A R Rahman Biography

A R Rahman’s tryst with music began almost since infancy. His debut with Roja left no doubt in anyone’s mind that he could work magic with music.

Getting into the groove
Allah Rakha Rahman was born as A.S.Dileep Kumar on 6th January 1966 in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. He was born into a Christian family that converted to Islam. Music was a big part of growing up as Rahman struck the keys of a piano when he was as young as four. His father R.K. Shekhar was a music composer and a conductor for Malayalam movies. His father passed away when he was just nine and Rahman took to earning a living through music when he was eleven as a keyboard player in Ilaiyaraaja’s troupe.

His wife Saira Bano and he have three children Khatija, Rahim and Aman.

He plays the guitar, synthesizer, keyboard, piano and harmonium. He trained under Master Dhanraj; founded the rock group Nemesis Avenue; was part of the orchestras of Ramesh Naidu, M.S.Viswanathan; went on world tours with Zakir Hussain, Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan and L.Shankar. He studied Western Classical Music at the Trinity College of Music, London after winning a scholarship.

Social Rahman

He was the Global Ambassador of Stop TB in association with WHO in 2004. He used music to reach out when he joined hands with Cat Stevens and Yusuf Islam for “Indian Ocean” following the 2006 Tsunami; with Don Asian and Mukhtar Sahota for “We Can Make It Better”. He also works with Save the Children, a charity.

On top of the game

1987 He entered the world of advertising, penning jingles.

1989 Panchathan Recording Inn, the start of Rahman’s music recording and mixing studio.

1992 He got his big break to make music for movies with Mani Rathnam’s Roja (1992). Picking from the lot that followed: Thiruda Thiruda (1993), Kadhalan (1994), Bombay (1995), Rangeela (1995), Fire (1996), earth (1998) , Water (2005), Minsaara Kanavu (1997), Dil Se (1998), Taal (1999), Alaipayuthey (2000), Lagaan (2001), Saathiya (2002), Boys (2003), Rang De Basanti (2006), Elizabeth – The Golden Age (2007), Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na (2008), Ghajini (2008) and Slumdog Millionaire (2008).

1997 He released his album Vande Mataram, celebrating India’s 50th year of independence. He also collaborated with music maestros to bring together Jana Gana Mana.

1999 He was part of Michael Jackson & Friends Concert in Munich, Germany.

2002 His first stage production Bombay Dreams, a commission from the composer Andrew Lloyd Webber had the world crooning Shaka Laka Baby.

2004 Composed music for the theater version of Lord of the Rings alongside Christopher Nightingale and Varttina, a Finnish group.

2006 KM Music, his music label, saw light. And the release of his album Introducing A.R.Rahman that was a compilation of his Tamil movie numbers.

Awards galore

2009 The first Indian to win the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score for Slumdog Millionaire.

2008 Critics Choice Award for Best Composer.

Winner of Padma Shri by the Government of India.

Filmfare Awards – Eleven times winner.

Filmfare South Awards – Eleven times winner.

1995 Mauritius National Award and Malaysian Award

National Award Winner for Best Music Director for the movies Roja (1992), Minsara Kanavu (1997), Kannathil Muthamittal (2002) and Lagaan (2001).


2009 AR Rahman made history by winning a double Oscar for Best Original Music Score and Best Song (Jai Ho).

2009 & onwards, Rahman’s scores with
Dilli 6, Puli, Raavan, Blue, Eight By Ten and Endhiran.

22 Feb 2009 A R Rahman received two Oscar awards for the film Slumdog Millionaire.

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Sony VAIO VGN-UX17LP Mobile Pocket PC

After the VGN-UX50 model, Sony now presents another ultra-mobile pocket PC. Still under the VAIO U range, here’s the VGN-UX17LP model. Claimed as the world’s smallest and lightest PC, this mobile PC features an Intel Core Solo U1400 (1.2 GHz) processor, 512MB of RAM, 30GB of HDD, and 4.5-inch (1020×600) WSVGA Clear Bright LCD display. Like its big brother, the VGN-UX17LP will be packed with biometrics fingerprint sensor and integrated camera module as well. But instead of one, users will have two cameras which would be useful for doing video conference. Too bad there’s no detail about the camera’s sensor quality.

Comes with Microsoft Windows XP Professional edition OS pre-installed, Sony’s VAIO VGN-UX17LP ultra-mobile pocket PC is also packed with a GPS navigation system, external DMB receiver, QWERTY keyboard, Bluetooth connectivity, and 3-in-1 memory card reader (Memory Stick Duo / Memory Stick Duo Pro / CF). According to one official from the company, this ultra mobile entertainment notebook PC is launched to continue to strengthen unique brand image of VAIO.

Weighs at just 517 grams, no words about the price of this pocket PC yet.

Sony VAIO VGN-UX17LP Mobile Pocket PC

Sony VAIO VGN-UX17LP Mobile Pocket PC

[ Via ]

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Slumdog Millionaire (2008) MP3 Song Download Free

1.	Aaj Ki Raat
2.	Dreams On Fire
3.	Gangsta Blues
4.	Jai Ho
5.	Latikas Theme
6.	Liquid Dance
7.	Mausam & Escape - Instrumental
8.	Millionaire
9.	O... Saya
10.	Paper Planes
11.	Paper Planes - Remixed
12.	Ringa Ringa
13.	Riots - Instrumental

related searches :JAI HO SONG DOWNLOAD, JAI HO, JAI HO RAHMAN, JAI HO SONG FREE DOWNLOAD, JAI HO MEANING, SLUMDOG SONGS FREE DOWNLOAD, DOWNLOAD SLUMDOG SONGS, SLUMDOG SONGS DOWNLOAD, SLUMDOG SONG, SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE SONGS

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Slumdog Millionaire Jai Ho Lyrics & English Translation

UPDATE: HOORAY HOORAY HOORAY! JAI HO GULZAR AND RAHMAN!

(Music that makes you scratch your head and think of Baazi Lagaa from Guru, 00:28 seconds to be precise)

Jai Ho! ^n

Aaja aaja jind shamiyaane ke taley

Aaja zari waale neele aasmaane ke taley

Jai Ho! ^ n

Ratti ratti sachchi maine jaan gawayi hai

Nach Nach koylon pe raat bitaayi hai

Ankhiyon ki neend maine phoonkon se udaa di

Gin gin taarey maine ungli jalayi hai

Eh Aaja aaja jind shamiyaane ke taley

Aaja zari waale neele aasmaane ke taley

Baila! Baila!
(Dance! Dance!)

Ahora conmigo, tu baila para hoy
(Now with me, you dance for today)

Por nuestro dia de movidas,
(For our day of moves,)

los problemas los que sean
(whatever problems may be)

Salud!
(Cheers!)

Baila! Baila!
(Dance! Dance!)

Jai Ho! ^n

Chakh le, haan chakh le, yeh raat shehed hai

Chakh le, haan rakh le,

Dil hai, dil aakhri hadd hai

Kaala kaala kaajal tera

Koi kaala jaadu hai na?

Aaja aaja jind shamiyaane ke taley

Aaja zari waale neele aasmaane ke taley

Jai Ho! ^ n

Kab se haan kab se jo lab pe ruki hai

Keh de, keh de, haan keh de

Ab aankh jhuki hai

Aisi aisi roshan aankhein

Roshan dono heerey (?) hain kya?

Aaja aaja jind shamiyaane ke taley

Aaja zari waale neele aasmaane ke taley

Jai Ho! ^ n

So this is my good deed of the day. The Rahman/Gulzar/Sukhwinder combination delivers again. Was frankly disappointed with Yuvvraaj lyrics; Tu hi to meri dost hai sounds like Gulzar sahib on an exceptionally bad day. Have bugged all the music shops in Bangalore asking them when the SM soundtrack is coming. Apparently it's being imported via a Mr Godot.

Update: Thanks JpnDude for the Spanish section! Below is a loose English translation that murders the original Hindi. Apologies to Gulzar Sahib. Hope to post a link here when I find a good translation online.

Jai Ho =Something between “Hail” and “Hallelujah”

Come, come my Life, under the canopy

Come under the blue brocade sky!

Iota by iota, I have lost my life, in faith

I’ve passed this night dancing on coals

I blew away the sleep that was in my eyes

I counted the stars till my finger burned

Come, come my Life, under the canopy

Come under the blue brocade sky!

Taste it, taste it, this night is honey

Taste it, and keep it,

It’s a heart; the heart is the final limit

You dark black kohl

It’s some black magic, isn’t it?

Come, come my Life, under the canopy

Come under the blue brocade sky!

For how long, how very long

It’s been on your lips

Say it, now say it

The eye is downcast

Such lit up eyes

Are they two lit-up dimaonds(?) ?

Come, come my Life, under the canopy

Come under the blue brocade sky!

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Abhishek Bachchan enters Guinness Book

Actor Abhishek Bachchan had a tiring day on Sunday, but one that has seen him make a world record. He has made a new record of maximum public appearances in different cities.

Abhishek Bachchan's marathon seven-city promotional tour for the movie Delhi-6 kept the security
staff busy in managing his fans and led to some moviegoers missing their films but the actor exuded confidence in getting his name listed in the record books.

As the actor rushed from one city to another in his attempt to get the feedback of audiences in different cinema halls, his fans were there all the time.

"It is really exciting to get first hand response about your movie. The cinema halls were running packed wherever I went," the junior Bachchan told reporters.

His target cities are Ghaziabad, Noida, Delhi, Gurgaon, Faridabad, Chandigarh and Mumbai.

The actor reached a Noida cinema 10 minutes before schedule only to see a over 500-strong crowd gathering around the hall, literally threatening to disrupt the event. Though Bachchan had initially planned to interact with the audience, he had to rush out within 10 minutes.

Many of the moviegoers were also caught in the crowd and missed their show as the tight security made their entry difficult.

source : ndtv.com

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Pak hands over list of 30 questions to India

After being provided the dossier of evidence on Mumbai attacks, Pakistan has sought more information and in this regard given a list of 30 questions. India, meanwhile, has said it is examining it and will provide whatever information is possible.

India on Monday promised to respond to any information sought by Pakistan in connection with the probe into the Mumbai attacks, but underlined that the request should come through official channels only.

Speaking on the issue, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee said that India will cooperate "as and when" necessary but ruled out a joint investigation in the attacks.

"Whatever information we get from Pakistan, we respond to it. But information must be made available through official channels and not through media," he told reporters in New Delhi.

He said India is ready to cooperate with Pakistan "as and when it is necessary" in its investigation into the Mumbai attacks and in this direction referred to the material provided to Islamabad about linkages in that country.

"As far as joint investigation is concerned, I have told you we are having investigation," he said.

Mukherjee made the statement as Pakistan's High Commissioner Shahid Malik met Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon to discuss aspects related to the Mumbai attacks.

source :ndtv.com

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India won't compromise with Taliban in any form: Pranab

India on Sunday said that New Delhi's fight against Taliban was total and it cannot compromise with it in any form.

"Taliban produced nothing but violence. They are a terrorist organisation," External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee told a private television channel when asked about Pakistan compromising with the Taliban.

Mukherjee said, "Our fight against Taliban is total. We cannot compromise with it."

Earlier on Friday, Defence Minister A K Antony said the truce between Pakistan and Taliban has added to India's "worries" over the security scenario in the region.

"From 26/11 onwards, we are very much concerned about the security scenario. This new development, in a way, adds to our worries," Antony said when asked to comment on the ceasefire between Pakistani troops and Taliban militia in the Swat valley, under which Islamabad has virtually surrendered to the demands of the fundamentalists.


Antony said the government's stand on the issue was already made clear by External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee.

"On behalf of the government, External Affairs Minister has already reacted. What he has said is the posture of the government," he said on the sidelines of an award ceremony for best marching contingents at this year's Republic Day parade.

Reflecting India's unease over Pakistan's peace deal with Taliban in Swat, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee on February 17 had said: "The fact of the matter is that Taliban is a terrorist organisation. Taliban believes in nothing but destruction and violence. In my assessment, Taliban is a danger to humanity and civilization."

source : ndtv.com

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Abandoned boats put Mumbai on alert

The Navy, Coast Guard and Mumbai police were on high alert on Sunday after fishermen reported sighting some abandoned boats off the Mumbai coast putting the security personnel in a tizzy but they turned out to be boats belonging to an Army Expedition.

With the gunmen behind the 26/11 strike using the Arabian sea route to travel to Mumbai to carry out their attack, the security agencies did not take any chances and Naval and Coast Guard vessels quickly began a search operation in the waters off this metropolis.

"We received reports this afternoon that some unidentified boats were spotted around 15 to 20 nautical miles off south-west Mumbai. Navy and Coast Guard vessels are searching the area," a Defence spokesperson said in Mumbai.

The spokesperson later said in the night that the two boats were part of an Army expedition and there was no cause for any concern.

The Mumbai police also beefed up security.

"Although there is no confirmation as yet on unidentified vessels, we are taking no chances and have alerted police personnel," a senior police official said.

source : ndtv.com

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Mumbai police readies 26/11 chargesheet

The Mumbai police is all set to file a chargesheet against Ajmal Amir Qasab, the lone terrorist caught alive in the 26/11 attack in Mumbai.

It is a massive chargesheet that runs into more than 10,000 pages and has accounts from over 200 eyewitnesses. At first the police debated building the case only around Qasab. But later, the focus of the chargesheet was shifted on the larger conspiracy, which will detail how the attack was planned in Pakistan.

In addition to Qasab, the chargesheet will name seven Pakistani nationals -- Zaki Ur Rehman Lakhvi , Zarar Shah, Javed Iqbal , Abu Hamza, Kaafa , Yusuf Muzammil and Abu Al Qama as the main conspirators behind the attacks.

They would not be charged under MCOCA but a range of other charges including Arms and explosive Act, waging war against the nation under UAPA Act, the Customs Act and few sections of the Cyber crime Act.

Given the staggering amount of evidence, it is expected to be an open and shut case. But the police are not taking chances given the high stakes and the international scrutiny that the chargesheet and the trial will receive.

The chargesheet will detail more than 200 eyewitness accounts, CCTV footage from CST station, Taj, Trident, and the Times of India building. It will also include the most critical link to Pakistan -- the details of calls made by terrorists to their Pakistani handlers using Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP).

The FBI had played an important role in getting these call details tracked and also verifying other evidence. But sources say that the FBI may not directly find mention in the chargesheet, but may depose, over videoconference, during the trial.

The trial could begin in two weeks. The police and its legal team are hoping for a conviction in record time -- in just over a month.

source : ndtv.com

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Rahman wins 2 Oscars; Slumdog bags 8 in all

Los Angeles: It was a dream run at the Oscars for India.

Filmmaker Danny Boyle's rags-to-riches romance set in India, Slumdog Millionaire, won eight Oscar awards for best feature film, direction, original song, original score, sound mixing, editing, adapted screenplay and cinematography.

An elated Rahman who won the Academy Awards for best original score and song from the film Slumdog Millionaire said, “I want to thank everyone. The essence of the film is optimism and hope. All through my life I had the choice of love and hate…I chose love and I am here.” Read story

Boyle, 52, who had never before been nominated for an Oscar, beat David Fincher (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button), Ron Howard (Frost/Nixon), Gus Van Sant (Milk), and Stephen Daldry (The Reader).

Boyle also becomes the first British winner of best director since Sam Mendes was honored in 2000 for American Beauty.
Resul Pookutty, who won the Oscar for best sound mixing, along with Ian Tapp and Richard Pryke said, “I dedicate this award to my country. This is not just an award, it is history.”

Smile Pinki, a 39-minute short film in Hindi and Bhojpuri, directed by Emmy-nominated producer Megan Mylan won the best documentary short subject Oscar. Read story

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Rahman nervous before Oscars, finally left it to God

Los Angeles: As AR Rahman held the Oscars for best original score and for best original song Jai Ho for his work on Slumdog Millionaire during the 81st Academy Awards at the Kodak Theatre, there were many who were not present there but felt cheer for someone who they had worked with before.

One such person was celebrated adman cum lyricist Prasoon Joshi.

"I am completely freaked and so thrilled that I feel like I have won it myself. I am in the US and I spoke to him last night and we spoke for a long time. I tried to know how he was feeling and whether he was nervous. I did sense that he was nervous and all of us prayed for him I told him that he had always believed in doing his work and forgetting about the rest to which he replied in the affirmative," said Joshi.

Prasoon Joshi has penned the lyrics to Rahman's composition in Delhi 6 was elated at Rahma's Oscars haul.

"As for my belief, I think this is not his best work, he has done much better work in the past. You know, right now I am in a gathering where people are asking me about the film Slumdog Millionaire and the body of work Rahman has done apart from this film and details on how they can obtain his earlier work. So I think that this win at the Oscars will inspire people to look at other pieces of work that Rahman has done," Joshi said.

Loveleen Tandon, the Assistant Director of the film Slumdog Millionaire is elated over the Best film award and the Best Director award that the film won at the Oscars.

Loveleen had accompanied the kids, some of whom came from slums of Mumbai's Dharavi, to the celebrated Oscars gala in Los Angeles.

Speaking to CNN-IBN, Loveleen Tandon said, "The most special thing is that the kids could come and they are all here. It is really like the fairy tale that the film is. That is really the journey that the film has had and the journey that the kids have had. It is fantastic. It has really made my day to be with them and to see the sparkle in their eyes."

It was not just the joy in the kids' eyes that satiated Loveleen's heart she said.

"People have been just walking up to us, especially to the child actors and congratulating them. People are so moved by all that we do not need any introduction anymore. You know Brad Pitt stood up and the moment he saw the kids walk out, he started clapping and he made the way for us as I was taking the kids on the stage and kept clapping while looking at the young ones. That is incredible," said a very touched Loveleen.

She had been responsible for the casting of the kids in appropriate manner for the film.

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IIT Kanpur develops anti-hacking system

IIT Kanpur has developed a technology to secure wi-fi networks and prevent hacking incidents like terrorists intruding into the wireless internet system of an American based in Mumbai to send terror mails.

The technology, Wireless Intrusion Prevention System (WIPS), completely secures your wi-fi systems and data from hackers, IIT-Kanpur director Sanjay Govind Dhande told PTI.

A team of teachers and former students of the institute developed WIPS, he added.

Pravin Bhagwat, a member of the team which developed the technology, said that after the Ahmedabad bomb blasts where terrorists hacked the wi-fi system of an American in Mumbai, security agencies did not think of securing government and business organisations where a large number of wi-fi systems were installed.

A terror email claiming responsibility for the Ahmedabad bomb blasts was sent to some private new channels on July 27 from US national Haywood’s computer.

Haywood denied his involvement and police suspect that his Internet Protocol was misused by someone to send the mail.

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Indore-based institute offers scholarship to Pinki

Eight-year-old Pinki, on whose life the Oscar winning documentary Smile Pinki is based, has more reasons to cheer as an Indore-based medical and management institute has offered her a full scholarship for studying at the institute.

The Chairman of the Sri Aurobindo Institute of Medical Sciences and the Aurobindo Institute of Management Science and Technology Dr Vinod Bhandari and Kingshuk Trivedi offered Pinki scholarship till she completes her education in any stream including medical, dental, nursing, physiotherapy, engineering, pharmacy or Management.

“The institute will offer her a comprehensive scholarship covering entire expenses to be incurred on tuition, hostel, mess, books and all other necessities,” Bhandari told PTI.

Smile Pinki, the tale of a Uttar Pradesh girl and her fight against the social stigma of a cleft-lip, won the Oscar award for Best Documentary (Short).

Directed by Emmy-award winning Megan Mylan, the film was shot in Mirzapur and Varanasi of Uttar Pradesh.

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Slumdog Millionaire made tax free in Delhi

Slumdog Millionaire, which has won as many as eight awards at the Oscars, was on Monday granted entertainment tax exemption in Delhi, with Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit saying it had "created history in the field of Indian cinema".

Dikshit expressed her pleasure over Slumdog Millionaire - a film by British director Danny Boyle with India as its backdrop and at its heart - sweeping the 81st Academy Awards.

"This film has earned a special distinction by claiming eight Oscar awards in different categories and hence created history in the field of Indian cinema," Diskhit said in an official statement.

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3G for south Indian mobile users soon

CHENNAI: The BSNL is looking at migrating around 5 per cent of its customer base of over 5-crore to 3G around the middle of 2009, according to Kuldeep Goyal, Chairman and Managing Director.

Mr. Goyal told journalists after launching the 3G services that movie-on-demand, video streaming and video calling were among the services promised by 3G cellphone technology and would reach all south Indian mobile users soon. He said that 9 million handsets would be obtained for the four southern States, while the towers and other infrastructure were also being made by ITI and Huawei. Infrastructure and handsets would be ready for commercial launch by mid-April, he said.

“We have tied up with many cellphone manufacturers, including Samsung, Nokia and HTC, so that handset availability will not be an issue. Data cards will be available at a discount and we have tie-ups with Micromax and Capital,” Mr. Goyal said.

While the cheapest 3G instrument was expected to cost around Rs.7,000, he said that the initial Subscriber Identity Module charge would be Rs.300. Once 3G was launched for commercial use, both local and STD video calls could be made, with charges at Rs.2 (local) and Rs.3 (STD) per minute respectively. The BSNL had talked to different operators about providing content for movie-on-demand and video streaming, as enabled by 3G technology, he said.

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Shivaratri Recipes

Check out this collection of traditional and delicious Shivaratri Recipes! Since many people observe fast on Mahashivratri, general recipes have been avoided in this section. In case you too have a special recipe for Shivratri do share it with us and help us enhance this site.



List of Shivratri Recipes

» Lauki ka halwa

» Thandai

» Cashew Nut Barfi (Kaju Katli)

» Saboodana Kheer

» Potato Pumpkin Pancakes

» Shivratri Raita

» Aloo Khichdi

» Aloo Tikki

» Green Gram Fry

» Sweet Yam (Chakravelli)

» Pachi Pulusu (Raw Rasam)

» SagoSaboodana Khichdi

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Marriage of Shiva and Shakti

The legend of marriage of Shiva and Shakti is one the most important legends related to the festival of Mahashivaratri. The story tells us how Lord Shiva got married a second time to Shakti, his divine consort. According to legend of Shiva and Shakti, the day Lord Shiva got married to Parvati is celebrated as Shivaratri - the Night of Lord Shiva.



The Legend

Legend goes that once Lord Shiva and his wife Sati or Shakti were returning from sage Agastya’s ashram after listening to Ram Katha or story of Ram. On their way through a forest, Shiva saw Lord Rama searching for his wife Sita who had been kidnapped by Ravana, the King of Lanka. Lord Shiva bowed his head in reverence to Lord Rama. Sati was surprised by Lord Shiva’s behavior and inquired why he was paying obeisance to a mere mortal. Shiva informed Sati that Rama was an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Sati, however, was not satisfied with the reply and Lord asked her to go and verify the truth for herself.



Using her power to change forms, Sati took the form of Sita appeared before Rama. Lord Rama immediately recognized the true identity of the Goddess and asked, "Devi, why are you alone, where's Shiva?" At this, Sati realized the truth about Lord Ram. But, Sita was like a mother to Lord Shiva and since Sati took the form of Sita her status had changed. From that time, Shiva detached himself from her as a wife. Sati was sad with the change of attitude of Lord Shiva but she stayed on at Mount Kailash, the abode of Lord Shiva.



Later, Sati’s father Daksha organised a yagna, but did not invite Sati or Shiva as he had an altercation with Shiva in the court of Brahma. But, Sati who wanted to attend the Yagna, went even though Lord Shiva did not appreciate the idea. To hre great anguish, Daksha ignored her presence and did not even offer Prasad for Shiva. Sati felt humiliated and was struck with profound grief. She jumped into the yagna fire and immolated herself.



Lord Shiva became extremely furious when he heard the news of Sati’s immolation. Carrying the body of Sati, Shiva began to perform Rudra Tandava or the dance of destruction and wiped out the kingdom of Daksha. Everybody was terrified as Shiva’s Tandava had the power to destroy the entire universe. In order to calm Lord Shiva, Vishnu severed Sati's body into 12 pieces and threw them on earth. It is said that wherever the pieces of Shakti’s body fell, there emerged a Shakti Peetha, including the Kamaroopa Kamakhya in Assam and the Vindhyavasini in UP.



Lord Siva was now alone undertook rigorous penance and retired to the Himalayas. Sati took a re-birth as Parvati in the family of God Himalaya. She performed penance to break Shiva’s meditation and win his attention. It is said that Parvati, who found it hard to break Shiva’s meditation seeked help of Kamadeva - the God of Love and Passion. Kaamadeva asked Parvati to dance in front of Shiva. When Parvati danced, Kaamadeva shot his arrow of passion at Shiva breaking his penance. Shiva became extremely infuriated and opening his third eye that reduced Kaamadeva to ashes. It was only after Kamadeva’s wife Rati’s pleading that Lord Shiva agreed to revive Kaamadeva.



Later, Parvati undertook severe penance to win over Shiva. Through her devotion and persuasion by sages devas, Parvati, also known as Uma, was finally able to lure Shiva into marriage and away from asceticism. Their marriage was solemnized a day before Amavasya in the month of Phalgun. This day of union of God Shiva and Parvati is celebrated as Mahashivratri every year.



Another Version of the Legend

According to another version of the legend, Goddess Parvati performed tapas and prayers on the auspicious moonless night of Shivaratri to ward off any evil that may befall her husband. Since then, womenfolk began the custom of praying for the well being of their husbands and sons on Shivaratri day. Unmarried women pray for a husband like Shiva, who is considered to be the ideal husband.

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MAHA SHIVRATHRI

On the 14th day of the dark half of Magh the great night of Shiva is celebrated. On this day the devotees of Shiva observe fast.



Once a hunter set out for a hunt. He came near a pond, and for the purpose of hunting he climbed a “bel” tree (sacred to Shiva). Sitting on a branch he waited for game. But since the leaves obstructed his vision, he began to pluck a few leaves, which by chance fell on a Shiva Linga (“pindi”), which happened to be under that tree. Then a herd of deer came to drink water. The hunter took aim at a hind (female deer). But as she noticed the movement of the hunter, she cried out, “Please, wait a moment, before you shoot let me go home and meet my young ones for the last time. Afterwards you may take my life at your pleasure.”



The hunter gave the hind permission to go home, and re-mained sitting on the tree waiting for her to return. Waiting the whole night he was forced to observe fast. On the Shiva Linga he had inadvertently offered the “bel” leaves. With his mouth he uttered the name of Shiva, thus he fulfilled the conditions needed for the observance of the Maha Shiva Ratra vow. So without knowing how, his heart was changed and he was filled with sentiments of mercy.



Before dawn the mother deer came back with the entire herd. “Now you may take my life at your pleasure,” she said. Seeing the hind’s honesty the hunter’s heart was further softened, and he completely gave up his thought of killing the hind. Shankar was so pleased that immediately making all of them sit in a plane he took them to heaven. Both the hind and the hunter can be seen at night in the sky among the stars in the constellation of Orion (“Mrugshirsh nakshatra”).



Shiva the “Great God”

“It is probable that, long before the arrival of the Aryans, the ‘great god’ (‘Mahadeva’ or ‘Maheshvara’) was wor-shipped in India.” Mount Kailas in the Himalayas is the abode of Shiva. “The Ganges came down from the heavens because Shiva bore on the matted locks of his head the forceful impact of her falling torrents.”



“He creates and destroys, he sustains the world, he at times obscures by his power of illusion (maya), or offers grace to the suffering world. These are the fivefold activities of Siva, symbolised by the five faces of the god (Pancanana). He sees the past, the present and the future by means of his three eyes (Trilocana). To save the earth, he drank the poison and his throat became dark-blue (Nilakantha). A moon’s crescent round or above his central eye (Candrasekhara), clad like an ascetic with a tiger-skin, he holds a trident (Pinaka) in his hand; he rides the bull Nandi. Some of his images represent him as a four-armed person-age, two of the hands holding a battle-axe (khadga) and a deer, the two other hands in poses signifying assurance of safety and liberality; in some other representations, he carries a bow, a thunderbolt, an axe, a skull-capped staff, a drum.”



Shiva’s family is composed of his wife Uma (Sakti) and their two sons Ganesh and Kartikeya (Subrahmanya). Their respective mounts are the bull, the lion, the mouse and the peacock.



Male and Female

“In the full figure of Siva the male and female principles are united, and he himself is said to be half man and half woman. The emblem under which he particularly delights to be worshipped is the lingam or phallus, which is always erect. Lingam and yoni (the female organ) represent the totality of his nature and the totality of all created exist-ence.”



“Despite the fact that he (Siva) was later to inspire the tender love among his devotees, he remains a mysterium tremendum et fascinosum: he terrifies and he fascinates. Unlike Vishnu and his incarnations there is little that is human about him; he transcends humanity, and the vio-lence of the contradictions that he subsumes into himself gives him a sublimity and a mystery that no purely anthro-pomorphic figure could evoke. The Saktas of a later time sought to realize in themselves the perfect union of the male and female principles in the one by combining the strictest control of the senses with the sexual act itself. A man and a woman, representing Siva and his Sakti, would be in close embrace but with the senses under such perfect control that no seminal discharge took place. Thus, it was claimed, the complete fusion of the male and female principles of Purusha and Prakrti, was realized in the One and indivis-ible Siva who, though ever chaste. In this close embrace which imitates the inseparable unity of Siva and Sakti, there is no distinction between liberation and creativity, between moksha and samsara, because the opposites are felt to have been transcended. The close union of the sexes is thus the most perfect representation in the sansaric world of the divine transcendence of all oppo-sites.”



Shiva Linga








The stone in its spherical form untouched by the sculptor, is the form nearest to the formless. And the sexual union of male and female is the farthest the human mind can reach to express the creative action of God. This action, as God Himself, remains a mystery to man. All that man can do is to look at nature and see how a new being comes into existence. Since nature is the work of God, it is logical to conclude that both the male and the female principles must be found in God Himself, the sexes being only a manifestation of God’s nature. At the level of symbolism, the Shiva Linga or the stone with the semi-spherical top, makes a positive contribution in man’s effort to express the Divine Mystery. Nilakantha



The demons and the celestials agreed to churn the ocean of milk. Mount Sumeru was the churning staff, the snake Vasuki the churning rope. They wanted to get ambrosia. But when they were about to get the desired nectar, poison came from the mouth of the snake. Frightened the gods and the demons ran away. They had recourse to Shiva, the Great God. Shiva out of compassion swal-lowed the deadly poison, which remained as a blue stain on his throat. Hence the name Nilakantha. Saved from the danger the Devas and Asuras resumed churning the ocean and shared the ambrosia that was obtained.

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Complete list of 2009 Oscar winners

Best Picture of the Year: "Slumdog Millionaire". Read more about the film.

Best Actor: Sean Penn (left) for "Milk". Read more about the performance.

Best Actress: Kate Winslet (right) for "The Reader". Read more about the performance.

Best Director: Danny Boyle for "Slumdog Millionaire". Read more about the director.

Best Foreign Language Film: "Departures" (Japan)

Best Original Song: "Jai Ho" ( from "Slumdog Millionaire"). Read more about the film.

Best Original Score: "Slumdog Millionaire".

Best Film Editing: "Slumdog Millionaire".

Best Sound Mixing: "Slumdog Millionaire". Read more about the film.

Best Sound Editing: "The Dark Knight". Read more about the film.

Best Visual Effects: "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button". Read more about the film.

Best Documentary Short: "Smile Pinki".

Best Documentary Feature: "Man on Wire".

Best Supporting Actor: Heath Ledger for "The Dark Knight" (left). Read more about the performance.

Best Live Action Short: "Spielzeugland (Toyland)".

Best Cinematography: "Slumdog Millionaire". Read more about the film.

Best Make Up: "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button". Read more about the film.

Best Costume Design: "The Duchess".

Best Art Direction: "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button". (right) Read more about the film .

Best Animated Short: "La Maison en Petits Cubes".

Best Animated Feature: "Wall-E". Read more about the film.

Best Adapted Screenplay: Simon Beaufoy for "Slumdog Millionaire". Read more about the film.

Best Original Screenplay: Dustin Lance Black for "Milk". Read more about the film .

Best Supporting Actress: Penelope Cruz (left) for "Vicky Cristina Barcelona". Read more about her performance.

Take a look behind the scenes at the Oscars with Variety's Stuart Oldham.

See the complete list of nominees.

Complete coverage at Award Central.

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