GURU PURNIMA

Guru Purnima is a world wide festival which is dedicated to the Guru . Guru word is used for the teacher who teaches anything to a learner. If we relate it to the ancient times,it is actually worshipping the Guru Vyasa who wrote the 4 Vedas. But in today's  time, it is all about worshipping your teachers and showing gratitude towards them for their impeccable hard work in moulding you in various ways.

In 2014, Guru Purnima will be celebrated on July 12 i.e. on Saturday.

It is said that  Guru Vyasa wrote all the 4 Vedas that were recited by  Lord Brahma . He also wrote several Purans. And from those times, a day was dedicated towards the Gurus and this day is called as ‘Guru Purnima’. Purnima word is used because on this day, there is a full moon.

It had a deep significance in the past and even in today’s context this day is celebrated all over our country & abroad.As this day is dedicated to the Gurus, people irrespective of religion,caste ,creed,etc offer their prayers to their Gurus thanking them for the knowledge they have provided to them.

Over the years, the way Guru Purnima is celebrated has changed a lot as the age old  concept of Guru-‘Chela’ (Learner) relationship has undergone a change. In earlier times people used to host a special prayer for their Gurus and in those prayers they used to recite the greatness and the nobility of their gurus. That practice is still followed but not in the same magnitude. 

Guru can be any one who is teaching or providing knowledge to someone on any discipline/field/subject.Parents are the first gurus since they leave  indelible impressions  on the minds of young children right after birth.At times, even wives & children can be put in the category of 'Gurus'.But it is said that a Guru is the one who acts as the link between  God and  human soul. And having Guru in your life is a must . 

Guru is the one who guides the person on the                           ways of truth,righteousness,peace,happiness,tranquility,   knowledge, etc,  so as to seek  God. In various schools       and colleges special events are organized to               celebrate this day. 

Here is wishing you all an auspicious GURU-PURNIMA.

THE MACARONI CLUB

A macaroni (or formerly Maccaroni).

In mid-18th century England, was a fashionable fellow who dressed and even spoke in an outlandishly affected and epicene manner. The term pejoratively referred to a man who "exceeded the ordinary bounds of fashion" in terms of clothes, fastidious eating and gambling. Like a practitioner of macaronic verse, which mixed English and Latin to comic effect, he mixed Continental affectations with his English nature, laying himself open to satire.

There is indeed a kind of animal, neither male nor female, a thing of the neuter gender, lately [1770] started up among us. It is called a macaroni. It talks without meaning, it smiles without pleasantry, it eats without appetite, it rides without exercise, it wenches without passion.

It would appear that the macaronis originated among a number of young men,who had made the grand tour,and on their return,formed themselves into a club,which,from a dish of macaroni,then little known in England,being always placed upon the dinner table,was called the Macaroni Club.

A magazine writer of the time,evidently alluding to this origin,says,' The macaronis are the offspring of a body,a many-headed monster in Pall Mall,produced by a demoniac committee of depraved taste and exaggerated fancy,conceived in the Court of France and Italy,and brought forth in English.' 

Horace Walpole,however,writing about the same time,gives the macaronis different pedigree,ascribing their origin to the enormous wealth,lately gained by certain persons,through Clive's conquests in India, and asserts that their boundless extravagance soon dissipated it,and brought them to poverty.

'Lord Chatham', he says,'begot the East India Company begot Lord Clive,Lord Clive begot the macaronis,the macaronis begot Poverty,and all the race are still living,'

In the following year,1773,he writes,'A winter without politics-even our macaronis entertain the town with nothing but new dresses, and the size of their nosegays.They have lost all their money,and exhausted their credit,and can no longer game for Pounds 20,000 a night.'

The macaronis took the town by storm.Nothing was fashionable that was not a' la macaroni.

Even the clergy had their wigs combed,their clothes cut,and their delivery refined a'la macaroni.

The shop windows were filled with prints of the new tribe;there were engraved portraits of turf macaronis,military macaronis,college macaronis,and other varieties of the great macaroni race.

At balls,no other than macaroni music could be  danced to;   at places of public amusements,macaroni songs were sung.

As I visit places, especially Delhi,Calcutta, Chennai,Mumbai & Bangalore I find the likes of macaronis who have invented dress-eccentricities that were seen in the eighteenth century.Slowly their tribe is increasing everywhere.Good luck to them !

REMEMBERING LOUIS PASTEUR: 06 JULY 1885

LEST WE FORGET !

(THIS DAY IN 1885 ,LOUIS PASTEUR VACCINATED JOSEPH)

Louis Pasteur was a French chemist and microbiologist renowned for his discoveries

of the principles of vaccination, microbial fermentation and pasteurization. 

He was born on December 27, 1822, in the small town of Dôle, France. His father was a tanner, a person who prepares animal skins to be made into leather. The men in Pasteur's family had been tanners back to 1763, when his great-grandfather set up his own tanning business. Part of the tanning process relies on microbes (tiny living organisms). In tanning, microbes prepare the leather, allowing it to become soft and strong. Other common products such as beer, wine, bread, and cheese depend on microbes as well. Yet, at the time Pasteur was a child, few people knew that microbes existed.

Pasteur's parents, Jean-Joseph Pasteur and Jeanne Roqui, taught their children the values of family loyalty, respect for hard work, and financial security. Jean-Joseph, who had received little education himself, wanted his son to become a teacher at the local High School. Pasteur attended the primary school, and in 1831 entered  Collège . He was regarded as an average student, who showed some talent as an artist. Nonetheless, the headmaster encouraged Pasteur to prepare for the Teachers College located in Paris. 

With this encouragement he dedicated himself totally to his studies. He swept the school prizes during the 1837 and 1838 school year.

In August 1840 he received his bachelor's degree in letters from the Collège Royal de Besançon and was appointed as a  tutor at the Collège. In 1842, at age twenty, he received his bachelor's degree in science. 

In the autumn of 1843, his doctoral thesis   on crystallography(Study of forms and structures of crystals) became talk of the nation.In 1888 a grateful France founded the Pasteur Institute. It was destined to become one of the most productive centers of biological study in the world.

In 1892 Pasteur's seventieth birthday was the occasion of a national holiday. A huge celebration was held at the Sorbonne. Unfortunately Pasteur was too weak to speak to the delegates who had gathered from all over the world. His son read his speech:-

"Gentlemen, you bring me the greatest happiness that can be experienced by a man whose invincible belief is that science and peace will triumph over ignorance and war.… Have faith that in the long run … the future will belong not to the conquerors but to the saviors of mankind."

On September 28, 1895, Pasteur died in Paris. His last words were: "One must work; one must work. I have done what I could." 

He was buried in a crypt in the Pasteur Institute. Years later Joseph Meister, the boy Pasteur saved from rabies, worked as a guard at his tomb.

(JOSEPH)

(Joseph Meister (21 February 1876 - 24 June 1940) was the first person to be inoculated against rabies by Louis Pasteur on 06 July 1885, and the first person to be successfully treated for the infection. Meister was played by Dickie Moore in the 1936 film The Story of Louis Pasteur. The story of Meister's potentially dangerous inoculation against rabies by Pasteur was also featured in an episode of the TV series Dark Matters: Twisted But True.)

LORD VISHNU IS PREPARING TO SLEEP. TIME TO PRAY.

(BADRI VISHAL : BLESS OUR REGIMENT)

(OH NRISINGHA ! REMOVE THE DEMONS FROM THIS EARTH)

VISHNU-THE SUSTAINER

The peace-loving deity of the Hindu Trinity, Vishnu is the Preserver or Sustainer of life with his steadfast principles of order, righteousness and truth. When these values are under threat, Vishnu emerges out of his transcendence to restore peace and order on earth.

The 10 Avatars

Vishnu’s earthly incarnations have many avatars. His ten avatars are Matsyavatara (fish), Koorma (tortoise), Varaaha (boar), Narasimha (the man lion), Vaamana (the dwarf), Parasurama (the angry man), Lord Rama (the perfect human of the Ramayana), Lord Balarama (Krishna's brother), Lord Krishna (the divine diplomat and statesman), and the yet to appear 10th incarnation called the Kalki avatar. Some sources consider Buddha as one of the avatars of Vishnu. This is a much later addition done at a time when the concept of Dashavatara was already developed.

Dev Shayani Ekadashi In Year 2014 Falls On  8 July

The festival Dev Shayani Ekadashi is an important time of ceremony for every Hindu person. This is a day when people worship Lord Vishnu by their  good “Karmas”.

Ashadha Shukla Paksha Ekadashi is known as Devshayani Ekadashi. Lord Vishnu goes to sleep on this day and wakes up after four months on Prabodhini Ekadashi. Devshayani Ekadashi comes just after famous Jagannath Rathyatra and currently falls in month of June or July on English calendar. Chaturmas, a holy period of four months in Hindu calendar, starts from this day. Devshayani Ekadashi is also known as Padma Ekadashi, Ashadi Ekadashi and Hari Shayani Ekadashi. 

Parana means breaking the fast. Ekadashi Parana is done after sunrise on next day of Ekadashi fast. It is necessary to do Parana within Dwadashi Tithi unless Dwadashi is over before sunrise. 

Ekadasi Fasting 

Dedicated to Lord Vishnu it falls on the 11th day of a lunar fortnight in traditional Hindu Calendar. Devsayani Ekadasi is observed on Shukla paksha Ekadashi in Ashada month.  These four auspicious months in the Hindu calendar are Shravan, Bhadarpada, Ashvin and Kartik. In these four months the atmosphere is heavy with moisture and is a time for the downpour. 

Devashayani Ekadashi also known as Harivasara Ekadasi or Vishnu Sayana Ekadasi during when Lord Vishnu goes on to cosmic sleep. 

According to the Puranas, Lord Vishnu is said to take rest in Ksheer Saagar on this day. After 4 months He comes out from Ksheer Saagar. This day is known as Probodhina Ekadashi day. A fast is observed on Devshayani Ekadashi to please Lord Vishnu. 

The peace-loving deity of the Hindu Trinity, Vishnu is the Preserver or Sustainer of life with his steadfast principles of order, righteousness and truth. When these values are under threat, Vishnu emerges out of his transcendence to restore peace and order on earth.

LORD VISHNU :THE SAPT BADRIS

MERO GARHWAL-THE LAND OF GODS,WARRIORS & ARTISTS: I SALUTE YOU !

Sapta Badri (Sanskrit: सप्त-बद्री) 

It constitutes a group of seven sacred Hindu temples, dedicated to god Vishnu, located in Garhwal Himalayas in the Indian state of Uttarakhand. The Badrinath temple (बद्रीनाथ), called the Badri-vishal (बद्री-विशाल) (altitude 3,133 m (10,279 ft)) is the primary temple among the seven shrines, followed by six others, namely, Adi Badri (आदि-बद्री), Vridha Badri (वृध-बद्री), Dhyan Badri (ध्यान-बद्री), Ardha Badri (अर्ध-बद्री), Bhavishya Badri (भविष्य-बद्री) and Yogadhayan Badri (योगध्यान-बद्री). The Panch Badri (पंच-बद्री) temple circuit consisted of only five temples, omitting Ardha Badri and Dhyan Badri or sometimes Vridha Badri. Rarely, Narasingh Badri (नृसिंह-बद्री) is included in the Sapta Badri or Panch Badri list.

The abode of Vishnu in the Alaknanda river valley, starting from Satopanth about 24 kilometres (15 mi) above Badrinath extending up to Nandprayag in the south, is particularly known as the Badri-Kshetra in which all the Badri temples are located. Since the early times, approach to the main temple of Badrinath was only along a bridle path passing through badri van or (forest of berries). Thus, the word "Badri", meaning "berries", is suffixed to the names of all the Sapta Badri (seven) temples.

The main shrine of Badrinath is well connected by road and air but is closed during the winter season due to snow conditions, from October–November to April–May depending on the astrological dates fixed by the Temple Committee.

Badrinath

Badrinath is the northern Dham of the four sacred Dhams (pilgrimage centres) called Char Dham. Though the Badrinath temple is believed to date to the Vedic period, the current structure was built in the 8th century AD by Adi Shankaracharya. The other three dhams are Rameshwaram in the south, Dwarka in the west and Jagannath Puri in the east. The temple, which had been subjected to damage due to snow avalanches and landslides, several times in the past, was last restored in the 19th century with the royal patronage of the Scindias and Holkars. Badrinath is also part of Chota Char Dham, four sacred temples in Uttarakhand. The others include the Shiva temple of Kedarnath and the sources of the holy rivers Ganges and Yamuna.

The Badrinath legend states that Vishnu (Mahavishnu) in his incarnation as the sages Nara and Narayana, did penance in an open space at the location of the Badrikashram or Badrinath. His consort Lakshmi (Maha-lakshmi) created shelter for him in the form of Badri tree (berry tree) to protect him from adverse climatic conditions. The sage Narada did penance here, and is believed to continue to do so to this day by reciting the divine chants called Ashta Akshara mantras (eight lettered mantra, i.e., Om Namo Narayanaye). Narada was also informed by Vishnu that his divine form subsumed both Nara and Narayana.

According to the scripture Bhagavata Purana, "There in Badrikashram (Badrinath) the Personality of Godhead (Vishnu), in his incarnation as the sages Nara and Narayana, had been undergoing great penance since time immemorial for the welfare of all living entities." 
The layout of the temple has three enclosures namely, the Garbhagriha (Sanctum Sanctorum), the Darshan Mandap (worship hall) and Sabha Mandap (Conference hall). The sanctum holds the central image of Badri-narayana (Vishnu), which is made in black stone and 1 metre (3.3 ft) in height. The four-armed Vishnu holds the Shankh (Conch) and Sudarshana Chakra (discus) in two arms in a raised posture and the other two arms rest on the lap in Yogamudra (meditative pose). 

In the sanctum, to the far right side are Nara and Narayana. Narada is kneeling in front on the right side and is difficult to see. On the left side is Kubera, the god of wealth. Garuda, Vishnu's vehicle is kneeling in front, to the left of Badri-narayana. Wings at the entrance are adorned with images of Hanuman, the monkey-god and a silver Ganesha, the elephant-headed god of wisdom. In the enclosure (prakara) surrounding the temple, a small shrine is dedicated to Lakshmi, Vishnu’s consort.Nambudiri Brahmins from southern state of Kerala serve as head priest here (Royal priest) .

Adi Badri

The Adi Badri (30°27′27″N 77°20′28″E) the first temple complex among the Sapta Badri temples is an ancient shrine dedicated to Vishnu and is one among a chain of 16 small shrines located in the hill ranges 17 kilometres (11 mi), beyond Karnaprayag (confluence of Pindar River and Alaknanda River in Chamoli district. Seven temples of this chain were built during the late Gupta period (5th century to 8th century). According to tradition, Adi Shankara is attributed as builder of all the temples.  In ancient times, when approach to the main shrine of Badrinath was closed due to weather conditions, pilgrims worshipped Vishnu at this temple. Adi Badri, also known as Helisera according to revenue records, is a tiny temple complex enclosed within a space of 14 metres (46 ft) X 30 metres (98 ft). The height of the temples vary from 2–6 metres (6.6–19.7 ft). The chief temple is dedicated to god Vishnu, which is built over a raised platform, with a small enclosure in a pyramidal form. The sanctum holds black stone 1 metre (3.3 ft) image of Vishnu.The image depicts Vishnu holding a mace, lotus and chakra (discus). Adi Badri is located 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) from Chandpur fort or Garhi located on the hilltop, which was built by the Gurkha kings to fight the British. Adi Badri is an hour's drive from Karnaprayag and close to Chulakot on the way to Ranikhet. On shifting of Badrinath (also known as Raj Badri) to Bhavishya Badri, Adi Badri will be called the Yog Badri.

Vridha Badri - also spelled as Vriddha Badri or Bridha Badri - an austere shrine, is located in the Animath village ( 1,380 m (4,530 ft), above sea level) 7 km (4.3 mi), from Joshimath on the Rishikesh–Joshimath-Badrinath road.The Vridha Badri legend says that Vishnu appeared in the form of a Vridha or old man before sage Narada who performed penance here. Thus, the idol installed at this temple is in the form of an old man.

According to legend, the image of Badrinath was carved by the divine craftsman Vishwakarma and worshipped here. Adi Shankara found the partly damaged image in Narad-kund pond and established it at the central Badrinath shrine.According to legend, Badrinath was worshipped here by Adi Shankara, before his enshrinement at the Badrinath temple. The temple is open throughout the year. Brahmins from South India serve as chief priests in the temple.

Bhavishya Badri

Bhavishya Badri, also spelt as Bhabisya Badri, 2,744 metres (9,003 ft), above sea level) is located in a village called Subhain at a distance of 17 kilometres  from Joshimath, beyond Tapovan and approach is through dense forest, only by trekking. It is situated on an ancient pilgrim route to Mount Kailash and Manasarovar, along the Dhauli Ganges River.It is situated on the way from Tapovan to Lata in the Niti valley. Bhavishya Badri is connected by a motorable road to Saldhar,19 kilometres (12 mi), from Joshimath, beyond which a 6 kilometres (3.7 mi) trek is undertaken to reach the shrine.

According to the legend of Bhavishya Badri (literally "Badri of the future"), when evil transcends the world, the mountains of Nara and Narayana would block up the route to Badrinath and the sacred shrine would become inaccessible. The present world will be destroyed and a new one established. Then, Badrinath will appear at the Bhavishya Badri temple and be worshipped here, instead of the Badrinath shrine.The shrine of Narasingh Badri at Joshimath is closely associated with the legend of Bhavishya Badri . Currently, the Bhavishya Badri has an image of Narasimha, the lion-faced incarnation of Vishnu.

Yogadhyan Badri

Yogadhyan Badri, also called Yoga Badri, is located at Pandukeshwar (30°38′2″N 79°32′51″E) at the elevation of 1,829 metres (6,001 ft), close to Govind Ghat and is as ancient as the main Badrinath temple.Pandukeshwar is located en route from Govind Ghat to Hanuman Chatti, 9 kilometres (5.6 mi) away from Hanuman Chatti.Legend has it that King Pandu, father of the five Pandavas - heroes of the Hindu epicMahabharata, meditated here to god Vishnu to cleanse him of the sin of killing of two mating deer, who were ascetics in their previous lives. The Pandavas were also born here and Pandu died and attainedsalvation here. Pandu is believed to have installed the bronze image of Vishnu in the Yogadhyan Badri shrine.The image is in a meditative posture and thus the image is called Yoga-dhyan (mediative) Badri. The idol is life size and has been carved from Shaligram stone. According to legend, the Pandavas, after defeating and killing their cousins Kauravas in the Mahabharata war, came here to repent. They handed their kingdom of Hastinapur to their grandson Parikshit and went to perform penance in the Himalayas.

Copper plate inscriptions found here indicate rule by early Katyuri Rajas and the region was known as Panchal Desh, now officially designated as Uttarakhand. One inscription extols the grant of land given by King Nimbarana. Another historic location is the Suryakund, on top of Milam glacier, which is a hot water spring, where Kunti - mother of Pandavas gave birth to her illegitimate son Karna, fathered by the sun-god Surya. Kunti was married to Pandu at Pandukeshwar.

Yogdhyan Badri is also considered the winter abode for the Utsava-murti (festival-image) of Badrinath, when the temple of Badrinath is closed. Hence, it is religiously ordained that a pilgrimage will not be complete without offering prayers at this place.Bhatts (priests) from South India serve as chief priests in the temple.

Dhyan Badri

Dhyan Badri (2,135 metres (7,005 ft), above sea level) is located in the Urgam valley, close to Kalpeshwar (30°25′44″N 79°25′37″E) on the banks of river Alaknanda. It can be reached from Helang Chatti by a 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) trek en route to Joshimath from Badrinath.^] The legend of Dhyan Badri (meditating Badri) is linked to the Urvarishi, son of King Puranjaya of the Pandavas lineage who meditated in the Urgam region and established the temple for Vishnu. The image of Vishnu is four-armed, made of black stone and in a mediatative posture.There is also a temple to god Shiva built by Adi Shankara.Kalpeshwar, one of the Panch Kedar sacred temple of Shiva, is situated 2 kilometres (1.2 mi), away. The temple is sometimes included in the Panch-Badri list. Brahmins from South India serve as head priests in the temple.

Ardha Badri

Ardha Badri, located on the Joshimath-Tapovan road is in a remote village and can be approached only by trekking along a steep bridle path. As the size of the idol is small, the temple is called Ardha Badri (literal meaning half Badri).

Narasingh Badri

The existing temple of Narasimha (Narasingh) at Joshimath (30°33′3″N 79°33′30″E), also called as Narasingh Badri or Narasimha Badri, is closely linked to the Bhavishya Badri legend, even though usually it is regarded as not one of the famous Panch Badri or Sapta Badri. Sometimes, it may be included in the Sapta-Badri list instead of Ardha-Badri or Panch-Badri list instead of Dhyan Badri.

The chief image of Narasimha is made out of the Shaligram stone, in the eighth century during the reign of king Lalitaditya Yukta Pida of Kashmir. Some believe the image is self-manifested (swayambhu). The image is 10 inches (25 cm) high and depicts the god sitting in the lotus position.

It is believed that one arm of the image is getting emaciated with time and m,ay finally fall off. When the arm disappears, the main shrine of Badrinath will be closed to the world and Lord Badrinath will shift to Bhavishya Badri shrine. With this cataclysmic event, Kali yuga will end ushering in the Satya yuga. Then the Badrinath shrine would get re-established. When the main Badrinath shrine is closed in winter, the priests of Badrinath shift to this temple and continue their worship to Badrinath here. Along with theI central Narasimha image, 

How To Reach.

While some shrines are approached by motorable roads, others are approachable from the nearest road head by trekking, on the Rishikesh-Badrinath main State Highway. The nearest airport to the Sapta Badri is Jolly Grant Airport close to Rishikesh, 25 kilometres (16 mi) from Dehradun. Motorable road distance to the seven shrines from Rishikesh are:- to Badrinath - 299 kilometres ; Yogdhyan Badri-277 km , (23 kilometres  short of Badrinath); Adi Badri - 200 kilometres  up to Karnaprayag and a further deviation on the Ranikhet road for 17 kilometres  to reach the shrine; Dhyan Badri - 299 kilometres  to Badrinath and a further trek of 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) en route to Joshimath; Vridha Badri - 7 km  trek from Joshimath; Bhavishya Badri - 280 kilometres up to Siladhar by road and further trek of 6 kilometres (3.7 mi) to the shrine.The temple also has an image of Badrinath.