B4U India

Somnath Temple all set to shine as a golden temple

Wed, 09 Jul 2008 02:44:00 -0400

The historic temple of Somnath in Gujarat is all set to regain its old glory as a ''golden temple'' by 2010.

The famous temple’ Trust is carving and gold-plating the Sabha Mantap, the place where devotees gather and will also embed porous Bella stones on the outer structure that will be coated with fungus resistant paint.

The Somnath Temple that is one of the 12 Jyotirlingas (prime shrines devoted to Lord Shiva) and located at Prabash Patan in Gujarat’s Junagadh district.

Sri Somnath Temple Trust has commenced carving and gold plating work on the Sabha Mantap, the place where pilgrims and other devotees stand for holy Darshan (audience) of Lord Shiva, the chief deity.

The temple’s outer structure is also being painted with fungus resistant paint to allow the porous Bella stones, which make up the structure, to breathe. The outer coating would protect the temple for 10 years from fungus attack.

The temple has been destroyed and looted many times, the most notable being the ones by the invading Turks led by Mahmud Ghazni and centuries later by Mughal Emperor Aurangazeb.

It was reconstructed in 1947 for the seventh time and the proper shape lasted till 1995. In the last decade, little renovation work has been undertaken.

The new work has already impressed the visitors too and many feel like returning visiting it again and again for the kind of soulful experience it offers.

"The gold plating of the temple is unique which will enhance the identity of the temple. Before Mahmood Ghazni attacked it, the temple was golden but they escaped looting all the gold from the temple. If it is again being gold plated, a lot of tourists can come to view it," said Ravi, a devotee.

Located on the shore, the Somnath Temple continuously has to bear saline and humid wind. It''s a special kind of a coat that is fungus resistant and at the same time would not block the breathing of the Bellas-based structure.

"We are showing our old culture and traditional temple. The interior of the temple where people worship Somnath and Parvati is being gold-plated. Pilgrims and tourists have appreciated the work and they say if the entire temple is plated with yellow metal, it will be like a golden temple," said Ashok Sharma, Secretary of the Sri Somnath Temple Trust.

The Somnath Temple is known as ''the shrine eternal'' since it has been attacked on several occasions and yet exists.

Skanda Purana that is one of the eighteen Purana or, religious text of Hindus, in a chapter describes the emergence of this Jyotirlinga.

Legend has it that the moon was married to the 27 daughters of Daksha Prajapati. Amongst all his wives, he had special love towards Rohini and neglected the others.

Noticing the negligence of Chandra or, the moon towards his other wives Daksha Prajapati cursed Chandra that he would lose his beauty and radiance.

But because of a moon devoid of radiance and beauty the entire world became lifeless, a disturbed Chandra, came down to Prabhasa with Rohini and worshipped the Sparsa Linga of Somnath after which he was blessed by Shiva to grow and shine in the bright half.

As the moon regained his light here, this town came to be known as Prabhasa. Brahma, one of the trinity, installed the Brahmashila, and paved way for the construction of the temple. On the request of the Chandrama and other gods, Lord Shiva assumed the name Somchandra (Jyotirlinga) and resided there eternally. He became famous by the name Somnath in the three worlds.

The temple is also unique in the sense that it has been constructed at a location with unhindered marine clearance till the Antarctica! (ANI)

Inland fish farming, becoming a major source of livelihood in Tamil Nadu

Wed, 09 Jul 2008 02:42:00 -0400

Inland fish farming is becoming a major source of livelihood for farmers in the districts of Dharampuri and Krishnagiri in Tamil Nadu.

Over 5, 000 farmers in these two districts have taken to fish-farming business.

The farmers are utilizing available water resources in the district for fish farming. Local ponds are being used for fish-farming under the self-employment scheme.

There are around a thousand ponds which have been dug by the farmers for fish farming. They spend at least two hours everyday to tend the fish in these ponds.

"All that you need is a pond of 30 x 20 feet having a depth of three feet. I deposited eggs to hatch and also live fish in my pond. We can earn nearly 20,000 to 30,000 rupees in three months. We send fish to the wholesale markets of Hosur, Bangalore and Mettur," said Ponniyappan, an inland fish farmer at Mankarai village in Dharmapuri.

Villagers are nurturing a variety of fishes -- Kelzhuthi, Katla, Ruhi, Mrigal and Kendai – in the ponds.

A farmer bought around 50,000 small fish and tossed them into a pond to grow and breed. It took only three months for them to grow and give him a good yield.

"I have a farm of 40 X 60 feet. Within just four months, I could get back my investment, by selling fish to the traders in Hosur and Bangalore," said Rajan, another inland fish farmer.

Farmers believe that fish farming needs small investment and is profitable. One can get results in a very short period.

The total investment cost is around rupees 15,000 per pond, and the income is double the amount after a period of three to four months.

"In Pennargram Vetur of Dharmapuri, I have taken to pond fishing. I have to devote at least two hours a day to care for my fish. I earn around rupees 30 to 40 per kilogram of fish. It has a good market in Kerala and Karnataka. And our fish is considered very healthy," said Mani, another inland fish farmer.

The fish is sold for rupees 30 per kg to the bulk buyers and wholesale dealers. In local market, the fish is sold at rates of rupees 250 per kg.

"I conduct my business from Hosur. I sell one to three tonnes of fish. On an average, I earn Rs. 25,000 to 30,000 depending upon the quality and size of the fish," said Surendran, a fish trader from Hosur.

Buyers from Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra buy these fish, apart from the fish merchants from the Salem region of Tamil Nadu.

Farmers in Tamil Nadu now know that fishing business is not fishy.
(ANI)

Best Summer Workouts Out of the Gym!

Wed, 09 Jul 2008 02:03:17 -0400

More often than not, I wish I could lose weight without having to go to the gym, and though there's no magical way to do it, there are several activities that can easily act as effective summer workouts, and as you are mostly having fun while doing these, you don't even realize that its a workout! Whether you need to stretch those tired muscles, increase flexibility, or burn calories and seriously lose some weight, there are tonnes of summer workouts to choose from. And with the added benefit...

Please Click the Title for the Full Post

Best Summer Workouts Out of the Gym!

Wed, 09 Jul 2008 02:03:17 -0400

Madonna the Boxer?

Tue, 08 Jul 2008 17:44:00 -0400

This will not go down in history as one of Madonna's better looks. Are those lace-fringed boxing trunks she has on? It looks like she has a tremendous hard-on...which would not be a surprise given the state of her arms.

Ashamed?

Tue, 08 Jul 2008 15:56:00 -0400

Brooke Hogan almost looks ashamed in this pic...but what does she have to be ashamed of? Besides the fact that her father finger-fucks her in public.

On Airports and iPods

Tue, 08 Jul 2008 15:50:00 -0400

You only ever see Victoria Beckham like this...leading her kids through some airport (in this case Heathrow). She basically lives in airports. That's all she has to do...fly from one city to the other. Thankfully, she seems more even-tempered than Naomi Campbell, otherwise there would be an incident.

Also...how old is the older boy? I don't know, but he's already got an iPod (probably not one of the little shuffles either). He's well on his way to becoming one of these iPod drones, these people who walk from place to place, wrapped in their little cones of iPod-induced bliss. I wonder what Beckham boy has on his iPod. Probably Snoop Dogg...we know he's a friend of the family. Little kids shouldn't be listening to Snoop Dogg...shouldn't be disengaging from the world the way an iPod encourages you to do. He should be drinking in the sights and sounds around him and processing it all so his little brain can grow.

Eh...he's already seen every airport on earth. He's probably bored. Plus he's Beckham's kid...it's not like he'll ever need his brain for anything (except plotting how to get women's pants off them).

Cheyenne Woods: Tiger's Niece Playing for Wake Forest

Tue, 08 Jul 2008 15:22:00 -0400

Tiger Woods is Cheyenne Woods uncle. Earl Woods Sr. was Cheyenne's grandfather and her first golf mentor. Earl Woods died in 2006. Cheyenne Woods is one of the best female high school golfers in the country and has decided to attend Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina (the alma mater of our president). Cheyenne Woods is a two-time Arizona state high school champion and she plans to major in psychology at Wake Forest.

Cheyenne Woods, right, helped Phoenix Xavier High to four straight championships. Cheyenne Woods was ranked No. 51 in the junior girls rankings by Golfweek after winning her second straight Arizona 5-A high school title at Xavier. She also has won the American Junior Golf Association Nike Golf Junior, the Big I Junior Classic and two U.S. Kids Golf World Championships.

Ronson Buys Lohan $22,000 Ring

Tue, 08 Jul 2008 11:57:00 -0400

More evidence that Lindsay Lohan and Sam Ronson are not just buddies: Sam bought Lindsay a $22,000 Cartier diamond ring for her birthday.

"Sam took Lindsay shopping to celebrate her 22nd birthday," a source added.

"Although Lindsay is the major breadwinner, Sam has her own money and is very proud.

"It's not an engagement ring - simply a token of her commitment.

"Lindsay is thrilled and she and Sam are very content."

There's no question anymore that these two are fucking. Lohan hasn't been named in association with any males in months...and you know she didn't just turn celibate. Somebody's playing with that stuff, and Sam's the only one she's ever with. Unless it's all an elaborate charade meant to conceal Lindsay's real activities.

Ronson Buys Lohan $22,000 Ring

Tue, 08 Jul 2008 11:57:00 -0400

"Although Lindsay is the major breadwinner, Sam has her own money and is very proud.

"It's not an engagement ring - simply a token of her commitment.

"Lindsay is thrilled and she and Sam are very content."