Jamai Sasthi or Son-in-law Day

Jamai Sasthi ritual is celebrated for health and well-being of son-in-law. The son-in-law is invited to a grand celebration in the house of his in-laws. He is served delicious food. Is it possible to have a similar celebration for health and well-being of daughter-in-law? Hell no!

There are hundreds of anti-women rituals that Hindu women perform without questioning. It is alarming that women still perform these rituals in the 21st century. Throughout history sane people have made many misogynistic cultures go extinct. But in some countries, patriarchal traditions are celebrated more ceremoniously than ever. You may say only illiterate women do it, women’s education will solve all the problems. But the truth is, educated women perform anti-women patriarchal rituals more perfectly than illiterate women, because educated women have better learning capacity. They learn every small details of patriarchy that illiterate women can not learn.

Who will fight misogynistic tradition if modern women remain busy practicing it? A few reformist men in the 19th century fought for abolishing Suttee (widow burning), for women’s education, and for widows’ remarriage. In the 21st century, a new set of enlightened revolutionary men is probably needed to save women from the darkness.

HOW MANY GODS ?
Gods like (Adad, Adapa, Adrammelech, Aeon, Agasaya, Aglibol, Ahriman, Ahura Mazda, Ahurani, Ai-ada, Al-Lat, Aja, Aka, Alalu, Al-Lat, Amm, Al-Uzza (El-'Ozza or Han-Uzzai), An, Anahita, Anath (Anat), Anatu, Anbay, Anshar, Anu, Anunitu, An-Zu, Apsu, Aqhat, Ararat, Arinna, Asherali, Ashnan, Ashtoreth, Ashur, Astarte, Atar, Athirat, Athtart, Attis, Aya, Baal (Bel), Baalat (Ba'Alat), Baau, Basamum, Beelsamin, Belit-Seri, Beruth, Borak, Broxa, Caelestis, Cassios, Lebanon, Antilebanon, and Brathy, Chaos, Chemosh, Cotys, Cybele, Daena, Daevas, Dagon, Damkina, Dazimus, Derketo, Dhat-Badan, Dilmun, Dumuzi (Du'uzu), Duttur, Ea, El, Endukugga, Enki, Enlil, Ennugi, Eriskegal, Ereshkigal (Allatu), Eshara, Eshmun, Firanak, Fravashi, Gatamdug, Genea, Genos, Gestinanna, Gula, Hadad, Hannahanna, Hatti, Hea, Hiribi, The Houri, Humban, Innana, Ishkur, Ishtar, Ithm, Jamshid or Jamshyd, Jehovah, Jesus, Kabta, Kadi, Kamrusepas, Ki (Kiki), Kingu, Kolpia, Kothar-u-Khasis

, Lahar, Marduk, Mari, Meni, Merodach, Misor, Moloch, Mot, Mushdama, Mylitta, Naamah, Nabu (Nebo), Nairyosangha, Nammu, Namtaru, Nanna, Nebo, Nergal, Nidaba, Ninhursag or Nintu, Ninlil, Ninsar, Nintur, Ninurta, Pa, Qadshu, Rapithwin, Resheph (Mikal or Mekal), Rimmon, Sadarnuna, Shahar, Shalim, Shamish, Shapshu, Sheger, Sin, Siris (Sirah), Taautos, Tammuz, Tanit, Taru, Tasimmet, Telipinu, Tiamat, Tishtrya, Tsehub, Utnapishtim, Utu, Wurusemu, Yam, Yarih (Yarikh), Yima, Zaba, Zababa, Zam, Zanahary (Zanaharibe), Zarpandit, Zarathustra, Zatavu, Zazavavindrano, Ziusudra, Zu (Imdugud), Zurvan)

are imaginary like vampires and werewolves. As we develop critical thinking we should notice religious claims to be bogus unless our emotions get the best of us.

The last region of the brain myelinate is the area of our cerebral cortex critical for judgement and complex reasoning at the age of late adolescence.

VATICAN, CATHOLIC CHURCH AND ABORTION;
"It is the teaching of Catholic Church from the very beginning founded on her understanding of her lords own witness to the sacredness of human life,that the killing of unborn child is always intrinsically even and can never be justified. If those who perform abortion and those who cooperate willingly in the action are fully aware of the objective evil of wha

t they do-they are guilty of grave sin and thereby separate themselves from God's grace. This is the constant and received teaching of the Church."
[Official directives titled-Catholic in political life,July 7,2004,second paragraph].
Vatican Emphasizes Opposition to Abortion, Contraception in Letter to President Obama
November 9, 2012 — The Vatican on Wednesday in a private letter to President Obama emphasized the differences between the positions of the Catholic Church and his administration on abortion and contraception, Reuters reports.

The Vatican wrote that it hoped Obama would act "in respect of the essential human and spiritual values and the promotion of the culture of life and freedom of religion, which have always been so precious in the traditions of the American people and their culture," according to a spokesperson.

Reuters notes that the phrase "culture of life" often is used to refer to the church's opposition to abortion rights.

The Catholic Church also opposes the federal requirement under the Affordable Care Act (PL 111-148) that most employers' health plans cover contraceptives. The University of Notre Dame, the Catholic University of America, the Archdiocese of New York and other institutions affiliated with the church have filed more than 20 lawsuits against the requirement (Pullella, Reuters, 11/7).

"DIVINE" THEORY OF CREATION :SHATHPAT BRAHMAN;
Frankly speaking,it is not at all easy to make out a definite assessment from the Hindu scriptures,because the imagination of the writers seems to have run wild on this subject,not having any logical authority,each writer has written as per his whim and even at the cost of contradiction within one scripture.
Shathpat Brahman,is considered as the large

st Vedic text,after Rigveda,among long list of scriptures.It contains elaborate description on Vedic concepts and rituals,then customs,war methodology of Aryans,then socio-political system.It is considered as an encyclopedic text due to adequate amount of information and its vivid descriptions. Since there are 100 chapters in said scripture,as such it is called as Shathpat Brahman.
Shathpat Brahman relates the creation of men and animals as under :-
*Prajapati [Brahma] desired about creation.He created animals from his breaths,a man from his soul,a horse from the eye,a bull from his breath,a sheep from his ear, a goat from his voice.
*In another passage,there is quite a different account. Purusha as the soul of the universe,was alone and unhappy.He desired a second. He caused his self to fall asunder into two parts.Thence a husband and wife came into existence.From them men were born.She thought,how does he after having produced me from himself,cohabit with me?Ah,let me disappear!She became a cow and the other a bull;from them kine were produced.The one became a mare,the other a stallion;the one a she ass;the other a male ass.From them the class of animals with undivided hoofs were produced. The one became a she goat,the other a he goat,the one an ewe,the other a ram.From them goats and sheep were produced. In this manner pairs of all creatures whatsoever,down to ants were created.
*Prajapati created living beings. From his upper vital airs,he created the gods; from his lower vital airs,mortal creatures.
[Hindu Mythology; W.J.Wilkins,page 290 -291].

RejoinderRigveda, Manusmiriti sanction beef-eating A recent photograph of some Hindu protesters demanding a ban on non-vegetarian food in restaurants and government canteens in India made me sit up and take notice. I believe that these protesters are ignorant of what their religion preaches. They are simply going against their own religious scriptures. Most of the world religions sanctify offering of animals in sacrifice including Hinduism. Hindu scriptures are witnesses to such sacrifices and killings of animals for consumption. References of such commands are replete in Hindu scriptures like Manusmriti, Vedas, Upanishads, Brahmins, Grihsutras, Dharmasutras and others. This column would not suffice for quoting all such references but a few from different scriptures are imperative to bring home the point and clear the misconceptions: Manusmriti (Chapter 5 / Verse 30) says, “It is not sinful to eat meat of eatable animals, for Brahma has created both the eaters and the eatables.” Manusmriti (5 / 35) states: When a man who is properly engaged in a ritual does not eat meat, after his death he will become a sacrificial animal during twenty-one rebirths. Maharishi Yagyavalkya says in Shatpath Brahmin (3/1/2/21) that, “I eat beef because it is very soft and delicious.” Apastamb Grihsutram (1/3/10) says, “The cow should be slaughtered on the arrival of a guest, on the occasion of ‘Shraddha’ of ancestors and on the occasion of a marriage.” Rigveda (10/85/13) declares, “On the occasion of a girl’s marriage oxen and cows are slaughtered.” Rigveda (6/17/1) states that “Indra used to eat the meat of cow, calf, horse and buffalo.” Vashistha Dharmasutra (11/34) writes, “If a Brahmin refuses to eat the meat offered to him on the occasion of ‘Shraddha’ or worship, he goes to hell.” Also, comments of some great scholars of Hinduism are also worth noting: · Hinduism’s greatest propagator Swami Vivekanand said thus: “You will be surprised to know that according to ancient Hindu rites and rituals, a man cannot be a good Hindu who does not eat beef”. (The Complete Works of Swami Vivekanand, vol.3, p. 536). · Mukandilal writes in his book ‘Cow Slaughter – Horns of a Dilemma’, page 18: “In ancient India, cow-slaughter was considered auspicious on the occasions of some ceremonies. Bride and groom used to sit on the hide of a red ox in front of the ‘Vedi’ (alter).” · A renowned scholar of scriptures Dr. Pandurang Vaman Kane says, “Bajsancyi Samhita sanctifies beef-eating because of its purity”. (Dharmashastra Vichar Marathi, page 180) · Adi Shankaracharya’ commentary on Brihdaranyakopanishad 6/4/18 says : ‘Odan’ (rice) mixed with meat is called ‘Mansodan’. On being asked whose meat it should be, he answers ‘Uksha’. ‘Uksha’ is used for an ox, which is capable to produce semen. · The book ‘The History and Culture of the Indian People’, published by Bhartiya Vidya Bhawan, Bombay and edited by renowned historian R.C.Majumdar (Vol.2, page 578) says: “this is said in the Mahabharat that King Rantidev used to kill two thousand other animals in addition to two thousand cows daily in order to give their meat in charity”. It seems a great majority of the followers of Hinduism are not in contact with their religious scriptures thus falling an easy prey to the fascist forces like the Sangh Parivar who have nothing to offer to the Indian society save hatred. And all Indians know where these hatred-mongers are taking India to?

RAM RAJYA AN "IDEAL WELFARE STATE " INDEED !
According to the Ramayana ,the whole world was 'created by god' for the benefit and glory of the Brahmins. All other castes were meant to serve them and the kings were mere puppets in their hands.
A Brahmin lost his son and he openly blamed Rama for it.If the king discharged his duties properly ,a son would not die while the father was alive. That was o

ne of the special features of Ramrajya but the death of a Brahmin boy was an exception.Thereupon Rama under the advice of Vashishta appointed a committee of 8 leading Brahmins to advice him as to what he should do.They deliberated and reported to the king that the death of the Brahmin boy was due to the fact that a Shudra was performing tapas,a horrible crime!Rama did not know that there was such an offender under his iron rule.However,after a long search undertaken in person throughout the length and breadth of his empire,the Shudra namely Shambuka was located on the bank of a lake by the side of the Saivali mountain doing rigorous tapas,standing upon his head.Without a moment's hesitation Rama "with a beautiful sharp sword chopped off his head."
The gods in heaven were so delighted at that "god like work"of Rama that they showered flowers upon his head "again and again"and extolled him thus :-"thou hast performed this godlike work-by thy grace this Shudra will not be able to attain heaven".When Rama went to the hermitage of Agastya to pay his respects to him,"that highly effulgent Brahmin saint" and "the jewel of asceticism" complimented himon the cold-blooded murder of the Shudra,which he described as an "act of justice"and presented him with an ornament "wrought by Viswakarma himself".
[Reference Valmiki Ramayna,uttarkand,sarg 73,74,75,76].

DIWALI CELEBRATION :CRACKERS NUISANCE ;
ALL CRACKERS EXCEED SAFETY LIMITS :SCIENTIFIC STUDY ! 
A Central government study conducted earlier this year concluded that not a single firecracker available in the market was within the prescribed noise level limits set by the Supreme Court. 

A test of 846 firecrackers made by 144 manufacturers in Sivakasi, Tamil Nadu - the hub of firecracker pro

duction in the country - showed that the minimum noise level these firecrackers generated was 120 decibels (dB) against the Supreme Court-mandated 105dB for a string of crackers. The noise limit for a single cracker is 125dB. The maximum noise these tested firecrackers generated was 146.8dB.

The tests were carried out by the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organization (PESO) in March this year. PESO tested firecrackers such as 'atom' bombs (King of Kings, King Kong, Hydrogen Bomb, Bullet Bomb) and other bombs both big and small; 'dynamite'; Chinese crackers (strings of 1,000, 2,000 and 5,000) and maroons (Laxmi 3 1/2, Laxmi 4, Spiderman, Garuda and Parrot), among others.

There are 700 firecracker factories in Sivakasi and only four PESO officers to test and monitor the products. Dr S M Mannan, controller of explosives, PESO, said, "We are doing the best we can." Officials from the explosives department said their task was made more difficult by the fact that firecracker making is a cottage industry and they are manufactured manually.

"Right from the mixing of chemicals to filling them in tiny boxes and winding with a thread, everything is done manually. So the packaging of a firecracker is not uniform. Whatever samples we have taken were found to exceed the noise levels and their batches were destroyed," Mannan said.

Anti-noise activists asserted that the law should be very strong for the manufacturers who make their products exceeding the desired decibels. "It is not fair to say that the industry cannot be monitored properly. The authorities should be more agile and take stern actions," activist Rajnedra Khangarot said.