Sri Narada Muni

Sham S. Misri

Sri Narada Muni is the mystical sage of the demigods. He is regarded as the ultimate nomad who roams the three lokas of Swargaloka (heaven), Mrityuloka (earth, literally: "place of death") and Patalloka (nether-world). He does this to find out about the life and welfare of people. Narada Muni is a lifelong celibate and is mentioned throughout the Vedic literatures. He is often depicted travelling freely through outer space, plucking a stringed musical instrument (the Veena), and preaching the glories of Lord Vishnu. Narada Muni moves from planet to planet and in all three realms of the universe—upper, middle and lower. His dear companion, Parvata Muni, often accompanies him. He is somewhat of a cosmic instigator—constantly coming and going, setting things in motion and sometimes creating mischief—but always for the higher purpose of demonstrating Vedic philosophical truths.

There are at least two instances in the Puranas wherein Narada Muni becomes a woman. In one narration, Narada asks Vishnu to show him His maya (illusion). Vishnu complies and instructs Narada to fetch Him some water from a nearby river. Narada does so, but falls into the water and emerges as a female. Narada then meets a man, falls in love, gets married, has many children, builds a home and establishes a prosperous farm on the riverbank. She becomes very happy and satisfied for many years. One day, however, there is an enormous flood, and Narad’s husband, children, home and farm are all washed away in the raging waters. Narada laments piteously until finally the turbulent waters capture Narada herself. Terrified, she screams for help again and again. A hand grasps Narada and pulls her from the river. It is Vishnu—He has shown Narada His maya!

In the Padma Purana there is a description of Narada's transformation into the beautiful cowherd maiden, Naradi. Narada Muni asks Lord Krishna to show him His divine loving affairs, and Krishna complies by turning him into the gopi Naradi and sporting with him for an entire year.

Ardhanarishwara

Sham S. Misri

Lord Krishna praises Shiva's form of Ardhanarishwara while experiencing separation from His beloved Radha, as follows: "Just see! Lord Shiva lives happily with half of his body united with Parvati, whereas I am far from united with Radha—I don't even know where she is."

[Ref:In Jayadeva Goswami's twelfth-century text, the Sri Gita Govinda (3.11)]

In Vedic narratives Sri Arjuna manifests all three genders—male, female, and hermaphrodite. He is most popularly known in his male form as the heroic warrior of the Mahabharata, the disciple of Sri Krishna in Bhagavad Gita and the husband of Draupadi. He is very, very dear to Lord Krishna. It is said that when Krishna first met Arjuna tears came to His eyes and He embraced Arjuna wholeheartedly—this was because Arjuna reminded Krishna of His intimate cowherd friend in Vraja of the same name. Krishna and Arjuna became instant companions and spent many years together in deep friendship. In the Mahabharata (Sauptika Parva, XII), Krishna states, "I have no dearer friend on earth than Arjuna, and there is nothing that I cannot give to him including my wives and children." In the Drona Parva of the same text, Krishna reiterates, "O Daruka, I shall not be able to cast my eyes, even for a single moment, on the earth bereft of Arjuna…Know that Arjuna is half of my body." Once, when Krishna had to leave Hastinapura for Dwarika, He quickly hurried to the apartments of Arjuna and spent the entire night with him in happy slumber, even at the risk of upsetting His temperamental wife, Satyabhama.

As inseparable friends, Arjuna and Krishna are said to be non-different from the two Vedic sages of the Himalayas, Nara and Narayana. Nara-Narayana is the twin-brother incarnation of the preserver-god Vishnu on earth, working for the preservation of dharma or righteousness. In the concept of Nara-Narayana, the human soul 'Nara' is the eternal companion of the Divine 'Narayana'. The epic, Mahabharata identifies Lord Krishna with Narayana and Arjuna - the chief hero of the epic - with Nara. The legend of Nara-Narayana is also told in the scripture Bhagavata Purana. Hindus believe that the pair dwells at Badrinath, where their most important temple stands. According to the Monier-Williams dictionary, 'Nara' is "the primeval Man or eternal Spirit pervading the universe (always associated with 'Narayana', "son of the primeval man"; both are considered either as gods or sages and accordingly called. In epic poetry, they are the sons, of Dharma by Murti or Ahimsa and emanations of Vishnu, Arjuna being identified with Nara, and Krishna with Narayana.- Mahabharata, Harivamsa and Purana".

Sri Harihara is a form in which the two male deities of Vishnu and Shiva are fused together, similar to the Ardhanarisvara form.

Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu is described in post-medieval Bengali texts as the combination of Sri Radha and Sri Krishna. He is also secretly alluded to throughout the Puranas and other Vedic texts as the incarnation for this age of Kali (the Kali Yuga)—the golden avatara, who descends to expand the chanting of the holy names of God. In the Chaitanya Charitamrita (of Krishnadasa Kaviraja Goswami), two more confidential reasons are given for Lord Krishna's descent as Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu: He wanted to taste the ecstatic love experienced by Sri Radha for Him, and He wanted to propagate this confidential knowledge to anyone eager to receive it. Thus, while appearing in a male form, Lord Caitanya's inner mood and emotions were that of a female, His divine consort Sri Radha, i.e., in the mood of Radharani.

Vedic texts, especially the Bhagavata Purana, describe Sri Krishna as the fountainhead and original source of Vishnu and all incarnations. Because Sri Krishna is 'adi-purusa'—the supreme and original male—all other beings are regarded as female in relation to Him. In the Padma Purana it is said that during the advent of Lord Rama, the sages of Dandakaranya Forest became so attracted to the Lord they developed conjugal affection for Him. Since Rama could accept only one wife, Sita, He blessed the sages to become cowherd maidens in Krishna's pastimes, thus fulfilling their desires.

Sri Krishna's pastimes are very playful and sportive; narratives from the Puranas as well as post-medieval texts often portray Krishna and His friends (both male and female) cross dressing for fun and delivering messages in disguise. Krishna has many male attendants who meticulously dress and care for Him and His intimate friends arrange rendezvous for Him to meet with the gopis. These intimate friends are said to have nearly the same emotions for Krishna that the gopis do and are always completely overwhelmed by Krishna's beauty and the love they feel for Him. Krishna is most famous for His loving pastimes with the gopis and His rasa-lila dances with them (rasa means 'emotion' or 'performance' and lila is a concept from Hinduism, which roughly translates to "play [lila] of the dance [rasa]," or more broadly as "Dance of Divine Love"). His chief consort is Sri Radha, the original source of all Shaktis and Goddess of the spiritual energy. Radha is Krishna's life and soul; in His incarnation of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, He combines with her to experience the ecstatic love she feels for Him. Krishna's natural complexion is bluish but when He combines with Radha He takes on a golden complexion and is thus known as Lord Gauranga. In another popular pastime, the svayam Bhagavan Sri Krishna disguises Himself as the beautiful maiden, Syamali, just to pacify the jealous anger of Radha.

Kama incarnates as Pradyumna

Sham S. Misri

There was a demon whose name was Sambara. He came to learn  from Narada that Pradyumna, the baby boy of Krishna and Rukmini, would kill him. The demon kidnapped the baby and threw him into the ocean where a big fish swallowed him. Fishermen caught the fish and sold it to the cooks of Sambara. When the belly of the fish was cut open, a beautiful baby was discovered. The boy was placed to the care of Mayavati. She raised the boy and as he grew, she expressed great sexual attraction to him rather than motherly affection. The boy asked his mother in wonder: “My dear mother how is it that you express feelings that are not befitting of a mother?” Mayavati explained to Pradyumna that he was not her son but god Kama who was born as Pradyumna, the son of Krishna and Rukmini, and was kidnapped by demon Sambara. Hearing this, Pradyumna, filled with anger challenged Sambara to fight. In the fight he killed the demon  along with Mayavati. He then went back to Dwarika. When he arrived there, all were impressed by his beauty and his resemblance to Krishna, but they did not recognize him as he was mere a baby when he was kidnapped. It was his mother Rukmini who recognized him because of the strong motherly feelings that she started to sense for him.

Lord Krishna praises Shiva's form of Ardhanarishwara

Sham S. Misri

Lord Krishna praises Shiva's form of Ardhanarishwara while experiencing separation from His beloved Radha, as follows: "Just see! Lord Shiva lives happily with half of his body united with Parvati, whereas I am far from united with Radha—I don't even know where she is."

[Ref:In Jayadeva Goswami's twelfth-century text, the Sri Gita Govinda (3.11)]

Horses also weep!

Horses also weep!

Sham S. Misri

• ·         U Drona's horses shed tears when he is about to die [Mahabharata 7 T 92.20)
• ·         When the Buddha departs, his horse Kanthaka weeps [Buddha Charita 6.33-35; 8.3-4, 17);
• ·         Achilles' horses weep for the death of Patroclus;
• ·         Briinnhilde's horse Grani hangs his head and weeps over the dead Siegfried.

Silkworm Breeding in India

Silkworm Breeding in India

Sham S. Misri

I should like to express, at the outset my sense of happiness with the fact that after rich experience I have been able to write some ideas about the breeding of silkworms, which I feel may be of some help to a beginner. I am sure the book will be of great practical value.

I should like to take this opportunity to drive home the point that we have to develop a scientific base for development of sericulture in India.

The impact of Mendel’s laws of Inheritance on today’s sericulture is so great that it is difficult to comprehend it fully. The most important implication of Mendel’s work is that we can tailor breeds to our needs through genetic manipulation of factors controlling yield and quality.

The western countries were quick to take advantage of Mendel’s work for improving live stocks. In our country, however, silkworm breeding research has been undertaken and is progressing well.

Breeding in most countries has passed through two distinct stages. During the first phase of work, the breeding methodology was mainly based on selection. Because of the large variability that was available the success achieved was quite very impressive.

However, as time passed, it became evident that more sophisticated breeding methods were devised to continue further the process of further genetic improvement. A characteristic feature of this phase was to resort to hybridization. In breeding one has to consider what crosses might be made. Of course, keeping a wide genetic base in a breeding programme is universally accepted. This will ensure introduction of new material to be put into crosses with adapted genotypes. However, there is nothing sacred about using fixed varieties as parents and it is certainly desirable if one has a very superior stock in F-1 or any succeeding generations to cross this stock with lines or varieties having complementary characteristics. This assumes that the superior stock or line carries superior genes and thus provides a greater probability of fixing at least some of these genes in the resulting variety.

 

National Anthem of India

SS Misri


"Jana Gana Mana is the national anthem of India. Written in highly Sanskritised Bengali, It was composed by Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore. It was falsely propagated by colonial authorities that the song was written and first sung to praise and felicitate King George V and Queen Mary on their visit to India in 1911. The rumours gave way when Tagore wrote a letter to the Emperor, stating the mentor and creator of Bharata (India) mentioned in the song is not King George V but God himself. "Jana Gana Mana" was officially adopted by the Constituent Assembly as the Indian national anthem on 24 January 1950.
The National Anthem of India is played or sung on various occasions. Directions have been issued from time to time about the correct versions of the Anthem, the occasions on which these are to be played or sung, and about the need for paying respect to the anthem by show of proper decorum on such occasions. The official duration of the National Anthem of India is 52 seconds.
English translation:

THE NATIONAL ANTHEMThe song is the National Anthem of India. India Independence Day is on August 15th.

The original poem written by Rabindranath Tagore was translated into Hindi-Urdu by Abid Ali. The original Hindi version of the song Jana Gana Mana, translated by Ali and based on the poem by Tagore, was a little different. It was "Subh Sukh Chain Ki Barkha Barse, Bharat Bhaag Hai Jaaga....".

A formal version of the national anthem takes fifty-two seconds. A shortened version consisting of the first and last lines (and taking about 20 seconds to play) is also staged occasionally. When the National Anthem version of the song is sung, it is often performed in the orchestral/vocal adaptation made by the English composer Herbert Murrill at the request of Nehru. An earlier poem by Tagore (Amar Sonar Bangla) was later selected as the national anthem of Bangladesh.

Controversy shadowed Jana Gana Mana from the day of its first rendition in 1911 at the Congress session in Calcutta. King George V was scheduled to arrive in the city on 30 December and a section of the Anglo-Indian English press in Calcutta thought – and duly reported – that Tagore's hymn was homage to the emperor.

The poet claims in a letter written in 1939: "I should only insult myself if I cared to answer those who consider me capable of such limitless stupidity."  In another letter to Pulin Behari Sen, Tagore later wrote, "A certain high official in His Majesty's service, who was also my friend, had requested that I write a song of felicitation towards the Emperor. The request simply amazed me. It caused a great stir in my heart. In response to that great mental turmoil, I pronounced the victory in Jana Gana Mana of that Bhagya Vidhaata (i.e. God of Destiny) of India who has from age after age held resolute the reins of India's chariot through rise and fall, through the straight path and the curved. That Lord of Destiny, that Reader of the Collective Mind of India, that Perennial Guide, could never be George V, George VI, or any other George. Even my official friend understood this about the song. After all, even if his admiration for the crown was excessive, he was not lacking in simple common sense."

In Kerala, students belonging to the Jehovah's Witnesses religious denomination were expelled by school authorities for their refusal to sing the national anthem on religious grounds, although they stood up respectfully when the anthem was sung. The Kerala High Court concluded that there was nothing in it which could offend anyone's religious susceptibilities, and upheld their expulsion. The Supreme Court reversed the High Court and ruled that the High Court had misdirected itself because the question is not whether a particular religious belief or practice appeals to our reason or sentiment but whether the belief is genuinely and conscientiously held as part of the profession or practice of a religion. "Our personal views and reactions are irrelevant" The Supreme Court affirmed the principle that it is not for a secular judge to sit in judgment on the correctness of a religious belief.

Jana-gana-mana-adhinayaka jaya he

Bharata-bhagya-vidhata.

Punjaba-Sindhu-Gujarata-Maratha-

Dravida-Utkala-Banga

Vindhya-Himachala-Yamuna-Ganga

Uchchhala-jaladhi-taranga

Tava Subha name jage,

Tava Subha asisa mage,

Gahe tava jaya-gatha.

Jana-gana-mangala-dayaka jaya he

Bharata-bhagya-vidhata.

Jaya he, jaya he, jaya he

Jaya jaya, jaya, jaya he.

Thou art the ruler of the minds of all people,

Thou dispenser of India’s destiny.

Thy name rouses the hearts of the Punjab, Sind,

Gujarat and Maratha, of Dravid, Orissa and Bengal.

It echoes in the hills of the Vindhyas and Himalayas,

mingles in the music of the Yamuna and Ganges

and is chanted by the waves of the Indian Sea.

They pray for Thy blessings and sing Thy praise

The saving of all people waits in Thy hand,

Thou dispenser of India’s destiny.

Victory, Victory, Victory to Thee.

“I solemnly pledge to work with dedication to preserve and strengthen the freedom and integrity of the nation.”

“I further affirm that I shall never resort to violence and that all differences and disputes relating to religion, language, region or other political or economic grievances should be settled by peaceful and constitutional means.”