Monday, 17 March 2014

URI Award to Dr. N. N. Murali for world record in surgery

URI Award to Dr. N. N. Murali for world record in surgery

Dr. N. N. Murali , Retired District Medical Officer, Kottarakkara being honoured at a special function arranged by Amar Jyothi CC at Motel Aram. Dr. Murali holds world record for minor and major operations, as registered in the Limca Book of World Records. Elite Club, England also recognised his achievement. He has conducted 28000 major operations and more than 72000 minor operations-- over 100,000 and more all together in 40 years.

Dr. Abraham Karickam presented the award in the presence of Prof. P.K Varghese, Prof. John Kurakar and several other dignitaries on 16th March, 2014.

Dr. Murali will be soon taking charge as Lions District Governor and URI South India Region will be partnering with LIONS Club in several medical aid and palliative care programs, specially cancer care.




Special meeting of Amar Jyothi CC, Sadanandapuram to honour Dr. N. N Murali, who hold world record in maximum number of surgeries.


Abraham Karickam - Upanishads of India No. 44

Abraham Karickam -- Upanishads of India No. 43

Thursday, 13 March 2014

Ashrama Upanishad

Ashrama Upanishad

                We get a detailed description about 16 stages in life which are sub-divisions of the four important ashramas popularly known as Brahmacharyam, Garhasthyam, Vanaprastham and Sanyasam:
1.       Brahmacharya: It has four sub-divisions. viz. Gayathran, Brahmanan, Prajapathyan and Brihan
a)      Gayathran:- His characteristics are the following:
ü  He wares yajnopaveetam
ü  He takes food without salt for three nights.
ü  He engages in reciting Gayatree mantra.
b)      Brahmanan:-
ü  He observes Brahmacharya for 48 years and studies all Vedas.
ü  if this is not possible one can study each veda for 12 years or attain excellent knowledge in Vedas and practice all laws inherent in it.
c)       Prajapathyan has to observe the following rules:
ü  He is a true and law abiding husband who is devoted to his wife only.
ü  He engages in union during the most auspicious time or he can spend 24 or 48 years in a Gurukulam.
d)      Brihan:- A Brihan will never abandon his Guru till his death.
2.       Garhasthyam:- Garhasthya has divisions like Varthaka vrithi, Shaleenavrithi, Yayaavaran and khora Sanyaasikan.
a)      Varthakavrithi:
ü  He engages in agriculture and cattle breeding.
ü  or engages in business.
ü  He practices yajna and prays for his soul.
b)      Shaleenavrithi:
ü  He practices yajna but will not teach others to perform yajnas
ü  He learns but does not teach.
c)       Yayaavaran:
ü  He practices yajna and teaches it.
ü  He learns and he can also teach.
ü  He gives alms and he can also receive alms.
ü  He will engage in such oblations for 100 years for self realization.
d)      Khorasanyaasikan:
ü  He deals in thapas for 100 years and performs various yajnas.
3.       Vanaprastham:- Vanaprastha has branches like Vaikhanasan, Udumban, Baalakhilyan and Fenapan.
a)      Vaikhanasan:
ü  He eats fruits from self grown plants and trees.
ü  He performs panchamahayajna for self realization.
b)      Udumban:
ü  He rises up very early and collects fruits and seeds.
ü  He performs panchamahayajnam.
c)       Bhalyakhilyan: His characteristics are:
ü  long hair, worn out dress and valkalam.
ü  He performs agnipooja for 8 months.
ü  He also performs pancha mahayajna.
d)      Fenapan:
ü  He is in an ecstatic mood.
ü  He eats fruits and sleeps where ever he finds a place.
ü  He performs agni pooja.
ü  He performs pancha maha yajna.
4.       Sanyaasashrama: The four sections of sanyaashasrama are Kuteechakan, Bhahudakan, Hamsan and  Paramahamsan.
a)      Kudeechakan:
ü  He accepts gifts from his own sons and families.
ü  He contemplates on refinement of his soul.
b)      Bahudakan: His characteristics are the following:
ü  Three fold staff
ü  Tuft
ü  vessel
ü  chappals
ü  Yajnopaveetam
ü  He wares ochure dress and travels widely.
c)       Hamsan:
ü  He has a single staff
ü  Wears Yajnopaveedam
ü  Has tuft
ü  He spends one night in village and five nights in cities
d)      Paramahamsan: There is an Upanishad just to describe Paramahamsa  (see paramahamsopanishad).
                    His characteristics will be as follows:
ü  He has no staff
ü  He has a bald head
ü  He wares kaupeenam
ü  He performs mysterious rituals.
ü  He is very courageous
ü  He is calm and cool
ü  He is in a state of aananda (ecstasy)
ü  He stays in deserted houses or temples
ü  He has no concern about dharma or adharma
ü  He tolerates any suffering
ü  He has samabhavana. He views all as equals
ü  He has no caste feelings

ü  He  contemplates on the deliverance on the soul only.

                                     Dr. Karickam
Bikshukopanishad

“Ohm atha bikshunam
Mokshartheenam kuteechaka
Bahutaka hamasa paramahamsa schethi chatwaaraka”

                This is an Upanishad dealing with the different types of Bikshus or Sanyasis. As seen in the first stanza,  there are four different types of Bhikshus. These are-

1. Kuteechakan
2. Bahudakan
3. Hamsan
4. Paramahamsan

All the qualities of all these different classes of sages are discussed in detail.

                Kudeechakan is in the class of Gauthaman, Bharadwajan, Yajna Valkyan, Vasishtan etc. They eat only 8 mouth fulls of food and they spend their time in meditation.
 Bahudakan will have the following as his mark:

I) The three fold emblematic   staff   
II) Tuft
III) Ochre dress
                He will totally renounce vine and meat. He eats only 8 mouth fulls of food and accepts food from the houses of Brahmarshis.

                The third type of Bikshu is called Hamsan. He stays one night in village and five nights in the city. He also stays seven nights in a temple. He drinks cow’s urine and practices yoga.

 The fourth class is that of Paramahamsan. He belongs to the class of Jadabharathan, Samvarthakan, Aaruni, Swethakethu, Dathaathreyan, Sukadevan, Vamadevan and Bhareethakan. They usually reside in caves or cemeteries and find resting place under the shade of trees. They can be clad or unclad. They also eat only 8 mouth fulls of food and seek the path of yoga alone. They consider stone and gold equal. They are never concerned about profit or loss. They accept alms from everyone irrespective of caste or colour. They see their aatman in every object. They will take shelter in places like temples, deserted places ,under a tree or ant hills. They sleep on the sandy banks of rivers and caves. They will have only one goal in life, which is the realization of Brahma. They live in total renunciation and give up bodies and become one with Brahma.

Aarunikopanishad

            Here the protagonist is Aruni, Son of Aruna, a devotee of Prajapathi. He goes to Brahmaloka and asks Brahman the following question: “Hey Bhagavan, how do I abandon all Karma”?

            Brahma prescribed a series of tenets like abandoning the following:
i) His own sons and relatives
ii) Sikha
iii) Yagnopaveetham
iv) Soothram

Then he has to abandon all the 14 worlds. These are -
1) Earth
2) Bhuvarloka
3) Swarloka
4) Maharloka
5) Janaloka
6) Tapoloka
7) Sathyaloka
8) Athalam
9) Pathalkam
10) Vithalam
11) Suthalam
12) Rasathalam
13) Talathalam
14) Mahaathalam

            All these make the Brahmananda loka. There should not be any desire for any of these worlds. He should be a custodian of only three things:
i) dandam
ii) kaupeenam
iii) blanket
 and he becomes a total sanyasi other requisites are the following:
i) Eat little food just as one takes medicines.
ii) He has to eat whatever he gets.
iii) He follows brahmacharya, ahimsa and sathyam.

            Thus he evolves into a Paramahamsa parivrajaka practicing aasana sayans (yogic postures for sleep). He can keep a pot or vessel. He completely avoids feelings like lust, anger, hatred, contempt, desire, pride, joy and so on. He stays in one place during the rainy season( four months) and travels only eight months during a year. He can travel alone or with a companion. He abandons every one of the relations and all karma. He makes his hands a vessel for receiving alms.

            Finally Brahma says that one who realizes the truth encompassed in this Upanishad becomes a njani or knowledgeable person. He will shine like the Sun because of the inner light. In the end he attains Paramadhama.


Dr. Karickam

Abraham Karickam - UPANISHADS OF INDIA NO. 42 - DAKSHINAMUR

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Abraham Karickam - UPANISHADS OF INDIA NO. 41

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