 15 minutes.

Honey

Honey is a great way to speed up wound healing. According to some findings, honey is actually more effective than antibiotics! In lab tests, honey has been found to kill off the majority of bacterial cells and can prevent infections from occurring in the first place. Make sure you use raw honey to dress your wound (honey that is cooked will not have the proper enzymes to do the trick).

When honey gets diluted with the blood and tissues of the wound, hydrogen peroxide is produced via a glucose oxidase enzyme reaction. This is released slowly, and provides antibacterial activity, while keeping tissue healthy and un-damaged! Spread some honey on a dressing and apply this to the wound. If the wound is deeper, the wound bed should be filled with honey, then wrapped with a dressing pad.

Honey acts as an antibacterial agent on superficial cuts and wounds. It helps clean the wound, prevent further infection as well as reduce the swelling. According to various studies, burns treated with honey healed, on average, in 11 days, which was four days earlier than burns treated without it.

Aloe Vera

We all know aloe vera can help heal burns, but the sap from an aloe vera plant can also be used to treat cuts, scrapes and other sores. Simply cutting off a stalk of the aloe vera plant and applying it to the wound every couple hours can significantly reduce healing time.

Aloe vera gel is easily available at chemists, apply this gel directly on the wound. If there is a plant near by, remove the thorns and cut the leaf vertically in half. Gently rub in the gooey part on the wound.

Tea bags
Garlic

Allicin in garlic has been shown to be as effective as a 1% penicillin solution! It is a great anti-bacterial, and anti-fungal and can help heal almost any wound. Garlic can cause damage to the skin, however, so making sure you don’t leave it on the skin for longer than 20-25 minutes. You can make a mix of 3 crushed garlic cloves and 1 cup of wine, blended, let stand for 2-3 hours and strain. Apply to the wound with a clean cloth 1-2 times a day.

Calendula

This beautiful little flower is considered a vulnerary agent (a substance that promotes healing). This plant is an anti-inflammatory too, and is slightly anti-microbial. It can be used topically to help heal abrasions, skin infections and internal infected mucous membranes. You can buy calendula salves at health food stores, and you can use this to apply to your wounds. For internal infections, make a calendula tea with 1 cup warm water and 1 tbsp. calendula flowers.

Chamomile

Another flower with great wound healing properties – chamomile! Also known for it’s awesome relaxation properties, chamomile is one of the most ancient medicinal herbs known to mankind! The dried flowers contain many terpenoids and flavonoids, making it a powerful herbal medicine. Chamomile has even been found in some studies to be much faster at healing wounds than some corticosteroids. Make a chamomile press for your wound by soaking some chamomile tea bags in water, lightly draining some of the liquid, and then wrapping these tea bags around your wound with some gauze. Alternatively, you can likely find chamomile tinctures or natural ointments in your local health food store.

Marshmallow Root

Marshmallow root is not the same as the sugary white cylinders you can find in the candy section at your grocery store – this plant is actually incredibly healing to wounds inflicted on the body. Marshmallow is great for drawing out toxins and other bacteria found in wounds when used as a poultice, and it can shorten the healing time by drawing out impurities. It can also be used to heal burns and bruises! Creating a poultice with marshmallow and applying it to your wound can speed wound healing!

Cayenne Pepper

Cayenne pepper is great for helping blood to clot faster at the site of your wound, and also disinfects the wound due to it’s anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties. Cayenne pepper will stop wound bleeding in 10-12 seconds, and if the wound is more severe, having the afflicted individual consume an 8-oz. glass of water with 1tsp. cayenne can significantly help out too!

Potato

Potatoes can heal wounds? That was the first thing I thought too! Potatoes have this type of gravitational pull which draws out infections from any type of wound or abscess. Make a raw potato poultice with shredded potatoes and maintain this throughout the day, changing it every 4 hours or so (and rinsing with salt water in between). This will ensure that inflammation is reduced and that there will be no chance of infection! To make a poultice, shred raw potato with a grater, and spread this onto a clean cloth. Apply to the affected area, and cover with gauze and then some saran wrap or other material of choice. Leave overnight and remove in the morning. Clean affected area with salty water, cover with clean dressing and continue until healed.

Lavender

The amazing benefits of lavender were accidentally discovered by a French scientist, René, Gattefossé, who was severely burned in a laboratory accident and immersed his hand in a vat of Lavender. He found that this oil promoted hasty tissue regeneration without any scarring! Use lavender essential oil to help promote natural wound healing. Use topically 2-5 times per day by applying 2-4 drops on the wound area. Dilute as required!

Goldenseal

This plant is known for its antiseptic and astringent properties. It can be used for cuts, wounds, infections, bites and stings and is also used internally to help treat sinus infections and inflammation of the stomach and intestinal tract. The main components of goldenseal are alkaloids called berberine and hydrastine which help destroy many types of bacterial and viral infections. Use goldenseal ointment on your wounds (found in local health stores), and watch your healing time drastically reduce!

Tea Tree Oil

Tea tree essential oil is one of the best ways to treat a wound to help prevent infection. It is a great antiseptic, antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal. Tea tree oil is so effective that is can actively attack and eliminate staff infections such as MRSA. The aborigines of Australia used tea tree leaves to heal skin infections and wounds and burns by crushing tea tree leaves and holding them in place with a mud pack. Thankfully, we can just use tea tree oil applied 3-5 times a day to effectively heal our wounds quickly and efficiently.

Coconut Oil

Coconut oil, amongst a million other things it can do, can effectively heal wounds! It has amazing antibacterial and antifungal properties and can even prevent scarring of wounds too! Use coconut oil on your wound to help speed recovery – apply coconut oil under a band aid and re-fresh 2-3 times a day. Watch your cut heal in no time!

Witch Hazel

Witch hazel is a wonderful astringent that contains procyanidins, resin and flavonoids, all of which make it a very soothing, anti-inflammatory plant. Soaking a cloth in some with hazel and applying it to cuts, bruises and other wounds can significantly reduce swelling and speed up recovery time. Witch hazel can also control bleeding – to help reduce bleeding, apply witch hazel to a fresh wound and wrap it up in gauze.

Juniper Leaves & Berries

Juniper berries, which were also used as a flavouring for gin back in the 17th century, are also very useful in the treatment of inflamed joints and wounds. These berries are very rich in B vitamins and vitamin C, which make them great for speeding up recovery time of cuts, scrapes and other wounds. Juniper berries contain antibacterial and antiseptic properties as well, so they are great for treating numerous wounds or sores like psoriasis, eczema and other skin problems!

Comfrey Root

The genus name for comfrey is Symphytum, which literally means to “unite or knit together.” Comfrey contains a substance called allantoin, which helps cells grow faster, and so it literally improves healing time of broken bones, mends wounds quickly and helps burns heal quickly with little scarring. In fact, comfrey is often called knitbone! Allantoin is also found in the placenta of pregnant women to help the baby grow and develop in a decent amount of time. Use comfrey as a poultice next time you break a bone or get a bruise, cut, scrape or other wound.

Labels: Health 0 comments | |

Short Story of the Day

Ajit

A long time ago, there was a huge apple tree. A little boy loved to come and play around it everyday. He climbed to the treetop, ate the apples, and took a nap under the shadow.
He loved the tree and the tree loved to play with him. Time went by, the little boy had grown up and he no longer played around the tree every day.
One day, the boy came back to the tree and he looked sad.
“Come and play with me”, the tree asked the boy.
“I am no longer a kid, I do not play around trees any more” the boy replied.
“I want toys. I need money to buy them.”
“Sorry, but I do not have money, but you can pick all my apples and sell them. So, you will have money.”
The boy was so excited. He grabbed all the apples on the tree and left happily. The boy never came back after he picked the apples. The tree was sad.
One day, the boy who now turned into a man returned and the tree was excited.
“Come and play with me” the tree said.
“I do not have time to play. I have to work for my family. We need a house for shelter. Can you help me?”
“Sorry, but I do not have any house. But you can chop off my branches to build your house.” So the man cut all the branches of the tree and left happily. The tree was glad to see him happy but the man never came back since then. The tree was again lonely and sad.
One hot summer day, the man returned and the tree was delighted.
“Come and play with me!” the tree said.
“I am getting old. I want to go sailing to relax myself. Can you give me a boat?” said the man.
“Use my trunk to build your boat. You can sail far away and be happy.”
So the man cut the tree trunk to make a boat. He went sailing and never showed up for a long time.
Finally, the man returned after many years. “Sorry, my boy. But I do not have anything for you any more. No more apples for you”, the tree said. “No problem, I do not have any teeth to bite” the
man replied.
“No more trunk for you to climb on.” “I am too old for that now” the man said. “I really cannot give you anything, the only thing left is my dying roots,” the tree said with tears.
“I do not need much now, just a place to rest. I am tired after all these years,” the man replied.
“Good! Old tree roots are the best place to lean on and rest, come sit down with me and rest.” The man sat down and the tree was glad and smiled with tears.
This is a story of everyone. The tree is like our parents. When we were young, we loved to play with our Mum and Dad. When we grow up, we leave them; only come to them when we need something or when we are in trouble. No matter what, parents will always be there and give everything they could just to make you happy.
You may think the boy is cruel to the tree, but that is how all of us treat our parents. We take them for granted; we don’t appreciate all they do for us, until it’s too late.
Moral: Treat your parents with love and care. For you will know their value, when you see their empty chair…We never know the love of our parents for us.

Labels: Story 0 comments | |

Be a Leader not a boss

Ajit

There were about 70 scientists working on a very hectic project. All of them were really frustrated due to the pressure of work and the demands of their boss but everyone was loyal to him and did not think of quitting the job.

One day, one scientist came to his boss and told him – Sir, I have promised to my children that I will take them to the exhibition. So I want to leave the office at 5 30 pm. His boss replied “OK, You’re permitted to leave the office early today”. The Scientist started working. He continued his work after lunch. As usual he got involved to such an extent that he looked at his watch when he felt he was close to completion. The time was 8.30 PM. Suddenly he remembered of the promise he had given to his children.

He looked for his boss, He was not there. Having told him in the morning itself, he closed everything and left for home. Deep within himself, he was feeling guilty for having disappointed his children. He reached home. Children were not there. His wife alone was sitting in the hall and reading magazines. The situation was explosive, any talk would boomerang on him. His wife asked him “Would you like to have coffee or shall I straight away serve dinner if you are hungry.

The man replied “If you would like to have coffee, I too will have but what about Children ??” .Wife replied “You don’t know?? , Your manager came here at 5.15 PM and has taken the children to the exhibition “.

What had really happened was …. The boss who granted him permission was observing him working seriously at 5.00 PM. He thought to himself, this person will not leave the work, but if he has promised his children they should enjoy the visit to exhibition. So he took the lead in taking them to exhibition The boss does not have to do it every time. But once it is done, loyalty is established. That is why all the scientists at Thumba continued to work under their boss even though the stress was tremendous.

The manager/boss was none other than Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam , The MAN every (almost) Indian aspire to be!

Labels: APJ Abdul Kalam 0 comments | |

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