Akshaya Tritiya …

In the Indian calendar, Akshaya Tritiya is considered the most sacred day in the year.

Akshaya Tritiya falls on the third day (hence, tritiya) of the bright half (Shukla paksha) of the month of Vaishaka, this being the second month in the Indian calendar. This corresponds to late-April, early-May.

The Indian calendar follows the phases of the moon, unlike the Gregorian calendar that is based the earth’s path around the sun. That is why Indian festivals fall on different days each year, with respect to the Gregorian calendar. This year, Akshaya tritiya falls on May 10, 2024.

There are many reasons why we regard this particular date as highly auspicious.

However, there are two primary reasons. This date marks the beginning of Tretayuga, just as Yugadi marks the beginning of Kaliyuga. 

Tretayuga is the second yuga in a cycle of four yugas. In each yuga, the balance between Good and Evil shifts, and with each Yuga, Evil gains dominance. In Kaliyuga, Evil attains totality, until finally, the Divine Element incarnates on this earth to restore Good.

We are currently at the beginning of Kaliyuga. Krishna’s death, that occurred on Yugadi, marks the end of Dwapara Yuga and the beginning of Kaliyuga.

Also, Akshay Tritiya is the birthdate of Parasurama, Vishnu’s sixth, and His most violent incarnation. Even Narasimha avatar, terrifying though he is, does not compare with the vehemence with which Parasurama went about his earthly mission. The era of Treta saw the earth being brutalised by Kshatriyas. According to the Puranas, the earth took the form of Bhoodevi and prayed to Vishnu for deliverance from the Kshatriyas. Vishnu descended on the earth as Rama, the son of Rishi Jamadagni and Renuka.

Rama was unlike other Brahmins of his time. He was exceptionally strong, and from a very young age, showed unusual prowess in weaponry and martial arts. After severe penance to Shiva, he was given a mighty axe as a boon, and came to be known as Parasurama, Rama of the Axe.

Parashurama receives a mighty axe from Shiva

The enmity between the Brahmins and Kshatriyas of that era has been well recorded in our Puranic texts, including the Mahabharata. This enmity led to the brutal decapitation of Parasurama’s father at the hands of Sahasra Arjuna, also known as Kartivirya Arjuna, a powerful Kshatriya king. Kartivirya Arjuna was a mighty warrior, who had subdued Raavana himself in direct combat. Seeing her husband’s beheaded corpse, Parasurama’s mother Renuka beat her chest twenty one times in her grief. Enraged beyond endurance, Parasurama vowed to circle the earth twenty one times and slay every Kshatriya he could find.

Parashurama battles Kartavirya Arjuna

Armed with his axe, Parasurama slew thousands of Kshatriyas. Merciless as he was, Parasurama had a strong sense of ethics. He would not slay righteous Kshatriya kings like Dashratha and Janaka. His axe was only meant for Kshatriyas who misused their powers.

The Puranas state that Parasurama beat back the sea and saved large parts of the west coast from inundation. He is therefore worshipped across the west coast of India, as the creator of those fertile lands. According to our scriptures, he created Kalaripayattu, the ancient martial art of Kerala, from which modern martial arts like Kung-fu and karate originate.

After he fulfilled his earthly mission, Parasurama retired to Mahendra Parbat, believed to be in the eastern ghats, in north east India. There, he meditates and awaits the arrival of Kalki, the last avatar of Vishnu, before he will finally take leave of his body.

Parashurama bestows his axe and his knowledge of weapons and martial arts, to a young Dronacharya

Indian mythology is rich and fascinating, isn’t it? Whether these tales from our past are entirely true or not, I believe they are based on events and people that really existed. Deep inside our legends, I am convinced, there is a kernel of truth.

By the way, the belief that one must buy gold on this particular day, has no basis in the scriptures. It is entirely a marketing gimmick that goes back to ancient times!

Cheers … Srini

Nutra Tamasha – All hail the almighty “influencer”!

These two are my favorite nutrition quacks!

This is nutrition quackery at its refined best!

In the field of Clinical Nutrition, there is no shortage of quacks on the Internet.

But these two gentlemen in the video above, are in a class apart. They have elevated nutritional quackery to an art form.

One of them, alas, is a qualified gastroenterologist, and is widely hailed as the King of the Gut.

The other has no formal qualification in science but has still crowned himself as the King of Kitchen Chemistry, or some such. Mind you, he knows all about the Maillard reaction and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. He’s written a book on them, don’t you know?

For a person like me who has a few decades of hands-on experience in the field, their videos are truly cringe-worthy.

I watch them with a horrid fascination, unable to tear myself away, as they confidently spout one nonsensical nugget of nutritional wisdom after another. Their audacity inspires awe. They know they can get away with it, and they do.

The lack of science and the skewed presentation of research data make my jaw drop.

Yet, it is no surprise that these two fine gentlemen have a few million followers, and, no doubt, an equivalent amount of money in their bank accounts.

There was a time when one could look upon such media channels as reliable sources of scientific information, verifiable content and actionable advice. That was a long time ago.

Now, it’s no longer about content or science, you see.

It’s not about being a doctor or a scientist, either.

It’s all about being an “influencer”.

It’s about slick presentation, shrewd marketing, smart networking, a cleverly worded disclaimer, and a brand of humor called “medcom”. Our gastroenterologist is quite convinced that he is hilariously funny. While our King of the Kitchen is equally certain that his brand of sarcasm makes him the darling of the masses.

Why don’t I put up my own channel, write my own book, and spread the True Word myself? So I am pointedly asked by my own followers, as few in number as they are.

All I have to do is to discard 35 years of scientific training, euthanise my conscience, and embrace the dark side.

Unfortunately, sophisticated quackery, as practised by these two characters, is not for honest nitwits like me.

I can’t stop you from following these people, and from mis-educating yourself.

But since this concerns your health, all I can tell you in no uncertain terms is, caveat emptor.

Let the buyer beware.

I have spoken.

Srini.

Bangalore in bloom … The Purple wreath.

This flowering woody creeper is aptly named.

Petrea volubilis, commonly known as the Purple wreath produces spectacular, long inflorescences that look like a wreath or a crown, hence it’s other name, the Queen’s wreath. No need to mention which queen we’re talking about, eh?

This species is not native to our part of the world. Petrea hails from Central America, and it came to India via the colonial route, as usual.

And as can be expected, the Petrea genus is named after an 18th century British peer called Robert James Petre, He died of smallpox at the age of 29, but he got a genus of 11 species named after him. Should we be surprised?

The species name volubilis, is the adjective form of the Latin verb volvere. Meaning ‘to wind’ or ‘to turn around’. That describes the nature of the blooms quite accurately.

Petrea volubilis flourishes in the Indian climate, both in the wild and as a cultivated species. It’s classified as a perennial species, but it blooms best during this time of the year, i.e. late March to early May. The creeper needs bright sunshine to bloom well.

In Hindi, it’s called Neelmani or Neelalata, both meaning Blue garland.

In its homeland, P.volubilis is traditionally used to treat wounds and sores. But it’s more of an ornamental plant than a medicinal one.

Look for the Purple wreath at public parks, gardens and at waterbodies. A Petrea in full bloom is quite a sight, I must tell you.

Cheers … Srini.