Nilgiri Langur / Nilgiri leaf monkey

The Nilgiri Langur is a lutung (a type of Old World monkey) found in the Nilgiri hills of the Western Ghats in South India.

Lakshadweep

Lakshadweep meaning 'A Hundred Thousand Islands' is an archipelago consisting of 36 islands, 12 atolls, 3 reefs and 5 submerged banks in the Arabian Sea.

The islands look like emeralds in the vast expanse of blue sea. Varying hues of turquoise blue translucent water surround them.

Indian Independence

India's Independence Day is August 15th each year. At midnight, on 15 August 1947, India became an independent nation.

Read about the Indian Independence Movement.

Ramayana रामायण

Ramayana is an ancient Sanskrit epic attributed to the poet Valmiki

In his Ramayana, Valmiki expresses his view of human code of conduct through Rama: life is evanescent and the hedonistic approach to it is meaningless. However, that should not allow one to be indifferent to one's own rights and duties laid down in the ancient texts. He thus adopts the view that Dharma is what is proclaimed in the Veda and it should be followed for its own sake, not for what it brings you in pain or pleasure. Doing this will ensure one's welfare in this and the next world. In addition, Ramayana also reinforces the need for thinking about the consequences before making promises, for if you make them you must keep them, no matter how hard it may be.

Backwaters of Kerala

The Kerala Backwaters are a chain of brackish lagoons and lakes lying parallel to the Arabian Sea coast (known as the Malabar Coast) of Kerala state in southern India.

Travel information is here.

Himalayas

The Himalaya mountain range is the highest on earth and is often referred to culturally as the "roof of the world". The range is home to the world's highest peaks, including Mount Everest.

Bhagavad Gita

The Bhagavad Gita (Sanskrit भगवद्‌ गीता Bhagavad Gītā, "Song of God") is a Sanskrit text from the Bhishma Parva of the Mahabharata epic.

Quoting from Sri A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada:
"Bhagavad-gita is also known as Gitopanishad. It is the essence of Vedic knowledge and one of the most important Upanishads in Vedic literature."

The Bhagavad Gita elaborates on a number of different Yogic and Vedantic philosophies, with examples and analogies. This has led to the Gita often being described as a concise guide to Hindu philosophy and also as a practical, self-contained guide to life.

In summary the main philosophical subject matter of the Bhagavad-gita is the explanation of five basic concepts or truths:

• Ishvara (The Supreme Controller)


• Jiva (Living beings/the soul)


• Prakrti (Matter)


• Karma (Action)


• Kala (Time)

Wikisource has the Bhagavad Gita text in Sanskrit and English. Currently the English version is not complete.