Voice Commands: The Gateway to the Secret Shastras

                                For Illustrative Purpose Only

SMARTPHONES are common these days. Most of the smartphone have the capability to take voice commands to do normal tasks or search for info. Google itself has a search feature where instead of typing we can just speak the words for the search to get activated.  Hollywood has always shown security systems that work on a combination of facial recognition and voice pattern analysis to open doors and access data in various movies. Voice commands are a reality in today’s world.

It is said that any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic! Perhaps the most underrated instance of a voice command in ancient days is the voice command “Open Sesame” used to open the treasure cave in the classic children’s tale of “Ali Baba and 40 thieves”. But ancient India has a rich history of understanding the nuances of voice and the power that its holds. We need to understand that voice is nothing but a series of vibration that are produced in matter that the sound waves pass through and when used in the right way, they can have tremendous effects.

One of the basic properties of sound is its frequency. In a landmark article titled “Frequencies that can kill, heal and transcend” the author Stephen Knapp observes that, “The science of vibrations and frequencies and how they affect people is something that has been around for thousands of years. We can still find evidence of this in the ancient Vedic texts of India. These explain not only the results of using the frequencies of words and mantras, but also supply instructions in some cases. The sages of ancient India used it to produce various results in the rituals they performed, and from the mantras they would recite. If the mantras were recited in particular ways, certain amazing results would take place, including changing the weather, producing certain types of living beings, or even palaces. Others used it to produce weapons, like the brahmashtra weapon, which was equal to the modern nuclear bombs. Specific mantras could be attached to arrows, with the sound causing powerful explosions when the arrow reached its target. Others used the science of vibrations to bring their consciousness to higher levels of perception, or to enter spiritual reality.”

Siddhis as defined most commonly, are supernatural powers that can be used to achieve various effects. These include ability to change one’s shape or size at will, to obtain riches and what one wills and also to control and influence the minds of other people. How to get the Siddhis? The ancient texts refer to 5 ways: by birth, by using drugs/medicines, by using incantations, by penance and by taking Samadhi. Incantations or series of words and sounds when uttered in the pitch perfect manner have the power to physically influence the ways the world works and how you interact with the world. Essentially, a voice command would give the chanter powers.

The legendary Bramhastra or the most powerful weapon ever used was supposed to be invoked by the chanting of the gayatri mantra in a very specific manner by people who were trained in it. It was said that in the hands of the skilled warrior, even a blade of grass would transform into the destructive Bramhastra. The sound waves that the warrior using the astra generates would create vibrations at a molecular level that transforms normal matter into a weapon. This can be one of the earliest examples recognizing the power of sound waves.

One of the contemporary debates centered on usage of voice commands is that of opening a vault of the famed Sri Padmanabha Swamy temple at Thiruvananthapuram. The temple got instant fame when a committee constituted by the Supreme Court of India opened one of the temple vaults and found billions worth of treasure in it. There is a second vault called as vault B in the court records that is yet to be opened. The vault has two large cobras engraved on its iron doors and is believed to have been closed by a “Naga Bandhanam”  a mantra used as a security measure by Siddha Purushas in the 16^th century. Only a “Garuda Mantra” chanted by an accomplished siddha can be used to unlock. Any use of force is expected to result in catastrophic consequences on the temple and the opener.

Another area of voice command influence is in the continued secrecy attached to the nine ancient sciences that are supposed to be written down and hidden across temples in India. It is believed that only the right voice command will cause the sciences to reveal themselves. Also, the voice commands are the key to opening and closing the knowledge of the sciences for an individual. 

How Chanakya, the master of occult sciences recognized the potential of voice commands and enabled ‘Rudra’, the key protagonist to decode the mysterious ancient sciences and much more…..Grab the crime thriller set in the historic era, “The Indus Challenge” soon to hit the stands!!

Chidambaram Rahasya: The Untold Story!

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THE main temple of Chidambaram is devoted to Lord Shiva.  Shiva along with Vishnu and Bramha form the main trio of Hindu gods. The most common form of Shiva worship is in the form of a Shivlinga. What makes Chidambaram different is that it has a variety of symbolism hidden in the whole temple.

Chidambaram temple has the Lord Shiva in form of a Nataraj. A dancing Shiva who performs the cosmic dance for eternity and in the process drives away ignorance and gives abhay or shelter and solace to the devotees. He performs the cosmic dance for destruction Tandava Nrutya so as to tear down a weary universe and make way for renewal and rebirth. The Shiva form is perfectly poised with his entire balance only on a single toe.  It is a belief that Chidambaram and specifically the spot where the toe of the main deity rests is the magnetic equator of the earth.

But, the temple has more secrets to offer and decode. Just to the right of the main deity is a space covered by a shimmering curtain with golden threads woven into the weave. The curtain has golden bilva leaves and inscriptions on it. It is dark black outside and a bright red on the inside. On special days and during special prayers the devotees are given a glimpse of what lies behind the curtain. Many go with hope of seeing some form of Shiva or Shakti his consort. All they see is just empty space and a garland of gold bilva leaves hanging in the air!

The philosophical meaning for many is that god represents the vast emptiness of space. The curtain is nothing but a symbol of illusion and when the illusion is taken away all we are left with the vast emptiness of space. When you remove the veil of illusion and desires, you experience the vast infinite inner space.  For a few moments your mind becomes free from thoughts. We realize that there is some secret of which we have had a small glimpse, like a flash, and this experience brings a transformation in life. The journey that each devotee must make is that from ignorance to bliss. From seeing manifestations of god towards the realization that god is formless and permeates each and every bit of matter and space.

But aside from philosophical meaning, many people subscribe that the position of the curtain, the signs and symbols on it and the arrangements of the bilva garland signify something physically secret in the temple. The premise is bolstered by the fact that in ancient times the temple had a vast library of palm manuscripts. These contained ancient knowledge and vast stores of the sayings and discoveries of the saints from thousands of years. Chola Kings are supposed to have donated a lot of gold and given vast amounts of endowments but that are also believed to have ensured that the library is closely guarded and the manuscripts in the temple records disappear.

The belief goes that it will take a flash of insight and a mind of clear conscience to decode the symbolism behind the curtain, its inscriptions and the position of the golden bilva leaves in the empty space. Perhaps it will lead to hidden secrets or buried manuscripts. The finder of such knowledge will wield enormous influence and power in the world. There have been calls to use ground penetrating radar to see if there are hidden chambers in the vast underground complex.

For now all one can do at the Chidambaram Rahasya is to contemplate the meaning of the symbols and wait for a flash divine intervention. Perhaps, they can discover the location of the ancient manuscripts which give clues to the secret shastras buried a thousand years before the first Chola king ever came to power.

What is the connection between Chidambaram Rahasya, Acharya Chanakya, Bramhastra and much more? You may grab a copy of the “The Indus Challenge” soon to hit the stands!! You will be surprised to know more about these unconnected dots!!

Helen: Greek Wife of Indian King: Love Story or Spy Ring?

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READERS of the blog will know the birth story of Bindusara. Bindusara was the father of Ashoka the Great and was the first born son of Emperor Chandragupta who founded the Maurya dynasty. Bindusara’s mother was accidentally poisoned when she was pregnant. When faced with a dilemma of whether to save the mother or the child, Chanakya ruled in favor of dynasty and saved the son and let the mother die. Emperor Chandragupta was widower at a very young age.

Chandragupta put all his energies into the expansion and administration of his empire. Those were turbulent times and after the death of Alexander under mysterious circumstances and without a clear heir, there was a mad rush among his generals for grabbing the vestiges of Alexander’s empire. These generals became regional heads called “satraps”. The biggest among them was Selukos.

The empire of Selukos started from central Africa and reached till the western borders of the Maurya Empire. The story goes that Chandragupta was on a mission in the border areas and was riding his horse along the banks of the Jhelum River when he caught sight of a bevy of ladies who were frolicking in the water. This was Helen, the daughter of Selukos, who along with her friends had come for a trip. It is said that there was mutual attraction from both sides. The emperor could not get the fair and beautiful Helen out of his head while Helen herself was smitten by the handsome Indian king.

Knowing the enmity between the two, both Chandragupta and Helen was not sure about how their love may come to fruition. It is said that Chanakya played a vital party in the love story by offering his carrier pigeons for taking messages back and forth between the two. Chanakya, ever the strategic thinker, wanted to cement the western borders of the empire with a relationship rather than the army. The western border of the kingdom was vast and with a wide variety of geographical challenges.

Selukos meanwhile was alarmed by the rise of this upstart Chandragupta and wanted to teach the young emperor a lesson. Selukos wanted to defeat Chandragupta and then make him as a vassal and order his army to fight for the expansion of the area under his influence. What happened was a historic confrontation between the two. Selukos was defeated and was presented in front of Chandragupta. It is at this time, that Chandragupta magnanimously let Selukos live and keep a major part of the kingdom also he gave Selukos 500 elephants for helping Selukos in the war in central Asia. What he asked in return was Helen as his wife. Selukos was stunned and happy. He also gave Chandragupta parts of current Afghanistan and also an assurance of no war on their border. Thus was sealed an incredible love story between a Greek princess and Indian king. A princess who believed in the Greek gods and a Hindu King. A bridge was created between two cultures. 

But rumors abound that it was not such a fairy tale romance. Helen was not happy at her father’s defeat and the submission of her father was festering sore in her mind. She was not fully happy with her marriage. Selukos is also believed to have told Helen to be his spy in the Maurya Empire. How much truth is there in this? No one knows.

But did Helen really love Chandragupta? Did she integrate into the Indian culture? Was she a spy or an assassin to kill Chandragupta at the appointed hour? Or was she the latest pawn in search of the secrets of ancient India?   Secrets, that had Alexander come down to India in the first place?

To find out this and much more, read the book “The Indus Challenge”. Hitting the bookshelves soon…

Ambrosia to Alchemy: Was Alexander Foxed by Poison disguised as Amrit?

Since the time man has faced the reality of death and eventual decay of the human body, the hunt for a solution started. Generations of men in recorded history have craved for a healthy, glowing and radiant body and a life that lasts forever. The stories are embedded in legends from Ancient Indian Vedic texts to Greek mythology. The solutions have been variously called Amrit, Ambrosia, Elixir of Life and many other names.

One of the foremost references is in the ancient Indian story of Samudramanthan.  An epic undertaking in which, gods and demons or the asuras collaborated. The objective was to churn the universe or the ocean of nothingness so that gifts that the universe holds could be obtained. The giant serpent Vasuki became the rope and Mount Mandar became the churn and gods and asuras started the churning. It went on for a 1000 years. At the end of it, a pot of Amrit came out. This was the prize everyone was waiting for. A liquid so potent, that it will give the drinker strength and immortality. Legend goes that the gods ran away with the Amrit and the asuras gave chase. The chase lasted for 12 earth years or 12 nights and days for the gods and asuras.

It is believed that Amrit drops fell at four places on the earth during this chase. These blessed places: Allahabad, Haridwar, Nasik and Ujjain are now revered and a massive festival takes place every twelve years at these locations. This is the Kumbh Mela. It is believed that taking a bath in the rivers at these locations during the auspicious times ensures the body is released from the cycles of birth and death and attains oneness with the universal consciousness.

The legends of such a drink also abound in the Greek Mythology. The gods living on mount Olympus are given the Ambrosia by doves. Drinking the Ambrosia is supposed to give the gods immortality and exceptional strength. A drinker of Ambrosia converts his blood into Ichor a divine golden liquid. It was reserved for the gods and no mortal was given it. Tantalus son of Zeus tried to steal ambrosia and give it to mortals. He was stopped and cursed to forever stand in a pool of water from which whenever he tried to stoop down and drink the water would disappear and when hungry he would have branches of fruit laden trees overhead, but they would be blown just outside his grasp when he tried to eat them.

Another word for Ambrosia that appears in the Greek classics is Nectar.  The Greek word ambrosia shares a close relationship with the Sanskrit Amrit. Both denote “undying” as an attribute in their own forms.

Apart from the legends, the history of mankind is filled with quests of finding the elixir of life. The word elixir was not used until the 7th century A.D. and derives from the Arabic name for miracle substances, "al iksir".  The Elixir has had hundreds of names (one scholar of Chinese history reportedly found over 1,000 names for it.), including (among others) Amrit Ras or Amrita, Aab-i-Hayat, Maha Ras, Aab-Haiwan, Dancing Water, Chasma-i-Kausar, Mansarover or the Pool of Nectar, Philosopher's stone, and Soma Ras.  

The hunt for the elusive elixir that grants eternal life and eternal youth has been recorded in history. In ancient China, various emperors sought the fabled elixir with varying results. In the Qin Dynasty, Qin Shi Huang sent Taoist alchemist Xu Fu with 500 young men and 500 young women to the eastern seas to find the elixir, but he never came back (legend has it that he found Japan instead). The science of alchemy has been an ongoing quest to find not only a way to convert lead to gold but also to find or formulate the elixir of life. 13th Century polymath Albertus Magnus is rumored to have given the Stone to Thomas Aquinas shortly before his death. Magnus’s writings also claim that he witnessed the transmutation of lead into gold. The mysterious 18th century nobleman Comte de St. Germaine was believed by some to possess the Elixir of Life. According to legends that were probably spread St. Germaine himself, he was actually hundreds of years old.

Another historical figure reputed to have created the Philosopher’s Stone was Nicholas Flamel. The historical Flamel was a successful French bookseller who lived from 1330 to 1418. Almost two hundred years after his death, texts surfaced that were attributed to Flamel. According to these texts, Flamel learned alchemical secrets from Jewish alchemists while traveling in Spain, and that he had obtained an original copy of the Book of Abramelin the Mage. 

In the context of India, Alexander the great is rumored to have been motivated on his quest for India by the chance to learn the secrets of Amrit. Alexander had utmost respect for Aristotle, he used to say that “my father gave me life but Aristotle taught me how to live”. It is believed that Aristotle guided him in his quest.  Unfortunately, Alexander died young. The cause of his death is still a mystery. Was it natural or was it caused by poison – the Pundits are still debating.

Is there a connection between Amrit and Alexander? If so, why did he die so young? Was he trapped into believing that something he got from India as Amrit, was actually poison disguised as Amrit? You can know this and much more from “The Indus Challenge” soon to hit the stands!

Ramsethu: Ancient Bridge or Storehouse of Energy?

Ramsethu

One of the endearing stories of the epic Ramayana is that of how a bridge was built that spanned between India and Lanka and the whole army of Lord Ram is supposed to have crossed over to fight the war with Ravan.

Upon being confronted with a massive ocean to cross over. Lord Ram is supposed to have prayed to the ocean gods for direction. The ocean gods suggested that a bridge be built. It is believed that Naia, a brilliant architect and engineer in the army of Lord Ram came up with the design and using locally available materials, the bridge was built over a span 5 days. Ramsethu stands as a symbol proving Lord Ram is a history and not just a mythology.

Apart from the Ramayana, the Mahabharata also refers to the continued protection of Nala Setu following Sri Rama's command. Kalidasa's Raghuvamsham also refers to the Setu. So does the Skanda Purana, the Vishnu Purana, the Agni Purana, the Brahma Purana.

The bridge was supposed to be operational till the 15th century when temple records mention that a massive storm broke the bridge and made Lanka into a true island. Numerous stones found in and around the area have been found to float in water. The bridge is considered sacred by Hindus and is a site of pilgrimage of many.

The main secret behind the Ramsethu is not just the religious significance but also its actual composition and the important role it can play in the future of India.

The bridge has unusual concentrations of the mineral Monazite which is an ore of thorium. Thorium is being touted as a panacea to the energy problems for India. Current nuclear reactors run either on Uranium or Plutonium. Both these minerals are heavily controlled for international trade and India does not have sufficient nuclear fuel to move ahead with the conventional nuclear energy reactors.

Thorium on the other hand is safer options and India is a pioneer in making non-conventional fast breeder nuclear reactors that run on thorium instead of Uranium. The advantage being that a fast breeder reactor is not only safer and more efficient but also produces waste that is significantly less in quantity and toxicity. It is being touted world over as a much better solution to generate power. But the key roadblocks that remain are availability of thorium and technology to build the reactors.

Now a fact that most people are not aware of!! India has almost 30% of the world’s thorium reserves in a form that they can be easily extracted and we are also the pioneers in the technology for fast breeder reactors.

The Ramsethu is the biggest source of Thorium. It is not only made up with a high concentration of the mineral ore for thorium. The bridge itself creates a barrier such that the ocean currents are arrested in the region. The changed ocean currents have ensured that the minerals deposits are in plentiful supply on the coasts of Tamilnadu and Kerala. Not only is it a source of energy in itself, it is also physically contributing to making Indian coasts minerals rich in Thorium.

Believers think that so many things going right cannot be a natural phenomenon but divine intervention by Lord Ram himself that has given this blessing to India. Through the bridge Lord Ram has ensured that plentiful source energy is conserved for India for generations to come.

For more on the secrets of the energy in Ramsethu emerging as a source for invoking Brahmastra and much more……..
Grab the forthcoming mythology thriller “The Indus Challenge” soon to hit the stands.

Rameshwar: Where Mythology meets History!!

Situated on an island off the coast of Tamil Nadu in southern India, the approach bridge over a wide expanse of the sea is enough to set the tone of a visit to Rameshwar. The temple, architecturally, is a majestic monument. The main temple gopuram or roof soars 53 Meters above the hustle and bustle of the town, an intricately carved masterpiece. Like most temples, this one has a huge wall that encloses the temple premises. The real miracles are the long corridors, the longest in the world. They run the entire length of the premises form a tunnel with over pillars holding up the roof. A gaze down the corridor is guaranteed to be jaw dropping.

What makes Rameshwar so important is the various legends and myths associated with the temple and the town. 

The temple is supposed to be the site where Lord Rama after killing Ravana wanted to atone for his sins of killing Ravana by worshipping Lord Shiva. Killing a human being even in a war is a sin, even for God’s avatar. He asked Hanuman to bring him a Shivaling from Mount Kailash in the Himalayas to pray to. Legend is that Hanuman was delayed and since the auspicious time for the rituals was passing, Sita created sand Shivling and the rituals were done on it. Hanuman was angry at his lateness tried to uproot the sand Shivling but was unsuccessful. Rama placated him and decreed that the Shivling brought by Hanuman be installed besides the sand Shivling. Devotees should pray to the Shivling brought by Hanuman and then to the Shivling made by Sita. The tradition continues till date, the main deity is the Shivling created by Sita called as Ramaling while the prayers are offered first to the shivling brought by Hanuman, now called as Vishwaling.

The temple has 22 tanks or teerthas that make this temple unique. The Teerthas are supposed to symbolize both the 22 ancient rivers of India as well as the number of arrows in Lord Ramas quiver.  Lord Ram is believed to have used his bows to create these tanks for water during the construction phase of the bridge to Lanka. These tanks are believed to have medicinal properties that cleanse your body as well as spiritual properties that cleanse your destiny and soul. 

Ramseshwaram is also supposed to be location of Gandhamadhan Parvat, the mountain top from which Hanuman started his giant leap in search for Sita across the ocean to Lanka. This is also the place from where the bridge to Lanka was started to be constructed by Lord Ram. The sea is surprisingly mild and calm year round and the area is a rich fishing ground. The seas calmness is attributed to the sea god who made the sea calm as a mark of respect to Lord Ram’s bridge.

 

In recent times, the temple found a surprising mention in the hit Bollywood movie Chennai Express where Shah Rukh Khan is on a journey to the temple for immersion of his grandfather’s ashes. 

The temple town is also justly famous for giving India one of its most illustrious sons. The Missile Man of India and one the most beloved presidents Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam. Perhaps it was something in the sands of Rameshwaram itself that propelled him to greatness!!

This may be concise history of Rameshwar, but what is the connection of the place with Chanakya, Chandragupta and Alexander? For that you will have to wait for the upcoming mythological thriller “Indus Challenge”.

Alexander and Chandragupta Maurya : Did the Titans Clash?

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ALEXANDER was a Macedonian conqueror who wanted to build the largest empire in the world. His juggernaut of conquests was brought to a halt in India.

Chandragupta Maurya, the founder of the Maurya dynasty who unified a greater part of India into a single nation state. The man, who is credited with annexing the remnants of Alexander’s conquests into the Mauryan Empire.

Alexander started his India campaign in about 327 BC and was dead 3 years later in June of 323BC. Chandragupta was born in 340 BC and at the age of 16 founded the Mauryan Empire in 324 BC, just a year after the death of Alexander.  Historians have agonized over the possibility that Alexander may have met Chandragupta Maurya who then would have been a teenager of 13 years. The answers are not easy to come by.

Inherently, the idea of a 13 year boy making any dent or impression in the life and times of Alexander seems laughable but we should never forget that backing this boy was the mastermind of the Chanakya. There are sources that paint a picture as though this meeting never happened. The focus of Alexander and the training of Chandragupta was going on in different areas of India. Like many stories, the meeting is the figment of imagination of many later historians who wanted to paint either of the two parties in a favorable light.

Plutarch, the eminent Greek historian on the other hand mentions that the two did meet. They saw each other in the modern day Punjab region. It was not a meeting of any consequence but it does seem that the sight of the majestic Alexander must have had an effect on Chandragupta. He is reported to have said that with the corrupt Nandas ruling at the time, Alexander would have had the backing of local population for ruling. That Alexander may have retreated from a war he could have won.

Another famed story is that a desperate Chandragupta against the advice of Chanakya went to meet Alexander in the Kingdom of Porous. Chandragupta himself was from a lineage of Nanda kings but his family was cheated out of the kingdom. He wanted to explore if Alexander who had just turned back his armies could be persuaded to assist him in exchange of gold. Alexander wanted suzerainty over Nanda Empire and Chandragupta to be a vassal. Chandragupta offered to bear all expenses and give gold in exchange for assistance but wanted to keep independence. Alexander who called himself Supreme Lord of Asia was furious at being asked to do the job a petty mercenary. He ordered the imprisonment of Chandragupta for later sentencing for the offence committed.

How Chandragupta escaped is not fully known. A version goes that Porous who was the host was horrified by this treatment meted out to his guest. “Atithi Devo Bhava” - guest is god. How to ensure that this travesty does not occur while ensuring that Alexander whose vassal he was is not enraged. He used some family members to ensure that Chandragupta escapes from prison in secret. Perhaps this interaction with Alexander steeled Chandraguptas resolve in conquering Alexanders territories. Also, this disastrous outing would have further cemented his trust in Chanakyas judgment.

What is known is just after Alexander’s death, a series of events started the downfall of Alexander’s holdings in India. The areas were administered by Satraps of Alexander who governed in the emperor’s name. Chanakya’s subterfuge and tactical prowess came to the fore. Under his guidance, Chandragupta eliminated some of the lesser Satraps and annexed the territories. The key Satrap was Selecus, who’s iron fist extended from Bactria and Central Asia to the Indus river Basin. Chandragupta slowly and steadily built his army and gave a surprise defeat to Selecus. Territories won and with Selecus daughter wedded, Chandragupta went on to found a prosperous dynasty. This time using charm and magnanimity instead of ruthless warfare to cement peace with Selecus.

Did Alexander and Chandragupta meet or not may be a question none can authoritatively answer. But no one can deny that in this clash of two titans, Chandragupta came out victorious. His name ever cemented in the annals of history of one who rebuffed a foreign invasion.

Mount Kailash: A Riddle wrapped in a Mystery inside an Enigma

Mount Kailash evokes images of unconquered peaks, stark but pristine snows and towering heights. This Mountain in Tibet is a geological wonder. It has four sides that exactly face towards the four cardinal directions, has perennial snow on its upper reaches, has sides that are sheer smooth having almost chiseled quality and is in an area of the range whereby its beauty is not marred by any other comparable peak. It stands solitary in its own majesty with two lakes the Mansarovar and Rakshastal washing its foothills.

The mountain range also has the distinction of being the source of four key rivers, the Bramhaputra, Karnali which washes into the Ganges, Sutlej and Indus. These rivers have sustained more than a quarter of all humanity since millennia. The face of the mountain has a horizontal gash and the top of the pyramid is a giant perfectly formed pyramid.

But geology apart, the spiritual significance of the mountain is deeper still. Kailash is a key place of worship for four religions, Hinduism, Buddhism, Bonn and Jainism. For the Hindus it is the abode of Shiva, the first Yogi and the destroyer of the universe who resides on the icy heights with Parvati the female form of pure energy or Shakti. For the Buddhists, the mountain is the abode for the Buddha Demchok who represents supreme bliss. Jains believe that the first Tirthankara attained moksha or salvation from the world near Mount Kailash while the Bonn religion believes that the entire mountain range and the lakes are the supreme center for all spiritual power in the universe.

The location of the mountain is supposed to be Axis Mundi, the center and the birthplace of the entire world. The mountain also has quite a few legends and perhaps forgotten knowledge and facts associated with it.
- Research has shown that the mountain has a chain of voids in its structure almost like a complex of caves; this cave complex finds mention in Tibetan ancient texts. They are supposed to be linked underground via continuous chambers and caves to other places of such mystical significance.
- The caves have a reverberation in Hindu texts whereby Amarnath, the holy site linked to Lord Shiva is fabled to have an underground tunnel to Mount Kailash.
- One of the enduring mysteries is the relativity of time and its effect on the body when in the presence of mount Kailash. Pilgrims report that just twelve hours on the foothills of Kailash give the effect of two weeks on the body. The nails and hair grow at astonishing speed pointing to a mysterious power in the mountain.
- Russian scientists have proposed that the top of the mountain is a manmade pyramid and not a natural formation. If true this will rewrite the history of human civilization, as this would then be the biggest pyramid on earth by a huge margin.
- The Mountain and its characteristic shape also has mention in Hindu Texts as the mountain that was used by gods and demons to churn the cosmic ocean to get both the nectar of life, the Amrit and the strongest of poisons the  Halahal.
- The mountain supposed to be the gateway of Shangri La or Sambhala. An ancient underground kingdom that was the originator of the human race in the world. It is supposed to be the abode of super human’s that have vast stores of knowledge and belong to a higher civilization.
- It is also believed that the Nazis were fascinated with Mount Kailash and Tibet. It is known that Nazi leaders such as Heinrich Himmler believed that Tibet might harbor the last of the original Aryan tribes, the legendary forefathers of what was considered the German race whose Aryan leaders were supposed to possess supernatural powers that the Nazis thought they could use to conquer the world. Ideas about an Aryan or master race began to appear in the popular media in the late nineteenth century.

Mount Kailash is surely a heady mix of mystery and legend. Its summit remains unconquered in recorded history and it is said that all who have attempted it have either not returned or have found themselves on the opposite side without a clue or recollection of how they landed there. The best answer to the question of whether the summit can be conquered came from one of the Garpons of Ngari, the Garpon replied, "Only a man entirely free of sin could climb Kailash. And he wouldn't have to actually scale the sheer walls of ice to do it – he'd just turn himself into a bird and fly to the summit."

Ashwatthama Sighted – The Chiranjeevi who wants to die!!

We saw in the last blog that Ashwatthama was a Chiranjeevi, an immortal being who lives and treads among us in modern times. I also hinted that what was a boon for the other Chiranjeevis was a curse for Ashwatthama. This post explains it further.

Once Duryodhana was defeated in the Mahabharath war, Ashwatthama wanted to take revenge against the Pandavas for killing his father through unfair means and also for destroying the Kaurava forces, to which he owed his loyalty. A livid Ashwatthama, vowed to destroy the lineage of Pandavas. Contemplating his next move, he saw an owl silently attacking a flock of crows in the night. Inspired, by this, he wanted to swoop silently on the Pandava camp in the dead of the night and kill the Pandavas. He executed his plan successfully, but there was a fatal flaw. The Pandavas were actually in the Kaurava camp on that night and were just coming back. Instead, all the living sons of the Pandava brothers were killed. Ashwathama was on his way out after killing, but was surprised by the sight of the returning Pandavas. The Pandavas also realized the extent of Ashwatthama’s foul play against their sons.

Ashwatthama in desperation resorted to the maximum force available with him ‘The Bramhastra’, a fearsome divine weapon. To invoke the astra, he used a blade of grass and used the ancient knowledge of arcane shlokas said in a specific manner in a specific tone. This was almost like a password or voice command. To counter the astra Arjun also projected his own Bramhastra, the only way to counter the oncoming astra. With the fearsome power of two astras detonating simultaneously the destruction of the earth was eminent. In this desperate time, Sage Vyasa with his yogic powers stopped the collision and asked both warriors to take back the astras.

The astras were controlled by the voice commands that were used to target or call back. Arjun invoked the voice command to take back the astra while Ashwatthama conceded that he did not know how to do it. A warrior who can invoke and take back an astra can use it multiple times but those who cannot revoke the astra can only use it once. Guru Drona felt that Arjun was his only student who is blessed with both character and competence. Hence, only Arjun was given full knowledge of the Bramhastra - both the art of sending the missile and withdrawing it in times of need.

Ashwatthama meanwhile was given the option to direct it towards the destruction of just one object and out of his spite filled rage he directed it towards the womb of Uttara, wife of Abhimanyu and tried to kill the yet unborn son. Krishna was enraged by this spiteful behavior.

Krishna cursed Ashwatthama to be a Chiranjeevi and roam the earth for eons to come. Ashwatthama was cursed to carry the burden of all people’s sins on his shoulders and to roam alone like a ghost without getting any love and courtesy till the end of Kaliyuga; he would have neither any hospitality nor any accommodation; he would be in total isolation from mankind and society; his body will suffer from a host of incurable diseases forming sores and ulcers that would never heal”. He took back his crowning glory, the jewel on his forehead and left his forehead with a gaping wound that was pus filled, festering and with a foul smell. He was also cursed to forget all of his knowledge and his entire memory erased. He would be known as Suryakant in Kaliyuga. For a legendary warrior who was a storehouse of knowledge this was the worst form of punishment. An endless life of wandering the earth without knowledge, in pain and with a festering wound. He was given the task of accompanying other chiranjeevis for greeting the next Vishnu avatar Kalki at the time of his birth.
With a bleeding forehead, Ashwatthama roams around the earth and the stories of his encounters with those living abound.

An exceptionally gifted doctor in Madhya Pradesh claimed that he treated a tall dark man with a festering wound for five years without success. He invoked the similarity between his wound and Ashwatthama, upon which the person disappeared.

Near Burhanpur, within the confines of an old rundown fort of Asirgarh a small Shiva temple has a devotee who has been offering flowers since times immemorial perhaps to ask for forgiveness and stop the pain.

Some yogis said that they have had conversations with Ashwatthama who lives among a Bheel tribe in the foothills of the Himalayas.

Prithviraj Chauhan is supposed to have met Ashwatthama and tried to cure his wounds but failed to do so. A book written on him called “Pritviraj Rasso” describes this meeting.

In late 14th, early 15th century there lived in Gadag, Karnaatak, a poor Braahman called Naranappa achieved fame with his rendition of the Mahabharatha in kannada. The story goes that he was told the Mahabharatha as it happened by Ashwatthama himself.

In case you are visiting the foothills of Himalays or to any of the above mentioned places, perhaps you will be blessed with the sight of an old man with a festering wound and a foul smell with an aura of intrigue about him.

Perhaps you too will be blessed with the darshan of a Chiranjeevi, one who is suffering and is in search of death. Do not worry, he will not harm you nor does he have the capacity to harness his legendary powers or any of the Bramhastra. His memory has been wiped out and his knowledge lost! Be brave enough to meet him, in case you sight him! Good Luck!

The Immortals of India….. Chiranjeevi: Where do they live?

THE average person’s introduction to the word Chiranjeevi is mostly through the word being used a prefix for sons or daughters in some languages. Also, popular is the usage in wedding invites whereby the bride and grooms names have the “Chi” suffix. Many will also remember the BR Chopra Mahabharat in which the aashirwad (boon granted by elders when shown respect) of choice was Chiranjeevi Bhava (Be a Chiranjeevi). So what does the actual word mean? It actually is an amalgamation of chiram (long) and jivi (lived). Essentially, a person who has long life or one who does not die.

There is a very poignant Sanskrit vrse or shloka that lists the names of the chiranjeevis. It is believed that recitation of this shloka itself will imbibe you with positive vibes and a long life. The Shloka goes thus.

                Ashwathaama Balirvyaaso Hanumanshcha Vibheeshanaha
                Krupaha Parshuramascha Saptaitey Chiranjivinaha
                Saptaitaan Samsmareynnityam Markandeymathaashtamam
                Jivedvarshshatam Sopi Sarvavyadhivivarjit

The above lines means that by daily remembering these 8 immortals (Ashwatthama, King Bali, Ved Vyasa, Hanuman, Vibhishan, Kripacharya, Parashuram and Rishi Markandaya) one can be free of all problems and live for 100 years.

There have always been rumors about sightings of the chiranjeevis in India. How even in these modern times they have interacted with men of our times. Especially common are the reports of sightings of Hanuman and Ashwatthama. They live in different forms and it is stated in Bhagvatam the Maha Puranic Text that they will assemble at the end of Kaliyagua at the time of birth Kalki Avatar Sambhala Village, Dravida Desha on the banks of Tamiraparni River.

The chiranjeevis do have a very special purpose. They function as the link between the long ages of human history and evolution. They are destined to function as repositories of ancient knowledge and wisdom. When humanity will have the need for this ancient knowledge, when the very existence of our world will be in peril, it is this ancient knowledge that will be revealed and will save the world.

It is interesting to note that all these chiranjeevis are supposed to be great warriors. Immortality by itself can be looked at a curse or as a boon especially for a warrior. For all others the immortality was a boon, a reward or recognition for the stellar role they played in shaping the events of their times but the shloka starts with Ashwatthama who was given his immortality as a curse.

Why did he get his immortality? And is he condemned to suffer in pain for eternity? We will look into this in the next weeks post.

Chanakyas Immolation : Did he commit suicide by burning himself?

Chanakya lived in a tumultuous time and one cannot start to comprehend the stellar role he played in shaping the events of his time. His tomes “Arthashastra” and “Nitishastra” have lessons for us even after 2000 years and are very much relevant. Economics, Ethics, Politics, Governance, Administration and Philosophy. That is an impressive range of subjects to excel in.

What makes, Chanakya stand out is his practical abilities to see farther than others, influence decisions and make things happen. His success can be gauged by the fact that he was the chief architect of the then greatest empire in India. He ensured that a relatively unknown Chandragupta got crowned at the tender age of 19 and founded the Mauryan Empire. What many people do not know is that with one of his decisions he ensured an heir for the Maurya Empire but bought death upon himself. That too in the most painful way!! Burning himself alive!! Legend has it that one of the most effective way of killing a king was to poison him. Chanakya the ever aware advisor of Chandragupta was himself using this tactic. To ensure that the king would not be affected by the poison, he wanted to build up his immunity. To do this Chanakya unknown to the king would mix a very small amount of poison in Chandragupta’s food. Once when Chandragupta’s wife, the queen was heavily pregnant, she by mistake tasted the food of Chandragupta. Heavily pregnant and in a delicate state, she collapsed and Chanakya was called in. Upon understanding the situation, there were two choices, to save the mother with the antidote but by the time it would act the unborn child would have been dead in the womb by poisoning. Second was to cut open the mothers belly and get the child out before the poison reaches the child. Chanakya dispassionate as ever gave prominence to continuity of lineage rather than mother’s life and the son Bindusara was taken from him mother’s womb in the nick of time. The poison and the cutting of her womb led to the queen’s death. Just a bit of the poison reached the boy and he was marked with a blue tinged dot or Bindu. This was the origin of the name King Bindusara, who succeeded Emperor Chandragupta. The story of his birth was kept secret from him. When in time Bindusara ascended the throne with Chanakya continuing to advise him but another advisor Subandhu wanted the full ear of the Emperor. He gave a perverted version of the story of the emperor’s birth and blamed Chanakya for the death of him mother. Bindusara sidelined Chanakya. The respect his father showed to Chankya was history. Subandhu and the council of ministers kept reminding Bindusara about Chanakya being the killer of his mother. Rather than face the ignominy of a diminished stature, the wrath of a King he had delivered in a kingdom he had created, he chose to end his life. He would immolate himself on a heap of dung cakes in his own chambers. Hearing this a loyal nurse gave the full picture to Bindusara who was racked with guilt and tried to stop Chanakya. But Chanakya had resolved to die. Bindusara in a fit of rage and revenge ordered the killing of Subandhu. In the end Chanakyas death was as spectacular as his life. He lit his own pyre and died as a roaring fireball. He chose to face his creator in death just as he had faced the world in his life, on his own terms and at a time of his choosing.

Ashoka’s Nine Secret Keepers : Alchemy to Gravity Ancient Secrets of Modern Sciences

We all have heard about western secret societies and hidden secrets that they possess. The Da Vinci Code made Dan Brown a household name and sparked an interest in examining ancient documents, stories and legends in a new context. By some accounts the longest continuously running secret society is based right here in India!! In a testament to their success to keep secrets - they are hardly known and just faint rumors are all that abound.

Formed by Ashoka (the idea originating from Chanakya days), the NINE UNKOWN MEN constitute a ultra secret society. Its mission to develop and keep secret nine ancient knowledge streams. They were to use it only to save humanity from cataclysm and extinction. Rumors also abound that they use their knowledge to make the world a better place. The nine knowledge areas or shastras include Pshchology and Propoganda Warfare, Physiology, Microbiology, Alchemy, Communication, Gravitation, Cosmology, Light and Sociology. The leaked portions of the texts have been attributed to the development of various things. Glimpses and hints of the shastras are also strewn in the ancient records being unearthed. Judo with its pressure points and fatal moves is attributed in part to ancient Physiology. The Ancient Sanskrit texts detailing the use and construction of various aircrafts and weapons and its after effects are scarily modern in nature. The Chinese have found Sanskrit texts in Lhasa which describe gravity assist in interstellar travel. There is a record of a Sanskrit scholar building an airplane based on ancient texts which was tested in Mumbai. This was eight years before the first flight by Wright Brothers! The keepers of the knowledge are famously secret. Interaction with outside world is minimal but among those who are suspected to have a contact include Pope Sylvester the Second, Yersin a close confidant of Louis Pasteur and the eminent Indian Scientist and polymath Jagdish Chandra Bose!!! The secret is supposed to be buried in ancient texts and across various temples and inscriptions in India. There is a chance of getting some of the secrets if not the full store of knowledge. It will require a multidisciplinary team of Sanskrit scholars, decoding the Harappan language, scientists and philosophers as well as archeologist. Perhaps one day we will get a believer who will take the mammoth task of building the team and cracking the secrets!! Or else humanity needs to be on the brink for the Nine Unknown Men to Reveal themselves and push us in the right direction. What was the origin of the Nine Unkown Men? How did they decode mysteries in the Chanakya era which even then were ancient? To know more, read the soon to be released mythological thriller “The Indus Challenge”