The kumbha Mela takes place in four places in India viz. Ujjain, Nashi, Haridwar and Waranasi (Alahabad). The auspicious period repeats itself every twelve years. Millions of people collect and take bath in Ganga.

What is so special about this period?

The explanation of salvation from sins is inexplicable in scientific terms, because science does not conceive the meaning of �paap and punya� i.e. �sin and good deed� respectively.

The alternative explanation is probably as follows.

All paap or sin is that which takes us away from our true self, i.e. disorients us from ourselves. All punya is that, which enhances our orientation to our true self.

The kumbha period, by virtue of the characteristic constellation (The specific constellation during this time is Sun enters the Mesha rashi, Moon enters the Dhanu rashi and Guru enters the Kumbha rashi) according to Indian or the lunar calendar) seems to influence certain and places and rivers on the earth; beneficially; making them conducive to orientation to the universe to her cosmic self.

Since the human beings are subtly connected with rest of the universe, these places and rivers probably enhance the orientation of human beings also; to their true self.

This is analogous to the help one gets from the wind while sailing. The external and internal environment when favorable, one can get reoriented to the true self and experiences self realization!

The kumbha period (parva) probably signifies such a period full of benevolence!
It is essential to explore and appreciate the subtle links between human being and the universe and also the subtle changes in the rivers and the places; responsible for transcendental benefit; during this period.

The sociological, economic and other explanations (such as microbiological) offered are too simplistic and hence conceal the most beneficial and enlightening truth that can blossom the whole world!





PANCHANG:
Indian calendar is called panchang [pancha = five anga= aspects or parts; viz. tithi, war, nakshatra, karan and ayan].

There is no announcement in Marathi on Mumbai airports. This makes every Marathi speaking person feel that these airports do not belong to him or her. It also brings about a disturbing feeling of having come in an alien area, a foreign land or even a mildly hostile place, which brings about a feeling alienation, anxiety and of unnecessary pressure and stress. This happens especially in case of the vast majority of the Maharashtrians whose mother tongue is not Hindi or English.

It is essential to vehemently pursue this matter and enforce the government and the concerned agencies to bring about the necessary change and start announcement in Marathi on these airports in Mumbai, which is the capital of Maharashtra.



That would make all Marathi people coming from the nook and corner of Maharashtra; feel at home on these otherwise alien and hostile appearing airports. It would also make all Marathi people feel that Mumbai airports belong to Maharashtra and residents of Maharashtra.

Way back; when I used to read about the achievements of many illustrious and dedicated philanthropists; I used feel tremendous respect on the one hand and tremendous despair (stress) on the other, because of the lack of holistic perspective limiting their role; in the world politics for individual and global blossoming.

I am more than happy to see; most of the philanthropists realize this; and participate in politics i.e. policies, plans, programs and actions for public welfare (obviously not the dirty, party or petty politics)!

Many of us may not agree with the details of the agenda of these people. But I am very happy to see this happen; because it is indicative of the dawn of individual and global blossoming, in perspective, thoughts, feelings and actions.

World politics is; or rather ought to be; the expression of cosmic consciousness (converging into global consensus) with the perspective of individual and global blossoming.

Thus people of such perception and conviction, when identify, appreciate, come together and interact; the pragmatic aspects of actual means and modalities of actions get crystallized.

At present also this is happening, but in a rather imperfect, immature, inaccurate, insufficient, inadequate and ineffective manner. Primarily, this imperfection is that of perspective, conceptualization, conviction and actual experience or realization.

The millions of different needs, wants, likes, dislikes, virtues, vices, actions, interactions, contradictions, dialogues, hopes and despairs of billions of living beings; of different ages; with different geographical, political, social, economic, cultural and historical backgrounds; one thing in common. This lowest common denominator is the deep seated urge; for individual and global blossoming; either voluntary or involuntary and conscious or subconscious!

The visible hallmarks of this individual and global blossoming (though in formative or developing stage); are; millions of people being served food free of cost, millions of cows being cared for; as by Gondavle Sansthan, ISCKON and many other institutions, trees being planted by ISHA, millions of people being trained in yoga by Swami Ramdev and Patanjali Yogapeeth pariwar, Promotion and cultivation of herbal plants by Ahcarya Balkrishna, millions of people being trained in Sudarshan Kriya by Sri Sri Ravishankar and Art of Living pariwar, holistic medical practice by at least some holistic practitioners in the world and attempts towards justice in political, legal, economic, agricultural and health care areas, by many institutions and individuals all over the world.
But in addition to them I strongly feel that

* Universal Practice of NAMASMARAN i.e. remembering one�s true self (about whom we are usually oblivious), right from childhood, according to the particular tradition.
* Availability, upholding and promotion of safe drinking water and vegetarian food
* Redefining the �holistic health�; as �Optimal intellectual, emotional, instinctual and physical actions to promote individual and global blossoming, in one�s field�.
* Practice and promotion of Holistic Medicine; i.e. �the art, science and skills of employing everything effective; in regaining and promoting holistic health�, as; essential and inseparable core of mainstream Medical Education, Teaching, Practice and Research.
* Holistic Education with emphasis on a) the principles and preliminary practices of holistic health and holistic medicine, b) productive domain c) affective, cognitive and psychomotor domains, d) empowerment through NAMASMARAN e) practical productive progress, self sufficiency; research and teaching in all education institutions!
* Even the specialized institutions would not be exception to �earn and learn�, �produce and progress�, �practice and pass� principles. The written examinations would be replaced by actual assessment of the skills, at all levels.
* All religious temples and places of worship would voluntarily incorporate educational, industrial, and agricultural and research activities; conducive to holistic health; thereby get re-integrated with mainstream life. Conversely, all educational and industrial houses would adopt the activities of religious and spiritual bodies and institutions; in which, the philosophy of holistic health is implicit (though variable in terms of semantics i.e. languages and terms).
* Getting up early, drinking of water in morning, rubbing the teeth, gums and palate in morning and using herbs conducive to dental, oral and general health, would be promoted as essential elements of holistic health.
* Byhearting of hymns and prayers of different religions; would be sung together; amongst all religions, in all institutions.
* Laws would be devoid of vindictiveness, conducive to holistic health i.e. formative, and hence rigorously and strictly executed; e.g. the persons soiling the public property would me made to clean without compensation the same, a corrupt person would be made to work double the duty hours, in minimum salary and those involved in misleading or deceptive commercials such as (98% stoppage of hair fall, double increase in height) would be made to participate in production, research, training and practice of holistic health and medicine, at no profit.
* The production of bicycles and vehicles of mass transport being echo-friendly would be encouraged as against vehicles of personal transport.
* Sanskrit would be researched and taught all over the world if after careful scrutiny of international well meaning intellectuals belonging to different religions; and found beneficial to mankind.
* The unifying elements and enlightenment in the lives of saints, seers and other reformers would be integral part of the curriculums.
* The doctrines of bigotry, fanaticism, Zionism, racism, wars and hatred would occupy minimum or if possible actually NO space in curriculum.
* There would be introspective research and dialogue over; whether the culture of slaughtering the cows and bullocks (and other animals) is an evolved and civilized act; beneficial to mankind? or is it preferable to love, care, adopt and coexist with animals?
* There would be extensive and conclusive debate, evolution of globally beneficial policies, laws, rules and their implementation in this regard; world over.
* There would be encouragement to folk sports as for the folk arts and folk music in preference to high tech sports and arts
* The defense policies would gradually become less barbaric, less cruel, less vicious, less prejudiced, less suspicious, less obstinate and more reconciliatory.

(To be continued and revised if and when necessary)

It is true that we should learn to rise above the disturbing influences from inner and outer environment.

But it is also true that in the process of such rising; one gets the urge to respond to the surroundings as well! The misery, depression, frustration, hopelessness, melancholy and helplessness infect and inflict us from inside and outside and compel us to respond to them!

While trying to focus; on the all time bounty of NAMASMARAN; I often realize that the inadequacy of faith, conviction and practice of NAMASMARAN; has lead to our degeneration or degradation to such an extent that we are unable to recognize, appreciate, respect and obey the wisdom and enlightenment.

We are dragged by barbaric values! We are swallowed by our meekness, lethargy, dullness, selfishness, exploitativeness, crookedness etc from inside and we are devoured by the pettiness, glamour, glitter, hooliganism, temptation of quick (even if it is fraudulent) money from outside!

We are blinded by values which take us away from our true selves and make us miserable! We; in our lowered state of consciousness seem to �enjoy� this deliriousness and spread the stupefaction far and wide and mislead others, including the younger generation to the abyss.

NAMASMARAN can open our inner eyes of wisdom and help us recognize, appreciate, respect and follow the wisdom and enlightenment so that we can blossom together!

In absence of NAMASMARAN; we would keep on getting dragged by barbaric elements, basal forces, vicious conspiracies, malevolent transactions or suicidal acts (inside and outside); and keep on respecting, appreciating, promoting and empowering them knowingly or unknowingly!

Through the practice of NAMASMARAN it is possible to open our inner eyes and �see� the global unity; overcome influences of the pettiness and superficiality; and focus on and respect the melodious source of the global orchestra and participate in orchestra of global harmony!

Unless such orchestration ensues, there can not be consensus on globally important issues and hence the agonies and/or perversions can not be abated or curbed.

The lack of NAMASMARAN leads to thwarting of growth (inability to grow) from within; and realize our transtemporal cosmic nature. We are unable to �live� in cosmic consciousness, (though we may profess or preach our cosmic identity).

As a result of this lack of realization of cosmic self, we are unable to �see� the uniting and consolidating global conscience and ushering in of; the dawn of spiritual renaissance. So, we keep on revolving around our petty self and go on thinking, feeling and acting in accordance with the petty considerations of self, children, relatives, groups, parties, religions and so on!

We keep on �living� in insecurity and blindness (to the impending unification and future blossoming of the world); and all evils associated with such a state of obliviousness! This is especially conspicuous; if we are global leaders in different fields as we are condemned to think and act in a sectarian, prejudiced, and inimical manner!

With NAMSMARAN we can �see� the individual and global process of awakening of consciousness, conscience, strongly emerging consensus and participate in their triumphant expression in perspective, policies, plans and actions in different fields for individual and global blossoming! This is superliving!