chakravarthy

Scientists have put forward a theory that memorising ancient mantras could increase the size of brain regions associated with cognitive function. In a study led by neuro-scientist and Post-Doctoral Researcher Dr. James Hartzell, the brain's massive grey matter density and cortical thickness was found to increase in those who had learnt and routinely recited the Sanskrit texts for the past decade. For the study, Dr, Hertzell, who coined the term, 'The Sanskrit Effect', compared the brains of 21 male participants with those of 21 professional Vedic Sanskrit Pandits who had memorised the Yajurveda Samhita textand trained since childhood to memorise, recite and master the exact pronunciation of the ancient texts. What he and his research team found was massive grey matter density and cortical thickness increases in Pandit brains in language, memory and visual systems. "The findings provide unique insight into the brain organisation implementing formalised oral knowledg...

Once there was a man who did not make it to university. So, his mother got him a wife. After the marriage, he worked as a teacher in a primary school. Due to the lack of experience, he was squashed by the students in less than a week. When he returned home, his wife dried his tears. She comforted him with these words. "When one is too full, he could either pour it out what's in him or he just could not pour it out at all. You should not be too sad about it. Probably there is a more suitable job waiting for you out there". Later on, he found another job and not for so long, he was fired due to his slowness. This time, the wife commented. "There are always people who are skillful. Some have experience from their years of work. As for you, you were in school all this while. So, how could you acquire these needed skills?"  He went for  a number of jobs but never stayed long in those jobs. Each time, he would return home with a dejected spirit. His wife would alw...

'GURUJI'. For members of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the larger Sangh Parivar, this word refers to just one person - Madhav Sadashivrao Golwalkar. The second Sarsangchalak (Chief) of the RSS after Keshav Baliram Hedgewar (Doctorji), Golwalkar remained the ideological guru of the Right-Wing Organisation for 33 years, from 1940 until his death in 1973. He took the RSS to great institutional strength after Independence. He wrote a book in 1996 on nationalism and the idea of a nation, called "Bunch of Thoughts". Historian Ramchandra Guha once equated the value of "Bunch of Thoughts" for believers in the political ideology of Hindutva to that of the Bible for Christians, or the Quran for Muslims.  From Golwalkar to 'Guruji': Madhav Sadashiv Golwalkar was born on 19th February, 1906 at Ramtek near Nagpur to a Brahmin family. He was the only surviving son out of nine children. In 1927, Golwalkar completed his M.Sc. from Banaras Hindu Unive...

SEVENTY-FOUR YEAR OLD Palam Kalyana Sundaram is a retired librarian. A recipient of the Best Librarian in India Award, Cambridge honoured him as one of the 'noblest men of the world' and the United Nations recognised him as one of the most outstanding people of the 20th century. This man of no possession has, however, given away all his award money, salary and pension for charity. The amount he has given away over the past four decades for the cause of humanity sums up to Rs. 30 crore. Palam was born in Melakarivelamkulam, Tamil Nadu. After losing his father at a very young age, he recalls how his mother inspired him to serve the poor. He went on to do his Master's in Literature, and is also a gold medalist in Library Science, but his intent to do his bit for the society remained. He soon got a job as a Librarian in Tuticorin, and has since then, contributed all his salary, pension benefits and ancestral property for social welfare. According to Indiatimes , Palam did not...

One of science's most challenging problems is a question that can be stated easily: Where does consciousness come from? In his new book Galileo's Error: Foundations for a New Science of Consciousness , philosopher Philip Goff considers a radical perspective: What if consciousness is not something special that the brain does but is instead a quality inherent to all matter? It is a theory known as "panpsychism", and Goff guides readers through the history of the idea, answers common objections (such as "That's just crazy!") and explains why he believes panpsychism represents the best path forward. He answered questions from Mind Matters editor Gareth Cook. [An edited transcript of the interview follows]. (1). Can you explain, in simple terms, what you mean by panpsychism? (1). In our standard view of things, consciousness exists only in the brains of highly evolved organisms, and hence consciousness exists only in a tiny part of the universe and only...