Uniting India
Archive for August, 2011
Ganesh Chaturthi
Aug 31st
Ganesh Chaturthi is an occasion on which Lord Ganesha or Lord Vinayaka graces the earth for the well being of all devotees. This festival is observed in the Hindu calendar month of Bhaadrapada, commencing on the Shukla Chaturthi. It is celebrated lavishly by Hindus all over the world.
According to Hindu mythology once Lord Shiva left his usual abode on Mount Kailas to meditate. Two sakhis of Goddess Parvati Devi suggested that she should have a ‘Gana’( attendant) of her own since they were not happy with Lord Shiva’s ‘Ganas’. Goddess Parvati Devi agreed. She gave life to a son made out of the sandalwood paste by using her divine powers . She instructed him to guard their home.
She went to have her bath after letting the boy stand guard at the door. Lord Shiva happened to come there back from his meditation while Parvati Devi was having her bath. The boy didn’t allow him to enter the house since he didn’t recognize Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva got angry and beheaded the boy with his ‘Trishulam’( weapon).
Parvati Devi was distressed when she heard about the incident and lamented intensely. Lord Shiva realized his mistake and sent his Ganas to the forest to More >
Swami Vivekananda Anecdotes
Aug 30th
- Once an atheist met Vivekananda Swami. He discussed certain issues with Swamiji and then wrote
- ‘ God is no where.‘
- Swamiji told him that God is there in what he has written. Swamiji rewrote what he has written as below. Let us see what happens.
- ‘ God is now here.’
- Once Vivekananda Swami visited a Muslim friend’s house. His friend ridiculed Hindus for idol worship. Swamiji asked his friend to remove a photo from the wall and requested him to stand on the photo. His friend refused to stand on it and told him that he simply can’t stand on his parents’ photo. Swamiji told him that it was merely a photo and not his parents. Swamiji further told him that similarly Hindus believed that the idols are God.
- Once Vivekananda Swami was travelling in a train. After some time he felt thirsty. He requested the fellow passenger to give him some water. He refused to give water to Swamiji and abused him in English thinking that Swamiji was a beggar and didn’t understand English. This particular gentleman was relishing sweets and drinking water in between. After some time the train reached the next station. The station master happened to pass by the compartment. Swamiji More >
Baking Soda and uses
Aug 29th
Baking soda is an essential in any household and taking advantage of its many uses can help reduce consumption of relatively more expensive products that usually come with negative environmental effects and cause health issues also.
Baking soda works magic when it comes to eliminating odours. Put an open container of it in the fridge to absorb its odors. Sprinkle it on ashtrays, shoes, socks, cooling containers and thermos and inside vacuum cleaners to decrease bad odour. In addition to this, it eases cleaning as well when combined with water. Pour a cup of baking soda to the toilet, leave it for an hour, and then flush. Not only will it clean the toilet, but it will also absorb the odour. Putting a spoonful of it to the dishwasher will ease scrubbing dishes. Baking soda is great for getting rid of grease from pots and pans and the inside part of an oven. Laundry detergent can be strengthened by adding a handful of baking soda to the dirty clothes load. Those dirty canvas bags can be rubbed clean by using baking soda. Also, if you’re encountering a major cockroach problem, put some under sinks and inside cabinets to repel cockroaches and More >
What Ails Muslims
Aug 28th
Muslims in India are celebrating their holy month of Ramzan from 1st August to 29th of August this year. They celebrate August 30thas Eid- ul-Fitar or Ramzan Id in grand scale. There are about 150 million Muslims in India. They form 13.4% of its population. Ramadan or Ramzan is the ninth month of Islamic calendar lasting 29 – 30 days. Ramzan is Islamic holy month of fasting. Muslims refrain from eating, smoking and drinking during this holy month. They refrain from sex during this holy period. The main purpose of the Ramzan fasting is to make rich and super rich aware that life is not full of roses but it is mixed with suffering. This holy fasting makes them aware of the suffering of the poor who are struggling to make both their ends meet in their day to day life. Ramzan holy month teaches patience, spirituality and humility to all Muslims in this world. Other religious groups also can take a leaf out of Ramzan holy period. In this month Muslims surrender themselves to the God in utter humility. They believe that Ramzan month is an auspicious month for the revelations of God to the mankind. This month is More >
The Glory of Sun Temple at Konarka
Aug 22nd
The magnificent Sun Temple at Konark is the culmination of Orissan temple architecture, and one of the most stunning monuments of religious architecture in the world. Built by the King Narasimhadeva in the thirteenth century, the entire temple was designed in the shape of a colossal chariot with seven horses and twentyfour wheels, carrying the sun god, Surya, across the heavens. Surya has been a popular deity in India since the Vedic period.
Orissa unlike many other parts of India has the prized distinction of possessing an uninterrupted series of temples illustrating the history of the well-defined Kalinga (former name of Orissa) from its very inception to decline, and the Sun Temple of Konark marks the highest point of achievement. Konark, the seat of World famous Sun Temple, located in the District of Puri, forms one of the three points of the “Golden Triangle of Tourism” in the State of Orissa, the other two being Bhubaneswar, the city of Temples and Puri, the abode of Lord Jagannath. This Temple chariot of the Sun God on the golden sands of the Bay of Bengal is a 13th Century architectural marvel. To-day Konark is not merely a symbol of Orissa’s great architectural craftsmanship, it More >
The Perfect Boss
Aug 21st
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 asked his boss – Sir, I have promised my children that I will take them to the exhibition in our township in the evening. 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 concentrated on his job. 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 of the work. The time was 8.30 PM. Suddenly he remembered about the promise he made to his children. He looked for his boss, He was not there. Having told him in the morning itself, he wound up everything and left for home. He felt guilty deep within himself for having disappointed his children.
He reached home. Children were not there. His wife alone was sitting in the hall reading a magazine. More >
Happy Gokulashtami(Sri Krishna Jayanthi)
Aug 21st
Today, the Hindu community is celebrating Sri Krishna Janmashtami. Significance of Janmashtami relates to the historical background of the birth of Lord Krishna. Lord Krishna was born to free the earth from all kinds of evil and its sources. He was entitled to kill all the demons on this earth. He was born on the eighth day (Ashtami) of Krishna Paksha in the month of Sravana. The month of Sravana starts a season of festivals for Hindus. All the friday and saturdays are considered to be very auspicious throughout this month. It is the same month during which the Varalakshmi festival is celebrated too. This is followed by Ganesh Chaturthi, Vijaya Dashami, Bali Padyami, Naraka Chaturdashi and the list goes on…
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Education vis-a-vis Employment Opportunities in India
Aug 20th
There are millions of unemployed and under employed youth in India. There are lakhs of schools and colleges in India including public , private schools, colleges and Professional colleges. The number of students graduating out of colleges is inversely proportional to the number of jobs available and to be available in India. These institutions are generally sanctioned on the basis of push and pull of the influential people and money power rather than implementing the opinion of expert committees in the field of education based on scientific studies appointed by various Governments from time to time.
These institutions are mostly run by influential people that include politicians as well. The authority concerned never bothered to assess the cumulative damage done to the youth and their families financially, socially and psychologically due to the sub standard education provided mostly and thereby resulting in the subsequent unemployment and under employment due to excessive output of non production oriented courses. The excessive quantitative output of graduates doesn’t necessarily amount to qualitative output. What is the use of the so called Degrees and Diplomas when they can’t fetch food?. How can a person survive without food and some sort of shelter?.
Majority of the private More >
Anna Hazare-The Crusader Against Corruption
Aug 19th
Anna Hazare the crusader against corruption was born on 15thjune 1937 in Bhingar, Bombay Province in British India. He is unknown to the rest of India till he took up the issue of corruption at National level in the esteemed company of Kiran Bedi, the former super cop, Arvind Kejriwal, a social activist, and Prashant Bhushan who is a prominent lawyer. Anna Hazare served in the military in 1963. He also participated in India- Pakistan war in 1965. He was influenced by a book ‘Call for the Youth in the Nation Building’ written by Swami Vivekananda. He took an oath in 1975 after his retirement from military to serve the humanity.
He transformed his Ralegan Siddhi village in Ahmad Nagar district in Maharashtra State in to a model village from a poverty clad village. He made the village self sustained in Power Generation with the help of solar power, bio fuels and wind mills. He concentrated on providing Educational facilities and conducted collective marriages in his village. He ran a crusade against liquor shops and untouchability in his village. He was also responsible for watershed management projects there. He fought against corruption in the Government of Maharashtra. He was awarded padmashri More >
Global Warming
Aug 19th
Unprecedented climatic conditions across the Globe have played havoc with the lives of the people of late in the World . There has been an increase in tornados, cyclones, earth quakes and tsunamis, extreme hot conditions and extreme winter in Western Countries. During the summer the temperature in Nagpur, Maharashtra reached 48 degree centigrade. During the winter the temperature had gone down to minus 30 degree centigrade in America at certain places. There have been many snow falls last winter in New York, America. Thousands of planes were cancelled and lakhs of travellers were inconvenienced. There were mountains of snow all over the place. Entire road and rail traffic came to a standstill for quite some time. The main reason for this is global warming.
Global Warming is due to the release of excessive green house gases in the atmosphere. Average global surface temperature is increased by 0.74 degrees centigrade during the 20th century and that it is further likely to rise further by 1.5 to 1.9 degree centigrade in the 21st century due to the above mentioned reason. Global warming is continuing raise in the average temperature of the Earth’s atmosphere and oceans. An increase in global temperature raises sea More >
