Sri Bhuvanendran:AN EXPERIENCE OF MINE

AN EXPERIENCE OF MINE
(By Sreekandath Gopala Menon, M.A)

[The author of this article is a physics professor of Travancore University College. We are publishing this only because it is a narrative of the experience of a respected person possessing very deep knowledge and extraordinary research talents in physics.-Editor. Kerala Kaumudi.](This piece appeared in the Keralakaumudi daily of Dec.20, 1951)

Careful examination or scrutiny of what they see and hear is a habitual behaviour of scientists. There are numerous evidences for the operation of certain miraculous powers, beyond the realm of human mind, around us. One of my experiences is an example for this truth.

One can reach the Nair house of Cherukal Puthern Veedu (by foot), half a mile northward from the road junction of Eruthurkada, just beyond 27th mile stone in Thiruvananthapuram-Nagarcoil road. I had gone to that house on Tuesday and Friday of the last week. The intention of my visit was to put, the miracles taking place in that house day after day, under scientific observation. I was accompanied by Sri.Govinda Kaimal, a traffic inspector, who is one of my relatives.

We reached Cherukal Puthen Veedu by 9 P.M on Tuesday night. Items for the ceremonial offering ( puja) were found arranged inside a temporary thatched shed in front of that old house with a roof of plaited coconut leaves. A number of persons including Sri. Varinjam Raghavan Pillai who accepted Sanyas, were chanting reciting hymns. There were also a large number of visitors. After some time, the chief puja performer brought a boy wearing a blue shirt and knickers of silk and laid him on his back upon a bed placed in the center of the temporary thatched shed constructed for performing ceremonial offerings. The boy was deep asleep. The eyes and eyebrows of this eye-catching boy of about six years old were highlighted with collyrium; along with a decorative dot adorning his forehead.

They beautified and decorated the boy’s body with garlands of flowers in a manner very much similar to ritual of worship of any deity. Along with the chanting of hymns, the crowd began the worship of the boy like rotating or waving lighted lamps following the traditional worship conducted in a temple. At the conclusion of the ritual of waving of flames of camphor, the people assembled there reverentially saluted by touching the camphor flame.

The boy was still in slumber without showing any movement of his body throughout the entire duration of the period of ceremonial worship that extended over one and half hours. I could witness the devotees of this boy who considered him as a divine boy, including his grandmother, prostrating themselves in adoration. After the completion of the ritual worship the flowers that adorned the child and vibhuti were distributed among the devotees present there, as ‘prasadam ’.

Soon afterwards the body was taken into a small bedroom of about 12 feet by 8 feet, but without a ceiling and laid him there. This is his bed room. This room has two doors, one at its western wall and another at its eastern wall and a small window on the western wall. At the southeastern corner of the room there is a stone symbol – ‘Atma Lingam ’ installed by the boy himself. The worship related rituals of this idol is done by the boy himself.

Throughout every night, apart from the mother and the grandmother of the child, two or three visiting women choose to remain in this bedroom. After closing of the both doors (fitted with locks of wooden bolts), the lighted stand-lamp (nilavilakku) is put off. During night, the visiting women devotees occupy the quadrangle or yard or patio on the western side of the boy’s bedroom and in the ‘Thaiveedu’, while the male devotees slept in the shed on its western side. I and Kaimal remained awake throughout the night expecting many things. I was told that either at midnight or just before the day break the sound of “ Om Ghara” can be heard emanating from the bedroom followed by the sound of recitation of hymns while both doors open on their own accord. I was also informed that the sounds come from an invisible person – a maharshi, named ‘Jatadhari’

Until the midnight of Tuesday there were no voices from any incorporeal or invisible beings. As we have to start our return trip before 4 A.M in the early morning we could not spend any more time there. However, I received a message before Friday noon noting that at about 5 A.M in the morning voice of an invisible being could be heard which started with an “om ghara” and followed by recitation of two lines of a hymn and disappeared after the informing that it would be visiting the place the following night. The message also noted that as it was a very unusual to announce in advance of its arrival, it is definite that voice of incorporeal being could be heard there on Friday night.

As some others were also notified the contents of the message we, together with Sri. Pala Gopalan Nair, Lecturer in Intermediate College, Trivandrum, his mother-in-law and some other persons, reached there before 8 P.M. The ritual of worship has started well before the routine time on that evening, I was told that the visitors present there witnessed, incidents of anointing or consecration by pouring water over the stone symbol or idol installed inside the bed room by an invisible being and appearance of spontaneous flames in the camphor lamp.

Like other days, the boy was taken inside the bedroom and the doors were locked. The mother-in-law of Pala Narayanan Nair was one among the women who choose to remain inside the room. After some time, we were taken near the window of that room. Inside that pitch darkness in the room we could notice a white brilliant shine resembling that emanating from gems of diamond of about the size of one rupee coin – very similar to that from a mercury arc light. The brilliance increased and decreased in its intensity periodically. I could also see the people who were present outside the house entering the bedroom one by one, after opening the closed door, to witness the strange incident. I carefully observed whether it was the rays of the moon shine that penetrated through the holes in thatched roof and reflecting from the forehead of the boy. My assumption was proved incorrect. Later the radiance transformed itself and attained the shape of a flame of a wick-stand-lamp (nilavilakku), intermittently radiating white bright flash light. Afterwards, the brightness changed to deep red colour having the size of a one rupee coin. Both Gopalan Nair and Kaimal were observing all these.

Later there was an authoritative assertion to light the lamp. No one knew from whom that command came. . With the lighting of the lamp, people came into that room and reverentially prostrated before the child sleeping on his belly. Thereafter the doors were closed and the women went back to their seats around the bed of child. After some moments the heavy sound of “Om Ghara’ could be heard. Various hymns containing words of Tamil, Malayalam and some other unknown language- recitation originating inside the room- began to be heard. I could hear the words Bhuvanendra Deva and Prabhakara in melodious and loud appellations.

The door opened itself while the recital of the hymns was going on and while everyone out side was watching it was again closed without any outside agent. No one could observe any one there with material or in corporeal form. As per the ethereal announcement that there would be yet other incorporeal voices, we could hear the sound of “Om Ghara” and recitation of hymns by about 5.30 A.M in the morning. When we enquired (about the events) with the women who were present in that room in the night they noted that they were unable to trace the person from whom the voices came out during the incidents and also that they could not feel or see anyone with tangible physical body entering the room from outside. We who were remaining outside could neither see anyone leaving that room. I did not make any attempt to carefully scrutinize the interior of the room with the aid of a torch light.

The boy woke up in the morning and came outside. I could not see any weariness on his nice/gentle face. Infrequently a smile magnetically attracting the heart towards him radiated from his face with serious expression and with eyes looking aimlessly. He never looked fixedly or intently at anyone. Any one will be desirous of gazing indefinitely at the splendour and expressions of emotional fluctuations of his face.

Devotees consider the boy as ‘Kalki’ or incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Bhagavan Jatadhari has noted this fact. There are several people who have witnessed the inexplicable incidents of showering of flowers over the body of the boy, in addition to the kalabham and bhasmam , while visiting and touring temples.

The splendour we have experienced and voices we have heard there are subjects of wonder. For photographing of that splendour of the child .and recording of those incorporeal voices, if the consent of the ethereal being is obtained we could make a request to do so and would have received an answer .My friends are ready to make such an attempt. Numerous miracles associated with this boy are described in the book entitled”Bhuvanendra Khadgi” authored by Sri Varinjam Raghavan Pillai.

What we have witnessed there is manifestation of some unknown and inexplicable power.

[This is a very much a word by word translation of the original Malayalam article which appeared in one of the leading Malayalam newspapers- The Kerala Kaumudi dated 20th December, 1951, Translators: Thrivikramji and Mohanakumar]

Thiruvattar Balan Pillai and the Neovillupattu

Thiruvattar Balan Pillai and the Neovillupattu.


Thiruvattar Balan Pillai (1910-1992), the originator of Malayalam villupattu- more aptly called Neovillupattu, and its lead artist, worked for the Special Armed Police (SAP) force of erstwhile Travancore state and later Kerala. He joined the Police force, when the Travancore State’s army to which he belonged, was disbanded after Indian Independence.

Balan Pillai’s Neo-villupattu performance in scores of venues in the early decades of second half of the last century, still lingers in the minds of at least a small group of connoisseurs. In fact, many of the fans vanished from the earthly scene. On account of the glittering-stage-performance of the team and the story lines or themes that they chose to deal with, the Neovillupattu attained the status of a legend and heritage in the scene of Malayalam art and culture.

Balan Pillai created this stage show of the neovillupattu by refining or redefining the villupattu which is truly a group act or team show, native to the neighboring state of Tamil Nadu. Villupattu as practiced Tamil Nadu, is a dramatized performance by a team of say six or seven artists all of whom are seated on the stage and in two rows. The leader narrates a story of a king or Hindu god as answers to questions/comments made by one or other member of the team. The rendering both in verse as well as poetic prose, is very loud and lively. A turban and dhoti is the only outfit. Facial makeup basically was application of sandal wood paste on the forehead, upper arms and the chest.

The name villupattu originated from the lead instrument, the villu which is not shaped like a bow. Structurally, it is a long wooden pole of say 7-8 ft length, with a uniform cross section of 2.0-2.5” except at the ends, where firmly fitted decorative brass caps are drawn into eye holes facing each other. The rod is adorned with a set of tight fitting brass rings (placed at uniform spacing), and drawn into eye holes to which are hung bunches of jingling bells and chilankas.

A word about Chilanka. It is a hollow sphere shaped casting in bell metal, partly filled with half a dozen or so metallic balls, larger in size than the narrow slit at one end and like in a bell, an eye hole at the opposite end to enable secure fastening.

During the concert, team members sit in two rows - one behind the other, wearing only a costly head scarve and equally expensive costly mundu. In the front row are seated the leader at the right hand end, and the three other artists who literally support the Villu, which sort of rests partly on the neck of a large-fired-mud-pot (about 18” in dia. and whose mouth faces the artist) placed roughly at the middle and at the firm grip of hands of one or two artists seated to the left. The leader readies the villu by tying a fine rope to the villu and the other end to one of the big toes. The artist at the center and seated behind the large red pot, uses a fan cut out of leaf-petiole-sheath of arecanut palm, to rhythmically beat on the mouth of the pot to make a deep bass sound..

Villlu is readied for concert, by tying-taut a rope between the ornamental-brass-ends. The leader also has a pair of special wooden-needle-like-drumsticks of about 15” long and crafted and decorated fashionably with clasps, highlights and trims of brass. Each stick is fashioned by turning in a lathe like machine and the finished needles are driven more than half way through the center of split-hollow-spheres of brass before attaching clasps for the firm grip and trims at the tips.

The team leader holds the drumsticks by the clasps, and rhythmically hits the taut sting and the villu, to make the bells and chilankas jingle loudly. Maestros like Thiruvattar Balan Pillai, will juggle the sticks skillfully and artistically keeping the audience spell bound. In fact, the audience in the dim light will not miss the reflective brass in the bright stage lights or the costume adorning artists of the team or their facial expressions.

Pillai assembled a team of (both civilians as well as SAP service men) artists for the villupattu stage show. Some of the distinguished members were, stage actor Thoppil Ramachandran Nair (Nedumangad), Sankarankutty Nair (Sreekanteswaram, Trivandrum), Thankappan Nair (Ambalammukku, Trivandrum) and Achuthan (Oolampara, Trivanrum),

The theme of the first neovillupattu was the development agenda of the first five year plan. As the trio of Mannathu Padmanabhan, makkappuzha Vsudevan Pillai and MP Manmathan, was depicted in the story, naturally, Pillai received special the accolades.

The story of “Velu Thampi Dalava” took Pillai’s team to the peak of honour and popularity in the state. Yet another equally powerful crowd catcher was “Kochu Seetha” Though, M/s KG Sethunath and KV Thikkurisi created the prose and verses of the story, it was Pillai’s tuning and narration style that took the neovillupattu to greater heights.

Biographic sketch of Thiruvattar Balan Pillai
Pillai was born to the couple Sri Chitharal Sankara Pillai and Eswari amma, in the village of Chitharal, on the right bank of Kuzithura ar and 4 km south of Arumana and about 4 km westerly of Thiruvattar. Thikkurissi Sukumaran Nair, a famous cine artist of last century and a lad from the neighbouring village of Thikkurissi was a contemporary of Balan Pillai and contributed immensely in the neovillupattu venture.

(compiled by thrivikramji@gmail.com)

Do not expect much

Do not expect much from a wrongly collected water sample?.
thrivikramji@gmail.com

This reaction is to correct some wrongs we saw this late afternoon in the TV screen, about a ministerial inauguration of water sampling for laboratory analysis and covering all the rivers of Kerala.

We, the public saw Mr. PJ Joseph, minister for PWD, inaugurating water sample collection (happened in the shores of Karamana Ar.) as part of a project to monitor water quality of the Kerala Rivers. The program inaugurated deals with the physical, chemical and microbiological monitoring of samples of water from all the 41 west flowing and 3 east flowing rivers. My contentious point is regarding the 1st step in the program, i.e., the collection of water sample. The basic assumption of sampling process is that the sample shall be representative of the whole.

On the contrary the visuals showed, the minister bending down and dipping a near white polyester cup from the river shore, to gather enough water to be a sample of the whole at the sampled transect in the Karamana Ar.

As a student of science - river science if you wish to call me that way- I had umpteen number of opportunities for collection of water samples from streams/rivers of Kerala, strictly following the principles of sampling of river water.

The name of the game is collecting a sample at a point where the water is well mixed, so that the sample collected will be a sample by definition. If the flow depth is larger three samples –one from the surface, one from the near bottom and third from a depth in between the first two- are collected. The storage and transport of the samples are yet another story. The ambient temp of the water in the site is to be maintained the sample container during transport and storage.

The samples of water collected from the river shore are undoubtedly far from satisfactory for water quality monitoring. Unfortunately all these basic norms of water sample collection are violated in the inauguration of the project, giving the wrong idea to the informed public regarding the collection of water samples from rivers. Unfortunately, the CWRDM (Kozhikod) also follows a procedure in water sampling, very much similar to what we saw in the TV screen this evening.

I am sure that the minister is not to be blamed for the erroneous procedure. Instead, the blame squarely rests on the scientists/technologists who advised the minister about water sampling from streams/rivers. In fact, tomorrow onwards several water samples will be collected without any worth and so I suggest if your “Hindu” can correct the wrong please do not hesitate.
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Science wins always

Science wins always

Sasthram jayikkunnu; manushyan tholkunnu enna slogan came to my mind when I saw a report in today,’ on the sand mining at Aruvikkara recently launched by the government as a solution for a host of problems, viz. raising the capacity of the reservoir, providing jobs under the JNREGS and to supply sand to the sand starved construction sector through the “Kalavara” stores. Indeed a noble idea. What morer one would expect from a democratic government?

Only trouble was that it went against the basics of geological sciences viz., the chemical weathering which is governed by the second law of thermodynamics. The objections raised were not addressed by the government anyway. The govt instead went along with its own instinct ignoring the science of sand formation in nature. Surprisingly to day in a camera straight Mr. Premachandran quoted the 30:70 rule of quartz to other minerals in the rocks, pretending to be following the science of sand. I would correct the number by 27:73 instead. The govt. by being what it is, can always ignore and blackout the aspects of science; whether it is Athirapally or Sand mining from reservoirs.

The campaign was launched as a solution to remedy at least partly the scarcity of construction sand locally, to enlarge the reservoir capacity and to provide jobs to the local BPL citizenry under the JNREGS .In fact a similar program was launched couple of days ago by Mr. Premachandran the water resources minister in Chulliar in Plakkad Dist.

From the day one of this new campaign of recovering sand from the reservoirs in Kerala, based on science, I was warning that there is no “gold mine” of sand hidden under the placid wares of the reservoirs of Kerala.

It is much more so in respect of the hydel reservoirs as the rate of catchment erosion is far less than that of the reservoirs built down below say at elevations in the range of 80- 160 m. ( above msl),. for irrigation purposes. I am sure that some one will soon sing the requiem for the reservoir sand mining in Kerala.

thrivikramji@gmail.com

Yoga and benefits

Yoga has been practiced for more than 5,000 years, and currently, close to 11 million Americans are enjoying its health benefits. Yoga can hardly be called a trend.
Most Westernized yoga classes focus on learning physical poses, which are called asanas. They also usually include some form of breathing technique and possibly ameditation technique as well. Some yoga classes are designed purely for relaxation. But there are styles of yoga that teach you how to move your body in new ways. Choosing one of these styles offers the greatest health benefits by enabling you to develop your flexibility, strength, and balance.
Yoga benefits: Flexibility
When some people think of yoga, they imagine having to stretch like a gymnast. That makes them worry that they're too old, unfit, or "tight" to do yoga. The truth is you're never too old to improve flexibility.
The series of yoga poses called asanas work by safely stretching your muscles. This releases the lactic acid that builds up with muscle use and causes stiffness, tension, pain, and fatigue. In addition, yoga increases the range of motion in joints. It may also increase lubrication in the joints. The outcome is a sense of ease and fluidity throughout your body.
Yoga stretches not only your muscles but all of the soft tissues of your body. That includes ligaments, tendons, and the fascia sheath that surrounds your muscles. And no matter your level of yoga, you most likely will see benefits in a very short period of time. In one study, participants had up to 35% improvement in flexibility after only eight weeks of yoga. The greatest gains were in shoulder and trunk flexibility.
Yoga benefits: Strength
Some styles of yoga, such as ashtanga and power yoga, are more vigorous than others. Practicing one of these styles will help you improve muscle tone.
But even less vigorous styles of yoga, such as Iyengar yoga, which focuses on less movement and more precise alignment in poses, can provide strength and endurance benefits.
Many of the poses, such as Downward Dog, Upward Dog, and Plank pose, build upper-body strength. This becomes crucial as people age. The standing poses, especially if you hold them for several long breaths, build strength in your hamstrings, quadriceps, and abdominal muscles. Poses that strengthen the lower back include Upward Dog and Chair pose. When practiced correctly, nearly all poses build core strength in the deep abdominal muscles.
Yoga benefits: Posture
With increased flexibility and strength comes better posture. Most standing and sitting poses develop core strength. That's because you're counting on your deep abdominals to support and maintain each pose. With a stronger core, you're more likely to sit and stand "tall." Another benefit of yoga is the increased body awareness. This heightened awareness tells you more quickly when you're slouching or slumping so you can adjust your posture.
Breathing
Because of the deep, mindful breathing that yoga involves, lung capacity often improves. This in turn can improve sports performance and endurance. But yoga typically isn't focused on aerobic fitness the way running or cycling are. Taking an intense power yoga class that gets you breathing hard in a heated room, however, can provide an aerobic benefit.
Most forms of yoga emphasize deepening and lengthening your breath. This stimulates the relaxation response -- the opposite of the fight-or-flight adrenaline boost of the stress response.
Yoga benefits: Less stress, more calm
Even beginners tend to feel less stressed and more relaxed after their first class. Some yoga styles use specific meditation techniques to quiet the constant "mind chatter" that often underlies stress. Other yoga styles depend on deep breathing techniques to focus your mind on the breath. When this happens, your mind becomes calm.
Among yoga's anti-stress benefits are a host of biochemical responses. For example, there is a decrease in catecholamines, the hormones produced by the adrenal glands in response to stress. Lowering levels of hormone neurotransmitters -- dopamine, norepinephrine, and epinephrine -- creates a feeling of calm. Some research points to a boost in the hormone oxytocin. This is the so-called "trust" and "bonding" hormone that's associated with feeling relaxed and connected to others. That may be why so many romances start in the yoga studio.
Yoga benefits: Concentration and mood
Harder to pin down and research scientifically, concentration and the ability to focus mentally are common benefits you'll hear yoga students talk about. The same is true with mood. Nearly every yoga student will tell you they feel happier and more contented after class. Recently, researchers have begun exploring the effects of yoga on depression, a benefit that may result from yoga's boosting oxygen levels to the brain. Yoga is even being studied as an adjunct therapy to relieve symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Yoga benefits: Heart benefits
Perhaps one of the most studied areas of the health benefits of yoga is its effect onheart disease. Yoga has long been known to lower blood pressure and slow the heart rate. A slower heart rate can benefit people with hypertension, heart disease, and stroke. Yoga was a key component to the heart disease program designed by Dean Ornish, MD. This was the first program to partly reverse heart disease through lifestyle and diet rather than surgery. On a biochemical level, studies point to a possible anti-oxidant effect of yoga. And yoga has been associated with decreasedcholesterol and triglyceride levels as well as a boost in immune system function.
Yoga benefits: Effects on other medical conditions
As yoga has become more popular in the West, medical researchers have begun studying the benefits of therapeutic yoga. This is also called integrative yoga therapy or IYT. It's used as an adjunct treatment for specific medical conditions, from clinical depression to heart disease. Yoga benefits other chronic medical conditions, relieving symptoms of asthma, back pain, and arthritis. Most worldwide clinical studies are happening outside of the United States. But even the NIH has funded clinical trials on yoga and its health benefits for insomnia and multiple sclerosis.
Other benefits of yoga
Some studies have suggested that yoga may have a positive effect on learning and memory. Other researchers have been studying whether yoga can slow the aging process, increase a person's sense of self-acceptance, or improve energy levels.
Some potential benefits of yoga may be hard to study scientifically. For instance, yoga has been said to increase spiritual awareness. Nevertheless, there is an abundance of anecdotal claims for what yoga can do. Go to any yoga studio and listen to students after class. Some will even tell you that yoga can help improve marriages and relationships at work.
The only way to be certain of all that yoga can do for you is to try it for yourself and see.
[webMD]

Prehistoric canoes threatening Children's Life in Kerala

Prehistoric Canoes: Impending threat to School Children in Kerala

The canoes used for ferrying children and adults are really “fossils”. Perhaps even in South America we will not come across the so called Kettuvallams used for ferrying men and materials across the rivers. These days light weight rubber rafts that can even go unscathed on rocky rapids have come into use. Unfortunately, the hapless thousands with only the clout one vote and just one vote dail go through the stressed moments looking forward to the return of own and neighbors kids from school as they have to cross a ferry which is often overloaded. In a state like Kerala with 41 west flowing rivers if you happened to live in the midland or the low highland one will have to cross a swollen river twice a year to deliver a baby in a hospital or to go to school.

So, the govt should invest in rubber rafts to ferry the kids as well as grown ups. I it is the type of craft that is use in beach landings by navy. The greatest advantage is that it will not sink or kill people. But question will be different if the govt went for the cheapest quotation.

The govt. has come up with a novel scheme of training the school kids in physicalsa including swimming. Unfortunately the ministers themselves doi not know that the art of swimming in a pool will not work in a swollen stream. Yet I believe that it is good suggestion. What also could be added is yoga. Considering the life style diseases every one is predisposed in the country, it will a good thing to add hata yoga into the curriculum in the physicals. Alas India is country where human life is perhaps the cheapest. The state of Kerala can work for getting rid of this accolade.
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Manage water use in Toilet

Process of Elimination
Low-flow toilets can save a lot of water. They use a maximum of 1.6 gallons per flush, compared with five gallons or more for an older toilet. Another option is a dual-flush toilet operated by two buttons: Push the No. 1 button, and the toilet dispenses less than a gallon of water to whisk away liquid waste. Push No. 2 and the toilet releases the full 1.6 gallons to flush solid waste. Widely used in Europe and Australia, dual-flush toilets are catching on in the U.S. (Court:SciAm)