Greeting with a Namaste

For a person visiting India, this is the first gesture and word that he gets to see and hear. Hence he must learn and understand it.
' Namaste ' the Hindu form of greeting is pronounced as na-ma-stay -- the 't' sound being very soft. It is derived from the Sanskrit language and means ' I bow to you with respect.' It is not only used as a respectful greeting but has a spiritual significance in the sense it negates one's ego and recognizes the divine light  in others. It has the unifying principle which states that God resides in all of us. It is the acknowledgement of the divinity in self and others and the oneness of it. While saying it, you hold both the palms together in front of your chest and bow your head slightly. Both the actions have to be done simultaneously.


It is a versatile form of greeting in the sense it can be a formal as well as an informal greeting depending on the situation. It can be used for meeting as well as for parting. It can be used any time of the day or night.And it can be used by the young and the old. Sometimes the word is spoken and at times you remain silent doing only the gesture with your hands. Both are acceptable. It is formal when you greet a stranger or an elder and informal when you greet a friend or a relative. It can be used to express respect, humility and gratitude and is exchanged by people of all races, age, gender and religions.


This salutation from ancient India can be seen in many Asian countries which have been influenced by Hinduism and Buddhism and the word  'Namaste' is replaced with the word from the local language.


It is used in our daily life, in our prayers, in yoga and in our Hindu religious rituals. It helps in removing barriers and evinces a favourable response from every person.Now that you understand the significance of  'Namaste',  you will be able to use it in the company of Indians.

Science and Inventions

India has long been thought of by some people as an exotic land of snake charmers, elephants, tigers and the jungles. Little is known to the ordinary person of the scientific achievements, the space research programmes or the inventions made by Indians from time 
immemorial.

Here are some links.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Indian_inventions_and_discoveries

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Space_Research_Organisation

The most fundamental contribution by ancient India in the field of mathematics has been the decimal system of numeration and the invention of the number ' zero '. The numerals used by the modern world originated in India.Mathematicians like Aryabhata, Bhaskar, Brahmagupta and S.Ramanujam of the later age have done India proud. The invention of trignometry,algebra,arithmetic, geometry, the discovery of astronomy and calendar making is credited to India. In Siddhanta Siromani (Bhuvanakosam 6) Bhaskaracharya II 
described Earth's gravity about 400 years before Sir Isaac Newton. 


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aryabhata

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhaskara_II
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brahmagupta
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Srinivasa_Ramanujan


It is hoped that this information satisfies the readers. If more information is needed, kindly go to the website for related topics.
  

We owe a lot to the Indians, who taught us how to count, without which no worthwhile scientific discovery could have been made! Albert Einstein http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indomania

Know about India

I have come across TV channels like Nat. Geo. bent on showing  the same programmes on India for the past few years like the unfortunate 26/11 terrorist attack in Mumbai, the Taj Mahal hotel in Mumbai or the local trains of Mumbai. I have wondered whether the above mentioned channel has run out of ideas or is it indifferent to our sub continent. Is there nothing more to India than a couple of these topics?


India has made great strides in science and technology. It will be good to see a programme on it. The colourful festivals of India, dances, music, art and architecture ....there are myriad ways of telling an audience about the culture of India.


We know that India is mostly thought of as a poor,dirty and crowded country. Then there is the chaotic traffic which leaves the westerner flabbergasted at first sight. But above all this is the warmth and friendliness of its people. Surely, an ancient civilisation dating back to 4000 BC must have some meaning in it to survive for so long ?


Here are some links on Indian culture.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vedic_period
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_India


Here is a link on the Hindu religion
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Historical_Vedic_religion


I hope the above links give you a comprehensive insight into our rich cultural heritage.  I will be constantly trying to provide interesting details of our history.


I feel I have given an exhaustive information to everyone on Indian history.

Swagat or Welcome to India !

' Swagat ' pronounced as 'swaa' - gat as in cut but the t with a soft sound.




The Hindu religion is probably the only religion to believe in the whole world as one single family -- ' vasudhaiva kutumbakam ' in Sanskrit. Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (from "vasudha", the earth and "kutumbakam", "family") is a Sanskrit phrase that means that the whole world is one single family.




That is why India has accepted people who were persecuted in the name of religion whether they were Muslims, Parsis, Jews etc. This ancient philosophy was coined much before the League of Nations or the UN formulated this concept to end the fight between nations and we can say it is India's attempt to bring about peace in the world.
In a world where some countries fight for their supremacy over weaker nations,where strong nations are always led by greed for a greater share in foreign lands.. the above mentioned philosophy shows us the selfless attitude of the ancient Indians.




The philosophy of India rests in its people, in the daily life of the rich and the poor. They have imbibed the values of our land and at times of crisis, these values have shaped our views and our destiny together. Where can you find such diversity of religions, languages, communities, cuisines and customs as in this land ? To churn them all together and yet maintain their individual flavours is the magic that is India !




So welcome to my land, my people and its diversity. Come on a journey with me to savour all that we have to offer you. I am sure you will understand it better with me as your friend and in the end..you will be happy you visited my blog.

Getting started

I have come across foreigners who ask me questions about my country, India and its customs, daily living, cuisine, climate and its people. I thought if I could help them understand my country better, perhaps it would clear their many misunderstandings too. So here I am.. If you have any questions on India, I will try my best to answer them and hope my efforts will result in a fruitful dialogue between the ordinary people in this world.


I expect genuine doubts and questions from all. This is meant to be an informal meeting place where we can talk in a friendly manner.