Literary Vibes - Edition CXII - ANECDOTES & YOUNG MAGIC
Title : New Dawn (Picture courtesy Ms. Latha Prem Sakya)
(Symbolic of Aurora, the Goddess of Dawn heralding a young Sun)
Table of Contents :: ANECDOTES
01) Dr. Ramesh Chandra Panda
GLIMPSES OF OUR HERITAGE – ORIGIN OF SHAKTI PEETHAS
02) Dr .Gangadhar Sahoo
THE THUNDEROUS STORMY NIGHT
03) Dr Prasanna Kumar Sahoo
THE COURT TRIAL
04) Prof (Dr) Viyatprajna Acharya
DELUDED MEDICOS
05) Gourang Charan Roul
KANYAKUMARI REVISITED
06) Nitish Barik
A LEAF FROM HISTORY, PAST AND PRESENT
07) Satish Pashine
SHRI JAGANNATH TEMPLE OF PURI
MY THOUGHTS ON YAMA & NIYAMA
BITCOIN FOR ROOKIES!
08) Madhumathi. H
ALL IN JUST THAT MICRO SECOND OF A SMILE...
09) Dr. S. Padmapriya
MY FATHER, WHO WAS NOT THERE
YOUNG MAGIC
01) Tanvisha Padhi
THE NIGHT IS VERY SHY
02) Hiya Khurana
THE DAWN OF A FISHY LIFE
03) Trishna Sahoo
MY GRAND PARENTS:
GLIMPSES OF OUR HERITAGE – ORIGIN OF SHAKTI PEETHAS
Dr. Ramesh Chandra Panda
The Hindu tradition describes Shakti Peetha (Sanskrit: ????? ???, ?akti P??ha, seat of Shakti) which are the pilgrimage destinations for the goddess-focused Shakti worship.Various legends explain how the Shakti Peetha came into existence. The most popular is based on the story of the death of the Goddess Sati. Out of grief and sorrow, Shiva carried Sati's body, reminiscing about their moments as a couple, and roamed around the universe with it. Vishnu using his Sudarshana Chakra had cut her body into 51 body parts, which fell on earth to become sacred sites where all the people can pay homage to the Goddess. There are 51 Shakti peethas by various accounts, of which 18 are named as Maha (major) in medieval Hindu texts. Most of these historic places of goddess worship are in India, but there are seven in Bangladesh, three in Pakistan, three in Nepal, and one each in Tibet and Sri Lanka. There were many legends in ancient and modern religious sources which document these legends. A consensus view on the number and location of the precise sites where Sati's corpse fell is lacking, although certain sites are well-revered than others.
First relating to Brahmanda Purana, one of the major eighteen Puranas, it mentions 64 Shakti Peetha in Bharat or Greater India including present-day India, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, some parts of Southern Tibet in China and parts of southern Pakistan. Shakti Peetha Stotram written by Adi Shankara gives a list of these shrines. According to the manuscript Mahapitha purana (c. 1690–1720 CE), there are 52 such places. Among them, 23 are located in the Bengal region, 14 of these are located in what is now West Bengal, one in Baster (Chhattisgarh), while 7 are in Bangladesh. Rishi Markandeya composed the 'Devi Saptashati' or the seven hundred hymns extolling the virtues of the divine Goddess at the shakti peetha in Nashik. The idol is also leaning a little to the left to listen to the sage's composition. The Saptashati or the "Durga Stuti" forms an integral part in the Vedic form of Shakti worship.
According to legend, Lord Brahma had performed a yagna (Vedic ritual of fire sacrifice) to please Shakti and Shiva to aid in the creation of the universe. As a result, Goddess Shakti separated from Shiva and emerged to help Brahma. Once her purpose was fulfilled, Shakti had to be returned to Shiva. In time, Brahma's son Daksha performed several yajnas to obtain Shakti as his daughter in the form of Sati, with the motive of marrying her to Lord Vishnu. Daksha performed a yajna with a desire to take revenge on Lord Shiva. Daksha invited all the deities to the yajna, except Shiva and Sati. Sadhguru narrates the story in the most touching manner of how Sati burnt herself up in the ceremonial fire after her father insulted Shiva.
Sadhguru:
“ In the yogic lore, the story goes that Shiva started moving from stillness to dance and dance to stillness. Everyone else, the gandharvas, the yakshas, the devas of all the three worlds began watching him in fascination and intrigue. They enjoyed this absolute movement and utter stillness but they did not have a clue about the nature of his experience. They wanted to have a taste of this.
From intrigue they moved to interest. From interest they tried to get a little closer to him, but they could not withstand the intensity of his dance or the intensity of his stillness. They began to plan and plot how they could get a handle on this experience that he was going through. They called for a conference, which slowly turned into a conspiracy. They decided to somehow get him married. “We must have somebody from our side who will be able to tell us what is the basis of such ecstatic experience, of such exuberance, and at the same time, such deathlike stillness. He seems to be enjoying both. We need an inside person.”
Many things happened – I will not go into the whole detail of conspiracy, because it is a very large conspiracy. If you want an inside view of Shiva, it needs a tremendous conspiracy, which they planned and plotted and executed. So they got Shiva married to Sati. He yielded and he got completely involved and became absolutely passionate about her.
Sati’s father insults Shiva: He allowed Sati to become a part of his life. But Sati’s father Daksha hated Shiva, his son-in-law because Shiva is not a king, he does not dress well, he is smeared with ashes, he eats out of a human skull, all his friends are all kinds of demons and goblins and demented beings. He is always either in meditation or intoxication. Either he is with eyes closed or he is in a mad dance. This is not a son-in-law to be proud of or to be seen around with. Sometime later Daksha wanted to perform a great ritual for which he invited every king, every god and every yaksha. But he did not invite Shiva. Shiva and Sati were sitting in the forest and out of her love; Sati was trying to feed him with the fruits from the forest because that is all they ate. They had no home or proper arrangements for cooking, so they just ate fruits and whatever else that came as offerings.
Then she saw a lot of traffic, the finest of chariots, all the Kings, Gods and Goddesses going somewhere fully decked up. Then she asked Shiva, “What is this? Where is everyone going?” Shiva said, “It does not matter. We do not need to go where they are going.” But she got very excited. “Where is everybody going? See how they are dressed. What is happening?” He said, “Do not bother, we are fine here. Are you unhappy? No. You are happy. Do not worry about them.” Because he knows what is happening. But her curiosity and feminine excitement would not allow her to just sit there and enjoy the fruits of the tree. She walked on and stopped one of the chariots and asked them, “Where are you all going?” They said, “Don’t you know? Your father is holding a huge yagna – a sacrifice – and he has invited all of us. Are you not coming?” She felt totally lost when she came to know that she and her husband have not been invited. She felt disgraced. She thought this is not fair to Shiva. She told Shiva, “I am going to my father. Why did he do this?” Shiva said, “It does not matter to me. Why are you getting worked up? We are fine here. Why should we go to his sacrifice?”
But she was so stung by this insult of not being invited. She said, “No, I have to go. There must be a mistake. Maybe the invitation was lost. It cannot be. How can they not invite you and me? I am his daughter. There must be some mistake. I am sure he would not do this. My father is not like that.” Shiva said, “Don’t go.” But she would not listen and she went.
Sati burns herself in the ceremonial fire
When she went to the ritual, she found all her cousin sisters and everybody who was somebody was there, fully decked up. But she had come in her simple clothes in which she lived in the mountains. So people mocked and laughed at her. They asked, “Where is your ash-smeared man? Where is that man who has not combed his hair for who knows how long?” She ignored all that and went in to meet her father, still believing that it must be a mistake. When she found him, Daksha was furious. But she asked, “How can you not invite Shiva?” Then Daksha abused Shiva in every possible way and he said, “I will never have him stepping into my house. ” She was so crestfallen. The sacrificial fire was on. She just walked into it and burnt herself. Nandi and a few others who had followed her, when they saw this happen, they were so terrified that they came running back to Shiva and told him that Sati burnt herself in the sacrificial fire because she was insulted by Daksha.
Shiva creates Veerabhadra
Shiva sat in stillness for a certain period of time. Then he became fire. He just rose in fury. Shiva plucked a strand of his matted hair and hit it upon the rock that was next to him and produced a very powerful being whose name was Veerabhadra. He told Veerabhadra, “Go destroy the sacrifice. Nobody should get anything out of it, including Daksha. Anybody and everybody who is involved in this sacrifice, go destroy them.” Veerabhadra went in full fury and just laid the sacrifice to waste, slaughtered anybody and everybody who came in his way, and above all, impaled Daksha.
The Birth of the Shakti Sthalas
Then Shiva came, picked up the half burnt body of Sati and his grief was simply beyond words. He put her upon his shoulder and walked. He walked in great fury and grief. He would not keep the body down nor would he let the flames consume her body or give her a burial. He just walked on. Enraged at the insult and death of his spouse, Shiva in his Virabhadra avatar destroyed Daksha's yajna and cut off his head. His anger not abated and immersed in grief, Shiva then picked up the remains of Sati's body and performed the Tandava, the celestial dance of destruction, across all creation. Frightened, the other Gods requested Vishnu to intervene to stop this destruction. As recourse, Vishnu used the Sudarshana Chakra on Sati's corpse. This caused various parts of Sati's body to fall at several spots across the world. As he walked on, Sati’s body became many parts and fell down in 54 different places. These 54 places came up as Shakti Sthalas. As every part of her body fell, one quality of the Shakti was established there. These are the main Devi temples in India. Three of them are supposed to be secret and nobody knows where they are except a few people, but 51 are known to people
The history of Daksha yajna and Sati's self-immolation had immense significance in shaping the ancient Sanskrit literature and influenced Indian culture. It is an important incident in both Shaivism and Shaktism, and marks the replacement of Sati with Parvati, and of the beginning of Shiva's house-holder life from an ascetic. This event is ahead of the emergence of both Kartikeya and Ganesha. Each of the places on earth where Sati's body parts were known to have fallen were then considered as Sakti Peethas and were deemed places of great spiritual import. Several stories in the Puranas and other Hindu religious scriptures refer to the Daksha yajna. Each temple has shrines for Shakti and Kalabhairava, and most Shakti and Kalabhairava in different Shakti Peeth have different names.
Some of the great religious texts like the Shiva Purana, the Devi Bhagavata, the Kalika Purana, the Asta Shakti, and Pithanirnaya Tantra recognize four major sakti Peethas (centers) which represent respectively the parts (Khandas) foot (Pada), breasts (Stana), genitals (Yoni), and face (Mukha) of the body of Maata Sati. Those are (1)Bimala Temple (Pada Khanda) inside the Jagannath Temple of Puri, Odisha; (2) Tara Tarini (Sthana Khanda), near Berhampur, Odisha; (3) Kamakhya Temple (Yoni Khanda), in Guwahati, Assam; and (4) Dakshina Kalika (Mukha Khanda) in Kolkata, West Bengal,
The Ashtashakti and Kalika Purana narrate in Sanskrit as follows: :
"Bimala Pada khandancha,
Stana khandancha Tarini (Tara Tarini),
Kamakhya Yoni khandancha,
Mukha khandancha Kalika (Dakshina Kalika)
Anga pratyanga sanghena
Vishnu Chakra Kshyta nacha"
Further explaining the importance of these four Pithas, the "Brihat Samhita" also gives the location of these Pithas as (in Sanskrit)
"Rushikulya Tatae Devi,
Tarakashya Mahagiri,
Tashya Srunga Stitha Tara
Vasishta Rajitapara"
(Rushikulya is a holy river flowing on the foothill of the Tara Tarini hill shrine). Apart from these 4 there are 48 other famous Peethas recognized by religious texts. According to the Pithanirnaya Tantra the 51 peethas are located in countries of India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, Tibet, Bhutan and Pakistan. The Shivacharita besides listing 51 maha-peethas, speaks about 26 more upa-peethas. The Bengali almanac Vishuddha Siddhanta Panjika describe 51 peethas including the present modified addresses. A few of the several accepted listings are given below. One of the few in South India, Srisailam
The modern cities or towns that correspond to these 64 locations can be a matter of dispute, but there are a few that are totally unambiguous. These are mentioned in the Ashta Dasa Shakti Peetha Stotram contains 18 such locations which are often referred to as Most Popular Shakti Peethas. Among these, the Shakti Peethas at Kamakhya, Gaya and Ujjain are regarded as the most sacred as they symbolize the three most important aspects of the Mother Goddess viz. Creation (Kamarupa Devi), Nourishment (Sarvamangala Devi/Mangalagauri), and Annihilation (Mahakali Devi).
There are many temples not recognised as the Shakti Peethas, but for various reasons still claimed by the followers.
Jayanti Kali Temple: There are disputes about the position of this peetha. Based on most presented manuscripts and facts it is situated in Jaintiapur upazila, Bangladesh, which was previously the capital of Jaintia hills tribe kingdom, which became the Jaintia hills district of Meghalaya, India, excluding Jaintiapur. However, though there is shortage of corroborating evidences some people say that it is Durga temple which is the real Jayanti shakti peeth,. Some other people argue that the actual peetha is at Amta in West Bengal, where the Devi is worshiped as Maa Melai Chandi in Melai Chandi Mandir. But this fact cannot be corroborated with any evidences. Moreover, refuting most text, in Melai Chandi Mandir the Bhairava is Durgeshwar rather than Kramadishwar. Some also relate Jayanti Devi with the Mahakal cave temple situated in the village Jayanti of Alipurduar, where many statues were created by Stalagmite and Stalactite (combination of limes with water), but strong historical support is also absent here.
Vindhyavasini Shakti Peetha: The Vindhyavasini Shakti Peetha is considered a Shakti Peetha despite the fact that no body parts of Sati fell there. This is because it is the place where Devi chose to reside after her birth in Dvapara Yuga. At the time of birth of Lord Krishna to Devaki and Vasudeva, the Yogamaya(Devi) took birth in Gokul to Nanda and Yashoda as per instruction of Lord Vishnu. The Vasudeva replaced his son Krishna with this girl child of Yashoda. When Kansa tried to kill the girl she slipped from his hands and assumed the form of Mahadevi Adishakti. Thereafter Devi chose Vindhya Mountains as her abode to live on the earth.
List of 18 Maha ?akt? P??has in A??h?da?a ?akti P??ha Stotra
01.Shankari Temple (part of the Koneswaram Temple) Trincomalee, Sri Lanka, Lankayam Shankari Peetham is known as Shankari. It is believed that heart of Sati fell here,
02.Kamakshi Amman Temple at Kanchipuram in Tamil Nadu is one of the Shakti Peethas where Sati’s navel fell and is called as Kama koti peetha.
03. The Shrinkala temple is known to be the place where part of stomach of Sati fell. Deity is revered as Maa Shrinkala, Bhavat?rini Peetham in Pradmunyee (Pandua) of Hooghly district, West Bengal.
04. Chamundeshwari Temple Mysuru Karnataka state is famous where Sati’s hair fell and is known as Krouncha Peetham. Deity is revered as Chamundeshwari.
05.Jogulamba Devi in Alampur, Gadwal district of Telangana state is known as Yogini Peetham where Teeth of Sati fell. The deity is called as Jogulamba Thalli (Yogamba).
06 Bhramaramba Mallikarjuna Temple at Srisailam in Andhra Pradesh is known where Sati’s neck fell and is called as Srisaila Peetham. The deity is worshiped as Maa Bhramarambika.
07. Mahalakshmi Temple, at Kolhapur in Maharashtra is a Shakti peetha where eye of Sati fell. The peetham is called as Shri Peetham and deity is known as Aai Ambabai.
08. Eka Veerika Temple at Mahur, of Maharashtra is known as Moola Peetham, where Left hand fell and the deity is known as Eka Veerika.
09.Shakambhari temple in Sharanpur of Uttar Pradesh is known where Sati’s head fell and pettha is called as Shakambhari Peetham and deity is popularly called as Shakumbhari devi.
10.Kukkuteswara Swamy Temple at Pithapuram in Andhra Pradesh is Pushkarini Peetham, where Maa Sati’s back fell and the deity is known as Maa Puruhutika.
11. Biraja Temple at Jajpur in Odisha is known as Oddyana Peetham where navel of Sati fell and deity is popularly called as Maa Biraja
12. Bhimeswara Temple at Draksharamam in Andhra Pradesh is known as Daksharama Peetham where left cheek of Sati fell.. The deity is popularly called as Maa Manikyamba.
13. Kamakhya Temple at Guwahati of Assam is known as Kamarupa Peetham where Sati’s womb fell. The deity is very popular as place of tantra and is called as Devi Kamakhya.
14.Alopi Devi Mandir in Prayagraj of Uttar Pradesh is known as Prayaga Peetham where Sati’s fingers fell and the deity is called as Maa Madhaveswari.
15. Jwalamukhi Temple at Kangra in Himachal Pradeshis famous as Jwalamukhi Peetham where head of Sati fell . The deity is known as Maa Jwalamukhi.
16. Mangla Gauri Temple at Gaya in Bihar is known as Gaya Peetham where Maa Sati’s breast fell and the deity is revered as Maa Sarvamangala.
17. Vishalakshi Temple at Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh is known as Varanasi Peetham where noses of Sati fell and the deity is worshiped as Maa Vishalakshi.
18. Sharadha Peetha is currently in ruined state near the line of control (LOC) between the Indian and Pakistani-controlled portions of the Jammu and Kashmir. Instead, Sringeri Sharada Peetham, in Karnataka even though not a Shakti Peetha, is considered as Shakti Peetha. Requests have been made by the Hindu community in Pakistan to the Pakistani Government to renovate the temple; the issue was raised by Shri L. K. Advani former Indian Home minister to the Pakistan authorities as a confidence-building measure, by increasing the people to people cross-border interaction.
Dr. Ramesh Chandra Panda is a retired Civil Servant and former Judge in the Central Administrative Tribunal. He belongs to the 1972 batch of IAS in Tamil Nadu Cadre where he held many important assignments including long spells heading the departments of Education, Agriculture and Rural Development. He retired from the Government of India as Secretary, Ministry of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises in 2008 and worked in CAT Principal Bench in Delhi for the next five years. He is the Founder MD of OMFED. He had earned an excellent reputation as an efficient and result oriented officer during his illustrious career in civil service.
Dr. Panda lives in Bhubaneswar. A Ph. D. in Economics, he spends his time in scholarly pursuits, particularly in the fields of Spiritualism and Indian Cultural Heritage. He is a regular contributor to the Odia magazine Saswata Bharat and the English paper Economic and Political Daily.
One day recently I unexpectedly met Mr. Singh, the retired chief conservator of forests in my office. Mr Singh is known to me since 1984 when he was the district forest officer (DFO) Sambalpur and I was the Gynecologist at Sub-divisional Headquarters Hospital, Deogarh. Within a few minutes of meeting we rewound the memories of our Deogarh days. After retirement he is at present staying in Bhubaneswar with his wife and planning to shift to his native place in UP. His elder son is a doctor serving in a Medical College at Delhi and his daughter, the youngest of the three, is at Visakhapatnam. Mrs. Singh's three deliveries were by caesarian procedure, first two in UP and the last one at Deogarh by me.
During Mrs. Singh's 3rd pregnancy she was undergoing regular check up by a renowned Gynaecologist of IGH (Ispat General Hospital), Rourkela. She had no risk factors in this pregnancy except her previous two caesarian deliveries.
So it was planned by her consultant to have an elective delivery minimum 15 days before her expected date. For that she had to be admitted into the hospital one week earlier. Mr.Singh by nature is a very disciplined man and very much particular in following medical advice. So, date was fixed accordingly to move to IGH. Just the day before the planned travel the weather became hostile. Thunder storm started all on a sudden, almost like a cyclone. Whole Deogarh was dark. Once electricity was cut off it took several days to be restored because the controlling headquarters was at Rourkela and the vast area in between was almost forest. It was a regular phenomenon and we were habituated to it. Water supply was not an issue. As the reservoir was on the Pradhanpat mountain foot hill, nature was providing uninterrupted water supply by its gravity to the downhill township. The bad stormy weather continued. Repeated looking up to the sky and frequent listening to the All India Radio weather report gave no relief. The Brahmani River was rising, threatening an imminent flood, trees were uprooted, blocking all the communications to and from Deogarh. Connection to Rourkela was cut off. Giving company to the cyclone, mental tension, anxiety and apprehension clouded over Mr.Singh. In contrast to him, Mrs Singh was calm and composed. She was a great believer in Fate. She believed that God could do no wrong.
The storm in the mind of Mr. Singh turned into a cyclonic form in one evening during that period, when Mrs. Singh had a bout of profuse watery discharge per vaginum. Both of them rushed to the hospital. After examining her I gave my opinion that Caeserian delivery should be done immediately, lest the intrauterine baby might be in danger as almost all the fluid was drained. Mr. Singh was confused. What to do? Neither he could venture to carry his wife to Rourkela nor to Sambalpur. All roads were closed. The weather was hostile, threatening everyone not to challenge. Simple praying to God would not solve the problem. But his wife was calm and composed. She bravely told her husband, "As long as we are in a hospital under Dr . Sahoo's care nothing wrong will happen. Have faith and confidence on the doctor. He is our savior now. Let us give our consent and surrender before our living God."
That happened. Mr .Singh expressed his inability to move anywhere in that calamity and filled up the consent form and signed the risk bond like an obedient student without a second thought. Now the onus was on us.
That consent form was not simply a piece of paper. It was a mountain of responsibility fallen on my head. I enjoy solving problems and puzzles. I love to accept professional challenges. But that challenge was different in the sense, it was an unprecedented challenge, it was a humanitarian challenge and it was a life and death challenge. I couldn't escape from it.
It was around 11pm. Whole hospital was dark. Torch and Emergency light was arranged for OT . The head light of the jeep of the DFO provided light to the outside. That jeep did the divine duty of an ambulance by fetching my friend and colleague Dr Dash to assist me, the pediatrician Dr . Panda and specially trained for open ether anesthesia Dr Judhisthira Sahoo. At that time Anaesthologists were a rare species. So we had innovated this new method and our surgery specialist trained Dr Judhisthira in that form of anesthesia. All medicines were arranged. Head light of the Jeep focused into the OT. OT team was ready. Before starting we had a huddle. I as usual reminded everyone of their duties and responsibilities. The responsibility of the make shift Anaesthologist was too heavy as he had no basic knowledge of anesthesia, totally ignorant of risk management and only conversant with the age old safest method of anesthesia that is open ether method. There was no light, no oxygen and no resuscitation tools. Forget about blood transfusion facility. What facility was available then? Only four to five professional and semi professional persons with one BRAHMASTRA that's PRAYER.
Before starting the procedure I counseled Mr Singh about all the available resources at our disposal at that point of time and what were neither available nor could have been arranged and in such adverse situation we were venturing the procedure. Then a special risk bond was taken. The weather was still stormy and chilly but two persons were sweating, me and Mr Singh. Mr Singh was seen going out with an umbrella very frequently, probably to answer the call of nature. But interestingly his wife was comfortably lying on the table. My team got ready, we did our prayer, wished all the best to Mrs Singh and showed the green signal to the Anaesthologist. He started his magic; very smoothly the patient became unconscious. One of my staff sisters put in the bladder catheter and we started the procedure.
Just before marking the line of entry into my destination all complications written in book in case of repeat 3rd caeserian delivery danced in front me . If there is injury to the bladder, ureter or bowel whom can I call for help? If there is severe bleeding during or after delivery who will rescue me? If there's any problem with the baby and required resuscitation who will save me ? I was reminded by my conscience the story of Draupadi in Kurusabha, where none but Lord Krishna rescued the helpless Draupadi. I chanted the SLOKA 66 of chapter 18 of Bhagbad Gita:
Where Lord Krishna was telling Arjun, " When you are in deep woods, feeling helpless as a destitute, surrender before me with all trust and confidence, then I will take care.” I with my team completely surrendered and with complete concentration and precision started our procedure with the sole aim of saving two lives.
I always remember my Guru's teachings where he says. "Problems never come with an alarm. Never be over-confident because you are well prepared. In each step follow your books." Fortunately the procedure was smooth, a healthy, matured girl child was delivered at around 3 am.
We all departed home after thorough post operative check up of both the mother and newborn, leaving a panel of advice and instructions to the sister in charge. The mother in her impaired sense was looking very much happy and wished everyone of my team in a slurring voice which only God could understand. Both were OK. One thing I marked, there was only 20 ml of bloody urine in the urine drainage pipe and bag. I thanked my team members. There was a sigh of relief on everybody's face radiating out, defeating overnight sleeplessness, tiredness, exhaustion and apprehension. It was worth observing. It was a victory of the team as such a risky case was operated for the first time in Deogarh hospital that too in such an adverse situation. The weather hadn't changed yet. The forest officer's "ambulance" dropped all the team members at their homes. I was the last to go. I congratulated Mr.Singh for being blessed with a daughter after two sons. By the time I reached home, it was about 6 am.
By the time I finished my routine work it was about 9 am. Weather God had become a little calm. Sun was still hiding under dark clouds. It was drizzling. Chill wind was blowing. My wife (Lady assistant surgeon) and I walked to the hospital. Very few patients. Only Govt. servants on duty were seen enjoying the sips of tea in the OPD. But I was in a different mood. That bloody urine in the urobag was haunting me. I straight went to the post operative ward to see Mrs. Singh. Now she was fully conscious, recovered from hangover of ether. She had started breast feeding. Very happy, jubilant, she wished and thanked everyone from the core. Her expression was reflecting how happy she was. Everything was fine. But my mind was in the urobag. Not much of difference! Same bloody urine, hardly 10 to 20 ml more. All complications which can cause scanty and bloody urination came to my mind. Injured the bladder? May be, it's most likely in a repeat section. Injured or strangled the ureter? May be, very common in 3rd section as the ureters are dragged towards the uterus. All such questions and answers were clouding my brain. But whom to consult? I was the only wise man there. If I ask somebody the news will spread like a wild fire. It will cause more harm. My knowledge reminded me the normal physiological postoperative effect, that the urine output will be low for first 24 hours and it will be bloody for a few hours because of wear and tear . My conscience commanded me to stay calm, wait and watch for 24 hours. Next day morning it was alright, but not before it was a sleepless night for me. Keeping in view the suspected trauma to the bladder it was advised to remove the catheter after 14 days.
The mother and baby were discharged.
Fourteen days passed. For me it was equivalent to fourteen years of RAMA BANABAS. Next day morning I was in the OPD, waiting for Mrs Singh. Any patient entered, I was having palpitation thinking that Mrs Singh had come. The picture of the bloody urine was moving in front of me, hurting me with piercing sharp needles. Cruel sixty minutes of painful waiting came to an end when I saw Mr Singh with his family entering my OPD chamber in a jubilant mood carrying packets of sweets and fruits, which was distributed among our staff. One of our sisters almost snatched the baby from Mrs Singh and started playing aerobics with her . Everybody was enjoying, greeting each other, smiling, talking, reminding that dreadful night and enumerating what heroics done by the operating team, so on and so forth. But I was in a different mood. I was lost in the bladder and tube, very much apprehensive. I instructed the OT staff sister to remove the catheter in the OT. I followed her. I saw clear urine draining, around 500 ml collected in the bag. Catheter was removed. The ghost of the bladder injury and bloody urine vanished from my mind. I was a different man , I was a relaxed man. Stressful fourteen days of agony was over. "That thunderous stormy night, a V I P's wife with two previous caesarians, an emergency condition, totally helpless, I was the only hope. Was God testing me ? Could I take the risk? Could I shoulder the responsibility? If I did not do it, who will? I prayed to God and accepted the challenge, offered by Him. With His blessings I came out victorious. Thank God. It wasn't at all a problem, it was a great, great OPPORTUNITY." Fortune favors the brave.
Prof Gangadhar Sahoo is a well-known Gynaecologist. He is a columnist and an astute Academician. He was the Professor and HOD of O&G Department of VSS MEDICAL COLLEGE, Burla.He is at present occupying the prestigious post of DEAN, IMS & SUM HOSPITAL, BHUBANESWAR and the National Vice President of ISOPARB (INDIAN SOCIETY OF PERINATOLOGY AND REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY). He has been awarded the BEST TEACHER AWARD of VSS MEDICAL COLLEGE,BURLA in 2013. He has contributed CHAPTERS in 13 books and more than 100 Scientific Articles in State, National and International Journals of high repute. He is a National Faculty in National Level and delivered more than 200 Lectures in Scientific Conventions.He was adjudged the BEST NATIONAL SPEAKER in ISOPARB NATIONAL CONVENTION in 2016.
“ Every one is a moon and has a dark side which he never shows to any body.” (Mark Twain)
My intention of placing this famous annotation here is to emphasize that the portrait presented by the people you encounter in your day today life is not the real one. You can’t judge their personality looking at their face. Don’t be deceived and swayed by the serene simplicity of their look. A monster may be hidden inside their soul. From the first encounter don’t take it granted they are innocent people. Even in backward rural areas all are not innocent. There may be cunning and deceitful people who may harm you in future.
During my service in the most under-developed district long back in the nineteen eighties I have mingled with numerous persons. I have seen them from very close quarters but in spite of my very cordial relationship with them I failed to judge them absolutely and on some occasions I have been frustrated with their heinous activities.
Those days only few Government Offices existed in Kesinga, my work place and the number of Government Officials could be counted on one's fingers. But between them utmost cordial relationship was present and all the Officers were living like a closely knit family. During my off hours I frequently visited other Officers during the lunch hour and we indulged in gossip covering joyful and hilarious topics.
It was 14th June, the day of Raja Sankranti festival. Around 1 pm I was having a chit chat at the local police station with the Officer-in-charge, a close friend of mine because we both were from Cuttack district, myself from Jajpur and he from Salepur. At that point of time an injured person, Arjun was brought to the police station in a bullock cart. The accompanying individuals informed the Officer-in-charge that the injured person was attacked by his neighbor with a barber’s razor on his neck and sustained grievous injury and was in a very bad condition due to bleeding from the wound. Being present there, I examined the person and found an incised wound on the left side of the neck. Bleeding had subsided but the person was in shock due to heavy loss of blood. The police vehicle was not there as another officer had gone to a far off village with the vehicle. It was detrimental for the person to be shifted to my hospital in that bullock cart. So I decided to resuscitate the person in the police station, a constable was sent to the hospital and my pharmacist came armed with saline bottle, attachment set and necessary injections immediately. Meanwhile the person was shifted to a table in one corner of the police station with utmost precaution. The saline was infused and life saving injection was given through vein. At that point of time repairing the wound could be extremely fatal for the patient and the primary aim was to revive the victim. By grace of God the condition of the patient improved and he was out of danger in one hour. Throughout the manoeuvre I had to be present there to monitor the status of the patient. The police vehicle was brought back to the police station by this time and the victim was shifted in that vehicle directly to the operation theatre of the hospital. With the IV fluid still on, the wound was cleaned and repaired neatly under local anesthesia. The patient remained in the hospital for ten days, got cured and went home in completely healthy condition. On police requisition I submitted the injury report, a case was registered under 307 IPC and the culprit was apprehended.
Nearly one year passed. The trial of the case commenced in the Sessions Court at Bhawanipatna. As per the procedure the reporting doctor was to place his reports before the Hon’ble Court and to answer questions by the defense lawyer and to defend his report. In that context I was present one day in the court to give evidence, I took oath and read out my report that the person sustained incised injury on his neck by a sharp cutting weapon and the injury was fresh.
The defence lawyer started cross examination:
Defence lawyer: Doctor. You have certified that the person sustained incised injury by a sharp cutting weapon and you don’t know by your own knowledge how the injury was inflicted and who inflicted that injury.
Me: Yes. I agree.
D.L: Thank you doctor. I don’t contradict your report but could this injury have been possible if the person had fallen down on a sharp object like a vegetable chopper.
Me: No, that is not possible.
D.L: But why? Will you please clarify with reasons?
Me: (Addressing the Hon’ble Judge) Your honour; the victim was a healthy man. We have noted the weight and height of the person in the case record during his stay in hospital and as per the record his height was 5 feet 8 inches and weight was 76 kg. In the injury report I have mentioned the depth of the wound to be 1 cm only. If a person possessing such physique falls on a sharp object like the vegetable chopper, as the DL mentioned, the depth of the injury would be much more and there would be severe bleeding resulting in death of the person.
D.L : Alright Doctor. But why you had noted the height and weight of the victim? Is it a routine procedure in the hospital? Do you record height and weight of all individuals, getting admitted to the hospital? If no, then what prompted you to take such extra precaution?
Me : I had encountered such cases in the past and faced the trial in Court. On those occasions I was instructed by the Hon’ble Court to note down the height and weight to reach a scientific conclusion though to a naked eye the height and weight of the person can be assumed to near perfection.
D.L : I agree with you. Now I put forth another situation. A villager usually performs shaving himself by a barber's razor kept in his residence. His 4 to 5 year old son, out of curiosity, caught hold of the razor and chopped saplings in the garden. Noticing the situation the father snatches the razor from his son lest it might harm the boy and during snatching accidentally injury is inflicted on the person. Would you please tell me whether in that situation the injury mentioned by you in your report is possible or not because you are giving testimony as an expert witness.
Me : Yes. That is possible and depends on the force during snatching. With mild force the razor could cause such type of injury.
D.L : Thank you doctor. No more questions.
I got off the witness stand and stayed in the court to give testimony in another case. The trial of this case was continuing. I was watching the proceedings. Two more prosecution witnesses produced their testimony. They testified that they knew nothing of the incidence. Even they were absent on the day of occurrence. In response to the question of the prosecution lawyer why they had given a written statement to the police they reiterated that they are illiterate people, the police writer had prepared the text and they had put their thumb impression without knowing what was written on that paper. The prosecution declared them hostile witness and prayed the Hon’ble Court not to take account of their statement.
Then came the prize winning moment. The victim took the stand, was given oath and started testifying that day’s happenings.
Prosecution Lawyer:- Mr Arjun; Do you recognize the person standing there (pointing to the accused standing in the barricade area meant for the accused, with the police constable)?
Arjun: Yes. He is my neighbor Nanda.
PL: Can you describe in detail as to what happened on the day of Raja Sankranti of last year?
Arjun: How can I forget that incidence? I was severely injured and was about to die. But by the grace of Maa Manikeswari (the reigning Deity of Kalahandi) and the Doctor Sahib, sitting on the second line in this room saved me and gave me a new lease of life. I owe a lot to Doctor Babu.
PL: (interfering) No, no. Please be specific and come to the point. Inform the Court how you were injured on that day.
Arjun: Judge Sahib. I am a small farmer and a daily laborer. Many a times I am unable to go to the barber for shaving. So I keep a barber's razor in my house and do the shaving myself. On that fateful day my 5 year old son somehow grabbed the razor and was cutting branches of some tiny plants in the vicinity of my house. Noticing this I tried to snatch the razor from him because he could have been injured. I also feared the sharpness of the razor could have been lost dut to cutting of plants. He resisted a little and I had to snatch it forcibly. During the jolting I was slightly imbalanced and inflicted an injury in my neck.
PL: But you gave one FIR to the police stating that you had some land dispute with the accused Nanda, you had violent quarrel on that day, in the course of the altercation he snatched the razor from you and cut your throat. During police interrogation you have also stated this fact and repeated the facts you had mentioned in the FIR.
Arjun: Dharmavatar. I am an illiterate person and I don’t know reading and writing. I only put my thumb impression when I am asked to put my signature. I was badly injured on the day of occurrence and was not in a normal mental state. In that abnormal condition I might have told the police something which I don’t remember now. Regarding the FIR somebody prepared it, told me that he had written exactly what I narrated. On good faith I put my thumb impression on the document. Being an illiterate person I don’t know what was written in the FIR. Now what the advocate babu is telling was not narrated by me to the person who prepared the document. I have been cheated Your Honour.
PL: Alright. That was about the FIR, But during the investigation when the police interrogated, you also said that your neighbor Nanda had inflicted the injury on you.
Arjun: In the past I never encountered the police. I had heard from some persons regarding the torture of the police. I am afraid of the police and I am very much in awe of them. Hence I agreed to what the police asked.
PL: But on that day you had a severe duel between you and the accused Nanda which many people had seen and testified.
Arjun: No, no your honour. Nanda is a good, friendly neighbor and has a cordial relationship with me. What I remember is that on that day we had some argument on a very trivial matter. Though we were talking loudly we never fought and the talk continued only for a few minutes. After the debate we both were separated and I went to my house, noticed my son playing with the razor and the incident occurred which I have already stated in the court.
PL: Mr Arjun. You are on oath and you are not telling the truth. I presume that you are under pressure or you had been gained over by the accused through some unfair means. You are wasting the time of the Hon’ble Court. You may be punished for perjury by telling lies to the Hon’ble Court.
Defence Attorney: Objection Your Lordship. The Hon’ble Presecution Attorney is threatening his own witness and trying to put words in his mouth. This is unfair. The victim is a simple, innocent person. With utmost respect to the Hon’ble Court he is testifying without awe and pressure and is telling the truth. But my learned friend is pressurizing him.
Judge: Objection sustained. Mr. Prosecution Attorney. Please refrain from intimidating the witness. Present other evidences if you have any.
PL : Yes, Your Honour. Mr. Arjun; you told that the incident occurred outside your house. Being in the open space it must have been watched by some persons. Can you name anyone who saw the event and can testify in the court?
Arjun: No, Your Honour. It is not exactly what the advocate babu told. Though it was outside of my house it was behind my house in my kitchen garden which is separated from outside by a thorny wall. Only me and my son were present there. The police could have asked my son. However, I notice that the doctor babu who treated me and gave me another life is present here in the court. He can testify whether my injury could have been caused during snatching of the razor from my son. I am telling the truth only.
There was slight clamour in the court and the judge intervened and asked the audience to maintain silence. A peculiar situation had arisen. The Judge asked Arjun to get off the witness stand and he was ushered outside by the court constable. I was asked by the Hon’ble Judge to take up the witness stand.
Judge: Doctor you are on oath. You heard the statement of the victim. Can you testify if the injury could have been caused in the way narrated by the victim?
Me: Yes Your Honour. The inflicted injury of such stature is possible accidentally during the snatching of razor from the child.
Judge: Mr Prosecution Attorney. Do you want to ask any further question to the doctor?
PL: No Your Honour. When the victim himself testified that it was an accidental injury and the expert approved, the Prosecution failed to establish a prima-facie case in this case. The case may be dismissed.
Judge: Doctor; please get off the witness stand. The case is reserved for final verdict on 25th of this month.
I learnt afterwards that the case was dismissed and the accused was proved innocent and released from custody.
Now the final take home message is: you can’t judge a person from his external appearance. You don’t know what is hidden inside. In this incident an innocent rustic villager was gained over and the entire show was engineered in such a way that he answered all the questions confidently and hijacked the proceeding in his favor. The only punishment to the accused was that he remained in judicial custody throughout the trial nearly for a year as he could not arrange bail for himself. Even the Almighty can not presume the deeds of human being.
Dr. Prasanna Kumar Sahoo,MD (Pediatrics) is a retired Joint Director Grade 1 of Health and Family Welfare Department of Government of Odisha and now a practicing Pediatrician at Vyasnagar, the Steel City of Odisha. Besides being an eminent Pediatrician of Odisha he is also a prolific writer in Odia. He pens down the real happenings around him and his characters are his patients, the parents and his colleagues. He has contributed a book in Odia " BABU SAHOO KALAMARU " which is an unique characterisation of human values and nature and is adored by one and all. He is also a Columnist in Health Problems and writing on different aspects of current health issues since last several years in a local monthly Newspaper " The Kalinga Nagara Bulletin". He has represented the state in several National Platforms. He has a record number of 24 Awards, Local, State and National, noteworthy being PURBANCHAL SISHU BISESANGYA SHIROMANI AWARD 2017 and MAHATMA GANDHI AWARD 1997 by Government of Odisha. He is Life member of many Organisations including Indian Medical Association, Indian Academy of Pediatrics and National Neonatology Forum. At present he is State President of both, Indian Academy of Pediatrics and Pediatrics Allergy and Applied Immunology Chapter.
When the sun is trying to manifest itself lifting the veil of mist, dogs turn and twist their body to gear up for the day, vegetable vendors just arriving with their baskets, women lazily walking with the buckets and pots towards the common hand pumps of the village, some people coming out of their slumber sipping their hot cup of tea; I was speeding at 70-80 Km/Hr on a cold morning to take the class through Chandaka route, for 1st year MBBS students at 8 AM after finishing the household chores, looking after kids' studies, instructing maid and cook, serving tea and varied snacks for all.
On reaching the lecture theatre after putting thumb impression on 2 different bio-metric devices (one for college, one for MCI; after being highest educated, our caliber is finally funneled to our thumb impression) found my obedient 150 students, all well-dressed, neatly groomed, full of enthusiasm waiting for me to pour out knowledge to them. Yes, they are future doctors, they may be thrashed, crashed under pressure but they are taught to be well-dressed and groomed as the patient wants to see them always cheerful. This is just the beginning of the trap.
From lecture, they'll run to the dissection hall in Anatomy department to lovingly handle the formalin treated human carcass, half gulping the volatilized fume coming out of the cadaver. Then they'll run for pricking their own fingers to study their own blood smears in Physiology under microscope too. With studying day in and day out also they'll be told in the exam that they pass by mercy, as medical science is inexhaustible.
They'll sacrifice their sleep, food, comfort and recreation to learn multifarious subjects in the next 4 years in the names of Pathology, Microbiology, Forensic medicine, the rum-pel-stil-kin like terms filled in Pharmacology, Medicine, Surgery, Orthopaedics, Paediatrics, community medicine, Ophthalmology, ENT, Skin & VD, Psychiatry and even dentistry rushing from classrooms to OPDs to bed-side teachings. They'll be enforced to learn about Indian penal code to the water seal-level of commode and Indian latrines to drugs and all kinds of encyclopedic knowledge about almost everything on earth (Please don't think that physics and astronomy are excluded).
When their friends in other curricula would have come out successfully with a job in hands they'll be still doing their internship. When others would have chosen their better-halves, they'd be juggling with the decisions of buying guidebooks for PG entrance exams. Even if they choose one, it'll be very serious and a well-guided by parents’ love-cum-arranged relationship (a medico can't take added burden of marital related problems).
We will teach them how they have to consider their patients as God, how our profession is a noble one, how the profession is a respectable one....etc if not money, at least they'll have lot of respect in the society
But....when they come out of the cocoon of their medical colleges to face the real world, they will know that as per the efforts put, it's not a very rewarding stream. They would try to cope up with the dilapidated doctors' quarters at periphery hospitals which will be lacking even a proper toilet system, forget about water supply (a bharua= man/ woman carrying water may kindly pour 4 buckets of water everyday), non-co-operative pharmacist (doctors are considered chief competitors), drunkard attendants and other staff, with hovering thoughts of clearing PG entrance exams (Nowadays people want their doctors to be not just specialists but super-specialists).
Without their knowledge village guys would be encircling the OPD to supervise whether the doctor is seeing patients or not properly, when the poor doctor is surrounded by 50 odd patients at any point of time of all category.
If amidst all these ordeals he clears PG entrance exams, 3 years fly away learning more and more about less and less (specialization). Either again they have to join a peripheral hospital or stay in medical colleges.
Nope, the story doesn't end here. the vulnerability of getting thrashed by the public in fact grows further because people think that if a patient comes to a doctor, then death has no right to come. Know not how many political leaders get away with their false promises, bridge collapses but only we hear some suspension orders, know not how many innocents get penalized in the court of law...we never hear public beating, man-handling or accusing them of neglecting their duties...but what happens to a doctor? The newspapers are flooded with the stories of negligent doctors, doctors being thrashed. But who knows the real story after all!
Does anyone know that if a doctor earns more, it's at the cost of his rest, recreation and health!
Otherwise, they are the least paid of all the intellectuals. Indian doctors see each patient for 2 minutes as per a survey, but they do it immediately, unlike their counterparts in Western countries who give appointment after 2 months (even for painful conditions). Is anyone aware of the doctor-population ratio of India?? Yet, every patient is immediately attended.
If the malice and violence towards the doctors continue thus, maybe someday they'll be forced to withdraw from their profession ready to be even become vegetable vendors (who are better-off financially than doctors and neither have risk of life from the public).
People believe actors on television who have no vision regarding health or health system, yet after incurring disease due to their own irresponsibility, ask the doctors thousands of irritating question regarding their treatment protocol. For the money taken by hospitals (patients want 5-star treatment in hospitals nowadays, no one wants a general ward or non-AC cabin), diagnostic procedures etc the patients and their attendants take out their anguish on the helpless, over-burdened doctors if anything goes wrong.
With such breach of trust there won't be any good doctors left who put their heart and soul for the patients' benefit (thankfully India is having ample of such noble doctors today also), all that we'll hear will be judiciary battles, insurances and commercialization of health.
Ultimately, deluded and lured with the charm of whitecoat and stethoscope curled around the neck and again deluded by the respect from the society, the doctors who embrace this all-sacrificing stream should not be made to believe that they have been deluded to choose the wrong path.
Dr. Viyatprajna Acharya is a Professor in Biochemistry at KIMS, Bhubaneswar who has done some original research on different edible oils and also has done her PhD on Obesity in young adults. She is basically a doctor who specialises in Medical Biochemistry and her arena of research is metabolic diseases, nutrition and cancer.
A surreal but satisfying feeling has been lodged in my mind since my second visit to the fabled land of Kanyakumari - that once I had slept at the southernmost tip of Peninsular India, at the cape - Britishers called it Cape Comorin. My first visit was on the dawn of New Year day of 1989 for a short duration on the occasion of an All India conference held at Trivandrum. As it was a conducted tour organized by the host unit, I didn’t get the opportunity for an overnight stay. My dream could be materialized on my second visit in the last week of October 2015, when a sea facing first floor accommodation in Hotel Tamilnadu - (a T.T.D.C-venture) could be booked online in advance. The statue of Tamil philosopher-poet Ayyan Thiruvalluvar had come up in the meanwhile to my amazement, as a bonus, besides the Vivekananda Rock Memorial atop a huge bald rock situated at a viewable distance in the Laccadive Sea .
My second tour to this beautiful pilgrim city of Kanyakumari had materialized after about 26 years, and the sleepy town, in the intervening period, had turned into a tourist paradise with modern infrastructural facilities for the visitors. This southernmost town in mainland India, is sometimes referred to as- ‘The Land’s End’. As a popular tourist destination in India, it is famous for its unique ocean sunrise, and sunset, the Vivekananda Rock Memorial and the statue of Thiruvalluvar off the coast, and above all, as a much visited pilgrimage centre. The sleepy fishing town has metamorphosed into a vibrant tourist destination, drawing people from far and near, across the globe to witness the unique astronomical phenomenon – Sunrise and Sunset, the enchanting settings surrounded by three seas with blue water, sun-kissed sea shore - endowed with a salubrious environment.
Second leg of our 9 days trip, to Pondicherry (Puducherry), Kanyakumari and Madurai, started from Puducherry on the night of third day. As per our itinerary, we left Puducherry for Kanyakumari by a TNSTC –Luxury Red Bus and arrived at Nagarcoil early in the morning and hired a taxi for our TTDC- Hotel Tamilnadu in Kanyakumari at a distance of 20 km. Fortunately we got a sea facing first floor room having a balcony to watch the ocean view just across the street at a distance of 100 meters and the historic monuments surrounded by the blue expanse of Laccadive Sea. Hotel Tamilnadu is an excellent choice for rest and rejuvenation. The hotel is a much sought after resort due to its location on the beach, beyond the light house in an isolated huge campus; and the ambience is peaceful, serene, and tranquil. The tranquility is only broken at times by the squawk of peacocks, as a pride of showy birds abound the bushy side of the compound. The hotel is conveniently located and very near to Kanyakumari Temple and all other places of attraction.
GODDESS KANYAKUMARI:
The temple of Goddess Kanyakumari, is at a walkable distance to the left side of Hotel Tamilnadu. After taking our bath we decided to pay our obeisance at the shrine which is considered one of the 51 Shakti Peethas of Indian subcontinents. As per the guidelines we wore traditional dhotis and sarees and joined the queue for darshan. It took half an hour to be inside the sanctum sanctorum of the temple and when our turn came we invoked the benediction of Goddess Kanyakumari with folded hands –
“Katyayanay vidmahe,
Kanyakumari dhimahi,
Tanno Durgah prachodayat.”
We offered a coconut, a basket of flowers and a small bottle of mustard oil to the priest for propitiating Devi Kumari. A Small handout, about the significance of the presiding deity, was handed over to us, before we left the precinct of the temple.
Legend has it that, in Puranic period, there lived a demon called Banasura, who, blessed with a boon from Lord Brahma, played havoc and wrought untold misery to the mankind. There lived a virgin by name Pushpakasi who was very much devoted to Lord Shiva and by her stern penance attained Sayujya Moksha. Sayujya Moksha means entering Heaven with human body and remaining in human form with the Supreme Lord. Bana the demon had won a boon that he could not be killed by anyone other than a Kannika (virgin). It became a problem how to stop his depredations and save mankind. People invoked Lord Shiva for redress. Lord Shiva knew that this Banasura could be killed only by a virgin. Immediately He chose Pushpakasi for the task and sent her back to earth. She killed the demon and restored peace in the land. She did not like to stay on earth after fulfilling her mission and so made further penance praying to Lord Shiva to call her back to Heaven.
Lord Parasurama, who happened to note the austere penance in which this virgin was engaged, installed her image, as a mark of gratitude, together with Vinayaka, in the firm belief that she alone could save the land, which had been reclaimed from the sea, from being swallowed by it again. It is believed that the mainland of Bharatabarsha had in ancient times extended far beyond the present southernmost point. The land was known as the continent of Lemuria and it probably connected to Madagascar and Africa in a contiguous strip. The first Tamil Sangam was held in a place now under the sea. That area was gradually swallowed up by the ocean. Now, at the request of Parasurama, this virgin Mother faced the South and arrested the further march of the sea. Banasura is believed to have been killed atop a hillock, near about a place Pothia Malai, north of Kanyakumari. From this mountain, two rivers flow –one called the Tamravarni on the northern side, created by Sage Agastya, and the other, Kulithurai River, in the south.
Lord Parasurama established the Vigraha of Vinayaka at Kanyakumari just before installing Goddess Kanyakumari. It was done with the idea that Vinayaka would help retaining the Goddess there with all her glory and get her fulfill his purpose. Devraj Indra established another Vinayaka, called Indrakanta Vinayaka, when he arrived there to atone his sin for his amorous design towards sati Anasuya .
The processional deity, in Kanyakumari Temple, is called Thyagasundari. The Holy Mother, who appears in the state of being ready for marriage, is called Syamasundari.
SUNRISE AND SUNSET VIEW POINT:
Watching sunrise and sunset are the most popular activities in Kanyakumari. Almost all the hotels in Kanyakumari are sea-facing and thus present striking views of sunrise and sunset. The tourists make it a must in their itinerary to observe the unique astronomical sight for once in their lifetime, as an unforgettable experience. In most of the places elsewhere, one can either see sunrise or sunset in the sea, but in Kanyakumari, one see both sunrise and sunset in their entirety at the same spot. One of the best experiences, is watching Sun coming from water. The sight of emerging Sun from the ocean, with Vivekananda Rock Memorial and Thiruvalluvar statue in forefront, offers a spectacular view. You have to wait with baited breath to capture the rising sun in your camera or more conveniently in your smart phone. At Kanyakumari, the Arabian sea, the Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean meet. The confluence of three seas is referred to as ‘Triveni Sangam’. Vivekananda rock memorial and Thiruvalluvar statue are iconic monuments that add to the enchanting panorama of the sunrise.
The sunrise point, located behind the Kanyakumari temple, was just at a distance of 5 minutes’ walk from our hotel; we left for the view point before the sunrise. We found the sunrise point full of tourists, nature lovers, and photographers much before the actual sun rise. The moment everyone saw the first glimpse of the sun, they started clicking, clapping and shouting. The environment got electrified with the energy of the enthusiastic crowd. It was felt as if someone hit a six in a cricket match or a goal was scored in a soccer match.
The sunset point is 3 km away from the sunrise point towards the west side of the tip of the peninsula, facing Arabian Sea. Here a view tower has been constructed for the viewers and entry fee was charged at Rs 25- per person. Watching the sunset, at the southernmost tip of India, is a sight to behold. The vast expanse of Arabian Sea looked like a magical molten gold spread, reflecting the golden rays of setting Sun dipping down into the ocean water. As the weather was clear we could enjoy a mesmerizing view of Sunset.
VIVEKANANDA ROCK MEMORIAL:
Vivekananda Rock Memorial on the sea, situated 500 meters away from the mainland, is a place of great scenic beauty, historical importance and religious significance. Undeniably, one of the most popular places to see in Kanyakumari, this rock memorial is considered to be holy as well as an architectural wonder. Swami Vivekananda visited Kanyakumari for the first time on 24th December 1892, as a part of his pilgrimage to holy centers. This visit to Kanyakumari was a few days before leaving for Chicago to attend the World Parliament of Religions.
Narendranatha Datta, (name given by his parents Sri Viswanath Datta and Smt. Bhubaneswari Devi), left for Chicago on 31st May,1893 with the name ‘Vivekananda’ which was suggested by Maharaja Ajit Singh Bahadur of Khetri. It was the maharaja who provided the saffron robe and the turban to the Swami that henceforward became his trademark attire. The name ‘Vivekananda’ meant ‘the bliss of discerning wisdom’. Swami Vivekananda became very famous after his brief but impressive speech at the Parliament of World Religion in Chicago in September, 1893. He represented India and Hinduism at the Parliament of world Religion held at the Permanent Memorial Art Palace, Chicago. For the second time he visited Kanyakumari after a gap of 5 years. Vivekananda landed at Kanyakumari , along with some European disciples on January 26, 1897 in a steamer from Sri Lanka, while returning back to India via Suez Canal. During his first visit to Kanyakumari , he swam across the sea to the rock and did his meditation on the bald rock until he attained enlightenment. It is said that he got great inspiration to serve the country and the humanity. It was in 1962, on the wake of his birth centenary celebration under the aegis of Ramakrishna Mission (founded 65 years ago by Swami Vivekananda near Kolkata in 1897), the idea of a memorial was first proposed by the organizing committee of Kanyakumari. Accordingly, the construction for the memorial began and within 7 years, a grand memorial for Swami Vivekananda was inaugurated in 1970, to honour the great saint and spiritual leader of India. Important places to visit at Vivekananda Rock Memorial are – Dhyana Mandapam, Sabha Mandapam, Pratima Mandapam, Mukha Mandapam, a corridor and an open court yard that is around the Sabha Mandapam. A bronze statue-7’4’’height of Swami Vivekananda is consecrated on a pedestal of 4’8’’height in Dhyana Mandapam to provide a proper place and atmosphere for those visitors who may like to sit in calm and meditate for some time. There is an arcade housing some book stalls selling literature and other souvenir items related to Swami Vivekananda's teachings.
STATUE OF AYYAN THIRUVALLUVR:
Adjacent to the Vivekananda Rock Memorial, to the west side, stands the 133ft granite statue of much celebrated Tamil poet and philosopher Thiruvalluvar, author of ‘Tirukkural', an ancient Tamil Work on Dharma and Morality, sculptured by famous Tamil sculptor Sri V. Ganapati Sthapati, which was unveiled on the millennium day of first January 2000 by the then Chief Minister M.Karunanidhi and opened for public. The height of 133 feet denote Tirukkural’s 133 chapters or athikarms and the show of three fingers denote the three themes –Aram, Porul, and Inbam, that is, morals ,wealth and love. This statue is often compared with the statue of Liberty standing on the Liberty Island in New York Harbor in New York City, in the United States of America. This popular memorial can be reached by ferry only, as there is no foot over bridge constructed yet. There is only one company called Poompuhar Shipping Corporation, which operates the combined ferry service to both the captivating memorials for the enthusiastic visitors.
SUCHINDRAM TEMPLE:
On the last day of our Knyakumari visit, in the afternoon, we packed up for our return journey and took a taxi to Suchindram en route to Nagercoil, at a distance of 11 km. As tourists to Kanyakumari rarely miss the ancient temple at Suchindram, we with all eagerness visited the temple dedicated to Sthanumalaya-Sthanu-Mal-Ayan (Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma). The place was originally known as Gnanaranya where Indra performed penance and secured absolution from a very serious curse, through the grace of Lord Shiva. Subsequently, Indra built a shrine, installing the Trimurthis in one Linga. The Linga thus enshrined is unique in our country. It is believed that even today Indra offers worship at the shrine at mid-night.
Suchindram temple has a very high architectural and sculptural attraction. The exquisitely carved images of deities, the 18 ft high stone of Hanuman, Yali (the mythological dragon), musical stone pillars are a few splendid works compelling the attention and curiosity of the visitors. We were told by the priest of the temple that in puranic period, sage Atri and his wife Anasuya had their hermitage here. One day, Indra being enamored by the beauty of Anasuya cunningly plotted to enjoy the company of Anasuya. The sage who could perceive the evil design of Indra, cursed him. What happened thereafter is, in short, the story of Suchindra Temple. Thus, the temple is associated with Indra whose sin was propitiated after worshiping the presiding deity and also Anasuya for her chastity. After a satisfying visit to the shrine at Sucindram, our Taxi dropped us at the nearby Nagarcoil - interstate bus terminus to catch our Madurai bound T.T.D.C – Red Bus.
Gouranga Charan Roul (gcroul.roul@gmail.com) : The author, after completing post graduate studies in political science from Utkal University, Odisha in 1975, worked as a senior intelligence sleuth in the department of Customs, Central Excise & Service Tax and retired as senior superintendent. As a staunch association activist, he used to hold chief executive posts either as General Secretary or President of All India Central Excise Gazetted Executive Officer's Association, Odisha for 20 years. Presently in the capacity of President of Retired Central Excise Gazetted Executive Officer's Association, Odisha, coordinating the social welfare schemes of the Association. Being a voracious reader, taking keen interest in the history of India, Africa, Europe and America. In his globe tottering spree, widely travelled America and Africa. At times contributing articles to various magazines.
The small country we are talking of is the mountainous picturesque Switzerland. It is just not beautiful, but the world's most expensive country. It is famous for many things like tourism, chocolates, watches, and above all the much talked about Swiss Banks that stack money of many politicians from different countries and the other rich. Its city Zurich is the most expensive city in the world. The cost of living index (general index) is a pointer to compare the cost of living in different cities across the world. The cost of living in the base city is always expressed as 100. New York City of the U.S. was taken as the baseline (whose cost of living index is 100) while calculating the index, the cost of living in the destination is then indexed against this number.
New York is counted as one of the most expensive cities in the world. There are only 6 more cities which are more expensive than New York and their cost of living is more than that of New York. Interestingly, all of the 6 cities are in Switzerland, they are Zurich, Lugano, Basel, Geneva, Lausanne, Bern. The cost of living index of India is 24, Zurich is 131.
The reason behind some countries being very expensive and some being less expensive or inexpensive is that there is some common pattern between developing and developed countries. A generalized theory behind this may be pointed out, 500 years back India and China were richer in comparison to Europe. The reason, it is said that humanity at that time revolved around agriculture. It was the time of the Agricultural Revolution which along with home or cottage manufacturing provided self sufficiency for people .But when the Industrial Revolution came, it started in Europe ,after the advent of which, the economy of the world started to revolve around the industries. The theory states that the climate was very comfortable in countries like India and China and since the land was very fertile for agriculture, the people could lead their lives easily. But the climate in Europe was extremely harsh.It used to be very cold there. Necessity is the mother of invention. The climatic and environmental conditions forced people to innovate and that is why it is said that the industrial revolution began in Europe and not in India or China. And since the world economy today revolves around the Industrial Revolution, the European countries obviously forge ahead.
Switzerland is famous for its luxury watches, chocolates, and the highly developed tourism sector. What is common in all these things? All of them are final end products that are highly valued. Switzerland exports all of them to other countries. In comparison what India and other developing countries export. All the agricultural products or primary goods. So, it is obvious that you will not get as much money by exporting agricultural products as you would by exporting luxury, high quality products to other countries. There are also other numerous reasons.
There are a lot of rich people in Switzerland. According to statistics, Switzerland has the highest per capita of millionaires that amounts to 11.8 percent of their adult population. That is, every 10th person you come across on the street of Switzerland is a millionaire. The country attracts millionaires. The reason for that is the tax here is very low. The country does not charge so much for business. The VAT rate is one of the lowest. It is around 8 percent on most of the things. It is around 7.7 percent in restaurant. It is 3.8 percent for accommodation and services, 2.5 percent on the basic necessity items. There is a huge advantage of living in an expensive country, if you are earning in the same currency. The second reason is the banks are highly safer. They have remained historically popular for the people who wanted to export their money out of their countries and indulge in money laundering. Third, it is a very safe and stable country, so obviously rich people would like to stay where there is safety and no fight.
During Hitler’s rule and Nazi persecution, many millionaires of Europe crossed over to Switzerland because it was a safe and neutral country. So when millionaires who also have been entrepreneurs come, it will have a huge boost to the country's economy. So the cost of rent, all the buying items would increase as millionaires can afford it. So if so many rich people are staying in a rich country then automatically the cost of living would increase. The richer people are in a place that is directly proportional to the cost of living of that place. So these are the reasons why Switzerland is an expensive country.
Prosperity of a country also depends on the political atmosphere of the country. Hobbes, the English philosopher, has long since emphasized the need of political stability without which there can be no development. In a country riddled with internecine warfare, projects like science, arts manufacturing and even farming, would be impossible or a waste of time as people cannot reap the benefits of their labor, something the philosopher of strong government had cautioned. His thesis is borne out by the fact that Switzerland has not fought any major war for last five hundred years.
As the Time magazine would tell us ,the last time the Swiss fought a military battle was 500 years ago by losing a devastating war against the French at the Battle of Marignano (September 1515). Some two hundred years ago (1815), Switzerland was acknowledged as a neutral state by the European big powers in the Vienna Congress following the Napoleonic wars. But in 1920, the League of Nations formally recognized its neutrality.
Swiss neutrality is one of the main hallmarks of Switzerland's foreign policy. It dictates that Switzerland is not to be involved in armed or political conflicts between other states. This policy is self-imposed and designed to promote external security and ensure peace.
Switzerland’s neutrality allows the country to act as a mediator between countries at war and having enemity. Its diplomats often represent the interests of countries that have no diplomatic relations with each other. Thus for example it looked after US interests in Cuba and Iran, and Cuba’s interests in the US.
It is of interest to note that its city Geneva houses around 200 international organizations and diplomatic missions from about 170 countries. Thus it functions as the international capital of Switzerland. It is the European headquarters of the United Nations and headquarters of the International Committee of the Red Cross.
Granting asylum to political refugees has long been a Swiss hallmark, and one of the ways Switzerland influences global politics despite its neutrality. It welcomed Russian jeweler Peter Carl Fabergé and German author Thomas Mann, along with 300,000 others during the Nazi era alone. (if TIME magazine is to be believed )
There should not be a misconception that Swiss people are not concerned about their own defense and guarding their borders. It maintains a strong army of more than 600,000 men. The Swiss Army can be mobilized in half an hour. A huge percentage of their population is ultimately military trained. During the second great war, Switzerland needed to defend its borders from both Allied and Axis air intrusions. For instance, they shot down nearly a dozen German planes in 1940 alone, as well as shot down some American bombers and forced down countless others on both sides. This included grounding and detaining the crews of over a hundred Allied bombers that tried to fly over the country.
Not to be forgotten is the fact that Switzerland is credited for being home of Direct Democracy. Here people control policy and policy makers through instruments of Direct Democracy as Referendum, Initiative and Recall.
The Swiss generally attribute their good fortune to their national virtues like democracy, federalism, stability, neutrality and political moderation. Key to understanding of Swiss neutrality is what Churchill had highlighted as four elements that, to his mind, gave Swiss neutrality its distinctive character: Swiss democracy, its ‘armed neutrality’, humanitarian mission, and business activities.
To its discredit Switzerland was too conservative to give political equality to women for a long time. However the blot was removed when women were enfranchised on the national level in 1971. But in the canton of Appenzell women had to wait until 1990 for full voting rights.
(Compiled from different sources).
Mr Nitish Nivedan Barik,who hails from Cuttack,Odisha is a young IT professional working as a Senior Developer with Accenture at Bangalore
PURI-HABITAT OF THE LORD:
PURI is a city, district headquarters and municipality on the Bay of Bengal about 60 km from Odisha’s state capital BHUBANESWAR. It has many ancient names such as SRIKSHETRA, PURUSOTTAMA DH?MA, PURUSOTTAMA KSHETRA, PURUSOTTAMA PURI and JAGANNATH PURI. After the 12th century AD, PURI came to be known by the shortened form “JAGANNATHA PURI”, or in a short form as “PURI”. In Hindu scripture, Rigveda is referred to as PURUSHAMANDAMA- GRAMA. Over time the name may have got changed to PURUSHOTTAMA PURI and then finally to PURI as we know it today. In general, the word “Puri” means habitat (of lord Jagannath).
JAGANNATH TEMPLE:
Shree Jagannath Puri Temple was constructed by a renowned king of the Ganga Dynasty Ananta Varman Chodaganga Deva in the 12th century. The king started the construction in 1136 AD and Jaga Mohan or the assembly hall and Vimana or chariot of the temple were constructed during his reign. Later Anangabhima Deva completed the construction of the temple in 1174AD.
THE LEGEND:
According to a legend Indradyumna - a king was a great devotee of Lord Vishnu. He heard that Lord Vishnu has come in the form of Nila-Madhava. He sent a priest named Vidyapati to search for Nila-Madhava. Loitering around Vidyapati reached a place where Sabaras(tribals) were residing. Vishvavasu was their chief. He invited Vidyapati to live with him.
Vishvavasu married off his daughter Lalita to Vidyapati. Vidyapati noticed that when his father-in-law returns, his body had a good smell of sandalwood, camphor, and musk. On asking Lalita told him that her father worshipped Nila Madhava. Vidyapati requested to be taken to Nila-Madhava. Visvavasu blindfolded him and took him to the cave. Vidyapati took with him seeds of mustard which he dropped on the way to remember the way to the cave. Later he informed the king. King came to the place but, to his disappointment, the deity disappeared. To see the deity, he observed fast unto death on Mount Neela. Following an Akash-vani he sacrificed a horse to see the Nila-Madhava and upon darshan built a temple. Narada installed the idol of Sri Narsimha in the temple.
One night in his sleep he saw Lord Jagannath in his dream. He was directed about a fragrant tree and was ordered to make idols from its wood. So the king made the idols of Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Subhadra. Along with it, he also made the Sudarshan Chakra.
Puri's celebrated Jagannath Temple is a place of great importance to believers. It is one of the Char Dham holy journey sites in India and is also well-known for the annual Rath Yatra (although there are at least 12 important yatras of Jagannath Mahaprabhu) with elaborate worship services. According to an estimate 80% of Puri’s economy, today depends upon the Jagannath temple directly or indirectly.
The Temple complex covers an area of 37000m2. The height of the outer wall (Meghananda Pacheri ) surrounding the whole temple is 6.1m. The main portion of the temple is also surrounded by a wall known as Kurma Bheda. The complex has 120 temples and shrines inside. The main temple has a chakra of Lord Vishnu on the top. This chakra is also known as Nila Chakra. The tower of the temple is 65m.
THE TEMPLE PRECINCT:
Nila Chakra
Nila Chakra is located on the top of the temple. A different flag, ( Patita Pavana), is hoisted on the chakra daily. The chakra has eight spokes called Navagunjaras. The chakra is made of Ashtadhatu. The circumference of the chakra is 11m and its height is 3.5m.
Singhdwara
There are four gates to enter the temple and one of them is Singhdwara. There are statues of two lions one on each side of the gate. People can enter the temple through the staircase of 22 steps(Baisi Pahacha).
There is an image of Lord Jagannath which is painted on the right side of the entrance (Patitapavana). This image was made for untouchables who were allowed to pray to the image of the lord from outside but were forbidden to enter the temple.
Arun Stambha
Arun Stambh is situated in front of the Singdwara. The pillar is sixteen-sided and is made from one stone. The idol of Arun can (driver of the chariot of Sun god). Arun Stambh was previously located at Konark temple but was brought here by Guru Brahmachari Gosain.
Hathidwara, Vyaghradwara, and Ashwadwara
Hathidwara, Vyaghradwara, and Ashwadwara are the three other entrances from where people can enter the temple. The gates are named so as they are guarded by elephants, tigers, and horses respectively.
Vimala Temple
There are many small temples on the premises of Jagannath Temple and Vimala temple is one of them. Hindu mythology says that the feet of Goddess Sati fell on the spot. The food offered to Lord Jagannath is also offered to goddess Vimala then it is called Mahaprasad.
Mahalaxmi Temple
Many rituals are performed in the Jagannath temple and the Mahalaxmi Temple plays an important role because the preparation of the food to be offered to Lord Jagannath is supervised by Mahalaxmi.
Mukti Mandapa
Mukti Mandapa is a platform made with granite and its height is five feet. The square-shaped mandapa covers an area of 900 square feet. The roof of the mandapa is supported by twelve pillars out of which four are built in the middle. The roof is 13 feet high while the height of each pillar is 8 feet. Idols of many gods and goddesses have been installed here.
Dola Mandapa
Dola Mandapa is used to make a swing on which the idol of Dologobinda is placed. The swing is made during the annual Dol yatra.
VARIOUS YATRAS OF THE LORD:
Chandan Yatra
Chandan Yatra is the longest festival celebrated in the temple. The yatra is divided into two parts namely Bahara Chandana and Bhitara Chandana and each part is celebrated for 21 days. Bahara Chanda is the first part in which the chariots are built to take the three deities out during Rath Yatra.
In these 21 days, the idols of Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Subhadra along with five Shiva Lingas are taken to the Narendra Tirtha tank. The deities are put into the boats.
Bharara Chanda is carried for the next to last 21 days in which the rituals are carried inside the temple.
Snana Yatra
Snana Yatra is celebrated on the full moon day of the Jyeshtha month as this is the birthday of Lord Jagannath. On this day, Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra, Subhadra, Madan Mohan, and Sudarshan are taken to Snana Bedi in a procession and bathed while performing different rituals. The devotees believe that visiting the deities on this day clean all their sins.
Anavasara
Anavasara or Ansara is celebrated after the snana yatra in which the deities are taken to Anavasara Ghar where they rest for 15 days and devotees are not allowed to see them. Cooked food is also not offered to the deities.
Rath Yatra
Rath Yatra of Puri is very famous and is conducted either in June or July. In this yatra, Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Subhadra are brought outside and kept in three separate chariots. Then they are taken to Gundicha Temple. Every year new chariots are built having wooden wheels. These chariots are pulled by the devotees.
TEMPLE ACCESS CONTROL:
Non-Hindus are not allowed into the temple, which had attracted controversy over its refusal to allow entry to Indira Gandhi at the height of her powers. Though she was a Hindu, the temple management did not allow her entry as she was married to a non-Hindu. Buddhists, Jains and Sikhs are, however, allowed.
IDOL WITHOUT HANDS, FEET AND EARS:
According to the legend poet, Tulsidas once visited Puri in search of lord Ram, whom he used to call Raghunath. After his darshan of Lord Jagannath, he was extremely disappointed. He was so sad that he walked away. He then reached a village called Malatipathpur. There he sat down under a tree and started to cry. A boy passing by came up to him and asked him the reason. The poet explained to the boy that his Raghunath, whom he loved so dearly, had eluded him at Puri and that he was non-existent in what he saw at the temple.
The boy then explained to Tulsidas that Raghunath was an offshoot of Param Bramha, who can move without feet, see without eyes and listen without fear. Tulasi Das realised his folly and rushed back to Puri to find his Raghunath.
TEMPLE FACTS STRANGER THAN FICTION:
The flag mounted on the top of the Jagannath Temple flows in the opposite direction to the wind's course without any scientific background to back it up.
Every day a priest climbs the walls of the temple with a height equivalent to that of a 45 storey building, to change the flag atop the temple dome. The practice is done with bare hands without any protective gear. It's believed if the ritual is skipped one day from the calendar, the temple will be shut down for a long 18 years.
The temple is reported to have no shadow at all, at any time of the day from any directions possible.
The Sudarshan Chakra weighing about a tonne atop the apex has two mysterious things about it. The first metal weighing about a tonne just got up there without any machinery. The second is that from every direction you look, the Chakra looks back with the same appearance. It's like it was designed to look just the same from every direction.
We see birds sitting, resting and flying above our heads and rooftops all the time. But, this particular area is restricted, not even a single bird is seen above the temple dome, even an aeroplane cannot be seen flying above the temple.
The total number of people visiting the temple varies between 2,000 to 2, 00,000 every day. Miraculously, the Parsadam prepared every day is never wasted, not even a bite!
Second, after you put the first step inside the temple from Singha-Dwara, the sounds of the ocean waves are entirely lost. This phenomenon is more prominent in the evening time. The sound returns when you leave the temple.
Take any place on Earth, in the daytime the breeze from the sea comes to land and the opposite happens in the evening. But, in Puri, the breeze has the opposite tendency.
The traditional way to cook the Parsadam is followed by the priests here. Exactly seven pots are used as vessels mounted over one another and are placed on a wood fire. Surprisingly, the top most pot is cooked first, and the rest follows the same order.
The Yamas and Niyamas come from the very well known text 'The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali' These are often considered as ways of 'right living'.
The Yamas
• Ahimsa
• Satya
• Asteya
• Brahmacharya
• Aparigraha
Ahimsa:
Such deliberately done unwise deeds due to which someone is hurt physically or mentally. If it is required and is in the interest of individuals or masses then it is not hinsa. Sending murderers to gallows or killing enemies on the battlefield is not hinsa. In the present context all restrictions put into effect by the state to protect masses from covid-19 are not hinsak ( pl note corona and covid-19 aren’t the same though used interchangeably)
Satya:
Saying or spreading things as we have heard isn’t Satya. Our scriptures describe so many ordinary karma kand which promises unbelievable results. This can’t be Satya. They may give peace to some kindred souls who believe in these. Satya must be verifiable. In these trying times let's not spread what we haven’t or can’t verify as Satya. In this connection, 4-way Rotary Test is very helpful.
Asteya:
Asteya simply means not stealing. Stealing isn’t restricted to physical things alone. It equally applies to intellectual property like passing on somebody’s work or thoughts as our own. I am not able to relate this immediately to the current emergency. But, yes, by some stretch of imagination buying and hoarding essentials may be considered stealing someone’s right to those essentials. But, I think this is rather far fetched.
Brahmacharya:
I don’t agree with the most common interpretation which is “celibacy”. Brahma means ultimate truth and charya means actions. To me, this means Acharan ( conduct) which will take or connect one to the ultimate truth. This is spiritual. Spiritualism starts where the physical world ends or what science cannot fathom. So, Brahmcharya means the quest for ultimate truth in the universe. Since it is beyond science there may not be verifiable evidence as of now or in the present state of the art. In this regard, it is different from Satya.
Aparigraha:
This is the virtue of non-possessiveness, non-grasping or non-greediness. Aparigraha refers to keeping the desire for possessions to what is necessary or important, depending on one's life stage and context. In the present context, it means not hoarding even essentials and not buying luxuries.
Niyama:
Shaucha:
Shaucha means purity, cleanliness and clearness. It refers to the purity of mind, speech and body also. But the interpretation of physical purity is applicable in the present context.
I have often wondered what kind of purity of hands the priest asks us to do when he says, “???? ?????????” and uses durva to put few drops of water on our hands. This is adambar without any benefit and is at best symbolic.
Santosha:
Santosha is the greatest wealth. ?? ?? ???? ?? ??, ???? ??, ?? ???? ?? ???, ?? ??? ????? ???? ?? ?? ?? ???? ????. In ancient times wealth was measured in terms of cows, elephants and horses and precious gemstones. The poet says these are like dust when you have santosha dhan. Santosha means satisfaction. It doesn’t mean pleasure. In the present context in our present situation, we should have Santosha that we have a roof over our heads and food to eat and don’t have to venture out to make a living. Help others. As a minimum don’t deduct the wages of people who work for you. Give them a chance to stay distanced unless impossible and in that case look after them as you would do to your children.
Tapa:
Tapa is commonly translated as “endurance.” It can be thought of as a way of carrying on with good spirits when "the going gets tough." This is very relevant now. Difficult time with constant jabbering on the TV. The only bad news( increases their TRP). Engage in activities that increase your endurance. I find watching Oscar-nominated films increases my endurance and so does writing and researching on the topics I haven’t studied earlier in my life. You can do painting, music and so on, even Yoga and meditation if that works for you.
Ishvara Pranidhana:
Ishvara is a Sanskrit word that can be translated to mean supreme, or personal, God. Pranidhana means to dedicate, devote, or surrender. The practise of Ishvara Pranidhana, therefore, means that if we can completely surrender our ego identities to God then we will attain the identity of God. This God can be different for different people. To me personally, in each one of us God resides and therefore service any service even if it is limited to listening to them is superior to visiting Tirtha, Snan in Ganga or even visit Puri. Man change to kathauti me Ganga. In the present context minimum that we can do is listen to people about their issues and advise them correctly.
Swadhyay:
the simple meaning is self-study. To me, it means introspection and study of self. If we know ourselves then what the world thinks of us becomes irrelevant. This can lead to the end of turmoil and great peace within. We can work on improving ourselves. Others don’t have to tell us. In the current situation if we knew how hygienic or otherwise we are then we can try and improve our behaviour. In that case “wash hands frequently” or somebody telling on TV that “old people have poor hygiene” etc generalisations can be better understood contextually and suitable relevant actions can be taken.
What is Bitcoin?
In the present discussions, we will use the term Bitcoin to represent all cryptocurrencies unless the context indicates otherwise. Bitcoin is the most popular one of the many cryptocurrencies in the market and there are more than 2500 of them. Bitcoin was created by Satoshi Nakamoto (not a real name) and was offered in January 2009 as a substitute to the official currencies. It is digital money, an associate-to-associate electronic cash system that helps an associate to transfer value to another associate securely over the internet and at a fraction of the cost compared to banks. Simply speaking, it is an electronic file with an assigned money value stored in the digital wallet. It can be sent from one digital wallet in full or part to other digital wallets belonging to another associate of choice. It has nothing to do with any centralised monetary authority and is based on Blockchain technology.
Blockchain technology.
Blockchain technology is the concept behind the operation of Bitcoin or any other cryptocurrency. The blockchain is an immutable(unchangeable), distributed(scattered) digital record of dealings stored in several places on a computer network. Blockchain technology is as reliable and hacker immune as any internet banking operation. Each dealing is stored in a “block.” A block can contain several records of dealings. The record contained in a block is supported by and linked to the record in a previous block and, over time, forms a chain hence the name blockchain.
Blockchain Inventor
There is no single blockchain inventor as several people have contributed to its development. There is no patent. It all began in 1991 when Stuart Haber and W Scott Stornetta invented a method to time-stamp a digital document. They talked about the unchangeability of digital records with time stamping that uses hash functions and digital signatures to verify the genesis of a particular document. This was the first version of blockchain.
In 2000, Stefan Konst presented a model where entries in the chain can be traced back from the start to prove authenticity. This is the same model we see in Bitcoin today
In 1998, Nick Szabo started working on an idea of a decentralized currency he called ‘Bit Gold’. Bit Gold introduced the concept of the price of Bit Gold unit based on its cost to create. The idea failed to take off.
In 2008-9, Satoshi released the whitepaper on Bitcoin by combining all the ideas presenting a practical use-case for blockchain. He also removed price dependency on the computation cost. He argued that value should be determined by the open market. This opened the way for cryptocurrency trading like stocks and made these popular with investors.
Blockchain Protocol
A blockchain protocol is a set of rules like those that govern the connection of computer systems to the modern internet. The difference is that rather than e-mails blockchain protocol is used for financial transactions.
Is Bitcoin legal?
Bitcoin, the cryptocurrency, is not regulated by the state and is not printed—it is computer-generated. It can be traded as also used for buying goods and services. But there are still no uniform national/international laws that regulate it. Many countries allow the use of bitcoin, such as the U.S., Canada, and the U.K. Some countries, including China and Russia, however, are opposed to all cryptocurrencies.
Bitcoin is legal in India, which means one can buy and sell it and hold it as an investment. But there is no governing body to look after or protect it in the country. There is a lot of confusion in India right now.
Is bitcoin taxable in India?
Profits from bitcoin sales can be taxed as business income if traded frequently or as capital gains if held for investment purposes. It is just like stocks.
How to Invest in Bitcoin in India?
The best way to invest in Bitcoin in India is through a cryptocurrency exchange.P2P exchange or mining are the other two ways. Among the three options, investing through cryptocurrency exchange is the safest and easiest way to invest in Bitcoin. After the favourable verdict on cryptocurrency by the Supreme Court of India, cryptocurrency exchanges in India have seen a big hike in user registration and investment.
Best Crypto Exchanges in India to Buy Bitcoins/other cryptocurrencies
WazirX
WazirX is India's popular crypto exchange capable of processing millions of transactions. It provides a smooth and efficient trading experience across web, Android & iOS mobile, Windows, and Mac applications.
BuyUCoin
They provide an easy and reliable platform for several cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, Ethereum Classic, List, NEM, Civic, Litecoin, Bitcoin Cash, etc.
The users can participate in crypto as a SIP. The platform stores 95% of user funds offline which minimizes hacker risks.
Bitbns
Bitbns uses the P2P model. The P2P model allows users to purchase and sell cryptocurrency without the intervention of a third party. They have 98+ cryptocurrencies currently listed,
Zebpay
They have over 3 million customers and $2 billion in fiat transactions. Strong security includes a mechanism to block all outgoing transactions if desired.
CoinSwitch Kuber
This is a user-friendly crypto trading site for users in India. CoinSwitch Kuber software is stated to be the best cryptocurrency exchange for Indians. This is ideal for beginners. CoinSwitch Kuber supports transactions in Indian Rupee and allows you to start investing in Bitcoin for as low as ?100.
Giottus
Giottus Cold wallets are protected by 100% cyber-theft insurance. They also provide insurance coverage. It provides 24 x 7 free instant deposit & withdrawal of Rupees processed within 10 seconds.
Benefits of investing through a cryptocurrency exchange:
• • Easy and secure transactions
• • Higher liquidity
• • Greater access to the crypto market
• • Confidential transactions
• • Offer best exchange rates
Why are people scared of investing in cryptocurrency?
1-The prices of cryptocurrencies are highly volatile, which means that they're highly risky.
However, most experts agree that there's little harm — and a lot to gain if one has patience. One should invest a small portion of one’s portfolio in the assets, typically no more than one could afford to lose.
2-Users can lose bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies because of theft, computer failure, loss of access keys, and more.
Safe storage of Bitcoin
1-Cold storage (or offline wallets)- This is one of the safest methods for holding bitcoin, as these wallets are not accessible via the Internet, but hot wallets are still convenient for some users.
2-Hardware Wallet-Those interested in the safest storage should consider using a hardware wallet for all their long-term Bitcoin and cryptocurrency storage. Just the way we keep cash or cards in a physical wallet, bitcoins are also stored in a wallet. The wallet can also reside on a mobile device, on a computer desktop, or kept safe by printing the private keys and addresses used for access on paper.
How one can fully enjoy Cryptocurrencies?
1. Educate Yourself
You need to understand the market and its fluctuations. Research shows that once people understand the technology behind cryptocurrency trading, they can make the right choice 90-95% of the time. New investors usually panic and sell their crypto when they see the prices coming down only to watch those prices skyrocket again.
2. Know All Your Options
Whenever someone talks about cryptocurrencies, the first thing that probably comes to one's mind is Bitcoin. But there are over 2500 types of cryptocurrencies. Ethereum and Bitcoin are some of the most popular ones. But there is a whole lot that one needs to explore before investing blindly in just one kind of cryptocurrency. It is suggested that one must diversify an investment portfolio and not invest all money in one kind of cryptocurrency just as one doesn’t invest in just one stock.
3. Don’t Invest Just Because of fear of missing out (FOMO)
FOMO (fear of missing out) is one of the biggest culprits in the fear of investing. The tendency of FOMO is highest amongst the younger generations. They sometimes invest because everyone is investing and seeing a great return on profit.
Everyone needs to ask themselves certain questions before investing. How much can I afford to lose? How long can I invest for? Am I ready to take the risk of losing it all?
4. Be Secure
Many people do not invest in the crypto market because they fear that they could get hacked and their personal and financial data will be stolen. This is a legitimate fear as the amount of fraud and theft in cryptocurrencies is rapidly increasing. One must use strong passwords and trust a company that keeps their data safe through a strong system. The danger is no more than that involved in online banking.
Shri Satish Pashine is a Metallurgical Engineer. Founder and Principal Consultant, Q-Tech Consultancy, he lives in Bhubaneswar and loves to dabble in literature.
ALL IN JUST THAT MICRO SECOND OF A SMILE...
Face is NOT always, the index of the mind...
On the other hand, some people, some photographs, instantly make us connect with their soul, sometimes even evoke inexplicable tears...
It is not about the external charm, or beauty that is only skin deep, and ephemeral...
It is being receptive of a deeper intangible energy, the vibrating strings of love, warmth swirling in the universe creating a spontaneous rhythm that only souls could hear; irrespective of gender, age...
Apart from the intuitive messages we receive from the eyes that are considered as windows to the soul, an inexplicable warmth instantly exude, a sense of finding our home, our nest in the person we come across... An instant soul-connect. No words. Just Glimpses, or a smile...
A nourishing nurturing parent, a doting grandparent, a brother/sister too can be discovered in the smiling soul, spreading peace through his/her gentle presence in the universe...
All in just that micro second of a smile...
No wonder tears well up too, at times, and sometimes a beautiful healing happens too...????
A bilingual poet-writer(Tamil, English), Madhumathi is an ardent lover of Nature, Poetry, Photography and Music. Her poems are published in Anthologies of The Poetry Society(India), AIFEST 2020 Poetry contest Anthology, CPC- Chennai Poetry Circle, IPC – India Poetry Circle, Amaravati Poetic Prism, and in e-zines UGC approved Muse India, Storizen, OPA – Our Poetry Archives, IWJ - International Writers Journal, Positive Vibes, and Science Shore.
‘’Ignite Poetry'’, “Arising from the dust”, “Painting Dreams", “Shards of unsung Poesies", "Breathe Poetry" are some of the *recent Anthologies her poems, and write ups are part of. (*2020 - 2021). Besides Poetry, Madhumathi writes on Mental health, to create awareness and break the stigma, strongly believing in the therapeutic and transformational power of words. Contact: madhumathi.poetry@gmail.com Blog: https://madhumathipoetry.wordpress.com
(This short story is dedicated to the care-givers of Dementia patients)
My father was my best friend. He was somebody on whom I had relied upon, in almost every situation. He was the one who gave me great advice so that I could succeed in almost every aspect of my life. My mother had died many years ago and he was the only one I had. He had helped me to choose the companies that I worked with. He was always the first one to accept, my eccentric choices in life. He was the apple of my eye. He was a doting father.
He had retired from service, ten years ago. Every day, he had the habit of waiting for me to return from work. He was always there, at the gates of our small bungalow – waiting for me. But today, my father was not there at the place, where he would be waiting for me. Today, there was no one, waiting to receive me at the gates of my house. I was flummoxed because he had never missed this routine of waiting for me at the gates of our house for the past many years. In fact, that very morning, my father had said, “I will be waiting for you as usual. I will prepare some sweet delicacy for you. Remember, it is your birthday, today.” Now, I felt that something was amiss! My father always kept his word.
My search began. First, I visited the house of Raja uncle, our neighbour. I asked if my father was in his home. He replied in the negative. I received the same answer in over a dozen places of our acquaintance. The sun was beginning to set. I was beginning to feel worried. I, then remembered, how my father’s behaviour had turned a bit quaint over the past few months. I remembered as to how, of late, he had become more forgetful. I remembered that of late, he seemed to have lost his desire to meet his old friends. He had said many times, “Friends will come and go but you are my true treasure.” Many times, he had put salt into our cups of coffee and tea, instead of sugar. I remembered him muttering, “I am sorry,” under his breath, whenever he had fallen prey to his spells of memory loss. These were small and subtle changes but they had been continuous ones. I had not noticed these warning signs. I remembered my father telling me, “Son, the future is always uncertain. Take the next right step, now. Let us seize the present.” The reason for my callousness was that in spite of the several spells of forgetfulness and confusion, he had never missed his routine of waiting for me at the gates of our house. And that one sign had misled me.
It was at that moment that I decided to register a case of ‘missing person’ with the local police to locate my father. We found him, finally. He was wandering, a few kilometres away from our house. I realised the gravity of the situation. I took my father to a notable general physician, who told us to consult a particular neurologist. The neurologist said that my father was suffering from dementia. Initially, I was heartbroken. But I was also a bit relieved. At least, now we knew what his ailment was! We, the caregivers and the doctors would together, take good care of my father. We would help him in his new journey!
Dr. S. Padmapriya is a well known poet and writer from India. She began writing poems in English at the tender age of seven. She is the author of three poetry collections – ‘Great Heights’, ‘The Glittering Galaxy’ and ‘Galaxy’ as well as one novel, ‘The Fiery Women’ and ‘Fragments’, a collection of short stories. Her poems, short stories, book reviews, articles and other literary works have been published far and wide. She is a multi-faceted personality with experience in teaching, research and administration.
YOUNG MAGIC
The night is very shy,
With a pitch-black sky.
Only the twinkling stars
Are a source of light.
A wide road,
But no cars and bikes,
Only silence and quiet.
The charming stars
In the pitch-black sky.
It seems the night is very shy.
Tanvisha Padhi is a student of Grade VI in Bhubaneswar. She is multi-talented and excels in art, craft, painting and poetry.
Today was the day,
They let me go away!
I swished past the hues
In the shimmering blues.
Mother didn't let me out
Until I was big and stout.
But today I could getaway
From the dark cave in which I lay.
The sunrays gave me a warmly cool kiss,
The ocean, oh! It's such a bliss...
Behind a yellow coral, I saw something tiny,
A fish lonely, but looked just like me...
A stingray attacked her and I did defend,
And woohoo I got a lovely friend!
Around the colors of corals we swirled,
The ocean, it's a magical world!
Hiya Khurana is 14 yrs old and is studying in 10th Standard. She developed an interest in writing since a very young age. She enjoys writing essays and poems. She started writing poems at the age of 10. She likes reading short stories and poems. She won an essay writing competition at the age of 8. She has also won many school level speech competitions in English as well as in Hindi. She represented her school and backed a position in the Top 10 in a national Hindi speech competition held last year. She is also interested in painting and crafting. She has won many school level drawing competitions. She also enjoys playing chess and has participated in an inter school chess competition as well. She has won chess awards at the school level.
You are my healer, you are my friend;
You are the person, with whom I like, time to spend.
You are my mentor, you are my teacher;
In every situation, you are my partner.
With you I play many games like chess, hide & seek, horse & rider,
I am always winner and you are the loser .
You are my custodian, you are my shadow;
I promise, "I will not leave your hand , wherever I go. "
When you were born, the whole world was blessed,
You are none other than my grandparents, you are the best.
For me ; love,fun, happiness and smile you bring:
Thank you my grandparents, for everything.
I pray God to keep you busy, smart and young;
Healthy, happy, blessed and strong.
(Written on the occasion of grandparents day celebration in sai international school, bhubaneswar.)
Trishna ( Natuni ) , a class V student of Sai International School Bhubaneswar, born to engineer parents and doctor grand parents is a gifted child. A disciplined and determined learner she is, as a student, family member, speaker, writer and an Odisi dancer. She is blended with traditional and cultural values, spirituality, science and arts. A nature loving girl she has taken reading books and travelling as her hobbies. Her favourite dish is Chicken Biryiani prepared by her mother. Her motto of life is, " NEVER BE A DEFAULTER. " May God bless her.
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