In the Trail of Ganapati

Jaya Guru Datta                                                       Sri Guru Datta

In the Trail of Ganapati ...

       

All pervading cosmic energy of the Almighty God is worshipped all over the globe in different forms and by various methods. Although the methods and forms may vary with the passage of time and geographical location; the essence remains the same. Among the most popular forms of the God, Ganapati is easily the most favourite in Hindu Pantheon. From Indonesia to America, Ganapati is worshipped by people of various faiths and races.

The incarnation of Ganapati has its roots in the worship of nature. Parvati symbolises Prakruti; where as Lord Shiva represents the Purusha. The creative communion between Prakruti and Purusha produces the progeny in various forms, of which Ganapati is the first and foremost. Hence, He is coroneted as the controller of all the forces. Basically, it is the primordial energy which has taken a form to obliterate hardships to Noble and righteous persons.

Let us analyse how these hardships occur in the lives of people. It is the eternal scriptural ordain that one has to reap the dividends of the past actions, bad or good. During the enjoyment of the fruits of past good deeds, no one complains. The enjoyer is likely to forget the root cause (i.e. past meritorious deeds) of these comforts and luxuries; and is less inclined to continue the same noble deeds, that are beneficial to one and all. However, everyone analyses failures of actions and rues his or her ill luck. What exactly is the factor of luck?? Why should a person irrespective of the labour he puts; gets the result grossly disproportionate to his amount of labour?? Why should another person, visibly disinclined with charitable deeds; should corner all the comforts of life?? This exactly proves the point that people are just enjoying the result of their past actions. In light of the above mentioned connection, we should analyse Ganapati Tatwam.

It is the general belief of our communities, that whoever worships Ganapati before commencing any work, Ganapati would not cause obstacles. In other words, he spares his destructive forces. For those, who do not worship Ganapati, he unleashes His forces to cause obstacles. This is a general notion. If this is true; then Lord Ganapati, could be compared to any feudal lord. But this belief is based on ignorance and disillusion.

The Ganas (forces) which are controlled by Ganapati are nothing but the instruments to enforce the system of Karma theory. One has to endure the results of the past actions. By worshipping Ganapati, we are offered the protection from the possible adverse effect due to our past sins. If we do not opt for the protection, then it is our decision to face adversity as we are depriving ourselves of the Divine protection of Ganapati. Hence, the myth that Ganapati causes obstacles- is baseless. Though distinctly aware of the possible root cause of impediments in one’s life (Possible past sins), humans do not have the control not to commit any more sins usually. Hence, the worship and idea of Ganapati Philosophy constantly alerts one and all about the adverse effects of sins in the form of obstacles.

Ganapati’s birth is described severally in many Puranas. Co-relating these fables would make a seeker realise the importance and magnanimity of Vinayaka. The form of Ganapati suggests the close relation to various aspects of nature. The idol is made of mud and water. He is worshipped with 21 types of leaves, fruits, flowers. Durva (Garika) is his most favoured ingredient for Puja. These rich traditions always remind and teach us to respect all aspects of nature and constantly ordain us to preserve and protect ecology. To further this commandment, the scriptures corroborate that Swetarka Tree is an embodiment of Lord Ganapati. Thus the worship of Ganapati puts onus on ethical, righteous and ecological uprightness in one’s life.

May Vinayaka bless all those devout readers.

Jaya Guru Datta.

Experiment at CERN (Europe) about Atomic Collision

In Search of God? Or His mechanism (Existed/Existing)?

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Scientists on Tuesday are stepping up efforts to detect the elusive 'God Particle' by triggering collision of two proton beams in the world's largest atom smasher located on the Franco-Swiss border on the outskirts of Geneva.

The two proton beams, set in motion in opposite directions of two 27-km long pipes of the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) in November last year, are currently moving at 3.5 trillion electron volts (TeV) with each beam of the protons going around the device 11,000 times every second.

Physicists at the European Organisation for Nuclear Research (CERN), that houses the LHC, will make attempts to collide the two beams at 7 TeV, to create conditions similar at the time of the Big Bang - that is believed to have created the universe.

Indian scientists will join their counterparts from across the world who would observe the collisions as they happen.

When the proton beams collide, 800 million collisions per second would take place and powerful detectors installed at the site would gather data of each of the collisions.

It is the analysis of this data that could lead to the discovery of the Higgs boson, also called as the 'God particle', that is believed to have existed when the universe was born, said Prof Satyaki Bhattacharya of Delhi University who is involved in the LHC experiment.

Researchers will sift through the subatomic debris of proton collisions for signs of extra dimensions that will bolster belief in "supersymmetry", a theory that doubles the number of particle species in the universe.

The LHC is designed to collide two 7 TeV proton beams, but scientists decided in January to operate the machine at half the power until the end of 2011. The machine will then close for a year of further engineering work to ensure it can run at full power in 2013 without breaking down again.

For scientists at CERN and elsewhere, the beginning of high-energy collisions will end a long period of working without any real data. Until recently, many physicists have had to make do with computer simulations of particle collisions.

CERN researchers will sift through the subatomic debris of proton collisions for signs of extra dimensions and hitherto invisible particles that will bolster belief in "supersymmetry", a theory that doubles the number of particle species in the universe. Other results may point to "hidden worlds" of particles and forces that we are oblivious to because they do not interact with everyday matter.

Ganapati - Jamboo Phalam (నేరేడు పండు) जम्बू फलम् - Benefits our Health

Did you ever hear the Ganapati Prarthana.
गजाननं भूत गणादि सेवितं कपित्थ जम्बूफल सार भक्षणम्।

In this hymn, you are praising Ganapati, as the one who savours the extract of Jamboo Phalam (Latin Name - Eugenia jambos). Since, Ganapati is known as deity of intellect, we should understand the value of nourishment in the Prasadam of Jamboo Phalam. (This tree is also very much dear to Lord Shiva. He is worshipped as Jambukeshwara and Jambunatha too.)

Read on the latest findings about the Natural Chemicals, that are highly beneficial to our health.

Natural chemicals from blackcurrants ( a variant presumably) help immunity, says a new study.

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Researchers from Plant & Food Research (PFR), a New Zealand government owned company, found a compound from blackcurrants that may reduce lung inflammation with a multi-action assault in allergy-induced asthma.

The compound was found in lab experiments to enhance the natural defence mechanisms in lung tissue by both suppressing inflammation-causing reactions and minimising inflammation.

Inflammation is a process by which the body's white blood cells and chemicals protect us from infection and foreign substances such as bacteria and viruses.

Fruit consumption has been shown to reduce symptoms in allergy-induced asthma yet this research is the first to give insights into the mechanism by which this may occur.

Researchers identified that the component, epigallocatechin, reduced inflammation in lung tissue. Epigallocatechin is a known antioxidant and a major component of proanthocyanidins found in blackcurrants.

This study shows that epigallocatechin works in conjunction with other natural immune responses that occur at the same time to reduce inflammation.

"To find natural compounds that potentially reduce lung inflammation and complement the body's own immune response is an exciting breakthrough," says Roger Hurst of PFR, who led the study.

When the lungs are exposed to allergens, the body's natural response is to attack the perceived foreign body which in some individuals results in long-term inflammation, says a PFR release.

Selective compounds found in fruit and vegetables may work together with the body's own natural defence mechanism to suppress long-term lung inflammation.

The findings were published in Molecular Nutrition and Food Research.

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Objection to the Casual Remarks of Supreme Court Judges

Affecting the institution of Marriage

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Nellore, March 26:
Kurtalam Peethadhipathi Sri Siddeswara-nanda Bharati Mahaswami has stressed the need for legislation against pre-marital physical relationships while reacting to the Supreme Court’s recent observations on the issue.

The seer expressed his views on the subject while speaking to reporters here on Friday.

The Swamiji said the court’s interpretation on the relationship of Lord Sri Krishna and Radha is not correct since Sri Krishna and Radha never had physical relationship. He said that there was no evidence for their association in the manner quoted in most revered epics such as Brahma Vyvartha Purana, Garga Samhita, Padma Puranam and Devi Bhagavatham.

“Sri Krishna and Radha are divine and beyond human traits such as Kama (lust), Krodha (anger), Mada (proudness) and Matsarya (ego) and their relationship transpired when they are below 11-year-old and it came to an end when Sri Krishna went to eliminate Kamsa. Radha too went to Himalayas and took penance for 100 years before her soul left the body,” the seer asserted.

Responding to the statement made on sex before marriage, Sri Siddeswarananda Swami said that no religion will agree for such practice since it would affect the sanctity of marriage. He reminded that virginity is an important factor in Hindu culture.

He pointed to the danger for human values and morals if public welcome western culture including pre-marital sex and there is no meaning for marriage in the society. He called upon the people and the people’s representatives to oppose pre-marital sex by raising the issue in the legislative bodies and establish that it is not acceptable in any community. He said that such comments will mislead the youth.

Cost for the Human Genome Mapping Comes Down

Thanks to the efforts of UK Goverment Agency -
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), which promotes innovation, results of Research will trickle down to common man.

It is a matter of pride that a South Indian Origin Professor, pioneered the efforts. ... Read On.
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An Indian-origin professor at the University of Cambridge has been named the Innovator of the Year by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), which is Britain's leading funding agency for research and training in non-clinical life sciences.

Professor Shankar Balasubramanian has been awarded the prize, worth £10,000, for his work on Solexa sequencing, the high speed genome sequencing technology that means it is now possible to sequence a human genome for less than $10,000.

Born in Chennai in 1966, Subramanian moved to the UK with his parents in 1967.

He completed his undergraduate degree in Natural Sciences at the University of Cambridge and then carried out a PhD under the supervision of Professor Chris Abell.

In the mid-90s, Professors Balasubramanian and David Klenerman of the Department of Chemistry recognised the need for low cost, high throughput sequencing that would enable researchers to undertake large-scale projects.

After conceiving various ideas involving DNA sequencing chemistry and detection systems, they founded the spin-out company Solexa to commercialise their inventions in 1998.

In 2007 Solexa was acquired by the US company Illumina for $600 million, making it one of the greatest commercialisation success stories to emerge from the University of Cambridge.

Receiving his award from Tim Smit, founder of the Eden Project, at a gala dinner in London's East Wintergardens, Professor Balasubramanian said: "None of this would have happened without the support of BBSRC. Their backing was essential for the blue skies research that gave rise to our original inventions."

"The continued funding of fundamental science by BBSRC will be an essential part of future enterprises and ultimately, wealth creation."

Professor Douglas Kell, BBSRC Chief Executive said: "BBSRC is pleased to be able to recognise and reward researchers who are making extraordinary progress in translating their research into applications that are of benefit socially and for UK Plc."

Using the Spiciest Chilly ... ??

What can be the use of a Chilly? That is the Spiciest Chilly on this planet- Bhoot Jolokia(Grown in Assam in Eastern India - Pungency Levels>> of over
1,00,000 Scoville units - The Scientific Measurement of a chilli’s spiciness
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Spice in the food!
Pickles?
Anti Pest?

Not only that>>
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Indian military has a new weapon against terrorism:

After conducting tests, the military has decided to use the thumb-sized “bhut jolokia,” or “ghost chili,” to make tear gas-like hand grenades to immobilise suspects, defence officials said on Tuesday.
The bhut jolokia was accepted by Guinness World Records in 2007 as the world’s spiciest chilli. It has over 1,000,000 Scoville units, the scientific measurement of a chilli’s spiciness.
“The chilli grenade has been found fit for use after trials, a fact confirmed by scientists at the Defence Research and Development Organisation,” Col. R. Kalia, a defence spokesman said. “This is definitely going to be an effective nontoxic weapon because its pungent smell can choke terrorists,” Mr R. B. Srivastava, the director of life sciences department at the New Delhi headquarters of the DRDO, said.

Eye Sight - Alternatives to artificial Lenses>

सर्वेन्द्रियाणां नयनं प्रधानम्
It is said that Eye is the most important among all the sensory organs. Losing Eye Sight partially or fully, is becoming more common these days. Now a days, we can even see toddlers and children under 5 wearing the spectacles, pondering about the future of their eye sight.
Opthalmologists, in their enthusiasm to protect their patients' eye sight, prescribe glasses more often.
But, very less is said about improvement and correction of Eye Sight.

Let us examiner some remedies, available with us:
> Elders have been insisting that, we should lessen the strain on the eyes, by limiting direct light, in cotrast environment. (For Example, when it is dark, or dull light, tyr to avoid viewing light emitting objects such as Screens of Television, Computer etc.
> Proper Sleep of 6 - 8 hours is one good remedy.
> Vitamin Intake can be increased. (Make a poster in the home, explaining the list of food articles, containing Vitamin A.

> A doctor of yester years, Dr. WH Bates had done some serious clinical search about these aspects. (Though, I did not need to test it, readers are welcome to evaluate it, as it does not seem to have side effects. Some people testify about its efficacy. One has to judge for himself about this.)
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Techniques: Basic Principles

The Bates Method's primary aim is to restore normal, healthy, functional use of the eyes and each technique described on these pages provides a path to that end.
Strain

Under the Bates model, vision impairment is caused initially by a habit of strain: that is, the inclination to make extraneous effort when performing any task. While this strain can be brought about by many different factors its solution is to learn how to obtain relaxation.

The strain is a mental habit, the physical manifestation of strain follows suit and by utilising Bates techniques it becomes possible to gain insight into the nature of the strain - both mental and physical - by carefully observing the feedback received by the eyes as you practise.
=
http://www.seeing.org/intro/history/index.htm

Some easier techniques have been listed here.


Some games as Eye exercise.
Banner Swing
http://www.seeing.org/visiongames/movement/banner-swing/index.html
Moon Swing
http://www.seeing.org/visiongames/movement/moon-swing/index.html

Cause of Happiness

मनसि च परितुष्टे कोर्थवान् को दरिद्रः?

If your mind is content, who is Richer? And who is poorer?

What is the cause of happiness in Life?
Is it Accumulation>
Is it Spending?
Or is it Charity?
Or is it Contentment??
00000000000000000

This question has been aptly answered many times in our scriptures. Now, we have some study to leave a pointer towards that conclusion. Read on ……

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Money can buy happiness, but only if you earn more than your peers, neighbours and friends.

Being highly paid is not enough, according to joint study by researchers at the University of Warwick and Cardiff University. To be happy, people must perceive themselves as being more highly paid than their friends and work colleagues, according to the study published in the journal Psychological Science.

The research focused on the reason why economic growth and development does not make people in rich nations happier. Making everybody in society richer will not necessarily increase overall happiness, the study said, because it is only having a higher income than other people that matters.

Money only makes people happier if it improves their social rank, the researchers said. The researchers examined how life satisfaction was related to how much money each person earned. However, they found that satisfaction was much more strongly related to the ran-ked position of the person’s income compared to people of the same gender, age, level of education, or from the same geographical area.

“Our study found that the ranked position of an individual’s income best predicted general life satisfaction, while the actual amount of income and the average income of others appear to have no significant effect,” lead researcher Chris Boyce said.

Earning a £1 million a year appears to be not enough to make you happy if you know your friends all earn £2 million a year,” lead researcher Chris Boyce from the University of Warwick’s department of psychology said.

“You might buy a new car. But if your neighbour has just bought the very same car, that new car doesn’t seem as good as it once was if you were the only one to have that car,” Boyce said.

Pondering over Methods for Pumsuvana (Conceiving a baby boy) >>> ???? !!!

Since, ages families clans relished the concept  of male children, for various reasons of inheritance, protection, fondness etc.; most of which are turning out to be obscure in these generations.

In fact, one such Ritual is also called as Pumsuvana>

(It is said that the ritual is to help the conception of  a male baby; or at least invigorate the androgen hormones (in the case of female fetus being formed)

 

Either way, this was one of the important issue of consideration for aspiring parents. Nourishment for the body of the pregnant lady and nutrition were part of life as well as rituals too.

 

Now some preliminary scientific evidence to correlate the custom with the actual happenings>>

Could this be true??>> Just Ponder again>

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In a finding that adds some credence to grandma's tales that eat "Good Food to conceive  boys", a new research has found that taking a high-calorie diet during early stage of pregnancy increases the odds of having a boy from ten to 11 in every 20 births.

According to the study led by Cheryl Rosenfeld of the University of Missouri, women who eat a full breakfast and a high fat diet at the time of conception are more likely to have a boy, while a low fat diet with periods of long fasts favours girls.

"High calorie diets generally favour birth of males over females, whereas low calorie diets tend to favour females over males," said Rosenfeld.

"In humans and mice, food restriction and a suboptimal diet during the period around conception and early pregnancy also lead to a surfeit of daughters, most probably due to selective loss of male foetuses, the most vulnerable sex in the womb," he added.

The researchers came to the conclusion after analysing the genes in placentas of pregnant mice fed diets high in fat or carbohydrates and low calorie diets.

They found that each one had a distinctive effect compared with a third group given normal soybean meal-based food, the Telegraph reported.

Keyless Entry – Options?

People Bored of carrying a bunch of keys for various purposes: and those relishing the bunch; will soon be at cross roads>

A biometric enabled Key, where the fingures double as keys>

And now< Apple brings out new product line: IKEY>

Patent Applications are filed>>

Read on …

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Computer giant Apple is set to revolutionise the traditional door key with introduction of a hi-tech alternative nicknamed the 'iKey'.

It means people can stop carrying around a bunch of keys, and instead use a single electronic device to unlock their car, front door and gain access to their office.

The technology simply requires the users to enter a pin code and wave the device over an electronic pad fitted beside a door to open it.

Apparently, a newly published patent application, filed with the US Patent Office, contains the details of the new technology.

It is speculated that the next model of the iPhone will contain this feature.

The application states: "The device can communicate with an external device to open a lock. By way of example, the electronic device may be a model of an iPhone.

"The external device may be any suitable electronic device such as a portable media player, personal data assistant or electronic lock that may be used to access a door, car, house or other physical area."

For safety purpose, the device may be attributed with a feature to encrypt any information that passes between the iPhone and the computer-controlled lock, preventing hackers from "listening in".

Leander Kahney, a consumer technology expert and author of a book and blog called the Cult of Mac, said there were rumours that Apple has been testing the technology.

"If true, it's a very big deal. As well as opening doors and unlocking your car, it could also turn your iPhone into an electronic wallet and ID card," the Telegraph quoted him as saying.

He added: "You'd be able to pay for buses and trains, as well as your morning coffee and groceries in a jiffy, just by laying your iPhone on a special pad, and the price is electronically deducted from your account.

"The trouble is that the technology hasn't gone completely mainstream. If Apple were to adopt the technology, they would likely set the standard, and that would drive widespread adoption as everyone scrambles to make their systems iPhone-friendly."

If granted, the application filed at US Patent house will offer Apple legal protection from other companies copying its ideas and technology.

Steve Jobs, Apple's chief executive, said: "We can sit by and watch competitors steal our patented inventions, or we can do something about it. We've decided to do something about it.

"We think competition is healthy, but competitors should create their own original technology, not steal ours."

Earth-Quake might have shifted the axis??

Washington, March 2: The powerful earthquake that shook Chile on Saturday probably shifted the earth’s axis and made days slightly shorter, a Nasa scientist said.

Mr Richard Gross, a research scientist at Nasa’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California, calculated that the planet’s axis would have shifted by eight centimetres during the 8.8 magnitude quake, Nasa said in a statement.

Earth days are 24 hours long because that’s the amount of time it takes the planet to make one full rotation on its axis, so shifting the axis would affect rotation. If, indeed, the planet’s axis did shift by eight centimetres during the Chilean quake, days would have shortened by 1.26 microseconds, Mr Gross calculated.

A microsecond is one-millionth of a second, so no need to adjust watches just yet. The Chilean quake shifted the Earth's axis by even more than the 9.1-magnitude temblor off Indonesia that set off the deadly tsunami in Asia in 2004, Mr Gross worked out.

That’s partly because the faultline responsible for the earthquake in Chile “dips into earth at a slightly steeper angle than does the fault responsible for the 2004
Sumatran earthquake” and is more effective at moving earth’s mass vertically and shifting the planet’s axis.

The 2004 earthquake in Asia caused the earth to move by around seven centimetres and chopped an estimated 6.8 microseconds off the length of a day, Nasa said.

Portrayal of different aspects of Raama

Sri Swamiji’s speech at Plano (Texas) Rama Temple

(1^st July 2009)

Jaya Guru Datta!

It is heartening that we all are here at this sacred place. We all spend time in routine jobs. Some times, we develop minor and major doubts, about the happenings of life and even the purpose of it. Even Lord Rama was also not an exception. Being a prince, he was trained in Shaastra (Scripures) and Shastra (Weaponry). After graduation from the Guru Kula, he looked very dull and seemed to be lost in a whirlpool of thoughts. At this juncture, Sage Vasishtha (Kula Guru) discussed the issue of permanence, impermanence, penance, achievement and other fundamental issues. The discussion is recorded as Yoga Vaasishtham.

This is also called Gnaana Vaasishtham, as Sage has elaborately discussed the issues of practice, principles of Wisdom. We should at least read this text, every day or every week. In addition, Adhyaatma Ramayana is another text to be studied. We can look at Ramayana from several perspectives. 1. A beautiful Story 2. Morality Angle 3. Finesse of Righteousness 4. Philosophical Aspect.

The Fourth Vista is evident in Adhyaatma Ramayana. (This text details the feeling of Lord Rama, analysing each of the forthcoming events and depicts he philosophical personality of Lord Rama, different than the popular valiant Hero.)

It is good that you all are reading Tulasi Das – composed Rama Charita Maanasa. Each Doha (Couplet) has significance. Try to understand it and your life will improve a lot.

Target: Energy Level of 7 TEVs (Tera Electron Volts)

Shabda  - Shakti was one of the causes in the formation of the Universe – say most scriptures. Our scientists are out to re – create similar conditions?

Geneva: Scientists have restarted the world's most powerful atom-smasher overnight, the European Organisation for Nuclear Research (Cern) said on Sunday, as they launch a new bid to uncover the secrets of the universe.

"The LHC is on its way again. First beam of 2010 circulated in each direction by 0310 GMT," said Cern in a tweet on its website on Sunday.

The 3.9 billion euro ($ 5.6 billion) Large Hadron Collider (LHC) was shut down in December to ready it for collisions at unfathomed energy levels.

It was run for a few weeks after being successfully revived from a 14 month breakdown.

The particle collider — inside a 27-km tunnel straddling the Franco-Swiss border near Geneva — is aimed at understanding the origins of the universe by recreating the conditions that followed the Big Bang.

In the weeks before the technical shutdown in December, the collider achieved over a million particle collisions and accelerated proton beams to energy levels never reached before, according to Cern.

Collisions reached a world record energy level of 2.36 teraelectronvolts (TeV), already allowing scientists to gather data.

But Cern now wants to reach 7.0 TeV to try to recreate conditions close to the Big Bang, and run it at those levels for 18 to 24 months.

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Well said and done! What about, the creator(s) that caused these levels of energies? And with a smaller potency of thermo -nuclear energy at current day standards, world is hard struggling to control the evil usages! Absence of judicial discretion, would even lead to eventual obliteration. Is this a case of man, a Creation of God (Example: Veerabhadra from Shiva), attempting to undertake his Master’s  job of Pralaya>>>> (Let us hope that, it might not be the case.  He would help the cause of Sthiti (Sustenance)