Meet man, spiritual teacher who received special award from IIT Delhi for...., has huge number of followers, he is...
The IIT Delhi Alumni Association praised the 47-year-old awardee, saying, 'A rare fusion of timeless spiritual insight and contemporary relevance that is not only shaping individual lives but also weaving the fabric of our national consciousness.' A renowned Vedanta teacher, author, and founder of the PrashantAdvait Foundation, Acharya Prashant has authored more than 160 books and has led several initiatives that combine inner transformation with social responsibility.
He is an environmental activist, a science activist, a campaigner against superstition, and a champion of essential human freedom.
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Time of India
2 days ago
- Time of India
Drain gain: Noida puts the lid on decades old woes, finally
Noida: In a civic overhaul that addresses a problem persisting since Noida's inception nearly 40 years ago, stormwater drains in some residential sectors have finally been cleaned and covered ahead of the monsoon. The move aims to curb recurrent backflow, health hazards, and property damage caused by open drains and toxic gas emissions. Sectors that have seen upgrades include Harola in Sector 5, along with Sectors 19, 21, 25, 82, and parts of Arun Vihar, which comprises Sectors 28, 29, and 37. Sector 22 has also written to the Noida Authority seeking similar intervention. Open stormwater drains have long been a source of concern in Noida, with residents complaining of overflowing sewage, noxious stench, and toxic gases like methane and hydrogen sulphide affecting both health and property. During monsoons, water frequently backflows into homes, triggering respiratory ailments, skin allergies, and damage to electronics. You Can Also Check: Noida AQI | Weather in Noida | Bank Holidays in Noida | Public Holidays in Noida The project, launched in 2023 following recommendations from an IIT Delhi study, involves covering the drains with concrete slabs, installing 40-foot chimneys to vent harmful gases, and placing iron grills every 100 metres to facilitate cleaning through super sucker machines. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch CFD với công nghệ và tốc độ tốt hơn IC Markets Đăng ký Undo Drain lengths range from 400 to 930 metres, with a standard width of 6 metres. The cost per stretch has ranged from Rs 5.29 crore to Rs 13.84 crore. In March 2022, TOI had reported on the severe health risks faced by residents in Arun Vihar due to the exposed "Ganda Nala." Since then, parts of the drain have been reconstructed and realigned for proper slope, and cleaning work has been completed in these areas. Residents have welcomed the initiative. "It's a day to hold our heads high. This drain was an irritant and eyesore for decades. Its stench was injurious to health and caused extensive damage to our gadgets. The project was pending for years, but it's finally done," said Col (Retd) OP Mehta, former chairman of the Arun Vihar RWA. Col (Retd) IP Singh, the current chairman of AVRWA, said that the longest covered stretch—930 metres—runs through Arun Vihar, where homes adjacent to the drain faced flooding and toxic emissions every monsoon. "Asthma, skin issues, damaged plants and gadgets—this was routine. Now, there is noticeable improvement," he said. Col (Retd) Anil Kumar Kalra from Ward 2A, Sector 28, however, flagged concerns about the iron grills placed between chimneys. "Last rains, we saw dirty water backflowing into the wards. The authority claims it's been resolved, but we're keeping our fingers crossed. Movable slabs could be a better option," he said. Vijay Rawal, deputy general manager (civil) of Noida Authority, said the grills are critical for periodic cleaning. "Earlier, toxic gases damaged the concrete and hardened the silt, shortening the drain's lifespan from 50-70 years to barely 10-15. Chimneys now vent the gases, and the grills allow access for super sucker machines. We've removed silt up to 1.5 metres deep. Unless the Yamuna floods, I'm 99% sure there won't be overflow this year," he said. The progress in these sectors has prompted RWAs in other parts of the city to demand similar action. A junior engineer in the civil department said that while such work can be carried out in any sector with large stormwater drains, the final approval must come from the Noida Authority CEO. Officials said the remaining work would be completed by early July.
The Hindu
7 days ago
- The Hindu
Remorse is atonement
It is not easy to conquer our emotions. Even the best of us lose our temper sometimes, and hurt others with our words. But if one makes a habit of it, then it becomes unforgivable. Pillai Pillai Azhvan was one who could never curb his anger, said P.T. Seshadri in a discourse. At the slightest provocation, he would start abusing people. Luckily for him, he chose to become a disciple of the great Acharya Kooratazhvan. Kooratazhvan taught him Vedanta and all the sacred texts. But despite his learning, Pillai Pillai Azhvan continued to be abusive. One day Pillai Pillai Azhvan asked Kooratazhvan what he wanted as guru dakshina. Kooratazhvan said he wanted a promise from his disciple. He wanted Pillai Pillai Azhvan to promise that he would never be cross with anyone and that he would never hurt anyone with harsh words. Pillai Pilali Azhvan gave his Acharya the promises that he sought. Unfortunately, he could not keep his word. Patience was a quality he lacked, and he was rude to everyone. He also stopped visiting his Acharya. Many months passed, without even a single visit to his Acharya. Kooratazhvan sent some of his disciples to fetch Pillai Pillai Azhvan, and when he arrived, Kooratzhvan asked him why he had not visited him. Pillai Pillai Azhvan shed tears and said he had broken the promise which he had given to his Acharya. He knew it was wrong to be offensive, and he was still making efforts to behave as an ideal disciple of Kooratazhvan should. Kooratazhvan told him that the very fact that he had acknowledged his shortcomings showed that he was going to win this battle. Remorse is itself an atonement. It is the first step in the attempt at self-reformation. There is no hope for someone who does something wrong, but refuses to acknowledge that he has erred.
Time of India
24-06-2025
- Time of India
Yog Is The Union Underlying All Existence
For countless ages, rishis have shared their profound experiences of higher planes of existence , elaborating on philosophies of yog for humanity's benefit. Yet, with time, these teachings were buried and forgotten. It is in such times of collective forgetfulness that a revival becomes necessary. Sage Patanjali 's compilation of Vedic aphorisms into a structured, succinct text was one such renaissance, crafted for the welfare of spiritual aspirants. His work was not an invention but a reorganisation of scattered wisdom into an accessible form. Expounded by Sage Kapila, Sankhya philosophy originated as a discourse delivered to his mother, Devahuti. This exchange is unique - a son guiding his mother towards liberation. The origins of yog, however, precede even Sankhya. They are said to lie in Hiranyagarbha, the golden womb from which the universe itself emerges. Just as a child is conceived in the union of sperm and ovum, creation stems from the alliance of Ishwar and Prakriti. Sankhya philosophy elucidates this process: from Prakriti arise ahankara, maha tattva, the panchtanmatra, and the panchbhuta. Through a divine engineering process, subtle elements multiply, transforming into the tangible world we perceive. Prakriti, the master designer, orchestrates this flawless process. When anomalies occur, the fault lies not with Prakriti but with external factors like genetic defects or the mother's stress. Similarly, the universe's vastness, teeming with life and matter, arises from prakriti's transformation. From subatomic particles to galaxies, everything originates from this cosmic interplay. All forms return to their subtle states when destruction occurs, and the cycle begins anew. This creation, dissolution, and recreation are a continuous stream, a beginningless flow. The lineage of knowledge, too, flows unbroken. Krishn speaks of passing wisdom to Surya, who transmitted it to Manu, ensuring the continuity of yogic knowledge. But who was the original teacher? It was Ishwar, the first expounder of yog, initiating a lineage that has endured through the ages. Sankhya, Vedanta, and Yog are deeply interconnected. The tangible world comprises the five objects of senses - sound, touch, form, taste, and smell. These derive from the panchtanmatra, the subtle elements. From these emerge the panchbhuta, the five gross elements - earth, water, fire, air, and space. Our bodies, too, are formed from these elements, housing cognitive and motor senses to interact with the world. Yet the body, though a marvel of prakriti, is inert. The antahkaran - the mind, intellect, chitta, and ego - animates it. Each unit of the antahkaran plays a role. The mind generates thoughts, intellect decides, chitt stores memories, and ego asserts individuality. However, when the ego dissolves and the sense of 'i' and 'mine' vanishes, true freedom from maya is attained. Prakriti operates through three gunas - sattva, rajas, and tamas. These qualities shape everything, from the body to the mind. This interplay of gunas sustains the cycle of creation and dissolution. Yog, in essence, is the union underlying all existence. It is the alliance of Prakriti and Ishwar, the synthesis of the tangible and intangible, merging of individual self with the universal consciousness. Authored by: Anandmurti Gurumaa Why Arjun Was Chosen: The Untold Secret of Bhagavad Gita Chapter 4, Verse 3
