todas as sextas - every friday ... 27 fev.09 `
FILMS
1 - Delhi 6 (T-Series)
2 - Slumdog Millionaire (T-Series)
3 - Billu Barber (T-Series)
4 - Ghajini (T-Series)
5 - Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi (Yash Raj)
6 - Rock On!! (Big Music)
7 - Luck By Chance (Big Music)
8 - Dostana (Sony-BMG)
9 - Dev D (T-Series)
10 - Aa Dekhen Zaraa (T-Series)
SONGS
1 - Rehna tu - DELHI 6 - A.R.Rahman.
2 - Nayan tarse - DEV D - Amit Trivedi.
3 - Ringa ringa - SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE - A.R.Rahman/Alka Yagnik / Ila arun.
4 - Dhun lagi - JAY VEERU - Mika Singh / Raja Hasan.
5 - Mohabbat aapse - AA DEKHEN ZARAA - Akriti Kakkar.
6 - Marjaani - BILLU BARBER - Sukhvinder Singh / Sunidhi Chauhan.
7 - Aate jaate - 42 Km. - Shreya Ghoshal / Udit Narayan.
8 - Kab chand ban kar - LOTTERY - Abhijit Sawant.
9 - Yeh guzarish - GHAJINI - Javed Ali / Sonu Nigam.
10 - Yeh zindagi bhi - LUCKY BY CHANCE - Shekhar / Loy Mendonça.
sexta-feira, 27 de fevereiro de 2009
O fim do Mundo...na imprensa!
Imaginem que se descobria que o Mundo ia acabar amanhã...Estes seriam os títulos dos vários jornais e revistas:
Expresso: O Mundo vai acabar. O governo não comenta.
Público: Governo anuncia o fim do Mundo.
Avante: Fim do Mundo aproxima-se. O Alentejo finalmente vai ser nosso!
Sol: Saiba como vai ser o fim do Mundo.
O Crime: Psicopata mata a mãe, degola o pai, viola a cunhada e fuzila o irmão ao saber que o Mundo vai acabar!
Expresso: O Mundo vai acabar. O governo não comenta.
Público: Governo anuncia o fim do Mundo.
Avante: Fim do Mundo aproxima-se. O Alentejo finalmente vai ser nosso!
Sol: Saiba como vai ser o fim do Mundo.
O Crime: Psicopata mata a mãe, degola o pai, viola a cunhada e fuzila o irmão ao saber que o Mundo vai acabar!
24 horas: O fim do Mundo no jet-set.
Correio da Manhã: Governo vai rever impostos no fim do Mundo.
Jornal de Negócios: Juros finalmente caem!
O Jogo: Nem o fim do Mundo consegue parar o Dragão!
A Bola: Fim do Mundo é manobra de Pinto da Costa!
Jornal de Negócios: Juros finalmente caem!
O Jogo: Nem o fim do Mundo consegue parar o Dragão!
A Bola: Fim do Mundo é manobra de Pinto da Costa!
Record: Já tinhamos anunciado o fim do Mundo na ediçaõ do dia tal...
Tal & Qual: O Mundo lixou-se! Acabou tudo!
Visão: Exclusivo: Entrevista com Deus.a) Porque demorou tanto o Apocalipse?b) Especialistas indicam como encarar o fim do Mundo.
Visão: Exclusivo: Entrevista com Deus.a) Porque demorou tanto o Apocalipse?b) Especialistas indicam como encarar o fim do Mundo.
TimeOut Lisboa: Locais para assistir ao fim do Mundo.
Maria: O melhor sexo no fim do Mundo.
Cosmopolitan: Teste: O seu namoro vai acabar antes do fim do Mundo?
Ragazza: O Mundo chora! Leonardo DiCaprio anuncia que não vai fazer mais filmes.
Playboy: Playmate do mês: um apocalipse de sensualidade!
Maria: O melhor sexo no fim do Mundo.
Cosmopolitan: Teste: O seu namoro vai acabar antes do fim do Mundo?
Ragazza: O Mundo chora! Leonardo DiCaprio anuncia que não vai fazer mais filmes.
Playboy: Playmate do mês: um apocalipse de sensualidade!
Maxmen: As melhores posições sexuais para o fim do Mundo.
Exame Informática: 100 dicas para aproveitar o seu Windows até ao fim do Mundo.
Nova Gente: Até ao fim do Mundo, a sua revista Nova Gente vai custar apenas 50 cêntimos.
TV Guia: Exclusivo: O fim do Mundo na SIC.
Em Forma: Tenha um fim light! Leia aqui as melhores dietas para o fim do Mundo.
Boletim Microsoft News: Windows 010 for ghost groups.
Caras: Rainha Isabel II anuncia que vai ajustar contas com Diana!
Exame Informática: 100 dicas para aproveitar o seu Windows até ao fim do Mundo.
Nova Gente: Até ao fim do Mundo, a sua revista Nova Gente vai custar apenas 50 cêntimos.
TV Guia: Exclusivo: O fim do Mundo na SIC.
Em Forma: Tenha um fim light! Leia aqui as melhores dietas para o fim do Mundo.
Boletim Microsoft News: Windows 010 for ghost groups.
Caras: Rainha Isabel II anuncia que vai ajustar contas com Diana!
Curto-Circuito...boa disposição !
A Caras resolveu fazer uma entrevista á Tia Lili Caneças:
Caras - Diga-nos o que é que gosta mais, de festas ou de sexo?
Lili Caneças - Olhe q'rida, acho que gosto mais de sexo!
Caras - De sexo? Porquê?
Lili Caneças - Sei lá... Acho que se conhece mais gente!...
Ciúmes de galo
Um galo descobre a infidelidade da galinha e fica furioso! Começa a partir o galinheiro todo, incluindo os ovos!Lá pelo meio encontra um 1 ovo de barro...
O galo completamente fora de si grita para a galinha:
- Aaaahhhh minha grande p...! Nem o galo de Barcelos te escapou!
Caras - Diga-nos o que é que gosta mais, de festas ou de sexo?
Lili Caneças - Olhe q'rida, acho que gosto mais de sexo!
Caras - De sexo? Porquê?
Lili Caneças - Sei lá... Acho que se conhece mais gente!...
Ciúmes de galo
Um galo descobre a infidelidade da galinha e fica furioso! Começa a partir o galinheiro todo, incluindo os ovos!Lá pelo meio encontra um 1 ovo de barro...
O galo completamente fora de si grita para a galinha:
- Aaaahhhh minha grande p...! Nem o galo de Barcelos te escapou!
segunda-feira, 23 de fevereiro de 2009
81ª edição dos ÒSCARS
Com um simples clik, no link abaixo indicado, entrarás no mundo dos vencedores dos Òscares, deste ano, com destaque para o super vencedor..."Slumdog Millionaire", e muito mais!sexta-feira, 20 de fevereiro de 2009
SPORTING - BENFICA ... Duelo de Irmãos !
O normal seria que sportinguistas e benfiquistas dedicassem todo o seu ressentimento ao Porto. Mas,verdade seja dita, nem um nem outro conseguem mudar de hábitos. È para o vizinho da Segunda Circular que guardam todas as suas energias. Foram eles que dividiram durante décadas,todas paixões. O FCP,nesta matéria,não passa do novo-rico,acabado de chegar á alta-roda da bola.
E os dois são filhos da mesma cidade,irmãos de sangue.
Um tem a arrogância das maiorias. Apesar de não existir para lá de Badajoz,continua a julgar-se um imperador,mesmo depois de o Império se ter perdido. As derrotas não o diminuem porque só podem resultar de uma injustiça: a de os factos não reconhecerem a sua glória.
O outro tem a arrogância das minorias. É um clube exclusivo."british" no nome e na alma. Aburguesou-se,perdeu a patine e dedicou-se aos negócios em vez de viver,como se quer de um cavalheiro,dos rendimentos. e sofre por isso,dividido entre a nostalgia de um tempo em que nenhuma derrota lhe afetava o puro sangue e o pragmatismo de quem sabe que cada derrota entra no livro do deve e haver das suas finanças.
O Benfica é excessivo,megalómano e exibicionista. O Sporting é contido,discreto e melancólico. O Benfica é autocomplacente e narcísico,mesmo depois de uma derrota. O Sporting é autocrítico e deprimido,mesmo depois de uma vitória.
O benfiquista detesta a arrogância aristocrática do sportinguista. O sportinguista não suporta a fanfarronice saloia do benfiquista.
Amanhã jogam os dois. Pode até ser que o Porto ganhe o título. Mas isto é um outro campeonato. È uma coisa nossa. E é a coisa que agora mais nos interessa.
A MINHA PRÓXIMA VIDA....
A minha próxima vida quero vivê-la de trás prá frente. Começar morto para despachar logo esse assunto. Depois acordar num lar de idosos e ir-me sentindo melhor a cada dia que passa. Ser expulso porque estou demasiado saudável, ir receber a aposentadoria e começar a trabalhar, recebendo logo um relógio de ouro no primeiro dia. Trabalhar por 40 anos, cada vez mais desenvolto e saudável até ser jovem o suficiente para entrar na faculdade, embebedar-me diariamente e ser bastante promíscuo, e depois estar pronto para o secundário e para o primário, antes de virar criança e só brincar, sem responsabilidades. Aí então viro um bebê inocente até nascer. Por fim, passo 9 meses flutuando num spa de luxo com aquecimento central, serviço de quarto a disposição e espaço maior dia a dia, e depois - Voilà! - desapareço num orgasmo.
- Woody Alllen
- Woody Alllen
terça-feira, 17 de fevereiro de 2009
Agradecimentos / Acknowledgements
Thanking for the birthday wishes: Agradecendo os parabéns : Pooja,Pratik,Mum,Dad,Jag,Varsha,Neel,Dina,Vivek,Vinod,Indira,Shivam,Yash,Jayesh,Bhavini,
Bhavik,Vidhi,Ritik,Rupali,Nishant,JP,Bhartimassi,Sunil,Jigna,Kapil,Dipa,Nilesh,Surendrakaka,Kokilamassi,Dipika Sodha,Dipti Chauhan,Anant Chauhan,Vinay,Ravi Dusara,Mira,Mahesh,Sofia Silva,Phalgooni,Chirag Bhanji,Nilay,Binta,Anika,Sonam,Vivek,Rima,Milan,Anaya,Anusha Rajani,Francisco Macahdo,Ruby M;achado,Varsha Chottai,Pedro Kleinsteuber,Chirag Kantilal,Ashvin Bica,Ajit Hansraj,Hanish,Nishma Samat,Henna Samat,Rajshree Samat,Rajesh Samat,Vishal Chauhan,Samiksha Chauhan,Amit Manharlal,Pedro Roxo,Jorge Vassalo,Jorge Feio,Madhu Sudan,Nuno Dhiren,Ashok,Anju,Ayushi,Akash,Henil Bica,Dhimant Radia,Seema Dattani,Pretty Parbhoo,Bhavika Kishor,Rupesh Bhanji,Pooja Rupesh,Mukesh,Mitesh,Razak Sekou,Rajendra Dulab,Dip,Swati Shashikant,Diptesh,Prashant,Sheetal,Atul Cantilal,Milan Naguindas,Dhimant Kundanlal,Niko,Dipu,Rita
segunda-feira, 16 de fevereiro de 2009
FAÇO HOJE 44 ANOS, E...
...Aprendi que ainda não aprendi tudo, ainda tenho muito a aprender.
...Aprendi que no casamento não manda ninguém; ambos obedecem.
...Aprendi que netos e avós são aliados naturais, não é meus pais e filhos?
...Aprendi que só fazendo o bem se pode realmente ser feliz.
...Aprendi que quando minha mulher e eu temos, finalmente, uma noite sem as crianças, passamos a maior parte do tempo falando sobre elas.
...Aprendi que a época que preciso realmente de férias é justamente quando acabei de voltar delas.
...Aprendi que os grandes problemas sempre começam pequenos.
...Aprendi que toda a vez que estou viajando gostaria de estar em casa, e toda vez que estou em casa gostaria de estar viajando.
...Aprendi que os meus melhores amigos são os que sempre me metem em confusão.
...Aprendi que é porreiro curtir o sucesso, mas não se deve acreditar muito nele.
...Aprendi que a maioria das coisas com que me preocupo, nunca acontecem.
...Aprendi que casais que ainda não têm filhos, sabem melhor, como eu devo educar os meus.
...Aprendi que se você cuidar bem de seus empregados, eles cuidarão bem de seus clientes.
...Aprendi que encontro as coisas, quando já não são precisas.
...Aprendi que se eu estiver levando uma vida sem fracassos, é porque não estou correndo riscos o suficiente.
...Aprendi que minha professora sempre me chamava quando eu não sabia a resposta.
...Aprendi que se tinha problemas na escola, tinha mais ainda em casa.
...Aprendi que é mais fácil fazer um amigo do que se livrar dele.
...Aprendi que verdadeira riqueza de um homem é o bem que ele faz neste mundo.
...Aprendi que quando as coisas vão mal, eu não tenho que ir com elas.
...Aprendi que quando usar a furadeira, a broca que preciso é exatamente a broca que está faltando.
...Aprendi que não adianta comprar ferramentas caras, porque nunca as encontramos, quando são precisas.
...Aprendi que algum dinheiro evita preocupações; muito dinheiro atrai-as.
...Aprendi que a amizade duplica as alegrias e divide as tristezas.
...Aprendi que a maioria das coisas com que me preocupo, nunca acontecem.
...Aprendi que me sujo á refeição, no dia que usar gravata.
...Aprendi que posso fazer alguém ganhar o dia simplesmente mandando-lhe um e-mail.
...Aprendi que não cometo muitos erros com a boca fechada.
...Aprendi que mais vale um pássaro na mão, que dois a voar.
...Aprendi que as mulheres gostam de receber flores, especialmente sem nenhum motivo.
...Aprendi que é impossível tirar ferias sem engordar cinco quilos.
...Aprendi que o amigo é um outro eu.
...Aprendi que no casamento não manda ninguém; ambos obedecem.
...Aprendi que netos e avós são aliados naturais, não é meus pais e filhos?
...Aprendi que só fazendo o bem se pode realmente ser feliz.
...Aprendi que quando minha mulher e eu temos, finalmente, uma noite sem as crianças, passamos a maior parte do tempo falando sobre elas.
...Aprendi que a época que preciso realmente de férias é justamente quando acabei de voltar delas.
...Aprendi que os grandes problemas sempre começam pequenos.
...Aprendi que toda a vez que estou viajando gostaria de estar em casa, e toda vez que estou em casa gostaria de estar viajando.
...Aprendi que os meus melhores amigos são os que sempre me metem em confusão.
...Aprendi que é porreiro curtir o sucesso, mas não se deve acreditar muito nele.
...Aprendi que a maioria das coisas com que me preocupo, nunca acontecem.
...Aprendi que casais que ainda não têm filhos, sabem melhor, como eu devo educar os meus.
...Aprendi que se você cuidar bem de seus empregados, eles cuidarão bem de seus clientes.
...Aprendi que encontro as coisas, quando já não são precisas.
...Aprendi que se eu estiver levando uma vida sem fracassos, é porque não estou correndo riscos o suficiente.
...Aprendi que minha professora sempre me chamava quando eu não sabia a resposta.
...Aprendi que se tinha problemas na escola, tinha mais ainda em casa.
...Aprendi que é mais fácil fazer um amigo do que se livrar dele.
...Aprendi que verdadeira riqueza de um homem é o bem que ele faz neste mundo.
...Aprendi que quando as coisas vão mal, eu não tenho que ir com elas.
...Aprendi que quando usar a furadeira, a broca que preciso é exatamente a broca que está faltando.
...Aprendi que não adianta comprar ferramentas caras, porque nunca as encontramos, quando são precisas.
...Aprendi que algum dinheiro evita preocupações; muito dinheiro atrai-as.
...Aprendi que a amizade duplica as alegrias e divide as tristezas.
...Aprendi que a maioria das coisas com que me preocupo, nunca acontecem.
...Aprendi que me sujo á refeição, no dia que usar gravata.
...Aprendi que posso fazer alguém ganhar o dia simplesmente mandando-lhe um e-mail.
...Aprendi que não cometo muitos erros com a boca fechada.
...Aprendi que mais vale um pássaro na mão, que dois a voar.
...Aprendi que as mulheres gostam de receber flores, especialmente sem nenhum motivo.
...Aprendi que é impossível tirar ferias sem engordar cinco quilos.
...Aprendi que o amigo é um outro eu.
sábado, 14 de fevereiro de 2009
BHAGWAD GITA em português...
O Gita é uma doutrina sobre a verdade universal. Sua mensagem é universal, sublime e não-sectária, embora ele seja uma parte da trindade escritural do Sanathana Dharma, normalmente conhecido como Hinduísmo. O Gita é muito fácil de ser entendido em qualquer linguagem para uma mente madura. Uma leitura repetida com fé irá revelar todas as idéias sublimes que ele contém. Poucos são os aspectos abstrusos, intercalados aqui e ali, mas estes não possuem influência no problema prático do tema central do Gira. O Gita trata da mais sagrada ciência metafísica. Ele transmite o conhecimento do Ser e responde a duas questões universais: Quem sou eu, e como eu posso conduzir uma vida pacífica e feliz neste mundo de dualidades. Ele é um livro de Yoga, de crescimento moral e espiritual, para a humanidade baseado nos princípios cardeais da religião Hindu.
A mensagem do Gita chegou até a humanidade por causa da má vontade de Arjuna, para cumprir para com o seu dever de guerreiro, uma vez que luta envolve destruição e morte. Não violência ou Ahimsa é o mais fundamental dos princípios do Hinduísmo. Toda a vida, humana ou não humana, são sagradas. Este imortal discurso entre o Senhor Supremo, Krishna, e Seu devoto, Arjuna, ocorreu não num templo, numa floresta reclusa, ou no alto de uma montanha, mas num campo de batalha, nas vésperas da guerra, e está escrito no grande épico Mahaabharata. No Gita, o Senhor Krishna avisa Arjuna para erguer-se e lutar. Isto, provavelmente, gera um mal-entendido do princípio do Ahimsa, se o fundo da guerra do Mahabharata não estiver na mente. Portanto, uma breve descrição histórica está em ordem.
Nos tempos antigos houve um rei com dois filhos, Dhritarashtra e Pandu. O mais velho nasceu cego, portanto, Pandu herdou o reino. Pandu teve cinco filhos. Eles foram chamados de Pandavas. Dhritarashtra teve cem filhos. Eles eram chamados de Kauravas. Duryodhana foi o primogênito dos Kauravas.
Após a morte do rei Pandu, os Pandavas tornaram-se os reis de direito. Duryodhana foi uma pessoa muito ciumenta. Ele também queria o reino. O reino foi dividido em duas metades entre os Pandavas e os Kauravas. Duryodhana não ficou satisfeito com a sua parte do reino. Ele queria o reino inteiro para si próprio. Ele, de modo mal sucedido, planejou vários crimes para matar os Pandavas e pegar o reino deles. Ilegalmente ele apoderou-se do reino inteiro dos Pandavas e recusou-se a devolver mesmo um acre da terra sem a guerra. Toda a mediação feita pelo Senhor Krishna, e pelos outros, falharam. A grande guerra do Mahaabharata foi assim inevitável. Os Pandavas foram participantes que não queriam a guerra. Eles tiveram apenas duas escolhas: lutar pelo seus direitos conforme a matéria da responsabilidade, ou fugir da guerra e aceitar a derrota em nome da paz e da não violência. Arjuna, um dos cinco irmãos Pandavas, encarou o dilema no meio do campo de batalha para lutar ou fugir da guerra pela segurança da paz.
O dilema de Arjuna é, na realidade, um dilema universal. Cada ser humano encara dilemas, grandes ou pequenos, em suas vidas diárias, quando realiza a suas obrigações. O dilema de Arjuna foi o mais importante de todos. Ele tinha que fazer uma escolha entre lutar a guerra e matar seus mais reverenciados gurus, seus mais queridos amigos, parentes próximos, e muitos guerreiros inocentes, ou fugir do campo de batalhas com o objetivo de preservar a paz e a não-violência. Os setecentos versos, inteiros, do Gita tratam de um discurso entre o Senhor Krishna e o confuso Arjuna, no campo de batalhas de Kurukshetra, local próximo a Nova Delhi, na Índia, cerca de 3.100 anos a.n.e. Este discurso foi narrado para o sábio rei Dhritarashtra pelo seu cocheiro Sanjaya, como uma testemunha ocular da guerra. O objetivo principal do Gita é ajudar as pessoas lutando na escuridão da ignorância a cruzarem o oceano da reencarnação (nascimentos e mortes repetidas), para atingirem a costa espiritual da liberação enquanto viventes e atuantes na sociedade.
O ensinamento central do Gita é a obtenção da liberdade ou da alegria, pelo cativeiro da ação da vida de cada um. Sempre se lembrem da glória e da grandeza do criador e da ação eficiente de seus deveres, sem estar apegados ou afetados pelos seus resultados, mesmo que a obrigação demande, de vez em quando, na violência inevitável. Algumas pessoas negligenciam ou desistem de suas responsabilidades na vida pela segurança de uma vida espiritual enquanto outras desculpam-se a si mesmos de uma pratica espiritual porque elas crêem que ela não possuem tempo. A mensagem do Senhor é para purificar todo o processo da vida em si mesma. Não importa o que uma pessoa faz ou pensa deverá realizar pensando na glória e na satisfação do Criador. Nenhum esforço ou custo é necessário para este processo. Faça as suas obrigações como um serviço para o Senhor e humanidade, e veja um único Deus em tudo, num estado de espírito. É necessário purificar o corpo, a mente e o intelecto, para conquistar um estado de espírito, disciplina pessoal, austeridade, penitência, boa conduta, serviço desapegado, práticas yóguicas, meditação, adoração, oração, rituais, e estudo das escrituras, assim como a companhia de pessoa santas, peregrinação, canto dos santos nomes do Senhor, e auto-inquirição. Através do intelecto purificado deve-se estudar para abandonar a luxúria, a ira, a avareza, e estabelecer o controle sobre os seis sentidos (audição, tato, visão, gustação, olfato e mente). Deve-se sempre lembrar de que todos os trabalhos são feitos pela energia da natureza, e que ele o ela não são os agentes mas apenas um instrumento. Deve-se aspirar o máximo de excelência em todas as tarefas, mas mantendo-se a equanimidade no sucesso ou no fracasso, no ganho ou na perda, na dor ou no prazer.
A ignorância do conhecimento metafísico é para a humanidade um grande predicamento. Uma escritura, sendo a voz da transcendência, não pode ser traduzida. A linguagem é incapaz e as traduções são defeituosas para claramente transmitir o conhecimento do Absoluto. E nesta tradução, uma tentativa foi feita para manter o estilo mais próximo possível para a poesia original do Sânscrito, e com isso tornar fácil a leitura e o entendimento. Uma tentativa há sido feita para aprimorar a claridade pela adição de palavras ou frases, entre parênteses, na tradução dos versos. Um glossário e índice há sido incluído. Cento e trinta e três (133) versos chaves estão impressos em negrito para a comodidade dos iniciantes. Nós sugerimos a todos os nossos leitores para refletirem, contemplarem, e agirem de acordo com estes versos. Os principiantes e os ocupados executivos poderão primeiro ler e entender o significado destes versos chaves antes de se aprofundarem no profundo oceano do conhecimento transcendental do Gita.
De acordo com as escrituras, não tem pecado, horrível que seja, que possa comover aquele que lê, pondera e pratica os ensinamentos do Gita; por mais que a água atinja a pétala do lótus (isso porque o lótus está por sobre o lodo; mesmo assim é belo e gracioso). O Senhor em Si mesmo, reside onde o Gita está, é lido, cantado ou ensinado. O Gita é conhecimento Supremo, e o som personificado do Eterno e Absoluto. Aquele que o lê, pondera, e pratica os ensinamentos do Gita com fé e devoção irá obter Moksha (ou Nirvana), pela graça de Deus.
Este livro é dedicado para todos os gurus de quem as bênçãos, graça e ensinamentos são inestimáveis. Ele é oferecido ao grande guru, Senhor Krishna, com amor e devoção. Que o Senhor aceite-o, e abençoe aqueles que repetidamente lerem-no com paz, felicidade, e o verdadeiro conhecimento do Ser.
Nos tempos antigos houve um rei com dois filhos, Dhritarashtra e Pandu. O mais velho nasceu cego, portanto, Pandu herdou o reino. Pandu teve cinco filhos. Eles foram chamados de Pandavas. Dhritarashtra teve cem filhos. Eles eram chamados de Kauravas. Duryodhana foi o primogênito dos Kauravas.
Após a morte do rei Pandu, os Pandavas tornaram-se os reis de direito. Duryodhana foi uma pessoa muito ciumenta. Ele também queria o reino. O reino foi dividido em duas metades entre os Pandavas e os Kauravas. Duryodhana não ficou satisfeito com a sua parte do reino. Ele queria o reino inteiro para si próprio. Ele, de modo mal sucedido, planejou vários crimes para matar os Pandavas e pegar o reino deles. Ilegalmente ele apoderou-se do reino inteiro dos Pandavas e recusou-se a devolver mesmo um acre da terra sem a guerra. Toda a mediação feita pelo Senhor Krishna, e pelos outros, falharam. A grande guerra do Mahaabharata foi assim inevitável. Os Pandavas foram participantes que não queriam a guerra. Eles tiveram apenas duas escolhas: lutar pelo seus direitos conforme a matéria da responsabilidade, ou fugir da guerra e aceitar a derrota em nome da paz e da não violência. Arjuna, um dos cinco irmãos Pandavas, encarou o dilema no meio do campo de batalha para lutar ou fugir da guerra pela segurança da paz.
O dilema de Arjuna é, na realidade, um dilema universal. Cada ser humano encara dilemas, grandes ou pequenos, em suas vidas diárias, quando realiza a suas obrigações. O dilema de Arjuna foi o mais importante de todos. Ele tinha que fazer uma escolha entre lutar a guerra e matar seus mais reverenciados gurus, seus mais queridos amigos, parentes próximos, e muitos guerreiros inocentes, ou fugir do campo de batalhas com o objetivo de preservar a paz e a não-violência. Os setecentos versos, inteiros, do Gita tratam de um discurso entre o Senhor Krishna e o confuso Arjuna, no campo de batalhas de Kurukshetra, local próximo a Nova Delhi, na Índia, cerca de 3.100 anos a.n.e. Este discurso foi narrado para o sábio rei Dhritarashtra pelo seu cocheiro Sanjaya, como uma testemunha ocular da guerra. O objetivo principal do Gita é ajudar as pessoas lutando na escuridão da ignorância a cruzarem o oceano da reencarnação (nascimentos e mortes repetidas), para atingirem a costa espiritual da liberação enquanto viventes e atuantes na sociedade.
O ensinamento central do Gita é a obtenção da liberdade ou da alegria, pelo cativeiro da ação da vida de cada um. Sempre se lembrem da glória e da grandeza do criador e da ação eficiente de seus deveres, sem estar apegados ou afetados pelos seus resultados, mesmo que a obrigação demande, de vez em quando, na violência inevitável. Algumas pessoas negligenciam ou desistem de suas responsabilidades na vida pela segurança de uma vida espiritual enquanto outras desculpam-se a si mesmos de uma pratica espiritual porque elas crêem que ela não possuem tempo. A mensagem do Senhor é para purificar todo o processo da vida em si mesma. Não importa o que uma pessoa faz ou pensa deverá realizar pensando na glória e na satisfação do Criador. Nenhum esforço ou custo é necessário para este processo. Faça as suas obrigações como um serviço para o Senhor e humanidade, e veja um único Deus em tudo, num estado de espírito. É necessário purificar o corpo, a mente e o intelecto, para conquistar um estado de espírito, disciplina pessoal, austeridade, penitência, boa conduta, serviço desapegado, práticas yóguicas, meditação, adoração, oração, rituais, e estudo das escrituras, assim como a companhia de pessoa santas, peregrinação, canto dos santos nomes do Senhor, e auto-inquirição. Através do intelecto purificado deve-se estudar para abandonar a luxúria, a ira, a avareza, e estabelecer o controle sobre os seis sentidos (audição, tato, visão, gustação, olfato e mente). Deve-se sempre lembrar de que todos os trabalhos são feitos pela energia da natureza, e que ele o ela não são os agentes mas apenas um instrumento. Deve-se aspirar o máximo de excelência em todas as tarefas, mas mantendo-se a equanimidade no sucesso ou no fracasso, no ganho ou na perda, na dor ou no prazer.
A ignorância do conhecimento metafísico é para a humanidade um grande predicamento. Uma escritura, sendo a voz da transcendência, não pode ser traduzida. A linguagem é incapaz e as traduções são defeituosas para claramente transmitir o conhecimento do Absoluto. E nesta tradução, uma tentativa foi feita para manter o estilo mais próximo possível para a poesia original do Sânscrito, e com isso tornar fácil a leitura e o entendimento. Uma tentativa há sido feita para aprimorar a claridade pela adição de palavras ou frases, entre parênteses, na tradução dos versos. Um glossário e índice há sido incluído. Cento e trinta e três (133) versos chaves estão impressos em negrito para a comodidade dos iniciantes. Nós sugerimos a todos os nossos leitores para refletirem, contemplarem, e agirem de acordo com estes versos. Os principiantes e os ocupados executivos poderão primeiro ler e entender o significado destes versos chaves antes de se aprofundarem no profundo oceano do conhecimento transcendental do Gita.
De acordo com as escrituras, não tem pecado, horrível que seja, que possa comover aquele que lê, pondera e pratica os ensinamentos do Gita; por mais que a água atinja a pétala do lótus (isso porque o lótus está por sobre o lodo; mesmo assim é belo e gracioso). O Senhor em Si mesmo, reside onde o Gita está, é lido, cantado ou ensinado. O Gita é conhecimento Supremo, e o som personificado do Eterno e Absoluto. Aquele que o lê, pondera, e pratica os ensinamentos do Gita com fé e devoção irá obter Moksha (ou Nirvana), pela graça de Deus.
Este livro é dedicado para todos os gurus de quem as bênçãos, graça e ensinamentos são inestimáveis. Ele é oferecido ao grande guru, Senhor Krishna, com amor e devoção. Que o Senhor aceite-o, e abençoe aqueles que repetidamente lerem-no com paz, felicidade, e o verdadeiro conhecimento do Ser.
quarta-feira, 11 de fevereiro de 2009
Hindu Rituals and Routines
Introduction
Hinduism is not a religion but a way of life. Unlike other religions, Hindu dharma has many specialties. This is not known as a religion, it is known as the dharma; Sanaathana Dharma. Sanaathana means, according to Bhagavath Geetha, which cannot be destroyed by fire, weapons, water, air, and which is present in all living and non living being. Dharma means, the way of life which is the ‘total of all aachaaraas or customs and rituals’.
Sanaathana Dharma has its foundation on scientific spirituality. In the entire ancient Hindu literature we can see that science and spirituality are integrated. It is mentioned in the 40th chapter of the Yajurveda known as Eesaavaasya Upanishad that use scientific knowledge for solving problems in our life and use the spiritual knowledge for attaining immortality through philosophical outlook.
Remember that in each and every aachaaraa there will be a component of spirituality in it. Without spirituality, nothing exists in Sanaathana dharma. Generally everyone bear a wrong impression that this spirituality is religion. Spirituality is different in Hindu dharma. Here the question of religion does not exist at all, because Hindu dharma was not created by an individual, prophet or an incarnation. Spirituality is a part of every Hindu custom in the normal life of a Hindu.
Aachaaraas are to be followed based on their merits available from the self experience; you need not blindly follow a teacher or someone who gives advice without reasoning. All these aachaaraas are mentioned for the prosperity of the human beings and it should be the prime focus for practicing the Hindu aachaaraas.
Achaaryaath paadam aadatthe
paadam sishya swamedhayaa
paadam sa brahmachaaribhya
sesham kaala kramena cha
This is an important advice given in smruthies. It means a person can get only one quarter of knowledge from Achaarya - the teacher, another quarter by analyzing self, one quarter by discussing with others and the last quarter during the process of living by method addition, deletion, correction, and modification of already known aachaaraas or new aachaaraas.
Aachaaraath labhathe hi ayu:
aachaaraath dhanamakshayam
aachaaraath labhathe suprajaa:
aachaaro ahanthya lakshanam
Aachaaraas are followed for the psychological and physiological health and long life; Aachaaraas are followed for prosperity and wealth; Aachaaraas are followed for strong family and social bondage and following the Aachaaraas give a fine personality, dharmic outlook and vision, says our dharmasaastra.
In India everyone followed Aachaaraas for the above mentioned psychological, physiological, family relation, social benefits and national integration based benefits. It is your right and duty to understand scientifically, rationally and logically the meaning of each and every Aachaaraas and follow the same in your life systematically.
Introduction
Hinduism is not a religion but a way of life. Unlike other religions, Hindu dharma has many specialties. This is not known as a religion, it is known as the dharma; Sanaathana Dharma. Sanaathana means, according to Bhagavath Geetha, which cannot be destroyed by fire, weapons, water, air, and which is present in all living and non living being. Dharma means, the way of life which is the ‘total of all aachaaraas or customs and rituals’.
Sanaathana Dharma has its foundation on scientific spirituality. In the entire ancient Hindu literature we can see that science and spirituality are integrated. It is mentioned in the 40th chapter of the Yajurveda known as Eesaavaasya Upanishad that use scientific knowledge for solving problems in our life and use the spiritual knowledge for attaining immortality through philosophical outlook.
Remember that in each and every aachaaraa there will be a component of spirituality in it. Without spirituality, nothing exists in Sanaathana dharma. Generally everyone bear a wrong impression that this spirituality is religion. Spirituality is different in Hindu dharma. Here the question of religion does not exist at all, because Hindu dharma was not created by an individual, prophet or an incarnation. Spirituality is a part of every Hindu custom in the normal life of a Hindu.
Aachaaraas are to be followed based on their merits available from the self experience; you need not blindly follow a teacher or someone who gives advice without reasoning. All these aachaaraas are mentioned for the prosperity of the human beings and it should be the prime focus for practicing the Hindu aachaaraas.
Achaaryaath paadam aadatthe
paadam sishya swamedhayaa
paadam sa brahmachaaribhya
sesham kaala kramena cha
This is an important advice given in smruthies. It means a person can get only one quarter of knowledge from Achaarya - the teacher, another quarter by analyzing self, one quarter by discussing with others and the last quarter during the process of living by method addition, deletion, correction, and modification of already known aachaaraas or new aachaaraas.
Aachaaraath labhathe hi ayu:
aachaaraath dhanamakshayam
aachaaraath labhathe suprajaa:
aachaaro ahanthya lakshanam
Aachaaraas are followed for the psychological and physiological health and long life; Aachaaraas are followed for prosperity and wealth; Aachaaraas are followed for strong family and social bondage and following the Aachaaraas give a fine personality, dharmic outlook and vision, says our dharmasaastra.
In India everyone followed Aachaaraas for the above mentioned psychological, physiological, family relation, social benefits and national integration based benefits. It is your right and duty to understand scientifically, rationally and logically the meaning of each and every Aachaaraas and follow the same in your life systematically.
Why do we…
1. Why do we light a lamp?
2. Why do we have a prayer room?
3. hy do we do Namaste?
4. Why do we prostrate before parents and elders?
5. Why do we wear marks (tilak, pottu and the like) on the forehead?
5. Why do we wear marks (tilak, pottu and the like) on the forehead?
6. Why do we not touch papers, books and people with the feet?
7. o touch another with the feet is considered an act of misdemeanor. Why is this so?
8. Why do we apply the holy ash?
9. Why do offer food to the Lord before eating it?
10. Why do we fast?
11. Why do we do pradakshina (circumambulate)?
12. Why is pradakshina done only in a clockwise manner?
13. Why do we regard trees and plants as sacred?
14. Why do we ring the bell in a temple?
15. Why do we worship the kalasha?
16. Why do we consider the lotus as special?
12. Why is pradakshina done only in a clockwise manner?
13. Why do we regard trees and plants as sacred?
14. Why do we ring the bell in a temple?
15. Why do we worship the kalasha?
16. Why do we consider the lotus as special?
17. Why do we worship tulasi?
18. Why do we blow the conch?
19. Why do we say shaanti thrice?
20. Why do we offer a coconut?
21. Why do we chant Om?
22. Why do we do aarati?
18. Why do we blow the conch?
19. Why do we say shaanti thrice?
20. Why do we offer a coconut?
21. Why do we chant Om?
22. Why do we do aarati?
1. Why do we light a lamp?
In almost every Indian home a lamp is lit daily before the altar of the Lord. In some houses it is lit at dawn, in some, twice a day – at dawn and dusk – and in a few it is maintained continuously - Akhanda Deepa. All auspicious functions commence with the lighting of the lamp, which is often maintained right through the occasion.
Light symbolizes knowledge, and darkness - ignorance. The Lord is the "Knowledge Principle" (Chaitanya) who is the source, the enlivener and the illuminator of all knowledge. Hence light is worshiped as the Lord himself.
Knowledge removes ignorance just as light removes darkness. Also knowledge is a lasting inner wealth by which all outer achievement can be accomplished. Hence we light the lamp to bow down to knowledge as the greatest of all forms of wealth.
Why not light a bulb or tube light? That too would remove darkness. But the traditional oil lamp has a further spiritual significance. The oil or ghee in the lamp symbolizes our vaasanas or negative tendencies and the wick, the ego. When lit by spiritual knowledge, the vaasanas get slowly exhausted and the ego too finally perishes. The flame of a lamp always burns upwards. Similarly we should acquire such knowledge as to take us towards higher ideals.
Whilst lighting the lamp we thus pray:
Deepajyothi parabrahma
Deepa sarva tamopahaha
Deepena saadhyate saram
Sandhyaa deepo namostute
I prostrate to the dawn/dusk lamp; whose light is the Knowledge Principle (the Supreme Lord), which removes the darkness of ignorance and by which all can be achieved in life.
2. Why do we have a prayer room?
Most Indian homes have a prayer room or altar. A lamp is lit and the Lord worshipped each day. Other spiritual practices like japa - repetition of the Lord’s name, meditation, paaraayana - reading of the scriptures, prayers, and devotional singing etc are also done here. Special worship is done on auspicious occasions like birthdays, anniversaries, festivals and the like. Each member of the family - young or old - communes with and worships the Divine here.
The Lord is the entire creation. He is therefore the true owner of the house we live in too. The prayer room is the Master room of the house. We are the earthly occupants of His property. This notion rids us of false pride and possessiveness.
The ideal attitude to take is to regard the Lord as the true owner of our homes and us as caretakers of His home. But if that is rather difficult, we could at least think of Him as a very welcome guest. Just as we would house an important guest in the best comfort, so too we felicitate the Lord’s presence in our homes by having a prayer room or altar, which is, at all times, kept clean and well-decorated.
Also the Lord is all pervading. To remind us that He resides in our homes with us, we have prayer rooms. Without the grace of the Lord, no task can be successfully or easily accomplished. We invoke His grace by communing with Him in the prayer room each day and on special occasions.
Hindu Rituals and Routines Why do we follow them?
Each room in a house is dedicated to a specific function like the bedroom for resting, the drawing room to receive guests, the kitchen for cooking etc. The furniture, decor and the atmosphere of each room are made conducive to the purpose it serves. So too for the purpose of meditation, worship and prayer, we should have a conducive atmosphere - hence the need for a prayer room.
Sacred thoughts and sound vibrations pervade the place and influence the minds of those who spend time there. Spiritual thoughts and vibrations accumulated through regular meditation, worship and chanting done there pervade the prayer room. Even when we are tired or agitated, by just sitting in the prayer room for a while, we feel calm, rejuvenated and spiritually uplifted.
3. Why do we do Namaste?
Indians greet each other with namaste. The two palms are placed together in front of the chest and the head bows whilst saying the word namaste. This greeting is for all - people younger than us, of our own age, those older than friends, even strangers and us.
There are five forms of formal traditional greeting enjoined in the shaastras of which namaskaram is one. This is understood as prostration but it actually refers to paying homage as we do today when we greet each other with a namaste.
Namaste could be just a casual or formal greeting, a cultural convention or an act of worship. However there is much more to it than meets the eye. In Sanskrit namah + te = namaste. It means - I bow to you - my greetings, salutations or prostration to you. Namaha can also be literally interpreted as "na ma" (not mine). It has a spiritual significance of negating or reducing one’s ego in the presence of another.
The real meeting between people is the meeting of their minds. When we greet another, we do so with namaste, which means, "may our minds meet," indicated by the folded palms placed before the chest. The bowing down of the head is a gracious form of extending friendship in love and humility
The spiritual meaning is even deeper. The life force, the divinity, the Self or the Lord in me is the same in all. Recognizing this oneness with the meeting of the palms, we salute with head bowed the Divinity in the person we meet. That is why sometimes, we close our eyes as we do namaste to a revered person or the Lord – as if to look within. The gesture is often accompanied by words like "Ram Ram," "Jai Shri Krishna", "Namo Narayana", "Jai Siya Ram", "Om Shanti" etc - indicating the recognition of this divinity.
When we know this significance, our greeting does not remain just a superficial gesture or word but paves the way for a deeper communion with another in an atmosphere of love and respect.
4. Why do we prostrate before parents and elders?
Indians prostrate before their parents, elders, teachers and noble souls by touching their feet. The elder in turn blesses us by placing his or her hand on or over our heads. Prostration is done daily, when we meet elders and particularly on important occasions like the beginning of a new task, birthdays, festivals etc. In certain traditional circles, prostration is accompanied by abhivaadana, which serves to introduce one-self, announce one’s family and social stature.
Hindu Rituals and Routines Why do we follow them?
Man stands on his feet. Touching the feet in prostration is a sign of respect for the age, maturity, nobility and divinity that our elders personify. It symbolizes our recognition of their selfless love for us and the sacrifices they have done for our welfare. It is a way of humbly acknowledging the greatness of another. This tradition reflects the strong family ties, which has been one of India’s enduring strengths.
The good wishes (Sankalpa) and blessings (aashirvaada) of elders are highly valued in India. We prostrate to seek them. Good thoughts create positive vibrations. Good wishes springing from a heart full of love, divinity and nobility have a tremendous strength. When we prostrate with humility and respect, we invoke the good wishes and blessings of elders, which flow in the form of positive energy to envelop us. This is why the posture assumed whether it is in the standing or prone position, enables the entire body to receive the energy thus received.
The different forms of showing respect are :
Pratuthana:
Rising to welcome a person.
Namaskaara:
Paying homage in the form of namaste
Upasangrahan:
Touching the feet of elders or teachers.
Shaashtaanga:
Prostrating fully with the feet, knees, stomach, chest, forehead and arms touching the ground in front of the elder.
Pratyabivaadana:
Returning a greeting.
Rules are prescribed in our scriptures as to who should prostrate to whom. Wealth, family name, age, moral strength and spiritual knowledge in ascending order of importance qualified men to receive respect. This is why a king though the ruler of the land, would prostrate before a spiritual master. Epics like the Ramayana and Mahabharata have many stories highlighting this aspect.
5. Why do we wear marks (tilak, pottu and the like) on the forehead?
The tilak or pottu invokes a feeling of sanctity in the wearer and others. It is recognized as a religious mark. Its form and colour vary according to one’s caste, religious sect or the form of the Lord worshipped.
In earlier times, the four castes (based on varna or colour) - Brahmana, Kshatriya, Vaishya and Sudra - applied marks differently. The brahmin applied a white chandan mark signifying purity, as his profession was of a priestly or academic nature. The kshatriya applied a red kumkum mark signifying valour as he belonged to warrior races. The vaishya wore a yellow kesar or turmeric mark signifying prosperity as he was a businessman or trader devoted to creation of wealth. The sudra applied a black bhasma, kasturi or charcoal mark signifying service as he supported the work of the other three divisions.
Also Vishnu worshippers apply a chandan tilak of the shape of "U," Shiva worshippers a tripundra of bhasma, Devi worshippers a red dot of kumkum and so on).
The tilak cover the spot between the eyebrows, which is the seat of memory and thinking. It is known as the Aajna Chakra in the language of Yoga. The tilak is applied with the prayer - "May I remember the Lord. May this pious feeling pervade all my activities. May I be righteous in my deeds." Even when we temporarily forget this prayerful attitude the mark on another reminds us of our resolve. The tilak is thus a blessing of the Lord and a protection against wrong tendencies and forces.
The entire body emanates energy in the form of electromagnetic waves - the forehead and the subtle spot between the eyebrows especially so. That is why worry generates heat and
Hindu Rituals and Routines Why do we follow them?
causes a headache. The tilak and pottu cools the forehead, protects us and prevents energy loss. Sometimes the entire forehead is covered with chandan or bhasma. Using plastic reusable "stick bindis" is not very beneficial, even though it serves the purpose of decoration.
6. Why do we not touch papers, books and people with the feet?
To Indians, knowledge is sacred and divine. So it must be given respect at all times. Nowadays we separate subjects as sacred and secular. But in ancient India every subject - academic or spiritual - was considered divine and taught by the guru in the gurukula.
The custom of not stepping on educational tools is a frequent reminder of the high position accorded to knowledge in Indian culture. From an early age, this wisdom fosters in us a deep reverence for books and education. This is also the reason why we worship books, vehicles and instruments once a year on Saraswathi Pooja or Ayudha Pooja day, dedicated to the Goddess of Learning. In fact, each day before starting our studies, we pray:
Saraswati namasthubhyam Varade kaama roopini Vidyaarambham karishyaami Sidhirbhavatu me sadaa
O Goddess Saraswati, the giver of Boons and fulfiller of wishes, I prostrate to You before starting my studies. May you always fulfill me?
7. To touch another with the feet is considered an act of misdemeanor. Why is this so?
Man is regarded as the most beautiful, living breathing temple of the Lord! Therefore touching another with the feet is akin to disrespecting the divinity within him or her. This calls for an immediate apology, which is offered with reverence and humility.
8. Why do we apply the holy ash?
The ash of any burnt object is not regarded as holy ash. Bhasma (the holy ash) is the ash from the homa (sacrificial fire) where special wood along with ghee and other herbs is offered as worship of the Lord. Or the deity is worshipped by pouring ash as abhisheka and is then distributed as bhasma.
Bhasma is generally applied on the forehead. Some apply it on certain parts of the body like the upper arms, chest etc. Some ascetics rub it all over the body. Many consume a pinch of it each time they receive it.
The word bhasma means, "that by which our sins are destroyed and the Lord is remembered." Bha implied bhartsanam ("to destroy") and sma implies smaranam ("to remember"). The application of bhasma therefore signifies destruction of the evil and remembrance of the divine. Bhasma is called vibhuti (which means "glory") as it gives glory to one who applies it and raksha (which means a source of protection) as it protects the wearer from ill health and evil, by purifying him or her.
Hindu Rituals and Routines Why do we follow them?
Homa (offering of oblations into the fire with sacred chants) signifies the offering or surrender of the ego and egocentric desires into the flame of knowledge or a noble and selfless cause. The consequent ash signifies the purity of the mind, which results from such actions.
Also the fire of knowledge burns the oblation and wood signifying ignorance and inertia respectively. The ash we apply indicates that we should burn false identification with the body and become free of the limitations of birth and death. This is not to be misconstrued as a morose reminder of death but as a powerful pointer towards the fact that time and tide wait for none.
Bhasma is specially associated with Lord Shiva who applies it all over His body. Shiva devotes apply bhasma as a tripundra. When applied with a red spot at the center, the mark symbolizes Shiva-Shakti (the unity of energy and matter that creates the entire seen and unseen universe).
Tryambakam yajaamahe Sugandhim pushtivardhanam Urvaa rukamiva bhandhanaan Mrytyor muksheeyamaa amrutaat
"We worship the three-eyed Lord Shiva who nourishes and spread fragrance in our lives. May He free us from the shackles of sorrow, change and death – effortlessly, like the fall of a rip brinjal from its stem."
9. Why do offer food to the Lord before eating it?
Indians make an offering of food to the Lord and later partake of it as prasaada - a holy gift from the Lord. In our daily ritualistic worship (pooja) too we offer naivedyam (food) to the Lord.
The Lord is omnipotent and omniscient. Man is a part, while the Lord is the totality. All that we do is by His strength and knowledge alone. Hence what we receive in life as a result of our actions is really His alone. We acknowledge this through the act of offering food to Him. This is exemplified by the Hindi words "tera tujko arpan"– I offer what is Yours to You. Thereafter it is akin to His gift to us, graced by His divine touch.
Knowing this, our entire attitude to food and the act of eating changes. The food offered will naturally be pure and the best. We share what we get with others before consuming it. We do not demand, complain or criticise the quality of the food we get. We eat it with cheerful acceptance (prasaada buddhi).
Before we partake of our daily meals we first sprinkle water around the plate as an act of purification. Five morsels of food are placed on the side of the plate acknowledging the debt owed by us to the Divine forces (devta runa) for their benign grace and protection, our ancestors (pitru runa) for giving us their lineage and a family culture, the sages (rishi runa) as our religion and culture have been "realised", aintained and handed down to us by them, our fellow beings (manushya runa) who constitute society without the support of which we could not live as we do and other living beings (bhuta runa) for serving us selflessly.
Thereafter the Lord, the life force, who is also within us as the five life-giving physiological functions, is offered the food. This is done with the chant
praanaaya swaahaa, apaanaaya swaahaa, vyaanaaya swaahaa,
Hindu Rituals and Routines Why do we follow them?
udaanaaya swaahaa, samaanaaya swaahaa, brahmane swaahaa
After offering the food thus, it is eaten as prasaada - blessed food.
10. Why do we fast?
Most devout Indians fast regularly or on special occasions like festivals. On such days they do not eat at all, eat once or make do with fruits or a special diet of simple food.
Fasting in Sanskrit is called upavaasa. Upa means "near" + vaasa means "to stay". Upavaasa therefore means staying near (the Lord), meaning the attainment of close mental proximity with the Lord. Then what has upavaasa to do with food?
A lot of our time and energy is spent in procuring food items, preparing, cooking, eating and digesting food. Certain food types make our minds dull and agitated. Hence on certain days man decides to save time and conserve his energy by eating either simple, light food or totally abstaining from eating so that his mind becomes alert and pure. The mind, otherwise pre-occupied by the thought of food, now entertains noble thoughts and stays with the Lord. Since it is a self-imposed form of discipline it is usually adhered to with joy
Also every system needs a break and an overhaul to work at its best. Rest and a change of diet during fasting is very good for the digestive system and the entire body.
The more you indulge the senses, the more they make their demands. Fasting helps us to cultivate control over our senses, sublimate our desires and guide our minds to be poised and at peace.
Fasting should not make us weak, irritable or create an urge to indulge later. This happens when there is no noble goal behind fasting.
The Bhagavad-Gita urges us to eat appropriately - neither too less nor too much - yukta-aahaara and to eat simple, pure and healthy food (a saatvik diet) even when not fasting.
11. Why do we do pradakshina (circumambulate)?
We cannot draw a circle without a center point. The Lord is the center, source and essence of our lives. Recognizing Him as the focal point in our lives, we go about doing our daily chores. This is the significance of pradakshina.
Also every point on the circumference of a circle is equidistant from the center. This means that wherever or whoever we may be, we are equally close to the Lord. His grace flows towards us without partiality.
12. Why is pradakshina done only in a clockwise manner?
The reason is not, as a person said, to avoid a traffic jam! As we do pradakshina, the Lord is always on our right. In India the right side symbolizes auspiciousness. So as we circumambulate the sanctum sanctorum we remind ourselves to lead an auspicious life of righteousness, with the Lord who is the indispensable source of help and strength, as our guide - the "right hand".
Hindu Rituals and Routines Why do we follow them?
- 10 -
Indian scriptures enjoin - matrudevo bhava, pitrudevo bhava, acharyadevo bhava. May you consider your parents and teachers as you would the Lord. With this in mind we also do pradakshina around our parents and divine personages.
After the completion of traditional worship (pooja), we customarily do pradakshina around ourselves. In this way we recognize and remember the supreme divinity within us, which alone is idolized in the form of the Lord that we worship outside.
13. Why do we regard trees and plants as sacred?
The Lord, the life in us, pervades all living beings, be they plants or animals. Hence, they are all regarded as sacred. Human life on earth depends on plants and trees. They give us the vital factors that make life possible on earth: food, oxygen, clothing, shelter, medicines etc.
Hence, in India, we are taught to regard trees and plants as sacred. Indians scriptures tell us to plant ten trees if, for any reason, we have to cut one. We are advised to use parts of trees and plants only as much as is needed for food, fuel, shelter etc. we are also urged to apologies to a plant or tree before cutting it to avoid incurring a specific sin named soona.
Certain trees and plants like tulasi, peepal etc., which have tremendous beneficial qualities, are worshipped till today. It is believed that divine beings manifest as trees and plants, and many people worship them to fulfill their desires or to please the Lord.
14. Why do we ring the bell in a temple?
Is it to wake up the Lord? But the Lord never sleeps. Is it to let the Lord know we have come? He does not need to be told, as He is all knowing. Is it a form of seeking permission to enter His precinct? It is a homecoming and therefore entry needs no permission. The Lord welcomes us at all times. Then why do we ring the bell?
The ringing of the bell produces what is regarded as an auspicious sound. It produces the sound Om, the universal name of the Lord. There should be auspiciousness within and without, to gain the vision of the Lord who is all-auspiciousness.
Even while doing the ritualistic aarati, we ring the bell. It is sometimes accompanied by the auspicious sounds of the conch and other musical instruments. An added significance of ringing the bell, conch and other instruments is that they help drowned any inauspicious or irrelevant noises and comments that might disturb or distract the worshippers in their devotional ardour, concentration and inner peace.
As we start the daily ritualistic worship (pooja) we ring the bell, chanting:
Aagamaarthamtu devaanaam gamanaarthamtu rakshasaam Kurve ghantaaravam tatra devataahvaahna lakshanam
I ring this bell indicating the invocation of divinity, So that virtuous and noble forces enter (my home and heart); and the demonic and evil forces from within and without, depart.
Hindu Rituals and Routines Why do we follow them?
15. Why do we worship the kalasha?
First of all what is a kalasha? A brass, mud or copper pot is filled with water. Mango leaves are placed in the mouth of the pot and a coconut is placed over it. A red or white thread is tied around its neck or sometimes all around it in a intricate diamond-shaped pattern. The pot may be decorated wit designs. Such a pot is known as a kalasha.
When the pot is filled with water or rice, it is known as purnakumbha representing the inert body which when filled with the divine life force gains the power to do all the wonderful things that makes life what it is.
A kalasha is placed with due rituals on all-important occasions like the traditional house warming (grihapravesa), wedding, daily worship etc. It is placed near the entrance as a sign of welcome. It is also used in a traditional manner while receiving holy personages. Why do we worship the kalasha? Before the creation came into being, Lord Vishnu was reclining on His snake-bed in the milky ocean. From His navel emerged a lotus from which appeared Lord Brahma, the creator, who thereafter created this world.
The water in the kalasha symbolizes the primordial water from which the entire creation emerged. It is the giver of life to all and has the potential of creating innumerable names and forms, the inert objects and the sentient beings and all that is auspicious in the world from the energy behind the universe. The leaves and coconut represent creation.
The thread represents the love that "binds" all in creation. The kalasha is therefore considered auspicious and worshipped. The waters from all the holy rivers, the knowledge of all the Vedas and the blessings of all the deities are invoked in the kalasha and its water is thereafter used for all the rituals, including the abhisheka.
The consecration (kumbhaabhisheka) of a temple is done in a grand manner with elaborate rituals including the pouring of one or more kalashas of holy water on the top of the temple. When the asuras and devas churned the milky ocean, the Lord appeared bearing the pot of nectar, which blessed one with everlasting life.
Thus the kalasha also symbolizes immortality. Men of wisdom are full and complete as they identify with the infinite Truth (poornatvam). They brim with joy and love and respect all that is auspicious. We greet them with a purnakumbha ("full pot") acknowledging their greatness and as a sign of respectful and reverential welcome, with a "full heart".
16. Why do we consider the lotus as special?
The lotus is the symbol of truth, auspiciousness and beauty (satyam, shivam, sundaram). The Lord is also that nature and therefore, His various aspects are compared to a lotus (i.e. lotus-eyes, lotus feet, lotus hands, the lotus of the heart etc.).
The lotus blooms with the rising sun and close at night. Similarly, our minds open up and expand with the light of knowledge. The lotus grows even in slushy areas. It remains beautiful and untainted despite its surroundings, reminding us that we too can and should strive to remain pure and beautiful within, under all circumstances.
The lotus leaf never gets wet even though it is always in water. It symbolizes the man of wisdom (gyaani) who remains ever joyous, unaffected by the world of sorrow and change. This is revealed in a shloka from the Bhagwad-Geeta:
Hindu Rituals and Routines Why do we follow them?
Brahmanyaadhaaya karmaani Sangam tyaktvaa karoti yaha Lipyate na sa paapena Padma patram ivaambhasaa
He who does actions, offering them to Brahman (the Supreme), abandoning attachment, is not tainted by sin, just as a lotus leaf remains unaffected by the water on it.
From this, we learn that what is natural to the man of wisdom becomes a discipline to be practiced by all saadhakas or spiritual seekers and devotees. Our bodies have certain energy centers described in the Yoga Shaastras as chakras.
Each one is associated with lotus that has a certain number of petals. For example, a lotus with a thousand petals represents the Sahasra chakra at the top of the head, which opens when the yogi attains Godhood or Realisation. Also, the lotus posture (padmaasana) is recommended when one sits for meditation. A lotus emerged from the navel of Lord Vishnu. Lord Brahma originated from it to create the world. Hence, the lotus symbolizes the link between the creator and the supreme Cause.
It also symbolizes Brahmaloka, the abode of Lord Brahma. The auspicious sign of the swastika is said to have evolved from the lotus.
17. Why do we worship tulasi?
In Sanskrit, tulanaa naasti athaiva tulasi - that which is incomparable (in its qualities) is the tulasi
For Indians it is one of the most sacred plants. In fact it is known to be the only thing used in worship, which, once used, can be washed and reused in pooja - as it is regarded so self-purifying.
As one story goes, Tulasi was the devoted wife of Shankhachuda, a celestial being. She believed that Lord Krishna tricked her into sinning. So she cursed Him to become a stone (shaaligraama). Seeing her devotion and adhered to righteousness, the Lord blessed her saying that she would become the worshipped plant, tulasi that would adorn His head.
Also that all offerings would be incomplete without the tulasi leaf - hence the worship of tulasi.
She also symbolises Goddess Lakshmi, the consort of Lord Vishnu. Those who wish to be righteous and have a happy family life worship the tulasi.
Tulasi is married to the Lord with all pomp and show as in any wedding.
This is because according to another legend, the Lord blessed her to be His consort. Satyabhama once weighed Lord Krishna against all her legendary wealth. The scales did not balance till a single tulasi leaf was placed along with the wealth on the scale by Rukmini with devotion.
Thus the tulasi played the vital role of demonstrating to the world that even a small object offered with devotion means more to the Lord than all the wealth in the world.
The tulasi leaf has great medicinal value and is used to cure various ailments, including the common cold.
Yanmule sarvatirhaani Yannagre sarvadevataa Yanmadhye sarvavedaascha Tulasi taam namaamyaham
Hindu Rituals and Routines Why do we follow them?
I bow down to the tulasi, At whose base are all the holy places, At whose top reside all the deities and In whose middle are all the Vedas.
18. Why do we blow the conch?
When the conch is blown, the primordial sound of Om emanates. Om is an auspicious sound that was chanted by the Lord before creating the world. It represents the world and the Truth behind it.
As the story goes, the demon Shankhaasura defeated devas, the Vedas and went to the bottom of the ocean. The devas appealed to Lord Vishnu for help. He incarnated as Matsya Avataara - the "fish incarnation" and killed Shankhaasura. The Lord blew the conch-shaped bone of his ear and head. The Om sound emanated, from which emerged the Vedas.
All knowledge enshrined in the Vedas is an elaboration of Om. The conch therefore is known as shankha after Shankaasua. The conch blown by the Lord is called Paanchajanya. He carries it at all times in one of His four hands.
It represents dharma or righteousness that is one of the four goals (purushaarthas) of life. The sound of the conch is thus also the victory call of good over evil.
Another well-known purpose of blowing the conch and the instruments, known traditionally to produce auspicious sounds is to drown or mask negative comments or noises that may disturb or upset the atmosphere or the minds of worshippers.
Ancient India lived in her villages. Each village was presided over by a primary temple and several small ones. During the aarati performed after all-important poojas and on sacred occasions, the conch used to be blown. Since villages were generally small, the sound of the conch would be heard all over the village. People who could not make it to the temple were reminded to stop whatever they were doing, at least for a few seconds, and mentally bow to the Lord. The conch sound served to briefly elevate people's minds to a prayerful attitude even in the middle of their busy daily routine.
The conch is placed at the altar in temples and homes next to the Lord as a symbol of Naada Brahma (Truth), the Vedas, Om, dharma, victory and auspiciousness. It is often used to offer devotees thirtha (sanctified water) to raise their minds to the highest Truth. It is worshipped with the following verse.
Twam puraa saagarot pannaha Vishnunaa vidhrutahakare Devaischa poojitha sarvahi Panchjanya namostu te
Salutations to Panchajanya the conch born of the ocean Held in the hand of Lord Vishnu and worshipped by all devaas
19. Why do we say shaanti thrice?
Shaanti, meaning "peace", is a natural state of being. Disturbances are created either by others or us. For example, peace already exists in a place until someone makes noise.
Therefore, peace underlies all our agitations. When agitations end, peace is naturally experienced since it was already there. Where there is peace, there is happiness. Therefore, every one without exception desires peace in his/her life.
Hindu Rituals and Routines Why do we follow them?
However, peace within or without seems very hard to attain because it is covered by our own agitations. A rare few manage to remain peaceful within even in the midst of external agitation and troubles. To invoke peace, we chant prayers. By chanting prayers, troubles end and peace is experienced internally, irrespective of the external disturbances. All such prayers end by chanting shaanti thrice.
It is believed that trivaram satyam - that which is said thrice comes true. For emphasizing a point we repeat a thing thrice. In the court of law also, one who takes the witness stands says, "I shall speak the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth".
We chant shaanti thrice to emphasise our intense desire for peace. All obstacles, problems and sorrows originate from three sources.
Aadhidaivika : The unseen divine forces over which we have little or no control like earthquakes, floods, volcanic eruptions etc.
Aadhibhautika: The known factors around us like accidents, human contacts, pollution, crime etc.
Aadhyaatmika : We sincerely pray to the Lord that at least while we undertake special tasks or even in our daily lives, there are no problems or that, problems are minimised from the three sources written about above.
May peace alone prevail. Hence shaanti is chanted thrice.
It is chanted aloud the first time, addressing the unseen forces. It is chanted softer the second time, directed to our immediate surroundings and those around, and softest the last time as it is addressed to oneself.
20. Why do we offer a coconut?
In India one of the most common offerings in a temple is a coconut. It is also offered on occasions like weddings, festivals, the use of a new vehicle, bridge, house etc. It is offered in the sacrificial fire whilst performing homa. The coconut is broken and placed before the Lord. It is later distributed as prasaada.
The fibre covering of the dried coconut is removed except for a tuft on the top. The marks on the coconut make it look like the head of a human being. The coconut is broken, symbolising the breaking of the ego. The juice within, representing the inner tendencies (vaasanas) is offered along with the white kernel - the mind, to the Lord.
A mind thus purified by the touch of the Lord is used as prasaada ( a holy gift). In the traditional abhishekha ritual done in all temples and many homes, several materials are poured over the deity like milk, curd, honey, tender coconut water, sandal paste, holy ash etc. Each material has a specific significance of bestowing certain benefits on worshippers. Tender coconut water is used in abhisheka rituals since it is believed to bestow spiritual growth on the seeker.
The coconut also symbolises selfless service. Every part of the tree -the trunk, leaves, fruit, coir etc. Is used in innumerable ways like thatches, mats, tasty dishes, oil, soap etc. It takes in even salty water from the earth and converts it into sweet nutritive water that is especially beneficial to sick people. It is used in the preparation of many ayurvedic medicines and in other alternative medicinal systems.
The marks on the coconut are even thought to represent the three-eyed Lord Shiva and therefore it is considered to be a means to fulfill our desires.
Hindu Rituals and Routines Why do we follow them?
21. Why do we chant Om?
Om is one of the most chanted sound symbols in India. It has a profound effect on the body and mind of the one who chants and also on the surroundings. Most mantras and vedic prayers start with Om.
All auspicious actions begin with Om. It is even used as a greeting - Om, Hari Om etc. It is repeated as a mantra or meditated upon. Its form is worshipped, contemplated upon or used as an auspicious sign.
Om is the universal name of the Lord. It is made up of the letters A (phonetically as in "around"), U (phonetically as in "put") and M (phonetically as in "mum"). The sound emerging from the vocal chords starts from the base of the throat as "A". With the coming together of the lips, "U" is formed and when the lips are closed, all sounds end in "M".
The three letters symbolize the three states (waking, dream and deep sleep), the three deities (Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva), the three Vedas (Rig, Yajur and Sama) the three worlds (Bhuh, Bhuvah, Suvah) etc. The Lord is all these and beyond.
The formless, attributeless Lord (Brahman) is represented by the silence between two Om Chants. Om is also called pranava that means, "that (symbol or sound) by which the Lord is praised". The entire essence of the Vedas is enshrined in the word Om. It is said that the Lord started creating the world after chanting Om and atha. Hence its sound is considered to create an auspicious beginning for any task that we undertake. The Om chant should have the resounding sound of a bell (aaooommm).
Om is written in different ways in different places. The most common form symbolizes Lord Ganesha’s. The upper curve is the head; the lower large one, the stomach; the side one, the trunk; and the semi-circular mark with the dot, the sweetmeat ball (modaka) in Lord Ganesha's hand. Thus Om symbolizes everything - the means and the goal of life, the world and the Truth behind it, the material and the Sacred, all form and the Formless.
22. Why do we do aarati?
Towards the end of every ritualistic worship (pooja or bhajan) of the Lord or to welcome an honored guest or saint, we perform the aarati. This is always accompanied by the ringing of the bell and sometimes by singing, playing of musical instruments and clapping.
It is one of the sixteen steps (shodasha upachaara) of the pooja ritual. It is referred to as the lighted lamp in the right hand, which we wave in a clockwise circling movement to light the entire form of the Lord.
Each part is revealed individually and also the entire form of the Lord. As the light is waved we either do mental or loud chanting of prayers or simply behold the beautiful form of the Lord, illumined by the lamp. At the end of the aarati we place our hands over the flame and then gently touch our eyes and the top of the head.
We have seen and participated in this ritual from our childhood. Let us find out why we do the aarati?
Having worshipped the Lord of love - performing abhisheka, decorating the image and offering fruits and delicacies, we see the beauty of the Lord in all His glory. Our minds are focused on each limb of the Lord as the lamp lights it up. It is akin to silent open-eyed meditation on His beauty. The singing, clapping, ringing of the bell etc. denote the joy and auspiciousness, which accompanies the vision of the Lord.
Hindu Rituals and Routines Why do we follow them?
Aarati is often performed with camphor. This holds a telling spiritual significance. Camphor when lit, burns itself out completely without leaving a trace of it. It represents our inherent tendencies (vaasanas). When lit by the fire of knowledge which illumines the Lord (Truth), our vaasanas thereafter burn themselves out completely, not leaving a trace of ego which creates in us a sense of individuality that keeps us separate from the Lord.
Also while camphor burns to reveal the glory of Lord, it emits a pleasant perfume even while it sacrifices itself. In our spiritual progress, even as we serve the guru and society, we should willingly sacrifice ourselves and all we have, to spread the "perfume" of love to all. We often wait a long while to see the illumined Lord but when the aarati is actually performed, our eyes close automatically as if to look within. This is to signify that each of us is a temple of the Lord.
Just as the priest reveals the form of the Lord clearly with the aarati flame, so too the guru reveals to us the divinity within each of us with the help of the "flame" of knowledge (or the light of spiritual knowledge). At the end of the aarati, we place our hands over the flame and then touch our eyes and the top of the head. It means - may the light that illuminated the Lord light up my vision; may my vision be divine and my thoughts noble and beautiful.
The philosophical meaning of aarati extends further. The sun, moon, stars, lightning and fire are the natural sources of light. The Lord is the source of this wonderous phenomenon of the universe. It is due to Him alone that all else exist and shine. As we light up the Lord with the flame of the aarati, we turn our attention to the very source of all light, which symbolizes knowledge and life.
Also the sun is the presiding deity of the intellect, the moon, that of the mind, and fire, that of speech. The Lord is the supreme consciousness that illuminates all of them. Without Him, the intellect cannot think, nor can the mind feel nor the tongue speaks. The Lord is beyond the mind, intellect and speech. How can this finite equipment illuminate the Lord? Therefore, as we perform the aarati we chant;
Na tatra suryo bhaati na chandra taarakam Nemaa vidyuto bhaanti kutoyamagnib Tameva bhaantam anubhaati sarvam Tasya bhasa sarvam idam vibhaati
He is there where the sun does not shine, Nor the moon, stars and lightning. then what to talk of this small flame (in my hand), Everything (in the universe) shines only after the Lord, And by His light alone are we all illumined.
AUM
sábado, 7 de fevereiro de 2009
PREVISÔES 2009 / PREDICTIONS 2009
Last year Nikki predicted the wild fires in California in the Los Angeles area and the earthquake in Greece. She also predicted Britney Spears' health problems, the weird behavior and her comeback, the pregnancy of twins for Angelina Jolie, the divorce of Madonna and husband Guy Ritchie, the marriage of Ellen DeGeneres, Amy Winehouse's bad health problems and her awards, and the sex scandal in Washington regarding John Edwards. Nikki also predicted the Stock Market crash and the economy meltdown, the assassination of Benazir Bhutto, Ted Kennedy's health problems, and the passing of Suzanne Pleshette and Paul Newman.
Here's how Nikki sees 2009… World Predictions
Death of Charles Manson.
Danger around the Dalai Lama.
Trouble with Tibet and China.
An explosion at the Great Wall of China.
Passing of Fidel Castro.
A cruise ship will be hijacked.
A tsunami off the coast of Alaska.
Uprising in Venezuela.
Giant earthquake in California including Los Angeles, San Francisco and San Diego.
Buckingham Palace on fire.
A war with China and Tibet.
An explosion at the Great Wall of China.
Loch Ness monster will be captured.
Earthquake in British Columbia.
Earthquake in Alaska.
President Sarkozy of France in danger.
Explosion at the Eiffel Tower.
A daredevil will scale the Eiffel Tower.
Royal Jewels will be stolen.
Sarah Palin will write a "tell all book".
President Bush and Laura Bush will have marriage problems.
Hillary Clinton has to watch her health.
Danger around Barack Obama.
Assassination attempt around Barack Obama.
Assassination Barack Obama – New Martin Luther King.
Race riots break out in US.
A sex scandal around Sarah Palin.
Sarah Palin on television making a lot of guest appearances.
Muhammed Ali has to watch his health.
Mount St. Helens will erupt again.
Explosion in Colombo Sri Lanka.
Trouble in Bangkok, Thailand – lots of explosions.
Breakthrough in the cure for cancer, Alzheimer and heart disease.
Breakthrough in stem cell research.
Another planet with life will be found in the universe.
A commercial jet liner and a meteorite will collide.
A cold war between Cuba and the USA and a possible invasion into Cuba.
Problems with North Korea.
A worldwide computer virus.
A hijacking of a train and explosion at Grand Central Station in New York.
Explosion at the New York Stock Exchange.
Explosion in Ottawa, Canada.
Explosion at the Wall Street Journal.
A new National Hockey League in Canada.
A large fire in Chicago.
An airport hanger fire.
A Belgium chocolate factory will burn to the ground.
A rare Green Flamingo will be found.
A green bear will be found in China.
Earthquakes in China, Alaska, California, Niagara Falls, Greece, Rome & Italy.
A new board game called Recession.
A meteor will land in Russia.
Seven children being born to a woman in China.
Laura and George Bush have to watch their marriage.
A kidnapping at the White House.
A riot in Budapest Hungary.
Tragedy Gulf of St. Laurence.
More sightings of great white sharks in all kinds of water including water they do not normally swim in.
Collapse of the Golden Gate Bridge.
Flood in the Ukraine.
A subway tragedy in New York.
Arrest in the Madeline McCann case.
A terrorist attack in Karachi, Pakistan.
Arrest in the Jon Benet Ramsey Case.
Terrorist attack in Calcutta.
Terrorist attack in Oslo, Norway.
A terrorist attack in Copenhagen.
Invasion of Iran by the USA.
Terrorist attack in Turkey.
Terrorist attack in Toronto, Canada.
Animals coming into city's because of global warming.
An explosion at the Ottawa Canal.
Stock Market up and down.
Prime Minister Brown of England has to be careful of an attack.
Queen Elizabeth has to be careful of an attack.
More shark attacks.
O.J. Simpson has to be careful of his well being. May escape jail.
Another crane tragedy.
Star PredictionsLots of splits in Hollywood
The great late actor Heath Ledger will be nominated for an Oscar.
Mickey Rourke will be nominated for an Oscar.
Angelina Jolie will be nominated for an Oscar.
Anne Hathaway will be nominated for an Oscar.
Johnny Depp winning an Oscar for playing a Russian in a future movie within 36 months.
Nicole Kidman another child.
Angelina Jolie another pregnancy.
Faith Hill and Tim McGraw splitting.
Jackie Stallone has to watch health.
Jennifer Aniston will have a child.
A split for Michelle Pfeiffer and husband and she has to be careful of water.
Avril Lavigne will split with her husband.
Sarah Jessica Parker and Mathew Broderick split.
Catherine Zeta Jones and Michael Douglas trouble in their marriage.
Donald Trump has to watch his future wealth and be careful of helicopters.
Hugh Hefner has to watch his health and wealth.
Ellen DeGeneres will win her fight for same sex marriage.
Oprah Winfrey has to watch her and health and robbery.
Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck have to watch their marriage.
Sir Paul McCartney will marry.
Victoria and David Beckham have to watch their marriage and kidnapping.
Martha Stewart will marry.
Julianne Hough from Dancing With The Stars will become a big country superstar.
CNN's Soledad O'Brien will win many awards for documentaries in the future.
A Hollywood movie star will be on a plane that is hijacked.
Another famous fashion designer will pass.
Carol Channing has to watch her health.
Elizabeth Taylor has to watch her health.
Ben Kingsley to watch health.
A rock and roll band will be kidnapped as a hoax.
A male movie hunk will rob a bank.
More trouble for Dr. Phil.
Madonna has to watch her health and kidnapping.
A streaker on American Idol.
Clint Eastwood will be nominated for an Oscar.
The Dark Knight will win many Oscars.
Jenifer Hudson will win Grammy.
Michael Bluble has to be careful of robbery.
Tom Cruise has to be careful of a crazed fan.
David Letterman to watch his health.
Jay Leno to watch his health.
Arnold Swarzenagger to be careful of danger.
Mick Jagger to watch for danger.
Paula Abdul to watch her health.
Sean Penn will be nominated for an Oscar for the movie Milk.
The movie Milk will be nominated for many awards.
Brad Pitt will be nominated for an Oscar.
Kate Winslett will be nominated for an Oscar.
Nicole Kidman has to watch her marriage.
Wild Weather Predictions
Hail and snow in Hawaii.
A Category Five Hurricane wiping out parts of Miami and South Beach.
Hurricane moving toward New York and Toronto, Canada.
Hurricane in the Cayman Islands.
Hurricane in Mobile, Alabama and New Orleans.
More Tsunamis' off the coast of Hawaii and Sumatra.
Mudslides in California.
Mount St. Helen erupting.
Earthquake in Seattle, Washington.
A huge tornado wipes out a town in Missouri and Illinois, Oklahoma, Kansas City.
Great earthquake in Los Angeles, San Francisco.
Earthquake in Alaska, Japan, British Columbia, China, Iran, Toronto, Ontario, Quebec, Niagara Falls.
Earthquake in Mexico City.
A bad blizzard in New York and Toronto, Canada.
Floods in Venice Italy, Gulf Coast and Florida, Holland, England, France.
A huge tornado in California.
Part of the polar ice cap melts.
The Royals
Sex scandal in British Parliament.
Duke of Edinburugh has to watch his health.
A wedding in Monaco.
A yacht on fire in Monaco.
A tragedy around Princess Caroline.
Kidnapping Royal Family.
Trouble around Fergie.
Attack on the Queen.
Buckingham Palace on fire.
A horse mishap around the Royals.
The Royal Crown Jewels are stolen.
The Queen has to watch her health.
Windsor Castle on fire.
Sports Predictions
The Toronto Maple Leafs will win the Stanley Cup within 36 months.
A new Canadian Hockey League.
A blimp explosion over a sports stadium.
A Formula One car out of control – a fiery crash hitting the stands and killing the driver.
A long distant swimmer will swim the English Channel.
A ball in a baseball stadium will hit a fan injuring them.
A streaker in a baseball field.
A riot at a soccer stadium.
Fashion Predictions Men
Mustaches for men – very Clark Gable, Burt Reynolds.
Black for men (think Johnny Cash).
Thin ties like the 50's and 60's.
Suspenders will be back.
Capes for men.
Women – A Lot of Glamour
Business attire – mixed with glamorous accessories.
40's compacts.
40's accessories.
Silver and grey.
High shoes and boots.
Muffs for women.
Platinum hair – colour blue.
Tye dye clothing
Micro mini's are back. Death and Health WatchAnnette Funicello, Hillary Clinton, Doris Day, Willie Nelson, Pamela Anderson, Loretta Lynn, Ted Kennedy, Unice Schniver, Fidel Castro, Hugo Chavez, President Masharoff, Billy Graham, Jerry Lewis, Tony Curtis, Debbie Reynolds, Barak Obama, Zsa Zsa Gabor, Nelson Mandela, Farah Fawcett, Nancy Reagan, Patrick Swayze, Dick Cheney, Dick Clark, George Bush Sr., Barbara Bush, Elizabeth Taylor, Larry King, Mick Jagger, Arnold Swarzenagger, Kirk Douglas, Hugh Hefner, Shirley Temple Black, Alex Trebek, French President Sarkozy, Queen Elizabeth, The Duke of Edinborough, Prime Minister Brown of England, Amy Winehouse, Aretha Franklin, Bob Barker, Burt Reynolds, Karl Lagerfield, David Copperfield, Jackie Stallone, Chris Angel (Mind Freak), Jimmy Carter, Keith Richard, David Blaine, Lauren Bacall, Joanne Woodward, Marilyn Manson, Michael Jackson, Sean Penn, Madonna, and Axle Rose of Guns 'n Roses. Additional Predictions
Terrorist attack in Nevada, California, Chicago, London, England.
Two planes crashing over Kennedy Airport.
Power blackout in Las Vegas.
A woman from Tennessee wins the biggest jackpot ever at a casino.
The jitterbug dance, the tango, and the twist will be popular again.
Tragedy around a mud wrester.
The dance clubs of the forties will be popular again.
Within 24 months a UFO will land and there will be more sightings.
Rita Wilson and Tom Hanks split.
Summary and OverviewThe economic woes, more terrorist attacks, and wild weather will still be around for 2009 but within twenty four months the economy picks up and there will be a boom much like after the Second World War - although heads of governments have to watch out for danger.
Here's how Nikki sees 2009… World Predictions
Death of Charles Manson.
Danger around the Dalai Lama.
Trouble with Tibet and China.
An explosion at the Great Wall of China.
Passing of Fidel Castro.
A cruise ship will be hijacked.
A tsunami off the coast of Alaska.
Uprising in Venezuela.
Giant earthquake in California including Los Angeles, San Francisco and San Diego.
Buckingham Palace on fire.
A war with China and Tibet.
An explosion at the Great Wall of China.
Loch Ness monster will be captured.
Earthquake in British Columbia.
Earthquake in Alaska.
President Sarkozy of France in danger.
Explosion at the Eiffel Tower.
A daredevil will scale the Eiffel Tower.
Royal Jewels will be stolen.
Sarah Palin will write a "tell all book".
President Bush and Laura Bush will have marriage problems.
Hillary Clinton has to watch her health.
Danger around Barack Obama.
Assassination attempt around Barack Obama.
Assassination Barack Obama – New Martin Luther King.
Race riots break out in US.
A sex scandal around Sarah Palin.
Sarah Palin on television making a lot of guest appearances.
Muhammed Ali has to watch his health.
Mount St. Helens will erupt again.
Explosion in Colombo Sri Lanka.
Trouble in Bangkok, Thailand – lots of explosions.
Breakthrough in the cure for cancer, Alzheimer and heart disease.
Breakthrough in stem cell research.
Another planet with life will be found in the universe.
A commercial jet liner and a meteorite will collide.
A cold war between Cuba and the USA and a possible invasion into Cuba.
Problems with North Korea.
A worldwide computer virus.
A hijacking of a train and explosion at Grand Central Station in New York.
Explosion at the New York Stock Exchange.
Explosion in Ottawa, Canada.
Explosion at the Wall Street Journal.
A new National Hockey League in Canada.
A large fire in Chicago.
An airport hanger fire.
A Belgium chocolate factory will burn to the ground.
A rare Green Flamingo will be found.
A green bear will be found in China.
Earthquakes in China, Alaska, California, Niagara Falls, Greece, Rome & Italy.
A new board game called Recession.
A meteor will land in Russia.
Seven children being born to a woman in China.
Laura and George Bush have to watch their marriage.
A kidnapping at the White House.
A riot in Budapest Hungary.
Tragedy Gulf of St. Laurence.
More sightings of great white sharks in all kinds of water including water they do not normally swim in.
Collapse of the Golden Gate Bridge.
Flood in the Ukraine.
A subway tragedy in New York.
Arrest in the Madeline McCann case.
A terrorist attack in Karachi, Pakistan.
Arrest in the Jon Benet Ramsey Case.
Terrorist attack in Calcutta.
Terrorist attack in Oslo, Norway.
A terrorist attack in Copenhagen.
Invasion of Iran by the USA.
Terrorist attack in Turkey.
Terrorist attack in Toronto, Canada.
Animals coming into city's because of global warming.
An explosion at the Ottawa Canal.
Stock Market up and down.
Prime Minister Brown of England has to be careful of an attack.
Queen Elizabeth has to be careful of an attack.
More shark attacks.
O.J. Simpson has to be careful of his well being. May escape jail.
Another crane tragedy.
Star PredictionsLots of splits in Hollywood
The great late actor Heath Ledger will be nominated for an Oscar.
Mickey Rourke will be nominated for an Oscar.
Angelina Jolie will be nominated for an Oscar.
Anne Hathaway will be nominated for an Oscar.
Johnny Depp winning an Oscar for playing a Russian in a future movie within 36 months.
Nicole Kidman another child.
Angelina Jolie another pregnancy.
Faith Hill and Tim McGraw splitting.
Jackie Stallone has to watch health.
Jennifer Aniston will have a child.
A split for Michelle Pfeiffer and husband and she has to be careful of water.
Avril Lavigne will split with her husband.
Sarah Jessica Parker and Mathew Broderick split.
Catherine Zeta Jones and Michael Douglas trouble in their marriage.
Donald Trump has to watch his future wealth and be careful of helicopters.
Hugh Hefner has to watch his health and wealth.
Ellen DeGeneres will win her fight for same sex marriage.
Oprah Winfrey has to watch her and health and robbery.
Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck have to watch their marriage.
Sir Paul McCartney will marry.
Victoria and David Beckham have to watch their marriage and kidnapping.
Martha Stewart will marry.
Julianne Hough from Dancing With The Stars will become a big country superstar.
CNN's Soledad O'Brien will win many awards for documentaries in the future.
A Hollywood movie star will be on a plane that is hijacked.
Another famous fashion designer will pass.
Carol Channing has to watch her health.
Elizabeth Taylor has to watch her health.
Ben Kingsley to watch health.
A rock and roll band will be kidnapped as a hoax.
A male movie hunk will rob a bank.
More trouble for Dr. Phil.
Madonna has to watch her health and kidnapping.
A streaker on American Idol.
Clint Eastwood will be nominated for an Oscar.
The Dark Knight will win many Oscars.
Jenifer Hudson will win Grammy.
Michael Bluble has to be careful of robbery.
Tom Cruise has to be careful of a crazed fan.
David Letterman to watch his health.
Jay Leno to watch his health.
Arnold Swarzenagger to be careful of danger.
Mick Jagger to watch for danger.
Paula Abdul to watch her health.
Sean Penn will be nominated for an Oscar for the movie Milk.
The movie Milk will be nominated for many awards.
Brad Pitt will be nominated for an Oscar.
Kate Winslett will be nominated for an Oscar.
Nicole Kidman has to watch her marriage.
Wild Weather Predictions
Hail and snow in Hawaii.
A Category Five Hurricane wiping out parts of Miami and South Beach.
Hurricane moving toward New York and Toronto, Canada.
Hurricane in the Cayman Islands.
Hurricane in Mobile, Alabama and New Orleans.
More Tsunamis' off the coast of Hawaii and Sumatra.
Mudslides in California.
Mount St. Helen erupting.
Earthquake in Seattle, Washington.
A huge tornado wipes out a town in Missouri and Illinois, Oklahoma, Kansas City.
Great earthquake in Los Angeles, San Francisco.
Earthquake in Alaska, Japan, British Columbia, China, Iran, Toronto, Ontario, Quebec, Niagara Falls.
Earthquake in Mexico City.
A bad blizzard in New York and Toronto, Canada.
Floods in Venice Italy, Gulf Coast and Florida, Holland, England, France.
A huge tornado in California.
Part of the polar ice cap melts.
The Royals
Sex scandal in British Parliament.
Duke of Edinburugh has to watch his health.
A wedding in Monaco.
A yacht on fire in Monaco.
A tragedy around Princess Caroline.
Kidnapping Royal Family.
Trouble around Fergie.
Attack on the Queen.
Buckingham Palace on fire.
A horse mishap around the Royals.
The Royal Crown Jewels are stolen.
The Queen has to watch her health.
Windsor Castle on fire.
Sports Predictions
The Toronto Maple Leafs will win the Stanley Cup within 36 months.
A new Canadian Hockey League.
A blimp explosion over a sports stadium.
A Formula One car out of control – a fiery crash hitting the stands and killing the driver.
A long distant swimmer will swim the English Channel.
A ball in a baseball stadium will hit a fan injuring them.
A streaker in a baseball field.
A riot at a soccer stadium.
Fashion Predictions Men
Mustaches for men – very Clark Gable, Burt Reynolds.
Black for men (think Johnny Cash).
Thin ties like the 50's and 60's.
Suspenders will be back.
Capes for men.
Women – A Lot of Glamour
Business attire – mixed with glamorous accessories.
40's compacts.
40's accessories.
Silver and grey.
High shoes and boots.
Muffs for women.
Platinum hair – colour blue.
Tye dye clothing
Micro mini's are back. Death and Health WatchAnnette Funicello, Hillary Clinton, Doris Day, Willie Nelson, Pamela Anderson, Loretta Lynn, Ted Kennedy, Unice Schniver, Fidel Castro, Hugo Chavez, President Masharoff, Billy Graham, Jerry Lewis, Tony Curtis, Debbie Reynolds, Barak Obama, Zsa Zsa Gabor, Nelson Mandela, Farah Fawcett, Nancy Reagan, Patrick Swayze, Dick Cheney, Dick Clark, George Bush Sr., Barbara Bush, Elizabeth Taylor, Larry King, Mick Jagger, Arnold Swarzenagger, Kirk Douglas, Hugh Hefner, Shirley Temple Black, Alex Trebek, French President Sarkozy, Queen Elizabeth, The Duke of Edinborough, Prime Minister Brown of England, Amy Winehouse, Aretha Franklin, Bob Barker, Burt Reynolds, Karl Lagerfield, David Copperfield, Jackie Stallone, Chris Angel (Mind Freak), Jimmy Carter, Keith Richard, David Blaine, Lauren Bacall, Joanne Woodward, Marilyn Manson, Michael Jackson, Sean Penn, Madonna, and Axle Rose of Guns 'n Roses. Additional Predictions
Terrorist attack in Nevada, California, Chicago, London, England.
Two planes crashing over Kennedy Airport.
Power blackout in Las Vegas.
A woman from Tennessee wins the biggest jackpot ever at a casino.
The jitterbug dance, the tango, and the twist will be popular again.
Tragedy around a mud wrester.
The dance clubs of the forties will be popular again.
Within 24 months a UFO will land and there will be more sightings.
Rita Wilson and Tom Hanks split.
Summary and OverviewThe economic woes, more terrorist attacks, and wild weather will still be around for 2009 but within twenty four months the economy picks up and there will be a boom much like after the Second World War - although heads of governments have to watch out for danger.
sexta-feira, 6 de fevereiro de 2009
Sixty successful men and women of India
Sixty successful men and women without whom the country would not be where it is today:
Rain power
Homi Bhabha:Often called the father of India’s nuclear weapons programme; he established the Atomic Energy Commission of India in 1948.
CV Raman: This Indian physicist was the first Asian scientist to be awarded the Nobel prize in 1930 for his work on the ‘Scattering of Light and Raman effect’.
Vikram Sarabhai: He founded ISRO and is called the father of India’s space programme.
MS Swaminathan: Better known as the “Father of India’s green revolution”, Dr Swaminathan was one of three Indians on Time magazine’s 1999 list of the “20 most influential Asian people of the 20th century”.
Amartya Sen: Sen is one of the greatest intellectuals and economists of modern India. He was awarded the Noble prize in 1998 for his model of welfare economics.
Romila Thapar: This Indian historian’s most read works include Asoka and the Decline of the Maurya, A History of India Volume One, and Early India: From the Origins to AD 1300.
Bhiku Parekh: Born in the small village of Amalsad, he is today one of the world’s most renowned political scientists. He was elected British Asian of the Year in 1992.
Jagdish Bhagwati:Regarded as one of the foremost international trade economists, he has worked with Kofi Annan’s high-level advisory group and as external advisor to the Director General of WTO.
Order, Order
E Sreedharan: Architect of the Konkan Railway and the Delhi Metro, this mild mannered 71-year-old civil engineer was named among the most outstanding Asians by Time magazine and awarded the Knight of the Legion of Honour by the French government in 2005.
Verghese Kurien: He was the brain behind the world’s largest dairy development programme, Operation Flood. Think of him when you see Amul.
James Michael Lyngdoh: The former chief election commissioner captured the country’s imagination when he called politicians “a cancer”. He went to win the Ramon Magsaysay Award.
PN Bhagwati: As Chief Justice, he initiated the Public Interest Litigation and legal aid programmes.
Leaders all
Jawaharlal Nehru: He is easily independent India’s most charismatic and successful politician. Nehru remains the role model for young aspirants to high public offices.
Jyoti Basu: Ended career as the longest serving chief minister in India and perhaps the longest serving head of a democratically elected communist government anywhere in the world.
Mayawati: The first dalit woman to become the chief minister of any Indian state, has since been successfully elected as the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh four times now.
MGR: In his journey from an actor to the chief minister of Tamil Nadu, he acquired a cult following and a temple was devoted to him in Chennai.
Cinema, Cinema
Guru Dutt: This doyen of Indian cinema started out as a telephone operator and is remembered for his genre bending films such as Pyaasa and Kagaz ke phool.
Raj Kapoor: The Showman of Hindi Cinema established his own studio, R.K. Films, at 24 and became the youngest film director of his time.
Amitabh Bachchan: Bollywood hasn’t seen a superstar like the Angry Young Man. And it will never find a Busy Old Man like him.
Rajnikanth: Born Shivaji Rao Gaekwad, he started off as a bus conductor. Made more than 160 Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Hindi and Bengali movies.
Shabana Azmi: This natural actress is known for her trend-setting performances in experimental cinema.
Satyajit Ray: Called the Giant of Indian cinema; he was felicitated with the Lifetime Achievement Oscar for his contribution to cinema in 1992.
Mira Nair: Pioneering the genre of films expressing NRI angst, her first movie Salaam Bombay won 25 international awards.
Shah Rukh Khan: King Khan as he is popuarly known is the reigning superstar of the Indian film industry.
Aamir Khan:The first Khan to be producer and director with hits on his card. A Hits Khan.
Let’s play
Sachin Tendulkar: Or Sunil Gavaskar? Difficult choice. Gavaskar was the first cricketer to overtake Don Bradman, for many decades the God of Cricket. And then came Sachin and he overtook everyone, smashing every record in sight. Or, is your choice Kapil Dev?
Prakash Padukone: His wining streak started in 1972, peaked winning the All-England badminton championship.
Bachendri Pal: She became the first Indian woman (and the fifth in the world) to scale Mt. Everest in 1984.
Milkha Singh: Before becoming famous as the “Flying Sikh”, he was rejected from the army thrice. On finally joining, he went on to hold the Olympic 400m record.
PT Usha: She missed the bronze by 1/100th of a second in the 1984 Olympics. Two years later, she dominated the 1986 Asian Games.
Michael Ferreira: This “Bombay Tiger” created history in 1978 by becoming the first amateur to cross the 1,000-point barrier by making a new world record break of 1,149.
Company affairs
GD Birla: Ghanshyam Dass Birla was the founder of the Birla industrial empire that spanned everything from jute bags to cars. He was a close associate of Mahatma Gandhi during the Independence movement.
JRD Tata:Aviator, industrialist and free-market evangelist, Jehangir Ratanji Dadabhoy Tata was a grand patriarch of modern India’s Tata business empire.
Dhirubhai Ambani: Started his career selling bhajias and filling gas. Today his Reliance India Ltd is India’s largest private sector company.
NR Narayan Murthy: This soft-spoken engineer created Infosys, India’s first software company to pioneer the concept of offshore software development.
Lakshmi Mittal: Born into a poor Rajasthani mily, he is today the world’s largest steel maker and the fifth richest man in the world.
Sunil Bharti Mittal:Started by making crankshafts for local bicycle manufacturers at the age of 18. Today he heads the $9.5-billion Bharti group that runs India’s largest GSM-based mobile phone service.
Vinod Khosla:Co-founded Sun Microsystems at 27. He is now one of the most influential and richest people in America.
Ramp it up
Persis Khambatta: A Miss India at 15, she became the first Indian model to breakthrough international modeling, drawing a contract with none other than Revlon and playing lead roles in Hollywood films such as Star Trek.
Ritu Kumar: Pioneer of the fashion industry and the boutique culture in India, she dressed international style icons such as late Princess Diana.life and letters
Salman Rushdie:His Midnight’s Children made him famous and won him a Booker in 1981. His 1988 book the Satanic Verses, however, made him a marked man.
Amitava Ghosh: Best known for his works The Hungry Tide and The Shadow Lines, he has established himself as one of the finest prose writers of his generation of Indian writing in English.
Khushwant Singh:One of the most prominent journalists of India, he is known for his biting humour. Editor of Yojana and The Illustrated Weekly, at 92 he continues to write his weekly column, “With Malice towards One and All”.
Deepak Chopra:The spiritual writer,with million ofbooks sold worldwide.
Arts
MF Hussain: Today India’s highest-paid painter, he started off painting cinema hoardings.
Mallika Sarabhai: This multifaceted performer successfully wears many hats. She has won many accolades such as the French Palme d'Or.
Girish Karnad: This playwright, actor and director is the latest recipient of Jnanpith Award, the highest literary honour conferred in India.
Pump it up
Gulzar: Starting as a car mechanic, he is an established poet, director, lyricist and playwright.
Pandit Ravi Shankar:Dubbed the “Godfather of world music” by none other than The Beatles, this sitar legend introduced Indian classical music to the West.
MS Subbulakshmi: This child prodigy released her first recording at the age of 10 and went on to sing at Carnegie Hall, and the UN General Assembly.
Mohammad Rafi:Indeed the best singer of all times, he inspired many budding artists and lives on today through his songs like Chaudhvin Ka Chand Ho and Baharon Phool Barsao.
Lata Mangeshkar:Dubbed the Nightingale of India, she has sung in over 20 Indian languages and is only the second Indian singer to have received the Bharat Ratna after MS Subbulakshmi.
Kishore Kumar:The singer of all stars of Indian Cinema, in many moods. The new generation, even today, sings his tunes.
A.R.Rahman:The sound from the south, at a young age, tuned music for more than hundred and fifty films, and has taken indian music world wide.
Attention!
Kiran Bedi:She began her career as a Political Science lecturer at Amritsar’s Khalsa College for Women. In 1972 she became the first woman to join the IPS and went to win the Magsaysay award.
Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw: This highly decorated war veteran fought in five wars, starting from the Second World War to the three wars after India’s independence. His finest hour: the 1971 victory.
Rakesh Sharma:He was the first Indian to go into space. After retiring he worked on the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft programme.
Rameshwar Nath Kao: This legendary Indian spymaster set up R&AW on then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s instructions in 1968 as an entity separate from the Intelligence Bureau.
Life changers
Osho: His radical ideas on sex and critique of organised religion and Gandhi made him both popular and notorious.
Ela Bhatt: Moved by the plight of self-employed women, she created Self-Employed Women’s Association (or SEWA), south Asia’s first labour and trade union for women workers in the informal sector.
Mother Teresa: She spent more than 40 years of her life in India ministering to the needs of the most marginalised. Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979, she was beatified by the Pope.
From Hindustani Times.
Rain power
Homi Bhabha:Often called the father of India’s nuclear weapons programme; he established the Atomic Energy Commission of India in 1948.
CV Raman: This Indian physicist was the first Asian scientist to be awarded the Nobel prize in 1930 for his work on the ‘Scattering of Light and Raman effect’.
Vikram Sarabhai: He founded ISRO and is called the father of India’s space programme.
MS Swaminathan: Better known as the “Father of India’s green revolution”, Dr Swaminathan was one of three Indians on Time magazine’s 1999 list of the “20 most influential Asian people of the 20th century”.
Amartya Sen: Sen is one of the greatest intellectuals and economists of modern India. He was awarded the Noble prize in 1998 for his model of welfare economics.
Romila Thapar: This Indian historian’s most read works include Asoka and the Decline of the Maurya, A History of India Volume One, and Early India: From the Origins to AD 1300.
Bhiku Parekh: Born in the small village of Amalsad, he is today one of the world’s most renowned political scientists. He was elected British Asian of the Year in 1992.
Jagdish Bhagwati:Regarded as one of the foremost international trade economists, he has worked with Kofi Annan’s high-level advisory group and as external advisor to the Director General of WTO.
Order, Order
E Sreedharan: Architect of the Konkan Railway and the Delhi Metro, this mild mannered 71-year-old civil engineer was named among the most outstanding Asians by Time magazine and awarded the Knight of the Legion of Honour by the French government in 2005.
Verghese Kurien: He was the brain behind the world’s largest dairy development programme, Operation Flood. Think of him when you see Amul.
James Michael Lyngdoh: The former chief election commissioner captured the country’s imagination when he called politicians “a cancer”. He went to win the Ramon Magsaysay Award.
PN Bhagwati: As Chief Justice, he initiated the Public Interest Litigation and legal aid programmes.
Leaders all
Jawaharlal Nehru: He is easily independent India’s most charismatic and successful politician. Nehru remains the role model for young aspirants to high public offices.
Jyoti Basu: Ended career as the longest serving chief minister in India and perhaps the longest serving head of a democratically elected communist government anywhere in the world.
Mayawati: The first dalit woman to become the chief minister of any Indian state, has since been successfully elected as the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh four times now.
MGR: In his journey from an actor to the chief minister of Tamil Nadu, he acquired a cult following and a temple was devoted to him in Chennai.
Cinema, Cinema
Guru Dutt: This doyen of Indian cinema started out as a telephone operator and is remembered for his genre bending films such as Pyaasa and Kagaz ke phool.
Raj Kapoor: The Showman of Hindi Cinema established his own studio, R.K. Films, at 24 and became the youngest film director of his time.
Amitabh Bachchan: Bollywood hasn’t seen a superstar like the Angry Young Man. And it will never find a Busy Old Man like him.
Rajnikanth: Born Shivaji Rao Gaekwad, he started off as a bus conductor. Made more than 160 Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Hindi and Bengali movies.
Shabana Azmi: This natural actress is known for her trend-setting performances in experimental cinema.
Satyajit Ray: Called the Giant of Indian cinema; he was felicitated with the Lifetime Achievement Oscar for his contribution to cinema in 1992.
Mira Nair: Pioneering the genre of films expressing NRI angst, her first movie Salaam Bombay won 25 international awards.
Shah Rukh Khan: King Khan as he is popuarly known is the reigning superstar of the Indian film industry.
Aamir Khan:The first Khan to be producer and director with hits on his card. A Hits Khan.
Let’s play
Sachin Tendulkar: Or Sunil Gavaskar? Difficult choice. Gavaskar was the first cricketer to overtake Don Bradman, for many decades the God of Cricket. And then came Sachin and he overtook everyone, smashing every record in sight. Or, is your choice Kapil Dev?
Prakash Padukone: His wining streak started in 1972, peaked winning the All-England badminton championship.
Bachendri Pal: She became the first Indian woman (and the fifth in the world) to scale Mt. Everest in 1984.
Milkha Singh: Before becoming famous as the “Flying Sikh”, he was rejected from the army thrice. On finally joining, he went on to hold the Olympic 400m record.
PT Usha: She missed the bronze by 1/100th of a second in the 1984 Olympics. Two years later, she dominated the 1986 Asian Games.
Michael Ferreira: This “Bombay Tiger” created history in 1978 by becoming the first amateur to cross the 1,000-point barrier by making a new world record break of 1,149.
Company affairs
GD Birla: Ghanshyam Dass Birla was the founder of the Birla industrial empire that spanned everything from jute bags to cars. He was a close associate of Mahatma Gandhi during the Independence movement.
JRD Tata:Aviator, industrialist and free-market evangelist, Jehangir Ratanji Dadabhoy Tata was a grand patriarch of modern India’s Tata business empire.
Dhirubhai Ambani: Started his career selling bhajias and filling gas. Today his Reliance India Ltd is India’s largest private sector company.
NR Narayan Murthy: This soft-spoken engineer created Infosys, India’s first software company to pioneer the concept of offshore software development.
Lakshmi Mittal: Born into a poor Rajasthani mily, he is today the world’s largest steel maker and the fifth richest man in the world.
Sunil Bharti Mittal:Started by making crankshafts for local bicycle manufacturers at the age of 18. Today he heads the $9.5-billion Bharti group that runs India’s largest GSM-based mobile phone service.
Vinod Khosla:Co-founded Sun Microsystems at 27. He is now one of the most influential and richest people in America.
Ramp it up
Persis Khambatta: A Miss India at 15, she became the first Indian model to breakthrough international modeling, drawing a contract with none other than Revlon and playing lead roles in Hollywood films such as Star Trek.
Ritu Kumar: Pioneer of the fashion industry and the boutique culture in India, she dressed international style icons such as late Princess Diana.life and letters
Salman Rushdie:His Midnight’s Children made him famous and won him a Booker in 1981. His 1988 book the Satanic Verses, however, made him a marked man.
Amitava Ghosh: Best known for his works The Hungry Tide and The Shadow Lines, he has established himself as one of the finest prose writers of his generation of Indian writing in English.
Khushwant Singh:One of the most prominent journalists of India, he is known for his biting humour. Editor of Yojana and The Illustrated Weekly, at 92 he continues to write his weekly column, “With Malice towards One and All”.
Deepak Chopra:The spiritual writer,with million ofbooks sold worldwide.
Arts
MF Hussain: Today India’s highest-paid painter, he started off painting cinema hoardings.
Mallika Sarabhai: This multifaceted performer successfully wears many hats. She has won many accolades such as the French Palme d'Or.
Girish Karnad: This playwright, actor and director is the latest recipient of Jnanpith Award, the highest literary honour conferred in India.
Pump it up
Gulzar: Starting as a car mechanic, he is an established poet, director, lyricist and playwright.
Pandit Ravi Shankar:Dubbed the “Godfather of world music” by none other than The Beatles, this sitar legend introduced Indian classical music to the West.
MS Subbulakshmi: This child prodigy released her first recording at the age of 10 and went on to sing at Carnegie Hall, and the UN General Assembly.
Mohammad Rafi:Indeed the best singer of all times, he inspired many budding artists and lives on today through his songs like Chaudhvin Ka Chand Ho and Baharon Phool Barsao.
Lata Mangeshkar:Dubbed the Nightingale of India, she has sung in over 20 Indian languages and is only the second Indian singer to have received the Bharat Ratna after MS Subbulakshmi.
Kishore Kumar:The singer of all stars of Indian Cinema, in many moods. The new generation, even today, sings his tunes.
A.R.Rahman:The sound from the south, at a young age, tuned music for more than hundred and fifty films, and has taken indian music world wide.
Attention!
Kiran Bedi:She began her career as a Political Science lecturer at Amritsar’s Khalsa College for Women. In 1972 she became the first woman to join the IPS and went to win the Magsaysay award.
Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw: This highly decorated war veteran fought in five wars, starting from the Second World War to the three wars after India’s independence. His finest hour: the 1971 victory.
Rakesh Sharma:He was the first Indian to go into space. After retiring he worked on the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft programme.
Rameshwar Nath Kao: This legendary Indian spymaster set up R&AW on then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s instructions in 1968 as an entity separate from the Intelligence Bureau.
Life changers
Osho: His radical ideas on sex and critique of organised religion and Gandhi made him both popular and notorious.
Ela Bhatt: Moved by the plight of self-employed women, she created Self-Employed Women’s Association (or SEWA), south Asia’s first labour and trade union for women workers in the informal sector.
Mother Teresa: She spent more than 40 years of her life in India ministering to the needs of the most marginalised. Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979, she was beatified by the Pope.
From Hindustani Times.
segunda-feira, 2 de fevereiro de 2009
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