Smile Lover

read with smile

Healthy Herbs found at Indian house kitchen (with Tamil to Engli

These are herbs found at kitchen within reach. These herbs do wonders in your foods for healthy lifestyle. Make sure, you use it your cooking and daily food intake.

ஜாதிக்காய் – Nutmeg – நட்மெக்
ஜாதிபத்திரி – Mace – மெக்
இஞ்சி – Ginger – ஜின்ஜர்
சுக்கு – Dry Ginger – டிரை ஜின்ஜர்
பூண்டு – Garlic – கார்லிக்
வெங்காயம் – Onion – ஆனியன்
புளி – Tamarind – டாமரிண்ட்
மிளகாய் – Chillies – சில்லிஸ்
மிளகு – Pepper – பெப்பர்
காய்ந்த மிளகாய் / சிவப்பு மிளகாய் – Red chillies
பச்சை மிளகாய் – Green chillies
குடை மிளகாய் – Capsicum
கல் உப்பு – Salt – ஸால்ட்
தூள் உப்பு – Table salt
வெல்லம்/கருப்பட்டி – Jaggery – ஜாக்கரீ
சர்க்கரை/சீனி – Sugar – ஸுகர்
கற்கண்டு – Sugar Candy
ஏலக்காய்/ஏலம் – Cardamom – கார்டாமாம்
பாதாம் பருப்பு/வாதுமை கொட்டை – Almonds
முந்திரி பருப்பு/அண்டிப்பருப்பு – Cashew nuts
கிஸ்மிஸ் – Dry Grapes
லவங்கம்,கிராம்பு – Cloves – க்லெளவ்ஸ்
கசகசா – Poppy – பாப்பி
உளுந்து – Black Gram – பிளாக் கிராம்
கடலைப் பருப்பு – Bengal Gram – பெங்கால் கிராம்
பச்சைப்பயறு/பயித்தம் பருப்பு / பாசிப் பயறு – Moong Dhal/ Green Gram – மூனிங் தால்/கீரின் கிராம்
பாசிப்பருப்பு – Moong Dal
கடலைப்பருப்பு – Gram Dal – கிராம் தால்
உழுத்தம் பருப்பு – Urid Dhal
துவரம் பருப்பு – Red gram / Toor Dhal- ரெட்கிராம்
கம்பு – Millet – மில்லட்
கேழ்வரகு – Ragi – ராகி
கொள்ளு – Horse Gram – ஹார்ஸ் கிராம்
கோதுமை – Wheat – வீட்
கோதுமை ரவை – Cracked Wheat
சோளம் – Corn
சோளப்பொறி – Popcorn
எள்ளு – Sesame seeds / Gingelly seeds
நெல் – Paddy – பாடி
அரிசி – Rice – ரய்ஸ்
அவல் – Rice flakes
பச்சை அரிசி – Raw Rice
புளுங்கல் அரிசி – Par boiled rice
கடலை மா – Gram Flour
மக்காச்சோளம் – Maize – மெய்ஸ்
வாற்கோதுமை – Barley – பார்லி
பச்சை பட்டாணி – Green peas
சேமியா – Vermicelli
சவ்வரிசி – Sago
ரவை – Semolina
கொண்டை/கொண்டல் கடலை – Chickpeas/Channa
கடுகு – Mustard – முஸ்டார்ட்
சீரகம் – Cumin – குமின்
வெந்தயம் – Fenugreek
சோம்பு,பெருஞ்சீரகம் – Anise seeds
பெருங்காயம் – Asafoetida – அசஃபோய்டைடா
மஞ்சள் – Turmeric – டர்மரிக்
ஓமம் – Ajwain / Ajowan
தனியா – Coriander – கோரியண்டர்
கொத்தமல்லி தழை – Coriander Leaf -கோரியண்டர் லீப்
கறிவேப்பிலை – Curry Leaves
கஸ்தூரி – Musk – மஸ்க்
குங்குமப்பூ – Saffron – சஃப்ரான்
பன்னீர் – Rose Water – ரோஸ் வாட்டர்
கற்பூரம் – Camphor – கேம்ஃபர்
மருதாணி – Henna – ஹென்னா
துளசி – Tulsi
எலுமிச்சை துளசி – Basil
எண்ணெய் – Oil – ஆயில்
கடலை எண்ணெய் – Gram Oil – கிராம் ஆயில்
தேங்காய் எண்ணெய் – Cocoanut Oil – கோக்கநட் ஆயில்
நல்லெண்ணெய் – Gingili Oil/Sesame oil – ஜின்ஜிலி ஆயில்
வேப்ப எண்ணெய் – Neem Oil – நீம் ஆயில்
பாமாயில் – Palm Oil
ஆலிவ் ஆயில் – Olive Oil
பால் – Milk – மில்க்
பால்கட்டி – Cheese – ச்சீஸ்
நெய் – Ghee – கீ
வெண்ணெய் – Butter – பட்டர்
தயிர் – Curd/Yoghurt – க்கார்ட்
மோர் – Butter Milk – பட்டர் மில்க்
கீரை – Spinach – ஸ்பீனச்
அவரை – Beans – பீன்ஸ்
கர்பூரவள்ளி – Oregano
நார்த்தங்காய் – Citron – சிட்ரான்
திருநீர்பச்சை – Ocimum-basilicum
சீத்தாப்பழம் – Custard-apple
மாதுளை – Pomegranate
பரங்கிக்காய்/பூசனிக்காய் – Pumpkin
கருங்காலி மரம் – Cutch-tree
அதிமதுரம்-Liquorice
அருகம்புல் – Bermuda Grass
வல்லாரை கீரை – Pennywort (Centella asiatica)
புதினா இலை – Mint leaves
வெற்றிலை – Betel leaves
நொச்சி இலை – Vitexnegundo (Chaste Tree)
அத்தி – Fig
கீழாநெல்லி – Phyllanthus nururi
தாழை மரம் – Pandanus Odoratissimus,Fragrant Screwpine
தூதுவளை – Purple-fruited pea eggplant
துத்திக்கீரை – Abutilon indicum
பிரமத்தண்டு – Argemone mexicana Linn,(Ghamoya) Papaveraceae
கோவைக்காய் – Coccinia grandis
முடக்கத்தான் கீரை – Cardiospermum halicacabum
குப்பைமேனி – Acalypha indica; linn; Euphor biaceae
நத்தைச்சூரி – Rubiaceae,Spermacoce hispida; Linn;
சோற்றுக்கற்றாழை – Aloe Vera
நாவல் பழம் – Naval fruit (Syzygium jambolana)
பேய் மிரட்டி செடி – Anisomeles malabarica, R.br, Lamiaceae
தேள்கொடுக்கு செடி – Heliotropium
நிலக்குமிழஞ் செடி – Gmelina Asiatica
நெல்லிக்காய் – Amla,Indian Gooseberries
சதகுப்பை (சோயிக்கீரை,மதுரிகை) – Peucedanum grande; Umbelliferae
சிறு குறிஞ்சான் – Gymnema Sylvestre; R.Br.Anclepiadaceqe
அரிவாள்மனை பூண்டு – Sida caprinifolia
அகத்திக்கீரை – Sesbania grandiflora
செண்பகப் பூ – Sonchafa (champa)
சுண்டைக்காய் – Solanum torvum(Turkey Berry)
செம்பருத்தி – Hibiscus(Shoe Flower)
கரும்பு – Sugar cane
நீர்முள்ளி – Long leaved Barleria (Hygrophila auriculata)
அன்னாசிப் பூ – Star Anise
பூவரசு – Portia tree (Thespesia populnea)
ஊசிப்பாலை – Oxystelma Secamone
அமுக்கரா சூரணம்,அசுவகந்தி – Indian winter cherry
கத்தரிக்காய் – Egg plant / Aubergine / Brinjal
கொய்யாப் பழம் – Guava
மரவள்ளிக் கிழங்கு – Tapioca
சர்க்கரை வள்ளி கிழங்கு/சீனி கிழங்கு – Sweet Potato
சேனைக்கிழங்கு/கருணைக்கிழங்கு – Yam
விளாம் பழம் – Wood apple
முள்ளங்கி – Radish / parsnip
புடலங்காய் – Snake gourd
பாகற்காய் – Bitter gourd
வெண்டைக்காய் – Ladies Finger/ Okra
வேர்கடலை/நிலக்கடலை – Peanut
வாழைக்காய் – Ash Plantain
வாழைப்பழம் – Banana
ஊறுகாய் – Pickle
உருளைக் கிழங்கு – Potato
தேங்காய் – Coconut
இளந்தேங்காய் – Tender Coconut
இளநீர் – Tender Coconut water
பதநீர்/பயினி – Neera /Palmyra juice
கள்ளு – Palm wine/Palm Toddy
சுண்ணாம்பு – Lime
ஆப்பச் சோடா – Baking Soda
தீப்பெட்டி – Match Box
ஊதுபத்தி/ஊதுவர்த்தி – Incence Stick

அப்துல் கலாம் விஞ்ஞானச் சிந்தனை – Great Scientist of India Abdul Kalam

அணு குண்டை உருவாக்கும் திட்டத்தை அவர் வெற்றிகரமாக முடித்து தமிழகம் வந்தபோது சொன்ன உதாரணம் அவரை திரும்பிப் பார்க்க வைத்தது..

” வெள்ளத் தனைய மலர்நீட்டம் மாந்தர்தம் உள்ளத் தனையது உயர்வு.. ”

என்ற வள்ளுவனின் குறளைச் சொல்லி இந்தக் குறளுக்குள் இருக்கும் உயர்ந்த விஞ்ஞானச் சிந்தனைக்கு அப்பால் உலகில் என்ன இருக்கப்போகிறது என்று கேட்டார்.

” தண்ணீரின் அளவுக்குத் தகுந்தபடி தாமரை மலர்களின் தாள்கள் நீளும். அதைப்போல மனிதர்களுடைய ஊக்கத்தின் அளவுக்குத் தக்கபடி அவர்களுடைய சிறப்புகள் உயரும்.”

” நீர் உயர உயர குளத்தில் இருக்கும் மலரின் தண்டும் அதற்கு அமைவாக உயர்வடையும்.. நீங்கள் கனவு காணலாம், கற்பனைகளை வளர்க்கலாம் அதற்கமைவாக உங்கள் உடல் தயாராகும்.. இதைவிட ஒரு உதாரணம் வேறெந்த மொழியிலும் கிடையாது..” என்றார்…
தமிழை மதிக்காத.. தமிழர்களை ஒரு கணம் தமிழைப் பார்க்க வைத்தார்.

புலிக்குட்டி கதை – Tamil Story

இந்த தமிழினம் எல்லாவற்றையும் அறிந்த ஓரினம்..அடிக்கடி என் ஆசான் தமிழ்த்திரு திருமாவளவன் கூறுகின்ற குட்டிக் கதை இது,பொறுமையோடு இதனைப் படியுங்கள்….புலிக்குட்டி ஒன்று ஆட்டு மந்தையின் நடுவில் சிக்கிக் கொண்டது,எங்குமே போக வழி தெரியாமல், பின் அது அக்கூட்டதிலேயே இருந்து விட்டது.நாளொரு மேனியும் பொழுதொரு வண்ணமுமாய் அங்கே அது ஆடாய் வளர்ந்தது ஆட்டு மொழியையும் திறமையாய் கற்றது..,பின்னொருநாள் ஆட்டு மந்தைகளுடன் இறை தேடி கொண்டிருந்தபோது, வேறொரு பகுதியில் வந்த ஒரு புலி ஆட்டுக் கூட்டத்தினை வேட்டையாட பாய்ந்தது..பயம் கொண்ட அத்தனை ஆடுகளும் பயந்து ஓடிவிட்டன…ஆடுபோல் தன்னை எண்ணிக் கொண்டு வளர்ந்த புலியாடு மாட்டிக் கொண்டது..மாட்டிக் கொண்ட அந்த ஆட்டை உற்று நோக்கிய புலி,வியந்து போய் அந்த புலியாட்டை பார்த்து..அடே புலியே நீ உறும வேண்டும்… ஏன் நீ ஆடு போல கத்துகிறாய்? நீ புலி…உன்கூரிய நகங்களைப் பார்,உனது பற்களைப் பார்,உன் முகத்தை நீ உற்றுப் பார் என்று ஒரு குளத்தினருகே அழைத்து அதன் உருவத்தைக் காட்டி தான் யாரென்று உணர்த்தியது.
இக்கதையைப் போலத்தான் நம்மினம்,தன்னை யாரென்று அறியாமல் எல்லாவற்றையும் இழந்து,இனி இழக்க எதுவும் இல்லாத இனமாய் நாதியற்றவனாக வாழ்கிறான்..நான் பல நிகழ்வுகளில் கலந்து கொள்பவன்,தமிழ் நெறி கழகத்தில் என்னை இணைத்துக் கொண்டப் பிறகு,நான் அறிந்த பல உண்மைகள் என்னை சிறிதளவு நெறிப் படுத்தியது..தங்களைப் போலவே கண்ணெதிரே நடக்கின்ற மொழி அழிப்பினைக் கண்டு நொந்து போவேன்..சிலரிடமல்ல..பலரிடம் எடுத்துக் கூரியுமுள்ளேன்..என்ன சொல்வார்கள் தெரியுமா? ஐயா நீங்கள் சொல்வது உண்மைதான்,நீங்கள் சொல்வதுபோல் நான் செய்தால் எனது வணிகம் பாதிக்குமே..என் செய்வேன் என்கிறான். மலாய் மொழியில் ஒரு பதாகை செய்கிறோம் என வைத்துக் கொள்வோம்…அதில் ஒரு எழுத்து கூட பிழை இல்லாமல் அச்சிடுவோம்..அதே பதாகையை தமிழில் அச்சி செய்யும்போது எத்தனையோ பிழைகள் இருக்கும் அதனை சரி செய்ய கொஞ்சம் கூட முனைப்பு காட்ட மாட்டார்கள்..எனக்கென்ன என்ற எண்ணம் அங்கே மேலோங்கி நிற்கும் வரையில் தன்னை ஒரு தமிழனாக கூட காட்டிக் கொள்ள வெட்கப் படுகிறார்கள் ..அம்மாவை மம்மி என்றும் அப்பாவை டேடி என்றும் அழைக்க ஆசைப் படும் இக் கூட்டம் ஆட்டு மந்தையில் மாட்டிக்கொண்ட புலியை விட மந்தமானவனாக இருக்கிறானே..
பிறந்த நாள் வாழ்த்து பாடலை ஆங்கிலத்தில் பாடினால் தான் பெருமையாக கருதுவார்கள் ,அணிச்சலை கேக் என்று சொன்னால்தான் மகிழ்ச்சி அடைவார்கள் , ஏன் காதலைக்கூட, ஐ லௌ யூ என்ற வார்த்தையில் ஆங்கிலத்தில் கூறித்தான் , தன் காதலையே வெளிப் படுத்துவார்கள்..யார் யாரையும் குற்றம் கூறி எந்த பலனும் இல்லை,அறியாத, தன்னிலை உணராத மனிதர்களை திருத்த முடியாது என்றில்லை…உலகத்தை திருத்த முயலாதே,உன்னை முதலில் திருத்து ,பின் உனது குடும்பம்,ஊர்,நாடு,உலகம்….இது சாத்தியமானால் நூறு இருநூறு ஆண்டுகளின் தமிழன் தமிழனாக மாறுவான்…இது உறுதி்..

– க.கதிரவன்

*Post courtasy of Sakthiyaseevm from SRJKTBM

Free Tuition – open for registration

Sairam everyone,

We will be starting a free tuition class for children from families who can’t effort to attend paid tuition. Target to start by May 2013 and is conducted by a professional tutor as a service to our community with help of some volunteers. Class will be conducted at Sai Jyothi, Alma, No. 2, Lorong Sejahtera 24B, Taman Sejahtera, Alma, Bukit Mertajam every Saturdays. Time to be confirmed once the children register with us. Please contact us at 012 – 5187327 or can email me their details.

Free Tuition - open for registration

Please disseminate this info to those poor families who can’t afford to send their children for paid tuition around Alma, Bukit Mertajam area. Thank you so much. Attached flyer.

Jai Sairam
team@SaiJyothi,Alma

KAMAL HASSAN Uncensored Interview

Special Interview of Kamal Hassan

Kamal Hassan on TantraTubeTV’s Brand New Interview Series… SPOTLIGHT!!
This is the FULL VERSION of the Programme!
Watch the Sneak Peek @ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9k7EjSkraUs
——————————————————————————–­————
EXCLUSIVE. CONTROVERSIAL. SHOCKING. UNCENSORED.
————————- A MUST WATCH SERIES!—————————
Dr. Kamal Hassan opens up honestly and shares his thoughts on issues and matters pertaining to …
GOD, Jesus Christ, Buddha, Lee Kuan Yew, Mahatma Gandhi, Spartacus, Karl Marx, Subhas Chandra Bose, Nelson Mandela, Adolf Hitler, Genghis Khan, Satyajit Ray, Dhilip Kumar, Rajinikanth, K Balanchander, Mani Ratnam, Pasupathy, Nasser, Sivaji, Ranga Rao, Savithri, Nagesh, Fellow Heroines…
Social Work, Rationalism, Miracles, Inspirations, Cinema Revolution, Method Acting, Therukoothu, Bharathanatyam, Short Films,
Singapore, Palestine, Nuclear Energy, War, Terrorism, LTTE, USA…
Viswaroopam, Nayagan, Devar Magan, Anbe Sivam… LOTS MORE!
_______________________________________________________________________
Hosted by Vadi PVSS.
Forum Guests : S Karthikeyan, Funky Shankar, Vishnu M Anandh, Mohanavel, Udaya Soundari, Sashirekka, Komala Lea & Vimala Velu.
Directed by: JK Saravana
Producers: Shamini L & Khomala Lea
DOP: Shanmuga Sundaram & Avinash
Sound Engineer: AdarshZee
Editors: TR Praveenkumar & Balaji R

Kumbakarna – Brother of RavaNa

Kumbhakarna was the brother of King Ravana of Lanka. Ravana, Kumbhakarna, Vibhishana were the sons of a sage named Vishrava, born to a Rakshasa woman named Kaikasi. They had a sister named Shurpanakha. Kubera is their half-brother, born to another wife of Vishrava.

477003_437058966312333_1995991592_o(1)

Along with his brother Ravana, Kumbhakarna indulged in rigid austerities with the intention of pleasing Lord Brahma. When Brahma appeared before him, he wanted the boon of immortality (Nityatva), but the Goddess Saraswati caused him to mispronounce the word as sleepiness (Nitratva). Appalled, he pleaded with Brahma to rescind the boon, which had really become a curse. Brahma could not take back his boon, but he modified it such that Kumbhakarna would be asleep for six months and then awake for the other six. (Some sources say that Kumbhakarna was given only one day of wakefulness every six months).
He was a giant in stature, and consumed huge amounts of food when he was awake. One of the most powerful warriors on Ravana’s side, he was also very knowledgeable about proper conduct. Like his brother Vibhishana, he counselled Ravana to return Sita to Rama to avert the war, but unlike Vibhishana, he did not abandon Ravana when his advice was rejected.
He fought valiantly against the Vanara army of Rama, causing great damage. Ultimately, he was slain by Laxmana with the help of a divine missile. Though he fought on the side of evil, his devotion to Ravana and his loyalty to his kinsmen is highly praised, and is contrasted favorably with the "treachery" of his brother Vibhishana, who fought on Rama’s side

When Suthesh meets Visha (short film)

This is nice interesting short movie. "When Suthesh meets Visha" Tamil Short film with English Subtitle. The story nicely filmed with touching love scenes. Movie scenes creates the feelings to recall back, our own loves memory. well done Creartive Shutter. They did great job. Enjoy Watching.

Creartive Shutter Presents
"When Suthesh meets Visha" Tamil Shortfilm
~Just Feel The LOVE!!!~
"When is Suthesh meets Visha" shortfilm is based on true story… but to make the story interesting we have add some fictitious elements in this movie..!!
This is our 1st shortfilm under Creartive Shutter.
Keep supporting us!!!
Please do WATCH, LIKE&SHARE!!!
Starring: Suthesan as Suthesh (Main Role)
Waiping Ho as Visha (Main Role)
Vimal Kumaar as Karthik
Directed By: VKN Devandran
Keep Supporting Us Creartive Shutter ~I ? Cs’Art~
https://www.facebook.com/creARTiveSHUTTER

599540_367854756614535_803935635_n

AMAZING FACTS ABOUT INDIA

1. The name “India” is derived from the River Indus, the valleys around which were the home of the early settlers. The Aryan worshipers referred to the river Indus as the Sindhu. The Persian invaders converted it into Hindu. The name “Hindustan” combines Sindhu and Hindu and thus refers to the land of the Hindus.
2. The number system was invented by India. Aryabhatta was the scientist who invented the digit zero.
3. India exports software to 90 countries.
4. Martial Arts were first created in India, and later spread to Asia by Buddhist missionaries.
5. Yoga has its origins in India and has existed for over 5,000 years.
6. The World’s first university was established inTakshashila in 700BC. More than 10,500 students from all over the world studied more than 60 subjects. TheUniversity of Nalanda built in the 4th century BC was one of the greatest achievements of ancient India in the field of education.
7. Sanskrit is the mother of all the European languages. Sanskrit is the most suitable language for computer software.(a report in Forbes magazine, July 1987).
8. Ayurveda is the earliest school of medicine known to humans. Charaka, the father of medicine consolidatedAyurveda 2500 years ago. Today Ayurveda is fast regaining its rightful place in our civilization.
9. Although modern images of India often show poverty and lack of development, India was the richest country on earth until the time of British invasion in the early 17th Century. Christopher Columbus was attracted by India’s wealth.
10. The art of Navigation was born in the river Sindhu 6000 years ago. The very word Navigation is derived from the Sanskrit word NAVGATIH. The word navy is also derived from Sanskrit ‘Nou’.
11. Bhaskaracharya calculated the time taken by the earth to orbit the sun hundreds of years before the astronomer Smart in 5th century that time taken by earth to orbit the sun 365.258756484 days.
12. The value of “pi” was first calculated by Budhayana, and he explained the concept of what is known as thePythagorean Theorem. He discovered this in the 6th century long before the European mathematicians.
13. Algebra, trigonometry and calculus came from India. Quadratic equations were by Sridharacharya in the 11th century. The largest numbers the Greeks and the Romans used were 106 whereas Hindus used numbers as big as 10**53(10 to the power of 53) with specific names as early as 5000 BC during the Vedic period. Even today, the largest used number is Tera 10**12(10 to the power of 12).
14. IEEE has proved what has been a century old suspicion in the world scientific community that the pioneer of wireless communication was Prof. Jagdish Chandra Bose and not Marconi.
15. The earliest reservoir and dam for irrigation was built in Saurashtra.
16. According to Saka King Rudradaman I of 150 BC, a beautiful lake called Sudarshana was constructed on the hills ofRaivataka during Chandragupta Maurya‘s time.
17. Chess (Shataranja or AshtaPada) was invented in India.
18. Sushruta is the father of surgery. 2600 years ago he and health scientists of his time conducted complicated surgeries like cesareans, cataract, artificial limbs, fractures, urinary stones and even plastic surgery and brain surgery. Usage of anesthesia was well known in ancient India. Over 125 surgical equipment were used. Deep knowledge of anatomy, physiology, etiology, embryology, digestion, metabolism, genetics and immunity is also found in many texts.
19. When many cultures were only nomadic forest dwellers over 5000 years ago, Indians established Harappan culture in Sindhu Valley (Indus Valley Civilization).
20. The four religions born in India, Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism, are followed by 25% of the world’s population.
21. The place value system, the decimal system was developed in India in 100 BC.
22. India is one of the few countries in the World, which gained independence without violence.
23. India has the second largest pool of Scientists and Engineers in the World.
24. India is the largest English speaking nation in the world.
25. India is the only country other than US and Japan, to have built a super computer indigenously.
26. The first six Mogul Emperor’s of India ruled in an unbroken succession from father to son for two hundred years, from 1526 to 1707.
27. The World’s First Granite Temple is the Brihadeswara temple at Tanjavur in Tamil Nadu. The shikhara is made from a single ‘ 80-tonne ‘ piece of granite. Also, this magnificient temple was built in just five years, (between 1004 AD and 1009 AD) during the reign of Rajaraja Chola.
28. India is the Largest democracy in the world, the 6th largest country in the world AND one of the most ancient and living civilizations (at least 10, 000 years old).
29. The game of snakes & ladders was created by the 13th century poet saint Gyandev. It was originally called ‘Mokshapat.‘ The ladders in the game represented virtues and the snakes indicated vices. The game was played with cowry shells and dices. Later through time, the game underwent several modifications but the meaning is the same i.e. good deeds take us to heaven and evil to a cycle of re-births.
30. The world’s highest cricket ground is in Chail, Himachal Pradesh. Built in 1893 after leveling a hilltop, this cricket pitch is 2444 meters above sea level.
31. India has the most post offices in the world!
32. The largest employer in the world is the Indian railway system, employing over a million people!
33. Until 1896, India was the only source for diamonds to the world. (Source: Gemological Institute of America)
34. The Baily Bridge is the highest bridge in the world. It is located in the Ladakh valley between the Dras and Suru rivers in the Himalayan mountains. It was built by the Indian Army in August 1982.
35. Jainism and Buddhism were founded in India in 600 B.C. and 500 B.C. respectively.
36. Islam is India’s and the world’s second largest religion.
37. There are 300,000 active mosques in India, more than in any other country, including the Muslim world.
38. The oldest European church and synagogue in India are in the city of Cochin. They were built in 1503 and 1568 respectively.
39. Jews and Christians have lived continuously in India since 200 B.C. and 52 A.D. respectively.
40. The largest religious building in the world is Angkor Wat, a Hindu Temple in Cambodia built at the end of the 11th century.
41. The Vishnu Temple in the city of Tirupathi built in the 10th century, is the world’s largest religious pilgrimage destination. Larger than either Rome or Mecca, an average of 30,000 visitors donate $6 million (US) to the temple everyday.
42. Sikhism originated in the Holy city of Amritsar in Punjab. Famous for housing the Golden Temple, the city was founded in 1577.
43. India provides safety for more than 300,000 refugees originally from Sri Lanka, Tibet, Bhutan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh, who escaped to flee religious and political persecution.
44. His Holiness, the Dalai Lama, the exiled spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhists, runs his government in exile from Dharmashala in northern India.
45. India is the world’s largest, oldest, continuous civilization.
46. India never invaded any country in her last 10,000 years of history.
47. India is the world’s largest democracy.
48. Varanasi, also known as Banaras, was called “the ancient city” when Lord Buddha visited it in 500 B.C.E, and is the oldest, continuously inhabited city in the world today.
UPDATED ON 14/12/2010.
49. Most historians agree that the first recorded account of plastic surgery is found in ancient Indian Sanskrit texts.
50. India has the world’s largest movie industry, based in the city of Mumbai (known as the “City of Dreams”). The B in “Bollywood” comes from Bombay, the former name for Mumbai. Almost all Bollywood movies are musicals.
51. With 150,000 post offices, India has the largest postal network in the world.
52. India is the world’s largest producer of dried beans, such as kidney beans and chickpeas. It also leads the world in banana exports; Brazil is second.
53. The earliest cotton in the world was spun and woven in India. Roman emperors would wear delicate cotton from India that they would call “woven winds.” Mogul emperors called the fabrics “morning dew” and “cloth of running water.
54. India is the birthplace of chess.l The original word for “chess” is the Sanskrit chaturanga, meaning “four members of an army”—which were mostly likely elephants, horses, chariots, and foot soldiers.
55. Hindi and English are the official languages of India. The government also recognizes 17 other languages (Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Nepali, Manipuri, Konkani, Kannada, Kashmiri, Malayalam, Marathi, Oriya, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Sindhi, Tamil, Telugu, and Urdu). Apart from these languages, about 1,652 dialects are spoken in the country.
56. India’s pastoral communities are largely dependent on dairy and have made India the largest milk-producing country in the world.
57. India has the world’s third largest road network at 1.9 million miles. It also has the world’s second largest rail network, which is the world’s largest civilian employer with 16 million workers.
58. India experiences six seasons: summer, autumn, winter, spring, summer monsoon, and winter monsoon.
59. India is the world’s largest tea producer, and tea (chai) is its most popular beverage.
60. The Taj Mahal (“crown palace”) was built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan (1592-1666) for his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal (1593-1631). This architectural beauty has been called “marbled embroidery” for its intricate workmanship. It took 22,000 workmen 22 years to complete it.
61. The first and greatest civilization in ancient India developed around the valley of the Indus River (now Pakistan) around 3000 B.C. Called the Indus Valley civilization, this early empire was larger than any other empire, including Egypt and Mesopotamia.
62. After the great Indus Civilization collapsed in 2000 B.C., groups of Indo-Europeans called Aryans (“noble ones”) traveled to northwest India and reigned during what is called the Vedic age. Aryans spoke and imported Sanskrit into India, which is the mother of all European languages. The mingling of ideas from the Aryan and Indus Valley religions formed the basis of Hinduism, and the gods Shiva, Kali, and Brahma all have their roots in Aryan civilization. The Aryans also recorded the Vedas, the first Hindu scriptures, and introduced a caste system based on ethnicity and occupation.
63. Alexander the Great invaded India partly because he wanted to solve the mystery of the “ocean,” which he had been told was a huge, continuous sea that flowed in a circle around the land. When he reached the Indian Ocean, he sacrificed some bulls to Poseidon for leading him to his goal.
64. Greek sculpture strongly influenced many portrayals of Indian gods and goddess, particularly after the conquest of Alexander the Great around 330B.C. In fact, early Indian gods had Greek features and only later did distinct Indian styles emerge.
65. Chandragupta Maurya (340-290 B.C.), a leader in India who established the Mauryan Empire (321-185 B.C.), was guarded by a band of women on horseback.
66. When the first independent prime minister of India, pacifist Jawaharlal Nehru (1889-1964), was featured in Vogue, his distinctive close fitting, single-breasted jacket briefly became an important fashion statement for the Mod movement in the West. Named the Nehru jacket, the prime minister’s coat was popularized by the Beatles and worn by such famous people as Johnny Carson (1925-2005) and Sammy Davis Jr. (1925-1990)

Penang Botanical Garden murugan temple

Penang ,Thannermalai Bala Thandayuthabani Temple began as a shrine of Lord Murugan. It was the located at the base of the waterfall at the Botanical Gardens Penang sometime before 1782. The above statement was the evident from the writings of Sir Francis Light where in it was stated that the Tamils (Chulias and Chettiars) were already present and worshipping the Vel (spear) when he named Georgetown on the 10th of August 1786 after having bought the island from the Sultan of Kedah for 6000 Spanish dollars for the East India Company. It is not possible to know who installed the vel at the original temple site of Thanneermalaian(one who resides at the waterfall) as Lord Murugan was then known. Soon this shrine became important for many Indian workers who ferried water to Georgetown by way of bullock carts. By the early part of 1800 the shrine seemed to have been the focus of Thaipusam celebration, a festival dedicated to Lord Murugan.British records and local newspapers do mention of Hindu devotees celebration the festival. In 1850 with the increase of the local population, the British authorities decided to develop the area into a reservoir.They decided that the waterfall area and the immediate catchment area had to be protected.At the same time they did not want to upset the sentiments of the Hindu population.Therefore,they alienated an eleven acre hillside property(the present site) for the location of a proper temple.This is the present site of the Hill Top Murugan temple at Waterfall Road.

MEANING OF SUBRAHMANYA

Subrahmanya is one among the numerous names of Lord Muruga or Lord Karthikeya or Kartik. An important god in Hindu pantheon, he is the son of Lord Shiva and Parvati and is the army general of the Devas (gods). What does the term ‘Subrahmanya’ mean?
In Sanskrit, ‘su’ means anything good natured or beautiful or good. ‘Brahmanya’ means a person who has had realized Brahman.Thus ‘Subrahmanya’ symbolically represents a good natured person who has had Brahman realization.
Lord Subrahmanya is a deity who is worshipped and adored with intense devotion and faith not only throughout South India and Sri Lanka but also in places such as Mauritius and Malaysia where there is a high population of Tamil people. The Lord has many powerful names, which convey great meaning and deep esoteric knowledge. Swamiji is especially fond of giving Subrahmanya ‘s names to the young boys who join Premananda Youth. He said, "I am blessing them with these glorious names of the perfect deity, Lord Subrahmanya . I hope that the youngsters will live up to these names. Subrahmanya is the embodiment of brilliant light, courage, fearlessness and pure shakti. According to the Hindu legends, He was born because the Gods had been defeated by powerful demons and they pleaded with Lord Shiva to rescue them. He created Lord Subrahmanya from His third eye. Even from this we can understand that Subrahmanya is the embodiment of the purest and highest knowledge and power."