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Wednesday 10 February 2016

India, South Africa, Brazil Begin Joint Naval Exercise

By Suryaprakash Verma on Wednesday 10 February 2016, 14:03 - News

The BRICS countries minus the big superpowers China and Russia are taking stock of their military preparedness and engaging in joint naval and military exercises. The Indian Navy is currently conducting the IBSAMAR military exercise which also includes Brazil and South Africa. This is the fifth edition of this particular exercise, which has always been conducted off South African waters thus far. The exercise will begin on February 19, Friday, and will continue till February 29, Monday.

According to a statement from the Indian Navy, the exercise is essentially geared towards anti-submarine warfare, surface and air-to-air missile defenses, search and seizure operations and search and rescue operations. Ships, aircraft carriers, planes, helicopters and submarines are involved in this huge exercise.

IBSAMAR began in 2006, and is only one of many military exercises that India is engaging in. Besides its bilateral exercises with the United States, and trilateral operations with Japan and Australia, India also conducted its second international fleet review recently, in which 55 countries including China, South Africa and the United States were present. This heightened exercise calendar is due in part to threats to India's security from China, and its desire to become a global arms manufacturing hub and exporter. India also was present at the recent Bahrain Airshow, where it showed off its indigenously built Light Combat Aircraft Tejas.

South Africa is meanwhile flexing its muscles and trying to grow independent of China's clout, on which it is highly dependent financially. South Africa's economy is staggering under economic downturn and its military funding is being cut year-by-year. It is looking for cheaper sources for arms and gear. South Africa has always emphasized a strong military as a deterrent towards other nations. Even the country's first President Nelson Mandela repeatedly spoke about the need for a strong military in independent South Africa. In fact, as President of the African National Congress in the 1960s, before he was imprisoned under the apartheid regime for 27 years, Mandela referred to the need for a strong armed force to ensure the nation's sovereignty in the current atmosphere of the world. One of Mandela's quotes about freedom also speaks of military.

The IBSAMAR military exercises involving India, Brazil and South Africa began, for the first time off the west coast of India, Friday, the Indian Navy said in a statement. According to the statement, the exercises will end on February 29. The exercises are taking place close to Goa. "The thrust of exercises at sea this year would be on Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW), Surface firings, Air Defences, Visit Board Search and Seizure (VBSS), Flying Operations, Search and Rescue and tactical procedures," the statement reads. The three countries began holding the IBSAMAR exercises in 2006. This is the fifth round of the drills. All previous exercises were held in South Africa. This year, the IBSAMAR exercises will involve ships, submarines, aircraft and special forces.

Wednesday 3 February 2016

An Estimated 60% of Aleppo is in Ruins, say Scientists

By Suryaprakash Verma on Wednesday 3 February 2016, 13:23 - News

The was between the Bashar al-Assad government and the Free Syrian rebel army has cost the country of Syria dearly in terms of archaeological treasures. An estimated 60% of the ancient city of Aleppo, an 8000-year-old city that has been a hub for trade, education and cultural exchange, has been reduced to rubble in the past 30 months. For example, the Ummayad Mosque, considered one of the most aesthetic construction in the Muslim world, built in 1090 AD, still stands, but minus one of its minarets, which was brought down by government artillery gunning last year. This act was widely condemned by the Syrian rebels, who however, have acted similarly, in their bid to push the government forces out of the city. In truth, Aleppo's narrow ancient lanes lend themselves to guerrilla warfare, and often, the safest tactic for opposition forces is to use heavy artillery.

Aleppo has had trade contacts with Asia and Europe for many centuries. It was a center for exchange of ideas between the Orient and Occident, and was a fertile ground for the blossoming of many spiritual movements, especially Sufism. It played a particularly important role in the life of the 13th century mystic and Sufi poet, Jalaluddin Rumi, who moved here and spent a few years as a young boy with his father. He studied at a madrasa under Kamal Ibn Al-Adim at the Halaviye mosque. Much of his worldview and future outlook were shaped here. In fact, in one of his quotes, Rumi acknowledges this role that Aleppo played in his life. Though Rumi spent most of his adult life in Turkey and Konya, there was much going and coming between what are today Turkey and Syria sine they were art of the same empire controlled by the Mamaluks.

There is even an al-Rumi mosque in the city's Saffahiya district, which was formerly known as Mankali Bagha Mosque. Mankali Bagha was the Mamluk prince who built the place. Here is a cute little poem that Rumi wrote about Aleppo: “Does this road lead to Aleppo?” Your answer can be “yes” or“no” Your opinion doesn't make it so. Consult a map before you go!"

Foreign Arrivals for Tourism in Uttar Pradesh

By Suryaprakash Verma on Wednesday 3 February 2016, 11:53 - News

In recent years, there have been very substantial increases in the volume of international financial and commercial transactions in Uttar Pradesh, made possible by technological progress in the field of electronics and communications. Like most other developing countries, those of South Asia have taken little part in the growth of this trade. Their negative balance of trade in services results from their reliance on the international economy for the more traditional forms of services such as shipping and insurance. Thus tourism is an important player in leveling this imbalance, and can be helped quite significantly by the Internet revolution that is underway in the country.

In the early 1980s, the region as a whole ran a deficit on shipping, with India’s deficit the largest at SDR (Special Drawing Rights) 1.4 million (SDR = USA$1.34). For India, this is largely offset by a very substantial positive balance as a result of tourism for which it is the most important market and foreign exchange earner in the region. The other positive item which has helped to make current account deficits smaller than trade deficits is remittances from abroad. These are sums of money sent back by mainly skilled and semi-skilled workers from the subcontinent employed in the Middle East. 

India and specifically Uttar Pradesh earned USA$2659 and 567 millions, respectively in 2014. Indeed, their current account deficits would have been two to three times larger but for these earnings. As oil prices stop rising and demand for foreign labor slackens in the Middle East, the future of these inflows is becoming doubtful. At the same time, South Asian economies have, by and large, kept free of the growing burden of international indebtedness, partly through prudent financial management and partly, as in the case of Bangladesh, through their relative unattractiveness to commercial lenders. 

In the 1980s, the debt'exports ratio for the major economies of the region have been around 11 to 14 percent of export earnings, in comparison with over 20 percent for certain Middle-East economies and around 50 percent for Chile and Mexico. A better understanding of the development process in South Asia can be obtained by observing changes in the composition of exports and imports, rather than their levels. In the early 1950s, India exported mostly primary products while imports were mainly manufactured consumer goods. 

By 1983, only 13 percent of Indian imports consisted of primary products including food, 37 percent of fuel and about 50 percent of machinery and other industrial inputs. Primary exports were down to 30 percent, textiles 14 percent and manufactures and machinery' were 38 percent. Other South Asian countries show a similar pattern of reliance on these kinds of imports, with the exception of Bangladesh which depends heavily on imported food products. 

On the export side, UP is still mainly an exporter of primary products. Bangladesh, Pakistan and, to a lesser extent, Nepal rely on textiles for much of their foreign exchange: about half of the total export earnings for Bangladesh and Pakistan come from this source. Nepal, a poorer country, exports large volumes of rice to India where it fetches a higher price. Many commodity movements are unrecorded, making an accurate picture of the pattern and levels of Nepalese trade impossible. Indian and Nepalese sources, for instance, give widely differing values of exports and imports between the two countries.

Wednesday 6 January 2016

Farm Distress and Possible Situations in India

By Suryaprakash Verma on Wednesday 6 January 2016, 11:32 - Culture

India has a history of farming that goes back 8000 years ago. During the Indus Valley Civilization, irrigation was well-developed and step-wells and bunds helped provide water to fields. In the Vedas, agriculture and animal husbandry are held as the highest occupations, and in the Upanishads, a farmer is likened to the creator itself, for providing food and sustenance to all. From this lofty statements in the HIndu scriptures, one would expect a rosy picture of the current state of farming and agriculture in India. Unfortunately, the ideals of the Puranas and Sanskrit literature do not find expression in reality.

The agricultural sector in India grew only by 0.2% last year, as compared to 7.9% for the entire economy, and 5.7% for inflation. The state of affairs for farmers has grown worse with every year, and they are in fact in  much worse state today than they were in 1992-93, when liberalization opened up India's economy. The targets given every year by the government represent an overall increase in agricultural production over the 1955-56 figures of about 28 per cent. The original target for additional agricultural production proposed in the Plan was 18 per cent. As a result of the renewed discussions between representatives of the States and Members of the Planning Commission, this target was raised to 28 per cent in November 2016 to meet increased domestic needs, eliminate imports, expand exports and, above all, to provide against the possibility of inflation arising from the heavy investment proposed under the Plan. 

 The Plan envisages not only an increase in the physical quantities of various agricultural commodities but also an improvement in the quality of these products. In the case of foodgrains, for example, the major portion of the increase is envisaged in superior kinds of rice and wheat. Under cotton, the emphasis is on increasing the production of long-staple varieties. Likewise, in the case of jute, sugarcane, lac, oilseeds and other commodities, measures for the improvement of quality are to be given a high place in the programme of development. As in the first Plan, the higher production will be achieved largely through improvement in techniques and institutional arrangements for promoting land use and land management on more efficient lines and for ensuring a greater degree of social justice among those dependent on land. Under the existing proposals the irrigated area is proposed to be raised by 21 million acres. 

The consumption of nitrogenous fertilizers is proposed to be raised from 610,000 tons in 1955 to over 1-8 million tons in 1960-61. Encouragement will also be given to green manuring and to the utilization of sewage, town compost, oil-cakes and other manures. To meet the requirements of improved seed a comprehensive programme for establishing seed multiplication farms has been drawn up. Soil conservation and land development work will be carried out on a more intensive scale. In the institutional sphere, particular attention will be paid to questions relating to the imposition of ceilings on holdings, consolidation of fragmented plots, land management practices and co-operative farming. 

The problems of marketing, warehousing and rural credit will also receive attention. It is hoped that by all these methods and by the part to be played by the Community Projects and the National Extension Service in popularizing improved techniques of agricultural production, the targets will be achieved in full measure. Agricultural Research and extension activities play an important part in agricultural production. The programmes of agricultural research in India are co-ordinated by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research. The Council was set up in 1929 on the recommendation of the Royal Commission on Agriculture. It was reorganized in 1951 to enable it to discharge its responsibilities more effectively, especially in the field of extension work. The extension service aims at bridging the gulf between research workers and farmers. 

Research work is carried on at a number of institutes such as (i) the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, Delhi; (if) the Central Rice Research Institute, Cuttack; (iii) the Central Potato Research Institute, Simla; (iv) the Central Vegetable Breeding Station, Kulu; (v) the Forest Research Institute, Dehra Dun; (vi) the Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar; (vii) the Indian Dairy Research Institute, Bangalore, and (viii) the Indian Lac Research Institute, Namkum. Besides, there are 22 agricultural colleges which carry on research in specialized fields. The Indian Central Committees for cotton, jute, oilseeds, sugarcane, coconut, arecanut, lac and tobacco similarly operate and subsidize a number of research schemes at various stations and sub-stations. The research institutes are engaged on a variety of research projects, both fundamental and applied. They conduct experiments in improving the fertility of the soil and the quality of seeds. They have evolved certain varieties of crops which are capable of resisting drought, disease, insects and pests. 

The IARI has, for example, evolved the New Pusa-700 wheats, noted for their high yield and resistance to disease. The Sugarcane Research Institute at Coimbatore has evolved the CO 312 and 313 varieties which have increased the sugarcane yield per acre by more than half. Similar results have been obtained in respect of crops like millets, pulses, tubers, vegetables, cotton and jute. The Research Institutes maintained by the Central and State Governments are to be strengthened during the second Plan period. It is proposed to concentrate on problems which link research with development.

Friday 1 January 2016

Commercial Aircraft Manufacturers in India

By Suryaprakash Verma on Friday 1 January 2016, 17:41 - Culture

India is currently a big draw for aircraft manufacturers, thanks to strong local demand and global slowdowns. Both Boeing and Airbus, the major players, are eyeing India for growth. Airbus has even offered to manufacture in India many of its military aircrafts, while Boeing has invested 500 million USD in the subcontinent so far.

The growth in India's tourism is leading to a spurt in commercial airliners making purchases. Indigo for example, one of the few aircraft flyers making a good profit, ordered 100 Airbus aircraft last year at the Paris airshow, while Indian Airlines has jumped into the fray looking to make a Dreamliner purchase.

The military too is flexing its financial muscle. This is helped along very well by the past cooperation between American and Indian air forces. For example, during the 1962 Sino-Indian War had a serious impact on Indo-USA relations as New Delhi quickly modified its nonaligned policy. During the war, Nehru requested USA airforce assistance in the defense of Indian cities and a USA aircraft carrier was sent into the Bay of Bengal in response. Both the UK and the USA began arms aid assistance to India during the war, and then entered into more formal military assistance agreements with India thereafter. The USA aid program, however, was halted during the 1965 Indo- Pakistani war when Washington suspended arms transfers to both states. This continued as USA policy until 1981, with ‘one-time exceptions’ sales permitted on occasion, and the USA withdrew as a major source of arms in South Asia. New Delhi was not too disturbed by this, as Pakistan was considered to be more adversely affected than India which had more diverse sources of foreign military equipment.

With the exception of some noisy but short-term differences between Washington and New Delhi, for instance the USA ‘tilt toward Pakistan’ in the 1971 war, Indo-USA relations in the 1965— 81 period were comparatively free of stress. India generally viewed the USA as a neutral factor in South Asia and no great source of complication for Indian policy. The USA saw India as an occasional irritant in broader international issues, but on balance a useful force because of the stabilizing role it played in a non-Communist South Asia.

Pakistan has never drawn the same level of interest from the United States. If we look at the comparative strengths of the military, it becomes quite clear why. For India, the numbers are Armed Forces: 1,260,000; Army: 1,100,000; Navy: 47,000; Airforce: 113,000; Paramilitary Forces: 255,000. For Pakistan however, the number are Armed Forces: 480,600; Army: 450,000; Navy: 13,000; Airforce: 17,600; Paramilitary Forces: 164,000. Only about half of India's.

Th British have not always had such a perfect relationship however. Before Independence, in 1946, the personnel of the R.I.N. in Bombay revolted in order to “protest against the continued racial discrimination and complaint in regard to pay, food, clothing, allowances, leave and travel facilities and the invidious distinction between the terms of demobilisation between the British and Indian demobilisation personnel*1. The mutiny had spread to all the twelve shore establishments in Bombay effecting about 20,000 ratings. The Congress and the Muslim League flags were hoisted on the ships instead of the Union Jack. The situation deteriorated up to this extent that there broke out gun battles between the ratings and the British troops lasting six hours, till the Britishers ceased fire. In sympathy of the ratings 300,000 dock workers and 1,000 men of Royal Indian Air Force went on strike. The entire country was shocked on these happenings and there was growing restlessness among the disgruntled leaders and masses and the smouldering dames of a revolutionary spirit among disloyal soldiery, military and police alike.

Monday 16 November 2015

Met Museum hosts Ramayana play for Diwali

By Suryaprakash Verma on Monday 16 November 2015, 14:09 - News

The Metropolitan Museum of Art at New York City, popularly known at the Met, has continued its annual tradition of staging a presentation of the Indian epic, the Ramayana, popularly called Ram-Leela. The play is part of the festival of Diwali, and celebrations take place at the art theater which seats over 700.

This year's presentation on November 15 pulled in over 3500 viewers, with standing room only at the theater. NYC arranges the presentation of Ramayana (Ram-Leela) in its 708 seat state of the art theater as part of Diwali celebrations. The show was conducted and choreographed by the East-West School of Dance, under the guidance of director Narayan Charka. The play was funded by the The Multicultural Audience Development Initiative Advisory Committee at the Met Museum.

The protagonist and hero, Bharat, the prince and brother of Lord Rama was played by actor Tirlok Malik, who is known for his films featuring Indian-American migrant themes. Malik is a New York Emmy Award nominee, and said “It was an honor for me to play the part of Bharat at the prestigious Metropolitan Museum under the direction of Pt. S.N. Charka.” Malik is also the owner and founder of Nritv, a popular streaming site that features Indian American movies exclusively.

The Ramayana is a 24000-verse epic poem, penned by Sage Valmiki, and according to historian William Jones, was composed around 2029 BC. Many versions of the Ramayana exist today, including those told in the perspective of the antagonist Ravana and Rama's wife Sita. Translated into several languages, the most popular versions include Tulsidas' Hindi version of Hanuman Chalisa (mp3), his Ramcharitamanas and Kamban's Tamil version of the Ramayana.

Saturday 24 October 2015

सूर्य नमस्कार के अनेक फायदे

By Suryaprakash Verma on Saturday 24 October 2015, 15:53 - Yoga & Spirituality

यह एक सच्ची कहानी है। एक दिन राहुल पार्क में योग कर रहा था। उसने देखा की एक बूढा व्यक्ति भी योग कर रहा है। कुछ समय के बाद राहुल थक गया योगासन करते करते। उसने योग सीखा था एक किताब से जो उसको उसके दादाजी ने दी थी। दादाजी बहुत सालों से योगाभ्यास करते थे और उसका बहुत लाभ भी उठा चुके थे। तो राहुल उनसे प्रेरित हो कर योगब्हस शुरू करने लगा। राहुल की उम्र कुछ १८ साल थी और वह एक स्कूल में पड़ता है। उसके स्कूल में वो सबसे शक्तिशाली बच्चों में से मन जाता था। लेकिन उसने जब इस बूढ़े व्यक्ति को योग करते देखा तो उसके पर्चाखे उड़ गए!

ताहुल को किताब में यह असं मिले, जिन्हें वो रोज़ अभ्यास करता था : 

भुजंगासन, उत्‍तानासन, त्रिकोणासन, पश्चिमोत्तानासन, बालासन

तभी उसने देखा की ये वृद्ध व्यक्ति जूच अलग ही प्रकार का योग कर रहा है। उसको यह देख के अश्कार्य हो गया। राहुल से अब रहा नहीं गया और वो भाग कर अपने घर गया और दादाजी की किताब उठा के ढूढने लगा की उसने क्या देखा आज। ध्यान से ढूँढने पे उससे पता चले की वह सूर्य नमस्कार कर रहा है। इससे देख के राहुल प्रेरित हो गया और किताब पढ़ के अपने आप को सूर्य नमस्कार सिखाने लगा। ज्यादा समय नहीं लगा इससे सीखने में। अगले दिन वो सूर्य नमस्कार का अभ्यास करने लगा लेकिन उसने देखा की वृद्ध व्यक्ति कुछ अलग ही तरह से अभ्यास कर रहा था सूर्य नमस्कार का। उसने जा के पुछा की आखिर आप सूर्य नमस्कार अलग तरह से क्यों कर रहे हो?

तो उस व्यक्ति ने कहा "सूर्य नमस्कार के फायदे तो बहुत हैं लेकिंग इससे सही तरह से करने से ही यह फायदे मिलते हैं" यह कहकर उसने राहुल को सही तरीके से सूर्य नमस्कार करने की विधी सिखाई। राहुल को देख कर अस्चर्य हो गया की सही तरह से सूर्य नमस्कार करने से उसको फायदे दिखने लगे अपने जीवन में। स्कूल में उसके मार्क्स बढ़ गए। वोह अपने स्कूल का सबसे गौरवशील और शक्तिशाली विध्यार्ती बन गया। यहाँ तक की उसको सभी अध्यापक भी प्रशंसा करने लगे! 

तो यह कहानी हमें सिखाती है सही तरह से अब्यास करने से योग के पूरे फायदे उठाये जा सकते हैं। गलत प्रकार से योग अभ्यास ना करें क्योंकि इसका गलत प्रभाव हो सकता है। इस कहानी से हम सब सीखते हैं किताब से न सीखें लेकिन एक शिक्षक की खोज करें! 

Thursday 22 October 2015

भगवान कृष्ण का इतिहास

By Suryaprakash Verma on Thursday 22 October 2015, 13:26 - Yoga & Spirituality

कृष्णा अपनी संश्लेषण के भीतर मनुष्य की आत्मा के सारे पहलुओं को बढ़ाने में अपनी सार्वभौमिकता में उपनिषदों दर्शन में धर्म प्रतिनिधित्व करता है। पश्चिमी उपनिषदों बुद्धिजीवियों गंगा के मैदानी इलाकों में वह जंगल विश्वविद्यालयों (आश्रम) की स्थापना कर रहे थे जब यह 4 सहस्राब्दी ई.पू., का अंत हो गया। उन भीष्म के दिनों Girivarya या राजगृह में जरासंध जैसा खूंखार रजा था जिसने हस्तिनापुर, द्रुपद यज्ञ शिवसेना, विदेशी आक्रमणों से परेचान्न कर दिया था। निष्कासित कर दिया आर्यों के आधिपत्य कैस्पियन सागर तक फैली हुई है।

(ग्रेटर भारत - Bharatavarsha)। भरत Khanda (उप-महाद्वीप) हालांकि आंतरिक कलह से ग्रस्त था। वे नस्लीय की तुलना में अधिक भ्रातृवध से संबंधित थे। घृणा, अहंकार, भावना और जलन कारण, सत्य और धर्म पर पूर्वता ले लिया है। पुजारियों द्वारा की सलाह दी योद्धा वर्ग मामलों के शीर्ष पर थे। Jarasandha और कंस की तरह अंधविश्वासी शासकों थे। शराब पीने और जुआ भी शामिल है जो सात सामाजिक बुराइयों (सप्त व्यास) व्यापक रूप से थे। मामलों की इस उलझन में राज्य में किया गया था, तो यदु के अंधेरे नायक दृश्य पर दिखाई दिया।

सभी के लिए वह यशोदा के युवा और आनंदमय उपद्रव और सौंदर्य और खुशी का एक शाश्वत बच्चा था। कुछ करने के लिए वह श्री कृष्ण हमें (कर्तव्यों) कर्मों का पता लगाने के लिए और जीवन की पहेली में महारत हासिल करने के लिए, बाहर काम करने के लिए चाहते थे और वह खुद कर्मयोगी थे।

उन्होंने कहा कि वीरता, पौरूष और पुण्य बहुत अच्छा लगा और किन्नरों के रूप में इन से रहित लोगों को बुलाया। हम पहले ऋग्वेद में उसके बारे में सुना है। उन्होंने कहा कि इंद्र का एक दानव, दुश्मन बताया गया था। हम बाद में एक  कबीले के सत्वाका के रूप में उसके बारे में सुना। उन्होंने कहा कि हथियार गदा एक विशेषज्ञ था जो नाम बलराम का था जो कृष्ण के बड़े भाई थे। बलराम भी कृषि के बढ़ते महत्व का संकेत हल के साथ एक आदमी के रूप में हमारे लिए परिचित है। नागा मुख्य अरायक की बेटी के पोते थे। वे बड़े भूमि की पटरियों और व्यापारिक समुदाय (वैश्य) के पेशे को चुना था, जो मवेशियों के झुंड के मालिक सरदार, वासुदेव के पुत्र थे।

वैसे कृष्ण के बारे में आप यह ब्लॉग भी पढ़ सकते हैं। यहाँ कृष्ण की अधभुत 30 लीलाएं दशाई गयी हैं। शायद पूरे इन्टरनेट पर यह सबसे अच्छे लेख हैं।

कृष्णा और इंद्र के बीच एक लड़ाई के बारे में बताया जाता है। हम यज्ञों में पशु और अन्य घरेलू पशुओं के बलिदान के बारे में उनकी अस्वीकृति के रूप में व्याख्या किया है। उन्होंने कहा कि एक देहाती और कृषि समुदाय के लिए पशु, पहाड़ों और जंगलों के महत्व के लोगों को राजी कर लिया। कालिया (पांच अध्यक्षता में) कोबरा को जीतने और उन्हें मारने के बिना यमुना के लिए अपनी पत्नियों के साथ कृष्ण की कहानी यही है। धाधुंध हत्या करने के साथ ही नाग की पूजा के लिए विरोध का प्रतीक है। कृष्णा यम के निवास के लिए जा रहे हैं और अपने गुरु सांदीपनी के मृत बेटे को लाने के लिए, जीवन में वापस, उसकी परंपरा बाद में भगवान मौत की, यम के रूप में तब्दील और  कुछ राजा को हराने के रूप में व्याख्या की जा सकती है। 

कृष्णा यज्ञों की गिरावट का कारण है और उनके साथ जुड़े अमानवीय और बेकार अनुष्ठानों की रफ्तार कम करने की कोशिश की। लोगों के जीवन के उनके विचार की सराहना की। कई अविश्वसनीय और सुपर मानव कहानियाँ एक आभारी लोगों द्वारा उसे दौर बुने जाते थे। हीरो पूजा यह किसी भी अच्छा करने के लिए हमें नहीं किया है उप-महाद्वीप के लोगों के साथ एक कमजोरी है। फिर भी यह है कि आज भी बेरोकटोक जारी है।

पोस्ट क्रिस्चन युग में भक्ति के रूप में जाना आराधना और भक्ति दुर्भाग्य से एक इंसान के रूप में उसे अध्ययन करने के लिए और अपने जीवन से लाभान्वित करने के लिए अवसर के लिए हमें वंचित किया है। नरकासुर, Pragjyotishapura के राजा और 16,000 अपहरण हुई महिलाओं की रिहाई पर कृष्णा की जीत का पुराणों बात करते हैं जिसे  क्रूर तानाशाह द्वारा बंदी बनाकर रखा गया था।

Friday 16 October 2015

Muslims can live in this country, but will have to give up eating beef, says Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar

By Suryaprakash Verma on Friday 16 October 2015, 20:42 - News

Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar seems to not understand how a secular country works. He said in a statement “Muslims can continue to live in this country, but they will have to give up eating beef” because “the cow is an article of faith here”. This kind of inflammatory statements when made by people in power can be very damaging to the very fabric of Bharat. Bharat is, after all a secular country where all are welcome to practice our own religion. Even in ancient times, everyone had the freedom to practice whatever for of worship that they chose. For example, it is mentioned in the puranas that "A person of faith may practice their faith by buildding his own diety (Ishta devata)."

This was very much a part of "Sanatan Dharma" or the Eternal law. Our politicians may be aping the west in trying to make unnecessary comments about core issues in the society. In USA for example, politicians are known to make inflamattory remarks and get into controversy for media attention. This trend must not be allowed to come to our Land Bharat. 

Now, consider what Donald Trump is saying in his campaign speeches for the upcoming US elections : "When Mexico sends its people, they are not sending their best. [...] They are sending people that have lots of problems. They are bringing those problems to us. They are bringing drugs and they are bringing crime and their rapists, and some are good people, and I speak to border guards and they tell us what we are getting."

In fact, in America yoga has become a big fashion. But will the american politicians insist on trying to de-secularize the issue. There was some noise about this last month when schools in California were sent to court for teaching yoga to their students:

A California judge has refused to block the teaching of yoga as part of a public school's physical fitness program, rejecting parents' claims that the classes were an unconstitutional promotion of Eastern religions.

Judge John Meyer acknowledged that yoga "at its roots is religious" but added that the modern practice of yoga, despite its origins in Hindu philosophy, is deeply ingrained in secular US society and "is a distinctly American cultural phenomenon."

So much so that some commercial agencies also tried to trademark yogasanas! Imagine the day when you have to pay someone to hold a certain pose. And these poses are being practiced by Hindus in Bharat for many centuries.

The relation between yoga and these political outburts is that if the politicians were truly adhereing to the values of Bharat which are the values of Union of the soul with the supereme soul, or yoga - then these kind of things would not happen. If someone wants to eat beef, what is the problem? It's not good for the human body, so they will suffer in any case. (Looks at how many diseases are present in the beef-eating countries)   

These politicians who are making these irresponsible statements should practice yog a everyday to cleanse their body and mind and be more in harmony with the world around them. Yoga teaches us to accept everyone and respect every person's path. Even in Bharat there are Aghoris who eat human meat but it is not considered bad as they are following their principles of Aghora sadhana. Bharata is a country of seekers and everyone should be able to seek in their own way.

और हमारे हिंदी पाठकों के लिए हिंदी में:

हरियाणा के मुख्यमंत्री मनोहर लाल खट्टर एक धर्मनिरपेक्ष देश कैसे काम करता है समझ में नहीं आ रहा है। उन्होंने कहा, "मुसलमानों को इस देश में रहने के लिए जारी रख सकते हैं, लेकिन वे गोमांस खाने के लिए छोड़ देना होगा" "गाय यहां विश्वास का एक लेख है" क्योंकि एक बयान में कहा। जब सत्ता में लोगों द्वारा किए गए भड़काऊ बयान की इस तरह भारत के बहुत कपड़े के लिए बहुत हानिकारक हो सकता है। भरत सब हमारे अपने धर्म का पालन करने के लिए स्वागत कर रहे हैं, जहां सभी एक धर्मनिरपेक्ष देश होने के बाद है। यहां तक कि प्राचीन समय में, हर किसी को वे चुना है कि पूजा के लिए जो कुछ भी अभ्यास करने के लिए स्वतंत्रता की थी। उदाहरण के लिए, यह "विश्वास की एक व्यक्ति अपने ही देवता (Ishta देवता) के निर्माण से अपने धर्म का पालन कर सकता है।" कि पुराणों में उल्लेख किया गया है

यह बहुत ज्यादा "सनातन धर्म" या अनन्त कानून का एक हिस्सा था। हमारे राजनेता समाज में महत्वपूर्ण मुद्दों के बारे में अनावश्यक टिप्पणियां बनाने की कोशिश में पश्चिम Aping जा सकता है। उदाहरण के लिए संयुक्त राज्य अमेरिका में, नेताओं के भड़काऊ टिप्पणी करने और मीडिया का ध्यान के लिए विवाद में शामिल होने के लिए जाना जाता है। यह प्रवृत्ति हमारे देश भारत में आने के लिए अनुमति नहीं दी जानी चाहिए।

अब, डोनाल्ड ट्रम्प आगामी अमेरिकी चुनाव के लिए अपने अभियान भाषणों में क्या कह रहा है विचार:। "मेक्सिको अपने लोगों को भेजता है, तो वे अपना सर्वश्रेष्ठ नहीं भेज रहे हैं [...] उन्होंने समस्याओं के बहुत सारे है कि लोगों को भेज रहे हैं वे ला रहे हैं। हमें उन समस्याओं। वे दवाओं ला रहे हैं और वे अपराध और उनके बलात्कारियों ला रहे हैं, और कुछ अच्छे लोग हैं, और मैं सीमा रक्षकों के लिए बोलते हैं और वे हम क्या कर रहे हैं हमें बताओ। "

वास्तव में, अमेरिका के योग में एक बड़े फैशन बन गया है। लेकिन अमेरिकी राजनेता इस मुद्दे को डी-secularize करने की कोशिश करने पर जोर होगा। कैलिफोर्निया में स्कूलों को अपने छात्रों को योग सिखाने के लिए अदालत में भेजा गया था जब यह पिछले महीने के बारे में कुछ शोर था:

एक कैलिफोर्निया न्यायाधीश कक्षाएं पूर्वी धर्मों का एक असंवैधानिक पदोन्नति थे कि माता-पिता के दावों को खारिज, एक पब्लिक स्कूल की शारीरिक फिटनेस कार्यक्रम के हिस्से के रूप में योग की शिक्षा देने के ब्लॉक करने के लिए मना कर दिया है।

न्यायाधीश जॉन मेयर योग "अपनी जड़ों से धार्मिक है कि" स्वीकार किया लेकिन योग के आधुनिक अभ्यास, हिंदू दर्शन में अपने मूल के बावजूद, धर्मनिरपेक्ष अमेरिकी समाज में गहरे बैठ गया है और कहा कि "एक साफ़ अमेरिकी सांस्कृतिक घटना है।"

इतना तो है कि कुछ वाणिज्यिक एजेंसियों को भी योगासन जैसा ट्रेडमार्क की कोशिश की! आप एक निश्चित मुद्रा धारण करने के लिए किसी को देने के लिए है जब दिन की कल्पना कीजिए। और ये बन गया है कई सदियों से भारत में हिंदुओं द्वारा अभ्यास किया जा रहा है।

उसके बाद इन चीजों की तरह नहीं होगा - योग और इन राजनीतिक गतिविधियों के बीच संबंध राजनेताओं को सही मायने में supereme आत्मा, या योग के साथ आत्मा के संघ के मान रहे हैं, जो भारत के मूल्यों का पालन रहे थे कि यदि है। किसी को गोमांस खाने के लिए करना चाहता है, तो समस्या क्या है? वे किसी भी मामले में भुगतना होगा, तो यह मानव शरीर के लिए अच्छा नहीं है। (गोमांस खाने वाले देशों में मौजूद हैं कितने रोगों पर दिखता है)

इन गैर जिम्मेदाराना बयान कर रहे हैं, जो इन नेताओं को अपने शरीर और मन को शुद्ध और उन्हें चारों ओर दुनिया के साथ सद्भाव में अधिक होने के लिए योग एक हर रोज अभ्यास करना चाहिए। योग हर किसी को स्वीकार करते हैं और हर व्यक्ति के पथ का सम्मान करने के लिए हमें सिखाता है। यहां तक कि भारत में मानव मांस खाने वाले अघोर हैं, लेकिन वे अघोर साधना के अपने सिद्धांतों का पालन कर रहे हैं के रूप में इसे बुरा नहीं माना जाता है। भरत चाहने वालों का देश है और हर कोई अपने तरीके से तलाश करने में सक्षम होना चाहिए।

Monday 12 October 2015

Magic of Navratri

By Suryaprakash Verma on Monday 12 October 2015, 10:50 - Culture

The Navratri festival is dedicated to Durga, the mother goddess who also represents power. Durga annihilated the demon Mahishasura after a relentless battle lasting nine days and nights. Navaratri is a festival in which God is adored as Mother. It is said that Shiva gave permission to Durga to see her mother for nine days in the year and this festival also remembers this visit. Families make an attempt to return home on these days, and leave on the tenth. Hinduism is the only religion in the world which has emphasised to such an extent the motherhood of God.

To celebrate a good harvest and to propitiate the nine planets, women also plant nine different kinds of food grain seeds in small containers during these nine days and then offer the young saplings to the goddess. During Navaratri, some devotees of Durga observe a fast and prayers are offered for the protection of health and property. A period of introspection and purification, Navaratri is traditionally an auspicious time for starting new ventures. Navaratri is celebrated by communities getting together for dances and nightly feasts.

In India, the most colourful and elaborate celebrations take part in Bengal, where huge idols of the goddess are worshipped. The flame symbolises everlasting divine power whilst the fluid water is transitory. Feasts of great variety and delicacy are offered to guests and family during the nine days. For women, Navaratri is a time for shopping for new clothes and new pots. It is an auspicious time to buy gold or jewellery and the gold markets are open late each night. Women dress elaborately each day for the puja or rituals and nightly dances. Another part of the puja may involve designing puja-thalis or aartis which are decorated plates in honour of the mother goddess, Amba (Ambika).

The tenth day of the festival is called Dussera, and marks the triumph of good over evil, and also the motherhood of God. Durga Puja is particularly important for Hindus in Bengal. After having worshipped her for nine days, her image is taken to the streets in a procession and there is much celebration and dancing. To mark Durga leaving her mother after the nine day visit, her image is cast into water. In northern parts of India, Hindus also celebrate Rama's victory over Ravana during this time. This festival is called Dussera. The ten days represent the ten heads of Ravana, and each day is used by Hindus to get rid of bad characteristics, such as lust and jealousy. The tenth day is known as the Day of Victory.

दुर्गा देवी माँ

त्योहार दुर्गा, भी शक्ति का प्रतिनिधित्व करता है जो देवी माँ को समर्पित है। दुर्गा के नौ दिन और रात तक चलने वाले एक अथक लड़ाई के बाद राक्षस महिषासुर सत्यानाश कर डाला।

नवरात्रि भगवान को माँ के रूप में पूजने का एक त्योहार है। यह शिव नौ साल में दिन और इस त्योहार भी इस यात्रा को याद करते हैं के लिए उसकी मां को देखने के लिए दुर्गा को अनुमति दे दी है कि कहा जाता है। परिवार इन दिनों पर घर लौटने के लिए, और दसवें पर छोड़ने के लिए एक प्रयास कर।

हिंदू धर्म में इस हद तक भगवान के मातृत्व पर जोर दिया गया है, जो दुनिया में एक ही धर्म है।एक अच्छी फसल का जश्न मनाने और नौ ग्रहों संतुष्ट करना, महिलाओं को भी इन नौ दिनों के दौरान छोटे कंटेनरों में खाद्यान्न बीज के नौ विभिन्न प्रकार के पौधे और फिर देवी के लिए युवा पौधे प्रदान करते हैं।नवरात्रि के दौरान दुर्गा के कुछ श्रद्धालुओं एक उपवास और प्रार्थना स्वास्थ्य और संपत्ति की सुरक्षा के लिए पेशकश कर रहे हैं। आत्मनिरीक्षण और शुद्धि की अवधि, नवरात्रि परंपरागत रूप से नए उद्यम शुरू करने के लिए एक शुभ समय है। नवरात्रि नृत्य और रात को दावतें के लिए एक साथ हो रही समुदायों द्वारा मनाया जाता है। भारत में सबसे रंगीन और विस्तृत समारोह देवी की विशाल मूर्तियों की पूजा की जाती है, जहां बंगाल में भाग लेते हैं। गुजरात पानी या एक दीपक के साथ मिट्टी के बर्तन चित्रित में अंदर देवी की शक्ति का प्रतीक है। तरल पदार्थ पानी क्षणभंगुर है, जबकि लौ अनन्त दिव्य शक्ति का प्रतीक है। महान विविधता और विनम्रता की दावतें नौ दिनों के दौरान मेहमानों और परिवार को देने की पेशकश कर रहे हैं।

महिलाओं के लिए, नवरात्रि नए कपड़े और नए बर्तन के लिए खरीदारी के लिए समय है। यह सोना या आभूषण और सोने के बाजार देर से प्रत्येक रात खुले हैं खरीदने के लिए एक शुभ समय है। महिलाओं को पूजा या अनुष्ठान और रात को नृत्य के लिए प्रत्येक दिन अलंकृत पोशाक। पूजा का एक अन्य भाग देवी माँ, अंबा (अंबिका) के सम्मान में प्लेटें सजाया जाता है, जो पूजा-थाली या आरती डिजाइनिंग शामिल हो सकता है। उत्सव के दसवें दिन दशहरा कहा जाता है, और बुराई पर अच्छाई की विजय का प्रतीक है, और परमेश्वर की भी मातृत्व है। दुर्गा पूजा बंगाल में हिंदुओं के लिए विशेष रूप से महत्वपूर्ण है। नौ दिनों के लिए उसे पूजा की होने के बाद, उसकी छवि एक जुलूस के रूप में सड़कों के लिए ले जाया जाता है और ज्यादा उत्सव और नृत्य नहीं है। नौ दिन की यात्रा के बाद उसकी माँ छोड़ने दुर्गा को चिह्नित करने के लिए, उसकी छवि को पानी में डाला जाता है।

भारत के उत्तरी भागों में हिन्दुओं भी इस समय के दौरान रावण पर राम की जीत का जश्न मनाने। इस त्योहार दशहरा कहा जाता है। दस दिन रावण के दस सिर का प्रतिनिधित्व करते हैं, और प्रत्येक दिन इस तरह की वासना और ईर्ष्या के रूप में बुरा विशेषताओं, से छुटकारा पाने के लिए हिंदुओं द्वारा प्रयोग किया जाता है। दसवें दिन विजय दिवस के रूप में जाना जाता है।

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