GODDESSES OF EPIDEMICS

The Myth and Epidemics

Shitala (Hindi: “She Who Is Cool”) Indian goddess of smallpox and of other infectious diseases. She is worshipped under this name throughout the regions of South Asia in which Indo-Aryan languages are spoken. In India she is widely worshipped in the rural areas of West Bengal state. In much of Dravidian-speaking India, a goddess called Mariamma possesses similar disease-causing powers. Although temples to Shitala are found in various places in North India, including Varanasi (Benares), her mythology is highly elaborated in West Bengal and Bangladesh, where mangal-kavya (“auspicious poems”) in Bengali, dating mainly from the 18th and 19th centuries, describe the appearance of the goddess among mortals, their rejection of her, and the smallpox epidemics that she visited upon them. She is worshipped in villagewide rites mainly in the dry weather of winter and spring, the seasons most favourable to smallpox transmission. 

As an incarnation of Supreme Goddess Durga, she cures poxes, sores, ghouls, pustules and diseases, acclaimed by Hindus. Goddess Sheetala is worshipped on the eighth day after festival of colors (Holi), on the occasion of Sheetala Asthami.  

Shitala

One story says Goddess Durga has incarnated as little Kātyāyanī — daughter of sage Katyayan — to destroy all arrogant evil demonic forces of the world, in her real form as Durga, she killed many demons that were sent by Kaalkeya.

A demon named Jwarasura, the demon of fever, started spreading incurable diseases to Katyayani’s childhood friends, such as cholera, dysentery, measles, and smallpox. Katyayani cured the diseases of some of her friends. To relieve the world from all fevers and diseases, Katyayani assumed the form of Shitala Devi. Each of her four hands held a short broom, winnowing fan, jar of cooling water and a drinking cup. With her power, she cured all the children’s diseases.

 Katyayani then requests her friend, Batuk to go out and confront the demon Jwarasura. A battle ensued between the young Batuk and demon Jwarasura. Jwarasura succeeds in defeating Batuk. Then, Batuk, lying dead, magically faded into dust. Jwarasur was shocked that Batuk had disappeared and wondered where he had gone, not realising that Batuk had, in fact, assumed the form of an awful male figure with three eyes and four arms holding a battle-axe, sword, trident and demon head. This figure was pitch-black in colour with flowing locks and eyes ablaze with fury and wore a tiger-skin and a garland of skulls – for Batuk had assumed the appearance of Lord Shiva’s ferocious form, the terrible Bhairav. Bhairav reprimands Jwarasura and tells him that he is the servant of Goddess Durga (incarnate as Katyayani). A long discussion ensued but then converted into battle. Jwarasur created many demons from his powers but Bhairav managed to destroy all of them. Finally, Bhairav wrestled with Jwarasura and killed him with his trident.

Another version says that Parvati decided  the power of her coolness will bring relief to all the children and their parents. Mahadev transformed himself into Bhairav and reaches the battlefield where he confronted Jwarasura to prevent him from going around and doing any more harm to children. Both of them indulged themselves in a great and huge wrestling match.

Parvati on the other hand, transformed herself into Sheetala Devi. Sheetala Devi resembles a maiden, she was fair in complexion, wearing light and dark blue robes, wearing a minimal amount of ornaments on her limbs, three-eyed and is looking very youthful in appearance while representing an omnipotent Goddess, as being one among the incarnations of Durga. In her four hands, she held a bowl, a fan, a small broom, or a winnowing fan of some sort and she carries a pot of cold water, in which she uses to cure the diseased. She was mounted on the back of a donkey as her vehicle. Goddess Sheetala started her mission on providing relief to the children. Wherever Goddess Sheetala went around and over the world, with her most effective tool, her cold and cooling water brought relief to all children, of all shapes, sizes, colors, and ages. They were all completely restored to their good health, which brought instant relief to them and to joy to all the parents. Seeing Goddess Sheetala, everybody paid their homage to her and all the children thanked her for curing their incurable fever and purifying them.

Then, Goddess Sheetala makes an appearance in the battlefield where Bhairav and Jwarasura were fighting against each other. Sheetala Devi berates Jwarasur for his misdeeds towards young children as he spread fever to them. Bhairav also lets Jwarasura know that not only can Goddess Sheetala cure poxes, sores, ghouls, pustules and diseases, she is a goddess of sores, ghouls, and diseases and she can give them too. She is the cause as well as the cure. Finally, Sheetala Devi severely infected Jwarasura with an intense case of smallpox, thus putting an end to his reign of terror for once and for all. Mahadev liberates himself from Bhairav and Parvati frees herself from Goddess Sheetala Devi. They both returned home to Kailash.Oladevi is the goddess of cholera and the wife of the Asura Mayasura and is worshipped by people in the region of Bengal (consisting of the country Bangladesh and the Indian state of West Bengal) and Marwar. The goddess is also known as Olaichandi, Olabibi and Bibima. She is venerated by Hindus and Muslims of Bengal.

She is also worshipped in Rajasthan along with Maa Shitala as companion, saving her devotees from diseases like cholera, jaundice, diarrhoea and other stomach related diseases. She is called Ori Mata. In Marwari tradition, she has no fixed iconography but generally she is depicted like Shitala.

Oladevi is an important part of folk tradition in Bengal, and is honoured by communities of different religions and cultures.

To Hindus, Oladevi is the combined form of the Goddesses Lakshmi and Saraswati, portrayed as a lady with deep yellow skin wearing a blue sari and adorned with ornaments. She is portrayed with extended arms and seated with a child in her lap.  The Muslims of Bengal call her Olabibi or Bibima from Olabibi Gan (Song of Olabibi), which recounts the story of the child of a virgin Muslim princess that disappeared mystically and reappeared as the Goddess, curing the sons of the minister of the kingdom and the badshah, the father of her mother.

Myriad Forms of Durga in Bengal:

1.Bipattarini : Goddess “Bipatarini Chandi” is worshiped mainly in south 24 parganas. Goddess Bipattarini Chandi is a mixed form of Durga and Kali . She protects from all sorrows.

2.Rajballavi : Goddess is celebrated in Jangipara and Rajbalhat in Hoogly district . She has been the goddess of power for many centuries .She is the mixed form of Durga , Kali and Saraswati.

3.Ola Devi or Olai Chandi : Goddess “Manasha” has been worshiped to be safe from snake bite.Like wise “Devi Shitala” has been worshiped for the disease “Chicken Pox” . Bengal worships Ola Devi to remain safe from Cholera . She is mainly worshiped in south 24 parganas and also is known us Bibima.

4.Manasha-Jagatgouri : Jagjiban Ghoshal who has been a poet in North Bengal described Manasha as a daughter and wife of “Dharma”  .Dharma created Brahma,Vishnu and Maheswar, after that he created Manasha (a beautiful daughter).Manasha was beautiful in her youth when Dharma married her daughter .But he realized the mistake . Manasha transformed herself to a baby of 3 days and she was floated in the water in a cascade by three brothers Brahma,Vishnu and Maheswar. Rishi Hemant brought up in the name of Durga. This is a story of Durga and Manasha blending  in an unique form.

5.Mahishashurmardini (Devi Jogadya) : This story is in the satyayug when Sati sacrificed her life in the Yagna of Daksha and Shiva  carrying Sati’s body in Shoulder in full fury.Lord Vishnu made the body of Sati shred into pieces to  control  Shiva….. The right  toe of sati fell in the “Khirgram”of Burdwan District .Devi is worshiped in the form of “Jogadya”(Mahamaya).

6.Rankini : “Rakini”is worshiped all over Bengal but specially in Chotonagpur,Western Rar area. The people of those regions believe that “Rankini” is a form of Devi Durga and Kali or Bhairavi. Amarendranath Majumder has written “Bhairav Rankini Mahatto”.Local people believe that though Rankini is very powerfull and full of fiery , she is very pleased when worshiped with devotion .

7.Baram Chandi : The tribal people of Medinipur ,Bankura and Hooghly district of Bengal worship this Devi with devotion .She is a local goddes and worshiped with much pride specially in Medinipur .She is worshiped once a year .But the tribals call “Baram Parab” (festival).

8.Bhandali or Bandurga : She is the local goddess of North Bengal . In Coochbehar village Gopalpur , in Jalpaiguri Padamati village and Bhandali villages devi is worshiped with much pride. She is a mixed form of Durga , Kali and Bhaishnav Power .

9.Mangal Chandi : Devi Mangal Chandi is worshiped in Bengal and is a form of “Adya Shakti Durga” .In Chandi Mangal, Devi killed the demon Mangal and became Mangal Chandi .

BHADRAKALI,SMALL POX AND MUDIYETT

In the kingdom of Danavas,Darika was a demon who did penance, propitiated Brahma and got a boon that he can not be killed by a man ( male ). His atrocities became unbearable. Brahma had granted Darika the boon that no god or man would be able to kill him and that every drop of his blood that fell to the ground would lead to the birth of hundreds of Darikas. He could be slayed only by a woman. Born to Darumathy, Darika grew extremely arrogant in his power and attacked the Devas. He entered Devalok and then stormed into Kailasa. Shiva created a Shakti called Bhadrakali from his third eye who annihilated Darika. Bhadrakali set about her mission as soon as she was born, with the leader of forest ghosts and spirits, Vetalam in tow.

And as the blood dripped off his torso, she licked it before it could fall on to the ground.
However, even after Darika was killed, Bhadrakali’s thirst for blood was not appeased and she went on a killing spree. The gods ran to Shiva for help. He tried to convince her to stop but when everything failed, he lay down on the ground and said, “Daughter dance upon my naked body and release your anger.” That worked and Bhadrakali’s terrifying rampage came to an end as did the reign of Darika.  

Darika’s wife was Manodari. She was struck with grief and started observing tapas. With her husband killed, she didn’t know how to sustain herself.

Shiva was pleased with her tapas and appeared before her. He gave her a few drops of his sweat and told her that if she sprinkles it on someone it will cause small pox. The disease stricken person would worship her with offerings and that will be her means to sustain herself. Thus Manodari became the presiding deity of small pox.

She returned from her tapas and on the way back she met Bhadrakali. Full of hate for her for having killed her husband, Manodari sprinkled the sweat on Bhadrakali and immediately Bhadrakali was struck down with small pox.

Mudiyett in Kerala

Upon hearing this, Shiva created a Rakshasa called Ghantakarna and told him to lick up all the small pox eruptions from Bhadrakali’s body. He started doing that from feet upwards. As he reached her face, Shiva asked him to stop as it was not proper for a brother to lick his sister’s face. Thus the small pox marks started to adorn Bhadrakali’s face permanently.

Ghantakarna couldn’t tolerate the name of Vishnu, so he hung huge bells ( ghanta ) in his ears so that their sound subdued the chanting of Vishnu’s name.

Later, Shiva instructed him to propitiate Vishnu by observing tapas. He did so. Vishnu granted him place in Vaikuntha. Even though born a Rakshasa, Ghantakarna is worshiped as a deity after this.In another version, Bhadrakali failed to kill Darika in her first attempt and so she approached his wife Manodari who knew the secret mantra that Brahma has given her husband. Bhadrakali tricked her into revealing the mantra and went into the battlefield, but when Manodari found out, she obtained a bucket of Parvati’s sweat and threw it on Bhadrakali at which she was instantly covered with sores all over her body. Shiva then created a being out of his earwax called Ghantakarnan who licked the sores off her body, however he was too embarrassed to lick her face and hence Bhadrakali’s face is still marked with spots (like a small pox infestation).

This story is performed and sung as Darikavadham (the legend of Darika’s killing) in various parts of Kerala as an offering to the goddess Bhagavathy. In later years, the worship of Bhadrakali has been merged with that of Bhagavathy.  

Mudiyett or Mudiyettu is a traditional ritual theatre and folk dance drama from Kerala that enacts the mythological tale of a battle between the goddess Kali and the demon Darika. The ritual is a part of the bhagavathi or bhadrakali cult. The dance is performed in bhadrakali temples, the temples of the Mother Goddess, between February and May after the harvesting season. In 2010 Mudiyettu was inscribed in the UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, becoming the second art form from Kerala after Koodiyattam.

The Kavu Theendal ritual in Kodungallur Bhagavathi Temple in Kerala commemorates the slaying of the demon Darika.

COVID DRUG FROM CINCHONA TREE

A Countess Cured from Malaria

India is the biggest manufacturer of hydroxychloroquine, the anti-malarial drug that is being touted as ‘game-changer’ in the fight against COVID-19.India manufactures 70% of the world’s supply of hydroxychloroquine.

The country has a production capacity of 40 tonnes of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) every month, implying 20 crore tablets of 200 mg each. And since the drug is also used to auto-immune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis and lupus, manufacturers have good production capacities that can also be ramped up.

The HCQ story began in 1638, the beautiful Lady Ana de Osorio, Countess of Chinchon, had held court in her husband’s palace in Lima for nine years. As wife of the Viceroy of Peru, her life had been one long whirl of balls, banquets and fiestas. But now she lay on her sweat-soaked bed stricken with malaria.

The Count watched helplessly as the fever tightened its grip. Things looked bad. But then a note arrived. It was from the governor of Loxa, a town in the Andes far to the north. He knew of a treatment that would cure the Countess, from an Incan herbalist.Would she try it? The note was followed by the governor himself, bearing a package containing the powdered bark of a tree that grew around Loxa.

The Countess swallowed the bitter potion-and was back on her feet in no time. Grateful for so miraculous a recovery, Lady Ana ordered large quantities of the bark to dispense to the feverish citizens of Lima. And when the Count and Countess of Chinchon returned to their castle and lands in Spain, where malaria was rife, the Countess took her miracle powder with her. It’s a romantic story. It first appeared in the 1660s and was never doubted. In 1874 Clements Markham, who became the president of the Royal Society popularised the Countess in his book.

The Countess recieving the cure

The tree now is known as Cinchona tree,in the name of the Countess.

Large supplies of the powder for general use, which at the time was controlled by the Church and was thus called “Jesuit’s Powder”.  

It took nearly two centuries for the active substance, Quinine, to be isolated from the bark (and was eventually to make a name for itself as a tonic to be added to gin).

Over the next century, quinine would become a common component in folk medicines and patent remedies for the treatment of malaria in the southern states of America, as well as for generic malaise. By the 1940s, quinine, or rather its derivative chloroquine, was recognized for its anti-malarial properties and found use among troops fighting in the Pacific during WW-II. However, it was noted that this compound had significant toxicities. In 1945, a modification of this compound via hydroxylation led to the development of HCQ, which was found to be less toxic and remains in use, without change, to this day.  

Bark of Cinchona

Over time, physicians began to experiment with the medication and, in the early 1950s, began to use it for the treatment of SLE. After the success in that disease (at least success relative to the other available agents which were basically none), it was tried in another arthropathy, RA. However, in the quest to get better responses, physicians would “push” the dose and, not surprisingly, toxicities, most notable retinal toxicity, began to present itself as a limiting feature of the medication. Not deterred, physicians adjusted the dose and began to consider using it in combination therapy, which became popular in the 1980s and has culminated in the recent studies showing the notable efficacy of triple therapy when HCQ was combined with MTX and sulfasalazine.

Most of the science regarding HCQ’s mechanism of action falls in the realm of speculation. There is evidence that one of its primary effects is on the lysosome, where it accumulates. Once there, it can stabilize the lysosomal membrane and elevate the intra-organelle pH, leading to inactive acid proteases, decreased receptor recycling, inhibition of protein/cytokine production and secretion, and interference with intracellular inflammatory pathways such as ERK and MAP kinase. Recently, there is some evidence that it also inhibits certain segments of “innate immunity” (that basic immunity which links us to jellyfish), specifically the toll-like receptors. Through its action on TLR3/4, synovial fibroblasts are less likely to become activated. Its effect on TLR7/9 inhibits TNF production.

I’m a clinician, not a molecular biologist, and what I want to know is: does it work and where or when?  

The most impressive work has come from the lupus literature. This underappreciated medication has been clearly shown to reduce the number of SLE flares, reduce the severity of SLE flares when they occur, can in some cases lead to “remission” including lupus nephritis, increase the risk of flares when stopped, and decrease the doses of prednisone needed to control the disease. In at least one study, the use of HCQ increased survival in patients with SLE by 70%.

Of equal importance, HCQ has been shown to decrease the risk of thrombosis in patients who are anti-phospholipid antibody positive.  Although no studies have been done to specifically look at it during pregnancy, most feel it is safe to continue through pregnancy in patients with SLE, despite its long T1/2 of 40 hours and its ability to cross the placenta with ease. In a study of 133 pregnancies in patients on HCQ there were no differences in fetal outcome compared to 70 pregnancies seen in a control group. One has to weigh the potential unknown risks of HCQ against the known risk of pregnancy outcome in SLE patients who flare.

HCQ has also been a pivotal drug in RA. While it demonstrated some efficacy in RA as monotherapy, HCQ has really made its name is in combination therapy. The first major publication to look at a combination therapy tested MTX+HCQ, MTX+HCQ+SSZ and MTX+SSZ in patients with established RA.  While “triple” did the best, MTX+SSZ did worse than either combination using HCQ.  There may be an explanation for this, coming from the Oncology literature. MTX needs to be actively transported into the cells to become polyglutamated, which is the active form of MTX. It turns out that SSZ inhibits this transport system, and this inhibition is counteracted by HCQ. Makes you think twice about using MTX+SSZ without HCQ, doesn’t it?

Cinchona flowers

But wait, there’s more…

It appears that in patients with RA who are treated with HCQ, there is a decreased likelihood of developing diabetes compared to those who never took it. Even more impressive, RA patients taking HCQ for more than 36 consecutive months were 70% less likely to have an incident cardiovascular event than those not taking it. Regrettably, HCQ is not the cure for all diseases. In one condition in which you would have expected to see an effect, Sjogren’s syndrome, the recent studies have been disappointing.

Now, before we starting putting HCQ in the water supply, we have to recognize that it has its toxicities. The best known is the retinal damage, which can lead to blindness. The risk increases by >1% for each year that the patient is on the medication. Monitoring with eye exams will usually control for this. Myopathies and cardiomyopathies have been described; on biopsy there is a characteristic vacuolar degeneration noted on muscle biopsy. Neuropathies, including ototoxcitiy (it’s not just the eyes…) have been reported, and in rare occasions, there can be a pigmentation of the cartilage presenting like ochronosis. All in all, it’s a pretty safe drug, especially if doses are kept below 6.5mg/kg.

HCQ has come a long way from the Incas making powder from the bark of the Cinchona tree, to having the ACR and EULAR endorse the use of HCQ in the treatment of RA and SLE. The next time you prescribe HCQ, keep in mind the enduring power of this time-tested – nearly four centuries – amazing medicine.

CROSSING THE RIVER VAITHARANI

What happens after death?

Hindus believe that they will have to cross a river called Vaitharani, after death.

Vaitarna or Vaitharani river, as mentioned in the Garuda Purana and various other Hindu religious texts, lies between the earth and the infernal Naraka, the realm of Yama, the Hindu god of death and is believed to purify one’s sins.

 Furthermore, while the righteous see it filled with nectar-like water, the sinful see it filled with blood. Sinful souls are supposed to cross this river after death. According to the Garuda Purana, this river falls on the path leading to the Southern Gate of the city of Yama. It is also mentioned that only sinful souls come via the southern gate.

However, other texts like the Harihareshwara Mahatmya in the Skanda Purana mention a physical river as well, that joins in the eastern ocean; he who bathes in it is supposed to forever be free from the torment of Yama. It first appears in the TirthaYatra Parva (Pilgrimage Episode) of the Mahabharat, where it is mentioned to be rising from the Vindhyas and falling into the Bay of Bengal after passing through Orissa as the present Baitarani River. 

Apart from that, it appears in Matsya Purana, and Vamana Purana. Finally, it is the Padma Purana which reveals the etymology of Vaitarani in Vaitarani Mahatmya, where it is defined as Vai (truly) tarini (saving) and it was brought on to the earth from Pathala, due to the penance of Parashurama resulting in a boon from Shiva.

It is equivalent to the Styx river in Greek mythology and is associated with the Vaitarani Vrata, observed on the eleventh day of the dark phase of the moon i.e., Krishna Paksha of Maghashirsha in the Hindu calendar, wherein a cow is worshipped and donated, which is believed to take one across the dreaded river as mentioned in the Garuda Purana. (verses 77-82).

When seen, the river inspires misery. It is a hundred yojanas in width and does not contain water. Instead, it is a river full of blood and pus, with a bank made of bone. For the sinful, it is impossible to cross the river. They are obstructed by hairy moss, crocodiles, flesh-eating birds, and a great many insects. When a sinner comes near the river, in an attempt to cross, it seethes and becomes overspread with smoke and flame. It is said that the sinful are hungry and thirsty, and so they drink, to fill their emptiness. For those that fall into Vaitarna, there is no rescue. The whirlpools take the fall into a lower region. For a moment the sinner stays until they rise to be washed again.

The hell surrounded by Vaitharani

The river was created for the sinful. It is nigh-impossible to cross, and the far bank cannot be seen.

There are a few ways to cross this river. It is important to note that only those souls who have sinned have to cross this river. The souls with good deeds or good karma do not travel on the path through which the Vaitarna River flows.

• A sinner who has done certain meritorious deeds can get a boat to cross the river after travelling on the terrible way of Yama for some time. These deeds include donating a cow, food, wealth or any sacrifice etc.
• It is said that even though a person is a sinner if he is following a real spiritual guru, the sinner can cross the river holding his Guru’s hand.
• If the sinner cannot cross using the above two methods, he has to wait many years till it is decided that he will cross or the servants of Yama drag him through the river.
• The descendants of the sinful soul can help him cross the river by chanting the name “Shree Gurudeva Datta”. This is the chant for the Hindu god Dattatreya.

After successfully crossing this river, the sinners reach the terrifying Southern Gate of the City of Yama. In this city, the sinners along with the souls with good deeds are judged by the Lord of Justice (Yama or Yamaraja). The sinners are taken to hell and the better souls are taken to heaven.

If a soul cannot cross the Vaitharna River then he cannot be taken to hell. He is stuck at its shore. Thus this prevents him from getting reborn on earth as a human or animal. These souls are considered ghosts who have not passed on and are stuck.

SIX TYPES OF PRANAMAM

It Shows Submissiveness

In a practically empty St. Peter’s Basilica, the pope began the liturgy of the Lord’s Passion lying prostrate on the floor.

This gesture holds deep penitential meaning. The Good Friday liturgy is one of the most somber, in which contemplation of the Cross is a fundamental element.

As in the recent Palm Sunday and Holy Thursday celebrations, the pope was accompanied only by a small group of his collaborators.

Prostration is the placement of the body in a reverentially or submissively prone position as a gesture. Typically prostration is distinguished from the lesser acts of bowing or kneeling by involving a part of the body above the knee touching the ground, especially the hands.

Major world religions employ prostration as an act of submissiveness or worship to a supreme being or other worshiped entity (i.e. God), as in the sajdah of the Islamic prayer, salat. In various cultures and traditions, prostrations are similarly used to show respect to rulers, civil authorities and social elders or superiors, as in the Chinese kowtow or Ancient Persian proskynesis. The act has often traditionally been an important part of religious, civil and traditional rituals and ceremonies, and remains in use in many cultures.

In Buddhism, prostrations are commonly used and the various stages of the physical movement are traditionally counted in threes and related to the Triple Gem, consisting of:

• the Awakened One (Sanskrit/Pali: Buddha) (in this meaning, to own potential)
• his teaching (Sanskrit: Dharma; Pali: Dhamma)
• his community (Sangha) of noble disciples (ariya-savaka).

In addition, different schools within Buddhism use prostrations in various ways, such as the Tibetan tantric preliminary practice of a 100,000 prostrations as a means of overcoming pride. Tibetan pilgrims often progress by prostrating themselves fully at each step, then moving forward as they get up, in such a way that they have lain on their face on each part of their route. Each three paces involves a full prostration; the number three is taken to refer to the Triple Gem. This is often done round a stupa, and in an extremely arduous pilgrimage, Mount Kailash is circumnavigated entirely by this method, which takes about four weeks to complete the 52 kilometre route. It is also not unusual to see pilgrims prostrating all the way from their home to Lhasa, sometimes a distance of over 2000 km, the process taking up to two years to complete.

Praṇāma  is a form of respectful or reverential salutation (or reverential bowing) before something, or another person – usually grandparents, parents, elders or teachers or someone deeply respected such as a deity. It is found in Indian culture and Hindu traditions.  

Pranama is derived from pra (Sanskrit: प्र) and ānama (Sanskrit: आनम); pra as prefix means “forward, in front, before, very, or very much”, while ānama means “bending or stretching”.Combined pranama means “bending, bowing in front” or “bending much” or “prostration”. In cultural terms, it means “respectful salutation” or “reverential bowing” before another, usually elders or teachers or someone deeply respected such as a deity.  

There are six types of Pranama.

• Ashtanga (Sanskrit: अष्टाङ्ग, lit. eight parts) – Uras (Chest), Shiras (Head), Drishti (Eyes), Manas (Attention), Vachana (Speech), Pada (Feet), Kara (Hand), Jahnu (Knee).
• Shashthanga (Sanskrit: षष्ठाङ्ग, lit. six parts) – touching the ground with toes, knees, hands, chin, nose and temple.
• Panchanga (Sanskrit: पञ्चाङ्ग, lit. five parts) – touching the ground with knees, chest, chin, temple and forehead.
• Dandavat (Sanskrit: दण्डवत्, lit. stick) – bowing forehead down and touching the ground.
• Namaskara (Sanskrit: नमस्कार, lit. adoration) – folded hands touching the forehead. This is another more common form of salutation and greeting expressed between people.
• Abhinandana (Sanskrit: अभिनन्दन, lit. congratulations) – bending forward with folded hands touching the chest.

LIFE AFTER DEATH IN HINDUISM

The Soul Has No Death

Hindus believe that humans are in a cycle of death and rebirth . When a person dies, the atman is reborn in a different body.

Some believe rebirth happens directly at death, others believe that an atman may exist in other realms. Hindus believe that an atman may enter swarga or naraka for a period before rebirth.

Hindus believe in karma or ‘intentional action’. Many believe good or bad actions in life leading to positive or negative merit, determines the atman’s rebirth.

 Hindus believe that humans may be reborn in animal form, and that rebirth from human to animal form only occurs if an atman has repeatedly failed to learn lessons in human form.

Manikarnika Ghat

Living life according to teachings in the scriptures will eventually lead to moksha. Some Hindu scriptures describe moksha as the atman becoming absorbed with Brahman, from where each atman is believed to originate. Other Hindu scriptures describe moksha as living in the realm of a personal God. The Maitri Upanishad states:

Even as water becomes one with water, fire with fire, and air with air, so the atman becomes one with the Infinite Atman (Brahman) and thus attains final freedom.

Maitri Upanishad 6.24

Ancient Hindu scriptures refer to the atman being reborn many times. The Bhagavad Gita states:

वासांसि जीर्णानि यथा विहाय
नवानि गृह्णाति नरोऽपराणि।
तथा शरीराणि विहाय जीर्णा
न्यन्यानि संयाति नवानि देही।।2.22।।  

As a person casts off worn-out clothes and puts on new ones, so does the atman cast off worn out bodies and enter new ones.

Bhagavad Gita 2:22

The Bhagavad Gita also explains that death is something that we can neither stop nor grieve about:

जातस्य हि ध्रुवो मृत्युर्ध्रुवं जन्म मृतस्य च।
तस्मादपरिहार्येऽर्थे न त्वं शोचितुमर्हसि।।2.27।।

For certain is the death of all that comes to birth, certain is the birth of all that dies. So in a matter that no one can prevent do not grieve.

Bhagavad Gita 2:27

Hindus believe that good merit is achieved by following your dharma. The Bhagavad Gita details four different ways that moksha can be achieved:

karma yoga
bhakti yoga
jnana yoga
Dhyana yoga

What happens after moksha?

There are two main beliefs about what happens after moksha:

Advaita Hindus believe that the atman is absorbed into Brahman. This is because the atman and Brahman are the same.
Other Hindus believe that the atman and Brahman are different and that after moksha they remain separate. They believe that the atman will be in the presence of Brahman, as a personal God, but will remain unique and individual.

MAHABHARATA BEGAN ON AKSHAYA TRITIYA

Shed Gold,Buy Books

Akshaya Tritiya falls on April 26 .

Typical demand for gold during Akshaya Tritiya in India range from 20-25 tonnes, representing about 4 per cent of the country’s total annual consumption. That may not happen this year as sales may be considerably impacted.And its price is high.

The day has nothing to do with gold.It is a day for new beginnings,because, it was on this day Vyasa began dictating Mahabharata to Ganesha. This cultural tradition has been usurped by the yellow metal in recent times.

In Jainism, it commemorates the first Tirthankara’s (Rishabhdev) ending his one-year asceticism by consuming sugarcane juice poured into his cupped hands. Some Jains refer to the festival as Varshi Tapa. Fasting and ascetic austerities are marked by Jains, particularly at pilgrimage sites such as Palitana (Gujarat).

The day is considered auspicious by Hindus and Jains in many regions of India for new ventures, marriages, expensive investments such as in gold or other property, and any new beginnings. 

It is also a day of remembrance for the loved ones who have died. The day is regionally significant for women, married or unmarried, who pray for the well being of the men in their lives or the one they may in future get engaged to. After prayers, they distribute germinating gram (sprouts), fresh fruits and Indian sweets.If the Akshaya Tritiya falls on a Monday (Rohini), the festival is believed to be even more auspicious.

Fasting, charity and helping others on this day is another festive practice.

A one anna coin issued by the British-Indian government depicting 

Lord Rishabhdev

 accepting sugarcane juice from King Shreyans

Akshaya Tritiya is believed in Hinduism to be the birthday of Parasurama who is the sixth incarnation of Vishnu, and he is revered in Vaishnava temples. Those who observe it in the honor of Parasurama sometimes refer to the festival as Parasurama Jayanti. Alternatively, some focus their reverence to Vāsudeva avatar of Vishnu.

According to one legend, Ved Vyasa began reciting the Hindu epic Mahabharata to Ganesha on Akshayya Tritiya. Another legend states that river Ganges descended to earth on this day.

Another significant event that is believed to have occurred on this day is that Sudama visited his childhood friend, Lord Krishna in Dwarka and received unlimited wealth. Also, it is believed that Kubera received his wealth and position as the ‘Lord of Wealth’ on this auspicious day. And it was on this day that Pandavas received the gift of ‘Akshaya Patra’ from Sun-God. 

Kerala has revived the traditition of reciting Ramayana in Karkadakam.Likewise,it is better to read Mahabharata on Akshaya Tritiya day.

On this day people who observe the year-long alternative day fasting known as Varshi-tap finish their Tapasya by doing parana by drinking sugarcane juice.

In Odisha, it is the day when Hindus begin their annual construction of chariots for the Puri Rath Yatra festivities.

CREMATION IS PURIFICATION BY FIRE

Burn him not up, nor quite consume him, Agni: let not his body or his skin be scattered,
O all possessing Fire, when thou hast matured him, then send him on his way unto the Fathers.
When thou hast made him ready, all possessing Fire, then do thou give him over to the Fathers,
When he attains unto the life that waits him, he shall become subject to the will of gods.
The Sun receive thine eye, the Wind thy Prana (life-principle, breathe); go, as thy merit is, to earth or heaven.
Go, if it be thy lot, unto the waters; go, make thine home in plants with all thy members.

— Rigveda 10.16

In the Western world,we see countless bodies being buried in coffins. And it requires a lot of space.In India,for centuries, Hindus have shown the way of cremation-human beings are formed of five basic elements,pancha bhutha,and finally they return gto those elements, by cremation.

‘What is the greatest wonder?’ Lord Yama asks in the Mahabharata. Yudhisthira replies, ‘Day after day countless people die. Yet the living wish to live forever.’

Death has been an enigma from time immemorial. The human mind refuses to accept its utter finality. All civilizations and religions believe that somehow, the ‘individual’ keeps living, goes somewhere else, or will eventually ‘rise’ and reach heaven or hell. Hindus believe both in ‘life’ after death and in reincarnation.  

For a Hindu the value of the next world is higher than that of the present one. The Baudhayana Pitrmedha-Sutras say, ‘It is well-known that through the Samskaras after the birth one conquers this earth; through the Samskaras after the death the heaven”. Therefore the ritualists are very anxious to have the funerals performed with meticulous care.  

Hindus believe in the soul being indestructible; and that death symbolises end of the existence of a person’s physical being, but the start of a new journey for the soul. This soul then reincarnates in some other life form, and passes through the same cycle of taking birth, growing and eventually meeting death- only to begin the cycle afresh. Cremation of a person’s dead body is therefore, supposed to rid the departed soul of any attachments to the body it previously resided in. 

Fire is considered holy in Hinduism. It burns away everything until nothing remains. On the other hand, burying is a very slow process of dissolving the five elements inside the body back into the five elements of the cosmos. By cremating the body, the physical remnants of the ghost are entirely wiped out from the face of earth, so that the ghost may continue with its journey forward after the 11 days.

Agni, consume not this body to cinders neither give it pain nor scatter about its skin or limbs. When the body is fairly burnt, convey the spirit to the ancestors. May the five elements be merged with their basic forms. – Vedic hymn to Agni. Since Agni, the god of fire is seen as a link between the gross and subtle, matter and spirit, the seen and unseen, the known and unknown and a messenger between men and gods, dead bodies were disposed by cremation. 

Thus, the dead body is an offering to Agni with an earnest prayer to purify and lead the individual to a better and brighter life. Another reason for preferring cremation is to produce a feeling of detachment in the freshly disembodied subtle body and to encourage it to pass on, rather than hover around loved ones. Moreover, Hindus, out of respect for the dead, did not want to leave the bodies around to be consumed by vultures and other animals.

Hindus cremate their dead, believing that the burning of a dead body signifies the release of the spirit and that the flames represent Brahma, the creator. In addition, burial sites utilize large areas of arable land. Earlier, digging a grave was laborious and required special implements compared to cremation which was easier, quicker and cheaper because everyone who came would bring along some wood for the fire. 

 The exceptions to cremation are saints, holy men, pregnant women and children. Since saints are supposed to have attained a high degree of detachment from the body, they do not need to be cremated – they are buried in the lotus position. For children too, the attachment to the body is much less. Also, according to custom, an offspring is required to light the funeral pyre, and both categories would normally not have any.

Children are not grown so their funeral must differ from that of the adult. Their tender body should be spared the fierce flames; their innocent life neither inflicts so much impurity nor does it require so much purification. The next special rite is that of a Garbhini or a pregnant woman who dies in her pregnancy. Baudhayana says that she should be carried to the cremation ground but after saving the child. In case, the child could not be saved, she should be floated or buried. 

Vajpayee cremated

In ancient Egypt, the physical body was preserved through an elaborate process of mummification, as it was believed that, without a home, the soul wandered around to be lost forever. Similarly, Chinese emperors were buried with replicas of objects called grave goods. Again the belief was that on death, the person enters an ‘after life.’ All the daily comforts of their past life such as servants, attendants, objects, pets, wives, guardians, concubines, food and drink were buried along with the emperor.

Among the ancient Greeks and Romans, both cremation and burial were practiced. Christianity and Judaism discourage cremation and Islam prohibits it. Lately, more Christians are becoming open to the idea of cremation, but the Eastern Orthodox churches still forbid it. Many Liberal and Reform Jews support cremation as an option. The Roman Catholic Church’s discouragement of cremation stems from the idea that the body is holy and should be treated with honour and respect. Moreover cremation constituted a denial of the resurrection of the body. 

Burial as opposed to cremation, apparently, seems to be a ‘neater’ and ‘nicer’ way of disposal. However, since the whole dreadful process of gradual decomposition and decay of the body is not seen, cremation is, in actual fact, a ‘kinder’ method. Moreover, it is definitely preferable for environmental reasons. Since a traditional burial consumes nearly one tree, Hindus are enjoined to plant three trees, on special occasions, during their life span.

According to Islamic belief, Allah will resurrect all dead from the graves on judgment day and send them to heaven. If they cremate the body then there will be no body to resurrect. They consider body belongs to god and burning it is disrespectful. Geographical conditions may also be responsible for this difference in opinion as Islam is originated in region (desert) where cremating cannot be followed because of lack wood (main requirement of creating fire)! 

Another pandemic has proved again that the Hindu practice of cremation is rooted in the wisdom of a robust culture. 

QUARANTINE IN THE VEDAS

Body is the Best Temple

A shloka in Charaka Samhita scripted around 5000 years back squarely matches with the four corners of the Lockdown and physical distancing.

पश्यसीति गंदार्थस्य किम औषधे निषे वमे,
पश्य अस्ति गंदार्थस्य किम औषधे निषे वमे।

“Early to rise and early to bed makes a man healthy wealthy and wise”.

It means that if a person follows some restrictions like waking up early, doing yoga, eating herbal nutritious food and fruits, taking bath maintaining personal hygiene etc. going early to bed, then there is no need of any medicine.The other part is the shloka very interesting which says that if person is not taking any precautions then again, the medicine is not going to play any role.

The essence of this Shloka is that in Ayurveda the hygiene, waking up early in the morning, doing yoga and pranayama, taking purely vegetarian food, fresh nutritious fruits, maintaining personal hygiene by taking bath daily for the inner cleanliness and performing havan for outer atmosphere, is the better way to keep healthy, rather than waiting for the virus to infect us.

our ancient seers has always emphasised that how to clean and take care of our body. Veda Says:

येहा आत्मानी तिष्ठति, यस्य कश्याराम शरिरम, यस्य आत्मा शरिरम।

A clean and hygienic body contains a pious Atma inside.

Sri Shankracharya says:  

देहो देवालय प्रोक्तो दही देवों निरंज्जन:।
अर्चित: सर्वभावेन स्वानुभूत्या विराजते।।
(Ref सदाचरहा 13)

A body is said to be the best temple in this universe, the owner of the body is the Lord, so if lord resides inside the body then the cleanliness, purity and hygiene of the body is to ne maintained at the highest level.

Whereas Ayurveda or Knowledge of life has two main goals, one is examination of health with hygiene and second the eradication of any Vikara(Disorder) of the body. Even statutory body of health WHO (World Health Organisation) states that health is a state of complete Physical, Mental, Spiritual and Social wellbeing and not merely absence of disease or infirmity. In the present scenario when social distancing, cleanliness, fitness and enhancing one’s immunity is the need of the hour then Indian mythology and scriptures provide a path to get rid of this Virus.

The very idea of Vedic texts is “Cleanliness is next to Godliness”. The vedic text believes in Tri(three) Shuddhi(Cleanliness): 
One is कायिका or Physical
Second is वाचिका or Verbal and
Thirdly मानसिका or Cleanliness of the mental level for all round growth and development where the body is without any disease. 

By remaining confined to one’s home, spending valuable time with family, maintaining social distancing, inculcating your passion, doing lot of yoga, pranayama and having kadha (Ayurvedic drink including herbs and spices) etc. one can enhance his immunity. This is the key to success in this Lockdown period. This shloka of Mahabharta again justifies that there is no iota of doubt that everything shall be normal in the course of time.

हते द्रोणा हते भिष्मे कर्णे च विनिपातिते ।
आशा बलवती राजञ्शल्यो जेष्यति पाण्डवान्।।

Drona, Bhishma, Karna have been killed, but still there is a ray of hope in Shalya, perhaps he conquers upon pandavas.

Quarantine and self-isolation became the gateway to work in Science, Arts and Literature as history depicts that Isaac Newton, Charles Darwin, John Milton and Lord Byron accomplished by editing than formidable work while they were in Isolation.Even the Marxist Milovan Djilas translated The Paradise Lost,while in Yugoslavia jail. Bal Gangadhar Tilak wrote “Geeta Rahasya” while he had been in Burma Jail and Poet Makhan Lal Chaturvedi also wrote his best Poems while he was in Jail.

Prison literature is a fully formed genre. While locked up many people find the reflexive outlet of writing a way to pass the monotony. Others find that they feel they must write to express some wrong, either against themselves or others. While imprisonment has been the cause of great works, such as The Gulag Archipelago of Solzhenitsyn, there are works actually composed within prisons or jails .Ii is a different story.

LUMBINI AND BUDDHA"S NATIVITY

550 BC Shrine Found in Excavation

Today is Buddha Purnima.It marks the birth anniversary of Gautam Buddha, the founder of Buddhism.

It was on this day that Gautam Buddha was born in 623 BC. It is believed that this was also the day he attained enlightenment. 

It is believed that when Gautama was 29 years old, he ventured outside the comforts of his luxurious palace and witnessed the sufferings of the people for the first time. The event had a profound impact on him and he renounced his palace life in search of truth. Six years later, he became enlightened. 

In 2013, archaeologists uncovered evidence of the oldest Buddhist shrine dating to around 550 BC. An international archaeology team dug beneath existing brick structures at the Lumbini pilgrimage centre and discovered older wooden structures. It is believed that Lumbini is the place where the Buddha’s mother, Maya Devi, grasped a tree and gave birth to the historical figure. 

Pioneering excavations within the Sacred Garden of Lumbini, Nepal, a UNESCO World Heritage site long identified as the birthplace of the Buddha, uncovered the remains of a previously unknown timber structure under a series of brick temples. Laid out on the same design as those above it, the timber structure contains an open space in the center that links to the nativity story of the Buddha himself.

Archaeologists Robin Coningham (left) and Kosh Prasad Acharya direct excavations within the Maya Devi Temple

“Very little is known about the life of the Buddha, except through textual sources and oral tradition,” said archaeologist Professor Robin Coningham of Durham University, U.K., who co-led the investigation. Some scholars, he said, have maintained that the Buddha was born in the third century B.C. “We thought ‘why not go back to archaeology to try to answer some of the questions about his birth, “Coningham said. “Now, for the first time, we have an archaeological sequence at Lumbini that shows a building there as early as the sixth century B.C.” 

The archaeological investigation was funded by the Government of Japan in partnership with the Government of Nepal under a UNESCO project aimed at strengthening the conservation and management of Lumbini The research was also supported by Durham and Stirling Universities in the UK and the National Geographic Society’s Global Exploration Fund. 

Lumbini is one of the key sites associated with the life of the Buddha; others are Bodh Gaya, where he became a Buddha or enlightened one; Sarnath, where he first preached; and Kusinagara, where he passed away. At his passing at the age of 80, the Buddha is recorded as having recommended that all Buddhists visit “Lumbini.” The shrine was still popular in the middle of the first millennium A.D. and was recorded by Chinese pilgrims as having a shrine beside a tree.

                                    Pilgrims meditate at the wall below the nativity scene within the Maya Devi Temple

The temple at Lumbini remains a living shrine; the archaeologists worked alongside meditating monks, nuns and pilgrims. 

Writing in the international journal Antiquity, Professor Robin Coningham, who led the international team along with Kosh Prasad Acharya – one of Nepal’s top archeologists, state: “The sequence (of archaeological remains) at Lumbini is a microcosm for the development of Buddhism from a localized cult to a global religion.” 

Lost and overgrown in the jungles of Nepal in the Medieval period, ancient Lumbini was rediscovered in 1896 and identified as the birthplace of the Buddha on account of the presence of a third-century B.C. sandstone pillar. The pillar bears an inscription documenting a visit by Emperor Asoka to the site of the Buddha’s birth as well as the site’s name — Lumbini. 

Despite the rediscovery of the key Buddhist sites, their earliest levels were buried deep or destroyed by later construction, leaving evidence of the very earliest stages of Buddhism inaccessible to archaeological investigation, until now. 

Half a billion people around the world are Buddhists, and by 2020, some 22 million Buddhist pilgrims are expected in South Asia; many hundreds of thousands make a pilgrimage to Lumbini each year. 

While people are advised to remain indoors during the COVID-19 lockdown, they can read and send the following quotes of Buddha to their near and dear ones on Buddha Purnima. 

It is better to conquer yourself than to win thousand battles. Then the victory is yours. It cannot be taken from you. 

As you walk and eat and travel, be where you are. Otherwise you will miss most of your life. 

Every human being is the author of his own health or disease. 

Meditation brings wisdom; lack of meditation leaves ignorance. Know well what leads you forward and what holds you back, and choose the path that leads to wisdom. 

Your body is precious. It is our vehicle for awakening. Treat it with care. 

Better than a thousand hollow words, is one word that brings peace. 

Set your heart on doing good. Do it over and over again and you will be filled with joy. 

Three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon, and the truth. 

If you light a lamp for somebody, it will also brighten your path. 

All that we are is the result of what we have thought. The mind is everything. What we think we become. 

To understand everything is to forgive everything. 

In the end these things matter most: How well did you love? How fully did you live? How deeply did you let go?