Friday, April 18, 2008

Hurricane Brendum fireworks at Bangalore against Royals in IPL

Brendon McCullum

The Indian Premier League, with its potential to transform world cricket, began on Friday with a spectacular floodlit match in Bangalore. The sell-out crowd of 55,000 was treated to a remarkable innings from New Zealand's Brendon McCullum.

Playing for the Kolkata Knight Riders he hit 158 not out, the highest ever individual Twenty20 score, as his side romped to a 140-run win. The cricket was preceded by a lavish opening ceremony at the ground.

Acrobats, singers and cheerleaders from the Washington Redskins performed to a backdrop of some impressive fireworks. But the home team, the Bangalore Royal Challengers, were soundly beaten, and there was one other sour note. A row about the restrictions placed on international news agencies Reuters, AP and AFP led to all three boycotting coverage.

It meant websites and newspapers were unable to show photos from either the match or the opening ceremony. When the action started some of the smartest kits ever seen in cricket were on show. The Knight Riders, part-owned by Bollywood superstar Shahrukh Khan, wore black with gold trim, and gold helmets, pads and gloves.

The home team, led by former India captain Rahul Dravid, wore red, yellow and orange. Two hours before the match was due to start, music began pumping out of giant speakers at the M Chinnaswammy Stadium. Long queues gathered outside, although as most of the stands were already full many fans had to be turned away.

Those lucky enough to get into the ground cheered as the eight captains, all smartly dressed in suits, were introduced to them. Board of Control for Cricket in India chairman Sharad Pawar said: "This is an historic day for world cricket. "The world is watching what is happening in Bangalore.

"In 44 days, 123 Indian players and 73 overseas players are going to play 59 matches in eight different places. "I am confident there is an opportunity for the world's senior players to teach the new young players which will build a strong future team for India." Acting International Cricket Council president Ray Mali thanked the Bangalore organisers and said cricket "was being taken to the next level". The contests between the league's eight teams will feature nearly all of the top names in the game, and they will be closely watched in England, the birthplace of Twenty20 cricket.

The England and Wales Cricket Board is in talks with an American billionaire to set up its own version of the IPL, but on Friday the attention was squarely on India. With the final in Mumbai on 1 June, fans should see some mouthwatering cricket with the likes of Sachin Tendulkar (Mumbai), Ricky Ponting (Kolkata) and Matthew Hayden (Chennai) facing the bowling of Brett Lee (Punjab), Shane Warne (Rajasthan) and Glenn McGrath (Delhi).

The stars will get around £100,000 a week during the tournament, putting them on similar pay to the world's top footballers, albeit for a limited period. It will also be a new experience for the fans. The success or failure of the IPL lies with the Indian supporters who are fanatical about cricket but only until now about the national team.

"If a supporter of the Punjab franchise celebrates wildly when Lee shatters Tendulkar's stumps in Mumbai for a duck then the IPL will have broken new territory." It has not all been plain sailing for the IPL organisers, however. As well as having to cope with the agency boycott, they watched a severely one-sided match on Friday, with the Royal Challengers beaten by 140 runs.

Meanwhile, star names Tendulkar, Anil Kumble and Nathan Bracken are injured and out of the opening exchanges. The most exciting fast bowler around, South Africa's Dale Steyn, is playing domestic cricket for the Titans back home and will also miss the start. And England's only representative, Dimitri Mascarenhas, will only be released from Hampshire duty for a fortnight some time in May.

Thursday, April 17, 2008

Olympic Torch Relay In INDIA without any disturbances : Tibet potestors held a Parallel rally

Olympic torch relay in Delhi (17 April 2008)

The Olympic torch relay has completed the latest leg of its world tour in India's capital, Delhi, amid heavy security to protect it from protests. Some 16,000 police sealed off the city centre along the truncated relay route.

At least 100 pro-Tibet activists were held in Delhi, police sources said, but the event passed off without the anti-China protests seen elsewhere.

Earlier, Tibetan exile groups organised a peaceful alternative torch relay involving politicians and celebrities.

India is home to the world's largest community of Tibetan exiles, as well as their government-in-exile and spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama. Last week, India's foreign minister told his Chinese counterpart that the government would take steps to ensure the torch's safe passage.

The Indian press had described the capital as "Fortress Delhi" prior to the arrival of the Olympic torch from Pakistan on Thursday. Apart from about 500 dignitaries and a group of school children invited to watch, the public was kept well away from the flame as it was carried 3km (1.9 miles) along the Rajpath, from the presidential palace to India Gate.

DELHI TORCH ROUTE
Map of original and revised Olympic torch routes through Delhi and protest march route

Three lines of police checkpoints guarded every entrance and exit to the ceremonial avenue and a cordon of Indian and Chinese security personnel in red and blue tracksuits surrounded the torchbearers at every moment.

The route, which was cut to a third of its original 9km distance on security grounds, left the 70 runners only able to carry the torch for a few metres before having to pass it on.

In Delhi atmosphere was sterile at best, with no members of the public to be seen at the start and only a small crowd sitting around an Olympic cauldron at the end.

It was a day that probably left no-one entirely satisfied and the Olympic spirit rather tarnished. In the run-up to the ceremony, the authorities closed many main roads in central Delhi, creating huge traffic jams, and sealed off the area for five hours.

Workers in the many government offices overlooking the route were told to look out of their windows to look because of the perceived security threat. Security patrols in the surrounding area were issued with blankets and fire extinguishers in case protesters set themselves on fire.

No exact times were given for the relay in advance amid fears of protests by India's 100,000-strong Tibetan exile community, some of whom had threatened to disrupt the event.

Earlier in the day, hundreds of Tibetan exiles had taken part in their own, alternative torch relay in Delhi, chanting slogans against China as they set off from the mausoleum of India's independence leader, Mahatma Gandhi.

Indian paramilitary police outside the Meridien hotel in Delhi, where the Olympic torch was kept overnight (17 April 2008)

The alternative torch arrived at the Jantar Mantar surrounded by Tibetan flags and young men wearing headbands saying "Free Tibet".

There were also pro-Tibet protests on Thursday outside the Chinese consulate in the Indian financial centre of Mumbai, where at least 55 people were detained by police.

In the Indian Himalayan region of Ladakh, which borders Tibet, at least 5,000 Tibetan exiles and local Buddhists participated in a march in the town of Leh.

In Nepal, more than 500 members of the Tibetan exile community were arrested in the capital, Kathmandu, during demonstrations near Chinese diplomatic buildings.

Other cities preparing to receive the torch are making preparations following the chaotic scenes in London, Paris and San Francisco.

In the Australian capital, Canberra, police have been given extra powers to search those watching the relay for items such as guns and knives.

The Chinese government has meanwhile appealed for understanding over the actions of the torch's controversial security guards, who have been criticised for being heavy-handed with protesters. "Relevant countries should have a clear understanding of the rules of the escorts and understand their work," foreign ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said.

"They have used their bodies to protect the torch, so their acts should be praised and the violent acts of those Tibet independence elements be condemned."

Ms Jiang said that providing security escorts for the torch had been common practice during previous Olympic Games and that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) had "given its 100% support".

OLYMPIC TORCH ROUTE
Map
Torch lit in Olympia on 24 March and taken on five-day relay around Greece to Athens
After handover ceremony, taken to Beijing on 31 March to begin a journey of 136,800 km (85,000 miles) around the world

Torch arrives in Macau on 3 May. After three-month relay all around China, it arrives in Beijing for opening ceremony on 8 August

ICL to sign with Birmingham team

Cricket legend Kapil Dev says he wants to add a London or Birmingham team to the rebel Indian Cricket League. Dev heads the ICL, the breakaway rival of the Indian Premier League.

"I would love to have a London team playing in the ICL or Birmingham or another city team," Dev, India's World Cup-winning captain. "If I get a chance, if I have the money, I will definitely make one team from London or Birmingham. Give me the money and sponsor and I will do it." He added: "I would also love to see a team from South Africa, West Indies and Australia."

Dev went on to reiterate his desire to sign England paceman Steve Harmison to the ICL. The Durham bowler was dropped by England during the recent series against New Zealand and might not get a central contract when they are handed out by the England and Wales Cricket Board in September.

"Definitely, he would be most welcome," said Dev. The ICL is in its second season after being set up by Indian broadcaster ZeeTV in 2007. It is not recognised by the International Cricket Council (ICC), the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), or any of the other Test-playing nations.

However, ICC chief executive Malcolm Speed confirmed on Thursday his organisation had received a request from the ICL for official recognition. Speed said: "About 10 days ago, lawyers acting on behalf of the ICL contacted the ICC and sought recognition. "We are awaiting advice from our lawyers on the issue and I expect within the next week or so we'll respond to the ICL lawyers.

"The question has never been asked whether the ICC will recognise the ICL one way or another. It's a fairly complicated legal issue." The BCCI has set up its own Twenty20 league, the Indian Premier League, which kicks off in Bangalore on Friday. Dev, who was named India's cricketer of the century by Wisden in 2002, said he could not understand the hostility to the ICL.

The ECB had originally announced it would ban from county cricket for a season any players who competed in the ICL but has since abandoned such a decision. Dev stated: "We always say anybody picked for ICL must first represent their country and come to play for us when they are free. "We don't want to spoil any country's cricket. The aim of ICL is to give exposure to the young boys and people who have played enough cricket, like Brian Lara or Inzamam-ul-Haq.

"If they share their time with the young upcoming guys, they can teach these young cricketers. "That's what our aim is and if we give the spectators thrilling cricket, everyone benefits from that." Dev says the aims of the ICL are analogous to those of county benefit matches. "In England, you have benefit matches," stated India's 1983 World Cup-winning captain.

"We are saying that cricketers who have served their countries for 10 or 15 years can have a couple more years to benefit. "The senior boys will pass on to the young cricketers what they have learned. Then we will see better cricket. "I just want to ask the ECB one simple thing - am I doing something wrong by trying to promote cricket around the world?

"The ECB should send us a letter saying thank you. Let's not be hypocritical." Dev said he would also encourage English players to join the rival IPL. They are the only international cricketers who have not been able to play in the competition this season. "If they are free, they should go and play in the IPL," added Dev.

"I would say 'Please come and play and work out a better life. You must come and play in our country'. "People from all around the world are coming to play in England, is that wrong? When we say we are coming and play in England, you people are happy. "Nobody stops us, no board comes forward to say no. When cricket is being played in India, that's also good."

IPL to get lauched in Bangalore in a grand manner

John Buchanan, Shah Rukh Khan and Sourav Ganguly

After all the hype, the Indian Premier League, with its potential to transform world cricket forever, begins on Friday with a floodlit match in Bangalore. The contests between eight teams with most of the top names in the game will be closely watched in England, the birthplace of Twenty20 cricket.

The ECB is in talks with an American billionaire to set up its own version. The first match is between Bangalore, led by Rahul Dravid and Kolkata, captained by Sourav Ganguly. The former India captains will walk out for the toss in a stadium plunged in darkness.

Virender Sehwag of the Delhi Daredevils

Spotlights will trail them as they make their way to the middle, then finally the floodlights will come on as the home team's franchise, the Royal Challengers, take on the Kolkata Knight Riders.

The six-week tournament, culminating in the final in Mumbai on 1 June, should see some mouthwatering cricket with the likes of Sachin Tendulkar (Mumbai), Ricky Ponting (Kolkata) and Matthew Hayden (Chennai) facing the bowling of Brett Lee (Punjab) and Shane Warne (Rajasthan).

Journalists have been told the opening match is officially a sell-out. The IPL's website, also reports on the "brisk sale of tickets" for Mumbai's home matches. But the BBC's Rahul Tandon said the rushed build-up to the matches had created a sense of confusion for Indian fans.

He said: "The organisers wanted to do this quickly in response to the Indian Cricket League but they are not completely ready for it.

"It's hard to pick up merchandise - I didn't see one person in Kolkata with a Knight Rider shirt. And we still don't know if there will be a news conference before the first match."

There are one of two notable absentees for the first few matches.

Washington Redskins cheerleaders

Star names Tendulkar, Anil Kumble and Nathan Bracken are injured and out of the opening exchanges.

The most exciting fast bowler around, South Africa's Dale Steyn, is playing domestic cricket for the Titans back home and will also miss the start.

Meanwhile, England's only representative, Dimitri Mascarenhas, will only be released from Hampshire duty for a fortnight some time in May.

The IPL may be a vivid symbol of the new wealth in India. But one team owner, Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan, has admitted to having "sleepless nights" about how the League might pan out.

On Sunday, Kolkata-based newspaper Anand Bazaar Patrika quoted him as saying he was "quite disappointed" with the early take-up of tickets.

"I was really surprised that only 237 tickets had been sold at the counter," Khan told the paper. "I am truly finding it difficult to accept this. I have never requested my fans to go and see my films. Never ever done it.

"I am a bit surprised as to why, despite keeping the ticket prices low, people are not showing any interest. "I never thought so many problems would crop up." Another aggrieved party is the editor of the Cricinfo website, Sambit Bal. His journalists have been barred from entering the press box, and agencies will not be able to sell them match pictures.

Bal wrote in an editorial: "The IPL's outrageous regulations are a brazen assault on the concept of freedom of the press by a sports body apparently drunk on its sense of power." The Federation of International Cricketers' Associations also has concerns of a different nature.

It has begun investigating how many players have not received their initial IPL fees and has warned if the problem is widespread they could walk away from their contracts. David Hussey, who sold for US$625,000 in February, is one of the Australians who has not received the 15% payment for their auction price, which was reportedly due on 1 April.

"It's been an absolute nightmare in terms of the paperwork required to get the players there," Hussey's manager Rick Olarenshaw told The Age.

Stephen Fleming and Mike Hussey

The airline and brewery tycoon Vijay Mallya has enlisted the services of the Washington Redskins cheerleaders to add some glamour to his Bangalore team.

And there have also been reports that Mallya is keeping a staggering 40% of the tickets for Friday's first match to give to his private business associates - that may explain why it's sold out.

It will certainly be a new experience for the fans.

The ones that do make it through the turnstiles will be supporting players from all corners of the world who they have never cheered for before.

There will be strange sub-plots too. Harbhajan Singh will be playing for Mumbai, and therefore against his "local" team Punjab.

And how will fans of seven of the eight teams react each time Tendulkar - for so long the favourite of all Indians - is dismissed?

US Army goes advanced with robocops

On the big screen, films like Robocop, Universal Soldier and forthcoming release Iron Man show man-machines with superhuman powers. But in Utah they are turning science fiction into reality.

We are at a research facility on the outskirts of Salt Lake City, ringed by beautiful snow-capped mountains. Once they held the Winter Olympics here; now they are testing endurance in other ways.

The aluminium limbs gleam in the brilliant sunshine, as the strange metal skeleton hangs from a safety harness at the outdoor testing site. It seems to be treading water; actually its programme is telling it to keep the hydraulic fluid in its joints moving.

Rex Jameson, a software engineer here at laboratories run by Sarcos, the robotics firm which designed the XOS exoskeleton, steps up and into the suit.

The lightweight aluminium exoskeleton, called XOS, senses Rex's every move and instantly moves with him; it is almost like a shadow or a second skin. It is designed for agility that can match a human's, but with strength and endurance that far outweigh our abilities.

With the exoskeleton on and fully powered up, Rex can easily pull down weight of more than 90 kilos, more than he weighs.

For the army the XOS could mean quicker supply lines, or fewer injuries when soldiers need to lift heavy weights or move objects around repeatedly. Initial models would be used as workhorses, on the logistics side.

Later models, the army hopes, could go into combat, carrying heavier weapons, or even wounded colleagues.

There are still problems to solve, not least how to create a mobile power supply that can last an effective length of time.

But the US military expects to take delivery of these early prototypes next year, and hopefully deploy some refined versions within eight years.

It is a long way off before we see robot soldiers that can fly or fire missiles - like in the movies - but the designers are already imagining future versions more reminiscent of Hollywood.

Tuesday, April 15, 2008

List of Heads of Kanchi Math

Chronological list of heads of the matha, according to the official account.

1. Sri Adi Sankara Bhagavatpada
2. Sri Suresvaracharya
3. Sri Sarvajnatman
4. Sri Sathyabodhendra Saraswati
5. Sri Jnanandendra Saraswati
6. Sri Suddhanandendra Saraswati
7. Sri Aanandaghanendra Saraswati
8. Sri Kaivalyanandayogendra Saraswati
9. Sri Krpa Sankarendra Saraswati
10. Sri Sureswara
11. Sri Sivananda Chidghanendra Saraswati
12. Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswati
13. Sri Satchidghanendra Saraswati
14. Sri Vidyaghanendra Saraswati
15. Sri Gangadharendra Saraswati
16. Sri Ujjvala Sankarendra Saraswati
17. Sri Sadasivendra Saraswati
18. Sri Shankarananda Saraswati
19. Sri Martanda Vidyaghanendra Saraswati
20. Sri Muka Sankarendra Saraswati
21. Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswati II
22. Sri Bodhendra Saraswati
23. Sri Satchisukhendra Saraswati
24. Sri Chitsukhendra Saraswati
25. Sri Satchidanandaghanendra Saraswati
26. Sri Prajnaghanendra Saraswati
27. Sri Chidvilasendra Saraswati
28. Sri Mahadeve11dra Saraswati I
29. Sri Purnabhodhendra Saraswati
30. Sri Bhodhendra Saraswati II
31. Sri Brahmanandaghanendra Saraswati
32. Sri Chidanandaghanendra Saraswati
33. Sri Satchidananda Saraswati
34. Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswati III
35. Sri Chitsukhendra Saraswati
36. Sri Chitsukhanandendra Saraswati
37. Sri Vidyaghanendra Saraswati III
38. Sri Abhinava Sankarendra Saraswati
39. Sri Satchidvilaasendra Saraswati
40. Sri Mahadevendra Saraswati II
41. Sri Gangadharendra Saraswati II
42. Sri Brahmanandaghanendra Saraswati
43. Sri Anandaghanendra Saraswati
44. Sri Purnabhodhendra Saraswati II
45. Sri Paramasivendra Saraswati I
46. Sri Sandranandabhodhendra Saraswati
47. Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswati IV
48. Sri Advaitanandabodhendra Saraswati
49. Sri Mahadevendra Saraswati III
50. Sri Chandrachudendra Saraswati I
51. Sri Kamachandrendra Saraswati
52. Sri Vidyateerthendra Saraswati (1297 - 1370)
53. Sri Sankaranandendra Saraswati (1370 - 1417)
54. Sri Purnananda Sadasivendra Saraswati (1417 - 1498)
55. Sri Vyasachala Mahadevendra Saraswati (1498 - 1507)
56. Sri Chandrachudhendra Saraswati II (1507 - 1524)
57. Sri Sarvajna Sadasiva Bhodhendra Saraswati (1524 - 1539)
58. Sri Paramasivendra Saraswati II (1539 - 1586)
59. Sri Atma Bodhendra Saraswati (1586 - 1638)
60. Sri Bhagavannama Bodhendra Saraswati (1638 - 1692)
61. Sri Advaitatma Prakasendra Saraswati (1692 - 1704)
62. Sri Mahadevendra Saraswati IV (1704 - 1746)
63. Sri ChandrasekharendraSaraswati V (1746 - 1783)
64. Sri Mahadevendra Saraswati V (1783 - 1813)
65. Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswati VI (1813 - 1851)
66. Sri Sudarsana Mahadevendra Saraswati (1851 - 1891)
67. Sri Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswati VII (1891 - February 7, 1907)
68. Sri Sri Mahadevendra Saraswathi V (February 7, 1907 - February 13, 1907)
69. Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswati Swamigal(February 13, 1907 - January 3, 1994)
70. Sri Jayendra Saraswati Swamigal
71. Sri Sankara Vijayendra Saraswati Swamigal

Thursday, April 10, 2008

Microsoft gives Yahoo three weeks

Computer software giant Microsoft has given Yahoo a three-week deadline to respond to its offer to buy out the internet company for $44.6bn (£22.3bn). Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer said his company would take its case directly to Yahoo's shareholders if Yahoo's directors did not respond by 26 April.

Microsoft made an unsolicited bid on 31 January, but Yahoo's board rejected it as substantially underrating its value. Yahoo has since explored alliances with other firms, but no offer has surfaced.

In a letter, Mr Ballmer acknowledged that such negotiations were underway, but wondered why Yahoo was not talking to Microsoft too.

"This is despite the fact that our proposal is the only alternative put forward that offers your shareholders full and fair value for their shares," he wrote.

"During these two months of inactivity, the internet has continued to march on, while the public equity markets and overall economic conditions have weakened considerably," he added.

Mr Ballmer said his company's offer - 62% above Yahoo's market value at the time - had grown stronger as time had passed.

"We believe that the majority of your shareholders share this assessment," he wrote, adding that Microsoft would take its case directly to them and work to elect a new board of directors if they did not respond within three weeks.

Last month, Yahoo estimated it would almost double its operating cash flow over the next three years and generate $8.8bn in revenue after costs in 2010.

"Yahoo provides meaningful strategic value and warrants a significant acquisition premium above its equity value in a potential change of control transaction," it said.

Yahoo and Google experiments on sharing ads

Yahoo and Google, the world's two biggest search engines, have announced a two-week experiment that will see them share advertising space. During the pilot, Google will be able to place ads alongside 3% of search results on Yahoo's website.

Analysts say the move is designed to frustrate Microsoft, which has offered to buy Yahoo for $44.6bn (£22.6bn), or extract a higher offer. The news came as both sides were reported to be forging other alliances. Microsoft and News Corp are discussing making a joint bid for Yahoo, according to the New York Times.

The idea would be to combine three of the world's most visited websites: MySpace, Yahoo and MSN.com.

News Corp had previously discussed working with Yahoo to see off Microsoft's offer.

At the same time, Yahoo is looking to Time Warner's AOL to keep out of Microsoft's hands, according to the Wall Street Journal.

It reported that the deal would involve Time Warner making a cash investment for 20% of the merged firm, which Yahoo could then use to buy back shares. Microsoft criticised Yahoo's advertising trial with Google, saying any lasting deal would not be in the consumers' interests.

"Any definitive agreement between Yahoo and Google would consolidate over 90% of the search advertising market in Google's hands. This would make the market far less competitive," Brad Smith, Microsoft's General Counsel said.

But Yahoo said the testing did not necessarily mean that "any further commercial relationship with Google will result". Investors reacted positively to the announcement, with Yahoo shares rising 7%. "Yahoo has made a really clever move here," Cowen and Co analyst Jim Friedland said.

"It looked like Microsoft had all the cards, Yahoo is at least now able to use this for leverage to get Microsoft to pay more," he said.

Microsoft chief executive Steve Ballmer on Saturday gave Yahoo three weeks to agree to the company's offer or risk having the offer lowered.

Computer Viruses leads the way

The number of viruses, worms and trojans in circulation has topped the one million mark. The new high for malicious programs was revealed by security firm Symantec in the latest edition of its bi-annual Internet Security Threat Report.

The vast majority of these programs have been created in the last twelve months, said Symantec.

Cyber criminals pump out malware to fool anti-virus programs which look for characteristics they have already seen.

The latest edition of the Symantec report covers the second half of 2007 during which time the security firm detected 499,811 new malicious code threats. This figure was up 136% on the first six months of 2007.

Throughout 2007 Symantec detected more than 711,912 novel threats which brings the total number of malicious programs that the security firm's anti-virus programs detect to 1,122,311.

The report notes: "almost two thirds of all malicious code threats currently detected were created during 2007."

The vast majority of these viruses are aimed at PCs running Microsoft Windows and are variants of already existing malicious programs that have proved useful to hi-tech criminals in the past.

Symantec said part of the rise was down to criminals increasingly using trojans as a "beachhead" to gain access to a PC and then use that route to download and install a variety of other malicious programs.

Popular malicious installations include key loggers that spring to life if particular websites are visited or programs, such as online games, are started up.

The report also put the growth in malicious code down to the increasingly professional digital criminal underground.

Typically, groups engaged in hi-tech crime employ groups of programmers to generate the novel variants.

The fact that these programmers expect to be paid drives the criminals to make as much money as possible out of the information they steal and to be constantly on the look out for new victims.

Said the report: "The combination of these factors results in a high volume of new malicious code samples that threaten users online."

Wednesday, April 9, 2008

Here comes the Wind

Dale Steyn, like his predecessor Allan Donald, simmers with aggression on the field. He does not like the sight of batsmen and can inflict psychological scars on them.


Match-winners come rare. Dale Steyn can turn a game on its head. He combines speed with control, is high on octane but low on sympathy for the batsmen.

He also compels you to peer hard at history. In fact, the South African takes you back to 1896 when England’s George Alfred Lohmann ended his accomplished career. A medium-pacer of extreme precision, Lohmann scalped 112 batsmen in 18 Tests at an astonishing strike rate of 34.1.

Among bowlers with a minimum of 2000 deliveries in Tests, Lohmann has the finest strike rate. Steyn, at this point in his career, is the next best. In fact, he is snapping at Lohmann’s heels with 117 wickets in just 22 Tests at 35.6. Perhaps, his feats are even more creditable since he bowls in the era of covered pitches and advanced protective gear for the batsmen.

Not many send down better out-swingers than Steyn does. In Ahmedabad, Rahul Dravid saw his stumps being shattered by quite the perfect away going ball. Dravid, a technician, had done little wrong.

Any paceman who can swing the ball away at a furious pace can be destructive with the new ball. Steyn uses his away swingers cleverly, mixing them up with the off-cutters and viciously short-pitched deliveries. He is tall and can extract bounce. With the older ball, he achieves reverse swing. In fact, he has the reputation of blowing away the tail with the short-ball-yorker routine. Crucially, while he might alter his length, he rarely errs in line. He is relentless around the off-stump. Given his pace and movement, the batsmen are often caught at the crease.

Though he bowls with a different action, Steyn’s methods are similar to that of the Pakistani great Waqar Younis.

Is Steyn the logical successor to Allan Donald? Like Donald, Steyn simmers with aggression on the field and does not like the sight of batsmen. Like Donald, he can test a batsman’s technique and threaten his limbs. Like Donald, he can inflict psychological scars.

These are still early days, but Steyn has the ingredients to embrace greatness. His consistency over longer stretches will determine where he ultimately finishes.

Steyn has a lot going for him. A fluent, rhythmic run-up — he gains momentum with every stride — is followed by a semi-open release. He has a still head, the load-up is excellent and so is the seam position. To top it all, he has a deceptively quick arm action.

The 24-year-old South African leads an impressive pace pack. Makhaya Ntini is still firing and Morne Morkel is someone with immense possibilities. Jacques Kallis is an excellent back-up with his hustling ways. When Andre Nel returns, and he rightly should, the South African attack will have greater depth.

Graeme Smith’s team has gained ground in Tests over the last 16 months. The heat was on Smith when his team went down in the first Test to India at the Wanderers late in 2006. Subsequently, the side has managed to turn the corner. South Africa defeated India in the remaining two Tests to clinch the series, went on to beat Pakistan at home and away, brushed aside New Zealand, overcame a determined West Indies at home and Bangladesh away.

And all along, Steyn has grown in stature. His five for 56 in Karachi sank the Pakistanis in the second innings. It also provided South Africa with a rare away-series clinching victory.

Having conquered Pakistan in Pakistan, South Africa now stands on the threshold of a series triumph in India. The side has shown character.

Smith’s South Africa also has a better rounded attack. Some of the former South African attacks had been rather one dimensional. The inclusion of left-arm spinner Paul Harris has lent greater variety. There is no left-arm paceman in the pack but the new-ball pair is one of contrasts. Steyn takes the delivery away from the right hander, while Ntini slants the delivery into the right-hander or straightens it. Their lines are very different and it is hard for the openers to settle into a rhythm.

The days preceding the current tour of India have not been easy for South African cricket. The side’s selection, rather the omission of Nel, shifted the focus back to the selection process in the country.




While there has been a furore in some quarters — coach Micky Arthur came close to putting in his papers and there were whispers that the influential Shaun Pollock was forced to quit early — the three black or coloured South African cricketers were in the XI for the first two Tests on merit. Hashim Amla, Ashwell Prince and Ntini had earned their places in the side.

The South Africans have come through a difficult, transitional phase and Smith has evolved as captain. He still has his flaws — the South African skipper is not the best user of spin — but is reading the flow of the game better. In recent times, he has been pro-active.

Smith has also shown great faith in Steyn. Bowlers thrive on skippers’ confidence in them and Steyn has responded to Smith’s call with heart and passion.

It was at the Wanderers that a South African scribe whispered to this correspondent, “This Dale Steyn, he bowls like the wind.”

For the batsmen, Steyn has been a storm, or a hurricane. The Ahmedabad Test tells the story.


Wisden Cricketer of the year

Left-arm seamer Zaheer Khan was named one of the Five Cricketers of the Year in this year's Wisden Cricketers' Almanack published on wednesday. In what is arguably the oldest individual honour in the game's history, Zaheer was joined by West Indians Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Ottis Gibson, now England's bowling coach, and the England pair of Ian Bell and Ryan Sidebottom in the elite list.

All five were rewarded for their performance in the past English season. The last time an Indian made it to the chart was in 2002 when VVS Laxman was named alongside Andy Flower, Adam Gilchrist, Jason Gillespie and Damien Martyn.


Zaheer was particularly impressive during his stint with Worcestershire.
Meanwhile, South African batting mainstay Jacques Kallis was adjudged the Leading Cricketer in the World for 2007.

Pound Value falls a record low

The pound has touched a fresh all-time low against the euro, hit by market expectations that the Bank of England will further cut UK interest rates. With the Bank widely tipped to trim rates to 5% from 5.25% on Thursday, one pound was worth as little as 1.2500 euros in early Wednesday trading. Sterling later strengthened slightly, with one pound worth 1.2552 euros.

Interest rate cuts generally encourage investors to switch to other currencies that have a higher rate of return. While the pound went as low as 1.2500 euros, conversely the European single currency touched as high as 80 pence.

Commentators say British holidaymakers are likely to notice the pound's weakness when they go on their 2008 summer holidays to eurozone nations such as Spain, France and Portugal. The Bank of England is widely expected to cut rates on Thursday to ease growing economic and consumer jitters caused by the impact of the global credit squeeze. Against the dollar, the euro was up slightly to $1.5710, while one pound was worth $1.9718.

Tuesday, April 8, 2008

Divine 50 thoughts by Chandrasekara swamigal

1


The medicine of Grace to wipe out our sorrows is to develop unshakable faith in God and tolerance is the medicine of Grace to wipe out our sorrows. Bhakti alone can give us the capacity to put up with sorrows. Temples are the agencies for developing that Bhakti. Hence, the need for temples at all places. All offerings to the deities in the temples are tokens of our gratitude to God.
2
That which is within all, which is seen as "This" is the source. He who is within and sees as "This" is God. It is the reality. It is in yourself. What is limited is Sadhana; what is unlimited is the end.
3
He alone is an Acharya, who, after clearly understanding the conclusive teachings of the Sastras, makes the people of the world gain their welfare by making them stick to the path shown in the Sastras and also himself does everything according to Sastras and remains in that experience.
4
Many acts relating to God, like building temples, digging tanks are performed. While executing them, there would be many difficulties. There would come also several kinds of dishonour. Not minding any of these, they would complete their tasks with mental one-pointedness removing impurities from their minds and letting the mind wander. By straightening their mind, they acquire mind control and at the end, they realise the Reality that is to be known. Digging tanks, building temples and such other acts are called poorttam. The performance of sacrifices, etc., is known as ishtam. Combining these two, we have the word Ishtapoortam.
5
In all that you do, let love be the sole motive. Any need must be with reference to another. Let action be out of love. Passions such as desire and hatred , anger and malice must be totally eschewed. If love becomes the grounding principle of all deeds . then most of the ills of the world will vanish.
6
We know many faults we commit, even if others do not know them. Sometimes we realise we are doing so many evil things and repent bitterly and feel why we should be born . Our duty is to pray to God -"I have committed so many faults. Will you not, 0 God, give me the will power not do like that in future and will you not purify my mind?" We must note down in a diary every night before we go to bed the faults committed by us and pray to God to give us courage and intelligence not to do so. This must be propagated widely.
7
Parameswara and Sriman Narayana are one and the same in reality. They are not two. This is the conclusive view of all the sastras. Names differ, forms are different, occupations vary, but the reality which is within Them is one and the same.
8
What is the purpose of human birth? To earn, to eat, to undergo misery everyday and finally to die? Instead of earning and suffering, can we not die now? The purpose of birth is to avoid re-birth. Except man, all animals grow horizontally. Only man grows vertically. Instead of growing horizontally, it is God's will that he should grow vertically in order to look up. God has given to animals devices for self-protection; to man alone He has given intelligence. By doing nothing, we avoid re-birth; By giving up attachment, we avoid sins.
9
When any object is consumed by fire, it becomes charred. If that black residue is burnt again, it becomes white ash. White ash continues to remain white even when burnt again. This shows that white is the ultimate and black is proximate to it. Science tells us that diamond and coal are basically one. White and black are not colours. The primary colours get separated from the objects to which they are attached when subjected to the test of fire and ultimately white. Similarly, in the mental and spiritual place, the Ultimate Reality is Siva, who is white and proximate to Him is Parvati, who is dark. When we test everything in the fire of Jnana, or true knowledge, the residue is Siva. Ash in the material plane corresponds to Siva in the spiritual plane. We smear our bodies with the sacred ash to remind ourselves of Siva and the fact that the ultimate goal of life is Siva.
1 1
Much is said about the personal God and the impersonal absolute God with attributes and without attributes. It is only when all the colours in the light mix together that we get the colourless rays of the sun. Similarly by the very virtue of being the abode of attributes, God becomes Nirguna, attribute-less.
11
By education we realise Truth. There are many truths, History is one truth. Geography is one truth, Mathematics is one truth. The content of truth is the greatest in Mathematics. In others, there is an element of imagination. In Geography, we come across names Asia, Africa, Madras, Calcutta, etc. These names were given by us. By imagination, we have given names "plateau" "valley", etc. By a process of gradual elimination of all that is imaginary, when we arrive at truth, that Truth is found to be God. To think of Him with real devotion is the fruit of education.


12
What is the use of education? Its first use is to develop humility (vinaya). In olden days, the disciple who went to a guru was called "vineyan" meaning a person of humility which is the hall-mark of Instruction he had from his guru, the fruit of education. Education without humility is no education. Education is the same today as it was before, but methods have changed. The medicine is the same but if the diet is changed, the medicine becomes poison. Education has today become merely the means of livelihood. For true education, the student should go to a guru and follow the guru-kula system.
13
Right education should make us know that God is the Truth. Knowledge must fill one with good qualities, through which one can realise the Truth, that is God. Therefore, the goal of knowledge is the understanding of the Ultimate Truth. The first fruit of education must be humility and self control.
14 The total surrender to the Lord is a means of learning our insignificance and the transcendent grace of the Lord.
15If we engage an inquiry into the Atman, at the end of it, it will be clear that God is in us as our very self. When that stage is reached, we have no use for the devas. Then all karmas will fall away from us. But, until then, we must obligatorily do the karmas directing them to the Gods.
16Those who are the leaders of a group, society, or state should not neglect the established religious customs and usages. For themselves the may mot be in need of Church ceremonies, for instance, their advance in spirituality may not require them. But if they begin to neglect them, the people for whom the rituals are really helpful, will also start neglecting them. This would be setting a bad example. In the words of the Bhagavad Gita, the wise one should not unsettle the minds of those who are ignorant, and are attached to action: on the contrary, he should encourage them to perform what they should perform, by himself doing the appropriate actions well and with diligence. It is duty cast upon the leaders and those that are at the top to lead the people from where they are, and not to refrain from participation in the traditional ways of worship.
Of all scriptures, the Gita has acquired a specialty of its own. Like this, there are many other books of wisdom. In the Mahabharata, there are many chapters teaching wisdom. Besides, in the Sivapurana, Vishnupurana, Skandham, etc., there is Jnanopadesa.
So also in agamas. But what is the special importance of Gita due to? Not only in our country but in countries like Java, people follow the Gita. My inference is that because it was born in an atmosphere utterly free from attachment - attachment to life, attachment to body, attachment to kith and kin, but out of attachment only to Reality, it has become so famous.

On deep consideration, ahimsa appears to be good as an ideal or for preaching. But practically speaking, it is difficult to follow fully. First of all, we must love others. But if we love anyone too much, the end is sorrow. Therefore we should love God who always gives happiness and not sorrow. I ask myself if we love God, should we not love anyone else in this world? So long as there is false knowledge which distinguishes God from the rest of the world, there will be differences. If we attain Jnana that God is all, we will develop the same love for all that we have for God; This is the sign of Ahimsa.

For the sake of food, clothing and shelter, everyone is toiling and sorrow-stricken. If sorrow is to be banished and if we are to be ever happy, we must dedicate all our actions to God. If we get His grace, then we need not do anything and can be happy. God is a good master. By praising Him always, we cannot please Him. He is indifferent to our praise or dispraise, action or inaction. But all our actions are ordained by Him and are meant only to purify our minds.

Why so many Gods? Is it not enough to have only one? Other religions speak of one God only and not many. We are assailed by such doubts. We eat to satisfy hunger, the stomach becomes full, there is no trouble or hunger. Then why can't we take cooked rice alone? Why should we eat so many side dishes? So, if we eat, it is just not to fill the stomach, but we want food tasty to the palate and pleasing to the eyes. Whoever is attracted to a particular God he worships that.


y multiplying wants, we only increase poverty. What is essential for life and honour should be made available to all the people of the country. It is for this we want plans. Men of means should live like the poor and should not increase their wants beyond necessities. The rich should share their prosperity with the poor. This is punya, leading to salvation. The more we increase our wants, to that extent, there will be no peace or comfort and it will only produce poverty and sorrow.

Vedanta which is the peak of the Vedas teaches the way for the removal of sorrow. Hatred and desire arise only in respect of the objects other than us. That desire will not arise if those objects are rendered identical with us, if there is nothing other than us, then desire will not arise. If there is no desire, there will be no effort and no sin. When there is no sin, there will be no body and there will be no misery.

We may get many types of sorrow. What seems to be sorrow to all the people of a place may not seem sorrowful to us. If we stay always happy, without wanting to attain anything untouched by sorrow like the lotus-leaf and the Kalakodi - seed, that is called yoga. "Know that to be indicated as yoga which is separation from being united with sorrow, The removal of association with sorrow."

In order to reach one purport, why should the Veda speak of many matters? This question may arise in our minds. It is through many matters that it is possible to understand that one purport which is Reality - yoga, meditation, austerity, sacrifice, performance of karma; when these are accomplished, what they indicate is that one Reality. It is that Reality which is the true purport of the Veda. Other things are of a changing nature. They become woven into a story and then even that story disappears.

What for is the science of medicine? It is for keeping the body strong and healthy. What if the body is not strong and healthy? The body will be subject to diseases. What if there is disease? One will not be able to function properly. He who has given this body is the supreme Self. This is the truth, we should practice several disciplines. We can practice them only if the body is well. In order to keep it well, we must prevent it from becoming a prey to disease. The science of medicine tells us how to prevent diseases. Thus, Ayurveda helps in the realisation of Advaita experience.

Savikapla Samadhi: The mind is steady without any distraction, contemplating its object wholly absorbed therein.
Nirvikalpa Samadhi: This is the goal of yoga. In this, the mind ceases to function and vanishes once and for all, leaving the self to shine forth alone. In Advaita too, the path of meditation is recognised; but here the object of meditation is the distinction-less Brahman.
Sahaja Samadhi: This is realised through the path of enquiry. It is the natural state of Self - realisation and one of utter unconcern for the fleeting phenomena.

There is nothing to feel elated about seeing the people worshipping me. But when I reflect that is worship to the God, who they think are approachable through me, I feel glad that there are so many who believe in a compassionate God who will hear them and remove their misery.

Our religion Hinduism has grown by devotion, meditation and self - purification. The other religions might have grown by propaganda and conflict. The reason for crores of our people remaining within the fold of Hinduism, in spite of powerful propaganda of other religionists, wars, lure of money, etc., is we see a great man (Mahatma) in our midst by whom we are impressed. We develop devotion to him and generate faith in our religion. There is a text in the Veda which says that a flowering tree attracts bees automatically. If we examine ourselves and we find one of use to be perfect, the world will follow him.

A child eats earth. Its hands are tied by the mother. The child gets angry and cries. Is it without reason the mother ties it's hands? We do not know the mercy of Universal Mother. The good or harm coming to us has its source in Her Grace; Suffering - Her Grace for some reason. We must accept whatever comes to us, good or bad, as Her Grace. We do not know why she gives it. Our vision is limited. We do not know what precedes it or follows it. If we are able to look into the past present and future, we will know that God does no harm to us. Other than God, there is no kith or kin for us.

We cannot say that a child or an idiot who keeps quiet without activity like a stone is great. We cannot presume that he has attained jivanmukti. This is the result of sin. He is a Yogi or Jnani whose intellect is very subtle and as sharp as a sword. He has to become like a withered tree, an immovable object with a steady mind. He must understand all that is happening around him. His knowledge should be perfect. He should not be affected by passion or sorrow. He should always be happy. None of us is like that and Iswara is described as Sat-Chit-Ananda.

If God is the ocean of mercy and if He knows everything, He must know what we want. Why should we appeal to Him to do this or that? The reasonable answer is that instead of begging useless people at useless places, we plead before the Highest and the Omniscient. Otherwise, we have no justification to ask Him to give us this or that.

Everything disintegrates on earth and this earth also will vanish one day. The sun will disappear and the whole universe will go. Then there must be some powerful substratum responsible for creation, protection and destruction. We call it God. We have the faculty of thinking and capacity of doing, in smaller or greater measure. This also merges after our death with the omnipotent. Being, from whom we derive this energy. The stable principle which is the cause of creation and destruction of all energy is God, called by any name.

Mother loves her child but later on, an unfaithful sun causes her sorrow. We know of cases where mother starts litigation against sons or sons against mother. If one loves another, and if one of them dies, the bereavement causes sorrow. The bank helps people who have deposited money with them. It is supposed to remove the sorrows of the people in times of need. But when the bank itself is liquidated or closed, the depositors weep. Their sorrows once gave sustenance to the bank. The more we love, the greater the sorrow in consequence. Then, shall we decide that we should not love anyone at all? The object of this birth is to bestow undivided love on someone. The subject of our love should not be quarrelsome or separable. If we say that we should love only the imperishable God, then the question is: can we hate others? Let us learn to love all be realising that God is in all. God is eternal and our love for him should be eternal.

I am prone to come to the conclusion that there lives none without predominantly selfish motives. But with years rolling on, an impression, that too a superficial one, true to my nature, is dawning upon me that there breathe on this globe some souls firmly rooted in morals and ethics who live exclusively for others, voluntarily forsaking not only their material gains and comforts but also their own sadhana towards their spiritual improvements.

It is clear to us that there is birth and there is death. Passion is the cause of birth. Time is the cause of death. What is created by passion is destroyed by time. If passion comes, the seed sprouts. If time comes, the tree dies. Kaalo Jagat Bhakshaka: Even the sun and the moon disintegrate when time comes. If there is no passion, there is no production. If there is no time then there is no destruction. Therefore we have to conquer Kaala and Kaama. Iswara burnt Kaama and kicked time. So if we go to Him, there is neither birth nor death for us. Let us therefore pay to the Universal Father and Mother.
"Jagatha pitarau Vande Paarvati Parameswarau"

A master has two servants. One always flatters the master, the other just performs his duties without any love for the master. If the master is a fool, he would love the flattering servant. If the master is too clever, he will not love either the man working for wages or the flatterer. The master will love more the one who does his job as his own out of devotion. So is the case with the Good Master, God.

Why do we break coconut before Lord Ganesa's idol? He is the Son of Parameswara and asked His Father to sacrifice His head with three eyes because only then, he thought any effort would be crowned with success and without any obstacle. So, instead of the head with three eyes, we are breaking coconut which has three eyes. Ganesa is so powerful as to demand the head of his own father. Whatever is superior to everything else must be sacrificed to God. Symbolically, we are sacrificing the three - eyed coconuts created by God, as ordained by Him. When a sannyasin attains Siddhi, this is done. This practice is in vogue only in Tamil Nadu.

Thinking that God is far away from you, you are wandering in search of Him. So long as you do not know, He is far away. Though you may wander, you cannot see Him, but he is near you. He is distant, yet near. The story of a girl wanting to marry the highest among men, a king, ended, after all the travels, in the discovery of an ordinary man her parents had already selected. The bridegroom was so near. She took a long route to arrive at a point so near.

We see our reflections in a mirror. In a row of mirrors, thousands of reflections are seen. It is only one person who sees all these reflections. The one who resides within us and who sees all this, is God. The seer is the cause of all the seen. That cause is knowledge which is the basis of this world. Where is that knowledge? Within you, what is macroscopic is microscopic in you.

Joy comes in the form of status, money, etc. comes from without. We feel isolated. But it is the smallest fragment of the great joy from within, which is Ananda. Paramatman, the ananda within is not worried whether any joy comes from outside and mixes with it or not. Waters enter into the sea, which though ever being full, is ever motionless.

If we analyse the teachings of the Gita, there may appear to be many contradictory matters regarding bhakti, karma and jnana. But the Lord takes the devotee step by step. We must meditate on the form of God as described in the scriptures. This bhakti will enable us to understand the universal nature of God. Spiritual vision will then make it clear that God without form is the Supreme Reality, which hears without ears, moves without legs. To worship God at the initial stage, metaphysical knowledge is not necessary. The more and more we meditate, bhakti grows and we automatically realise the universal form. There is no distinction between the devotee and the object of devotion.

Our minds should automatically seek and cling to God just as iron filings are attracted by the magnet; the heart of the chaste wife seeks her husband; the creeper embraces the tree; the rivers go to the sea.

Philosophical truths and ordinary people have nothing much in common. Therefore outward garb is useless. The representatives of religion must have real worth, peace - loving nature (shantam), austerity (tapas) and unselfish nature. Hinduism, in spite of its vicissitudes, is surviving even to this day. This is due to the blessings of a succession of saints. If there is one saint among us, the world will prosper.

It is natural that man should seek to satisfy his wants like hunger, thirst, and a place to rest. There are duties which an individual has towards himself, the social group and the nation. Ordinarily, the performance of these duties remains on the level of satisfying the creaturely wants. But there is a way of performing these duties which will elevate everyone concerned spiritually. That is dharma. And it is the duty of the king or the state to see that the citizens are provided every opportunity for spiritual growth and progress. That is the meaning of saying: "Raja Dharmasya Kaaranam".

Upaasana is dhyaana or concentration of meditation. A form is required for concentration. Reality is always the same and changeless. God, as the Ultimate Reality, is Formless. But Upasana of a Form is done with a purpose, namely, the attainment of a given benefit. The purpose to be attained by worshipping or concentrating on a Form differs. The scriptures tell you how to meditate and on what all Forms and with what results. For Upasana, you have to follow the Sastras or Scriptures. The different upasanas are all aids in the path to the ultimate goal, namely, understanding Reality. Scriptures prescribe Upaasana n order to train the mind to concentrate. Upasana is the affair of the individual; there is nothing collective about it.

Neither the raw fruit nor the tree wants to leave each other. But when the fruit becomes ripe, this attachment automatically disappears. Man requires to experience anger, jealousy, passion, etc. just as the fruit had to undergo various stages of growth and taste before it became fully ripe so to get automatically detached from the tree. We cannot overcome these experiences in the beginning. But we must ponder over the fact why we undergo these experiences. Otherwise we will be the losers. We will become slaves of these experiences and can never achieve fulfillment or contentment.

When adversities overtake us, we blame God and complain that He is blind to our misfortunes. But if we indulge in a little introspection, we will realise that our faults are so enormous that we are utterly unworthy of His grace and, in spite of that we are able to get food, shelter and clothing. It is due to the abundant mercy of God. We must consider the difficulties we encounter as a blessing in disguise.

A mother may tie the hands of her child who has the propensity to pick up and eat mud. This seeming cruelty of the mother is for the good of the child. Similarly troubles are verily God's grace to save us. In the entire picture of life, troubles form but a tiny spot. In our inability to visualise the past and the future, we complain when we suffer in the present. A proper perspective will enable us to understand our present plight in its proper setting.

Whenever any honour is done to a person the recipient must remember the divine source from which he derived the qualifications to receive that honour, and feel humble and not elated with a feeling of self - importance.

Cultivate Friendly attitude to conquer the minds of men;
Look at others as yourself;
Give up war; give up jealousy;
Don't commit aggression without reason;
Mother earth is like Kamadhenu to fulfil wishes;
The Lord God is like father showering mercy
People of the World !
Live with discipline;
Live with charity;
Live with mercy;

Sri Adi Sankara Swamigal - Life History

Lord Shiva, also known as Dhakshinamurthy, who spreads the Universal Truth not by words but by his silence and by his sign of his hand which is held in the form of "Chin Mudra".

About 2500 years ago, when the spiritualisation of the people greatly reduced, all the Gods and the Rishis went to Kailash and pleaded with Lord Shiva to revive the world. Lord Shiva agreed with their request and informed that he will be born in this world. Lord Brahma, Indra and others also agreed to be born in this world to help Lord Shiva.

Sri Adi Sankara's parents pray to the Lord to be blessed with a child


In Kaladi, Kerala, a learned brahmin, by the name of Sivaguru, and his wife, Aryambal, spent their life in pooja and in giving alms to poor and in other good deeds. This childless couple went to Trichur and performed puja for 48 days to Lord Vadakkunathan (Lord Shiva) and prayed for a son. Lord Shiva melted in their devotion and appeared before them and told them "I am extremely happy with your devotion and you will get what you want. But tell me whether you want a number of dull children or a son who is extremely intelligent, who will live for a short period only." The couple replied the decision could not be theirs as the Lord knows what is good for them.


Lord Dakshinamurthy, pleased with the reply, was born to Aryambal under the star "Thiruvaithhirai". As the Lord had already promised that he will be born to do good to this world, the child was named Sankara. Sam means prosperity and Karathi means te giver. All the visitors stood in awe at the divinity of the child and said "This is not an ordinary child".
Sri Adi Shankara's childhood
One day, the rishis came to him and reminded him of his duty to the land in spreading spiritualism. Sankara agreed it was time to become a Sanyasi and go all over the country to kindle religious ferver.

One day when Sankara was taking bath, a crocodile caught hold of his leg. Sankara called out to his mother. Aryambal came running and to her horror she found her son in the grip of the crocodile and she cried that se did not know how to help her son.

Sri Sankara informed his mother that his life was nearing to an end, but if he became a Sanyasi, he could start a new life as a sannyasi. Thus Sri Sankara obtained permission from his mother to become a sannyasi.

Sri Sankara and the River Narmada
Sri Govinda Bagawathpadar taught various vedas to Sri Sankara. He also taught about Advaita, the principle that every one in this world is the manifestation of God and that God and Atman are one and the same. He advises Sri Sankara to go out in the world and spread this truth throughout the country.
Guru Kataksham works miracles
Once, in Kasi, when Sri Sankara was going to the Vishwanath Temple, his path was blocked by an "untouchable" who was accompanied by his wife and 4 dogs. The disciples of Sri Sankara shouted at him to make way, and to keep a distance. The untouchable smiled and said, ""According to your principle of Advaita, which you practice, all the Jivatma are same as God. How do you ask me to go? How am I different from your Paramacharya? What you say is unreasonable. How can I go away from myself?"

Sri Sankara realised that it was not an ordinary person and understood that it was Lord Shiva himself who had come along with His consort and the four Vedas. He prostrated before the Lord and sang five slokas called "Manisha Panchakam". Lord Shiva presented himself along with Visalakshi and blessed Sri Sankara.

Sri Sankara and the Rishi
Sri Sankara learnt that there was a great learned person by the name Mandana Mishra who lived in Mahishmati and who followed the Karma Mimaamsa method of devotion. Sri Sankara arrived at his house and found his house was closed and Mandala Mishra was carrying out some rituals inside his house. Sri Sankara entered the house by using his powers and entered the house. Mandala Mishra became very angry and shouted at Sri Sankara. But Sri Sankara smiled and explained the uselessness of such rituals.

However, Mandala Mishra admired the intelligence of Sri Sankara and started discussions with him after completing the rituals. Sri Sankara said that there should be a judge to decide the winner and suggested that Sarasawani, the wife of Mandala Mishra, to be the judge. Sarasawani, who was extremely intelligent and learned, realised that Sri Sankara was none other than Lord Shiva, did not want to declare her husband as the loser. She suggested that both of them should wear a garland of flowers and whichever garland fades first, that person would be the loser. Naturally, Sri Sankara won.

Mandala Mishra is now a disciple
In their travels, they reached Sringeri in Karnataka, which is on the banks of Tungabadra. While Sri Sankara and Mandala Mishra were walking, Sarasawani did not move and stood fixed in the sands of Tungabadra. Sri Sankara turned back and realised by his divine powers that Sarasawani did not want to proceed any further and created a seat for her for spreading the Advaita. This seat is today called the Sharada Peetham or the Seat of Sharada. This was the first Mutt installed by Sri Sankara, with the direction that all the heads of the Mutts will be called Sankaracharayas and they will have a lineage of Shishyas or disciples.
Sri Sankara and his mother
After the death of his mother, he went all over the country and converted the people of other faith to Advaita. He revived a number of temples and using his powers, he established a number of Yentras in these temples to spread the blessings of Parasakthi. During his travels, he arrived at Mukambi, a religious place in Karnataka. A poor brahmin came to Sri Sankara with his deaf and dumb son and prostrated before Sri Sankara. Sri Sankara asked the boy, "who are you?". The dumb and deaf child, for the first time, opened his mouth and explained, "The body is not me, it is the Paramatma who is my body." Sri Sankara was pleased with his answer and he gave an amla fruit and named this boy as Hastaaamalakan. (Hastaa means hand and Amalakan means amala). Hastaamalaka became one of the principle disciples of Sri Sankara.
Thotaka ashtakam
Sri Sankara visited Thiruvidaimarudur in Tanjore district of Tamilnadu, which is a great religious place, and the ruling deity in the temple was Lord Shiva. The learned Saivites of the temple informed Sri Sankara that Lord Shiva is the creator and that they are all merely lowly life created by Lord Shiva, and if that was so, how does Sri Sankara say that they were one with the Lord ? They did not agree with the Advaita principle. Sri Sankara asked them to enter the temple. As they reached the Sanctum Santorum of the temple, their was a thunderous statement "Satyam is Advaita". This was repeated thrice and it was also followed by a hand which came out of the Linga which conformed the truth. All the learned persons acknowledged the principle of Advaita and accepted Sri Sankara as their Guru. Even today, there is a Sankara Mutt at Thiruvaimarudur and there is a linga with a hand materialising out of it.
Sri Sankara in Thiruvanaikar
Sri Sankara visited Tirupathi and recited the Sloka "Vishnu pathathi keshanta stotra" which describes the Lord from his foot to the head. He wanted the people to visit the Lord in great numbers and get his blessings, he established an yantra. From that day the number of followers of the temple increased and is increasing day by day.
Near Srisailam, there is a forest called Hatakeshwaram, that no man enters. Sri Sankara entered this place and did penance for many days. During this time, a Kabalika, by name Kirakashan appeared before him. Kapalikas are a set of people who live in the burial grounds and pray to God by giving human and animal sacrifice. They were against Advaita which preaches love and affection and shuns violence. He asked Sri Sankara that he should give his body as a human sacrifice to Lord Shiva. Sri Sankara was happy to hear this request and agreed. Kirakashan was about to cut off Sri Sankara's head when Lord Narasimha appeared in the form of a lion and killed Kirakashan.