EBOLA VIRUS OUTBREAK

HOW IS THAT THE MICROSCOPIC
EBOLA VIRUS KILLS THOUSANDS?

www.washingtonpost.com - The fear of Ebola has spread faster in America than the virus itself. Ebola has infected the American psyche, forcing us to do risk analysis of a pathogen we know little about. This is different from the flu scares of recent years, because this virus is novel here, and we have no cultural memory of what we are supposed to do, or think, or believe, when Ebola is on the loose. 
People have to wonder: How contagious is this virus - really? Is there something different and more pernicious about this particular strain of Ebola? The experts can’t answer such questions with certainty. Ebola has been known to science only since 1976. As an exotic disease that until this year affected only Africans in rural villages, Ebola hasn’t been studied as closely as, say, influenza or HIV.

The virus has its quirks: Some people infected with Ebola never get sick at all. Some who become sick shed massive amounts of virus - they’re “super-shedders” - but others do not. Fever is typically the first symptom of Ebola virus disease, but sometimes it’s a lagging indicator or never appears at all. The virus is mutating, like all viruses, and could conceivably - this is a very remote possibility - change its mode of transmission, a fact that has been much hyped in recent weeks by those with an alarmist frame of mind. 
Yet for all these uncertainties, the Ebola emergency in the United States has in a key respect played out exactly as epidemiologists would have expected: The people who have gotten infected, both of them at a Dallas hospital, had close contact with an extremely sick person. The incubation period of Ebola, from infection to symptoms, is generally considered to be between two and 21 days.

These days, different websites are saying that the Ebola outbreak is a hoax. They say that all of this is a massive lie and manipulative effort by the US government for ulterior motives. Others even affirm that the illness is being created by the own Red Cross vaccinations. What is the truth? The World Health Organization explains that Ebola virus particles occupy an infected person’s blood and other bodily fluids, which can enter another person through the eyes, mucous membranes, scratches on the skin or from a hypodermic needle — not from from the air or from insects. The bodies of people who have died of the disease are highly infectious. Without protective equipment, being within three feet of a patient for long periods of time is less risky, but not advisable. In small West African villages, the close personal attention given to sick or dead family members can easily spread the disease. According to WHO, officially listing the United States as having three cases (Duncan, Pham and Vinson) and one death (Duncan), while Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea have had 9,191 cases and 4,546 deaths. Being surrounded by daily doubt, deceit, anguish and suffering, we are always afraid of death because we are not sure what we will be or where we will go in the afterlife. We must involve the Supreme Lord in our daily chores, tell others about Him and chant His holy names; in this way we can let go of our fears by trusting that God will take care of us. (Editor's note).

WHAT DO THE VEDIC TEACHINGS TELL US? 

Each life is meant for us to learn more about ourselves, and about who we are. Death is not simply a matter of getting old or sick and then dying. Natural death happens when you have finished doing what you were meant to do in this life. You may have wanted to do more or not, but when you have done what you were meant to do, you will move on. Nature will arrange it that you will leave this realm. Each life is like a classroom wherein you learn a certain amount, and go through a certain number of lessons or tests. Then you graduate to the next class. We can learn willingly or unwillingly. We can cooperate or be uncooperative. We can repeatedly keep going through it until we learn all of the necessary lessons to go on to the next level. That is our choice. And if you have failed any of the tests, don't worry. You'll have the chance to try it again.

Dr Stephen Knapp (Śrīpad Nandanandana dasa) :
“Facing Death: Welcoming the Afterlife”
“Dispelling The Fear of Death”
http://www.stephen-knapp.com/dispelling_the_fear_of_death.htm
http://www.stephen-knapp.com  -  http://www.stephenknapp.info/

Published by dasavatara das - “Vedic Views on World News”
http://www.vedicviews-worldnews.blogspot.com.ar/

CAMPAIGN AGAINST DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN INDIA

ABUSED HINDU GODDESSES:
INDIAN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CAMPAIGN

- The bruised and beaten faces of these beautiful Hindu goddesses have an important point to make - that despite the reverence for women that is a part of Hinduism, India's most populous religion, the country has become extremely unsafe for its female citizens. Ad agency Taproot's arresting campaign tackles the problem of domestic violence and sex trafficking to benefit Save Our Sisters, an initiative of Save the Children India which seeks to prevent sexual exploitation. 
The campaign features the goddesses Lakshmi, Durga and Saraswati. The campaign declares, “Pray that we never see this day. Today, more than 68% of women in India are victims of domestic violence. Tomorrow, it seems like no woman shall be spared. Not even the ones we pray to.”

India was rocked by a brutal case of gang-rape and murder last year, sparking a national conversation about the need for harsher laws against rape. Jyoti Singh was repeatedly violated on a bus in December 2012, naming her attackers before dying from injuries sustained during the horrific assault. 244,270 crimes against women were reported last year, according to the BBC. 
Images of the goddesses Saraswati, Durga, and Lakshmi can be found all over the country, but none like these have ever been seen before. Hopefully their powerful impact will reduce the occurrence of real-life versions. A number is provided to report abuse to the Save Our Sisters charity - an initiative that works to prevent the trafficking of young girls and women for the purposes of sexual exploitation. The Abused Goddesses series won a 'Lotus' award for Indian ad agency Taproot in March.

The combination of religious Deities with the results of violence against women make for a powerful message in this Indian domestic violence campaign which shows the hipocrisy of men who worship female Deities and at the same time are abusing women. Featuring the Hindu Goddesses Lakshmi, Durga and Saraswati, the shots show the women in typical serene yet powerful poses. But each Goddess bears the scars of physical violence - a graze, black eye, a fat lip and cuts. Our spiritual teachers have taught us that it is contradictory to say: "I love God but hate those who do not satisfy my own lust or my ambition." Who is the fool who thinks that God will be pleased with our gift at the altar while mistreat the weaker members of our family? How can God be pleased with us if we mistreat and neglect and abuse of women in our own homes? Just being especially kind, friendly and protective of the weaker members of society - such as women and children - we can receive the mercy and grace of Krishna. Let's Stop Gender Violence! Say NO to Domestic Violence! (Editor's note).

WHAT DO THE VEDIC TEACHINGS TELL US? 

Domestic violence is an acute problem in modern Hindu society. Every year hundred and thousands of young girls and women of all ages become victims of domestic violence in the hands of their husbands, brothers, close relatives, in-laws and even parents. ... Most of the domestic violence in Hindu families happen in the form of wife beating, bride burnings, acid throwing, eve-teasing, mental and physical harassment, dowry deaths, enforced slavery, verbal abuse, malnourishment, neglect, women trafficking, forced marriages, rapes, property related homicides and solitary confinement. Millions of women go through numerous hardships in India as victims of various forms of violence. A number of such incidents also go unnoticed, due to fear, social and domestic pressure and the apathy and inefficiency of the law enforcement machinery who aggravate the situation often by colluding with the aggressors and harassing the victims further.

Jayaram V (Hinduwebsite.com) :
“Violence and Abuse in Hinduism”
“Domestic Violence and Violence Against Women”
http://www.amazon.com/Jayaram-V/e/B0045TCBWW
http://www.hinduwebsite.com/hinduism/h_violence.asp

Published by dasavatara das - “Vedic Views on World News”
http://www.vedicviews-worldnews.blogspot.com.ar/

COLOUR YOUR HANDS WITH MEHENDI!

SIGNIFICANCE OF APPLYING

MEHENDI IN HINDU MARRIAGES

www.boldsky.com - The wedding season is going on in India. In Hindu marriages, several cultures have different customs that vary from state to state (rather village to village). These rituals have been passed on through ages and is still carrying forward to next generation. In Hindu marriages, you can find few things in common. For example, engagement, mehendi, wedding and reception are few common ceremonies that are commonly followed in all most all parts of the country. Mehendi is a pre-wedding ceremony that is very popular in the Northern states of the country. However, the trend of applying mehendi on the hands and feet has become a common trend in the East, West and Southern states too. Earlier, mehendi was applied as nua (colouring fingertips and center of palm) but with the trend of drawing, it has become an art. Well, there are some significances of applying mehendi in Hindu marriages. These are some of them:

Bond of matrimony: Mehendi signifies the bond of matrimony. It is considered as a shagun in Hindu marriages. Mehendi was originally used only during weddings. But with the growing popularity and importance of mehendi, women have started applying it on special Hindu occasions and festivals like Karva Chauth, Navratri, Rakhi and Diwali. 
Colour of love: It is believed that the colour of mehendi signifies the love of the partner. In few cultures, the mehendi colour also shows the love you will get from your mother-in-law. Holy: Only married women are allowed to apply mehendi and spread the colour of a married life. 
Spread joy and celebrate culture: Mehendi ceremony has become a grand celebration in many Hindu marriages. Protect brother: In few cultures, mehendi has a significance on brother and sister relationship. Women apply mehendi on the back of the palm for their brothers. If a woman has a brother, it is mandatory to apply mehendi on the back of the palm.

A Hindu wedding is a combination of traditions and rituals. It is a ceremony from the Vedic times and it is often an elaborate affair. There are few points of significance for applying mehendi in Hindu marriages. Mehendi, as a part of a shagun (gifts given in special occasions), it is considered an integral item of suhag (Indian wedding). It is considered that a Hindu wedding is not just a relationship of two individuals and their two families; rather, it is a relationship of two human beings with their Creator. Marriage is very important because is a unique opportunity to learn how to serve. Working for his or her family and not for oneself is a great sacrifice, which produces a nice result if you do it right: Krishna-conscious children. (Editor's note).

WHAT DO THE VEDIC TEACHINGS TELL US? 

There is a close association between Hinduism and fine arts. ... The rich display of fine art in jewelry and costume designs in Hindu society has been accorded great respect. The ancient tradition of householders drawing beautifully colored patterns on their doorsteps, known as rangoli or kolamas, is evidence of the involvement of the common man in fine arts. Another equally exciting Hindu custom involves painting the hands and feet of women with intricate designs, using an herbal product, henna (mehendi). This custom has caught the attention of many Westerners. Called the “temporary tattoo,” it has become a fashion fad in many places. Art is accepted as an integral part of the Hindu home and community. Every Hindu family strives to perfect an art or craft to refine and adore the social pattern. Fine arts truly are a way of life in Hindu culture.

Dr. Hiro Badlani :
“Hinduism - Path of the Ancient Wisdom”
Chapter 56: "Hinduism and Fine Arts"
http://hinduismpath.com/
http://hinduismpath.com/book-contents/chapter-56/

Published by dasavatara das - "Vedic Views on World News"
http://www.vedicviews-worldnews.blogspot.com.ar/