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Daily Dose Of Interesting Information

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dear Mr. Siva!
I can manage the "daily dose" if they are too NOT big for me to enable the daily production! :croc:
So we can still have the daily dose of interesting information-
may not be in full fledged articles but in smaller doses as paragraphs. Is It O.K now? :peace:
I am sure I myself have got hooked to my daily posts!!! :becky:

Haridasa Siva said:
I will miss it. I am used to getting my "daily dose"!
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BHOJAPATRA:

The bark of Bhurja Tree known as Bhojapatra (the bark of Himalayan Birch) was used centuries ago in our Country for writing lengthy scriptures and texts in Sanskrit and other scripts, particularly in historical Uttarkhand and Kashmir . Its use akin to paper for books is mentioned by early Sanskrit writers including Kalidasa, Susrta and Varahamihira. In the late 19th century. Kashmiri pandits reported that all of their works were written on Himalayan Birch bark till Mogals introduced paper in the 16th century.The Sanskrit word for the tree is Bhûrja, which is known in the west as Birch Tree.

The bhojapatra is still used for writing sacred yantras, which are placed in small talismans and worn around the neck for astrological protection. This practice was mentioned as early as the 8th or 9th century CE, Pancharatra texts.


I have seen the forests of Birch trees near Chirbhasa (Blue pine forest) while trekking on my pilgrimage to Gohmukh, from Gangothri.

Nowadays due to unabated destruction of Birch Trees in the Himalayan region, it is causing concern to the ecological balance in the area. The bark is also used for packaging material , roof construction, native umbrellas, bandages, etc. The wood is used for bridge construction. Of course the widespread use of the tree for firewood, has caused enough damage in large areas of habitat .

Regards,
Brahmanyan,
Bangalore.
 
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TALA PATRA (TADA PATRA)

Tala Patra or Palm Leaves are one of the ancient writing materials used in our Country.
In fact Palm leaves are first writing material in most part of our Country. The writing on Palm Leaves was done with a stylus. The writing was of a very cursive and interconnected style.We use a word Thaal (தாள்) in Tamil for paper, which is derived from the Sanskrit word Thalapatra.

Palm leaf engraving, also called talapatra chitra, is an ancient form of folk art originated in the Indian State of Orissa that has timeless appeal. In palm leaf engraving, colours are muted and play only a minor part. In Tamilnadu most of the ancient works were done on Palmleaves known as Olaichuvadi or chuvadi (ஓலைச்சுவடி / சுவடி) . Dr.U.Ve.Swaminatha Iyer gives descriptive account of how they used to collect and cure Palm leaves for writing in their Thinnai Pallikkoodam (திண்ணை பள்ளிக்கூடம்) in his younger days. Latter this old man spent years of tireless efforts in collecting precious Tamil literature written in Palm leaves.

Regards,
Brahmanyan,
Bangalore.
 
Visalakshi Ramani said:
Thank you for contributing to this thread and enriching it. :pray2:
Click to expand...


Dear Mrs Visalakshi Ramani,

My contribution to this thread is minimal. You have been doing a great service to the future generation by posting valuable information which will otherwise be gone hidden in our thoughts. I am happy that this thread will continue.

With warm regards,
Brahmanyan,
Bangalore.
 
This thread is for sharing any interesting info under the sun.

All are welcome to participate and contribute. It does not belong to

me exclusively - just because I started it. Surely this thread can be

kept alive and busy by the contributions of all the knowledgeable

persons in the Forum in different fields.
 
dear friends,
I hope to resume this thread on 1 st October-if not earlier.
The posts will not necessarily be full fledged articles,
but surely they will be interesting info. :typing:
Till we meet again, :wave: :yo:
with warm regards, :pray2:
Mrs. V.R.
 
The spirit of a person is not necessarily proportional to

his/her size!

We have already spoken about it in the aathma balam.

The visual display of spirit being independent of the size is

best illustrated by the Chihuahuas- the tiny dogs with

fierce spirits.

I had spoken about them in two or tree different places and

explained how even growling lions and fire breathing

dragons tuck in their tails, become dumb or high pitched

and take to their heels.

The movie Beverly Hills Chihuahua will be telecast in Sun

T.V. on Sunday 25th inst at 1-30 P.M. in Tamil.

Hoping that the translation would NOT have reduced the

quality of the movie, I request as many of you to watch it as

possible.

It has a lesson or two for all of us!
 
# 1(a). Wedding Anniversary gifts.

Wedding Anniversary gifts vary from year to

year and even from a country to another.

But the list below gives the aptest wedding gift

for the anniversaries from 1 to 10 years.

1st anniversary..........Cotton.

2nd anniversary.........Paper.

3rd anniversary.........Leather.

4th anniversary.........Fruits, Flowers.

5th anniversary........Wooden.

6th anniversary........Sugar

7th anniversary........Wool, Copper.

8th anniversary........Bronze, Pottery.

9th anniversary.......Pottery, Willow.

10th anniversary.....Tin.
 
# 2. Anniversary gifts.(11 to 15 years)

11th anniversary..........Steel.

12th anniversary..........Silk, linen.

13th anniversary.........Lace.

14th anniversary.........Ivory.

15th anniversary........Crystal.
 
# 3. Milestone Anniversaries and gifts.

20th anniversary........China.

25th anniversary........Silver.

30th anniversary........Pearl.

35th anniversary......Coral.

40th anniversary.......Ruby.

45th anniversary.......Sapphire.

50th anniversary.......Golden

55th anniversary.......Emerald

60th anniversary.......Diamond.

70th anniversary.......Platinum.
 
Best gift is, the one that I need and want.
In Us the practice of gift registry is prevalent. That tells the giver the desires of the recipient.
 
Yes! I have heard that even a car can be thus gifted by various persons - opting to pay for various parts, varying amounts.

My list gives both the parties a choice...It gives you the choice of the gift article and gives them the choice of material- so that both parties can feel satisfied.

In any case the couple will not end up owning a dozen flasks, and half a dozen wall clocks and such other things and be forced to recycle the gifts.

The gift registry is a very practical and useful idea.


prasad1 said:
Best gift is, the one that I need and want.
In Us the practice of gift registry is prevalent. That tells the giver the desires of the recipient.
Click to expand...
 
[FONT=comic sans ms,sans-serif]# 4. Birthstones and months.

January..............Garnet.

February............Amethyst.

March...............Aquamarine or bloodstone.

April.................Diamond.

May..................Emerald.

June.................Pearl, Alexandrite or Moonstone.

July...................Ruby.

August.............Peridot or Sardonyx.

September.......Sapphire.

October...........Opal or tourmaline.

November........Topaz.

December........Turquoise.
[/FONT]
 
I read about the marriage anniversary gifts long time back and always wanted to have it. Thank you, VR maami for posting it. Also thanks for the birthstones info.
 
# 5. Birth months and flowers.

January.........Carnation or snowdrop.

February.......Violet or Primrose.

March........... Violet or Jonquil.

April............. Daisy or sweet pea.

May.............. Lily of the valley.

June............. Rose or honeysuckle.

July...............Water lily.

August...........Poppy

September.....Morning glory.

October..........Calendula or cosmos.

November.......Chrysanthemum.

December.......Narcissus or holly.
 
# 6. The Scratch Test.

One of the ways in which the different substances are classified and identified is called the scratch test- which involves testing their hardness.

The scale was devised by Friedrich Mohs. He was a 19th Century German Mineralogist. The scale known as Mohs scale of harness had ten grades in all.

Minerals of each grade can scratch all the minerals of lower grades. They will get scratched by the minerals of the higher grade.

The ten grades in their increasing order of hardness is as follows :-

1. talc.

2. gypsum (rock salt).

3. Calcite.

4. Fluorite.

5. apatite.

6. orthoclase feldspar.

7. quartz

8. topaz.

9. corundum.

10. diamond.

 
# 7. Hardness of some other substances (continued)

11. Gold.......2.5 to 3.0

12. Silver ....2.0 to 3.0

13.Platinum..4.0 to 4.5

14. Emeralds and aquamarines...7.5 to 8.0

15. Sapphires and rubies...9.0

16. amber....2.0 to 2.5

17. amethyst...7.0

18. garnet.....6.5 to 7.5
 
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# 8. Hardness of other substances (continued)

19. jade.........6.5 to 7.0

20. lapis lazuli...5.5

21. malachite....3.5 to 4.0

22. moonstone.....6.0

23. opal.....5.5 to 6.5

24. tiger's eye....4.0

25. tourmaline 7 to 7.5

26. turquoise...6.0

27. graphite..1.0 to 2.0

 
# 9. RUBY.

A ruby is a pink to blood-red colored gemstone. It is a variety of mineral corundum or aluminum oxide.

Presence of the element Chromium causes the red color. Its name comes from 'ruber'- the Latin word for red. Other varieties of gem-quality corundum are generally called as sapphires.

The ruby is considered one of the four most precious stones along with sapphires, emeralds and diamonds.

Prices of rubies are primarily determined by color. The brightest and most valuable "red" called pigeon blood-red, commands a huge premium over other rubies of similar quality.

After color follows clarity: similar to diamonds, a clear stone will command a premium, but a ruby without any needle-like rutile inclusions may indicate that the stone has been treated.

The Color, the Clarity, the Cut and the Carat weight determine the price of a gem stone.
 
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