Chand Baori: India’s Most Famous Stepwells

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Located in the village of Abhaneri near Jaipur, Rajasthan, is a famous stepwell constructed in the 9th century. Chand Baori consists of 3500 narrow steps over 13 storeys and extends approximately 100ft into the ground, making it one of the deepest and largest stepwells in the world. 

Built during the reign of King Chanda of Nikumbha Dynasty, the stepwells provided surrounding areas with a dependable water source centuries before modern water delivery systems were introduced. The apparently complex geometric architecture of the stairs and steps ensured that the Rajput people had access to water at any time of the year and from all sides. No one is sure why the steps were built so elaborately but every drop of water was precious in Rajasthan and Chand Baori also became a community gathering place for the Abhaneri locals, especially during summer due as the air at the bottom of the well is always 5-6 degrees cooler than at the top.

The steps surround the well on three sides while the fourth side has a set of pavilions built one atop another. The side that has the pavilions have niches with beautiful sculptures including religious carvings. There is even a royal residence with rooms for the King and the Queen and a stage for the performing arts. A temple is situated right across these stepwells.

Chand Baori was featured in the movie The Fall and also made a small appearance in Christopher Nolan’s blockbuster The Dark Knight Rises.

The well is now a treasure managed by the Archaeological Survey of India


Akshit Kapoor

Cursed Gem of Indra

Stolen by British during Plassey Revolt.

At first glance, the Delhi Purple Sapphire is nothing special to look at compared to the Hope diamond and the Koh-i-Noor diamond. In fact, it is not even a sapphire but rather a plain looking oval-cut amethyst set in blackened silver setting, marked with astrological signs and framed by two scarab carved gems on either side. Despite its very unremarkable appearance, the Delhi Sapphire is considered to be the most notoriously cursed gems to date.

Obscure from the world until chanced upon by Peter Tandy, a curator at the Natural History Museum in England. The gemstone was accompanied by a typewritten from its last owner, Edward Heron-Allen which read, “This stone is trebly accursed and is stained with the blood, and the dishonor of everyone who has ever owned it ,” and, “Whoever shall then open it, shall first read out this warning, and then do as he pleases with the jewel. My advice to him or her is to cast it into the sea.”

This warning was not enough for Heron-Allen. He had taken extra precaution of wrapping the gem in protective charms and sealing it in seven boxes before donating it the museum. The note further gave account of the gemstone’s dark history that he knew, starting from Cawnpore after the Indian mutiny at the Temple of Indra in 1857. A Bengal cavalryman by the name of Col. W. Ferris took the amethyst from temple as his own personal loot, shortly after which both him and his son were beset by health and financial ruin. The sapphire was given to a family friend who committed suicide soon after.

Edward Heron-Allen was an English polymath, writer, lawyer, scientist and Persian scholar who translated the works of Omar Khayyam. A close friend of Oscar Wilde, he became the next owner of the gem in 1890. A man of science, Heron-Allen was not someone who believed in superstition easily but too many incidences led him to believe that the stone was cursed. He tried twice to give it away to friends, both times receiving it back after they met with ill luck.

Heron-Allen even threw the sapphire into Regent’s Canal and again he found it in his possession 3 months later after being found by a dredger. The jeweller who bought the stone recognized it and promptly returned to Heron-Allen whose belief in the curse intensified. He had the stone locked away only to be taken out after his death in 1904 when the amethyst was given to the museum under the request the box not be opened until 3 years after his death.

In 2004, the gem came into the possession of John Whittaker, a member of the Natural History Museum. He was tasked with transporting the sapphire to the Heron-Allen society for an event. During the trip, both he and his wife were trapped in their car amidst the most horrific thunderstorm of their lives.

Tasked with transporting the gem on another occasion, Mr. Whittaker fell violently ill with a stomach bug. Before the stone could be transported for the third time, he found himself in severe pain that ended up with him passing a kidney stone.

Whether the stone is cursed or not, it is ironic to note that the Delhi Purple Sapphire belonged to the temple of the Hindu god of war and weather. The story may seemed to be plucked out of an old black and white horror movie, but it is strongly believed that through its theft from the ancient idol a curse was cast.


Akshit Kapoor

Koh-i-noor - Mountain of Light

Once known as the largest diamond in the world, the Koh-i-noor is a 106 carats diamond. Previously it had belonged to various rules in India but today lies in the hands of the British royal family and is part of the Crown Jewels. 

Legend has it that Koh-i-noor is 5000 years old and is the Syamantaka jewel that is referred to in Sanskrit writings. This jewel is supposed to have originally belonged to the Sun god, who wore it around his neck. It is said that any land it that possessed it would never encounter any calamities in the form of natural disasters and would always be full of prosperity and plenitude.

Current name of the diamond, Koh-i-noor is in Persian and means `Mountain of Light`. Up until 1304, the diamond was in the possession of the Rajas of Malwa but was not called by its current name.

First document that verifies the existence of Koh-i-noor dates back to 1526 when it came into the possession of the Indian conquerer, Babur, mentioning the previous ownership by the Raja of Gwalior in the 13th century.

The diamond continuously changed hands between Indian and Persian rulers as they fought bitter battles throughout history.
The diamond ended up being mounted on the Mughal throne of India – the Peacock Throne. It is said that when Shah Jahan , the ruler who commanded the building of this throne and the Taj Mahal, was imprisoned by his son, that he could only ever see the Taj Mahal again through the reflection of this diamond.

The diamond once again was lost to India when it was stolen to Nadir Shah and made its way to Persia in 1739, again making its way back to Punjab in 1813 when Shuja Shah Durrani, the deposed ruler of Afghanistan, took it to India and made a deal to surrender the diamond in exchange for help in winning back the Afghan throne.

The diamond was 186 carats before the British acquired it by conquering Punjab and the stone was given to Queen Victoria by the then British Colonial Governor-General of India. Prince Albert carefully searched for a diamond cutter and gave the missions to a certain Mr. Cantor in Netherlands, who began the difficult task of cutting it which took 38 days to accomplish. Cut into an oval shape, the diamond lost its lustre and was reduced to its current form and weight of 108.93 carats. Apparently, Prince Albert wasn`t too happy with the end results.

The Koh-i-noor was mounted on the Royal Crown along with over 2000 other diamonds.

There is apparently a curse on the diamond that affects all men who wear it but women are immune. The Crown was used by Queen Victoria, Queen Alexandra, Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth and is only worn by the female members of the British Royal Family as per Queen Victoria`s last will and testament.
Both India and Pakistan each claim the diamond be handed back to them by the British. However, as of February 21, 2013 British Prime Minister refused to hand it over, saying `I certainly don`t believe in “returnism”, as it were. I don’t think that’s sensible`.

The Crown is currently on display at the Tower of London and it looks like it is going to remain there indefinitely.


Akshit Kapoor

Takshashila - The World's First and Oldest University

India has a long and venerable history in the field of higher education. In ancient times, the country was known to have been home to the oldest formal universities in the world.

The world's first University was established in Takshila or Taxila or Takshashila (now in Pakistan) in 700BC. This centre of learning was situated about 50 km west of Rawalpindi in Pakistan. It was an important Vedic/Hindu and Buddhist center of learning but wasn`t as well organized as the University of Nalanda.

The Vayu Purana traces the start of Takshila to Taksha, son of Bharata and is also mentioned in Mahabharata, citing Dhaumya as one of the Acharyas. There are several mentions of this University in the Buddhist Jataka Tales. Chinese travellers like Fa Hian (Faxain) and Huien Tsang (XuanZang) also speak of Takshila in their writings.

More than 10,500 students from all over the world studied here. The campus accommodated students who came from as far as Babylonia, Greece, Arabia and China and offered over sixty different courses in various field such as science, mathematics, medicine, politics, warfare , astrology, astronomy, music, religion, and philosophy. Generally, a student entered Takshashila at the age of sixteen. Students would come to Takshila and take up education in their chosen subject with their teacher directly. Entrance exam to Takshila was very difficult and only 3 out of every 10 students passed the admission test.

They were supposed to pay for their expenses. However, if a student was unable to pay then he could work for his teacher. The Vedas and the Eighteen Arts, which included skills such as archery, hunting, and elephant lore, were taught, in addition to its law school, medical school, and school of military science.

Takshila was specialized in the study of medicine.

Panini, the famous Sanskrit grammarian, Kautilya (Chanakya) and Charaka, the famous physician of ancient India, and Chandragupta Maurya were the products of this university. It gained its importance again during the reign of Kanishka. It was probably, the earliest of the ancient seats of higher education. Takshashila is perhaps best known because of its association with Chanakya. The famous treatise Arthashastra (Sanskrit for The knowledge of Economics) by Chanakya, is said to have been composed in Takshashila itself.

During the 800 years that Takshila was operational, it attained great fame. The University consisted of:
- 300 lecture halls with stones benches for sitting
- laboratories
- Observatory called the Ambudharaavlehi for astronomical research
- Massive Library called Dharma Gunj or Mountain of Knowledge,
consisting of 3 buildings: Ratna Sagar, Ratnodavi and Ratnayanjak

Takshila`s prosperity resulted from its position at the junction of three great trade routes. In the second half of the 5th century, it was severely damaged by Hephthalite invasions; during the 7th century it was gradually abandoned by its inhabitants. Excavations begun in 1913 finally gave the world a peak into the best minds in Indian history.

Takshila was listed by the UNESCO as one of the World Heritage Sites in 1980.

Akshit Kapoor

Do we really need a "RELIGION" to do good

India’s rich history and culture are deeply rooted in religion, resulting in the birth of some of the world’s major religious traditions of Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism. 

This religious diversity and religious tolerance are established in the country both by the law and custom and a vast majority of Indians associate themselves with one religion or the other. 

Ancient India has shown that separate religions can co-exist together in harmony. Many great works of art, literature, breakthroughs in medicine, science, among other things have been the end result of this peaceful lull in history.

However, due to the invasion of foreigners over the past few centuries, there has been too much bloodshed to ignore the fact that not everyone wants to live in harmony anymore. Theologies of the invading religions are in stark contrast to the already existing ones, wanting to assimilate and repress the native thoughts of process. This is reached by any means possible: from forceful conversion in the past, threatened with torture and death, to emotional blackmail of the present, sweet-talking their way into house and home until it is too late to realize what is being destroyed. Both of these conversions have brought in too much hatred and segregation to want to really, truly understand what the MAIN concept is behind each religion or thought behind the concept of God.

If Ancient India could co-exist peacefully and produce amazing achievements, then what is stopping Modern India from emulating the past and do the same again?

In your opinion - the READER of this post - how would you like to see India advance? Is religion now only a hindrance? Can we do away with the hatred created over the past centuries so we could live in harmony instead, looking at others NOT as a Hindu, Sikh, Christian, Muslim etc., but as a HUMAN BEING FIRST?

Akshit Kapoor

Bhangarh – India’s Haunted City

It has lain abandoned for the best part of 400 years and is said to be the most haunted place in India. Situated between the cities of Delhi and Jaipur in the state of Rajasthan the true reason for its abandonment has been lost to history, though there are several legends surrounding its fate. Even today no-one is allowed to enter the ghost city of Bhangarh after twilight – it is said that if they do they will never return. 

Within the grounds there are still majestic temples to major Hindu deities: Shiva, Lavina Devi and Gopinath are represented among others but the throngs of worshipers who clamoured for entrance to the temple are long gone. The town was first built in the reign of Bhagwant Das, a powerful maharaja, in 1573. It is said that a local guru was asked for permission to build the city.

The guru, Balu Nath, allowed the city to be built but made a single condition. His own dwelling place was close by and he demanded that it should, at all time, be out of the shadow of Bhangarh. Should his retreat ever come under the shadow of the royal residences the city and its inhabitants would be doomed.

Soon, the city was home to a population of over 10,000. Many of its non-religious buildings were also built from stone – a sign of the prosperity that the place must have enjoyed, let alone the expectation of the population that they were there for a very long time.

Bhangarh gained the reputation for ostentatious displays of wealth in its architecture and its people for their decadence. They were supposedly commanded by the maharajah to wear their finery at all times, paid for out of his own unimaginable wealth. Their thoughts turned to living life as profligately and dissolutely as possible. Cultures all over the world have tales of cities descending in to this kind of lifestyle, so you have probably guessed what comes next.

Yet it is said that Balu Nath’s command was forgotten within a generation and that the son of the maharaja, Chhatr Singh, decided to extend his palace, building several new floors and increasing its height considerably. Shortly after, a still unspecified calamity overcame the city.

Historians believed the town’s decline was at first due to conquest. Yet the buildings remain remarkably intact for their age and show no sign of warfare having been conducted in or around the city. The fort and almost complete walls are still surprisingly intact. It is now thought that the city’s desertion was most probably down to a natural disaster in the area and that contributed to the decline.

Another myth concerns a beautiful princess, Ratnavati. A young magician fell in love with her but knew that his feelings would never be reciprocated. So, he made a magic oil which would hypnotise the princess in to giving herself to him. However the wily princess was versed in the dark arts herself and knowing the potion was enchanted, threw it upon the ground.

There, the potion transformed in to a rock and crushed the hapless magician. His final words were a curse on the princess and the palace. Within the year there was a great battle and the princess became one of its many victims. Whether or not you believe in legends it is a compelling story, culturally familiar to most.

Whatever caused the situation the city was no longer a center of local administration after 1630. A tiny population eked a living among the remains of the buildings. Those who survived the previous catastrophe left Bhangarh never to return after a terrible famine in 1783.

They left the stone buildings intact behind them. Unusually, the stones were never reused for other building projects, which only added to the reputation of the place as haunted.

Today the city is a popular tourist attraction. To facilitate the visitors a small village of around 1000 souls has sprung up at its periphery. The villagers will tell you stories of the town coming alive at night, that you can hear the sound of music and laughter coming from within. Yet none will dare enter to investigate


Akshit Kapoor

Ancient Indian Contributions to Physics

India was way ahead of WEST but the achievements has not been "MARKETED" or discussed enough to matter. 

Akshit Kapoor

GREAT WALL OF INDIA

Did you know there is a GREAT WALL OF INDIA protecting 360 temples from outsiders?


Kumbhalgarh - We have all heard of the Great Wall of China, but few know that India also has its own “Great Wall of India”, that has been long overshadowed by its neighbour to the East. Commonly called after the fort it surrounds, Kumbhalgarh, it is almost unknown outside its region.

The wall extends for 36kms and can easily be mistaken for the Great Wall of China if viewed at through photographs. Contrary to the latter, however, work on Kukbhalgarh began in 1443, separating the two not only through locations and cultures but many centuries as well.

Rana Kumbha, local Maharana of Rajasthan ordered the work to begin on this wall, originally meant to surround and protect his fort high on a hill, about 1000 meters above sea level. It was later enlarged in the 19th century and the place is now a museum. The walls have seven gateways and are over fifteen feet wide in some places. The inhabitants of Kubhalgarh, the fertile land and over 360 temples behind these walls were protected from any outside danger. The temples were built by followers of the three major religions of India: Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism.

Legend has it that despite several attempts, the wall could not be completed for one reason or the other. Finally the king consulted one of his spiritual advisers and was advised that a sacrifice be made, and a volunteer offered his life so that others will be protected. Today, the main gate stands where his body fell and a temple where his severed head came to rest. The fortress behind the walls only fell once over the course of its five hundred years of history, but only because drinking water ran out within its walls.

Tourists visiting these grounds are warned of ancient defense mechanism and traps, although most of them have been disabled. This beautiful monument to history however still remains much of a mystery and is almost unknown to the rest of the world outside India

Akshit Kapoor

Great hedge of the nation

Did you know India was once divided by a wall that ran from Punjab to Orissa? 

Hedge that divided the Nation...

The wall was more than 4000 km long and was not built out of mortar or bricks. The wall was a hedge (row of shrubs) known as The Great Hedge or Inland Customs Line that had its beginning in 1803. The hedge was 12 feet high in some parts. 

The hedge was planted in place by East India Company to check on salt smuggling. Salt tax brought East India Company the biggest chunk of their revenue. In 1784-85 alone salt tax brought them revenue of 62,57,470 rupees. One big problem faced by the company was that salt was free to anyone who had access to salt basins or the ocean and salt was one of the most smuggled item back then due to high prices.

The line consisted of a customs post every one mile linked by raised pathways to allow people cross it every 4 miles. The hedge was finally abandoned in 1879 at which point salt tax was applied at the point of manufacture, which remained until 1946.

Akshit Kapoor

Antibacterial Nature of Ganga Jal (Ganges Water)

Hindus have always believed Ganga Jal to be pure, pious and drinkable no matter what. Much reverence is given to Ganga water during Hindu rituals (from birth to death). But is there really any scientific validity to prove it?

In 1896, Ernest Hanbury Hankin (a British bacteriologist) after testing the water from Ganga wrote a paper that was published in French Journal describing that the bacterium Vibrio Cholerae that causes the deadly cholera, when put into the waters of Ganga died within three hours. The same bacteria continued to thrive in distilled water even after 48 hours. He also suggested that the water of this river and its tributary Yamuna were responsible for containing the spread of deadly cholera in the region in those days.

Similarly in 1927, Félix d’Herelle (a French-Canadian microbiologist) was amazed to find no germs at all in water collected just few feet below the floating bodies of people who died of cholera and dysentery. The presence of bacteriophages (viruses that kill bacteria) in the water of Ganges is considered as the reason behind this quality and its purity.

BUT, Ganga is a spiritually pure, but physically impure river. We need to clean our mess and make it PURE and CLEAN once again!

After all Ganga is not just a spiritual lifeline of Hindus but a LIFELINE for many others who depend on it...

Akshit Kapoor

VARANASI/BANARAS/KASHI - The Oldest Living City on the Planet!

Varanasi, also known as Benaras, was called "the Ancient City" when Lord Buddha visited it in 500 B.C., and is the oldest, continuously inhabited city in the world today.

The land of Varanasi (Kashi) has been the ultimate pilgrimage spot for Hindus for ages. Often referred to as Benares, Varanasi is the oldest living city in the world. 

Mark Twain, the English author and literature, who was enthralled by the legend and sanctity of Benaras, once wrote: "Benaras is older than history, older than tradition, older even than legend and looks twice as old as all of them put together".

Hindus believe that one who is graced to die on the land of Varanasi would attain salvation and freedom from the cycle of birth and re-birth. Abode of Lord Shiva and Parvati, the origins of Varanasi are yet unknown. Ganges in Varanasi is believed to have the power to wash away the sins of mortals.

Ganges is said to have its origins in the tresses of Lord Shiva and in Varanasi, it expands to the mighty river that we know of. The city is a center of learning and civilization for over 3000 years. With Sarnath, the place where Buddha preached his first sermon after enlightenment, just 10 km away, Varanasi has been a symbol of Hindu renaissance. Knowledge, philosophy, culture, devotion to Gods, Indian arts and crafts have all flourished here for centuries. Also a pilgrimage place for Jains, Varanasi is believed to be the birthplace of Parsvanath, the twenty-third Tirthankar.

Vaishnavism and Shaivism have co-existed in Varanasi harmoniously. With a number of temples, Mrs. Annie Besant chose Varanasi as the home for her 'Theosophical Society' and Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya, to institute 'Benares Hindu University, the biggest University in Asia. Ayurveda is said to be originated at Varanasi and is believed to be the basis of modern medical sciences such as Plastic surgery, Cataract and Calculus operations. Maharshi Patanjali, the preceptor of Ayurveda and Yoga, was also affiliated with Varanasi, the holy city. Varanasi is also famous for its trade and commerce, especially for the finest silks and gold and silver brocades, since the early days.

Varanasi has also been a great center of learning for ages. Varanasi is associated with promotion of spiritualism, mysticism, Sanskrit, Yoga and Hindi language and honored authors such as the ever-famous novelist Prem Chand and Tulsi Das, the famous saint-poet who wrote Ram Charit Manas. Aptly called as the cultural capital of India, Varanasi has provided the right platform for all cultural activities to flourish. Many exponents of dance and music have come from Varanasi. Ravi Shankar, the internationally renowned Sitar maestro and Ustad Bismillah Khan, (the famous Shehnai player) are all sons of the blessed city or have lived here for major part of their lives


Akshit Kapoor

Tulsi - The Queen of Herbs!!

Please share the knowledge... 

Referred as the “Queen of Herbs” and a symbol of purity, Tulsi or better known as Basil, is a popular household name in India. 

Worshipped in the morning and evening, many Hindu families grow Tulsi in their courtyard as it is believed to bring longevity, happiness, purify the environment and bring peace in the home. From seasoning food to herbal remedies, each and every part of this plant can be used in one way or another.

Of the two main species readily available in India, the darker form of Tulsi known as Shyama has more medicinal values than the lighter one called Rama.

Following are some benefits of Tulsi:
- Increases mental health
- High in anti-oxidants, preventing premature aging
- Flavonoids protect cells from radiation and its harmful side effects
- Effective on acne and psoriasis
- As an anti-inflammatory, it helps reduce arthritic symptoms, decreasing pain and swelling
- Reduces anxiety, depression and stress
- Relieves constipation, stomach cramps, indigestion and flatulence
- Enhances immunity in babies
- Helps reduce symptoms of cold, cough, influenza, bronchitis, asthma, sinus infections
- Prevents nausea
- Provides relief from menstrual cramps
- Reduces chances of food poisoning
- Enhances the flavour of food
- Chewing fresh Tulsi leaves or boiling them with tea reduces the effects of fever and common cold
- Heals infections of the mouth
- Used as a paste, it relieves the effects of insect bites
- Regulates blood sugar

There is interest in using Tulsi seed oil for curing cancer as research shows the oil can slow progression and improve survival rate in animals with certain types of cancer.

Considered to be a divine plant in Ayurveda, Tulsi not only has medicinal properties but also carries spiritual significance for practitioners of this ancient system of medicine. It is considered to be a reincarnation of the goddess Tulsi, who offers divine protection from all ills


Akshit Kapoor

Rath Yatra Colours: Yellow, Black and White

In the Puri Shree Jagannath Temple, the presiding deities are three siblings: Lord Jagannath, Devi Subhadra and Lord Balabhadra. On Rath Yatra day, the three siblings come out of the Shreemandir, to embark on a journey to visit their parents at the Gundicha temple, about three kilometers away. The rationale behind this is yet unclear. The temple of the two brothers and the sister is named after the consort of Lord Jagannatha, Lakshmi, who is also referred to as Shree.

One often sees a picture of Vishnu, sleeping on the Shesha Naga and served by Lakshmi in the mythical Vaikuntha Dham. Jagannath represents Vishnu and Balabhadra the Shesha Naga. In the Ramayana, the three went to the forest together as Rama, Lakshmana and Sita. In the mythical Dwapara yuga, however, there is no such account of the three embarking on a journey together. In that age, Krishna represented Vishnu, except that the former married several women and loved a multitude of damsels (the gopikas). Krishna perhaps did not want to invoke the wrath of his wives by going on a journey with brother Balarama and Rukmani, considered as the incarnate of Devi Lakshmi. In Dwapara, Krishna and Balarama together undertook a journey to Mathura to kill their tyrant uncle, Kamsa. In order to justify his romance with many, Krishna revealed to Arjuna, husband of Devi Subhadra, that He represented many in One.

The deities in Puri are painted in three different colurs: Jagannath is black, Balabhadra white and Subhadra, yellow. From science we know that white light is dispersed into seven colours and yellow is one of them. However, black is not a part of this. Hence it is distinct. It is unfathomed. In other words, Lord Jagannath is beyond all understanding and probes. All colours have finite wave lengths , implying that these are in the limits of measurement. Black does not have a wavelength, and hence beyond all measure.

Black is dark, implying absence of knowledge. Lord Jagannath is beyond all knowledge. Dark is ferocious. Thus Jagannath represents the all devouring annihilator, the Kala. In the Bhagwad Gita, Arjuna sees that the entire universe rushes into the darkness of the mouth of that all pervading entity and vanishes there. Dark is mysterious. Jagannath is more mysterious than mystery itself. Hence He is called Mayadhara, the mysterious among the mysteries.

Ram means the full moon, the bright light in the dark sky. Balabhadra is strong but gentle. He is as clear as the full moon which is bright and white. While Krishna is the mysterious incarnation of Vishnu, Balabhadra or Balarama is the non-mysterious manifest of Vishnu and transparent-absence of mystery. He is knowledge and thus either precedes the mystery or follows it. In Treta yuga he followed Vishnu as Lakshmana and in the Dwapara, he preceded Vishnu as Balarama. In Rath Yatra he precedes Jagannath in all respects.

Subhadra is yellow. Yellow means joy and happiness. Indeed Subhadra was much younger to Balarama and Krishna and was born after the wicked Kamsa’s demise. Yellow is a particularly important colour for physicists. Yellow light coming out of a sodium lamp can show bright and dark fringes in an interference experiment. Yellow represents a single colour, while white light is a combination of several colours and thus unable to show bright and dark fringes. Thus Subhadra represents the essence of both Jagannath and Balabhadra and hence is well protected by them. 

Akshit Kapoor

The Great Rath Yatra of Puri

Rath Yatra - The Chariot Festival of India

Every year in mid-summer (this year it is July 10, 2013), Lord Jagannath, with his elder brother Balabhadra and sister Subhadra, goes on vacation, travelling on grand chariots, from his temple in Puri, to his garden palace in the countryside. This belief of the Hindus has given rise to one of the biggest religious festivals in India — the Rath Yatra or the Chariot Festival. This is also the etymological origin of the English word 'Juggernaut'.

Jagannath, believed to be an avatar of Lord Vishnu, is the Lord of Puri — the coastal town of Orissa in eastern India. Rath Yatra is of great significance to the Hindus, and especially to the people of Orissa. It is during this time that the three deities of Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra are taken out in a grand procession in specially made gigantic temple-like chariots called raths, which are pulled by thousands of devotees.

Historical Origin

Many believe that the custom of placing idols on grand chariots and pulling them is of Buddhist origin. Fa Hien, the Chinese historian, who visited India in the 5th century AD, had written about the chariot of Buddha being pulled along public roads.

The Origin of 'Juggernaut'

History has it that when the British first observed the Rath Yatra in the 18th century, they were so amazed that they sent home shocking descriptions which gave rise to the term 'juggernaut', meaning "destructive force". This connotation may have originated from the occasional but accidental death of some devotees under the chariot wheels caused by the crowd and commotion.

How the Festival is Celebrated

The festival begins with the Ratha Prathistha or invoking ceremony in the morning, but theRatha Tana or chariot pulling is the most exciting part of the festival, which begins in the late afternoon when the chariots of Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhdra start rolling. Each of these carriages have different specifications: The chariot of Lord Jagannath is calledNandighosa, has 18 wheels and is 23 cubits high; the chariot of Balabhadra, called Taladhvajahas 16 wheels and is 22 cubits high; Devadalana, the chariot of Subhadra has 14 wheels and is 21 cubits high.

Each year these wooden chariots are constructed anew in accordance with religious specifications. The idols of these three deities are also made of wood and they are religiously replaced by new ones every after 12 years. After a nine-day sojourn of the deities at the country temple amidst festivities, the divine summer vacation gets over and the three return to the city temple of Lord Jagannath.



The Puri Rath Yatra is world famous for the crowd that it attracts. Puri being the abode of these three deities, the place plays host to devotees, tourists and about one million pilgrims from across India and abroad. Many artists and artisans are engaged in building these three chariots, weaving its fabric covers that dress up the chariots, and painting them in the right shades and motifs to give them the best possible looks.

Fourteen tailors are engaged in stitching up the covers that require almost 1,200 meters of cloth. Orissa's government-run textile mill usually supply the cloth needed to decorate the chariots. However, other Bombay-based Century Mills also donate cloth for the Rath Yatra.

Rath Yatra of Ahmedabad

The Rath Yatra of Ahmedabad stands next to the Puri festival in grandeur and crowd-pulling. Nowadays, there are not just the thousands of people who participate in the Ahmedabad event, there are also communication satellites which the police use under the global positioning system to chart the course of the chariots on a map on the computer screen to monitor them from a control room. This is because Ahmedabad Rath Yatra has a bloody record. The last violent Rath Yatra which the city saw was in 1992, when the city suddenly became surcharged with communal riots. And, as you know, is a very riot-prone state!

Rath Yatra of Mahesh

The Rath Yatra of Mahesh in the Hoogly district of West Bengal is also of historical repute. This is not only because it's the grandest and the oldest Rath Yatras in Bengal, but because of huge congregation it manages to attract. The Mahesh Rath Yatra of 1875 is of special historical significance: A young girl was lost in the fair and amongst many, the district magistrate Bankim Chandra Chattopadhya — the great Bengali poet and author of India's National song — himself went out to search for the girl. A couple of months later this incident inspired him to write the famous novel Radharani.

A Festival For All

Rath Yatra is a great festival because of its ability to unite people in its festivity. All people, rich and poor, brahmins or shudras equally enjoy the fairs and the joy they bring. You will be amazed to know that even Muslims participate in Rath Yatras! Muslim residents of Narayanpur, a village of about a thousand families in the Subarnapur district of Orissa, regularly take part in the festival, from building the chariots to pulling the rath.

by

Akshit Kapoor

Evolution of India's National Flag

by 
Akshit Kapoor...

It is really amazing to see the various changes that our National Flag went through since its first inception. It was discovered or recognised during our national struggle for freedom. The evolution of the Indian National Flag sailed through many vicissitudes to arrive at what it is today. Some of the historical milestones in the evolution of our National Flag involve the following: 

1906 - First Flag


-Also called Calcutta Flag or Lotus Flag
-The flag was first hoisted on 7 August 1906 at Parsee Bagan Square in Calcutta.
-This flag was composed of three colors - Green, Yellow and Red with the word - Vande Matram ( वन्दे मातरम् ) inscribed in centre.
-The red strip at the top had eight white lotuses embossed on it in a row. On the yellow strip the words Vande Mataram were inscribed in deep blue in Devanagari characters. The green strip had a white sun on the left and a white crescent and star on the right.

1907 - Second Flag

-In 1907, the second form of Indian flag was hoisted in Paris by Madam Cama and her group of revolutionaries.
-Except for a few changes, the flag was similar to the first one.
-This flag was also exhibited at a socialist conference in Berlin.

1917 - Third Flag

-The third flag went up in 1917 when our political struggle had taken a definite turn. Dr. Annie Besant and Lokmanya Tilak hoisted it during the Home rule movement.
-This was the most colorful version of the Indian flag.
-This flag had five red and four green horizontal strips arranged alternately, with seven stars in the saptarishi configuration super-imposed on them. In the left-hand top corner (the pole end) was the Union Jack. There was also a white crescent and star in one corner.
-The presence of the Union Jack, however made the flag generally unacceptable.

1921 - Fourth Flag

-During the session of the All India Congress Committee which met at Bezwada in 1921 (now Vijayawada) an Andhra youth prepared a flag and took it to Gandhiji.
-The red and green color in the flag represents two communities – -Hindus and Muslims. As per Gandhiji’s suggestion, a white strip was included which indicated other religions and communities and a spinning wheel which portrays the progress of India.
-This was the flag approved by Gandhi in 1921.
-This flag was not formally adopted by the Indian National Congress, but nevertheless widely used.

1931 - Fifth Flag

-The year 1931 was a landmark in the history of the flag. A resolution was passed adopting a tricolor flag as our national flag.
-The three colors include saffron, white and green with Mahatma Gandhi’s spinning wheel or charkha in the center.

Flag of August 15 1947 - The present flag of India

-Our National Flag, which was born on July 22, 1947 with Nehruji's words, "Now I present to you not only the Resolution, but the Flag itself".
-This flag was first hoisted at the Council House on August 15, 1947
-In the national flag of India the top band is of Saffron color, indicating the strength and courage of the country. The white middle band indicates peace and truth with Dharma Chakra. The last band is green in color shows the fertility, growth and auspiciousness of the land.
-This Dharma Chakra depicted the “wheel of the law” in the Sarnath Lion Capital made by the 3rd-century BC Mauryan Emperor Ashoka. The chakra intends to show that there is life in movement and death in stagnation.

Everyone knows Qutab Minar, how many know this??

By..
Akshit Kapoor

The Legendary Vijay Stambh of Chittorgarh

Rajasthan is one of the most beautiful states of India and is home to some of the most sought-after tourist destinations in the country. One such destination is Chittorgarh, a prominent seat of Rajput glory. The city sits majestically on the banks of Bearch and Gambheri rivers in the south east of Rajasthan. Out of its many attractions that reflect Chittorgarh’s rich past the most famous is the legendary Vijay Stambh, a prime example of splendid Rajput architecture.


History of Vijay Stambh

Vijay Stambh was built in 1440 AD by Maharana Kumbha of Mewar. He was a very powerful ruler and a brilliant tactician on the battlefield. The tower was built to commemorate the Maharana’s victory over the Muslim rulers of Gujarat and Malwa..

Architecture

The structure is 37m high with 9 storeys. It is covered with exquisite sculptures of Hindu deities, depicting some of the best scenes of Ramayan and Mahabharata. The narrow steps are a prominent feature of the Vijay Stambh. It is said that it took more than 10 years to build this structure. It has ornate windows and balconies at every storey.

On the fifth floor of the tower there are inscribed images of Jaita and his three sons Poma, Napa and Puja. At the top of the tower, the genealogy of the rulers from Hamir to Rana Kumbha is sculptured on inscribed slabs. From the terrace one can actually view the beautiful Chittogarh city and the fort.


Location of Vijay Stambh

The tower is located near the Chittorgarh Fort and is very close to the famous Mahasati river. It is built at the cremation ground which was used earlier used by the royal family members of Rajasthan. The visitors can also find a number of Sati stones placed around the tower.

History of Chess

by
Akshit Kapoor-

NOT INVENTED BY MUSLIMS OR PERSIA!! 

Have you ever played chess? Did you know that chess is the oldest skill game in the world? But chess is more than just a game of skill. It can tell you much about the way people lived in medieval times. If you look at the way a chess board is set up, then study the pieces and how they are used, you will realize that chess is a history of medieval times in miniature.

The history of chess specifically that of Western Chess, spans some 1500 years. The earliest predecessors of the game originated in India in the 6th century AD and spread to Persia from there.

Chess originated in India during the Gupta empire, where its early form in the 6th century was known as “Chaturanga” referring to the four arms or divisions which formed the typical Indian army in Vedic times: elephants, cavalry, chariots, and infantry, represented by the pieces that would evolve into the modern pawn, knight, bishop, and rook, respectively.

Both the Persians and Arabs attribute the game of chess to the Indians. In Sassanid Persia around 600 the name became shatranj and the rules were developed further. Shatranj was taken up by the Muslim world after the Islamic conquest of Persia, with the pieces largely retaining their Persian names. In Spanish "shatranj" was rendered as ajedrez, in Portuguese as xadrez, and in Greek as zatrikion, but in the rest of Europe it was replaced by versions of the Persian shah ("king"), which was familiar as an exclamation and became our words "check and chess". Murray theorized that this change happened from Muslim traders coming to European seaports with ornamental chess kings as curios before they brought the game of chess.

In ancient India, there was great concern about the prevalence of gambling games using dice. A great number of people were playing for high stakes and becoming addicted to these games of pure luck.

One day the Indian King Balhait summoned Sissa, a Brahmin known for his high analytical repute and requested him to create a game which would require pure mental skill and would hence oppose the teaching of games in which luck decides the outcome by the throw of dice. Moreover, the king requested that this new game should also have the ability to enhance the mental qualities of prudence, foresight, valour, judgment, endurance, and analytical and reasoning ability.

Sissa invented a wonderful game called Chaturanga. It was played on an ancient board named "vastu purusha mandala", which was the mythical board of 8 x 8 squares used by antic architects to design the plan of the cities. The board representing the universe was redefined by Indian players as a board game under the secular name of "ashtapada".

The game reached Western Europe and Russia by at least three routes, the earliest being in the 9th century. By the year 1000 it had spread throughout Europe. Introduced into the Iberian Peninsula by the Moors in the 10th century, it was described in a famous 13th-century manuscript covering shatranj, backgammon, and dice named the Libro de los juegos.

The next time you set up your chessboard and get ready to play a friendly game or two, think of chess as a history lesson. The pieces on the board represent a way of life that is no more, and the real life dramas that occurred in medieval times are now only a game.

Turmeric, Haldi or Haridra

by
Akshit kapoor-

Turmeric, also known as Haridra in Sanskrit and Haldi in Hindi, is a powerful healing herb that has been used in Indian Ayurvedic system of medicine since ancient times. Used both for treating several ailments as well beauty care treatment, turmeric is an integral part of Indian cooking and culture.

Traces of cultivation of turmeric have been found in Harappan civilization, dating back to around 3,000 BC. India currently produces about 90% of the world’s turmeric powder.

Almost identical to ginger in appearance and hailing from the same family, “curcuma longa” (botanical name of turmeric) can be identified by its bright golden orange colour. Peppery, warm and bitter in flavour with a mild fragrance, it is either used fresh or as dried powder.

In ancient times, turmeric was used in Ayurveda either as paste to apply on the body externally or as juice to be ingested orally, attending to both internal and external physical health. Taken as juice, it is considered to be a blood purifier and said to be beneficial in stomach ailments and other chronic illnesses. As a paste, it is used for treatment of various skin ailments like eczema, cuts and burns due to its antiseptic effect.

Research conducted on turmeric has scientists now realizing the importance of turmeric in treating modern diseases, especially for its effects on cancer. In countries such as India and Pakistan, where turmeric is incorporated in the staple diet, cancer is much less rampant than other countries where it is rarely consumed. Turmeric is considered to destroy cancer in three ways:
- Neutralizing substances and conditions that cause cancer
- Helps a cell retain its integrity if threatened by carcinogens
- If a tumour does grow, the curcumin in turmeric destroy it

To view some Ayurvedic remedies for anemia, asthma, burns, dental problems, complexion, etc.:
http://turmeric.co.in/turmeric_ayurvedic_use.htm

Bharatnatyam - World's Oldest & Most Popular Classical Dance

by
Akshit Kapoor-

Bharatanatyam is a classical dance form originating in Tamil Nadu, India. One of the oldest of the classical dance forms in India, it is also known as the fifth Veda. It started as a temple dance tradition called Dasiyattam (the dance of the maid-servants) 2000 years ago and is perhaps the most advanced and evolved dance form of all the classical Indian dance forms.

Bharatanatyam is usually accompanied by the classical music. It has its inspirations from the sculptures of the ancient temple of Chidambaram. Bharatanatyam comes from the words Bhava (Expression), Raga (Music), Tala (Rhythm) and Natya (Classic Indian Musical Theatre). In this dance form the dancers make considerable use of hand-and-eye movements to express different emotions. Today, it is one of the most popular and widely performed dance styles and is practiced by many dancers all over the world.

Bharatanatyam is considered to be a fire-dance — the mystic manifestation of the metaphysical element of fire in the human body. It is one of the five major styles (one for each element) that include Odissi (element of water), Mohiniattam (element of air), Kuchipudi (element of earth) and Kathakali (element of sky). The movements of an authentic Bharatanatyam dancer resemble the movements of a dancing flame. Contemporary Bharatanatyam is rarely practiced as Natya Yoga, a sacred meditational tradition, except by a few orthodox schools. It is a solo, lasya (feminine) type of dance, which is tender & erotic.

There are a number of musicians and instrumentalist who provide the musical accompaniment. Typically there is one or more vocalist, a person reciting the dance syllables, and a mridangam. Additionally, one usually finds violin, vina (saraswati vina), or venu (bamboo flute). There is also a thallam (manjira) which is usually played by the person reciting the dance syllables.

E.Krishna Iyer was one of those who raised the social status of Bharatanatyam and greatly popularized it. Rukmini Devi Arundale was instrumental in bringing it to the attention of the West.

At present, Bharatanatyam recitals are usually not performed inside the temple shrine but outside it, and even outside the temple compounds at various festivals. Most contemporary performances are given on the stage with a live ensemble. In popular culture, the adapted, or "semi-classical", Bharatanatyam has been exposed largely through depiction in popular movies and TV programs.

The most intriguing aspect of this dance is that its root deep into the religious and rich mythological heritage of India. Bharatnatyam, though underwent through a lot of changes has still retained its ancient quintessence. The technique, costume, style nad theme of the dance tell apart it from the other classical dances of India.

Bharatnatyam dance is renowned for its grace, purity, tenderness and sculpturesque poses.

Bhaskaracharya – The Crown Jewel of Mathematics and Astronomy

by
Akshit Kapoor-

The period between 500 and 1200 AD was the golden age of Indian Astronomy. In this long span of time Indian Astronomy flourished mainly due to eminent astronomers like Aryabhatta, Lallacharya, Varahamihir, Brahmagupta, Bhaskaracharya and others. Bhaskaracharya, or Bhaskara II (1114 – 1185) is regarded almost without question as the greatest Hindu mathematician of all time and his contribution to not just Indian, but world mathematics is undeniable. He was born near Bijjada Bida (in present day Bijapur district, Karnataka state, South India) into the Deshastha Brahmin family. Bhaskara was head of an astronomical observatory at Ujjain, the leading mathematical centre of ancient India. His father Maheshwar taught him mathematics and astronomy.

Some of Bhaskara's contributions to mathematics include the following:

-Bhaskara is the first to give the general solution to the quadratic equation ax2 + bx + c = 0, the answer being x = (-b ± (b2 - 4ac)1/2)/2a.

-He also gives the (now) well known results for sin (a + b) and sin (a - b).

-Stated Rolle's Theorem, a special case of one of the most important theorems in analysis, the mean value theorem. Traces of the general mean value theorem are also found in his works.

-Solutions of indeterminate quadratic equations (of the type ax² + b = y²).

-Bhaskara also goes deeper into the 'differential calculus' and suggests the differential coefficient vanishes at an extremum value of the function, indicating knowledge of the concept of 'infinitesimals'

Bhaskaracharya wrote Siddhanta Shiromani in 1150 AD when he was 36 years old. This is a mammoth work containing about 1450 verses. It is divided into four parts and each part can be considered as separate book. The numbers of verses in each part are as follows, 1. Lilawati has 278 2. Beejaganit has 213 3. Ganitadhyaya has 451 4. Goladhyaya has 501 verses.

One of the most important characteristic of Siddhanta Shiromani is, it consists of simple methods of calculations from Arithmetic to Astronomy. Essential knowledge of ancient Indian Astronomy can be acquired by reading only this book. Siddhanta Shiromani has surpassed all the ancient books on astronomy in India. After Bhaskaracharya nobody could write excellent books on mathematics and astronomy in lucid language in India.

Lilawati is an excellent example of how a difficult subject like mathematics can be written in poetic language. Lilawati has been translated in many languages throughout the world. Lilavati covers the topics of definitions, arithmetical terms, interest computation, arithmetical and geometrical progressions, plane geometry, solid geometry. Bhaskara's method of solving was an improvement of the methods found in the work of Aryabhata and subsequent mathematicians.

His work Bijaganita is effectively a treatise on algebra and contains the following topics: - Positive and negative numbers.
- Zero. - The 'unknown'.
- Surds.
- Kuttaka (modern indeterminate equation of first order)
- Simple equations (indeterminate of second, third and fourth degree).
- Simple equations with more than one unknown.
- Indeterminate quadratic equations (of the type ax2 + b = y2).
- Quadratic equations.
- Quadratic equations with more than one unknown.
- Operations with products of several unknowns.

Ganitadhyaya and Goladhyaya of Siddhanta Shiromani are devoted to astronomy. All put together there are about 1000 verses. Almost all aspects of astronomy are considered in these two books.

Bhaskara has given a very simple method to determine the circumference of the Earth. According to this method, first find out the distance between two places, which are on the same longitude. Then find the correct latitudes of those two places and difference between the latitudes. Knowing the distance between two latitudes, the distance that corresponds to 360 degrees can be easily found, which the circumference of the Earth.

He also showed that when a planet is farthest from, or closest to, the Sun, the difference between a planet's actual position and its position according to "the equation of the centre" (which predicts planets' positions on the assumption that planets move uniformly around the Sun) vanishes. He therefore concluded that for some intermediate position the differential of the equation of the centre is equal to zero.

A Glance at the Astronomical Achievements of Bhaskaracharya

1. The Earth is not flat, has no support and has a power of attraction.
2. The north and south poles of the Earth experience six months of day and six months of night.
3. One day of Moon is equivalent to 15 earth-days and one night is also equivalent to 15 earth-days.
4. Bhaskaracharya had accurately calculated apparent orbital periods of the Sun and orbital periods of Mercury, Venus, and Mars. There is slight difference between the orbital periods he calculated for Jupiter and Saturn and the corresponding modern values.
5. Earth’s atmosphere extends to 96 kilometers and has seven parts.
6. There is a vacuum beyond the Earth’s atmosphere.

There have been several unscrupulous attempts to argue that there are traces of Diophantine influence in Bhaskara's work, but this once again seems like an attempt by European scholars to claim European influence on (all) the great works of mathematics. These claims should be ignored. Particularly in the field of algebra, Diophantus only looked at specific cases and did not achieve the general methods of the Indians.