' Celestial Matter '

I. 'North'- as a Direction stands unique!:-

Geographical or Terrestrial North Pole is defined as a point in the Northern Hemisphere where the Earth's axis of rotation meets the Earth's Surface. At North Pole all directions point South.


True North refers to the direction of North Pole relative to the Navigators' position. Let us not further discuss astronomy about the North but consider where 'North' as a direction plays a unique role in our day to day life !

1) We always begin with Ganapathy pooja to ward off any hurdles and after the pooja we move the symbolic Ganapathy formed out of turmeric in the direction of North and then proceed with the main function,reciting " Vakrathunda Mahakaya Koti Surya Samaprabha, Nirvignam Kuru Me Deva Sarvakaryeshu Sarvadha ".
2) The bride groom sits facing north during marriage.
3) We sit facing north while performing rituals to fore-fathers.
4) The sacred thread is worn on the left shoulder (North side) in general and for all auspicious occasions.
5) The articles used for the performance of 'homams ' are placed first in the north.
6) As and when the 'sankalpa' gets over, the 'Dharba(s)' and 'Akshadhai' are dropped in the direction of North. The preferred direction after the pooja is to go northwards.
7) The bridegroom sets forth for "Kasi (Benaras) Yatra " when he is stopped by the would be father-in-law who invites him to marry his daughter. Here the groom moves in the North where Varanasi is situated.
8) When Sradha karma is performed, we pray for their emancipation facing North as Gaya,the holy place,is situated in the North. We also walk a few steps in North.
9) When items are served in the leaf while eating, it is served in a rotation when serving ends in the North.
10) It will be ideal to sleep stretching the legs towards the North. It is hygienic also.
11) When seated in asana one leg over the other, the leg which occupies the top position should face North.
12) Holy places like Varanasi, Gaya, Mount Meru -all are situated in North direction.
13) 'Maha Meru' is in North with reference to the whole world.
14) 'The COMPASS'which is used to find the directions rotates always and points its direction towards 'North' only. Thus North becomes the reference to find other directions East, West and South.
'Sastras' propagate that all pro-active Actions initiated with a goal 'for progress' should get concluded in the direction of North.

II. Does God Exist?

This question was faced by no less aperson than Dr.Abdul Kalam from the students when once he went to South Africa.


He answered that Earth takes 24 hours to go around its axis for one rotation and takes 365 days to go around the Sun. Abdul Kalam further expounded that the SUN takes
21.5 cores of years to go around the milky galaxy. The magnitude of one Galaxy is unimaginable, let alone thousands of Galaxies that exist in the Universe.
The Satellites, Stars move around in orbits with reference to their respective Galaxies in a precise and pre-determined manner. Kalam asked the students who created all these? They were just struck by wonder.

Abdul Kalam answered we can see the SUN, without which Energy we can not survive. Like wise the Galaxies which we can not see with the naked eye are all created by God. The Universe is created by the omnipotent and omnipresent which can be no other than God!. The students applauded the Scientist for bringing the truth for realization.

III. Why 'Krishna'is blue?


Swami Vivekananda was the invited once, as guest of honor, by the Madras Law College. He had some interesting dialogue with the lawers of tomorrow. He raised a question to the audience ' Why Lord Krishana is 'Neela Megha Syamala Varna"?, in other words why HE is blue in color? In the midst of the students who were all blinking to answer, there stood one bright student Rajagopalan by name and replied 'Swamiji, are not all all-pervading Sky, the magnificent Sea, blue in colour ? Likewise Lord Krishna who is is omnipotent and WHOSE Grace protects every living beings all over is also considered to have blue complexion. Swami Vivekananda was very much pleased with Rajagopalan's convincing answer and applauded him.



This Rajagopalan is none other than the renowned and later popularly known as 'Rajaji' or "Chakravarthy Rajagopalachari".

Dr.Albert Schweitzer

Touching Anecdotes from the life of Dr.Albert Schweitzer


Dr.Albert Schweitzer was born in Alsace (now part of France, then Germany) on Jan14,1875. His father was a Pastor. Schweitzer showed passion in his boyhood days for playing the organ. Later he became world's leading expert in organ making. He took his Ph.d from Strasbourg and later obtained an advanced degree in Theology.Served as a principal in a Strasbourg College. He is the author of the most famous book in Theology titled as ' The Quest for the Historical Jesus '.

Dr.Schweitzer felt a strong yearning towards a direct service to the humanity. His often repeated sermon was " We must make atonements for the terrible crimes we read of in the news papers - not only that but also for what we don't read ".

Schweitzer surprised everyone in 1905, when he was 30 , that his profession would not be theology nor philosophy but would be medicine. He declared that this activity (medicine) would not be merely talking about 'the religion of love' but actually putting it into practice. He created a sensation in the medical school " When I went to the Prof.Fehling, that time Dean, to give my name as a student, he would have liked best to hand me over to his colleague in Psychiatric Dept." He specialized in tropical medicine first and then went on to do surgery when he was 38.

Dr. married Helene Bresslan, a trained nurse. Dr. and Mrs. went to Africa and built a hospital in Lambarene which was then a part of French Congo,now Gabon in Africa. When World War I broke, as he was a German by birth, he was taken as a prisoner of war by French Army. Schweitzer had a feeling of deja vu in the prison room that he knew the room from some past experience. The mystery was solved when he remembered Vangogh's picture in his mind. He later learnt that Vangogh who was a well known artist who underwent treatment in the very same building which served as a mental institution then. Vangogh committed suicide later.

Dr.Schweitzer remarked that life should only be negated when it is for a higher value and purpose - not merely for a selfish and thoughtless action.

He became the father of a girl child called Rhena when he was 43 years old. She did not see much of her father in her early ages as the Dr. was seriously engaged in the eradication of Malaria. But when Rhena's children grew, she acquired technical lab skill and went to Africa to serve with her father in the hospital. She became the Superintendent of the hospital after the demise of her father. She served for many years and married an American doctor Dr.David Miller who volunteered in the hospital.

Dr.Albert Schweitzer's fame became increasingly wide spread over the years and people flocked to Lamberene to see him in action. Dr. remarked " Every one should find his own Lamberene ". He formulated what he liked in the words " My Life is my argument".

Dr. Schweitzer was honored in 1953, when he was 78, the Nobel Peace Prize for his humanitarian work.

Little known was Dr.'s humor. When once he went to his native place, the whole town went to the Railway Station to receive the great son of the soil. They searched him in A/C First Class, I Class, II class but not to be seen . At last they saw him getting down from the III class. " What Dr.? why III Class ?? " - was the question from every one. Schweitzer replied with a knotty smile " What to do - there is no Class IV compartment in the Train !!". He led a very simple life in service to the humanity.

Dr. Schweitzer passed away at a ripe age of 90 in September 1965. He will always be remembered for the noble deeds he carried out with a missionary zeal.