Page 2
Divine Mother the bestower of Prosperity
There is a reference in Mooka Panchasati
that Goddess Kamakshi caused a shower of gold in
Tundeeram (Tondaimandalam) to relieve the
sufferings of the people. This allusion is substantiated
by the existence of a place which goes by the name of
Pon Vilainda Kalathur in the Chingleput District. There
is also a tradition that Sri Vedanta Desika, the renowed
Sarvatantra Swatantracharya, who established the
Vaishnava Sampradaya, prayed to the Goddess of
Wealth, Sri Mahalakshmi, by composing and reciting
Sri Stuti and obtained gold for giving it to a
Brahmachari. This Brahmachari is said to have been
sent by some people envious of Sri Vedanta Desika
and this youth begged for gold so that he could get
himself married. This incident also seems to have
taken place somewhere in the region known as
Tondaimandalam.
Sri Kanakadharastavam of Sri Sankara
Bhagavatpada is a widely known composition. The
circumstances which led to thecomposition and
recitation of this prayer is interesting. After his
Upanayana, performed at a very early age, Sri
Sankara rigorously followed the injunctions of the
brahmacharya life and lived on the food obtained by
begging or biksha. In the course of his daily biksha
rounds, he stood at the threshold of a poor Brahmin,
one day, and asked for alms, by uttering the prescribed
formula, Bhavati bikshaam dehi. The master of the
house, who himself lived on the charity of his
neighbours, was away and the lady of the house, who
possessed a magnanimous heart, wanted to give
something to this child with a divine countenance. Her
search resulted in unearthing only a small amalaka
fruit. This she deposited in the begging bowl devoutly,
her heart melting at the thought that she had nothing
better to offer. Sri Sankara divined the situation and
realised that the small gift came from a heart as
expansive as the sky itself. He composed and sang the
18 verses, which go by the name of Sri
Kanakadharastavam. Sri Mahalakshmi responded to
the prayer and showered golden fruits inside the house
of the poor Brahmin couple and banished their poverty.
Incidentally this was also the first composition of Sri
Sankara.
There is internal evidence in the stotra itself
to substantiate this story. The verse providing this
evidence is :
“Dadyaat dayaanupavano dravina-ambudhaaraam
Asmin-akinchana vihanga sisau vishanne
Dushkarma gharmam-apaneeya chiraaya dooram
Naaraayana-pranayinee nayanaambuvaahah”.
In this verse, Sri Sankara prays that impelled
by the wind of kindness (dayaanupavano) of Sri
Mahalakshmi who is the beloved of Sri Narayana
(Naaraayana pranayini) the cloud of her glance
(nayana-ambuvaahah) should shower (daadyaar) the
rain of wealth (dravina-ambudhaaram) driving away to
a distance (apaneeya chiraaya dooram), the scorching
heat (gharmam) of the past sins (dushkarma) of this
suffering (vishanne) fledgling (vihangasisu). The bird
referred to here is the mythical chaataka, which can
Alpha Times October 18, 2009
quench its thirst only when rain falls. The utter
Stars this week
helplessness of the poor householder is indicated by a
comparison to the fledgling of chaataka. To meet the
possible objection that the householder’s present
plight is the consequence of his past wrong deeds
(dushkarma), Sri Sankara says that this prayer, on his
behalf, should be sufficient to absolve him of all his past
sins.
While the other verses in this stotra are all in
For the week Oct. 18 - Oct. 24 2009
praise of the Divine Mother, this particuolar verse alone
contains the request for wealth. In the same way as ARIES
showers relieve the parched condition of the scorching
summer heat, he prays that the cooling grace of the Bachelors in search of suitable partners may
Mother should relieve the sufferings of the poor make a wrong choice due to a debility-prone Mars,
householder. their marital star. Better wait and watch.
“Ishtaavisishtamatayopi yayaa dayaardra- Drshtyaa
trivishtapapadam sulabham labhante;
Vrshtih prahrshta kamalodaradeeptirishtaam
TAURUS
Pushtim krsheeshta mama pushkaravishtaraayaah
Geerdevateti garudadhwaja-sundareeti Ascending Venus makes it a positive week.
Sakambhareeti sasisekhara-vallabheti; Good ties at work will be your priority. With employers
Srshti-sthiti-pralaya kelishu samsthitaayai patting you, a good time ahead.
Tasyai namasstribhuvanaikagurostarunyai”.
In the first of the above two verses, also
occurring in Sri Kanakadhaaraastavam, Sri Sankara
GEMINI
prays for the bestowal of desired prosperity (Ishtaam
A chaotic week, you will be changing or
pushtim), wealth, crop, family, etc. Here Sri Sankara
indicates that even those who perform the prescribed cancelling engagements and juggling commitments.
rites to qualify them for a place in heaven, can attain But a keep a sensible head.
that status only when the benevolent glance of the
Divine Mother, seated on the lotus, falls on them. The
second verse indicates the true nature of the Mother. It CANCER
also teaches that the Divine Mother, known by different
names as Saraswati, Lakshmi, Saakambhari & A blind faith in your infallibility makes you
Parvati, are but manifestations of the same Supreme deny that someone else could also be right. But don’t
Divinity, who is none else than that Creative Energy, be so rigid warn your stars.
who forms part of the static Paramatma (Tribhuvanaika
Guru), both together constituting the Father and
Mother of the universe, and to whom creation, LEO
preservation, and destruction are mere sport (keli).
If we too recite this Sri
Kanakadhaaraastavam with devotion, we shall be Virgoan sun sighted by Jupiter indicates a
relieved of poverty, sufferings and afflictions and sins huge professional turnaround. You will be aiming for
(daaridrya, taapa and paapa). new goals.
VIRGO
An exalted Mercury will make you cash the
goodwill of a high up. You will also get closer to a few
VOL: 2 ISSUE 18 October 18, 2009
others higher ups.
With Agni and Prithvi LIBRA
The successful launch of two advanced
versions of the Prithvi-II nuclear-capable missiles on
Monday with a strike range of 350 kms marks another You have to tackle over work and rising prices
achievement for scientists. The two missiles hit their simultaneously. You will have no time for relaxation
respective targets with clockwork precision. This, and festivities.
though heartening, is only a small step in gaining
parity with the recalcitrant Pakistan which, taking
advantage of clandestine import of nuclear missile SCORPIO
technology from China and North Korea is being seen
as having stolen a march over India in recent years in
A debility-prone Mars makes you distrust
this field. Evidently, the Nuclear Command Authority friends, which is your weak point. Change this outlook
set up in 2003 with the Prime Minister and the tri-
service Strategic Forces Command to ensure proper and mend your reputation.
command and control structures, has fulfilled a long-
felt need for a unified strategic initiatives structure. SAGITTARIUS
With the 700-km Agni-I and 2,000-km-plus Agni-II
ballistic missiles still to be inducted into the armed
Do not have any link-up with a Taurean or a
forces, the advanced version of Prithvi is currently the Geminian. However, Cancerians and Leos can be of
mainstay of SFC and consequently, its progress is
immense help to you.
vital to India’s missile programme.
Pakistan reportedly possesses between 30
and 70 nuclear warheads, as well as short- and CAPRICORN
medium-range ballistic missiles. In addition, it is
currently developing nuclear-capable Ghauri-3 Lives of Saturday-born will be full of hope.
intermediate-range missiles, which are designed for Others will follow them. But Sunday-born, shouldn’t
long-range strikes against civilian and military targets
expect others to fight their battle.
deep inside India. Recently, the US had accused
Pakistan of illegally modifying American-made
missiles to expand its capability to strike land targets
AQUARIUS
in India. It has also emerged time and again that
Pakistan has been a ‘rogue state’ trading nuclear As Virgo, Saturn and Mercury line up, all eyes
technology with states like North Korea, Libya, Iran
and China. In the circumstances, it is imperative that are on you. Your weakness is a brash attitude. Don’t lie
the world takes notice of nuclear proliferation by low when others are leading.
Pakistan and the US stops looking the other way with
Pakistan pursuing its designs.
However, India can ill afford to leave its
PISCES
flanks uncovered while placing undue reliance on
other nations. Work on the Agni programme needs to A debility-prone Jupiter may dampen your
be speeded up alongside the development of Prithvi spirits. Don’t bid on a blind horse. Remain alert on
missiles so that we are duly prepared for any Thursday.
adventurism by Pakistan with China’s overt or covert
- Dr. Anuj Vikram Sharma
encouragement.
 October 18, 2009 Alpha Times Page 3
Police and fire service on Accolades for Kalamandir
red alert as Diwali nears students in D zone sportsmeet
With the city effect from this morning, In the District also praised M.
level D’ Zone Athletic Rukmangathan, PET for
sports meet Kalamandir training the children to
Matriculation Hr. Sec. get district level prizes.
School students have The school principal
won medals and

To Advertise Call
99400 24556

gearing up for Deepavali a safety awareness

celebrations, the city programme was
police and theSouthern conducted for the rail
Railways have put in commuters at stations
place a tight security including Egmore today.
cover across vital and Watch towers
vantage points where have been erected in championship. Master L. also presented a gift to
t h e r e w i l l b e areas like Ranganathan Pavithran of Std XI has Master L. Pavithran for
preponderance of Street and G N Chetty won the championship in his championship in the
people. Road in T Nagar. 400 mts running and athletic meet.
All railway Policemen are longjump. Master
stations the city with also engaged in alerting Srinivasan . R of Std XI
emphasis on crowded people through public has won the 2nd place in
places like Chennai address system in major the 800 mts running.
Central and Egmore are shopping areas. The Gnanapradeep and
under increased crowds are also being Rameshkumar of Std XI
surveillance. monitored using powerful has won third place in
Simlarly police binoculars. longjump and discuss
are on the alert at the Metal detectors throw respectively.
shopping locations like have been erected at the The winners
Ranganathan Street and entry points of all shops. were congratulated by
Arcot Road. Shoppers are being the school secretary Ln.
Deployment of subjected to frisking to Dr. Shivjeyaram Sharma
dog and bomb-disposal avoid any untoward and the Principal Mrs
squads, and constant incidents, said another Rajharajeswari. They
vigil at railway stations senior police official. The
are some of the security entire strength of city
measures taken by the police from all the three
police ahead of the
festival of lights. CCTV
wings traffic, law and
order, crime and Armed
Watch Movie
cameras have been
installed inside long
Reserve force are
deployed to man all
Aadhavan through
distance trains to prevent
crackers from being
important road junctions.
‘We have
Radio One fm
carried in trains. deployed additional
Commando posse of policemen on Radio One fm
forces are also the road and visible 94.3 has booked the
maintaining vigil at policing will certainly entire theatre for a special
railway station and are deter many miscreants’, screening of Aadhavan
conducting random a police official said. on Sunday 18th @ 9 am.
checking. With the ban Similarly fire and rescue This is one big thing for
on carrying inflammable services are in full our listeners and our
materials like kerosene, readiness to meet any valued advertisers. For
petrol inside the train eventuality, he said. the listeners Radio One is
coming coming into distributing tickets thru an
SMS contest and give
Send your news and events to people who send SMS a
chance to win Saturday

newsalphatimes@gmail.com and Sunday show tickets.

To Advertise TTDC fair from

Call December 15
4269 The annual
trade fair hosted by the
official press note stated.
A special attraction would
Tamil Nadu Tourism be a replica of the
7393 D e v e l o p m e n t
Corporation (TTDC) will
begin on Island Grounds
National Art Gallery at the
Egmore Museum. The
TTDC expects the fair to
99400 here on December 15.
The 80-day event will
feature cultural
draw an estimated 20
lakh visitors, three lakh
more than the previous
24556 programmes, music and
folk performances, an
year.
 Page 4 Alpha Times October 18, 2009

Deepavali is a
festival where people
from all age groups
participate. They give
expression to their
happiness by lighting
earthen 'diyas' (lamps),
decorating the houses,
bursting firecrackers and
inviting near and dear
ones to their households
for partaking in a
sumptuous feast. The
lighting of lamps is a way
of paying obeisance to
god for attainment of
health, wealth,
knowledge, peace, valor
and fame.
Deepavali celebrations
begins early in the
morning. The eldest
family member applies
sesame oil on the heads
of all the family members.
Then, it's off for a bath,
beginning with the
youngest in the family.
They emerge with new
clothes and a look of
anticipation at the
Significance of Diwali
t h o u g h t o f b u r s ti n g
crackers, which
symbolizes the killing of
the demon king
Narakasur.
It is one time in
the whole year that
children volunteer to
leave their beds long
before the day begins. In
fact, the traditional oil
bath at 3 a.m, is the only
chore that stands
between them and the
pre-dawn adventures.
They emerge, scrubbed
clean to get into their
festive attire, and light up
little oil lamps, candles
a n d s c e n t e d
sticks(agarbathis), the
wherewithal for setting
alight crackers and
sparklers.
Who shall set
off the first chain of
crackers that go boom,
bang and vroom? and
who is the owner of the
10-minute 'banger' that
steals the thunder from
your little chain of needle-
sized crackers? Does the
boy next door have more
crackers than me?
Competition is
stiff, and even the little girl
in silk frocks and their
finery are watching out
for the best sparklers and
flowerpots, the rockets
a n d Vi s h n u c h a k r a s ,
which light-up the night
sky like a thousand stars.
Grown-ups are the soul
of generosity. Festive
bonhomie abounds.
But before that comes
Lehiyan, the bitter
concoction, to cleanse
the system of its festive
over-eating! Then to the
crackers.
A puja is
performed for the family
deities in the morning.
Breakfast consists of
murukku , a sweet dish
and, of course, idli or
dosa .
Some communities
believe that when
Narakasur was to be
killed, Lord Krishna
asked him his last wish.
Narakasura replied that
he wanted to enjoy the
last day of his life in a
grand manner and Diwali
was celebrated. That was
the beginning and the
practice continued.
During Thalai
Deepavali, the newly
weds go to the bride's
parental home for revelry.
Taking blessings from the
elders, they burst the first
crackers of the day.
Usually a vast range of
crackers is bought, with
costs running into
thousands of rupees. The
Diwali Celebrations
include a visit to the
temple, gifts of clothes
and jewelry, gorging on
sweets and receiving
blessings of elders. The
groom's parents,
brothers and sisters
come down to join in the
celebrations.
Olden days in
the joint family system it
was celebration with
much fan fare and geity.
Now the methodology
may have changed, the
numbers in the home
diminished, the
environment different but
Deepavali is a time for
rejoicing, for celebration
and enjoyment.
It has become
a ritual before dawn bath
and then call all the
handful of relatives and a
hoard of friends as ask
each other now in R. Karthikeyan, 99411 16677
anticipation of the
festival, “Ganga snanam
aacha”…’Have you had 4269 7393
the Ganga snan?”
H a p p y
Deepavali and may the
values of Truth,
Goodness and Beauty
Light your way this year
and in all the years to
come.
- SR

Diwali Special Recipes Try these recipes this Diwali gentle heat till the
mixture leaves the sides
3/4 cup Sugar of the pan.
ALMOND SEERA Few silver vark for decoration Pour evenly
Preparation : 1. Heat milk in a large pot and add sugar. into a buttered dish.
Ingredients (Serve 4-6) Allow to cool
1 cup of coarse Flour Wheat 1-1/2 cup of 2. When it starts bubbling remove from stove and add
cashew powder little at a time. Mix well making a thick and set. Cut into
Blanched Almonds 1 teaspoon of Cardamom Powder squares.
¼ teaspoon of Crushed Saffron Strands 1 tablespoon form. You may add more powder if needed for making
thick. Sprinkle the
of Warm Milk 8-10 blanched Almonds, finely chopped nuts and serve.
into slivers 1-1/4 cup of Ghee 3 cups of Water 1 cup of 3. Pour the mix on a wax paper or thali. Press and
Sugar spread with your palms for making thin burfi.
4. Put silver vark on top if you wish.
Preparation : 1. Dissolve the crushed Saffron in the
warm milk and keep it aside for some time. 2.Now dry 5. Let it cool completely before cutting in burfi shape.
Kara Boondi
6. Put in a airtight container and keep in a cool place. Ingredients:
and make a powder of
Gram flour(Besan)- 1 cup
blanched almonds.
Rice flour- 1 spoon
Save 10 almonds for
the purpose of Choclate Barfi Chilli powder- 2
tsp
garnishing. 3. Melt Water- 1 to 2 cups
some ghee in a large Ingredients: Makes 18-20 pieces
1/2 cup cocoa powder Crushed Garlic- 5 to 7
and heavy pan. 4. Add Crushed ginger- small
some flour to the 1 tin condensed milk
piece
ghee. Stir and fry the 50 gms. Ghee (Clarified Butter)
Curry leaves- few Raw peanut- 1/4 cup (optional)
mixture for about 2-3 100g chopped nuts Salt- to taste Oil- for deep fry
minutes. 5.Add some 3/4 cup sugar Recipe: Batter preparation: Mix Gram flour, Rice flour,
almond powder to the Preparation: Chili powder, Salt and 1 to 2 cups of Water in a vessel
mixture and again stir and fry the mixture till it becomes P o u r without any lumps. The batter should be little watery and
golden and gives a nice aroma. The mixture should be condensed not so thick.
stirred continuously. 6. Add some water and again stir milk into a For frying: Heat little Oil in a pan. Add Garlic, Ginger, Curry
and cook it. 7. Add some sugar to the mixture. 8. When t h i c k leaves and Peanuts, fry till Peanuts turn into dark in color or
the ghee starts to exude then add some cardamom and bottomed till Peanuts are cooked. Kept this aside.
saffron to the mixture. pan. Add Making boondi: Heat Oil in pan on medium flame. Pour
9. Now stir and place the prepared dish into the serving butter, sugar the batter over the perforated ladle(ladle with small round
and cocoa holes) and rub it with another ladle which makes the batter
dish. Garnish it with the chopped almonds. to fall through the ladle holes evenly. Cook till it turns into
powder into
crispy. Drain this from oil and repeat the same for the whole
KAAJU BURFI OR KAJU KATLI the pan. batter. Now boondi is ready.
Ingredients : S t i r Finally mix the boondi, fried items(from step 2)
2 cups of finely grounded Cashew powder constantly on and little Salt.
1/4 cup Milk -Sushma Trivedi
 October 18, 2009 Alpha Times Page 5

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in your neighbourhood please mail to us:
www.timeschennai.com
for test in English newsalphatimes@gmail.com Wishes a very Happy Diwali
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 Page 6
Ageless diva Rekha turns 55
55 is just a
number. To her millions of
fans, she was a diva and
continues to remain one.
The iconic figure of Indian
film industry, Rekha
turned 55 recently.
The way she
climbed the ladder of
success from being an
ordinary looking actress
to a sensational female of
Bollywood is remarkable.
According to film critic
Omar Qureshi, “Rekha is
a diva... In fact, the term
diva (in India) was coined
for Rekha. The way she
has metamorphosed
herself from what she
was when she came into
the industry is mind
blowing.”
Men don’t forget
to swear by her enduring,
timeless beauty. The
‘Khubsoorat’ lady is not
only known for her beauty
but also for her fashion
sense and glamorous
image. She is enigmatic,
believes filmmaker
Muzaffar Ali who directed
her in the poetic drama
‘Umrao Jaan’.
“She is a
dreamer... she lives in her
own world. She imagines
Orientation programme at
Sitaram Vidyalaya
An orientation
programme was
organized for parents and
students of Std XI and XII
to motivate and create an
awareness and bring a
sense of focus among the
Commerce students in
SSRV on Oct. 1.
Mr. K. Shivram,
Course Director Fulcrum
conducted the
programme and
highlighted how to decide
upon the right career
options in commerce
stream after passing
class 12. Useful
information about various
a lot of things that suit her
psyche as an actor. She
is a very genuine, warm
and a very sensitive
person... And no denying
the fact a very
good learner. It
has been an
a m a z i n g
experience to
work with her; she
is a perfect
actress,” says
Muzaffar Ali.
Over the
years, Rekha has
b e c o m e a
r e c l u s i v e
personality. She
now loves to be
with herself; you
can catch a rare
glimpse of her at
t h e a w a r d
functions where
she walks
in as a
quintesse
n t i a l
Indian
beauty
donning a
g a u d y
banarasi
saree with
o p e n ,
rumpled
hair and
down-to-
earth persona, even as
the onlookers gawk at her
in awe, amazed by her
charm.
“ S h e i s
enigmatic... because she
is hard to get. She only
moves in a small circle of
senior film people and
she shuns the media.
That's also because she
is a tragic figure with
failed relationships...
professional courses
which can be pursued by
Commerce students and
the ever growing demand
for such professionals at
national and global level
was the highlight of the
programme. Principal
Mrs. Leela Parthasarathy
appreciated the students
and their enthusiam
shown towards the
unique integrated
programme.
E a r l i e r, M r s .
Lakshmi Devi Commerce
teacher welcomed the
gathering.
Alpha Times October 18, 2009
none of which
succeeded, so she has On Call Service Rs. 75/-
withdrawn into herself,”
Matrimonial
says noted film historian Computer THINK of Brahmin alliance!
Gautam Kaul. Think of us. Chennai Sai
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W i t h a n
unfathomable persona,
Rekha is a legend. She
has acted in more than
150 films and still
continues to do rare
projects. But she’s best
remembered as the
elegant ‘Umrao Jaan’, a
role which many India
actresses dream of
repeating.
Showering
praises on her, TV
actress and item girl
Rakhi Sawant feels that
Rekha should have a
wax statuette in Madam
Tussaud’s museum. “For
me, she is the perfect
style icon,” says Rakhi.
As she adds
another year to her life,
we wish India’s Greta
Garbo a very Happy
Birthday.
This space
Award for the best kolu costs
Rs. 200/-
A team from
Bank of Baroda visited
colourful dolls
representing the theme, only
the Kolu in and around and a globe was placed
West Mambalam area to signify the same.
during the Navarathiri Sitaram School Kolu was
Celebrations. Sri Sitaram selected one among the
Vidyalaya Mat. Hr. Sec. best in that area and prize
School teachers had was awarded for the
extended their same by Madurai S.
participation in arranging Balasubramanian,
a Kolu in the place V i o l i n i s t M r s . V. P.
allotted for them at Lakshmi, teacher of
Ayodhya Mandapam. SSRV received the same
T h e t h e m a t i c on behalf the school at
representation of the Kolu Bank of Baroda, West
was universal peace and Mambalam Branch.
brotherhood. Many
 October 18, 2009
Chocolate, water can
melt away your pain
E a t i n g
chocolate or drinking
water can relieve aches
and pains, a new study
has shown.
A team of
researchers says the
distraction of eating or
drinking for pleasure acts
as a natural painkiller.
Although the
findings come from
studies on animals, the
scientists believe the
same effect takes place
in people.
T h e s t u d y,
published Wednesday in
the Journal of
Neuroscience by authors
Peggy Mason, PhD,
p r o f e s s o r o f
n e u r o b i o l o g y, a n d
Hayley Foo, PhD,
research associate
p r o f e s s o r o f
neurobiology at the
University of Chicago, is
the first to demonstrate
that this powerful
painkilling effect occurs
while the animals are
ingesting food or liquid
even in the absence of
appetite.
"It''s a strong,
strong effect, but it''s not
about hunger or
appetite," Mason said.
"If you have all this food
in front of you that''s
easily available to reach
out and get, you''re not
going to stop eating, for
basically almost any
reason,” the expert
added.
I n t h e
experiments, rats were
given either a chocolate
chip to eat or had sugar
water or regular water
infused directly into their
mouth. As the rat
swallowed the chocolate
or fluid, a light-bulb
beneath the cage was
switched on, providing a
Consumer helpline proving
to be a hit even during trial run
The Tamil Nadu
State Consumer Helpline
and Call Centre, at the
Ezhilagam complex in
Chepauk, is presently on
a trial run but it is already
proving to be a hit. The
facility is to be
inaugurated by deputy
chief minister M K Stalin
but consumers have
already started calling to
seek information
pertaining to products
and services. According
to official sources, about
600 calls have been
received in the last one
week. The toll-free
number (044-28592828),
with five phone
connections, is yet be
declared officially.
“We have
uploaded details of
grievance redressal
sections of about 650
heat stimulus that
normally caused the
animal to lift its paw off
the floor.
Mason and Foo
found that rats were
much slower to raise
their paw while eating or
drinking, compared to
tests conducted while
they were awake, but not
eating.
S u r p r i s i n g l y,
the researchers found no
difference in the delayed
paw-lift response
between when the rat
was eating chocolate
and when it was drinking
water, despite previous
research indicating that
only sugary substances
were protective against
pain.
"This really
shows it has nothing to
do with calories," Mason
said. "Water has no
calories, saccharine has
no sugar, but both have
the same effect as a
chocolate chip. It''s really
shocking."
Mason and Foo
then repeated the heat
test as the rats were
given quinine, a bitter
drink that causes rats to
make an expression
called a gape that''s akin
to a child''s expression of
"yuck." During quinine
administration, the rats
reacted to heat as quickly
as when not eating,
suggesting that a non-
pleasurable food or drink
fails to trigger pain relief.
The context of
ingesting was also
important to whether
eating or drinking blunted
pain, the researchers
found. When rats were
made ill by a drug
treatment, eating
chocolate no longer
delayed their response.
private products and of
government services like
insurance firms, banks,
telephones and
transport. Consumers
can get the name of the
officials, their landline
and cell phone numbers,
e-mail addresses and
contact address. The
software is designed to
enable callers to get the
details through SMS and
email too. Presently, the
centre functions from
9.30 am to 6 pm. After the
inauguration, consumers
can make calls roundthe-
clock; calls received after
working hours will be
responded the next day,’’
sources said.
Most of the calls
being received now
relate to deficiency in
services in departments
like the Tamil Nadu
Alpha Times
However, drinking water
still caused a reduced
pain response, indicating
that drinking water was
considered a positive
experience while ill.
By selectively
inactivating a region in
the brainstem called the
raphe mangus – an area
previously shown to blunt
pain during sleep and
urination – Mason and
Foo were able to remove
the effect of drinking
water on the rat''s pain
response. The brainstem
controls subconscious
responses such as
breathing and
perspiration during
exercise.
" Y o u ' ' r e
essentially at the mercy
of your brainstem, and
the raphe magnus is part
of that," Mason said. "It
tells you, ''you''re going to
finish eating this,
whether you like it or
not,'' just like you sweat
while running whether
you like it or not."
In the wild, Mason said,
rats and other animals
would not want to be
distracted during the rare
but important times that
they were able to eat or
drink. Therefore, the
activation of the raphe
magnus during eating or
drinking would allow the
rat to filter out
distractions until their
meal was completed. For
obvious reasons, this
natural pain relief would
be activated when an
animal is eating or
drinking something
pleasurable, but not
when it tastes something
that could be toxic or
harmful.
Electricity Board, the
public distribution system
and the telephones
department. “People
can also lodge
consumer-related
complaints at the centre
which in turn will take it up
with the private firm or
government agency
concered. Complaints
can be given through e-
mail or post or in person.
Once the centre is
inaugurated, an advocate
and a consumer activist
will be available on a
specific day every week
to provide guidance and
counselling,” sources
added. Many consumer-
activists in the city have
welcomed the setting up
of the call centre that has
been envisaged as a
nodal point for all kinds of
complaints.
Questions about life
T H E culture. TV serials like
MAHABHARATA is an
inestimable treasure-
house of knowledge and
wisdom based on ancient
India’s historical,
religious, ethical and
p h i l o s o p h i c a l
perceptions. According to
its compiler Maharshi
Veda Vyasa, just as
butter in milky products,
nectar in medicines,
Himalayas in mountains
and cow in quadrupeds
a re ra te d su p re me ,
s i m i l a r l y t h e
Mahabharata is second
to none in the range of
epics. He has summed
u p t h e m a i n
characteristics of this
work in the following two
lines:
"What is here
can be elsewhere also
but
What is not here
cannot be found
anywhere".
T h e living in an alien land and
Mahabharata is like a
vast ocean from where
you can extract any
volume of information
and any length of
material at will. Besides
the boundless expanse
of its richness, there are
numerous pearls of
wisdom scattered here
and there with no parallel
whatsoever to match
with. "Yudhishthira’s
encounter with Yaksha"
can be cited as one such
great event which has
enough of intellectual
food to sharpen one’s
appetite for learning and
experimenting it also.
The encounter
of "Yudhishthira with
Yaksha, in fact, is the
finest example of the quiz
News bytes Free access to ATMs of other
banks closes from Oct. 15
There would be
limits to one's freedom to
walk into any bank's
automated teller
machine from Thursday
as third-party ATM usage
would carry a cap on the
withdrawal amount and
the number of
transactions each month.
From October
15, a customer can take
out a maximum of Rs
10,000 per withdrawal
from ATMs not owned by
the bank in which he has
an account, and the
number of such
transactions would be
limited to five a month.
KBC have made this type
of intellectual exercise
popular. If Yudhishthira
was an exceptionally
knowledgeable person
and the answers he gave
to yaksha were so apt
and illuminating that we
can make our lives
sublime by learning them
and acting upon them.
A chosen few,
questions and answers
are being reproduced
below:
What does not close its
eyes even while asleep?
Who does not stir after
having been born? Who
is heartless and who
advances with a force?
The fish does
not close its eyes while
asleep, the egg is
stagnant after its birth,
the stone has no heart
and the river gushes forth
with a force.
Who is the friend of one
who is so at home? Who
befriends the diseased
and who is friendly to the
person nearing death?
A co-traveller is
a friend in sojourn and the
wife at home. A physician
befriends a patient and
charity is friendly to a
dying man.
Who moves about lonely
and who takes birth
again? What is the
remedy of cold and which
is the widest seed-
sowing source?
The sun travels
alone. Having born one
time, the moon takes
birth again. Fire is the
panacea for cold and the
earth is the largest seed-
sowing centre.
What should a man
In August, the
Reserve Bank of India
(RBI) had asked banks to
impose the restrictions
on third-party ATM usage
from mid-October. The
s t e p f o l l o w e d
recommendations by
I n d i a n B a n k s '
Association (IBA), an
industry lobby.
I B A h a d
s u b m i t t e d i t s
recommendations to the
central bank last July
citing financial burden on
banks due to a large
number of third party
usage and small-ticket
withdrawals, resulting in
Page 7
sacrifice to gain popularity?
The renunciation of which
thing does not plunge him into
grief? Which surrender
makes him prosperous and
surrender of what makes him
an exuberant man?
The renouncing of
pride leads him to popularity.
No one comes to grief by
sacrificing anger.
Surrendering of desires make
people prosperous and
abjuration of greed makes
him a happy man.
What is the soul of man? Who
is his God-given friend? What
is the animated spirit that
keeps him on the go and what
is his best refuge.
A son is counted as
the soul of man and a wife is a
god-given companion. Rain is
the animating spirit that
sustains him and charity is the
best refuge.
Who is the guest of all the
living beings? What is the
primeval way of life to be
observed? What is meant by
nectar and what surrounds
the entire universe?
Fire is the guest of
all the living beings. The
eternal and universally
applicable code is the
primeval way of life. Cow’s
milk is nectar itself and it is air
pervades the entire universe.
Which is the enemy of man
that cannot be defeated and
what is that disease which
has no end? Whom would
you define as noble and who
will be judged as ignoble?
Anger happens to
be man’s invincible enemy.
Avarice is the disease that
accompanies him
throughout.
A man who does
good to all is noble and the
one devoid of mercy will be
labelled as ignoble.
S. Raghunathan
high interchange expenses
for banks.
Going by the IBA
guidelines, a savings account
holder may get five free third-
party transactions a month
and could be charged from
sixth onwards. However,
current account holders might
not get any free third-party
usage.
The short-lived
freedom of using ATMs of
other banks, for services like
cash withdrawals and
account enquiries, without
being charged for the same,
was brought in force by the
RBI on April 1, just over six
months back.
Page 8 Alpha Times October 18, 2009

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