India’s Glorious Scientific Tradition - Plants too have life

In Chapter 184 of the Shanti Parva in the Mahabharata, there is a dialogue between Sages Bharadwaj and Bhrigu. In it, Sage Bharadwaj asks that since trees can neither see nor hear, nor smell, nor feel pleasure, nor have the sense of touch, then how are they animate or living and how are they constituted by the five elements?

Sage Bhrigu replied: “O Sage, although the trees seem solid, yet there is no doubt that they have the space. That is why it is possible for them to bear fruits and flowers.

“The heat that the trees have shrivels or withers the leaves, the bark, the flowers and the fruits and they fall off. Therefore, it also proves that they have the sense of touch.

“It has also been seen that when there is a loud sound like that of the harsh winds, fire, thunder, etc. the flowers and the fruits of trees fall off. This proves that trees can hear also.

“The creeper covers the tree from all sides and climbs right to the top. No one can find his way unless he can see. This proves that trees can see too.

“With pure and holy fragrance, the tree becomes healthy and grows better. This proves that they can smell also.

“They drink water from their roots and if they are suffering from some disease we can put some medicine in their roots. This way, we can treat them too. This proves that trees have the sense of taste.

“Such as a man sucks water through a lotus stem into his mouth, likewise trees suck water through their roots upward with the help of wind.

Sukhdukhyoshcha grahanaacchinnasya cha virohanaat Jeevam pashyami Vrikshanam chaitanyam na vidyate.

“When a tree is cut, it sprouts again and they accept joys and sorrows. Hence, I see that trees also have life and that they are not non-living things.

“The wind and the heat inside the tree help it to digest the water that it takes in from its roots. Complete assimilation of the food gives it glossiness and it grows well.”

Besides this, the sages Charak and Udayan have also described the feelings of life that one can observe or notice in trees and plants. Sage Charka says: Tachyetanaavad Chetananch meaning they (trees) also have life like living creature.

He further says Atra Sendriyatvena Vrikshadinaamapi Cetanatvam Bodhavyam meaning trees also have feelings. Therefore, we must know that they too have organs and hence life.

Udayan also says, Vrikshadayah pratiniyatbhokytradhisththitah jeevanamaranaswapna jaagaranarogabheshaja prayogabaajasaja ateeyanubandhanuku lopagampratikoo lapagamaadibhyah prasiddha shareerawat. —(Udayan-prithvinirupanam)

“Like a human body, trees also experience the following feelings-life, death, dream, waking up, disease, medicinal treatment, seed, grafting, accepting what is suitable and rejecting what is not.”

India’s science heritage

Sanskrit was the medium of communication, education, law, administration, trade, commerce, art and intellectual debates till a few centuries ago. Our knowledge of astronomy was much more advanced than that of the West. This is proved when we read the Rig Veda where some of the following points have been expounded on:

The elliptical path through which all the celestial bodies move is “imperishable and unslackened”.
The mean planets move on their orbits and the true planets in eccentric circles.
The cause of eclipse is that the moon that covers the sun and the shadow of the earth covers the moon.
The influence of comets increases rapidly in the autumn and spring seasons as these naturally exist in the solar rays.
In the eighth region of the sky there are 3,07,03,2212 comets.
The moon is a satellite of the earth revolving around its mother planet.
The radius of the earth is 800 yojanas.
Massive celestial bodies are attracted towards the earth by her gravitational force.
Bhaskaracharya discovered the nadivalayam which helped people to determine the time
The shanku yantram was discovered to trace the sun’s path and find time.

Similarly, Sanskrit revealed our ancient knowledge of physics—the speed of light as 2,202 yojanas in half a minute;

the sequence of the creation of matter is as follows: akasha, vayu, agni, apa, prithvi; units of measurement, electricity generation by using copper plates and chemicals kept in earthen pots; formation of rainbow, motion, lens, elasticity, etc.

India’s Glorious Scientific Tradition

Killing or destroying metals The method of destroying the qualities of metal in order to make it worthy of use, has also been described in these books. It was a common practice to destroy the metal in the laboratory. Sulphur was used to destroy all metals. Hence, in the book, sulphur has been compared to a lion and the other metals to an elephant.

It is said that just as a lion kills an elephant, similarly, sulphur destroys all metals Govindacharya, the Chemistry scholar says-

Naasti tallohamatango yanna gandhakakeshari Nihanyadwandhamaatrena yadwa makshikakeshari. —(Rasarnava-7-138-142)

Coversion of zinc into gold: We all know that if one part of zinc is mixed with three parts of copper and heated, it changes into brass, which is a golden coloured mixture. Nagarjuna says—

Kramen kritwambudharen ranjitah Karoti shulvam triputen kaanchanam —(Rasratnaakar-3)

The non-rusting ability of metals: Govindacharya has described, the sequence of the abilities of metals to fight rusting and corrosion. Even today, the same system is followed-

Suvarnam rajatam tamram teekshnavangam bhujangamah Lohakam shadvidham taccha yathapurvam tadakshayam. —(Rasarnav-7-89-90)

This means that the sequence of the metals staying unaffected and undecayed by rusting or corrosion is gold, silver, copper, brass, lead and iron. Of these, gold rusts the least.

How to make Copper Sulphate from Copper

Tamradaah jalairyoge jayate tutyakam shubham.

When copper is mixed with sulphuric acid, we get Copper Sulphate. Various ashes—When the harmful characteristics of a metal are removed by chemical action and the metal is converted to ashes, it is known as bhasma. The ash of iron (lauh bhasma), gold (suvarna bhasma), silver (rajat bhasma), copper (tamra bhasma), tin (vanga bhasma) and lead (sees bhasma) are primarily used for medicinal purposes.

One chapter of Vagbhatta’s Ras Ratna Samuchchay is dedicated to purification of juices.

Adamantine compound—In his Brihat Samhita, Varahmihir writes:

Ashtau seesakbhagah kansasya dvau tu reetikabhagah Maya kathito yogoayam vigyeyo vajrasanghatah. —(Brihat Samhita)

This means that if a compound which has eight parts of lead, two parts of bronze and one part of iron is used in the way that Maya has prescribed, it will change into a thunderbolt.

How to make distillates—According to Charak, there are nine ways of making distillates:

1. Dhanyasava—made from grains and seeds
2. Phalasava—made from fruits
3. Moolasava—made from roots
4. Saraasava—made from wood
5. Pushpaasava—made from flowers
6. Patraasava—made from leaves
7. Kaandaasava—made from stems and stacks
8. Twagaasava—made from barks
9. Sharkaraasava—made from sugar

Besides these, various kinds of perfumes, itr and other fragrant products were also developed. Detailed experiments about the metals have already been described in the metallurgy portion. All these formulae were not given by just listening to a teacher or guru or by reading books. They were given after carrying out experiments personally.

Expressing this, in the raskalp, a chapter of the Rudrayaamal Tantra of the 13th century, the scholar of chemistry says:

Iti sampadito margo drutinam patane sphutah Sakshadanubhavairdrishto na shruto gurudarshitah Lokanamupakarayetat sarvam niveditam Sarvesham chaiva lohanam dravanam parikeertitam. —(Raskalp A-3)

“I have proved all this by carrying out the experiments myself and not by what the tutor says or what the books says and have placed the result for everyone’s benefit.” This is an inspiring example of the experimentation of the scholars of chemistry in the ancient times.

Hindu Chemistry

There have been many Indian chemists in the past. The writings of some of them are as under:

Nagarjuna-Rasratnakar,Kakshaputatantra, Arogya Manjari, Yog Saar, Yogashtak.
Vagbhatta-Ras Ratna Sammuchchay.
Govindacharya-Rasaarnav.
Yashodhar-Ras Prakash Sudhakar.
Ramchandra-Rasendra Chintamani.
Somdev-Rasendra Chudamani.

The following chemicals are mentioned in the book Ras Ratna Sammuchchay:

1. Maharasa
2. Upras
3. Samanyaras
4. Ratna
5. Dhatu
6. Vish
7. Kshaar
8. Amal
9. Lavan
10. Lauhbhasma

The main chemicals are:

1. Abhram
2. Vaikrant
3. Bhashisk
4. Vimla
5. Shilajatu
6. Sasyak
7. Chapala
8. Rasak

Upras:
1. Gandhak
2. Gairik
3. Kashis
4. Suvari
5. Lalak
6. Manah Shila
7. Anjan
8. Kankushtha

Samanya Ras:
1. Koyila
2. Gauripaashaan
3. Navsaar
4. Varaatak
5. Agnijaar
6. Laajvarta
7. Giri Sindur
8. Hingul
9. Murdaad Shringakam

Similarly, there are more than 10 vish(poison). There is a description of the acids as well. Solvent acids and all dissolving acids are also described. Various kinds of alkalis and the ash of different metals are explained in these books. Laboratory A detailed description of a laboratory is given in chapter-7 of Ras Ratna Samuchchay. More than 32 instruments or apparatus were used here, the prominent among them are: Nagarjuna carried out numerous experiments on mercury in the laboratory. He has explained in great detail how to purify mercury and how to use it for medicinal purposes. He has also given the methods of preparing mixtures of various metals, purifying mercury and other metals and the maharasas and how to convert metals into gold or silver. Mercury is used not just in the conversion of a metal but also to make us disease-free and for longevity. The chemistry based on mercury is, in its fully developed form, linked to man-woman symbolism in India. Mercury is considered an element of Shiva, whereas sulphur, an element of Parvati and the product that was created from their union in asafoetida was called ras sindur, which was considered the essence for longevity.

Architecture and Samhita

1. Varnalingavayovasthah parokshyam cha balabalam Yathayogyam, yathashaktih Sanskarankarayet Sudheeh.

—(Bhrigu Samhita)

Sage Bhrigu stresses that all traditions must consider the chroma (colour), gender (property, mark) age (from time of implant till date) condition, along with its strength or weakness and the force that will be exerted on them. Here chroma means colour. But in architecture, colour is used in accordance with its power to reflect light, e.g. white colour reflects light completely. It is, therefore, said to be an excellent colour.

2. Vishwakarma Vastushastra: The first thing that Vishwakarma tells us about construction is “Poorva-bhoomim parikshyet pashchat vaastu prakalpayet” that is, one must first test the land and then start construction there. Vishwakarma further says that one must not construct anything on such a land, which is very rocky, which is hilly, where there are a large number of cracks or crevices, etc.

3. Kashyap Shilp: Sage Kashyap says that a foundation should be dug till the water is seen because after that there are rocks.

4. Bhrigu Samhita: In this, Bhrigu says that before buying land, it must be tested in five different ways, i.e. appearance, colour, taste, smell and touch. He also tells how to do it.

Age of earth

Contrary to the old researches the Indian Astrology from the beginning of this human being has already depicted that the age of earth is 432 crore years.

Science devoted 2000 years to come at par with Indian Astrological declarations.

Yajur Veda and Vishnu Puran are two noble examples, which depicted the theory of age of earth now accepted by modern researches made only in last 25 years.

There are four yugas in Indian astronomy. Kali Yuga 4.32 lakh years, Dwapar Yuga 8.64 lakh years, Treta Yuga 12.96 lakh years and Sat Yuga 17.28 lakh years. The total period is 43.20 lakh years. One chaturyuga multiplied by 1000 becomes the era of creation of the nature. Thus it is obviously clear that the age of earth given by the Big Bang Theory is similar to the Indian astronomical age of the earth. During this period it is very obvious that NASA’s observation for Ram Sethu amounts to 17.25 lakh years which matches with the Treta Yuga, the duration when Sri Ram came to the earth.

Kathopanishad

“Uttishthta jaagrta praapya varaan nibodhat”

Meaning: Arise, awake, and do not stop till the goal is achieved.

Ram Sethu

In the Ramayana, Maharshi Valmiki has described about the Ram Sethu in details:–

“Samudram kshyovaya masunirpatanth samantath Sutranyanye pragrunhanti hyayatam sata yojanam”
Meaning: This great Sethu was constructed by the great builder Nala. On the first day, 14 yojan, on second day, 20 yojan, on third day, 21 yojan, on fourth day 22 yojan, on fifth day, 23 yojan and in toto 100 yojan-long Sethu was built.
Ref: Ramayan, Yuddha Kanda 22: 62

The Skandha Puran says, after returning from Lanka, Lord Ramachandra requested all the kings to protect and preserve this sacred Sethu.

“Bhuyo bhuyo vabino bhumipalah natwa natwa yachaye Ramachandra Samanwyo dharma sethu naranam kale kale palaniyo bhabidhi”
(Ref: 40:34)

Ramo vigrahavaan dharma

Meaning : Rama is a personification of dharma

Ramayana

Sage Valmiki, who authored Ram’s history, categorically stated that he had seen and talked to Ram. The following three Shlokas from Uttar Kand of the Ramayana stand testimony to that fact:

taam drishtvaa shrutimaayaanti brahmaananugaamineemim Vaalmeekeh prishthatah Seetam saadhuvaado mahaanbhoot
Meaning: Sita, walking behind Valmiki, looked like a goddess. All present hailed her glory(U.96.12)

iyam Daashrathe Seeta suvrata dharmachaarini apavaadaat parityakta mamaashramsameepatah
Meaning: O Dasharath’s son Ram, Sita is righteous and austere in her spiritual quest.You had abandoned her near my hermitage for fear of public outrage and calumny
(U.96.17)

prachetaso-aham dashamah putro Raghavnandan na smaraamyanritam vaakyamimau tu tav putrakau
Meaning: I am the tenth son of Pracheta, O Ram! I have never spoken a lie. I truthfully tell you that these two are your sons
(U.96.19)

Vedas & Upanishads

There are four Vedas: Rig, which is about knowledge (gyan), Sama about chanting (music), Yajur about rituals and Atharva about sciences.

Upanishads are answers to questions. Thus, in Manduka Upanishad, Shaunaka ( a householder) asks Rishi Angiras: What is that by knowing which all can be known? The question proclaims the depth and profundity of the Upanishads. Angiras replies that knowledge exists at two levels—a lower level and a higher level. The study of the Vedas and arts belong to the lower level, and the study which leads to self-knowledge (Shankara’s atma bodha) is the higher level. Only atma bodha can liberate man, not recitations of the Veda.

About 108 Upanishads are said to have existed. Of them, six are very important. Called “Darshanas” (Philosophic systems), they form the majestic core of Hinduism. They are Sankya, Nyaya, Yoga, Vaisesika, the Purva and Uttara Mimamsas (or Vedanta).

Of the six systems, four tend to materialism and atheism! Such was the liberal mind of Hinduism.

Sankhya of Kapila is the oldest and most profound philosophic system known to man. Even the Buddha had taken advantage of it. But Sankhya is a materialistic philosophy. It opposed the Vedas and the Brahminical rituals. Sankhya asserts that the universe was not created by God. It evolved from the interaction between Purusha (eternal spirit) and Prakriti (nature). Thus, it undermined the foundation of supernatural religion by substituting evolution for creation.

Kapila denies the efficacy of Vedic rituals. He said everything could be known by three methods: Perception, inference and testimony. Prakriti is made up of three gunas—Satva, Rajas and Tamas. When their equipoise is disturbed, evolution begins through aggregation and segregation.

Nyaya of Gautama, based on Sankya, is more a system of logic than philosophy. It mentions God only in a casual manner. It adds one more way of perception—Analogy. Nyaya discusses methods of reasoning with the greatest subtlety. The Jains took nyaya to its logical heights.

Vaisesika of Kanada is anterior to nyaya. It also precedes Buddhism and Jainism. It tends to atheism. Buddhism and Jainism were influenced by it. It did not see any need to introduce God into the cosmic system. Vaisesika believed that substances which are aggregates of atoms are perishable. But atoms are eternal, invisible and intangible.

When Patanjali wrote his Yoga Sutra, the way to salvation was through sacrifices. In other words, through rituals. He changed all that. Yoga claims that one can see and know without the use of the senses. In fact, it teaches how to raise consciousness by stilling the senses. It is this steadying of the mind which Patanjali was chiefly concerned with. Yoga can restrain the vagaries of the mind.

Purva Mimamsa represents Hindu orthodoxy. It maintains that the Vedas are eternal and revealed. Man’s duty is to perform the sacrifices as prescribed in the Brahmanas.

Uttara Mimamsa (or Vedanta) of Vyasa Badarayana repudiates rituals. Vedanta is more a religion than philosophy, but the most philosophical religion in the world. It would probably be no exaggeration to say that the Vedanta concept of the Supreme Spirit (Monism) is the highest that humanity has been capable of. One cannot go beyond Shankara’s Advaita. Vedanta is the world view of the Hindu. Here duality is given up for a single reality (Advaita). A plurality of true infinities is not possible, says Vedanta.

Everbody takes birth as Sudra

Janmana jayate Sudra, sanskarat Dwija uchyate

Meaning: Everybody takes birth as Sudra , but by virtue of teachings and reforms, can become Brahmin. That means, the son of Brahmin may not be Brahmin or the son of Khatriya may not be Khatriya etc. The caste system based on Gita does not give approval of hereditary or traditional norms of caste classification. Sudra can be elevated to Vaisya, Vaisya can be elevated to Khatriya and Khatriya can be elevated to Brahmin and they are interchangeable.

For example, Rishi Viswamitra was born in a family of Khatriya but he could become a good Brahmin, whereas though born of Brahmin parents, Dronacharya took the profession of a Khatriya .

Similarly, Satyakam was born as a Sudra but he could prove himself to be a perfect Brahmin.

Swami Vivekananda advocated that everybody should try to become perfect Brahmin not by religion but by virtue. There is similar mention in the Buddhist scripture, Dhammapada. According to Gita (14/18) persons with Satta Guna abodes to the upper berth above the heaven, Rajas rest at heaven or below to it, and Tamas at hell or below it. Division of caste on the basis of Triguna or Tri-virtues is very progressive system to build a true secular society. Not only Hindus, but Christians, Muslims, Sikhs-all can be classified as Brahmin, Khatriya, Vaisya and Sudra.

Krishna, righteousness and victory

Jatha Krishna tatha Dharma, jatha Dharma tatha jay

Wherever there is Krishna, there is the righteousness and wherever there is righteousness, there is victory

Aryabhatta

1. Prithudak Swami, who has written a commentary on Brahmagupta’s principle of the Brahmasphut, has also mentioned an aarya of Aryabhatta.

Bha panjarah sthiro bhoo rewaavrityaavrity praati dalvaslkau Udayaastamayau sampaadayati nakshatragrahaanaam.

It means that the constellation is stationary and the earth, with its movement, appears to make the plants and stars rise and set.

2. In the Dashageetika chapter of his book, Aryabhattiya, Aryabhatta has clearly written Praane naiti kalaam bhooh which means that in one praan, the earth rotates one degree. (There are 21,600 praans in one day).

Udayo yo Lankaayam sostamayah Savitureva Siddhapure. Madhyanho yavakotyaam romaka Vishayaardharatrah syaat.

—(Aryabhattiya Golapaad-13)

“When the sun rises in Lanka, it sets in Siddhapur; it is afternoon in Yavakoti and midnight in Cilia.”

3.
Planet Aryabhatta’s measurement Today’s measurement
Mercury 0.375 AU 0.387 AU
Venus 0.725 AU 0.723 AU
Mars 1.538 AU 1.523 AU
Jupiter 5.16 AU 5.20 AU
Saturn 9.14 AU 9.54 AU

Distance of the various planets— Aryabhatta has also written about the distances of the various planets from the sun. It is very much similar to the modern measurements. Today, the sun is at a distance of 1.5 x 108kms = 15 crore kms from the earth. It is called AU or Astronomical Unit. On the basis of this proportion, one can reach the conclusion as mentioned in the table.

Puranas and Einstein - similarity

Einstein established the relativity of time in his ‘Theory of Relativity’. He said that the concept of time on the various planets varies. Time is related to the movement of the planet. Hence, the measurement of time on various planets is different.
Time is large and small. We get indications of this in our scripture. There is a story in the Puranas that Rewati, the daughter of King Raiwatak, was very tall. So, it was difficult to find a suitable bridegroom for her. For a solution, the king took her to Brahmalok with the power of yoga. When he reached there, a Gandharva gaan was going on. So, he waited for some time. When the gaan was over, Brahma saw the king and asked him how he had come there? The king asked him if he had made any groom for his daughter. Brahma laughed out aloud and said, “While you were here, listening to the gaan, 27 chaturyugis have already passed on earth and the 28th, dwaapar, is about to finish. Go back and marry her off to Balaram, the brother of Krishna. He also said that it was good that he had brought Rewati with him because now, she had not grown older. This story shows the difference in time if one goes at great speed from the earth to Brahmalok.

In the Yogavashishtha and other scriptures, one finds descriptions of going back into time and experiencing previous birth and going into the future too, through yoga sadhana.

Sankalpa mantra

Vaivasvatamanvantare—There are 14 manvantaras in one day of Brahma. The 7th of these is the vaivasvat manvantara, which is going on.
Ashtaavinshatitame Kaliyuge—There are 71 chaturyugis in one manvantar. Of these, the kaliyug of the 28th chaturyugi is going on nowadays.
Kaliyuge Prathamacharane—The beginning of the kaliyug.
Kalisamvate or Yugaabde—At present, the kalisamvat or yugaabd is 5108 (2006 AD).
Jambu dweepe, Brahmaavarta deshe, Bhaarat khande—names of continents, region and country.
In such and such place—Place of work.
In such and such samvatsar—Name of the samvatsar.
In such and such ayane—uttaraayan or dakshinaayan.
In such and such ritu or season—There are six seasons including the spring season. In such and such month—There are 12 months like Chaitra etc.

Bhagat Singh was not an athiest

His grand father Sardar Arjun Singh had received initiation in Arya Samaj by Maharishi Dayananda himself. He also wrote a book Veda’s and Shri Guru Granth Saheb’s Common Message, for the good of the mankind. Bhagat Singh took inspiration from Veer Savarkar’s great book—1857 war of Independence, and had it published also.

Janani Janmabhumishcha Swargadaapi Gariyasi

Meaning: Mother and motherland are greater than heaven.

Purusha Incarnations of Vishnu

The 4 Purusha incarnations of Vishnu

Vasudeva
Sankarshana
Pradyumna
Aniruddha

Mecca

I heard that one has to eat beef before entering the mecca masjid. I also heard there is a popular belief that if a Brahmin enters the Mecca masjid, all the Muslims in this world would be killed. Is there anybody who is willing to go? I think I myself will have to take the extreme step if the time comes.

Meaning of my name

Shashi means moon. Kantha means husband. Husband of moon is Sun. According to Hindu mythology, the earth is the parent of the moon. The moon is visible only when it is nearer to the Sun. It is invisible when it is away from the sun. This implies that the wife should be always near her husband. The moment she deserts her husband, she becomes invisible. The moon always rotates around the earth. This means that the wife always remembers her parents at all point of time.

My ambition in life

I want to see the magnificient Rama Temple in Ayodhya.

As you sow so shall you reap

The muslims ruled India for 800 yrs and it was one of the worst rule against Hindus. After this Cristians plundered India to utter poverty. Both these communities will pay for what they have done. I am feeling elated over the war between Islamic radicals and Cristians. Both of them will die and the peace loving Hinduism will prevail.

Confession of a Brahmin

I was born a Brahmin. But I don't know the Vedas, Upanishads, Puranas, shastras, etc. Most people in our community feel that Vedas doesn't fetch you food. The biggest devastator of Indian culture according to me is Macaulay. He has indoctrinated western thinking into the minds of everybody in India. Most people don't even understanding what I am talking. I am feeling guilty. I am feeling sorry that this will continue for generations.

Reservations

They say Brahmins deprived the Shudras their right to education. And that is the reason Shudras should be given reservation. If you go by this argument, then Brahmins can also complain that they were deprived their right to govern as kings, the right to trade. So shouldn't Brahmins be given reservation in the army, in the parliament, in business. Brahmins should be given interest free loans. Don't you think so? Reservation is not the solution. You cannot level the fiield with reservation.

Buddha

Madhvas accept Buddha to be the 10th avatara of Lord Vishnu. But Iyengars don't.

Madhwacharya

Everybody must have observed that Lord Madhwacharya shows 2 fingers. Do you know what it means - Hari Sarvottama Vayur Jeevothama.

Mythological stories

Tirupati - It seems Tirupati was claimed by Buddists that it was a Buddist temple and not a Hindu temple. Sri Ramanujacharya had a debate with the Buddists and won back the temple from them. There is an idol of Ramanujacharya inside the temple dedicated to him. It seems Lord Balaji owes lot of money to Lord Kuber. And this is the reason why Tirupati gets lot of money.

Sabarimale Aiyappa - He is Hari-Hara putra ie both Vishnu's and Shiva's son. That is the reason both Shivites and Vaishnavites visit this place. (Note: Not all people accept this)

Kayastha

A roomie of mine told me history of Kayasthas. Everybody must be knowing about ChitraGupta, Yama's accountant. ChitraGupta had 11 kids and they are called Kayasthas. The 11 kids are Bhatnagar, Srivastava, Nigam, Goud, ...etc. Popular Kayastha figures include Swami Vivekananda. In the film industry, you have Amitabh Bhachan, Sonu Nigam. All these surnames like Sen,Bose,Mitra belong to Kayasthas.

Jaa Gante and Shankha

Do anybody know why Jaa Gante and Shankha are blown during pooja?

Actually, if Jaa Gante and Shankha are blown properly, the sound 'Om' comes out of it.

Mathematics in Hindu scriptures - contd

Arithmetic: The sequence-wise description of the numbers can be found in the Yajurveda:

Savita prathameahannagni rdviteeye vayustriteeya Aadityenchaturthe chandramaah Panchamarituh shashthe marootah saptame brahaspatirashtame Mitro navame varuno dashamam indra ekaadashe Vishwedeva dwadashe —(Yajurveda 39-6)

What is special is that the numbers are given here from one to twelve in a sequence

From the aspect of counting, the largest number known to the ancient Greeks was myriad which is equal to 104 or 10,000 and the largest number known to the Romans was 10³, i.e. 1000. On the contrary, many kinds of counting were prevalent in India. These methods were independent. The methods described in the Vedic, Buddhist and Jain texts, have a similarity in the names of some of the numbers but there is a difference in the value of the numbers.

First: Next number multiple of 10: This means that the number that comes next is 10 times more. The second mantra in the 17th chapter of the Yajurveda Samhita refers to this, whose sequence is given—Ek, dash, shat, sahastra, ayut, niyut, prayut, arbud, nyarbud, samudra, madhya, ananta and parardh. In this way, Parardh measured 10¹² that is one thousand billion or one trillion (US).

Second: Next number multiple of 100: This means that the next number is 100 times more than the earlier number. In this context, we must refer to the conversation between mathematician Arjun and Bodhisatva in Lalit Vistar, the Buddhist text from the 1st century BC in which he asks what the number after 1 crore is? In reply, Bodhisatva describes the numbers after crore, which are multiples of 100.

Shat (One hundred) koti = ayut, niyut, kankar, vivar, kshomya, nivaah, utsang, bahul, naagbal, titilamb, vyavasthanapra-gyapti, hetusheel, karahu, hetvindriya, samaaptalambh, gananagati, nikhadh, mudraabal, sarvabal, vishagyagati, sarvagya, vibhutangama and tallakshana which meant that tallakshana means 10 raised to the power of 53. (i.e.1053)

Third: Next number multiple of ten million: The 51st and 52nd chapters of Katyayan’s Pali Grammar has reference to multiples of crores, i.e. the next number is a crore times (i.e.107 times) more than the earlier number.

In this centext, the Jain text of Anuyugodwar describes the numbers after koti as follows— Koti koti, pakoti, kotyapakoti, nahut, ninnahut, akkhobhini, bindu, abbnd, nirashbud, ahah, abab, atat, sogandhik, uppalkumud, pundareek, padum, kathaan, mahakathaan and asankhyeya. Asankhyeya measures 10140 that means 10 raised to power of 140.

Similarities b/w Islam and Hinduism by Dr Zakir Naik

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FdBC6J9C_fU

Personally, I do not accept all of Dr Zakir Naik's views though.

However there is lot of content in this speech.

Bhagavadgita, 4

Yada- yada hi dharmasya glanir bhavati Bharata
Abhyutthanam adharmasya tadatmanam srjamyaham

Meaning:
Whenever there is a decline in the following of Dharma, I(Lord Vishnu) will come to earth in various forms to save dharma.

http://www.kamakoti.org/hindudharma/part2/chap2.htm

Very good informative research by Kanchi Paramacharya.

Venkatesha stotra

Aputro labhate putran Nirdhano dhanawan bhavet
Rogarto muchyate rogaat baddho muchyeta bandanaath

Meaning:
On reciting the Venkatesha stotra,
childless couples get children
the poor become rich
the diseased people get cured from the disease

Daivadheenam Jagatsarvam

Meaning: God is the controller of the whole world.

Difference b/w modern day democracy and our ancient rule

In the olden days, it used to be - Yatha Raja tatha praja.

Which means, the king used to be a role model for the ministers and the people.

Modern day democracy - Yatha praja thatha raja.

The king of today ie the PM/President is no more a role model. Thereby modern day democracy is not the best solution for good governance.

Dharma

Dharmo Rakshati Rakshitah

Meaning:
Dharma will protect those who try to protect Dharma. Dharma will kill those who try to kill dharma. Beware............

Mathematics in Hindu scriptures - 0 and infinitee

Yatha shikha mayuranam naganam manayo yatha Tadvad vedangshastranam ganitam moordhani sthitam.

Meaning:
—(Yajush jyotisham) The shloka says that just as the crest of the peacock and the gem of the cobra, stays right at the top, similarly mathematics is established right at the topmost position in the Vedas and the shastras.

In the mantra for peace, in the Eishavasyo-panishad, it is said

- Aum poornamadah poornamidam poornat poornamudchyate
Poornasya poornamadaya poornamevavashishyate

This mantra is not just a spiritual description. Instead, it has an extremely important mathematical sign hidden in it. This became the base or the foundation of all mathematics. The mantra says: this is complete, that is complete. A whole is born out of a whole, yet it is a whole and, even in the end, when the whole is merged within the whole, it still remains a whole. The characteristic of a whole is present in zero and in the infinite too. If you add or subtract a zero to or from a zero, what remains is a zero only. The same is the case with the infinite.

Good morning in Devanagiri script

Kausalya supraja Rama poorva sandhya pravartathe
Utthishta narasardoola kartavyam daivamahnikam

Meaning:
Sri Rama! Kausalya’s endearing son! Wake up, dear; You have to do Your day-to-day duties; Do wake up please

Uttishthotishtha Govinda uttishtha garudadhwaja
Uttishtha kamalakanta trilokyam mangalam kuru

Meaning:
Sri Govinda! All the three worlds are under Your rule; they have to prosper. Wake up, my child

An extract from Tattreya Upanishad

Sahana Bhavatu Sahnou Bhunattu
Sahaveeryam karavavahai
Tejasvina madeetha mastu
Maavid vishavahai.
Om Shanti Shanti Shanti.

Pls correct me if I have made mistakes.

Namatraya Japa

Aakashaat patitam toyam yatha gacchati saagaram, sarva deva namaskarah Keshavam prati gachati.

When it rains, wherever the raindrops fall - be it on a hill, open field, house,etc, they finally go the ocean. In a similar manner, whichever God you worship, it goes to Lord Keshava ie Lord Krishna.

Vasudaiva Kutumbakam

This means the entire world is one family. At first shot, you may not understand the significance of this sentence. But if I narrate the way the western world perceives the world, you will understand the difference. The west views the world as a market. A person is significant only if a certian amount of profit is generated out of him. Capitalist concept. But Vasudaiva kutumbakam is a socialist concept. Hence socialism is embedded within Hindu scriptures.