Sunday, June 28, 2015

Celestial beings in Hindu Dharm


((Mahadevas:))
Mahadevas are the main gods of Hinduism including their avatars. Lord Shiva is known as Mahadeva. All beings except the Mahadevas were created by Lord Brahma.

((Devas: ))
Devas are the good celestial beings similar to angels. They live in the kingdom of heaven which is ruled by Dheva Raja Indra. They are under the protection of the Mahadevas.

((Asuras: ))
Asuras are the wicked and rebellious celestial beings, similar to the Fallen Angels. They live under feudal rules of different Asura kings. They are sworn enemies of the Devas and tried several times to conquer the kingdom of heaven, but without success.

((Suras)):
Suras are chivalrous and warlike celestial beings. They are considered sons of the sun god Surya and embody the sunbeam. The king Rajendra Chola called once himself the brightest shining Sura of the Suryavamsa.

((Yakshas:))
Yakshas, are nature spirits and their king is the prosperity god Kubera. Yakshas can be divided between good and evil Yakshas. Evil Yakshas live on trees and attack people who wander in the forest.

((Nagas:))
Nagas are snake people and their king is the Nagaraja Vasuki. Nagas are sworn enemies of the Garudas.

((Garudas:))
The Garudas are eagle people. The mount of Lord Vishnu is a Garuda. Garuda and Naga culture is widespread in South Asia and Southeast Asia.

((Vanaras:))
The Vanaras are Monkey people. The most famous Vanara is the deity Hanuman. Vanaras living in Vana (forest) Kingdom.

((Rakshasas:))
Rakshasas are demons or ogres and embody the evil. They work with the Asuras against the Devas and humans. The Rakshasa power increase at night.

((Humans and Animals: ))
Humans and Animals are mortal beings living on earth. They are neutral nature.

((Matsyas:))
Matsyas are sea people and their king is the Samudra Raja Varuna. They are represented as half human and half fish.

((Pishachas:))
Pishachas, are Undead beings that feed on blood and flesh of mortal beings. Pisashas is used as a term for ghosts and vampires.

((Apsaras:))
Apsaras are beautiful celestial nymphs and talented dancers.

((Gandharvas:))
Gandharvas are heavenly beings and talented musicians. Gandharvas and Apsaras are responsible for the entertainment in the kingdom of heaven


Thursday, June 18, 2015

Integral Education Part II - Does book guarentee wisdom ?


न चोरहार्यं न च राजहार्यं न भ्रातृभ्राज्यं न च भारकारि।
व्यये कृते वर्धत एव नित्यं विद्याधनं सर्वधनप्रधानम्॥

( Knowledge cannot be stolen by a thief.
It cannot taken away by a King.
It cannot be divided among brothers.
It does not cause load. It always increases when spent.
The wealth of knowledge is the greatest of all wealths. )
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Knowledge can not be acquired by just reading Books.

It goes without saying that the teachers are the influential catalysts in the field of education. Life is note mere materialism , there is ultimate reality in us. To make student realise and manifest the inner reality should be the desired outcome of our education. Teachers have a great role to play paving the path to make student perceive the inner reality.

What is the nature of education and training need to be given to student to realise the inner reality??? Make him understand that education is not about following a book , but imparting true facts of life. Make student understand that Books come with a baggage of per-conceived notions of the writer and every book can not be truth in itself.

A student must understand that following a Book will make him a mere follower and never a 'originator' . When he challenge the truth alone will take him to the way of imparting the knowledge. Book he/she reads should just be a launching pad to take a plunge towards knowing the truth. Knowledge is not in the Book but in Life we lead and it need continuous efforts to tap it.

Training of mind to acquire knowledge is not same as memorising the content of the syllabus . Training of mind should be used to study the logic not just to by-heart the content. But the modern education system has now got institutionalised . It now gives important to Book and its content rather than training the mind to justify opinion from justified belief.

Book must be used as first step in long journey of Knowledge. We need not deduct the authors experiences stored in a book but see it as a sojourn and continue further on ones own exploration. Books are our primary source of gaining knowledge , but that itself is not the entire knowledge.

(will be continued)

Tuesday, June 2, 2015

Telangana agitation memories.


ఆ పోరు నినాదాలు
ఆ ఉద్యమ అడుగులు
ఆ కోప తాపాలు
ఆ ధూమ్ ధామ్ పాటలు
ఆ దండోరా చప్పులు
ఆ పోరు బిడ్డల అలాయ్ బలాయిలు
ఆ అమర వీరుల త్యాగాలు
ఆ ఉద్యమ బాట స్మృతులు అన్ని గుర్థుకస్తున్నయి.


తెలంగాణా అమర వీరులకు జాతీయ విప్లవ జోహార్లు !!
తెలంగాణ రాష్ట్ర అవతరణ దినోత్సవం, మా త్యాగధనులకు అంకితం !!!