Unknown interesting facts about Ramayan

1. Sita's abduction was a curse

The root cause for the whole Ramayan and Sita's abduction was a curse. When Ravana and his brothers received boon from Lord Bramha, they planned on invading the kingdom of Amravathi, the capital of Indra's kingdom.

For the same, to achieve higher levels of power, Ravana started Pursuing "Aatma linga". Lord Shiva impressed by his penance, he granted him a wish. However,Lord Vishnu tricked Ravana into asking Goddess Parvati's hand from lord Shiva instead of Aatma Linga. So, Goddess Parvati then cursed Lord Vishnu that he will also be separated from his wife the next time when he will born as a human.

2. Laxman was also called ''Gudakesh"

Laxman was also called as Gudakesh which translates as "defeated sleep" as he had conquered the humen need for sleep. It is said that Laxman had approached Goddess Nidra - the one who controls the sleep of an individual- to free him of the need to sleep for the exile period. He wanted to be vigilant and take cae of the safety of Ram and Site. So he struck a deal with Nidra devi, Laxman will not sleep at all for 14 years and his part of sleep will be fullfilled by his wife Urmila who stayed back at Ayodhya.

It is said that Urmila slept both his and her part of sleep so that Laxman remains awake protecting Rama and Sita. She woke up when Laxman returned to Ayodhya.

3. The significance of Ravana and Kumbhakarna's birth

Ravana and his brother Kumbhakarna are considered to be incarnations of Jaya and Vijaya, the gatekeepers of Lord Vishnu's world. It is said that due to their disrespectful behaviour, they were not allowed to enter in Lord Vishnu's world and were also cursed by Bramha's son kumaras to be born on earth. Jaya Vijaya then pleaded Lord Vishnu to resolve the problem. Lord Vishnu then gave them two options, either to be born as his devotees for 7 life cycles or as his enemies for 3 life cycles, out of which they choosen to born as his enemies for 3 life cycles, as it would be 4 lesser years away from their Lord Vishnu.

4. The ever sleeping kumbhakarna:

Kumbhakarna was considered pious, intelligent and brave that Indra was jealous of him. Along with his brothers Ravana and Vibhishana, he also performed a major yagya and penance for lord Bramha. When the time came for asking a boon (blessing) from Bramha, on Indra's request his tongue was tied by Goddess Saraswati. So instead of asking Indraasana (seat of Indra) he asked Nidraasana (bed of sleeping).

5. Devi Sita was never abducted by Ravana. (Story of Maya/chaya Sita)

Maya/Chaya sita does not appear in the Valmiki Ramayana. In the original Valmiki Ramayana, Ravana kidnapped Sita but not a shadow. The maya sita comes from Skanda Purana. In Venkatachala Mahatmya of Vaishnava Kanda, Vishnu describes the events happened in the Treta Yuga. 

When Sri Ram went away to kill Maricha, Laxman followed him on being urged by Sita. In the meantime the king of Rakshasas came there to abduct Sita. The fire-god (Agnidev) present there knowing the attempt of Ravana creates Maya Sita, who takes Sita's place. He took the real Sita to Patala and entrusted her to (his wife) Svaha. There was a splendid lady(maya Sita) named Vedavati. Formerly, she was touched by the same Rakshasa (but not molested). Yet she cast off her body in fire. In order to kill Ravana she was created once again (as maya Sita). It was she who was abducted by Ravana and kept in custody in Lanka. Afterwards when Ravana was killed, she entered fire once again. Agnidev handed over real Sita, who had been kept in protective custody by Svaha and told Sri Ram about the attendant accompanying Sita.

6. Why did Ram punish Laxman?

It is mentioned in the Ramayana that Shri Rama had given the death penalty to his younger brother Laxman, but do you why Lord Rama had given death sentence to Laxman? 

This incident is about the time when Sri Ram returned to Ayodhya after Lanka victory and became the king of Ayodhya. 

One day Yama Devta came to see Sri Rama and to discuss something important. Before starting the discussion he asked Lord Rama to promise him that nobody disrupts this conversation until it is over otherwise he has to give death penalty to that person.

Ram appointed Laxman as the gatekeeper so that no can disrupt the conversation.

Laxman stands as the gatekeeper. After a short time, Durvasa rishi visited the place and asked Lakshmana to inform Ram about his arrival, Lakshmana humbly denied.

After this, rishi Durvasa got angry on him and he said he will curse the entire Ayodhya. To save Ayodhya, Laxman decided to sacrifice himself. He went inside to inform Lord Ram about his arrival

Now Shri Rama got confused because he had to give death penalty to Lakshman according to his promise. In the event of this dilemma, Shri Ram remembered his Guru Vasishta and asked him to show the other way. 

Guru Vasishta, you can leave Laxman and it is same as giving the death penalty. Laxman after listening to this told that he can't stay away from his brother for his whole life. Laxman decided to embrace death by obeying his brother’s word. After that, Lakshman took water samadhi.

ORGANIC FARMING

History of Organic Farming

The concepts of organic agriculture were developed in the early 1900s by Sir Albert Howard, F.H. King, Rudolf Steiner, and others who believed that the use of animal manures (often made into compost), cover crops, crop rotation, and biologically based pest controls resulted in a better farming system. Howard, having worked in India as an agricultural researcher, gained much inspiration from the traditional and sustainable farming practices he encountered there and advocated for their adoption in the West. Such practices were further promoted by various advocates—such as J.I. Rodale and his son Robert, in the 1940s and onward, who published Organic Gardening and Farming magazine and a number of texts on organic farming. The demand for organic food was stimulated in the 1960s by the publication of Silent Spring, by Rachel Carson, which documented the extent of environmental damage caused by insecticides.

Organic food sales increased steadily from the late 20th century. Greater environmental awareness, coupled with concerns over the health impacts of pesticide residues and consumption of genetically modified (GMO) crops, fostered the growth of the organic sector.

What is an Organic Farming?

Organic farming is a method of crop and livestock production that involves much more than choosing not to use pesticides, fertilizers, genetically modified organisms, antibiotics and growth hormones.

Organic production is a holistic system designed to optimize the productivity and fitness of diverse communities within the agro-ecosystem, including soil organisms, plants, livestock and people. The principal goal of organic production is to develop enterprises that are sustainable and harmonious with the environment.

Organic farming promotes the use of crop rotations and cover crops, and encourages balanced host/predator relationships. Organic residues and nutrients produced on the farm are recycled back to the soil. Cover crops and composted manure are used to maintain soil organic matter and fertility. Preventative insect and disease control methods are practiced, including crop rotation, improved genetics and resistant varieties. Integrated pest and weed management, and soil conservation systems are valuable tools on an organic farm. Organically approved pesticides include "natural" or other pest management products included in the Permitted Substances List (PSL) of the organic standards. The Permitted Substances List identifies substances permitted for use as a pesticides in organic agriculture. All grains, forages and protein supplements fed to livestock must be organically grown.

The organic standards generally prohibit products of genetic engineering and animal cloning, synthetic pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, sewage sludge, synthetic drugs, synthetic food processing aids and ingredients, and ionizing radiation. Prohibited products and practices must not be used on certified organic farms for at least three years prior to harvest of the certified organic products. Livestock must be raised organically and fed 100 per cent organic feed ingredients.

Organic farming presents many challenges. Some crops are more challenging than others to grow organically; however, nearly every commodity can be produced organically.

Key Features of Organic Farming

• protect the environment, minimize soil degradation and erosion, decrease pollution, optimize biological productivity and promote a sound state of health

• maintain long-term soil fertility by optimizing conditions for biological activity within the soil

• maintain biological diversity within the system

• recycle materials and resources to the greatest extent possible within the enterprise

• provide attentive care that promotes the health and meets the behavioural needs of livestock

• prepare organic products, emphasizing careful processing, and handling methods in order to maintain the organic integrity and vital qualities of the products at all stages of production

• rely on renewable resources in locally organized agricultural systems

Benefits of Organic Farming

1. To Accrue the Benefits of Nutrients

Foods from organic farms are loaded with nutrients such as vitamins, enzymes, minerals and other micro-nutrients compared to those from conventional farms. This is because organic farms are managed and nourished using sustainable practices. In fact, some past researchers collected and tested vegetables, fruits, and grains from both organic farms and conventional farms.

The conclusion was that food items from organic farms had way more nutrients than those sourced from commercial or conventional farms. The study went further to substantiate that five servings of these fruits and vegetables from organic farms offered sufficient allowance of vitamin C. However, the same quantity of fruits and vegetables did not offer the same sufficient allowance.

2. Stay Away From GMOs

Statistics show that genetically modified foods (GMOs) are contaminating natural foods sources at real scary pace, manifesting grave effects beyond our comprehension. What makes them a great threat is they are not even labeled. So, sticking to organic foods sourced from veritable sources is the only way to mitigate these grave effects of GMOs.

3. Natural and Better Taste

Those that have tasted organically farmed foods would attest to the fact that they have a natural and better taste. The natural and superior taste stems from the well balanced and nourished soil. Organic farmers always prioritize quality over quantity.

4. Direct Support to Farming

Purchasing food items from organic farmers is a surefire investment in a cost-effective future. Conventional farming methods have enjoyed great subsidies and tax cuts from most governments over the past years. This has led to the proliferation of commercially produced foods that have increased dangerous diseases like cancer.

It’s time governments invested in organic farming technologies to mitigates these problems and secure the future. It all starts with you buying food items from known organic sources.

5. To Conserve Agricultural Diversity

These days, it normal to hear news about extinct species and this should be a major concern. In the last century alone, it is approximated that 75 percent of the agricultural diversity of crops has been wiped out. Slanting towards one form of farming is a recipe for disaster in the future. A classic example is a potato. There were different varieties available in the marketplace. Today, only one species of potato dominate.

This is a dangerous situation because if pests knock out the remaining potato specie available today, we will not have potatoes anymore. This is why we need organic farming methods that produce disease and pest-resistant crops to guarantee a sustainable future.

6. To Prevent Antibiotics, Drugs, and Hormones in Animal Products

Commercial dairy and meat are highly susceptible to contamination by dangerous substances. A statistic in an American journal revealed that over 90% of chemicals the population consumes emanate from meat tissue and dairy products.

According to a report by Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), a vast majority of pesticides are consumed by the population stem from poultry, meat, eggs, fish and dairy product since animals and birds that produce these products sit on top of the food chain.

This means they are fed foods loaded with chemicals and toxins. Drugs, antibiotics, and growth hormones are also injected into these animals and so, are directly transferred to meat and dairy products. Hormone supplementation fed to farmed fish, beef and dairy products contributes mightily to the ingestion of chemicals. These chemicals only come with a lot of complications like genetic problems, cancer risks, growth of tumor and other complications at the outset of puberty.

Types of Organic Farming

Organic farming is divided into two types, namely:

1. Integrated organic farming
2. Pure organic farming

Pure organic farming means avoiding all unnatural chemicals. In this process of farming, all the fertilizer and pesticide are obtained from natural sources such as bone meal or blood meal.

Integrated organic farming includes the integration of pest management and nutrients management to achieve ecological requirements and economic demands.

Top 5 Rhymes for kids

 

1. Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star

Twinkle, twinkle, little star
How I wonder what you are
Up above the world so high
Like a diamond in the sky
Twinkle, twinkle little star
How I wonder what you are

When the blazing sun is gone
When he nothing shines upon
Then you show your little light
Twinkle, twinkle, all the night
Twinkle, twinkle, little star
How I wonder what you are

2. Old Mac Donald Had A Farm

Old Mac Donald had a farm

E-I-E-I-O

And on his farm he had a cow

E-I-E-I-O

With a moo moo here

And a moo moo there

Here a moo, there a moo

Everywhere a moo moo

Old Mac Donald had a farm

E-I-E-I-O

Old Mac Donald had a farm

E-I-E-I-O

And on his farm he had a pig

E-I-E-I-O

With a oink oink here

And a oink oink there

Here a oink, there a oink

Everywhere a oink oink

Old MacDonald had a farm

E-I-E-I-O

Old Mac Donald had a farm

E-I-E-I-O

And on his farm he had a duck

E-I-E-I-O

With a quack quack here

And a quack quack there

Here a quack, there a quack

Everywhere a quack quack

Old MacDonald had a farm

E-I-E-I-O

Old Mac Donald had a farm

E-I-E-I-O

And on his farm he had a horse

E-I-E-I-O

With a neigh neigh here

And a neigh neigh there

Here a neigh, there a neigh

Everywhere a neigh neigh

Old MacDonald had a farm

E-I-E-I-O

Old Mac Donald had a farm

E-I-E-I-O

And on his farm he had a lamb

E-I-E-I-O

With a baa baa here

And a baa baa there

Here a baa, there a baa

Everywhere a baa baa

Old MacDonald had a farm

E-I-E-I-O

Old Mac Donald had a farm

E-I-E-I-O

And on his farm he had some chickens

E-I-E-I-O

With a cluck cluck here

And a cluck cluck there

Here a cluck, there a cluck

Everywhere a cluck cluck

With a baa baa here

And a baa baa there

Here a baa, there a baa

Everywhere a baa baa

With a neigh neigh here

And a neigh neigh there

Here a neigh, there a neigh

Everywhere a neigh neigh

With a quack quack here

And a quack quack there

Here a quack, there a quack

Everywhere a quack quack

With a oink oink here

And a oink oink there

Here a oink, there a oink

Everywhere a oink oink

With a moo moo here

And a moo moo there

Here a moo, there a moo

Everywhere a moo moo

Old Mac Donald had a farm

E-I-E-I-OOOOOOO……

3.Wheels On The Bus

The wheels on the bus go round and round,

round and round,

round and round.

The wheels on the bus go round and round,

all through the town.

The wipers on the bus go swish, swish, swish;

Swish, swish, swish;

Swish, swish, swish.

The wipers on the bus go swish, swish, swish,

all through the town.

The horn on the bus goes beep, beep, beep;

Beep, beep, beep;

Beep, beep, beep.

The horn on the bus goes beep, beep, beep,

all through the town.

The doors on the bus go open and shut;

Open and shut;

Open and shut.

The doors on the bus go open and shut;

all through the town.

The Driver on the bus says, “Move on back,

move on back, move on back;”

The Driver on the bus says, “Move on back”,

all through the town.

The babies on the bus say, “Wah, wah, wah;

Wah, wah, wah;

Wah, wah, wah”.

The babies on the bus say, “Wah, wah, wah”,

all through the town.

The mommies on the bus say, “Shush, shush, shush;

Shush, shush, shush;

Shush, shush, shush.”

The mommies on the bus say, “Shush, shush, shush”

all through the town.

4. Row, Row, Row Your Boat

Row, row, row your boat

Gently down the stream

Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily

Life is but a dream.

Row, row, row your boat

Gently up the creek If you see a little mouse

Don’t forget to squeak!

Row, row, row your boat

Gently down the stream If you see a crocodile

Don’t forget to scream!

Row, row, row your boat

Gently to the shore

If you see a lion

Don’t forget to roar!

5.One, Two, Three, Four, Five

One, two, three, four, five,

Once I caught a fish alive,

Six, seven, eight, nine, ten,

Then I let it go again.

Why did you let it go?

Because it bit my finger so.

Which finger did it bite?

This little finger on the right.

What came first ? Orange colour or the Fruit🤔

What came first, the orange or…orange? This one is right up there with the chicken vs. the egg. Luckily, though, this one is much more easily solved!

So, the answer is…neither. Well, one did come before the other, but neither was actually the first meaning of the word. The linguistic ancestor to today’s word “orange” was actually first used to describe the tree that the fruit grows on. The word’s roots can be traced all the way back to Sanskrit. In that language, the word nāranga meant “orange tree.” Nāranga evolved into the Persian word nārang and the Arabic word nāranj. If you know Spanish, these old words might look very familiar—the modern Spanish word for “orange” is “naranja.” (You won’t believe that this common word is one of the world’s hardest to translate.)

As the word evolved, it eventually came to mean the fruit, not just the orange tree. Old French adapted the Arabic word nāranj as “pomme d’orenge” (“the fruit from the orange tree”) or just “orange.” Speakers of Middle English adopted the phrase; the Middle English equivalent “pume orange” dates back to the 13th century AD.

The word didn’t come to describe a color until almost 200 years later, making the fruit the clear winner. In 1512, a description of the color using the word “orange” appeared—in a rather strange place. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the use of the word first appeared in…a will. Don’t want to throw out your orange peels? These uses for the fruit rind are surprising. 

So, the only mystery that remains is…how did people describe the color before 1512?