Cultural ties with Cambodia

Mekong is one of the longest rivers in our planet and it flows through many countries including Cambodia. (I nostalgically remember my frequent visits to the riverside in Phnom Penh and my morning coffee at Mekong river bank in Cambodian countryside during my official visits. But it never struck to me that 'Mekong' comes from 'Maa Gangaa' and that the Pallavaa kings who ruled ancient Cambodia considered the river to be as sacred as Maa Gangaa flowing in India, until I heard Dr. Krishnaswamy mentioning about it in his fabulous TV production 'Indian Imprints' on National Channel. (What we know is nothing compared to what we don't know).

British Bard 400 years on

Thanks to Sundar Pitchai and his wonderful team, we don't need to remember some important dates in history. Today is the 400th death anniversary of William Shakespeare whose works were core components of our English language curriculum during my student days. (I remember how I used to analyse commentaries by critics such as Granville Barker and Varity as part of my exam preparation). 

Hanumad Jayanti and World Earth Day

Today is considered to be a very auspicious day for Hindus all over our planet. This day is the birth anniversary of Hanumaanjee,  the greatest devotee of Lord Shree Raam and his wife Seethaa Devi. Devotees offer special prayers to Hanumaanjee and these prayers are communicated to Shree Raama and Seethaa Devi with utmost precision  (without technical bottlenecks that we experience in our humpty number of digitally driven social media) if our prayers stem from sincere devotion.

Today is ear marked as World Earth Day. I think that we should learn from obvious incidents such as the aftermath of floods in Chennai a few months back as we are damaging the environment by disrespecting God given flora and fauna.

Vedic scriptures are very clear in cautioning against human caused damage to the environment. Same is said by scientific communities as well. Let us try to be just.

Shree Raama Navami Fest

Today is a very auspicious day for Hindus. It is celebrated as Shree Raama Navami. According to scriptures, this is the day on which Lord Shree Raam married Seethaa Devi in Tretha yugam. They were avatars of Shree Mahaa Vishnu and Shree Mahaa Lakshmi respectively.

New Year's Day

Today is an auspicious day. It is celebrated as traditional new year's day by people in Kerala, Tamilnadu and some other regions in the subcontinent. This day also marks 3 days festivities to mark the beginning of new year in Cambodia and many other countries in South East Asia where Tamil kings established their empires and developed cultural and trade links. 

Best wishes to all those who celebrate this day. My greetings go especially to my friends in Kerala, Tamilnadu and Cambodia.

Traditional New Year

Today is an auspicious day for Hindus in some communities such as the one to which I belong. Today is our new year's day known as Ugadhi. I'll write more about its significance when I find time.  Best wishes for a happy Ugaadhi to all those who celebrate this day.

Mahaa Shiva Raarhri

Yesterday was an auspicious day for Hindus. It was Mahaa Shiva Raathri.

Spending money on satellite based systems

Technological development is welcome but sometimes it lands ordinary people like me in difficult circumstances. As I thought that 3G Internet connection is less economical than 2G one, I went in for the latter a few days back. Since then I consistently experienced connection problems until my ISP restored my 3G on my request. I am well aware that I will have to spend more.  

Our Government's budget on Space Research should be aimed at developing systems and mechanisms such as those on weather forecasts and cost effective communication systems instead of on Mars Mission etc.

It is high time that our Space Research is geared toward satellite based Internet that will help common folk.  I think that we need to learn a lot from experience in other countries including the US and develop our policies considering local needs.

Madhwa Navami

Yesterday was an important day for Maadhwaa people who observed the day as Madhwa Navami.

What we know and what we do not know

"What we know is palm full; what we don't know is world full". So goes a Tamil saying. 

This morning when I was watching "Dharma Sandehaalu" on Bhakti TV, I came to know of a very interesting info: King Yaso Varman who was ruling Khaambhoj province (present Cambodia) of ancient India (known as Bharatha Kanda at that time) had a son inflicted with some disease; this was because in his previous birth he did not do any good deeds though born in a Brahmin parentage with Dhaarmic value systems. In his attempts to get his son's disease cured, Yaso Varman let the prince observe Ratha Sapthami Vratha. This cleared the prince's disease and he became a monarch later.

Oddly enough, our school textbooks never mention any thing about contributions by Indians of ancient India.