Tuesday 29 September 2015

Actual benefits of offering water to Sun

Everyday in the morning , one can see hundreds of devotees chanting the mantras and offering water to the Sun god in India. Since ages, Hindu society follows morning ritual of offering water to sun at Sun rise. I have tried to ask lots of experts from different places and fields to know rationale behind it. There are numerous articles on internet suggesting Benefits of giving water to Sun. All of them agreed on benefits, nobody has the answer for actual benefits. I went through many authorized experts and books like.
  1. Aditya-Hridayam (The meditation of Sun in the heart )
  2. Brihata Hora Shastra
  3. NASA website
  4. Few Health related website
  5. Few Astrologers
  6. Few Brahmana
  7. A Physicist
  8. Two Astronomists
  9. Google
  10. Foremost Vastu Shastra Expert. Dr Jessie J Mercay
  11. Surya Sidhanta
Surya Remedy
Who is Sun?
Rigveda says, it is sun that wakes one up from sleep. It is due to the Sun that all can work and are active.
As per Vedic Sciptures, He is the very embodiment of all Gods. He is self-luminous and sustains all with his rays. He nourishes and energizes the inhabitants of all the worlds as well as the host of Gods and demons by his Rays.
He is the Brahma (the creator), Visnu (the Sustainer), Shiva (the destroyer), Skanda (the son of Siva), Prajapati (progenitor of human race), the mighty Indra (king of heaven), Kubera (the god of wealth and lord of riches), Kala (eternal time), Yama (the Lord of death), Soma (the moon god that nourishes), and Varuna (the lord of sea and ocean).
Indeed, he is Pitris (ancestors, manes), the eight Vasus, the Sadhyas, the twin Aswins (physicians of Gods), the Maruts, the Manu, Vayu (the wind God), Agni (the fire God), Prana (the Life breath of all beings), the maker of six seasons and the giver of light.
Students and scientists are aware of nuclear reactions happening at surface of sun. For us, it’s the only source of energy. Imagine a world without Sun. what will we do to survive? Being the source of light and warmth, he has the ability to control the seasons and the power to grant or withhold the ripening of the crops.
Giving Water to Sun
An old man giving water to Sun
As per Ancient Vedas
Water offered to Sun in the evening converts the drops of water to stones that kill the demons. For humans, most likely demons are like all sicknesses like typhoid TB, pneumonia etc. When a devotee takes water in his hands while standing in front of or facing the sun and drops water on the ground the rising direct Sunʼs rays fall from the head to feet of the devotee in a uniform flow. This way water heated by Sun rays and its colors penetrates every part of the body. This is the reason why the Vedas direct the devotee to offer water when the Sun is about to set.
Sun lord
As per Astrology
Astrology is totally based on light. All colors represent a particular planet. Human being is made up of five elements as Water, Air, Ether, Earth and Fire. Every planet in our horoscope represents a relation. A person with a weak Sun or afflicted Sun might have not warm relations with father or he might have lost him also. For such persons, It is a recommended Vedic remedy to offer water to Sun .
As per Scientists
Solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation has been used since ancient times to treat various diseases. This has a scientific background in the fact that a large number of molecules (chromophores) in different layers of the skin interacts with and absorbs UV.
…Phototherapy is a valuable option in the treatment of many psoriatic and nonpsoriatic conditions, including atopic dermatitis, sclerosing skin conditions such as morphea, scleroderma, vitiligo, and mycosis fungoides. Phototherapy is the treatment of certain skin disorders with UV radiation which can be produced by the sun, fluorescent lamps, short arc lamps with UV filters and lasers.
Depending on the shape of the spectrum of radiation emitted by the source, phototherapy can be divided into broadband UVB (290-320 nm), narrow band UVB (310-315 nm), monochromatic UVB (308 nm from an excimer laser), broadband UVA (320-400 nm) and UVA-1 (340-400 nm).
…Traditionally, broadband UVB phototherapy has been used to treat psoriasis, which is an inflammatory skin disease, characterized by keratinocyte hyperproliferation with 1-2 percent prevalence in the general population. However, now more often narrowband UVB or monochromatic UVB are used for the clearance of psoriasis. Narrow-band UVB clears psoriasis faster and produces longer remissions than broadband UVB. Action spectra for UV-induced erythema, DNA damage, photoimmune suppression, squamous cell carcinoma and vitamin D synthesis are very similar, all in the UVB spectral region of 280-310 nm.
Narrowband UVB do not contain the most erythemogenic and carcinogenic wavelengths.
As per Health and Nutrition experts
New evidence presented in the April-June issue of Dermato-Endocrinology confirms that exposure to the sun in appropriate and measured timeframes has a number of health benefits unrelated to vitamin D production, such as:
Enhancing mood and energy through the release of endorphins Protecting against and suppressing symptoms of multiple sclerosis (MS)
Treating skin diseases, such as psoriasis, vitiligo, atopic dermatitis, and scleroderma. UV radiation also enhances skin barrier functions Inducing nitric oxide (NO), which helps protect your skin against UV damage and offers cardiovascular protection, promotes wound healing through its antimicrobial effect, and has some anti-cancer activity
Melatonin regulation through the “third eye” of the pineal gland photoreceptors Relieving fibromyalgia pain
Standard treatment for tuberculosis 100 years ago, long before the advent of antibiotics Treating neonatal jaundice
Can be used to sterilize your armpits and eliminate the cause of most body odor Treating Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
Synchronizing important biorhythms through sunlight entering your eye and striking your retina Regulating body temperature
Protecting against melanoma and decreasing mortality from it May be effective in treating T Cell lymphoma

Surya Devta
Surya Devta
Vastu Shastra

The earth has a flow of energy that is called “the grid.” This flow of energy is related to the earth’s rotation at the equator.It flows North and South in alignment with true north rather than magnetic north.
When a house or structure is aligned precisely with “The Grid” the effects of Vastu are realized.
Another value of using the grid is that solar energy flows east to west as the sun moves across the sky. When a home is properly aligned with the north/ south grid , it is automatically aligned with the east west grid. Grid lines in a built space are carriers of energy values and qualities. Of properly designed, The micro space, in our house is foetus, Garbha or Bindu.
This micro abode is the repository of light and sound. The free space is Light and the Light is Moolam or source of the universe and universal forms. Light is Brahman, Atman, Vastu Brahman .
Our body is also manifestation of energy. As per Vastu shastra , it is also governed by direction and all universal laws
What happen when we offer water to Sun?
Sun light is carrier of energy and it penetrates our body’s energy circle known as aura. As sun light passes through water, it divided into seven colors as shown in picture below.
No human being is perfect. Any deficiency in our personality is related to some missing energy. Ayurveda talks about this imbalance as Dosha. Astrology see it as a deficiency in any house horoscope.
It is recommended in the water offering ritual to keep the vessel above chest. When these refracted lights enters human body. The surface area of our chest is highest in human body, so chest can absorb maximum refracted light.
There is no known evidence or study to see, how it affects our energy aura. There is no available documented study over the same. It’s a matter of individual practice and realization.
I hope , i am able to provide you enough foundation to prepare your belief as per your own perspective . Either you have faith on scriptures or You trust scientific facts.
Obeisance to Lord Sun
Salutations to the Lord, who creates heat by his brilliant rays. He alone creates, sustains and destroys all that has come into being. Salutations to Him who by His rays consumes the waters, heats them up and sends them down as rain again.

How to avoid the fake Astrologers ?

Two days back, Saturn came into Zodiac sign Scorpio. I can Imagine, how astrologers all around world have minted millions out of naïve people out of their fear and most Media propaganda.

In India, lots of news Channel gives Astrological prediction between 8 am to 9.30 am. Astrologers say anything to anybody there, Poor people buy it. Many cancel their meetings, Few avoid travel and so much of superstition. On Another channel, you will see Vedic remedies. One Pandit ji will keep on shelling many complicated mantras. Other will give you , how to make money on this and this day.

You read any newspapers , anywhere in world. There is a special place for daily forecast based on zodiac signs. Is it possible to give forecast for every human being? Sheer Nonsense. They give stupid lines like “You will have a profitable proposition today” or “Chance to meet soul mate”. Tell these lines to people in IRAQ and Somalia, they will kill such a so called astrologer. I mean, how can somebody do such generalized forecast. Worrying part is , People read them everyday. They feel it might help them in giving that elusive word, HOPE.

Yes, Astrology can give Hope. Hope is the most powerful force in world, which can bear most powerful negative energy in world “FEAR”.

On the contrary, there are millions who see Astrology as “Hopeless”. Its  right also. There are more than 98% astrologers , who are at learning stage. Everybody is learning or faking. The smart ones are making money out of this faking.  There are numerous in every corner of the world.

The modem world has a mixed approach to astrology. There are many persons who consider it superstition and fraud. They believe that technological advancements enabling mankind to explore the unlimited expanse of the stellar realm could reveal all dimensions of life to them.

Ancient times
In Vedic civilization, astrology was the very basis of daily life. In order to harmonize their daily lives with the laws of nature, the ancient seers revealed the nature of extraterrestrial influences on everyday life. In ancient China, the belief in an intelligent cosmic order found expression in correlation charts that juxtaposed natural phenomena with the activities and fate of man. For a long time, it was a universal practice there to have a horoscope cast for each newborn by a professional astrologer. These horoscopes were consuited and interpreted at all decisive junctions of life, particularly on the eve of a marriage.

Today, Situation is very different in Kaliyuga.
Maharshi Parasara, father of Maharshi Vyasa, wrote a treatise on Jyotisha shastra just before Kali yuga started. He referred in it a few times to the “intellectual pygmies of Kali yuga” and gave techniques suitable for astrologers of Kali yuga. Thus, he was conscious of impending Kali yuga and that was on his in mind as he taught. In the chapters on remedial measures to overcome karmic problems (as represented by planets and horoscope), he basically referred to various kinds of homas. Though some people may insist on japam (meditation) today, Parasara only referred to offering mantras in homam fire. He was specific on the mantras to be offered in fire for various deities.

Mantras are for protecting mind (from its enemies, i.e. one’s weaknesses like ego, pride, attachment, lust, anger etc). Imagine one’s mind to be a person. Imagine one’s weaknesses to be enemies charging at the person aggressively. Imagine mantra to be a weapon (stick or stone or gun) in the hands of the person.

Present scenario
A lot of our astrological understanding of today is based on weak philosophical foundation. Understanding the philosophy of individual consciousness as explained in scriptures and mapping it to Jyotish factors can enhance our understanding of Jyotish in the long run.

A good astrologer is supposed to guide you on spiritual journey. He will never frighten you. he is like a big brother , a part of family, who is caring for you.

Why Trouble, Stress and problem comes in life ?

Nature works on the principle of “equal reaction to every action”. You engaged in an action using your own free will and nature has to somehow find a way to give the equal reaction to that action. God is there to implement the rules of nature. The circumstances faced by you are decides by nature based on the previous actions exerted by your free will. Within the limitations imposed by those circumstances, your free will decides one particular action among several possible actions. That gets added to the list of your actions and nature pays back for it in future by creating different circumstances for you to operate under.

An individual is guided by his own karma. Whatever he has done in his past will come back to him during the course of his future incarnations. Reincarnation, in fact, is the other side of Karma. Karma and reincarnation taken together control and guide the individuals to their future destiny. That is why the course of future life is so much predetermined.

Bad or God karma or Situations

A planet is neither a malefic nor a benefic as such. Similarly, no event of life can be considered good or bad without relating that to any specific goal. When a planet is malefic, it only attempts to dangle the individual between his material thirst and spiritual aspirations so that when there is any material deprivation, then over a series of lives he realises the futility of worldly attainments in satisfying some inner cravings and also the transience of all worldly possessions. Once this realisation dawns on the individual, the limitations of material bonds will begin to weaken and he begins to lead a different kind of life.

How to avoid the fake ones ?
Who can stop thinking of the famous Kohinoor or The blue sapphire story of Amitabh Bachhan, Does these things works ? Well, they do, but not for everyone. You need a very competent astrologer, who can help you for that. Rest all are making money out of you selling gems . A lot of them are evening selling fake stones in the name of Gems.

Fake astrologer will always get you into FEAR mode. He will be frightening you in subtle tones. They use words like Sadesatti , Kalsarpa Yoga and so many ..

It is not easy, especially when there are just a few grains in the middle of a big pile of chaff. Astrology is useful but not that much. Astrologer’s mind, which makes the final judgments, works based on his/her prejudices and secret beliefs. Astrology knowledge that we have on earth today is insufficient to give perfect guidance.

Cant avoid Astrologers, what to do ?
Astrologers keep recommending remedies to people who are materially inclined and want temporary relief (so-called) from temporary troubles (so-called). But, it is also a good idea to increase devotion that makes people not distinguish between pleasure and sadness.

Don’t run away from your chosen path. Do you think Bill gates chant Laxmi Mantra everyday ? Please don’t be so superstitious. Listen to your heart in adversity and keep on working hard. Don’t take haste decision in bad situations. Do exercise to keep frustration out of mind. Your mind needs more oxygen in such situations, so have few laps in pool or play a quick game of tennis. There is day after night, so just hold on yourself tight in bad times.

Your destiny follow you everywhere. Its your Danapaani , which takes you places, beside your Hard work.

How to fight Depression ?

Recent reports from National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), India suggest:
15 suicides are committed per hour
371 suicides committed per day
Approximately 37% victims commit suicide by hanging
Approximately 29% victims commit suicide by consuming poison
Human being is a complex organism . Human emotions are intricately linked to the events that are occurring around. This is a continuous process. It is natural for us to feel sad when things aren’t going our way. But this sadness can easily turn to joy when favourable events occur. In today’s fast life, This is a see saw situation. Can every person adapt to such fluctuations in same manner?
Remember the scene in the Harry Potter movie, Prisoner of Azkaban, where the Dementor comes close to Harry and tries to remove all the positive emotions from Harry’s body? To quote a character from the Harry Potter Series, Remus Lupin, Dementors are”…among the foulest creatures to walk this earth. They infest the darkest, filthiest places, they glory in decay and despair, they drain peace, hope and happiness around them…Get too near a Dementor and every good feeling, every happy memory will be sucked out of you.” If Remus Lupin were a physician, he could well have been talking about depression.
depression start
Although sadness is very much part of a normal life, with its ups and downs; being sad for a long time, regardless of the situations around, is what is known as depression. When a person is depressed, He/she is in a state of prolonged sadness. Depressions can be of different types, medically speaking, but they are a disorder of a mind and they have to be acknowledged and treated as would any physical injury or disorder, without any sense of shame.
Sometimes, a painful event has such an impact on the human brain that it goes into a shell, covering itself with feelings of prolonged sadness and excessive guilt. Such a condition is called “depression.”
depression friends help
Seek friendly relationships – Don’t be lonely. Turn to your trusted friends and relatives. It is important in life to invest time and emotions to build good relations. They might not be able to get you out of your depressed state of mind all by themselves. But the feeling, that you are not alone in your time of crisis and you will be helped and supported, gives you a major boost.
depression yoga
Get some exercise – Any physical activity releases “happy hormones” in your body. They invigorate the mind and make you feel good. No strenuous workouts are required. Just a brisk walk in the park daily can do wonders. Practice yoga. Pranayama, Cycling ,Swimming, Badminton or breathing exercises, work like miracles.
depression hugs
Challenge your brain – Set a daily routine. Don’t let the days go by just like that. Learn something new, maybe a language or origami or even cooking. When you are learning new things, the brain releases powerful chemicals that can create wondrous self-confident feelings. Don’t expect yourself to be perfect. Cut yourself some slack. Set small, achievable daily targets and then move on to bigger ones. Try to play chess. It’s a wonderful antidote.
fig a super food
Eat right – Healthy eating is absolutely vital during depressions. Overeating and resorting to junk foods can compound the problem and can create new ones. Foods rich in the B vitamins, Vitamin D, antioxidants, magnesium and folic acid are known to be naturally antidepressant. Eat complex carbohydrates (whole wheat bread, oats, and baked potatoes) and absolutely avoid refined flours and cut down drastically on your sugar intake.
sleep
Get a good sleep – Although this is easier said than done, it is vital to get at least 8 hours of sleep every night. Don’t nap during the day. Set a fixed time to go to bed. Slowly your brain will respond. Understand that the brain is also an organ which requires professional, medical care when it is not functioning properly.
depression play
Distract Yourself: Panic attacks are common during a depressive state of mind. Understand when a panic attack hits you. Try to distract yourself by doing something, walking, or simply jumping up and down and concentrating on the physical effort. Once the phase has passed, calm yourself down by some deep breathing. Don’t sit there. Do some activity. Go make yourself a cup of tea or coffee. Take a bath. This has a calming effect on the brain.
depression
Don’t Blame Yourself: When depression hits a person, he/she finds it difficult to perform even the basic chores. This can exacerbate into a feeling of blame for oneself. Don’t blame yourself for your depression. It is a mental condition affecting probably everyone during some or the other time in their lives. So you are not unique to the “Depression Club.”
suryanamaskar
Calm Your Senses Through Meditation and Spirituality: Turning your focus and energies towards spirituality can be a much needed mental boost. Meditation is an excellent way to calm the senses and bring peace to your troubled mind. If you thought that meditation is performed only by ardent yogis, think again. You only need 15 minutes to half an hour everyday to practise it. If you are a religious person, visit your place of worship more often. These are the most peaceful places and have a vibrant energy around them which is contagious.
happy in every mood
Step Outdoors: Try to spend as much time outside the house as possible. A depressed person can easily tend to become a reclusive house-worm and this compounds the problem. Scientifically, too, staying outsides in the sun makes sense, because of elevated Vitamin D levels in the body due to exposure to the sun. Vitamin D is an excellent “feel-good” vitamin.
Happiness is possible.
Laugh Out Loud: Watching funny movies and TV shows is also an excellent way to create a joyous state of mind. Laughing helps release hormones that soothe your brain and make you feel at peace with yourself. Tom n Jerry , still works…. :)
krishna student
Visiting religious places: You can visit temple or church. They do help. Try alternative therapies to achieve mental peace. Sound therapy is simple and very effective. There are innumerable ways to practice it. One way is the Tibetan sound therapy. You can buy a bowl and mallet from a Tibetan store (or even online). The mallet when rubbed on the rim creates soothing sound waves. These in conjunction with the chanting of certain mantras help relax the mind.
Finally, the human will is, arguably, the strongest entity in Creation. The will to come out of depression is by far the best way to battle it. Rest assured, the will wins, if it is fuelled by determined efforts. If a lowly cell, through Evolution, can make it thus far into becoming what a human body is today, depression really doesn’t stand a chance.
depression action
The will to come out of the depressive state of mind is a huge motivator. This will itself guides one to help oneself achieve freedom from depression. There’s always the option of seeking medical help and taking medications to aid other efforts. Life is too short to wallow on guilt, blame and sadness. There are greater things to accomplish. Fly on.

What Guys want ?

I was watching this movie’ What women want” few days back. Been always fond of movies. Can watch 24 hours. So this movie inspire me to ask friends to share things , which guys wants. I talked for around more than 100 friends and there are others, whom I am not friends.

It is right that guys want to meet their “Biological need” first. Fine, we are grown up . Let talk the other things.
pyar ka panchnama

I know so many Guys, who don’t share much. Its rare that they have friends. Its truth with most of the guys. They don’t have friends. After that rush of “Biological need ” is over, though they never admit, but  they are looking for a friendship from a woman, With whom they can share. See “Pyaar ka panchnaama”.

Every guy wants her wife to make food like his mother do. It seems quite ok also, as a guy who has developed a certain taste right from his childhood, its not possible to forget that. The texture, amount salt , tenderness of the chapati , that perfect mix….. No offense ladies, but its one of the things which every guy wants

.guys

Most of the guys are tired of the Image hey have to live up with. When a guy grows up, he gets an image to live up to. There are so many expectations. Not everyone can win the race. Imagine the guys, who are left behind.  Somewhere deep down, they wanted to share what they really want. Most of them don’t get a chance ever to build a new image. They have to live up with that image” Boys don’t cry”.

Guys want to take rest but they seldom gets. Its not physical, but mentally, their DNA works 24 hours. Ever wonder , they get more heart attacks than women. They hardly gets a chance to open up their mind . You wonder, why they drink so much? If your friend, guy, bro , hubby or son is too  much into drinking, then don’t preach him  to stop drinking. He needs someone to talk. He cant talk with you on certain things, so guys go out.

If you teach a person cycling, he can do it after 50 years also. All women have this complaint of women, that they don’t understand them. Guys don’t understand women, because they don’t know it. The way, they are brought up, most of them don’t know this alien language of listening.  Guys want you to tell them the ways , in a nice way , one at a time, and not in a preachy way. Signals are enough. Its like a training.

Its with almost most of the guys, they have to think a lot about money part. Its like male ego and they don’t want to talk about the money part. They just don’t.

Guys don’t talk to their mother a lot. Why ? Its not that they don’t want to. They  don’t get a chance to. They really never get a chance..That ambiance is not there in most of the homes.That is why they make lots of friends. Most of them are just acquaintances, not friends.

A guy always wants to have  own set of friends, activities, and passions. Of course  they just expect you to be supportive of everything . Mostly their is no communication and  rule are not set. Its just that every guy wants to hold on to his own identity.They forget to communicate that.

Well , Research is going on…more tips tomorrow. Got to take my kid from school. c ya.

Why USA is a great Country to live? What we can learn?

Why USA is a great country? I Compiled these answers from people, who went to USA from different countries. I wont name them. See, what we can learn from them…

Mr A is from India

I am from India and moved to the US 6 months back for my graduate studies. For me some things were a revelation. Many things I found surprising in addition to the many things mentioned in other answers are:
  • The respect for rules. Even at 2 in the morning if a motorist sees a STOP sign he will stop his car for a moment look around then proceed. Unbelievable! Back in India when I watched this episode of Modern Family Door to Door (Modern Family) I really did not get it. I was wondering, why was Claire so determined to get a STOP sign? What difference does it make? In India we have STOP signs everywhere and nobody cares! But after coming here I realized that being caught not stopping at a STOP sign can cost dearly. Same holds for every other rule.
  • The amazingly polite nature of people. It is natural for strangers to greet you and you are expected to greet them back.
  • The amazing system of freeways and interstates. If you own a car you can simply decide to drive at a short notice to any destination no matter how far anywhere in the US. I’ve known people who prefer to drive to far away places than take a flight.
  • It is also surprising that no matter how remote the area is, the road signs will all be in place and proper.
  • A surprising thing is that a one way intercity train ride is much more expensive than a round trip flight ticket most times..!
  • How courteous and helpful people sometimes are. I went to a post office during peak holiday season. Even though there was a long line the person behind the counter patiently explained to me all the available options for an international shipment and even suggested to me an inexpensive way of getting it shipped. What is more, he himself provided me an envelope and also wrapped up my package. I never can imagine this happening in any post office back home in India!
  • The seemingly opposite scheme of things. Air travel is preferred and is cheaper than a train journey. Automatic transmission is the default on most cars. The manual transmission, referred to as the “stick shift” here is a premium and a car with a “stick shift” is more expensive than automatic transmission! In fact I am willing to bet that most americans will not be able to drive if given a stick shift car.
  • There are vast amount of areas in the US which do not have any human settlement for miles at a stretch…!
  • How parking and driving is a breeze. You simply do not have to break your head over finding parking spots when you go for shopping as mostly there is ample space! And more over parking is FREE! Yes I’m talking to you Delhi-ites and Bangaloreans!
  • How “well behaved” motorists are during peak hours and when there are traffic snarls. No impatient honking or trying to cut lines ruthlessly..! Again learn something Delhi & Bangalore!
  • It is absolutely surprising how rarely you will ever hear anyone honk on the roads.
  • How pedestrians are respected and have the right-of-way in most places!
  • How huge the US is in terms of the total land area. There are states like Wyoming, Montana, New Hampshire, ND,SD where I am told there are no human settlements for miles and miles together. List of U.S. states by population density
  • How the division of some states have simply been done on some elementary lines. Most often the division of states has been a vestige of the civil war or it has simply been done by rivers! Yes rivers! Gosh how Indian states could be divided like that!
  • How most state capitals are not the same as the most populous/largest city in the state. i bet most foreigners don’t know that the capital of Illinois is not Chicago but Springfield. The most surprising one is the capital of the state of New York is not New York city but Albany!
  • How irritating it is for us to get used to the non metric system of units. President Reagan had a chance to subvert this and get the US on the metric system of units but unfortunately that never materialized. Metric Commission
  • How resource rich the US is…
  • Of course the return policy. No questions asked!
  • In the academic context, the lesser obsession with grades and more emphasis on learning what has been taught. Most courses in the university level are oriented around this theme and the professors actually take an interest in teaching and take pains to make sure the students have grasped the concepts.
  • It is also very surprising that how aloof and sheltered most americans are from the harsh realities prevailing over most countries in the world. One of my friend who was a TA for a Biology course told me that most students in his class had never heard of a disease named Malaria!
  • How swift and effective law enforcement is!
  • How expensive healthcare is!
  • How heavily people depend on debit/credit cards to pay. I survived for 4 straight months without a single penny in my wallet. This would be unthinkable in India!
  • How complex the “tipping” scenario is!
  • How healthy market competition has brought some otherwise expensive technologies to the masses. For instance, phones with contracts deliver more services as compared to prepaid ones at almost the same price.
  • It is amazing how credit based the entire society is. People are encouraged to purchase stuff on credit. Thats why every retail entity worth its salt has its own credit card..!
  • How important your credit history is and how difficult it is to start afresh if you have somehow managed to screw it up.
  • The level to which retail has reached here is just unbelievable. All things from electronics to frozen food is available under one roof! Just visit any Target or WalMart and you will be bowled over with the variety of things on sale!
USA 5

Mr B is also from India

First the negative things about USA
1) No one walks or uses public transport: I really thought that public transport should be ubiquitous and the most basic thing in the US (I blame this on wikipedia.org Captain Planet).
Worse, there is no option of public transport outside of big metropolitan areas. Apart from the really big cities, the public transport system is basically a pointless mess of buses and trains, which are sparsely used and not punctual at all. Coming from a city in India where I was used to getting a train every 5 minutes, this came as a shock. I initially thought this was only in Atlanta (where I went to grad school), but I saw this in more and more cities as I traveled more. My ignorance about public transport to be blamed for this.
2) Not every city has skyscrapers like New York City or Chicago: Well, most cities fit this one. Too much Hollywood I guess. Too much suburban sprawl for my liking.
3) Gas is ridiculously cheap for the standard of living of an average American: Seriously, consider this:
Average per capita income in India = $1000 per year
(http://www.financialexpress.com/…)
Average gas price in India per liter = Rs 75
That comes out to Rs 277 (approx $5.5) per gallon.
And here in the US, the per capita income even is way higher and gas prices are cheaper. Yes, I do know that people here use cars more. But then, why don’t we use public transport…because it’s not good enough….vicious circle.
4) Cabs are expensive: Here, cabs are expensive enough to be called only when you don’t have a car/cannot get a ride/no public transport. In India, a cab was public transport and cheap enough to use for everyday commute (no, I do not come from a rich family).
5) There is a lot of poverty in the US: More shockingly, good young Americans are completely ignorant about it. There’s way too much economic segregation in terms of neighborhoods and school districts.
6) School districts: WTF is this? I came from a background where I anyone can go to any school (at least middle and high school) as long as it was based on merit (and you had the money if it was a private school). This led me to interact with people richer than the last 10 generations of my family as well as with people who lived on $100 a month. The school was tax subsidized and there was no school district segregation.
7) A receipt for everything: God save the trees. I do not need a copy of my bill and then a customer copy + merchant copy for every meal.
8) Medical/Education costs: After food, clothing and shelter, I thought medicine and education would be the most important basic needs for man. These should be cheap and readily available. How wrong was I?
9) Unlike most countries, corruption can legally take place (lobbying): Isn’t this a no brainer? I know lobbying is good for a lot of good reasons, but hey, it’s an easy way for the rich/corporations to get their point across and legally get things done.
10) Guns: There are people who believe that having guns is good for reducing crime (yes, statistics prove this too). I understand the argument that for example, break-ins will reduce since thieves will know that home-owners have a gun and can shoot the thief. But I cannot imagine what the social fabric will be if everyone has a gun. How can anyone feel safe to, let’s say, send their kids outside to just go to a store or to go and stroll in the park, with the knowledge that the person next to me has a gun?
11) Biased media: Political bias, economic bias, geographic bias, etc. Clear misuse of freedom of speech. If all I hear is inaccurate news, my perception of the world will be grossly inaccurate. How hard is it to realize this?
12) Economics of a few products/services: $15 for a haircut, waiters get paid only $2.13 per hour or some sub-minimum wage amount, bottled water worth $2, etc. It didn’t make sense to me at first. 15-20% tips at restaurant is a norm… Shouldn’t I have the freedom to choose the amount based on the quality of service and my own financial condition? Sewage bill… What?
Moving on to the pleasantly surprising things:
1) American kids in grad school are smart: Not all kids sit in front of tv/play video games/party all night. I thoroughly enjoyed studying with them.
2) Virtually every business has a website: Including my apartment leasing office.
3) Sports: I enjoy watching football and basketball. The fan following for national leagues is something I had expected, but college sports is very good.
4) The speed at which new technology is adopted: Twitter is faster than an earthquake?
5) True for Silicon Valley at least: Very hard working people. Open-minded and innovative people. It is a pleasure to work with such people.
6) Mixture of cultures: Never short of new restaurants to try. I love this.
7) The opportunities to do volunteer work: Insane number of opportunities…almost overwhelming
8) Bike lanes and sidewalks: Despite the fact that I could be the only person walking or biking in a mile, there are plenty of bike lanes and sidewalks. I wish more people would use them though.
usa 3

Mr C is an Indian Sikh guy

Just a few observations when I came here. I know a lot more about these now and can imagine why things are as they are. I’ll try to add my observations based on my travel experience:
  • Pay for incoming calls and messages (Yes, I mean domestic calls as well) ! When I first got a mobile plan, I confirmed this twice at the AT&T store
  • Certain dangerous pockets co-exist in seemingly safe places: It was my 2nd day in SF. In the evening, I got off a bus and started to roam around. And then…without knowing where I was heading to, I happily started walking towards the Tenderloin. One random dude came up to me and the conversation went something like this:
  • >   Random dude: Hey man, where you from?
    >   Me: Umm..India
    >   Random dude: Do you know where you are going to? That’s the Tenderloin man, you might not return to India if you go there
    >   Me: My guts shaking, I thanked the random dude (and thought to myself, it would have been quite a story, getting shot or mugged on my 2nd day in the US) This is just one of the experiences that I recall. I generally believe there are a lot of areas that someone can merely stumble upon without knowing how unsafe is that place
  • ‘Most’ people are open-minded: America is truly the melting pot of so many different cultures from around the world. People are generally respectful and believe in ‘live and let live’. However, like any other country, there are a few people who are conservative and close minded. I had an unpleasant experience while travelling in a bus which runs on the strip in Vegas. Looking at my turban, a middle-aged woman came to me and started shouting, “What the fuck is he doing in America?”. (She looked a me like I was a terrorist and I’m ready to bomb Vegas any moment ! :D) There were a lots of ohhhhhhhs and other muffled reaction sounds that I heard on the bus while I stared at the woman’s face. I was also taken aback as I had not said anything disrespectful to her. I decided to remain silent while she walked away. Then a random guy came up to me and said, “I am very sorry for what she said. Not everyone in America is like that”. I generally disregard this experience when I frame my opinion on the openness and acceptance of America. Most people I know are tolerant like the random guy that I met in the bus.
  • British English: I wholeheartedly agree that its quite unusual for Americans to hear a word which is not part of their usual lingo. As Indians, we’ve inherited the Queen’s English but my generation and younger folks are heavily influenced by American music and TV shows. I had a hilarious experience, when I told my American manager (AM) to schedule one of my recurring meetings fortnightly. Here’s how the conversation went:
  • >   Me: Lets schedule a catch-up fortnightly
    >   AM: Fortnightly, what’s that? Sounds Shakespere-ish
    >   Me: Fortnightly is once in every two weeks She was quite amused by this and we shared a good laugh later as well while recalling this incident
  • Exorbitant serving sizes of meals: I was amazed by the serving sizes of meals in the US. Having a meal in US meant one of the two things for me:
  1. i)   I felt drowsy and did not feel like doing anything
    ii)  I would skip the next meal or deliberately choose to eat only a small portion of the normal meal serving
  • Your experience in US depends to a great extent on which place(s) you visit: Apart from the general observations, I truly believe someone’s experience in the US can be really dependent on the places someone visits. For instance, people in the Bay Area seem really helpful to someone new. This might be in stark contrast to what happens in NYC, where nobody gives a fuck and life moves on
  • The prevalence of immigrant population which form the American culture: On my first day in SF last year, I enjoyed a good time celebrating St.Patricks Day. I realised how every eat-out and bar that day were flooded with Green :) I was also amazed by the Mexican influence in LA (in language, people,  culture etc). Needless to say, I’ve met numerous people from India, Pakistan and other Asian countries ranging from cab drivers, college students, people working in the technology sector etc who are settled in the US and making a livelihood as a hard-working American !
  • Shoddy public transportation system: Whether I talk about the caltrain/MUNI in SF or the NYC subway, the quality of public transportation was no where close to the quality of the Delhi Metro back home in India. I would say the Delhi Metro ranks higher on almost all parameters: cleanliness, connectivity, speed etc.

usa4

Mr D is not from India

  • Tipping, it’s just exotic.
  • Not any bargains.
  • The sky is unbelievably blue.
  • Entry fee charge by car, not by the headcount. Not even heard of it before.
  • Refills and the return policy. Q: Why would one go for a large cup?
  • No vodkas before 21, but all of a sudden alcoholics all around.
  • Some must think that drinks are more dangerous than guns ( 21 > 18 ).
  • And gun access looks strange enough.
  • Car is like necessity here.
  • Their kids are on their own after grown up.. exotic.
  • Women change their family names after marriage.
  • Vegetables are not cheaper (than meat)? (still don’t get it)
  • The Government could shut himself down (partially), like some fictional plot.
  • Where is the traffic police? Cops handle everything.
  • Legal system, culturally happy about suing all sorts of stuff.
  • Some obsess with the gym in strong contrast with the obesity problem.
  • Customers need to pump gas on their own. Wait, no service in a service kingdom?
  • Washing a car doesn’t involve any human labor.
  • An excellent higher education system on top of a strangely leisure K-12.
  • Schools gives out kids condoms, so hilarious.
  • Ok, pots can be legal, it’s extremely strange.
  • Well.. ridiculously rich.
usa 2

Mr E is from Europe

I ‘m English and have been living in Seattle for a couple of months. Here’s some observations
Groceries are incredibly expensive.
Everyone I spoke to in England assumed everything was dirt cheap in the US. But fresh food and groceries are at least twice the price of middle of the road shops in the UK. The US makes waitrose look cheap.
People handing over credit cards in bars.
In bars I’ve been in the situation where everyone hands over their credit cards and the bar staff keep track of how much everyone has spent and will hand you back a bill at the end of the night. This doesn’t happen anywhere else. In England you’d not trust the bar staff to do this at all – they’d probably steal your card.
Credit cards using signatures/magnetic strips
Everywhere in Europe uses chip and pin. Some places are going towards contactless payment. In the US you use a magnetic strip on your card and have to sign for everything. It’s about ten years out of date compared to everywhere else.
The standard of driving
Americans all seem to be really awful at driving. Oddly it seems as though teenagers go through hours and hours of learning to pass a test and then instantly forget everything as soon as they’ve passed.
“Jaywalking”
You’re not allowed to just cross the road when it’s safe? Crazy. You’d get nowhere in a city like London if you had to follow the rules you do in the US. No one believes you can get arrested for crossing the street.
Driving everywhere..
I walk around a mile to get to work. A lot of people in the office are amazed about this and often insist on giving me a ride home (despite it taking longer than walking). In theory everyone knows this is the case from movies/tv series/etc. But no one quite believes that it’s true.
The huge choice yet small range in grocery stores
Go to a grocery store. Pick a category of product (like pasta sauce). There’ll be ten types of pasta sauce from five different manufacturers to make an overall choice of 50 types of pasta sauce. But there won’t be any pesto.
There’s a huge range of choice in a narrow category. For just about everything.
How low taxes are
Everyone in America whinges about how high their taxes are. They aren’t. Taxes are incredibly low. No one from Europe will understand why Americans are complaining.
Taxes are stupidly complicated
Until you get to America no one realises just how complicated taxes are.
In England it goes like this: “Do you have any reason not to be on the normal tax code? No? Here’s £10k in non taxable allowance and we’ll sort everything out automatically.”
In America it seems like this: “Are you single, married or the head of a household (without defining what a household is)? Oh, and have you had any deductions (here’s a list of a thousand things that you could add on)? By the way, please prove these deductions are real. And get an accountant to look over everything otherwise we’ll come down on you like a ton of bricks”. It’s stupid and over complicated and people outside America don’t know how bad it is.
The price of petrol
Petrol is around $9 a (US) gallon in England. No one from England can believe how cheap fuel is in America. Stop complaining when it’s $3.50 a gallon.
Entr´ees
In the rest of the world entr´ee means “starter”. I was shocked at the portion sizes and was wondering where the menu for the main course was when I came over here.
Black Friday/Cyber Monday
People buy things they don’t need and just because everyone else is buying stuff. And then there’s riots and shootings because people want to buy things they don’t need? Are you all crazy?
New hobbies
A lot of Americans seem to take up a new hobby, buy all the gear, use it once and then leave it lying around in a cupboard. What a waste of money.
Parks
A block of grass with a few trees isn’t a park. It’s just a patch of grass. When it starts to get to a few acres then perhaps we can call it a park.
Cheques (or checks)
You still use these things? They’ve been obsolete for years in Europe.
Small boxes of cereal
An odd one, but considering portion sizes its always a surprise to find that boxes of cereal are so small in America. You can get 1kg boxes of cornflakes in England but in the US 500g is considered to be a large box.
Everyone is friendly
According to most americans at work Seattle people are actually quite rude, which I find odd because everyone I’ve spoken to here has been incredibly friendly compared to the vast majority of places in England.
Drinking age
An intern at work was saying he couldn’t go to the pub with us. I assumed it was because he was allergic to something or religious or something. It turns out he wasn’t 21. So you can vote, get married and serve in the military but can’t have a beer? Seriously?
Imperial measurements
Even England doesn’t use this nonsense any more (except for road signs where it’d cost too much to change them all to km and pints of beer (where a pint is a real pint and not the mini pint you get in the US)). Just get over it. Metric measurements are just *better*.
Tipping
It seems odd that staff in restaurants don’t earn enough without tips. That just makes no sense. Also, in England (and Europe) you wouldn’t tip unless you were in a restaurant and then you might give about 10%. In the Us you’re expected to tip *everywhere*, even to someone selling you a pint of milk in a shop.

Guys, there is so much information here. It is not researched by me. Lots of content is from WEB. I am not responsible for any wrong info, as I never went there.

Teachings of Guru Nanak Dev ji

Few Quotes from Guru Nanak Dev ji

“I am neither male nor female, nor am I sexless. I am the Peaceful One, whose form is self-effulgent, powerful radiance.”

“There is but One God, His name is Truth, He is the Creator, He fears none, he is without hate, He never dies, He is beyond the cycle of births and death, He is self illuminated, He is realized by the kindness of the True Guru. He was True in the beginning, He was True when the ages commenced and has ever been True, He is also True now.”
 
“Burn worldly love,
rub the ashes and make ink of it,
make the heart the pen,
the intellect the writer,
write that which has no end or limit.”
 
“Even Kings and emperors with heaps of wealth and vast dominion cannot compare with an ant filled with the love of God.”
 
“Dwell in peace in the home of your own being, and the Messenger of Death will not be able to touch you.”
 
“He who has no faith in himself can never have faith in God.”
 
“Death would not be called bad, O people, if one knew how to truely die.”
 
“Those who have loved are those that have found God”
 
“I am neither a child, a young man, nor an ancient; nor am I of any caste.”
 
“I am neither male nor female, nor am I sexless. I am the Peaceful One, whose form is self-effulgent, powerful radiance.”
 
“Owing to ignorance of the rope the rope appears to be a snake; owing to ignorance of the Self the transient state arises of the individualized, limited, phenomenal aspect of the Self.”
 
“The world is a drama, staged in a dream”
 
“There is but One God, His name is Truth, He is the Creator, He fears none, he is without hate, He never dies, He is beyond the cycle of births and death, He is self illuminated, He is realized by the kindness of the True Guru. He was True in the beginning, He was True when the ages commenced and has ever been True, He is also True now.”
 
“For each and every person, our Lord and Master provides sustenance. Why are you so afraid, O mind? The flamingos fly hundreds of miles, leaving their young ones behind. Who feeds them, and who teaches them to feed themselves? Have you ever thought of this in your mind?”
 
“Whatever kind of seed is sown in a field, prepared in due season, a plant of that same kind, marked with the peculiar qualities of the seed, springs up in it.”
 
“Your Mercy is my social status.”
 
“Even kings and emperors, with mountains of property and oceans of wealth – these are not even equal to an ant, who does not forget God.”
 
“Dwell in peace in the home of your own being, and the Messenger of Death will not be able to touch you”
 
“Speak only that which will bring you honor.”
 
“Nanak, the whole world is in distress. He, who believes in the Name, becomes victorious.”
 
“There is but one God. True is His Name, creative His personality and immortal His form. He is without fear sans enmity, unborn and self-illumined. By the Guru’s grace He is obtained.”

Writing about Guru Nanak Devji, Swami Vivekananda wrote: “Guru Nanak was born in the sacred land of India. He gave a message of love and peace of the whole world and preached the same through his teachings. He was full of affection for everyone and his arms were always outstretched as if to embrace the whole world…”

On an auspicious day like Guru Nanak Devji’s birth anniversary, the Guru’s teachings& preachings need sincere listening to and contemplation upon, in order to commemorate the blessing of his birth – because a Guru is ultimately known for his teachings. A spiritual opportunity would be missed if the Guru’s words are not fully understood and just ritualistically chanted.

Guru Nanak was the greatest teacher of the world who brought forward true knowledge and made no compromises in his principles. Guru Nanak Devji’s teachings are a way of life to millions of people all over the world.  Among the many philosophical foundations laid by Guru Nanak, his characterization of God is most recognizable. It forms the opening lines of Guru Granth Sahib. The translation is as follows:-

There is but One God, The Supreme Truth; The Ultimate Reality, The Creator, Without fear, Without enemies, Timeless is His image, Without Birth, Self Created, By His grace revealed.

 Guru Nanak’s main teachings are:-

Naam japo: Chanting the Holy Name and thus remembering God at all times (ceaseless devotion to God).

Vund chako: Share and care, especially with those who are in need

Kirat Karo: Earn an honest living by ensuring that no action leads to cheating or exploitation.
The crux of his teaching was “Equality of Humans” without distinction of caste or creed. Guru Nanak preached against discrimination and prejudices due to race, caste, status, etc. He didn’t only preached these concepts he also took practical steps to achieve it.

Nanak put the greatest emphasis on the worship of the Word of God (Naam Japna). One should follow the direction of awakened individuals (Gurmukh or God willed) rather than the mind (state of Manmukh- being led by self will)- the latter being perilous and leading only to frustration.

Guru Nanak believed in equality of men and women. He had great reverence for women; and elevated the position of women by spreading this message: “From woman, man is born; within woman, man is conceived; to woman he is engaged and married. Woman becomes his friend; through woman, the future generations come. When his woman dies, he seeks another woman; to woman he is bound. So why call her bad? From her, kings are born. From woman, woman is born; without woman, there would be no one at all. O Nanak, only the True Lord is without a woman.”

Guru Nanak scorned those who considered women to be evil and inferior to men by asking:
Why should we call her inferior, when it is she who gives birth to great persons?

. The Sri Guru Granth Sahib(SGGS)  the scripture of the Guru’s followers has 5894 hymns of which 976 hymns (17%) are composed by Guru Nanak Devji. Of the many teachings through his hymns, the “Japji” revered as the ‘Japji Sahib’ appears at the very beginning of the SGGS.

The Japji Sahib comprises spiritual vision and insights of Guru Nanak. It contains the essence of his spiritual experiences in 38 verses (pauris), The ‘mool mantra’ is the preamble outlining Guru’s intuitive spiritual experience. It ends with a ‘shloka’. The “Japji Sahib” is recited every morning by the Sikh-faithful and is considered as a concise summary of his teachings. The compilation of Japji Sahib consists of the famous Mool mantra. The Mool mantra ‘Ik-Onkar’ is the first series of truth-affirmations and is considered the essence and basis of Sikh panth.

All religious scriptures of Indian origin have “Mool mantras” which hold the essence of the entire scripture. Mool means ‘root’. Every tree has roots without which it cannot exist. The tree is sustained and nourished through these roots. They constitute the very foundation of the tree from which it grows and expands. In the same way, mool mantra means ‘that mantra in which lies the very essence of the Scripture’, the entire Scripture being an elaboration, expansion or explanation of that mantra”.

Revealing and expounding on the Truth enshrined in this mantra is the entire “Japji Sahib”, and the elaboration of the “Japji Sahib” is the entire SGGS.

The translation of the Mool Mantra ~ Ik-Onkar with the instruction ‘Jap’ at the end which means ‘repeat and contemplate’ is as:

Ik Onkar: The One, the Reality, Om
Sat Naam: Of Name ever True and Eternal
Kartaa Purakh: The Prime doer, the Creator
Nirbhau: Fearless
Nirvair: Without enmity
Akaal Moorat: Of Eternal Form
Ajuni: Without birth, Uncaused
Saibangh: Self-existent and Self-illuminating
Gurparsaad: Known by the Grace of the Enlightened Teacher


Guru Nanak points out that the road to the abode of God is long and arduous. There are no short cuts for rich people. Everyone must undergo the same discipline. All human beings must live according to the will of the Lord without grumbling or murmuring. The best way to find God is to make His will your own. Be in tune with the Infinite. The first stage in making the divine will one’s own is attained through prayer for divine grace or favor. Guru Nanak attaches very great importance to prayer. He says that nothing can be achieved by man without divine favor. He says: “Approach God with perfect humility. Throw yourself on His mercy. Give up pride, show and egoism. Beg for His kindness and favor. Do not think of your own merits, abilities, faculties and capacities. Be prepared to die in the pursuit of His love and union with Him”.

The beautiful composition of mystic poems uttered by Nanak is contained in ‘Japji’. It is sung by every Sikh at daybreak. In ‘Japji’, Guru Nanak has given a vivid description of the stages through which man must pass in order to reach the final resting place or abode of eternal bliss. There are five stages or Khandas.

The first is called Dharm Khand or “The Realm of Duty”. Everyone must tread the path of righteousness. Everyone will be judged according to his actions.

The next stage is Gyan Khand or “The Realm of Knowledge” where the spirit of divine knowledge reigns. The aspirant does his duty with intense faith and sincerity. He has the knowledge now, that only by doing his duty in a perfect manner, he can reach the abode of bliss or the goal of life.
The third stage is Sharam Khand. This is “The Realm of Ecstasy”. There is the spiritual rapture here. There is beauty. The Dharma has become a part of one’s own nature. It has become an ingrained habit. It is no more a mere matter of duty or knowledge.
The fourth stage is Karam Khand or “The Realm of Power”. The God of power rules over this realm. The aspirant acquires power. He becomes a mighty hero. He becomes invincible. The fear of death vanishes.
The fifth or the final stage is Sach Khand or “The Realm of Truth”. The formless One reigns here. Here the aspirant becomes one with God. He has attained Godhead. He has transmuted himself into Divinity. He has attained the goal of his life. He has found out his permanent resting place. Now ends the arduous journey of the soul.

“Vahe Guru” is the Guru Mantra for the followers of Guru Nanak.

Nanak describes the dangers of egotism (haumai- “I am”) and calls upon devotees to engage in worship through the word of God. Naam, implies God, the Reality, mystical word or formula to recite or meditate upon (shabad in Gurbani), divine order (hukam) and at places divine teacher (guru) and guru’s instructions)[20] and singing of God’s qualities, discarding doubt in the process. However, such worship must be selfless (sewa). The word of God, cleanses the individual to make such worship possible. This is related to the revelation that God is the Doer and without God there is no other. Nanak warned against hypocrisy and falsehood saying that these are pervasive in humanity and that religious actions can also be in vain. It may also be said that ascetic practices are disfavoured by Nanak, who suggests remaining inwardly detached whilst living as a householder.

Reforms that occurred in the institution and both Godhead and Devotion, are seen as transcending any religious consideration or divide, as God is not separate from any individual.

Guru Nanak’s Divine Journeys
Nanak was moved by the plight of the people of world and wanted to tell them about the “real message of God”. The people of the world were confused by the conflicting message given by priests, pundits, qazis, mullahs, etc. He was determined to bring his message to the masses; so in 1499, he decided to set out on his sacred mission to spread the holy message of peace and compassion to all of mankind.

Most of his journeys were made on foot with his companion Bhai Mardana. He traveled in all four directions – North, East, West and South. The founder Sikh Guru is believed to have traveled more than 28,000 km in five major tours of the world during the period from 1500 to 1524.

According to the Puratan Janamsakhi, which is one of the oldest accounts of the life history of Guru Nanak, the Guru undertook five missionary journeys (udasiya) to the far away places of Ceylon (Sri Lanka), Mecca, Baghdad, Kamroop (Assam), Tashkand and many more. The Guru travelled far and wide to spread the word of Gurbani and covered most of India, present day Bangladesh, Pakistan, Tibet, Nepal, Bhutan, South West China, Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Syria, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan.

Although the exact account of his itinerary is disputed, he is widely acknowledged to have made four major journeys, spanning thousands of kilometres, the first tour being east towards Bengal and Assam, the second south towards Sri Lanka, the third north towards Kashmir, Ladakh, and Tibet, and the final tour west towards Baghdad, Mecca and Medina on the Arabian Peninsula.[21]

Nanak crossed into Arunachal Pradesh and visited most of the part. First while going to Lhasa (Tibet) he passed through Tawang after crossing from Bhutan and entered Tibet from Samdurang Chu. He returned from Lhasa and went to the famous monastery Samye and entered Pemoshubu Menchukha in Arunachal Pradesh. He meditated for some time at this location. From Menchukha he went back to Tibet, brought the residents of Southern Tibet and got them settled in Menchukha. Thereafter through Gelling and Tuiting he proceeded to Saidya and Braham-Kund, before entering the state of Assam again.

To write about such an enlightened soul is not possible. Forgive me for Any mistake

Sun – The Astrological Meaning..

All the planets shine with the reflected light of the Sun; they represent different solar rays. Hence there is only real one light, which is the Sun, which is all lights, and is inwardly the light of the mind.

In Vedic astrology, therefore, the Sun is the principle of light, life and love, our true will and perception. It is the most important factor for determining the spiritual life and potentials of the individual. It represents the soul, the causal body or reincarnating entity, whose will is behind our fate. It is also the mind or the mental principle on a lower level as reason, discernment, clarity and illumination.

A well-placed Sun gives intelligence, perception, strength of will and character. It affords endurance, stamina, vitality, positive spirit, direction, courage, conviction, confidence, leadership, independence and straight-forwardness. Without it whatever we may do or accomplish in life will not be ours and will not give us inner strength or peace.

An ill-placed Sun gives lack of intelligence, poor perception, weakness of will and character. It creates lack of endurance, low vitality, melancholy, fear, dependency or servitude, deviousness or dishonesty.

An overly strong but malefically disposed Sun creates pride, arrogance, tyranny and control. It creates much of the same problems as Mars (or Saturn) when too strong. It can give a deceptive charisma and a dominating personality. When the Sun is strong we outshine everyone else for good or ill; depending on whether its disposition is benefic or malefic, conscious or unconscious.

A weak but spiritually disposed Sun makes us receptive, wanting to do good and self-effacing. We may lack in confidence and come under the rule of other people. We will seek to sacrifice ourselves but may not know what to give ourselves over to.

The Sun rules the heart, the organ of circulation and vitality, and a weak Sun gives problems here. Inwardly the heart is the organ of intelligence that regulates the life, breath, aspiration and perception. The nature of the Sun in the chart shows who we really are in our hearts. The Sun shows who we are in ourselves, as an individual, as apart from how we appear or what roles we take. It shows how we are with ourselves, in ourselves and by ourselves.

The Sun is our sense of self and indicates the level of our self-manifestation. On the lower level, the Sun represents the ego. It shows our impulses towards power, prestige, fame, honor, respect, authority and control–all the things that give value and preeminence to our separate self and personal power. It shows where we shine, how we shine and in what we shine, how we illumine ourselves and our own lives.

On the higher level, the Sun represents our soul as our power of direct cognition. It shows our aspirations, our creativity, our seeking for light and for truth, our integrity, our capacity to transcend external conditionings and be a light unto ourselves. The Sun is who we really are, and with the Sun in the chart is the problem of identity, the search for our true Self, the great enquiry “Who am I”. It is this inner search that is the real basis for the psychology of astrology.

The Sun directs us towards the yoga of knowledge for the revelation of our inner being. In terms of family relationships, the Sun represents the father. We can read through it the life of our father, our relationship to him and his influence upon us. It is the role of the father to shape our sense of self, to provide us with direction and self-worth in life. It is the absence, weakness or failure of the father in modern culture that is behind the many ego, identity and self-image problems so many of us today possess. The son needs a beneficent father to give him a sense of self-strength, self-mastery and capacity to function capably in the world. The daughter needs a good father to give her the sense of self-worth, integrity and the capacity to be her self in the world. We can judge this by the Sun in the chart.

The Sun shows the kinds of authority and the values which shape our lives. The Sun represents the king, the president, the political leader. It can indicate the government in general and whatever favors or promotions may come through it. It represents law and order on lower or higher levels, rule and reason.

The Sun can represent spiritual authority and along with Jupiter help us understand the nature of the guru or the spiritual teaching we are most likely to follow. It shows our guiding light, principles, values and precepts.
The inner purpose of the Sun in the chart is to aid in our transcendence. It takes us beyond things, negating their limitation. It may raise us to a high level outwardly in life but will inwardly push us beyond that. It operates to negate all things into the self. The Sun tends to deny the ordinary activities of life but only to command the extraordinary, the highest, the best.

The Sun will further us in the highest or most grandiose human strivings. It will give the power of independence, the capacity to become a value or a light unto ourselves and will promote the growth of intelligence. While destructive of form and expression, it elevates the being and the intrinsic worth of things. It does not always give abundance but does give quality. It gives power, fame, mastery and glory but not always wealth or emotional happiness.

In Sanskrit, there are innumerable names for the Sun. Most commonly he is called “Surya”, which means the father, progenitor, enlivener, impeller, the source of will, energy, motivation and inspiration, like the Greek Sun god Apollo.

Knowledge Source:- Dr David..Astrologer..