Pitrapakhsa: A Fortnight of Ancestors' soul

Pitrapakhsa: A Fortnight of Ancestors’ Soul

In Hindu Pilgrimages, Gaya (Bihar, India) has a high importance, not only for having an ancient Vishnupada temple but also for an unique fortnight long annual festival of offering ‘Pindadaan’called ‘Pitrapakhsa’ (A fortnight of ancestors’ souls).Many pilgrims from all over India and aboard are offering Pindadaan at 43 to 48 Vedis (Spot) spread over the southern and northern parts of this scared and holy city.

The Pindadaan is regarded as an obligatory and compulsory ritual for the final redemption and deliverance of ancestors’ souls. According to an ancient explanation when the war between demons and Gods was going on Lord Shiva killed Tripurasura, the leader of demons. Then the son of Tripurasura-Gayasura vowed to take revenge and attacked Devloka-the city of Gods and defeated them. Then Lord Narayana jumped into this war and that war continued for 100 years. But finally, Gayasura had had to surrender before the Lord Narayana. Seeking tranquillity Gayasura sent a peace proposal to the Narayana. According to Lord Narayana will the Gayasura turned himself into a stone. But he had no desire to go to heaven. The Narayana then, fulfilled his two wishes.

 First, he made his foot print on a stone turned Gayasura’s head and second whoever offered Pindadaan on that foot print ( or on behalf of anybody) would go to heaven peacefully. Since then, this ritual has been continuing. The ritual which starts from Vishnupadam ends at Akshay Bat (a tree). This holy ritual’s period ranges between a single day and the entire fortnight. But most of the Hindu pilgrims prefer this fortnight long rituals conducted with full concentration and under observance of Pandas (the temple priest).

Author: - Satish KRT

Neem Tree: Evergreen with Qualities...

The Neem Tree- still Unknown…!

The Indian people are very familiar with the properties of Neem Tree from many centuries. Scientists have remarked and proved that the Neem is rare plant with so many potentiality and qualities, to solve many problems like-insecticide, soil conservation, destruction of forest, air pollution and even birth control.

All the five parts of the Neem-roots, bark, gums, leaves, and oil from its seeds are antiviral  anti bacterial, fungicidal and antibiotics. Neem remains almost green through all seasons and it can solve many environmental problems like rehabilitation of degraded forest, wasteland development, and replacement of toxic insecticides.

It’s very easy to raise Neem plantations as its leaves are acrid and not palatable to the animals. It needs no irrigation rather it’s drought resistant. It can be raised in desert for soil conservation. The nursery technique of raising Neem seedlings and plantations are very easy and at cheap cost. The seed of Neem can be sown in the pits directly be dibbling method thus, saving the cost of Nursery rising. The plantation could be done in fully rainy season.

Many experiments on this plant have proved that insecticides of Neem tree are as standard as D.D.T. Malathion and Dieldrin and without any adverse effects. So, it can be used as good pesticide and insecticide. The chemical pesticide and insecticide have had worse toxic effect on our environment. In India, some farmers are still using those insecticides, pesticides and weedicides in their Agriculture and horticulture. Which ultimately go and mix with soil water that’s hazardous for health. The water consumed for drinking has become toxic with use of these chemicals.

Noticing these effects many advanced countries have banned their use and now using soft insecticides instead. The insecticides made of Neem are soft insecticide and free from any pollution. The pesticide prepared from Neem kills many pests and doesn't harm the pollinators or predators. Neem based insecticides are Non-toxic, harmless and no residual effects, anyway.  The Neem leaves, bark and oil are very effective in curing any type of wound. The farmers in India have been using Neem leaves, mixing them with their corn to store for centuries. The products of Neem are used as contraceptive and manufacturing soaps and other medicines. The cakes made from Neem’s oil are used as good organic manure, which kills many insects like white ants.

In Many parts of India people use its twigs as toothbrush, which keeps teeth disease free. When there was no medicine for small pox Neem leaf was the best treatment for it.

-Satish KRT

Tasar Silk Industry in India...

Tasar Silk Industry in India….

No other fabric can match the lustre  elegance and golden velvety touch of Tasar silk. Tasar silk is product of secretion from the gland of Antherea Mylita Drury and Antherea Proylet Jolly- the tropical and temperate silkworms respectively.

The Tasar silkworm thrives mainly on three foods plants-namely Yen, Anjan and Sal besides about 25 secondary food plants of different families. Tasar culture is traditional occupation of Aboriginals and tribal.

Production of Tasar silk in India comes next to Mulberry silk. The main tropical Tasar silk producing states are Maharashtra, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa, West Bengal and Karnataka.

A Gorgeous Bird with Disgusting Legs....!!

A Gorgeous Bird with Disgusting Legs…!

The gorgeous and magnificent Peacock is the National Bird of India. The Male Peacock with its long, flexible and bright blue neck, fan shaped tail feathers and a royal Tuft on head make it beautiful.

Female Peacock or Peahen, in comparison to their male counterpart are small in shape and size, has drab brown colour and has no sweeping tail. The female Peacock or Peahen lays four to six eggs in a year. These eggs hatched for 24-days.   The little Peacock begins to fly within three to four days after breaking out from eggs.

In these initial two months period of growing, the parents Peacock protect their little ones from other animals. Peacock shed their tail’s feathers once a year and grows new ones. People collect these feathers which are used for other decorative items like-Wall Hangings, Fans, and even Book Marks.

Peacock feathers are of deep and bright green colour and each feather has a half-moon shaped crest at the end. The feathers of Peacock are spotted with eyes like mark of bright blue colour. The Male Peacock is known and popular for their Rain Dance usually in front of Peahen to attract or woo them for mating.

Ajanta Caves Paintings are Like Graphic Novels...!

Ajanta Caves Paintings are Like Graphic Novels…!

In Indian Historical map the Ajanta caves (Near Jalgawn, Maharashtra) is placed second after the Taj Mahal (Agra, U.P.). The Ajanta Caves are set in horse-shoe shape and were carved out from 275 Meter rock hills, excavated out by Buddhist Monks.

Ajanta caves remained unknown for thousand years, hidden behind thick bushes, until AD 1819. When some British travelers, discovered it by a chance, and helped to restore back its glory.

There are total 29-caves. Some are small and some are larger by size and nearly all the caves have beautiful wall paintings called wall frescos. This has been restored back to their original colours in recent years.

In Ajanta caves you can see many chapters of Lord Buddha’s life (Jatak-Kathas) in quite Graphic Novel style. You can see Scenes of Sickness, Old age and death which led Lord Buddha to renounce the world, are vividly depicted.

In other Ajanta Paintings you find birds, animals, trees, flowers, fruits, and soldiers, Kings, queens, royal procession, Darbars (Courts), Singers and dancers. In one particular painting, you can see- the   enticement of Buddha by Mara and her three daughters-Tanu, Rati, and their failure.

 

In some of Ajanta paintings you get to see people and culture of other foreign countries like- Turks, Seythians, Chinese, Persians and Parathians. There are also other stages of Lord Buddha’s life. Many caves consist of galleries of cells in which the Monks used to live and study.

Wanna success? Have a Furin...!!

Wanna Success in Your Life? Have a Furin…!

I love Japan and I like Japanese People and their lifestyle preferences. They are very choosy and make lots of inquiries before adopting and taking a couple of chances.

Overall, they keep innovating things and methods-for health and success-in such a way that is really bewildering and mostly bewitching for rest of us.

To get success in their life and work the Japanese males could go to any impossible extreme. Commuting between homes to working place is really hard to feel. To beat the boredom, they’d not prefer putting and plugging I pod wire into their ears. To beat the boredom on their way to work they prefer to sleep, in Buses and Trams like horse (Horses don’t sleep laying flat like us but in standing mode with heads down.)That little sleep get them refreshed and more alert on their work.

To beat laziness they like to read humorous stories or sexy comic books (Adult Manga comics. Have you read that? Go and search Google).To increase and enhance their intelligence, Youthfulness, and Power they could eat and drink anything. (They know fully well what they are eating and drinking and for what purpose.) I’ve also read somewhere that they prefer to keep a separate Furin for them. Do you

Know what this Furin is? It is an extra-Marital Relationship. In almost every big Hotels, Bars and Restaurants, you can see these very soft and touchy couples with an illegal tag. A majority of Japanese males believe in extra-marital relationship.

Remarkably, these males are generally over 40s and very successful in their life and their Furins are usually young and unmarried.

Inner Trip Reiyukai International....

Inner Trip Reiyukai International

The Philosophy

This philosophy of Inner Trip Reiyukai was established in Japan after the first world war by its duo founder Mr. Kakutaro Kubo, a great Teacher and Mrs. Kimi Kotani. Believing that, the application of the spirit of the ‘Lotus Sutra’ in daily life can make a big difference. It can make a man or women life happier and our society better and prosperous.

The duo founder and great teachers of ITRI had founded the Reiyukai Organization through which even common people can practice the Buddha’s Teachings.

The Lotus Sutra

The Lotus Sutra was originally written in Sanskrit . In Sanskrit language the Lotus Sutra is known as ‘Saddharma Pundarika Sutra’. It was translated several times into Chinese in the 3^rd – 5^th  Centuries AD. The most revered of these Chinese Translations is by Kumarajiva who died in the early 5^th Century AD.

Shakkyamuni’s teachings in numerous collections called ‘Sutras’. Among these one of the widely influential has been the ‘Lotus Sutra’. This sutra is the basis of Nichiren Teaching concept such as eternity of life, the interdependence of all life and the sanctity of all life receive particular emphasis in this sutra. One of the most important ideas clarified by the Lotus Sutra is the principle of the fundamental equality of all people-including women, evil people and others often discriminated against in other teachings. The basis of this equality is the universally inherent potential of all people to manifest the life condition of Buddha hood or enlightenment from perspective of Lotus Sutra. Buddha hood is not final static state of attainment but at a potential that all individuals can bring forth from their lives.

Mahayana Wisdom

It is the dynamic unfolding of the qualities of wisdom, Compassion and Courage amid the realities of lives of woman and man. The defining doctrine of Mahayana wisdom and thoughts is the belief that all people can reach an enlightened state.

Nichiren School of Buddhism

Another reason this Sutra so important is because of its role in the establishment of a school of Buddhism call Nichiren. In the mid 13^th Century, a Japanese monk named Nichiren founded a school of Buddhism based upon the Lotus Sutra. His teaching was very controversial at that period of time, because he insisted on excluding all Buddhist practices except devotion to Lotus Sutra.

Hokkekyo- Shu

Nichiren founded a sect called ‘ Hokkekyo-Shu ( Dharama-flower-sutra sect). The second Chapter of Lotus Sutra claims that the text is itself the highest form of the Dharma. This is why Niciren taught that all other practices were unnecessary, since Lotus Sutra was the very flower of the Buddha Teaching. Niciren believed that its teaching contained as-Nam-Myoho-renge-kyo. This is why many we chant –Nam-Myoho-renge-kyo. Its literal meaning is Nam-Devotion, Myoho-Mystic law, Renge-cause and effect and Kyo- Sutra (Teaching of Buddha). To many this phrase expresses the ultimate truth of life and universe.

They believe that this operates within our own lives and therefore, chanting Nam-Myoho-renge-kyo allows each individual to tap his or her innate enlightened nature directly. Thus, one who chants it is able to gain power and wisdom to live with confidence, Overcome any problem, and develop a happy future based on his study of Sutra, Nichiren established the invocation (Chant) of –Nam-Myoho-renge-Kyo, as a universal practice to unable people to manifest the Buddha nature inherent in their own lives and gain the strength and wisdom to challenge and overcome and adverse circumstances. Nichiren saw the Lotus Sutra as a vehicle for people’s empowerment-stressing that everyone can attain enlightenment   and enjoy happiness in this world. He first chanted-Nam-Myoho-renge-Kyo, on April 28, 1253.

Blue Sutra Recitation

The Teaching of inner self development practice in daily life begins as a first step with kind expression like-Good Morning, Good Evening, Thanks please excuse me, etc. Ancestral remembrance, purification of Karmic relations and practice of repentance are the three main pillars of Reiyukai.

It is essential that we always feel obliged to our guardians who have bred and brought us up. Everyday being a sacred memorial day of one or other of innumerable series of ancestors linked to us a source of life; we use to recite the Lotus Sutra every morning and evening by way of returning obligation to our ancestors.

ITRI

Let’s create a society where people can live with dignity, a society where people can live in peace and Happiness. ITRI   Headquartered in New York and active in several parts of the world. ITRI supports peace building initiatives and United Nations, effort to promote economic and social progress, through the fellow vehicles.

1. Cultural preservation.
2. Training of Youth leaders in peace building and development issues.
3. Wider distribution of information Technology and Training promotion of values education to teach respect and understanding for all.
4. Promotion of Multi-faith and Multi-Cultural dialogue as a vehicle for peace building.
5. Sustainable development initiatives.
6. Empowerment of Human Mind through educational technology.

Head quarter

Inner Trip Reiyukai International

Empire State Building

Suit-6905-6907350, Fifth Avenue,
New York,NY 10118,USA.


India Office

10th,Mile Rishi Road,
Kalimpong,Dargeeling,WB

New York, NY-10118, USA