The Ganas: Hooligans of Heaven

The Ganas are the host of spooks, hobgoblins and spirits who accompany Shiva. Some are said to dwell with him on Mount Kailasa, whilst the more fearsome and terrifying Ganas are confined to the cremation grounds.

It is told that Uma once asked Lord Shiva why he liked to reside in cremation grounds, which were the abode of demons, jackals, corpses and vultures, when he had so many more beautiful places. Mahesvara replied that he had roamed the world, looking for a pure place to meditate in. Unable to find one, he, out of anger and frustration, he created the terrible pishachas, flesh-eating ghouls and terrible rakshasas, intent on killing people. Out of compassion however, he kept this terrible horde in the cremation ground. As he did not want to live without the bhutas and ganas, he chose to live in a cemetery. When the ghosts stayed with him, they caused no harm.

The presence of the terrible Ganas also acted as an honour guard to Shiva and a bar to the impure. Those who feared the awful ghosts and goblins were destined to remain outsiders. Only heroes could be near him in the cremation ground, heroes who had defied death and liberated themselves from passions and fear. These were the true devotees - those who had nothing to fear, who had mastered the onslaught of the multiple categories of threatening powers that were fatal to those who were less than heroes and could not control the frightening phantoms because they had not controlled themselves.

In one sense, the Ganas can be thought of as emanations of Shiva. They are described by Stella Kramrisch in her book The Presence of Shiva as "prognostications or caricatures of possibilities of the human condition." Whilst some of them were created by Shiva, others attained the status of Ganas after being defeated in battle by Shiva.

Ganas - Ganna Chakra

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Too Beautiful Not To Share

There was a blind girl who hated herself because she was blind. She hated everyone, except her loving boyfriend. He was always there for her. She told her boyfriend, "If I could only see the world, I will marry you."

One day, someone donated a pair of eyes to her. When the bandages came off, she was able to see everything, including her boyfriend.

He asked her, "Now that you can see the world, will you marry me?" The girl looked at her boyfriend and saw that he was blind. The sight of his closed eyelids shocked her. She hadn't expected that. The thought of looking at them the rest of her life led her to refuse to marry him.

Her boyfriend left in tears and days later wrote a note to her saying: "Take good care of your eyes, my dear, for before they were yours, they were mine."

'This is how the human brain often works when our status changes . Only a very few remember what life was like before, and who was always by their side in the most painful situations.'

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Hanuman Jayanthi

Yatra yatra raghunatha kirtanam;

Tatra tatra kritha masthakanjalim;

Bhaspavaari paripurna lochanam;

Maarutim namata raakshasanthakam

Meaning : "We bow to Maruti, Sri Hanuman, who stands with his palms folded above his forehead, with a torrent of tears flowing down his eyes wherever the Names of Lord Rama are sung".

Sri Hanuman is worshipped all over India-either alone or together with Sri Rama. Every temple of Sri Rama has the murti or idol of Sri Hanuman. Hanuman is the Avatara of Lord Shiva. He was born of the Wind-God and Anjani Devi. His other names are Pavanasuta, Marutsuta, Pavankumar, Bajrangabali and Mahavira.

He is the living embodiment of Ram-Nam. He was an ideal selfless worker, a true Karma Yogi who worked desirelessly and dynamically. He was a great devotee and an exceptional Brahmachari or celibate. He served Sri Rama with pure love and devotion, without expecting any fruit in return. He lived to serve Sri Rama. He was humble, brave and wise. He possessed all the divine virtues. He did what others could not do-crossing the ocean simply by uttering Ram-Nam, burning the city of Lanka, and bringing the sanjeevini herb and restoring Lakshmana to life again. He brought Sri Rama and Lakshmana from the nether world after killing Ahiravana.

He had devotion, knowledge, spirit of selfless service, power of celibacy, and desirelessness. He never boasted of his bravery and intelligence.

He said to Ravana, "I am a humble messenger of Sri Rama. I have come here to serve Rama, to do His work. By the command of Lord Rama, I have come here. I am fearless by the Grace of Lord Rama. I am not afraid of death. I welcome it if it comes while serving Lord Rama."

Mark here how humble Hanuman was! How very devoted he was to Lord Rama! He never said, "I am the brave Hanuman. I can do anything and everything."

Lord Rama Himself said to Sri Hanuman, "I am greatly indebted to you, O mighty hero! You did marvellous, superhuman deeds. You do not want anything in return. Sugriva has his kingdom restored to him. Angada has been made the crown prince. Vibhishana has become king of Lanka. But you have not asked for anything at any time. You threw away the precious garland of pearls given to you by Sita. How can I repay My debt of gratitude to you? I will always remain deeply indebted to you. I give you the boon of everlasting life. All will honour and worship you like Myself. Your murti will be placed at the door of My temple and you will be worshipped and honoured first. Whenever My stories are recited or glories sung, your glory will be sung before Mine. You will be able to do anything, even that which I will not be able to!"

Thus did Lord Rama praise Hanuman when the latter returned to Him after finding Sita in Lanka. Hanuman was not a bit elated. He fell in prostration at the holy feet of Lord Rama.

Lord Rama asked him, "O mighty hero, how did you cross the ocean?"

Hanuman humbly replied, "By the power and glory of Thy Name, my Lord."

Again the Lord asked, "How did you burn Lanka? How did you save yourself?"

And Hanuman replied, "By Thy Grace, my Lord."

What humility Sri Hanuman embodied!

His birthday falls on Chaitra Shukla Purnima (the March-April full moon day). On this holy day worship Sri Hanuman. Fast on this day. Read the Hanuman Chalisa. Spend the whole day in the Japa of Ram-Nam. Sri Hanuman will be highly pleased and will bless you with success in all your undertakings.

Glory to Hanuman! Glory to his Lord, Sri Rama!

TajOnline - Festivals

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Panguni Uthiram Festival

The Panguni Uthiram festival falls in the month 'Panguni' (March-April). This month is special because of the star 'Uthiram' and 'Pournami' occurring together. Besides, it is on "Panguni Pournami Uthiram" that the marriage of Parvati and Parameshwara, Muruga and Devasena, and Andal (also known as 'Kothai') and Rangamannar took place.

Also, Valmiki's Ramayan says it is on this day and star that Sita's marriage with Rama was celebrated. From Brahmanda Purana one learns that on Panguni Uthiram every holy water joins Thumburu Teertha, one of seven sacred tanks in Tirupati Tirumala.

The ancients chose Uthiram to convey to humans that it is for underlining the glory of Grahasta Dharma (married life) that the Almighty manifests in the marital state as Uma Maheshwara, Sita Rama, and Radha Krishna - despite his changelessness, sans childhood or youth or old age. The Lord is indeed a "Nitya Kalyana Murti". It is our duty to celebrate this day when the Lord, in both Shiva and Vishnu temples, appears to devotees in his married state.

On Panguni Uthiram, in all places where Lord Subramanya has a temple, his devotees carry in a Kavadi the requisites of puja for him, in fulfilment of vows. Such vow fulfilment by devotees carrying Kavadis is a special feature of Subrahmanya temples wherever they happen to be.

Devotees flock in hundreds to the Perur temple near Coimbatore during the Panguni Uthiram festival, which is celebrated in March every year.

Aryabhatt - Festivals Of India

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Vasantha Navaratri, 9 Nights To Ram Navami

Vasantha Navaratri

27 March to 3 April 2009

Spring Worship on Nine nights of Durga, the Divine Mother Goddess

Ram Navami

3 April 2009

Birthday of Shree Rama

From New Moon in Pisces to Navami tithi, this festival is celebrated annually. In 2009, the Vasantha Navaratri festival is only 8 days long as on 2 April has 7th and 8th tithi and 3 April 2009 sunrises with the 9th tithi and the celebration of Ram Navami.

Navaratri is celebrated twice a year, in spring and autumn. Nava means nine and ratri means nights. Vasantha means spring.

The goddess Durga is celebrated alone during these dates and this is an important festival for her devotees. This festival is celebrated on her orders. Swami Sivananda says in his book Hindu Festivals and Fasts, people should worship the divine mother for both spiritual and material blessings. She encourages us to follow a righteous path like Shree Rama and follow the example set by them.

Goddesses Durga is worshipped by meditating on her image, chanting her mantra Om Dum Durgaye Namah at least 108 times daily during the festival and fasting during the day. People attain her divine benefiction.

These nine nights are also celebrated by the devotees of Shree Rama and is considered the spiritual new Year as on the 9th night Shree Rama, the incarnation of Lord Vishnu was born. Shree Rama was the embodiment of Dharma and an example of a perfect man. On the day of Ram Navami, Shree Rama's birthday is celebrated with great festivities.

During these nine nights, Ramayana is read gracely in Sanskrit and the devotees fast during the day. The Sacred mantras Om Shree Ramayana Namah and Om Shree Ram Jai Ram Jai Jai Ram for Rama are chanted happily to celebrate the days to birth of the Lord.

Komilla - Vasantha Navaratri

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Shiva-Vishnu Equality

Although Shiva and Vishnu are one and the same, we tend to distinguish. It is wrong to do so. The great sage of Kanchi, Sri Chandrasekarendra Saraswati Swamiji proclaimed this all through His life.

Just like famous actors and politicians are friends and its only their followers and fans who clash amongst each other, Shiva and Vishnu are truly one and the same. Its only their followers that nurture enmity.

Once Parvathi had a doubt as to who was greater – Shiva or Vishnu. She approached Shiva with this question, and Shiva asked her to go to South India and mediate on the Lord and would find out herself. Goddess Parvathi came down to a place near Tirunelveli and performed penance during the month of ‘Aadi’, popularly known as ‘Aadi Tapas’.

She found the Lord as ‘Shankara Narayana’ – the right hand side being Lord Shiva and the hand side being Lord Narayana, thus telling her that both were one and the same. This place is popularly known as ‘Sankaran Koil’.

Shiva chants the Rama Nama all the time. He also says to his wife Parvati that the sum and substance of all the 1000 Names of Lord Vishnu (Vishnu Sahasranama) is verily Rama Nama:

Srirama rama rameti rame raame manorame Sahasranama tattulyam ramanama varanane

Similarly, Lord Rama worships Shiva at Rameswaram, while planning for the strategy to conquer Ravana. Even today, the Shiva Linga that was worshipped by Sri Rama is being worshipped in Rameswaram.

Great Mahans never distinguish whether one is a Vaishnavite or a Shaivite. They see the true love and devotion in the heart.Here are some interesting details about the oneness of Shiva and Vishnu:

• Sri Krishna asks Arjuna to meditate on Lord Shiva to obtain Pasupatastra
• The Nataraja temple in Chidambaram has Lord Govindaraja Perumal sannadhi
• The Ekamreswara temple in Kanchipuram has a sanctum for Lord Vishnu
• In Tirukkurungudi, a divya desam of Sri Vaishnavas, there are temples of Mantragirishwara and Kalabairava.

All the great Mahans have said that the Divine Name of Shiva and the Divine Name of Vishnu are one and the same. ‘Om Namo Narayanaya’ the Ashtakshara is the primary mantra of the Vaishnavites. ‘Ra’ is the key syllable in this Mantra. ‘Om Nama Shivaya’ the Panchakshara is the chief Mantra of the Shaivites. ‘ma’ is the key syllable of this Mantra.

Putting these two key syllables, together, we get ‘Rama’. By chanting Rama Nama, we verily get all the benefits of chanting the Shiva Nama and the Vishnu Nama.

Sri Narayanaswamyji (Talk) - The Satsang, 26 September

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Kartikeya, Kailasam And Ganga

Bakalanda37

Srimathe Ramanujaya Namaha!

Vishvamitra said to Rama, 'I told you the story of Kartikeya. I will now tell you how Ganga comes in this story. After Paramasiva released his retas and went into meditation, a Rakshasa called 'Tarakasura' was tormenting Devathas who needed an able army chief to fight with Tarakasura. All Devathas along with Indra and Agni went to Chaturmulkha Brahma and said to him 'We are in need of a commander-in-chief. Now that Siva is in meditation with Parvati, we can't approach him. Please advise us.'

Chaturmulkha Brahma said to Devathas in gentle words - 'Don't worry. Since None of you can have a child who is capable of being an army chief due to Parvathi’scurse, go pray to Akasa Ganga and request her to bear the potency of Paramasiva and bring forth the child. Agni can transfer the seed to Ganga and make her bear the child. Parvati will also accept this because Ganga is her own sister. When Agni took Rudra's seed, part of it was burnt and became Kailasam. The remaining part can be transferred by Agni to Ganga.' Devathas were thus consoled and went to Kailasam where they met Agni and said to him, 'Oh radiant one! Please unite the power of Rudra with Ganga." And Agni agreed to it. They went to Ganga and requested her to bear the seeds preserved by Agni to help the world who then took the form of a beautiful lady. Agni released Rudra's seeds into Ganga and whole form became filled with it. Ganga then said to Agni, 'Oh fire god! I cannot bear this power; this is getting very intense and is disturbing mylife-force.

Then Agni said to Ganga, 'O Ganga, the white mountain you see near the Himalaya mountains is Rudra Tejam that was burnt when I took it onto myself. There is a forest of reeds called 'Saravanam' near that Kailash mountain. You may leave the Tejam (potency) that's inside you there.' Ganga agreed and released the embryo through her flows in the region of Kailasam. The embryo released by her shone like molten gold. Gold, silver, copper and lead emerged from that radiant embryo. The impurities in it have taken the form of iron, tin and lead. The embryo thus involved into different metals and elements on reaching earth. The trees, plants and bushes around Kailash mountain started shining like gold. Gold was there on earth before this event but was never this brilliant. Since gold got its fire-like shine from this embryo, it is called 'jata rupam'.

The embryo released by Ganga then took the form of a boy. Devathas requested Krithikas (the stars) to take care of the boy. Krithikas agreed to feed the boy under the condition that the baby be called their son in the world. Devathas agreed to it. Thus the boy was known as 'Kartikeya' in the world. Devathas blessed the boy to become famous in all three worlds. krithikas then gave theboy a bath and the baby shone radiantly like fire. He got the name 'Skanda' because he was born from the aborted embryo. This boy became the army chief of Devathas and defeated all the Rakshasas at a very tender age. Oh Rama, so far, I told you the story of the river Ganga, and the story of Kumara Sambhavam (the birth of Kartikeya). This story is divine and pious.

Jai Srimannarayana - JETUSA Volunteers

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Earth Hour 2009

On 28 March 2009 millions of people around the globe will unite for one hour and switch off their lights to show that they care about our living planet.

62 countries including Malaysia have committed to participate in WWF’s Earth Hour in 2009. This will be the first time Malaysia officially takes part in Earth Hour and our Prime Minister, Dato' Seri Abdullah bin Ahmad Badawi has indicated his support and endorsement of Malaysia’s participation.

The campaign, which hopes to reach out to more than one billion people in 1000 cities around the world, encourage individuals, businesses and governments to switch off lights for just one hour on Saturday March 28, 2009 at 8:30pm to convey their support for action on climate change. Cities already committed to Earth Hour include Los Angeles, Las Vegas, London, Hong Kong, Sydney, Rome, Manila, Oslo, Cape Town, Warsaw, Lisbon, Singapore, Istanbul, Mexico City, Toronto, Dubai and Copenhagen.

2009 is a critical year in terms of the political decisions that will be made at global climate negotiations in December 2009. Earth Hour, aims to highlight the voice of the people of the world and represent a visual mandate for meaningful policy on climate change.

If you would like to pledge your support of Earth Hour log on to http://www.earthhour.org/malaysia and sign up.

If your company would like to participate in Earth Hour, please call WWF-Malaysia at Tel: +603 7803 3772 or Email: ARaj@wwf.org.my

WWF-Malaysia - Earth Hour

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Fossil Sea Monster's Bite Makes T-Rex Look Feeble

OSLO (Reuters) – A giant fossil sea monster found in the Arctic and known as "Predator X" had a bite that would make T-Rex look feeble, scientists said Monday.

The 50 ft (15 meter) long Jurassic era marine reptile had a crushing 33,000 lbs (15 tonnes) per square inch bite force, the Natural History Museum of Oslo University said of the new find on the Norwegian Arctic archipelago of Svalbard.

"With a skull that's more than 10 feet long you'd expect the bite to be powerful but this is off the scale," said Joern Hurum, an associate professor of vertebrate paleontology at the museum who led the international excavation in 2008.

"It's much more powerful than T-Rex," he said of the pliosaur reptile that would have been a top marine predator. Tyrannosaurus Rex was a top land carnivore among dinosaurs.

The scientists reconstructed the predator's head and estimated the force by comparing it with the similarly-shaped jaws of alligators in a park in Florida.

"The calculation is one of the largest bite forces ever calculated for any creature," the Museum said of the bite, estimated with the help of evolutionary biologist Greg Erickson from Florida State University.

Predator X's bite was more than 10 times more powerful than any modern animal and four times the bite of a T-Rex, it said of the fossil, reckoned at 147 million years old. Alligators, crocodiles and sharks all now have fearsome bites.

The teeth of the pliosaur, belonging to a new species, were a foot (30 cms) long. The scientists reconstructed the reptile from a partial skull and 20,000 fragments of skeleton.

The pliosaur, estimated to have weighed 45 tonnes, was similar to but had more massive bones than another fossil sea monster found on Svalbard in 2007, also estimated at 50 feet long and the largest pliosaur to date.

"It's not complete enough to say it's really bigger than 15 meters," Hurum said of the new fossil.
Hurum had said of the first fossil pliosaur that it was big enough to chomp on a small car. He said the bite estimates for the latest fossil forced a rethink.

"This one is more like it could crush a Hummer," he said. referring to General Motors' large sport utility vehicle.

Among other findings were that the pliosaur had a small thin brain shaped like that of a great white shark, according to scans by Patrick Druckenmiller of the University of Alaska.

Pliosaurs preyed upon squid-like animals, fish, and other marine reptiles. Predator X had four huge flippers to propel itself along, perhaps using just two at cruising speeds and the others for a burst of speed.

Reuters - Alister Doyle, Environment Correspondent

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Conflicts In Love

In every relationship, there is a level of closeness and comfort level we share with a person. The love we share with our closed ones is dependent on a number of factors. However, when we are faced with problems which have a mighty effect on our relationship, aspects of our relationship may take a different turn.All of us, in some way or the other believe that every relationship should be perfect like the continuation of a Prince Charming meeting his beauty and living happily ever after. We all believe in the ideal institution of love and romance. With times, the concept of love has taken a very different turn.

It is not just the Casanovas or women with loose characters who tell every guy they meet that they love them but people with past relationships also have uttered idealistic words which may no sense over a period of time. The ideal of love has not any Mills and Boon teenage love story in today's world. There is much more to it.Relationships today are based on survival and adjustment. These two words may send a chill across your spine. However, this is the new definition of love sandwiched with keeping the notion of love alive and dealing conflicts is a new way of communication.Conflicts in love is a part and parcel of every relationship shared by two people.

The severity of conflicts depend on our own weaknesses and shortcomings and in those of our persons we have chosen to be with. At first, we are tuned to looking at our love relationship through rose tinted glasses but over a period of time, when the passion or madness of being in love with your mate ceases, our true selves emerge on the fore making it difficult to make any relationship work. Couples have conflicts on many areas such as keeping the friendship of an ex- flame , lack of financial resources for basic sustenance, infidelity and lack of sexual pleasure emerging from sexual intercourse.

If you look closely into many failed relationships, lack of communication seems to be the number one threat to jeopardize any relationship. To better your relationship, communication is extremely crucial. The Shakespearean tragedy Othello serves as an appropriate example to illustrate this point . Conflicts in their own way serve as a means for speaking our heart out on issues and helps in solving problems. Healthy conflicts is a must in every relationship if you do not use weapons to wage marital or love wars. Having arguments and coming to a healthy conclusion of making your loved one happy is essential for happiness. After resolving differences with your loved one, share your love with some great love making!

OneIndia - Nikita C Fernandes

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History of Holi

Holi is one of the oldest Hindu festivals. Its reference can be found in religious scriptures and sculptures on walls of old temples. There are paintings, which show royal couple sitting on grand swing and maidens playing music and spraying colors on them. Whatever the scene and the theme, colors and mythology have always been an important part of these Holi depictions. However the most important myths and stories that have been associated with Holi are given below:

Story Of Radha and Krishna:

Lord Krishna was dark while his spiritual love-mate Radha had fair-complexion. So child Krishna often used to complain about the injustice of nature towards him to his mother Yashoda and would ask her the reason. One day, Yashoda suggested Krishna to apply color on Radha's face and changeher complexion in any color he desired. The naughty Krisha immediately set off to his mission and one can often see paintings and murals depicting Krishna throwing colors on Radha and other 'gopis'. This lovable prank of throwing colored powder and water jets called 'pichkaris' soon gained favor with the people and it evolved into the tradition of Holi. This is the reason that people often carry images of Krishna and Radha through the streets. The Holi of Mathura region, where Krishna was born, has a special fervor.

Story of Dhundhi:

It was there was an ogress called Dhundi who used to scare and trouble children in the kingdom of Prithu. She has many boons, which made her almost invincible but due to a curse from Lord Shiva, she was susceptible to the shots, abuses and pranks of village boys. It is believed that on Holi day, these children united and made combined efforts to chase away Dhundi by shouting at her, abusing her and playing pranks on her and finally succeeded in their mission. This is the reason that young boys are allowed to use rude words on this day without anybody taking offence.

Story Of Holika and Prahlad:

There was a demon-king named Hiranyakashipu who won over the kingdom of earth and ordered everybody to worship him and not the God. However, his little son Prahlad refused to do so and continued to worship the almighty Lord Vishnu, the Hindu God. He tried many times to kill him but Lord Vishnu saved him every time. One of the sisters of the king named Holika had powers to walk through fire unharmed. Thus he ordered her to kill Prahlad by walking through the fire with him. However, Lord Vishnu came to his help and Prahlad was saved while Holika perished. Somehow, she didn't knew that her powers were only effective if she entered the fire alone. Even today, bonfires are lit on the night of Holi in memory of the event and burning of the wicked aunt Holika.

Story Of Kamadeva:

After the death of his consort Sati, Lord Shiva was so shocked and hurt that he went into a deep meditation and stopped looking after his worldly responsibilities. This led to many complications in the world's affairs. Thus, gods conspired to bring him out of his trance with the help of Goddess Parvati, who wished to marry the great lord and Kamadeva, the God of love, passion and lust. Though, mindful of the consequences, Kamadeva undertook the task for the world's good and shot one of his love arrows on the great Lord who had mastered all the worldly temptations. As Shiva's eyes opened, he was furious by the trick of Kamdeva and directed the wrath of his third eye on him and burned him on the spot. However, later he did give him an immortal life. It is believed that Lord Shiva burned Kamadeva on the day of Holi and thus, many people worship him for his sacrifice and offer him a mango blossoms that he loved and sandalwood paste to cool off the pain of his fatal burns.

festivals.iloveindia.com - holi-legends

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Significance of the Masi Maham

Among the many Valipaaduhal to the - "God as Siva'' - coming in each month of a year, and observed by the Tamil Saivites in Tamil Nadu and elsewhere, the one which falls in the Tamil month of Masi (13th of February to 14th of March) is the “Masi Maham”, which is sacred to God Siva.

Maham is the tenth star (natchaththiram = constellation) among the twenty seven stars in the Hindu astrological system. The Maham natchaththiram which falls in the month of Masi very often in conjunction with the full moon day (Mulu Nilaa = Paurnami), is taken as the “Masi Maham” Valipaadu day.

Koyilpuranam - Thiruvilaa charukkam by Umapathi Sivachariyar (In Tamil)

The “Masi Maham” is essentially a day of Siva Valipaadu as confirmed by the Koyil Puranam - a Tamil treatise (dating thirteenth century) on Chidambaram the holiest Siva Shrine in Tamil Nadu. It describes a mythological story attributing to this celebrations as follows:

“Thesi polipothu nirai atputhan oliseri nat Kadal ethir thikalvuttru paasam thalaiara arula Salapathi paravi thinam ithu padivu uttror aasu attru uyar kathi adaiya, Kadavulum anuka pera, vara mathu petraan, “Masi thiru Maham” ena mattrathu thaha mali potr kodiyathu poliviththaan.”

The mythological story behind same is that when God Siva appeared opposite the sea in the vicinity where Varunan (Salapathi) remained submerged for his sins, blessed him and freed him from his desires. Varunan in turn worshipped him and requested a varam that anyone who bathes in the sea fronts will be freed from desires and attain high mukthi, and for God Siva to be in presence here on this occasion of Masi thiru Maham being the tenth day of the month of Masi to bless them. Hence the Masi Maham festival is essentially a day of Siva Worship with sacred Sea Bathing at the sea front. This is confirmed by a reference in the 2nd Thirumurai of Saint Thirugnanasampanthar dating to mid seventh century (around A.D.650) which is as follows.

“madal arnththa thengin "Myilaiyaar Masi Kadalaattu" kandaan Kabaleechcharam amarnththaan adalaane earurum adihal adi paravi nadamaadal kaanaathe pothiyo poompaavai”

Inscriptions of the Madras Presidency – by V.Rangacharya, Vol 1, page 399

In the present day we see the statues of the deities namely Siva and Parvathi and Vishnu, are brought to the Mahamaham tank from the Siva and Vishnu Temples within Kumbakonam district adjacent to Kaveri River, and at the auspicious time devotees both men and women have a holy bath or a dip either in the Mahamaham tank or in the river Kaveri.

It is believed that a bath or a dip in the waters of Mahamaham tank at the auspicious time provides the same results of having all sins washed away, by taking a bath in all the nine holy rivers of India. After the bath the devotees offer their holy prayers to the Lord and seek his salvation and blessings. This Maha Maham Festival takes place once in 12 years on the day of the aforesaid planetary combination, and the festival is celebrated where devotees from far distance places from India throng to Kumbakonam in many "hundred thousands", and take bath or dip in the Holy theertham - the Maha Maham tank.

The Maha Maham day festival was last celeberated on 22/2/92, and this year (2004) the Maasi Maham Siva Valipaadu fell on the 6th of March, being the day the Maham Natchaththiram was in conjunction with the full moon (as per Thirukkanitha Panchankam) This Maha Maham festival which falls every twelve years under the above planetary combination, and for the same auspicious reasons, is also celebrated as Maha Kumbh (as Kumba Mela) Festival in the north of India especially in at Haridwar, Varanaasi, and in many other places in North India, and the sacred bath or dip is undertaken in the other holy rivers in those regions.

Further according to the mythological legend Masi Makam is said to be the birth natchaththiram on which Daakshayini (the Goddess Parvathi) was born as daughter to Daksha. Hence Masi Makam is also celebrated in Sakthi Temples in Tamil Nadu and elsewhere with Pusai Valipaaduhal conducted in a big way having this significance.

Virarajendra - Siva & Sakthi Valipaadu

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World Cancer Day

4 February 2009

Cancer is a leading cause of death around the world. WHO estimates that 84 million people will die of cancer between 2005 and 2015 without intervention.

Each year on 4 February, WHO joins with the sponsoring International Union Against Cancer to promote ways to ease the global burden of cancer. Preventing cancer and raising quality of life for cancer patients are recurring themes.

World Health Organization - World Cancer Day

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The Concept of Time

Most of us are accustomed to living life according to linear beliefs and patterns of existence. We believe everything has a beginning, middle and an end. But Hinduism has little to do with the linear nature of history, the linear concept of time or the linear pattern of life.

Cyclical Time

The passage of 'linear' time has brought us where we are today. But Hinduism views the concept of time in a different way, and there is a cosmic perspective to it. Hindus believe the process of creation moves in cycles and that each cycle has four great epochs of time, namely Satya Yuga, Treta Yuga, Dwapar Yuga and Kali Yuga. And because the process of creation is cyclical and never ending, it "begins to end and ends to begin".

Time is God

According to the Hindu theory of creation, time (Sanskrit 'kal') is a manifestation of God. Creation begins when God makes his energies active and ends when he withdraws all his energies into a state of inactivity. God is timeless, for time is relative and ceases to exist in the Absolute. The past, the present and the future coexist in him simultaneously.

Kalachakra: The Cycle of Time

God creates the cycle of time, called Kalachakra, in order to create divisions and movements of life and sustain the worlds in periodic time frames. God also uses time to create the 'illusions' of life and death. It is time, which is accountable for old age, death and dying of his creations. When we overcome time, we become immortal. Death is not the end of the line, but a gateway to the next cycle, to birth. This is also true of the universe itself and akin to the cyclic patterns in the rhythms of nature.

Subhamoy Das - The Hindu View of Time

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Is Antibacterial Soap Any Better Than Regular Soap?

It seems like everything is "antibacterial" these days. About 75 percent of liquid soaps currently on shelves in American grocery stores display that word on their labels, and we are constantly adding new antibacterial products to our cleansing arsenals. So are we cleaner now than ever before? Some experts say no.

First let's take a look at how soap works on a chemical level. To make soap, you need to combine an acid and a base (or alkali). The acid is fat (fatty acids and triglycerides), and the base is sodium hydroxide (NaOH). The mixture causes the fatty acids to separate from the triglycerides and fuse with the hydroxide ions, forming a salt that we call "soap." Soap has two main functions:

• Decrease water's surface tension


• Bind to dirt, oil and bacteria
  

It can do these things because one part of the soap molecule is hydrophilic (water-binding) and the other is hydrophobic (water-repellent). The hydrophilic part allows the hydrophobic fatty acids to come into contact with other hydrophobic substances, such as the dirt on the surface that is being cleaned. When the grime adheres to the soap's fatty acids, it becomes encapsulated in droplets of water. Dirt, oil and bacteria are easily scrubbed off and washed away in this suspended state. So ordinary soap does get rid of bacteria. But does antibacterial soap get rid of even more? Possibly. But there are several main points to consider in our antibacterial craze:

• The antibacterial components of soaps (usually triclosan or, less commonly, triclocarbon) need to be left on a surface for about two minutes in order to work. Most people are not this patient, and end up washing off the soap before the antibacterial ingredients can do their job.


• Some scientists theorize that bacteria may develop a resistance to bactericidal agents over time.


• Some bacteria actually benefit us. The normal population of bacteria on our bodies not only eats our sweat, but also helps defend us against truly harmful, invasive bacteria.


• Many common diseases are viral in nature, anyway, and are therefore not prevented by antibacterial products.
  

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), antibacterial soaps are not necessary, but washing your hands thoroughly with ordinary soap and warm water is one of the most effective ways to ward off infection.

health.howstuffworks - Beauty & Hygiene

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