Tuesday, March 30, 2010

How deep are the roots of Indian civilization? -- BB Lal (Review by Dr Vaidehi Nathan)


From

http://www.organiser.org/dynamic/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=338&page=23

A must read book on Indian civilization

Review by

 Dr Vaidehi Nathan

How Deep are the Roots of Indian Civilization? Archaeology Answers, Dr. B. B. Lal , Aryan Books International, Pp 150 (PB), Rs. 390.00


ARCHAEOLOGY in India has been one of the most argued subjects among the academics. It has been influenced by ideological bias, scanty research into primary sources and most important of all the lack of interest on the part of the government to support, sponsor and spread the information on the deep roots of our history and civilization. Hence, the book by one of the most renowned archaeologists B B Lal on the Indian civilization has come as a fresh breath. Lal, an academic of international repute and author of several acclaimed books has written How Deep are the roots of Indian Civilization? Archaeology Answers. Adopting narrative style, he has minimised the academic lingo and made it easy for a common reader to sail with the content. 


Right at the outset, the book connects today's reader with our forefathers thousands of years ago, by pointing out the similarities in rituals and daily practices. The tradition of applying sindoor in the centre parting on the forehead by married women has been observed in the terracotta figurines that have been carbon dated to be circa 2800-2600 BCE (Before Common Era), even before what is known as Harappan civilization. Bangles and the 'chauk' on the forehead were also in vogue then, as they are now. Utensils similar to the ones in common use now in our kitchens have also been excavated from the Harappan region. The tradition of bead craft in Gujarat region too dates back to thousands of years.


The excavations yielded six-faced dice, evidences of chess game and reading and writing material like takhtis. Some of the commonly narrated bedtime stories, like the cunning fox that makes the crow drop the food on its beak and the intelligent crow that made water rise in the pot by dropping pebbles into it have been found in illustrations in vases and jars, indicating these stories have been coming down generations for thousands of years. They prove an incontrovertible continuity in our culture and habitation. Lal has dedicated the book to his illustrious student Dr SP Gupta.


In the dedication he writes, "Dedicated to my most beloved student Dr SP Gupta whose pursuit of knowledge, balanced judgement, unflinching devotion, self-sacrifice and institute-building capacity will ever remain enshrined in the annals of Indian Archaeology." 


Gold, silver, copper and bronze were known to the Harappan people, so were horses and spokes wheels. For decades the Indian students had been taught in their history text books that these were unknown to the Harappan civilization. Lal roundly dismisses the Aryan invasion theory and provides unassailable proof for his argument. He is equally dismissive of the recent academic propaganda of an Aryan 'immigration,' implying that they were a nomadic community. He quotes the Rigveda and the Satpathabrahmana to fortify his position that there was neither invasion from outside nor immigration within and that the Vedic people, the Harappan people and the present Indian society are a continuum of the same race and civilization. Says he, "Looking back, one finds that the most ancient civilization of India, known variously as the Harappan, Indus or Indus-Sarasvati civilization, was indeed remarkable in many respects. It may not have given to the world the high-rising pyramids of Giza or the immensely rich royal tombs of Ur, but it has shown how an ideal and well balanced community lives – in which the differences between the rich and the poor are not glaring. In the other two countries, symbolised by the pyramids and the royal tombs, the haves had it all, while the have-nots none at all." This observation is very much an illustration of our concepts of vasudeva kutumbakam and the Ram Rajya, where everyone was happy and none sad on account of materialistic disparities. 


Some of the most famous archaeologists in modern India are Britishers, like Sir Mortimer Wheeler and Sir John Marshall. Though their contribution to the study of Indian archaeology cannot be disputed, they have tended to jump to conclusions and pronounce judgements on excavations, influenced by their own academic upbringing and prejudice. Lal, who calls Wheeler his guru does not hesitate to point out the incongruities in their arguments. 


The heavily illustrated book is a precious work Lal has done to the cause of understanding our civilization. It must be included in the curriculum of young classes so that they imbibe the wealth of knowledge of our ancient and glorious past. It is a must read for every Indian. There are a few printer's devils, which one hopes will be corrected in the subsequent editions. Lal needs no introduction. He was the Director General of the Archaeological Survey of India (1968-72) and took early retirement when he was 51 to pursue his research programmes. He has excavated several sites and made immense contribution. His publications include 150 seminal research papers and several books. 


(Aryan Books International, Pooja Apartment, 4B, Ansari Road, New Delhi-110 002; aryanbooks@gmail.com)




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Related posts:-

Sindhoor in Harappan figurines

BB Lal's book on deep roots of Indian civilization.



Monday, March 29, 2010

Insulting Hindu religious belief by a reference to Radha-Krishna

Insulting Hindu religious belief by a reference to Radha-Krishna

By
Dr S. Kalyanaraman.

An open letter to all citizens of Bharat,


Appended is a report on the Supreme Court's decision on pre-marital sex.


We take exception to the obiter dicta of the Court reported in the media. "Drawing an analogy from the Hindu mythology, the court said, even Lord Krishna and Radha lived together."


It is shocking that such a statement should have reportedly been made by the learned judge(s). It is shocking because it shows a gross ignorance about Hindu traditions and Hindu history.


First of all, the reality of Krishna is established by the Itihaasa Mahabharata text and the astronomical reference contained in the text. Hence, Krishna is NOT mythology.


It is absurd to refer to the episode of Radha-Krishna in the context of a case related to pre-marital sex. Sri Krishna, Bala Krishna was only 10 years of age when he left Brindavan for the Gurukulam in Sandeepani Ashram. The episode of Radha-Krishna occurred when Sri Bala Krishna was a child 10 years of age.


Bhagavata Purana, does NOT refer to Radha by name but is alluded to within the tenth chapter of the text as one of the gopis whom Krishna plays with during his upbringing as a young boy. Krishna left Vrindavan for Mathura at the age of 10 years and 7 months according to Bhagavata Purana . So Radha is assumed to be a child of about 10 years or less, when Krishna left Vrindavan. http://www.vedabase.net/sb/10/45/3/en


I suggest that Bhagavata Purana together with the works of Savant Nimbarka, a vaishnava acharya, should be made essential reading for all constitutional functionaries.


After his education in Sandeepani Ashram, Shri Krishna never returned to Brindavan. He went to Mathura.


What is wrong with our educational system that even learned judges should refer to a seven-year old Shri Krishna and his being a darling of humanity and who enthralled Radha and other Gopikas has NOTHING to do with pre-marital sex since he was in Brindavan only until he was seven years of age.


Is a mother's affection to a child considered pre-marital sex? Is the adoration by elders of an avatara considered pre-marital sex?


Maybe, there should be a law requiring minimum education in Hindu history and cultural traditions of avatara purusha like Shri Rama and Shri Krishna to all constitutional functionaries.


In this context, it is apposite to recall the words of Justice ASP Iyer who was Justice of Madras High Court. Justice A.S.P Iyer I.C.S (1899-1963) in his book, 'Sri Krishna – The Darling of Humanity', says: "Alexander the Great once asked a Brahmin scholar in the 4th century BC. "How can we know a man to be God?" and the scholar replied "When he does what no man can ever do." To illustrate this divine point, I would refer to how Krishna saved the chastity, dignity and honour of Draupadi at the Royal Court of Hastinapura.


Does a seven year old darling of Brindavan become an example of pre-marital sex in jurisprudence?


Something is amiss here. I hope there will be an apology to all Hindus whose sentiments have been deeply hurt (cf. Section 295A of IPC) by the unwarranted reference to Radha-Krishna as an analogy of pre-marital sexual relationship.


Dhanyavaadah.

Dr. S. Kalyanaraman


Section 295A. Deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings or any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs
1[295A. Deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings or any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs.

Whoever, with deliberate and malicious intention of outraging the religious feelings of any class of 2[citizens of India], 3[by words, either spoken or written, or by signs or by visible representations or otherwise], insults or attempts to insult the religion or the religious beliefs of that class, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to 4[three years], or with fine, or with both.]


1. Ins. by Act 25 of 1927, s. 2.

2. Subs. by the A.O. 1950, for "His Majesty's subjects".

3. Subs. by Act 41 of 1961, s. 3, for certain words (w.e.f. 27-9-1961)

4. Subs. by Act 41 of 1961, s. 3, for "two years" (w.e.f. 27-9-1961)

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Live-in, pre-marital sex no offence: SC
24 Mar 2010, 0541 hrs IST, ET Bureau





NEW DELHI: There is good news for the votaries of the live-in partners. The Supreme Court on Tuesday observed that the live-in relationships between the adult couples cannot be treated as an offence.


"When two adult people want to live together what is the offence. Does it amount to an offence? Living together is not an offence. It cannot be an offence," said a bench comprising Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan, Justice Deepak Verma and Justice B S Chauhan.

Drawing an analogy from the Hindu mythology, the court said, even Lord Krishna and Radha lived together.


The apex court said there was no law which prohibits live-in relationship or pre-marital sex.

The bench passed the observation while reserving its judgement on a special leave petition filed by noted south Indian actress Khushboo. She had approached the apex court seeking quashing of about 22 criminal cases filed against her after she allegedly endorsed pre-marital sex in interviews to various magazines in 2005.


While hearing the case, the judges grilled the counsel for some of the complainants in the case and repeatedly stressed that the perceived immoral activities cannot be branded as offence.


The argument of the counsel was that her comments allegedly endorsing pre-marital sex would adversely affect the minds of young people leading to decay in moral values and ethos of the country.


"Please tell us what is the offence and under which section. Living together is a right to life," remarked the court. apparently referring to Article 21 of the Constitution relating to right to life and liberty. The apex court further said the views expressed by Khushboo were personal.


"How does it concern you. We are not bothered. At the most it is a personal view. How is it an offence? Under which provision of the law?" the bench asked the counsel.


The apex court further asked the complainants to produce evidence to show if any girls eloped from their homes after the said interview.


"How many homes have been affected can you tell us," court asked while enquiring whether the complainants had daughters. When the response was in the negative, they shot back, "Then, how are you adversely affected"?


Khushboo had approached the apex court after the Madrash High Court in 2008 dismissed her plea for quashing the criminal cases filed against her through out Tamil Nadu.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/5717877.cms?prtpage=1


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Related post:-

SC on living-in-relationship – where Law is not the same as Dharma.

Sunday, March 28, 2010

The path of universes and justification for doing pithru tarpan.


The 4th article in the series on Vedic Model of Creation can be read in the following link.
http://www.tamilhindu.com/2010/03/creation-theory-4/

The article establishes that there is a 3rd element in Space and Time dimension. It also establishes that that all the universes rotate around a central axis in infinite numbers. The universes are moved in a base and they move with an internal charge. In the process of explaining these, it is also established that nothing moves on its own, but by the power of the Almighty which we call Brahman and that our life also is powered by him before birth and also after birth when we survive by borrowing air. From the analogy of baby birth (compared to birth of Universes from Vishnu's umbilical cord) an explanation is derived how and why we have to discharge the pithru-runam after the death of parents.


பிரபஞ்சம் செல்லும் பாதையும் பித்ரு காரியத்தின் அவசியமும்
By ஜெயஸ்ரீ சாரநாதன்


'பெற்றோர் இறந்தவுடன் அவர்களுக்கு பித்ரு காரியம் செய்கிறேன் என்றால் அவர்களுக்குத் தெரியவா போகிறது? அது அவர்களை அடையப் போகிறதா என்ன? அதற்குப் பதிலாக அவர்கள் உயிருடன் இருக்கும் போதே அவர்களை நன்றாகக் கவனித்துக் கொண்டால் போதும். இறந்த பிறகு ஸ்ராத்தம் என்று சடங்குகள் செய்யத் தேவையில்லை. அப்படிச் செய்யவில்லை என்றால் அதனால் நம் பிள்ளைகளையும், பேரன்களையும் பாதிக்கும் என்பதெல்லாம் சும்மா புருடா.'– இதுவே இன்றைக்குப் பரவலான கருத்து.

Saturday, March 27, 2010

SC on living-in-relationship – where Law is not the same as Dharma.




(A write-up by an avowed Sanathanist, on the Supreme Court’s observation on living-in relationship in ‘Kushboo- case’ will be on expected lines!! Beware!)

I am focusing my attention on a few features only.

The first one – expectedly is the comparison quoted by the Chief Justice, on Radha- Krishna relationship.

Coming as it does from the highest authority of the Judiciary, I am tempted to ask

· Would he give death penalty to a kidnapper of a woman – and even pronounce that death sentence be carried out by the husband of the kidnapped lady – because Rama did so?

· Would he allow a rapist to go unpunished, because no one was punished when Draupathi was molested?

· Would he refrain from sending a boy and a girl to juvenile home, if they were found in living –in – relationship? For, the characters whom he quoted were in their pre-adolescent period – happily playing around. There are millions of school children of that age –group spending time together – but not in the sense he is imagining. If he thinks that it is a living-in-relationship, if he thinks that Radha and Krishna had a living-in-relationship, won’t he give a judgment that be they be given a rehabilitation treatment?

I don’t know whether it is right to comment like this on the views of the CJ.


His observations show how Dharma of this land is not the same as Laws of this land, or rather, what the law-interpreters think - though both (Dharma and Laws) are shaped by the existing value system followed by the people of this land.

The issue is ‘rights’ of the individual.

Any precedence to them is found only from our country – because such precedence will be suitable or applicable to us - the people who are brought up here. Even the CJ has unwittingly accepted such a dictum and tried at it with a mis-quote on Radha- Krishna!

But when we choose a precedent, it must be known for what we are quoting. Radha- Krishna relationship is known for “Devotion” and glorified only for that even today.


For man-woman relationship, the precedence has always been Rama and Sita though their married life was short lived.


This country has had 12 such pairs glorified from times of yore. They have had their ups and downs and in their relationships. But what finally made them a successful pair depended on how they adjusted with each other and respected each other’s wishes and learned to do their bit for the sake of each other. It is about give and take – and it comes as a life long process.


Adjusting with each other can not happen in a few years. It is a continuing process, a process of growing-up together for ever.

This brings us to the next issue of whether living-in will really deliver results. Without going into the pros and cons, let me bring to notice how the ‘rights’ issue is country & culture -based and not on modernity.


Rights do not come alone; they come with a set of responsibilities. These two – (Rights and Responsibilities) - are intertwined in any (private or social) relationship. There is a system of Rights and Responsibilities in this country followed from times of yore.


The ‘rights’ of the children are unwritten in our country – unlike in the US; so also their responsibility to the parents in their old age.

In the US, the ‘rights’ of the children are many - but not much is heard about their responsibilities. Government itself takes responsibility for the parents in old age in a variety of ways. Where the society demands something as ‘rights’ over their parents, the parents would not think that they have responsibilities for their children. As a result, an American parent does not have to save or spend on children as we do in our country. In contrast, the connection between the parents and the wards is a continuing bond in diverse ways in our country. That is why the family system is intact in our country. There are both rights and responsibilities for everyone in the family in our system.



Recently a question - Do parents have right over their children?- came up for discussion when some parents approached the court, suing their wards that they have failed to take care of them; they wanted them to be punished for not taking care of them. I don’t know whether the court has delivered the judgment. But what we must accept is that we are living in a system where children are brought up with a sense of responsibility that they take care of parents in old age. Not many are doing that nowadays, but that is not a reason for shunning that responsibility.

Our system is such that the responsibility and obligation to parents continue even after their death in the form of death-related ceremonies. A majority are within such established family norms of this culture.

On the question of marriage, parents of this country still continue to have a say. They pray, fast and spend for the sake of happy marriage of their wards. Marriage still continues to be a family decision in most homes. There may have been aberrations here and there, but they are not accepted as norms. A vast majority of Indians are middle class or lower middle class people only, with the family system of rights and responsibilities. The living-ins may be an attractive idea with the upper class or the ultra rich like Kushboo. They form only a minute percentage of the population.

It is reported that Kushboo asked sarcastically if people had not tried pre-marital sex in our society. They had. That had been there at all times in the past – as “kalavu’ and as “Gandharva vivaha’. That does not mean it is a norm in the society. Even in these two instances, experimenting as living-in was definitely not practiced.


One can not know someone in a few years of living-in. Man’s responses change from time to time. It also boils down to tolerance limits – how far you are ready to tolerate each other.

It is also the same as how you manage to adjust with your boss in your work place. In astrology we apply the same yardstick of 7th house significance to both the spouse and the boss in the work place!

You may have lot of differences with your boss, yet you continue with him. The reason is the benefits you get form the job. They out-weigh the trouble your boss gives you. You won’t quit the job until and unless the balance shifts.

Such a cost- benefit ratio will evolve only with time in relationships. It will take time to know that. In job, we are ready to tolerate, adjust and adapt ourselves as long as the ratio is to our benefit. . All these three are necessary features in married life also.


We have to demand these features as rights and responsibilities from both the partners for smooth running of life. This is where we are at the current juncture. This can be done without jeopardizing our continuing system of family values.


In such a context, the court thrusting ideas contrary the existing ones is uncalled for. At best, it could have been said that Kushboo has ‘rights’ to voice her opinions, and not that people have the ‘right’ to living-in- relationship.

- jayasree

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Related links:-

Live-in relations not against Indian values

http://ibnlive.in.com/videos/111991/ftn-living-together-not-against-indian-values.html

Excerpts from

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article7074875.ece

The Indian Government does not provide statistics for unmarried couples cohabiting but a study by the Mumbai-based International Institute for Population Sciences last month showed that 17 per cent of young men in rural areas said that they had had premarital sex, compared with 10 per cent in urban areas.

The survey of 55,000 women and men aged 15-29 also showed that 4 per cent of women in rural areas claimed to have had premarital sex, compared with 2 per cent in the cities.

Age of modernity

525m mobile telephone connections in India (for a population of 1.1bn)

60% of India’s population is under the age of 25 2.3m work in the IT sector

$110m value of Indian plastic surgery industry last year 5% of the population is classified as obese

4m Indians on Facebook

20,900 members of gaymatchindia.com dating site

29% live in cities

Sources: Telecom Regulatory Authority of India; researchandmarkets.co.uk; Forbes.com; World Travel and Tourism Council; Times database

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From

http://in.news.yahoo.com/32/20100324/1070/ten-living-in-no-offence-sc.html

Living-in no offence: SC

Wed, Mar 24 05:00 PM

New Delhi, March 23 -- The Supreme Court on Tuesday came out in support of south Indian film actress Kushboo who is facing 22 criminal cases after she allegedly endorsed pre-martial sex in her interviews to various magazines in 2005. A bench headed by Chief Justice K.G. Balakrishnan wondered what was wrong in two adult people living together. "When two adult people want to live together what is the offence. Does it amount to an offence? Living together is not an offence. It cannot be an offence," the bench told advocates representing some of the complainants in the case. The bench is hearing Kushboo's petition to quash the cases on the ground that it violates her fundamental right to freedom of speech and expression. The court said there was no law prohibiting live-in relationship or pre-martial sex. It referred to mythological stories and added that even Lord Krishna and Radha lived together. All the three judges of the bench were of the view that the "perceived immoral activities" as per the complainants could not be branded as offence. It brushed aside the argument that Kushboo's comments adversely affect the minds of young people. While reserving its judgment on Kushboo's petition the

"How does it concern you. We are not bothered. At the most it is a personal view. How is it an offence? Under which provision of the law ?"the bench asked the counsel.

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From

http://ipc498a-misuse.blogspot.com/2010/03/blog-post_23.html

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

மொட்டைத்தலை + முழங்கால் = இந்திய நீதிமன்றம்!

தலைப்பைப் பார்த்து குழப்பமாக இருக்கிறதா? மொட்டைத்தலைக்கும் முழங்காலுக்கும் ஏதாவது தொடர்பு இருக்கிறதா? அது தான் இந்திய நீதிமன்றங்களின் இன்றைய நிலை. பொறுப்பான நிலையில் இருக்கும் உச்ச நீதிமன்றம் வெளியிட்டிருக்கும் கருத்துக்களை பார்க்கும் போது அதுபோலத்தான் தோன்றுகிறது.

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திருமணத்துக்கு முன் செக்ஸ் தவறு இல்லை: சுப்ரீம் கோர்ட்

தினமலர் மார்ச் 24,2010

புதுடில்லி : 'திருமணத்துக்கு முன் செக்ஸ் உறவு வைத்துக் கொள்வதோ அல்லது திருமணம் செய்து கொள்ளாமல் ஆணும், பெண்ணும் விரும்பும் பட்சத்தில் இணைந்து வசிப்பதோ எந்தவிதத்திலும் தவறு இல்லை' என, சுப்ரீம் கோர்ட் தெரிவித்துள்ளது.

திருமணத்துக்கு முன் செக்ஸ் உறவு வைத்துக் கொள்வது தொடர்பாக சினிமா நடிகை குஷ்பு, 2005ல் பத்திரிகை ஒன்றுக்கு அளித்த பேட்டியில் தெரிவித்திருந்தார். தமிழ் கலாசாரத்தை பாதிக்கும் வகையில் குஷ்பு தனது கருத்தை தெரிவித்ததாகக் கூறி அவர் மீது தமிழக கோர்ட்டுகளில் பல்வேறு வழக்குகள் தொடரப்பட்டன. இதையடுத்து, தன்மீது தொடரப்பட்ட வழக்குகளை ரத்து செய்ய வேண்டும் என, சென்னை ஐகோர்ட்டில் குஷ்பு மனு தாக்கல் செய்தார். இம்மனு தள்ளுபடி செய்யப்பட்டது. இதையடுத்து, சுப்ரீம் கோர்ட்டில் அவர் மேல் முறையீடு செய்தார். இந்த வழக்கு, சுப்ரீம் கோர்ட்டில் தலைமை நீதிபதி கே.ஜி.பாலகிருஷ்ணன், நீதிபதி தீபக் வர்மா மற்றும் சவுகான் ஆகியோர் முன்னிலையில் நேற்று வந்தது.

அப்போது நீதிபதிகள் கூறியதாவது: தகுந்த வயதை அடைந்த இருவர் ஒன்றாக வாழ்வதை எப்படி குற்றமாக கருத முடியும்? ராதையும், கிருஷ்ணனும் ஒன்றாகவே வாழ்ந்ததாக புராணங்கள் கூறுகின்றன. திருமணத்துக்கு முன் செக்ஸ் உறவு வைத்துக் கொள்வதோ அல்லது திருமணம் செய்து கொள்ளாமல் ஆணும், பெண்ணும் ஒன்றாக வாழ்வதையோ தவறு என எந்த சட்டமும் கூறவில்லை. குஷ்பு தெரிவித்த கருத்துக்கள் அனைத்தும் தனது தனிப்பட்ட சொந்த கருத்துக்கள். எந்தவகையில் அது கலாசாரத்தை சீரழிப்பதாக கருதமுடியும்? எத்தனை வீடுகள் இந்த பேட்டியால் பாதிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளன? இவ்வாறு நீதிபதிகள் கேள்விகளை எழுப்பினர்.

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கிருஷ்ணரும் ராதையும் ஒன்றாக வாழ்ந்தார்களாம். அதனால் இந்தியாவில் திருமணம் செய்யாமல் எல்லோரும் கூடி வாழலாம் என்று சொல்கிறது நீதிமன்றம். இவர்கள் கடவுளை வைத்து இந்தியர்களை அவமானம் செய்கிறார்களா அல்லது கடவுள் பக்தியோடு கடவுள் காட்டிய வழியில் நடக்கவேண்டும் என்று சொல்கிறார்களா? அப்படியென்றால் ராமபிரானின் தந்தை தசரதனுக்கு நூற்றுக்கணக்கான மனைவியர் இருந்தனர். அதனால் புராணங்கள் காட்டியவழியில் எல்லோரும் கணக்கிலடங்கா திருமணம் செய்துகொண்டால் அதற்கு நீதிமன்றம் இதுபோல ஆதரவு தருமா?

இந்தியாவில் பிறகெதற்கு இந்து திருமணச் சட்டம் என்று ஒன்றை வைத்திருக்கிறார்கள்? யாரும் யாரோடு வேண்டுமானாலும் பிடித்தவரை கூடி வாழ்ந்துவிட்டு பிள்ளைகளைப் பெற்றுப் போட்டுவிட்டு விலங்கினங்கள் போல நாட்டில் திரிந்துகொண்டிருக்கலாமே?

ஒரு தனிப்பட்ட நபர் சொல்லிய கருத்து அவரின் தனிப்பட்ட விஷயம் அதில் அடுத்தவர் அக்கறை காட்டத்தேவையில்லை என்று நாகரிகமாக வழக்கை முடிக்கத்தெரியாமல் கடவுளையும், புராணங்களையும் கொச்சைப்படுத்தி மேற்கோள்காட்டி மனித ஒழுக்கநெறியை உடைக்கும் விதமாக இப்படி ஒரு செய்தியைக்கொடுப்பதற்கு நீதிமன்றங்கள் எதற்கு? அதை கீழ்த்தரமான ஒரு மஞ்சள் புத்தகமே எளிதாக செய்துவிடுமே!

இந்தியாவிற்கு உலகளவில் பெருமை சேர்த்துத் தருவது பாரம்பரியம் மிக்க இந்திய குடும்ப அமைப்புமுறை. அரசியல்வாதிகளும் நீதிமன்றங்களும் அல்ல. இதுபோன்ற பொறுப்பற்ற நீதிமன்ற கருத்துக்களின் பின்னணியில் இருப்பது மேற்கத்திய கலாச்சார இறக்குமதியும் அதற்கு கிடைத்துக்கொண்டிருக்கும் வெகுமதியும்.

மேலைநாடுகளில் தந்தையில்லாமல் குழந்தைகள் பிறப்பது சர்வசாதாரணமான விஷயம். குழந்தைப் பிறப்புச் சான்றிதழ் விண்ணப்பத்தில் தந்தையில்லாத குழந்தை என்று குறிப்பிடும் வசதியும் இருக்கிறது அந்த நாடுகளில். தந்தை அல்லது தாய் இல்லாமல் ஒற்றைப் பெற்றோருடன் பலகுடும்பங்கள் இருக்கின்றன. அந்தக் குடும்பத்துக் குழந்தைகளுக்கு சரியான வளர்ப்பு முறை இல்லாமல் மனித இனத்திற்குறிய கலாச்சாரமும் பண்பாடும் இல்லாமல் மனம்போன போக்கில் வாழ்ந்துகொண்டிருக்கிறார்கள்.

அதுபோன்ற இழிநிலை இந்தியாவிற்கு வரவேண்டும் என்பதுதான் இன்றைய அரசியல்தலைவர்களின் நீண்டநாள் கனவு. அதற்கு அவர்கள் கொடுத்திருக்கும் பெயர் பெண் சுதந்திரம்”! இந்தக் கனவு நனவாவதற்கு அவர்களுக்கு வெளிநாடுகளிலிருந்து நிதியுதவியும் கிடைக்கிறது. அந்த திட்டத்திற்குப் பெயர்தான் iVAWA

அரசியல் தலைவர்களின் அந்தக் கனவின் ஒரு வெளிப்பாடுதான் இந்திய நீதிமன்றத்தின் இந்த மொட்டைத்தலை + முழங்கால் கருத்துக்கள்!









Thursday, March 25, 2010

Karunanidhi, the engineer versus Ram who has no engineering degree.

‘Cho’s editorial in today’s Thuglak (31-03-2010) took a dig at the enormous praises heaped on the Chief Minister Mr Karunanidhi as the ‘architect’ of his Dream Project – the new building of the Legislative Assembly.


Everyone from Sonia Gandhi to local scribes had praised his contribution in shaping the building, supervising at odd hours at night and in giving suggestions every now and then.


It remains a mystery in which Engineering college Mr Karunanidhi obtained his degree to qualify for giving ideas to the German company which was paid huge sums to design and construct this structure. Even the two petitions that questioned the engineering aspects of the structure so hurriedly built were dismissed by the court on the pretext that the petitioner had not produced the engineer’s opinion to support his accusation.


Therefore we go with the assumption that Mr Karunanidhi holds an engineering degree and acumen that made the world renowned builders follow his instructions. This reminds us of the unchallenged question that Mr Karunanidhi once asked of Ram – in which engineering college did Rama study to have built the Ram sethu?


Yes, he is right.
Rama was not an engineering expert.

He did not even have the basic knowledge of the procedures - didn’t call for a global tender, no publicity and no proper materials were used. His workforce, the vanaras were also like him, not trained enough because they just pulled out whatever they saw around them and piled them up as a bridge. The only solace that Rama can claim is that he engaged a so-called expert, one Mr Nala. But can a Nala be an equal to Mr Karunanidhi?

Nala hurried – faster than Mr Karunanidhi in finishing the project. He finished it in just 5 days! What kind of workmanship can you expect in a 5-day project? No sooner did they finish, part of it was submerged in water.

And did they have any sense of importance for a grand gala opening? They just went along with the bridge as it was being built. Perhaps they did not have esteemed friends like Mr Karunanidhi has – to inaugurate the bridge.

Ok. Enough with the comparisons.
It is said that pictures speak better than words.
Let us see a comparison of the Rama’s work with Karunanidhi’s work.


Ram sethu becomes visible even at a height of 620 km.













Some better visibility of the New Secretariat happens at 243 metres.


















Ram Sethu at 93 km height











At a height of 30 km, the dark patches are the visible structure above the sea water.









At 12 km.
Clear layers are seen. Impossible to happen like this in Nature for a short stretch connecting the two land masses.












At 5.8 km height



















At 1 km height












Features of the structure boasted of by Mr Karunanidhi - become visible only at 1/2 km height.
















At 3.93 km, the cricket stadium at Chepauk (red arrow) is a better visible object from the sky!













From

http://kalyan97.wordpress.com/category/uncategorized/

Rama Setu: explaining coral rocks at 10m. depth

May 29, 2007

I hope experts in the study of corals will explain the existence of coral rocks on Rama Setu in deeper layers, say 10 m. below sea-level according to bathymetry (sea-depth) and geological and geo-technical surveys reported in the government web-site.

The uniqueness of Rama Setu region with coral rocks as building blocks appears to be due to the following:


1. this is the only region in the world, along the coastline of Bharatam, ranging from Makran coast, Gulf of Kutch, Gulf of Khambat, Gulf of Mannar — that turbinella pyrum, called s’ankha flourishes. Nowhere else in the world does such a coral reef exist.


2. on either end of Rama Setu, there was subsidence of the canyon below the ocean, resulting in the rise of the land-link between Dhanushkodi and Talaimannar.


3. Ocean currents do NOT form coral blocks, ocean currents can only allow accumulation of limestone or mineral-encrusted-sand aggregates, corals are not indigenous to Rama Setu, blocks of coral rocks should have been brought from outside the region, say the coral reef islands from Tuthukudi to Rameswaram.


4. Rama Setu is a crescendo formed by a huge mountain, almost a canyon, rising in height in a steep slope — from 3000 m. below sea-level near Tuthukudi to almost zero m. between Dhanushkodi and Talaimannar.


5. Is it really possible to keep a 12 m. deep channel dredged, in the mid-ocean, through such a steel slope stable and safe from mountainous land-slides? Won’t the limestone rocks cave into such a channel, given the steep slope? Imagine such a canal in, say, Himalayas. Will the canal stay open given the dynamic state of the mountains — due to plate tectonics – and the recurrences of avalanches? Has any study been done on the state of the canyon topped by the Rama Setu where people had lived and where trees grew (according to a 1799 eye-witness report in Asiatic Researches, Asiatic Society)?





Monday, March 22, 2010

Rama Navami – why celebrate Rama’s birthday on thithi and not on birth star?




We celebrate our birthday on the birth star falling in the solar month.

(Refer How to celebrate birthday. )

Birthdays of Gods are a different genre.



They are celebrated on the thithis in the respective lunar months.

Rama's birth day is not celebrated on his birth star, Punarvasu but on the thithi he was born. Let us see why.



A Thithi is different from a star.

When we speak about star, we actually refer to 1/ 27th portion of the circle of 360 degrees of the zodiac. This is equal to 13-20 degrees. Starting from zero degrees Aries, the sky (Zodiac) is divided into 27 equal parts and each part is known by a star present in that part.



Thithi is the distance between the Moon and the sun. The starting point is not Aries. The starting point is the conjunction of the moon and the sun (Amavsaya).


The distance from one conjunction to another is a circle which means 360 degrees. This distance is covered in 30 days. So in one day 12 degrees are covered. A Thithi thus has 12 degrees whereas the star has 13-20 degrees. The conjunction of a star and a particular Thithi will not be repeated every year.



For ordinary mortals like us, the birth star (birth star is the star in which moon transits on the day of birth) determines our thoughts, attitudes and life events.

For Gods, there is no such thing that a star can do to them!!.

Their birthdays are times for doing austerities and spiritual practices.

Thithi is best suited for such austerities.



The distance between the sun and the moon determines the time that will be helpful to do spiritual sadhana. The important thithis in this regard are the 4th (Chathurthi), 6th (Sashti), 8th (Ashtami), 9th (Navami), 11th (Ekadasi) and 14th (Chathurdasi).


On these thithis, gods namely Ganesha, Subrahmaya, Krishna, Rama, Vishnu and Rudra (respectively) are meditated upon. Meditation on these Gods on these respective thithis give desired results for a spiritual practitioner.



I am tempted to say that it is divine design that these Gods were born or associated with these thithis, so that mankind can extract maximum benefits from the respective spiritual practices by remembering respective gods on these days.



Per this, the birth of Rama or Krishna on the respective thithis is not a coincidence. It is divine Will.

Looking at the sky on these thithis, some special significances can be noticed.



Particularly Astami and Navami come with the sun and the moon at right angles to the earth.




The result is that the combined pull of the sun and the moon on these thithis is lowest on the earth on ashtami and navami. The combined Luni- solar effect on tides and water bodies is a well known scientific fact. Our body also contains lot of fluids that control our thoughts, works and the internal organ systems. The Luni-Solar pull affects these fluids too. But on the 8th and 9th thithis, the Luni- solar effect will be minimal on all water bodies including our body. Meditation or thought forces done on these thithis can sink deeper in us – in the absence of any disturbance from the Luni- Solar pull. It is perhaps to tap this advantage, Gods themselves decided to be born on these thithis!!



An interesting astrological feature about these thithis is that baring the 11th Thithi, all the others are what we call “Paksha Chidras” – or ‘weaknesses or holes in the fortnightly sojourn of the Moon’.

Instead of Ekadasi, Dwadasi is part of this group.


While the moon is moving in these thithis, it experiences some jerks. One can judge this by looking at the distances between the Sun and the moon.

Between Dwadasi and sashti (of any fortnight – waxing or waning) the moon comes within the strong grip of the Sun. Almost all the earthquakes of intensity that causes damage to the upper crust occurs when moon passes these thithis.



Our sojourn in the sky on these thithis seems to be in need of some divine protection. It is as though by the blessings on Lord Ganesha, we cross the Chathurthi, with the blessings of Lord Subrahmanya, we cross Sashti and with the blessings of Lord Shiva, we cross Chathurdasi. Every fortnight we remember these thithis and pray respective Gods.



Ashtami and Navami are completely away from this group.


They come with least Luni-solar effect. They are spiritual as well as celebration times.


Gokulaashtami and Rama Navami are both celebration times and times for Spiritual thoughts.



The effectiveness of these thithis in spiritual sadhana is the reason for celebrating the birthdays of Gods on thithis.












Saturday, March 20, 2010

Temple where Ravana’s wife worshipped.


 

A news report from Srilanka tells about the restoration of Thirukeshwaram temple at Mannar for worship after 30 years. The interesting information in the report is that this temple was believed to be one where Mandothari, the wife of Ravana worshiped!

 

 

It is easy to dismiss this as a myth or a belief spread by people. The main reason for doing so is that Rama (and therefore Ravana / Mandothari  also)  lived in Thretha yuga. The Chathur Maha yuga that is commonly known, runs into 43,20,000 years. As per this calculation, Thretha yuga happened 13 lakh years ago. How can we have some structure of such an old period to exist even today is the question.

 

 

I have been saying in many of my articles that classification of Yugas had been different in different scales of measurement. All Sidhdanthic texts of astrology begin with explaining the Cosmos. Due to its vastness, the cosmos can not be explained in the time scale of days, months and a few hundreds of years.

 

 

 It is similar to how we explain the distance within our own solar system. For shorter distance, say, between the earth and the moon, we express in miles or kilometers. But when it comes to expressing the distance between the planets or between the planets and the sun, we express in terms of astronomical unit. When we speak about stars, the astronomical unit becomes irrelevant. We talk in terms of parsecs then.

 

 

Similarly, the Chathur maha yuga scale running into lakhs of years is easy to express the duration of day or night of the four-faced Brahma. The easiest way to understand the duration of day time of Brahma is to say that it consists of 14 manvanthras. To locate our place in this day, we say that we are in the 7th manvanthra which means that we have just crossed half the day of Brahma and we are left with an equal duration to finish our 'run' in the cosmos.

 

In terms of sun's movement, we can say that within this day of Brahma, our sun would complete 20 rounds around the centre of our Milky Way galaxy. Modern science calculates that one round of the sun is roughly equivalent to 220 million years!  So this is how we express time for easy grasp of the phenomenal stretch of it.

 

Yugas of huge number solar years is used to express Time in the vastness of Cosmos. All Siddhanthic literature of Jyothisha begins with the explanation of Cosmos. In that context, they will speak about yugas of lakhs of years. To put it in other words, if you

come across a text expressing Time in terms of Yugas of lakhs of years, know that it is a 'Siddhantha'.

 

There are rules in writing down principles of astrology and astronomy. According to these rules, Siddhanthas will refer to Chathur maha yugas and kalpa (day of Brahma) . 'Tantra' texts of Jyothisha begin with a reference to the nearest Maha Yuga from the date when the text was written. For example Aryabhateeyam is a Tantra text. The reference point was the Kali Maha yuga. There are 'Karana' texts which make a reference to the saka varusha. For all other texts (Jyothisha or other wise), the reference or locating the time will be in terms of the 60 years (of Prabhava, Vibhava).

 

Therefore we must not get confused with Maha yugas for the time frame of Man's life which runs into a few decades.  Read this post to get more details on how the Yugas are simplified.

Rama in Treta yuga – Yuga is defined on the basis of dharma and not the number of years.

 

Coming to the news on Mandothari's connection to a temple in Srilanka, the period of Rama and Ravana were well within the last 10, 000 years. Tamils had lived in the extended land of Kumari at the time when Ravana was ruling Lanka.

 

It is known from the copper plates recovered from Sinnamanur that there existed a Pandyan king who defeated the ten-hooded Ravana!! It can be read here.

 

http://www.whatisindia.com/inscriptions/south_indian_inscriptions/volume_3/copper_plates_at_tirukkalar.html

 

// The Sanskrit portion of the bigger Sinnamanur plates begins with a fragmentary verse in which the king (perhaps Pandya) boasts of having subdued the ocean —  an attribute which the mythical Pandya kings generally assumed in consequence, perhaps, of their sea-bordering kingdom, their naval power, and their sea-borne trade, from the earliest historical times.  From him were descended the kings known as Pandyas (v. 2) 'who engraved their edicts on the Himalaya mountain' and whose family-priest was the sage Agastya (v. 3).  One of the Pandya kings is said to have occupied the throne of Indra (v. 4) and another to have shared it with that god, and still another, to have caused the Ten-Headed (i.e., Ravana of Lanka) to sue for peace (v. 5).  One was a conqueror of the epic hero Arjuna (v. 7)[4].  Verse 8 refers to a king who cut off his own head in order to protect that of his master and also to a certain Sundara-Pandya who had mastered all the sciences.  Many kings of this family had performed Vedic sacrifices Rajasuya and Asvamedha (v. 9).[5] //

 

 

These  Sinnamanur inscriptions were written in the reign of Pandyan Rajasimha, the grandson of Sree maran srivallbhan alias Parachakra kolahalan, who was the contemporary of Periazhwar.
Rajasimhan was the contemporary of Chola king Parantaka I who reigned at the commencement of 10th century AD. So these inscriptions were written at that time.


The two kings mentioned in that portion (where reference to conquest over Ravana is mentioned) can be identified
. One was Ugra Pandyan and the other was Kadum kOn from whose name the genealogy is mentioned in the inscriptions.

 

Ugra pandyan came in the lineage of Meenakshi and Somasundareswar in ThenMadurai. He stopped the surging ocean for which he came to celebrated as "kadal vadimbalam nindra Pandyan'. We can locate this incident in nearly 5 other texts, most importantly in Thiruvilayaadal puranam and Silappadhikararam.

 

We don't have the name of the Pandyan king who overpowered Ravana. There is no mention of this in Sangam texts too, whereas there is frequent mention of Ugra Pandyan. The reason is not difficult to trace.

 

Pandyans belonged to Lunar race whose Guiding God was Shiva. Usually the devotees of Shiva used to treat the other devotes of Shiva with very high reverence. Both the Pandyans and Ravana were well known Shiva devotees.

 

There is a less chance of enmity with a devotee of Shiva (Ravana), except in an extraordinary situation when the Pandyans had faced threat from him.

Since Ravana was a devotee of Shiva, the Shaivite  Pandyan who conquered him, would not have gloated about that. This can be said with a good measure of conviction because we come across many shaivite kings, devotees of Shiva and nayanmaars who did not harm or fight with a fellow devotee of Shiva.

That is perhaps why the victory over Ravana was not highlighted by later kings.

What is to be noted is that when Ravana was around, the Tamil lands were ruled by Pandyan kings.

 

 

Another interesting information from the Sinnamanur inscriptions is that the Tamil part of it says that the Pandyans studied Tamil and Sanskrit (Vada mozhi) to excel Pandits. This is given in the 10th verse in the inscriptions. 

http://www.whatisindia.com/inscriptions/south_indian_inscriptions/volume_3/copper_plates_at_tirukkalar.html

 

 

 

That means Tamil and Sanskrit co existed thousands of years ago – even before the Pandyan kings learnt them and started Sangam for Promotion of Tamil.

I have been saying that Tamil existed as the spoken language for this manvathra

 

 

(1 manvanthra = 30,67,20,000  years. The current manvanthra started 8 crore years ago. Within this 8 crore years mankind found ups and downs in existence and civilization attributes periodically every 28,800 years). From the inscriptions, it is deduced that there had been learned ones (pandits) who studied both Tamil and Sanskrit. But giving a special status to Tamil began with the Pandyans patronizing it. They did it after mastering both languages by themselves.

 

 

Related posts:-

 

On Ramayana connection in Srilanka

http://kalyan97.wordpress.com/2007/10/29/rama-setu-srilanka-traditions/

 

On Lanka in Tamil texts

Rama- a true son of the soil!


On Tamil's antiquity

Purananuru contains Vaalmiki's Tamil poem

Rama Setu in this 'living' country with a rich past!

 

 

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From

http://www.dc-epaper.com/DC/DCC/2010/03/19/ArticleHtmls/19_03_2010_012_047.shtml?Mode=0

 

http://www.hindustantimes.com/Temple-visited-by-Ravana-s-wife-restored-in-Mannar/H1-Article1-520554.aspx

 

 

 

Ravana-linked ancient temple is restored

Colombo

 

A centuries-old temple, believed to have been visited by King Ravana's wife Mandodari, in Sri Lanka's north-east has been restored to its past glory by the Army.


The historic Thirukeshwaram (Mahathithamanthottam) Hindu Kovil (temple) in Mannar, which was neglected during the LTTE days, received a new facelift after de-mining and was handed over by Army Engineers to authorities, a statement said. It said the temple will now conduct regular poojas.


Following a directive by Army Chief Jagath Jayasuriya, troops swung into action and commenced clearance of LTTE laid minefields in the Temple premises and its surroundings. "The temple is said to have been venerated by King Ravana's wife Princess Mandodari as the first one to make offerings to this sacred place," it said.


This Hindu temple in Mannar with its direct links to Trincomalee and Galle Thirukeshwaram Hindu Kovils of historic importance records a saga that also goes back to the days of Sri Lankan Prince Vijaya.


Legends tell the first structure of the kovil was built by Raja Raja Cholan and Rajendran Cholan of the Chola dynasty. The move was timed to coincide with the re-opening of the sacred Kovil which used to mark its feast on March 13 every year.

 

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From

 

http://www.priu.gov.lk/news_update/Current_Affairs/ca201003/20100318thirukeshwarm_kovil_feast_after_30_years.htm

 

Thursday, March 18, 2010 - 08.25 GMT

Thirukeshwaram Kovil's feast after 30 years

 

The historic Thirukeshwaram (Mahathithamanthottam) Hindu Kovil in Mannar that remained totally neglected and dilapidated owing to LTTE terrorism was recently handed over by Army Engineers to religious authorities in order to conduct religious ceremonies once again.


Following a directive given by the Commander of the Army Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya, the Army commenced clearance of LTTE laid minefields in the Kovil premises and its surroundings, as the first leg of the project on 4th March 2010.

Within six days the Army Engineers de-mined an area of  about  509,050 sq.m and declared the area safe for use. This coincided with the re-opening of this sacred Kovil which used to mark its annual feast annually on 13th March on a grand scale.


After an absence of nearly 30 years, hundreds of devotees flocked to the shrine and conducted the annual feast on 13th March throughout the whole day. The feast continues until Vesak Full Moon Day's water cutting ceremony.


This Hindu temple in Mannar with its direct links to Trincomalee and Galle Thirukeshwaram Hindu Kovils of historic importance records a saga that goes back to the days of Prince Vijaya and other royalties, who had reportedly arrived there from overseas for religious offerings and veneration. Legends and folklore tell that the first structure of the Kovil at Mannar had been built by Kings Raja Raja Solan and 2nd Rajendran Sola.