KPL players bidding details

read as player, team, bid amount in lakhs

  1. K.P. Appanna, Malnad Gladiators, 1.45 lakh;
  2. Robin Uthappa, Bangalore Brigaders, 3.25;
  3. K.B. Pawan, Mysore Maharajas, 1.85;
  4. C.M. Gautam, Shamanur Davangere Diamonds, 1.40;
  5. Sunil Raju, Shamanur Davangere Diamonds, 1.35;
  6. B. Akhil, Provident Bangalore, 3;
  7. Raghu, Mysore Maharajas, 1.60;
  8. Ganesh Satish, Malnad Gladiators, 1.30;
  9. Sunil Joshi, Shamanur Davangere Diamonds, 2.05;
  10. Udit Patel, Mangalore, 0.90;
  11. Raju Bhatkal, Malnad Gladiators, 2.10;
  12. Thilak Naidu, Provident Bangalore, 1.10;
  13. Deepak Chougule, Bangalore Brigaders, 1.80;
  14. Bharat Chipli, Mangalore, 2.35;
  15. Stuart Binny, Bijapur Bulls, 3.20;
  16. A. Mithun, Malnad Gladiators, 1.50;
  17. Devraj Patil, Bijapur Bulls, 1.70;
  18. N.C. Aiyappa, Provident Bangalore, 0.80;
  19. Vinay Kumar, Belgaavi Panthers, 2.50;
  20. David Johnson, Belgaavi Panthers, 0.35;
  21. Sudhindra Shinde, Mangalore, 0.95;
  22. Amit Verma, Provident Bangalore, 1.35;
  23. S. Arvind, Mangalore, 1.25;
  24. Manish Pandey, Belgaavi Panthers, 2.55;
  25. David Mathias, Bangalore Brigaders, 0.35;
  26. Suraj Sampath, Belgaavi Panthers, 0.30;
  27. Karun Nair, Mangalore, 0.40;
  28. Sinan Abdul Khader, Mangalore, 0.20;
  29. Chetan William, Mysore Maharajas, 1.05;
  30. . K.L. Rahul, Bangalore Brigaders, 1.0;
  31. Pawan Deshpande, Shamanur Davangere Diamonds, 0.30;
  32. S.L. Akshay, Malnad Gladiators, 0.40;
  33. Abrar Kazi, Mysore Maharajas, 0.55;
  34. Anirudh Joshi, Provident Bangalore, 0.45;
  35. Mansur Ali Khan, Bangalore Brigaders, 0.35;
  36. Vinay Uthappa, Belgaavi Panthers, 0.35;
  37. C.B. Karthik, Bijapur Bulls, 0.30;
  38. Kunal Kapoor, Malnad Gladiators, 0.25;
  39. M.R. Darshan, Provident Bangalore, 0.20;
  40. R. Jonathan, Mangalore, 1.80;
  41. Md. Arif, Bijapur Bulls, 0.40;
  42. Aditya Sagar, Mysore Maharajas, 1.0;
  43. A.V. Ragavendra Rao, Shamanur Davangere Diamonds, 0.20;
  44. Mayank Agarwal, Shamanur Davangere Diamonds, 1.0;
  45. C. Raghavendra, Mysore Maharajas, 0.45;
  46. P. Yogesh, Belgaavi Panthers, 0.45;
  47. C.B. Karthik, Bangalore Brigaders, 0.20;
  48. Mithun Beerala, Bijapur Bulls, 0.30.

KPL team names

Malnad Gladiators

Bangalore Brigaders

Mysore Maharajas

Shamanur Davangere Diamonds

Provident Bangalore

Mangalore

Bijapur Bulls

Belgaavi Panthers

Taiwan challenging China to let Dalai Lama visit

Taiwan, which turned away the Dalai Lama last year on fears of upsetting China, has approved a visit by the Tibetan spiritual leader next week to comfort victims of a deadly typhoon, the government said on Thursday.

Beijing brands the India-based Tibetan luminary as a separatist and condemns his trips abroad.

But while there has been no official comment yet from Beijing on the Taiwan visit, the Chinese government may be unlikely to retaliate with any steps that could choke off trade, investment, tourism and people-to-people exchanges.

Chinese public opinion is easily riled by shows of support for the Dalai Lama, but Beijing is also aware any strong moves could play into the hands of Taiwan opponents of President Ma Ying-jeou, who has sought to ease tensions with Beijing.

The president's office, under fire for perceptions his response to typhoon Morakot was too slow, and national security officials decided in a 5-hour meeting on Wednesday to permit a visit by the Dalai Lama from Aug. 31-Sept. 3, the Government Information Office said.

"We've ... decided to let the Dalai Lama visit as he is coming here to pray for the dead victims, as well as the survivors," Ma told reporters while visiting typhoon survivors.

"President Ma has done the right thing after a long, long time," said Khedroob Thondup, a Taipei-based member of the Tibetan parliament in exile. "If they refused His Holiness, there would have been a backlash."

EAGER TO VISIT

The Dalai Lama was always eager to visit Taiwan and is looking forward to the trip, his aide told Reuters from the Indian hill town of Dharamsala, headquarters of the Tibetan government-in-exile.

"The main purpose for the visit is to comfort the typhoon victims and offer prayers," Tenzin Taklha said on Thursday.

"Immediately after the typhoon (the Dalai Lama) sent a letter of condolence and expressed his sympathy and sorrow." Taklha said he was hopeful the visit would occur soon, though he said no dates have been finalised. "His holiness has always felt very close to the Taiwanese people, so he is very keen."

Taiwan, home to a large exiled Tibetan community and millions of Buddhists, allowed visits by the Dalai Lama in 1997 and 2001.

But President Ma last year quashed hopes for a 2009 visit by the Tibetan spiritual leader, saying the timing was wrong as his government was working to improve relations with China. Taiwan Buddhist groups, who had suggested the visit, criticised the decision.

Since taking office in 2008, Ma's administration has avoided action that could anger Beijing as he pursues trade ties.

Invited this week by local governments in south Taiwan, where the Aug. 7-9 typhoon is feared to have killed nearly 700 people in mudslides, the Dalai Lama will comfort survivors, many of whom are homeless, the information office said.

NO HARM TO TIES

"The Dalai Lama will be in Taiwan for religious purposes, so we welcome that," Tony Wang, presidential office spokesman, told a news conference.

"I don't think his visit will harm cross-straits ties, which have improved since May 20 last year," he said, referring to the date when Ma took office.

China has claimed sovereignty over self-ruled Taiwan since 1949, when Mao Zedong's forces won the Chinese civil war and Chiang Kai-shek's KMT fled to Taiwan. Beijing has vowed to bring Taiwan under its rule, by force if necessary.

The 73-year-old Dalai Lama fled Tibet in 1959 after a failed uprising against Chinese rule in the region, occupied by People's Liberation Army troops in 1950.

The Dalai Lama's visit might irritate Beijing but blow over, said ruling Nationalist Party (KMT) Secretary-General Wu Den-yih.

"Beijing will be a little uncomfortable, but if they understand how severe the disaster is they will show some respect to Taiwan's people," Wu told Reuters.

Zhu Feng, professor of international security at Peking University, said: "I think that there won't be major damage from this visit, because trade and investment will continue. But it will damage channels of political communication for at least a while."

"Ma showed last year that he could withstand pressure to approve a visit, but now he'll be seen as playing politics with the mainland," said Zhu. (Additional reporting by Bappa Majumdar in NEW DELHI, and Chris Buckley and Benjamin Kang Lim in BEIJING; Editing by Jerry Norton)

Two Moons never see in Your Life



27th Aug the Whole World is waiting for.............

Planet Mars will be the brightest in the night sky starting August. It will look as large as the full moon to the naked eye. This will cultivate on Aug. 27 when Mars comes within 34.65M miles off earth. Be sure to watch the sky on Aug. 27 12:30 am. It will look like the earth has 2 moons.

The next time Mars may come this close is in 2287. Share this with your friends as NO ONE ALIVE TODAY will ever see it again.

Richards quashes Qasim Umar

"Viv (Richards) would think this is a ridiculous statement and would not give it much attention," said Mervyn, younger brother of Sir Viv when MiD DAY contacted him in Antigua for a reaction to former Pakistan batsman Qasim Umar's drug charge last night.

Sir Vivian Richards

He promised to talk to his brother to let us know his reaction. When we spoke to Mervyn again, he had some news for us: "Viv thinks this is the most ridiculous thing he has ever heard and he will not comment on it."

Storm
Former Pakistan batsman Qasim Umar reportedly said on a television show that Viv Richards took performance-enhancing drugs during his playing days.

According to a PTI report, Umar said that Richards, "himself confessed to him that he used to take drugs to release tension and improve his stamina and endurance levels."

"Firstly, I don't think cricket is a sport where performance can be enhanced by consuming something. It is played between the ears. Viv never needed to do something like that," Mervyn said.

He put it down to jealousy. "This has come up at a time when Usain Bolt is breaking records. It's funny how allegations are made against extraordinary players. Yes, Viv was enhanced by something. It's called passion.

His cricketing passion was his drug. The only thing he used was something for his eyes" Umar's accusation caused Mervyn to remind us about Viv's early years. "Viv slept with his cricket bat," he recalled.

Mervyn, a football administrator, was delighted when told that Viv, at the height of the match-fixing controversy, called match-fixing tantamount to treason.

"There you go... that's the kind of regard Viv has for this game. He would never do anything which went against the spirit of cricket," said Mervyn, who was a decent cricketer himself. In fact, his mother believed he was more talented than Viv. But in an interview, Mervyn once said: "Nah. I was probably more wristy and stylish but Viv was something else."

Sonu nigam's kannada album is ready to release


Sonu nigam said, his long awaited kannada album is almost ready to release.

Music director :Mano Murthy

Lyricist: Jayant Kaikini

Swine Flu Home Remedies

Supplements

Consuming dietary and vitamin supplements like vitamin C, vitamin D, etc. and certain probiotics can be useful in the treatment and prevention of swine flu. The supplements strengthen the immune system, to fight against the viruses and organisms causing swine flu.

Swine Flu Home Remedies

There are various home remedies that can be effective in relieving swine flu symptoms, along with the natural remedies for swine flu.

  • A mixture of 1 tbsp of honey with 1/2 tbsp cinnamon powder can be consumed. This will relieve swine flu symptoms like cold, nasal congestion and sore throat.
  • Steam inhalation with basil leaves added to the water, can also be helpful in relieving swine flu symptoms and relieving lung congestion.
  • Chewing fresh garlic cloves is another effective home remedy as garlic is a good antiviral.
  • Consuming lemon tea can relieve symptoms like cough, sore throat, headaches, etc.
  • Washing hands regularly and covering of the mouth and nose, while venturing out, is an important method of swine flu prevention.
  • Along with the treatment for swine flu, consuming liquids and taking adequate rest and sleep is very essential.

Some tips which I found on the web:

1. Have five duly washed leaves of Tulsi (known as Basil in English; medicinal name Ocimum sanctum) everyday in the morning. Tulsi has a large number of therapeutic properties. It keeps throat and lungs clear and helps in infections by way of strengthening your immunity.

2. Giloi (medicinal name Tinospora cordifolia) is a commonly available plant in many areas. Take a one-foot long branch of giloi, add five to six leaves of Tulsi and boil in water for 15-20 minutes or long enough to allow the water to extract its properties. Add black pepper and sendha (salt used during religious fasts), rock or black salt, or Misri (crystalised sugar like lumps to make it sweet) according to taste. Let it cool a bit and drink this kadha (concoction) while still warm. It will work wonders for your immunity. If giloi plant is not available, get processed giloi powder from Hamdard or others, and concoct a similar drink once a day.

3. A small piece of camphor (kapoor) approximately the size of a tablet should be taken once or twice a month. It can be swallowed with water by adults while children can take it along with mashed potatoes or banana because they will find it difficult to have it without any aides. Please remember camphor is not to be taken everyday, but only once each season, or once a month.

4. Those who can take garlic, must have two pods of raw garlic first thing in the morning. To be swallowed daily with lukewarm water. Garlic too strengthens immunity like the earlier measures mentioned.

5. Those not allergic to milk, must take a glass of hot or lukewarm milk every night with a small measure of haldi (turmeric).

6. Aloe vera (gwarpatha) too is a commonly available plant. Its thick and long, cactus-like leaves have an odourless gel. A teaspoon gel taken with water daily can work wonders for not only your skin and joint pains, but also boost immunity.

7. Take
homeopathic medicines — Pyrogenium 200 and Inflenzium 200 in particular — five tablets three times a day, or two-three drops three times a day. While these are not specifically targeted at H1N1 either, these work well as preventive against common flu virus.

8. Do Pranayam daily (preferably under guidance if you are already not initiated into it) and go for morning jog/walk regularly to keep your throat and lungs in good condition and body in fine fettle. Even in small measures, it will work wonders for your body’s resistance against all such diseases which attack the nose, throat and lungs, besides keeping you fit.

9. Have citrus fruits, particularly Vitamin C rich Amla (Indian gooseberry) juice. Since fresh Amla is not yet available in the market (not for another three to four months), it is not a bad idea to buy packaged Amla juice which is commonly available nowadays.

10. Last but not the least, wash your hands frequently every day with soap and warm water for 15-20 seconds; especially before meals, or each time after touching a surface that you suspect could be contaminated with flu virus such as a door handle or a knob/handle, especially if you have returned from a public place or used public transport. Alcohol-based hand cleaners should be kept handy at all times and used until you can get soap and warm water.

Refer to the link below for some safety tips

http://www.drchetan.com/swine-flu-information.html

Nasa assembles Ares test rocket

The US space agency has completed the assembly of its Ares I-X rocket ahead of a test flight scheduled for October.

The Ares I rocket is a key component of Nasa's next-generation space transportation system.

The agency will use Ares I to launch the Orion capsule - the spacecraft to be used for human space missions after the space shuttle retires.

The unmanned test version of the rocket is standing in the vehicle assembly building (VAB) at Kennedy Space Center.

The final segments of the Ares I-X rocket, including the simulated crew module and launch abort system, were stacked together on 13 August on a mobile launcher platform at the VAB in Florida.

Nasa has released images, providing the first look at the 99m (327ft) launch vehicle.

The Ares I-X flight test is targeted for 31 October.

Nasa is scheduled to retire the space shuttle in 2010; the completed Ares-Orion system is not due to fly until 2015 at the earliest.

Suicide bomber kills 19 in Russia's Ingushetia

A suicide bomber detonated a truck packed with explosives at a local police headquarters in Russia's Ingushetia region on Monday killing at least 19 people and wounding 68 others.

The bombing was the latest in a series of attacks against police and politicians in Russia's mainly Muslim North Caucasus region that authorities have blamed on Islamist insurgents, undermining the Kremlin's control of its southern flank.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev ordered his interior minister to take additional measures to ensure security in the region, which borders Chechnya.

The truck bomb exploded at the gate of the police base in Ingushetia's biggest town of Nazran as officers lined up at the start of their working day, the region's deputy interior ministry Zyaudin Dourbekov told Reuters.

"The suicide bomber drove the Gazel truck to the building and detonated the device," Dourbekov said. He said at least 19 people had been killed and another 68 were wounded.

MANGLED GATE

Thick smoke billowed from the burning building as fire-fighters fought flames near the mangled gate of the compound. ITAR-TASS quoted an unidentified investigator as saying the bomb was the equivalent of half a tonne of TNT.

"The bomb could be heard throughout the city," said resident Timur Akiyev.

A 38-year-old Nazran resident who identified himself only as Ilyas said he was considering moving his business to neighboring Chechnya as he felt the situation there was safer.

Police moved to increase security at other buildings in the city, said Kaloi Akhilgov, a spokesman for the region's president.

Ingush President Yunus-Bek Yevkurov was badly injured in June when a suicide bomber attacked his car. He is now recovering after intensive medical treatment and is expected to return to work soon.

Critics say flourishing corruption and abuse of power by authorities are the main reasons behind tensions. Yevkurov, a former paratrooper installed by the Kremlin to restore order, has vowed to fight both rebels and corrupt officials.

What is ganesha chathurthi


Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated on the birthday of Lord Ganesh (Ganesha), the god of wisdom and prosperity on the fourth day of the moons bright fortnight, or period from new moon in the lunar month of Bhadrapada. The celebration of Ganesh Chaturthi continue for five, seven, or ten days. Some even stretch it to twenty one days, but ten the most popularly celebrated. In the tradition of the right hand path the first day is the most important. In the left hand path tradition the final day is most important.
Ganesha is the god of wisdom and prosperity and is invoked before the beginning of any auspicious work by the Hindus. It is believed that for the fulfillment of one's desires, his blessing is absolutely necessary. According to the mythology, he is the son of Shiva and Parvati, brother of Kartikeya - the general of the gods, Lakshmi - the goddess of wealth and Saraswati-the goddess of learning. There are numerous stories in Hindu mythology, associated with the birth of this elephant-headed god, whose vehicle is the Mooshak or rat and who loves Modaks (droplet shaped Indian sweet).

Legend has it that Parvati created Ganesha out of the sandalwood dough that she used for her bath and breathed life into him. Letting him stand guard at the door she went to have her bath. When her husband, Shiva returned, the child who had never seen him stopped him. Shiva severed the head of the child and entered his house. Parvati, learning that her son was dead, was distraught and asked Shiva to revive him. Shiva cut off the head of an elephant and fixed it on the body of Ganesha.

Another tale tells of how one day the Gods decided to choose their leader and a race was to be held between the brothers- Kartikeya and Ganesh. Whoever took three rounds of the earth first would be made the Ganaadhipati or the leader. Kartikeya seated on a peacock as his vehicle, started off for the test. Ganesh was given a rat, which moved swiftly. Ganesh realised that the test was not easy, but he would not disobey his father. He reverently paid obeisance to his parents and went around them three times and thus completed the test before Kartikeya. He said, " my parents pervade the whole universe and going around them, is more than going round the earth." Everybody was pleasantly surprised to hear Ganesha's logic and intelligence and hence he came to be known as the Ganaadhipati or leader, now referred to as Ganpati.

There is also a story behind the symbolic snake, rat and the singular tusk. During one of his birthdays, His mother, Parvati, cooked for him twenty-one types of delicious food and a lot of sweet porridge. Ganesha ate so much that even his big belly could not contain it. Mounting his little mouse, he embarked on his nightly rounds. His mouse suddenly stumbled upon seeing a huge snake. To adjust His belly, Ganesha put the snake on as a belt around his stomach. All of a sudden, he heard laughter emanating form the sky.

He looked up and saw the moon mocking him. Ganesha infuriated, broke off one of his tusks and hurled it at the moon. Parvati, seeing this, immediately cursed the moon that whoever looks at it on Ganesh Chaturthi will be accused of a wrong doing. The symbology behind the mouse and snake and Ganesha's big belly and its relationship to the moon on his birthday is highly philosophic. The whole cosmos is known to be the belly of Ganesha. Parvati is the primordial energy. The seven realms above, seven realms below and seven oceans, are inside the cosmic belly of Ganesha, held together by the cosmic energy (kundalini ) symbolized as a huge snake which Ganesha ties around Him. The mouse is nothing but our ego. Ganesha, using the mouse as a vehicle, exemplifies the need to control our ego. One who has controlled the ego has Ganesha consciousness or God-consciousness.

Ganesh Chaturthi Celebrations

The festival of Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated the states of Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh and many other parts of India. Started by Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaja, the great Maratha ruler, to promote culture and nationalism, the festival was revived by Lokmanya Tilak (a freedom fighter) to spread the message of freedom struggle and to defy the British who had banned public assemblies. The festival gave the Indians a feeling of unity and revived their patriotic spirit and faith. This public festival formed the background for political leaders who delivered speeches to inspire people against the Western rule. The festival is so popular that the preparations begin months in advance.
Ganesha statues installed in street corners and in homes, and elaborate arrangements are made for lighting, decoration, mirrors and the most common of flowers. Poojas (prayer services) are performed daily. The artists who make the idols of Ganesh compete with each other to make bigger and more magnificent and elegant idols. The relevantly larger ones are anything from 10 meters to 30 meters in height. These statues are then carried on decorated floats to be immersed in the sea after one, three, five, seven and ten days. Thousands of processions converge on the beaches to immerse the holy idols in the sea. This procession and immersion is accompanied by drum- beats, devotional songs and dancing.

It is still forbidden to look at the moon on that day as the moon had laughed at Ganesha when he fell from his vehicle, the rat. With the immersion of the idol amidst the chanting of "Ganesh Maharaj Ki Jai!" (Hail Lord Ganesh). The festival ends with pleas to Ganesha to return the next year with chants of "Ganpati bappa morya, pudcha varshi laukar ya" (Hail Lord Ganesh, return again soon next year.

What is Krishna Janmashtami



This is the birthday of Lord Krishna, the eighth Divine Incarnation. It falls on the 8th day of the dark half of the month of Bhadrapada (August-September). This is one of the greatest of all Hindu festivals. Lord Krishna was born at midnight. A twenty-four hour fast is observed on this day, which is broken at midnight.

Temples are decorated for the occasion. Kirtans are sung, bells are rung, the conch is blown, and Sanskrit hymns are recited in praise of Lord Krishna. At Mathura, the birthplace of Lord Krishna, special spiritual gatherings are organised at this time. Pilgrims from all over India attend these festive gatherings.

The Lord appeared when the moon entered the house of Vrishabha at the constellation of the star Rohini, on Wednesday, the 8th day of the second fortnight of the month of Sravana, which corresponds to the month of Bhadrapada Krishnapaksha according to the Barhaspatyamana, in the year of Visvavasu, 5,172 years ago (from 1945), which means 3227 B.C.

Study the Bhagavatam and the Pancharatras, which are equal to the Upanishads. You will know all about the glory of Lord Krishna, His Lilas and superhuman deeds. The eighth Avatara, Krishna, who has become the Beloved of India and the world at large, had a threefold objective: to destroy the wicked demons, to play the leading role in the great war fought on the battlefield of Kurukshetra (where he delivered His wonderful message of the Gita) and to become the centre of a marvellous development of the Bhakti schools of India.

There is no true science except devotion to Lord Krishna. That man is wealthy indeed who loves Radha and Krishna. There is no sorrow other than lack of devotion to Krishna. He is the foremost of the emancipated who loves Krishna. There is no right course, except the society of Sri Krishna's devotees. The Name, virtues and Lilas (divine pastimes) of Krishna are the chief things to be remembered. The Lotus Feet of Radha and Krishna are the chief objects of meditation.

Sri Krishna is the ocean of bliss. His soul-stirring Lilas, which are the wonder of wonders, are its waves. The honeyed music of His flute attracts the minds of His devotees from all three regions. His unequalled and unsurpassed wealth of beauty amazes the animate and the inanimate beings. He adorns His friends with His incomparable love.

His palms bear the signs of a lotus and discus, the right sole of His feet of a flag, lotus, thunderbolt, an iron goad, barley seed, and the Swastika. His left sole has the rainbow, triangle, water-pot, crescent, sky, fish, and a cow's footprint. His Form is composed of condensed universal consciousness and bliss. His Body pervades the entire cosmos.

Devotion is the only means of attaining Lord Krishna. Bhakti kindles love for the Lord. When love is directed towards Krishna, man is freed from the bondage of the world.

Though Lord Krishna appeared in a human body, He had a divine body not composed of the five elements. He did not take any birth here in the usual sense of the term. He did not die. He appeared and disappeared through His Yoga Maya as He has declared in the Gita. This is a secret, known only to His devotees, Yogis and sages.

His enchanting form with flute in hand is worshipped in myriads of homes in India. It is a form to which is poured out devotion and supreme love from the hearts of countless devotees not only in India but also in the West. Millions of spiritual seekers worship Him and repeat His Mantra, Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya.

Lord Krishna was great in knowledge, great in emotion, great in action, all at once. The scriptures have not recorded any life more full, more intense, more sublime and grander than the life of Sri Krishna.

Krishna has played various roles during His stay in the world. He was Arjuna's charioteer. He was an excellent statesman. He was a master musician; he gave lessons even to Narada in the art of playing the veena. The music of His flute thrilled the hearts of the Gopis and everyone else. He was a cowherd in Brindavan and Gokul. He exhibited miraculous powers even as a child. He killed many demons. He revealed His Cosmic Form to His mother, Yasoda. He performed the Rasa Lila, the secret of which can only be understood by devotees like Narada, Gauranga, Radha and the Gopis. He taught the supreme Truth of Yoga, Bhakti and Vedanta to Arjuna and Uddhava. He had mastered every one of the sixty-four fine arts. For all these reasons He is regarded as a full and complete manifestation of God.

Incarnations of God appear for special reasons under special circumstances. Whenever there is much unrighteousness, whenever confusion and disorder set in on account of unrighteousness and baffle the well-ordered progress of mankind, whenever the balance of human society is upset by selfish, ruthless and cruel beings, whenever irreligion and unrighteousness prevail, whenever the foundations of social organisations are undermined, the great Incarnation of God appears in order to re-establish righteousness and to restore peace.

An Incarnation is the descent of God for the ascent of man. A ray from the Cosmic Being in His potential state of manifestation descends on earth with mighty powers to keep up the harmony of the universe. The work done by the Incarnation of God and His teachings produce a benign influence on human beings and help them in their upward divine unfoldment and Self-realisation.

The Incarnation comes to reveal the divine nature of man and makes him rise above the petty materialistic life of passion and egoism.

The greatest manifestations are called Incarnations proper. Rishis, Munis, prophets, sons of God and messengers of God are minor manifestations.

The Incarnations usually come with their particular or favourite groups or companions. Lord Rama came with Lakshmana, Bharata and Shatrughna. Lord Krishna came with Balarama, Devas and Rishis. Sanaka came with Sanandana, Sanatkumara and Sanatsujata. Some, like Sri Shankara and Ramanuja, come as teachers and spiritual leaders. Some, like Chaitanya, are born to instill devotion in the hearts of people and turn their minds towards God. The Incarnations proper, like Krishna, come only when there is widespread catastrophe in the world.

On the holy Krishna Janmashtami, the ladies in South India decorate their houses beautifully, ready to welcome the Lord. They prepare various sweetmeats and offer them to the Lord. Butter was Krishna's favourite, and this is also offered. From the doorway to the inner meditation room of the house the floor is marked with a child's footprints, using some flour mixed with water. This creates the feeling in them that the Lord's own Feet have made the mark. They treat the day as one of very great rejoicing. There is recitation of the Bhagavatam, singing and praying everywhere.

The Janmashtami is celebrated at the Sivananda Ashram, Rishikesh, with the following programme of intense spiritual activity:

1. During the preceding eight days, Japa of Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya is done intensely.

2. Those who can, will recite the Bhagavatam during this period. Others will listen to it being recited.

3. On the birthday itself everyone fasts and spends the whole day in holy communion.

4. Everyone greets others with the holy Mantra, Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya.

5. A grand havan is performed on that day.

6. There is continuous Satsang from 4a.m. early in the morning till night. Yogis, Sannyasins and learned men discourse upon the glorious life and teachings of the Lord.

7. From sunset people assemble in the elaborately decorated temple and sing the Lord's Names and glories.

8. Many hymns and portions of the Bhagavatam, especially the Gopika Geetam, are recited.

9. Towards midnight, there is a grand worship of Lord Krishna. The Lord is bathed with milk while His Name is chanted 108 times.

10. This worship concludes with offerings of flowers, waving of lights (Arati), and reading of that portion of the Bhagavatam which deals with the birth of Krishna. This synchronises with midnight, the hour of the Lord's birth, at which time the murti of the Lord is rocked in a beautifully decorated cradle. After this item, all the assembled devotees partake of the holy prasad or sacrament, and then retire, filled with the Grace and blessings of Lord Krishna.

If you cannot read the whole of the Srimad Bhagavatam during these days, at least you should recite the following four most important verses from the book. The leading two verses and the closing verse are the prologue and the epilogue respectively:

"Hear from Me the most secret knowledge coupled with the essential experience and its component parts.

"May you realise by My Grace, the knowledge of Myself and what form, qualities and actions I am endowed with.

1. "Before creation I alone existed. There was nothing, neither existence nor non-existence. I am that which remains after dissolution.

2. "Understand that to be Maya or illusion which is devoid of any purpose, which is not to be found in the Self and which is unreal like light and darkness.

3. "As the primary elements are amalgamated, with one another and also separate from one another at the same time, so I pervade the whole universe and am also separate from it.

4. "The aspirant should, by the method of positive and negative, know that thing which exists always and everywhere.

"Experience this truth through the highest superconscious state so that you will not be disturbed even by illusory objects".

There is another beautiful verse in the Bhagavatam which you can recite daily: "In days of yore, the Lord, born of Devaki, brought up in the house of Yasoda, killed the wicked Putana of illusive form and lifted the Govardhana hill, killed Kamsa and the sons of the Kuru race, and protected the sons of Kunti. Thus is recited the essence of the ancient Bhagavat Purana consisting of the nectarine stories of the deeds of Lord Krishna".

Karnataka Premier League

Bangalore: Success breeds imitation, and taking a leaf out of the Indian Premier League, the Karnataka State Cricket Association launched its own State-based version — the Karnataka Premier League, at the Chinnaswamy Stadium here on Friday.

The tournament’s inaugural edition, featuring Karnataka’s eight zonal teams, will be held at Bangalore from September 12 to 27. The KSCA will organise the tournament in association with the Frontiers Group India Pvt. Ltd., (FGI), a sports management firm.

The KSCA secretary Brijesh Patel termed the tournament an “opportunity for Karnataka’s talented cricketers to gain exposure and gain experience ahead of the domestic season” while KSCA president Srikanta Datta Narasimharaja Wadiyar termed the Twenty20 outing as a “critical platform for district level cricketers to progress to the next level.”

Charu Sharma of FGI said that the tournament is a scaled down version of the IPL and, expressed hopes of a good response from corporates, despite the recession, as “cricket is a solid property to own in India.”

FGI official and former cricketer Carlton Saldanha said it would be too early to make a public commitment on the amount of money that will be involved in the bidding process.

The player auction is slated for August 14 and the tournament is scheduled from September 12 to 27.


Teams and owners

Bangalore Urban

Brigade Enterprises Ltd.

Bangalore Rural

Mel Mont Constructions Pvt. Ltd.

Hubli-Dharwad

S.Shivashankarappa

Belgaum

Subhas Enterprises

Mysore

Siresh Auto Pvt. Ltd.

Mangalore

Fizza Developers&Inter Trade Pvt. Ltd.

Gulbarga

Vivid Kreation

Shimoga

Jayapakash Hegde K