CULTURAL QUES ANSW NEW 13
Dear friends
Happy deepavali to all of you.
I am continuing the cultural QA and this is Part 13 of the series.
I am really happy to note the number of responses on reading this series from many members added with their comments .
The QA is posted intermittent with other postings to avoid monotony. The QA is compiled mostly from member postings in the groups.Where ever necessary I add my note also
Sincerely
Gopala Krishnan 25-10-2011
Q1 Do sincere worship in Nagore durga cure ailments?
A1 There is a very famous dargah at Nagore, which is near Velankanni. It is gathered that the saint who established this had cured the Tanjore king of some mysterious illness.
My note- It has been observed by me the heads of durga ask us to sit before the saint's kabar and make prayers to ward of evils in a hearing voice asking and specifying our names.
Q2 We have heard of Cleopatra – the beautiful woman. What was her relation with Julias Ceasor and Mark Antony?
A2 Cleopatra is regarded as the most famous woman in world history and arguably most beautiful woman too; she is said to always bathe in milk to maintain her peach & cream colour, silky-smooth skin.
Born a Greek, she along with her brother ascended the throne in Egypt.
Soon difference of opinions and quarrels followed, and the brother banished her into exile in Syria. She was undaunted; providentially for her Caesar, the Great, was on his long military campaign to annex Egypt.
That was a golden opportunity that she could hardly miss: the Miss used her extraordinary beauty to charm the ageing Caesar and joined forces with him to defeat his brother and kill in him in a battle. She got her kingdom back albeit under the protection of the Mighty Roman Empire.
As a reward (or price?) for his war effort, Caesar took her to Rome. But soon after his death she had to return home.
With the death of all the members of the First Triumvirate in the Second Triumvirate consisting of Mark Anthony, Lepidus and Octavius took over power of Roman Empire. Cleopatra was in dire straits and sought Mark Anthony's help to set right her problems in Egypt. Soon she became his mistress, an unofficial wife.
Problem started brewing among the members of the Second Triumvirate too and shortly thereafter Mark Antony was at war with Octavius, Caesar's heir, lost and killed in the battle of Actium.
Unfortunately for Cleopatra, her Egypt had joined forces with Antony by sending its own fleet for the battle, cocksure of a win.
So nemesis caught up with her and Cleopatra was left with no choice: she ended her life consuming poison.
Q3 Who potrayed as Cleopatra in the film by the same name ?
A3 People of the 20th Century had only heard of Cleopatra's extraordinary beauty.
The one who brought her alive to world-wide audience was Elizabeth Taylor who in the title role played the role of her life
The lavishly, opulently mounted Magnum Opus "Cleopatra" with Liz in the lead and Richard Burton playing second fiddle to her as Mark Antony was a smash hit in the 60's all across the world.
As to whether she was indeed as beautiful as claimed, one cannot be too sure because it is all hearsay and no hand-drawn portrait of hers exists of Cleopatra.
I have seen the film Cleopatra acted by Elizabeth taylor in the saffire theatre with my wife in Chennai during 1969's- during my early marriage days
My note-
The QA 2 and 3 above are from a member posting recently and I would have READ AT LEAST 5 TIMES FOR ITS LANGUAGE and historical information. I have edited here and there to make the answer brief.
Q4 We know about giving anesthesia during operations and the prominent role of anesthesist above surgeon. When dis anesthesia started and what are its details?
A4 World Anaesthesia Day or Ether Day is being celebrated on Oct. 16 every year.
This day in 1846, William Thomas Green Morton gave a public demonstration of the use of ETHER to sedate a patient to undergo surgery without pain
Other anaesthetic substances known earlier were alcohol, the oldest known sedative and opium known from the ages of Sumerians.
During late 18th and 19th centuries many experimented on various substances to control pain.
After anesthetising a pet dog, Morton became confident of his skills and anesthetised patients in his dental clinic.
Encouraged by his success, Morton sought an invitation to give a public demonstration in the Bullfinch amphi theatre of Massachusetts General Hospital on Oct. 16, 1846
Horace Wells later recognised the efficacy of chloroform anaesthesia. While experimenting on it, he became chloroform addict. Under its influence he misbehaved with a prostitute and got himself jailed.
Morton's discovery changed the way people looked at surgeries, marked a starting point for the growth of anaesthesiology and from where the need for anaesthetics & anaesthesiologist during the surgery came in.
From there on anaesthesiology evolved over years to attain the present state.
With the advent of antiseptics and reduction in postoperative infections, surgical modality of treatment became increasingly common.
With the introduction of local anaesthetics, regional techniques and nerve blocks became popular. Monitoring the patient under anaesthesia became increasingly important. Modern day anaesthesiologist is no more bound to OT.
Good surgical outcome depends on safe anaesthetist. An old dictum is "no anaesthetic drug is safe, there can only be a safe anaesthesiologist."
Ether, the anaesthetic which created history has now been replaced by newer anaesthetic agents which are more safer and not combustible in the operation theatre
My note-
This QA is from an anaesthetist posting made on the WORLD ANAESTHESIA DAY OCTOBER 16. It was very informative and I am very much pleased for adding it here
Q5 Do there are prescribed hair cuts in any country?
A5 Yes, IRAN has it
Like many Middle Eastern governments, Iran hates the impending spread of decadent Western culture. In order to better protect their people from the depraved culture of Europe and North America, the government of Iran has banned all hair cuts that are not included in their list of government-approved styles.
Banned styles include mullets, ponytails and spikes.
Barber shops that fail to follow the law can be shut down and penalized in the years since the law took effect.
Q6 What is a paraprosdokia?
A6 "paraprosdokian"...is a "Figure of speech in which the latter part of a sentence or phrase is surprising or unexpected; frequently used in a humorous situation."
My note-
When my son came on last vacation he was talking of such programs being performed by him in Jeddah Tamil sangham to us . He made a few illustrations to our relatives guests came over at that time making them smile .
Q7 What is Eponymous ". What does it mean?".
A7 Eponymous is an adjective - of a person--giving their name to something".
Eponyms are words that owe their existence to something–physical features, manner of dress, writing style, profession, or behavior–associated withspecific people .
Q8 What is Eponym Caesarian Section?
A8 C-section (shortening of Caesarian Section) – "medical procedure in which a child is delivered by being cut from the mother's womb."
Tradition traces the word to the belief that Roman Dictator Julius Caesar was so born.
However, Roman doctors performed the procedure TO SAVE A CHILD WHEN THE MOTHER DIED before completing delivery.
Q9 What is Eponym Diesel?
A9 Diesel—A German inventor and mechanical engineer Rudolf Diesel (1858—1913) who invented the diesel engine.
Q 10 What is Eponym Ponzi scheme?
A10 It is "an investment scam by which early investors are paid off from the contributions of later ones." Named for Charles Ponzi, who perpetrated such a scam from 1919 to 1920. The name "Ponzi" may be eclipsed by that of "Madoff" to describe such a scheme. Ponzi's scheme netted only a few million dollars. Bernard Madoff stole $50 billion from his investors over a period of several decades.
My note-
This eponym is a recent posting by PRR which most of the members would have read recently
I have a special reason to add it- In a recent posting about a VPP episode one member Sri Saikrishnan wrote to me it appeared as Ponzi schme to him.
In a COINCIDING MANNER next day I could read PRR posting.
Q11 Why at all should one not go to a temple and perform pujas for a year of a relative's demise?
A11 Answering from Sri Sri Muralidhara Swamiji (briefed):
Pitru Karya (rituals for the dead) are done monthly upto a year of the passing away of a relative. Strictly speaking, 'nithya Srardham' (ritual to be performed every day) has to be done during the year.
'Pitru Karya' and 'Deiva Karya' (divine activities) do not go together. That is the reason it has been prescribed so.
My note-
It was probably due to nithya sraasdha on those days it was told not to go over to temples a year. However in Kerala we all use to go over to temples other than pithru karma day.
If my father do not go to local temple a day- The nampoothiri priest used to ask him- Entha innale sraadham alla verae asoukaryam…? ( Your absence was due to sraadha or any other reason?
Q12 What is the origin of word salary?
A12 Every time you get a salary, thank the Romans for it. The word salary comes from salarium which is derived from the Latin word 'sal' for salt.
This was fixed ration of the highly prized salt given each month to Roman soldiers. Later this term extended to the monthly wage paid.
Q13 Where do we find Bhagavat Geetha in the Mahabharata?
A13 The eighteen chapters of the Bhagavad-Gita are found in the Bhisma-parva(23-40), of Mahabharata which was compiled by Veda Vyasa.
Q14 What is the invention of Humphrey davey in 1809 producing the basic electric light?
A14 An English chemist, Humphrey Davy, used a high power battery to induce current between TWO CHARCOAL STRIPS PRODUCING A BRIGHT LIGHT.
Q14 What is Menarchae and Amenorrhea?
A14 A Girl's first period is known as menarche and normally occurs at the ages of 10–17.
The condition, where a woman has no periods is known in medical terms as amenorrhea.
Women who have never had a period are said to be affected with primary amenorrhea, although this condition is quite rare. Primary amenorrhea is usually due to a Genetic or physical abnormality.
Q15 What is the part of Aditi in the Mahabali – vamana episode?
A15 Soon the fame as an able king began to spread far and wide about Mahabali , but when he extended his rule to the heavens and the netherworld, the gods felt challenged and began to fear his growing powers.
Presuming that he might become over-powerful, Aditi, the mother of Devas pleaded with Lord Vishnu to curtail Mahabali's powers. Hence the Vamana avathara.
Q16 Do if there is a doubt about the existence of husband, wife can re marry?
A16 Mahabharata mentions that even when there is a doubt about the existence of the husband, his wife can remarry.
"Aasthhaasyati punarbhymee damayantee svayamvaram,
tatra gachchanti raajaanO raajaputraascha sarvashaha."
-mahabharatha, vanaparva,ch.70, shloka24.
My note-
I have heard a rule prevails if there is no knowledge of a person for 10 years it has to be reported and he will be included in the dead list.
Q17 Which film acted by the present Tamilnadu chief minister Smt . Jayalaitha received national award? Which was her last film?
A 17 In 1972, Jayalalithaa acted in Pattikada Pattanama opposite sivaji ganeshan, which won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil.
Her last film was Nadhiyai Thedi Vandha Kadal which released in 1980.
Q18 What is the legend associated with Sathayabhama and deepavali?
A 18 Narakasura was a monster ruled the kingdom Pradyoshapuram. He was the trouble monger to the gods and the pious souls and would disturb their penance or create havoc during rituals.
To prove his power Narakasura usurped some territory of Adithi (The king of suraloka and a relative of Satyabhama, Lord krishnas wife) .
Vexed with this Haressment Indra and other Gods approached lord Krishna and pleaded with him to prevent them from the demon Narakasura.
Satyabhama appealed to krishna to give her the golden chance to destroy Narakasura, as Narakasura was given a curse that he would be killed by a woman.
Krishna granted her a boon to fight with Narakasura, with Krishna as charioter.
Satyabhama entered the battlefield and killed Demon Narakasura. The killing of Narakasura was a victory of good over evil.
It is interesting to note that Bhudevi (Mother Earth), declared that his death should not be a day of mourning but an occasion to rejoice and celebration by people every year with joyous celebrations with lot of fun and frolic and fireworks.
Q19 What is the legend associated with Godess Lekshmi and deepavali?
A19 Mother Lakshmi emerged from the ocean of milk, The ksheera sagara. She brought wealth and prosperity to mankind.
On that day Lakshmi Pooja was performed to honour her and as such every year on the Deepawali day Hindus perform the prayer and worship.
The making and distribution of various sweets and total vegetarian foods are the order of the day. This practice is alive and well followed up till today.
Once again wishing all the members a HAPPY DEEPAVALI
Sincerely
Gopala Krishnan 25-10-2011
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