Namaskar World. Naye saal ki shubhkammayen. We wish you a very happy New Year. New Year’s Day   Feast of Solemnity of Mary  Feast of St. Basil    Birth anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh ji   Epiphany / Three King’s Day   Birth anniversary of Swami Vivekanand   Lohri   Makar Sankranti    Pongal    Maghi    World Religion Day   Feast of Mithra   Hajj   Buddhist Lunar New Year   Tu B’shevat  Must Be There   Plant Focus  Why Not ..   From one wise one to another Celebrate January 1– New Year’s Day. A new day usually marks a new beginning! So begin without the usual burden of resolutions that simply get passed on from one year to the next. There are different customs worldwide, but all are agreed that making this day a happy one bodes well for the rest of the year –: Feast of Solemnity of Mary. This feast day is always on the first day of the New Year and marks the Virgin Mary’s purity, Jesus’ birth, and the beginning of salvation. –: Feast of St. Basil. Saint Basil preferred a solitary life and was a prolific writer. He wrote on asceticism, monastic rules, and on the Scriptures. In 370 A.D. he was chosen to lead the church at Caesarea. He died in 379 A.D. January 5 – Birth anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh ji. The tenth Guru of Sikhism, Guru Gobind Singh ji was born in 1666 in Patna. He demonstrated his calm and sharp mind at an early age. In fact, at his birth, Pir Bhikan Shah of Thaska offered his prayers facing East instead of the customary West!

Born in 1863 in Kolkata, Swami Vivekanand was always of a scientific bent of mind, seeking answers to questions about God and related matters. He became a disciple of Swami Ramakrishna Paramhans, and after the guru’s death, the disciple travelled across India as a monk. He believed in the Vedanta philosophy and spread the message through his words and deeds.
In 1893, he represented Hinduism at the Parliament of Religions held in Chicago, USA. Returning to the land of his birth in 1897, he established the Ramakrishna Math (ashram) and Mission at Baranagore in Kolkata. This was shifted to Belur in 1899.
Vivekanand Rock in Kanyakumari, (state: Tamil Nadu) remains a veritable pilgrimage for many – this is where the swami liked to sit. He died in 1902.

January 13 – Lohri.

January 14 – Makar Sankranti.

This is a special day in India for it marks the northern transition of the Sun into Capricorn, and the end of the Winter Solstice. This journey of the Sun is known as Uttarayan (uttar = north). In North India, it is celebrated as Makar Sankranti or Uttarayan Sankranti and in the South, as Pongal. The word Sankranti refers to the day when the Sun crosses from one zodiac sign into the next and Makar here refers to the symbol for Capricorn.
This is believed to be a day when the doors of heaven are open – even Bhishm Pitamah of Mahabharat fame lay on his bed of arrows waiting to die on this day. He had been granted the boon of choosing his day of death! The Gangasagar Mela, an important Hindu pilgrimage, is always held on this auspicious day.
Kite-flying is a passion on Makar Sankranti – all sizes and shapes can be seen across Indian skies!

– :Pongal.

A widely-celebrated festival of South India, Pongal is a four-day observance, known as much for its sanctity as for the beautiful rangoli patterns (patterns created with colored powders or flower petals) that enliven homes.
The first day is Bhogi Pongal – a day to rise early, be dressed and ready to remove all the useless items from the premises. The second day is Surya Pongal – a rangoli of the Sun deity Surya on his 7-horse drawn chariot is drawn as the Sun rises, and turmeric sprigs and sugar are offered. Third day is Maatu Pongal – cows are decorated with flowers and cloth, their horns painted before the `worship’ of these gentle animals that give, and give some more! The last day is Kaanum Pongal – a fun day to be spent outdoors.

January 14 – Maghi.

This day celebrates the martyrdom of forty of Guru Gobind Singh ji’s followers, who were killed while fighting a Mughal army. The Guru blessed them and cremated their remains at Muktsar.
They are known as the Chali Mukte – the forty liberated ones.

January 16 – World Religion Day.

World Religion Day is a reminder of the essential oneness of human beings and the spiritual harmony between different belief systems. The Bahai faith is a universal one, absorbing all people and all creeds. Initiated by Baha’ullah, Bahai has followers across the world and is regarded by many as the second most widespread religion after Christianity.

January 17 – Feast of Mithra.

Mithra is the greatest of the angels according to Zoarastrian beliefs. He is an angel of light associated with the Sun, and the feast is a community event, marked by prayers and thanksgiving.

January 19 – Hajj begins.

One of the five Pillars of Islam, the Hajj is the sacred pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia. The devout are required to make this journey at least once in their lifetime. As a matter of fact, the word itself means a journey to a special place or person.
There are many special observances, including Waqf al Arafa, when Hajj pilgrims pray for forgiveness, and the Festival of Sacrifice, Eid al Adha.
Pssst .... Since the Islamic calendar is lunar-based, a festival begins on the evening before the day marked on the solar calendar for the year!

January 25 – Buddhist Lunar New Year.

The Buddhist Lunar New Year falls on the first full Moon day of the first month of the year. Different Buddhist sects observe different days. The January 7th is regarded by some as the New Year, while many would have rung in 2005 at midnight on December 31st.
Psssst ..... Buddhist temple bells ring 108 times at New Year, each chime corresponding to the 108 sins of humans.

– :Tu B’shevat

This is the New Year for Trees, according to Jewish thought! The name of the festival comprises the day and month – Tu means 15 and Shevat is the name of the month. Such a festival may well seem strange at first but not when we think of the bounty of mother earth. History has it that when the Jews arrived in Israel and planted trees etc, they were forbidden to pluck the fruits for 3 years and even then they had to wait till the 5th year. The fruits of the 4th year were for the Temple! The month of Shevat is a time after mid-Winter, the heavy rains are over, and the soil is healthy – therefore, a good time to plant trees.
There are 4 Jewish New Years : Rosh Hashannah for the calendar; another for establishing the reign of kings; a third for tithing animals of Jews to be given to the temples; and a fourth for trees!!
Pssst .... Kabbalists (mystics) believe that all living things contain the divine spark – so, on Tu B’shevat they eat certain fruits associated with Israel to release that divine spark!!

Must - Be There

January 22 : Sonam Losar
A Buddhist festival in the state of Sikkim.
See the monks of Gompa Nyingpa dance their sublime dance of evil being transformed into good!

Till January 31 : Diamond Season.
The Diamond Trading Corporation has marked December 15 – January 31 as Diamond Season.
New designs, lovely stones – this is the season for shopping.

Plant Focus

A spice both delicious and warm, cinnamon must be the one ingredient we love to NOT do without. For an aromatic, warm atmosphere at home – simply heat/roast a stick or two on an open pan (tava)!
While all parts of the cinnamon tree are aromatic, Ayurveda concentrates on the inner bark. This makes for a good decongestant and heart tonic plus the flavour (of cardamom) helped disguise the taste of Ayurvedic medicines! Even the oil pressed from the bark is effective against rheumatic pains, stiffness, toothaches and troublesome gums. Cinnamon lowers blood sugar, cholesterol, and blood lipids. It contains methyl hydroxy chalcone polymer which is an antioxidant, and an antibacterial agent.
A simple way to uplift any culinary preparation – be it plain rice, mithai (Indian sweets), or anything elaborate – just add cinnamon When added to the preparations of cottage cheese, it lends both colour and flavour. Added to tea, it provides an excellent remedy for the effects of cold weather; boiled in water and inhaled, cinnamon is useful against a sore/irritated throat.

     Just for the record : the British added cinnamon and
                                      other herbs to hot water, with rum and
                                     lemon rind, to create their Anglo-Indian Punch!

Why not ....

Know

INDIA in 200 B.C. and onwards. The period 200 B.C. – 700 A.D. (or 2nd century B.C. – 7th century A.D.) is regarded as India’s finest . We attempt to bring to you, over the next few issues, a kaleidoscopic picture of those times that were by no means perfect but, nonetheless, saw tremendous activity in the spheres of art, trade, monastic life, society, and the things we regard as quintessentially Indian.

Gotra means ancestry and was the rock on which ancient social structures stood. Inevitably, it was the prerogative of the Brahmins for they alone claimed descent from Vedic seers. Gotra was everything : loyalty to practices, rituals, and to the glorious ancestors whose names were recited every month. The kshatriyas sometimes aspired to a gotra!!
A pregnant woman was pampered – of course – and in the fifth month of her pregnancy, her husband fed her the `panchamrit’ – a blend of curds, honey, milk, ghee, and sugar.

There were many rituals attached to a new birth. Some of them : At the birth of the baby, but before the umbilical cord had been cut – the father invoked the Vedas over the baby, fed him a special honey concoction with a golden spoon. He also whispered in the infant’s ear the name chosen by the proud parents. This name would henceforth be revealed to the child upon initiation! After 10 or 12 days, the baby received a general, everyday name that was, again, whispered into the infant’s right ear by his father, after invoking the Vedas. He also hung a gold coin on a cord around the baby’s neck. The baby received his first toys after 4 months!

Now onto trade. Trade was exciting and India enjoyed a proud export position. Ivory was a prized product, and fashioned into products as diverse as beds and flywhisks, knobs and sword hilts! Gold and precious stones were undoubtedly much sought after. Pearls were equally important. As a matter of fact, this was a complete science - gem appreciation, Ratnapariksa, was in practice before the 6th century! A red dye and shellac from the insect Tachardia lacca was an enormously important industry for domestic markets and for export. It colored both fabrics and the human body! Rome was a keen importer of this. India, for her part, imported vast quantities of silk from China. Exports included cottons, fragrant woods, incense, perfumes, spices, particularly pepper and cinnamon. Ginger, nards, ghee (yes! ghee), iron and steel products, and slaves (unfortunate, but true).
Merchant ships sailed into dock during the day, and there was tremendous effort to keep the docks clear. Dredging activity, stone walls and breakwaters ensured a clear, safe zone throughout the year.

Trade deals were based on clear-cut principles. For example, there was a 3-day grace period, i.e – if the buyer returned the goods on the same day, the purchase transaction was considered void; on the next day, the purchaser had to pay a small amount to the seller; and pay a larger amount if goods were returned on the third day! After this, the buyer had no choice but to keep the purchase. However, the Manu Smriti (the Code of Manu) allowed a grace period of 10 days!

A cliched observation – the more things change, the more they remain the same. The nobility and the wealthy lived in splendor; Brahmins sermonized; and the poor obeyed. And prayed. Love could be true or had for a price. Wealth was important and a fickle companion. Art was divine. As was the vina.

Professions, prisons / prisoners, etc. – our next issue.

.... Read
The book ~`INDIA What it can teach us?’ by F. Max Muller. Interesting nuggets of information can be gleaned as well, at one flip through. For instance – India was known as `sindhu’ after the river `sindhu’ (now – Indus), and the word itself was a derivative of `sidh’ meaning defender/divider. `Hindu’ is similarly based - the `s’ was pronounced as `h’ by the frontier tribes!

.... Learn
Aromatherapy
[THIS IS A BASIC INTRODUCTION FOR YOUR INFORMATION. PLEASE CONSULT A QUALIFIED AROMATHERAPIST BEFORE TRYING ANYTHING.]

Aromatherapy is an ancient art, as ancient as our oldest civilizations! Basically, essential oils are the highly concentrated oils extracted from plants. For example – it needs 220 lbs of rose petals to create about 5 teaspoons of essential oil! Luckily, only a few drops are needed. How the oils work is simple enough to be a stroke of genius : the immediate effect is of course on our sense of smell (the olfactory sense) and these cells, once stimulated, transmit the `message’ to the emotional part of our brain which is in turn connected to various areas of the brain, including the endocrine glands (which control our hormone levels) and memory, etc. Even in a massage, the sense of smell is stimulated plus the oil is absorbed through the skin tissues into the bloodstream and carried to the brain.
There are three notes and these identify the essential oils : Top Notes are the strongest but last between 3 and 24 hours. Some oils in this category – eucalyptus, basil, peppermint, neroli, lemongrass, and thyme.
Middle Notes last between 2 and 3 days, and they effect the metabolism and other body functions. Some oils in this category – balm, rosemary, fennel, lavender, chamomile, and geranium. Base Notes usually last up to one week. Some oils in this category – clove, ginger, rose, jasmine, sandalwood, and cedar wood.

Some effects – eucalyptus, rose, sandalwood have antiseptic properties.
                    Lavender and marjoram have analgesic properties.
                    Chamomile has a calming effect.
                    Rosemary is a stimulant.
                   Jasmine has an antidepressant effect.
                    Neroli is mildly sedative.

Next issue : carrier oils and some `recipes’ for some ailments.

AND NOW – CREATE YOUR OWN PERFUME!
FIRST – a wide-mouthed jar. Cut small pieces of cotton wool (take care of the size because these will be placed in the jar later! NEXT : gather fresh, sweet or sharp-smelling flowers (as per your likes) early in the morning. Remove the petals and sprinkle salt on them. Crush the petals just a little. THIRD : Soak the cotton wool pieces with olive oil. FOURTH : a thick layer of petals is to be placed at the bottom of the jar and over it, the pieces of cotton wool that you had soaked in oil. Continue in this manner till the petals are all utilized. FIFTH : replace the lid of the jar securely and keep this jar under sunlight (the stronger the better) for 14 days. THEN : open the jar and squeeze out the perfume from the cotton wool into a clean jar. NICEST PART : your perfume is ready. Enjoy it – use it & make some for others!

....Visit
The Gangasagar Mela on January 14th. This is held at Sagardwip (Sagar island), actually a cluster of islands, 130 km from Kolkata (state: West Bengal). An important day – Makar Sankranti. An important legend – the heavenly river Ganga leaving her abode to bless Earth with her presence. An important place - the point where the sacred river meets the ocean.
After completing the bathing rituals, pilgrims visit the nearby Kapil Muni temple. The sage set in motion the chain of events that led to the Ganga leaving heaven to flow on Earth. You may also assure yourself of a place in heaven by `crossing the Vaitarani river’ holding onto a calf’s tail. The Vaitarani river is the boundary between this and the other world, after death. Here, it involves crossing the line that denotes the river!

From one wise one to another – SMILE – make the new year a happy one! .

..... in our next issue