Sunday 27 November 2011

Mahabalipuram



Globally renown for its shore temples, Mahabalipuram was the second capital of the Pallava kings of Kanchipuram. 58 kilometres from Madras on the Bay of Bengal, this tiny sea - side village of Mahabalipuram, is set in a boulder - strewn landscape. Tourists are drawn to this place by its miles of unspoiled beach and rock-cut art. The sculpture, here, is particularly interesting because it shows scenes of day-to- day life, in contrast with the rest of the state of Tamil Nadu, where the carvings generally depict gods and goddesses.



Mahabalipuram art can be divided into four categories : open air bas - relief, structured temples, man-made caves and rathas ('chariots' carved from single boulders, to resemble temples or chariots used in temple processions). The famous Arjuna's Penance and the Krishna Mandapa, adorn massive rocks near the centre of the village. The beautiful Shore Temple towers over the waves, behind a protective breakwater. Sixteen man-made caves in different stages of completion are also seen, scattered through the area.

History


The temples of Mamallapuram, built largely during the reigns of Narasimhavarman and his successor Rajasimhavarman, showcase the movement from rock-cut architecture to structural building. The mandapas or pavilions and the rathas or shrines shaped as temple chariots are hewn from the granite rock face, while the famed Shore Temple, erected half a century later, is built from dressed what makes Mamallapuram so culturally resonant are the influences it absorbs and disseminates.

All but one of the rathas from the first phase of Pallava architecture are modelled on the Budhist viharas or monasteries and chaitya halls with several cells arranged around a courtyard. Art historian Percy Brown, in fact, traces the possible roots of the Pallavan Mandapas to the similar rock-cut caves of Ajanta and Ellora. Referring to Narasimhavarman's victory in AD 642 over the Chalukyan king Pulakesin II, Brown says the Pallavan king may have brought the sculptors and artisans back to Kanchi and Mamallapuram as 'spoils of war'.

Temples in Mahabalipuram

There are, or rather were, two low hills in Mahabalipuram, about 400m from the sea. In the larger one, on both sides, there are eleven excavated temples, called Mandapas, two "open air bas reliefs", one of which is unfinished, and a third enclosed one. Out of a big rock standing free nearby there is a "cut out" temple, called a "Ratha". This type is unique to Mahabalipuram.

Out of the other hill, much smaller and standing about 200m to the south, are fashioned five more rathas, and three big sculptures of a Nandi, a Loin and an Elephant. On the top of the bigger hill there is a structural temple, and a little distance the magnificent beginnings of a Vijayanagar Gopura and also survivals of what is believed to be a palace.

Shore Temple


Perched on a rocky outcrop, it presides over the shoreline, serving, as Percy Brown puts its, 'a landmark by day and a beacon by night'. Designed to catch the first rays of the rising sun and to illuminate the waters after dark, the temple ended up with an unusual lay-out. As the main shrine faces the sea on the east, the gateway, the fore count and the assembly hall of the Shore Temple all lie behind the sanctum.

Unusual, too, is the fact that the temple has shrine to both Shiva and Vishnu. The main sanctum and one of the two lesser ones on the west are dedicated to Shiva. The enclosing wall has a series of Nandi bulls on it.

Interconnected cisterns around the temple meant that the sea could be let in to transform the temple into a water shrine. But, in recent times, a stone wall as been added to protect the shrine from the rising seas and further erosion.

Mandapas


The main hill at Mamallapuram is dotted with pillared halls carved into the rock face. These mandapas, with their graceful columns and intricate figure sculptures bear witness to the artistry of the Pallavan rock cutter. The ten pavilions at Mamallapuram, of which two are unfinished, were designed as shrine, with a sanctum and on outer hall. The shallow porticoes are adorned with exquisite sculptures of gods, goddesses and mythological figures.

The Ganesh mandapa is an active shrine even today, with the idol of the elephant-god being revered by the faithful, fourteen centuries after it was first consecrated.

Beyond the circular rock called Krishna's Butterball is the Varaha mandapa dedicated to the two avatars of Vishnu as Varaha the boar and Vamana the dwarf. The pillars of this pavilion are perhaps the earliest to display a motif that became the signature of southern architecture-the lion pilaster, where a heraldic lion support ornamental pillar. The Mahishasuramardini mandapa has the goddess Durga in bas relief, slaying a buffalo-headed demon, and the Vishnu Sayana Mandapa shows Lord Vishnu lying under the protective hood of the seven-headed serpent Adishesha.

Of the other mandapas, the Panch Pandava mandapa, that is unfinished, has a more elaborate facade. Its pillars are adorned with rearing lions springing from the capital, and the shrine is the only one surrounded by a passage which allows circumvolutions.

Rathas
The eight rathas are monolithic temples fashioned as chariots. They remain an architectural mystery, for each is apparently a faithful reproduction of a structure built of wood. In fact, even the grain of the timber beams and rafters has been simulated in stone.

Of the eight rathas, five have been named for the Pandava brothers, the heroes of the epic Mahabharata, and their shared wife, Draupadi. The largest is the Dharmaraja ratha and it sets the tone for the others. Modelled on a Buddhist vihara or monastery, it sports a square hall topped by a vaulting roof. The Bhima, Arjuna and Nakula-Sahdeva rathas are lesser copies of the Dharmaraja ratha.

The Draupadi ratha is the smallest and the quaintest. It is simple structure, fashioned as a thatched hut borned on the backs of elephants and lions. It was probably the fascimile of a portable village shrine.
The fact that many of the temples and sculptures of Mamallapuram are unfinished, points to the sudden withdrawal of patronage from rock-cut temples when King Rajasimhavarman came to power.

Thanks: pilgrimageindia & Google Pics

Monday 21 November 2011

Top 10 Cydia apps - Iphones

When it comes to best Cydia apps for iOS 5 there are a few good ones which can provide you with a completely different iPhone experience.

The iOS 5 from Apple is perhaps one of the latest sensations which have hit the world of extreme technology recently and with the facility of best Cydia apps for iOS 5, now there are quite a few applications that one can get in the list for top jailbreak apps for iOS 5. But since the world is very competitive, not all can make it into the best and therefore, only the best of the lot shall be eligible to clam the top 10 spots in such case.

Here is a quick 10 on top jailbreak apps for iOS 5:


1. MultiIcon Mover App: iPhone is a house of tons of applications and the same can be flooded with pages at the same time where one will face the need to keep the most used ones in upfront. Though the iPhone supports the same but multiple icons cannot be moved in a single time which makes the whole process lengthy and frustrating. The MultiIcon Mover App allows this function, where multiple icons can be placed from one place to another in a single time.

2. The Frash App: One of the most needed things on the iPhone is a flash player which can allow the users to run flash files on their iPhone. However, there is a solution to this problem in form of the Frash App which solves the problem of a flash player. The Player can support flash files while browsing safari but sadly, the same does not works for videos.

3. The LockInfo App: The LockInfo is a single solution program with respect to notifications on the iDevice. The application works on the basis of allowing all the notification to appear under a single window of the user interface which allows easier operations in respect of notifications and information. The application is available at $ 7. 99 at the Cydia store.

4. The BiteSMS App: The top jailbreak apps for iOS 5 are rather incomplete without any interesting visuals treat. The BiteSMS app allows a user to have a better option in respect of graphics involved in text messages as the original version of texts are very ordinary. The application has a ton lot of features which ranges from emoticons to quick mail composition, templates, passcode lock, signature, etc. The latest price of this app in Cydia store is $6.74.

5. The Wi-Fi Sync App: The Wi-Fi Sync App is a modern day mechanism which allows a person to connect the device to the iTunes in absence of a USB connection. The application works on the basis of Wi-Fi connectivity which directly connects the iDevice to the iTunes application on the computer. The cost of such app is currently about $2.99 from the Cydia store and allows easier operations than in case if USB operations.

6. My 3G App: Another sensation from the house of Cydia is the My 3G app which allows the users to make a face time call via Wi-Fi. Moreover, this application is a trick based application which allows the users’ device to believe that the same is connected to a Wi-Fi in place of a 3G connection. The same application is again chargeable @ $3.99.

7. The MyWi App: The MyWi Application is again one of the best Cydia App for iOS 5 which allows the user to convert their iPhone into a Wi-Fi hotspot which allows a person use Wi-Fi and 3G connections. The same is chargeable @ $19.99 from the Cydia Store.

8. The InfiniFolders App: The earlier version of iOS in form of iOS 4 saw the arrival of additional folders in the springboard which was a pleasant surprise for the Apple users, but the same with time grew unsatisfactory as it could only accommodate about twelve applications into one single folder. But now thanks to the Cydia store which provides InfiniFolders App which makes it possible for the users to store as many applications as they desire. The application is however chargeable @ $1.99 in the Cydia store.

9. The Winterboard App: This is another brilliant application from the jail break house which provides the users with an option to customize the themes on their devices which includes customization of user interface, springboard, the lock screen and others. There is a huge amount of modification options available in this application.

10. The SBSettings App: To begin with, one of the best Cydia Apps for iOS 5 is the SBSettings which ensures easy operations while customizing the setting option in your iOS 5. The App allows the person to modify the present settings directly from the springboard itself which makes the task of operating the iPhone easier.
Thus, these were the best Cydia apps for iOS 5 which though only work on the jailbroken iPhone but no doubt render many utilities to the users.

Source: CultofMac

Thanks: iphonestuffs4u

Sunday 13 November 2011

Varma Kalai - A Tamil Martial Art



The Varma Kalai is a martial art coming from Southeast India, more exactly from Tamil Nadu. Literally, “Varma Kalai” means “the art of vital points”. This art is composed of hand-to-hand fighting, fighting with weapons, and also martial gymnastics. The study of this art goes beyond learning fighting techniques.

The points where life force resides and flows in the human body are known as varmam. Varmam also means where breathing enery resides in the body. Varmam are scattered over various parts of body like in nerves, nerve joints, bones, muscles, ligaments and inner organs.



Based on where varmam is located in the body, it has gathered various names like Vasi, Puravi, Kaalam, Uyir, Mayakkam, Pranan, Kalai, Suvaasam, Saram, Yogam, Param and Sivam.

Training

In Varma Kalai, the respect of the body is essential. All training is done in order to prevent the body from suffering any shock or traumatism which could damage it. The teaching is an accumulation of several generations of masters.


The warm-up and exercise undergoing varma training, The stretching, the muscular reinforcement, the breathing exercises, the meditation exercises to awake Kundalini energy in the body , the exercises for the spinal column, we focus on breathing circulation (a way of pranayam yoga),. In a general way, the movements and postures of Varma Kalai stretch, strengthen the Limbs, Mussels, Bones and to the Internal organs with oil “massage”. In that way, repeating series of movements and martial techniques, the students are doing an internal and external Varma training to release the blocked points and to learn locating the points exactly with knowing of this master presence.

After this intence training e very part of the body is used for training how to use the art to block varma and to injure the opponent based on the animal (tiger, monkey, elephant, eagle, crane, snake, etc.). movements and free style movements. (open or closed hands, elbows, knees, feet, shoulders, etc.).


There are several kinds of exercises :

The Thattu padom : exercises alone, or practiced with others
The Adi-varisaï : series practiced alone
The Kuttu-varisaï : series practiced in pair, then with more people (from the simplest to the most complex, codified at the beginning, and progressing to more and more free movements, the counter-attacks linked together endlessly, in perpetual movement)
The Padom (lessons) : series of lessons practiced alone, bare hand or with arms
The Tode : whirling lessons in pair



Thanks: silambam.in & Google pics

silambam-bodhi-dharmar

Saturday 12 November 2011

Just Eat Voucher Code

If you are a fan of take-away food or order your food from outside on a regular basis then you must know more about Just Eat.

There are many people who order food from restaurants on a regular basis. This may be due to long working hours or there are people who do not like the idea of cooking food after a long tiring day at work. Also sometimes guests may turn up at your door at odd hours and you might not feel like going to the kitchen to cook up something and would prefer to just order something from outside to save on your energy.

The Just Eat restaurants have planned their services keeping all this in mind and have such amazing options for you to choose from that you would almost be spoilt for choice. Just Eat is one of the biggest online food ordering businesses around the world. It has more than 15000 outlets around the world and it started out as a small restaurant in Denmark but has gained popularity in recent years due to the amazing quality of food and the service that they provide to their customers.

So, what makes Just Eat so different from the other take-away businesses that are there in your locality? The major difference lies in the very concept on which Just Eat has been planned.

When it comes to Just Eat, everything you need to do is online. Right from logging on to the internet, to opening the company website and scanning through the menus, placing the order and even paying for the order you place, everything is done online so that you do not have to step out of your comfort zone.

Another important thing that you need to know is that you get the best possible quality of food when you order from Just Eat. Besides the great food they serve, they also give you an opportunity to enhance your savings by offering you the Just Eat voucher code which can get you discounts on the orders you place.

When you see the quality of food you would actually wonder that the food has to be expensive. However by making use of the Just Eat voucher code you can easily get yourself great discounts on your order. To get yourself the Just Eat voucher code all you need to do is look up a few promotional websites and you can easily gain access to the Just Eat voucher codes by becoming a member of the site.

While searching for just eat voucher code to publish on this blog, all the codes I found were already expired so below I will suggest some places you can get just eat voucher. But keep checking back, once I find valid codes, I will post them here.

One of the website popularly known for giving out restaurant vouchers is Groupon.co.uk You need to register on their website using your e-mail address and they will send you offers daily to your in-box. Another popular websites offering restaurant vouchers is KJB deals. Also, note that you need to register on kjb website to receive notification through e-mails about available deals and offers.

You can also become their fan on their Facebook fan page, where they periodically post promo codes and vouchers you can redeem on Just Eat website.

Just eat is currently offering its customers the chance to win a year’s worth of free take away. To apply visit Just eat official website and enter your e-mail address. T/C applies. Please see the official website for more details.

Once you have the voucher code, enter the just eat voucher code as shown in the diagram below:
Just eat voucher code

You just need to enter the details that are asked and you are allowed access to the Just Eat voucher code. Once you have the code you just need to enter the code in the promotional box on the company website before you place the order and you are instantly given the discount associated with the voucher code.
Try and ensure that you always have the latest Just Eat voucher code at your disposal to get the best possible deal whenever you place an order at Just Eat.

Thanks: justeatvouchercode

navigation-app-for-iphone-great-app

Wednesday 9 November 2011

Magician Dynamo Walks Across the River Thames on Foot (Video)



As some of you probably already heard, British magician Dynamo, whose real name is Steve Frayne, walked across the river Thames in London on Saturday night to mark the launch of his new TV show.


The new series, named Dynamo: Magician Impossible, will show him performing a variety of tricks, including transporting a mobile phone into a glass beer bottle, bringing a flutter of paper butterflies to life and transforming snow into diamonds, reports Guardian.

Sunday 6 November 2011

Navigation app for Iphone - Great app

Description

NAVFREE, THE WORLD'S FIRST FREE CROWD-POWERED NAVIGATION SYSTEM!


Welcome to Navfree!

Navfree offers turn-by-turn directions, voice and on-screen instructions, offline map use and address search and live search via Google and Microsoft Bing, among many other features. Navfree is a completely free navigation app with no additional monthly charges. It uses map data created by a community of thousands of users around the world. This means that as the community grows so does the quality of the map data. Already in countries like the UK and Germany map data quality is excellent; in others the map data is growing fast.

If you’d like to join the thousands of people contributing to the map data, just visit www.openstreetmap.org and edit your local area.

Navfree features onboard maps that are stored directly onto your device so there is no need for a constant data connection whilst driving. It allows you to browse maps anytime, anywhere without paying for data connections. Also, benefit from no additional roaming charges when abroad.

Navfree uses crowd-powered data with the help of OpenStreetMap, a mapping system that has been created by over 300,000 users and, as such, the map data is free to use. OpenStreetMap could be described as the "Wikipedia of map data". As the data is reliant on its users, maps can occasionally be incorrect or not up to date, but with the use of Navfree’s inbuilt map feedback tool, maps can easily be edited by sending error reports.


IN-APP FEATURES OF NAVFREE
• NEW! Safety camera in-app purchase – avoid those annoying speed cameras.

STANDARD FEATURES OF NAVFREE

GOOGLE/MICROSOFT SEARCH ENGINE
• Users can now use Google or Microsoft Bing directly from Navfree. Search results appear instantly on the map interface - then it takes only one click to route there.

LIVE MAP DISPLAY
• Easier than paper maps! Browse maps with multi-touch dragging and scrolling. Enables instant routing by selecting any point on the map and clicking ‘Route here’ - great when the full address of where you need to get to is unknown.
• On-board maps - no data connection required* to browse maps or use the address search.
• Multiple guidance displays available - toggle between 2D, 3D or safety screen mode.

USER FRIENDLY INTERFACE
• Intuitive menus and large buttons designed for easy use with iPhone/iPad
• Day and night maps – switch to low glare mode for safer night driving.
• Access your iPod music from the screen map without exiting the app.
• Music volume automatically fades out when voice guidance is played.
• Automatic zooming at junctions and automatic day/night mode switch.

EXCELLENT ROUTE GUIDANCE
• Fast routing – fast routing engine allows you to calculate long routes in seconds.
• Automatic rerouting – if you miss a turn, Navfree reroutes you automatically.
• Demo route plan allows you to preview your route in real time before you leave.
• Direction lists allow you to check each step of your journey.
• Dedicated pedestrian navigation.
• Routing options - fastest, easiest, most economical, etc.

DESTINATION SEARCH
• Search by the exact address or postcode of your destination.
• Simple POI search available (points of interest: café’s, restaurants, museums etc.) or use Google or Microsoft Bing to find millions of local places and then fast route to and from their locations.

* Data connection only required for Google/Microsoft Bing search.

What's New In Version 1.9.1

- Fixed freezing
- June map data
- Updated address lookup
- Improved safety camera warnings

Screenshots

iPhone Screenshot 1
 
iPhone Screenshot 2
 
iPhone Screenshot 3
 
iPhone Screenshot 4
 
iPhone Screenshot 5
 
iPad Screenshot 1
 
iPad Screenshot 2
iPad Screenshot 3
 
iPad Screenshot 4
 
iPad Screenshot 5

Customer Reviews

I'm confused...
Can someone tell me WHY would anyone pay £40+ for TomTom when this costs, erm, £40+ less and is just as gud?!?! Got it, loved it, promoted it. Get it!!

This is without doubt the best n greatest app I've ever downloaded. It's free n unbelievably, it works!!

Talk to me TomTom! Explain yourself!!

The second this app let's me down I'll b back here to say so, but until then...

THIS APP IS GRRRR8!! 
...More
Great navigation
Lot of improvements, just make sure your gps is on in iPhone Settings->General->Location Services!!!
Gps
Can't get it to connect anymore says gps off won't switch back on even tried reloading was great until then :((((


Saturday 5 November 2011

20% off Tonight using voucher code @ Just Eat

Guys

Another freebie to try..

http://www.hotukdeals.com/all/vouchers/new

Free entry for Safari Park - 06 Nov 2011

Guys,

I know its very late to inform about this offer but I think there are still time to catch up if you are up for it.

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It seems good to me, so try if you want to enjoy one of the freebies.

Regards

Friday 4 November 2011

Silambam - Bodhi dharmar

Mr. Jothi Senthil Kumar in Picture depicting the Naga Nelai Kattu, this Style depicts the Cobra move in silambam
Silambam

Silambam is the art, which was created by Siddhars for the common people to protect them salves when there is a life-threatening situation. It is the art, which was developed very systematically and scientifically. Silambam was the first Martial art in Asia. Most of them argue upon this theory, because of many reasons and its secrets this art was not been fully explained to people. We all know that any secret will be leaked by time. As it was difficult subject matter and only few important people knew about its potentiality.
I would like to give few examples, which is being on practice even today by Tamil people that can prove my theory of findings on Silambam.
All say China is the country, which gave the scientific, and systematic martial arts to world. The Chines martial arts based upon the foot moments and the free hand combat, using of animal movements in its styles. The CHI energy, Zang fu, YANG and YIN of Acupuncture. These are the main concepts of Chine’s and northeast Asia martial arts.

Mahārshi Bhoganāthar or Bhogar Siddhar
Siddha Bhoganathar was a South Indian by birth, belonging to the caste of goldsmiths, Bhogars first Guru was Siddha Agastyar and his Second Guru was Kalangi Nathar was born in Kasi ( Benares ). He attained the immortal state of swarupa samadhi at the ago of 315, and then made China the center of his teaching activities. He belonged to the ancient tradition of Nava (nine) Nath sadhus (holy ascetics), tracing their tradition to Lord Shiva.
It is said that as per the last wishes of his guru, Bhogar proceeded to China to spread the knowledge of siddha sciences and his journey is said to have been made with the aid of an aircraft; he demonstrated to the Chinese the details of the construction of the aircraft and later built for them a sea-going craft using a steam engine. The details of these and other experi- ments demonstrated by Bhogar in China are clearly documented in the Saptakanda.
Siddha Bhoganathar is also know as Bo-Yang and also known as Lao-Tzu in China- the founder of Taoism (5th century B.C.) was the first Chinese to propound the theory of duality of matter the male Yang and female Yin - which conforms to the Siddha concept of Shiva(Matter) Shakti(Energy) or positive-negative forces. He visited many countries astrally, and physically and through transmigration. His visit to South America has been confirmed by accounts left by the Muycas of Chile: Bocha, who gave laws to Muycas, was a white, bearded man, wearing long robes, who regulated the calendar, established festivals, and vanished in time like others, (other remarkable teachers who had come across the Pacific according to numerous legends of Incas, Aztecs and Mayans).
In one of his songs Bhoganr claims to have flown to China at one point in a sort of airplane which he built, he held discussions with Chinese Siddhas before returning to India
At the end of his mission to China , about 400 BC, Bhoganathar, with his disciple Yu (whom he also gave the Indian name Pulipani) and other close disciples, left China by the land route to India .
Bhoganathars second mission to China : Later, after the period of the Six Dynasties (220 to 590 AD), Bhoganathar returned with some Tamil disciples to China . He left his mission in Tamil Nadu with Pulipani, the Chinese Siddha. During the construction of the Brihitīswarar Shiva Temple in Tanjore, Tamil Nadu, around 900 AD. Bhoganathar advised its builders as to how to raise the eighty ton capstone to the top of the temple, more than 200 feet high. This was done through his disciple Karuvoorar and another Tamil disciple who acted as intermediaries and through messages tied to the legs of courier birds, like today’s homing pigeons. At Bhogar’s suggestion a gradient ramp five miles long was built, up which the stone was pulled to the top of the temple. This was one of the most remarkable engineering feats of all times. About this time he also advised the King of Tanjore to build a small shrine dedicated to one of his greatest disciples, Karuvoorar, behind the Bhrihiteeswarar Shiva Temple .
In 1293, on his way back from China, Marco Polo got a taste of South India when he stopped along the Malabar Coast. He records a meeting he had with a group of yogi alchemists who, by preparing a tincture of mercury and sulfur, were afforded a lifespan of 150-200 years.



The cave painting in Mount Sung of Bodhi Dharma
Bodhi Dharma
There is a huge confusion amongst people about Bodhi Dharma, Is he from Kerala, was he a Kalarippayattu master and was he the founder of Shaolin Temple
Bodhi Dharma ( Ta Mo by the Chinese, Dat Mor in Cantonese, Da Mo in Mandarin, later called Daruma Taishi in Japanese) , one of the outstanding Buddhist monks in the history of Chinese Buddhism, was mostly known for bringing the (Ch’an is the Chinese translation for the Sanskrit word "dhyana" meaning Yogic concentration, also known as Zen in Japanese when it was introduced from China.) even though he had few disciples in his lifetime, and is honored as the founder of Kung fu. He is also credited with bringing tea to China . He is said to have cut off his eyelids to stay awake in meditation, and so is usually depicted with bulging eyes. In this issue, we look at the mysterious life and legends surrounding this great Buddhist monk, whose legacy influenced many generations to come.
Bodhi Dharma was born in Kanchi in the Southern Indian kingdom (today’s Tamil Nadu State ) of Pallava around year 440. Bodhi Dharma was the youngest of three brothers in the royal family of the southern Indian kingdom of Pallava king Sugandan. His father, the king Sugandan, also known as Simhavarman was a devoted Buddhist and managed state affairs according to the Buddha's teachings. At birth Bodhi Dharma was born with a breathing disorder. He was adopted and trained at birth in breathing exercises and combat, namely in the arts of Dravidian warfare arts of Southern India and self-defense techniques such Kuttu Varisai and Pidi Varesai (Punches Series- hand to hand combat with animal styles and locking techniques Similar to Kung Fu and Karate), Malyutham (grappling), Varma Kalai (Secret or Vital Art, Pressure point attacks, In healing and Self-defense similar to Tai Chi or Dim Mak), Silambam (staff fighting), Eretthai or Saydekuche (double stick fighting), Madhu or Madi (deer horn weapon fighting), Surul Pattai or Surul wall (steel blade whip), Val Vitchi (single sword), and Eretthai Val (double short sword) fighting. Bodhidarma also studied Dhyana Buddhism and became the 28th patriarch of that religion.








The Caveon Mount Sung in which Bodhi Dharma Meditated spent nine years in meditation









The actual date of his arrival in China is somewhat confused. The recorded dates vary from 475 to 520. When he disembarked at the port city of Canton by sea, he was received with great ceremony by a local official, Shao Ang, who immediately reported Bodhi Dharma's arrival to Emperor Wu of the Liang dynasty. The emperor ordered the official to accompany the monk to the capital, Chienkang (now Nanking).
Shaolin Temple, ( Sao-Iin Temple ) (Shorin-ji) in Henan Province . The temple had been founded in 496 in honor of an Indian monk named Brahdra (Ba Tuo Chinese Name), whom Emperor Hsiao Wen of the Northern Wei dynasty had invited to China to preach Buddhism. Exact details of what happened at this meeting are not entirely clear but is seems that Brahdra was offered riches, a place in the palace and encouraged to continue his teachings. Brahdra kindly declined this offer and asked for a piece of land far away from any 'civilized' place in the province of Henan , on the side of the Song sang Mountain. There he was given a large piece of land and the resources to build a monastery in an area called 'Wooded Hill' or ' Small Forest ', which translates to Shaolin in Mandarin or Sil-Lum in Cantonese. Bodhi Dharma had known Brahdra in India , so he decided to go to his temple. Brahdra was delighted to see an old friend and told his students to take good care of him. It is said that it was here in a cave on Mount Sung that Bodhi Dharma spent nine years in meditation. Legend has it that Bodhi Dharma cut off his eyelids to prevent himself from falling asleep at this point of time, in order to find the next patriarch of the Chan sect.
After his meditation Bodhi Dharma saw that the monks were weak and unable to perform the rigorous meditations he expected that Buddhist Monks should be practicing. Whilst meditating they often fell asleep or were very restless and were not achieving inner calm or peace ( a state required to reach Enlightenment, that for which all Buddhist strive! ).
He spent some time in seclusion pondering the problem. Considering the time and health awareness of the period, Bodhi Dharma came to a staggeringly accurate conclusion that the monks were not fit to meditate. With this in mind he started working on a solution, he created three treaties of exercises.
These in-place exercises were later transcribed by monks as;
  • "The Muscle Change Classic" or "The Change of the Sinews,"
  • "The Marrow Washing"
  • "The Eighteen Hand Movements later named The Eighteen Lohan Shou (Lohan meaning enlightened and Shou meaning Hands/Exercises)
Bodhi Dharma countered this weakness by teaching them moving exercises, designed to both enhance Chi flow and build strength. These sets, modified from Indian yogas (mainly Hatha Yoga, and Raja Yoga which was learnt by Bodhi Dharma in childhood to cure the breathing disorder,t his style of Yoga was mainly followed by royal famalys),This gave raise to the legandary art of Kung Fu, this art was based on the movements of the 18 main animals in Indo-Chinese iconography (e.g., tiger, deer, leopard, cobra, snake, dragon, etc.).
It is hard to say just when the exercises became "martial arts". The Shaolin temple was in a secluded area where bandits would have traveled and wild animals were an occasional problem, so the martial side of the temple probably started out to fulfill self-defense needs. After a while, these movements were codified into a system of self-defense.
In India the concept of Chakras in human body, the concept of Kundalini and Prana, is the main theory behind it. In India people even today practice acupuncture in the form of worship and ritual to god, Piercing of gold, silver, copper, needles, Which is made in all size. Many should have come across this ritual in India, if u see Tamil people they do it more then others all over the world to there god Lord Murugan (son of Lord Shiva). The concept of fire walking in India is also very popular, these rituals have become a controversial issue to the rationalists in India who protest against such rituals. These rituals have strong meaning in it. The Piercing was made a ritual because of its secrets and dangers.

The Siddhars made the practice of Piercing, this was thought to important peoples, like saints, vidhya’s (physicians), martial artists, and royal family’s, to common people it was shown as a ritual to be offered to god when they have some health problem. God has blessed people and the problems have solved when they offer the ritual to god. It is a hidden way of practicing meditation to there problems. The person who pearsess well known about the problems and the offerrer and pearse on the body for its remides. Today its changed only a blank offering is made to god without knowing the reason what they are doing because it has become a ritual.
Silambam is a popular art in Tamil Nadu and the credit goes to the people of Tamil Nadu who have kept this art alive for over 5,000 years with its secrets in it.
One big reason for the survival of this art in Tamil Nadu is the Huts built out of Bamboo and coconut leafs. This was a big source of getting their weapon. And the use of bamboo is common all over Tamil Nadu and south India.
The art of Silambam not only teaches how to use Staff, it also teaches other form of self defense like Varmakalai, and Kutthu Varasai
Silambam is an Indian style of staff fighting.  There are a large number of pre-arranged exercises and two man sets. It teaches a progressive series of attack patterns and counters along with evasive stepping patterns.  It is readily learned through this method, and is beautiful to see when it is performed by a skilled players. It is valid both as a sport and self-defense art. It has given good health to the practicers and a strong mental power to concentrate on any work. It is said that those how practice this art will get the power of youth, keeping them look young and fit. Silambam is an art, which gives full body exercise, if all the 36 lessons are practiced every day. The pearse is now very much related to martial arts, since today the people who Pierce, are martial artists. The martial artists are keeping the tradition of vidhya shastra knowing the secrets of human body. Similarly the use of foot moments in martial arts and the use of animal forms in martial is also from India if u come to South India you can see the most popular tiger style of foot moments in the form of dance, which is very common, but there are many other styles other then it.

Thanks: silambam.in

Bodhidharma, The Father of the Asian Martial Arts, a Tamilian??

Thursday 3 November 2011

Cricketers jailed for betting scam

Three Pakistan cricketers and an agent have been jailed over a betting scandal involving bowling deliberate no-balls in a Test match against England at Lord's last summer.

Former captain Salman Butt received a 30-month sentence for leading the plot and fast bowler

Mohammad Asif was given 12 months for delivering one of the fraudulent no-balls.

Butt, 27, and 28-year-old Asif, who had denied the charges, were found guilty on Tuesday of conspiracy to accept corrupt payments over the "spot-fixing" scam.

Teenage fast bowler Mohammad Amir, 19, was jailed for six months in a young offenders' institution after he admitted bowling two intentional no-balls.

The corrupt UK-based sports agent at the heart of the scandal, Mazhar Majeed, 36, who pleaded guilty prior to the trial, was jailed for two years and eight months.

The scandal was uncovered by the now-defunct News Of The World.
Majeed was caught in a sting when he took £150,000 from an undercover reporter from the paper to bet on rigged events.


Mazhar Majeed, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Asif and Salman Butt
(L-R) Mazhar Majeed, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Asif and Salman Butt


Majeed promised the reporter Asif and Amir would deliver three no-balls at specific points during the Lord's Test.

The no-balls were bowled exactly as promised. The probability of someone predicting this by chance was estimated by a cricket statistician as 1.5 million-to-one.

A 'no-ball' is an illegal delivery where a bowler's foot crosses the line. A run is awarded to the opposing team and another ball must be bowled.

Majeed's lawyer Mark Milliken-Smith said his client had paid out £65,000 to Asif, £10,000 to Butt and £2,500 to Amir.

He said the largest amount was paid to Asif to ensure he did not switch to another fixing racket.
Mr Milliken-Smith claimed Butt had first raised the idea of "spot-fixing", adding that his client had been "absolutely amazed" when the former captain had sounded him out.


Pakistan cricketer Mohammad Amir bowls a no-ball during Test match against England

Amir bowls a no-ball during Test match against England. Pic: Sky Sports HD


Judge Jeremy Cooke told the four defendants at London's Southwark Crown Court: "These offences, regardless of pleas, are so serious that only a sentence of imprisonment will suffice.

"Each of you will serve half the time imposed in custody and then be released on licence."
The judge said the four had damaged the image and integrity of cricket through their actions.


"The image and integrity of what was once a game but is now a business is damaged in the eyes of all, including the many youngsters who regarded you as heroes and would have given their eye teeth to play at the levels and with the skills that you had."

The judge said future cricket matches would forever be tainted by the fixing scandal.

He said: "Followers of the game who have paid good money to watch it live or watch it on television will be left to wonder whether there has been fixing and whether what they have been watching is a genuine contest between bat and ball.

"What ought to be honest sporting competition may not be such at all."

As he was led from the dock, Butt looked distant, while Amir showed little reaction as he collected his rucksack.

Asif nodded to a friend in the public gallery before being the last to be taken away.

In a statement read to the court earlier, Amir, 19, said he had been put under pressure to cheat and had feared for his future in the national side if he did not get involved.

He said: "I want to apologise to Pakistan and to everyone that cricket is important to.

"I do know how much damage this has done to the game, the game which I love as well, more than anything else in the world."

Butt, Asif and Majeed are expected to begin their sentences at Wandsworth prison in south London.
Amir is due to be sent to Feltham young offenders' institute in west London.

But his barrister, Henry Blaxland QC, said he intended to apply for bail pending an appeal against his sentence.

He said they engaged in corruption in a game whose very name used to be associated with "fair dealing on the sporting field".

"'It's not cricket' was an adage," he said. "It is the insidious effect of your actions on professional cricket and the followers of it that make the offences so serious.

Thanks: news.sky

do-u-watch-cricket-read-this 

10 World’s Most Expensive Laptops For 2011

Due to our fast paced lives laptops have become an important companion. Laptops these days can also be chosen as to show off your wealth. Depending upon the type o the material used and its particular specifications, laptops can range up to a million dollars. Here is a list of some of the world’s most expensive laptops available.

10. Acer Ferrari 1100: This laptop is worth $3,000, it is built with ultra light design that wears resistant carbon fiber chassis, designed just like a Ferrari car. The laptop carries 4 GB of RAM and a AMD Turion X2 Dual Core processor.

Acer Ferrari 1100
9. Dell M6400: This laptop also has a price tag of $3,000, though it does not look as good as Acer’s Ferrari 1100 but comes with ultra powered specifications. The laptop has a Quad Core Extreme processor and packs up 16 GB of RAM along with additional 1 GB graphics memory. The top class specifications this laptop is the only reason which makes it a must buy laptop.

Dell M6400

8. Toshiba Qosmio G-35-AV660: This amazing laptop by Toshiba costs $3,500 but still it is worth it. The laptop is powered by a core 2 duo processor, 250 GB of hard disk drive and Nvidia Geforce 7600. The laptop also has a 17 inch screen with a max resolution of 1920×1200.

Toshiba Qosmio G-35-AV660

7. Lenovo Thinkpad W700DS: This laptop offers numerous features which makes it worth $4,500. The best feature is that this laptop has an additional pull-out display other than a 17 inch display, which makes it very useful for running different engineering software such as CAD. The laptop is powered by a Core 2 Quad processor, 4 GB of RAM and 250 GB hard disk drive.

Lenovo Think pad W700DS

6. Alienware Area 51: Being an Alienware product, this product is definitely going to satisfy all videogame lovers. This laptop has core 2 duo processor and 1TB hard disk drive. The laptop also features some sleek and stylish looks, and also comes with an Nvidia GeForce 9800 GT in dual SLI configuration and 1 GB of graphics memory. This laptop is worth $5,000.

Alienware Area 51

5. Rock Xtreme SL8: This is considered to be the best laptop for portable gaming. This monstrous laptop packs 8 GB of RAM and a Core 2 Quad Extreme processor. Nvidia 9800 GT with 1 GB of memory fulfills its graphics requirements. This laptop has a price tag of $5,000.

Rock Xtreme SL8

4. Voodoo Envy H-171: This laptop comes with the optimized settings. The laptop is powered by Intel Core 2 Duo Extreme X6800 processor, 4 GB of RAM and comes with a dual 250 GB hard disk drive. Voodoo Envy has 17 inch screen display with the max resolution setting of 1920×1200. This laptop is worth $8,500.

Voodoo Envy H-171

3. Ego for Bentley: This laptop is meant for those rich women who are willing to spend $20,000 just for fashion purpose, as this laptop has no good specifications and only supports 64 bit windows Vista and packs up 160 GB of Hard Disk. The logo of Bentley on this laptop makes it look very stylish and the color also matches the color of the car.

Ego for Bentley

2. Tulip E-go Diamond: This laptop is worth $355,000 and is considered to be the world’s most luxurious laptop. It has only 2 GB of RAM and 160 GB of Hard Disk. This laptop is also basically meant for fashion purposes only.

Tulip E-go Diamond

1. Luvaglio: Very few people are going to believe it, but it is a bitter fact that this laptop has a price tag of a million dollars. These laptops are built on orders only, and in this case, the buyer is given an option to choose the specifications and the design of the laptop and also which material to be used for making the body of the laptop. This laptop consists of a 128 Solid State Drive, built-in USB support, an mp3 player and is also equipped with an integrated screen cleaning feature.

Luvaglio

Thanks: blueibox.com

most-expensive-wristwatches-in-world with exclusive pictures.

Wednesday 2 November 2011

14 facts about Indian education system and a remedy

FACT I:

Just one out of nine children finishing school joins a college. India has one of the lowest higher education enrollment ratio of 11 per cent. In the US it is 83 per cent.


FACT2:

To meet its target of increasing enrollment levels to 15 per cent in 2012, the Eleventh Plan estimates that India needs to invest Rs 2,26,410 crore. Yet it has set aside only Rs 77,933 crore-just a fourth of the total needed.


FACT3:

a recent ASSCoM-McKinsey study showed that only one out of Ten Indian students with degrees in humanities and one out of four engineering graduates are employable. So much for India’s boast of having one of the largest technical and scientific manpower reserves in the world.


FACT 4:

A study by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council showed that 90 per cent of the colleges and 70 per cent of the universities that the council graded were of middling or poor quality.


FACT 5:

Shortage of teachers was endemic with even the IITs reporting a 20 to 30 per cent shortfall in faculty.

FACT 6:

On an average most Indian universities revise their curricula only once in five to 10 years but even then they get defeated in both letter and spirit.


FACT 7:

Over-regulation by the government and a multiplicity of agencies have seen higher education stagnate and corruption become institutionalized.


FACT 8:

In 50 years, only 44 private institutions were granted deemed university status by the University Grants Commission. In the last  5 years, it has granted that status to 49 more, leading to charges of impropriety.


FACT 9:

The shortage of good institutions has seen cut-off percentages for entry into good colleges soar to genius levels. This year’s qualifying marks for RCom (Hons) course in Delhi’s SRCC was 98.75 per cent.

FACT 10:

Studies show that the number of students committing suicide because of the pressure to perform well in secondary board exams is rising alarmingly.


FACT 11:

Indian students now spend $7 billion to go abroad and study in foreign universities because of the poor quality of education at home. Yet the government drags  it feet over permitting foreign universities to set up shop in India. Where in same cost we can successfully implement and run around 10 more IITs.


FACT 12:

The quality of school education hasn’t improved. A recent study found that in rural north India on an average day, there is no teaching activity in about half” of the primary schools

FACT 13:

The US currently accounts for over a third of the entire world’s output of articles in science and engineering. India, in contrast, accounts for less than 3 per cent of research papers published and in terms of citations barely 1 per cent.


FACT 14 :

Almost half of the country’s population is below 25 years. Almost 10 per cent of them or 12 crore are between the ages of 18 and 23. If they are equipped with both knowledge and skills, they could drive India’s entrepreneurial and Competitive spirit and make it into global power.

Thanks: sanyaldk.wordpress

statistics-on-poverty-urbanization

Tuesday 1 November 2011

How Indian black money in Swiss banks can be brought back



M R Venkatesh

Swiss banks, thanks to their legal mandate for maintaining secrecy, have gained a notorious reputation over the years in favouring politically exposed persons (PEPs) to deposit their loot in such banks.
Now, the good news is that Switzerland is 'poised to become an example of one of the most forward-leaning countries in the quest to return stolen assets to developing countries'.

The Swiss Parliament, it may be noted, passed a new law in February 2011. Termed as the Restitution of Illicit Assets Act (RIAA), this law has the potency to make and mar the reputation of several PEPs across continents.

What is pertinent to note here is that, among other things, the law according to some experts allows the Swiss cabinet to freeze contentious assets of PEPs even if a country has not formally asked Switzerland to do so.



The maximum impediment till date in such cases was that the requesting state was invariably found to be extremely short on evidence in providing the Swiss authorities the necessary details in laying bare an account, especially of someone in power.

Interestingly, media reports suggest that this law has been tested in cases involving some of the dictators in the Middle East. "I can confirm that Switzerland has frozen possible assets of the former Egyptian President with immediate effect," a foreign ministry spokesperson told news agency Reuters recently.

The spokesperson neither confirmed how much money Switzerland froze nor provided any other details in the case involving the Egyptian dictator. Crucially, the change to Swiss law makes it easier for a country to freeze dictators' assets even if their countries are in disarray.



Other dictators have lately found themselves unsuspecting victims of this Swiss law as well. For instance, the Swiss government has reportedly frozen the assets of Laurent Gbagbo, the President of Cote d'Ivoire (who lost the elections but has refused to step down), and that of Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali, the former President of Tunisia, who was deposed earlier this year

Experts opine that Switzerland's decision to freeze any assets of former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak was made faster than anywhere else as the nation no longer wants to be perceived as a place where dictators can stash ill-gotten money.

Further, they point out how Switzerland, where about 27 per cent of the world's privately held offshore wealth is managed, has tightened money laundering rules to curb the inflow of illicit funds.



A governmental web site points out how that nation has returned about 1.7 billion francs ($1.8 billion) of dictators' assets to their countries of origin, more than any other financial centre of a comparable size.
And all this makes it extremely exciting in the Indian context.

Understanding the potency of RIAA and other Swiss laws
The main issue in connection seeking restitution of assets involving PEPs has been invariably the inability of the requesting state to furnish necessary proof or the necessary judgments to Switzerland.

Notwithstanding such lack of evidence (possibly arising from the lack of homework or political pressure in preventing evidence being marshalled in the first place), it is often seen such requesting state expects Switzerland to cooperate and repatriate the illicit wealth.

The Swiss believe that if this legal prerequisite is not met due to the failure of state structures within the requesting state, the RIAA can henceforth provide a comprehensive solution.




In short, the RIAA provides a formal legal basis for the restitution of assets confiscated for the benefit of the country of origin.

Experts note that the law is aimed at undertaking restitution of illicit assets of PEPs because of the inherent failure of State and the judicial structure in the State concerned.

The RIAA also applies when a request for international mutual legal assistance in a criminal matter is unable to succeed in Switzerland due to the state of failure in the requesting country, in which the PEPs exercised or continue to exercise a public function.



The RIAA makes it possible to freeze and confiscate assets which are potentially of illicit origin without the need for a criminal conviction of the PEPs in their country of origin. And that is the crux of the issue and how India can profit from these developments.

It is in this connection, and contrary to the popular belief, that Switzerland claims to have launched several initiatives to promote internationally coordinated action to combat potentate -- read, illicitly stashed -- funds.

The international community, Switzerland suggests, must form a common front to prevent the inflow of such funds, to quickly freeze assets of criminal origin and return them to the rightful owners. How wonderful!

Further, the Swiss claim that strict provisions of Switzerland's anti-money laundering legislation oblige Swiss banks and all other providers of financial services to establish the ultimate economic beneficiary.
Moreover, the Swiss Money Laundering Act makes provision for a special duty of clarification with regard to PEPs.

The banks and other financial intermediaries are obliged to report any suspicious transaction to the Money Laundering Reporting Office and, if substantiated, to immediately block an account.

Swiss banking secrecy laws do not offer any protection against criminal prosecution either within Switzerland or in respect of international legal assistance.

Additional measures prevent assets from being withdrawn before foreign authorities submit a formal request for legal assistance

So, what needs to be done?

Much of what has been stated above is from the official websites of the Swiss government. Naturally, and for the uninitiated, it would seem that getting back our wealth is as simple as sending an SMS to Switzerland, hoping they would do the needful.

The truth of the matter is that it is not as simple as it seems.

Lest the reader believes that the Swiss will be reluctant to part with the details of the accounts, one could be sadly mistaken. It is, of course, another matter that such restitution will ruin their economy and hence would be foolish on our part to expect their full cooperation.

If the Swiss are one part of the story, PEPs in India will be another stumbling block in getting back our wealth.

The RIAA defines PEPs as those who exercise or have exercised a public office. Further, the RIAA applies when a country is able to satisfy the requirement of legal assistance proceedings owing to total or substantial collapse of its national judicial system.



What is crucial is that the RIAA presumes that assets are of unlawful origin, where the wealth of PEPs has been subject to an extraordinary increase connected with their term in office or the level of corruption in the country of origin or surrounding the PEPs in question during their term of office is or was acknowledged as high.

Much as it would be disturbing to an average Indian, the fact remains that our judicial system is in a state of complete paralysis.

Similarly, when it comes to most of our PEPs, their wealth would have recorded extraordinary increase during their term in office. Alternatively, corruption during their term in most cases would be perceived or acknowledged to be high.

That makes India a very peculiar case. Speaking at a seminar recently in Chennai, Janata Party president Subramanian Swamy suggested a brilliant idea: send a list of all Members of Parliament and Members of Legislative Assemblies (all those who had occupied office for the past twenty years), high ranking members of the administration, judiciary and senior executives of all government-owned corporations to Switzerland under RIAA.

At best, they may number anywhere between 20,000 and 50,000. Along with their close relatives, this number may go up to a few lakhs.

But given their involvement in corruption, it would be puerile to believe that our polity -- read PEPs -- would write, cooperate and coordinate with the Swiss authorities under the RIAA to get back their own illicit wealth from Switzerland.



Unlike banana republics, which got its wealth back, the situation is far serious when it involves India. Unfortunately, in India most political parties (ruling or opposition), some in our judiciary, the intelligentsia, many members of our media are beneficiaries of the illicit wealth parked in Switzerland.

In short, it is akin to a rigged cricket match where the loser contrives to lose -- the protests against corruption and the attendant illicit wealth parked abroad by certain political parties, sections of the media and others are more chaotic than meaningful.

Naturally, this is an opportunity and a challenge to our civil society. The extant situation, especially the RIAA, provides a window of opportunity. The issue of nationalisation of all accounts in tax havens, given their numbers and associated legal complexity, is extremely difficult.

For starters, as Subramanian Swamy suggested, how about putting pressure on Parliament to pass a resolution concerning all PEPs to retrieve our wealth through the RIAA? How about the civil society getting its act together and pressing for one such resolution in the forthcoming monsoon session?
Anybody game for this simple yet effective short-haul war on corruption?

The author is a Chennai-based chartered accountant. Comments can be sent to mrv@mrv.net.in

Thanks: Rediff

statistics-on-poverty-urbanization-and