A TO Z INDIA - NOVEMBER 21
P English & Tamil r i c e Monthly Magazine R s Volume 05 • Issue 04 6 5 November / 2021 - 05 Peralassery Subramania temple, Kerala Dedicated to Serpents Kokila Indian Culture ● Indian Art ● Indian Lifestyle ● Indian Religion ● ●
Submit your artwork, articles & essays to the e.mail id: [email protected] A TO Z INDIA ● NOVEMBER 2021 ● PAGE 2 ● ●
FROM THE EDITOR A TO Z INDIA magazine covers the Indian through his art, culture, lifestyle, religion, etc. This magazine gives an insight into the life of Indians from an angle uncovered by others. Turn to find out what it is about and to immerse yourself into an entirely 04 different culture. FROM THE EDITOR'S DESK: LIGHTS AND LEGENDS OF DIWALI - THE MANY Publication Team: STORIES BEHIND THE GRAND OLD FESTIVAL EDITOR: Indira Srivatsa The festival of Diwali in India is celebrated over a period of five days. The ASSOCIATE EDITOR: first day of Diwali is called Dhanvantari Triyodashi or Dhanteras. On this Dwarak, Srivatsa day, Lord Dhanwantari, the god of medicine, came out of the ocean with the EDITORIAL science of Ayurveda for mankind. The second day of Diwali is called Naraka CONSULTANTS: Santha, Chaturdashi. The third day is for Lakshmi Puja. Bhavani, Srinivasan REPORTING: Raghavan 08 PHOTOGRAPHY: Adithyan INDIA’S AND ASIA’S FIRST GRAPHICS ENGINEER: NEWSPAPER - THE STORY OF Chandra HICKY’S BENGAL GAZETTE Once upon a time in 18th inside Editorial Office: century Ireland, there was a E002, Premier man named James Augustus Grihalakshmi Hicky..... Apartments, A TO Z INDIA: Editorial Address Elango Nagar South, Virugambakkam, Chennai - 600092, Tamil Nadu, India. Communication Details: MOBILE: +91-7550160116 e.mail id: [email protected] Disclaimer: A TO Z INDIA Magazine has made a constant care to make sure that content is accurate on the date of publication. The views expressed in the articles reflect the author(s) opinions. A TO Z INDIA ● NOVEMBER 2021 ● PAGE 3
From the Editor's Desk: Lights and Legends of Diwali - The Many Stories Behind The Grand Old Festival Once upon a time there was a great warrior, Prince Rama, who had a beautiful wife named Sita. There was also a terrible demon king, Ravana. He had twenty arms and ten heads, and was feared throughout the land. He wanted to make Sita his wife, and one day he kidnapped her and took her away in his chariot. Clever Sita left a trail of her jewellery for Rama to follow. Rama followed the trail of glittering jewellery until he met the monkey king and Hanuman who became his friend and agreed to help find Sita. Messages were sent to all the monkeys throughout India, and through them to the entire Vanara Kingdom, who set out to find Sita. After a very long search, Hanuman found Sita imprisoned on an island. Rama's army of the Vanaras couldn't reach the island, so they began to build a bridge. Soon the entire Vanara Kingdom throughout India, large and small, came to help. When the bridge was built, they rushed across it and fought a mighty battle. When Rama killed the evil Ravana with a magic arrow, the whole world rejoiced. Rama and Sita began their long journey back to their land, and everybody lit oil lamps to guide them on their way and welcome them back. Ever since, people light lamps at Diwali to remember that light triumphs over dark and good triumphs over evil. The festival of Diwali in India is celebrated over a period of five days. The first day of Diwali is called Dhanvantari Triyodashi or Dhanteras. On this day, Lord Dhanwantari, the god of medicine, came out of the ocean with the science of Ayurveda for mankind. The second day of Diwali is called Naraka Chaturdashi. The third day is for Lakshmi Puja. The fourth day is Govardhan Puja, the day when Lord Krishna asked the people of Vrindavan to pray to Giri Govardhan, the hill, instead of Indra. The fifth day is dedicated to brothers and sisters and is celebrated as Bhai Dooj. It is based on the belief that in the Vedic Era, Lord of Death, Yama, once visited his sister Yamuna. He gave her a boon that whoever would visit her sister on this day, would be liberated of all his sins and will achieve moksha. Whether you’re a believer of these legends and stories or not, there is one thing you’re sure to do on Diwali, and that is to celebrate it with lights and happiness. Happy Diwali! Indira Srivatsa Editor | A TO Z INDIA [email protected] +91-7550160116 A TO Z INDIA ● NOVEMBER 2021 ● PAGE 4
Peralassery Subramania temple, Kerala: Dedicated to Serpents Kokila Ever heard of the snake temple, Peralassery, also known for its unique stepwell and for being open to people of all faiths? This holds true in the case of Sri Subramanya Temple, situated 14 km away from Kannur in Kerala. Kannur itself is home to many temples but the one dedicated to Lord Subramanya in Peralassery is unique for its architecture and associated legends. Subramanya. According to the Here Lord Rama enshrined Lord Hindu scripture Ramayana, the Prince of Ayodhya, Rama, during his course of wanderings in the forests of South India in search of his kidnapped spouse Sita, visited this particular site in Peralassery. He intuitively felt the invisible energies of Lord Subramanya emanating from this place. To consecrate the site, Rama decided to install an idol of Lord Subramanya, which the world would later worship. Today, there are many stone images of cobras and other serpents at the temple, duly worshipped by the visitors. This is why it lures pilgrims. It is faith led by the powerful ancient legend linked to this temple that attracts pilgrims to this place. Legend has it that Lord Subramanya aka Kartikeya, the son of Lord Shiva, appeared at the temple site in the form of a five-headed serpent and lived in the pond for a long time. As a result, the waters of the pond turned sacred, and people started visiting the pond in the hope of getting rid of their miseries as the word spread. There is an Ashoka tree in the temple premises underneath which is a snake hole. Many pilgrims perform Naga Aradhana (Snake worship) by offering hen’s eggs and milk to the snakes residing in the cave to get rid of various maladies. Another amazing fact about this temple is that people A TO Z INDIA ● NOVEMBER 2021 ● PAGE 5
Peralassery Subramania temple, Kerala: Dedicated to Serpents Kokila from all religions are allowed to offer worship at this shrine unlike many prominent temples in the state, where only Hindus are allowed entry. This is why you should visit Peralassery Sri Subramanya Temple. Visiting this ancient shrine is a special blessing in itself. Yet, visitors take delight in the benediction they receive in the form of ery pudding). the heavenly delicious Payasam (rice, milk and jagg There is a large courtyard in the temple premises, where devotees can sit and absorb the quietness at pre-dusk or early dawn. Betrothed and childless couples can pray for progeny by tying wooden cradles on the holy trees and those afflicted with Naga dosham in their natal chart can ask for redemption from the presiding deities. A TO Z INDIA ● NOVEMBER 2021 ● PAGE 6
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The Story of oppression, audacity and determination: India’s and Asia’s first newspaper - The Story of Hicky’s Bengal Gazette Santha Once upon a time in 18th century Ireland, there was a man named James Augustus Hicky. Having lost his father at a young age, Hicky didn’t have a great head-start in life. Like most Irish thrill seekers of his time, Hicky came to London. Just as Hicky negotiated his place in the grimy metropolis, in came another young boy from Amsterdam hoping to make a living, just as Hicky did. Born to British expats in the Netherlands, William Bolts was about the same age as Hicky. The two never crossed paths, but their stories did. Coming back to Hicky, he tried quite a few vocations in London before settling on one. He first apprenticed with a printer, then a lawyer, with a brief stint with the Royal Navy. Eventually, he decided to go east - to India. India was a hot destination those days. Young enterprising men from all over the Isle were sailing to this exotic land of elephants and maharajas, hoping to make a fortune. This was the “gold rush” of the Orient. One day, he boarded an East India Company vessel named the Rockingham as a surgeon’s mate and set sail for India. He’d worked for this surgeon earlier on one of his stints in the Atlantic slave trade. Nearly six months later, two years after the Great Bengal Famine of 1770, Hicky was in Calcutta. Looking at the city Hicky disembarked in, it was impossible to tell, over a million had starved to death here, only a couple of years ago. The bustle was surreal. To dreamy Europeans back then, Calcutta was the “Promised Land.” Here, India’s squalor lived right next to English grandeur. The city was divided between two distinct quarters, one for the wealthy British and the other for everything else. While the former was neatly garnished with stately manors and bougainvillea avenues, the “Black Town” was littered with hovels and everything unsightly. This seedy underbelly housed a vibrant mix of not only India’s Hindus and Muslims but also Europe’s subaltern here for a second lease on life, all in a most intimate proximity. There was money to be made even in Calcutta’s destitution. Some British immigrants made as much as 40,000 pounds a year. Even the average Company clerk made nearly a thousand pounds a year. For perspective, the average Londoner made less than twenty a year back then. Against this backdrop Hicky found himself in Calcutta, a city founded less than 90 years ago. Nearly penniless, he knew where he belonged for now - Black Town. But Company servants weren’t just making money. They were making illicit money. They practiced bribery, embezzlement, and everything in between to make the kind of money their wealthiest of friends back home could only dream of. In other words, the Company drained India, and the servants drained the Company. This is one of the reasons the East India Company skirted insolvency even as India bled dry. As for Bolts, he’d left London long before Hicky. He was frustrated with his worsening relationship with the East India Company, so he decided to start a newspaper to vent his anger. He was almost there. He’d even put out notices all over Calcutta announcing his paper. But before the first print could even see daylight, he was charged with insolvency and deported back to Britain. He was represented in this lawsuit by a fellow British expat and salt trader named Peter Reed. Reed was not a trained lawyer, but he did his best to secure a favorable judgment for his client. He failed. Insolvency was just a pretext. Bolts’ story ends here, but Reed will surface later. For now, let’s get back to Hicky. Hicky’s first vocation was as a self-proclaimed surgeon in the slums of A TO Z INDIA ● NOVEMBER 2021 ● PAGE 8
The Story of oppression, audacity and determination: India’s and Asia’s first newspaper - The Story of Hicky’s Bengal Gazette Santha Calcutta. Then he took out a loan and bought a vessel to make money ferrying cargo between Madras and Calcutta. But one day, bad weather ruined his boat, his cargo, and his fortunes. Unable to square off his debts, Hicky landed in a debtors’ prison. Unshaken, Hicky decided to put his prior experience as a printer’s apprentice to use. So he spent his entire savings of about two hundred pounds to jerry-rig a printing press. Soon he was printing almanacs, handbills, and other documents for a fee while still in jail. This took off. Hicky worked from dawn through midnight, printing everything that came his way. But one could accomplish only so much from the confines of a prison. He wanted out and succeeded thanks to a lawyer named William Hickey. Once out, determined to strike gold in the printing business, Hicky solicited Eyre Coote, a Company officer, and landed a fat contract. So much so that he borrowed 4,000 rupees to buy the tools and hire the men needed to fulfill the order. This could have made him a very wealthy man. But things went south when Coote left Calcutta, and Warren Hastings practically refused to acknowledge the contract, much less honor it. Thus began James Hicky’s bitter spell with the East India Company. Since he couldn’t print for the Company, there’s only one other thing he could do with his equipment. A newspaper! India didn’t have one at the time. In fact, nor did Asia. The year was 1780. Hicky put up posters all over Black Town announcing his newspaper. News those days was hand-written in sheets which were then delivered personally by hired messengers. Not only was this a tedious process, but it was also expensive and vulnerable to copying errors. Hicky’s press would eliminate all of that. Hicky’s paper would also replace the stationary advertising boards of Calcutta and help advertisers reach more customers directly. The British were fighting four simultaneous wars at that time, and timely news was a hot commodity. To avoid controversies, Hicky resolved to remain apolitical and stay away from scandals. His only commitment was to print nothing but “Truth and Facts” while filtering out anything that could offend anyone in the slightest. This, however, was not an easy commitment to keep as Hicky would soon realize. He set up his press at no. 67, Radha Bazar on January 29, 1780. The first copies of Asia’s first-ever newspaper were finally out. Its name was Hicky’s Bengal Gazette. It was Saturday. The next one would only come out next Saturday, it was a weekly periodical. Each cost one rupee and had four pages, the first three for news and the remaining two for advertisements. That was expensive, but the niche offered zero competition. Hicky’s paper was ripe for monopoly. The Gazette became an instant hit. As promised, Hicky remained nonpartisan and non-offensive. But he still managed to sneak in a healthy dose of satire and humor in his writings. Also in line with his commitment, he kept the paper open to inputs from across the board, so long as they were not offensive or political. He printed letters and opinion pieces that agreed with his own views and also those that didn’t. For instance, despite his own parochial notions on women’s place in society, he printed a letter from an Anglo- Indian woman who advocated women’s rights and female sexual freedom. On the news front, Hicky focused on Calcutta. Accidents, crimes, and other events that affected the city found space in Hicky's Gazette. Criticism of the city’s state of affairs on civic amenities was the extent of his politics. The paper carried news of putrefying corpses in the streets and overflowing cemeteries. Since the paper was mostly read by Company officials and other influential members of the society, Hicky’s words A TO Z INDIA ● NOVEMBER 2021 ● PAGE 9
The Story of oppression, audacity and determination: India’s and Asia’s first newspaper - The Story of Hicky’s Bengal Gazette Santha soon started carrying weight. His influence grew. Complaints raised in his paper increasingly started getting addressed by the government. Calcutta suffered from many things—poverty, disease, crime, etc. Topping the list amongst them was fire. He wrote about it in one of the editions and demanded the authorities to do something about it. And the authorities responded. The Company released Bye-Law, a slew of fresh proposals banning thatched roofs and enacting a brand new property tax for road repairs. This faced bitter resistance as taxation without representation. Not too long ago, a similar move had cost the East India Company its American territories. By now, Hicky had begun a clear departure from his commitment to nonpartisan reporting. His influence had given him visible power. He intended to use it for the upliftment of fellow subalterns around him. Bengal Gazette started hosting increasingly political letters and opinions sharply critical of the administration. Being the only mainstream news media in the continent gave Hicky’s Bengal Gazette an enviable level of authenticity. News it carried was often picked up verbatim by papers such as Britain’s London Chronicle, France’s Journal Politique, and Germany’s Politisches Journal. Often, it even made it across the Atlantic to the New World. Hicky duly recognized this growing influence of his work. His reach made him bolder. He was now treading on dangerous terrain. Hicky’s Bengal Gazette had monopolized a niche that had no challenger. This was about to change. Enter Bernard Messink and Peter Reed. Now employed with the East India Company, the two men couldn’t have a more diverse background. Neither had any experience printing, much less printing newspapers. The two men started off aggressive and went straight for the jugular. Besides putting up notices announcing their paper all over Calcutta, they reached out to Hicky’s subscribers individually and nudged them to switch. Finally, on November 18, 1780, Bernard Messink and Peter Reed put out the first-ever copy of India’s second newspaper, the India Gazette. Messink’s contacts at the Belvedere Estate helped him secure free postage for his deliveries. This was a significant edge over Hicky’s business as the latter had to pay for his own postage. Hicky was not aware of this edge. Nevertheless, he was determined to do something about it. Hicky turned to the only tool he had to air his angst - his newspaper. Over the following several editions, he consistently attacked Simeon Droz, Chief of the Board of Trade, to play a role in this conspiracy. Hicky was convinced Droz had orchestrated the whole postage exemption deal for Messink and Reed as revenge. Right off the bat, the two newspapers found themselves on two opposing sides of the ideological divide. While Hicky’s Gazette remained anti-establishment, pro-poor, Messink-Reed’s sucked up to the establishment and followed the money. It was a clear liberal-conservative divide. Hicky’s constant barbs on Droz did not go down well with Hastings, who promptly moved to suppress Bengal Gazette’s circulation. Orders were issued to the Postmaster General to ban Bengal Gazette’s deliveries. Since these orders had come without a formal lawsuit, Hicky saw them as an act of one man’s tyranny. Although he refrained from naming Hastings or even Droz, he continued to make obvious insinuations. Luckily for him though, his fears proved wrong. Instead, driven by the publicity Hasting’s decree brought, Hicky’s subscription grew. He had A TO Z INDIA ● NOVEMBER 2021 ● PAGE 10
The Story of oppression, audacity and determination: India’s and Asia’s first newspaper - The Story of Hicky’s Bengal Gazette Santha to hire messengers to hand-deliver the copies to offset his postal ban. As the voice against tyranny and despotism, his paper gained a cult following amongst the subaltern of Calcutta. This unexpected public support injected Hicky with a fresh dose of adrenaline. He was getting bolder by the day, and the gloves were irreversibly off now. Hicky now took a clear political stand and announced his determination to dismantle Hastings’ autocracy, again, without directly naming the latter. James Hicky was flirting with persecution now. Many others had gone down this road in the past and ended up destroyed. But none could shake his conviction. Hastings had to go. His Gazette was now a vehicle of free speech and revolution, a sharp departure from his original stance against political journalism. The paper no longer gave prominence to civic issues. Instead, it was now obsessed with Hastings and his cohorts. Hicky started dragging the Company over hot coals for corruption and nepotism. His resentment was no longer a matter of personal grudge, he had become the unofficial political bullhorn of the oppressed. “No taxation without representation” became his other battle cry. He genuinely believed all men had equal rights and those rights were unalienable. Of course, by all men he meant all White men. 1782 would see the end of a seven-year war between the Company and the Marathas, the First Anglo- Maratha War. The Marathas won this round. Thousands of soldiers had been sent to their slaughter to fulfill the Governor-General’s pipe-dream of absolute dominance. Hicky not only criticized this move, he even crossed the line to start making extremely personal attacks on Hastings. If there was anything worse than sedition in Company Rule, it was insolence. Calling a sitting Governor-General names like “the Great Mogul” and “Clive’s miserable successor” amounted to just that. Hicky carried on unperturbed. In the March 31 edition of Hicky’s Bengal Gazette, he dropped another bomb. In a front-page feature article, Hicky accused Johann Zacharias Kiernander of embezzlement and fraud. Kiernander was an extremely well-connected clergyman from Sweden who had come to Calcutta as the first Protestant missionary in Bengal. Hicky accused Kiernander of desecrating the Church by making money off its property. He also accused him of stealing funds meant for orphan kids. These were grave accusations against a “man of God.” Bengal Gazette now carried unambiguous calls for mutiny. He challenged the sepoys to disobey Hastings as Hastings broke Company rules. He started seeing himself as the Governor-General’s biggest nemesis. Perhaps the latter saw him thus too. Hicky’s stance quickly went from advocacy to provocation. On June 12, 1781, James Augustus Hicky was arrested on charges of libel. The suit had been brought by the most powerful man on the subcontinent, Warren Hastings. Hicky’s bail was set for 40,000 rupees. The man made less than half that amount in a year, so he failed to pay. And once again, after four eventful years, Hicky found himself in a Calcutta prison. He did continue to print from jail for a while, but eventually, he ran out of funds and could print no more. On March 30, 1782, Calcutta received the last edition of Hicky’s Bengal Gazette. Hicky was released from prison two years later but never went back to printing again. Having lived the rest of his life in relative poverty and anonymity, James Augustus Hicky died at sea eighteen years after stepping out of that prison. Thus ends the story of not just India’s but Asia’s first newspaper. A TO Z INDIA ● NOVEMBER 2021 ● PAGE 11
Jay Jagannath, Jagannath Puri Temple, Odisha Prathamastami Lekhani Sebaka Artcile provided by T.K.V. Karuna e.mail id: [email protected] Prathamastami is celebrated on the eighth day in the month of Margasira (November-December) and is one of the most popular festivals of Odisha. This is widely observed throughout the State. On this occasion the eldest child of the family is honored. He or she is given new clothes and is made to sit on a wooden pedestal (Pidha). In front of him/her an earthen pot full of water (Purna Kumbha) is placed on handfuls of paddy. Above it a branch of mango leaves and a coconut is placed. Then, the mother or any other elderly lady wishes him /her long-life and good health by praying Sathi Debi, the Goddess who protects children from all kinds of evils. Rituals of Prathamastami: Before the first-borns get honored, the mother and all other elderly women of the family offer all the prepared cuisine (Pitha and Khiri) to Sathi Devi first. Then they light the lamp (Arati with Dwipa) before the Goddess. Followed by this the first-borns get honored. Social Significance: The social significance of this festival is that the first-borns are brighter and it is ultimately they who take up the burden of the family after the death of the parents. According to psychologists, the first-borns are mostly healthy, obedient and tradition-bound. A TO Z INDIA ● NOVEMBER 2021 ● PAGE 12
Jay Jagannath, Jagannath Puri Temple, Odisha Prathamastami Lekhani Sebaka Artcile provided by T.K.V. Karuna e.mail id: [email protected] Therefore, the family tradition is maintained through them. For such obvious reasons the eldest child is honored to occupy the respectable place in the family and it is he who maintains the heredity. Tradition in Jagannath Temple Puri: According to traditions, Lord Madhab of Niali, about 50 kilometres from here in Cuttack district is considered as maternal uncle of the Trinity. Prathamastami religious traditions prescribe maternal uncles to present new cloths to their nephews on ‘Prathamastami’ day every year. The practice was revived after a hundred years. Madhab temple servitors brought ‘Khanduas’ and ‘Pattas’ for the deities in Puri. They came in a huge procession from Niali all the way to Puri. On arrival of the procession at Singhadwara, they are accorded warm welcome by Sri Jagannath temple servitors and the temple administration. The cloth packets are taken into the temple and kept in the guard room. Priests would use these cloths to dress the deities on ‘Prathamastami’ A TO Z INDIA ● NOVEMBER 2021 ● PAGE 13
Head of Krishna: Cartoon for a mural of the Raslila by Sahib Ram, 1810. A TO Z INDIA ● NOVEMBER 2021 ● PAGE 14
ீ ஆன் மகம்: சங் கல் பம் - ஓர் ெதா�ப் ப� தமிழினியன் ீ �ைஜ �வக்கத்தில் ெதாைட ம� ைக ைவத்� ஏேதா ெசால் றாங் கேள.. என் ன அ�? சங் கல் பம் - உ�தி ெமாழி. இப் ப� நடக் க ேவண் �ம் என பிராத் திப் ப�.. இந் த இடத் தில் , இந் த ேநரத் தில் , இந் த நாளில் .. இப் ப� �ல் லியமாக �றி, பிரபஞ் ச சக் தியிடம் �ைறயி�வ�.. ேம�ம்... சங் கல் பம் என் ப� உ�தி ��தல் ஆ�ம். திடசங் கற் பம் என இதைனக் ��வர் . சங் கல் பம் இல் லாமல் எந் த ஒ� கிரிையய�ம் நைடெப�வதில் பயனில் ைல. இைற சந் நிதியில் நாம் ெசய் யப் ேபா�ம் கிரிையைய விளக் கமாக �றி, அதைன என் ன ேநாக் கத் திற் காகச் ெசய் கிேறாம் என் பைதய�ம் �றி, இதைன நான் ெசய் � ��ப் ேபன் என் � உ�தி ��வதாகச் சங் கல் பம் அைமந் தி�க் �ம். சங் கல் பத் திேல இவற் �க் � அ�த் தப�யாக �க் கிய இடம்ெப�வ� கால�ம் இட�மா�ம். என் ன நாளில் எந் த இடத் தில் என் ப� மிக விரிவாகவ�ம், அழகாகவ�ம் �றப் ெப�கின் ற�. ெபா��ணர் ந் � இதைனக் ��ம்ேபா� அதைனச் �ைவத்� இன் ப�றலாம். அ�மட்�மல் லாமல் நம� �ன் ேனார்கள் எவ் வளவ� ��ரம் வரலாற் � உணர்வ� உைடயவர்களாக, காலக் கணக்�கைள ��க்கமாகப் ேபணி வந்தவர்களாக இ�ந் தி�க் கின் றனர் என் ப�ம் , ப�வியியல் அறிவி�ம் சைளக் காத ஞானம் A TO Z INDIA ● NOVEMBER 2021 ● PAGE 15
ீ ஆன் மகம்: சங் கல் பம் - ஓர் ெதா�ப் ப� தமிழினியன் உைடயவர்களாக பிரேதசங் கள் பற் றிய தகவல் கைளத் திரட் � ைவத்தி�ந் தி�க் கிறார் கள் என் ப�ம் இதன் �லம் அறிந் � வியப் ப�ற ��கின் ற�. கிரிையகள் நைடெப�ம் கால�ம் இட�ம் மிக �க் கியமானைவ. அதனால் எந் த இடத் தில் எந் தக் காலத் தில் இக் கிரிையையச் ெசய் கிேறாம் எனக் �றிக் ெகாள் வ� மரப�. இப் ேபா� சாதாரணமாக நாம் அறிந் தவைரயில் ஆண் �, மாதம், திதி ��வ�டன் காலநிர் ணயம் ��ந் � வி�கிற�. ஆனால் ��க் கமான �ைறயி�ம், விரிவான �ைறயி�ம் ேதைவக் � ஏற் ற வைகயிற் பல் ேவ� சந் தர் ப் பங் களி�ம் பயன் ப�த் தப் ப�கின் ற ேவ� ேவ� வைகயான சில சங் கல் ப வாக் கியங் களின் தமிழ்க் க�த் � தரப் ப�கின் ற�. “மேமாபாத் த ஸமஸ் த �ரித �யத் வாரா ஸ் ர ீபரேமஸ் வர ப் ரரீ ் த் யர் த் தம் அஸ் யாம் வர் த் தமானாயாம் �ப திெதௗ அஸ் ய ேதவஸ் ய... அஹம் அத்ய கரிஷ் ேய” என் னால் ெசய் யப் பட் ட எல் லாப் பாபங் க�ம் அழிந் � ேபாவதற் காகவ�ம், பரேமஸ் வரனின் மகிழ்ச்சிக் காகவ�ம் இன் ைறய இந் த �பதினத் தில் , இந் த இடத் தில் , இன் ன கிரிையைய நான் ெசய் கிேறன் . இ� மிகச் ��க் கமான சங் கல் பமா�ம். இந் த சங் கற் பத் தில் மிகப் பல விடயங் கள் பற் றி நாம் மனங் ெகாள் ளலாம் . A TO Z INDIA ● NOVEMBER 2021 ● PAGE 16
ீ ஆன் மகம்: சங் கல் பம் - ஓர் ெதா�ப் ப� தமிழினியன் 1. நாம் ஆலயங் களிேல கிரிையகள் ஆற் றத் ெதாடங் �ம் ேபா� திரிகரணங் களா�ம் இைறவைன நா� அவைனேய சிந் தித்� மன ஒ�ைமப் பா� ெகாண் � அதன் பின் இச் ெசயைல நான் ெசய் � ��ப் ேபன் என் � உ�தி�றி சங் கல் பப் ெசய் வதன் அவசியம் ப�ரிந் � ெகாள் ளப் ப�வ�. 2. அந் த சங் கல் பத் திேல என் ன �றப் ப�கிற� என் பைதப் ப�ரிந் � ெகாள் �தல் . 3. அங் � பயன் ப�த் தப் ப�ம் ெசாற் ெசட் டான வார் த் ைதப் பிரேயாகங் க�ம் அழ் கான அ�க் � ெமாழிக�ம் அற் ப�தமான கற் பைன வள�ம் �ைவத் � இன் ப�றத் தக் கன. 4. ப�வியியல் ரதீ ியாக, உலக அைமப் ப�ம் அதன் உட் பிரிவ�க�ம் ெசால் லப் ப�ம் �ைற வியப் ேபா� உற் �ேநாக் கத் தக் கைவ. அ�மட் �மன் றிப் ப�ராண இதிஹாசங் களிற் ெசால் லப் பட் ட இத் தைகய விடயங் கைளய�ம் ப�வியியல் , விஞ் ஞான, வரலாற் றாசிரியர் கள் �றியி�க் �ம் க�த் �க் கைளய�ம் ஒப் பிட் � ஆய் வ�ெசய் தல் . 5. காலம் பற் றிய சிந் தைன எவ் வா� நம் �ன் ேனார் கள் உள் ளத் தில் ெதளிவ�ப�தப் பட் ��ந் த� என் பைத அறிவேதா�ப�வகாலங் கள் , அதன் உட் பிரிவ�கள் இைவபற் றிய விரிவான சிந் தைனகள் அவதானிக் கத் தக் கைவ. 6. இவற் ேறா� தத் �வார் த் தமான இன் ெனா� சிந் தைனய�ம் நம� உள் ளத் தில் �ளிர் விடேவண் �ம். நாம் ஒ� சிறிய கிராமத் தில் இ�க் கிேறாம். அந் தக் கிராமத் தின் ெபயைரய�ம் விரிவான சங் கல் பங் களின் ேபா� ெசால் கிேறாம். அந் தக் கிராமத் ைத அ�த் த நகரம் , மாகாணம், நா�, கண் டம் என விரிந் � ெகாண் � ேபாகின் ற இந் தப் பிரபஞ் சம் எ�ம் ெப�ம் அண் டத் ைத இங் � நாம் மனக் கண் ணில் காண ��கிற�. நாம் இந் தப் ேபரண் டத் தின் ஒ� �ளியில் நிற் கின் ேறாம் என எண் ணி நம� சி�ைமையய�ம் ஆண் டவனின் ெப�ைமையய�ம் க�தேவண் �ம். இேதேபால் நம� வாழ்நாள் ஆகக் ��ய� ��� ஆண் �கள் . இந் தச் சங் கல் பத் திேல ெசால் லப் ப�கின் ற காலக் கணக் �கள் – ய�க ய�காந் திரமாக இந் தப் பிரபஞ் ச இயக் கத் ைத நடத் �ம் ஆண் டவனின் மகத் �வம்தான் என் ேன என் ற வியப் ப�ம் �றிப் பிடத் தக் கதன் ேறா? A TO Z INDIA ● NOVEMBER 2021 ● PAGE 17
A TO Z INDIA Magazine wishes a Happy Diwali 2021...! A TO Z INDIA Magazine wishes a Happy Diwali 2021...! Have a happy and safe Diwali. Have a happy and safe Diwali. May your Diwali be free from darkness and abundant with light. May your Diwali be free from darkness and abundant with light. A TO Z INDIA ● NOVEMBER 2021 ● PAGE 18
Jay Jagannath, Jagannath Puri Temple, Odisha Odhana Shashti, Ghoda Lagi besha of the Trinity Lekhani Sebaka Artcile provided by T.K.V. Karuna e.mail id: [email protected] It is observed on Margasira Sukla Sasthi Tithi i.e. the It is believed that chill winter season starts from this sixth day of the bright fortnight of Margasira day, as we adopt winter garments with the change (November-December). Margasira Sukla Sasthi is of season so also the Lord of the universe who is also celebrated as Prabarana Sasthi. From this day performing "Manabiya Leela' also feels the seasonal Ghodalagi of the deities begins and the deities wear effect and His Sebakas (servitors) cover the deities winter garments (heavy winter garments) till Magha with winter clothes from top to bottom and only the Sukla Panchami or Basanta Panchami i.e. 5th day of face (Shri Mukha) is kept open. bright M agha (January-February). A TO Z INDIA ● NOVEMBER 2021 ● PAGE 19
Incredible India: Images of India through Paintwork Chandra A TO Z INDIA ● NOVEMBER 2021 ● PAGE 20
Incredible India: Images of India through Paintwork Chandra A TO Z INDIA ● NOVEMBER 2021 ● PAGE 21
An Introduction to Nānakpanthi: Nānakpanthi Sect, Nānakshahi, Udāsi, Suthra Shahi Dwarak The Nānakpanthi sect was founded by the well- unnecessary and even harmful; but he made no known Bāba Nānak, a Khatri of the Lahore District, violent attack on them, he insisted on no alteration who lived between 1469 and 1538–39. He is the in existing civil and social institutions, and was real founder of Sikhism, but this development of content to leave the doctrine of the equality of all his followers into a military and political men in the sight of God to work in the minds of his organisation was the work of his successors, Har followers. He respected the Hindu veneration of Govind and Govind Singh. Nānak himself was a the cow and the Muhammadan abhorrence of the religious reformer of the same type as Kabīr and hog, but recommended as a higher rule than either others, who tried to abolish the worship of idols total abstinence from flesh. Nothing could have and all the body of Hindu superstition, and been gentler or less aggressive than his doctrine, substitute a belief in a single unseen deity without nothing more unlike the teaching of his great form or special name. As with most of the other successor Govind. Vaishnava reformers, Nānak’s creed was largely an outcome of his observation of Islām. “There is Two other causes contributed to swell the numbers nothing in his doctrine,” Sir E.D. Maclagan says, of the Nānakpanthis. The first of these was that “to distinguish it in any marked way from that of during the late Mughal Empire the Hindus of the the other saints who taught the higher forms of frontier tracts of the Punjab were debarred by the Hinduism in northern India. The unity of God, the fanaticism of their Muhammadan neighbours from absence of any real distinction between Hindus the worship of idols; and they therefore found it and Musalmans, the uselessness of ceremonial, the convenient to profess the faith of Nānak which vanity of earthly wishes, even the equality of permitted them to declare themselves as castes, are topics common to Nānak and the worshippers of one God, while not forcing them Bhagats; and the Adi-Granth or sacred book definitely to break with caste and Hinduism. The compiled by Nānak is full of quotations from elder second was that Guru Govind Singh required the or contemporary teachers, who taught essentially absolute abandonment of caste as a condition of the same doctrine as Nānak himself.” It was the initiation of a Sikh; and hence many who partly, he explains, because Nānak was the first would not consent to this remained Nānakpanthis reformer in the Punjab, and thus had the field without adopting Sikhism. The Nānakpanthis of practically to himself, and partly in consequence of the present day are roughly classified as Sikhs who the subsequent development of Sikhism, that his have not adopted the term Singh, which is movement has been so successful and his attached to the names of all true Sikhs; they also adherents now outnumber those of any other do not forbid smoking or insist on the adoption of reformer of the same period. Nānak’s doctrines the five Kakkas or K’s which are in theory the were also of a very liberal character. The burden of distinguishing marks of the Sikh; the Kes or uncut his teaching was that there is no Hindu and no hair and unshaven beard; the Kachh or short Muhammadan. He believed in transmigration, but drawers ending above the knee; the Kara or iron held that the successive stages were but bangle; the Khanda or steel knife; and the Kanga purifications, and that at last the soul, cleansed or comb. The Nānakpanthi retains the Hindu from sin, went to dwell with its maker. He custom of shaving the whole head except the choti prescribed no caste rules or ceremonial or scalp-lock, and hence is often known as a observances, and indeed condemned them as Munda or shaven Sikh. A TO Z INDIA ● NOVEMBER 2021 ● PAGE 22
An Introduction to Nānakpanthi: Nānakpanthi Sect, Nānakshahi, Udāsi, Suthra Shahi Dwarak The sect do not prohibit the consumption of meat without shape or form, a name given to the and liquor, but some of them eat only the flesh of supreme God by Nānak. In the Punjab the animals killed by the Sikh method of Jatka, or Nirankaris constitute a separate order from the cutting off the head by a blow on the back of the Udāsis. These Udāsis wear a long rope of sheep’s neck. Their only form of initiation is the ordinary wool round the neck and iron chains round the Hindu practice of drinking the foot-nectar or sugar wrist and waist. They carry half a coconut shell as and water in which the toe of the guru has been a begging-bowl and have the chameta or iron dipped, and this is not very common. It is known as tongs, which can also be closed and used as a the Charan ka pāhul or foot-baptism, as opposed poker. Their form of salutation is ‘Matha Tek,’ or ‘I to the Khande ka pāhul or sword-baptism of the put my head at your feet.’ They never cut their hair Govindi Sikhs. Bāba Nānak himself, Sir E. and have a long string of wool attached to the Maclagan states, is a very favourite object of choti or scalp-lock, which is coiled up under a little veneration among Sikhs of all kinds, and the cap. They say that they worship Nirankal without picture of the guru with his long white beard and going to temples, and when they sit down to pray benevolent countenance is constantly met with in they make a little fire and place ghī or sweetmeats the sacred places of the Punjab. upon it as an offering. When begging they say ‘Alakh,’ and they accept any kind of uncooked and Nānakpanthis in the Central Provinces: cooked food from Brāhmans. In 1901 about 13,000 persons returned themselves as Nānakpanthis in the Central Provinces, of whom Suthra Shāhis: 7000 were Banjāras and the remainder principally Another mendicant Nānakpanthi order, whose Kunbis, Ahīrs and Telis. The Banjāras generally members visit the Central Provinces, is that of the revere Nānak. Suthra Shāhis. Here, however, they often drop the special name, and call themselves simply Udasis: Nānakshahi. The origin of the order is uncertain, The Udāsis are a class of ascetics of the and Sir E. Maclagan gives various accounts. Here Nānakpanthi or Sikh faith, whose order was they say that their founder was a disciple of founded by Sri Chand, the younger son of Nānak. Nānak, who visited Mecca and brought back the They are recruited from all castes and will eat food Seli and Syahi which are their distinctive badges. from any Hindu. They are almost all celibates, and The Seli is a rope of black wool which they tie pay special reverence to the Adi-Granth of Nānak, round their heads like a turban, and Syāhi the ink but also respect the Granth of Govind Singh and with which they draw a black line on their attend the same shrines as the Sikhs generally. foreheads, though this is in fact usually made with Their service consists of a ringing of bells and blare charcoal. They carry a wallet in which these of instruments, and they chant hymns and wave articles are kept, and also the two small ebony lights before the Adi-Granth and the picture of sticks which they strike against each other as an Bāba Nānak. In the Central Provinces members of accompaniment to their begging-songs. The larger several orders which have branched off from the stick is dedicated to Nānak and the smaller to the main Nānakpanthi community are known as Goddess Kāli. Udāsi. Thus some of them say they do not go to A proverb says in allusion to their rapacity: any temples and worship Nirankal or the deity Kehu mare, Kehu jīye, Suthra gur batāsa piye. A TO Z INDIA ● NOVEMBER 2021 ● PAGE 23
இராமர் : அேயாத்தியின் அரசன் ஆதித் தியன் மன் னர் தசரதன் அேயாத்தியின் ஆட் சியாளராக இ�ந் தார் . அவ�க்� �ன் � ராணிகள் , ெகௗசல் யா, ைகேகயி மற் �ம் �மித் ரா இ�ந் தனர் . அவர� ராணிகளிடமி�ந் �, தசரத�க் � ராம, லட் �மண, பரதன் மற் �ம் சத் �க் னன் ஆகிய நான் � மகன் கள் பிறந் தனர் . நான் � சேகாதரர் க�ம் ஒ�வ�க்ெகா�வர் மிகவ�ம் வி�ம்பினர் . அைனவ�ம் வரீ �ம் ஞான�ம் ெகாண் டவர் கள் . ஆனால் இராமன் வில் வித் ைதயில் ஈ� இைணயற் றவனாக இ�ந் தான் , "இராமன் தன் இலக் ைக தவறவிட மாட் டான் " என அவர் கள் அ�க் க� ெசால் வார் கள் . ஒ� காட் �ல் �னிவர் கள் மத் தியில் பதீ ிைய ஏற் ப�த் �ம் அ�ரர் கள் இ�ந் தன. எனேவ, �னிவர் விஸ் வாமித் ரர் அ�ரர் க�க் � எதிராகப் ேபாரி�வதற் காக இராமைனய�ம் இலட் �மணைனய�ம் தன் �டன் காட்�க் � அைழத்�ச் ெசன் றார் . �னிவர்கள் யாகம் ெசய் ய�ம்ேபா� இராம�ம் இலட்�மண�ம் பா�காப் ப�டன் நின் றார் கள் . ஒ� நாள் , தடகா என் ற அ�ர அரசி அங் � வந் தாள் . இராம�ம் இலட் �மண�ம் அவர் கள� அம்ப�களால் சண் ைடயிட் � அவைளக் ெகான் றாள் . இதற் கிைடயில் , ஜனக அரசர் தன� மகள் சீைதக் காக ஒ� �யம்வரத் ைத நடத் தினார் . சிவெப�மானின் வில் ைல ��க் க ேவண் �யி�ந் த�. வில் ைல யாரா�ம் ��க் க ��யவில் ைல. ஆனால் இராமர் வில் ைலத் ��க் கியதால் அ� �ண் �களாக உைடந் த�. A TO Z INDIA ● NOVEMBER 2021 ● PAGE 24
இராமர் : அேயாத்தியின் அரசன் ஆதித் தியன் இராமர் ெவற் றி ெபற் றைதக் கண் � மன் னர் ஜனகர் மகிழ்ச்சி அைடந் தார் . "அவர் என் மக�க்� ெபா�த்தமான மாப் பிள் ைளயாக இ�ப் பார் ," என் � அவர் நிைனத்தார் . இராம�ம் சீைதய�ம் பிரம் மாண் டமாக தி�மணம் ெசய் � ெகாண் டனர் . நாட் கள் கழிந் தன. தசரத அரசன் இராமைன அ�த்த அரசனாக ���ட்ட ��வ� ெசய் தார் . "தந் ைதேய, உங் கள் வி�ப் பம் எனக் � �தன் ைமயான�. நான் உங் கைள ஒ�ேபா�ம் ைகவிட மாட்ேடன் " என் றார் இராமர் . இராமன் எப் ப� அரசனாக ��ய�ம்?" என் � ைகேகயி அரசனிடம் ேகட் டாள் . அவன் அவ�க்� இரண் � வி�ப் பங் கைள �ன் ேப வழங் கினார் . இப் ேபா� அவள் தன் மகன் பரதைன அரசனாகவ�ம், இராமைன பதினான் � வ�டங் கள் நா� கடத்தவ�ம் வி�ம்பினாள் . காட் �ல் , ஷூர் பனகா, இராவணனின் சேகாதரி, இராமனால் நிராகரிக் கப் பட் டாள் . அவள் இராவணனிடம் �ைறயிட்டாள் . சீைதைய கவர்ந் தி�க் க அவன் தன் மாமாைவ ஒ� தங் க மானாக அ�ப்பினான் . சீைத வி�ம்ப�ம் மாைன இராமன் ேத�ச் ெசன் றார் . இராமனின் �ரலில் , உதவிக் காக மான் �ச்சலிட் ட�. �ரைலக் ேகட் ட�ம், "ேபா ல�் மணா! உங் கள் A TO Z INDIA ● NOVEMBER 2021 ● PAGE 25
இராமர் : அேயாத்தியின் அரசன் ஆதித் தியன் சேகாதரர் சிக் கலில் இ�க் கிறார் " என் � சீதா �றினார் . இலட் �மணன் ஒ� ேகாட் ைட வைரந் �, சீைதயிடம் "இந் த ேகாட் ைட கடக் காதீர் " என் றார் . அப் ேபா�, இராவணன் ஒ� �னிவராக சீைதயிடம் வந் தான் , "பசித் த �னிவ�க் � உணவ� ெகா�க் க மாட் டாயா" என் � அவன் சீைதையக் ேகட் டான் . அவ�க் � உணவ� ெகா�க் க அவள் ேகாட் ைட தாண் �யேபா�, இராவணன் அவ�ைடய உண் ைமயான உ�வத்ைத எ�த்�க்ெகாண் �, சீைதைய கடத்திச் ெசன் றான் . இதற் கிைடயில் , இராமர் இலட் �மணைனப் பார்த்�, "நீ ஏன் சீைதைய விட் � வந் தாய் " என் � ேகட் டார் . "உங் கள் �க் �ரைலக் ேகட் ேடாம், நான் உதவி ெசய் ய வந் ேதன் ," என் � அவர் �றினார் . அவர் கள் தி�ம்பி ெசன் றனர் . ஆனால் சீதா எங் �ம் இல் ைல. அவர் கள் சீைதையத் ேத�யேபா�, அவர்கள் க��களின் அரசன் ஜடாய�ைவ பார் த் தார் கள் , "இராவணன் சீைதைய அைழத் �ச் ெசன் றான் . நான் அவைரத் த�க் க �யன் றேபா�, அவன் என் இறக் ைககைள ெவட்�னான் " என் றார் . இராமன் வானர மன் னன் �க் ரவீ �டன் �ட்டணி ைவத்�க் ெகாண் டார் . அவ�ைடய மந் திரியான அ�மன் இராம�க் � உதவினான் . இராவணைனக் ீ ெகான் � சீைதைய மட் டனர் . அவர் கள் நா�கடத்தப் பட் ட காலம் ��ந் ததால் , அேயாத்திக் �த் தி�ம்பினர் , இராமர் அரசரானார் . A TO Z INDIA ● NOVEMBER 2021 ● PAGE 26
Tulasi - The daughter of Yamadharmaraja Why Tulasi is not used for Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations? Adithyan Tulasi is the daughter of Yamadharmaraja (God of Righteousness). In her youthful days, she was a great devotee of Narayana (Lord Vishnu). Once she was walking along the banks of Ganges. She came across beautiful Ganesha sitting in deep meditation to Lord Krishna. Being son of Ma Parvati, Ganesha was very handsome. Moreover any person in deep meditation state looks more handsome. So you can visualize the beauty of Lord Ganesha in that meditative state. Like Tulasi Ma, Ganesha was also in his prime and of marriageable age plus both were devoted to forms of Lord Vishnu. So Tulasi ma immediately fell in love with Lord Ganesha, she asked Ganesha to marry her. At that time Lord Ganesha was a bachelor (Brahamchari) which is natural for any meditator. Because in meditation one has to be aloof and meditator tries to explore oneself rather than going in a relationship. So Lord Ganesha was not looking for marrying anyone. Moreover he only wanted to marry someone who possess the same divine qualities like her Mother Parvati. So Ganesha politely refused Tulasi Ma for marriage. This broke her heart. Tulasi took this as an insult and she became very angry. In her anger, Tulasi Ma cursed Ganesha that one day he will get married against his wish of not getting married. Lord Ganesha also in turn cursed Tulasi that she will be married to an Asura (Demon) and then under a blessings from the Sages (or Gods) will become a plant. Listening this curse, Tulasi Ma realized her mistake and she begged Ganesha for forgiveness and prayed to him with divine hymns. Listening her sincere prayers Ganesha became pleased and he said "You will be regarded as supreme among the plants. All Gods will be happy with your fragrance. Lord vishnu will be specially glad to receive the worship with your leaves. But you will always be unacceptable by me in worship”. Saying this, lord ganesha left the place. Later on, as per the curse Tulasi Ma married the demon king called ‘Shankhachuda’ (or with Jalandhara). She was a very devoted wife and they lived happily for a number of years. Then one day her husband was killed in a battle with Lord Shiva. Vishnu appeared in his true form and urged Tulasi to abandon her earthly body and return to his celestial abode. In her anger and grief, she cursed Vishnu to be turned into stone. Vishnu turned into a stone and reside on riverbank Gandaki River. People and devotees call the stone as Shaaligrama. Tulasi Ma's mortal remains decayed and became the Gandaki River, while in her next birth, she was born as sacred Tulasi plant. The Gandaki River, also known as the Narayani and the Gandak, is one of the major rivers in Nepal and a left bank tributary of the River Ganga in India. Look at our traditional science how it describes the origin of Tulasi plant both spiritually and scientifically. A TO Z INDIA ● NOVEMBER 2021 ● PAGE 27
Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore: Glimpses of Bengal: Select Letters Chandra In the 1890s, Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore, travelled across Bengal to manage his family’s far-flung agricultural estates. Travelling in his houseboat, up and down the Padma River and its many tributaries, Tagore vividly captures the breathtaking imagery of the Bengali countryside and the reticent grace of the day- to-day village life. Sometimes humorous, sometimes poignant, the settings of his letters formed the backdrop of many of his poems and plays (e.g. The Post Office). His letters, many of which were addressed to his niece Indira Devi, make for a lighthearted and captivating reading. Tagore is sure to charm you with his wondrous story telling and powerful imagination. Bandora by the Sea: October 1885 The unsheltered sea heaves and heaves and blanches into foam. It sets me thinking of some tied-up monster straining at its bonds, in front of whose gaping jaws we build our homes on the shore and watch it lashing its tail. What immense strength, with waves swelling like the muscles of a giant! From the beginning of creation there has been this feud between land and water: the dry earth slowly and silently adding to its domain and spreading a broader and broader lap for its children; the ocean receding step by step, heaving and sobbing and beating its breast in despair. Remember the sea was once sole monarch, utterly free. Land rose from its womb, usurped its throne, and ever since the maddened old creature, with hoary crest of foam, wails and laments continually, like King Lear exposed to the fury of the elements. A TO Z INDIA ● NOVEMBER 2021 ● PAGE 28
Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore: Glimpses of Bengal: Select Letters Chandra July 1887 I am in my twenty-seventh year. This event keeps thrusting itself before my mind— nothing else seems to have happened of late. But to reach twenty-seven—is that a trifling thing? To pass the meridian of the twenties on one’s progress towards thirty? Thirty—that is to say maturity—the age at which people expect fruit rather than fresh foliage. But, alas, where is the promise of fruit? As I shake my head, it still feels brimful of luscious frivolity, with not a trace of philosophy. Folk are beginning to complain: “Where is that which we expected of you—that in hope of which we admired the soft green of the shoot? Are we to put up with immaturity for ever? It is high time for us to know what we shall gain from you. We want an estimate of the proportion of oil which the blindfold, mill-turning, unbiased critic can squeeze out of you.” It has ceased to be possible to delude these people into waiting expectantly any longer. While I was under age they trustfully gave me credit; it is sad to disappoint them now that I am on the verge of thirty. But what am I to do? Words of wisdom will not come! I am utterly incompetent to provide things that may profit the multitude. Beyond a snatch of song, some tittle-tattle, a little merry fooling, I have been unable to advance. And as the result, those who held high hopes will turn their wrath on me; but did any one ever beg them to nurse these expectations? Such are the thoughts which assail me since one fine Bysakh morning I awoke amidst fresh breeze and light, new leaf and flower, to find that I had stepped into my twenty-seventh year. A TO Z INDIA ● NOVEMBER 2021 ● PAGE 29
சமித் �: சமித் � �ச்சிக�ம் பலன் க�ம் இந் திரா சமித் � என் ப� ேஹாம�ண் டத்தில் ேசர் க் கப் ப�ம் �ச்சிகள் . ஒவ் ெவா� சமித் � �ச் சிக் �ம் , ஒவ் ெவா� ேவண் �தல் க�ம் பலன் க�ம் உள் ளன. வில் வம் - சிவ�க் �ம் மஹாலட் �மிக் �ம் பி�த் தமான� �ளசி சமித் � - நாராயண�க் �ப் பி�த் த� அத் தி சமித் � - �க் கிர�க் �ப் பி�த் த� நாய��வி சமித் � - ப�த�க் �ப் பி�த் த� பலாமர சமித் � - சந் திர�க் �ப் பி�த் த� அரச மர சமித் � - ��விற் �ப் பி�த் த� வன் னிமர சமித் � - சனஸீ ் வர�க் �ப் பி�த் த� அ�கம் ப�ல் - விநாயக�க் �ம், ரா�வ�க் �ம் பி�த் த� மாமர சமித் � - சர் வமங் களங் கைளய�ம் சித் திக் �ம் பா�ள் ள மரத் தின் சமித் �க் கள் - வியாதி நாசினி தாமைர ப�ஷ் பம் - இலஷ் மிக் �ம் சரஸ் வதிக் �ம் பி�த் தமான� மா�ைள மரம் - அழகான வ�வ�ம், வசீகர�ம் கிைடக் �ம் சமித் Ǐ DŽச் சிகǚம் பலன் கǚம்: அத் திக் �ச் சி - மக் கட் ேப� நாய��வி �ச்சி - மகாலட் �மி கடாட் சம் எ�க் கன் �ச்சி - எதிரிகள் இல் லாத நிைல அரசங் �ச்சி - அரசாங் க நன் ைம க�ங் காலிக் கட் ைட - ஏவல் , பில் லி, �னியம் அக�ம் வன் னிக் �ச்சி - கிரகக் ேகாளா�கள் நீங் கிவி�ம் ப�ரசங் �ச் சி - �ழந் ைதகளின் கல் வி வளர் ச்சி வில் வக் �ச் சி - ெசல் வம் ேச�ம் அ�கம்ப�ல் - விஷபயம் நீங் �ம் A TO Z INDIA ● NOVEMBER 2021 ● PAGE 30
Banasura - The devotee of Lord Siva: The benevolent and famous son of King Mahabali Sridhar Hello everyone....! Let's know about Banasura, one of the hundred and famous sons of King Mahabali. Bali was a very benevolent king and a devotee of Lord Vishnu. Bali had a hundred sons, of whom Banasura with his thousand arms was the eldest. Banasura was a devotee of Lord Siva, and when Siva performed his famous 'Tandav' dance, Banasura used his thousand arms to play the 'Mridanga' in accompaniment. Pleased with his devotion, Lord Shiva asked Banasura to demand a boon. Banasura asked for Siva to be his protector just like Lord Vishnu was his father's protector. The boon was granted, and Banasura became invincible. Soon he became cruel and arrogant, so much so, even the gods were afraid of him. Banasura had a pretty daughter by the name of Usha. Many suitors came asking for her hand, but Banasura refused them all and had her shut in a fortress called 'Agnigarh' along with her friends. In her sleep Usha saw a handsome young man and fell in love with him. Chithralekha was a close friend of Usha and a great artist. She drew a picture of the young man based on Usha's descriptions. When the drawing was completed, they both knew the young man was Anirudh, the grandson of Lord Krishna. Using her magical powers Chithralekha flew to Dwaraka and brought Anirudh to Usha's side, and they lived together. In course of time Banasura learned about this and flew into a rage. He bound Anirudh with snakes and had him imprisoned. When Lord Krishna heard about this he came with a mighty army to rescue Anirudh. A great battle ensued. Lord Siva joined the fray, fighting on behalf of Banasura. But even after prolonged fighting Lord Siva was not able to defeat Lord Krishna, and eventually sued for peace, asking Lord Krishna to spare the life of his devotee Banasura. Lord Krishna agreed and granted immortality to Banasura, but cut off all but four of his thousand arms. He brought Anirudh and Usha to Dwaraka amidst much rejoicing and jubilation. Banasura reti red into the Himalayas to spend the remainder of his life in the service of Lord Siva. Anirudh was none other than Grandson of Lord Krishna and son of Pradyumna, an incarnation of Kamadeva as per Lord Vishnu's boon granted to Rathi, Kamadeva's wife and daughter of Prajapati Daksha after he was burned to ashes from Lord Shiva's anger. Rathi was the daughter of Prajapati Daksha and wife of Kamadeva in Satyayuga/ Kritayuga. In Dwaparayuga, Rathi incarnated as Rukmavati, princess of Vidharbha and daughter of Rukmi. Also Rati incarnated as Mayavati/ Bhanavati, foster mother of Pradyumna, who told truth of Pradyumna's birth and how he was abducted by demon Sambara. Banasura's/ descendants had their own kingdom known as the Mahavalis Banas/Brihadbanas in the present Kolar and Chikkaballapur districts of Karnataka. A TO Z INDIA ● NOVEMBER 2021 ● PAGE 31
Indian Culture: Why do we keep Lemon under the tyre? Sridhar Everyone would keep lemon under tyres when they buy new vehicles, but how many of us know the science behind this procedure? They tell to ward off the bad omens, but let me tell you the true science behind it. During those times there were tongas and bullock carts were carrying us to long distances. In this journey the horses or bulls would go through different terrain of lands like dry, wet, marshy lands etc and their foot would get infected. Therefore they were made to stamp lemons before starting the journey. Because lemons had citric acid which has broad spectrum antibacterial properties. This Indian thought of that time is still being researched by the western science. By this we should know that our ancestors were far more advanced than western civilization and also made us knew about the exact meaning of this procedure. Know British with Nawab of Arcot defeated and killed Udaiyathevar, the king of Sivagangai (in your Tamil Nadu) at Kalaiyar Koil in 1772. Velu Nachiyar, the queen of Sivagangai with daughter S India: Vellacchi fled and remained in hiding for 8 years and arranged a huge army. In 1780, Velu r Nachiyar defeated combined forces of the British and Nawab of Arcot at Maanaamadurai i Bharata and another British troop at Kalaiyar Koil. She then marched towards Sivagangai with her d Mata army. Rani Velu Nachiyar defeated the British in battle and regained Sivagangai. She was h in the 1st queen in colonial India to win a war against British. Rani Velu Nachiyar ruled a Sivagangai for 10 years. History! r A TO Z INDIA ● NOVEMBER 2021 ● PAGE 32
Picture of the month: Neelakandeswarar Temple, Padmanabhapuram, Kanyakumari District Raghavan Neelakandeswarar Temple is dedicated to Bhagwan Shiva located at Kalkulam near Padmanabhapuram in Kanyakumari District of Tamilnadu. � The temple is a part of the famed Shivalaya Ottam conducted during Shivaratri. It is the seventh temple in the run sequence. Presiding Deity is called as Neelakandeswarar/ Mahadevar. A TO Z INDIA ● NOVEMBER 2021 ● PAGE 33
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A TO Z INDIA ENGLISH & TAMIL MONTHLY MAGAZINE PUBLISHED ON THE FIRST WEEK OF EVERY MONTH REG. WITH REGISTRAR OF NEWSPAPERS FOR INDIA UNDER NUMBER TNBIL/2017/75531 R. DIS NO. 757/2017 ROC NUMBER L-105291/2021 Dr. Baba Saheb Ambedkar Indian Jurist, Economist, Politician and Social Reformer. A TO Z INDIA ● NOVEMBER 2021 ● PAGE 36