Stick to Your New Year’s Resolutions - Happy 2012

Have you failed in sticking to your New Year resolutions in previous years? This New Year 2012 is a great time to review your past and plan your future goals. But for any real change, there has to be a long term commitment. The first step is deep introspection about smaller changes that will help achieve bigger goals of life.

Fitness and losing weight are two popular New Year's resolutions made by many people all over the world. Starting the day early is another popular resolution. Late risers are always annoyed with their own habit of being late to start their day. People also wish to learn better time management skills for more productivity.

To reduce excessive consumption of cigarettes, alcohol, tea, coffee, alcohol or aerated drinks are also popular. The idea behind this resolution is to give up bad habits and start the year with healthier habits.

People tend to ignore their family because of hectic work schedule and job pressure. Many make a resolution to spend more time with their family or/and dear ones. Many promise to invest some time towards a noble cause by joining a social service organization or devoting more time to their existing social or charitable activities. Educating a child or planting a tree is another popular resolution.

The three important components to sticking to your resolution are "planning", "will power" and "commitment". The reason why new year resolutions fail is lack of planned approach to stick to a resolution. If by any chance you break your rule or there are few lapses, do not get disheartened. DO NOT GIVE UP. Try finding the triggers or situations pushing you back to your old habit. For systematic approach make a note of your progress – both failures and success. Do not forget to reward yourself on your success. Join a group, program or network that can help your stay committed to your resolution. It can be hard to handle many goals at once, so focus on one at a time.

I believe in this philosophy - ‘think big, start small”. Meeting smaller goals is extremely gratifying. They can uplift your spirits. Try it out :) I wish all my readers a very Happy New Year. May God give you strength to stay committed to your goals. Best of luck and Jai Maa Durge!

Use of Technology in Cricket

The use of technology has rapidly grown during the last hundred years. Cricket is no exception to the use of technology, especially, to determine the accuracy of umpiring decisions. Cricket fans keep track of interesting matches by subscribing to various sports channels, like, ESPN, NEO Sports etc. It is interesting to how the use of technology has helped cricket evolve over the years and how these channels are best utilizing it. The action replays from multiple angles, the stump vision, the statistical information bytes, the third-umpire, the wagon wheel and other visual aids, frame-by-frame replays and other technologies have improved the experience of watching the cricket match on television. They have really contributed to the popularity of cricket telecasts.

A popular infield tool available for cricket and tennis is “Hawk Eye”. This technique helps to track the path of the ball from different angles. “Hawk Eye” technology has enabled the cricketers to challenge umpires’ decisions. According to the ICC statement concerning leg-before-wicket challenges, “Hawk Eye technology could be used by the third umpire, but only for the purposes of determining the actual path of the ball up until the point that it struck the batsman and not the predictor function of the technology.” An interesting sports article by Abhilash Mudaliar on bleacherreport.com reflects how the use of technology will eliminate the biases that result not just from human error but from human nature. After all umpires are human beings and can make mistakes knowingly or unknowingly under pressure.

There are two more popular tools, Snicko and Hot Spot. Snickometer is helpful to graphically analyze sound and video, and show whether a fine noise, or snick, occurs as the ball passes the bat. Hot Spot is an infra-red imaging system used in cricket to determine whether the ball has struck the batsman’s bat or pad.

With various controversies on use of infield technology in cricket, I personally support its use. Human error can be challenged by technology that is very helpful to clear the doubts of players as well as spectators.

Jan Lokpal Bill and Anna Hazare’s Hunger Strike

The word Lokpal has been derived from the Sanskrit words "loka" (people) and "pala" (protector/caretaker) meaning 'protector of people’. The Jan Lokpal Bill is an “anti corruption bill” seeking to appoint an independent body (Jan Lokpal) to investigate corruption cases at all levels. This bill targets politicians and bureaucrats giving “Jan Lokpal” the power to prosecute those found at fault without government permission. Many Indians in India as well as overseas are passionately supporting this bill and participating in efforts to get the bill passed by the Indian government.

The Lokpal Bill has been introduced in the Parliament several times in the last 50 years. We are hopeful that this time the Jan Lokpal bill will be passed because of Anna Hazare’s hunger strike and the mass support he has generated. Anna Hazare, a Gandhian rights activist, has started a fast unto death in New Delhi demanding the passing of the bill. Anna Hazare is admired by every Indian who wants to reduce growing corruption in India. Many young Indians are supporting Anna Hazare passionately and are flashing placards with the words “I am Anna, you are Anna, now the whole country is Anna.” Anna Hazare has become a generic name for the fight against corruption in India. Bollywood stars are also on streets actively supporting Anna Hazare. Shekhar Kapur said – “Arresting Anna Hazare will rouse erratic violent behavior because he would not be able to manage it from detention centre.” Read more...

Congress and some other political groups are against Anna Hazare’s hunger strike. They say that his action threatens democracy. The Prime Minister of India said “There is no magic wand that can solve the problem in one stroke."

Anna Hazare’s main protest weapon is hunger strike. An NDTV online article said: “But his weapon is potent. In 1995-96, he forced the Sena-BJP government in Maharashtra to drop two corrupt cabinet ministers. In 2003, he forced the Congress-Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) state governments to set up an investigation against four ministers. In April this year, four days of fasting brought thousands of people out in support of his crusade against corruption. They also made the government realize it could not be dismissive about Anna Hazare and his mass appeal.”

We salute Anna Hazare’s efforts and pray to God to protect him and everybody supporting the Jan Lokpal Bill.

Fasting during Navratras - The 'fast' way to slim down

Navratras or Navratri is a Hindu festival of nine nights dedicated to Goddess Durga (“Nav” means “nine” and “ratri” means “night”). Navratras is celebrated with devotion and purity in India and other countries, where Goddess Durga’s devotees reside. The devotees of Goddess Durga celebrate this festival by visiting temples, chanting holy mantras and offering prayers. Many devotees observe fast for nine days.

A new approach to fasting during Navratri has become popular in recent times. Hindu ladies are treating Navratri as an opportunity to lose weight. They are integrating worship with slimming program. Elders are encouraging this concept as it is doubly rewarding. Firstly, the tradition of fasting during Navratras is being continued by the new generation and secondly, girls are losing weight that is considered very important for finding right groom for them.

There are various ways to fast during Navratras. Few ladies have only fruits and milk products for nine days and others include rock salt (sendha namak) with potatoes in their food.

I encourage my readers to have a balanced healthy lifestyle. This can happen when you burn more calories than you eat. It is a wonderful concept to fast and slim during Navratras but those lost pounds (kilos) can easily come back if eating healthy food and regular exercise pattern are not included in daily life. This Navratras, pray, fast and continue the slimming program by staying fit through exercise and healthy food habits.

Sai Baba Maha-Samadhi – A New Hope for Puttaparthi

The death of spiritual leader Sathya Sai Baba in April 2011 shook the foundation of Puttaparthi. The prime attraction of this town was Sathya Sai Baba’s Prasanthi Nilayam ashram. This ashram was the centre of tourist attraction. Large number of devotees from all over the world visited this town for Baba’s blessings.

Sathya Sai Baba’s death drastically reduced the number of religious visitors to this town. Residents of the town who depend on tourism face a major setback and possibility to unemployment. The Maha-Samadhi of Sathya Sai Baba has brought back some hope. A white marble Samadhi was unveiled recently - it marks the place where Sai Baba was buried in the Sai Kulwant Hall at his Prashant Nilayam ashram. When he died, his body was kept on display there for three days. A stream of VIPs from cricketer Sachin Tendulkar to politician L.K Advani had offered their last respects along with thousands of devotees.

Late Sathya Sai Baba had opened three primary mandirs in Mumbai, Hyderabad and Chennai. His organizations supported free educational institutions, hospitals and other charitable work. We can only hope that these spiritual and charitable activities continue even after his death and the mishandling of Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust is stopped.

Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple - A temple with history, legends and treasures

India is the oldest & richest civilization in the world carrying spiritual values as well as many valuable treasures from its past.

The treasure found in Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple in Thiruvananthapuram has made it the richest temple in India. This temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. The treasure comprises of thousands of kilos of gold, diamonds, precious stones and silver ornaments estimated at 90,000 crore rupees. The most precious finding so far appears to be a golden statue of the Hindu god Vishnu, studded with precious gems. A golden rope, a golden bow and golden coconut shells were among the most peculiar findings, which also included many precious bangles and necklaces, emeralds and antique silvers. (source: polipundit.com)

The vaults of the temple were opened after the Supreme Court ordered the state government to take over the assets of the temple of a trust controlled by the royal family of Travancore. There are six vaults in Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple, from A to F, and vault A and B are yet to be opened.

The most important question at present is how this treasure will be secured, preserved and conserved. Let’s see what the appointed division bench will decide.

Maa Sanjeebani Meditation Centre Construction Work Started in Golakhpur, Odisha

Maa Sanjeebani Marg is motivating people to find meaningful purposes for their lives and rebuild their lost self confidence. Devotees of Maa Sanjeebani Marg have seen positive changes in their personal, professional and family lives and have attracted many followers towards this path. Together all the devotees are trying to bring this path to the next level. Maa Sanjeebani Ashram construction is the result of the trust, love and dedication of Sanjeebani Marg's followers. The name of the Ashram is "MAA SANJEEBANI MEDITATION CENTRE". 

It's being built in Golakhpur village in Odisha. The pictures show the prayer ceremony performed on May 8 2010 at the Ashram site attended by Ashram members, devotees and villagers. They were happy to see the development work of the meditation centre.

This medication centre (Ashram) will provide shelter and opportunities to the underprivileged. In the initial years the meditation centre will benefit the villagers around this area. As you can see in the pictures, the villagers attended the prayer ceremony and were hopeful that the centre can transform their lives. Golakhpur village doesn’t have enough water supply, electricity, medical facilities and vocational trainings. This centre will try to fulfill the basic needs of the villagers. For the time being this will be a charitable centre run by the funds and donations of Sanjeebani Marg followers and members. In the coming years our efforts will be to convert this centre to a non-profitable organization helping larger group of people all around the world. People from any part of the world can feel free to visit and meditate in this centre.

I would like to thank and bless all the people who are directly or indirectly involved in any kind of honorable work. Let us thank God by being associated with organizations/people that help projects for the growth and development of the world.

Haiti Relief Efforts

The 35 seconds terrible earthquake that struck Haiti on January 12th devastated the lives of people living there. Tens of thousands of people were dead in this catastrophic earthquake, buried beneath demolished schools, hospitals and homes. Millions of residents were homeless and without any shelter. According to Haitian Government reports that between 217,000 and 230,000 people have died, an estimated 300,000 injured, and an estimated 1,000,000 homeless.

Rescue efforts began immediately after the earthquake. But there were not sufficient medical facilities to treat the injured. From January 12th Red Cross started bringing emergency assistance to the victims. Many international agencies are helping to rebuild the lives of people living in Haiti. Your contributions can help these agencies to smoothly continue their efforts.

American Red Cross: is primarily helping with emergency food, shelter and other basic needs. The author of "Banking World and Payments" said "If you want to donate money online towards the RedCross relief efforts click on this link".

CARE : is fighting global poverty, specifically by empowering women and girls. To donate to the Haiti relief fund, go to Care.org or call 1-800-521-CARE.

American Jewish World Service: This agency supports grass-roots, community-based organizations in remote locations whose needs are not always met by larger organizations. To donate to its Haiti relief efforts, go to ajws.org/haitiearthquake/ or mail a check to 45 W. 36th St., 11th Floor, New York, NY 10018. Make checks out to American Jewish World Service, and in the memo section write "Haiti Earthquake Relief Fund."

AmeriCares: is delivering medicine, medical supplies and aid to people in crisis around the world. To donate, call 1-800-486-HELP or go to AmeriCares.org.

Love a Child: is focusing on giving aid to children and their families in Haiti. To donate, go to loveachild.com, or call 1-800-645-4868.

There are several other agencies listed in this CNN article. Your volunteer work, monetary contributions and prayers can help many victims of Haiti. Support these agencies and be a part of the Haiti relief program.

Happy New Year 2010

Sanjeebani Parivar wishes all the readers a very prosperous and bright year 2010. Happy New Year!!

Hindu Villagers in Eastern Orissa Believe a Turtle as an Incarnation of Lord Jagannath

Undoubtedly this turtle is unique. On the back of the turtle there is a symbol that resembles Lord Jagannath. But according to the law of India no one can keep a turtle without a legal permission from the authority. People who do not abide with this law can be jailed for a year or can be fined. Indian villagers in Eastern Orissa are defying law by not handing over the turtle to the police. According to a priest of a temple and other villagers “Lord Jagannath has visited our village in the form of a turtle. We will not allow anybody to take the turtle away.” (Reuter)

A senior wildlife government official Mr. P.K. Behera said “We have asked the villagers to hand it over as it is illegal to confine a turtle, but they are refusing”. It is very hard for the policeman to convince villagers to hand over the turtle to the authority.

The author of “online banking” said “It will be tough for the authority to take away the turtle as the poor villagers feel that they are blessed by Lord Jagannath in the form of a reptile. This is a unique turtle and should be protected from any harm. It may be hard for the turtle to survive in a bucket of water for a long time”. The author of "crime news" said “Villagers are chanting prayers and offering fruits and flowers rejoicing this event of blessing. But they have to understand that they cannot go against law. To protect and conserve God's creation is equivalent to praying to God.”

Disney will Soon Introduce Hindu Mythological Characters in Hollywood

The heritage and culture of India are appreciated and studied by people in different parts of the world. Hindu mythology is the essence of Hinduism. With economic development, recognition of cultural diversity, study of Indian languages abroad, Hindu mythological characters have gained wide popularity. The growing demand for new concept, cultural amalgamation and creativity in the media industry has attracted Disney towards various characters of Hindu epics like, Ramayana and Mahabharata. These characters are renowned for their valor, power and ability to use celestial arms and armaments. One such character is Karna, the son of Kunti and Sun Lord, who was equipped with immense power and celestial arms by birth. Vimanika, an Indian comic company in Mumbai publishes comics based on Indian mythological characters in India and the United States of America. This company is soon starting circulation in the United Kingdom. It’s not official that Disney has approached Vimanika to bring these Hindu superheroes to films and televisions of Hollywood. Vimanika has plans to convert comics to online games and mobile games.

There are mixed reactions to this news. Hindu fundamentalists like Mr. Zyed feel that some kinds of variations will be required when presenting these Hindu mythological characters in Hollywood. It can hurt the sentiments of Hindus. On the other hand, liberal Hindus feel that introducing Hindu mythological characters to Hollywood is a big opportunity to recognize Indian heritage across the world. The author of “online banking” said “I feel introducing Hindu mythological characters in Disney would educate children and parents of various countries about the Indian superheroes. This will further glorify the true spirit of India and attract more tourists to India.” The author of “crime news” said “I very much look forward to learning more about the magnificent past of India through Indian Epics.”

Religion Helping to Tackle DUI & DWI Crimes in Chechnya

It will be wonderful if religious leaders and communities support the law enforcement system to fight against crimes throughout the world. We can already see it in Russia. In Chechnya, Russia, the mosques in the Chechen republic will publicly announce the names of drunk drivers during the Friday prayers.

Sulban Hasimikhow, press secretary of Islamic center said "“The religious center of the region and the republic’s road police declared war on those who violate traffic laws and like to drink and sit behind the wheels after that. The people must know about those who violate laws and constitute danger to other people."

The religious leaders have joined the fight against alcoholism and DUI related offences.

Fort Lauderdale DUI lawyers said "So many people around the world die or suffer serious injuries, including, brain injuries as a result of DUI & DWI accidents. Any social or religious steps taken to reduce these crimes are commendable." The author of "Online banking and payment" said, "Sometimes the fear of social ridicule works better than the fear of being behind bars. We will know if DUI cases drop down in Chechnya." The author of "Crime news" said "We look forward to seeing the results of the initiative and its impact in Chechnya."