Wednesday, 23 December 2015
Tuesday, 22 December 2015
Unghostly Apparition
How does one know when one is looking at a ghost?
The superstitious belief that the dead may return as a shrouded figure to haunt the land of the living accounts for the sheets and skeletons used to illustrate ghost stories and decorate Halloween celebrations. Scientists explain them as being a delusion arising from one's imagination, if not a hoax. But, the doppelganger is a troubling ghost whose appearance and behavior resembles that of a living person.
If the person seen is not dead, where does this apparition originate? If it is an imaginary delusion, how can that delusion be shared when none of the witnesses are aware that they are only seeing a ghost?
There have been authors who have claimed to have been literally beside themselves. Once, Percy Shelley was said to have met himself on a road outside of Pisa, Italy, with his double riding on horseback. And, Guy de Maupassant, when writing his short story, "The Horla," was said to have met his double, who dictated the story to him. However, both of these gentlemen were fond of telling ghostly tales, and Guy de Maupassant was also said to be going mad at the time.
Can we trust authors who claim to see their own ghost when they are not yet dead, and without confirmation from independent witnesses? If not, then what about politicians?
A curious story emerged in London and was reported by the newspapers in May of 1905. I first came across it in Drewry's Derby Mercury but take the details from the Daily News and the Daily Express.
The incident took place shortly before Easter of 1905. Sir Gilbert Parker, M.P., described his experience as follows:
Major Sir Frederick Carne Rasch, a Unionist Member of Parliament representing the Chelmsford Division of Mid-Essex since 1900, had become ill with influenza. However, he was neither dead nor dying. Several days later, when he met Sir Gilbert and Sir Henry and learned of their concern, he accepted their congratulations upon his having not died, went home, told the story, and "made every one in his family appropriately miserable."
"Ghosts are generally supposed to be the apparitions of the dead aren't they?" Sir Carne Rasch asked his constituents.
Sir Carne Rasch took the incident in soldierly stride, but he saw fit to bring the affair to a conclusion with a letter to the Daily News, published on May 18.
The superstitious belief that the dead may return as a shrouded figure to haunt the land of the living accounts for the sheets and skeletons used to illustrate ghost stories and decorate Halloween celebrations. Scientists explain them as being a delusion arising from one's imagination, if not a hoax. But, the doppelganger is a troubling ghost whose appearance and behavior resembles that of a living person.
If the person seen is not dead, where does this apparition originate? If it is an imaginary delusion, how can that delusion be shared when none of the witnesses are aware that they are only seeing a ghost?
There have been authors who have claimed to have been literally beside themselves. Once, Percy Shelley was said to have met himself on a road outside of Pisa, Italy, with his double riding on horseback. And, Guy de Maupassant, when writing his short story, "The Horla," was said to have met his double, who dictated the story to him. However, both of these gentlemen were fond of telling ghostly tales, and Guy de Maupassant was also said to be going mad at the time.
Can we trust authors who claim to see their own ghost when they are not yet dead, and without confirmation from independent witnesses? If not, then what about politicians?
A curious story emerged in London and was reported by the newspapers in May of 1905. I first came across it in Drewry's Derby Mercury but take the details from the Daily News and the Daily Express.
The incident took place shortly before Easter of 1905. Sir Gilbert Parker, M.P., described his experience as follows:
- "I wished to take part in the debate in progress, but missed being called. As I swung round to resume my seat I was attracted first by seeing Sir Carne Rasch out of his place, and then by the position he occupied. I knew that he had been very ill, and in a cheery way nodded towards him and said, `Hope you are better.'
"But he made no sign and uttered no reply. This struck me as odd. My friend's position was his and yet not his. His face was remarkably pallid. His expression was steely. It was a altogether a stony presentment -- grim, almost resentful.
"I thought for a moment. Then I turned again toward Sir Carne Rasch, and he had disappeared. That puzzled me, and I at once went in search of him. I expected, in fact, to overtake him in the lobby. But Rasch was not there. No one had seen him. I tried both the Whips and the doorkeeper, equally without avail. No one had seen Sir Carne Rasch.
"I went round the House, inquiring in all the corridors and to the same end -- Sir Carne Rasch had not been seen. Going again to the lobby, I heard that Sir Henry Meysey-Thompson, who was at the lobby post office, had also been inquiring for the major, but without result.
"I joined Sir Henry, and we exchanged views."
Major Sir Frederick Carne Rasch, a Unionist Member of Parliament representing the Chelmsford Division of Mid-Essex since 1900, had become ill with influenza. However, he was neither dead nor dying. Several days later, when he met Sir Gilbert and Sir Henry and learned of their concern, he accepted their congratulations upon his having not died, went home, told the story, and "made every one in his family appropriately miserable."
"Ghosts are generally supposed to be the apparitions of the dead aren't they?" Sir Carne Rasch asked his constituents.
- "I was rather ill at the time, and had to keep my bed, and why I should have gone to the House of Commons that night I don't know. However, theExpress of Friday says that I did. I am worth a good many dead ones yet, I hope. At any rate, I mean to go on a little longer.
"I feel, however, that I ought to apologize to the Liberal Party for not having died when I suppose I ought. Had I done so it would have saved them a good deal of trouble. If I have another chance perhaps I will endeavor to oblige them."
- "Sir, On my way home to Southhill Park today I noticed in The Daily News that Sir Carne Rasch had been seen in the House of Commons by Sir Gilbert Parker when he was reported to be lying ill at home, and that further evidence in confirmation was required.
"I beg to say that I not only saw Sir Carne Rasch myself sitting below the gangway (not in his usual seat), but that I called the attention of Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman to whom I was talking on the Front Opposition Bench, saying that I wondered why all the papers inserted notices of Sir Carne Rasch's illness, while he was sitting opposite apparently quite well. Sir Henry replied that he hoped his illness was not catching. -- Yours, etc.
- "Arthur D. Hayter
"Bracknell Berks, May 13."
Sir Carne Rasch took the incident in soldierly stride, but he saw fit to bring the affair to a conclusion with a letter to the Daily News, published on May 18.
- "Sir, The only Excuse I can offer for being the reason of an encroachment on your space is that of confession and avoidance -- as Sir William Harcourt used to say -- and that I will not be the cause of it again.
"I certainly was not in my place at Westminster at the time, and had I been seen by other than hon. members (for whom I have, of course, the most profound respect) I should say they had `got `em again.' As it is, the tale wants finish. I ought to have done what was expected of me -- and I must try to remedy this on a future occasion. Yours, etc.
- "Carne Rasch, M.P. Mid-Essex
"Windham Club, St. Jame's-square, S.W."
Of all the famous ghosts to haunt London, I find it odd the only ghost told of in Westminster was a doppelganger, but, then, many strange things happen in Parliament.
Monday, 21 December 2015
Wednesday, 16 December 2015
Tuesday, 15 December 2015
Why did Parshurama cut his mother’s head?
Parshurama was the son of sage Jamadagni and Renuka. Renuka was known for her chastity and devotion to her husband. Such was her faith, that she was able to fetch water from the river in a pot of unbaked clay, with the pot held together only by the strength of her devotion. One day while at the river, a group of Gandharvas in a chariot passed by in the sky above. Filled with desire for only a moment, the unbaked pot she held dissolved in the river. Afraid to return to her husband, she waited at the river bank, uncertain of what to do next. Meanwhile, Jamadagni noticed his wife had not returned. Through his yogic powers, he divined all that had taken place and was enraged.The rishi called his eldest son, handed him an axe and asked the boy to kill his mother. Horrified, the boy refused, and so Jamadagni turned him to stone. He then asked each of his sons, and as they refused, one by one, he turned them to stone. Finally only his youngest son, Parashurama, was left. Ever obedient, the boy beheaded his mother.Pleased, Jamadagni then offered two boons to Parashurama. The boy asked that his mother be brought back to life and his brothers to be returned from stone to flesh. Impressed by the affection and devotion of his son, Jamadagni granted his request.
The legend of Goddess Yellamma
Goddess Yellamma is a popular deity in Southern parts of India. She is the Goddess of the poor and downtrodden. The story of origin of Yellamma is unique and is associated with Goddess Renuka the mother of Parashurama. When Parashuram raised his axe to kill his mother, she ran and took refuge in the house of a low-caste poor woman. Parashuram followed his mother and while performing the act of beheading, he also accidentally chops of the head of the low-caste poor woman who tries to prevent the matricide. When Jamdagni granted Parashurama the boon to revive his mother, he accidentally placed the low-caste woman’s head with his mother’s body. The original head of Renuka was from then onwards worshipped as Yellamma. And thus the Goddess is referred as Renuka Yellamma.
After this incident, once King Kartavirya of the Haihaya came upon the hermitage of Jamadagni. The visit happened at a time Parusharama was away in the forest, and although the king had a massive entourage, the saptarishi was able to serve the king a grand feast. When Kartavirya asked how he was able to do so, Jamadagni showed him a blessed Kamadhenu calf, given to Jamadagni by Indra, which was able to grant wishes. Kartavirya was covetous and wanted the calf as his own.
Returning home, Parashurama was infuriated and traveled to the royal palace. Brandishing his axe, he decimated its guards and killed the mighty King Kartavirya, retrieving the calf. When he returned home, his father was pleased, but seeing the blood stained axe of Parashurama, also concerned. He cautioned his son he must be aware of wrath and pride. Parashurama accepted the reprimand of his father, in penance, and went on a pilgrimage for purification.
Meanwhile, the sons of Kartavirya discovered their father at the palace and knew that only Parashurama could have killed him. In revenge, they traveled to the hermitage and murdered Jamadagni, surrounding the rishi and shooting him to death with arrows like a stag. Afterwards, they decapitated his body and took his head with them. When Parashurama returned home, he found his mother next to the body of his father, crying hysterically as she beat her chest twenty-one times.
Furious, he hunted down the sons of Kartavirya at the palace. He killed them all and returned with the head of his father to conduct the cremation. Parashurama then vowed to enact a genocide on the war-mongering Kshatriyas twenty-one times over, once for each time the hand of his mother hit her chest.
Parashurama then travelled the whole of Earth, killing all men of the Kshatriya caste, guilty or innocent. The first book of the Mahabharata writes: In the interval between the Treta and Dwapara Yugas, Parashurama, urged by impatience of wrongs, repeatedly smote the noble race of Kshatriyas. And when that fiery meteor, by his own valour, annihilated the entire tribe of the Kshatriyas, he formed at Samanta-panchaka five lakes of blood. - Mahabharata 1:2.
Parshurama was the son of sage Jamadagni and Renuka. Renuka was known for her chastity and devotion to her husband. Such was her faith, that she was able to fetch water from the river in a pot of unbaked clay, with the pot held together only by the strength of her devotion. One day while at the river, a group of Gandharvas in a chariot passed by in the sky above. Filled with desire for only a moment, the unbaked pot she held dissolved in the river. Afraid to return to her husband, she waited at the river bank, uncertain of what to do next. Meanwhile, Jamadagni noticed his wife had not returned. Through his yogic powers, he divined all that had taken place and was enraged.The rishi called his eldest son, handed him an axe and asked the boy to kill his mother. Horrified, the boy refused, and so Jamadagni turned him to stone. He then asked each of his sons, and as they refused, one by one, he turned them to stone. Finally only his youngest son, Parashurama, was left. Ever obedient, the boy beheaded his mother.Pleased, Jamadagni then offered two boons to Parashurama. The boy asked that his mother be brought back to life and his brothers to be returned from stone to flesh. Impressed by the affection and devotion of his son, Jamadagni granted his request.
The legend of Goddess Yellamma
Goddess Yellamma is a popular deity in Southern parts of India. She is the Goddess of the poor and downtrodden. The story of origin of Yellamma is unique and is associated with Goddess Renuka the mother of Parashurama. When Parashuram raised his axe to kill his mother, she ran and took refuge in the house of a low-caste poor woman. Parashuram followed his mother and while performing the act of beheading, he also accidentally chops of the head of the low-caste poor woman who tries to prevent the matricide. When Jamdagni granted Parashurama the boon to revive his mother, he accidentally placed the low-caste woman’s head with his mother’s body. The original head of Renuka was from then onwards worshipped as Yellamma. And thus the Goddess is referred as Renuka Yellamma.
After this incident, once King Kartavirya of the Haihaya came upon the hermitage of Jamadagni. The visit happened at a time Parusharama was away in the forest, and although the king had a massive entourage, the saptarishi was able to serve the king a grand feast. When Kartavirya asked how he was able to do so, Jamadagni showed him a blessed Kamadhenu calf, given to Jamadagni by Indra, which was able to grant wishes. Kartavirya was covetous and wanted the calf as his own.
Returning home, Parashurama was infuriated and traveled to the royal palace. Brandishing his axe, he decimated its guards and killed the mighty King Kartavirya, retrieving the calf. When he returned home, his father was pleased, but seeing the blood stained axe of Parashurama, also concerned. He cautioned his son he must be aware of wrath and pride. Parashurama accepted the reprimand of his father, in penance, and went on a pilgrimage for purification.
Meanwhile, the sons of Kartavirya discovered their father at the palace and knew that only Parashurama could have killed him. In revenge, they traveled to the hermitage and murdered Jamadagni, surrounding the rishi and shooting him to death with arrows like a stag. Afterwards, they decapitated his body and took his head with them. When Parashurama returned home, he found his mother next to the body of his father, crying hysterically as she beat her chest twenty-one times.
Furious, he hunted down the sons of Kartavirya at the palace. He killed them all and returned with the head of his father to conduct the cremation. Parashurama then vowed to enact a genocide on the war-mongering Kshatriyas twenty-one times over, once for each time the hand of his mother hit her chest.
Parashurama then travelled the whole of Earth, killing all men of the Kshatriya caste, guilty or innocent. The first book of the Mahabharata writes: In the interval between the Treta and Dwapara Yugas, Parashurama, urged by impatience of wrongs, repeatedly smote the noble race of Kshatriyas. And when that fiery meteor, by his own valour, annihilated the entire tribe of the Kshatriyas, he formed at Samanta-panchaka five lakes of blood. - Mahabharata 1:2.
Paris Cars with even number plates were banned from entering the city between 5:30 am until midnight to control the air pollution attributed to vehicle emissions. The decision was taken by the city government. Before the rule was imposed, the government also reduced speed limits around Paris by 20 km per hour and provided all public transportation for free to encourage one and all to use it. Violators would be fined 22 euros. The rule was the huge success there.In Mexico The rule known as the Hoy No Circula was introduced as early as 1989. Since they didn't have even half as many cars back then as Delhi has currently, they didn't have to do it the odd-even way. They would pick out numbers. For example, Sundays, number plates ending with three and four were banned, Mondays five six, Tuesdays seven eight, so on and so forth. Violators were asked to pay anywhere between $23 to $69. The response was great as pollution was reduced by as 11%.Bogota The Columbian capital of Bogota also implemented the rule of Pico y Placa ('peak and plate'). They just started banning cars during the peak hours for two days a week. They wanted their citizens to take them seriously so they started fining the violators 15% of their daily minimum wages. To make sure people don't try to act like they did in Mexico and just buy two cars, they started changing the combination of days and numbers around every now and then.Beijing In an attempt to improve the air quality of Beijing, China, before the 2008 summer Olympics implemented a temporary road space rationing. They imposed restrictions on private vehicles by allowing even and odd license plates to drive on alternate days with the violators having to cough up 200 yuan for breaking the rules. As reported their daily reduction of vehicle emissions of up to a staggering 40%!
Monday, 14 December 2015
Activities of Delhi Theosophical Federation during November-December 2015
Lodges of Delhi Theosophical Federation are conducting their weekly meetings regularly.
Brother M.P.Singhal gave a Public lecture in Ratlam on 1st November 2015 during the Annual Conference of M.P. & Rajasthan Federation.He also gave talk at DTF premises on 6th November 2015 during Inter-lodge meeting of Federation, wherein he emphasized the need of DTF to lead other federations in promoting theosophical ideas. Bro Singhal also gave 2 talks at Cebu, Phillipines during their Annual Conference from 18th to 20th November 2015. The topics of his talks were "Relevance of TS in The Modern World" & "Nature, Biodiversity and Human Welfare."
In the weekly meeting of Besant Lodge on 10th December. participants discussed the topic - “Ethics is more
important than Religion" & concluded that altruism or consideration of others as a principle of action is the
highest ethics, which means keeping both the feelings and dignity of others in
mind, at times in thought, words and actions.
A Study Class was conducted by Dr Rajiv Gupta, President of Delhi Federation on 13th December 2015 on "Path of Discipleship" based on Annie Besant's book with same title. In all 30 members attended the class. Noticing enormous interest of participants, DTF has decided to conduct such classes in future on regular basis. Federation has also decided to invite National Lecturers in coming months.
Federation has taken print out of various informative pamphlets & formulated to distribute these to newcomers/first time visitors, in order to propagate Theosophy. Plans are afoot to contact nearby schools & propagate Theosophy among children by organizing talks & interactive sessions alongwith distributing informative leaflets published by Indian Section.
Why did Parshurama cut his mother’s head?
Parshurama was the son of sage Jamadagni and Renuka. Renuka was known for her chastity and devotion to her husband. Such was her faith, that she was able to fetch water from the river in a pot of unbaked clay, with the pot held together only by the strength of her devotion. One day while at the river, a group of Gandharvas in a chariot passed by in the sky above. Filled with desire for only a moment, the unbaked pot she held dissolved in the river. Afraid to return to her husband, she waited at the river bank, uncertain of what to do next. Meanwhile, Jamadagni noticed his wife had not returned. Through his yogic powers, he divined all that had taken place and was enraged.The rishi called his eldest son, handed him an axe and asked the boy to kill his mother. Horrified, the boy refused, and so Jamadagni turned him to stone. He then asked each of his sons, and as they refused, one by one, he turned them to stone. Finally only his youngest son, Parashurama, was left. Ever obedient, the boy beheaded his mother.Pleased, Jamadagni then offered two boons to Parashurama. The boy asked that his mother be brought back to life and his brothers to be returned from stone to flesh. Impressed by the affection and devotion of his son, Jamadagni granted his request.
The legend of Goddess Yellamma
Goddess Yellamma is a popular deity in Southern parts of India. She is the Goddess of the poor and downtrodden. The story of origin of Yellamma is unique and is associated with Goddess Renuka the mother of Parashurama. When Parashuram raised his axe to kill his mother, she ran and took refuge in the house of a low-caste poor woman. Parashuram followed his mother and while performing the act of beheading, he also accidentally chops of the head of the low-caste poor woman who tries to prevent the matricide. When Jamdagni granted Parashurama the boon to revive his mother, he accidentally placed the low-caste woman’s head with his mother’s body. The original head of Renuka was from then onwards worshipped as Yellamma. And thus the Goddess is referred as Renuka Yellamma.
After this incident, once King Kartavirya of the Haihaya came upon the hermitage of Jamadagni. The visit happened at a time Parusharama was away in the forest, and although the king had a massive entourage, the saptarishi was able to serve the king a grand feast. When Kartavirya asked how he was able to do so, Jamadagni showed him a blessed Kamadhenu calf, given to Jamadagni by Indra, which was able to grant wishes. Kartavirya was covetous and wanted the calf as his own.
Returning home, Parashurama was infuriated and traveled to the royal palace. Brandishing his axe, he decimated its guards and killed the mighty King Kartavirya, retrieving the calf. When he returned home, his father was pleased, but seeing the blood stained axe of Parashurama, also concerned. He cautioned his son he must be aware of wrath and pride. Parashurama accepted the reprimand of his father, in penance, and went on a pilgrimage for purification.
Meanwhile, the sons of Kartavirya discovered their father at the palace and knew that only Parashurama could have killed him. In revenge, they traveled to the hermitage and murdered Jamadagni, surrounding the rishi and shooting him to death with arrows like a stag. Afterwards, they decapitated his body and took his head with them. When Parashurama returned home, he found his mother next to the body of his father, crying hysterically as she beat her chest twenty-one times.
Furious, he hunted down the sons of Kartavirya at the palace. He killed them all and returned with the head of his father to conduct the cremation. Parashurama then vowed to enact a genocide on the war-mongering Kshatriyas twenty-one times over, once for each time the hand of his mother hit her chest.
Parashurama then travelled the whole of Earth, killing all men of the Kshatriya caste, guilty or innocent. The first book of the Mahabharata writes: In the interval between the Treta and Dwapara Yugas, Parashurama, urged by impatience of wrongs, repeatedly smote the noble race of Kshatriyas. And when that fiery meteor, by his own valour, annihilated the entire tribe of the Kshatriyas, he formed at Samanta-panchaka five lakes of blood. - Mahabharata 1:2.
Tuesday, 8 December 2015
DELHI THEOSOPHICAL FEDERATION IS CONDUCTING A STUDY CLASS ON SUNDAY THE 13TH OF DECEMBER 2015
on ‘THE PATH OF DISCIPLESHIP’ based on the book (with the same title) of Dr. Annie Besant. SPEAKER WILL BE DR RAJIV GUPTA, President OF Delhi Theosophical Federation from 10.30 A.M. to 01.30 P.M. with Tea Break from 11.45 A.M. to 12.00 P.M. and Lunch at 01.30 P.M.
All are cordially invited to attend the program with family and friends.
Sunday, 6 December 2015
The following is the President's recent blog on Adyar floods:
The TS campus at Adyar and all of our people are OK. During these historic rains and flooding in the city of Chennai, we were affected by some flooding of the ground floors in a number of houses, but the damage was minimal. Although the water level from the Adyar River was significantly higher than the 2004 tsunami, none of the major buildings were affected. Many workers living in outlying communities lost everything. Preparation for the upcoming convention has been affected. Many businesses are just reopening and many Adyar workers are only now able to come to work.
______________________________
In a normal year the monsoon in Chennai comes and goes predictably. October 15th to December 1st are the dates longtime residents will tell you to expect the rains. It is an important time because historically it accounts for 65% of the annual rainfall.
This year the monsoon came late. Throughout the month of October there was little rain. People at Adyar were worrying that we would not receive enough rain this season to recharge the wells that supply the campus water. With the international convention approaching, providing for the 1000 members who attend was becoming a concern.
On November 9th the first of two slow moving tropical depressions swept over the area dropping record amounts of rain and flooding large areas of the city. The TS Adyar campus was inconvenienced, but largely unaffected by the storms. Having replaced the 45 year old back up generator a year ago, the frequent power outages were manageable.
Early in the morning of December 1st the rains started. Throughout the day they increased in intensity. By the end of the day the city of Chennai had received more than 19 inches of rain. The ground was already saturated and the infrastructure completely inadequate. The result was massive flooding. This time the TS campus was not spared. To add to the hardship three area lakes that have been dammed to provide hydroelectricity released massive amounts of water in an attempt to relieve the stress on the dams. All of that water flowed into the Adyar River. The river rose several feet overflowing its banks and engulfing two of the main bridges connecting North and South Chennai.
During this time the School of the Wisdom was being conducted with 20+ members from around India, but also from Australia, Finland, Argentina, Canada, and Slovenia. We also had visitors from Mexico and Australia, who had come to Adyar for a day or two. On December 1st it was announced that the Chennai airport was under water and would not be open until the 6th. Railway service to the city was cut off. Roads into and out of Chennai were blocked. Hundreds of thousands of residents had to evacuate their homes. The entire city lost electric power. Phone service was spotty and internet was a distant memory.
In 2004 when the tsunami hit Chennai the TS campus was not severely threatened. At that time the water came up to Leadbeater Chambers, the Buddha Temple and River Bungalow were flooded, but the Headquarters building was untouched. This time the river rose right up to the building. Although it was unlikely that the river would overwhelm the Headquarters building, in the Archives which is on the ground floor, the staff took the precaution of moving everything from the lower shelves, either to another floor of the building, or to higher shelves.
On the other side of the wall that separates the TS campus from the surrounding area, an area called Urur Village, the waters were rising dramatically. In an attempt to relieve the build up of water the villagers broke holes into the bottom of the ten foot high stone walls. The result was a river of water surging through the coconut grove to the Adyar River, and flooding neighboring campus houses with a mixture of water and sewage. Arundale House was surrounded with water, as was the vice-presidents home.
At Adyar we were able to provide intermittent electric power. In order to conserve the diesel fuel that powers the generator, specific hours were established when power would be available. On the evening of December 2nd the generator failed. Living in darkness was not difficult. The real problem was that we needed electricity to pump and to purify our water. The next day was a scramble to come up with solutions. Power was starting to be restored to specific areas around the city. Our General Manager, Harihara Ragavan, contacted the local Electricity Board and arranged for them to provide power to the area for a brief two hour window which allowed us to recharge water, phones, computers, etc. By the evening of December 4th power had been restored.
Right now the campus and the city are returning to normal. With less than three weeks to prepare for our Annual Convention and workers, local businesses, and suppliers stressed by the recent calamity, we find ourselves racing against the clock.
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