Tenali Raman : The Secret of Weaving Invisible Fabric

The capital of Vijayanagar was ruled by King Krishna Deva Raya. The usual activities of the day were halted as a gorgeous woman entered the royal court.

After the formal greetings, she took out a small box. From it, she took out the most delicate sari that would hardly cover the tip of a finger!
After showing the sari to the royal court attendants, she addressed the king, “Oh great king! I have a group of very talented weavers who know the secret of weaving this beautiful, most delicate and thinnest celestial fabric which cannot be seen by the naked eye.”

She continued, “With your blessings and financial support, these weavers can work wonders and exhibit before the honorable king!”

The king was impressed by the exhibit and believed her. After allotting the funds, the king asked the lady to get the work done with thorough research in one year.

Over the span of a year, the beautiful lady and the workers lived in the royal guest house and enjoyed the royal treatment extended by the king. However, even after one year there was no news of the research and neither was any fabric exhibited by the weavers.

The anxious king ordered his men to check on the progress of the celestial fabric that was fit to be worn by the gods and sent some of them to the guest house to inspect the weavers.

The inspectors were greeted by the lady and she took them to the location where the weavers were working. They seemed to be working so seriously that they didn’t even notice the presence of guests in the room.

To their astonishment, the inspectors found that there were no looms, thread spools or even a string of thread in the room. All the weavers sitting in the room seemed to be pretending to draw out the thread and weave. The inspectors stood there confused and inquired about the situation. The lady smirked at them, and in a very husky voice, told them, “Gentlemen, the invisible or celestial fabric is only seen by the pure-hearted along with the purity of their parents. I am very sure that you can see the intricacy of the fabric and the details of the design created by our weavers!”

Fearing that they might be branded as sinners if they spoke the truth, the inspectors decided to act as if they could see the fabric. They even appreciated the delicacy and beauty of the work done. They conveyed the same to the king as well, keeping up with their act in the guest house.

Listening to such praises of the work being done by the weavers, the king became even more enthusiastic to see greatness of the fabric.
After few days, the king ordered his men to bring the weavers to his court along with the finished product.

The royal court was packed with spectators wanting to have a look at this celestial fabric.

As a part of their introductory speech, the weavers addressed the gathering and said, “Divine material has been used in making of this fabric.
Hence, it is only visible to the ones with a pure heart along with the purity of their parents.”

Silence echoed all around the royal court as no one could actually see any fabric in front of them. But in order to save themselves from the embarrassment, they all said that they were able to view the exhibit, and started applauding its beauty and praising the weavers.

Finally, the king, accompanied by Tenali Raman, entered the court to witness the exhibition. The weavers again repeated the same phrases. King Krishna Deva Raya stood there in astonishment and said to Tenali, “Tenali! I am afraid I only see the empty hands of those weavers! I wonder whether it is a result of my heart’s impurity or that of my parents’!” Tenali replied, “My lord! There is nothing visible except thin air! These weavers are cheating us with their deceptive but effective speech”

This made the king suspicious and he asked Tenali to make public the cheating of the weavers.

Instantly, Tenali devised a plan. He turned towards the gorgeous lady and with an inquisitive tone, said to her, “A true work of beauty, my lady! The king of kings is eager to see you adorned in such a glorious fabric”

The lady was now aware that Tenali had uncovered her deceitful plan. She was in a position where she could neither refuse the king’s orders nor stand nude in front of such a huge crowd.

After a moment of silence and confusion, the lady fell on the king’s feet and begged for pardon.

Once again, Tenali and his quick wits proved to be contributory to the king’s rule!

Interesting Facts!!!

• People say “Bless you” when you sneeze because when you sneeze,your heart stops for a mili-second
• Wearing headphones for just an hour will increase the bacteria in your ear by 700 times.
• Most lipstick contains fish scales
• Like fingerprints, everyone’s tongue print is different
• Hot water is heavier than cold
• Sloths take two weeks to digest their food
• Guinea pigs and rabbits can’t sweat
• Deer can’t eat hay
• One quarter of the bones in your body, are in your feet!
• Most dust particles in your house are made from dead skin!
• Earth is the only planet not named after a god
• It is impossible to sneeze with your eyes open
• The longest recorded flight of a chicken is 13 seconds
• Owls are the only birds who can see the colour blue
• An ostrich’s eye is bigger than its brain

Pink Lakes In the World

Lakes… Pinkish??

It’s not just one in the row 😍

Lake Hillier, Australia

Situated on Middle Island, the water in Lake Hillier is permanently pink. Lake Hillier is a saline lake on the edge of Middle Island, the largest of the islands and islets that make up the Recherche Archipelago in the Goldfields-Esperance region, off the south coast of Western Australia. It is particularly notable for its pink colour. A long and thin shore divides the Southern Ocean from the lake.

Lake Retba, Senegal

Lake Retba or Lac Rose (meaning Pink Lake) lies north of the Cap Vert peninsula of Senegal, some 30 km (18 miles) north-east of the capital, Dakar in northwest Africa. The lake is separated from the Atlantic Ocean only by a narrow corridor of dunes, and is named for its pink waters, caused by Dunaliella salina algae. The algae produces a red pigment to assist in absorbing light, which provides energy to create ATP.

Hutt Lagoon, Australia

Unlike the first two pink lakes on this list, Hutt Lagoon on the western coast of Australia actually gets its pink color thanks to the color of algae that’s in the water. It is also a salty lake, but that’s because of the ocean water that feeds the lagoon.

Pink Lake, Australia

It’s called Pink Lake, but it only turns pink when the right mixture of salt and sunlight interact with the algae that call this lake home. It is nice, however, because the sands around the lake also take on the pink hue in different shades, giving you a unique pink/red beach rainbow that you won’t find in many places around the world.

 

Salina de Torrevieja, Spain

Torrevieja used to be a salt mining community and fishing is always an option with its location on the Mediterranean Sea. It’s also got one of the best pink lakes in the world today, even though the salt content of the lake isn’t very high. Much of the city sits on an isthmus between the Sea and the lake, providing a nice little microclimate for Torrevieja that makes it a wonderful place to visit virtually any time of year.

Dusty Rose Lake, Canada

This pink lake located in British Columbia, Canada, is quite unusual, unknown and probably unique. Yet this masterpiece in British Columbia is a marvel that draws visitors every year, although it might also be one of the most difficult pink lakes to access with its remote location.

Masazir Lake, Azerbaijan

It’s definitely the salt that makes this lake pink. The locals have commercialized this lake extensively to harvest the over 1 billion tons of salt that are in the water and surrounding ground. For added fun, there are extensive sulfur deposits in the area as well for that wonderful rotting egg smell

Quairading Pink Lake, Australia

What makes this lake unique is not that there’s a road that cuts through the middle of the lake. It’s not for the fact that it is in a fairly remote part of the country. It’s the fact that the lake generally develops two different shades of pink throughout the year because of the road passing through it. Calling it a lake, however, is a bit generous. This one might fit better in a top list of pink ponds.

Laguna Colorada, Bolivia

The flamingos that call this lake home have the perfect camouflage. The color is caused by a combination of red mineral sentiments and algae in the water with a heavy concentration of borax to turn the dark red to a nice pink. It’s often quite shallow and is part of a nature preserve.

Champagne Pool, New Zealand

This geothermal pool offers a unique experience because carbon dioxide bubbles up from the bottom, reminiscent of a glass of Champagne. Although the entire pool isn’t pink, as there are a number of different colors based on the different currents and levels of bacteria, there are times of the year where there is definitely a pink hue to the waters.

 

Why should we drink Tea?

• Drinking tea could help reduce the risk of heart attack. Tea might also help protect against cardiovascular and degenerative diseases.
• Tea is hydrating to the body (even despite the caffeine!). However, Tea has less caffeine than coffee
• Regular tea drinking might also counteract some of the negative effects of smoking and might even lessen the risk of lung cancer
• Green tea has been found to improve bone mineral density and strength.
• Drinking unsweetened black tea could help fix bad breath.
• Tea has the power to calm you down. Tea leaves contain an amino acid called theanine that is associated with reducing mental and physical stress and improving cognition. So there’s some scientific background to what we already know – that a tea break can turn around a bad day, improve one’s mood
• Tea may help with weight loss

Happy Tea Time!!!

Health Benefits Of Tender Coconut

Tender coconut has antioxidants, amino acids, enzymes, B-complex vitamins, vitamin C and minerals like iron, calcium, potassium, magnesium, manganese and zinc in it. It is a delicious and refreshing low-calorie natural beverage. Tender coconut water contains more nutrients than mature coconut water.

It helps boost the immune system and has anti-aging, antithrombotic and anticancer effects

• Coconut water is an excellent thirst quencher to beat tropical summer thirst. Because of its electrolyte composition, coconut water is also used to rehydrate the body in case of dehydration and fluid loss due to diarrhea, vomiting or excessive sweating. A good source of carbohydrates, it also helps lift your energy level.
• It improves digestion and kills intestinal worms. It also relieves the intestines of harmful toxins.
• Prevention of kidney stones is one of the most effective health benefits of coconut water. Kidney stones can cause a lot of pain and may result in serious health issues. Drinking coconut water can help in preventing them.
• Muscle cramps can happen due to many reasons, and coconut water helps ease the discomfort.
• Although our bones are made up mostly of calcium, we need some nutrients to maintain bone strength and density.
• Dehydration is one of the major triggers for headaches, and coconut water is touted to be one of the best natural remedies for instant hydration.
• Office, traveling, family problems—a number of reasons can cause stress. Drinking a glass of fresh coconut water is a very refreshing method to kill high tension levels.
• Coconut water is an ideal drink for weight loss. It is low in calories and easy on the stomach. In fact, this light and refreshing drink contains various bioactive enzymes that aid digestion and boost fat metabolism.

Popular pets

Probably this should have been the first article to post under pet topic in our website. Let’s have a look at the pet list that we can have in our home which makes our home more beautiful.

Let’s have a look at those:

Dogs
Dogs are thought to be a typical example of domesticated animals which normally suits to be pets. International breeds like Basset Hound, Beagle, Boxer, Bull Dog, Cocker Spaniel, Dalmatians, Daschund, Doberman, German Sheperd, Great Dane, Irish Setter, Labrador, Pug, and Indian breeds like, Caravan Hound, Chippiparai, Combai, Kanni, Mudhol Hound and Rajapalayam are among the most preferred.

Cats
Cats are also commonly found in many households in India. Cats are often seen as introverted, reserved creatures. Though they are less dependent than dogs but still they need attention, love, time and commitment.

Other Mammals
Animals like goats, sheep and horses are also suitable for human companionship as pets or work animals. Pet rabbits usually live for 5 years and sometimes more.

Rabbits, guinea pigs and other fancy rodents are also popular as pets. These type of animals are the interest of the people who sell them.

Birds and Fishes
Everybody is familiar with interesting birds being kept as pets. These birds include cockatoo, parrot, mynah, love-birds etc. It is best to buy the cage with the bird, as each species’ requirements are different. Fishes are also best to keep in household as constantly looks at it aids in peace of mind. You can find designer aquariums and various types of fishes can be found in nearby aquarium shops.

Squirrels

Squirrels are such a fun and cute animals to have in home. I have really enjoyed such moments when I had one in my home. Everyone around you will love that little cute animal and it is exotic beauty to watch their every activity around us. They usually feed on nuts, fruits, seeds or scraps. Squirrels’ behavior can also be changed and they can be taught the skills needed for survival.

Hamster

Hamsters can seem like a cute and cuddly option when you are looking for the perfect pet. They often have quiet nature and have comparatively clean habits. Hamsters are friendly and are amusing to watch as they go about their daily housekeeping, food storing and exercise on their wheel. Some will even show acknowledgement of their owners, eagerly looking for treats when approached.

 

Hibiscus

Hibiscus is a bushy annual plant. Parts of the flower are used to make a popular drink in Egypt called Karkade. Various parts of the plant are also used to make jams, spices, soups, and sauces. The flowers are used to make medicine.

In foods and beverages, hibiscus is used as a flavoring. It is also used to improve the odor, flavor, or appearance of tea mixtures.

Fights Cancer

Hibiscus is a flower which has antioxidants. Hibisscus tea is used to prevent cancer.

Cures Cold

Being rich in Vitamin C it has the capacity to cure minor cold and related problems such as cough, headache and throat infection. It is also known for its anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties.

Boosts Energy

Antioxidants in hibiscus help to repair free radical damage which will help your energy levels naturally increase.

Calms Hot Flashes

Women who are going through the tough hormonal period of menopause might use the health benefits of hibiscus. Hibiscus can help soothe hot flashes.

Lowers High Blood Pressure & Cholesterol Levels

It is an effective remedy for High blood pressure and also reduces high cholesterol which is a major reason for heart attacks.

Anti-depressant

Hibiscus tea contains vitamins and minerals like flavonoids helps to calm down the nervous system. It also contains all the essential antioxidants to fight against the aging signs and makes a woman look 5 times younger than her actual age

Find Hibiscus beauty tips here: http://indianparentsforum.com/home/12-medicinal-and-beauty-uses-of-hibiscus-flower-plant-2/

Happy Hibiscus Day!!!

 

Mulla Stories #3: Nasrudin Gets a Cow

One day, Nasrudin’s wife told him, “Let’s buy a cow so that we can have milk every day.

Nasrudin replied, “We don’t have enough space in our yard for my donkey and a new cow.”

But despite Nasrudin’s objection, his wife persisted until he finally gave in.

So he bought the cow—and just he predicted, it crowded his beloved donkey in the barn. This prompted Nasrudin to start praying one night, saying, “Dear God, please kill the cow, so my wife can’t bother me about it anymore, and so my donkey can live in peace.”

The next day, Nasrudin went into the barn and was dismayed to discover that his donkey was dead! He looked up and said, “God, I don’t mean to offend you or anything, but let me ask you this—after all these years, do you mean to tell me that you still can’t tell the difference between a cow and a donkey?”