Srinivas Padma: Personal Musings on Life, Growth, and Connections

Joining Both Palms Together To Greet In Hindu culture, people greet each other by joining their palms – termed as “Namaskar.” The general reason behind this tradition is that greeting by joining both the palms means respect. However, scientifically speaking, joining both hands ensures joining the tips of all the fingers together; which are denoted to the pressure points of eyes, ears, and mind. Pressing them together is said to activate the pressure points which helps us remember that person for a long time. And, no germs since we don’t make any physical contact! Why Do Indian Women Wear Toe Ring Wearing toe rings is not just the significance of married women but there is science behind it. Normally toe rings are worn on the second toe. A particular nerve from the second toe connects the uterus and passes to heart. Wearing toe ring on this finger strengthens the uterus. It will keep it healthy by regulating the blood flow to it and menstrual cycle will be regularized....

The Ahmadiyya Muslim community believes that Jesus survived the crucifixion and travelled to India where he lived a full life and got married. They believe that his tomb is in Kashmir and that he had adopted the name of Yuz Asaf in Kashmir. A new Hollywood film will now focus on Jesus' years in India, along with the three wise men, during the "missing years" of his life between the ages of 13 and 30 that are not mentioned in the New Testament. The film, Aquarian Gospel, is based on the book of same name that claims to be the true story of the life of Jesus, including "the ‘lost' eighteen years silent in the New Testament." The book, first published in 1908, was written by Levi H. Dowling during the late 19th century. Details from The Unknown Life of Jesus Christ by Russian anthropologist Nicholas Notovich have also been included in the script for the film written by John F. Sullivan and William Keenan, who is also the producer of the $20 million adventure sa...

Russia, China and India contain the most areas where toxic pollution and human habitation collide with devastating effects Sumqayit in Azerbaijan gained the dubious distinction this week of being added to Blacksmith Institute's top 10 list of the world's most polluted sites . Yet another heir to the toxic legacy of Soviet industry, the city of 275,000 souls bears heavy metal, oil and chemical contamination from its days as a center of chemical production. As a result, local Azeris suffer cancer rates 22 to 51 percent higher than their countrymen and their children suffer from a host of genetic defects ranging from mental retardation to bone diseases. "As much as 120,000 tons of harmful emissions were released on an annual basis, including mercury ," says Richard Fuller, founder of Blacksmith, an environmental health organization based in New York City. "There are huge untreated dumps of industrial sludge." Fuller says the list includes "places that are...

These pictures are taken in Shirdi, Maharashtra in April 2007. You will See Baba's Chavdi, Dwaraka Mai and surroundings and Shani Shinganapur Temple. Babas Chavadi , Sai Baba use to take rest at this Place. Dwaraka Mai Wall Sculpture Near Baba's Chavadi and Dwaraka Mai Beautiful Sunset in Shirdi taken from the Hotel where i was staying Shani-Shinganapur is a famous pilgrim centre near Nashik in Maharashtra, which is also known for its doorless mystery. The unique feature of Shani-Shinganapur is that there is neither any image of specific deity nor any particular idol, but there is a stone pillar, which is supposed to embody the image, which is worshipped with deep respect and reverence The speciality of this temple is that there is no image or Pandit who performs the puja. Male devotees before entering into the temple take a head bath in the holy waters close to the temple and wear saffron cloth. The puja i...

British actress Elizabeth Hurley and her husband, Arun Nayar, arrived in Mumbai on Monday for the next leg of their nuptial celebrations — six days of traditional Indian festivities that will culminate in a ceremony at a maharaja’s lavish palace. Photographers snapped shots of Hurley, wearing a short white dress, and Nayar, in a jacket, blue shirt and jeans, arriving at Mumbai’s airport from London early on Monday. The celebrations are to continue from Wednesday to Saturday in the city of Jodhpur at Umaid Bhavan Palace, the Maharaja of Jodphur’s palace-turnedluxury resort. The couple were married on Friday in a private civil ceremony at Sudeley Castle in Winch combe, London. The organisers have hired a local pandit for the rituals. The Umaid Bhavan has 40 suites and 24 rooms. The couple will stay in the Maharaja suite, the most luxurious one. Staff and crew of the hotel are tightlipped about the function. The Mehrangarh Fort is expected to host the reception ceremony. Some functions wi...

A study conducted by the Transparency International India has found that the least corrupt States in the country were Kerala, Himachal Pradesh, Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh , in that order. This study was quoted by the World Bank in its appraisal of the AP economic reforms loan-III (also known as development policy loan) of $ 200 million sanctioned on January 11. The Opposition may cry hoarse about corruption at high places but the bank gave a clean chit to the State government. As per the study, Bihar is the most corrupt State, followed by Jammu and Kashmir . The survey assessed corruption using 11 benchmarks, including rural financial institutions, income tax, municipal services, judiciary, land administration, police, schools, water supply, public distribution system, electricity and government hospitals. While police is the most corrupt institution throughout the country, it is surprisingly not the case in AP, where government hospitals and water supply are more corrupt. The State g...

Dubai: South Asian workers coming to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will now be able to complete their visa formalities in their own countries. UAE’s labour ministry will soon set up offices in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka to complete work permit formalities like medical tests, signing of e-contracts as well as for providing working mission visas instead of visit visas. The new initiative will virtually curb the practice of visit visas and will ensure all rights to the workers such as medical care, accommodation, and the right to complain at the ministry, the Khaleej Times reported. “The working mission visa will be valid for six months and will be renewable for another six months to ensure that the worker can change job if he desires,” a spokesperson of the labour ministry said. Last month, during the visit of UAE’s labour minister Dr Ali Bin Abdulla AlKa’abi, India and the UAE signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to safeguard the interests of the Indian workers in ...