Legendary Kollywood director Balachander dies

NEW DELHI: Indian cinema is mourning the death of legendary director K. Balachander who died in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, on Tuesday.

Balachander, 84, who was popularly referred to as “Iyakkunar Sigaram” (director who scaled the peak), was admitted last Monday to Cauvery Hospital in Chennai due to a urinary infection and other age-related ailments, Indian media reported.

Balachander, who was also a screenwriter and producer, worked mainly in the Tamil film industry and introduced many talents including renowned actors Kamal Hassan and Rajinikanth.

Many took to social media to express their grievance over the director’s demise and appreciation for his contributions to the film industry.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu tweeted that he was deeply saddened by the passing of the director.

“His distinct film making-style and hard-hitting themes amused one and all,” he said.

Balachander’s films are well known for its portrayal of women as bold personalities and central characters.

“From the point of view of Indian history, perhaps historians will remember Balachander for his North-South love story, Ek Duje Ke Liye (We are made for each other),” Hindustan Times columnist Madhavan Narayanan tweeted.

Balachander joined the film industry in 1965.

He contributed to nearly 100 feature films as a screenwriter or director in a career spanning over five decades and was one of the most prolific film makers in the country.

Source – BERNAMA

Vaikunta Ekadasi

 Significance of Vaikunta Ekadasi 

 Vaikunta Ekadasi is an important festival dedicated to Bhagvan Srihari Vishnu in the Tamil month of Margazhi. Telugu Month of Dhanur (December-January).

 Vaikunda Ekadesi festival is of great significance at allmost all South Indian temples like

 Tirupati Balaji Temple,

 Srirangam Sri Ranganatha Temple and at the

 Bhadrachalam Temple.

 In Kerala, it is known as Swarga Vathil Ekadashi.

 Next Vaikunta Ekadasi date is January 1, 2015. In United States, Vaikunta Ekadasi is on December 31.

 The significance of Vaikunta Ekadasi can be traced back to the Padma Purana. The Purana indicates that Bhagvan Vishnu took the form of ‘Ekadasi’ – female energy – to kill demon Muran. This happened during the month of Margazhi/Dhanur Impressed by ‘Ekadasi,’ Vishnu told her that whoever worships him on this day will reach ‘Vaikunta’ (heaven).

 Like all Ekadasi days, devotees fast on this day and observe vigil the whole night. Some people indulge in meditation, Japa and singing of Hari Kirtan.

 Rice is avoided during ekadashi days as it is believed that the demon Mura finds a dwelling in the rice eaten on Ekadasi day.

 It is widely believed that the gates to the heaven open - the Gate of Vaikuntha - on the Vaikunta Ekadasi day.
Denotingly The ‘Vaikunta Dwaram’ or ‘the gate to the heaven’ is opened on this day in the vaishnava temples .

 This door is the passage encircling the innermost sanctum or the Garbha Gruha of the Lord leading directly to the Central Diety..

 Scores of devotees queue up to pass through the Gate of Vaikunta in the temples.

Generally Vaikunta Ekadasi occurs in December or early January.

Scuffles erupt, MIC leader's car attacked

Pandemonium erupted outside the MIC headquarters as the party's Central Working Committee (CWC) members exited the building after an emergency meeting this evening.

A crowd swarmed a blue BMW believed to be that of CWC member G Kumar Amman, kicking and thumping it, forcing the police's Light Strike Force personnel to form a barricade to escort the vehicle out.

The MIC leader is said to be aligned to party president G Palanivel.

Palanivel himself was mobbed by angry MIC members while exiting the meeting room and later as he headed towards his car amid shouts of "Resign" and "We want a re-election".

Also shoved and shouted at was MIC disciplinary committee chairperson KS Nijhar, who is a close associate of Palanivel.

In another incident, former Youth chief SA Vigneswaran became embroiled in a scuffle with an unidentified member.

Various scuffles also took place at the scene.

M'sia bleeds dirty money enough for 42 new KLIA2

The price tag of Kuala Lumpur International Airport 2 (KLIA2) which sky-rocketed almost three fold to RM4 billion may have outraged taxpayers but it dwarfs the illicit outflow suffered by Malaysia in one year alone, which was enough to build the over-budgeted airport 42 times over.
 
According to the latest annual report by Washington-based Global Financial Integrity (GFI), Malaysia lost a total of RM171.11 billion (US$48.93 billion) in 2012 - the latest statistics revealed by the watchdog in almost a decade of tracking illegal capital flight.
 
The report, released today, said Malaysia had lost an accumulated amount of RM1.38 trillion (US$394.87 billion) since 2003.
 
The sum is enough to fund Malaysia's budget for five consecutive years, based on Budget 2015's expenditure of RM273.9 billion.
 
According to the global financial watchdog, the illicit outflows were lost in the form of corruption, tax evasion and crime.
 
Despite the damning capital flight, Malaysia showed marginal improvement as the illicit outflows for 2012 declined by 5.98 percent compared to 2011.
 
Malaysia's illicit outflows had ranged between RM70 billion (U$20 billion) to RM140 billion (US$40 billion) annually since 2003 but spiked dramatically to RM218.06 billion (US$62.45 billion) in 2010.
 
However, the annual figure had been on a downward trend since then, declining to RM181.19 billion (US$52.05 billion) in 2011 and RM171.11 billion (US$48.93 billion) in 2012.
 
World’s No 5 in illicit outflows
 
In the latest report, Malaysia remains among the top five countries for illegal capital flight but its ranking improved slightly.
 
The country was ranked the second worst in terms of illicit outflow in 2010 but gradually “improved” to fourth place in 2011 and fifth place in 2012.

Rajinikanth releases action thriller Lingaa

CHENNAI: Tamil superstar Rajinikanth turned 64 and made the occasion a memorable one by

putting out his latest flick “Lingaa” to frenzied fans who turned up to witness their matinee idol deliver famous punchlines after about four years, reports the Press Trust of India (PTI).

The actor was out of town, his publicist said without divulging details.

However, it was ‘Lingaa’ all the way as the hit combination of Rajinikanth-K S Ravikumar joined once again in what is expected to be a treat for the star’s avid fans.

The actor, who earlier this year featured in “Kochadaiyaan”, was back singing duets with damsels, this time Anouskha Shetty and Sonakshi Sinha in tow.

The ‘Lingaa’ fever had already gripped Rajinikanth’s fans and eager ones, both domestic and international, who hit Chennai theatres to have a glimpse of their ‘thalaivar’ (Leader) after some time.

Rajinikanth enjoys a good fan base in Japan – his films are dubbed in Japanese and released there – with some of them turning up here, singing numbers from his earlier movies, especially ‘Muthu’ that introduced the actor in the Asian country.

Local die-hard fans of the superstar were not to be left behind as they arrived for the release with their signature style celebration of pouring milk to cutouts of the star and dancing to the beat of percussion instruments.

Earlier, the film had faced legal wrangles over a writer claiming rights to the story, but the court allowed the screening with conditions.

- BERNAMA

Chidambara Rahasyam (Secret )

After 8 years of R & D, Western scientists have proved that at Lord Nataraja 's big toe is the Centre Point of World 's Magnetic Equator.

Our ancient Tamil Scholar Thirumoolar has proved this Five thousand years ago! His treatise
Thirumandiram is a wonderful Scientific guide for the whole world.

To understand his studies, it may need a 100 years for us.

Chidambaram temple embodies the following characteristics :

1) This temple is located at the Center Point of world 's Magnetic Equator.

2) Of the "Pancha bootha" i.e. 5 temples, Chidambaram denotes the Skies. Kalahasthi denotes Wind. Kanchi Ekambareswar denotes land. All these 3 temples are located in a straight line at 79 degrees 41 minutes Longitude. This can be verified using Google. An amazing fact & astronomical miracle !

3) Chidambaram temple is based on the Human Body having 9 Entrances denoting 9 Entrances or Openings of the body.

4) Temple roof is made of 21600 gold sheets which denotes the 21600 breaths taken by a human being every day (15 x 60 x 24 = 21600)

5) These 21600 gold sheets are fixed on the Gopuram using 72000 gold nails which denote the total no. of Nadis (Nerves) in the human body. These transfer energy to certain body parts that are invisible.

6) Thirumoolar states that man represents the shape of Shivalingam, which represents Chidambaram which represents Sadashivam which represents HIS dance !

7) "Ponnambalam " is placed slightly tilted towards the left. This represents our Heart. To reach this, we need to climb 5 steps called "Panchatshara padi "
"Si, Va, Ya, Na, Ma " are the 5 Panchatshara mantras.

There are 4 pillars holding the Kanagasabha representing the 4 Vedas.

8) Ponnambalam has 28 pillars denoting the 28 "Ahamas "as well as the 28 methods to worship Lord Shiva. These 28 pillars support 64 +64 Roof Beams which denote the 64 Arts. The cross beams represent the Blood Vessels running across the Human body.

9) 9 Kalasas on the Golden Roof represent the 9 types of Sakthi or Energies.

The 6 pillars at the Artha Mantapa represent the 6 types of Sashtras.

The 18 pillars in the adjacant Mantapa represents 18 Puranams.

10) The dance of Lord Nataraja is described as Cosmic Dance by Western Scientists.

Whatever Science is propounding now has been stated by Hinduism thousands of years ago !

Saraswati - the Consort of Brahma

Lord Brahma is known for creating the universe. Since knowledge is required for creation, Maa Saraswati signifies the creative power of Brahma. An apt creation requires sound knowledge. The creation of Lord Brahma became fruitful with the knowledge provided by Goddess Saraswati. 

Maa Saraswati - The Image
Goddess Saraswati is usually depicted as a beautiful woman with yellow skin dressed in a pure white saree. Saraswati is portrayed sitting on a white lotus with veena (a musical instrument) in her hands. The book in her hand signifies the eternal and universal knowledge as well her perfection of the scriptures. Lotus symbolizes the supreme reality and it suggests that the goddess herself is rooted in the supreme reality.

The color white represents purity and her rejection of everything that is base and materialistic. The Swan represents the discrimination between the evil and the good, the eternal and the transitory. The four arms of the goddess suggest the four aspects of human personality i.e. mind, intellect, vigilance, and ego. The pearl string represents the power of spirituality. The peacock standing near Maa Saraswati represents arrogance and pride over its beauty. The Goddess teaches that physical appearance could be deceptive, by not taking peacock as the vehicle. Goddess Saraswati suggests that one should be wise regarding the eternal truth.

Saraswati - Bestower of Knowledge
Musical instruments, books, speech, knowledge, intellect are regarded as symbols of Saraswati. Saraswati is believed to be the provider of knowledge that dispels ignorance and unhappiness. Saraswati is worshipped by seekers of knowledge especially students, scholars and scientists.