What is Tamil New Year?

Tamil New Year is the New Year of Tamilians which is celebrated by Tamil speaking peoples all over the world, and starts with Tamil 1^st day of First Month Chithirai. In our solar system earth revolves around the Sun.

When the earth enters into the Mesha Rasi (at zero degree) it is called Tamil New Year. Scientifically it is earth’s New Year – ie- the beginning of the new orbit of earth around the Sun. Tamil language is believed to be more than 30,000 years old and a classic language like Sanskrit.

Origin and significance

The Tamil New Year follows the Nirayanam vernal equinox and generally falls on 14 April of the Gregorian year. 14th April marks the first day of the traditional Tamil calendar and is a public holiday in both Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka. Tropical vernal equinox fall around 22 March, and adding 23 degrees of trepidation or oscillation to it, we get the Hindu sidereal or Nirayana Mesha Sankranti (Sun’s transition into Nirayana Aries).

Hence, the Tamil calendar begins on the same date observed by most traditional calendars in India as in Assam, West Bengal, Kerala, Manipur, Mithila, Odisha, Punjab, Tripura etc. not to mention Nepal, Bangladesh, Burma, Cambodia, Laos, Sri Lanka and Thailand. The 60-year cycle is ancient and is observed by most traditional calendars of India and China, and is related to 5 revolutions of Jupiter, or to 60-year orbit of Nakshatras (stars) as described in the Surya Siddhanta.

The traditional Tamil year starts on 14 April (2013) in Kaliyuga 5115. Vikrama and Shalivahana Shakha eras are also used. There are several references in early Tamil literature to the April new year. Nakkirar, the author of the Nedunalvaadai writes in the 3rd century that the Sun travels from Mesha/Chitterai through 11 successive Raasis or signs of the zodiac.  Read the rest of this entry →

The vision of Vedanta is an equation of the identity between the jiva, individual, and Isvara, the Lord. This vision of oneness, aikya, is not available for perception or inference. Nor is the oneness that is unfolded by Vedanta contradicted by perception or inference. Oneness is purely in terms of understanding the equation. Vedanta does not promise salvation to the soul. In its vision, the atman, the soul is already free from limitations. Freedom from limitation is a fact and the release of the individual from this sense of limitation is the outcome of understanding the equation, therefore, the entire teaching of Vedanta can be expressed in one sentence — tat tvam asi, that thou art. All other sentences in the Upanishads are only meant to prove this equation.

Demystifying Vedanta
The proofs consist of a number of methods, prakriyas, adopted by the Upanishads, and by the teachers in that tradition, to communicate the vision of the mahavakyas, tat tvam asi, the sentence revealing the oneness of the individual and the Lord. To unfold this identity between the jiva and Isvara, Vedanta employs these prakriyas.

If a system of philosophy is formulated based on these prakriyas, the whole purpose of Vedanta, which is to reveal the reality, vastu, is defeated. Therefore, Vedanta is a pramana only to reveal the oneness of atman, the self, with Isvara. Vedanta is not a pramana to prove the existence of atman, for the only self-existent, self-evident thing in this world is oneself, atman…. Read the rest of this entry →

1. Law of Mechanical Repair – After your hands become coated with grease, your nose will definitely begin to itch and you’ll have to pee.

2. Law of Gravity – Any tool, nut, bolt, screw, when dropped, will roll to the least accessible corner.

3. Law of Probability – The probability of being watched is directly proportional to the stupidity of your act.

4. Law of Random Numbers – If you dial a wrong number, you never get a busy signal and someone always answers.

5. Super market Law – As soon as you get in the smallest line, the cashier will have to  call for help.

6. Variation Law –   If you change lines (or traffic lanes), the one you were in will always move faster than the one you are in now (works every time).

7. Law of the Bath – When the body is fully immersed in water or the body is full of soap, the telephone or the door bell rings.

8. Law of Close Encounters – The probability of meeting someone you know increases dramatically when you are with someone you don’t want to be seen with.

9. Law of the Result – When you try to prove to someone that a machine won’t work, it will.

10. Law of Biomechanics – The severity of the itch is inversely proportional to the reach.

11. Law of the Theater & Hockey Arena – At any event, the people whose seats are furthest from the aisle, always arrive last. They are the ones who will leave their seats several times to go for food, beer, or the toilet and who leave early before the end of the performance or the game is over.  The folks in the aisle seats come early, never move once, have long gangly legs or big bellies and stay to the bitter end of the performance.

12. The Coffee Law – As soon as you sit down to a cup of hot coffee, your boss will ask you to do something which will last until the coffee is cold.

13. Murphy’s Law of Lockers – If there are only 2 people in a locker room, they will have adjacent lockers.

14. Law of Physical Surfaces – The chances of an open-faced mayo sandwich landing face down on a floor, are directly correlated to the newness and cost of the carpet or rug.

15. Law of Logical Argument – Anything is possible if you don’t know what you are talking about.

16. Brown’s Law of Physical Appearance – If the clothes fit, they’re ugly.

17. Oliver’s Law of Public Speaking – A closed mouth gathers no feet.

18.  Wilson’s Law of Commercial Marketing Strategy – As soon as you find a product that you really like, they will stop making it.

19. Doctors’ Law – If you don’t feel well, make an appointment to go to the doctor, by the time you get there you’ll feel better.  But don’t make an appointment, and you’ll stay sick!