Today we’d like to publish something completely different for a change. India, the country of mysterious paradoxes; the land where civilizations and times intermix, a mysterious place which attracts people from all over the world. In today’s showcase we are presenting a little showcase of this astonishing contrast between wealth and misery, contemporary technologies and ancient historical monuments, plenty of languages, cultures and traditions.

I present people, places, traditions, culture and a broad overview of the incredible beauty of India — something different and inspirational for a change. Please let us know if you are interested in seeing more similar posts on MUKESH KUNDRA in the future in the comments below.

Saturday, May 7, 2011

Colors of India

Swami Vivekananda

Swami Vivekananda Philosophy

Swami Vivekananda was a great social reformer and a very inspiring personality. He was the pride of India. He made an immense contribution to purify the souls of people. He always said that God dwells inside every heart. He was of the opinion that, a person who cannot see God in poor and unhealthy people, but claims to see God in the idol, is not a true worshipper. Well, in this article, we will provide you information on the philosophies of Vivekananda.

According to the philosophy of Swami Vivekananda, a person who is not compassionate towards other living beings cannot find God, even if he regularly visits the temple. Thus, he would always ask people to see God in all. He advocates that God lies within you. So, you don't need to go anywhere outside to find God, as the God is there in your own heart. Your heart and your conscience are your God, to whom you are accountable for your deeds.

Teachings of Vivekanand

Have complete faith in God and forego all the worldly things.
The three requisites for success are perseverance, patience and purity.
If you think negative, then only negative things will happen in your life. Always think that you can do it, only then you'll be able to do it. Be optimistic in life.
Strength is something that we need the most in our lives. People, who are not strong enough to deal with the tough situations, finally land into trouble and misery. Swami Vivekananda said that weakness is the root cause of ignorance and ignorance leads to misery.

Colors of India

Friday, May 6, 2011

Mohammed Rafi

Mohammed Rafi Facts

During his heydays, Mohammad Rafi took playback singing in Bollywood to a sublime level with his masterful renditions. Rafi's colorful singing career is replete with facts and anecdotes that shed a light on his immense contribution to Hindi music. Following are some interesting facts and information on Mohd Rafi:

Apart from singing, Mohammed Rafi dabbled with acting as well. He had acted in couple of films, Laila Majnu (1945) and Jugnu (1947).
In the 1960 blockbuster Mughal-E-Azam, Mohammed Rafi sang the song "Ae Mohabbat Zindabad" with a chorus of 100 singers.
Rafi has rendered the maximum number of songs for the music director duo Laxmikant-Pyarelal -- a phenomenal total of 369 numbers, 186 of them being solos.
He has sung the maximum number of duets with Asha Bhonsle (female) and Manna Dey (male)
Rafi has a record number of Filmfare Award nominations (23). He won it six times.
His song "Jaan Pehechaan Ho" was used on the 2001 movie Ghost World soundtrack, and opens the film with the lead character dancing around in her bedroom to a video of the 1966 Indian film Gumnaam.

Rakhi Messages

When it is the day to express your heartiest feelings to your dear brother or sister, the newspapers and magazines get filled with Rakhi messages. If you want to convey your feelings to your sibling, there can be no better idea than writing him/her a nice short message. For ideas, you can surf the websites or just have a look at the newspapers. There are plenty of websites that contain wonderful messages for Raksha bandhan. While surfing internet, you'll also come across some popular quotations on Rakhi. Read on to check out some Rakhi quotes.

A sibling may be the keeper of one's identity, the only person with the keys to one's unfettered, more fundamental self. by Marian Sandmaier
Children of the same family, the same blood, with the same first associations and habits, have some means of enjoyment in their power, which no subsequent connections can supply. By Jane Austen, Mansfield Park, 1814
Brothers and sisters are as close as hands and feet. Vietnamese Proverb
Our brothers and sisters are there with us from the dawn of our personal stories to the inevitable dusk. By Susan Scarf Merrell
We know one another's faults, virtues, catastrophes, mortifications, triumphs, rivalries, desires, and how long we can each hang by our hands to a bar. We have been banded together under pack codes and tribal laws. By Rose Macaulay
Our siblings. They resemble us just enough to make all their differences confusing, and no matter what we choose to make of this, we are cast in relation to them our whole lives long. By Susan Scarf Merrell
There is a little boy inside the man who is my brother ... Oh, how I hated that little boy. And how I love him too. By Anna Quindlan
A brother is a friend given by Nature. By Jean Baptiste Legouve

Colors of India

Kabir

Amongst the several saints that have blessed our country, Kabir Das, the well known mystic poet, deserves a major credit for bringing about a revolution. He was a man of principles and practiced what he preached. People called him by different names like Das, sant, bhakta etc. As Das, he was referred to as the servant of humanity and thus a servant of divinity. Well, in this article, we will provide you with the biography of Kabir, which will enable you to explore the story of Kabir Das. We will tell you some interesting facts about saint Kabirdas.

Kabir played the role of a teacher and social reformer by the medium of his writings, which mainly consisted of the two line verses called Dohas. He had a strong belief in Vedanta, Sufism, Vaishnavism and Nath sampradaya. He applied the knowledge that he gained through the various experiences of his life. He was always in the pursuit of truth and nothing could hold him back. Kabir was well known for his religious affiliation. Read further to know about the life history of Sant Kabir.

There are plenty of legends associated with the birth and death of Kabir (1440 -1518). Some people are of the say that, he was born in a Muslim weaver family, while others say that he was born to a Brahmin widow. It is said that, when he headed his way for heaven, tussle took place between the Hindus and Muslims over the issue of performance of the last rites. Eventually, in the memory of the great Kabir, his tomb as well as a Samadhi Mandir, both were constructed, which are still standing erect next to each other. According to another legend, in a short span of time before his death, Kabir took a holy bath in the two rivers, namely Ganga and Karmnasha, so as to wash away his sins as well as the good deeds.

Kabir Philosophy
Kabir's poetry is a reflection of his philosophy about life. His writings were mainly based on the concept of reincarnation and karma. Kabir's philosophy about life was very clear-cut. He believed in living life in a very simplistic manner. He had a strong faith in the concept of oneness of God. He advocated the notion of Koi bole Ram Ram Koi Khudai.... The basic idea was to spread the message that whether you chant the name of Hindu God or Muslim God, the fact is that there is only one God who is the creator of this beautiful world. More…

Colors of India

The National Emblem of India

Lion Capital of Ashoka: The National Emblem of India

The National Emblem of India is an adapted version of the Lion Capital of Ashoka at Sarnath. The Government of India adopted the Emblem on January 26, 1950. The original Ashoka Lion Capital comprises four lions, standing back to back, mounted on a cylindrical abacus. The abacus features the sculptures of an elephant, a galloping horse, a bull, and a lion, separated by 24-spoked Dharma wheels over a bell-shaped lotus.

However subtle changes have been incorporated while adopting the Lion Capital of Ashoka as India's National Emblem. In the Emblem only three lions are visible, the fourth one on the rear is hidden from view. The Dharma wheel is present in the centre of the abacus with a bull on right and a horse on left and the outlines of other wheels on extreme right and left. The bell-shaped lotus has been done away with.

The words 'Satyameva Jayate' which literally means 'Truth Alone Triumphs' are inscribed below the abacus in Devanagari script. The words are quoted from Mundaka Upanishad, the concluding part of the sacred Hindu Vedas. The national emblem is prominently featured in the official letterhead of the Government of India and also appears on the diplomatic and national Passport of the Republic of India.