Spiritual Tourism gives relaxation

Spiritual Tourism is enchanting. When you are overworked and when Work takes a heavy toll of your physique and psyche, it is time to take a break. You move away from the Madding Crowd and drown yourself in Nature's wonders. Remember what Wordsworth said

Nature never did betray
The heart that loved her !

Nature will nurse you back to health, physical & mental. When we understand that the Goal of Life is Self Actualisation, we cannot ignore the spiritual. We have to climb from our own earths into our own heavens, rendering to the Caesar of the outer world the things that are lawfully his, at the same time fulfilling the Law of the Mount, which will set us up above the ranks of other men !

Most of the spiritual places where I had been, are blessed by natural beauty. It is this serene ambience which makes the trip really satisfying !

Spiritual Traveler

Spiritual Traveler 

Health Tourism

Health Tourism
" Go on a tour " said the psychologist to the client. " Tour will take your mind off your problems " ! Has tourism got psychotherapeutic effects, like Music ?



Backwater Tourism

Another season in Kerala, known as God's own country because of her immense natural beauty, begins and the Backwaters Tourism sphere becomes alive. In the season which stretches upto March, there will be a flow of tourists to the districts Alleppey, Quilon & Kottayam. The Resorts near the backwaters also become alive. To enjoy Backwaters tourism, more than 100000 tourists come to Alleppey per year, 65% of them are foreigners.
Out of the 180 House Boats in Kerala , 160 are in Alleppey. Some of them are Ayurveda Houseboats, equipped with ATM. Tourists are happy to enjoy backwaters during the day & enjoy staying at Houseboats during the night.

There are Resorts on the Beach. Prices are nominal in the big resorts and still smaller In the small resorts. In traditional homes, you can stay as a "Paying Guest" . These traditional homes are everywhere, in Ernakulam, in Trichur & in Guruvayur.





Not only House boats, but catamarans are also available for tourists. Foreign tourists enjoy touring in catamarans.

The number of Resorts in Alleppey is increasing. Also the number of Houseboats. More entreprenauers are attracted to the Tourism Industry. Many are employed as a result.

Conference Tourism has attracted many companies. Director Board Conferences were arranged by the House boats owned by the Puikkattil Group. The Oberoi Group took over the development of the Parthiramanal Island. Such capital investment will trigger develpment in Kumarakom and other beach areas.

As Backwater Tourism develops, the Alleppey Tourism Cooperation Council is organising Catamaran race. The tourists are excited by the race amongst the catamarans. The Tourism MInister of Kerala, Mr Venugopal declared that a race will be organised at Punnamada Backwaters every January.

On the banks of the serene Vembanad Lake, discover a typical Kerala architectural delight - Kumarakom. You will think it is a typical Kerala style Tharavadu in God's own country. The stresses and the strains of daily life are taken away by the calm ambience of the Resort. You will feel relaxed and refreshed after this experience ! Contact Kovilakam for bookings .

Ayurvedic Resorts of Kerala

The tourists are attracted by Yoga, Ayurveda & Vedic Astrology, the great sciences which grace Indian culture. One of the Resorts which support these sciences is the famous Nirmalyam Ayurvedic Retreat, where many tourists come and stay for Ayurvedic treatment and enjoyment of scenic beauties in God's own country, Guruvayur, Kerala. The Nirmalyam Ayurvedic Retreat functions as an Ayurveda Centre as well as a 3 star Hotel with state-of-the-art 60 rooms with economical rates. Bona fide Yoga teachers and Vedic astrologers also grace this Retreat. The tourists find this a haven to learn about Indian culture and spirituality, about Meditation, Yoga & Ayurveda.
The uniqueness of this Retreat is that it charges less than 10 dollars per day, per person. 3 star Hotel Rooms, 60 of them are provided to tourists, foreign and domestic alike !


Nirmalyam Ayurvedic Retreat & Hotels Pvt. Ltd.,Karakkad Road, South Nada, Guruvayur, India, 680 101. Contact Nirmalyam for Bookings

Guruvayur, the Holy Temple Town & the world's largest Elephant Sanctuary

Defined by the great Sanskrit poet Melpathur as the personification of the Eternal, the Ever-liberated, and the Quintessence of all the Scriptures ( the abode of Lord Krishna ), Guruvayur has a world renowned Elephant Sanctuary comprising of 51 elephants, these jumbos being the offerings of the Lord's devotees. Lots of tourists and pilgrims visit this spot during their sojourn in this Holy Place. Guruvayur is the Lourdes of India !



One of the leading elephants is Lakshmi, the tallest and the most honoured she-elephant of Kerala.

Another sight worth seeing is the Trichur Pooram, where more than 30 elephants take part in a grand festival which occurs on the Star Pooram in the Vedic Calender. Kerala’s grandest temple pageantry at its finest, which includes colourful processions of caparisoned elephants and a midnight fireworks display, parasol exchanges, drum concerts - all these can be witnessed from the heavily crowded streets of Trichur.

Spiritual Tourism I

Spiritual Tourism - Heavens on Earth - Part I

Puttaparthi, the Abode of Universal Love

India is the land of many Masters, who follow the Path Celestial and bring their students also onto that Path. India is the land where the call of the Infinite is listened to with keenness, where men saturated with the Beyond, aware of the great Cosmic Game, sink deep into the Superconscious Mind to discover the ultimate formula of Self-Transmutation ! A land whose philosophy proclaims that all this is a projection of the Universal Mind & that the Absolute Self is the Sole Reality, that all this is Brahman seen through the veil of Maya ! Go and contact the Great Ones, says the mystic Upanishads, and know the Truth Universal ! For as difficult as the Razor's Edge is , so tedious & cumbersome is the path to Self_Actualisation !

I walk on the Razor's edge alone

The path is narrow, the Way Unknown !

Even though India has many Masters, bona fide Spiritual Gurus are rare. Here is one Illumined Master, Bhagawan Sri Satya Sai Baba, whom millions believe to be an incarnation of Love Immortal !



Fulfilling the great Aurobindo's prediction that the Overmind will descend onto Earth on November 23, this manifestation of Universal Love was born on 23 Nov 1926.



Resplendent with the Sixteeen Divine Graces

And resembling the orb of the Autumn Moon

The Sovereign of this Universe

Was born as Easwaramba's beloved Son

To the delight of the three worlds !



His principles are simple - Love All, Serve All, Help Ever, Hurt Never & Hate None !

The Five Principles of Truth, Righteousness, Peace, Universal Love & Non Violence are highlighted, paving the way for the Life Divine ! Over a million followers gather here on the occasion of this Prophet of Love's Birthday. The Ashram is characterised by immense Peace and the growth of such a spiritual Community in this once forgotten backward area is not a small miracle !

Here are some of His quotations, worth reading !I have come to light the lamp of love in your hearts, to see that it shines day by day with added luster.

I have come not to disturb or destroy any faith, but to confirm each in his own faith - so that the Christian becomes a better Christian, the Muslim, a better Muslim, and the Hindu, a better Hindu.

There is only one religion, the religion of Love;
There is only one language, the language of the Heart;
There is only one caste, the caste of Humanity;
There is only one law, the law of Karma;
There is only one God, He is Omnipresent.


Start the Day with Love;
Spend the Day with Love;
Fill the Day with Love;
End the Day with Love;
This is the way to God.


Love in thought is Truth;
Love in action is Right Conduct;
Love in understanding is Peace;
Love in feeling is Non-Violence.


Bear all and do nothing;
Hear all and say nothing;
Give all and take nothing;
Serve all and be nothing.

If there is righteousness in the heart,
There will be beauty in the character.
If there is beauty in the character,
There will be harmony in the home.
When there is harmony in the home,
There will be order in the nation.
When there is order in the nation,
There will be peace in the world.

Children of Immortality! Remember that You are created in My Image and Likeness. Perfect. Live up to this Image in all planes. Live like Masters! Walk this Earth with Your Heads held high, Your Spirits soaring, Your Hearts open to Love, and believe in Yourself and GOD with You. Then all will go well. See Me everywhere, talk to Me and Love Me who is in Each. Then from Each I will respond and bring You into Glory.

Prashanti Nilayam - The Abode of Peace, where He resides !





SSome books by his admirers
Goldthwait, John “Purifying the Heart” (2002)
Guillemin, Madeleine “Who is in the Driving Seat?” (2000)
Hislop, John My Baba and I
Kasturi, Narayana Sathyam Sivam Sundaran' part I (first published in 1961), II, III, IV available online in Microsoft Word format
Krystal, Phyllis “The Ultimate Experience”
Mazzoleni Don Mario A Catholic Priest Encounters Sai Baba
Murphet, Howard Man of Miracles (1971) 0333-91770-7
Padmanaban, Ranganathan Love is My Form Sai Towers (2000)
Priddy, Robert “'Source of the Dream'” (1998)
"Pedals of Grace"
Sandweiss, Samuel H. The holy man ..... and the psychiatrist (1975)
Sandweiss, Samuel H “Spirit and the Mind” (1985)
Steel, Brian The Powers of Sathya Sai Baba (1999)
Steel, Brian The Satya Sai Baba Compendium: A Guide to the First Seventy Years (Paperback) Weiser Books (February, 1997) ISBN: 0877288844
Thomas, Joy “Life is a Game – Play it”
Schulman, Arnold Baba (1971) Out of print but available in some public library
Some of His books in English

Bhagavatha Vahini - The story of God and his Devotees
Ramakatha Rasavahini. Part 1 - The Rama story, Stream of Sacred Sweetness
Ramakatha Rasavahini. Part 2 - The Rama story, Stream of Sacred Sweetness
Gîtâ Vahini: The Divine Gospel
Dhyana Vahini: Practice of Meditation
Dharma Vahini: The Path of Virtue
Jnana Vahini: The Stream of Eternal Wisdom
Leela Kaivalya Vahini: The Cosmic Play of God
Vidya Vahini: Flow of Spiritual Education
Bhagavatha Vahini - The Story of God and His Devotees
Dharma Vahini - The Path of Virtue Translated from the Original Telugu Published by Sri Sathya Sai Books and Publications Trust
Dhyana Vahini - Practice of Meditation Translated from the Original Telugu Published by Sri Sathya Sai Books and Publications Trust
Geetha Vahini - The Divine Gospel Translated from the Original Telugu Published by Sri Sathya Sai Books and Publications Trust
Jnana Vahini - The Stream of Eternal Wisdom
Leela Kaivalya Vahini - The Cosmic Play of God
Prashanthi Vahini - The Bliss of Supreme Peace
Prasnottara Vahini - Answers to Spiritual Questions
Prema Vahini - The Stream of Divine Love




Sai Renaissance - A good place to stay in Puttaparthi

Some Sai websites -

The Official Website of Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust, Prasanthi Nilayam, India
The Official Web Site of the International Sri Sathya Seva Organisations
The Official Website of Sri Sathya Sai Books and Publications Trust, Prasanthi Nilayam, India
The Official Website of Radio Sai Global Harmony - the digital radio channel from Prasanthi Nilayam, India
The Official Website of Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning (Deemed university), Prasanthi Nilayam, India
Puttaparthi - The Heavenly City
Location : 18 miles From Penukonda, Ananthapur District, Andhra Pradesh.
Nearby Tourist Attractions : Lepakshi, Gooty Fort, Rayadurg Fort, Hemavathi, Penukonda Fort. .
Best Time To Visit :
How to reach: The nearest airports are in Bangalore (250 km) and Tirupati (300km). The nearest rail head is at Dharmavaram. There is regular bus service from all major towns.
All Round The Year







Objectives & History of the Super Speciality Hospital in Puttaparthi

Modern medical institutions rose and the soaring costs of these institution made them inaccessible to the vast populace of India & this unfortunate situation prompted Sai to establish the Super Speciality Hospital near Puttaparthi, with the sole purpose of making available advanced techniques of diagnosis and medical care, totally free of charge, to all needy people, irrespective of religion, caste, creed, status or nationality.

"Medicine is a noble science and should not be sold as a commodity in the market. The duty of the Doctor is to serve humanity and the cost must be absorbed by society itself, as every citizen needs medical relief " said Sai.

Modern Medicine stops at the gross Physical level and never goes to Subtle levels of Self. The hospital with its beautiful architecture and serene rural setting, serves not only as a temple of healing for the body but also for the mind and the spirit.

The hospital was setup on 150 acres of lend near Sri Sathya Sai Airport, about five km. away from Prashanti Nilayam. While laying the foundation stone on 22nd November 1990. Bhagavan Baba declared that the hospital would be inaugurated on November 22, 1991. The construction was completed in a record time of six months and the hospital was operational on the target date.

The departments of cardiology and cardio thoracic surgery, along with all the ancillary and support services, were inaugurated by the then Prime Minister of India. Shri P. V. Narasimha Rao. The second phase was inaugurated a year later by the then President of India. Dr. Shenker Dayal Sharma, when the uro nephrology department started functioning. Subsequently, the hospital has also added the department of ophthalmology.

Teaching and Research activities:

The National Board of Examinations of India. a Central Government organisation, has approved the SSSIHMS, for Post Graduate DNB training in the specialties of cardiology, cardio thoracic surgery, urology, nephrology, ophthalmology and anaesthesiology.


Sai Gita-The Elephant

Sai Gita is Bhagavan's temple elephant. It is considered auspicious in India in temples to have a real elephant residing in the temple as a symbol for Ganesh-the remover of obstacles. Elephants also represent intelligence and intellect, as they are highly intelligent animals.

Sai Gita was born in 1965 and was given to Bhagavan as a gift from the Zoo in Madras, when she was merely a small baby. It is not known whether she was an orphaned wild elephant, or breed in the zoo. In any case, she was quite spoilt by Swami as a young one and he even had a small compound built for her next to the Mandir, which she used to stay in when she was not trailing after Bhagavan in and out of the Mandir.

Elephants usually live until they are about 70 years old. To ease the pain of separation, Sai Gita has a photo with her and Bhagavan hanging on the wall in her private compound next to the Planetarium.

Sathya Sai Nagar

This is a colony of 58 houses where the Harijans (outcasts) of the village have been provided shelter by Bhagavan after being displaced as a result of an unexpected flooding of the Chitravati River in 1975.

The houses (or huts) are located by the Gokulam, where all the cows are who provide milk for the schools and the ashram.

Gokulam

The ashram dairy is about half a kilometer from the Ashram, along the Main Road in Vidya Giri. All milk for the schools, the hospital canteen, and the ashram comes from the Gokulam. It is known amongst villagers that the Gokulam cows has the best milk; fresh and undiluted. The locals are quite proud if they have access to the 'Gokulam milk'! To avoid the spreading of infections of the animals, you are requested not to go around or enter the cowsheds. By the Gokulam is a most beautiful image of Sri Krishna at the entrance. The artitistic 'fill-ins' with paint and brush on Sri Krishna's face has been done by Bhagavan Himself years ago.

Sri Sathya Sai Hill View Stadium



Located behind the Higher Secondary School, opposite the hill, towering with statues of Hanuman, Krishna, Shiva, Buddha, Zoroaster, and Christ, it gives an imposing view.

Organic Farming In Kerala

Organic Food - Kerala as Market Leader ?

ORGANIC farming can be called as Eco Farming as it is a way of agriculture that preserves the ecosystem. It echews the use of harmful chemicals & fertilizers. Cultured are the Symbiotic life forms & weed & pest control ensured by this method & optimal soil biological activity maintains fertility.

Agriculture in Kerala is caught in between the devil and the deep blue sea. Kerala is going back to her traditional Organic Farming after her hundreds of farmers had learnt the bitter lessons of " Chemical Farming " and mono cropping hitherto practised as " Scientific Agriculture ". The Dept of Agriculture is now promoting the production of Organic Food by launching " Jaiva Kerala " ( The Organic Sustainability of Kerala ). The Confederation of Indian Industry & a few Tourism Groups are branding " Gods's Own Country", as the Tourism Industry calls Kerala, a " Safe Food Destination".

It is paradoxical that the United States , a world leader in transgenic technology, is the largest importer of organic foods, followed by the European Union. The " Organic Craze " is spreading worldwide. The global market for organic herbal plants ( $14 b ) is growing at 20% and will be a $ 5 trillion by 2050 according to the World Health Organisation ( http://www.who.org/ ). The global trade in food supplements and processed herbal medicines is $ 60 billion. Despite her immense potential, India has not benefited much from the export of herbal medicines or organic food. A meagre Rs 90 crores is India's export of organic food while her export of herbal medicine fetches Rs 2300 crores.

Use of bio-fertilisers instead of chemicals is the way of Organic Farming. In Marappanmoola village in Pulpally panchayat of Wayanad district , 454 small and medium farmers in the village owning on an average less than 2 hectares of land have organized themselves & they now cultivate a mixed variety of crops including pepper, coffee, cardamom, coconut, areacanut, tubers, vegetables, cashew nut, nutmeg, rice etc. From the poultry & piggery units, they now collect the wastes and turn them into Biogas for the kitchen and manure for the field. Use the sap of chrysanthemum and marigold for chemical insecticides have become the order of the day.

A Cooperative Society, Highland Farmers’ Cooperative Society, has been formed ( Hicos ) to take on the challenges of conversion from chemical to organic farming by the farmers of Marappanmoola. 500 hectares have been declard to be ‘Organic Farming Zone’. Even now the produce is sold at a hefty 25% premium prices in the domestic market through weekly markets and export enquriries are on the rise. This organic Farm Movement is market driven and the premium price obtainable in the external markets in the future is a major source of inspiration. A 50 grams pack of organic white pepper fetches $ 4 in the U S Market as against $ 1.5 in the domestic market.




The cardamom nursery run by the 'Haritha' Self-Help Group at Marappanmoola Organic Agriculture Zone.

Success in Marappanmoola

One of the pioneers of the Organic Farm Movement, Jose K, says that people derisively laughed at the Movement initially. The Movement is now spreading in Wayanad, the home of the famous Kerala spices, especially ginger and black pepper. The other major crops of the District are Tea & Coffee and over 80% of agriculture is dependent on the foreign markets.

Networking is the key to Success of the Movement, as 74% of the cultivated land in Kerala is owned by small farmers. The Self Help Groups now use vermicompost, organic manure and pest control solutions which are made by them. Earlier a shortage of these organic substitutes made them heavily dependent on chemical farming. Even the women engaged in the production and marketing of vegetables keep up the morale and insist on Safe Food in the kitchen.

Another drawback with Chemical Farming was that the soil was destroyed by heavy chemical inputs, when the prices of pepper perked up ( It had gone upto 260 per kilo ). Excessive application of chemicals during that boom reduced soil fertility and wiped out the insects beneficial from the farms so that the average yield of pepper nosedived to 80 kgs per hectare from 500 kg per hectare. Many a farmer committed suicide as a result. Dangerous indeed, in the long run, is chemical farming !




An organic cabbage plantation at a farm in Peermedu in Idukki district, Kerala.
Jaivakeralam - The Organic Sustainability of Kerala

The State Agriculture Department has now conducted 300 training programms to setup Collection Centers for Organic Produce. Not only the farmers and consumers have to be educated but also the scientific "elite", the bureaucrats and the technologists, as " the indifferent attitude of the Scientific Community " has been recognised as a major impediment in the State Policy Document.

A Research Station at Aralam in Cannanore, 3 zonal sub-centers and regional labs with facilities for soil and produce residue analysis has been planned by the Government under the Jaivakerlam Programme. Development of the domestic market for Organic Foods through a chain of supermarkets and a gradual withdrawing of State support on chemical inputs etc has been planned. The Government's role is that of the faciliator, forming farmers' producing companies to manage the affairs by themselves. Three Districts, Wynad, Idukki and Palghat will be declared as Organic Farming Zones. Crops which will be highlighted will be the scented rice varieties of Wynad, Malabar spices and several types of tubers. More information can be gathered at Kerala Govt's official site http://www.kissankerala.net/

There are doubting Thomases who argue against the whole Movement. S Usha of Thana, a green ( environment group who had been in the forefront of combating against aerial spraying of Endosulphan in the cashew plantations of Kerala, doubt whether the thrust on export & international certification will reduce the whole exercise to contract farming for global agri businesses.

If the sale of chemical inputs through measures such as a prescription system is restricted legally, it will do a world of good for Organic Farming. Plants should be treated as human beings.

Organic versus Transgenic



Organic Apple Transgenic Cotton

It is Organic Farming vs Transgenic Technology which is the crucial issue in Kerala Agriculture. The Task Force on Application of Biotechnology has suggested conserving " Organic Farming Zones " and at the same time promotes Transgenic Tech ! This has attracted criticism from experts who argue that the two forms of Agriculture cannot coexist together.

Even though organic agriculture accounts for a negligible portion of the country's total farm produce, India's organic farm produce has already found markets abroad. The Indian Govt has declared only 5347 farms covering 37050 hectares as Organic, despite much of the country practising the traditional system of Organic Farming.

Research shows the Organic Farming ensures better yield and fetches more income. A paper by David Tilman in Nature 396 showed that not only were the yields of organic maize as high as those of maize grown with fertilizers & pesticides, but the soil quality in the organic fields improved dramatically. Field trials in Hertfordshire reported consistently higher yeilds of wheat with bio manure. Farmers in India, Kenya, Brazil & Gautemala have tripled yields by switing to Organic Farming, according to Prof Jules Pretty of Essex University.


Some Organic Suppliers

AVM Enterprises - New Delhi

Biomax - Thane, Maharashtra

Prakruthi - Chennai, Tamil Nadu

Prem Sakhi Fertilizer Ltd - Udaipur, Rajasthan

Marine Enterprises - Mangalore, Karnataka


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The Arts of Kerala

The Arts of Kerala

Kerala, with its rich background of art & culture, has its own art forms which symbolises the outlook & life of Keralites. From the famous Kathakali, which is considered as the complete art form as it synthesis all that is best in the fields of drama, music & dance to the fascinating folk dances, which are the rhythmic impulses of a sensitive egalitarian society, Kerala's arts are unique ! The Yogi Bharatha wrote the famous Natya Shastra, the Science of Dance, in which he postulated that Musicology consists of the Eternal Triad of Drama, Dance & Music ( Geetham Natyam Thadha Nritham Trayam Sangeetham Uchyathe ) !

Kathakali - The Dance Drama of Kerala

Acting, dancing & Music - these three arts constitute this dance drama. It is pantomime in which actors do not sing nor do they speak but interpret their emotions through highly sensitive medium of appropriate gestures, picturesque hand-poses and vivid facial expressions, which is intelligible even to the layman ! Both dramatic & a dance art, Kathakali with predominance of histrionics, is considered as a complete art. It belongs to the imaginative form of Art & not the realistic, which is highlighted by Bharatha in his famous treatise !

This Master Art is Kerala's very own, drawing its themes from the vast wealth of India's Mythology & folklore. Ramanattom was created as a sort of rival to Krishnanattom & Kathakali evolved from Ramanattom into a complete art. It strictly follows the fundamentals & axioms laid down by Bharata, who was considered to be the father of Indian Classical Dances.

A high degree of control over body & muscle movements and facial expressions is called for, from the actor's perspective. The performer is helped by vocal & percussion accompaniments & the theme is expounded by him through hand gestures known as Hasta Mudras , which are 25 in number. The best way to appreciate a Kathakali performance is to get the story explained to you in advance. This amazing evocative art has evolved into a package that weaves a tantalising spell today, combining chant, drama, dance, makeup, dress & gesture !

The History of Kathakali

Prior to the genesis of this magnificent Art, there existed in Kerala different types of dance, drama & dance-dramas. Arts like Chakyarkoothu, Koodiyattam & different dances associated with the cult of the Mother Goddess, such as Moodiyattu, Thiyyattom & Theyyattom, the socio-religious & material dances like the Sastrakali & Ezhamattukali & the latterly evolved dance-dramas like Krishnanattom & Ramanattom, were flourishing in Kerala prior to the advent of this Divine Art. You will find that characteristic features of these dances & dramas had been incorporated & assimilated by this Master Art

Magnificent archaic costumes, grand head gears and enchanting make ups characterise this majestic Dance-Drama. It is perhaps the only dance form in India in which the masculine aspect of the dance is preserved in its pristine vigour.

All feelings are idealised and facially expressed with intense vividness and you will find that this compensates for the absence of the spoken word. All such facial expressions will harmonise and synchronise with the rhythm of the Dance & the musical melody.

Music is a very important ingredient and the Orchestra is composed of two vocal musicians, one keeping time with a resounding gong known as Chengala & the other with a pair of clanking cymbals known as Elethalam, a Chenda player and a Maddala player. Chenda is a cylindrical drum with a beautifully sweet sound while the Maddala appears as a big Mridanga.

Amongst the two vocal musicians in Kathakali, the main one is Ponani & the minor partner is Sinkidi & the Kathakali songs, couched in wealthy poetic diction have, enriched Malayalam literature.

All the characters of Kathakali are mythological and have different modes of makeup.

Adornment & attire are reduced to 5 types. They are

1) Pacha ( Green ) representing Noble & virtuous characters

2) Kathi ( Knife ) Unrighteous characters

3) Thadi ( Beard ) Demoniac characters

4) Kari ( Black ) Agressors

5) Minukku ( Polished ) Spiritually inclined characters

While the ornamentation & costumes are elaborate, the large overcoats, the bulging skirts, the antique ornaments - all create a tremendous impression on the viewer, while the facial expressions of the actors along with the celestial music behind create a Virtual Reality or Life out of India's massive mythological literature !



Some Kerala Art Links

http://www.kalamandalam.com

http://www.kala.org


Kalaripayattu

This is the most comprehensive system of Martial Arts, considered as the most ancient & most scientific in the world. Aiming at the ultimate coordination of body & mind, training in Kalari includes knowledge of indigenous medicine also. Kalaris are also centers of Worship.

Ottanthullal

The most distinguished amongst the Thullal arts, Ottam Thullal was ingeniously devised by a master artist, Kunjan Nambiar. It is written that he was humiliated by a Chakyar, as Nambiar dozed off during a performance. In order to take revenge on his humiliation he wrote a poem depicting an episode from the epic Mahabharata in a never-to-fore metric & pattern rhythmic. A special kind of dance for its exposition was formulated. By innovative methods, humor and the enjoyableness of the programme, he attracted all audiences that had surrounded Chakyar. A new art was born and this was christened as "Ottam Thullal ".

The costumes & crown are copied from Kathakali, with variations. It is a solo dance with the artiste singing verses to the accompaniment of Mridanga with a refrain repeater singing behind. Duration of the programme is a couple of hours.


Theyyam



With the dancer wearing special dress & head gears, Theyyam is a form of spiritual dance performed in temples of the Mother Goddess in North Malabar. Songs and musical instruments accompany Theyyam.


Chakyarkoothu



This is the oldest amongst the classical theatre arts and the solo dance is usually presented in Temples, to the accompaniment of Elathalam & Mizhavu. Beginning with an Invocation the Deity of the Temple, its narration is enlivened by the Thandava dance movements, facial expression & gestures according to the principles of Natya Shastra. Humour is abound in plentitude in this art and its themes are taken from India's Epic Poetry ( Ramayana & Mahabharatha ).


Miss Dhanya of Zodiac Computers in Mohiniyattyam attire

Mohiniyattam

The dynamism & vigour of Kathakali is integrated with the grace of Bharata Natyam in this beautiful, attractive Art. This dance is performed in connection with festivals in the Temple. The white cloth ( mundu ) is the costume & hair is gathered up & put up at the side of the head, Kerala style, & adorned with jasmine.

Thiruvathirakkali

Dressed in the traditional style of Kerala, women & girls stand in a circle round a lighted Lamp ( Nilavilakku ) and they sing and dance around the Lamp. This is normally performed on the Vedic constellation day of Thiruvathira ( when the Moon is in the constellation of Aridra ). Songs praise the deities of the Vedic pantheon.


Kavadiyattam

Devotees of the Commander-in-Chief of the celestials, Lord Muruga, wearing bright yellow or saffron costumes with ash smeared all over the body, dance in a frenzy carrying Kavadis on their shoulders. Kavadis are wooden structures that rise 6 to 10 feet. Ambalakavadi is shaped like a temple & Pookavadi has clusters of plastic flowers arranged on them.

Koodiyattam


"Acting together " - this is the meaning of this Art and this Art is enacted inside the theatre of the Vedic Temple. There are always 2 or more characters onstage simultaneously, with Chakiars providing the male cast & Nangiars donning the female robes.

Valekali


A martial dance, Velakali originated in Alleppey. It was initiated by Mathoor Panicker, the Chief of the Chempakasseri Army, who promoted it with the noble intention of boosting the martial spirit of the people. Clad in the colorful headgear & the traditional clothes of the Nair soldiers, the dancers engage in dextrous swordplay and vigourous movements to the accompaniment of the Orchestra.


Theeyattu

This solo dance drama is normally performed in front of Dhooli Chitram or ritual drawing with colored powders in the Temples of the Mother Goddess. Lord Ganapthi is invoked initially, after which the performer dons a Crown similar to the one used in Mudiyettu. It depicts the grand Duel between Goddess Kali & the demon Darika, the negative and the positive elements in Man.

Kummattikali

A mask dance popular in North Kerala. The dancers go dancing from house to house. The major Kummatti character is Thalla or Witch while others represent the various deities of the Vedic pantheon. Songs are basically devotional & are normally accompanied by a bow like instrument called Ona-villu. Spectators generally join in the performance as no training is required in this Art.

Tourism Kochi II

A major flood in AD 1341 converted this land locked region into one of the finest natural harbors in the world and Kochi became a paradise for seafaring visitors the world over. Kochi become the first European township in India when the Portugese, infatuated with her natural beauty, settled here in the 15th century.

Fort Kochi was wrested from the Portugese by the the powerful Dutch in AD 1663 . Later, the British took over in 1795 and they also fell in love with its exquisite natural beauty. After that, Kochi rose as a commercial center and a major military base, a shipbuilding center and a center for the major religions of the world. F

Beatuiful and interesting to behold are sites ornamented by Chinese fishing nets along the Vasco Da Gama Square, VOC Gate & Bastion Bungalow. Amongst tourists, an array of sea food restaurants are also widely popular, apart from these architectural splendors. The Chinese fishing nets were set up here in AD 1400 and they were erected on teak wood and bamboo poles and they work on the principle of balance. You can watch the nets being lowered and pulled out of the sea at the Vasco Da Gama Square, the promenade that parallels the beach, named after that legendary nagivator.



The Jewish Synagogue is another architectural delight. Jews set up their first synagogue here.



The St Francis Church, one of the India's oldest churches is located in Fort Kochi. Vasco Da Gama was buried here in 1524 and his mortal remains were returned to Portugal later.



There are two ways of reaching Fort Kochi. One is by bus from Ernakulam town, which is 13 kms away and this will take one hour. The ferry ride from Ernakulam Main Boat Jetty is about 20 minutes.

Tourist Spots within Kochi are as under:

Bolgatty Palace:TThis magnificent palace adorns Bolghatty Island and is now used as a Hotel. This island also houses a superb gold course and the panoramic view makes it an attractive spot. From the mainland there is always continuos boat service.

Chinese Fishing Nets : TThe Chinese fishing nets found here are unique. The traders from the court of the Chinese emperor Kublai Khan introduced these here. These nets are set up on Teak wood and bamboo poles and they were erected here between 1350 and 1450 AD by those traders. From the Vasco da Gama Square, a promenade that runs along the Fort Cochin Beach, one can watch the nets being lowered into the sea and the catch being brought in.

Dutch Palace: Although it was originally built by the Portugese, the Dutch modified it in the 17th century, and they presented it to the Raja of Kochi. This Palace was used later for the coronation of many Kings of Kochi . The Sanskrit classical epics - Epic Poetry - the Ramayana & Mahabharatha were depicted in Mural paintings here and this is a big cultural tourist attraction.

Pierce Leslie Bungalow: A world class architectural delight, founded in 1862 , this Bungalow was the office of Pierce Leslie & Co, the renowned coffee merchants. This Bungalow has strong Dutch, Portugese and local influences. Arched doors, sprawling rooms & wood panels grace this magnificent building, which is also replete with Waterfront verandahs.

Hill Palace: The King of Kochi built this Palace in the 19th century and the Kochi province was administered from here. Now the Palace has been converted into a Museum displaying a massive collection of articles used the earlier Kings of Kochi.

Jew Town: This town has been so named after the Jews as this area around the Synagogue is a centre of Curio Shops and trade in spices.

Museum of Kerala History: If you want go back to the past and view Kerala History, there are many paintings which will help you in your quest. Not only that, this Museum displays the life size Statues of many a famous personality.

Cherai Beach: This picturesque beach bordering Vypeen Island is excellent for swimming and other aqua sports.

Pallipuram Fort: This is one of the ancient Forts in Kerala.

Parikshit Thampuran Museum: SSituated near the famous Durban Hall Ground, near Siva Temple. this Museum houses a massive collection of archeological findings and relics including Murals, Oil paintings and old coins.

St Francis Church: TThis famous Church is where the legendary Portugese trader, Vasco da Gama, was buried. Later his mortal remains were taken to Portugal. The place where he was buried had been marked inside the Church.


Some Tourism Links
http://www.thenmalaecotourism.com

http://www.ktdc.com

http://www.itdc.com

http://www.theashokgroup.com

http://www.casinogroupkerala.com

http://www.kerala-tourism-india.com

General Description about the Queen of the Arabian Sea

Area - 87341 sq kms

Nearest railway station Ernakulam about 1 1/2 km from the Main boat jetty.

Nearest airport Cochin International Airport, about 20 km
Comprising of mainland Ernakulam, Old Cochin, including Mattancherry, Fort Kochi, Palluruthy, and Thoppumpady, Willingdon Island, the suburbs of Edappally and the exurbia of Kalamassery,Thrikkakara and Kakkanad to the northeast, and Tripunithura to the southeast.

Population 2589038, Greater Cochin (2001 census)

Location Latitude, 9 degree 15 E, The city lies between 'Thripunithura, the seat of the earstwhile royalty to its southeast and the Eloor-Kalamassery industrial belt to its north. To the west lies is the Arabian sea.

Language Malayalam, the youngest in the Dravidian family. It is the official language of the State of Kerala.English is widely used in business circles.
Religion Hindus account for the largest comnunity followed by Christians and Muslims. Cochin has also a small population of Jains, Jews, and Sikhs.

Time (Indian standard Time + 5.30 hours GMT).

Altitude Sea Level

Climate The warm tropical climate recommends light cotton clothes, waterproofing is essential during monsoons.

Water Drink only bottled mineral water. Drink boiled water, particularly during the monsoons.

Electricity 220 volts. You'll require plug adapters.

Radio Cochin FM 102.3 MHz. (Timings: 1658 hrs to 300 hrs (all days)

Banking Hours (Week days) 10 am -2 pm; (Sat) 10 am- 12 noon.

Some banks have evening counters.

Banks remain closed on Sundays (with a few exceptions), and specified bank holidays
Certain banks also provide 24- hour ATM service.

Kerala Tourism

Kerala is among the 50 must see destinations suggested by the National Geographic Magazine.

Tourism is a global phenomenon. It is an expression of man's natural instinct to move from one place to another and to appreciate the handiwork of the Great Creative Original Artist !

India with her naturally beautiful lakes, backwaters, beaches, hills and forests is one of the best tourist attractions in the world. If a tourist wants trekking and mountaineering, which mountains in the world can compete with the Himalayas ? If he wants exposure to the sea and the sun, where else would he find thousands of miles of virgin beaches against the background of swaying coconut palms ? If he wants to visit ancient ruins or sites, which country can match the monuments of the Buddhist, Hindu, Jain, Muslim, Sikh and Christian faiths ? If he wants to move far from the Madding Crowd, away from modern Civilization, where else can he find such natural beauties like the Andamans with their thick rain forest and the Lakshadweep islands with their sparkling clear waters ? If he wants to study and research Ayurveda and Yoga, where else can be find Ayurvedic and Yogic retreats run by bona fide Yogis and Ayurvedic Doctors ?



Kerala and Kashmir are two outstanding states known for their intrinsic natural beauty. While Kashmir resembles the beauty of a cine actress, Kerala on the other hand resembles an aristocratic damsel. Strategically located at the South Western tip of India, Kerala has unique geographic features which make her one of the most sought after tourist destination spots in Asia. This puny state is a breathtakingly ravishing greenland. Excellent investment opportunities in Tourism Industry is bestowed by this state with her natural endowments like tranquil beaches, exhilarating hill stations, soothing backwaters, spectacular art forms , historic monuments, rejuvenating health packages, year round festivals & exotic wildlife. The tourist is enriched by a unique experience, having tasted a strikingly beautiful land as the Lord made it, and this enchants him throughout his life.

Kochi, the Queen of the Arabian Sea, will be donning the robe of the industrial hub of South India, in terms of development & infrastructure, within a couple of years. . IT, BT, Service Sector Companies & owners of hotels & resorts will make a beeline for space in this city and she will become the home of thousands of well trained professionals.

An investment of almost 30000 crores is in the offing with 20000 crores coming from the Central Government and this investment will favour IT, BT, Eductiona and Tourism sectors. Here are some projects in the pipeline

GAIL Petro Project 7000 crores, ICTT, Vallarpadam 2118

Petronet LNG 2200, KRL Single Buoy Mooring

KRL- BPCL City Gasification, Subsea Pipeline, Kochi Kayamkulam NTPC Phase, Boating Marina, Internaltional Bunkering Terminal

Real Estate & Hangar Expansion of CIAL, Smart City, Fashion City


Kumbalangi - Declared by the State Govt as the Model Tourism Village


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Tourists do not complain about the lack of infrastructure. On the other hand the absence of such facilities such as phone, TV, AC etc is the USP of Kerala. Nature in her pristine purity is preserved and it is upto the tourist traveller to enjoy it. Does not Naturopathy advocate living in harmony with Nature ? Modern Civilization has moved away from Nature, with its emphasis on Fast food and the Digital Era. " Back to the Wisdom of Nature" seems to be the motto of Kerala. Does not Kerala echo Wordsworth ? ( " Nature never did betray the heart that loved her " ! )

The modern term luxury means ' opulence of the built up space " but should be redefined as the ' enriching quality of the experience '. If one can commune with Nature at her original best, cant that experience be called " luxury"? Wordsworth, a Nature lover, remarked

With bliss ineffable, I felt

The sentiment of Being spread around

Over all that liveth and all that moveth still !

Such Cosmic Consciousness is possible only in a Nature blessed land !

Tourists enjoying in a House Boat

Innovations in Tourism like Farm Tourism & Monsoon Tourism have paid rich dividends. The success in Farm Tourism was illustrated by Philip Kutty’s example – the entire rural landscape is transformed by its adaptations. The erstwhile poachers of the Periyar Tiger Reserve have changed into guides . Tourism has reinvigorated and put new life into a rather dolorific rural & agri economy. Farm stays, home stays & tourist visits are increasing, thus transforming the state's core sector

Kerala, despite her economic backwardness, is the most egalitarian & literate state. To quote Burton Stein, ‘Not only did Kerala launch an exemplary land reform programme, but it also devoted relatively large expenditures to basic education and health care, making the state the most egalitarian, best educated and healthiest in the Indian Union, though it remained among the poorest.’ National Geographic defined Kerala as a ‘Mount Everest of social development’ and a must see in a life time destination ! Lack of industrial infrastructure may have drawn criticism from many quarters. But it has saved Kerala from pollution and the modern fast food culture and made her achieve much in the social sector and get a relatively pristine environment, which has made a her a powerful must see in the tourist map of Incredible India !




The agri sector is reinvigorated by the surging demand for organic food, especially with the tourism inducted markets. Kerala's agri & knowledge base, based more or less in Ayurveda & Naturopathy, enable her to emerge as one of the largest producers of organic foods, including spices, rice and tropical fruits.

Statistical Research carried out by Peter Aderhold revealed that there are two types of travelles. The ' Sun-Sand-Surf"(SSS) and the other the " Alert Independent Traveller "(AIT). While SSS is the mass market and AIT the newly emerging niche, AIT is the rising star, according to the latest research.

The SSS category traveller will prefer Goa with her beaches while the AIT will favour "God's Own Country", Kerala !




Kochi International Airport ( http://www.cochin-airport.com/ ) is located in Nedumbassery - approx 29 Km from the city. There are flights to and from Colombo, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Singapore, Sharjah, Jeddah, Muscate, Mumbai, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Take a prepaid taxi to your destination


Some E Tourism Resources

http://www.incredibleindia.org

http://www.exploreruralindia.com/ ( with United Nations Development Programme Resources )

Kochi Tourism

Kochi An E-Tourism Destination


Kochi an E-Tourism Destination

Kochi (Cochin) is the cosmopolitan and the computer capital of Kerala, " The Land of Coconuts", so called because of her natural spendour. ( Cosmopolitan means a citizen of the Cosmos ). The Landing point for all visitors visiting this tiny state, this strategic center was a major center of trade & commerce with the Arabs, Chinese, Portuguese, Dutch and the British in the past.

Housing one of the finest natural harbors in the world, Kochi is strategically located on the East - West sea trade route from Europe to Australia.


The 15th Century saw the advent of the Europeans and Kochi's trade links with the Chinese and Arabs were said to be 2000 years old. Trade links with the Portugese developed and Kochi soon became a Portugese colony. Overthrowing the Portugese, the Dutch arrived towards the end of the 15th century.

Kochi houses the main Stock Exchange of Kerala and she has undergone periods of colonization. She has been exposed to diverse cultures and different types of businesses. The city has Ayurveda, Heritage tourist centers and numerous water sports. Different varieties of merchandise are available to the shopper. Kochi is a major auction center for spices like cinnamon, pepper and cardamom, ginger, and tea.


More thatn 200000 tourists visit this city annually and her tourism industry has developed remarkably. There is still scope for furthur development in the tourism industry in Kochi because of her strategic location and the state-of-the-art facilities offered here. A reasonably warm weather characterises this Arabian Queen.

SAFE Optic Fibre Cable Project:

Kochi is the only Internet Gateway in South Asia because of the South Africa Far East ( S A F E ) Submarine Cable Project ( length 28800 kms ) for high Speed Net Access and Communications, giving state-of-the-art communication facilities. Like Bangalore, the Silicon Valley of Asia, Kochi has prospects for being the next IT Center in South Asia due to the SAFE Project and the abundant scientific & tech manpower available.

The SAFE project has enhanced the bandwidth for the mushrooming telecom, Net and Mutimedia traffic. Also improved are the security and availability of telecom links between Asia and Europe. With a major landing point in India at Kochi, SAFE Cable Project's other landing points are Cape Town ( South Africa ), Bay Jacote ( Mauritius ), Penang ( Malaysia ) and St Paul ( Reunion Island ).

The initial equipped capacity of the SAFE Project will be 80 GB expandable to 120-160 GB 1.5 Million hi-speed data channels (64K equivalent) and 12,000 (8MB) digital video channels. The Cable System has a capacity of 7.3 Million simultaneous telephone calls.

Kochi is adorned by a state-of-the-art Software Export Zone & a most modern Port. A major Container Port will be in operation after 3 years ( The Vallarpadam Container Terminal ). Compared to the infrastructure in other South Indian cities, the Infrastructure in existence here is modern & state-of-the-art.

The International Airport at Nedumbassery is connected to all parts of the world. Air India, Oman Air and Kuwait Airways, along with the domestic Indian Airlines operate here.



The opportunities for investing in the ICT sector and Tourism Industry are considerable as Kochi is the only Gateway in South Asia equipped with a sophisticated, speed telecom SAFE Cable Project, excellent infrastructure and a fairly well-developed Tourism Industry.

By implementing and commissioning its E-Tourism projects, we are committed to making Kochi " The Queen of the E-Tourism Industry". We seek active participation from you.


Some excellent e_Tourist resources

http://www.harithafarms.com

http://www.keralatourism.org

http://www.paradisekerala.com

http://www.coirvillage.com

http://www.keralagreenery.org

http://www.kerala.com

http://www.kerala-tourism.net

http://www.cocohol.com

http://www.akshayaindia.com

http://www.indiatravelog.com

http://www.hotelskerala.com

http://www.destinationindia.com

http://www.magic.indiatourism.com

http://www.kerala-travel-tours.com

http://www.keralatourpackages.com

http://www.india-ayurveda.com

http://www.tourismindiaonline.com

http://www.keralamate.com

http://www.travelskerala.com

http://www.tholakath.com

http://www.lawania-adventures.com

http://www.sundale.com

http://www.tsiindia.com/

http://www.keralabackwater.com/

http://www.yatraindia.com

http://www.vacationskerala.com

http://www.keralaeverything.com

http://www.keralayoga.com

http://www.yogasanam.com

http://www.internaturalhealth.com

http://www.sivananda.org

http://www.mintvalley.com

http://www.vypeen.com

http://www.vallarpadam.com

http://www.indiasite.com/

Tamil Nadu Tourism - Experience the Beaches of Tamil Nadu

www.tamilnadu-tourism.com

Farm Tourism

Farm Tourism - Kerala

Farm Tourism is an integral part of Eco Tourism but there is a slight difference. While artificially created landscapes are part of Eco Tourism - gardens, pond etc - the goal of Farm Tourism is to show the curious tourist about Nature in her pristine purity. Farm Tourism preserves the environment. Chemical Farming is also prohibited, as no processes which damage Nature is allowed. Organic Farming and its development give tremendous impetus to Farm Tourism.



These are the salient Points of Farm Tourism

1) It should be least damaging to Nature

2) Commingling Nature & the local Culture, it should impart worthy knowledge.

3) It should be beneficial to both host and tourist

4) Adding to revenue, it should preserve the Environment

5) It should be beneficial to the local people

6) Some part of the revenue should be given to safeguard the Environment



Tips to Entreprenauers who want to start Farm Stays

Find out what the tourist wants. Those who indulge in international tourism have got goals. Also dreams. Beaches, hilly regions, Wild Life Sanctuaries, Shopping etc Also the name Kerala is associated with vast rivers, the Key to Life which is Ayurveda, beaches which stretch from South to North, hilly regions which are as vast - these are the factors which have brought immense fame to Kerala. More than that is the enthusiasm of the Keralites to intermingle with "foreign" cultures !



The tourist knows that the True Kerala is rural. But they return without seeing Rural Kerala, which is Kerala Unrevealed. They have already heard about the family attachments based on Love in Kerala and would love to experience that Love. But they do not actually get the opportunity to live with and have food within that atmosphere. Most of them come from cultures which does not give much importance to family attachments & village or Rural Life. Most of the poets & philosophers have preferred the quietitude of a village instead of the articifial town. Wordsworth wrote about the beauty of living in harmony with Nature, which is possible only in a village. In villages, you meet simple folk while people who live in big cities are more business minded. You get fresh air & fresh water in villages in direct contrast to polluted air and polluted water in cities ! Return to Nature !

For entreprenauers, a web site is a must and the site should rank well in the Search Engines. Web Marketing & Search Engine Marketing should be done. There is another method and that is to link with the foreign tour operators but this will be very expensive.



An Ayurvedic Kashmiri Houseboat



Mud Therapy being administered at an Ayurvedic Retreat ( The patient is given 2 glasses of coconut water; one to drink and the other to take bath. Then red sand along with Azadirecta Indica is mixed and pasted all over the body. He will have to stand like that for 2 hours under the Sun. Then he can have a clean bath )



Elephants from an Elephant Farm taking part in a ceremony in Guruvayur

Entreprenauers should be careful as not to intrude on the tourist's privacy & to show him the rural landscape as it is. You can walk with the tourists on the rural roads, climb mountains which can be climbed, cycle with the tourists along the road, show the traditional fishing methods, show them the farm, show the organic farming methods which are capable of imparting knowledge etc. On 1 hectare of Organic Farm the gain is 30 lakhs, when compared to Inorganic Farming.

http://www.ayurhelp.com - Ayurveda Remedies thru Free Consultations

http://www.desiretours.net For Desire Tours

http://www.indiaonyourown.com TFor Tour India

Spiritual Tourism III

Spiritual Tourism - Heavens on Earth - Part III

Unknown Spiritual Spots - Tirunelli - A mystic journey



When TV people were talking about Kerala as an alternative tourist spot to the disturbed areas of Lanka and Kashmir, I was reminded of a trip I had taken some ten years ago to an exciting Temple -- the Tirunelli Perumal temple.

As a branch of the Sahyadri ranges in the dense forests of Waynad, Kerala, this magnificent Temple rests on the base of a Hill, adorning the upper & northern part of Waynad. We drove from Calicut on a road that crossed streets of swaying palms & majestic teak, we came across Gandhigramam, a well kept herb garden and its shops offer essential oils, spices, coffee, tea & handicrafts on the outskirts of Waynad's capital, Kalpetta. My heart was thrilled at the sights when estates of tea, rubber & coffee gave way to forests dense and we receded furthur & furthur away from the Madding Crowd & Civilization into the uncorrupted heart of Nature Divine.



The incomplete Vilakkumaadam of the temple

Eco Tourism is Tourism without disturbing the Green Environment. Oxygen giving trees have been defined as equal to ten sons ( Dasa Putro Sama Druma ). They are the givers of oxygen and the absorbers of carbon dioxide. Nature is divine and is revered as such in Pagan Thought. Indians call Nature Manifest Divinity ( Saguna Brahman ) and She is considered to be the Eternal Consort of the Unmanifest Divinity which is Absolute & Infinite. Did not Spinoza say " Nature & the Divine are One Being, acting by necessity and by inexorable Law "?

From Kattikulam, we turned left to Tirunelli through bamboo forests and Elephant sanctuaries. We travelled past places devoid of habitation ( except for the occasional vehicle ) and suddenly the glorious Temple sprung into view. A small restaurant provides tolerable food. But we were overwhelmed at Nature's pristine beauty and the magnificent view provided by viewing from heights !

Let us hope that archaeologists and Indologists will be motivated enough to investigate further locally available information as historic information about this ancient temple is meagre. This was a flourishing township and spiritual center till the 16th century and copper plate inscriptions belonging to the period of Ravi Varma I & II have been discovered here.



A Motel in the wilderness

The two streams that flow down to the Temple from Brahmagiri - the Papanasini & the Panchathirtha - are named after two villages, whose vestiges can be seen at Pakshipatalam. Coins with Zodiac inscriptions discovered while laying roads indicate a close connection between Tirunelli and the King Kulasekhara ( Ninth Century ).

From the temple which is on a hillock , a flight of steps steep leads one to the Papanasini river, which flows into the Kalindi. Legend has it that some mythological figures, Parasurama & Jamadagni , held expiatory rites here.



Indian Mythology has it that Brahma, the Creative aspect of Godhead, was enchanted by the beauteous splendour of the Sahyadris, while tranversing the Earth on his swan. He landed on a Hill, which came to be called after him. He saw a magnificent idol on an Amla ( Emblica Officinalis ) tree. With his Yogic Vision, he came to know that that Idol belonged to Lord Vishnu & this area was the Abode of Vishnu. A disembodied voice told him to install the idol there. Lord Vishnu, enthused by this work, granted him a boon. Brahma requested him to abide eternally & offer Final Emancipation to souls caught in the morasses of worldliness. The Lord told Brahma that the rivers of this place will wash away the sins of all mortals. Hence one river came to be called Papanasini.

Another legend has it that three scholars, after a long trek, saw their supply of food and water ran out and to their joy, found an Amla ( Emblica Offinalis ) tree laden with fruits on the banks of a river. They found themselves refreshed when they ate just one fruit. They thanked the Lord, when the deities Siva & Vishnu appeared before them. Realising that it was no ordinary Amla they had eaten, they called it " Tirunelli ", the divine Amla !


According to Ayurveda , the Science of Life, a great rejuvenative is Amla. It is a natural antioxidant & is a respository of Vitamin C. It can purify the blood & has miraculous powers to control all illnesses. It is the main ingredient in that Herbal Honey , Chayvana Prash. Hence the Amla tree holds an exalted & sacred position in the Indian tradition. It is utilised for treating scrubby, pulmonary turberculosis etc as it gets assimilated in the human system easily. Raw Amla fruit is also used in making pickles and preserves. Also in making ordinary dyes, hair dys, quality inks, shampoos and in the tanning industry. It is antibacterial, diuretic & laxative. Its astringent properties help in the healing of ulcers & prevent infection.

The Papanasini became the purificatory Ganges of the Keralites. The final rites to ancestors, held on the Pindappara rock, became famous as equivalent to Gaya Sreaddham. The story about this rock is fascinating; a demon Paashanabhedi, cursed by Vishnu, repented and asked for deliverance from that curse and He converted him into this rock.

Spiritual Tourism II

Spiritual Tourism - Heavens on Earth - Part II

The Abode of the Mother of Eternal Bliss

( Matha Amritanadamayi Math )

Amongst the Fourfold Yoga, Union via Love is considered the noblest. More Grace and protection accrue from Union via Love. It is said that He favours Love to Wisdom, hiding His secrets even from Wisdom !

The Seers are known in India as Yogis & Yoginis. They are people who are intoxicated with the bliss of the Divine, who embrace none but Him ! Of such a One is the Mother of Immortal Bliss, Amritanandamayi Devi, popularly known as Amma.


Her Ashram is located in Amritapuri in Vallickavu, a small fishing village near Quilon (Kollam), South Kerala. At the site of the birthplace of this noble lady is the Ashram located and it houses more than 2500 disciples & householders as full time residents. She hugs all in a motherly embrace and lakhs of people from all over the glove come to experience her Love.

Says the Mother Goddess in Scripture



I am She, let there not be any doubt

Seeing such Yoginis is like seeing Me

Such a One's Darshan is like worshipping Me thousandfold

Mother becomes sanctified & Earth become divine !

Her principal teaching is not so much verbal, but the experience of being with her. Those who see her have said that she has a special earthy aura a sense of peace about her, a special healing touch. She gives darshan on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. She is mother to all, she welcomes everybody with a radiant smile, talks to all, consoles and blesses all and give them a divine motherly hug. She embraces more than 15000 devotees in one night. On Sundays, she dresses in a spectacular costume & a crown and enters into mystic trances, assuming the form of Mother Divine. This special Darshan lasts the whole night past sunrise to next morn. Her devotees believe that she is the incarnation of the Fourth Aspect of the Divine Consciousness Force, of Time Personified ( Kali ) and many worship her picture or small Ammachi dolls.

Tuesdays and Fridays are set aside for ashram residents when Amma comes to the temple to give them 'Satsang'.

At the Ashram, the daily routine starts at early morn at around Five with the recital of Lalitha Sahasranamam, accompanied by the Tabla & harmonium followed by Vedic classes, Meditation, devotional songs till eve, with breaks in between. She leads the followers in Meditation, instrusting them in their Yogic practice and imparting Divine Wisdom. She leads the Bhajans ( devotional songs ) in the evenings with inspired passion and abandon, flinging her arms in the air as she cries out rapturously the names of the various Deities of the Vedic pantheon. Devotees, surcharged by the divine atmosphere and the presence of a Yogini, gets into the devotional mood, which they find blissful to the core. There are also classes in Yoga, Sanskrit, Vedanta and meditation.


Amma is generally out of the country from mid May until mid August as well as from early November until early December.

The ashram, now the headquarters of Amma's world wide mission, runs a number of charitable, medical and educational programs, including an orphanage, a free housing program for poor widows, and a hostel for tribal children, a hospice for cancer patients, a five hundred bed hospital, an ayurvedic clinic, a computer technology institute and a technical school at the premises as well as ashrams or centres throughout India and abroad. Through its branch ashrams, the math conducts regular medical camps, programmes for feeding the poor, distributes pensions to impoverished women, and builds free homes for the poor. The branches also assist in the collection and distribution of free clothes and school books, and some arrange scholarships for deserving children who would otherwise not be able to attend school. The math has centres in 28 countries including USA, UK, UAE, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Japan etc.



Amritha Institute of Medical Sciences

Accommodation and food

The ashram physically consist of one six storey apartment building, one seven storey apartment complex and a number of small residential buildings. It can accommodate up to five hundred people at any one time. There are basic dormitories designed to sleep about twelve people in a room and some semi private rooms with attached bath for married couple ( families with children have priority). Thin mattresses, pillows are available for rent but you must provide your own bedding and mosquito net. Indian visitors can book their accommodation by sending an email addressed to e-mail and foreign visitors to e-mail1 , at least 10 days ahead of their trip.

A small library is available for reading and study. Snacks, books, pictures, clothing, soaps and other items are available for purchase at a small store. You can make phone calls from the clock room and there is internet facility. There is a bank where you can exchange foreign currency and wire money, at the premises.

Accommodation includes Indian-style vegetarian meals- rice and vegetables. Non-spicy, Western-style food is available for an additional cost. Filtered and boiled water is available.

How to get there:

Amma's Ashram is located in the tiny village of Vallickavu, Kollam district in south Kerala between the backwater canal and the Arabian sea. From Vallickavu one could take a boat across the backwaters to Amrithapuri. Alternatively you could take the slightly longer beach road from Karunagapally (10 km south) and cross the backwaters through a bridge which brings you directly to the ashram. Kollam, the nearest city is around 35km from the ashram.

Air: The nearest Airports are Kochi (140 km north) and Thiruvananthapuram (the capital of Kerala 110km south) of the ashram.

Rail & Road:

The nearest railway and bus stations are at Kayamkulam (12km north) and Karunagapally (10km south) from where you can take a local bus, taxi or Auto rickshaw to Vallickavu village, from where you could take a boat across or straight to the Amrithapuri Asram through the beach road from Karunagapally.

http://www.amrithapuri.org

http://www.ammachi.org

Medical Tourism

Integrated System of Medicine

" Supramental Vision is integral vision, global vision. Irreconcilable contrariety is the nature of the mental reason. To the Overmental, they are coexistent correlatives & to the Supramental, they are an integral Whole " - Sri Aurobindo, Founder, Integral Yoga ( http://www.sriaurobindosociety.org.in/ )

Translated into ordinary terms, the above quotation means that the four major systems of Medicine - Allopathy, Naturopathy, Ayurveda & Homeopathy - are partial truths and if integrated, they can be a formidable system. Did He not integrate the four systems of Yoga - Jnana, Bhakthi, Karma & Raja ?

When Allopathy is integrated with other systems of Alternative Medicine, we have a perfected & integrated system.

' What we need is a good integrated system', said Dr P C Reddy, CEO of Apollo Hospitals. Patients should have access to all kinds of facilities. Our Hospital's USP is that we have integrated the Indian traditional forms of Medicine with the clinical '. Delhi's Sir Ganga Ram Hospital has set up Homeopathy & Acupuncture wings. " The hospital is soon starting Yoga, Naturopathy & Herbal Medicine" said Dr S K Sama, CEO. "I consider them complementary, not alternative. Integrated System would soon catch on"


As India's world class hospitals lure foreign tourists, India has become a major destination for Health Tourism.
44 year old June Profitt had her knee replaced at Apollo Hospitals, Chennai. When she went to Nottingham Hospital, it had a six year waiting list. Her Indian Doctor told her to go to India for treatment. She looked up the Net and spotted Apollo Chennai. They corresponded with the Hospital. ' I paid $ 4000, which included a 10 day stay at Sterling Beach Resort. Back home it would have cost $ 10000. Now I am not scared that I would scream in pain when I put my foot down. And what better place to recuperate than a Beach Resort".

Another British national, Gregory Bates suffered a heart attack while holidaying in Goa.' I had the choice to go back home for the bypass", he said "But I chose to stay on. My family was concerned but having heard about Indian medical expertise, I was confident that I was in safe hands. The pre-operative support of Wockhardt Heart Institute in Bangalore while I was in Goa proved that I would get uncompromised care." . " His successful surgery is an indicator that heart surgery in India is on par with the world", said Dr Vivek Jawali, chief cardiovascular surgeon at Wockhardt who operated on Bates.


Bates and Profitt experienced Indian medical efficiencey. Indian health care made headlines when Dr D Shetty closed a hole in the heart of Noor Fatima, a child from Pakistan last year. The father of Noor Fatima, A I Ramadhan, had requested the help of the Indian cricket team which was then touring Pakistan last year. The Indian cricket team relayed the message back home. The Narayana Hrudayalaya Hospital at Bangalore offered to help, to give free surgery to the child. She was successfully operated. After that, the number of patients coming to Indian hospitals from West Asia & the West increased considerably. Last year saw 150,000 foreing patients visting India for treatment.
"At this juncture we cannot sit back", said Dr P C Reddy. " We have everything to move ahead." The private sector has already offered to help. The makeover is striking, hospital floors are squeaky clean and interiors complete with those of Five Star Hotels. Many hospitals have prayer rooms, translators, visa extension and currency exchange services. The Narayana Hrudayalaya Hospital in Bangalore had 8000 patients from Bangladesh last year. Apollo Chennai is referring many a patient for alternative therapy to Soukya, a holistic health center in Bangalore.

Quality medical care is the mantra and Dr S K Sama sees tremendous potential for Indian medical expertise, holistic and otherwise. ' Professional expertise in the country is as good as in the best hospitals abroad", remarks he . " We give personalised attention at much lower costs but provide top of the line services. In five years, things would be totally different. Europeans will be seeking health care here. "
Robert Peter Mutton was another Briton who got treated at economical rates. He was holidaying in Kochi when his gall bladder started acting up. "I just spent Rs 64000, which is amazing" said Robert Peter Mutton. They went to Lakeshore Hospital, Kochi. " I would have spent $ 10000 in London" said Mutton after treatment. "There is no difference between doctors here and back home"




It was the Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences in Kochi, founded by a spiritual giant, Her Holiness Mata Amritanandamayi ( http://www.amritapuri.org/ ), which cured Yan Zheng, a receptionist from China. Cancer struck Yan when she was working in Beijing. She got treated at Shanghai but she lost her left eye, the upper jaw, half the lower jaw & facial nerves as a bye-product.

When she met the CEO of AIMS, Dr Kuriakose, he recommended India. The doctors at AIMS did four surgeries on her and now she is all right. The four reconstructive surgeries cost her Rs 3 lakh. It would have cost her 18 lakhs in the US.
Integrated Medicine is just common sense. The diseases which are not cured by Allopathy can be cured by other alternative therapies. For surgeries and immediate relief, one can rely on Allopathy. Ayurveda will take care of the diseases which need long cure, as it no side effects. .
Medical Training in India

Now professionals, particularly Asian, are happy about being trained in India, despite the West's formidable reputation as the last word in higher education in Medicine.


Dr Amit Shrestha and his wife, Dr Shrishti, found it convenient to do their MD in Bangalore at Manipal Hospital. They had come from Nepal. While Amit is training to be a cardiologist, his wife wants to be a dermatologist. " Indian Doctors are world renowned. If we train in India, our respect back home would grow tenfold", said Amit.

"It was a great experience ", says Clara Perinchery , a German-born MD student, who came to Lakeshore Hospital & Research Center in Kochi, to learn about tropical countries. Dr M Abdul Hannan said " I enjoy working here. Where else would I have learnt so much ? ". He is training at Escorts Heart Institute & Research Center, Delhi & he admitted that he was inspired by the Chief Cardiologist, Dr Naresh Trehan.

Ayurveda
The motto of Ayurveda is " Progress Through Research " ( Anusandanena Abhyudayam ).

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