Health Screening for Women

I know I should have written about this weeks ago, but it is better late than never.

This month of March, Beauty Parlours, Apparel Stores, etc have several schemes for women customers and offer good discounts on account of the Women's Day Celebration.

There is something more important that many women miss out during this time .Many hospitals too offer discounts on Health Screenings. With changes in our lifestyle, annual health exams are a must for all - especially women. Regular health check-ups and tests can help find problems before they start or early, when your chances for treatment are better. Even for Cancer, there are several cures in alternate medicine as well such as Panchagavya treatments, Aloe Vera, Asparagus, and so on. Here again, complete cure is possible only when the problem is identified in the early stages. So, it is very important that women do regular health screening - once a year to ensure that all is well.

Based on experience, here is some brief information I would like to share. Several hospitals have different health screen packages depending on your age. Broadly, the tests would cover the following.

1. CBC (Complete Blood Count)
2. Blood Grouping
3. Chest X-Ray
4. Urine Routine
5. Stool Routine
6. Fasting blood Sugar
7. Post Prandial Blood Sugar
8. Lipid Profile
9. Ultrasound of the Abdomen
10. TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Harmone test)
11. ECG
12. Pap Smear
13. Mammmogram (including ultrasound)
14. Bone Density Scan (Dexa)
15. Physical Examination

Some do's and dont's.

• Ensure you fix up an appointment
• Visit the hospital early 
• You need to go on empty stomach
• Wear a loose fitting salwar kameez preferably. You may have to change to the hospital gowns for several tests, and so jeans, tight fitting clothes and even sarees may not be all that comfortable.
• When you are filling up your health history, ensure that you give precise information about yourself and your family.
• The complete screening would easily take about 5-6 hours. So, please be prepared and stay relaxed.

You will need to visit your doctor again on another day when all the reports come in - so please fix the next appointment too when you leave.The whole process is not a very pleasant experience, but you need to do these exams in order to take treatment early if something is not alright.

And, do not panic if you are diagnosed with an illness. Discuss with your doctor at length about the treatment. You may also want to try alternate medicines if you wish, especially if you are advised to take medication for a prolonged duration. Also, if you are diagnosed with an illness, you may also want to take a second opinion, especially if you are advised of surgery, etc.

So, that's about it.  I would also like to request the men reading this post to urge the women in your family to go in for the health screenings, which is vital for their well being.

Take care, and Stay Healthy.

Cheers!

Love is not Blind

Several years ago, I happened to read a blog post by a good old friend on Zen principles. The last few lines of the post went like this – ‘Everything that moves around is a creation of the mind, and if we firmly have our feet on the ground, we will see that every moment we live life itself is a miracle of nature. The way our organs work, the way we breathe without any sound, the way the earth spins without we spinning - all are perfect examples of miracles at work’.

How very true! We often don’t count our blessings, but keep searching for new miracles. God makes us walk through difficult times so that we learn through adversities. The two weeks that I spent with my mother at the hospital when she was very ill several years ago, made me look at life with a totally different perspective. I firmly believe that God had a reason for putting us through difficult times, and in my case I just became a better person - to thank God everyday for what I have and do whatever I can for the needy.

Over the last few years, my association with some good old friends has got me involved in several noble causes for the society, and I feel blessed that God has been using me in small ways to make a big difference in the lives of a few people, some of whom I have not even met.

I am writing this post specially to make an appeal to readers for a Trust for the Blind.

Padhmam Blind Welfare & Charitable Trust (PBWCT) is a Charitable Trust formed in the year 2014, and is managed  by Mr. Padmaraj Jain, a retired Professor from a City College. Incidentally, Mr.Padmaraj Jain is also blind. 

The Trust runs a hostel for the poor, blind girls who are pursuing their higher studies in various colleges in Chennai. All the inmates of the hostel hail from very poor families in the small towns and villages of Tamilnadu. Being blind and poor girls, they need a secure place to stay and this need is fulfilled by Padhmam Blind Welfare & Charitable Trust (PBWCT). The Trust is run largely with the funds from the Public and has no other concrete source of income. 

I visited them a few weeks ago, and also interacted with some of the girls residing there. I felt very sad when I saw all those young girls confined to a small space which was smaller than even the size of my living room! Ever since we came to know about this Trust, some of us have got together to buy them educational and other material that they badly needed.

I must mention there that while many of us would want to spend our retired life in the comfort of our homes, here is one gentleman - Mr.Padmaraj Jain, who has spent a considerable sum of money from his retirement benefits for the upkeep of the Trust as he feels it is his duty to be of help to people like himself. Many a time, in order to pay the rent and meet the regular expenses of the hostel like food, he shells money from his own pension.

It is very rare to find people like him around, and it would be a great Punyam (am not able to find an equivalent English word) if each one of us can do something to bring light to the lives of these very poor, blind girls.

Am giving below the contact and bank details of this Trust. Please also take some time to call and speak to this nice gentleman.  There are so many way that you can extend your support.

a) Sponsor the expenses of atleast one girl for a year

b) Sponsor food for a day on your birthday, wedding anniversary or some other special occasion

c) Donate some essential grocery items - like rice, dal, oil, sugar and salt

d) Donate some essential study materials

e) Donate a sum of money - whatever you can afford

Padhmam Blind Welfare & Charitable Trust

Old No: 101, 1st Floor, Natesan Road,
Mylapore, Chennai - 600 004
(Behind City Centre )

Mobile No: +91: 80564 76316 / 94441 68100

Website - www.padhmamblindwelfare.org

E-mail: padhmamblindwelfare@gmail.com

Bank Information

 

State Bank of India
Account Number: 34198242929
IFS Code - SBIN0013067
RK Salai Branch, Mylapore
Chennai, Tamilnadu.

"There is no better way to thank God for your sight than by giving a helping hand to someone in the dark." - Helen Keller

"Kindness is a language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see." - Mark Twain

I pray and hope that many of you who come across this post will help and support this Trust in some form or the other.

We never know when our last day on earth will be. So, face each day with a smile and thank God for giving you yet another day to live, and love.

God bless!

Shat Karma for Women

International Women’s day celebrated on 8^th March every year is generally spent in exalting women who have had successful careers and held important positions in the society. We talk about women’s freedom, liberty, safety and security (more so in the recent times). We also speak about how the woman should climb up the Corporate ladder and prove herself worthy.  

 

However, has anyone wondered what a woman should be like – what her Swadharma is?

 

The ‘Needhi Shastra’ (நீதி சாஸ்த்ரம்) explains the Six Karmas (Shat Karma) for Women. It goes like this: 

 

Karyeshu Dasi, Karaneshu Manthri, Roopeshu lakshmi, Kshamaya Dharitri,  Snehesha Mata, Shayanethu Veshya, Shat dharmayukta Kuladharma Pathni.  

 

கார்யேஷு தாஸீ, கரணேஷு மந்த்ரீ, ரூபேஷு லக்ஷ்மி, க்ஷமயா தரித்ரீ,  ஸ்நேஹேச மாதா, சயநேது வேச்யா, ஷட்கர்மயுக்தா குலதர்ம பத்னி.  

 

1. Karyeshu  Dasi – to be like a servant in doing the chores of the house.  

 

கார்யேஷு தாஸீ  - வேலைகாரியாக கார்யம் பண்ணுவது. இதில், மனைவி கணவனுக்கு அடிமை என்று அர்த்தமில்லை. கணவனுக்கு வேலைகாரியாக இருப்பதோடு நிற்காமல், சகலமாகவும் இருப்பவள் அவள் என்று 'நீதி சாஸ்த்ரம்' சொல்கிறது. 

 

2. Karaneshu Manthri – she must be like a minister when advising her husband. 

கரணேஷு மந்த்ரீ - கணவனுக்கு ஆலோசனை சொல்வதில் மந்திரியாக இருக்க வேண்டும். இதன் அர்த்தம், தான் வைத்ததே சட்டம் என்று கணவன் இல்லாமல் மனைவியின் ஆலோசனை கலந்தே எதுவும் பண்ண வேண்டும் என்பது.  

 

It is clear that the husband should consult his wife also for her opinion on matters related to the family. It is also evident that our women were appreciated those days for possessing a sharp mind and fit enough to advice her husband just as a Minister would do. Again, this implies that a wife also has to play a role and offer advise while taking important decisions for the family and not leave all responsibilities to the husband alone.  

 

3. Roopeshu lakshmi – In appearance, she must be like beautiful like Lakshmi   

 

ரூபேஷு லக்ஷ்மி - தோற்றத்தில் லக்ஷ்மியாக, அதாவது லட்சுமிகரமாக இருக்கவேண்டும்.  

 

This is clear. It implies that the wife must be presentable – so certainly not walk around in nighties and shorts/leggings, and un-kept hair, but dress up decently, beautifully and modestly at the home too.  

 

4.  Kshamaaya Dharitri – While being like Sridevi in appearance, she must have the forbearance of Bhumadevi 

 

க்ஷமயா தரித்ரீ - ரூபத்தில் ஸ்ரீதேவியாக இருப்பவள் பொறுமையால் பூமாதேவியாக இருக்கவேண்டும் 

 

Patience is a virtue. Ego destroys relationships, but a little patience and understanding can save and help flourish a relationship. 

 

5. Snehesha Mata – This means when showing love, she must love her husband just like how a mother shows love towards her child. 

 

ஸ்நேஹே ச மாதா - அன்பு காட்டுவதில் ஒரு தாய் குழந்தையிடம் எப்படியிருப்பாளோ, அப்படியே கணவனிடம் மனைவி  இருக்கவேண்டும் என்று அர்த்தம். 

 

This is one of the highest status given to women in our Dharma. This implies that she should take care of her husband lovingly just like how a mother would love her child. 

 

6. Shayanethu Veshya, - after mentioning about the 5 karmas, it is only lastly it is said that she must also give pleasure to her husband like a courtesan - says the “Needhi Shahstra” 

 

சயநே து வேச்யா - கடைசியாகத்தான், அவள் கணவனுக்கு  சிற்றின்பம் அளிப்பவளாகவும் இருக்கவேண்டும் என்று சொல்லி, அதில் வேசிகள் மாதிரி இருக்கவேண்டும் என்று (நீதி சாஸ்திரத்தில்) சொல்லியிருக்கிறது. 

 

A successful woman does not only imply that she holds a high position in the society or at office. Women need to understand that taking care of the family and showering warmth and love towards her husband and children also makes her a successful woman. So, let not the modern woman get confused with all this and slacken in her duty towards her own family in the name of ‘equality’.

 

Finally, all these qualities can be developed and molded with just one factor – UNCONDITIONAL LOVE. When there is unconditional love, there is Trust, you Forgive and Forget, you become more Understanding and Patient, you Patch-up quickly after a quarrel, Ego vanishes, and Love and Harmony dominate the home.

 

Best Wishes for a Happy Women’s Day!

இனிய மகளிர் தின வாழ்த்துக்கள்!

Gho Samrakshanam (Cow Protection) - Ebook on Sri Maha Periva's Teachings

Today, 16-Jan 2015  is a special Pooja day for Cows – popular in South India as “Maattu Pongal” , when all farmers worship the Cow.

Today also happens to be the Holy Anusham Day, the birth star of our Guru, Sri Kanchi Maha Periva.

What a great day to remember HIM and Gomaata!

On this special occasion, here is an Ebook on "Gho Samrakshanam" (Cow Protection) launched by Kanchi Periva Forum (www.periva.proboards.com). This Ebook contains Sri Maha Periva's Upadesam on Cow Protection. 

drive.google.com/file/d/0BwuDCferB6sJSUVfUmJZM3VZQ1E/view?usp=sharing

As you will read from the book, Sri Maha Periva has divinely addressed every argument that one can think about on why this holy animal must be protected and why cruelty to the cow is a great sin.  

Sri Maha Periva in His discourses stresses the need for all sections of the society to come together to prevent the slaughtering of cows. This book is really an eye opener, and I request you to share this compilation with your friends and relatives, in order to bring more awareness.  

This Ebook also includes a list of Goshalas in Tamilnadu which are very deserving and are in need of support. Please try to support these Goshalas in any way you can.

May the Mahaswami's benevolent grace protect and guide us all.

Cheers!

 

Mission 2015 - Gho Samrakshanam (Protect and Save Cows)

Friends, am back!

Very happy to touch base at the dawn of the New Year - hoping and praying that 2015 would bring in lots of luck and good fortune to all of us.

As for me, am happy to continue my spiritual journey holding on tightly to the lotus feet of His Holiness Sri Kanchi Maha Periva. I pray to HIM to give me the strength to continue spreading HIS light far and wide through the Forums/ Groups I manage along with some like minded friends and devotees.

All of us are aware that Sri Maha Periva's discourses captured in the seven volumes of Deivathin Kural/ Voice of God is also known as the common man’s Veda. Our Mahaswami has given us a wealth of information through these books, and every single page is a pokisham (treasure) for us to cherish and relish. In Volume Seven of Deivathin Kural, an entire chapter is devoted to Gho Samrakshanam (Protection of Cows).

Periva has addressed every argument that one can think of on why the holy animal must be protected and why cruelty to the cow is a great sin.  Here is an extract/ some key points from Periva's extensive narration.

The cow is God. Although she is an animal, she is Gomatha who gives milk like a mother and is the form of Srimatha. As Kamadenu, she is the divine mother who gives all that is desired. Kamadenu manifested from the Ocean of Milk (Kshirabdhi). If we enjoy the milk from the cow as long as it gives milk and then send it away for slaughter once it stops yielding milk, it is like killing the mother who has become old and cannot do any work. The meat of a cow is the same as the meat of a mother.

Only some people can do puja to the cow treating it as divine. But there is a duty that is to be performed by everyone – giving fodder to the cow. Every day we have to give atleast a handful of grass to the cow. Sasthras refer to this as ‘gograsam’. ‘Grasam’ means a mouthful of food. It is from ‘gograsam’ that the English word ‘grass’ has been derived. In his Thirumandhiram, Thirumular has mentioned the duty of giving ‘gograsam’ in between the duty of offering a leaf (bilva) to Iswara and giving alms.

On the one hand, we worship the cow as a deity. On the other hand, we are making available for slaughter cows which have stopped yielding milk or we starve them. This hypocrisy is a great blemish on us. Till such time we do not protect the cows well until its natural death, we are unfit to call ourselves Hindus.

My wish is that in addition to we Hindus coming together as a family in the service of the cow, we have to carry this message with love to people of other religions also, involve them so that the entire society comes together as a family for doing the service. Religious affinity may take different forms for different people but since compassion to animals is common to all, all religions in our country should come together on this basis. That is my wish.

To nurture the cow and protect it is punya which will give all benefits. To neglect it is a great sin which will invite curse and there is proof for this. The welfare of the cow will ensure the welfare of the country. If it is protected, sins will come down on their own. If it is subjected to cruelties, there will be trouble for the whole world. According to Sasthras, Dharma Devatha is of the form of a bull (Rishabham) with four legs namely, thapas, purity, compassion and sathyam. In Bhagavatham (1.17) it is said ‘Gomatha’ is in association with that bull, that mother cow yields dharma as milk and because the Kali Purusha subjected the pair to cruelty, this age of Kali (Kaliyugam) is in a state of such deterioration. Therefore, for remedying the Kali dosham and dharma to come up, cow protection is an important measure.

There is no great punya that the gift of a cow. It is the greatest remedy for sins. The gift (dhanam) has to be made after making sure that the person who receives it is capable of protecting it. That country where cows have no fear of any cruelty being inflicted on them and live peacefully in gokula, all sins will go and will shine.  May Lord Krishna bestow His grace so that our Bharath becomes such a country and all of us develop the attitude and ability to make it such."

No doubt that there are several noble people protecting cows in Ghosalas. It is also enlightening to know that several youngsters are coming forward to support this cause.

I am happy to endorse one such organization called www.myorganicbazaar.com in Chennai, focused on supplying farm fresh Organic Milk, Organic fruits, vegetables, greens and pure organic pulses.

My interest in this organization is two fold - one is that their products are directly sourced from organic farmers, which will help the farmers get better margin for their products and thus encourage them to continue agriculture which is currently dwindling And second, and most important outcome of this initiative is the protection of cows and cattle, including dry cows which are invaluable to the organic farming practices.

Those of you who are interested in supporting this noble cause can visit their website www.myorganicbazaar.com to buy their products online, and have them delivered at your home in Chennai.  They can be reached via email on myorganicbazaar@gmail.com or phone @ +91-99529-22522

As someone who has grown amongst cows since my childhood, protection of cows is something very close to my heart. Sometime down the years, I want to take up this initiative in a big way, and am waiting for HIS call. In the meantime, am supporting a couple of Gho Salas in and around Chennai which are in dire need of financial assistance - the least I can do at the moment to prevent these animals from going to the slaughter house.

If anyone is interested in "Gho Samrakshanam", please write to me. There is so much we can do to give back to the society through Cow Protection.

This New Year, let each one of us pledge to do whatever we can to protect the divine animal, and also help the farmer who is dependent on the Cows for organic farming. 

Wish you all a Very Happy, Prosperous and Blessed New Year 2015!!

Cheers!

Be the change you wish to see in the world

Be the change you wish to see in the world – Mahatma Gandhi 

You don’t have to run a marathon to save the world.  Small acts of charity can make a huge difference in our lives and those of others. 

When life has become so mechanical in the mad rush for money, when relationships are becoming meaningless, when the ‘I love you’ is most of the time from the lips than from the heart, when life by itself is so uncertain, it is these little acts of kindness that gives us true joy and fulfillment – and not the pile of clothes in our wardrobe or the other material things we own.

Many of us in government, corporates, schools and colleges would have recently observed ‘Daan Utsav’  – the joy of giving week.  Ever thought about making this a regular feature in your life and not observe it just once a year?  And it is not at all difficult if we cut down on some of our routine ‘celebrations’.  If there is a will, there is more than one way.

In apartment complexes where almost every day, there is one birthday celebration or the other, the kids and the parents start preparing atleast a week in advance - inviting friends, neighbours, organizing games, selecting the huge cake, choosing gifts for the other children attending the party, and ofcourse, buying lots and lots of food and drink. 

As always, children don't eat all the food that is served, and most of it is thrown into the garbage.

When millions in our country go without even one square meal a day, it is painful to see food being thrown away.  Birthday celebrations are indeed very special when it comes to our children, but in residential complexes when people of different lifestyle and status reside, these celebrations I think are becoming more of a status symbol -  an ugly display of one's ego and wealth.

What a waste of time and money!  Alternately, why don’t you celebrate the occasion by sharing your joy with the less privileged children. Maybe visit a home for such children and distribute sweets and cakes to the kids there – after all, they don’t get this luxury everyday like we do! Teach your children to give. There is so much pleasure when you can make someone else happy.

Unfortunately, birthdays celebrations of elders are no different either, and in corporates, these events have unfortunately taken a different dimension in the recent years – I would be extremely grateful if someone can enlighten me on from where this silly ritual of smearing cake on each others face came from!  Was this also aped from the West, or is it something unique to us Indians alone? I find this crazy, bizarre and complete nonsense. 

I really don’t understand this -  why waste a wonderful cake by applying it on someone’s face? Is this how we value food? Habits die hard – but I really think we must introspect and see if we should be really continuing this stupid trend.

While we are on the subject, there is one other thing that I would request readers to ponder over – the blowing out of candles on the cake.

Hindus worship Agni as the omniscient God.  Our daily worship starts with the lighting of the lamp. All auspicious functions, religious as well as social, start with the lighting of the lamp. This custom has deep intellectual and spiritual significance. Light signifies knowledge -  all our activities should be governed by the light of knowledge, especially the knowledge of dharma. By this knowledge, ignorance or darkness is dispelled. 

Therefore, blowing out of a lamp/candle is considered inauspicious. To blow it out with our breath is considered even more disrespectful. At home, after the pooja, don’t we put out the lamp by placing a flower over it?

There is yet something else that we can cut down to help those who are not as privileged as we are - the office team outings over lunch/dinner. Just imagine - we spend thousands of rupees on just one meal; what if we cut down on atleast one of the numerous get-together's and give the money to charity instead?

To cultivate the habit of sharing and caring and making it a part of our life, there is a simple method. Start putting aside a small sum at the start of each month, and utilise it the best way you can think of – remember you can even buy 4 bars of bathing soap for Rs:100/= and give it to a home for street children – a child will use it for an entire month. When you make this a routine month after month, you will find so much of inner joy and satisfaction that cannot be described in words.

We have an obligation to give back to the society – so let us start making a difference to the life of someone around us. With Deepavali round the corner, it is a great time to commence this noble mission. May the Almightly give us all the wisdom to live life by sharing and caring for our fellow citizens.

To quote the great Sage of Kanchi, the God who lived amongst our midst in this century and continues to bless millions of his devotees from His Brindavan:

“The gift of speech should be employed only for doing good to others and repeating the Lord's name. Similarly our physical strength should be utilised for serving others. Our wealth, barring a portion we are obliged to leave to our children, should be utilised for noble and charitable purposes. In this way, we can convert our material resources and the power of our mind, speech, and body, into Dharma, the currency note of Isvara, which is legal tender in all the worlds under His command, and for all times. Dharma alone protects us in this life and accompanies the soul in its onward march, after it casts off its covering we call body”.

Best Wishes for a Very Happy Deepavali!

Cheers!