Saptapadi

The most essential rite (Sanskrit: rītī) of a Hindu marriage ceremony is Saptapadi (English: seven steps, saptapadī). Saptapadi is a Sanskrit term that means "seven steps." The wedded couple walks seven steps after tying the Mangalsutra, which is known as Saptapadi.

12 Azhwars (Alwars)

The 12 Azhwars, (the Main composers of Naalayira Divya Prabandam - 4000 poetic Rhymes) are known as Nityasuris or Divyasuris; those who reside permanently with the Lord in His Heavenly abode.

They have incarnated as Azhwars -Vasihnavite Saints - to propagate Bhakthi Marga, devotion to Lord Vishnu.

Alwars have dedicated their lives towards Lord Sriman Narayana and they led their life by praising Him.

These Alwars were born in various parts of our country but they were all united in a common subject, ie dedicating their lives and praising the Lord.

Poigai Alwar, Bhoodath Alwar and Pei Alwar are collectively called as "Mudhal Alwars" were found in the same period of time.

Thirumazhisai Alwar, who thought the Perumal as his friend and has sung Mangalasasanam on Perumal.

Thirumangai Alwar was a great king and later, changed his life to work for the Perumal and for his bhaktaas.

Thondaradippodi Alwar, who is also named as "Vipra Narayanar" led his life as the servant to the God and did service to Him by offering beautiful Garlands.

Andal, the One-of-a-Kind Azhwar!

Someone who is engrossed in bhakti with the omnipresent one is termed as Azhwar in Tamil. Among the 11 male azhwars, she is the only one who is female.

Background: Andal, also known as "Godai" or "Mother Earth's Gift," was discovered by a pious brahmin named Vishnucittar, who lived in Villiputtur, a town near Madurai, while doing his daily chores of procuring flowers for the Lord's devotion at the local temple.

"Godai" grew up in a loving and devotional home. Godha grew up listening to Krishna's stories and participating in all of her father's pastimes, such as collecting flowers, Tulasi, and weaving magnificent garlands for Vatapathrasayee, the Lord of Villiputtur.

Her head was full of Krishna-related thoughts from the beginning of her developing stage, and she was completely enamored with him.

She made up her mind to marry Vatapathrasayee even as a youngster, refusing to think of any other human being in the same way. She envisioned what it would be like to be His spouse, playing the role of His beloved and enjoying His presence, such was her love for the Lord.

Nam Perumal, Srirangam, TN.
உள்ளத்தே யுறையும் மாலை உள்ளுவா னுணர்வொன் றில்லா

கள்ளத்தேன் நானும் தொண்டாய்த் தொண்டுக்கே கோலம் பூண்டேன்

உள்ளுவா ருள்ளிற் றெல்லாம் உடனிருந் தறிதி யென்று

வெள்கிப்போ யென்னுள் ளேநான் விலவறச் சிரித்திட் டேனே.

(தொண்டரடிப் பொடியாழ்வார் - திருமாலை - நான்காந் திருமொழி)

Meaning:

நாம் ஓரிடம் தேடி ஓட வேண்டாதபடி, நம் ஹ்ருதயத்திலுள்ளே எப்போதும் வந்து,

அனைவர் நெஞ்சத்துள்ளும் நித்யவாஸம் செய்கின்ற எம்பெருமானே! அரங்கா!

உன்னை நினைத்துக் கூடப் பார்க்க தகுதியும், அறிவுமில்லா மஹாபாபியான அடியேன்,

உன்னுடைய பரமபக்தன் போலே தோற்றம் கொண்டு,

“இவன் பரம பாகவதன், பரம பக்தன்” என்று காண்பவர்கள் எல்லோரும் வியந்து போற்றும் வண்ணம் சுற்றித் திரிகிறேன்.

"தொடையொத்த துவளமும், கூடையும் பொலிந்து தோன்றிய தோள் தொண்டரடிப்பொடி” என்றபடி கைங்கர்ய வேஷங்களைப் போட்டுக் கொண்டு அலைகிறேன்.

இத்தனை செய்த போதிலும், " அடடா! யார் யார் என்னென்ன நினைக்கிறார்கள்?" என்று அவரவர் நெஞ்சினுள்ளே உறைந்து நின்று,

எல்லாருடைய நினைவையும் நீ நன்கு அறிந்து கொண்டு விடுவாயே!" என்று நினைத்துக் கொள்கையில்,

,அப்படி என்றால், என்னைப் பற்றியும், எனது கள்ள வேஷத்தைப் பற்றியும் உனக்கு நன்றாகத் தெரியுமே!

Navigation in Ancient India

#LongThread

Indian civilization has been without a break for the last few millennia. This means there have been external connections and indigenous maritime assets.

Among the remains, the maritime assets archaeology are much prized and cited, a dock being the most prized. It also precludes the requirement of knowledge of the seas i.e. a compass.

The very word Navigation is derived from the Sanskrit word ‘Navgatih’. The word navy is also derived from Sanskrit ‘Nou’.

There were Sanskrit terms for many parts of a ship. The ship’s anchor was known as Nava-Bandhan-Kilaha which literally means ‘a nail to tie up a ship’. The sail was called Vata Vastra, which means ‘wind-cloth’.

Sushruta—Father of Surgery

By the sixth century BC, Sushruta, a surgeon, and Ayurvedic teacher, was thriving in the Indian city of Kashi.

#LongThread

In Kashi, where he worked as a surgeon, Sushruta studied medicine and discovered the causes and cures for various illnesses. He is well known for his novel approaches to rhinoplasty, cataract surgery's extracapsular lens extraction, anal surgery, and dental surgery.

However, little is known about his vivid descriptions of obesity, angina, and diabetes (madhumeha), among other conditions (medoroga).

He studied under Dhanwantari, the revered Lord god of the Indian medical system known as Ayurveda (the science of life). He was revealed to be Visvamitra, a Vedic sage.

He is credited for compiling the Vedic Sanskrit medical text Sushruta Samhita. The eight Ayurvedic medical branches are discussed in the Sushruta Samhita. Six sections and 184 chapters make up the work.

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Switch from WhatsApp to Signal and enable disappearing messages. Most of us cannot stop using WhatsApp entirely but at least turn off back ups to Google Drive or iCloud. 2/n

Do not have private conversations using the messaging service on any social media platform like Facebook, Instagram or Twitter. 3/n

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Switch from Google Docs to CryptPad or RiseUp Pad.

Did you know?
Ahilyabai Holkar was one of India's
greatest women rulers of all time.

Ahilyabai was Born on May 31,1725 in the village of Chondi,Jamkhed distt,Maharashtra to a man named Mankoji Shinde,who was the Patil(Chief) of a village and a member of proud Dhangar Community.

Despite the fact that girls' education was a farther dream in those days, Ahilyabai was homeschooled by her father.
Ahilya didn't belong to any royal family but in a twist of fate she is still remembered as one of the most revered Queen in the history.

While they were living their humdrum lives, one day Malhar Rao Holkar, commander of the Peshwa Bajirao & Lord of the Malwa stopped in Chondi on his way to Pune, where he couldn't help but notice a young 8yrs old Ahilyabai in the temple service feeding the poor & hungry.

He was so impressed by the sheer innocence&beauty with simplicity character of Ahilyabai dat he asked her hand in marriage for his son Khanderao Holkar.Just like that she got married to Khanderao in 1733 at a tender age of 8&became a bride of esteemed Maratha community of Holkars

But destiny had something else in store for her as her husband died in the Battle of Kumbher in 1754 leaving her widow at 29.Distressed Ahilyabai was to commit Sati when her father-in-law Malhar Rao refused to let it happen.

Guruvayur Sri Krishna & Coconut with Horns.
#Krishnaleela
#Bhakthi
🕉
We’ve all grown up listening to stories of Shri Krishna. This one is a famous story of Shri Krishna in Guruvayur Temple, also called Dakshina Dwaraka.

There lived a villager who planted coconut saplings and had promised that he would offer the 'first coconut' from each of his coconut trees to "Guruvayurappan". When the trees started to yield coconuts, he collected the first coconut from all the trees in a sack 👇

and set forth to Guruvayur.

On the way he was stopped by a robber who asked all the items in the sack. The villager told the robber that the coconuts in the sack belonged to Guruvayurappan and so he was unable to hand it over.
@SriramKannan77 @Jayalko1

The robber with anger asked the villager "Is Guruvaurappan's coconut any different? Does it have horns ?".
Saying so the robber pulled the sack forcefully out of the villager's hand, and coconuts came out..👇

To their astonishment each and every coconut in the sack had horns! Even today, the coconut with horns are displayed in the temple for devotees to see.

Below Picture is not original, as we cannot take photos inside temple.
Hare Krishna
Guruvayurappa
🕉🕉🕉🕉🕉
Shubham

How will next 10-15 years be different for India?
In the next 10 years,India will undertake massive infrastructure projects which will propel India to a $5 Trillion economy

A thread🧵on how India is spending big on Infrastructure upgradation like never before

Lets go👇

(1/17)

How big is India's Infra push?

India spent $14 Trillion on infrastructure in the 75 years since its independence.

$7 trillion was in the last 9 years.

Another $7 Trillion will be spent in the next 9 years!

Big Big Spending is coming in!

(2/17)

So where is this money being spent?

1. Roads
There has been an increase in the construction of National Highways (NHs)/roads over
time, with 10,457 km of roads constructed in FY22 as compared to 6,061 km in FY16.

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In FY23(until October 2022), 4,060 km of NHs/roads were constructed, which was around 91 per cent of the achievement in the corresponding period of the previous financial year

(4/17)

The ambition is to take the rate of daily highway construction in India to 100km per day

Dubbed India’s ‘highway revolution’,
Rapid highway construction is central to the country’s push to transform itself into a staggering US$5 trillion economy by 2025.

(5/17)