In search of better Food for Good Health

In search of better Food for Good Health

Good Food is the need of all creatures for living long and healthy life.

Villagers are healthier than urban people though they have less health facilities compared to urban areas. Because people in villages live more a natural life with regularity of food. Urban lives in stress and irregularity of food. Urban pockets are full of one or another types of medicines and rural pockets don't need tablets in pockets when move around. Rural tongues are in control compare to Urban tongues. Urban tongues are getting mad over junk food and advertising in TV has now started spoiling the rural tongues. Day by day, natural life style has been replaced by artificial living habits.

Before allopathy entered into this land, Indian average health and strength were better barring epidemics and infants mortality. Our kitchens were our "Health Clinics" and our mother/wife were our "Naturopathic Doctors/Vaidhyas".

Gujarat villagers have divided the intake of food into four parts: Siramani, Rotala, Robdho and Vyalu. Sira/Halva made of pure ghee and jaggery in the breakfast, Rotala and Vegetables in lunch, snacks or ghainsh as Rondho and light food of Khichadi-Milk in Vyalu. And there timings were perfect at the intervals of 4 hours: Siramani at 8AM, Rotala at 12PM, Rondho at 4PM and Vyalu at 8PM. And physical work for at least 6-8 hours. Mostly people were living healthy life without major diseases of diabetic, heart problems, BP or stomach problems. Their intestines were stronger and legs had more strength than ours. We need "oil engine" to move our body beyond 50 metres and they were able to walk 50 kms overnight. 

Surprisingly, I found Korean people are regular in their meals. Breakfast at 6AM, lunch at 12PM and dinner at 6PM. Mostly the Asian population was living healthy life with home made food. But new generation, tired of cooking food at home, disturbed the time table and wondering after the junk food in restaurants and hotels to satisfy tongues at cost of stomach and other body parts.

Not too late. Many in villages are still living life with regularity and discipline of food. Let us make them out light houses and return to a natural life of better food for good health. Provided our mother and spouse become "Naturopathic Doctor" again !!!!!

Punamchand
30 April 2015

Read More

Earthquakes and Humans

Earthquakes and Humans

Tragic Saturday, yesterday. Nepal was rubbled. One more natural calamity and we are in fuss.

We may take pride of our progress, discoveries and inventions but nature has proved once again that we are a tiny dust in front its power. Earthquake with Magnitude 7.8 near Lamjung scrambled Nepal with loss of many lives and destruction of many buildings. It will take days/months to calculate the exact loss of lives and properties as the aftershocks are on.

Earthquakes are usually caused when rock underground suddenly breaks along a fault. This sudden release of energy causes the seismic waves that make the ground shake.

All of us know that energy generation due to motion of earth and movement of plates, accumulate and discharge, at a regular intervals. But due to absence of forecast we are unable to protect ourselves or mitigate the losses. Due to poverty, our buildings are old and without safety mechanism against the earthquakes. Many people stopped taking construction permission from the civic bodies due to extra cost on earthquake resistance building. Japan faces frequent quakes but remained mostly safe with the right technology of building construction. However during a strong earthquake, the best engineered building may suffer severe damage.

We are tiny in front of the giant power of the nature but tactfully, the losses can be mitigated with remaking buildings in the high risk zones and educating people on rescue mechanism. But this needs huge investments from the poor countries!

We pray God to rest the Souls in peace, those who lost their lives in the earthquake, yesterday.

And request the World Scientists to do vigorous R&D to predict earthquakes, the way rains and weather have been forecasted.

Punamchand
26 April 2015

Read More

Sansar Tyagotsav in Ahmedabad

Sansar Tyagotsav in Ahmedabad

You have heard about many festivals, but have you heard about "Sansar Tyagotsav"? 

With the teaching of Munipungav Hitruchivijayji Maharaj 27 Jain Mumukshu took Sanyas Diksha in "Sansar Tyagotsav" today at Sardar Patel Stadium, Ahmedabad, in the presence of 50,000 people. They are 13 male and 14 female of 11-81 years age group, including 3 boys of 11 years old. 

Jain Acharya Bhagwants Shri Bodhiratnasuriji Maharaj, Taporatnasuriji Maharaj and Kuratnasuriji Maharaj gave them "Diksha" by giving "Ogho" to each one of them at 9 AM, a permission to leave Sansar. The stadium witness the presence of "Jin Shashan" the claps of joy and shower of akshat (rice) by 50000 people gathered here, and with joyous sounds of Sankh, vajintra and 100 Dhols; colourful dances of Tribal group, Rasada of Saurastra group, Ghumar of Rajasthan group; and pleasurable presence of 9 Elephants, 25 Horses.  

Each sadhu-shadhvi did pradakshina of the "Naal" with joy after receiving the Ogho. The naal has four idols on four sides of Tirthankar Adinathji, Tirthankar Shantinathji, Tirthankar Pashvanathji and Tirthankar Mahavir Swami. 

All of them wearing colourful clothes and ornaments, were returned to the stage with a completely changed look after an hour. Their heads tonsured leaving shikha (choti) for the "loch kriya". They put on white cloths, cotton shawl on shoulder, holding Ogho, stick, kamandal basket on hand, turned into a Sadhu-Shadhvi look. Mumukshu became Sanyasi now. And they all wearing clothes weaved by the weavers and will use articles made by the artisans.

The three Acharya Bhagwantshris have performed Loch Kriya (pulling off hairs from the shikha) on Male Sadhus and Sadhvis have performed Loch Kriya on female Sadhvis at 12.20PM. It was first time, therefore, they tonsure head with blade, and loch kriya was performed only on shikha part, but hereafter, all have to remove their hairs through loch kriya on all hairs on skull throughout the life. Vasket and akshat (rice) was sprayed over their "brahmrandhra centre" on the head. Brahmrandhra centre is a gateway of leaving "prana" to gain Moksha after the death. The Diksha, identified the target point for the newly Dikshit Sadhu. 

When the loch kriya and vasket were going on, all present in the stadium were spraying akshat over the Sadhus and saying loudly, "nav dikshit amar raho".

Is that very painful? I asked, one of the persons present. No Sir. They use ash to hold hair and pull the dry hairs with technique. He pulled my hairs from shikha and tried to prove his argument! It become easy after 2-3 loch. It is difficult and painful around the area  above the ears.  

After the Loch, the Acharya Bhagwantshris were guiding the new Sadhus for their rituals. It was followed by their "namkaran" (new name given to each), Guru Vandana and Hitshiksha (how to live Sadhu life).

One old lady taking diksha met with an accident this morning and had head injury with 7 stitches on head, didn't change her decision and performed diksha sanskar.

There were 3 dikshit sadhu of 11 years age group. Their three mentor Sadhus were guarding and guiding them. One of the 3 boys (children) was golumolu and was looking little nervous or tired or may be not fully prepared for the event. His mentor was looked taking extra care for his perspiration of the body and covering shikha hairs with hand, as all were not fully removed due to his small age. But other two were looking submerged in the stream.

Namkaran kriya was very interesting. Their new Names are given by the Maharajshri but announcing was done by one of the persons who has bid highest price in the namkaran chadavo (auction). It was done for each new dikshit and the namkaran chadavo price vary from Rs. 36000 to Rs. 4,51000. I think their relatives and friends were bidding as part of their love and affection to the newly dikshit shadhu-sadhvi. But I was surprised with this Sansari act a misfit in the festival of Sansar Tyag. Many be the money collected is used in the food and other arrangements of the event.

It was Sansar Tyag Festival attended by 50000 people. Thanks to the organisers for making very good arrangements of breakfast and lunch for all with due care of using hand made brass - bronze utensils, traditionally cooked food, eating on bajath (desk) with Indian sitting system on ground. It was a ver
y tasty food without onion and garlic. Khakhra topped with ghee and red chilli powder, moong dal halva, three types pauha, moong sabji and tea in the breakfast; and motichur laddu, bhindi sabji, puri, bhajiya, sev, dal, rice in the lunch. 

The muhurt today have exalted Sun, exalted Jupiter (Hans Yoga), own housed Moon, Venus (Malvya Yoga) and Mars, (Ruchak Yoga), Jupiter-Moon union with Gajkeshari Yog, 

Jin Shashan ki Jai.

Jai Jinendra

Punamchand
25 April 2015
Vaishakh Shukla 5, Samvat 2071
Ahmedabad

NB: My wife Lamshmi was hearing chat of 3 kids. The 3 years old boy was telling other two to say michchhami dukkadam (please forgive), otherwise they will get bad birth with defects in next life. The younger one 2 years old immediately said michchami dukkadam; but the elder girl 5 years old said, no. The sweet chat was on..

Read More

Happiness of Life

Happiness of Life

Millions of years, all creatures including human are in search of Happiness. Humans are searching it at home, in society, at service place, with friends, in food, in sex, in children, in gym, in money, in power, in prestige, in social media, in travel, ....Humans haven't left a single stone unturned in search of Happiness.

Samskrit, the most scientific and mother of many languages of India has given us lessons through Subhashits.

My mother used to tell us, "पहेलु सुख जाते नर्या, बीजु सुख कोठीए जुवार; त्रीजु सुख सुलक्षणी नार, चोथु सुख बालगोपाल।" (good health, enough food, spouse with all good qualities and children are the four happiness in sequence of a man's life).

If you have all these four then you are one of the happiest persons on the earth.

Good morning.

Punamchand
24 April 2015

Read More

Kathiyawadi Lunch at Alang, made in Popatlal

Kathiyawadi Lunch at Alang, made in Popatlal

Alang-Sosiyo, a very famous place of Gujarat for shipbreaking industry. More than 100 ships of 20-25 k tons weight are parked here and nearly 3000 workers from Jharkhand, UP, Bihar and Orissa are on job here to dismantle them. Rs. 2/kg profit can make you crorepati in 3 months here provided you have a plot and liquidity of money. The major scraps is of iron, disposed off from the site. Other than iron, more than 300 plots are flooded with goods from the ships (furniture, plywood, kitchenware, decorative, etc) for home consumption and commercial use. Individuals, Hotel industry and community centres are buyers of such goods. Many people visit the place everyday.

Popatlal, 12th pass, a man in his 40s is ready to serve you a delicious kathiyavadi food here in his Gopnath Hotel at Manar. A student of local institute Lokbharti, Manar, he was fond of eating. When he used to read news about Alang no.1 in Asia but no facilities of lodging, he decided to start a hotel. He used front site of his farm for the hotel, and rest of the farm is serving him as backhand support supplying vegetables, cereal, milk products and fruits. Whatever served here are home made from his house and farm. Everything is "made in Popatlal".

And the food is fresh and organic. The team of 10 boys are serving you with pleasure under his direct supervision. Rice papad is the starter. Fresh tomato and onion salad, pickles (jaggery mango, gunda), deshi good (jaggery) with deshi pure cow ghee, ginger chatni, green chatni, potato and chilli bhajiya (pakoda), srikhand, doodhpak, butter milk (with salt and cumin seed powder), tasty cooked vegetables (guvar potato, brinjal, gobi mutter), Dal (arhar, udad), rotala (bajara, fulka, paratha), rice, besan laddu, etc, the stomach runs and mouth floods. Delicious taste of food with flavour of love in serving, as guest is God in this part of the world. The special thali cost you Rs. 170 and normal thali only Rs. 100.

Kya Taaj, kya Hayat, made in Popatlal is the best to enjoy garden fresh organic and delicious kathiavadi lunch at Manar-Alang. He has opened a hotel Het for elite visitors and Wadi restaurant at Gopnath. Earning reasonable profit, he has employed youth who have lost parents and are really in need of support as social service. His Sanskara of Lokbharti is illuminating.

We have enjoyed our trip to Alang and the delicious kathiyavadi lunch, "made in Popatlal". If enjoyed the famous breakfast joints of India, rush to Alang and have kathiyavadi lunch "made in Popatlal".

Punamchand
Alang
18 April 2015

Read More

Gopeshwar, the place of divine peace

Gautameshwar, the place of divine peace

One of the ancient places of Gujarat, Gautameshwar is located in Shihor some 20 kms away from Bhavnagar, the district HQ. It's a Shiva temple, one of the cleanest temple of the country! The pujari is a retired teacher and his family, including old mother of 93 years age are worshipping Lord Shiva.

It's a cave temple where Rishi Gautam (husband of Ahlyabai, Lord Rama time), Maha Prabhu (vaishnav bhakti movement), Nana Saheb Peshva (Hero of 1857 revolt), Swami Vivekananda and many saints came and stayed. 

Nana Saheb Peshwa under a warrant of British, secretly stayed in Shihor for the rest of his life. Many tried to dig the hill in search of his treasure, but yet to find!

Rishi Gautam came here in search of peace after cursing wrongfully to his wife Ahalya, who was cheated by Indra through changing his appearance like her husband. Ahalya became stone due to the curse and later came into human form with the touch of Lord Rama. When Rishi Gautam came to this place, he saw a Shivlinga. A holy cow showered milk over it and disappeared. Rishi stayed here for sometime and return.

Peace is the prize here. Yes, one of the most peaceful temples. The surroundings are so beautiful with mountains, forest, dancing peacocks, flowing water (during monsoon); a picturesque site. The place is known as Shihor, Singh Pur, probably famous for Asiatic Lions in past. 

The temple family serve laddu (made from pure ghee) and khichadi to the devotees.

And the old lady, 93 years old, with all senses active was looking so peaceful, active and in rest that no body can declare her out at least for a decade. Peace of mind is the reason for her long inning.

If you are in search of peace, run and take rest, at least for couple of days in Gautameshwar, the swayambhu Shivlinga temple in Shihor. Don't bring your office and worries here. It is a place of Lord Shiva to enjoy the divine peace.

Punamchand
18 April 2015
Bhavnagar

Read More

Meditation

Meditation

From Maharshi Patanjali (Astang Yoga) to present, many methods have been taught for meditation. Some believe, it is a method of treating mind and it's diseases, some believe it is a method of salvation. It is a search in darkness for Karma Yogi and Bhakti Yogi and R&D for Gyan Yogi.

What is meditation?

Is it simply sitting comfortably with closed eyes or something more? The idols of Buddhas, Jain Tirthankars, Hindu deities are seen in one or another posture of meditation. Mostly with opened eyes but the posture of Buddha is the most prominent with half closed eyes.

Mind peaceful, Senses peaceful, Body in Sukhasan (sitting in comfortable posture), spine straight, neck erect, eyes closed (half closed eyes prevents you from going into sleep). Slowly, slowly, all activities of body and mind settle down except the breathing and thought process. Breath in and out and thoughts emerge and submerge. The process further slow down. The silence between inhalation and exhalation (start-end-start) can be noticed. Ida (Ganga) and Pingla (Jamuna) settle in Sushumna (Sarasvati). One can see the thoughts in sequence; emerging one after another, and if not attended, vanishing in seconds. And the gap between one thought and another thought go on increasing. And "you", "the witness" is watching, like a person sitting on the bank of river, watching the flow of water, coming and going. Mostly people go into deep sleep at this stage. But this is the point, when the "dhyani" gets in alert, not by force but tactfully.

When we are awaken; our body, mind and senses are active. When we are in sleep; our body, mind and senses rest in sleep. In meditation, the body sleeps but the mind awakes. Only the mind is on keeping all other senses (seeing, hearing, etc) off. At this stage, the wisdom become micro and turns into pragya, the mean to understand secrets of the nature and the Brahman, the Self, the Being. And from this "pragya", with regularity of meditation and with the Grace of Guru and God, a stage will come, when the individual consciousness enters into universal consciousness. You are not the body but the infinite Brahman!

So simple. Do it.

ॐ द्यौ शांति रन्तरिक्ष: शांति: पृथ्वी शांतिराप: शान्ति: रोषधय: शान्ति:। वनस्पतय: शान्ति र्विश्वे देवा: शान्ति ब्रह्म शान्ति: सर्वं: शान्ति: शान्र्तिरेव शान्ति: सा मा शान्तिरेधि ॐ शान्ति: शान्ति: शान्ति: ॐ।।
-(यजुर्वेद- 36.17)

अर्थात- "घुलोक शांत हो, अंतरीक्ष शांत हो, पृथ्वी शांत हो, जल शांत हो, औषधियां-वनस्पतियां शांत हो, प्रकृति की शक्तियां - समस्त देवता, सम्पूर्ण ब्रह्माण्ड शांत हो। सब तरफ शान्ति हो, शान्ति भी शांत है और मेरी शांति निरंतर बनी रहे।"

Aum Shanti, Shanti Shanti.

Punamchand
15 April 2015

Read More

Dr. Ambedkar Jayanti today)

Dr. Ambedkar Jayanti today

India is celebrating 14 April, the birthday of Bharat Ratna Dr Bhimrav Ambedkar as public holiday, in memory of his outstanding contribution in drafting Constitution of India on the bases of liberty, equality and justice.

Leaving his demand for separate electorate for "depressed classes" in lieu of reservation of seats, through Poona Pact signed on 25/9/1932, between him (on behalf of depressed classes) and Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya (on behalf of other Hindus) in the presence of Gandhi in Yerwada Central Jail. The document sign in jail became Magna Carta of Freedom of the depressed classes, and made Dr. Ambedkar the Mashiah of "Depressed Classes". Communal Award of British as outcome of Round Table Conferences followed by fast of Gandhiji, concluded with Poona Pact opened doors for Depressed Classes through reservation.

Many didn't like and still don't like but the principle of reservation has been accepted as one of the development means for the depressed classes by the legislatures and the period of reservation has been extended from time to time. The net has included OBC (Mandal Commission), women, and others in academics, jobs and other fields. Indian mind set have been changed. People wish to join reservation net (obc) to avail benefits. Now except 'general category males', all fall under "reservation".

The first reservation demanded by Mahatma Jyotiba Phule for natives in 1891, the first official reservation (first for non Brahmins than for Depressed Classes) introduced for Depressed Classes by Chhatrapati Shahuji Maharaj of the State of Kolhapur in 1902, the Communal Award (16/8/1932) declared by British PM Ramsey McDonald and Poona Pact became the seeds of present reservation system, the major arm for eradicating poverty and backwardness.

If the freedom from the British to be considered in true spirit, the depressed had right of ownership over the land equal to their population percentage because the freedom was won by the people of India. The farmers community received land ownership through land reforms and the depressed classes received limited jobs in Governments and admissions in academic institutes. Their political rights submerged in the mandates of the political parties to their elected representatives.

Do you know, why did Dr. Ambedkar resign from Nehru Cabinet in September 1951? Because of stalling in parliament of his draft Hindu Code Bill (protecting women's rights), which sought to expound gender equality in the laws of inheritance and marriage. His remarks in the letter to the press about the administration's inability to get it passed, referred the Cabinet, which he had left. The religious organizations were main opposers, including Swami Karpatriji Maharaj of Dandis.

But we the Indians, still prefer personal laws over public laws. Public Laws of equality are our compulsion to obey by mind as laws of the land. But Personal Laws of inequality are our will-custom created out of teaching of centuries, doesn't allow us to allow all Diamonds to shine. The man who fought for empowerment of women and weaker sections has been identified as SC leader. The way we pay respect to Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Subhas Chandra Bose, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and other leaders of pre and post independence India by heart, we shall pay respect to Baba Saheb Ambedkar as our National Leader, the leader who fought for liberty, equality and social justice.

He was our Bharat Ratna, British-Indian representative of Depressed Classes in 3 Round Table Conferences (1930-32) in London, the Labour Member of Viceroy's Executive Council (1942-46), the Chairman of Constitution Drafting Committee (1947-50), and 1st Minister of Law and Justice (1947-51).

We shall remember Sir Benegal Narsing Rau (BN Rau), ICS 1910, PM of J&K (1944-45), the Constitutional Adviser to the Constituent Assembly, for his key role in preparing initial rough draft (243 Articles & 13 Schedules) as a text for the drafting committee to work upon and to Mr. SN Mukherji, the Chief Draftsman of the Constitution for putting the proposals in legal form.

We shall remember the members of Constituent Assembly (11 sessions, 141 days, tabled 7635 amendments, moved 2473 amendments) headed by Dr. Rajendra Prasad and, the members of Drafting Committee: [Dr B. R. Ambedkar - Chairman; K M Munshi (Ex- Home Minister, Bombay); Alladi Krishnaswamy Iyer (Ex- Advocate General, Madras State); N Gopalaswami Ayengar (Ex-Prime Minister, J&K, Minister without Portfolio of Nehru Cabinet); B L Mitter (Ex-Advocate General, India); Md. Saadullah (Ex- Chief Minister of Assam, Muslim League member); D P Khaitan (lawyer); Madhav Rao (Legal Advisor of Maharaja of Vadodara) and T T Krishnamachari (in place of DP Khaitan).]

We shall remember members and Chairperson of various Committees (i.e. Fundamental Rights (Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel), Directive Principles of State Policy (Jawaharlal Nehru), etc,  for their recommendations on the subjects as well as the Constituent Assembly for finalizing and passing the Constitution of India.

We shall also remember Montagu and Chelmsford for Government of India Act 1919;  Motilal Nehru as Chairman and Jawaharlal Nehru as Secretary and 9 members for Nehru Report (1928) (first draft Constitution by Indians); Simon Commission and Lord Linlithgow for Government of India Act 1935, as these documents were the bases of our present Constitution.

Let us salute Dr Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar, on his 125th Birth Anniversary for his great contribution in Drafting and Defending Constitution of India (395 Articles & 8 Schedules) and introducing Social Reforms of Social Justice through Right of Reservation [Article 16(4)] and promotion of Educational and Economic interests of weaker sections (Article 46) and Women Empowerment by initiating Hindu Code Bill.

Punamchand
14 April 2015

NB:
1. Dr. Ambedkar opposed Article 370 in the Constitution, which gives a special status to the State of Jammu and Kashmir, and it was put against his wishes. Balraj Madhok reportedly said, Ambedkar had clearly told Sk. Abdullah: "You wish India should protect your borders, she should build roads in your area, she should supply you food grains, and Kashmir should get equal status as India. But Government of India should have only limited powers and Indian people should have no rights in Kashmir. To give consent to this proposal, would be a treacherous thing against the interests of India and I, as the Law Minister of India, will never do it." Then Sk. Abdullah went to Nehru, who directed him to Gopal Swami Ayyangar, who approached Sardar Patel asking him to do something as it was a matter of prestige of Nehru, who has promised Sk. Abdullah accordingly. Patel got it passed when Nehru was on foreign tour. On the day this article came up for discussion, Ambedkar did not reply to questions on it though he did participate on other articles. All arguments were done by Krishna Swami Ayyangar. (Balraj Madhok, Organiser, November 14, 2004)

2. The assembly missed creation of Indian Judicial Service (Article 312), public audit of judiciary for justice in time, and left Uniform Civil Code in the Directive Principles of State policy under Article 44.

Read More

Smoking is injurious to Health

Smoking is injurious to Health.

Tobacco in news in India, and there is lot of debates raised whether it is harmful to health or not. Tobacco lobby was searching for sound arguments in favour of tobacco to increase their businesses in India. 

Smoking and chewing Tobacco is a tradition from age old centuries in India. 24.3% males and 3.2% females smoke in India as per Global Adult Tobacco Survey 2013. And millions are chewing gutkha, khaini, zarda, etc, the smokeless tobacco. Tobacco in India consumed 48% in chewing, 38% in bidis and 14% in cigarettes. Tobacco is an important commercial crop with an annual production of 725 million kgs plus. It earns 1027 crore as excise revenue and 202 crore as foreign exchange to the exchequer. However, Cigarettes smokers pay about 85% of the total tax generated. It's export has crossed $169 million mark and ITC is the biggest exporter. Tobacco is one of the biggest economic and social activities in India!

But is it really injurious to health? 

Ayurveda considered Smoking as a medicine for some purposes. Ayurveda classify smoke into 6 categories: shaman (balance vat, pitta, cough), brihan (strengthen 7 dhatus), rechan (remove wastes), kasha (cure coughing), vanan (cure vomiting) and vrandhoopan (curing cuts and boils). 

It is prohibited for those who are/have: tired, in sorrow, given basti, taken rech, didn't sleep in night, thirsty, stomach problems, diabetic, headaches, pregnant ladies, eaten milk-honey-ghee-grain-curd-fish, child (under 12), old (80 plus), weak body.  

And while smoking, one should keep the mind worry free, not to become angry, smoke away from dust etc, precautions to be followed. If smoked in excess, ghee, milk, sweet and sour juices are used to balance it. It suggests drinking smoke through pipe. Therefore, hukka is very popular in country side of whole of Asia.

If smoked properly, it can cure coughing, breathlessness, cold, throat pain, chin pain, headaches, impurities of vata and cough. It freshen the mind, speech and senses; strengthen hairs, teeth, moustache; and is a mouth freshener.

Hang on! 

It is not saying smoking Tobacco, but smoke treatment with medicines, i.e., cardamom for Shaman, ral for Brihan, mustard for Rechan, kateri- dry ginger-pepper-pipar for Kasha, naso for Vaman, neem and vaj for cuts and boils. 

It explains to smoke in the house with neem leaves, peacock feathers, kateri fruits, pepper, asafoetida, cotton seeds, goat hairs, snake skin (naturally removed), elephant tooth, etc, to cure seen and unseen diseases. 

When our mind get disturbed, we need support and sometimes smoking, drinking, etc, gives us relief from the worry/pains for a while. People replaced medicines with tobacco and now 25% adults of India are smoking and millions are chewing Tobacco.

Health is wealth. Better not to smoke and repair the disturbed brain with good social company or to meditate in a dark corner!

Smoking and Chewing Tobacco is injurious to Health. 

Punamchand
7 April 2015

Read More

We are better

We are better.

Democracy is the most suitable model for development of India. The person who aspire for kingdom can contest elections and become Minister, CM or PM and rule for 5 years without much of a problem. If his desires not vanished, he can maintain harmony(!) with the party, contest another term and continue. And to run the government for meeting the aspirations of the voters, one need money, and that comes through direct and indirect taxes. Ultimately, power comes through wagging wars with votes. Few seconds peeeee and one become the Master.

But ancient and medieval Kings and Sultans had no other options than to wage wars. One become King through heirship or through betrayal or through victory. A soldier can rise up to General and can become King through conspiracy or victory after waging war. In all options, command over the army was the key for success. The King is big if his army is big. However, bigger armies of Ibrahim Lodhi and Rana Sanga lost wars against the Cannons of Babar.

Apart from personal luxury of palace, ornaments, servants; the major expenditure of the Kingdom was incurred in maintaining the army. The expenditure on salaries of soldiers and ammunition. If one looses the strength, immediately he will be attacked by the neighbouring King. Land revenue was the major source of income, used to be received in kinds (food grains), purchased by baniyas by paying money to the king. The grains were stored and sold during lean season with higher price. And it became economic model of India of economic disparity, making the producers poor and the middle men rich. And the country was disintegrated into many States.

After construction of palace, etc, the Kings were doing welfare acts of making ponds, wells, temples, etc. As one increases expenditure, he has to increase income. One can't tax people more, therefore expanding the territories, or looting other kingdoms or winning another kingdom or put it into subordination to recover indemnity and collecting khandani, etc,  were the options to increase income of the State. In all means, the money comes from the exploitation of the people. Therefore, we read Indian History as a history of fighting wars and keeping life of common men in poverty. It was Golden Sparrow for some and misery for many.

When India was under Kings, we had wars but democratic India with ultimate powers in the hands of the people, it is progressing well following principles of liberty, equality and justice. We are better.

Do you agree?

Punamchand
6 April 2015

Read More

Easter Sunday in Chaitra Passover

Easter Sunday in Chaitra Passover

Easter Sunday is the most sacred day of the year for Christians. Jesus, resurrected on Easter Sunday after 3 days of crucified on Friday. He was the first man raised back to life on earth. He was only 29 years old. His resurrection gives us hope about the life after death. It is a proof that the death of physical body is no end of life. It was first Sunday after full moon day of Chaitra in 33 AD.

Jews observe the 8 days (15th day of Nisaan) as Passover (of Lord), Israel's exodus from Egypt about 1300 BCE. It's a harvesting season of barley and start of spring, they sacrifice lamb and eat it as feast of Passover with unleavened bread as ritual to save the first born child from calamity of the spirit of the God. They placed the lamb’s blood on the door posts of the house.

Jesus, who never sinned, his sacrifice became passover for whole world to save people from death. It is believed that his sacrifice was enough to fulfill the requirement of God’s law for all people for all time.

Surprisingly, Chaitra in India is a month of viral diseases. Hindus celebrate Chaitra Naratra with rituals. People worship Godesses and some sacrifice lamb/goat in front of the assembly of relatives and friends and eat it with unleavened bread to save their children from death.  

Sacrifice was a ritual in lieu of freedom from sins. We do holy bath in Ganga, do Yagya and some sacrifice lamb/goat to follow the custom of getting free from sin. The diseases, calamities, death etc, are considered outcome of sins.

Scientists are trying to find the answers of the events but human soul connected to the Universal Soul, still believe that whatever they say but all happen as per the will of the God. The Father, the Being, the Brahman. दिल है कि मानता नहीं ।

Happy Easter.

Punamchand
5 April 2015

Read More

Today is Hanumanb Jayanti

Today is Hanuman Jayanti

मनोजवं मारुततुल्यवेगम् ; जितेन्द्रियं बुद्धिमतां वरिष्ठम् |
वातात्मजं वानरयूथमुख्यम् ; श्रीरामदूतं शरणं प्रपद्ये ||

Chaitra Purnima, birth anniversary of Hanuman, the son of Anjana and Kesari and the ardent devotee of Prabhu Shri Rams.

Hanuman, the Superman of India is inspiring all of us for centuries. He is one of the 12 eternal persons as per Hindu mythology. He is the greatest Bhakta of Prabhu Shri Ram, always remain present in all Ramkatha Parayan.

Jai Hanuman Gyan Gun Sagar...Hanuman Chalisa of Sundar Kand of Ramcharit Manas, not only placed him in the heart of the people, but the Chalisa become medicine for the people living in depression and it is an energy booster to all. 

Without Hanuman, Rama victory over Ravan was not possible, but look at this humble devotee of Prabhu Ram, he didn't accept any credit except the gift Ram Naam. For him the necklace of pearls has no value without Rama. (In politics the Leaders are in search of Hanuman. Those have, win!)

All you know about his life, full of adventures and victories. He donates ashta siddhi (8 powers) and nav nidhi (9 treasures) to his devotees.

Pray Hanuman, Jai Hanuman.

Punamchand
4 April 2015

NB: Ashta Siddhi (anima, mahima, garima, laghima, prapti, prakamya, isitva, vasitva), Nav Nidhi (parkaya pravesh, hard I vidya, Kakadu vidya, vayu gaman, madalsa, kanakdhara, prakya, surya vigyan, mrit sanjeevani.

Read More

Truth is God

Truth is God

"God is Truth, but God is many other things also. That is why I say Truth is God…. Only remember that Truth is not one of the many qualities that we name. It is the living embodiment of God, it is the only Life, and I identify Truth with the fullest life, and that is how it becomes a concrete thing, for God is His whole creation, the whole Existence, and service of all that exists-Truth-is service of God". -Gandhi (H, 25-5-1935, p115)

Gandhiji's God was Truth. His life was an experiments with Truth.

We have been told to speak truth. 

What is the Truth, the ultimate Truth? 

When the world itself is considered illusion in Hinduism, how can anything in the world is true?

Is our knowledge truth? Are we knowing truth and speaking truth? How could One speak truth without knowing the truth? Is Knowledge (gyan) Truth (satya) or Truth is Knowledge? Both must be known. 

And the knowledge is the knowledge of life, beyond object sense, attuining with the Being of the objects. The object become one with the Subject, the unity of Drashta, Drashya and Darshan. And that can be attained by searching Reality. And that search is possible with aspiration arises to search for Reality (athato Brahm Jigyasa).

How could one move towards Reality?

It can be reached by 'faith' in the existence of Reality. And the faith is superior to thoughts. And when the mati (tendency to move towards Reality) and shraddha (faith in the existence of Reality) work together with nishtha (steadfastness), one moves towards Reality. 

When there is nishtha, there is sraddha, and when there is sraddha, there is mati. And that mati drive us to the Reality, the Reality of Being, the Truth, the Brahman, the God.

Search for the knowledge that is turn up to Reality (the Truth), with nishtha (steadfastness), sraddha (faith) and mati.

Yatha mati tatha gati (यथा मति तथा गति).

Punamchand
4 April 2015

Read More

Today is Good Friday

Today is Good Friday

Yesterday was Maundy Thursday when Jesus washed the feet of his 12 disciples before he took Last Supper with them. Jesus instructed them with a new commandment to love one another.

Today is a Good Friday, a sad day in the Holy Week, the anniversary of Jesus Christ's crucifixion and death on the Friday before Easter Sunday. Jesus was hung on the cross around 3 PM. It is a day of fasting, prayer and remembrance of final hours of Jesus.

An innocent man was killed without committing any crime. And look at the crowd (mob) gathered at the place, they chose Barabbas, the notorious prisoner to be released and Jesus of Nazareth to be crucified. The crowd was made of Jews or supporters of Barabbas was debated throughout the world, but the fact remains that an innocent man was crucified.

And look at the mercy of this Great Man,

He made 7 final statements during his last hours on cross.

Jesus speaks to the father (God), said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing."

Jesus speaks to the Criminal on the Cross, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise."

Jesus speaks to his mother, "Dear woman, here is your son, and to the disciple, "here is your mother."

And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, "Eli, eli, lama sabachthani?" (My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?). He cried again, "Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit".

He said, "I am thirsty."

He said, "It is finished."  (dying or purpose of his coming to earth finished)

And lastly, he called out with a loud voice, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit." And he breathed his last.

It was as a sacrifice and placing himself in God's hands.

What a greatness and generosity of the "Son of the Father", he forgave them who killed him. And he surrendered his spirit in God's hand. And as true son, he spoke to father, Eli, eli, Lama sabachthani?"

Knowingly or unknowingly, many of us perform the role of Judas Iscariot (betrayed Jesus for 30 silver coins), temple aristocracy, the roman governor, the mob, even today. Let us forgive the people betrayed or hurt us, let us love all and let us surrender ourselves to God. (मामेकं शरणं व्रज).

It is a sad day today for Christian friends to remember crucifixion of Jesus but don't worry, Jesus the most loving son of his Father, after 3 days, on Easter Sunday, Resurrected.

Punamchand
3 April 2015
Good Friday

NB: The date of Good Friday vary every year because it is determined on a lunisolar calendar. 

Read More

Mahavir Kalyanak

Mahavir Kalyanak

Today is the 2614th birth anniversary of 24 th Jain Tirthankar Bhagavan Shri Mahavir Swami, the day of Aradhana for all Jains. He was born in a royal family of King Siddhartha and Queen Trishala in 599 BCE (Chaitra Shukla 13). 

Jains believe in endless cosmic time cycle of trillions of years, the kaalchakra of ascending cycle of Utsarpini and descending cycle of Avasarpini. Each half has unequal 6 aras. Sukham-Shukham, Sukham, Shukham-Dukham, Dukham-Sukham, Dukham, Dukham-Dukham. 4th ara was a time for all 24 Tirthankars. 5th the present ara in which we are living is called Dukham of Avsarpini, started after 3 years 8 months of the death of Mahavir Swami in 527 BCE. 

The further worst time of Dukham-Dukham yet to come. Thereafter, the cycle of Utsarpini will ascend, Dukham-Dukham, Dukham, Dukham-Sukham (Tirthankars time), Shukham-Dukham, Shukham, Sukham-Sukham.

Mahavir Swami attended commands of his parents, lived all his worldly duties of marriage (wife-Yashoda), daughter Priyadarshana and finally attain "Kaivalya" through the path of "jitendriya" Tapas. His main teaching was "Ahinsa" (Non Violence), that became the biggest weapon of Gandhi to fight freedom war against the British Raj.

Again, when the world is facing challenges of violence in crude sense and exploitation of living creatures by the mighty in micro sense, let us pray Bhagvan Mahavir to light the path of the world with the principles of Ahinsa, truth and compassionate to maintain harmony. 

Jai Jinendra.

Happy Mahavir Kalyanak to all Jain friends.

Punamchand
2 April 2015
Chaitra, Shukla 13, Vikram Samvat 2071

Read More

What is life?

What is life?

Do you know what life is?

Whom we call Atul, Thakur, Anil, Anoop, Dr. Venkatesh, Partho, Vinay, Mishraji,......? We are naming and calling all humans and creatures around us but unable to identify whom to call life; to their body? to their breathing? to their activities?

Hinduism calls life as "Prana". Breathing is not prana but the process to keep the prana alive. Our body moves, our mind think, our activities, our consciousness, all because of Prana.

Whom we call father, mother, brother, sister, spouse, children, friends, colleagues,...to the bodies? No no..To the life in them. They are valuable till life is in them. Once Prana goes, the dead body is for cremation only. The body is not our dear or fear one but the Prana, the life in it is valuable whom we respect and love.

The universe is full of life, the Being, the Brahman, the ONE and only is manifesting in various forms of life what we see and feel around us.

Enjoy the Life.

Punamchand
2 April 2015

Read More

Who will cry when I die?

Who will cry when I die?

I haven't read the book "who will cry when I die," referred by a colleague, but the same question we asked to ourselves during our one week inservice training in National Institute of Audit and Accounts, Shimla in October 2012. The answer may differ from person to person.

When a colleague die, few of us write messages and some attend besana and mourn. The subordinates, peers and seniors known to us will express good/bad words depending upon their benefits/loss or experiences with us. The family, friends, relatives, etc, will cry for a moment, a day or few days. But the persons who will cry will be the spouse, the better half (provided the knots of heart remained sound!) and the Children or persons tied with a knot of heart, may be friends or followers.

Spouse is the companion of our ups and downs and mostly known to the major part of our life. However, it is impossible to know one person fully by another person including spouse, but spouse it better placed to know the person more than others. The knots tied in front of Holy Fire at the time of marriage union the couple with the strongest psychological tie of mind and knots of heart. As others including adult children remain busy in their world the better half may cry the most.

If old aged parents are left behind, they will also cry for the died son/daughter.

The children will always remember parents when they are in trouble because parents are the real God for them on earth. When we pass through pains, we say O Mummy, O Papa, but never Say O Husband, O Wife. Therefore, parents are eternal in the heart and mind of the children. Children will remember us the most.

And for Gurus and public leaders; the followers and people will cry when they die and remember and mourn for them on their anniversaries.

If people remember this question, "who will cry when I die", many problems and quarrels from the life will go away. If the question attended seriously, it will improve the behaviour of all.

I wish to see people happy and satisfied when I die. I presume the persons whom I made rejoice will cry for me for a while and will remember for long, whether my better half, children, relatives, friends and others.

Punamchand
1 April 2015

NA: Children include daughters-in-law

Read More