Siddha – One who is accomplished (talented, gifted, skillfull, proficient, expert)
A siddha सिद्ध in Sanskrit means "one who is accomplished" and refers to perfected masters who, according to Hindu belief, have transcended the ahamkara (ego or I-maker), have subdued their minds to be subservient to their Awareness, and have transformed their bodies (composed mainly of dense Rajo-tama gunas) into a different kind of body dominated by sattva. This is usually accomplished only by persistent meditation.
A siddha has also been defined to refer to one who has attained a siddhi. The siddhis as paranormal abilities are considered emergent abilities of an individual that is on the path to siddhahood, and do not define a siddha, who is established in the Pranav or Aum – the spiritual substrate of creation. The siddhi in its pure form means "the attainment of flawless identity with Reality (Brahman); perfection of Spirit."
Siddha also refers to a Siddha Guru who can by way of Shaktipat initiate disciples into Yoga.
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Raghvendra Swami, Mantralaya, Jeeva Samadhi
Mantralayam – Kurnool district, Andhra Pradesh on the banks of Tungabhadra River, on the border of Karnataka. Raghavendra Swami, (1595 – 1671, Vaishnav) Math. He was the disciple of Madhavacharya (1238-1317) who represented the Dvaita philosophy, one of the three major Vedanta schools. He attained Jeeva Samadhi in 1671.
Jeeva Samadhi - In Kundalini Gnanam Jeeva Samadhi is a person imbued with eternal life force.
In this concept, by spiritual practices, life is not allowed to go out of the body. The seed cells in the body never get damaged. Such a person stops the functions of the body after completion of his or her mission by his or her own will. Gnani will fix his or her mind with the Almighty and stop functioning. The body is then buried. That body will never decay whether it is thousand or ten thousand years, because the magnetic force in the body itself acts as a life force in the body. As "unseen masters" or "invisible helpers" they guide the human race to wisdom.
'Jeevan' - the life / soul in Tamil 'Samadhi'- no activity - no decay or growth - statusco - remains forever and the time limit for the Samadhi status depends upon the saint's bio-magnetic strength, which may vary in terms of hundreds of years. Until then, the soul in samadhi stage will continue to bless the devotees.
The place around such Jeeva Samadhi has very high spiritual magnetic force. It can be sensed by the gnana aspirant. If these places are maintained properly, they become energy banks supplying the needful. In Tamil Nadu there are many Jeeva Samadhis. All the popular Temples in and around Tamil nadu are having one or more 'Jeeva Samadhi' in it, on otherhand Andra Pradesh also possess many jeeva samadies. People feel some relief in visiting such Temples and are becoming Popular. The temples formed around these shrines are believed to have good magnetic fields.
For example:
• Sri veerabramhendra Swamy Jeeva Samadi at Kandimallayapalle, Cuddapah, Andra Pradesh, India
• Eswaramma Jeeva Samadi at Kandimallayapalle, Cuddapah, Andra Pradesh, India
• Sri Sadu Siddaiah Swamy Jeeva Samadi at Mudumala, Cuddapah, Andra Pradesh, India
• Sri Yadati Govinda Swamy JEEVA SAMADHI at Palugurallapalle, Badwel Talug, Cuddapah, India
• Sri Peddaperaiah Swamy Jeeva Samadi at Mudumala, Cuddapah, Andra Pradesh, India
• Sri Peddaiah Swamy Jeeva Samadi at Ramapuram, Cuddapah, Andra Pradesh, India
• Jeeva Samadhi temple of Brahma Gnana Gurubhiran Ayyanpatti Sankara Swamigal at Thiruchendur,
• Murugan temple at Palani, which has Jeeva Samadhi of Great Siddhar Bhogar,
• Annamalaiyar Temple at Thiruvannamalai, which has the Jeeva Samadhi of Great Siddhar IdaiKadar
• Shiva temple at Nerur, 10 km from karur, Trichy district, which has the Jeeva Samadhi of Great Siddhar Sadashiva Brahmendra
• Saint Bodhenthral's Jeeva Samadhi at Govidapuram,
• Sri Narayana Theerthar Jeeva Samadhi under a Mango tree at Thirupponthurtthi village,
• Saint Jnaneswar's Jeeva Samadhi at Alandi in Maharashtra,
• Shri Siddharameshwar himself attained Jeeva Samadhi in the temple complex Siddheshwar Temple, Solapur Maharashtra,
• Guru Raghavendra swamy's Jeeva Samadhi at Mantralaya.
All the famous Siddhars of Tamilnadu attained Jeeva Samadhi at the following places.
• Sri Pathanjali - Rameswaram
• Sri Agasthiar - Thiruvananthapuram
• Sri Kamalamuni - Thiruvarur
• Sri Thirumoolar - Chidambaram
• Sri Kuthambai - Mayavaram
• Sri Korakkar - Perur
• Sri Thanvandri - Vaideeswarankoil
• Sri Sundaranandar - Madurai
• Sri Konganar - Tirupathi
• Sri Sattamuni - Thiruvarangam
• Sri Vaanmeegar / Valmiki - Ettukudi
• Sri Ramadevar - Azhagarmalai
• Sri Nandeeswarar - Kasi
• Sri Edaikkadar - Tiruvannamalai
• Sri Machamuni - Thiruparankundram
• Sri Bogar - Palani
• Sri Pambatti - Sankarankoil
• Sri Ramanujachariyar - Inside Srirangam Temple
Worshippers at these shrines believe that they achieve peace and have their prayers fulfilled and it is evident that their prayers are replied.
Jeeva Samadhi - In Kundalini Gnanam Jeeva Samadhi is a person imbued with eternal life force.
In this concept, by spiritual practices, life is not allowed to go out of the body. The seed cells in the body never get damaged. Such a person stops the functions of the body after completion of his or her mission by his or her own will. Gnani will fix his or her mind with the Almighty and stop functioning. The body is then buried. That body will never decay whether it is thousand or ten thousand years, because the magnetic force in the body itself acts as a life force in the body. As "unseen masters" or "invisible helpers" they guide the human race to wisdom.
'Jeevan' - the life / soul in Tamil 'Samadhi'- no activity - no decay or growth - statusco - remains forever and the time limit for the Samadhi status depends upon the saint's bio-magnetic strength, which may vary in terms of hundreds of years. Until then, the soul in samadhi stage will continue to bless the devotees.
The place around such Jeeva Samadhi has very high spiritual magnetic force. It can be sensed by the gnana aspirant. If these places are maintained properly, they become energy banks supplying the needful. In Tamil Nadu there are many Jeeva Samadhis. All the popular Temples in and around Tamil nadu are having one or more 'Jeeva Samadhi' in it, on otherhand Andra Pradesh also possess many jeeva samadies. People feel some relief in visiting such Temples and are becoming Popular. The temples formed around these shrines are believed to have good magnetic fields.
For example:
• Sri veerabramhendra Swamy Jeeva Samadi at Kandimallayapalle, Cuddapah, Andra Pradesh, India
• Eswaramma Jeeva Samadi at Kandimallayapalle, Cuddapah, Andra Pradesh, India
• Sri Sadu Siddaiah Swamy Jeeva Samadi at Mudumala, Cuddapah, Andra Pradesh, India
• Sri Yadati Govinda Swamy JEEVA SAMADHI at Palugurallapalle, Badwel Talug, Cuddapah, India
• Sri Peddaperaiah Swamy Jeeva Samadi at Mudumala, Cuddapah, Andra Pradesh, India
• Sri Peddaiah Swamy Jeeva Samadi at Ramapuram, Cuddapah, Andra Pradesh, India
• Jeeva Samadhi temple of Brahma Gnana Gurubhiran Ayyanpatti Sankara Swamigal at Thiruchendur,
• Murugan temple at Palani, which has Jeeva Samadhi of Great Siddhar Bhogar,
• Annamalaiyar Temple at Thiruvannamalai, which has the Jeeva Samadhi of Great Siddhar IdaiKadar
• Shiva temple at Nerur, 10 km from karur, Trichy district, which has the Jeeva Samadhi of Great Siddhar Sadashiva Brahmendra
• Saint Bodhenthral's Jeeva Samadhi at Govidapuram,
• Sri Narayana Theerthar Jeeva Samadhi under a Mango tree at Thirupponthurtthi village,
• Saint Jnaneswar's Jeeva Samadhi at Alandi in Maharashtra,
• Shri Siddharameshwar himself attained Jeeva Samadhi in the temple complex Siddheshwar Temple, Solapur Maharashtra,
• Guru Raghavendra swamy's Jeeva Samadhi at Mantralaya.
All the famous Siddhars of Tamilnadu attained Jeeva Samadhi at the following places.
• Sri Pathanjali - Rameswaram
• Sri Agasthiar - Thiruvananthapuram
• Sri Kamalamuni - Thiruvarur
• Sri Thirumoolar - Chidambaram
• Sri Kuthambai - Mayavaram
• Sri Korakkar - Perur
• Sri Thanvandri - Vaideeswarankoil
• Sri Sundaranandar - Madurai
• Sri Konganar - Tirupathi
• Sri Sattamuni - Thiruvarangam
• Sri Vaanmeegar / Valmiki - Ettukudi
• Sri Ramadevar - Azhagarmalai
• Sri Nandeeswarar - Kasi
• Sri Edaikkadar - Tiruvannamalai
• Sri Machamuni - Thiruparankundram
• Sri Bogar - Palani
• Sri Pambatti - Sankarankoil
• Sri Ramanujachariyar - Inside Srirangam Temple
Worshippers at these shrines believe that they achieve peace and have their prayers fulfilled and it is evident that their prayers are replied.
Friday, October 3, 2008
Gold ETFs
Trading in gold ETFs more than doubles
Khyati Dharamsi / DNA MONEY | Thursday, 02 October , 2008, 11:58
Mumbai: Equity market uncertainties have spawned gold investors by the thousands.
Gold ETFs in limelight; collections up 14% in August
But they are not buying traditional gold jewellery — the demand for that is declining, say analysts.
Instead, trade in the yellow metal sold in paper form has more than doubled since January 2008.
India gold down, but not enough for buyers
Average volumes in gold exchange traded funds (ETFs), which are mutual fund plans whose value is based on gold price and whose units can be bought or sold on the stock exchange, have increased by 111.12 per cent to 50,080 units per day in the last nine months.
How housewives can invest in gold
Globally, gold ETF demand shot up by 223 per cent during the first half of 2008 vis-à-vis first half of 2007, according to data from World Gold Council.
Since a gold ETF is in dematerialised form, one can buy as little as one gram. Data from the Association of Mutual Funds in India show all five gold ETFs trading on Indian exchanges saw inflows of Rs 57 crore in August 2008, taking the total assets held under gold ETFs to Rs 467 crore, as on August 31, 2008.
"There is an impact of awareness, as well as a fallout of the equity markets falling. Also, the number of retail investors is growing," says Sanjiv Shah, executive director of Benchmark Asset Management Company, which launched India's first gold ETF.
"Our Gold BeES Corpus has exceeded Rs 300 crore and is now worth 2 tonnes," said Shah. Benchmark's gold ETF has 35,000 investors.
Interestingly, there is a crunch of gold coins in the US because investors are rushing to pick them up. "We buy kilo bars. There used to be a crunch in August, but not anymore," Benchmark's Shah said.
Keyur Shah, associate director at World Gold Council said when the equity markets collapsed people realised that they need to have at least 10-15 per cent of their portfolio in gold.
People who didn't have gold in their portfolio wanted it as a diversifying tool, he said.
"ETFs are looked at as a pure investment option. When there is economic trouble, gold becomes the best performing asset class," Shah said.
Under license from www.3dsyndication.com
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Russia Georgia War - July-August 2008
From Amnesty International website
14/8/2008
15:40
Russia and Georgia – Background to conflict
Russian tanks heading towards South Ossetia, North Ossetia border, 8 August 2008
Russian tanks heading towards South Ossetia, North Ossetia border, 8 August 2008
© APGraphicsBank
Georgian rocket launchers in Ergneti, a village in South Ossetia, 8 August 2008
Georgian rocket launchers in Ergneti, a village in South Ossetia, 8 August 2008
© APGraphicsBank
12 August 2008
After months of increased tension, and recent low-level hostilities, the conflict between Georgia and the breakaway region of South Ossetia escalated in the early morning of 8 August 2008. The fighting became the most serious confrontation since the civil war between the two was concluded through a truce in 1992.
Georgian troops launched what appears to have been a coordinated military offensive against the capital of South Ossetia, Tskhinvali, with the Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili emphasizing the need "to restore constitutional order" over the region.
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, pledging "to respect the life and dignity of Russian citizens wherever they are", responded by sending further troops to reinforce those already stationed in South Ossetia as part of the ceasefire.
On 9 August President Saakashvili declared a 15-day ‘state of war’ to facilitate mobilization.
South Ossetia
The people of South Ossetia are a distinct ethnic group, speaking a language distantly related to Farsi.
South Ossetia, which is in Georgia, is separated from North Ossetia, which is in Russia, by the border between the two countries running high in the Caucasus. Much of the region lies more than 1000m above sea level.
South Ossetia was an autonomous province of Georgia during the Soviet era. It declared independence from Georgia in 1990 and armed conflict between South Ossetian and Georgian forces ensued in 1991 and 1992.
The conflict ended in 1992 with a ceasefire and establishment of a tripartite peacekeeping force, with Russian, Ossetian and Georgian peacekeeping battalions. South Ossetia has enjoyed de facto independence since 1992, although not recognized by any other state. Many of its ethnic Ossetian inhabitants have, however, acquired Russian passports. A third of the population is reported to be ethnically Georgian.
Tensions, never far below the surface, increased after the 2004 election of President Saakashvili, who pledged to restore Georgian territorial integrity by re-establishing control over South Ossetia and the other unrecognized region of Abkhazia, in the north-west.
Tensions have also increased between Georgia and Russia this year over Abkhazia, where Russia has troops operating as a peacekeeping force mandated by the Commonwealth of Independent States. The UN also has an observer contingent there, known as UNOMIG, established in August 1993 to verify compliance with the ceasefire agreement.
The conduct of military operations
The principles of international humanitarian law are binding on states and non-governmental armed groups.
The following are key principles of international humanitarian law:
* All parties to the conflict must protect civilians and respect the distinction between military targets and civilians objects;
* Direct attacks against civilians or civilian objects, whether in reprisal or for any other reason are prohibited;
* Neither side can use a civilian object such as a school or hospital to shield fighters or weapons;
* Indiscriminate attacks which do not attempt to distinguish between military target and civilians or civilians objects , or which use inherently indiscriminate weapons, are prohibited;
* Disproportionate attacks are prohibited too – this means attacks that, while aimed at a legitimate military target, have a disproportionate impact on civilians relative to the military objective;
* Parties must take measures to protect the civilian population from the dangers arising from military operations – this includes not locating military objectives among civilian concentrations;
* Civilians must have access to humanitarian assistance, and humanitarian agencies must be allowed access to the civilian population;
* All prisoners, the wounded and those seeking to surrender, must be treated humanely – prisoners must never be killed or held as hostages;
* Anyone responsible for grave breaches of international humanitarian law should be brought to justice in a fair trial, and reparations should be provided to the victims of such violations.
Read More
Georgia: Summary of Amnesty International's concerns (Report, 1 Aug 1998)
14/8/2008
15:40
Russia and Georgia – Background to conflict
Russian tanks heading towards South Ossetia, North Ossetia border, 8 August 2008
Russian tanks heading towards South Ossetia, North Ossetia border, 8 August 2008
© APGraphicsBank
Georgian rocket launchers in Ergneti, a village in South Ossetia, 8 August 2008
Georgian rocket launchers in Ergneti, a village in South Ossetia, 8 August 2008
© APGraphicsBank
12 August 2008
After months of increased tension, and recent low-level hostilities, the conflict between Georgia and the breakaway region of South Ossetia escalated in the early morning of 8 August 2008. The fighting became the most serious confrontation since the civil war between the two was concluded through a truce in 1992.
Georgian troops launched what appears to have been a coordinated military offensive against the capital of South Ossetia, Tskhinvali, with the Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili emphasizing the need "to restore constitutional order" over the region.
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, pledging "to respect the life and dignity of Russian citizens wherever they are", responded by sending further troops to reinforce those already stationed in South Ossetia as part of the ceasefire.
On 9 August President Saakashvili declared a 15-day ‘state of war’ to facilitate mobilization.
South Ossetia
The people of South Ossetia are a distinct ethnic group, speaking a language distantly related to Farsi.
South Ossetia, which is in Georgia, is separated from North Ossetia, which is in Russia, by the border between the two countries running high in the Caucasus. Much of the region lies more than 1000m above sea level.
South Ossetia was an autonomous province of Georgia during the Soviet era. It declared independence from Georgia in 1990 and armed conflict between South Ossetian and Georgian forces ensued in 1991 and 1992.
The conflict ended in 1992 with a ceasefire and establishment of a tripartite peacekeeping force, with Russian, Ossetian and Georgian peacekeeping battalions. South Ossetia has enjoyed de facto independence since 1992, although not recognized by any other state. Many of its ethnic Ossetian inhabitants have, however, acquired Russian passports. A third of the population is reported to be ethnically Georgian.
Tensions, never far below the surface, increased after the 2004 election of President Saakashvili, who pledged to restore Georgian territorial integrity by re-establishing control over South Ossetia and the other unrecognized region of Abkhazia, in the north-west.
Tensions have also increased between Georgia and Russia this year over Abkhazia, where Russia has troops operating as a peacekeeping force mandated by the Commonwealth of Independent States. The UN also has an observer contingent there, known as UNOMIG, established in August 1993 to verify compliance with the ceasefire agreement.
The conduct of military operations
The principles of international humanitarian law are binding on states and non-governmental armed groups.
The following are key principles of international humanitarian law:
* All parties to the conflict must protect civilians and respect the distinction between military targets and civilians objects;
* Direct attacks against civilians or civilian objects, whether in reprisal or for any other reason are prohibited;
* Neither side can use a civilian object such as a school or hospital to shield fighters or weapons;
* Indiscriminate attacks which do not attempt to distinguish between military target and civilians or civilians objects , or which use inherently indiscriminate weapons, are prohibited;
* Disproportionate attacks are prohibited too – this means attacks that, while aimed at a legitimate military target, have a disproportionate impact on civilians relative to the military objective;
* Parties must take measures to protect the civilian population from the dangers arising from military operations – this includes not locating military objectives among civilian concentrations;
* Civilians must have access to humanitarian assistance, and humanitarian agencies must be allowed access to the civilian population;
* All prisoners, the wounded and those seeking to surrender, must be treated humanely – prisoners must never be killed or held as hostages;
* Anyone responsible for grave breaches of international humanitarian law should be brought to justice in a fair trial, and reparations should be provided to the victims of such violations.
Read More
Georgia: Summary of Amnesty International's concerns (Report, 1 Aug 1998)
Thursday, July 31, 2008
E-Filing Returns
31/07/2008
1:50 am
Successfully filed Renuka's return through internet after paying self assessment tax online. It was an exciting experience.
First of all got her form 16. Tax calculation was wrong. Consulted Yadav. He confirmed my doubt. Went ahead with my calculation. Generated a XML file. Created Renuka's profile on the income tax department site. Uploaded the XML file. The receipt was generated within a fraction of second. Downloaded it and printed. The process was complete. Now I will have to submit the receipt at a nearby income tax office.
My own return had some problems. Left it to Mistri. He will do the needful tomorrow.
1:50 am
Successfully filed Renuka's return through internet after paying self assessment tax online. It was an exciting experience.
First of all got her form 16. Tax calculation was wrong. Consulted Yadav. He confirmed my doubt. Went ahead with my calculation. Generated a XML file. Created Renuka's profile on the income tax department site. Uploaded the XML file. The receipt was generated within a fraction of second. Downloaded it and printed. The process was complete. Now I will have to submit the receipt at a nearby income tax office.
My own return had some problems. Left it to Mistri. He will do the needful tomorrow.
Monday, July 28, 2008
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Matt Rosenberg
Goodbye Dear Atlas
By Matt Rosenberg, About.com
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When I stated operating this site in 1997, the most common question I received was related to locating a place on the planet. I would receive questions about how to find a map of a place or how to simply find where a place was located. Occasionally I was asked to clarify the spelling of a place name or to provide its latitude and longitude.
Back then, the best international maps on the Internet were from the Perry-Castaneda Library; they scanned in public domain CIA maps and made them available online. It was a wonderful collection - it was an online atlas of fairly detailed maps for every country on earth.
Other sites tried to provide geographic data, too. Remember Terraserver? That was cutting-edge technology, providing satellite images for some places in the United States! (You might enjoy a blast to the past by looking at my Best of the Net Awards for 1998)
Back in 1997 I utilized my Times Atlas of the World and my well-worn Merriam-Webster's Geographical Dictionary on a daily basis to help people find places or information about places. I received at least one inquiry a day.
Today, site like Google Maps and software like Google Earth have changed the way we find geographic information online. I can't remember the last time someone emailed me asking for help finding a place. I expect that these people today simply search for the place name themselves. Maybe they start with Google and if the place name was spelled incorrectly, Google provides them with the correct spelling. The search results provide them with a map, images, and an extensive Wikipedia article about the place in question.
If they need more information about a place, they can launch the free Google Earth software and look at the terrain and buildings of the place they're looking for and view a plethora of user-submitted content.
Today, I only use my atlas or my geographical dictionary when I'm writing a Geography Quiz. I fully admit that I also use Google, Google Maps, and sometimes Google Earth to find out about a place.
I remember that when I traveled to Eastern Europe in the late 1990s, my best source for information was still the printed guidebook published (but ordered, of course, via Amazon.com). However, When I was getting ready for my trip to Ghana last January, I browsed an incredible number of photos of Google Earth. I never even needed to so a search for the towns I was visiting because the Wikipedia article and other content I wanted to read about Ghana was hyperlinked directly from Google Earth.
But, through my online travels of Ghana before I left, I had such a good sense as to what I would be seeing when I arrived that nothing was really much of a surprise. My trip in the 90s to Eastern Europe was all new and exciting. But, when I went to Ghana and even to the village of 250 people, it was exactly what I expected from photos someone had posted online. In some respects it took some of the adventure out of my trip, knowing that others had been there before me with their digital cameras, capturing the same things I was seeing. Has the fun and novelty of travel to distant points evaporated or do I need to refrain from searching online about the place I am going to visit? Should I simply stick to the travel guide with its handful of color photos of the key tourist sites? Maybe too much information is a bad thing. I'd love to read your thoughts!
I miss using my atlas and geographical dictionary on a daily basis but I love being able to access such rich and detailed geographic information online.
Suggested Reading
Waterproof Shoes in L.A.You Can't Send Soap to ParaguayGeography 101
History of Geography
Guide since 1997
Matt Rosenberg
Geography Guide
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