Monday, February 28, 2011

War against corruption rally, Ramlila ground, Feb. 27, 2011


27-02-2011-WAR-AGAINST-CORRUPTION-RALLY-RAMLILA-GROUND-DELHI 

The BHARATSWABHIMAN | Feb 27, 2011 |

A historical rally at Ramlila ground Delhi. Above one lakh people gathered and protested against corruption. With the blessing of swami Ramdev ji maharaj many scholars were present there namely ARVIND KEJRIWAL, KIRAN BEDI, VISHWABANDHU GUPTA, OMPRAKASH SINGHAL, ACHARYA GOVIND DEV JI MAHARAJ, GOVIND RAM KHAIRNAR, ACHARYA VIJAY KAUSHAL, SWAMI AGNIVESH, ACHARYA BALKRISHNA JI MAHARAJ, HARIOM PAWER, DR SUBRAMANYAM SWAMY, MAULANA MUFTI HUSSAINI KAJMI, ANNA HAJARE, GAJENDRA SOLANKI, GOVIND ACHARYA, RAMJETH MALANI AND SWAMI RAMDEV JI MAHARAJ.

Hundreds of NGO also joined this rally against corruption. Later they submitted memorandum to president of India with signature of 30 lakh people collected nearby Delhi.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OM20VJQH9qw (India against corruption: Dr. Kiran Bedi)


Rig Veda laid stress on giving, Greek scholar reminds Chennaiites




Rig Veda laid stress on giving, Greek scholar reminds Chennaiites

Chennai, 28 Feb. 2011, Express News Service

THE Rig Veda of the fifth century BC laid stress on dhaanam (giving) as the important feature of the Kali Yuga, said Prof Nicholas Kaz a n a s, re n ow n e d G re e k scholar in vedic studies.

Stress on giving could be found in several Hindu texts, from the Brihadaranyaka Upanishads to Manusmriti and Bhagavad Gita, he said.



He was delivering a lecture on the Vedic civilisation at Dwaraka Doss Govardhan Viashnav College on Sunday.


While there were several similarities between the Rig Veda and ancient texts of other religions, the speaker noted that the Rig Veda was distinct for stressing on nonmaterialistic life, while other philosophies were materialistic. The ideas expressed by Plato, about the activities to be carried out by people, matched that of what the Rig Veda proposed: engage in agriculture, trade, singing hymns, eat and drink moderately, he explained. And it was also easy to point out that the five regulations prescribed by the Rig Veda -ahimsa, sathya, asteya, brahmacharya and aparig raha -could be mapped with five of the Ten Commandments of Christianity, he revealed.


Speaking about the several problems faced by the world today, he said it was wrong for man to depend too much on technology.


Recent research had shown that when youngsters in 1970 Germany could identify 350 colours, youngsters in 2002 could identify only 130. Man regresses as technology progresses, he observed.


Also present at the event was P Haridas, secretary of the college.


http://epaper.expressbuzz.com/NE/NE/2011/02/28/ArticleHtmls/28_02_2011_004_005.shtml?Mode=1



The collapse of the Aryan Invasion Theory: Nicholas Kazanas (Feb. 2011)




The collapse of the Aryan Invasion Theory


N. Kazanas, 26 Feb. 2011, IIT, Chennai


The Aryan Invasion Theory (AIT) started in late 18th and early 19th centuries as an explanation of the caste system. Thus various European scholars postulated an invasion from non-Indic people (Egyptian or Mesopotamian) who conquered the natives: the invaders (with a strong priestly class) became the two upper castes and the natives the two lower ones (vaishyas and shûdras). This was refined and turned into a linguistic matter after Jones made his speech about the relation between Sanskrit, Greek, Latin etc. The invaders became IE and so was formed a general theory of Aryan or IE invasions to account for the Greek, Italic, Germanic people and so on, in their historical habitats.


In mid-nineteenth cent. Max Müller turned the Theory into an entirely linguistic affair. He postulated certain dates for the composition of Indic literature and these became fixed in the minds of indologists. Thereafter, all linguistic refinements for the IE tongues  (Hittite, Greek, Baltic, Slavic etc) were worked out on this model, namely that there was a PIE language  which  mainly  through  migrations  and  invasions  spread  from  an  unspecified  centre  (but  not  India)  and developed into the present different IE language including Old Indic (=Vedic Sanskrit) and Iranian (=Avestan and Old Persian). 


At the turn of the 19th to the 20th centuries this view was turned by Europeans  (later the Nazis) into a thoroughly racial affair ascribing to themselves superiority. This racial doctrine has now been abandoned and we have only the linguistic one. 


In the 1920s were made the first important discoveries of the ancient Indus Valley or Harappan civilisation. This should have alerted indologists to the possibility that a large part of the Vedic literature was composed by this civilisation which I shall call hereafter the Indus-Sarasvati Civilisation or ISC in short, since most settlements were unearthed on or  along the old Sarasvati river. This did not happen. Instead, indologists (mainly sanskritists) found in the ruins of this  civilisation evidence that Indo-Aryans invaded and destroyed these cities just as the Rgveda says, according to their  own interpretation, that Indra, the chief god of the conquerors destroyed the enemy purs 'towns, forts'. So a big paradox remained: on the one hand, there was Vedic Literature (a vast corpus) without any other cultural (=archaeological) remains  to  support  it;  on  the  other,  a  large  culture  unearthed  by  archaeologists  but  without  literature  despite  its knowledge of writing! 


However, in the 1960's it was established by archaeologists that there had been no invasion , no wars, no violence, and that those towns had fallen into ruination because of natural causes, such as earthquakes which diverted the waters of some rivers and thus caused desiccation on a large scale. But the linguists persisted in their doctrine and the invasion became now "immigration". But this produced now a second big paradox, i.e. the aryanisation of this vast area where toponymics (=names of rivers, mountains etc) are Aryan (=Sanskritic), not Dravidian or names from another language: small waves of immigrants, according to linguists, produced the SJ & IA C 2 aryanisation of a country which only invasion, conquest and coercion could have effected! 


Any impartial study of the facts, archaeological and linguistic, shows that there is no evidence of any kind to support the so called "waves of immigrations". 


On  their  side,  all  archaeologists,  Western  and  Indian,  say  emphatically  that  there  is  unbroken  continuity  in  the development of the ISC from the seventh millennium to the sixth cent. BCE when the Persian incursions occur. There is no trace at all of any other culture intruding into the ISC. 

(a) Anthropological evidence (cranial and skeletal) shows that there was no demographic disruption down to c 600, except perhaps for the period 6000-4500. 

(b) Genetical studies now show that there was no inflow of genes into the Indian subcontinent prior to c 600. On the contrary there was flow of genes out of India and into the north-western regions. 


Max Müller's dating of the Vedic Literature is based on fictions and has no basis whatever in reality. 
The  so-called  linguistic  evidence  (i.e.  isoglosses,  loan-words  etc)  can  be,  and  have  been,  shown  to  require  no immigration. One eminent linguist at least demonstrated that the original homeland is Bactria which is adjacent to Saptasindhu, the Land of the Seven Rivers (=N-W India and Pakistan). 
Positing Saptasindhu as the original homeland not only does not create problems but, on the contrary, dissolves all difficulties. For instance: (a) Vedic alone has dhâtus and on the whole invariable principles in generating verbs and their conjugations and nouns and their declensions etc. (b) Vedic has both augmented Aorist (=past tense) like á-dhât and anaugmented dhât from √dhâ put'. Germanic has only anaugmented and Greek only augmented. 


(c) Vedic poetry has both  strict  metre  and  alliteration  whereas  Greek  and  Latin  have  only  metrical  verses  and  Germanic  poetry  has alliterative lines only without strict metre. (d) No two IE cultures ( e.g. Baltic, Celtic, Germanic etc) have any IE theonyms (=names of deities) to the exclusion of Vedic. On the other hand, Vedic has 20 theonyms of which Greek has , Germanic 8, Italic (=Latin) and Celtic 6 and the others even less. 

It is agreed by all, including Western invasionists like Witzel, that the ? gveda hymns were  composed around the Sarasvati area. But while they give a date of composition c 1200-1000, the available literary, anthropological and archaeological evidences indicate a date before 3500. Here I summarise broadly the most important points.


1. The Brhadâranyaka Upanisad has a list of 60 teachers. If we allow 15 years for each one, we obtain a period of 900 years. If the BU is of 600 BC, as the AIT scenario wants, the list takes as back to 1500. But none of the 60 teachers nor the doctrine 'Atman is Brahman' or 'I am Brahman' appear in the RV; the doctrine appears in the Atharva Veda in an approximate form. Given that the RV is linguistically many centuries earlier than the BU, the RV must be put at least 500-600 earlier, i.e. before 2000!


2.  Linguistically  the  RV is  many  centuries  older  than  the  Brâhmanas and  the  Mahâbhârata.  Palaeoastronomy (astrophysicist N. Achar) has shown that astronomical references in the Shatapatha Brâhmana are true for the date 3000-2950. Several astronomical references in the epic are true for 3100-3000! 
Thus the RV must be from about 3500 and before.


3. The Rgveda does not have many features that characterise the ISC and appear only later in post-rigvedic texts. Thus there are NOT – 


(a) istakâ the brick, mostly of raw mud, sometimes baked. This was one of the main construction materials in the Early ISC starting at about 3500. Prior to this houses were fashioned of wood with wattle-and-daub, as described in the RV;
(b) larger urban settlements in the RV as we find them in the ISC;
(c) fixed altars or hearths as described in the Yajur Veda and the Brâhmanas;
(d) ruins or ruined towns;
(e) cotton karpâsa;
(f)silver rajata;(g) rice vrîhi;
(h) literacy 'lipi, lekha(-na)';
(i) artistic iconography (sculpture, relief, seals).
Bricks are mentioned first in Yajur Veda and extensively in the Brâhmanas. Silver appears as rajata-hiranya in the Yajur Veda; rice vrîhi in the Atharva Veda; cotton karpâsa, first in Baudhâyana's Sûtras; and so on. 


4. The river Sarasvatî is praised as a mighty and all nourishing river in all the Books or the RV except the fourth. Even in late hymns such as 8.21 or 10.64 and 10.177 Sarasvatî is said to give wealth and nourishment and the poets invoke her as «great». In 6.52 Sarasvatî is «swollen by other (three or more) rivers»; in 6.61 she is endless, swift-moving, most dear among her sisters and nourishing the five tribes of the Vedic people; in 2.41.16 Sarasvatî is «best river, best mother, best goddess»; in 7.95.2 this mighty river «flows pure from the mountains to the ocean». 


The river dried up around 1900 BCE. So the RV is referring to a condition long before the end of the river. Archaeologists and palaeohydrologists say that Sarasvatî flowed from the Himalayas to the ocean (in the Rann of Kutch) before 3800 BCE. Satellite photos and other analyses confirm now the route of the river from the mountain to the ocean. After this period some of the rivers feeding the Sarasvatî were, due to tectonic shifts, captured by other rivers (eg the Indus and the Ganges) and so this once mighty river weakened and began to dry up reaching its final desiccation c 1900 BCE. 


Consequently the RV, or at least all those hymns that praise Sarasvatî were composed before 3600 possibly before 4000. This date agrees with the building materials and techniques (the pre-brick phase) of the very early Harappan culture, as established by archaeologists and as described in RV. 


Conclusion: If the bulk of  several hymns of the RV were  composed  c 4000-3600 the Indoaryans using the Vedic language were  settled in Saptasindhu  at that  period.Whatever  else might  have  happened  before that  period, the Indoaryans were by 1700 BCE thoroughly indigenous.



About  Prof. Nicholas Kazanas

Nicholas Kazanas was born in Greece in 1939. He studied English Literature at University College, Economics and Philosophy at the School of Economic Science and Sanskrit at theSchool of Oriental and African studies – all in London; also post-graduate at SOAS and at Deccan College in Pune. Prof. Kazanas taught in London and Athens and since 1980 has been Director of Omilos Meleton Cultural Institute. In Greece he has published treatises of social, economic and philosophical interest. He has many publications in Western and Indian Journals and some books. He is on the Editorial Board of Adyar Library Bulettin (Chennai). He has participated in international Conferences in London, in the USAand in India. From 1997 he has turned towards the Vedic Tradition and its place in the wider Indo-European culture. This research comprises thorough examination of Indo-European cultures, comparing their philosophical ideas and values, their languages, mythological issues and religions

See also:


'Indo-Aryan indigenism and the Aryan Invasion Theory arguments' (refuted)
by N. Kazanas
This paper examines the general IndoEuropean issue and argues in favour of Indoaryan indigenism against the AIT (Aryan Invasion/Immigration Theory) which has been mainstream doctrine for more than a century. The extreme positions that there was no ProtoIndoEuropean (PIE) language or that this language is as currently reconstructed are refuted: the evidence suggests there was a PIE language but this cannot be reconstructed and all efforts and confidence in this reconstruction are misplaced. Indeed, all reconstructions of Proto-languages seem futile and, since they are in no way verifiable, should not be used as evidence for historical events. Indeed all the data used as evidence by the AIT are wholly conjectural and arbitrary and often consist of misrepresentations and distortions, as will be clearly demonstrated in detail. All the arguments used for the AIT have been analytically presented by E. Bryant (2001) and summed up in his concluding chapter. These will be examined one by one and shown to be fallacious. We shall also refer to some material not in Bryant - e.g. genetic studies after 2001CE and mythological motifs never examined in this connection. 
 (Download the PDF file - 291kB)


'Indigenous Indoaryans and the Rigveda', by N. Kazanas
In this paper I argue that the IndoAryans (IA hereafter) are indigenous from at least 4500 (all dates are BCE except when otherwise stated) and possibly 7000. In this effort are utilized the latest archaeological finds and data from Archaeoastronomy, Anthropology and Palaeontology. I use in addition neglected cultural and linguistic evidence. I find no evidence at all for an invasion. The new term "migration" is a misnomer since a migration could not have produced the results found in that area. The Rigveda (=RV) is neither post-Harappan nor contemporaneous with the ISC but much earlier, ie from the 4th millennium (with minor exceptions) and perhaps before.
The bibliography of this study is available as a separate pdf file.
This paper was published in the Journal of IndoEuropean Studies 2002.
 (Download the PDF file - 300kB)


'The RV Date - a Postscript', by N. Kazanas 
This examines some of Prof M Witzel's (erroneous) notions which perpetuate the AIT (=Aryan Invasion Theory) and which had not been discussed in 'The RV and IndoEuropeans'. It presents some new evidence and new ideas for a pre-3100 BC date of the RV and the indigenous origin of the IndoAryans and criticizes Prof Witzel's vicious attacks on some Indian and non-Indian scholars, who promote the indigenist point of view.
 (Download the PDF file - 78kB)
 

 
'AIT and Scholarship', by N. Kazanas 
N Kazanas wrote 'AIT and Scholarship' in May-June 2001. This was first posted here. It deals with some additional (erroneous) notions of Prof M Witzel and the major (but not all) aspects of his 'Autochthonous Aryans? The Evidence from Old Indian and Iranian Texts' (EJVS 7-3, pp 1-93, 2001). Apart from the AIT, this study examines other cases of corruption in academic disciplines like Egyptology, Anthropology etc, where evidence against maistream views is discarded, as well as the etymology of the terms 'academia' and 'academic' and the development from Plato's Academy in Athens to modern notions.
 (Download the PDF file - 233kB)
 

 
'Reply to prof. Witzel', by N. Kazanas 
Prof Witzel wrote a very superficial critique of 'AIT and Scholarship' ignoring the title, lampooning the presentation of the development of modern academia and making all kinds of irrelevant remarks (5/7/01). So N Kazanas wrote a reply selecting some of the mosts salient points in 'Addendum to "AIT and Scholarship"': reply to Prof Witzel and incorporating some (lengthy) remarks of V Agarwal. All this was completed and posted in sept 2001 here. The most significant point, apart from Prof Witzel's irrelevances, is N Achar's firm discovery that some astronomical dates in the Mahabharata indicate the date of 3067 BC for the Great War.
 (Download the PDF file - 138kB)
 

 
'Final Reply', by N. Kazanas.
Reply to nine critics in the debate on Indoaryan Οrigins initiated by and published in theJournal of Indo-european Studies, 2002-2003.
 (Download the PDF file - 170kB)
 

 
'A Reply to Michael Witzel's 'Ein Fremdling im Rgveda'' by Vishal Agarwal, 
11 August 2003.
(Journal of Indo-European Studies, Vol. 31, No.1-2: pp.107-185, 2003).
The " A Reply to Michael Witzel's 'Ein Fremdling im Rgveda' " was sent to us by V.Agarwal (Minesotta, USA). It was written in July 2003 as a reply to Prof M. Witzel's 'Ein Fremdling im Rgveda', 2003, Journal of Indo-European Studies, and was posted on the Journal's website. It provides supplementary material to N. Kazanas' 'Final Reply' covering various aspects not dealt with by, or unknown to the latter. One should note that when Kazanas mentions "black copper" (kRshNa-/karshaNa-ayas or Syama- 'swarthy metal') he nowhere means bronze as Witzel takes it (p 175) and Agarwal need not have elaborated the bronze-aspect.
 (Download the PDF file - 596kB)
 (Bibliography - Download the PDF file - 118kB)


'Sanskrit and Proto-Indo-European' by N. Kazanas
This essay is published in 2004 Indian Linguistics. It challenges many generally accepted notions in IndoEuropean linguistics like the 5-grade ablaut, labio-velar sounds, roots etc. At the same time it discloses the great antiquity of Sanskrit (or Vedic) and argues that the Sanskrit retroflex sounds are ProtoIndoEuropean, but lost in the other IE stocks. 
 (Download the PDF file - 159kB)


'Coherence and Preservation in Sanskrit
Published in VVRI 2006
This paper examines more than 400 lexical items that have cognations in 3 or more IE branches (Vedic, Greek, Italic etc) and denote as far as possible invariable things, qualities and activities (bodily parts, relations and actions like breathing, dressing, rising etc). Sanskrit appears to have lost far fewer items and preserves much greater inner organic coherence than the other branches. This supports the general idea that Sanskrit is much closer to Proto-Indo-European and that, since this could happen only in sedentary conditions, the Indoaryan speakers of Sanskrit did not move (much) from the original homeland. Moreover, the criticism that this conclusion does not take into account the large literature in Sanskrit is shown to be fallacious. This collection of words is a good treasury for any comparisons.
 (Download the PDF file - 415kB)



Friday, February 25, 2011

Dr Subramanian Swamy on his experience with Paramacharya of Kanchi




A forwarded article from a friend on Dr Subramanian Swamy’s experiences with Paramacharya of Kanchi is given below.
After reading this, 2 questions came into may mind.

# Why Syed Shahabuddin did not come back with the blue print of the Babri Masjid? Is it because he realized that the structure was built on a temple?

# Did Sonia share the same sentiments of Rajiv for the Paramacharya?


Related post :-

God and I - by Dr Subramanian Swamy (from DC)


***************************


God in Human Form – Part III (B)

by Dr Subramanian Swamy


In 1986, I was passing Kanchipuram, so I made a detour and went to the Kanchi Mutt. Parmacharya was there giving Darshan to hundreds of people. I also stood in the crowd. But the pujaris saw me and whispered to the Parmacharya that I had come. So he asked me to come close and sit before him. After the crowds had left, he looked at me as if to ask me why I had come. The Babri Masjid issue then was hotting up, and so I said Parmacharya that I was planning to visit Ayodhya to study the situation. I asked the Mahaswami what stand I should take. Parmacharya looked at me very sternly and said “you are a politician. Why do you have to take a stand on a religious issue? You stay out of it. You spend your energies on improving our economy or our relations with China and Israel .” I was taken aback by his stern remarks. But I persisted and said “At least the Government will have to take a stand”. He said: “Let the government make it possible for the
religious leaders of both religions to come together and work out a compromise. But you stay out of it. I then told Parmacharya that my friend, and leading Babri Masjid agitator Mr.Syed Shahabuddin wanted to see his holiness, and whether I could do bring him next time. The pujaris around the Parmacharya protested. They said that Shahabuddin was anti-Hindu, and he should not be allowed inside the Mutt.
 

The Parmacharya waved away their objections. He gave me permission to bring him to the Mutt. Then he said to the Pujaris. “Only Subramanian Swamy knows the art of befriending Americans, Chinese and Israelis at the same time. He can also be a friend of Shahabuddin.” Then turning to me, he said: “Keep this quality. Never be afraid of making friends with anyone.” I have followed this advice despite heavy criticism from the media. I have made friends with Morarji, Chandrasekhar and Indira Gandhi after terrific quarrels with them. Sometimes one needs to quarrel to come to an understanding of each other’s strength. Generally, I love to oppose those in authority because for a strong democracy, opposition is necessary. But Indian society being feudal, those in power underestimates who oppose them. And in my case, people in power have always underestimated me because they think I am alone. But they don’t realize I have friends everywhere, in all
political parties and in all important countries. That is why I have won all my battles against Government.
 

Because I have never betrayed anyone, these friendships remain for a long time. In 1990, I could have betrayed Chandrasekhar and fallen for temptation offered by Rajiv Gandhi to become PM. But when I discouraged this idea, Rajv Gandhi’s esteem of me and trust in me went sky high. Because of the trust I develop my friends from all over the world confide in me. People ask me often “How do you get so much accurate information”. This is the answer. I have secret friends and open enemies. Most other people have the opposite: secret enemies and open friends.
 

Thus Shahabuddin trusted me to bring him to the Mutt with honour. In early 1987, I brought Shahabuddin to see Parmacharya. I brought the fierce Muslims-rights agitator Mr.Syed Shahabuddin to Kanchipuram to have a darshan of the Parmacharya. Shahabuddin had told me many a times that he had an urge to see the Parmacharya. He never explained why. Nor I asked him why since I assumed everyone would like to see a living God on earth.
 

Although Shahabuddin is a strict Muslim, he accepted two fundamental points defining a patriotic Indian Muslim. The first point, a patriot would accept that though he is a Muslim, his ancestors are Hindus since 99.9 percent of Muslims of India are descendents of converts. Muslims who think that their ancestors are Persians or Arabs or from Tajikistan , can never be patriotic Indians, because they live in a myth. They are psychologically uprooted from India . The second point is that although the present day Indian culture is composite, in which all communities and religions have contributed, the core of this culture is Hindu in character and substance. Hence even if one changes one religion, it need not lead to a change of culture. Religion is personal, culture belongs to the nation.


Shahabuddin had accepted the two points and that is why I defended him against the charge that he was communal. But the RSS [which is not pro-Hindu, but merely anti-Muslim], saw in Shahabuddin a convenient hate figure, and dubbed him a “second Jinnah”. Naturally bigots of the RSS protested when they came to know that I was bringing Shahabuddin to meet Parmacharya. When we arrived at the Kanchi Mutt, the Mutt-Pujaris told me that Parmacharya had wanted me to bring Shahabuddin right into the inner part of the Mutt where he was staying. We were made to sit before a shut door, and told Parmacharya would come soon.
 

The door was opened by Parmacharya himself. When Shahabuddin saw him, he started to weep, with tears rolling down his cheeks. He folded his hands in a ‘namaste’ and said “Oh my Lord Parmacharya, please save my community and save the nation”. I was taken aback [Much later when we were back on our way to Chennai, I asked Shahabuddin why he broke down , before the Parmacharya. He simply said that he could not control himself when he saw the radiant face of the Parmacharya.


Parmacharya asked Shahabuddin what troubled him. He said “The Babri Masjid has been shut to Muslims by a Court Order and I pray to you to help us open it to us”. [At that time, 1988 there was no talk of its demolition by RSS]. Parmacharya told him that Hindus and Muslims should work out a compromise. He suggested a number of proposals, such as joint prayers, or Hindu Prayers on Monday-Wednesday-Friday and Muslims Namaz on other days with Sunday being denied to both. All these compromise proposals, Shahabuddin said, would be unacceptable to devout Muslims.
I added in my proposal.  Koran prohibits Namaz in constructions built by demolishing other religions holy places : therefore if it can be proved that a temple was demolished by Babar’s men to build the mosque in Ayodhya, and then the Muslims themselves should agree to the Babri Masjid demolition.

Parmacharya looked at me with a benign smile. He had earlier warned me to stay away from this issue, instead asked me to concentrate on political and economic issues. But Shahabuddin quickly agreed that Koran prohibited reading namaz in such places, but contested that Babri Masjid was built on a temple site. He said he had construction blue prints to prove his point.  Two hours of discussion had taken place, and therefore the Mutt pujaris were getting impatient. A big crowd was waiting for the Parmacharya’s darshan. So Parmacharya closed his discussion by asking Shahabuddin to bring his blue prints and come again. Surprisingly, again Shahabuddin prostrated before him, and then we both left.


Shahabuddin never came back again. But two years later, I became the Law Minister. I confronted the Muslim organizations with a proposal that the Government would appoint a Supreme Court Judge in a one man Commission of inquiry to determine whether or not there was a temple before the Babri Masjid was built. And if the conclusion was that there was a temple, then Muslims must agree to give up the Masjid. If not, then the Hindus would vacate the masjid.
 

Surprisingly, while all the Muslim organisations agreed to my proposal, the fanatic Hindu organizations refused to agree. Our government did not last long enough for me to go ahead with the Commission of Inquiry anyway disregarding the fanatics. Nor could I persuade the successor Narasimha Rao Government to follow my proposal. It would have amicably resolved the issue. But alas, Babri Masjid was finally demolished in bitterness.


Perhaps Parmacharya was telling me not to get involved from the beginning because he foresaw that it would be demolished as a part of destiny. If Babar’s violence was undone 450 years later, then RSS violence on December 6, 1992 could also be undone someday, but I hope, by understanding and love. Otherwise the cycle of violence will continue in the country, with the Hindus and Muslims  not reconciled to each other.
 

In April 1990, I received an urgent summons from Parmacharya to come to Kanchipuram. So I rushed. When I saw him, he merely smiled, put up his palm in blessing and then waved me on to go away! I was puzzled. Why was I asked to rush to the Kanchi Mutt from Delhi , merely to be sent away? The Mutt pujaris told me that on Parmacharya’s instructions the Mutt had decided that I was to share the dais with Rajiv Gandhi on the occasion of Parmacharya’s 97th birthday in May that year, to be celebrated in Kanchipuram. It turned out that no other politician except Rajiv and myself were to share the platform. It was a great honour, not only that I would be with Rajiv, but more that it was on Parmacharya’s instructions. But why did he so honour me?
 

That May meeting turned out to be crucial for me, because it created a rapport with Rajiv which I did not have before. Rajiv too had great regard for the Parmacharya and therefore his selection of me to pair with Rajiv, meant for Rajiv that I could be trusted. From that date onwards, Rajiv trusted me blindly with no reservations. Parmacharya thus not only altered my outlook, but he also ensured from time to time that I came on the right path. Once for example, in 1992, the two junior swamis, Jayendra Saraswati and Vijendra Saraswati had asked me to collect some funds for a Ghatikasthanam library that they wanted to build in honour of the Parmacharya. They even printed letter heads to make me the “Patron” of the project, but insisted on a donation. With great difficulty, I collected Rs.15 lakhs and gave it to them as Janata Party’s gift. When Parmacharya came to know about it, he sent me a query: “Why should you donate to the Mutt when you are
yourself begging for funds from the people to run your party? Please do not do it in the future”. Since then I have stopped giving donations to any cause. Beggars cannot donate.
 

Naturally, when Parmacharya attained samadhi in 1994, I felt like an orphan in public life. HE was always there when I had a dilemma to set things right. But I had the God’s grace to see him, a living divinity, for 17 years. Many of his opinions and directions I can never reveal, because he said them knowing fully well that I will keep it to myself. But by guided  and listening to him, I have become so strong  mentally as a person, that I feel that no one can cow me down or demoralize me no matter how bad a situation I am in.
 

Parmacharya taught me that the easiest way to finish an enemy is to make him a friend. He had urged me not to hate the sin, but the sinner. Of course, sometimes the easiest way is not available because of ego clash, and so the sinner has to fought to be made to realize the sin. But one has to keep in mind that there is a God’s scheme, redemption for the sinner what we call as prayaschitam. The ultimate revenge belongs to the divine. As human beings we have no right to revenge; only self-defence and righteous struggle. As Hindus, this is easy to understand because we believe in the law of Karma. People who see me fighting fiercely with Indira Gandhi, Chandrasekhar and Jayalalitha and then working with them get confused or even disgusted at what they perceive as my opportunism. I do not make up with those I quarrel with at height of their power, but when they cease to be in office. The reason for this flexibility in making friends out of enemies of
yester year is the advice that Parmacharya once gave me in 1977: ” India is plagued by divisions, and the egos of our rajas had played havoc with our national security, making it easy for foreigners to conquer us. Therefore, never hesitate to create unity, without of course compromising on the fundamental concepts of morality. India has never forgotten those who unite the nation.” I have defined three such fundamental moral principles.
 

These three fundamental concepts of morality are
 
1.     I shall not speak lie, even if I withhold  truth.
2.     I shall practice what I shall preach.
3.     What I do will be transparent for all to see.
 
I consider myself therefore free to plan my political strategy as I see best, without regard to criticism from my political opponents, but within these three moral limits.

What would you call 'global warming' in Tamil?


An interesting article in TOI focuses on the need to retain the original flavor of the language while translating foreign words. The names of places are also discussed in this article. In this context, I wish to say that the original names of places conceal a history behind them. Even the names of people as a collective noun has a history behind them.

One example I can say is the name 'Pandya'.
Pandyan is the family name of the kings who ruled from Madurai.
No one knows exactly why they got this name.
But while searching for the lost roots in the submerged Kumari, I came across a number of hints from Ramayana and Mahabharatha.
One hint is that Pandyan kingdom had a mountain called Rishaba.
In Tamil Pandya or Pandy also means rishaba.
The Pandyan king who fought for the Pandavas in Kurukshethra war was described as a bull (rishabha) in 2 places.


From Shugreeva's description of the South that is now enveloped with the waters of the Indian ocean, it is known that a mountain existed there by name Rishbha.
Rishbha is the vahana of Lord Shiva.
The Pandyans were shiva worshipers and derived their family name as Chandra vamsa owing to the moon adorning the head of Shiva.
All these put together give a justification for why they were called as Pandyas which means the bull.
In my next article (41st) in the series on Thamizan diraavidanaa, more details will be covered.


Almost every place in our country has a story behind its name.
It is worthwhile to analyze them to know / construct the history of the past.

-jayasree

***********************
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/7566461.cms?prtpage=1

What would you call 'global warming' in Tamil?



Arun Janardhanan, TNN, Feb 25, 2011, 12.50am IST
CHENNAI: What would you call global warming' in Tamil? Or, for that matter, sustainable development'? Why is a bison called the bison and not the gaur, which is the Tamil name for the animal?


"We are yet to find the right Tamil words for many expressions of the present times, such as sustainable development' or carrying capacity'. When instruction in English is spreading at the cost of local languages, our discourses on issues should be in the language of common man, in the ambient language," said Theodore Bhaskaran, historian and film critic.


Bhaskaran said that local languages were facing a threat as it was difficult to develop new words and ideas. He said the British, who had done immense work in the field of natural history in India, had completely ignored the local context of names. He also blamed the government and media who transliterate English words into Tamil rather than translate them. King Cobra, for example, is translated into Tamil as Raja Naagam', when a traditional Tamil name already exists for the reptile, Karunagam'.


Bhaskaran said the reason for this could be the fact that environmental concerns remain as a pre-occupation of the elite who use English. As a result, the linguistic heritage built over the centuries is being lost rapidly. "Not just the names, but even proverbs, metaphors and similies connected to the external world, to nature, are being lost. When metaphors die, ideas pass away and a way of thinking is buried," Bhaskaran said.


According to Dr S Balusami, senior Tamil professor in Madras Christian college, the problem arises when a language receives a new concept or idea. "What we are doing now is mere transliteration of words. An inferior feeling always prevents us from using the root words but going for the English substitutes. A new word should emerge from the roots, not as a translation. Tolkappiyam describes it as a problem with all regional languages as Tamil has had this problem during the period of Sanskritisation too," said Balusami.


Historian and writer Nanditha Krishna said that preserving the local language and names had nothing to do with changing street names into Tamil. "Such ideas have no justification in this time, especially when we replace the foreigners' names forgetting their contributions to the development and planning of this city," she said.


The local names always portray the history, character and the nature of a place. Egmore was originally Elumboor, meaning the seventh village in Tamil, as it was the seventh village to be bought by the East India Company. "Kodambakkam is a mispronounciation of ghoda bagh, the stable of the Nawab of Arcot, Pondy Bazaar was named after WPA Soundarapandiyan of the self-respect movement. Teynampet was named after the coconut groves that once flourished there, while Mylapore was named after the peacocks and peahens that once roamed here," said Nandita.


Dr G Ramachandran, a senior etymological researcher on Tamil and world languages, also agreed that there is more of transliteration happening than translation. "If we consider our language to be inferior to another, we kill the possibility of the development of the language. In other states, a regional language is the second language afte the mother tongue. But due to the anti-Hindi agitation in Tamil Nadu, English became the second language and now it is dominating Tamil too," said Ramachandran.



Lectures by Prof. Nicholas Kazanas in Chennai, Feb. 26 to March 2, 2011


LECTURES BY / INTERACTION SESSIONS WITH RENOWNED VEDIC SCHOLAR
PROF. NICHOLAS KAZANAS.

(Director OMILOS Meleton Cultural Institute,Greece)


1.        
Date :  26th February 2011
Time :  6:00 PM to 7:30 PM
Venue :Central Lecture Theatre (CLT),
near Gajendra Circle, IIT Madras, Chennai

Topic :  "The Collapse of Aryan Invasion Theory and the prevalence of Indigenism"
Chair person: Prof. Govardhan, Dean Students, IIT Madras (Viswanath: 9092684801)


2.      
Date :    27th February 2011
Time  :  10:30 A.M. to 12 Noon
Venue : Jagadguru Vallabhacharya Auditorium,D.G Vaishnav College Campus,
Gokulbagh, 833 Periyar EVR High Road, Arumbakkam, Chennai

Topic :  "Vedic civilization and its relevance to modern times"
Chairperson:   Dr S. Narasimhan, Principal, DG Vaishnav College, Chennai. (24751264)


3.       
Date:    28 February 2011
Time:    3: 30 PM to 5 PM

Topic:   Interaction session with Vedic-Sanskrit studies research scholars
Venue:   Kuppuswamy Sastri Research
Institute, Sanskrit College, Luz, Mylapore,  Chennai 600004
Chairperson:  Dr. Kameshwari, Director (24985320)


4.       

Date :   1st March, 2011
Time :   3 PM to 4:30 PM
 Venue : ORI. Platinum Jubilee Auditorium, Marina Campus,
             University of Madras, Chennai.

Topic :     "All inclusiveness of Veda".
Chair person:    Dr. Siniruddha Dash, Professor and Head Department of
                         Sanskrit, University of Madras. (9444469505)




5.       

Date :     2nd March 2011
Time :     11:45 AM  to 1 PM
Venue :  College Auditorium, Vivekananda college, Mylapore, Chennai 600 004.


Topic :   "Vedic Civilisation and its spread"
Chair person:  Dr S. Swaminathan, Principal, Vivekananda College. Chennai. (Dr. Ramachandran 9444079958)


6.        

Date :       2nd March 2011
Time :      7 PM  to 8:30 PM
Venue :   International Headquarters Hall of the Theosophical Society, Adyar, Chennai
600 020.


Topic :    "The All Inclusiveness of Rig- Veda"
Chair person:   Smt.G.Sundari, President, Adyar Lodge, Chennai. (24912474)



About the speaker

Prof. Nicholas Kazanas,  is a scholar of Vedic Studies.
http://www.omilosmeleton.gr/en/nk_cv_en.asp

Prof. Nicholas Kazanas was born in the Greek island Chios in 1939. He
studied English Literature at University College, Economics and
Philosophy at the School of Economic Science and Sanskrit at the
School of Oriental and African studies - all in London; also post-
graduate at SOAS and at Deccan College in Pune. (India).

He taught in London and Athens and since 1980 has been Director of Omilos Meleton
Cultural Institute.He is on the Editorial Board of Adyar Library
Bulettin (Chennai).
He has also produced a three-year course of
learning Sanskrit for Greeks.
From 1997 he has turned towards the Vedic Tradition of India and its place in the wider Indo-European culture.
This research comprises thorough examination of Indo-European cultures, comparing their philosophical ideas and values, their languages, mythological issues and religions.
He has translated in Greek many Gnostic texts (Gospel of Thomas, etc) and has composed an extensive study on Christ's original teaching (one in Greek and one in
English).
 He has also translated the ten principal Upanishads (ISA,
KENA, KATHA, MANDUKYA, BrHADARANYAKA, etc.) from the original
Sanskrit  text into  Greek.
He is on a promotional tour for a new world-class, peer-reviewed, academic journal to be edited by him, called Vedic Venues: Journal of the Continuity of Vedic Culture.

Contact: 
Mr.Ajith S. Ranganathan: 9840337088;
Mr.Kalivaradan : 9382817652





Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Can Kasab be hanged immediately? - ask Moily!

The article given below tells us the exorbitant money spent on Kasab, the modern day Asura, which readers would have read through many news reports. What attracted my attention was the response by the Union Law Minister Mr Veerappa Moily, to a pointed question asked some time ago whether Kasab would be hanged immediately. His reply comes at the end of this article. I am amazed at the kind of replies he gives, excelling Kapil Sibal at times. Be it A.Raja or the Ex-CJI or Kasab or Afzal Guru, the law minister never misses to give the them solace in some form. Some time ago I posted a review of his book on Ramayana in this blog. I was truly impressed to know that we have a law minister who has read Ramayana very well and has translated it. But actions do not always speak for the material you have read. It is wrong to conclude that that Mr Moily has imbibed the essence of Dharma or the Rajneeti of Rama. This article proves that point.

-jayasree

*********************


By R Shankar, India Syndicate, 21/02/2011

Rs 100 cr – cost of keeping Kasab alive

By the time the Kasab verdict is executed, India would have spent a tidy sum on the terrorist

Rs 100 cr – cost of keeping Kasab alive

The Bombay High Court has upheld the death sentence on Ajmal Kasab who was involved in the terror attack on Mumbai on November 26, 2008. This verdict was on expected lines. Before you say 'at last', tarry. This is not the final call. The verdict will have to be confirmed by the Supreme Court and then it will land on the President's table where mercy petitions of nearly 30 convicts are gathering dust - some of them are under a thick blanket of political dust (example Afzal Guru).


By the time Kasab stands before the noose, he would, in all probability, become a middle-aged man. This is because the 30 guys before him would have to meet their fate as pronounced by various courts.


Considering the fact that Afzal Guru, who was involved in attacking Parliament ten years ago, is still on death row, Kasab's turn may come somewhere around 2018 or beyond. By then we would have spent close to Rs 100 crore in keeping him alive and secure.


The Maharashtra government spends close to Rs 9 lakh a day to keep the 21-year-old terrorist from the Pakistani town of Faridkot 'safe' till he goes to the gallows. The government had spent Rs 31 crore on Kasab by November 2010. The figure is close to Rs 40 crore now.


"The state's debt has crossed the Rs 1.85 lakh crore mark. But of course, where security of the state and the country is concerned, we don't discuss the financial situation,'' a senior government official was quoted in an agency report.


The Rs 31 crore figure is strictly unofficial since the government is wary of letting out any information on Kasab. Following the directives of the Centre, besides procuring weapons for emergency use, vehicles and equipment, two special cells were created inside Arthur Road jail and JJ hospital for Kasab.

Rs 100 cr – cost of keeping Kasab alive

The official was quoted as saying: "There was a huge expenditure on the construction of a special cell inside the high-security Arthur Road jail. It has been designed in such a manner that even if a truck laden with explosives were to ram into it, the cell would not be dented. Such safeguards are essential to protect Kasab's life - and to establish Pakistan's involvement in the attack.''


Besides the special prison cell, another cell was created inside JJ Hospital for Kasab's treatment.


Nearly Rs 1 crore was spent for the creation of a bullet-proof cell on the JJ Hospital premises for Kasab. The irony is that after the money was spent, Kasab was never taken there. Instead, doctors were summoned to the Arthur Road jail, whenever Kasab had a health problem.


And Kasab, who was wounded before being captured, has been attended to by around 20 doctors for his various ailments in the past year.

The Maharashtra government also spends a large amount on the deployment of central forces to guard the Arthur Road jail.


Apart from all this, tax-payers money was used to realign Mumbai monorail along the Arthur Road jail because Kasab is in there. Almost Rs 44 crore will be overspent to redo the monorail plans for the 720 metre stretch along the Arthur Road jail.


While no official estimate is being given for how much the monorail's cost will increase, an engineer for the company building the track revealed to a local media that the cost along the stretch could rise by as much as 45 per cent to 50 per cent.

Rs 100 cr – cost of keeping Kasab alive

The government also had to spend Rs 2 crore to build a 20-ft tunnel in the jail so that Kasab could go from his cell to the special court in the jail and back. Rs Rs 2 crore for 20 feet makes this construction one of the costliest one in the country.


Over 250 specialised workers were involved in making the tunnel bomb, bullet and chemical weapons proof. The special court and Kasab's cell were also reinforced with iron plates; and to beat it all, Kasab's cell, the corridor and the special court was centrally air conditioned, according to media reports.


One may ask why Kasab cannot be hanged immediately. Union Law Minister Veerappa Moily has an interesting answer:


"The question is that it is not Afzal or anybody. You know you cannot pick and choose and hang people. There is justice. Terrorists who killed Indira Gandhi are still waiting. He has to be hanged. There is one more terrorist who is involved in terrorism. He is waiting. I am not defending anyone but I am for evolving a system for mercy petitions." (And in India we all know how long it will take to 'evolve a system')


The Minister also said that there were many people waiting in the death row in Pakistan, who included Indians. "And do you want all of them to be hanged immediately ?" he asked.


He was replying a few months ago to a question on Guru on a TV channel, who is among 28 convicts whose mercy petitions are pending before the President.

Source: India Syndicate with inputs from agencies


Monday, February 21, 2011

Mr S Gurumurthy on Advani's 'regret' letter to Sonia.


From
http://expressbuzz.com/edition/print.aspx?artid=249803




'Distress' and 'regret'


By S Gurumurthy


20 Feb 2011



That leaks make news is well known. More sensitive the leaks more shocking the news. The alleged 'apology' of L K Advani to Sonia Gandhi to the Bharatiya Janata Party task force report on black money abroad saying that she held secret Swiss bank accounts was indeed a stunner. The leak shocked the BJP to grief, surprised the Congress to joy, and bewildered the media to splits. A plain reading of Advani's letter shows that he has not regretted for the task force report mentioning Sonia's name at all. Yet, thanks to the media spin, the whole country believes he has.


Here is the story of the 'regret'. The task force of the BJP consisting of four specialists — Ajit Doval, a  security expert, Prof Vaidyanathan, a  financial expert, Mahesh Jethmalani, a  senior lawyer and myself, an experienced chartered accountant — had submitted a meticulous report, running to almost 100 pages, on the black money stashed away abroad. Citing two unbiased sources, the task force report had said that Sonia Gandhi family reportedly held huge funds in Swiss banks. This should have made big national news; but it did not. Why?


The Delhi media in strength had attended the release of the task force report by the tall leaders of the BJP and National
Democratic Alliance (NDA) on February 1; but it hardly reported either the news or the contents of the report. That the task force had mentioned the name of Sonia Gandhi was presumed to be the reason for the self-censorship of the Delhi media. But, ironically, what the release of the task force report could not achieve, the leak of the 'apology' letter seems to be achieving. The clever leak of Advani's letter, intended to abort any discussion on Sonia Gandhi family's alleged Swiss bank accounts, has inevitably drawn her into it. Because, as the Delhi media discusses what the 'apology' is for, it is forced
to refer to the Swiss account of Sonia Gandhi family mentioned in the task force report.


The report cited two independent, credible sources for the alleged secret Swiss accounts and other secret funds of the Sonia Gandhi family. The first was an exposure in the most popular news magazine of Switzerland, Schweizer Illustrierte (November 11, 1991). The Swiss magazine had alleged that some 14 leaders of third world countries had stashed away their bribes in Swiss banks; the late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi with $2.2 billions in secret accounts was one of them. The next was a research book, based on the declassified KGB documents, written by Yuvegina Albats, a Russian journalist. The KGB documents cited by Albats said that, in the year 1985, when Rajiv Gandhi was the prime minister, he had expressed gratefulness to the KGB for financial favours shown to the Gandhi family. The task force report had also pointed out that A G Noorani, well-known columnist, first wrote about these exposes in The Statesman newspaper in 1988; later, Subramanian Swamy put out the photocopies of the Swiss magazine and the extracts of Albats' book in the Janata Party website from 2001;  subsequently, well-known columnist Rajinder Puri wrote about Albats' expose in his column in 2005; afterwards, I wrote
about it in detail in the year 2009 and again in January this year in The New Indian Express; finally, Ram Jethmalani wrote
on it in India Today. The task force pointed out that the Gandhi family did not contest nor dare sue any of the writers or publishers in or outside India. It had also contrasted their silence with how Morarji Desai, when he was 87, filed a $50 million damages suit in US when Seymour Hersh wrote in his book that Desai was a CIA agent, disproved the charge and saved his and the nation's honour. The task force asked why the Gandhi family did not emulate Desai to establish the honour of Rajiv Gandhi and the nation. The task force had also pointed out that to make the matters worse, when an advertisement containing the alleged Swiss accounts in Sonia family name was issued in The New York Times issued by some NRIs at the time of Sonia Gandhi's visit to US in 2008, the Indian National Overseas Congress sued for $100 millions in damages to defend the honour of Sonia Gandhi but did not contest the allegation about Swiss money; and it also withdrew the suit!


After the task force report was released, on February 15, Sonia Gandhi wrote a secret, not open, letter to Advani expressing her disappointment at a person of his stature releasing the task force report of the BJP endorsing what she called as "scurrilous allegations" against her family, which she had treated with "contempt". Are the exposes  of Schweizer Illustrierte and Albats scurrilous? On February 16, expressing happiness at her denial of the allegations, Advani said that had she denied it earlier the task force would have factored it in its report. He concluded, "Even so, I deeply regret the distress caused to you", which made the Congress to gloat over. Explicitly, it is no regret for the report mentioning her family's alleged Swiss accounts. A dignified regret for the personal distress has been turned into a political apology.


The task force has asserted that it is the author of the report. The BJP or NDA could accept or reject its report. But, they considered the report, accepted and released it. The task force members have reiterated that they stand by every word of their report including about the alleged secret funds of the Sonia Gandhi family based on the sources cited. The task force is an independent body of domain specialists. It has castigated all political parties and all political leaders as lacking in credibility, thus not sparing the BJP, which had sought its views. The leak has only helped to confirm the independence of the task force. And more, it has also helped to lift the self-censorship of the Delhi media and open the alleged Sonia Gandhi family Swiss accounts for public debate


comment@gurumurthy.net


S Gurumurthy is a well-known commentator on political and economic issues




Sunday, February 20, 2011

Advaniji, you have to make many more apologies..



Advaniji, I am touched by your magnanimity and kind heartedness in readily accepting the denial by Soniaji on the charge of holding secret money in the Swiss bank. But your instant apology is a matter of worry to me Advaniji. Don’t you see that a long queue of people is waiting for your apology? 


How many times A.Raja had denied any wrong doing in 2G issue?
Is it right to cause him distress and say that he has misused his position?
Don’t you think that you have to urgently send him your next letter of apology?
Then what about Kalmadi, Karunanidhi and even Quatorochi who have denied any role in any misdemeanor that you have accused them with?  


Leave alone all these people.
Think of your bete noire who is best known as the lame duck.
How many times you have called him weak?
Did he ever accept it?
He has denied it in his recent interview to the TV editors.
Don’t you think that you must immediately send him your letter of apology?
Hurry up Advaniji, better late than never.
You have to make scores of apology letters.
Don’t worry about the work-load in making so many apologies.
Kapil Sibalji will pay you back by a repeat - gesture by including your name in the nursery syllabus as 
A for Adavniji – Advaniji for Apology…………


**********************

News report:-

Advani apologizes to Sonia.


Dear Smt Soniaji,

On my return from Kolkata last night, I found your letter dated 15th  February awaiting me.

I am happy that you have denied the reports relating to you and your family alluded to in the Task Force's Report on Black Money.

If these had been denied earlier, the Task Force would have taken your  denial into account. Even so, I deeply regret the distress caused to you.

With best regards,

Yours sincerely,

L K Advani

Demand more dowry, tells DMK minister!



There is a saying that if you want to know the true nature of a man, watch him how he behaves when he loses money. The converse of this is true in the case of DMK men. The whole of India now knows how they make money and what they do to make money. If you want to know what they do with the money they get, listen to the DMK Minister KN Nehru.


According to him, a minimum monthly salary of Rs 9,000 makes a man eligible to demand a dowry of 100 sovereigns of gold and 10 lakh rupees! Just imagine how much these ministers would have demanded for their sons! Perhaps a town or a city is needed to satisfy their status. Perhaps that explains why these DMK men keep grabbing every piece of land they lay their sights on.


The despicable talk was given by the minister to the new appointees in the Transport department. The minister thinks that this is big money than what was given during Jayalalithaa's term. But that does not warrant an advice like this – however light veined he might have meant. He could have told them that this money would increase their life style. He could have painted a rosy picture of their life that this money could bring. But true to be a DMK breed, he can think of what more this money can get for free!!


By his advice on how much dowry this salary can make them eligible for, he has shown his scant concern for one of the biggest evils faced by the ordinary people of Tamilnadu. Dowry menace is rampant across all sections of the society. The dowry menace is on the increase in the State.

Among the educated people, education itself has become the cause for asking dowry. The high cost of education is being compensated by demanding high dowry.
I am fairly in the know of the 'rates' for medical seats in the state.
I used to wonder how the students are going to earn back the money they have paid as donation for their education that runs into tens of lakhs of rupees.
To my shock I have heard some one of them say openly that they would recover it as dowry at the time of marriage!
Education, instead of reforming a person has now become the cause to perpetuate this evil.


From the stand point of Hindu dharma, the girl is given as daana in marriage (kanyadaan). She herself is the greatest wealth that a man gets. The man gives something back to the parents of the girl for having given her to him. In no form of Hindu marriage, dowry is given by the girl's side.


If a man demands dowry and gives hardship to the girl and her parents, he will be born with a malefic yoga called 'ashuba maala' yoga. This is identified by a combination in which all the planets will be positioned on 6th, 8th and 12th houses in his horoscope. The one born in this yoga can never get happiness of family nor get any material success. The ashuba parivarthana between 6,8 and 12 lords with other lords also indicate a harm done to the wife in a previous birth.


The dowry deaths also attract severe karma.
Of the 4 sins that are unpardonable and can not be propitiated, murdering a woman is one.
Harm done to a woman in any form will haunt the person who has done the harm. Instigation of the harm also attracts condemnation.
The minister is not fit enough to be respected as a human being for making this deplorable talk!

- jayasree

***********************


Take more dowry, says TN transport minister


Feb. 18: In a truly bizarre incident, state transport minister K.N. Nehru encouraged unmarried new appointees in the state transport corporation to collect more dowry.
Speaking during a government function organised at a private school ground at Nagercoil in Kanyakumari district on Friday, the minister said that during the last five years of DMK rule, around 45,000 new appointments had been made through the transport ministry and most of the new appointees were unmarried men.

Mr Nehru said these men, who draw a starting salary of around `9,000, as against the `4,500 fixed during the  AIADMK regime, had an advantage as they could now demand more dowry.

"Unmarried new appointees from Kanyakumari district can get at least 100 sovereigns of gold and `10 lakh as dowry only because of the appointments given to them by the DMK government," Mr Nehru said.
His cabinet colleague, Suresh Rajan, Kanyakumari MP Helen Davidson, the local MLA and Kanyakumari district collector Rajendra Ratnoo were present on stage.

They applauded the transport minister's speech on dowry, which is a punishable offence according to section 4(A) of the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961 that bans advertisement or propaganda of dowry in any form.

Friday, February 18, 2011

Misuse of temple property and its manifestation in horoscope.



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An RTI petition has brought out the shocking state of affairs of even famous temples such as Murugan temples at  Palani, Thiruttani, Thirupparamkundram and Marudamalai and the Meenakshi Amman temple of Madurai incurring revenue losses. The total loss of revenue in the last 10 years incurred by 148 temples in Tamilnadu was found to be to the tune of 2,640 crores of rupees. The cause was attributed to mismanagement of temple properties. The recovery of dues was not properly done by the temple administration.

Misuse of temple property is happening at two levels - by the individuals and by the administration. Less than a month ago, an article in the  Organiser magazine (given below) brought to light  how the funds from Hindu temples are not being used for the Hindu temples, but diverted for other purposes. Stephan Knapp who has been doing a yeomen service for the Hindu cause has highlighted in one of his books that 85 % of the revenue of the Thirupathy Balaji temple goes to the government exchequer from which the money is diverted for purposes not connected with Hindu causes.

We don't know the exact state of affairs happening in the temples in Tamilnadu. The recent RTI petition has brought only the loss in terms of recovery of money from temple properties. We do not know how much is being spent on temple welfare. As far as I know the festivities in many temples are being run with the support of devotees only. The misuse and mismanagement of temple property has not yet been investigated.

From astrological point of view, misuse of temple property gets manifest in many forms. But the unfortunate thing about is that the effects do not get manifest in the same birth itself. It comes in a future birth when people would suffer for having cheated the deity by misappropriating the temple properties.
By this it is interpreted that God gives enough time to set right the wrong done to the temple / deity / temple property in the same birth itself.
When it is not done it is being carried over to a future birth when people would not know why they suffer.


From the horoscope it is possible to ascertain whether one has done an offence to a deity in a previous birth. 

  • The Badhak planet is an indicator of the offence done to a deity in some form in the previous births. All lagnas  have a badhak-sthan. The 11th,9th and 7th are the signs of the badhak planet for moving, fixed and common signs respectively. 
  •  If the badhak lord is positioned in dussthanas such as 6th,8th and 12th , that is sure sign of harm done to a deity. 
  •  If there is a malefic in the 12th to the badhak lord, that also foretells harm done to the deity.
  •  If the badhak lord is conjoined with Gulika, Mandhi or Saturn or Mars, that also is an indicator of harm done to a deity. 
  •  If the badhak lord or the lord of dussthana joins a malefic in the 4th house, that also shows a  harm done to the deity. 
  •  Similarly if the lords of dusthanas (6th / 8th / 12th) occupy 2nd or 12th house, it shows that the native had misused the property of the deity signified by that planet.


The misused or misappropriated property will be Dhatu or Moola or Jeeva according as the lagna happens to be moving, fixed or common. 

Dhatu stands for metals and minerals  such as gold, silver, copper etc. If the lagna happens to be moving (Aries, Cancer, Libra, Capricorn) and the badhak and dusthana lords come under above mentioned combinations and / or the dusthana lord is in 2nd or 12th, the crime was stealing or misuse of the jewellery  of the deity.

Moola refers to land and plant kingdom such as land, trees, plants etc. If under the above mentioned conditions, the lagna happens to be fixed (Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, Aquarius), it means that the native had misappropriated the moola properties of the deity denoted by the afflicting planet.

Jeeva refers to jeeva dravyas or living entities such cattle and other animals that belong to the deity or temple. When the lagna happens to be a common sign (Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, Pisces), it shows jeeva dravyas have been misused or stolen.

The plants also are classified as Dhatu, Moola and Jeeva. If the afflicting planet occupies the lagna it also denotes harm to the deity with specific reference to dhatu, moola or jeeva.

Saturn, Mars and Moon are Dhatu planets.
Sun and Venus are Moola planets.
Jupiter and Mercury are Jeeva planets.

Propitiation must be done in accordance with the sign / planet by identifying the deity represented by the afflicting planet.


The deities can be identified as follows:-
  • Sun in the 1st Drekkana of common sign – Lord Subramanya.
  •  Sun in the 2nd Drekkana of a common sign – Lord Ganesha
  •  Sun in other drekkanas and signs – Lord Siva.
  •  Moon strong / waxing – Durga
  •  Moon weak and in Martian signs – Chamundi
  •  Mars in odd / satwic signs (satwic signs are Cancer, Leo, Sagittarius and Pisces) – Lord Subramanya
  • Mars in odd and other signs – Lord Bhairava
  • Mars in even signs – Chamundi, Bhadrakali.
  • Mercury in movable and common signs – Any avatar of Vishnu.
  • Mercury in the 1st and 2nd Drekkana of fixed signs – Lord Krishna
  • Mercury in the 3rd Drekkana of fixed sign – Vishnu in general.
  • Jupiter – Vishnu
  • Venus in own sign – Annapurna
  • Venus in a benefic sign - Lakshmi
  • Venus in enemy sign – Yakshi
  • Saturn in any sign – Sastha / deity of one's native place.

Hope people understand that playing with deity and its wealth does not do them any good.

-jayasree

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http://www.deccanchronicle.com/chennai/temples-state-suffer-rs-2640-cr-revenue-loss-748

Temples in state suffer Rs 2,640 cr revenue loss

Feb. 17: In the last 10 years, around 148 temples in the state under the control of Hindu religious and charitable endowments department have incurred a revenue loss of Rs 2,640 crore, according to the response to an RTI petition.

Mr V. Thiagarajan, state president of the Hindu Baktha Jana Sabai, told Deccan Chronicle that it was the mismanagement by temple administrations that caused such a huge revenue loss. The temples usually generate revenue through various means such as renting out shops, houses and lands besides auctioning of parking lots and sale of temple pooja tickets etc.

"There is no denying the fact that majority of the temples has been blessed with good revenue," he said. "The audit report also points out that administrative mismanagement has led to revenue loss."

Several important temples in Tamil Nadu figure in the list including Palani Murugan Temple (`68 crore), Meenakshiamman Temple (`40 crore), Tiruttani temple (`7 crore), Tiruparankundram temple (`9 crore), Chennai Kaligambal temple (`7 crore) and Marudamalai Subramaniasamy Temple (`7 crore).

Usually a joint sitting of the top honchos of the endowments department comprising the commissioner, additional commissioner and joint secretary is held every year to discuss threadbare the objections raised in the audit report.

"However, no such meeting has been held in the last 10 years raising doubts of large-scale irregularities by the temple administration," said Mr Thiagarajan.
Despite a directive from the Madras High Court asking the endowments commissioner to take steps for the recovery of amount from the temple trust board and the executive officers of the respective temples, no action has been taken so far, said Mr Thiagarajan.
The Hindu Baktha Jana Sabai would file civil suit against the endowments department if it fails to act, he added.

Meanwhile, a memorandum has been sent to the Chief Minister, Dr M. Karunanidhi, seeking his intervention in directing the endowments commissioner to initiate recovery.
The HR&CE commissioner, Mr P.R. Sampath, refused to speak on the issue but another official, on condition of anonymity, said that both the trustees of temple trust board and the executive officers were pulling strings to get the arrears waived.
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The Moving Finger Writes

The on-going loot of Hindu temples

By MV Kamath

WHILE Congress leaders are hell-bent on damning the RSS – it is an old game that has long ceased to have any meaning – they seem to be unaware (or deliberately wish to ignore) that as late as on July 4, 2010 the right hand of a 53-year old Christian college professor (one TJ Joseph) was chopped off by Muslim fundamentalists, at Thodapurzha, Iduki district, in Kerala, for alleged blasphemy.


Digvijay Singh probably doesn't want to be reminded of this. Nor, one suspects, would he be anxious to know that police found out that this heinous crime was committed as part of the implementation of the verdict of a Shariah court run by fundamentalist elements in Kerala. The police apparently discovered that 14 such parallel courts have been running in Kerala for the last twenty years and Kerala State Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan has been reported as confessing that since 1993, twenty two murders have taken place under the direction of the Shariah courts in Kerala (vide, Mangalam Daily Kottayam, July 21, 2010).


Digvijay Singh can check this bit of information as could Rahul Gandhi. At the same time, they could both check out on the performance of The Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment Act of 1951 which allows State Governments and politicians to take over thousands of Hindu Temples and maintain complete control over them and their properties. It is claimed that they can sell the temple assets and properties and use the money in any way they choose.


A charge has been made not by any Temple authority, but by a foreign writer, Stephen Knapp in a book (Crimes Against India and the Need to Protect Ancient Vedic Tradition) published in the United States that makes shocking reading. Hundreds of temples in centuries past have been built in India by devout rulers and the donations given to them by devotees have been used for the benefit of the people. If, presently, money collected has ever been misused (and that word needs to be defined), it is for the devotees to protest and not for any government to interfere. This letter is what has been happening currently under an intrusive law. It would seem, for instance, that under a Temple Empowerment Act, about 43,000 temples in Andhra Pradesh have come under government control and only 18 per cent of the revenue of these temples have been returned for temple purposes, the remaining 82 per cent being used for purposes unstated.


Apparently even the world famous Tirumala Tirupati Temple has not been spared. According to Knapp, the temple collects over Rs 3,100 crores every year "and the State Government has not denied the charge that as much as 85 per cent of this is transferred to the State Exchequer, much of which goes to causes that are not connected with the Hindu community". Was it for that reason that devotees make their offering to the temples? Another charge that has been made is that the Andhra Government has also allowed the demolition of at least ten temples for the construction of a golf course. "Imagine the outcry" writes Knapp, "if ten mosques had been demolished". It would seem that in Karanataka, Rs. 79 crores were collected from about two lakh temples and from that, temples received Rs seven crores for their maintenance, Muslim madrassahs and Haj subsidy were given Rs 59 crore and churches about Rs 13 crore. Very generous of the government. Because of this, Knapp writes, "25 per cent of the two lakh temples or about 50,000 temples in Karnataka will be closed down for lack of resources", and he adds: "The only way the government can continue to do this is because people have not stood up enough to stop it". Knapp then refers to Kerala where, he says, "funds from the Guruvayur Temple are diverted to other government projects denying improvement to 45 Hindu temples". Land belonging to the Ayyappa Temple, apparently has been grabbed and "Church encroaches are occupying huge areas of forest land, running into thousands of acres, near Sabarimala".


A charge is made that the Communist state government of Kerala…. wants to pass an Ordinance to disband the Travancore & Cochin Autonomous Devaswom Boards (TCDBs) and take over their limited independent authority of 1,800 Hindu temples. If what the author says is true, even the Maharashtra Government wants to take over some 450,000 temples in the state which would "supply a huge amount of revenue to correct the state's bankrupt conditions…." And to top it all, Knapp says that in Orissa, the state government intends to sell over 70,000 acres of endowment lands from the Jagannath Temple, the proceeds of which would solve a huge financial crunch brought about by its own mismanagement of temple assets. Says Knapp: "Why such occurrences are so often not known is that the Indian media, especially the English television and press, are often anti-Hindu in their approach, and thus not inclined to give much coverage, and certainly no sympathy, for anything that may affect the Hindu community. Therefore, such government action that play against the Hindu community go on without much or any attention attracted to them".


Knapp obviously is on record. If the facts produced by him are incorrect, it is up to the government to say so. It is quite possible that some individuals might have set up temples to deal with lucrative earnings. But that, surely, is none of the government's business? Instead of taking over all earnings, the government surely can appoint local committees to look into temple affairs so that the amount discovered is fairly used for the public good? Says Knapp: "Nowhere in the free, democratic world are the religious institutions managed, maligned and controlled by the government, thus denying the religious freedom of the people of the country. But it is happening in India. Government officials have taken control of Hindu temples because they smell money in them, they recognise the indifference of Hindus, they are aware of the unlimited patience and tolerance of Hindus, they also know that it is not in the blood of Hindus to go to the streets to demonstrate, destroy property, threaten, loot, harm and kill…


Many Hindus are sitting and watching the demise of their culture. They need to express their views loud and clear…." Knapp obviously does not know that should they do so, they would be damned as communalists. But it is time some one asked the Government to lay down all the facts on the table so that the public would know what is happening behind its back. Robbing Peter to pay Paul is not secularism. And temples are not for looting, under any name. One thought that Mohammad of Ghazni has long been dead.