Rishi Dadhichi is one of the foremost sages in the Hindu mythology. Having been born in the family of Bhrigu, he is credited with the creation of the Prasna Upanishad. It is however his connection to Lord Shiva that makes him all the more interesting. The most powerful thread that joins Lord Shiva and Rishi Dadhichi is the Goddess Adi-Shakti in her avatar as Sati and then as Parvati. Located in the Misrikh region of Naimisharanya, close to the modern day city of Lucknow, Rishi Dadhichi’s ashram was the abode of refuge for Sati as she grew up through childhood. Away from her prejudiced and vain father, King Daksha, Sati learnt from Rishi Dadhichi about the subtle balance of power between the creators and their creations. She learnt that Shiva was an inimitable part of the Hindu tridev, and that the continuation of the process of life ad evolution of time was not possible unless the principles of creation, preservation and destruction came to bear upon all of the universe.

Shiva’s asceticism and its underlying meaning was first made clear to Sati by Rishi Dadhichi. Shiva was not a deranged begger. Roaming in tiger skin and smeared ash all over himself- Such severe avoidance of materiality was only symbolic of disillusionment and consequent escape from the snares of the material world. Trappings of wealth, power and manifest authority serve to blind the best of humans, and Brahma’s human son Daksha was no exception. He found Shiva’s apparent lack of wealth and rustic appearance unacceptable. However on the insistence of his father Brahma he had reluctantly allowed the marriage of Sati and Shiva.

To appease his sense of affront however, Daksha went on to plot and subsequently insulted Shiva by not not inviting him on a Yajna and then by publicly lampooning Shiva and Sati at his Yajna. The first person to have strongly objected to this impunity on Daksha’s part was Rishi Dadhichi. He was also the first one to leave the great gathering called by Daksh for said Yajna.

After the passing away of Sati, and her reincarnation as Parvati, Rishi Dadhichi made it his personal point to visit the Parvat Naresh (King of Mountains) Himvan to train his daughter in the ways of Shiva worship. Owing to his great devotion, Shiva had blessed him with a boon that had transformed his very bones into thunder. Shiva also taught the spirit of the Mahamrityunjay Mantra to Dadhichi, hitherto unknown to any other mortal. Dadhichi was also gifted the boon of knowing about the secrets of the creation of the world and the universe. These are knowledge that Dadhichi had passed on to Devi Parvati, with the help of Goddess of Wisdom-Goddess Saraswati. It is through Goddess Parvati’s later avatars that a lot more positive things happened in the future to extol the virtues of Shiva and Shakti.

The most influential lesson though that one may draw from the example of Lord Shiva and Rishi Dadhichi is the event where Rishi Dadhichi’s power of Bhakti for Lord Shiva reaches its zenith. The Demons under the leadership of Vritasura, one of the sons of Danu- the mother of the Danav Race, had earned the boon of being immune to all conventional weapons made of steel, iron and wood. The Devas faced crushing defeats at his hands and the King of Gods Indra had his jaws broken, such was the power of Vritasura. Desperate, the Gods went to Lord Vishnu for advice. Lord Vishnu told them, Vritasura could only be slain by weapons forged by the bones of a powerful sage. Unsure about which sage would willingly give up his life for Indra, the Gods asked for further guidance. Lord Vishnu named Rishi Dadhichi as the most suitable candidate.

Indra was troubled to go to Rishi Dadhichi for he had on a previous occasion challenged and beheaded Rishi Dadhichi for teaching the Madhuvidya (the knowledge of reinstating life in a dead body) to the Ashwini twins (Gods of sunrise and Sunset, who brought prosperity to men and removed obstacles). The Ashwini twins had saved Dadhichi using the Madhuvidya. Indra was uncertain if Rishi Dadhichi would curse him and make his life more miserable on account of his request. Rishis were known to have the power to curse Gods to terrible plights.

Given his predicament however, Indra was out of options and had to go to Rishi Dadhichi. Lord Shiva and Rishi Dadhichi were so evenly in sync with the principles of asceticism that the great Rishi agreed to give up his life for the greater good. His bones, he said, would be better off as weapons of Gods rather than being buried somewhere in the ground. Dadhichi used his boon of invincibility from Lord Shiva to help Indra, despite Indra’s prior affront, because it was the greater good that was at risk from the menace of Vritasura. Such forms of ultimate sacrifice can be made only by those who place absolutely no value on their own person, considering even their bodies as matter that would eventually be subject to decay, therefore not worthy of being clung to. The relationship between Lord Shiva and Rishi Dadhichi tests the latter’s resolve to the fullest and he wins moksha with his perseverance and dedication to the divine will.

Music branding has become more and more popular as a topic amongst not only the hierarchy of the music industry but the average artist and independent companies. Artists are slowly beginning to realise the power of their own name and how they can generate not only another revenue stream, but an even more significant financial return that dwarfs the return from their music career.

One of the most significant markers was laid down not in the music industry but in sports. When Michael Jordan the basketball legend achieved notoriety when he signed an extremely lucrative deal with Nike to produce the Air Jordan range, the table was set and has continued in sports with many sportsmen including David Beckham and Tiger Woods.

The deal with Michael Jordan was not the first time various industries recognised the power of performers be it sportsmen, actors or musicians. Run DMC the famous Hip Hop legends after recording and releasing the hit “My Adidas” was approached by the sport wear giants when sales of the brand increased due to the songs popularity.

Some would argue even more significant than these cases are the cases of minor celebrities such as the late Jade Goody (Channel 4’s Big Brother) have shown you need not have achieved a significant success in any field to find success with selling your brand and being rewarded financially. Jade achieved significant financial rewards with her perfume line which grossed her a seven figure sum.

So what is a brand?

Whenever I speak to musicians and mention branding they always start to speak about logos and image, which has a place in branding but it is not what branding actually is. Let’s clear up the logo issue first. A logo is the visual identification of a brand.

Again, so what is a brand?

A quote from Amazon founder Jeff Bezos states “a brand is what people say about you when you leave the room”. I think many would agree that Amazon is a well known and successful brand. But how do you build a successful brand? For me the key ingredient of a brand is trust! Now if you notice trust does not mean you have to behave well and do everything by the book, as our post image we chose the Rolling stone logo which has become a brand that represents good rock and roll music, but was formerly identified with misbehaviour and rebellion.

Others in branding state that a brand is a promise of an experience as most women would get from a Herbal Essence ad is the promise of a sensual experience when washing their hair. One of the most successful examples of this promise is the Heinz food brand. When most shoppers who are not skint go to their local superstore if they are buying beans a large percentage for a long period of time would pick up the Heinz branded tin because it was branded as a higher quality product and it was so effectively marketed people did not mind paying more for the experience. That is what a well marketed brand will allow you to do.

What is your brand?

The music business is the king of the personal brand because if you did not have a good personal brand your success would be short lived. When developing your brand you need to know your brand values, what do you stand for? What do you want people to say about you? What are you promising? Are you guaranteeing a good time?Are you the rebel? Do you intend to enlighten the world? Or are you the sex kitten guaranteed to titilate and arouse? Work out your brand values and you will be well on your way to developing your brand.

Trust is never instant and neither is a brand it needs to be built over time and you need to live up to your brand values, your promise, if you do not, you will not have a strong brand therefore will not be deemed trustworthy or dependable to deliver the experience you say.

There is more to developing your brand but this is a brief overview and an invitation to you who are interested to research and start to develop that brand because if developed effectively will expand beyond your music to different areas as our earlier examples have shown.

There are dozens of species of wild cats in the world, ranging from the well known big cats to small species no bigger than a domestic cat. Here we look at some facts and figures from the wonderful world of wild cats.

1. Fastest: The cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) is the fastest land mammal with a top speed of an incredible 110 km/h (but more usually in sprints of up to 80km/h). It can maintain a top speed of 100km/h for about 200m.
2. Largest: The Siberian tiger (Panthera tigris altaica) is the largest wild cat. Males can grow to 370cm long and weigh over 423 kg.
3. Smallest: The Rusty-spotted Cat (Prionailurus rubiginosus) from India and Sri Lanka is the smallest species of wild cat. It is about 40cm long with a tail length of 20cm.
4. Longest Teeth: The Clouded Leopard (Neofelis nebulosa) has the longest canine teeth relative to the body size of any cat alive today.
5. Longest Coat: Pallas’ cat (Felis manul) from central Asia has the longest coat of any species of wild cat.
6. Longest Tail: With a tail length of 80cm – 100cm, the Snow Leopard (Uncia uncia) has the longest tail of any cat. It wraps its tail around its head and body to protect it from the freezing temperatures and also uses the tail to help with balance while moving around on steep cliffs.
7. Fish Eater: Although many cats include fish as part of their diet, the Fishing Cat (Prionailus viverrinus) is the only cat that eats mainly fish. They also eat some birds, small mammals such as rodents, reptiles, insects and shellfish.
8. Highest Altitude: The Snow Leopard (Uncia uncia) can live at highest altitudes for any cat on earth. It is found up to 5000m.
9. Most Endangered: The Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus) is the most endangered species of cat in the world. Studies conducted in 2005 estimated the number of surviving Iberian lynx to be as few as 100.

So how many species of wild cats are there in the world? There is ongoing debate among taxonomists the number of species (mainly because it is hard to agree what is a species and what is a subspecies). The number of species varies between about 36 and 41 depending on which classification you refer to. Asia with twenty one species has the most, followed by South America with twelve species, Africa with nine species, North America with seven species and Europe with three species. (The numbers add up to more than 41 because the same species can be found in more than one continent).

History of the world is the history of warfare and India is no exception. Right from the times of the ancient epics, the Mahabharata and the Ramayana, war as a culture has dominated Indian history. To start with there was what is known as the Hindu period, when Hindu kings ruled almost the entire sub-continent and beyond, like Afghanistan and parts of Central Asia.This was followed by the Muslim period, when progressively over a period of 9 centuries the Hindus became the ruled and the Muslims the rulers.

The Muslim period ended when the British came to India to trade, by forming the East India Company. It is one of the wonders of history that a company that came to trade, within a matter of 100 years became rulers of the sub-continent. This was by a superior application of military technology as well as a single mind devotion to the King of England and country. This was another period in Indian history when the war was the epitome of domination.War was the centerpiece and the clue to domination by the East India Company. It was only in 1858, after the mutiny in 1857 by a few sepoys of the Company’s army that Company rule was abolished and the crown itself took up the administration of the sub-continent. Queen Victoria was then designated Empress of Hindustan.

The English became the rulers of this vast area that at that time had a population of about 250 million. The English produced soldiers of caliber, who adapted to Indian conditions better than the Indians themselves. By means of superior tactics and devotion, they were able to defeat the Indians ( Both Muslims and Hindus) decisively. There were some men who played more than a greater part in this establishment of English rule and two of the foremost are Sir Robert Clive and two brothers Richard and Arthur Wellesley.

The Wellesley’s

The role of the Wellesley’s is something of which legends are made. They had no Indian blood, yet both deserve the epithet ” great”. Richard Wellesley was the Governor General of India while his brother Arthur Wellesley was a military genius. Arthur Wellesley became later the first Duke of Wellington and led the English and Prussian force as a Field Marshal against Napoleon at Waterloo ( 1815) and defeated him. The Napoleonic years ended and later Arthur Wellesley also later became Prime Minister of England.

Richard Wellesley was always a bit jealous of his brother, yet his contribution to British rule in India was immense. He presided over the English domain in India from Calcutta and proved that he was a genius himself. In his plan to wrest India from Indians, he was assisted by his brother Arthur, who put into practice the dream of Richard and in a series of military campaigns defeated the foremost Indian kings at that time. This was in the 18th/early 19th century.

Arthur Wellesley is bracketed along with the greats of world history in the pantheon of great warriors and conquerors like Alexander the Great and Chengiz Khan. He was however a chivalrous soldier who fought a war as a noble profession and treated the vanquished with compassion.The only act for which he can be held guilty was his order to shoot the tigers kept by Tippu as pets. All the tigers were shot dead.

Arthur Wellesley landed in India towards the end of the 18th century. He had a head start as his brother was the Governor General. This was the time when Tippu Sultan had spread terror among Hindus and Christians in the Malabar region. His father Hyder Ali had deposed the Hindu ruler of Mysore and crowned himself as Sultan. He had also attacked Madras. The English had no love for Tippu Sultan and a decision was taken to remove him. Part of this decision was the culmination of representations by Hindus to the Governor General complaining of atrocities on them by Tippu.

Campaigns of the Ist Duke of Wellesley in India

Arthur Wellesley started his military career in 1787 as a commissioned officer in the infantry. In 1796 he set sail for India and landed in Madras. His decision was influenced to a great extent by the fact that his brother was Governor General of India. He was part of the 33rd Infantry regiment which was moved to India to combat Tippu Sultan who had let loose a reign of terror.

Arthur Wellesley on arrival took stock of the situation and made an assessment of the military capability of Tippu Sultan. In a service paper which was presented at the Staff College, it was informed that his opinion of Tippu was of a bigoted ruler and on the advice of his brother he was tasked to defeat Tippu and restore the Hindu dynasty. He was also of the opinion that Tippu had little or no concept of tactics of offense and initiative in a campaign. He was proved right.

Arthur Wellesley got his act together and got ready for what is known as the 4th Anglo-Mysore War(1799). In this campaign Wellesley marched with his force from Madras towards Mysore. The army covered 10-15 miles a day and was accompanied by servants, comfort women, shopkeepers and cooks. Tippu heard of the advancing army, but decided to shut himself in his fortress. This is an action difficult to comprehend as offence is the best form of defence. He could have moved against the Company force, but his playing a waiting game by holing up in his fortress gave the initiative to the Company army.

Wellesley surrounded the fortress of Seringapatnam and he ordered an assault. the fort was breached and Tippu died fighting. Wellesley had removed the greatest obstacle to English rule in the South. He was appointed as governor of Seringapatam and also promoted to Major- General. It was a great victory. The Hindu ruler was reinstated and Arthur was congratulated by his brother Richard.

A look at the map of South India will show that Wellesley marched nearly 300 km from Madras to battle Tippu and there is no doubt that despite coming from a cold area like England, he adjusted to the rigors of the sub -continent and heat of South India in particular with aplomb.

Arthur was now tasked by his brother to destroy the Maratha Confederacy. The mantle of rulers of India had fallen on the Maratha’s after Mughal rule had collapsed and they had to be checked. The Duke took part in the Second Maratha war ( 1803-5) and once again showed his military genius.

At the turn of the 19th century, the Maratha’s were a divided lot. The ruler of Indore, Holkar had fled to the British for help. Arthur Wellesley was tasked with curbing the power of Peshwa Baji Rao II. Arthur commenced his campaign in 1803. He was a Major -General at that time. This is known as the Deccan campaign and he started with an assault on Ahmednagar, which he reduced on 12 August 1803. this was a significant move as Ahmednagar was a pivot for supply chain of the Maratha army.

Wellesley now marched towards Assaye with a force of 4500 soldiers. He was opposed by Scindia and the Peshwa with a force of 10500. In a bloody battle, the English carried the day and over 6000 Maratha soldiers were killed. The British also suffered 1600 dead, but this victory effectively sealed Maratha dominance. Subsequently on orders of Wellesley, the British force under Colonel Stevenson occupied Burhanpur( now in Madhya Pradesh).

The Marathas were getting ready for a last fling and Bhosle with a force of 40000 opposed the English at what is known as the Battle of Argaon. This battle on 29th November resulted in over 5000 Maratha being killed to only about 350 English dead. It was decisive victory and once again Wellington showed his genius as a soldier.

Arthur continued his march and surrounded the fortress of Bhosle and captured it. The Maratha’s again suffered heavy casualities and over 4000 were killed to a handful of English soldiers.

Wellesley decimated the Maratha’s who then sued for peace. By end of the year Scindia signed the Treaty of Arjungaon and ceded vast rights to the English.

Assessment of Arthur Wellesley’s Campaigns in India

When we study the military campaigns of Arthur Wellesley in India, we realize that he led a campaign spread over two thousand miles. Though Wellesley went back after the Second Maratha war, the effect of his military campaigns was stupendous. He beat the Indian Generals and Kings at their own game and put the East India Company Raj on a firm footing. The Company became the paramount power in India and all credit must got to the First Duke of Wellington. Later when the Duke met Napoleon in Battle, he was a Field Marshal and there also he won. So in case Tippu and the Marathas were defeated by him, it was no shame as they were confronted by a man with a razor sharp brain and military strategist. The Indian generals failed to size Arthur Wellesley who along with his brother Richard laid the foundation of the Raj.

One can debate endlessly as to whether the Raj was good or bad for India, but what can’t be debated is that men like Arthur Wellesley beat the Indians fair and square. There is no doubt that just on the strength of his military campaigns in India, the First Duke of Wellington deserves the title “great”.

Yoga, t’ai chi, and qigong are by far the most practiced forms of physical, mental, and energetic exercises in the world. And this is not a new phenomenon. It’s been so for thousands of years.

They are truly the most advanced achievement in body exercise and mind conditioning ever to be developed.

Western forms of exercise USE or EXPEND our energy.

Yoga, t’ai chi, and qigong BUILD UP our CHI or ENERGY.

They give us amazing amounts of ENERGY we can then use to do everything else we love-play, sing, eat, dance, study, read-EVERYTHING!

There are thousands of forms of yoga, t’ai chi, and qigong.

In some forms, yoga poses are held like beautiful statues.

Others use very fluid circular movements to increase our chi.

T’ai chi sword is like a choreographed dance.

But frolicking like an animal is the most fun, creative, beneficial, child-friendly form ever created AND, it’s the oldest–originated over 1,900 years ago, hundreds of years before yoga and t’ai chi.

Imitating a bird, bear, monkey, deer, and tiger for optimum physical and mental health was the brilliant idea of one of China’s greatest physicians, Hua Tuo, who lived a healthy, productive life for over 100 years.

This patriarch of Chinese medicine and great qigong master said, “Man’s body must have exercise, but it should never be done to the point of exhaustion. Now I have created the art called the Frolics of the Five Animals. It eliminates sickness, benefits the legs, and is also a form of bending and stretching exercise. If you feel out of sorts, just practice one of my Frolics. A gentle sweat will exude, the complexion will become rosy, the body will feel light, and you will want to eat.”

The time-tested, proven benefits of animal frolicking, a staple of modern Chinese culture and medical qigong, go far beyond medical miracles and can be experienced by children of all ages.

One teacher said, “Even if children experience only a moment of personal peace consciously pretending to be animals, it’s something they can take through life. This is a tool to help people.”

Frolicking gives every child the incredible opportunity to become the wizard of their own world, the queen of their own kingdom, the master of their own mind, the king of their own jungle.

Children love playing with or pretending to be animals-twisting, bending, moving, jumping, and freezing in stillness.

As children joyfully stalk the jungle like a tiger, forage for honey like a bear, swing through the trees like a monkey, soar high like an eagle, glide gracefully through the woods like a deer, swim and roar like a dragon, and pound their chest like a gorilla, they will be developing their body and mind in the easiest, yet most profound, way possible!

Our children are special gifts-innocent gifts. They absorb everything, absolutely everything, they see and hear.

Just as a sponge releases the same water it soaks up, whether that water is pure or filthy, the daily habits your children adopt early in life, along with the actions and words they see or hear from you, relatives, friends, television, teachers, movies and more will one day be released by your children.

Just by having fun, pretending to be these special chi animals that were created thousands of years ago, your children are naturally and easily developing their minds and bodies, learning social and behavioral skills, connecting their inner world with the outer world, and absorbing values and habits that will serve them throughout their life.

The prime mover in the assassination of Julius Caesar was married to a Brutus but I suspect he was less interested in restoring power to the Senate (and in some small way the people of Italy) than he was in his own power. The movie Spartacus does see it as I see it. His persona was played by Sir Laurence Olivier. Cassius, who is later called Longinus, dies at his own hand after a defeat in the homeland of Alexander at a city named after the father or another in the family of Alexander.

“The Spear of Destiny, also known as the Spear of Longinus and the Heilige Lance — Holy Lance — is one of the most important Christian relics of the Passion of Jesus Christ. As first described in John 19:31-37, the Spear was used by a Roman soldier (Gaius Cassius, later called Longinus) to pierce the side of Christ as he hung on the cross. The Spear, bathed in the blood of the Lamb and playing a significant role in the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy, is believed to have acquired tremendous mystical power. The first sign of that power was the purported healing of Gaius Cassius’s failing eyesight by blood from the wound.

The centurion later become an early convert to Christianity. The Spear subsequently passed through a multitude of hands, coming into the possession of many of Europe’s most important political and military leaders, including Constantine I, Alaric (the Visigoth king who sacked Rome in the year 410), Frankish general Charles Martel, Charlemagne, Frederick of Barbarossa, and Frederick II. A leader who possessed the Spear was said to be invincible; Charlemagne and Frederick of Barbarossa were undefeated in battle until they let the Spear fall from their hands. A legend arose that whoever claimed the Spear ‘holds the destiny of the world in his hands for good or evil.’

As a young man Adolf Hitler was fascinated by the Spear of Destiny, which he first saw displayed in the Hofsburg museum in Vienna, Austria in 1909. Hitler was familiar with the legend of the Holy Lance. His interest in the relic was further amplified by its role in the 1882 opera Parsifal — by Hitler’s favorite composer, Richard Wagner — which concerned a group of ninth-century knights and their quest for the Holy Grail. Hitler’s fascination with the Spear was pivotal in sparking his interest in the occult, which gave birth to his ideas on the origins and purpose of the Germanic race and contributed to his belief in his own destiny as a world conqueror.

{This is the spearhead of the Holy Lance of Hapsburg and they spend millions trying to authenticate these things but always end up finding out they are not as the myths do tell us. History may soon have to answer to forensics, I hope.}

On October 12, 1938, not long after the German annexation of Austria, Hitler ordered the S.S. to seize the Spear and other artifacts from Vienna. They were taken by train to Nuremberg, where they were stored in St. Katherine’s Church. The Spear remained in St. Katherine’s until 1944, when it was moved to a specially constructed vault beneath the church, built in secret and at great expense, intended to protect it and the other stolen relics from Allied bombs. Nuremberg was captured by Allied troops in April of the following year. The vault was subsequently discovered by American Army officers. The Spear was confiscated by American forces on the afternoon of April 30, 1945, less than two hours before Hitler’s suicide in his underground bunker in Berlin. Like the Spear’s previous owners, Hitler perished after the relic was taken from him.

Like most holy relics, the history of the Spear of Destiny is complex and difficult to authenticate. The earliest reports of the Spear were circa 570 A.D., when it was said to have been on display in the basilica of Mount Sion in Jerusalem alongside the Crown of Thorns. The point of the spear’s blade was apparently broken off following the Persian conquest of Jerusalem in 615 A.D. The point, set into an icon, found its way to the church of Saint Sophia in Constantinople and later to France, where it remained in the Sainte Chapelle until the 18th century. It was briefly moved to the Bibliotheque Nationale in Paris during the French Revolution, but it subsequently disappeared. Meanwhile, the rest of the spearhead was transferred from Jerusalem to Constantinople sometime in the eighth century. It was taken by the Turks in the 14th century and sent by Sultan Bajazet as a gift to Pope Innocent VIII in 1492. Innocent ordered the relic placed in Saint Peter’s in Rome, where it remains today, although the Catholic Church makes no great claim as to its authenticity.

There are several other competing relics in different locations. One such “Holy Lance” was allegedly unearthed by Crusader Peter Bartholomew in Antioch in 1098. That Lance is now at Etschmiadzin in Armenia; scholars believe that it is not actually a Roman lance but the head of a standard, although it may have an interesting history of its own, separate from the legend of the Lance. Another claimant has rested in Krakow for about eight hundred years.

Hitler’s lance was the fourth Spear, called the Lance of St. Maurice and the Holy Lance of Hapsburg, which is part of the Reichkleinodien (Imperial Regalia) of the house of Hapsburg. This spearhead is bound with gold, copper, and silver threads to a nail — purported to be one of the nails of the Crucifixion. The earliest verifiable account of this Spear was its use in a coronation ceremony in 1273. It rested in Nuremberg during the Middle Ages, but by the early 20th century it was placed on display at the Treasure House of the Hofsburg museum in Vienna, where Hitler saw it in 1909.

This Spear has no greater claim to authenticity than any of the others, although Hitler — who conducted his own less-than-rigorous investigation into its history — was firmly convinced that it was the genuine article, leading to its confiscation by the S.S. in 1938. In 1946 the Spear and the rest of the Imperial Regalia were returned to Austria. Today they are once again on public display at the Hofsburg museum.” (2)

The people mentioned as having had possession of the spear are all Merovingians (Family of Jesus) and they had built a ritual energy Construct around the spear regardless of whether or not it is or ever was authentic. I cannot expect academicians to understand that and I am not going to address it in this book. I will have to do a book called The Jesus Conspiracy. I have explained these things in other books as far as the ritual acts of these Merovingians.

Do you think Gaius Cassius was stupid when he refused to do what other Senators wanted as he fought to defend Rome? Do you think he was in on the supposed death of Jesus or whatever actually happened there? There are many dots worth connecting here. I think there were powerful people who wanted to build the kind of Empire that Rome shortly became. Their purpose or plan was an Empire with ever fewer numbers of actual participants in the decision-making. It continues long after the so-called fall of Rome. Cassius knew the Senate was a paper tiger or mere façade.

A thing of beauty is a joy forever is the apt phrase for Bhutan, which is dotted with natural landscapes, mighty peaks, mystic villages, Buddhist monasteries, and rich culture. Also known as the Land of the Thunder Dragon, this country is a perfect getaway from the routine of everyday life. It is a place where people value happiness more than the money. Infused with a touch of mystery and magic, vacationers planning a trip to Bhutan can browse through several online portals to get the best Bhutan travel packages.

Paro Taktsang

Occupying a place among the holiest places in Bhutan, Paro Taktsang, is a temple complex. It is also known as The Tiger Nest Monastery, and comprises eight caves and four main temples. The main cave houses many images of Bodhisattvas. If legends are to be believed, the founder of Tibetan Buddhism, Guru Rinpoche came to this place by flying on the back of a tigress. For travellers availing Bhutan travel packages, this place is a must visit. Situated at an elevation of around 3120 metres amidst emerald green valleys and majestic mountains, Paro Taktsang offers a thrilling experience to trek lovers. It leaves them wondering that how such a beautiful monastery can be established at such a breathtaking height.

Dochula Pass

Dochula Pass, located at a distance of around 25 km from the capital city Thimphu, is the most visited Bhutan travel destination. Also known as Druk Wangyal Chortens, it is believed that the 100 chortens here were built by Mother Queen to pay homage to the Bhutanese soldiers, who died for the country. Local people decided to mark it as a sign of victory, but as per the orders of the king, these chortens commemorate the soldiers. This place offers magnificent views of the Himalayas.

Punakha Festival

Hosting a recreation of the battle scene of the 17th century Tibetan army, Punakha festival is annually celebrated in the month of February or March. The local militiamen or pazaps dress up in a traditional battle dress, and re-enact the dramatic battle scene. A large number of holidaymakers become a part of this festivity, which preserves the tradition and culture of Bhutan, and occupies a special place in the heart of pilgrims as well as tourists.

Zuri Dzong Hike

Offering a splendid view of the Paro Valley, Zuri Dzong Hike is one of the most popular hiking spots in Bhutan. It is said that Lord Buddha meditated in one of these caves, back in the 8th century. Trek lovers can have thrilling experience hiking the peak of this Dzong. Nature lovers can sit back and relax while enjoying the picturesque views of the lush mountain peaks.

Local Cuisine

Travellers are suggested to relish the local dishes of Bhutan while exploring Bhutan travel. The uniqueness of the local dishes, which also makes them flavoursome, is their richness of spices. They are not considered merely as a seasoning, but an essential ingredient of every food of this place. The national dish of Bhutan is Ema Datshi, which consists of a perfect combination of the local cheese called Datshi and exotic chillies. Sura, a salted butter tea is served on every occasion in Bhutan, is also a must-try while in Bhutan.

Mount Chomolhari

Sometimes it is not necessary to plan a group vacation. Some places offer the best experience when they are visited in complete isolation. Mount Chomolhari is one such spot where nature lovers can admire the never-fading beauty of the Himalayas while on Bhutan Travel. Often regarded as the most sacred mountain by Tibetan people, it is also the second highest peak in the country, offering unforgettable hiking experience to travellers in the Bhutanese countryside.

These are the major crowd-pullers that have urged online travel agencies to cover them in most of the Bhutan travel packages.

Taboo is a forbidden activity, something that is not permitted, something which stands against social approval and is disallowed by norms of behavior. They are complete restrictions or prohibition in saying or doing something. It is concerned with social and cultural aspects of life. Manipur society is rich in taboos, making the people a highly civilized one since time immemorial. It is also for the preservation of culture and traditions.

All social and religion activities in our society are not only based upon supernatural beliefs and universal principles. They always follow some ethical code of conduct. They are also regulated by certain social restraint which assumes a kind of socio-religious sanctity. There is no control over human mind and actions following from it. Therefore, the socio-religion restraints have to be given a religious coating. We are forced to believe that the supernatural force above us always looks after us and those who breaks rules are punished by the supernatural beings. This system operates in society in the form of “Taboo”.

There are two aspects of taboos in Manipur – cultural taboo (not to do) and linguistic taboo (not to say). The Meetei aim at the best form of society wherein the slight defects be removed to the possible extent, by introducing or substituting words which in their composition, includes nearly slang like pronunciation. Taboos are not curse but boon to the Meetei society. Without such restrictions and prohibitions, the society might be a place of cannibalism, barbaric and insecure one. Social orders, peace and harmony among the people are directly or indirectly related to social taboos. It also shares the foundation of morality, ethics and character building which are a must for human civilization.

The Meeteis have been told by their forefathers what is ought to be done and what is not to be done. Gradually these become taboos. There are also cases where taboos originated out of fear. For instance, the intermarriage among the same Yek (clan) is not allowed and this is regarded as taboo. This may have been out of fear of the dominant or powerful king that the marriage alliance of might become a threat to its power. Instances were there that the Meetei kings instituted various taboos for their own benefits too.

During the reign of Maharaj Chura Chand Singh no women were permitted to untie the back knot of their hairs before him. They were also not allowed to enjoy the shade of an umbrella before him.

The Meeteis regard the menstrual period of women as inauspicious. During this period, the woman is regarded as untouchable. Physical intimacy or contact of man-woman is strictly prohibited. On the fifth day of the period, women need a clean bath with the washing of her head and thereafter, her normal life starts. Women are also prohibited from eating certain food items, particularly which are bitter and sour in taste. Social contact with a lady during child birth is a cultural taboo. She is kept in seclusion, aloof of the society for 12 days – the period being observed by the entire clan as Yum Mangba, which is considered as an inauspicious days during which no pujah (worships) of gods can be performed by the members of family and Sagei (clan), except on the sixth day after birth.

The husband, during the period of his wife’s pregnancy will not g for hunting or may not indulge in any act of violence. He should not share bed with his wife at the advanced stage of pregnancy too. It is believed that she should not see the Hindu gods and goddesses like Lord Jagathnath or Goddess Kali during pregnancy, for if she feels fear, she might deliver a deformed child. She should also abandon all types of twin fruits or vegetables. If she eats these food stuffs, it is believed she will have a twin baby.

Sharing same plate for any type of food between the husband and wife is also a cultural taboo. To touch or use of Phanek of his wife or women other than his mother’s is also a taboo. If he does, he is regarded as a henpecked husband and unlucky face to the society. He will bring bad omens to society.

People are not allowed to eat food items depending on their clans. Angom clan need to abandon from eating Mairen Angouba (white pumpkin), Mangang clan should get rid from Ngaril (eel). If these are taken, it would cause allergy, immune or losing of teeth etc.

Yuhar haba (Earthquake) is believed as the mark of punishment by God for indignation towards mankind. During shaking of the earth, men or women, old or young will utter the word “chak -nga” (Rice-fish) which means that everything except food (rice and fish) may be destroyed, indicating basic need of man as food.

Potsem Jadoo is one of the black arts practiced in Manipur. It is based mainly on common beliefs. The person who is willing to hurt an enemy makes an effigy out of wax, adding few more ingredients and recites mantras (hyms). Some one may adopt a different system. The enemy comes under the spell of black art and is easily controllable. This is done with the help of goblins, ghost or spirits. Sometimes, this system is also adopted by maiba (local physician) to treat or cure physical or mental ailments. Hingchabi changba (in which a person is possessed by evil spirits) is also cured by a process of lai khurumba ( a pujah), whereby the maiba tried to please the evil spirits.

The Meetei cannot wholly abandon the age old belief, which somebody may call even superstition. Even today, by the process of Nong Kouba (invitation of rain), heavy rain can be caused. Nong Kouba ceremony is to invite rain and is performed when there is scarcity of rain or drought occurs. People will sing together loudly a particular hymn in rhythm.

In ancient days, if a man takes oath by the name of a deity, it cannot be left unfulfilled. Such unfulfilled oaths are regarded as washak namungba (breaking of oaths). Meeteis are very much afraid of the effects which may follow after breaking the oath.

After returning from a long journey, a person has to expose to fire, scattering of rice before him. Throwing of cut nails freely in the open is prohibited. It should be kept underground, lest the pieces of nails may be taken away by birds. Meetei believed that bird like owl might take these nails to Yumraj (Lord of Death) and the person may die.

People would show regret by touching his forehead with his hands after touching the other person who he have accidentally touched by feet. One must take off shoes before entering the house of another person. While having meals outside the house, some food must be offered on a piece of leave, which is for the demigods around us.

The Meeteis are restricted to cut bamboo on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Similarly, cutting of hairs and nails are also not allowed on the above three days of the week as well as on the particular days a person is born.

At the time of going out for some mission or work, the words “Ei Chatle” (I am going) is not used. Instead, “Ei Chatlukhige” is used. Ei Chatle means left for heavenly abode (death). At the time, when a man sets out from his home for a journey, the pronunciation of the word “Houdong” (cat) is prohibited and considered a bad omen. One should use Yumleima (lady of the family) instead. Words like Kei (tiger) are a taboo at night. Mistakenly if people used, they feared of a tiger coming out from the jungles. Therefore, they used “Ibudhou” (grandfather) to mean tiger during the night.

Thus, the horizon pf human language is broadening day by day on the impact of taboo. On the process of seeking words or phrases to denote the tabooed words, many new words are phrases are invented. Unpleasant slang words are substituted by new and beautiful words. Consequently, a good supply of new words or phrases to the rich literary wealth of our society can been seen today.

Rajasthan, a state in the north-western India, houses a number majestic forts and palaces, and serene lakes. This place has been dominated by the Rajputs for decades, and the influence of the same can be seen in its vibrant culture as well as architecture. People often book Rajasthan tour packages to experience the royalty, which is an integral part of this state. Here is a list of three reasons that attract tourists to this state.

Architectural Wonders

By booking Rajasthan holiday packages, tourists can explore this land of kings and queens. The region abounds in majestic forts, lavish palaces and havelis. From Jaipur, Alwar and Ranthambhore to Ajmer, every part of the state is mesmerising and features something of architectural importance. Amber Fort Palace is one of the most magnificent buildings in the state. Located around 14 km from Jaipur, this grand fort is a conflux of Hindu and Mughal architecture. Constructed in 1592 by Raja Man Sing I, this fabulous complex is built by using red sandstone and white marble. Owing to its beautiful interiors and grandeur, the fort is a romantic palace. Hawa Mahal, City Palace, Jantar Mantar and Pushkar Lake are other top attractions in the state.

Grandeur Festivals

Rajasthan is known for its fascinating culture and impressive festivals. Travellers can witness Jaipur elephant festival by booking their Rajasthan tour packages in the month of March. It is organised on the evening of Holi, and is all about eponymous elephants. The world famous Pushkar Camel Fair, one of the largest of its kind, is also hosted in this state. It occurs annually in the Hindu month of Kartik (October/November). Drawing more than 14000 camels, horses and cattle, this 14-day spectacle is one of the highest rated travel experiences in the country.

Natural Heritage

This royal region of India has more than architectural wonders. People can also see impressive sand dunes, dense jungles, camel trains and wild tigers in this state. Rajasthan tour packages allow travellers to visit various thrilling parts of the region. Around 10 km from Sawai Madhopur District, Ranthambhore National Park is home to a number of rare animals and exotic birds. It is the best place to spot a tiger. During Rajasthan tours, tourists can visit Sariska Tiger Reserve. It is situated in Alwar district, which is around 200 km from Delhi. In addition to Bangal tigers, people can see many fascinating animals at this reserve, including leopard, jungle cat, golden jackal, chital and chinkara. It also features various exotic trees like salar, dhok tree, gol, kadaya, dhak, ber, bamboo, gugal, bargad and khair that make it a great place for photo opportunities.

WoW Skinning

So you want to learn skinning? Sure the sound of it is kewl, and you will be racing around cleaning up after your own mess. So why not! And I totally agree.

But before you get started, racing around skinning any little furry mob you see in sight, have a read of this 1st, to give you an idea of how to level skinning even quicker! Because the only thing better than leveling up your skinning, is leveling skinning faster.

Where to Start

The main things to know here is, Trainers, Items(bags) & Leather types. Lets cover the basics.

Trainers:

They are everywhere, and for both Alliance and Horde. So where do you find them? Here is a list of the starting locations for both Alliance and Horde and their respective skinning trainers.

Ranks you can learn from these trainers:

(Apprentice, Journeyman, Expert, Artisan)

NB: These are all the skinners you should find around the original World of Warcraft game.

Alliance Skinning Trainers

o NightElf (m), Radnaal Maneweaver – Northwest of Ban’ethil Hollow – Teldrassil

o NightElf (f), Eladriel – Craftsmen’s Terrace – Darnassus

o Human (f), Helene Peltskinner – Goldshire – Elwynn Forest

o Human (f), Maris Granger – Old Town – Stormwind

o Dwarf (m), Balthus Stoneflayer – The Great Forge – Ironforge

o Human (f), Wilma Ranthal – Stonewatch Falls – Redridge Mountains

o NightElf (f), Jayla – Silverwind Refuge – Ashenvale

World of Warcraft: Burning Crusade (only)

o Furblog, Gurf – Stillpine Hold – Azuremyst Isle

o Draenei (f), Remere – Traders’ Tier – The Exodar

Horde Skinning Trainers

o Undead (m), Rand Rhobart – Southeast of Brill – Tirisfal Glades

o Undead (m), Killian Hagey – The Rogues’ Quarter – Undercity

o Tauren (m), Yonn Deepcut – Bloodhoof Village – Mulgore

o Tauren (f), Mooranta – Middle Rise – Thunder Bluff

o Orc (m), Thuwd – The Drag – Orgrimmar

o Tauren (m), Dranh – Camp Taurajo – the Barrens

o Troll (m), Malux – Shadowprey Village – Desolace

o Tauren (m), Kulleg Stonehorn – Camp Mojache – Feralas

World of Warcraft: Burning Crusade (only)

o BloodElf (m), Mathreyn (upto journeyman only) – West of Silvermoon entrance – Eversong Woods

o BloodElf (f), Tyn – alk of Elders – Silvermoon

Tools (Items):

OK, so now you have learnt your skill for Skinning, and are ready to go skin some mobs. Wait wait, hang on a second. You need some tools. or in the games terms, items.

o (Required) Skinning Knife

o (Suggested, but optional) Leather working bag like the ‘Bag of Many Hides’

You can get away without a skinning knife, if you attack with an axe, knife or sword. But only until a certain level, and this only frees up 1 bag slot. And YES, your MUST carry the skinning knife with you.

Which is why the ‘Bag of Many Hides’ is so great, it can be used to store all your leather and skinning knife in, and its BIG. Another great advantage. Definatly worth the gold.

Leather Types:

I saw this somewhere, and thought it was quite interesting. A list of all the leather types available in the Original World of Warcraft and what level mobs you can expect to see them on. In the expansions, there are only 1 type of skinnable leather from mobs.

o Ruined Leather Scraps – expected mob level: 1-16

o Light Leather – expected mob level: 1-27

o Light Hide – expected mob level: 10-27

o Medium Leather – expected mob level: 15-36

o Medium Hide – expected mob level: 15-36

o Heavy Leather – expected mob level: 25-46

o Heavy Hide – expected mob level: 25-46

o Thick Leather – expected mob level: 35-63

o Thick Hide – expected mob level: 40-59

o Rugged Leather – expected mob level: 43-63

o Rugged Hide – expected mob level: 47-63

NB: You can upgrade your leather with Leather Working. Sometimes, I would just get a guildie or friend to do this for me in exchange for some leather goods.

Lets Get Skinning!

OK, so we have got the skill, got the tools, learnt a little about the skinning leathery stuff. So now we need to know where to start. Well if you are doing this with a new toon, then pretty much the 1st place you can kill a mob, you can skin a mob. But here is a list of suggested areas which can really help you speed this process up.

Level your Skinning from 1-25

Horde

o Undead – Hounds around Brill

o Orcs and Trolls – Mottled Boars and Scorpids around Sen’Jin Village

o Tauren – Prowlers and Plainstriders around Bloodhoof Village

Alliance

o Humans – Boars around Goldshire

o Gnomes and Dwarfves – Crag Boars and Wendigo’s South of Kharanos

o Night Elves – Nightsabers and critters around Dolanaar

Level your Skinning from 25-50

Horde

o Undead – Worgs and Moonrage Gluttons around Silverpine

o Orcs and Trolls – Boars, Scorpids, Crocolisks and Raptors around Orgrimmar

o Tauren – Prowlers and Praire Wolves around Thunderbluff

Alliance

o Human – Prowlers and Bears around Eastvale Logging Camp

o Gnomes and Dwarfves – Wolves around Brenwall Village

o Night Elves – Moonstalkers and Bears around Auberdine

Level your Skinning from 50-100Horde

o Most Horde races – Plainstriders, Raptors and Prowlers around Crossroads

Alliance

o Humans – Goretusks all around Sentinel Hill

o Gnomes and Dwarfves – Bears and Crocolisks around Thelsamar

o Night Elves – Moonstalkers and Bears North of Auberdine

Level your Skinning from 100-130

Horde

o Most Horde races – Stormsnouts and Thunderhawks around Camp Taurajo

Alliance

o Most Alliance races – Crocolisks and Raptors around Bluegill Marsh and Whelgar’s Excavation Site

o Alternative – Whelps and boars around Lakeshire

Level your Skinning from 130-150

Alliance and Horde have 3 areas to level now

o Bears and Mountain Lions around Hillsbrad Foothills

o Ravagers and Wolves in Duskwood

o Bears, Stags and Ghostpaws in Ashenvale

Level your Skinning from 150-170

Alliance and Horde

o Yeti Cave in Hillsbrad Fields

o Mountain Lions on the “Daggers”

NB: these are the bits of land between Hillsbrad and Alterac Mountains, one is called Corrans Dagger, so hence the nickname

o Hyenas, Lions, Wyvern and Thunderhawks in Thousand Needles

o Bears, Stags and Ghostpaws in Ashenvale

Level your Skinning from 170-180

Alliance and Horde

o Raptors in Arathi Highlands

o Turtles and Basilisks in The Shimmering Flats

Level your Skinning from 180-220

Alliance and Horde

o Raptors, Panthers and Tigers around Nessingwarys Camp in Stranglethorn Vale

NB: you could actually get your skinning level all the way to 300 in and around STV as the mobs range from level 34 to level 50

o Raptors and Crocs in Dustwallow Marsh

o Thunder Lizards, Kodos, Basilisks, Scorpids and Hyenas in Desolace

o Whelps in Swamp of Sorrows

Level your Skinning from 220-250

Alliance and Horde

o Raptors and Gorillas around the Gurabashi Arena

o Panthers, Jaguars and Crocs in Swamp of Sorrows

o Dragonkin, Coyotes and Ridge Stalkers/Huntresses in Badlands

o Wolves around Feathermoon Stronghold in Feralas

Level your Skinning from 250-275

Alliance and Horde

o Snickerfangs and Boars in North Blasted Lands

o Silvermanes and Gryphons in The Hinterlands

o Stags and Hippogryphs in Azshara

o Hippogryphs, Apes, Bears, Wolves, Screechers and Yetis in Feralas

Level your Skinning from 275-300

Alliance and Horde, lots of choice here, try out your skills around:

o Jagueros and Gorillas on Jaguero Island

NB: Large Island to the East of Booty Bay where Princess Poobah is being held

o Yetis, Chimeras and Bears in Winterspring

o Bears in Western Plaguelands

o Plaguehounds and Plaguebats in Eastern Plaguelands

o Turtles by Raventusk Village in The Hinterlands

o Turtles and Chimeras in Azshara

o Dragonkin, Worgs and Scorpids in Burning Steppes

OK, I did say I would take you all the way to 450 didn’t I. Well here is the Burning Crusade Skinning Guide. From here on out, its the same for both factions.

Level your Skinning from 300-330

o Hellboars & Ravagers around Hellfire Peninsula

Level your Skinning from 330-350

o Talbuk’s and Clefthoofs all over Nagrand

NB: it’s possible to keep going all the way to skinning 375 here unless you want a change of scenery

Level your Skinning from 350-375

o Netherdrakes around Stormspire in Netherstorm

o Netherdrakes around Netherwing Fields in Shadowmoon Valley

o Raptors and Wind Serpents around Blades Edge Mountains

And here is my World of Warcraft Skinning guide for Wrath of the Lich King.

Level your Skinning from 375-405

o Shoveltusks around Howling Fjord

Level your Skinning from 375-405

o Mammoths around Borean Tundra

NB: There are usually heaps of dead ones just lying around here as well

Level your Skinning from 405-430

o Deer, Infected Grizzly Bears, Wolves and everything else on the Grizzly Hills

Level your Skinning from 430-450

o Giraffes, Mangal Crocolisks, Gorillas and pretty much anything in Sholazar Basin

OK, and thats some of the best places to level skinning profession from 1 – 450 fairly quickly. I think the quickest I have seen someone do this is in about 9 hours. Feel free to tell me your score! And if you can prove it, I will make a special write up about your techniques!

Master of Anatomy

I remembered I was going to mention this, and since WotLK, there is no skill level vs character level restrictions anymore. So if you want to make a twink @ 19, you can still craftily level you skinning all the way upto 450!

o (75-149) Master of Anatomy Rank 1 – increases Critical Strike by 3

o (150-224) Master of Anatomy Rank 2 – increases Critical Strike by 6

o (225-229) Master of Anatomy Rank 3 – increases Critical Strike by 9

o (300-374) Master of Anatomy Rank 4 – increases Critical Strike by 12

o (375-449) Master of Anatomy Rank 5 – increases Critical Strike by 20

o (450+) Master of Anatomy Rank 6 – increases Critical Strike by 32

OK, that’s it for now, I hope this guide has been helpful to you and your skinning efforts in the World of Warcraft.