Genes link Australia with India

SYDNEY: People from the Indian sub-continent migrated to Australia and mixed with Aborigines 4,000 years ago, bringing the dingo dog with them, according to a study published on Tuesday.

The continent was thought to have been isolated from other populations until Europeans landed at the end of the 1700s.

But researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig, Germany, reported "evidence of substantial gene flow between Indian populations and Australia about 4,000 years ago".

They analysed genetic variation from across the genome from Australian Aborigines, New Guineans, Southeast Asians, and Indians.

"Long before Europeans settled in Australia humans had migrated from the Indian subcontinent to Australia and mixed with Australian Aborigines," the study said.

It found "substantial gene flow from India to Australia 4,230 years ago ie... well before European contact," it said.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/science/Genes-link-Australia-with-India-Indians-broke-Australian-isolation-study-says/articleshow/18029070.cms

Lord Rama myth or truth - Observation Points

 

1. Ramayan was written by Valmiki, who also took care of Luva, Kusha and Sita; so it can be aptly called Rama's biography.

2. All the places mentioned in Ramayan, like Ayodhya, Kishkindhya, Lanka are traceable, with unique identity. So it lends credibility

3. Bharata's journey from Kekaya (now in around Pak) to Ayodhya (UP) is mentioned as crossing 3-4 rivers, in the sequence they are today geographically.

4. Saraswati river is mentioned, which vanished 4500 years ago. So Ramayana is at least 5000 years old.

5. Several events (including Rama's birth, Bharata's birth, Rama's coronation, Vali badha, Hanumana finding Sita in Lanka, Army march, Meghanada badha) have been described with the star-pattern in sky at that time. Putting that in "Planetariam" software, gives exact date and time of those events.

6. Rama's birth date comes out as 10 January 5114 BC. Bharata's date comes as 11 Jan 5114. Ramayana mentions Bharata was born 16 hours after Rama.

7. Rama's coronation date comes out as 4 Jan 5089 BC. Ramayana mentions Rama was 25 years old while being coronated. Again, consistent.

8. Khar-Dushana episode describes a solar eclipse and Hanuman finding Sita accompanied a lunar eclipse; both dates consistent.

9. Now (in 2008) Rama Navami occurs at 21 April, adrift 100 days from 10 Jan. It is consistent with motion of equinox which leads to 1 day adjustment in 72 years, so 100 days in 7200 years.

10. There is literary, geographical, astronomical and local legends around the places mentioned, all supporting Ramayana as history and not mythology.  Archaeology is the only thing missing.

11. After 7000 years, easier to find archeological evidence in sea, than land, like Dwaraka was discovered as underwater city.

12. The setu was called Nala setu, later called Rama setu, before muslims and euopians called it Adam Bridge.

13. The construction of the setu is described in great detail. Linear construction. Length 100 yojanas. 1:10 breadth-length ratio. First woods/trees on rock bed, then rocks , etc. Moving aside the accumulated sand, we may get to the wood region, probably carbonated now (can give accurate date).

14. Many kings on both lanka and indian side were called Setupati or similar names. Many coins on kingdoms of both sides have "setu" written on it.

15. Al-Biruni describes the places like Kishkindhya in his book. Marcopolo mentions Ramasetu.

16. Madras presidency manual 1902 mentions that Ramasetu was used as foot bridge till 1480, when a storm destroyed it.

17. NASA satellite images show the possible outline of this underwater bridge

18. Today this waterway is on average 2 meter below water. It should be 1 meter above water originally. Oceanography tells, roughly 9 ft rise in sealevel in 7000 years.

Sati - Does woman die on husband's pyre?

Sati actually means a pious woman.... i.e. Pati-Vrata Nari

Some people are give fake translations from atharva veda by saying that, 3. A virtuous woman is one who dies on the funeral pyre of her dead husband and avails the privilege of serving her husband in the other world. (Atharva Veda 18-3-1)

Here is fact

Atharva veda - 18-3-1
Eeyam Naari Patilokam Vranana ni padyatt oop tva matarya pretam
dharmam puranmanupalyanti tasyai prajam dravidam ceh dehi

yeh naari patikul ke hith ki abhilasha karti hui swadharm ka nirvah karne hetu aayi hai. Dharma mei neerat iss naari ke liye sansaar mei putra, pautradi tatha dhan-sampada pradan kare.

The meaning of this shloka is that once a husband dies, his wife is considered as the owner of his family and wealth. No one it states that a wife should be burnt of a husband's pyre !!

uddisharva naaryabhi jeevlokam gatasumetmup shesh ehi
hastagrabhasya didhishostvedam patyurjanitvambhi sam babhoot

Oh woman, ur husband has already died and now u must give up the attachment. Leave his body and now walk towards the worldly affairs , i.e. ur family. Your beloved ones i.e. ur children and ur grandchildren will protect u after the demise of ur husband. Stay near them only.

This shows that a woman should give up the attachment she had with the body of her husband, who is now dead and she would stay under the protection of her children, who're a part of her family.

apyasham yuvatim neeyamanaam jeevaam mretebhaya parineeyamaanaam
andhen yat tamsa pravartaseet prakto apachimanayam datenaam

 
We've seen the young woman who was following the funeral of her dead husband towards the graveyard, she turned back towards her home. This woman was deeply disturbed by the darkness of the grief. 

this shloka shows that women used to take part in the final rites of her husband. All these shlokas show that there is no mention of sati pratha in atharva veda, and on the contrary, they support the life of the wife after her husband's demise.

However, when the muslim invaders started looting India... they, killed millions of innocent Hindus. looted their homes, shops and temples.. These  Muslim invaders used to kidnap Hindu woman to rape  and keep them in their harem....and to save their honour, the women preferred to be killed. Often the Hindu rulers, died with their army, and their women committed Sati, to save their honour....

These lusty invaders, never even spared the corpses of dead hindu women to satisfy their lust and hence, the Hindu women preferred to burn their bodies, rather than let these muslim invaders get their corpses. Hence, this practice was started and later on unfortunately, it was attached to religion.... by some ignorant people and became mandatory.

Chanting mantras or stotras can lead to tremendous universal benefit

Chant and reap the benefits!

Chanting the below mantras/stotras can lead to tremendous universal benefit, below are few

1) Gayatri mantra - As Brahmins it is our natural duty to our community and society at large to chant this inestimable source of all power and prosperity. Chant it 108 times (if not, at least 21 times) in the morning and evening. Preferably offer water to the Sun while chanting.

2) Aditya Hridayam - This is an excellent prayer for the eradication of all health issues, boosts self confidence, energy and leads to all sucess in war. It was advised by Sage Agastya to a depressed Shri Rama who chanted it 3 times just before killing Ravana in battle.

3) Vishnu Sahasranama - This is a great source of curative powers. Chanting this stotra will lead to mental peace, prosperity and wisdom, as well as worldly benefits. Shankaracharya, Ramanuja, Madhva and many other scholars belonging to differing sects, have all extolled this stotra.

4) Hanuman Chalisa - The benefits of this short prayer are truly great. It gives great confidence, self belief, energy and gives relief from pain

5) Any chapter from the Bhagavad Gita daily - This will also give great energy, as well as helps us find more meaning in life.

6) If you chant it for one mandalam-48 days your wishes will come true.But your wishes should be a good one..

7) the Rudram from Krishna Yejur Veda!!!! Sage Yajnavalkya said that chanting this daily gives both material as well as spiritual ascension!!!!

Chant them daily, for 41 days together, and you would have seen massive positive changes in your life.

Why should we go to temple??

I heard from many people that "if god is in our hearts then what is the need for going to temple for praying and worship???"

So my Point is , there is absolute need of going to temples and other holy places, let's take a very simple example, " We go to university for studies, even though for the same subject all the books, software's are available at market, we can buy them or just download them form internet, but still we go, Why ??? because there we have special persons to guide us, have atmosphere to learn more effectively and most importantly only university has power to grant you degree as a result of your work." similarly for devotional service temples and other holy places are like universities going there and having associations of devotees will improve our knowledge and love for our dear lord and will make us eligible to gain the degree of love and devotion. Also to keep healthy body we go to gym, visit doctors regularly for healthy tips similarly it is also necessary to go to temples and get association of devotees to get tips to keep our soul/thinking/thought process healthy. as all the great sages, people, scriptures repeatedly said " Human is nothing but the man of his thoughts" or " you become what you think of yourself" so healthy thought process is absolutely essential for a healthy life and healthy thoughts comes from a healthy mind, mind is healthy when given right association and knowledge and right association is association of a learned soul a mahatma who have devoted himself in service of humanity.. right association is association of scriptures who define life and guides us towards living a valuable life.. As doctors are found in clinic and scientists are found in lab, similarly These learned soul and teachings of scriptures are found in resident of god i.e. Temple

"Temples are more like a recharge centres for high spiritual energy (attain/ sustain) to put in simple terms"

Ganeshotsav in Trinidad and Tobago

GANESH Utsav, an Indian festival brought to Trinidad and Tobago by indentured labourers more than 150 years ago, was this week celebrated by Hindus throughout the country.

The ten-day worship to Lord Ganesh, remover of obstacles, culminated with a procession, where Ganesh murtis were immersed in the sea yesterday.

Hindus sang praised to Lord Ganesh, the elephant-headed God, as they walked to the water courses and coasts from daybreak.
The procession was held in St Margaret's, Claxton Bay, Debe, Penal, South Oropouche and other communities.

The event followed nights of worship, conducted at mandirs across the country.

Pundit Khemraj Vyas, secretary of the pundit purshard, said Lord Ganesh was one of the manifestations of divinity. "Hinduism preaches that there is only one God and this God takes on many different forms front time to time. Ganesh is one such form. His birth is described as taking place in this particular month," he said.
Vyas said Hindus observe the birth of Lord Ganesh with a ten-day festival. 

He said a murti of the Hindu God is made out of clay and ceremonies are performed. He said offering are made to the murti, including water, coconut and flowers as devotees wave the sacred light (aarti). 
"Hindus perceive (Lord Ganesh) as the remover of obstacles and the Lord of beginnings. The worship of Lord Ganesh is very important," he said.

The Hindu festival season begins with Ganesh Utsav and will continue with Pitri Paksha, a period during which offerings are made to the soul of departed ancestors. When Pitri Paksha ends, the festival of Ram Leela would be celebrated and would be followed by Divali, the Festival of Lights.

Courtesy : http://hindu-news.blogspot.in/2013/10/ganeshotsav-in-trinidad-and-tobago.html

Maharishi Mahesh Yogi

Maharishi Mahesh Yogi (born January 12, 1917), the founder of the Transcendental Meditation program, has inspired numerous schools, colleges, universities, health-care facilities, Peace Palaces, and Invincibility centers that bear his name. In approximately 1939 Maharishi became a disciple of Swami Brahmananda Saraswati, who, from 1941 to 1953, was the Shankaracharya (spiritual leader) of Jyotir Math, which is located in the Indian Himalayas. Maharishi credits him with inspiring his teachings. Since his first global tour in 1958, Maharishi's techniques for human development have been taught to millions of people around the world, and he continues to focus on systematically re-enlivening all aspects of the Vedic Literature for public use. Since 1990 Maharishi has coordinated his global activities from his residence in the town of Vlodrop in the municipality of Roerdalen in the Netherlands

Early life

Maharishi (Great Sage or Great Seer) was born to a Hindu family living in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, India. Born Mahesh Prasad Varma, he earned the equivalent of a master's degree[citation needed] in physics at Allahabad University.
In 1941, having completed his studies, Maharishi became a secretary to the Hindu Swami Brahmananda Saraswati, the Shankaracharya of Jyotirmath, who gave him the name Bal Brahmacharya Mahesh. He remained with Brahmananda Saraswati until the latter passed away in 1953. Describing his first meeting with his Master, Maharishi said: "As a thirsty man arrives at a well, so I arrived at the feet of my Master. The quest of a perfect Master was there. The first sight of his personality was enough to make me surrender at his feet." In 1953, Maharishi retired into silence for approximately two years in Uttarkashi, a valley in the Himalayas known as the Valley of the Saints, where his own Master had lived in previous decades with his Master, Swami Krishanand Saraswati. In 1955, Maharishi left Uttarkashi, possessed of the knowledge of life bestowed on him by his Master. Maharishi later recalled his deep concern about the two apparent divergent realities of life. He noted the exalted quality of Indian Vedic Literature that depicts all life as bliss, and compared that reality to the suffering humanity endures. He felt that “there was no reason why there should be a gap, because it's so simple for the individual to be on that level of universality and immortality…. This was the natural feeling that was deep in my mind, that something should be done so that people don't suffer."
In 1955, Maharishi began publicly teaching what he states is a traditional meditation technique that he later renamed Transcendental Meditation. The Spiritual Regeneration Movement, the first of many organizations he founded, began in 1957, in Madras, India, on the concluding day of the Seminar of Spiritiual Luminaries. By 1958, Maharishi had begun the first of many worldwide tours.

Transcendental Meditation technique

According to the official Transcendental Meditation website, Maharishi's Transcendental Meditation program has been taught worldwide to over 5 million people. Practising Transcendental Meditation involves the use of a mantra, or sound, and the proper technique of how to use it. Some TM practitioners report that during the practice their mind becomes very alert but their body receives deep rest, and these effects continue afterward. Maharishi calls this state "Transcendental Consciousness" or restful alertness. He says that mantras come from the age-old Vedic Tradition, and are sounds designed as vehicles for the mind to settle down to the quieter states of awareness at its finer levels. It is practised for 20 minutes, twice a day, while sitting in a relaxed but upright posture with eyes closed. Certain studies have shown that Transcendental Meditation and other meditation techniques can lower blood pressure, heart rate, and other physiological measures. (Psychosomatic Medicine 46: 267–276, 1984; American Psychologist 42: 879–881, 1987; Hypertension 26: 820–827, 1995; Journal of Human Stress 5: 24-27, 1979.)

World Tours and expansion of teachings

World tours begin

The first stop of the first world tour was in Rangoon, Burma, now Myanmar, on the Bodhipurnima day. The following day Maharishi was met by an aged Buddhist monk along with his disciples, who had all come to seek his blessings. For over a year the monk had been predicting the arrival of a great yogi from the Himalayas on the Bodhipurnima day. Maharishi remained for about six months in countries of the Far East, teaching Transcendental Meditation to all areas of society.
On the last day of 1958, the Honolulu Star Bulletin published an article about Maharishi saying: "He has no money, he asks for nothing. His worldly possessions can be carried in one hand. Maharishi Mahesh Yogi is on a world odyssey. He carries a message that he says will rid the world of all unhappiness and discontent."
In 1959, Maharishi gave his first instructions in the Transcendental Meditation technique on U.S. soil on the islands of Hawaii. During the 1960s and early 1970s practitioners of the technique became seen as part of the then current "counter-culture" phenomenon, at which time a number of celebrities learned the technique. Celebrity students at that time included The Beatles, the Beach Boys, (including singer Mike Love, who became a TM teacher) and singer-songwriter Donovan, who befriended Maharishi and put his picture on the back cover of his A Gift from a Flower to a Garden album. Comedian Andy Kaufman and magician Doug Henning were also students of Maharishi, while Clint Eastwood and David Lynch are two notable directors who have practiced the Transcendental Meditation technique. Lynch is currently involved in an effort to raise $7 billion to teach the technique to all students in the USA, via his David Lynch Foundation.