Arulmigu Dhandayuthapani Swamy Temple, Palani

Palani has been mentioned in the Tamil Sangam Literature as Podhini, which came to be called as Palani later, according to the historions. In ;Thirumurukatruppadai ( a Sangam Literature ) Palani has been mentioned as the 3rd PadaiVeedu. This was the southern end of the Kongu Nadu and edicts refer to this place as Vaiyapuri Nadu , which was ruled by king Vaiyapuri Kopperumbaegan. Many Siddhas; are said to have lived in this region. The idol of Palani Andavar is said to have been made of Navapashanam ( a combination of Veeram, Pooram, Rasam, Jathilingam, Kandagam, Gauri Pasanam, Vellai Pasanam, Mridharsingh, Silasat), by a siddhar called Bhogar. It is also claimed by many that the materials of abhishegam like milk, sandalpaste, etc., attain medicinal properties on being poured over Lord Palaniandavars idol and they have cured many diseases, when taken by the patients. It is a speciality of Palani.

PALANI STHALAPURANAM

The History of Palani written by Balasubramania Kavirayar speaks about the glory of this place. This contains 23 chapters in 987 verses, and was written in 1628AD. The Temple Office has released a new and revised book in 1998.

The story of Lord Muruga, why He left Kailasa and came to Palani, and how Palani got its name.Lord Siva and Goddess Parvathi are seated atop Mount Kailas. One day, Lord Narada comes and gifts them a celestial fruit. The two sons of Lord Siva, namely Ganapathy and Murugan, demand the entire fruit for each of them. Siva announces a competition and promises to give the fruit to the one who wins the test. The condition is they should go round the world and reach back first. Both agree to it and Ganapathy makes a circumambulation of His parents, reaches first, and wins the fruit. Murugan who goes on his peacock around the world reaches later and finds that Ganapathy has won the prize. He therefore gets disappointed and, renouncing the world, stands atop the Palani Hill. Siva and Parvathi come to Palani and pacifies Murugan telling him Muruga, you are yourself a divine fruit ; then why do you need a fruit? Fruit, in Tamil, is called Pazham. Hence this place came to be called as Palani, as Muruga was addressed as Palam Nee. Some say that Palani got its name from Pazhanam (meaning paddy fields )

Kavadi : How kavadi tradition came to palani?

Sage Agastya wanted to take two hills — Sivagiri and Sakthigiri to his abode in the South and commissioned his disciple Idumban to carry them. Idumban bore the hills slung across his shoulders, in the form of a kavadi one on either side. When he was fatigued, he placed the kavadi near Palani to take rest. At this stage, Subrahmanya or Muruga had been outwitted in a contest for going round the world. Ganapati had won the prized fruit (pomegranate or mango) by simply going round His parents. Long after, this, Subrahmanya came sweating on His peacock to find that the prize had already been given away. In anger, the frustrated child left the divine parents and came down to Tiru Avinankudi at the Adivaram (pronounced Adivâram. It means foot of the Sivagiri Hill). Siva pacified Him by saying that He (Subrahmanya) Himself was the fruit (pazham) of all wisdom and knowledge; neeyou. Hence the place was called 'Pazham Nee' or Palani.

Later, He withdrew to the hill and settled there as a recluse in peace and solitude. When Idumban resumed his journey, he could not lift the hill. Muruga had made it impossible for Idumban to make it. In the fierce battle that ensued, Idumban was killed but was later on restored to life. Idumban prayed that: whosoever carried on his shoulders the Kavadi, signifying the two hills and visited the temple on a vow, should be blessed and he should be given the privilege of standing sentinel at the entrance to the hill. Hence we have the Idumban shrine halfway up the hill where every pilgrim is expected to offer obeisance to Idumban before entering the temple of Dandâyudhapani. Since then, pilgrims to Palani bring their offerings on their shoulders in a kavadi. The custom has spread from Palani to all Muruga shrines worldwide.

Temple An Oceanic Life Story

Bogar is a Siddhar, he is considered as one of the 18 siddhars born in the world. According to epigraphical sources and his book Bogar Seven thousand his period is around 3000 B.C. Bogar born at India and visited China in search of truth of life, he gained knowledge in medicine, astrology, spritiuality, yoga etc. Bogar anticipating that in due course of period, human beings will suffer from large number of disease. As an expert in medicine he used 4448 rare herbs and made 9 poisonous medicine, mixing these 9 poisons into one needs great knowledege and skill, to make a Master Medicine ( One medicine to cure all disease ). Thirumoolar also discuss one such Master Medicine in his book Thiru Mandiram. With the consultation of Agasthiar ( Father of Ayurvedic Medicine) and other siddhars Bogar mixed the 9 poisons ( Nava Bashanam ) and made the Master Medicine in the form of Lord Murugan which is currently worshiped at Palani Murugan temple. There is a place near Palani Hill called Thanasiappan Temple which is the place were Bogar mixed the Nava Bashanam and made the Murugan idol.

Bogar and others then decided that by using the milk and panchamirtham ( a sweet recipe ) poured on the idol, one can extract the medicine from the idol. The milk and panchamritham then becomes medicine to cure disease. After installing Lord Murugan Navabashana idol at the Palani Hill, Bogar used to worship it with milk abishegam ( pouring milk on the idol ) and panchamirtha abishegam ( pouring panchamirtham on the idol ). His disciple Pulipani siddhar then took over the job of Lord Murugan pooja after Bogar went into Nirvigalpa Samadhi - the highest samadhi stage; where the Mind dissolves with Matter and Energy.

Bogar Samadhi is inside Palani Murugan temple at Palani Hill. Actually Bogar himself constructed his samadhi exactly under the Lord Murugan Navabasha idol and went into Nirvigalpa Samadhi there. The entrance to his samadhi is a cave like structure, now also worship for this great siddhar is conducted at this entrance where he is last seen by his disciples which is at the Palani temple.

Navapashanam : The icon made by siddha Bhogar by combining nine poisonous substances (Navapashanam).

The deity of Palani is known as Dandayudhapani Swami, the Lord having the Staff in his Hand. The deity at the sanctum sanctorum is made out of an amalgam of nine minerals popularly called Navapashanam. Some people say it is a combination of medicinal herbs. It consits of the following items : Veeram, Pooram, Rasam, Jathilingam, Kandagam, Gauri Pasanam, Vellai Pasanam, Mridharsingh, Silasat. The deity is in a standing position with a baton in his hand. He has the look of a person who has renounced all worldly pomp. He has just a loincloth besides the baton. He is a mute messenger of the great precept 'Renounce all to reach Me'. The icon is unique in the whole world. It was made by siddha Bhogar by combining nine poisonous substances (Navapashanam). Murugan signifies beauty and Lord Murugan of Kurinji land is the god of Beauty and Youth

Palani-Geoghraphical Location:

India is a land of spirituality, with the vast and fertile Ganges plateau. Spanning 3214 KM south-north and 2933 KM east- west, it has an area of 32,80483sq.km.The beautiful state of Tamil Nadu is situated is the Southern region of India, with Chennai as its Capital. Palani town is 472 KM away from Chennai. It has area of 6.63Sq.KM and is located at 10.3 N and 77.3 E of the meridian. It is about 309-323 m above sea level, and has a rainfall of 560mm annually. Getting rain by the North-East Monsoon, this town is situated 10 KM away from the range of the Western Ghats on the South, called the Palani Hills. Kodaikanal a famous tourist township is situated and these hills, at a height of 2133 M. The Shanmuga River (consisting of Palar, Porundalar, Varadhamanadhi, Pachaiyar, Kallar and Kanar) flows from these hills and is 3KM away from Palani. Its length is 19KM .

Palanis temperature is 22 c - 35 c. Details of the Palani Hills The Palani Hills, famous in the Sangam Literature, has a height of 160 Meters. It has a path around it, admeasuring 2.84 KM. The Hill has 689 steps to reach the top, and is surrounded by various medicinal herbs and trees like Sandalwood ,Kadamba, etc., as also fields and groves. Important places around Palani Kodaikanal, the Queen of the south Indian Hills is situated near Palani and is an import tourist centre.

Perianayagi Amman temple, Periyavudaiyar temple, Dams at Palani Porundalaar, the garden of herbs etc., situated in an area of about 7KM radius around Palani. The Kurinji Andavar temple at Kodaikkanal is a famous shrine. There is a temple for Lord Muruga at Poomparai. The Kurinji plant which blossoms once in 12 years is seen in this area. Location of Palani The Palani temple is considered to be the foremost among Murugan temples of Tamil Nadu. Thousands of devotees come and worship here throughout the year. Apart from the people of Tamil Nadu, those from Andra , Karnataka, Kerala, etc., also come from large numbers and worship here. So the temple here always has a festival look. Lord Gnanadandayudhapani, in the form of Guru, showers his grace on the devotees. This place is situated at a distance of 56 KM from Dindigul, 472 KM from Chennai, 114 KM from Madurai, 103 KM from Coimbatore, 126 KM from Erode and 156 KM from Trichy.

Kodaikkanal is 64 KM away on the South of Palani. There is train facility to reach Palani from all the above places, except Kodikkanal, which can be reached by bus or car. As the above towns have air travel facility, visitors can reach Palani by car after reaching the above town by air from elsewhere.
Archaeological Details :The Palani Hill temple has been constructed on the top of a hill. It is said that the temple was built by a Chera King.

The Palani Hill temple has been constructed on the top of a hill. It is said that the temple was built by a Chera King.

1. EDICTS 

On the outer walls of Lord Murugas shrine there are many edicts, made by some Pandya Kings, Sadayavarman sundarapandiyan, Sadayavarman veerapandian, Veera Nanjana wudaiyar , Mallikarjuna Devarayar II and others. The edict by Sundarapandiyan is the oldest of all. He was also Known as Kongupandiyan and was the famous king of the later Pandya Dynasty . He ascended the throne in 1251 AD. From the inscriptions on the wall, he come to know that many kings have gifted lands and villages to the temple to enable the conduct of regular Poojas. In 1300 AD king Jatavarman sundrapandian gifted a village for carrying a special daily Pooja in his name. It is called Avani Vendha Raman Sandhi.

2. SCULPTURE AT THE HILL TEMPLE:

In the front Mandapam of the temple there are many beautiful and artistic sculpture pieces live Siddhas in penance, parrot, peacock, deer, Karpaga vriksha (Divine Tree ) and so on. There are also icons of Dhandayuthapani. His devotees, as also Yaali . At the entrance near the Raja Gopuram there are two nice sculpture pieces - a young lady carrying her child in the right arm and carrying a flower basket in the left; another beautiful lady , the friend of the first standing in front of her. There are pillars with Yaali in the Paaravel Mandapam. In the Ardha Mandapam there are sculptures of young, good looking damsels. They create a sense of admiration in the minds of the visitors. The Tamils belive that Murugan resides where there is beauty. The Sanctum of Dhandayuthapani Swami is full of art-work. The ceiling here having the Kodungai design speaks of the talent of the sculptors. The balcony - like structure on the outer side of this area adds beauty. Such artistic work can be seen on the pillars of Thiruvavinankudi temple and Periyanayagiamman temple. In the Navaranga Mandapam here there are two pieces the divine dance of Lord Siva and (opposite to this ) the dance of Kali after her shedding her ego .

3. PAINTING: 

In the temple walls of Periyanayaki Ammam Temple there is a beautiful ancient painting, revealing the art of singers, artists and dancers. It belongs to the Nayak period.

4. ANCIENT COINS : 

In Palani area , old coins of ancient kingdoms were also found.

The Glory of Palani :

The ancient Palani is a sacred place, praised by Saint Arunagirinathar in his Thiruppugazh and in Kandar Alankaram.

The ancientPalani is a sacred place, praised by Saint Arunagirinathar in his Thiruppugazh and in Kandar Alankaram. He says: Adored by the people of fourteen worlds, the Lord resides atop the Palani Hills In the Thiruppugazh, he praised this place as Palani that is greater than Kasi and as Palani Hill that has many miracles. He also feels sorry for his failure to start early worship of Palani. In Kandar Alankaram he regrets that he missed reading about Palani, worshipping at the feet of Muruga Devotees, calling the divine name of Muruga, offering charities and sobbing with love and joy He doubts whether there is any salvation for him. Many Tamil saints and scholars have sung in praise of the Lord of Palani.
For example: Arunagirinathar has sung 97 songs (Thiruppugazh): Dhandapani swamigal has given as Palani Thiruvayiram and Vijayagiri Velachinnavaiyam Palani Pillai Tamil . Palani Malai Vadivelar Sannadhimurai speaks of the discipline of Palani worship, the good results of this , the sacred ponds of Palani, and the Kavadi offered here. It points out the great benefits, as also the sure remedy for many ailments of the people. PLACES OF THEERTHAM Saravana poigai, near Thiruvavinangudi, and the Shanmuga River are the sacred water- sources of Palani, where the devotees bathe before worshipping at the Temple. TEMPLE TIMINGS The temple is open on all days from 6 AM to 8-30 PM. On Krithigai and other festival days it opens at 4 AM. Without any fee, all can have dharsan here.

Vallisunai:

In the Hill temple, Valli sunai considered to be the most ancient and holiest, was not properly cleaned for the part 15 Years. The Sunai was cleaned (for more then 10 days) and transformed into a cleaned Holy Sunai.

Innovation - Floating Soap & Herbal Soap

CA Vincent (Floating soap)
Kerala

Vincent observed many people taking bath in rivers and ponds loosing their soaps, which often sink in the water.

He conducted experiments in his soap manufacturing unit for about 14 years to develop this unique process of manufacturing soap that floats in water.

The soap has a density of 0.878, TFM (Total Fatty Matter) as 73 per cent, foaming stability as 0.1 cm and foaming power as 0.2 cm.

Jina Khumujam (Herbal Soap)
Manipur

This is a soap made using milk, honey, oil, caustic soda, and soap-nut. Local herbs/plants having high medicinal value and health benefits are also been added.

Record - The Negotiator, Chinnapillai

Countless flashbulbs went off almost simultaneously. Chinnapillai blinked in discomfort and clutched her sari closer, even as she tried to cope with the attention. The Vigyan Bhavan hall in New Delhi filled with thunderous applause as the women gathered there exulted for her. There were some moist eyes in the audience. Eyes that had seen Chinnapillai for the first time.

Chinnapillai comes from a small village called Pulliseri which is tucked into the Madurai district of Tamil Nadu. She is one of the five recipients of the Streeshakti award, awarded annually by the Union human resources development ministry in recognition of the pioneering work done by women in India. Though most of her compatriots would not recognise her, she has, over the last many years, been quietly organising poor and illiterate agricultural labourers of Tamil Nadu.

Chinnapillai, though, was uncomfortable with what was happening. Yet, she had taken the trouble to wear her best sari and her only pair of rubber Hawaii slippers -- wornout as they were -- in honour of the occasion. This was why she had, for the first time, travelled so far from home. It was the first time she was to see Atal Bihari Vajpayee face-to-face.

Which could be why she was overwhelmed when she saw him on the dais. She bent down to touch his feet. What happened next came as a complete shock to her. The prime minister of India, moved by her simplicity, touched her feet instead.

It was something Chinnapillai, who has been working in the fields in and around Pulliseri for nearly 40 years, was not used to. In fact, if you ever spotted a 50-year-old woman wading knee-deep though slushy fields as she went about her job of transplanting rice seedlings, you would slot her as another weatherbeaten labourer. And you would not be wrong!

It could be the reason why the hype in New Delhi did not touch her. All she wanted was to get back. To her fields. To her job as a labourer where she earned between Rs 30 and Rs 50 a day. To her friends who worked with her in organising the womenfolk, so that they would see a better day. Delhi and its ostentatiousness made her uncomfortable.

Also, back home there was hardly any winter. Here, the cold was getting to her bones. She did not even have a good shawl to protect her. Though the government did give her Rs 100,000 and a citation, it put her up in a cheap guesthouse where water seeped through the walls. It made the cold all the more unbearable.

Not that she was complaining. Back home, she lived in a thatched hut. Sometimes, when it rained outside, it rained inside too. Yet, her main concern had always been to get better wages and working conditions for her fellow labourers. It has been so for over 35 years now.

It all began because her co-workers discovered she was a good negotiator.

In her village, like in many others, farm workers -- who normally belonged to the lower castes -- would band themselves into little groups before they offered their services to the farmers, landlords and job contractors. Chinnapillai would always manage to convince the farmer that better wages not only meant a better quality of labour -- it also meant the job would get done much faster. It was not an easy task. The landlords were initially dismissive of her efforts. But she persevered until, finally, they understood what she was saying. And, with that, came loyalty and respect -- both from the landlords and her co-workers.

Her particular talent was soon spotted by an NGO called the Dhan Foundation. They were promoting a movement for women labourers that they had christened Kalanjiam (the word, in Tamil, means both granary and prosperity). Chinnapillai joined Kalanjiam as an ordinary member in 1989 and worked hard to develop individual groups at the village level. As her work began to be recognised, she graduated to becoming a member of Kalanjiam's 13 member executive committee.

She keeps underlining the fact that she is not the movement's only leader; there are many others. She also feels each member should be given due credit since Kalanjiam's success is based on the fact that it is a community organisation. Moreover, she hates the publicity she has been inundated with after this particular trip. She believes it would only serve to destroy the movement's energy.

After five years, Chinnapillai will step aside to let another woman lead Kalanjiam. The idea is to create the opportunity and the space that will allow others to contribute to the process of change. She is proud of how the movement has grown: It now has 69,033 members divided into 4,521 groups in 15 districts in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Pondicherry. All the members hail from backward areas. Each group works towards empowering its members; it ensures they are not exploited and that they develop new skills. Each group functions independently, looking at local needs and realities and focusing on the poorest of the poor.

Every day, each member sets aside a handful of rice to be used by the group whenever there is a community lunch or when some member needs food. She also contributes Rs 11 annually to support the expansion of the movement to new areas. This roughly adds up to Rs 600,000.

Together, these women have mobilised savings that has now crossed Rs 1 million. This money circulates within the organisation's members as loans, thereby protecting them from the hazard of approaching a moneylender. The members mostly use these loan amounts to generate income, to build a house, to promote a small business or for other micro-credit needs. Since they are both organised and disciplined, both banks and government organisations also look upon such groups with respect.

Kalanjiam also addresses community issues. Take, for example, fishing.

In the past, powerful landlords were normally allotted the fishing contracts for the Pullicheri village pond. This was the accepted norm until the day Chinnapillai began wondering why the poorer people, particularly the women, never got the contract. One day, she marched her group to the collector's office and told him that, just because they were poor, that did not mean they could not bid for the contract. He was only too happy to encourage them.

But the landlord did not like losing the contract. Besides having powerful political connections, he also was an influential man in the village. He hit back by denying them work in the fields. Chinnapillai was not intimidated. Her group began to look for work outside the village; there were enough people willing to employ them. The message was loud and clear: Being poor did not mean they were weak. Today, pisiculture is another source of income for the Kalanjiam women.

The next challenge was religion. Earlier, only the rich, upper caste landlords were allowed to welcome Lord Vishnu's annual procession that came from Algarkovil to Madurai. The Kalanjiams wanted to know why the poor labourers, who were also the Lord's devotees, could not welcome it. It was a question no one could answer. As a result, Kalanjiam members now proudly welcome the procession. They do not consider caste a factor. Which is why, one year, a Muslim leader welcomed the procession. She said she represented the poor labourers. No one had any objection.

Chinnapillai does not know how to read. Her writing skills are limited to signing her name in Tamil. But, as she learnt to empower herself and other women, to fight corrupt politicians, officials, landlords, moneylenders and callous bankers, she saw her confidence grow. As she moved from district to district, her perspectives broadened. "We started as a small informal group that collectively bargained for our daily wages," she recalls. "Now, we have graduated into a movement. The challenge is to spread it to all southern states. Now, we have to reach out to people who are poorer than us."

Game Zone - 2 Dirt Bike - Are you ready?

Records - Real salute to Saalumarada Thimmakka

Saalumarada Thimmakka (ಸಾಲುಮರದ ತಿಮ್ಮಕ್ಕ) is an Indian environmentalist from the stateof Karnataka, noted for her work in planting and tending to 284 banyan trees along a four-kilometre stretch of highway. Her work has been honoured with the National Citizen's Award of India.

A U.S. environmental organisation based in Los Angeles and Oakland, California called Thimmakka's Resources for Environmental Education is named after her.

Thimmakka is a native of Hulikal village in the Magadi taluk of Bangalore Rural district in Karnataka. She received no formal education and worked as a casual labourer in a nearby quarry. She was married to Chikkaiah who was a cattle herder but they unfortunately could have no children. It is said that Thimmakka started to plant banyan trees in lieu of children. The name word Saalumarada (of the row of trees in Kannada language) is how she was referred to because of her work.

Achievement

Ficus (banyan) trees were aplenty near Thimmakka's village. Thimakka and her husband started grafting saplings from these trees. Ten saplings were grafted in the first year and they were planted along a distance of 4 kilometres near the neighbouring village of Kudoor. Fifteen saplings were planted in the second year and 20 in the third year. She used her own meager resources for planting these trees. The couple used to carry four pails of water for a distance of four kilometres to water the saplings. They were also protected from grazing cattle by fencing them with thorny shrubs.

The saplings were planted mostly during monsoon season so that sufficient rain water would be available for them to grow. By the onset of the next monsoons, the saplings had invariably taken root. In total, 284 trees were planted, and their asset value has been assessed at around 1.5 million rupees. The management of these trees have now been taken over by the Government of Karnataka.

Awards

For her achievement, Thimmakka has been conferred with the following awards and citations:

§  Nadoja Award By Hampi University- 2010

§  National Citizen's award - 1995

§  Indira Priyadarshini Vrikshamitra Award - 1997 (Vrikshamitra="friend of trees")

§  Veerachakra Prashasthi Award - 1997

§  Honour Certificate from the Women and Child Welfare Department, Government of Karnataka

§  Certificate of Appreciation from the Indian Institute of Wood Science and Technology, Bangalore.

§  Karnataka Kalpavalli Award - 2000

§  Godfrey Phillips Bravery Award - 2006.

§  Vishalakshi Award by Art of Living Organisation

Current activity

Thimmakka's husband died in 1991. Today, Thimmakka is invited to many afforestation programs in India. She has also been involved in other social activity like constructing a tank to store rain water for the annual fair held in her village. She also has a dream of constructing a hospital in her village and a trust has been set up for this purpose.

Innovation - Pepper thresher

P K Ravi (Pepper thresher)
Kerala

As compared to other conventional threshers, Ravi's thresher can be operated both automatically and manually with higher output and minimal damage.

The Spices Board (Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Govt. of India) has recognised his innovation and included it in the Board's subsidy scheme.

About 100 kg pepper can be threshed in a one HP machine in ten minutes (60 kg in a HP version). It consumes 3/4 electric units per hour, has threshing efficiency 90 per cent and the damage is about 2-3 per cent.

INDIAN FIVE-YEAR-OLD LIMBOS HER WAY TO SKATING RECORD - VIDEO

A flexible five-year-old from Maharastra in Indian has whizzed her way into the record books after setting a new benchmark for the farthest distance limbo skating under cars.

Kindergarten student Shreeya Rakesh Deshpande skated under 27 cars, covering a whopping distance of 48.2 metres (158ft 2in) during a successful world record attempt last week in Kolhapur.

GWR representative Nikhil Shukla was on hand to confirm that a new record had been set and presented Shreeya with her well-earned certificate as local press and her proud parents looked on.

An event celebrating Shreeya's achievement was organised later the same day in her hometown, with well-wishers once again treated to a demonstration of her amazing talent for limbo skating.

Shreeya's feat beats the previous record of 38.68 metres (126 ft 11 in) set by Rohan Ajit Kokane in February in Mumbai last year during filming for the TV show Guinness World Records - Ab India Todega.

University of Illnois husks a new world record

The students at the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign, Illinois, USA broke the record this week for most people husking corn with 3,463 new students husking simultaneously.

Previously, the record for the most people husking corn was 351, achieved at an event organised by Knott's Berry Farm (USA) in Buena Park, California, USA.

The director of dining services, Dawn Aubrey, is credited with coming up with the idea for the University of Illinois to try their hands at it.

"The students now have something really special and unique to memorialize their convocation that no other freshman class has," said Dawn, "They're all excited and starting to post messages on Twitter already."

Plans for a 2013 record attempt are already being considered.

The record attempt was a nod to the university's agricultural history, as super sweet corn was invented by John Laughnan, a professor at the University of Illinois.

After the corn had been husked, it was served for dinner in the university housing's dining halls.

Innovation - Milking machine

Raghav Gowda (Milking machine) Karnataka

Finding skilled labour for milking a small herd of cows is a problem faced by many farmers.

But using machines for milking is a luxury which only a large farm or a dairy house can afford. Raghava decided to develop some method of milking, which would be affordable for all farmers.

The result: an easy to operate and low cost milking machine that can milk 1.5-2 litre of milk per minute.

The machine can be used to remove all the milk from the udder. The cow feels as if it is being suckled and does not experience any pain.

Mahatma Gandhi Look a likes Set New World Record In INDIA

An inspiring 485 underprivileged children walked in the footsteps of a political icon in Kolkata, India last week, when they successfully set a new world record for the largest gathering of people dressed as Mahatma Gandhi.

The attempt formed part of a peace march organized by the charity TRACKS (Training Recourse and Care for Kids) as part of the commemoration of Martyrs' Day, which marks the anniversary of Gandhi's death in 1948.

Inspired by the work of Mother Teresa, TRACKS, is a registered Public Charitable Trust, managed by Trustees in UK and India that has been working to rehabilitate single mothers and their children from Howrah Station, Kolkata, since 1991

There are currently over 2,000 homeless people living at the station, with generations of families having been born there, and many more children arriving from neighbouring regions every day.

'Mahatma' Gandhi was born in 1869 and was an inspirational leader of India. Known for his non-violent means to achieve his goals, he led the Indian independence peaceful movement, which resulted in the independence of the country in 1947.

The children who took part in the attempt were all aged between 10 to 16 and walked as a group  along Kolkata's Mayo Road until they reached the Gandhi Statue which stands as a tribute to his morals and ethics.

The youngsters had been taught about Gandhi's philosophy in schools by a group of volunteers during the weeks leading up to the event, ensuring that they were aware of who they were representing for the record attempt.

Michael Anthony who runs the NGO and who organised the record attempt along with Sumit Bhatts said:

"I am myself a Gandhi follower. This peace march is meant to inculcate Gandhi's values and messages in poor children. We don't want the underprivileged kids to forget the rich legacy of Gandhian ideology,"

Gandhi's granddaughter Usha Gokani, also took part in the peaceful march which was named 'RISE Up'.

She said: 'It's a great feeling. When my children heard of the effort they incited me to come to Kolkata. They said it may be a bit tiring for you, but the trip would be worth making. I now know they were right. I am moved by the passion for the father of the nation displayed by these children.'

Official adjudicators from Guinness World Records Andrea Banfi and Lucia Sinigagliesi had flown out from London to Kolkata to witness the attempt along with GWR's representative from India Nikhil Shukla.

The attempt was executed perfectly, with all 485 boys finely dressed in the Gandhi attire as outlined in the rules for the record, with each child wearing a white, dhoti-style garment, bald head (real or false), moustache (real or false) , and a pair of small circular eyeglasses , ensuring all those who took part gained entry into the Guinness World Records family.

Innovation - Bicycle Weeder

Gopal Bhise (Bicycle Weeder) Maharashtra

Bhise has fixed a rod with a blade at the end, to an assembly consisting of only the front wheel and the handle of a bicycle.

He has named the assembly as 'Krishiraja', and claims it to be extremely efficient in removing weeds from hard land.

It is very useful device for ploughing/inter culture operation in very small farm plots, gardens and kitchen gardens. One can cover 0.08 hectare in one hour.

Records - Longest Anamorphic Painting

The longest anamorphic painting measures 106.3 m (348 ft 9 in) and was created by Joe Hill of 3D Joe and Max (both UK) and unveiled at West India Quay, London, UK, to celebrate Guinness World Records Day, on 17 November 2011.

Innovation Zone - Bullock operated sprayer

Radhey Shyam Sharma (Bullock operated sprayer)
Madhya Pradesh

Bhanjibhai Mathukia (Gujarat)

The bullock operated sprayer is pulled by a pair of bullocks and gets the drive from the ground through a gear box and belt pulley system.

When the operator shifts the lever to a higher gear, the frequency of strokes of the pump increases as a result of which more pressure develops in the container. The spray fluid, thus, atomizes into fine droplets with a wider swath.

This sprayer considerably reduces time requirement as compared to manual spraying and also the drudgery and health hazards involved in manual spraying.

Lesson from Sachin Tendulkar behavior

Germany's Sonnenschiff solar city

Germany's Sonnenschiff solar city produces 4 times more energy than it consumes!

World Record German Solar Power Plants

German solar power plants produced a world record 22 gigawatts of electricity per hour ~ equal to 20 nuclear power stations at full capacity ~ through the midday hours last Friday & Saturday.

Innovation Zone - Hand operated water lifting pump

Note:- Use select language option, you can read your language this article.

N Sakthimainthan (Hand operated water lifting pump)
Tamil Nadu

Sakthimainthan built his hand operated water pump in response to a dearth of available pumps that could be afforded by small farmers.

He built five prototypes over a period of fifteen years before finally perfecting his design.

The resulting water-lifting device is operated by the continuously rotating a handle. It is simple in design and has a high discharge at low cost compared to the motorized pumps and conventional hand pumps.

The pump has discharge of 20,000 lph at 0.75 m head. The unit has also been tested by TNAU, Coimbatore and improved by CMERI Durgapur. It is useful device for drainage as well.

If you like this post then share your friends and join this site (Click "Join this site" button)

World Super Scientist’s – APJ. Abdul Kalam

The Missile Man – APJ Abdul Kalam Scientist

Scientist APJ Abdul Kalam father’s ambition was to see APJ Abdul Kalam as the collector of a district in Tamil Nadu but when the post of presidentship (first citizen of India, highly respected honour) was conferred on Kalam, the father’s joy knew no bounds, i.e. he was overwhelmed by jubilation.

Dr. Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam was born on 15-10-1931 in Rameshwaram, Tamil Nadu, India.

Scientist APJ Abdul Kalam studied in St. Joseph’s College in Tiruchirapalli, did his course of Aeronautical Engineering in the Madras Institute of Technology, underwent training in Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), Bangalore and NASA in U.S.A.

1963 to 1982 He served the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) in various capacities. Scientist APJ Abdul Kalam was responsible for sending Rohini satellite into the earth’s orbit using SLV-3.

• In 1982 Scientist APJ Abdul Kalam became Director, Defence Research Development Laboratory (DRDL), Hyderabad.
• Scientist APJ Abdul Kalam was entrusted with the organization of “Integrated Guided Missiles Development Program (IGMDP).”
• Scientist APJ Abdul Kalam was responsible for the flight-testing of the missiles – Prithvi, Trishul, Akash, Nag and Agni.
• In 1992 Scientist APJ Abdul Kalam took charge as scientific adviser to the Defence Minister, Government of India; devised the Arjun Tank.
• 1999 to 2001 Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India.
• Scientist APJ Abdul Kalam along with Dr. B. Soma Raju, cardiologist designed the “Kalam-Raju Stent”, a device to be placed in coronary arteries, at a comparatively modest price.
• Wings of Fire (1999), his popular book.

Scientist APJ Abdul Kalam Honours & Awards

• Padma Bhushan, 1981
• D.Sc. {Honoris Causa), Anna University of Technology, 1982.
• Padma Vibhushan, 1990.
• Bharat Ratna, 1998.
• In 2002 he became the President of India.
  Scientist APJ Abdul Kalam leads a simple life – ‘simple living and high thinking.’ He is a boon to our Country/Nation.
  Values are ultimate in life. Truth always triumphs. One should discipline his thoughts, words and deeds.
• Scientist APJ Abdul Kalam is a true follower of Gandhiji. He says, “Bhagavad Gita Tala Rata

Some of Scientist APJ Abdul Kalam’s Exhortations

• Low aim is a crime.
• Strength respects strength.
• Youth are pillars of the Nation.
• Change is progress and hence change is the challenge.
• Get into action and try to excel.
• Always assess your worth only by the value of your contribution.
• Nation is bigger then the individual.
• Spiritual wisdom is our strength.
• Efforts and endeavour are man’s duty.
• Use technology for the service of mankind.
  Wakeup, takeup, makeup and that is the way to come up.

"Knowledge is Power" 

"One must live in deeds, not in years"

Thanks to winentrance.

Innovation Zone - Reaper windrower machine

If you interested these kind of post then join the site. Click "Join this site" button

Bhagwan Singh Dangi (Reaper windrower machine)
Madhya Pradesh

Many times, in a standing crop, soybean pods shatter due to non-availability of labourers for harvesting the crop in time, leading to reduced yield and loss. To solve this problem Bhagwan Singh decided to develop a reaper windrower machine.

This device has three different units namely, cutting unit, which consists of cutter bar, reel unit for pushing the standing crop towards the cutter bar and gathering unit to windrow the crop at centre of the machine thus making it easy to handle/transport to the threshing floor.

It reduces manpower requirement and the drudgery involved in the harvesting process. The machine has 7 ft width of operation and can cover 0.4 hectares per hour. While operating this machine, fuel consumption of tractor is 2.5-3 litres per hour.

First ever integrated solar power tile

 

First ever integrated solar power tile launched in Kochi,Kerala

The Amrita Centre for Nanosciences has come out with what is billed as the world's first integrated solar power storage tile using super capacitor.

It has been named 'Amrita Smart' and was launched on Friday at the ongoing International Conference, NANOSOLAR 2012, organised by the Amrita Centre for Nanosciences at the Amrita Institu

te of Medical Sciences.

The product has been developed at the Amrita Centre by its team of 40 researchers headed by Shanti Nair and Vinod Gopal.

Amrita Smart is a combination device of a solar cell and a battery that can be used to power devices even at night. The patented concept uses special electronics to integrate the solar cell with the storage device.

The products are capable of charging a laptop or a mobile phone and their use can be extended for building integrated solar storage and usage (home use) at night without the need for expensive battery systems.

These solar modules, when exposed to sun for four hours, can later charge the laptops and mobile phones in two hours and can have seven days' storage capacity.

The product would weigh 200 gms and is expected to be marketed in one to two years. Shanti Nair said that energy generation and storage must go hand in hand.

"The development of the solar storage tile is a milestone in nanosolar aided research and in the field of renewable energy sector," said Nair..!!

 

Cartoon Zone

Today Zone:

Ilayaraja Musical Zone

Game Zone

Happy Independence Day

About Ramzan

 Coming with the new moon, the festival marks the end of 'Ramadan' - a month when Muslims fast throughout the day and eat only at night Prayers, feasts and family get- together are the major highlights of the celebrations. It was during this month that the holy Koran was revealed. Eid means recurring happiness or festivity. Eid is celebrated in India with much enthusiasm and fervor and Muslims from all strata of life can be seen adorned in beautiful new clothes, visiting the mosques to attend Salatul Eid (Eid prayers). Greetings of "Eid-Mubarak" or "a blessed Eid" are exchanged.

   A very important aspect of eid is the charity, which all the Muslims are expected to extend to the needy. Earlier, this was in the form of gifts in kind but now cash is given to the needy. The first Eid of the year is known as "Eid Al Fitr". Al Fitr literally means breaking of fast. Thus Eid Al Fitr is celebrated on the first day of Shawaal, the tenth month in the Muslim calendar, to mark the end of a month long fast during the month of Ramadan. As the third "pillar" or religious obligation of Islam, fasting has many special benefits. Among these, the most important is that it is a means of learning self-control. Due to the lack of preoccupation with the satisfaction of bodily appetites during the daylight hours of fasting, a measure of ascendancy is given to one's spiritual nature, which becomes a means of coming closer to Allah. Ramadan is also a time of concentrated worship, reading of the Quran, purifying one's behavior, giving charity and doing virtuous deeds.

   The secondary objective of fasting is a way of experiencing hunger and developing compassion for the less fortunate, and learn to be thankful and appreciative for all of God's bounties. Fasting is also advantageous to the health and provides a break in the cycle of rigid habits.

   Eid Al Fitr is a day of joy and thanksgiving. On this day, Muslims show their joy for the health, strength and opportunities of life, which Allah has given them to fulfill their obligations of fasting and other good deeds during the month of Ramadan. It is considered unholy to fast on this day. It is also a day of forgetting old grudges and ill feelings towards other fellow men. The second important Eid celebration is called "Eid Al-Adha".

   Although only the pilgrims in Makkah can participate in the Hajj fully, all the other Muslims in the world join with them by celebrating Eid Al-Adha, or "Celebration of Sacrifice." On the 10th day of Dhul-Hijjah, the last month of the Islamic calendar, Muslims around the world celebrate this feast of commitment, obedience and self-sacrifice to Allah. They wear their nicest clothing and attend Salatul-Eid (Eid Prayer) in the morning. This is followed by a short sermon, after which everyone socializes. Next, people visit each other's homes and partake in festive meals with special dishes, beverages, and desserts. Children receive gifts and sweets on this happy occasion. In addition, like the pilgrims in Makkah, the Muslims, who can afford to do so, offer domestic animals, usually sheep, as a symbol of Ibrahim's sacrifice. The meat is distributed for consumption to family, friends, and to the poor and needy. Prayers are offered in mosques and Idgahs and elaborate festivities are held.