SNV Sudhir
Bhimavaram (Vizianagaram), July 4: A remote village, Bhimavaram in thisdistrict might put many a philanthropists to shame. The 450 semi-literatefamilies of the village have pledged their eyes to the sightless, enmasse, proving that no matter how little one has, could give the world tosomeone after the death. At the time when the organ donation still didn’tpickup in the urban areas and cadaver donors in scarce in the country,these villagers stand by their word and voluntarily inform the doctors ofthe nearby Operation Eyesight Lions Eye hospital and eye bank of Garividiwhenever a death occurs in their village to take the cornea pair, whichhas to be taken out within hours of death. “It’s a very strange thing to happen in villages where people havedifferent opinions, apprehensions, superstitions and ‘blind beliefs’,misconceptions. But somehow everyone in Bhimavaram en masse filled thepledge forms to donate eyes after death. Initially we didn’t take themserious as with spot enthusiasm some persons sign the forms and laterreject when we go to collect the eyes after death as we have seen manycases. But this village is totally different. They inform us wheneverthere’s a death and some villagers help us in convincing the relatives ofthe deceased if they get any second thought” said the medicalsuperintendent of the eye hospital, Dr Sunil Kumar Thangaraj.It started in 2005 when as part of the eye hospital’s mission to createawareness in the rural areas on eye donation, the hospital team bumped onto this village and showed a short film on eye donation, which can changethe life of the sightless. The film showed about the misconceptions of eyedonations, procedure of taking out the cornea from the dead body. Thisinspired the headman of the village Pericharla Sanyasi Appala Raju, 65, alocal landlord whose words are diktats to the entire village. And verysoon he could convince the entire village and all duly signed the pledgeforms. Its not just signing the forms. Till now villagers donated 12 pairsof eyes from the village since the campaign launched in this remotevillage. Death of the persons suffering with prolonged illness and othercomplaints are never informed. “Eyes are life to the human beings.And one cannot imagine life withoutvision which made me infuse the feeling of eye donation among ourvillagers and the result is that the legacy would continue and we willpass it onto the next generations” said the headman. The OE Lions eyehospital and eye bank is the only hospital in the rural Andhra Pradeshdoing cornea transplantation. Dr Sunil observed that the corneacollection was not up to the demand in the two districts of north Andhra.He said at any given time there will be minimum of 300 persons on thewaitlist for cornea transplantation from these areas. “According tolatest statistics of the Eye Bank Association of India around 4 lakh eyepairs are needed per year and 8-9 million deaths occurred last year butonly 25,000 pairs could be collected which shows the big gap. This is alllack of awareness about the eye donation and commitment by the donorswhich this village has in abundant” said Dr Sunil.“ I used to see Appamma, a young girl in our village who was born blindand how she suffered in life which inspired me to donate eyes. I saw theshort film and signed the pledge and my mother in law’s eyes was the firstto be donated when she died in 2005 end,” said Mudunuri Appala Raju. Whenasked another villager Penmatsa Narasimha Raju about how do they feeleverything about eye donation, he said “Its very simple. We inform thedoctors they come and cover the dead body with a cloth and take out thecornea from the dead. It’s as simple as that. It all finishes in just10minutes”.“Our relatives stopped me calling the doctors after my wife died sayingthat if the dead take a rebirth they will born with no vision if the eyesare donated after death. I ruled out all those arguments and called thedoctors. They came and took my wife’s eyes. One should live and also givelife to someone after death, which is possible only by eye donation” saidMamidi Appala Naidu, who faced ire from his relatives at the time of hiswife’s death. But he was determined to donate the eyes. Some villagersthink that the dead will not come into their dreams if their eyes weretaken out. And if they come, they would curse for removing eyes. “But tillnow I didn’t got any such dream. Its all rubbish. Even I used to believethis gossip earlier but not now,” said Pydinaidu. Cornea of Naidu’s mother was given to the doctors. Another unique featureof the village is that there is no scope for politics. They do not castany vote to elect the president of their panchayat. All the villagers sittogether and select a candidate unanimously. Since 1951 they have beenpracticing this without affiliation to any political parties.Perhaps this unanimity led them to take up the unique social cause withoutany hindrance.
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Heritage - Ruins point to Buddhist belt
S.N.V. Sudhir
Visakhapatnam: Buddhist monasteries dotted the hills and vales of North Andhra centuries ago.
All schools of Buddhism flourished here, particularly the Hinayana tradition, and monks travelled from the monasteries of the region to other countries, spreading the gospel of the Enlightened One.
Excavations carried out by archaeologists in the coastal region of north Andhra have unearthed sites which give ample evidence of this. They have also given indications of the links of Buddhists with Sri Lanka and other parts of Southeast Asia.
"They have filled up gaps of knowledge on the links of the Kalinga Empire with various countries," said an archaeologist.
There are many Buddhist sites along the coastline of Vizag and Srikakulam. Monuments in Thotlakonda, Bojjannakonda, Bhavikonda and Pavuralakonda in Visakhapatnam district, Rama Thirtham in Vizianagaram district and Dantapuri and Salihundam in Srikakulam district are evidence of the prevalence of the faith in North Andhra between 300 BC and 700 AD.
Historians argue that Visakhapatnam itself derives its name from a Buddhist monk, Vaisakhi, who is said to have propagated Buddhism in the area.
The Chinese traveller Huien Tsang has mentioned the Visakha kingdom in his travelogue and the prevalence of Hinayana Buddhism in that kingdom.
Interestingly, majority of the sites discovered in north Andhra belong to the Hinayana tradition of Buddhism which developed after the death of Lord Buddha. Chaityas, viharas, stupas, gold, silver and copper coins and earthenware were found in all these sites. But each site had its own unique facet.
The Thatlakonda complex, located 16 km from Vizag, for instance, has a number of viharas, stupas and rectangular halls.
A refectory belonging to the Hinayana school was discovered here as well as pottery, beads, bangle pieces, tiles, stuccos and iron objects. Its existence was first noticed during during an aerial survey undertaken by the Indian Navy.
The State government has declared it as a protected monument. In fact, Thatlakonda, which is located on top of a picturesque hill, is the first Buddhist site of the State to have been explored and excavated completely. It is also important in the sense that it is located within the ambit of the ancient Kalinga kingdom. Bojjannakonda, located 3 km from Anakapalle town and 40 km from Vizag, was excavated under the aegis of Alexander Rim in 1906.
A gold coin belonging to the Samudra Gupta period, copper coins of the Chalukya king Kubja Vishnu Vardhan, coins of Andhra Satavahanas and pottery were discovered at the site. The unique feature of the Bojjannakonda site is that it shows features of all the three major sects of Buddhism — Hinayana, Mahayana and Vajrayana.
A figure of Kalabhairava, with the head of Lord Ganesha wearing conch shells and the image of a Buddhist monk `Harati’ have also been found at the site. Another Buddhist site was discovered at Bavikonda, 15 km northeast of Vizag city.
Hinayana Buddhism flourished here between 300 BC and 300 AD. It has the remains of an entire Buddhist complex, comprising 26 structures and belonging to three phases.
A piece of bone stored in an urn recovered here is believed to belong to the Lord Buddha. Archaeologists excavating Pavuralakonda or Pavurallabodu in Bhimli found 16 rock-cut troughs or cisterns for collecting rainwater. Near the entrance of the tank were found Brahmini label inscriptions. Foundations of viharas with cells and common verandah, circular chaityagruhas, votive stupas and halls were also excavated. It is believed that the Gosthani river which flows nearby served as a navigation canal for inland trade in the early centuries of the Christian era. The Buddhist site Ramatirtham on Gurubhaktakonda hill in Vizianagaram contained images of the Buddha, a Satavahana lead coin, clay seals and the remains of a monastery.
It was Rao Saheb Gidugu Venkata Rama Murthy Pantulu who discovered the Salihundam site in 1919 and it was later excavated by archaeologists A.H. Longhurst, T.N. Ramachandran and R. Subrahmanyan. Its monuments and images belong to the later Buddhist period. In olden days it was called Salivatika, meaning rice emporium. Another important Buddhist site in the north coastal Andhra region is Dantapuram in Srikakulam district on the banks of the Vamsadhara River.
A stupa was constructed here to consecrate a tooth of the Buddha and the relic was then shipped to Sri Lanka several centuries. It was the capital of ancient Kalinga and the earliest Buddhist settlement in the entire South India.
Visakhapatnam: Buddhist monasteries dotted the hills and vales of North Andhra centuries ago.
All schools of Buddhism flourished here, particularly the Hinayana tradition, and monks travelled from the monasteries of the region to other countries, spreading the gospel of the Enlightened One.
Excavations carried out by archaeologists in the coastal region of north Andhra have unearthed sites which give ample evidence of this. They have also given indications of the links of Buddhists with Sri Lanka and other parts of Southeast Asia.
"They have filled up gaps of knowledge on the links of the Kalinga Empire with various countries," said an archaeologist.
There are many Buddhist sites along the coastline of Vizag and Srikakulam. Monuments in Thotlakonda, Bojjannakonda, Bhavikonda and Pavuralakonda in Visakhapatnam district, Rama Thirtham in Vizianagaram district and Dantapuri and Salihundam in Srikakulam district are evidence of the prevalence of the faith in North Andhra between 300 BC and 700 AD.
Historians argue that Visakhapatnam itself derives its name from a Buddhist monk, Vaisakhi, who is said to have propagated Buddhism in the area.
The Chinese traveller Huien Tsang has mentioned the Visakha kingdom in his travelogue and the prevalence of Hinayana Buddhism in that kingdom.
Interestingly, majority of the sites discovered in north Andhra belong to the Hinayana tradition of Buddhism which developed after the death of Lord Buddha. Chaityas, viharas, stupas, gold, silver and copper coins and earthenware were found in all these sites. But each site had its own unique facet.
The Thatlakonda complex, located 16 km from Vizag, for instance, has a number of viharas, stupas and rectangular halls.
A refectory belonging to the Hinayana school was discovered here as well as pottery, beads, bangle pieces, tiles, stuccos and iron objects. Its existence was first noticed during during an aerial survey undertaken by the Indian Navy.
The State government has declared it as a protected monument. In fact, Thatlakonda, which is located on top of a picturesque hill, is the first Buddhist site of the State to have been explored and excavated completely. It is also important in the sense that it is located within the ambit of the ancient Kalinga kingdom. Bojjannakonda, located 3 km from Anakapalle town and 40 km from Vizag, was excavated under the aegis of Alexander Rim in 1906.
A gold coin belonging to the Samudra Gupta period, copper coins of the Chalukya king Kubja Vishnu Vardhan, coins of Andhra Satavahanas and pottery were discovered at the site. The unique feature of the Bojjannakonda site is that it shows features of all the three major sects of Buddhism — Hinayana, Mahayana and Vajrayana.
A figure of Kalabhairava, with the head of Lord Ganesha wearing conch shells and the image of a Buddhist monk `Harati’ have also been found at the site. Another Buddhist site was discovered at Bavikonda, 15 km northeast of Vizag city.
Hinayana Buddhism flourished here between 300 BC and 300 AD. It has the remains of an entire Buddhist complex, comprising 26 structures and belonging to three phases.
A piece of bone stored in an urn recovered here is believed to belong to the Lord Buddha. Archaeologists excavating Pavuralakonda or Pavurallabodu in Bhimli found 16 rock-cut troughs or cisterns for collecting rainwater. Near the entrance of the tank were found Brahmini label inscriptions. Foundations of viharas with cells and common verandah, circular chaityagruhas, votive stupas and halls were also excavated. It is believed that the Gosthani river which flows nearby served as a navigation canal for inland trade in the early centuries of the Christian era. The Buddhist site Ramatirtham on Gurubhaktakonda hill in Vizianagaram contained images of the Buddha, a Satavahana lead coin, clay seals and the remains of a monastery.
It was Rao Saheb Gidugu Venkata Rama Murthy Pantulu who discovered the Salihundam site in 1919 and it was later excavated by archaeologists A.H. Longhurst, T.N. Ramachandran and R. Subrahmanyan. Its monuments and images belong to the later Buddhist period. In olden days it was called Salivatika, meaning rice emporium. Another important Buddhist site in the north coastal Andhra region is Dantapuram in Srikakulam district on the banks of the Vamsadhara River.
A stupa was constructed here to consecrate a tooth of the Buddha and the relic was then shipped to Sri Lanka several centuries. It was the capital of ancient Kalinga and the earliest Buddhist settlement in the entire South India.
Lord Vishnu in the garb of Shiva
S.N.V Sudhir
Visakhapatnam: The Simhachalam temple is the only Vaishnava temple in the country in which the deity appears in a form which resembles the Shivalinga.
The presiding deity of the temple is Varaha Lakshminarasimha, an incarnation of lord Vishnu and combines the iconographic features of Varaha (Pig) and Narasimha (Lion) and is covered with sandal paste.
Local legends say that the ugra form of Narasimha as he killed the demon Hiranyakashipu was so fierce that devotees are not able to look at it. Sandal paste is applied on the deity throughout the year to ‘cool him down’.
Only once in a year, on Akshaya Tritiya Day, is the sandal paste removed from the idol. Then devotees will get to see the real shape. It is sculpted in tribhanga posture and has two hands with the head of a lion on a human torso.
The Nijaroopa Darshan, or appearance in true form, continues for 12 hours and lakhs of people from various parts of the State gather at the temple to worship the deity. The Chandanotsavam falls in Vaisakha month (May) every year. Peeling off the old sandal paste from the idol and applying new paste takes around 18 hours. It is believed that the sanctum sanctorum would get hot during this time. Devotees get to see the true form of the deity during the interregnum.
Sandalwood specially brought from Vellipoottur in Tamil Nadu is used to prepare the paste which is applied three times a year, on Vaisakha Pournami, Jyestha Pournami and Ashadha Pournami. About 120 kg of sandal paste is applied each time. "On Sravana Pournami, day the sandal covered idol is decorated with ornaments," said Mortha Seetaramacharyulu, the chief priest of the temple. "This rite is called Karala Chandana Samarpana."
Noted historian Dr Kolluru Suryanayana believes that the deity was originally Shiva and the temple became Vaishnavite after the great saint Shri Ramanuja visited it in the 11th century. "According to the Agama Shastra, the pedestal of the presiding deity in any Vaishnava temple would be near the rear wall," he said. "But in Simhachalam the pedestal is exactly in the centre of the sanctum sanctorum as in Shiva temples."
Kulottunga Chola I of Tamil Nadu made endowments to this temple and Vengi Chalukyas of Andhra Pradesh renovated the original shrine in the 11th century. The present structure was shaped by Narasimha I of the Eastern Ganga dynasty, in the second quarter of the 13th century. There are as many as 525 inscriptions in this temple, which also has a beautiful stone chariot drawn by horses. The Kalyana Mandapa within the temple has 16 pillars with bas-reliefs depicting the incarnations of Vishnu.
Visakhapatnam: The Simhachalam temple is the only Vaishnava temple in the country in which the deity appears in a form which resembles the Shivalinga.
The presiding deity of the temple is Varaha Lakshminarasimha, an incarnation of lord Vishnu and combines the iconographic features of Varaha (Pig) and Narasimha (Lion) and is covered with sandal paste.
Local legends say that the ugra form of Narasimha as he killed the demon Hiranyakashipu was so fierce that devotees are not able to look at it. Sandal paste is applied on the deity throughout the year to ‘cool him down’.
Only once in a year, on Akshaya Tritiya Day, is the sandal paste removed from the idol. Then devotees will get to see the real shape. It is sculpted in tribhanga posture and has two hands with the head of a lion on a human torso.
The Nijaroopa Darshan, or appearance in true form, continues for 12 hours and lakhs of people from various parts of the State gather at the temple to worship the deity. The Chandanotsavam falls in Vaisakha month (May) every year. Peeling off the old sandal paste from the idol and applying new paste takes around 18 hours. It is believed that the sanctum sanctorum would get hot during this time. Devotees get to see the true form of the deity during the interregnum.
Sandalwood specially brought from Vellipoottur in Tamil Nadu is used to prepare the paste which is applied three times a year, on Vaisakha Pournami, Jyestha Pournami and Ashadha Pournami. About 120 kg of sandal paste is applied each time. "On Sravana Pournami, day the sandal covered idol is decorated with ornaments," said Mortha Seetaramacharyulu, the chief priest of the temple. "This rite is called Karala Chandana Samarpana."
Noted historian Dr Kolluru Suryanayana believes that the deity was originally Shiva and the temple became Vaishnavite after the great saint Shri Ramanuja visited it in the 11th century. "According to the Agama Shastra, the pedestal of the presiding deity in any Vaishnava temple would be near the rear wall," he said. "But in Simhachalam the pedestal is exactly in the centre of the sanctum sanctorum as in Shiva temples."
Kulottunga Chola I of Tamil Nadu made endowments to this temple and Vengi Chalukyas of Andhra Pradesh renovated the original shrine in the 11th century. The present structure was shaped by Narasimha I of the Eastern Ganga dynasty, in the second quarter of the 13th century. There are as many as 525 inscriptions in this temple, which also has a beautiful stone chariot drawn by horses. The Kalyana Mandapa within the temple has 16 pillars with bas-reliefs depicting the incarnations of Vishnu.
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
Kidney ailments killing villagers, 100 dead in 2 years
By SNV Sudhir
Gunupalli (Srikakulam), Mar 15: The remote Gunupalli village in Vajarapukotturu mandal of Srikakulam district is cursed. The people are dying a slow death and neighbouring villagers even fear to dream of visiting this place.The reason- people fear an unknown ailment would destroy their kidneys if they drink the water available there.. And if the visit is a must people carry their own water and they never dare to stay overnight. The worst part of it is the youngsters of this village were not offered girls from other villages to marry. Similar is the state of around 35villages in this mandal. Villagers from other mandals do not visit these villages for any marriage or other functions. People in around 40 villages of Vajrapukothuru, Kaviti mandals and few in Palasa of Srikakulam district suffering with various kidney ailments are now looking for aid from state government.
It was reported that more than 100 persons died with unknown kidney ailments in these mandals in a short span of two years. The number is high in Vajrapukothuru mandal. But until now there was no constructive study or efforts made by the State into this serious issue. Ganogala Komalamma, a resident of Gunupalli is still in the state of shock. She cannot digest the fact that her loving husband and caring son are no more. They died a two years back due to chronic renal failure, which had become a very common disease in these mandals. More than 85 died in just 12 villages coming under Akkupalli Primary Health Centre in Vajrapukothuru mandal but the official records available at the PHC shows the number is just 7. And the names of Rama Rao, 50 and Santha Rao, 26, husband and son of Komalamma whom this correspondent met were not listed in the PHC records. Now these villagers go all the way to Vizag around 180kms from the village to get kidney treatment, as the government was not able to provide any facilities to treat this ‘costly’ disease. “It’s a very costly affair. And there is no guarantee that one would survive after the treatment starts. Regular usage of medicines can just prolong the life for few more days. And it costs around Rs 2,000 per month to get treatment and medicines which is burden for a small time villager” said the sarpanch of the village Surada Dharma Rao. The main vocation of most of the kidney-affected persons is fishing as all the villages are on the coast. Dharma Rao said that most of the villagers died in no time after they were detected with renal failure. He added that the kidney disease was discovered in their village from 2003 end onwards. Till then there were not many kidney complaints from their village. “After 2004 if any death occurred other than old age deaths and accidents that must be due to kidney ailment only. By the time people come to know that they were affected with some kidney ailment they die. And it’s continuing till now. Last night also Gavada Upendra Rao, 45, a small time employee died of chronic kidney disease” said the sarpanch. Goapalsetty Venkat Rao, a resident of Metturu goes to Vizag every month to consult a private nephrology specialist. He was going there for the past 4 years and knows that he may die in any moment. “It at least costs me around Rs 2,000 per trip to Vizag and it’s very hard to bear the regular expenses” he said. Ironically the people there still do not know why they are affected with kidney ailments, which was not like this earlier and dying. The Akkupalli PHC just have a facility to test the blood and glucose levels but no sophisticated equipment to detect the ailment. “There should be at least a ultra sound equipment and auto analyzer to detect the kidney disease,” said DR B S Nehru, renowned nephrology specialist of Vizag. Most of the kidney-affected persons from these mandals are his patients. He observed that there was no scientific research or serious study made to look into the root cause for these ailments in these villages, which is a need of the hour. Dr Nehru also opined that excessive usage of painkillers and less water consumption by the people living in these villages might be one of the reasons for the kidney complaints. The nephrology specialist also once visited some of the villages after more number of renal failure cases were reported a few months back. People there believe that due to consumption of fish caught by them from the sea having heavy metals could be cause for the kidney ailments and dying. But it always remained a mystery for us, said N Linga Raju another patient. The district medical and health department had tested the bore and natural water available in the villages and the results were negative. The district medical and health officer Dr Jaganmohan Rao said that from this April onwards the kidney ailments could be detected at the multi specialty center being setup at Srikakulam under the State’s prestigious Arogya Sri programme. Srikakulam was one of the two places identified in the state to setup this multi specialty center. He also added that the kidney patients from these villages can also avail other benefits under this scheme. The chief investigator for Andhra Pradesh of the national programme Screening and Early Evaluation of Kidney diseases (SEEK) and Vizag’s King George Hospital superintendent Dr P Raviraju said that they have collected around 400 blood samples from one of the three mandals and sent them to Ranbaxy’s central laboratory at Mumbai and are awaiting the reports. “We would start detailed, scientific study into the reasons of the kidney diseases in these villages after we get the reports and if the number of kidney affected people is more than normal. Till now there is no serious study. We are expecting results in one or two months and would start the study” said Dr Raviraju, who visited these villages several times in the past.
Gunupalli (Srikakulam), Mar 15: The remote Gunupalli village in Vajarapukotturu mandal of Srikakulam district is cursed. The people are dying a slow death and neighbouring villagers even fear to dream of visiting this place.The reason- people fear an unknown ailment would destroy their kidneys if they drink the water available there.. And if the visit is a must people carry their own water and they never dare to stay overnight. The worst part of it is the youngsters of this village were not offered girls from other villages to marry. Similar is the state of around 35villages in this mandal. Villagers from other mandals do not visit these villages for any marriage or other functions. People in around 40 villages of Vajrapukothuru, Kaviti mandals and few in Palasa of Srikakulam district suffering with various kidney ailments are now looking for aid from state government.
It was reported that more than 100 persons died with unknown kidney ailments in these mandals in a short span of two years. The number is high in Vajrapukothuru mandal. But until now there was no constructive study or efforts made by the State into this serious issue. Ganogala Komalamma, a resident of Gunupalli is still in the state of shock. She cannot digest the fact that her loving husband and caring son are no more. They died a two years back due to chronic renal failure, which had become a very common disease in these mandals. More than 85 died in just 12 villages coming under Akkupalli Primary Health Centre in Vajrapukothuru mandal but the official records available at the PHC shows the number is just 7. And the names of Rama Rao, 50 and Santha Rao, 26, husband and son of Komalamma whom this correspondent met were not listed in the PHC records. Now these villagers go all the way to Vizag around 180kms from the village to get kidney treatment, as the government was not able to provide any facilities to treat this ‘costly’ disease. “It’s a very costly affair. And there is no guarantee that one would survive after the treatment starts. Regular usage of medicines can just prolong the life for few more days. And it costs around Rs 2,000 per month to get treatment and medicines which is burden for a small time villager” said the sarpanch of the village Surada Dharma Rao. The main vocation of most of the kidney-affected persons is fishing as all the villages are on the coast. Dharma Rao said that most of the villagers died in no time after they were detected with renal failure. He added that the kidney disease was discovered in their village from 2003 end onwards. Till then there were not many kidney complaints from their village. “After 2004 if any death occurred other than old age deaths and accidents that must be due to kidney ailment only. By the time people come to know that they were affected with some kidney ailment they die. And it’s continuing till now. Last night also Gavada Upendra Rao, 45, a small time employee died of chronic kidney disease” said the sarpanch. Goapalsetty Venkat Rao, a resident of Metturu goes to Vizag every month to consult a private nephrology specialist. He was going there for the past 4 years and knows that he may die in any moment. “It at least costs me around Rs 2,000 per trip to Vizag and it’s very hard to bear the regular expenses” he said. Ironically the people there still do not know why they are affected with kidney ailments, which was not like this earlier and dying. The Akkupalli PHC just have a facility to test the blood and glucose levels but no sophisticated equipment to detect the ailment. “There should be at least a ultra sound equipment and auto analyzer to detect the kidney disease,” said DR B S Nehru, renowned nephrology specialist of Vizag. Most of the kidney-affected persons from these mandals are his patients. He observed that there was no scientific research or serious study made to look into the root cause for these ailments in these villages, which is a need of the hour. Dr Nehru also opined that excessive usage of painkillers and less water consumption by the people living in these villages might be one of the reasons for the kidney complaints. The nephrology specialist also once visited some of the villages after more number of renal failure cases were reported a few months back. People there believe that due to consumption of fish caught by them from the sea having heavy metals could be cause for the kidney ailments and dying. But it always remained a mystery for us, said N Linga Raju another patient. The district medical and health department had tested the bore and natural water available in the villages and the results were negative. The district medical and health officer Dr Jaganmohan Rao said that from this April onwards the kidney ailments could be detected at the multi specialty center being setup at Srikakulam under the State’s prestigious Arogya Sri programme. Srikakulam was one of the two places identified in the state to setup this multi specialty center. He also added that the kidney patients from these villages can also avail other benefits under this scheme. The chief investigator for Andhra Pradesh of the national programme Screening and Early Evaluation of Kidney diseases (SEEK) and Vizag’s King George Hospital superintendent Dr P Raviraju said that they have collected around 400 blood samples from one of the three mandals and sent them to Ranbaxy’s central laboratory at Mumbai and are awaiting the reports. “We would start detailed, scientific study into the reasons of the kidney diseases in these villages after we get the reports and if the number of kidney affected people is more than normal. Till now there is no serious study. We are expecting results in one or two months and would start the study” said Dr Raviraju, who visited these villages several times in the past.
Praying forces of nature
By SNV Sudhir
Gajapathinagaram (Vizianagaram), April 8: Nature blossomed and even the scorching summer heat bowed in reverence to the vibrations of the four Vedas chanted by around 200 Veda pandits and students who gathered in Gajapathinagaram. A 100kms from Visakhapatnam, in the Vizianagaram district, the Veda Sammelan was held on March 7 and 8. The chanting of Vedas is a prayer to the forces of nature. True to this trait, the Devathadhipathis of the five elements of the nature were propitiated and the weather stood testimony. The two-day fete 'Veda sammelan' conducted by the Uttarandhra Veda Vidya Trust was a feast to the eyes and ears of all who visited the site. Veda pandits from various parts of Andhra Pradesh and the students learning Vedas at various Veda Pathashalas across the state gathered at one site. They chanted the four Vedas-Rig, Yajur, Sama and Atharvana all the day to please Mother Nature for the welfare of humanity and universal peace. "We need to pray to the forces of nature to pacify them, so that they maintain balance for the benefit of the entire humanity. This is why Veda pandits are necessary these days in the society,” says Raghavendran of the Anandavanam of Bheemili. The Uttarandhra Veda Vidya Trust comes under Anandavanam of Bhimili, the abode of the spiritual master Satguru Kandukuri Sivananda Murthy. Durvasula Bhaskara Murthy, the member of the trust says that ironically no one was coming forward to learn Vedas in today's modern world thinking that it will not benefit them in any way. In order to revive the vedic culture in the three districts the trust was conducting these sammelans since 2000. Around 100 Veda pandits belonging to Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram and Srikakulam districts and the students right from the age of six studying Vedas in Veda pathashalas in Vizianagaram, Simhachalam, Tuni, Annavaram, Kakinada, Kapileswarapuram, Rajahmundry, Vijayawada, Srisailam,Mahanandi and Kanchi in Tamilnadu took part in the event. "The main aim of the Sammelan was to revive vedic culture in the three districts of north Andhra which was known for Vedas before a decade. It was learnt that there were more than 100 Veda pandits experts in their field in these districts but now there are less than ten. And in a bid to encourage the younger generations and boost up the existing old pandits the sammelans are being conducted regularly" says Bhaskara Murthy. The students also took part in the oral examinations conducted by the organizers. They were given bahumanam (gift) as per their performance on the last day. Rs 60 is paid per panna (cantos). As many pannas they recite that much bahumanam they get besides to and fro travelling expenses and some clothes. The teachers who taught the students were also felicitated by Satguru Sivananda Murthy. Urlam veda mahasabhas that were held near Srikakulam by Urlam Zamindars between 1890-1930 were very popular in those days and Veda pandits from various parts of the country used to take part. But after some years the sabhas got a break and in order to bring back the past glory also these sammelans are held in the three districts. "It takes 16 years for any person just to learn a single veda completely which is a person's entire education period during his life time, besides complete dedication, concentration without any diversions. These days most of the youngsters are showing interest in learning other subjects that can fetch lucrative jobs. Daily chanting of Vedas please the Mother Nature and maintains the balance. So Veda pandits are need of the hour. These youngsters who are learning Vedas are sacrificing their life for the benefit of the entire mankind in order to restore the universal peace" adds Bhaskara Murthy. The Veda sammelan started with the procession taken out by the Pandits and students on March 7 in the streets of Gajapathinagaram. And all the day during the two days four Vedas were chanted. On March 7 Satguru K Sivananda Murthy inaugurated the Jana sabha and stressed the need to conduct these sort of sammelans in villages as they are the places of culture. "Veda sammelans should be conducted regularly to restore and revive the rich Indian heritage and culture. Everything related to mankind right from music, medicine, science and technology are there in these Vedas. Vedas should be taught and chanted daily for the universal peace," said Sivananda Murthy."I take pride in learning Vedas in this state of modern days. I chant Vedas for the universal peace and for the benefit of the entire humanity. Even though I earn very little when compared to the present day pay packets earned by a software professional, doctor or an IT person I have the satisfaction of working for the mankind" said Chityala Lakshmi Nrusimha Sarma, 17 who was learning Yajurvedam at Simhachalam Veda pathashala since 2 years. The Uttarandhra Veda Vidya Trust was founded in 2000 with benign blessings of Kanchi Kama Koti Peethadipathi Sri Janardhananada Saraswathi. It was Janardhananda Saraswathi's last desire to revive vedic culture. This was promised by Satguru Sivananda Murthy and the trust was formed in 2000 and has been conducting Veda sammelans ever since.
Gajapathinagaram (Vizianagaram), April 8: Nature blossomed and even the scorching summer heat bowed in reverence to the vibrations of the four Vedas chanted by around 200 Veda pandits and students who gathered in Gajapathinagaram. A 100kms from Visakhapatnam, in the Vizianagaram district, the Veda Sammelan was held on March 7 and 8. The chanting of Vedas is a prayer to the forces of nature. True to this trait, the Devathadhipathis of the five elements of the nature were propitiated and the weather stood testimony. The two-day fete 'Veda sammelan' conducted by the Uttarandhra Veda Vidya Trust was a feast to the eyes and ears of all who visited the site. Veda pandits from various parts of Andhra Pradesh and the students learning Vedas at various Veda Pathashalas across the state gathered at one site. They chanted the four Vedas-Rig, Yajur, Sama and Atharvana all the day to please Mother Nature for the welfare of humanity and universal peace. "We need to pray to the forces of nature to pacify them, so that they maintain balance for the benefit of the entire humanity. This is why Veda pandits are necessary these days in the society,” says Raghavendran of the Anandavanam of Bheemili. The Uttarandhra Veda Vidya Trust comes under Anandavanam of Bhimili, the abode of the spiritual master Satguru Kandukuri Sivananda Murthy. Durvasula Bhaskara Murthy, the member of the trust says that ironically no one was coming forward to learn Vedas in today's modern world thinking that it will not benefit them in any way. In order to revive the vedic culture in the three districts the trust was conducting these sammelans since 2000. Around 100 Veda pandits belonging to Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram and Srikakulam districts and the students right from the age of six studying Vedas in Veda pathashalas in Vizianagaram, Simhachalam, Tuni, Annavaram, Kakinada, Kapileswarapuram, Rajahmundry, Vijayawada, Srisailam,Mahanandi and Kanchi in Tamilnadu took part in the event. "The main aim of the Sammelan was to revive vedic culture in the three districts of north Andhra which was known for Vedas before a decade. It was learnt that there were more than 100 Veda pandits experts in their field in these districts but now there are less than ten. And in a bid to encourage the younger generations and boost up the existing old pandits the sammelans are being conducted regularly" says Bhaskara Murthy. The students also took part in the oral examinations conducted by the organizers. They were given bahumanam (gift) as per their performance on the last day. Rs 60 is paid per panna (cantos). As many pannas they recite that much bahumanam they get besides to and fro travelling expenses and some clothes. The teachers who taught the students were also felicitated by Satguru Sivananda Murthy. Urlam veda mahasabhas that were held near Srikakulam by Urlam Zamindars between 1890-1930 were very popular in those days and Veda pandits from various parts of the country used to take part. But after some years the sabhas got a break and in order to bring back the past glory also these sammelans are held in the three districts. "It takes 16 years for any person just to learn a single veda completely which is a person's entire education period during his life time, besides complete dedication, concentration without any diversions. These days most of the youngsters are showing interest in learning other subjects that can fetch lucrative jobs. Daily chanting of Vedas please the Mother Nature and maintains the balance. So Veda pandits are need of the hour. These youngsters who are learning Vedas are sacrificing their life for the benefit of the entire mankind in order to restore the universal peace" adds Bhaskara Murthy. The Veda sammelan started with the procession taken out by the Pandits and students on March 7 in the streets of Gajapathinagaram. And all the day during the two days four Vedas were chanted. On March 7 Satguru K Sivananda Murthy inaugurated the Jana sabha and stressed the need to conduct these sort of sammelans in villages as they are the places of culture. "Veda sammelans should be conducted regularly to restore and revive the rich Indian heritage and culture. Everything related to mankind right from music, medicine, science and technology are there in these Vedas. Vedas should be taught and chanted daily for the universal peace," said Sivananda Murthy."I take pride in learning Vedas in this state of modern days. I chant Vedas for the universal peace and for the benefit of the entire humanity. Even though I earn very little when compared to the present day pay packets earned by a software professional, doctor or an IT person I have the satisfaction of working for the mankind" said Chityala Lakshmi Nrusimha Sarma, 17 who was learning Yajurvedam at Simhachalam Veda pathashala since 2 years. The Uttarandhra Veda Vidya Trust was founded in 2000 with benign blessings of Kanchi Kama Koti Peethadipathi Sri Janardhananada Saraswathi. It was Janardhananda Saraswathi's last desire to revive vedic culture. This was promised by Satguru Sivananda Murthy and the trust was formed in 2000 and has been conducting Veda sammelans ever since.
Thursday, July 5, 2007
AP researchers search DNA markers causing cancer
By SNV Sudhir
Visakhapatnam, May 9: City based human genetic researchers in collaboration with American scientists embarked upon finding genetically triggering factors causing the dreaded disease cancer in humans. They are in search of finding the DNA markers in the human beings that cause cancer. The researchers say that knowing these markers will enable a person to take preventive measures before the disease affect the person. The research was taken up under the ‘Human genome diversity project’. “ While the Human Genome Project (HGP) is to map and then sequence the human genome, Human Genome Diversity Project (HGDP) the new version is interested in human biodiversity” says Andhra University college of science and technology principal, Prof P Veeraraju. The researchers at Andhra University in collaboration with the radiation oncologist at the New York Medical College Dr C Murthy have established a DNA lab to further the studies. They are also collecting some samples from US in this regard for their study. Prof Veeraraju said that a particular gene in human body is related to each disease. As part of the study they collected samples of woman affected with breast cancer in north Andhra. During their study the researchers found that about 5to 10 percent of all breast cancers are hereditary due to mutations in breast cancer gene but sporadic (Non inherited) breast cancer accounts for nearly 90-95 percent. The cause of breast cancer in sporadic cases might be due to methylation of promoter, which leads to silencing of gene expression, said A Vijaya Lakshmi, the human genetics researcher. Prof Raju further said that it’s a prognostic study. For example a just born baby can be detected of cancer if the baby have the common DNA markers possessed by the persons affected by the sporadic cancer. Precautionary measures can be taken right from the birth itself for that baby to curtail the disease. “Further gene based medicines can also be developed which can be used to stop the progress of the disease,” said Prof Raju. He further added that the future would be controlling these diseases at the genetic level by genetic counseling, knowing the DNA markers at early stage and using gene based medicines to totally eradicate the disease. The AU researchers will also study the genetic angle of another dreaded disease HIV/Aids after the research on cancer.
Visakhapatnam, May 9: City based human genetic researchers in collaboration with American scientists embarked upon finding genetically triggering factors causing the dreaded disease cancer in humans. They are in search of finding the DNA markers in the human beings that cause cancer. The researchers say that knowing these markers will enable a person to take preventive measures before the disease affect the person. The research was taken up under the ‘Human genome diversity project’. “ While the Human Genome Project (HGP) is to map and then sequence the human genome, Human Genome Diversity Project (HGDP) the new version is interested in human biodiversity” says Andhra University college of science and technology principal, Prof P Veeraraju. The researchers at Andhra University in collaboration with the radiation oncologist at the New York Medical College Dr C Murthy have established a DNA lab to further the studies. They are also collecting some samples from US in this regard for their study. Prof Veeraraju said that a particular gene in human body is related to each disease. As part of the study they collected samples of woman affected with breast cancer in north Andhra. During their study the researchers found that about 5to 10 percent of all breast cancers are hereditary due to mutations in breast cancer gene but sporadic (Non inherited) breast cancer accounts for nearly 90-95 percent. The cause of breast cancer in sporadic cases might be due to methylation of promoter, which leads to silencing of gene expression, said A Vijaya Lakshmi, the human genetics researcher. Prof Raju further said that it’s a prognostic study. For example a just born baby can be detected of cancer if the baby have the common DNA markers possessed by the persons affected by the sporadic cancer. Precautionary measures can be taken right from the birth itself for that baby to curtail the disease. “Further gene based medicines can also be developed which can be used to stop the progress of the disease,” said Prof Raju. He further added that the future would be controlling these diseases at the genetic level by genetic counseling, knowing the DNA markers at early stage and using gene based medicines to totally eradicate the disease. The AU researchers will also study the genetic angle of another dreaded disease HIV/Aids after the research on cancer.
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