My Chicago Rant

Archive for February, 2010

The chronicle of softball is by far the clearest of all documented sports allied histories. Meaning that football account, soccer and golf among other sports all have much more convoluted beginnings compared to softball account. It is a relatively fresh sport that was originated in Chicago in 1887. The yarn has it that after getting the slice of the Yale and Harvard football fixture that a group of juvenile men jumped and one brood man threw a boxing glove at another who proceeded to hit it with a opposite. George Hancock who is often endorsed with creating the willing then drew out a rhombus on the deck and took the hold of a broom to use as a join. They attached more boxing gloves up to be used as an oversized ball. Suffice that it is odd to say the softball memoirs originated inside and was urban by men. The earliest sport was loosely based on a shortened edition of baseball with a smaller tackle and a larger ball. Shortly after this Mr. Hancock painted permanent outline in the gymnasium, primed some new system and coined the sport inside baseball.

Softball record’s popularity grew quickly and Hancock then bent a publication on all the system of the match. Canada adopted the sport as it was calm to play within. Then the diversion took a rotate on the outside fields in the summer and was called indoors/outdoors.

Different teams and leagues began to grow all over the northeast. Chicago while official with the development saw teams popping up in Minnesota, New York and Massachusetts. Then the great gold haste took easterners west to achieve assets and along with them, they brought there sports, which helped grow the west coasts teams.

Women’s softball was also developed in Chicago and West Division High was the first to have a panel in 1895. They played generally indoors and were not primarily recognized as comparable to the men. It took the women’s leagues much longer to benefit credibility and the heartfelt crossover was the advance in popularity of baseball. As baseball became much more accepted the male players shifted to it while the women began to make softball there own. Now a day’s both men and women of all ages can enjoy the sport.

Throughout the 1900′s leagues and tournaments began to pop up everywhere. The National Championship was first played in Chicago in 1933 and it included both male and female competitors. The sixties and seventies saw professional leagues come to go for women. The slow pitch resolute evolved on the international degree with the Softball World Championships in 1965. It ultimately set the platform for the Olympics which greatly improved softball annals. The contest began to loosen as players became much superior and stronger and fewer plunging and security were incorporated. The officials and high standing certitude makers of the leagues around the world began to make a move swiftly to pitch softball start around the 1980′s and 90′s. At first the changes were met with much resistance but the ready has since embraced the changes.

Fast pitch has tainted the appearance of the willing dramatically. The sport is much more, a match of rush and apology fairly than affront and intensity and it has also produced much more media coverage and advance in the sport than ever.

The match of softball is appealing to so many levels of our citizens. Young men and women can enjoy the contest on whichever a societal or competitive altitude. The thousands of softball leagues around the country afford for a great party scenery. College teams flourish and the international location is more admired than ever. Softball annals has come such a long way in the last hundred years from poles and boxing gloves to international notoriety, so goes the saga of softball.

Jeffrey Seymour
http://www.articlesbase.com/cricket-articles/softball-and-its-history-711297.html

It is the American dream. To buy a beautiful house with the white picket fence, and raise a family in a safe neighborhood, where crime is almost nonexistent was reality for many families of generations past but unfortunately has become wishful thinking in the 21st century.

With the recent murders of singer/actress Jennifer Hudson’s mother and brother in their Chicago home, Americans have once again come to the sad realization that no one is above tragedy and anyone could become the next victim of a violent crime. In many presidential elections, the issues that candidates often stress are those on a national level such as the economy or national security. But what would the presidential candidates do to address crime prevention and assist state and local law enforcement officials in making American streets a safer place to live?

According to Barack Obama’s official website, he and running mate Joe Biden would fully fund the COPS program to put 50,000 police officers on American streets and also address the issue of police brutality that is so prevalent in communities of color. As a result of understaffing at many police departments, the Democratic ticket will also encourage more young people to enter the field of law enforcement.

Republican John McCain also supports federally funding state and local law enforcement agencies but believes rampant earmarking of federal funds to the local level has reduced funding to those jurisdictions that are in most need. According to his official website, “John McCain will restore credibility to these grant programs by ensuring funding is based on need and provided to the most worthy jurisdictions based on a peer-review of grant applications.”

Both McCain and Obama also support reducing crime recidivism by enacting programs that help former inmates readapt to society. According to BarackObama.com, “Obama and Biden will create a prison-to-work incentive program, modeled on the successful Welfare-to-Work Partnership and work to reform correctional systems to break down barriers for ex-offenders to find employment.”

Consequently, McCain supported the Second Chance Act, which will provide up to $360 million for reentry services from 2009-2010. The Second Chance Act funds many faith-based programs that help former prisoners transition back into mainstream society by providing job training, counseling and mentors. Many of these programs have reported reducing recidivism rates by 50 percent. According to JohnMcCain.com, the annual cost of incarcerating a prisoner is more than $20,000.

Obama plans to address crime prevention in many cities by respecting the Second Amendment rights of gun owners but at the same time keeping guns away from helpless children. According to his website, “(Obama and Biden) support closing the gun show loophole and making guns in this country childproof. They also support making the expired federal Assault Weapons Ban permanent; as such weapons belong on foreign battlefields and not our streets.”

The Democrats also wants to see an end to racial profiling, as Obama passed a law in his home state that required the Illinois Department of Transportation to record the ethnicities, gender and age of all drivers stopped.

To post your opinion on the presidential election visit www.regalmag.com/forum.

Todd A. Smith
http://www.articlesbase.com/politics-articles/where-do-the-candidates-stand-on-crime-prevention-691290.html

Motherhood Messages from  Mythology:

A study of Four Queens as Mothers in Indian Epics Ramayana and Mahabharata

 

Parenting is generally assumed to be providing the basic necessities, with profound intensity in interest, love and concern in children particularly within the home environment. Providing physical safety, shelter, clothes, nourishment, protecting the child from dangers besides health are primary duties of a parent. Physical and mental well being of the child is as much parental concern as would be their cultivation of good habits and good values. Intellectual security, creating an environment that is conducive for mind to develop, an atmosphere of peace and justice in family are among the prerequisites of good parenting. Intellectual development, emotional security, emotional development and the list goes on…

 

But these are wishful thinking. We live in a world that would deny us even the basic rights to live, as there is no warrantee against terrorism. To live and let live is a thing of the past. The bygone millennia were far more favorable to worldly existence than the present times. What children expect of parents in dutiful bounty but a friendly co-operation. Arguments are best when completely avoided, interaction and guidance offered only when solicited, demonstrating healthy practices without coercion on the part of the other to emulate can aid in establishing a parent – child relationship that transforms a living together of two disparate individuals into peaceful coexistence. Confrontation on the other hand will usher in verbal warfare leading to universal chaos.

 

In these circumstances, it would be interesting and worthwhile to inquire into mythology and note how some of the tallest characters have behaved as parents. The two great Indian Epics The Ramayana and the Mahabharata have been treasure houses of information for anything and everything the world could ask for Happy childhood challenged by scheming villains, obedient sons ousted by cunning voices, compassionate parents beleaguered by self-seeking desperados and many more disparities lace these epics.

 

 

The Mahabharata has been rightly hailed as the national epic of India. It is the story of a great war that terminated one yuga and began another. Considered to be the longest literary piece in the world, the most erudite evidence points out that, this great epic was composed between 2500 and 3000 years ago.

 

The Mahabharata is not an arbitrary compilation of tales like the Medieval Legends. Digressions aplenty, do shed light on the main plot and in fact help in maintaining the coherence. The plot revolves around the great battle that was waged at Kurukshetra between the Pandavas, their allies on the one side and Kauravas, their allies on the other. The war proverbially termed Dharma Yudda was the culmination of a whole generation of conflict and diplomatic maneuvering that pitted first among equals against second to none. And this made it all the more devastating eliminating several clans comprising of the best of men. The Pandavas, the sons of King Pandu, won the battle but lost the war that shattered the world they knew only to ruminate the rest of their lives in the emptiness of what they had won.

 

The Ramayana is one of the most well-known stories in the world, is considered to be the earliest epic written several millennia ago. It is a narrative on an exciting adventure tale about prince, Rama, the heir to the throne, banished to the forest for fourteen years, separated from his beloved wife, Sita. He wages a war against the abductor of Sita, Ravana, the King of Lanka, rescues her and returns to Ayodhya, and takes over the reins of the kingdom, to provide what is proverbially referred to as Rama Rajya – a form of governance that hitherto remains unsurpassed and unparalleled.

 

In more ways than one, these epics can be seen as a typically pitting the good against the evil. But they are much richer than these fairy tale tribes. They encompass human knowledge in abundance, lessons for all walks of life. In this article, I intend to take lessons of parenting, particularly motherhood, – the dos and don’ts of effective parenting. I shall be taking up the cases of Four Queens, Sumithra and Kaikeyi from the Ramayana along with Gandhari and Kunti from the Mahabharata.

 

Kunti

 

In the mythologically instructed community, there is a corpus of images and models that provide the pattern to which the individual may aspire, a range of metaphoric identity.
Jerome S. Bruner, psychologist

 

Queen Kunti is easily one of the most prodigious women to be accorded much respect in the Indian tradition. Her activities were that of a very pious and loyal wife and of a person with a great deal of self-control. She has an impressive lineage there. She is the daughter of the Yadava Shurasena and can thus trace her ancestry to such mighty emperors as Puroorava, Yayati and Nahusha, rulers of perhaps India’s largest ever empires. It is the blood of such mighty emperors that runs through Kunti’s veins. And as Shurasena’s daughter, she is Vasudeva’s sister and Krishna’s maternal aunt. In the Bheel version (a tribal version popular in North India)of the epic, she is Shakti herself born as a woman, who lives her human life as the very embodiment of Shakti.

 

She espoused the principles she strongly believed in, irrespective of her position. She accompanied her husband, Pandu when he renounced the throne and left for the forest. Severe austere life devoid of the sophistication of palace did not deter her and she accepted the change in her fortune with poignant and dignified grace. On a later occasion, she joined her sons in their journey towards the forest, and even outlived an assassination attempt in the wax mansion by the Kauravas. Her word was taken seriously both for their wisdom and guidance as in the case of Draupadi marrying her five sons. This is because, without looking at them she asked her sons to share the prize they had won.

 

Despite her sufferings, she found strength in her inner wisdom that carted her sons through crises particularly in the fratricidal war for justice.

 

The negative side of Kunti as a mother is best reflected in her handling of her Kaneena (child born to a woman before marriage) son Karna In spite of all her love for Karna, she was keen to get him out of her life as soon as he was born . So she floated the basket containing the young divine baby on a river and abandoned him completely out of her memory and life.

 

Thus with Karna, Kunti chooses the easy way out. In other words, her interests always preceded karna’s. This led to her abandoning him not just after his birth but repeatedly throughout his life. In the first instance he was saved by a good natured charioteer and his wife. After the floating incident we next see Karna as a young energetic youth qualified to challenge Arjuna in the arena where the Kaurava and the Pandava princes displayed their learning. He was rejected instantly because he was not a Kshatriya. One word of acknowledgement from Kunti could have saved not just Karna but the very Kurukshetra war that erupted later. But Kunti decided to abandon him again. This time Karna fell in line with evil. Duryodhana was quick to capitalize on his strength and weakness to crown him Anga Raja – the king of the Kingdom of Anga.

 

Her own son Bheema calls Karna a charioteer and humiliates him in the most caustic terms and asks him to get hold of his whip to drive chariots. All this in Kunti’s presence, but, for her part, she chooses to remain silent only to desert him.

 

There were numerous occasions when she could have felt the pulse of pride if only she had acknowledged his birth to her. But she refuses to recognize and admit the truth about him publicly.

 

The one occasion that she chooses to meet him and confess the truth of his birth is during the war. Even then it is to obtain something from him and not carry out her duties as his mother. She gets him to promise that he would not kill the Pandavas except Arjuna. By doing so, she makes him betray the man who recognized the dignity of his caliber.

 

In Bheel Bharatha, Kunti is supposed to have dumped Karna as an infant in a rubbish heap. This is both literal and metaphorical. When we look at Karna’s deeds, we wonder if this is true. He does indeed carry out some mean unethical deeds in his life, the meanest of them all is his vigorous incitement of Dushshasana in the act of debasing Draupadi in the Court Hall of Hastinapura. Kunti’s silence even at this moment is as intriguing as her rejection of Karna when he demonstrated his greatness. It could be argued that Karna could have evolved and realized the full potentials of his being if Kunti had not deserted him. She is squarely responsible for his falling into the hands of the Kauravas, ultimately into the darkness and dirt of evil. In effect she discarded an invaluable diamond into a rubbish heap. Which is exactly what the Bheel Bharata claims; she buried him in a rubbish heap.

 

Her attitude towards Karna may be puzzling. Many scholars have stated that there are reasons for her indifference. May be, she was conscious of her honour while dealing with Karna as he was born out of marriage. But when Karna eventually died, in the war, she courageously and whole heartedly acknowledged his valour.

 

Nevertheless, Kunti has her bright side as a mother to Nakula and Sahadeva who are actually Madri’s (Pandu’s second wife) children. In fact this act resurrects her from the sin of rejecting of her own Karna. There are instances when she even exhorts her eldest born Yudhishtra to take extra care of his youngest siblings. Such was her care and concern for them that forms a perfect foil to her treatment of her own Karna.

 

In Kunti, therefore, we see a devoted and none the less inquisitive maiden, a diligent wife, who respects elders and a trustworthy source of comfort to her husband. But she prevails as the archetypal dedicated mother, constantly advising and guiding her children, and ever willing to compromise on her comforts for their well being. Women like her have led and represented the concept of Bharat Mata. As feminist philosopher Judith Butler said, “Gender is a fact rather than an arbitrary set of concepts.” And Kunti’s motherhood stands testimony to it with all its positive and negative sides complementing each other.

Gandhari

Gandhari, often referred to as the ‘model of female propriety’, also considered an incarnation of Mati,(Goddess of Intelligence) is the daughter of Subala, the king of Gandhara,(modern Kandhahar) a region in the northwestern Pakistan and eastern Afghanistan. A tragic character of Mahabharata, her fearless life and strong disposition is very relevant to the contemporary socio-political context. She was forced to marry, Dhritrashtra, a blind king who was much older to her. This came as a rude shock to her, violating her womanly rights. Gandhari volunteered to blindfold herself throughout her married life which is generally assumed to be an act of supreme self sacrifice. She therefore forced herself into an act of self denial of the power and pleasure of sight that her husband could never experience and relish. Underlying Gandhari’s resolve to remain blindfolded was a silent but a strong protest in opposition to the power games and of course the forced marriage, at once making her enforced blindness both physical and metaphorical. She remained blind to the power games, political manipulations, irrefutable affection for her sons even if they indulge in hatred. The animosity they entertained with their first cousins, the Pandavas, swelled into the great war of Kurukshetra. This also explains her silence when Draupadi was defiled in the court. On hind sight one can see that Gandhari was more of a victim of a society that attempted to endorse male supremacy. Her protest nevertheless was loud, clear and successful

 

As a mother, twice she manifested her affection and concern for her son Duryodhana. Once, when she tried to wrap him with an invincible aura to avert death in the war. To her shock she failed one, because he was on the side of Adharma or evil, two, because he did not obey her words completely. She had asked him to come unclothed. She would see him with her naked eyes to bestow upon him a protective ring. But he appears with a loin around his waist. This repels the power of her vision to fall on his entire body making his waist to knee weak and vulnerable. He was eventually killed by Bheema who broke his thighs. The other occasion when she displayed her wrath for the loss of her children was through a small gap in the cloth with which her eyes were blindfolded; her gaze fell on Yudhisthira’s toe. The toe was charred black reflecting the power of her vision.

 

The boon that will bestow a 100 sons, turned out to be a curse. Her sons much against her wishes perpetrated crime after crime on their cousins, insinuated by her own bother, Shakuni. She remained completely oblivious – or so she claimed –of her sons’ misadventures, as the Kauravas made several attempts to eliminate the Pandavas. She favoured peace, but never reined in her sons to establish peace, blinded by affection. She repeatedly exhorted her sons to follow dharma and make peace with the Pandavas but this was seen as a sign of weakness that was exhaled by her blindness.

 

Her enforced blindness and the lack of ‘eye contact’ with her children left them bereft of humaneness. They were insinuated by their maternal uncle , Shakuni, who was shattered by sister’s condition and held Bhishma squarely responsible for the same. His agenda of eliminating the kuru clan which he equated with Bhishma’s clan, was effected by slow poisoning his nephews into evil ways. He also harboured ambitions to the throne in Duryodhana. All this happened right under Gandhari’s nose. But she continued to remain blind. Several plans were hatched to kill the Pandavas, the attempt at drowning Bheema when they were in their early teens, the infamous wax mansion episode, the game of dice and the eventual banishment, but the perpetrators were never brought to book. She remained blind to all these as well.

 

Gandhari is a powerful character and therefore a role model. Her positive attributes, have often gone unnoticed. Her unconditional love for Kunti is reflected in Dhuryodhana’s unconditional acceptance with Karna though the relationship between the two (Kunti and Karna) remained obscure to them. This is a trait straight from Gandhari’s book. Her love for Draupadi, even though her sons could not win her, was silently registered and best exhibited when she allowed her to curse the Kuru clan. Her silence endorsed the power of women. Her sons failed to understand this silence. They deceived themselves into believing that their mother vouched for their actions. Her blindness now blinded the others.

 

Gandhari was much respected and admired quite deservedly so by all, including the Pandavas. She was endowed with a tough spirit and rationality, that even King Dhritarashtra solicited her sound advice. She never missed an opportunity to urge him to restrain the activities of Duryodhana. She has also insisted that he reinstate the Pandavas. But, never really voiced it out to her sons herself. Her motherliness was best exhibited when she stood for justice and refused to bless the Kauravas before the Kurukshetra war and remained strong and steadfast in her anti-war cum pro-justice position. She sat with the king listening to Sanjaya’s narration of the war. An advocate of peace she was indeed very saddened by the tragic consequence of the war.

 

In the present context, Gandhari’s motherhood can be described as a precursor to the marvels of the modern day natal sciences. Her dedication to duty, family, spouse and dharma, though not necessarily in that order is unparallelled. Her life is an exemplary case for the need for women to be rational and steadfast in their perception and performance of the many roles they play through their lives. A heavy demand indeed, in this cut – throat competitive world.

Kaikeyi

Kaikeyi, in the R?m?yana, was the second of King Da?aratha’s three wives and a queen of Ayodhy?. She was the daughter of the mighty Ashwapati, a long-term ally of Ayodhya. Her marriage to Dasaratha was settled only after the latter promised her father that her son would become the heir apparent to the throne of Ayodhya. Dasaratha little hesitated to this as kauslya, his first wife was issueless. But even Kaikeyi could not beget a son, and eventually Dasaratha married Sumitra, the princess of Magadha, another kingdom with strong political ties to Ayodhya.

 

Kaikeyi has intrigued all scholars, both through her character as a person and as a mother. Therefore it is worth examining her character. A peep into her childhood provides a strong clue to her motives behind her insistence on the banishment of Rama from Ayodhya to the forest for fourteen years. As a young girl she was the only sister to seven brothers. She had no maternal influence in her early childhood as her father had estranged his wife over a trifling issue. Ashwapati could understand the language of the birds. This boon, however had strings attached to it. He was refrained from revealing the contents of their conversation, failing which he would have to lose his life. Once, when the King and his Queen were in the palace gardens, Ashwapati happened to overhear the conversation of a pair of swans. His focus on overhearing the birds betrayed caution, and he laughed aloud. His wife persisted on knowing the reason for his sudden laughter. He feared that he would somehow reveal the idea in some unguarded moment. Hence he felt that Kaikeyi’s mother threatened the happiness of his family and he unjustly banished her from the palace. Kaikeyi never saw her mother again. Having been raised by her wet nurse, Manthara, in the absence of a mother at such a young age, allied with her father’s treatment of her mother chiseled a deep impression on the young mind. She developed a extreme distrust for all men. Her mother’s subsequent exile coupled with Manthara’s constant fuelling of negative impulses harboured a sense of insecurity in her. This is clearly revealed in her disposition as the secondary consort to Dasaratha. She soon realized the depth of Dasaratha’s love and affection for his Queen and Empress, Kausalya. The reason for his marrying her was chiefly to produce the much awaited heir. Manthara’s scheming ideas were of great help to her, particularly to win over the king. This cunningness was aptly rewarded when she earned two boons from him at a very critical juncture.

 

Kaikeyi’s boons turned out to be Kausalya’s bane.

 

Years later, plans were laid to crown Rama, the son of Kausalya, the heir apparent, as King. A true human being that she is when left to herself, Kaikeyi was genuinely delighted . However, Manthara ensured that Kaikeyi fell a prey to her scheming ways. Her own son Bharatha, on hearing about his mother’s evil desires, refused to budge to her demands. Not only did he refuse kingship, he even went to the extent of recalling Rama back to Ayodhya. He agreed to return only after his elder brother parted with his footwear which will govern the empire. This handed out a tight slap on the face to Kaikeyi and Manthara.

 

When we analyse Kaikeyi’s mindset, we realize that much of it stems from her childhood insecurity and total distrust of men in general and husbands in particular. Her mother’s experience at the hands of her father, has engraved deeply in her mind that very often her natural good self gets clouded by these negative motives. Her character as a person and as a mother is greatly influenced by the happenings of her younger days.

 

It is not just for Bharatha that she claims the throne. It is also for her own pride and security as the Queen Mother winning over Kausalya as Dasaratha’s favourite, that her claim seem complete and valid. Her ego is further punctured when she succeeds in neither. Bharatha refuses the throne while Dasaratha, dies exactly six days after Rama’s departure to the forest. Furthermore, Bharatha never addressed her as “Mother” again. Kaikeyi was said to have died a broken-hearted woman in total seclusion, estranged from her son, his wife Mandavi and their two sons, her only grandchildren. She had to blame only herself and perhaps fate for both these events.

 

As a mother, she could have been true but for Manthara’s influence. Her delight on hearing abour Rama’s coronation was spontaneous and genuine. Valmiki describes it as a delight a mother would feel for a happy occurrence to her own son. Such was her affection for Rama. But once triggered, her outpours knew no bounds. She not only demanded the kingdom for her son, but wanted Rama to be banished from the kingdom, to ensure safety for her son. This is not the Kaikeyi who reacted so positively just a little while before. She must have been the very embodiment of humane feelings. But circumstances, fate and Manthara never allowed her to be her own self. Her association with Manthara was far too deep and so was the sway the latter had on her, that it became impossible to disentangle the relationship. A weak childhood rendered a weak mindset that eventually succumbed to Mantahara’s exploitation of her weakness.

 

Sumithra

 

Sumitra, the third queen of king Dashratha, hailed from the ancient kingdom of Kashi. The wisest of the all the wives of Dasaratha, she was the first to realize that Rama was the incarnation of Lord Narayana.

 

In the Puthra Kameshti Yaga, that was performed to beget children, both Kausalya and Kaikeyi offered their second portion of the Kheer to Sumitra.She produced two sons, Lakshmana was born out of the portion given to her by Kausalya while, Shatrughana was born out of the portion given to her by Kaikeyi.

 

Her affection for children is vividly described in the Balakanda of Valmiki’s Ramayana. All the four young princes would choose to remain in Sumitra’s proximity in all their waking hours. Rama and Bharatha would insist on sleeping only on her lap and when they wake up, would persistently cry until they see her. ” Sumitra, here is your son, he does not sleep without your lap, see how red his eyes have become due to his incessant crying.” Kausalya and Kaikeyi would often rush to her with these words. The children would return to switch off mode as soon as she takes them in her arms. Such was the intimacy this Queen and the princes enjoyed.

 

Her relationship with the other queens was equally pleasant. It is believed that she would have prevailed over Kaikeyi when Rama was exiled, if she were given a chance. It is perhaps for this reason that Rama, in one version of Ramayana, sends Lakshmana to get her permission and blessings, since, her favouring Rama would have forced Kaikeyi to change her mind and decision that would make Rama go back on his word to his father.

 

When Lakshma insisted that he would accompany Rama to the forest, he was worried if his mother would not appreciate the idea. But contrary to everyone’s expectations, she tells Lakshmana, ” O son, being far from me, don’t ever think that you are far away from your parents, Sita will be your mother and Rama will be your father because the elder brother is just like a father and do not regret being far away from Ayodhya because Ayodhya is at the very place where Rama resides. You don’t have any business in Ayodhya in the absence of Rama.”

 

Further, she said: ” In this world, only that woman is fit to be called a mother whose son is the devotee of Raghunath, otherwise it would have been better if she were incapable of giving birth to a son”.

 

Her respect for Kaikeyi hardly changed , despite the fact that she was responsible for Rama’s exile. On he other hand she tells Lakshman, ” O son! Only your misfortune is responsible for sending Rama into exile and there is no other reason and you must consider it as your good fortune that you would be getting an opportunity to serve Rama and Sita while in exile.”

 

Sumitra goes a step further. She also envies her own son, considering it his good fortune to remain in the propinquity of Rama and bemoans her own misfortune that she has to remain far away from him. Her next piece of advice was with respect to Lakshmana seeking to serve Rama with his thoughts, words and deeds. She also warned Lakshmana not to act in a manner that could offend Rama.

 

With these words of wisdom she let Lakshmana accompany Rama and Sita to the forest.

During the war with Lanka, when she came to know that Lakshmana was injured, by the ‘Shakti- Bana’ quite unlike any other mother, the first thought that flashed across her mind was about the safety of Rama and not her son. She was more concerned about the fact that Rama was alone. Besides she was also aware of Rama’s love for his younger sibling and hence could understand the pain and suffering he had to endure in his absence. She even asked her second son Shatrughuna to serve Rama in his hour of need.

 

This is the hallmark of Sumitra as a mother. Fully aware that her older son may not survive, she was willing to spare her other son to serve Rama. Such selfless mothers are hard to come by in this wild wicked world.

 

She, never once grieved about her son’s separation. Conversely, she was envious of him in that he could be in close proximity of Rama.

 

Much of her positive attitude rubbed into her children’s temperament.
Lakshmana absorbed these exceptional qualities and quite akin to her personality had an unfailing love for his brother.

 

Towards the end of Rama’s life, Sage Dhurvasa comes to meet Rama. Earlier Rama had told Lakshmana that he should not be disturbed, no matter who comes to meet him. If he is, then Lakshmana would have to end his existence. It is at this juncture that the sage known for his vicious curses, arrived. Lakshmana falls into a serious dilemma. He explains to the sage in a very polite manner the instructions of his brother. To which the sage replies, that if he is not permitted to meet Rama, then the entire clan of Rama would be annihilated. Lakshmana did not wink a moment to decide. He went in and informed his brother of the Sage’s arrival, took his blessings and left for the river Sarayu to complete his mission on earth. Such was his devotion to his brother. He would rather end his existence than allow Rama’s descendents to be annihilated. His priorities cannot be defined any more clearly than this. . ‘Like mother like son’ in the truest spirit of the saying.

 

‘Blessed was the mother’ and ‘blessed was the son’, acclaims Tulsidas, in his description of Sumitra. Her unbounded love and affection for Rama is unparalleled in any mythology. The poet further eulogises this great character, when he says, “Only such type of mothers who is like Sumitra is worthy of being called a mother and a child having taken birth from the womb of such a mother is worthy of being called a son. Salutations to such a mother like Sumitra”.

 

When we look objectively at these women of great substance, we could easily decipher their strength and short comings. While Kunti exercised disparity among her own children, Gandhari, was blind to her own children’s evil ways, While kaikeyi was possessive, Sumithra found ecstasy in sharing. We can also see that their personalities rub into their children’s activities. Karna parted ways with good when he found recognition in evil. Duryodhana was blind to evil just as his mother was blinded by affection. Bharatha refused to respect his mother just as she refused to respect the king and honour is decision. Whereas Sumithra’s show of unlimited and unmitigated affection was perfectly imbibed by Lakshmana who was equally impeccable in his love and service to his brother.

 

The message from these women is loud and clear. Attitudes are engineered into the child’s mind even if they are not articulated. And the mother is that supreme personality whose influence on the child never ends. She influences eternity.

 

References:

 

Justice Sen, Sisir Kumar ICS: Quest for the origin of Bharata Samhita and the Mahabharata Story (Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Bombay, 1995).

 

Dandekar, R.N. (ed): The Mahabharata Revisited (Sahitya Akademi, New Delhi, 1990).

 

Sirca, D.C. (ed): The Bharata War and Puranic Genealogies
(Calcutta University, 1969).

 

Matilal, B.K. (ed): Moral Dilemmas in Mahabharata (Motilal Banarsidass, Delhi, 1989)
.

 

Sri Aurobindo: On the Mahabharata (Sri Aurobindo Ashram, Pondicherry, 1991)

 

Katz, R.C. Arjuna in the Mahabharata (Motilal Banarsidass, Delhi, 1989)
.

 

Ukthankar,V.S. S: On the Meaning of the Mahabharata (Asiatic Society of Bombay, 1957).
.

 

Narang, S.P. (ed): Modern Evaluation of the Mahabharata (Prof. R.K. Sharma felicitation volume), Nag Publishers, Delhi, 1995.

 

Sharma, Arvind Essays on the Mahabharata (E.J. Brill, Leiden, 1991)

 

Subramanian, M.V. ICS: The Mahabharata Story: Vyasa and Variations
(Higginbothams, Madras, 1967).

 

.

 

Ganesan,A.K. IRAS: Valmiki’s Ramayana and Vyasa’s Mahabharata: joint and comparative study (Higginbothams, Madras, 1981).

 

Sullivan, B.M.: Seer of the Fifth Veda (Motilal Banarsidass, 1999, originally from Leiden 1990 as Krsna Dvaipayana Vyasa^×a new interpretation).

 

Thakur, M.M.: Thus Spake Bhishma (Motilal Banarsidass, 1992)

 

Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay: Krishna Charitra
(English translation by Pradip Bhattacharya from the M.P. Birla Foundation, Calcutta, 1991)

 

Hiltebeitel,A. The Cult of Draupadi, 2 vols., (University of Chicago Press)

 

Hiltebeitel, A.: Rethinking India’s oral and classical epics: Draupadi among Rajputs, Muslims and Dalits (University of Chicago Press, 1999).

 

.

 

Hiltebeitel, A.: The ritual of battle:Krishna in the Mahabharata (Cornell Univ Press, 1976).

 

Goldman, R.P.: Gods, priests and warriors: the Bhrgus of the Mahabharata
(Columbia Univ. Press, 1977)

 

Sutton, Nicholas: Religious Doctrines in the Mahabharata
(Motilal Banarsidass, Delhi, 2000)

 

 

 

Padma Sri P. Lal (ed): Vyasa’s Mahabharata: Creative Insights, 2 vols (Writers Workshop, Calcutta, 1992, 1985)

 

Bhattacharya, Pradip: A Long Critique on the Mahabharata TV Film Script
Writers Workshop, Calcutta (1991)

 

Pradip Bhattacharya: A Long Critique on Shivaji’s Sawant’s Mrityunjay: the Death of Karna

 

Tharoor, Shashi. The Great Indian Novel (Penguin)

 

Kanti De, Kanak: Three Mahabharata Verse Plays

 

Deshpande, Shashi: The Stone Woman and other stories (Writers Workshop, Calcutta, 2000)

 

Nandakumar, Prema. The Mahabharata – An English Version Based on Selected Verses: Chakravarthi V. Narasimhan; Motilal Banarsidass Publishers Pvt. Ltd., 41, U.A. Bungalow Road, Jawahar Nagar, Delhi-110007.

 

http://www.aishveryaanidhi.com/inner/theatre_activity_2005.htm

 

http://www.hinduonnet.com/2001/04/10/stories/1310017b.htm

 

http://www.boloji.com/hinduism/117.htm

 

Sumathi.S
http://www.articlesbase.com/parenting-articles/motherhood-messages-from-mythology-a-study-of-four-queens-as-mothers-in-indian-epics-ramayana-and-mahabharata-718751.html

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My life is currently like an attempt on goal from Frank Lampard; it lacks any real direction. The wife tries to fill her void with a part time job in a psychiatric hospital; it’s great that they can relate to someone on their own level.

There was a heated discussion at the wife’s workplace on the relative merits of Steven Gerrard MBE and Frank Lampard BFG. Opinion was split right down the middle; the staff sided with Stevie, the patients plumped for Frank.

The great thing about a debate of this nature is the fact that there is no wrong answer; apart from ‘Lampard’. The argument has momentarily been settled by a freak injury, although that’s a little bit harsh on Wayne Rooney. Nobody can argue against a punt on Chelsea at 1/3 to take care of Watford.

You don’t become a bad player overnight; it took Robbie Savage almost two years. I’m taking the 9/2 for a Shevchenko opener.

Historical stats are like Helen Chamberlain, they’re often reeled out but they serve no useful purpose. Middlesbrough have lost on their last four visits to West Ham, but I wouldn’t put anyone off a draw at 23/10.

The last time the Gunners visited Anfield, the Arsenal kids ran amok so uncontrollably, the local council considered issuing ASBOs. The Gunners look a great investment at 23/10 to leave Liverpool victorious for a third time.

Julio Baptista has had his knockers this season, but he always turns it on against the Reds. I like big Baps; he can open the scoring at 8/1.

I was shocked to read that Sir Alex Ferguson fired a flurry of insulting expletives towards the jovial Geoff Shreeves. The roving reporter was considering suing for slander, but Fergie’s ‘I thought it was Tim Lovejoy’ defence is watertight. I’m convinced that the 1/3 for a United win over Blackburn is also rock solid.

Bolton will be without Ivan Campo for the visit of the Blades as a routine haircut has ran into major complications. Big Sam’s men will mow down Sheffield United at 4/6.

I’m quite a spiritual being; in fact I have the ability to heal. I once roused a young lady from a drunken stupor merely by the laying of hands. She’s now completely teetotal.

Alan Pardew has breathed new life into the previously moribund Charlton; Wigan are going down in the Valley at 6/5.

Chris Coleman deserves a pat on the back. It’s easier to take something away from Tony Martin’s cottage than it is from Fulham’s. The Coleman’s mustard, they’ll see off Pompey at 5/4.

Spurs fans are still reeling from a disappointing result against the champions. Everyone knows you should throw the jab before considering a haymaker. I’m getting stuck into the 4/5 for a Tottenham win over Reading.

The ice on which Stuart Pearce’s position sits is so thin; ecological organisations have pleaded with Frank Lampard to steer clear. Manchester City won’t enjoy their trip to Newcastle, it’s far too close to Scotland. City have lost at St James’ Park on their last five visits, another Newcastle win at 21/20 will put the icing on Psycho’s cake of sorrow.

My search for a more fulfilling existence has led me to consider embracing an alternative religion. I’ll speak to Geoff Shreeves; Sir Alex mentioned something about a cult. I’m praying that the Villa beat Everton at 7/5.

This week’s accer is so eye-opening, I’ve finally realised that the secret to happiness was right in front of me all along; I live across the road from an off-license. Charlton, Newcastle, Tottenham and Aston Villa are the selections, the 17/1 payout will cover the cost of a crate of enlightenment.

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Survey programs pay members for completing surveys, product reviews and for being part of focus groups. Focus groups pair members with other members to give detailed feedback about a product. Unlike surveys and product reviews, being part of a group can be an on going task for days and even weeks. Members of focus groups can earn up to a hundred and fifty greenbacks an hour while it is hard to be chosen.

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Expectations woo and loud cheers fill the boxing arena – manifestations of excitement, pride, hope and victory. Yet, behind the festive atmosphere, viewers are unmindful that in one corner, there lies death creeping, waiting for the next soul to claim.

The sudden death of a Filipino boxer in Thailand after a knockout has risen concerns not only officials of both countries but of other countries as well. The tragic incident has prompted officials to review rules that govern the sport.

Several boxing ring deaths have already been reported with Angelito Sisnorio as the latest fatality in a long line of boxers to be killed or badly injured in the sport. He collapsed a few hours after suffering a fourth –round knockout to former World Boxing Council Flyweight king Chatchai Sasakul in the city of Samat Prakan, Thailand.

An addition to statistics

Statistics show there have been 1,200 ring related deaths recorded; 32 of those in the United States of America and 8 in Africa, so far.

Among the more publicized boxing ring deaths was Zambian boxer Felix Bwalya who died nine days after being knocked down three times in the final rounds of a Commonwealth title clash with Britain’s Paul Burke in 1998.

In 1995, Colombian Jimmy Garcia died of a blood clot on the brain, 13 days after his challenge for the WBC super-featherweight title held by Gabriel Ruelas in Las Vegas. On the same year, James Murray died after the British bantamweight title fight against Drew Docherty in Glasgow.

Also in 1995, James Murray, a Scottish professional bantamweight boxer died as a result of injuries sustained in his last fight.

There is also Londoner Bradley Stone died after an unsuccessful British super-bantamweight title fight with Richie Wenton and former Olympic welterweight gold medalist Wangila Napunyi of Kenya died after being stopped by American David Gonzalez in 1994.

Causes of deaths

According to medical experts, majority of the boxing fatalities suffered brain injuries brought by repeated punches. They cited subdural haematoma, brain oedema and brain hernation as the main causes of their deaths.

Subdural hematomas are most often caused by head injury, when rapidly changing velocities within the skull may stretch and tear small bridging veins. This may also be due to head injuries which are described as traumatic.

Brain oedema, more commonly known as cerebral swelling, is the accumulation of water and sodium in the brain.

Brain herniation on the other hand is the displacement of brain tissue, cerebrospinal fluid, and blood vessels outside the compartments in the head that they normally occupy. A herniation can occur through a natural opening at the base of the skull which is called the foramen occipitalis or through surgical openings created by a craniotomy procedure. Herniation can also occur between compartments inside the skull, such as those separated by a rigid membrane called the “tentorium”.

Usually, these people die instantly or shortly after. An example of this condition is Cleveland Denny’s story, a lightweight/welterweight boxer from Canada. After being battered by six straight punches to the head by Gaetan Hart in 1980, Denny went down and died seventeen days later, without ever regaining consciousness after the fight.

The last prominent cause of death related to boxing is kidney or other organ failure, which caused the death of Colombian boxer Jimmy Garcia in 1995. Twenty-five seconds into the 11th round of his match against Gabriel Ruelas, for the World Boxing Council super featherweight title; Garcia slumped to the mat unconscious. He later lapsed into a coma at the hospital due to extreme kidney failure. He ended up staying alive for thirteen days until the doctors finally took him off life support, still deeply comatose.

With the latest fatality of the sport, proponents to ban boxing are starting to gather anew to further their outcry – stop this violent and deadly sport. Boxers also started to contemplate on their plight. There is indeed a great price a boxer must pay in order to gain respect and short-lived glorified career.

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The Maqui berry starts in the Patagonia region and finds its new home in many different parts of the world. The land is so fertile that cultivation seems to be great for the Maqui berry in this part of the world. Not only is it a tasty food, it also helps when it comes to improving your health.

The strength of the Maqui berry has already hit the world by storm. The Acai berry used to be the strongest food on the market until the Maqui berry began to make an appearance. Which brings to mind, the Maqui berry has a lot more antioxidants than the Acai berry it’s unbelievable.

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A Surprising New World Order is about to start.

Our world will soon (as in years rather than decades), be facing a global crisis which will herald its end.

The Bible as a Guide

1
The people behind this article:
We take the Bible as our only rule. After having devoted considerable time to its study, especially chapters referring to our future, we have realized that we must share with you what we have learned. This knowledge is of utmost importance.

2
Why do you take the Bible so seriously?
Because we discovered how accurate it is – so accurate, that even predictions made thousands of years earlier occurred in the very day foretold, to the very letter. This
has compelled us to conclude that there is an all-knowing God behind the Bible, who is not bound by time and knows the end from the beginning.
We would not have taken the Bible so seriously if God had not demonstrated such complete control and knowledge of the future. This mastery is revealed
most clearly in two books:Daniel in the Old Testament and The Revelation in the New
Testament.

Fulfilled Bible Prophecies

3
An example of a fulfilled prediction

In the book of Daniel, chapter 2, God outlined in a dream to the Babylonian king that from his time until the end of time, the world would witness only four world empires. History has proved what God pre-ordained. The four world empires were:
Babylon (605 BC-538 BC),
Medo-Persia (538 BC-331 BC),
Greece (331 BC-168 BC), and
Rome (168 BC-476 AD).
He further revealed that Rome would be split into ten territories and that in the time of these territories the end will come. History is proving the accuracy of God’s word: Rome was divided into ten nations from which present-day Europe has emerged.
See Daniel 7 & 8.

4
The purpose of the Bible prophecies
It is to warn us about future crises in order to save us:
e.g. God warned Noah of the coming flood. People had to obey the warning in faith.

A Most Fearful and Solemn Warning

5
The most solemn prophetic warning is yet to be fulfilled. Today, there is nothing more
important for us to understand than this prophecy because events are taking place in rapid
succession indicating its imminent fulfillment.

6
Please read Revelation 14:9-12.
The fearful warning in the above passage describes two groups of people.
The first group is heading to receive the mark of the beast; while the second group is viewed positively as keeping the commandments of God. Furthermore, the description of
the second coming of Christ directly follows this warning. Therefore, we know that this is
the last warning given before the second coming of Christ.

7
How to avoid worshipping the beast and his image and receiving his mark
To know this, we need to identify the beast, the image of the beast, and the mark of the beast. It is only reasonable to assume that God would not warn us about such dangerous entities without helping us to identify them in a conclusive way.

Identifying the Beast

8
Bible Description of This Beast
Please read Revelation 13: 1-8, 16-18.

9
The above passage is full of symbols. How to understand it?
We need to allow the Bible to interpret its own symbols. We should expect that God, for our benefit, would reveal within the Bible the meaning of these symbols. The Bible defines its own symbols;
e.g. the book of Revelation contains 404 verses of which 278 are found almost
word for word in other books in the Bible, where their meaning is expounded.

10
Which symbols do we need to unlock to identify the beast and his mark?
The necessary ones are: ‘beast’, ‘dragon’, ‘sea’, ‘forty-two months’, and ‘blasphemy’.
Beast: In Bible prophecy, a beast is a symbol of a king or kingdom: See Daniel 7:17, 23.
With this beast, we are studying a unique kingdom, for it is not only a political power but a religious one as well, because people ‘worshipped the beast’.
Rev.13:4.
Dragon: According to the Bible, the dragon is another name for Satan, the father of lies and deceptions. When Satan gives “his power, and his seat, and great authority” to the beast, we can expect the beast to behave in the same deceptive ways of Satan. Thus, a great deal of deception will be found in the affairs of the beast. Rev. 12:9; 13:2.
Sea: In Bible prophecy, sea is symbol of a multitude of many different people. Rev.17:15. Accordingly, this unique kingdom or power rose out of the sea, signifying that it came out of a location that was densely populated with different nationalities of people.
Forty-two months: This period is equivalent to three and a half years (42 divided by 12 months). And the Bible was written based on the Jewish calendar where every Jewish ear is of 360 days (30 days for each month). So, three and a half years and forty-two
months are both equal to 1260 days. The reason why we are changing the months to their
equivalent in days is that when God gave time prophecies, He often equated a day for a year: “I have appointed thee each day for a year.” Ezekiel 4:6.
Therefore, the forty-two prophetic months imply a period of 1260 years during which the beast was given, a “mouth speaking great things and blasphemies” and would “make war with the saints…and power was given him …” Rev. 13:5, 7, meaning that during this period the beast would blaspheme, persecute Christians, and have great
authority.
Blasphemy: In the Bible, blasphemy is defined in two ways. The first is when a person claims to be God or His representative: See John 10:33. The beast, this religio-political
power and kingdom, has blasphemed God by pretending to be in the place of God on earth. The second way of committing blasphemy is by granting absolutions (claiming the power to forgive the sins of others): See Mark 2:7.
The beast, this religio-political power and kingdom, has blasphemed God by claiming the right of absolution. No wonder the beast has the “name of blasphemy” and speaks “blasphemy against God”; this is because the beast claims powers that are
the sole prerogative of God. Rev. 13:1, 6.

Nine Key Marks
Having allowed the Bible to unlock the meaning of its own symbols, we can now highlight the nine major identifying marks of the beast to determine which power in history fulfills these features.
1. The beast combines religious and political powers simultaneously: “They worshipped the beast.” Rev. 13:4.
2. The beast came to power in a densely populated area of the world: “I…saw a beast rise up out of the sea.” Rev. 13:1.
3. The beast obtained its power and authority from Satan: “The dragon gave him [the beast] his power, and his seat, and great authority.” Rev. 13:2.
4. The beast ruled ruthlessly, possessing absolute dominating power for 1260 years.
See Rev. 13:5, 3, 7.
5. The beast persecuted Christians during the 1260 years. Rev. 13:7.
6. The beast will fully recover from its ‘deadly wound’ and the world will marvel after it: Rev. 13:3.
7. The beast has a mysterious 666 number that identifies his office and name. Rev. 13:18.
8. The beast blasphemes by claiming to be God and granting absolutions (the power to forgive sins of others).
9. The beast made other blasphemous claims too, undertaking actions that are God’s exclusive prerogative. Rev. 13:5.
There is but one power in history which fulfills all the identifying marks: The Roman Catholic Church. This Church is the beast which God, out of love, is warning us of.
It is not the purpose of this article to attack Roman Catholics, but to reveal the truth about the Catholic system. Rev. 13:2.

11
Historical evidence and facts for this conclusion
1. The Roman Catholic Church combines religious and political powers simultaneously:
Apostle John saw this union in a prophetic vision concerning the fourth and final kingdom of the world and described it as, “a woman sit[ting] upon a scarlet coloured beast.” Rev. 17:3.
In the Bible, a woman is a symbol of a church. See Jeremiah 3:20; 2Corinthians 11:2. In addition, it is unanimously understood in prophecy that a beast is a nation. Even in today’s world, nations are symbolized as beasts. The USA is seen as an eagle, Russia is
likened unto a bear, etc. Many years ago, God unveiled to Daniel all the world empires until the end of time. In a vision, Daniel saw the last beast to be “diverse from all the others.” Daniel 7:19. But how would it be diverse? According to Revelation 17:3, as seen
above, this beast (nation) will have a woman (church) ruling it. Today, is there a church
and state working together as one globally recognized power? The only entity in the world that has accomplished this is the Roman Catholic Church. The Roman Catholic
pope is absolute religious leader of over one billion followers world-wide.
“The Roman Pontiff, as the successor of Peter, is the perpetual and visible source and foundation of the unity both of the bishops and of the whole company of the faithful.” Vatican Council II (1962-65).
“Every cleric must obey the Pope, even if he commands what is evil; for no one may judge the Pope.” Pope Innocent III (1198-1216).
Simultaneously, the pope is king over an independent nation: “Vatican City”. The Vatican is a distinct sovereign miniature nation, although within Italy. Thus, the papacy is a unique power combining religious and civil power.
2. The Roman Catholic Church came to power in a densely populated area of the world, amidst the various powers and nations of Europe.
3. The history of the Roman Catholic Church is full of deception:
Informed Catholics readily confirm forgeries as a way of life for the popes. Hans Kung, a
Catholic priest and theologian who was a consultant to the Second Vatican Council 1962-1965), stated that as early as the fifth century, the popes “decisively extended their power with explicit forgeries.” The Catholic Church: A Short History (translated by John owden), p. 61. One of the best examples is the document Donation of Constantine, dated March 30, 315 AD, which the Roman Catholic Church forged to extend her power and authority. For details of this information see www.worldslastchance.com. In 1440, this document was proved forged by a papal aide called Lorenzo Valla.
Pope calls for a new world order:
“VATICAN CITY (AP) – Pope John Paul II rang in the New Year on Thursday with a renewed call for… the creation of a new world order based on respect for the dignity of man and equality among nations.” Thursday, January 1, 2004.
Posted: 9:21 AM EST (1421GMT). “The great over-riding feature of the entire system of the Anti-Christ – the New World Order – is blatant deceit. In fact, New World Order writers boast of their planned deceptions, because they arrogantly believe … that only the New World Order Planners know what is best for the world, and they have determined that they can achieve their goals only by deliberate deception of the poor masses.” Bill Cooper, “Behold A Pale Horse,” p.49.
4. The Roman Catholic Church ruled ruthlessly for 1260 years, having absolute dominion over other nations. This period has a clear starting point, and a ‘deadly wound’ at its end:
The Roman Catholic Church received its deadly wound in 1798 when Pope Pius VI was taken prisoner in France at the behest of Napoleon. “In 1798 General Berthier made his entrance into Rome, abolished the papal government, and established a secular one.” Encyclopedia Britannica, 1941 edition. Having established the end of the prophecy to be 1798, going back 1260 years, we arrive at 538 AD. For the papacy to fulfill this identifying mark, an important event must have occurred in 538 AD to mark the start of the 1260-year period. Historical evidence reveals that in 533 AD the Roman Emperor Justinian recognized the pope’s ecclesiastical supremacy as ‘head’ of all the churches in both east and west of the Roman Empire. However, it was not until 538 AD when the papacy was effectively freed from its last Arian opponent, the Ostrogoths (who were at that time ruling Italy), did the pope emerge as the leading figure in the West. Thus, in 538 AD the stage was set for the gradual but steady ascendancy of the papacy.
“Vigilius…ascended the papal chair (538 A.D.) under the military protection of
Belisarius.” History of the Christian Church, Vol. 3, p. 327. As the papacy increased
in power, she subjugated not only her followers but also the rulers and kings of Europe. To that end, the popes issued several papal bulls to bolster their authority over the kings of Europe: “It is the office of the papacy to tread under foot kings and emperors.” J.H.
Ignaz Dollinger, The Pope and the Council, (London), p. 35. In the papal bull of Pope Gregory XI, dated 1372 AD, and entitled In Coena Domini, the pope pronounced papal dominion over the entire Christian world, secular and religious, and excommunicated all who failed to obey the popes and to pay them taxes. This papal bull was confirmed by subsequent popes and, in 1568 AD, Pope Pius V vowed that it was to remain an eternal law. A practical demonstration of the above assertion was the treatment of Pope Gregory VII in 1077 AD to King Henry IV, Emperor of Germany. When the king appeared to disregard the pope’s authority, the pope ex-communicated and dethroned him. Henry decided to make peace with the pope and crossed the Alps in mid-winter to humble himself. When he reached the pope’s castle, Henry was made to wait for permission to see the pope in the outer court, bare-footed, with his head uncovered,
and dressed in a miserable dress. It took the king three days of fasting and confession before the pope pardoned him. Today, this claim of supremacy over leaders of the world continues to be upheld by the papacy: “The First See [papacy of Rome] is judged by no one. It is the right of the Roman Pontiff himself alone to judge…those who hold the highest civil office in a state…There is neither appeal nor recourse against a decision or decree of the Roman Pontiff.” The Code of Canon Law.
5. The Roman Catholic Church persecuted Christians during the 1260-year period: During this period of history (also known as the Middle Ages), the Roman Catholic Church held a strong sway over Europe, and every citizen was required to be a Roman Catholic. Anything short of total submission to the pope was punishable by torture or death. This led the Roman Catholic system to become one of the most persecuting religions the world has ever known, according to Vicars of Christ: the Dark Side of the
papacy, by Peter de Rosa, p. 180.
“For professing faith contrary to the Church of Rome, history records the martyrdom of more than one hundred million people.” Brief Bible Readings, p. 16.
“We must rank the Inquisition… as among the darkest blots on record of mankind.” Will Durant, The Story of Civilization, vol. 4, p. 78.
6. The Roman Catholic Church will fully recover from its ‘deadly wound’ and the whole world will wonder after it:
When Pope Pius VI died in captivity in France in 1799, the world expected an end to the Roman Catholic Church. However, God told us, about 2000 years ago, that the beast would recover from its deadly wound. Here is how the New York Times reported the healing of the beast, the papacy:
“MORTAL WOUND HEALED:
Rome, June 7.— From 11 o’clock this morning there was another sovereign independent State in the world. At that time Premier Mussolini …exchanged with Cardinal Gasparri, Papal Secretary of State, representing Pope Pius XI, ratifications of the treaties signed at the Lateran Palace on Feb. 11. By that simple act the sovereign independent State of Vatican City came into existence.” New York Times, July 7, 1929. Does the world today ‘wonder’ after the papacy, as the Bible predicted? “The best way to honor Pope John Paul II, truly one of the great men, is to take his teaching seriously; is to listen to his words and put his words and teachings into action here
in America. This is a challenge we must accept.” President George W. Bush, March 21, 2001. “Pope John Paul II is one of the greatest moral and spiritual leaders of this century.” Billy Graham in the Saturday Evening Post, Jan-Feb. 1980. “Pope John Paul II celebrates outdoor mass in Spanish for over million people in Mexico City.” The newYork Times, Jan 25, 1999. “There is no doubt that Paul VI, together with John XXIII and John Paul II, will be remembered as the three great Popes of Peace, pioneer of a momentous transcendence of the Catholic Church into the New Age.” Robert Muller, former U.N. Assistant Secretary General.
7. The Roman Catholic Church has the mysterious number 666:

The official title of the pope is “Vicarius Filii Dei”, which translated is, “Representative of the Son of God”. To confirm, the Catholic newspaper Our Sunday Visitor of April 18, 1915 wrote: “The engraved letter on the pope’s Mitre is as follows: ‘Vicarius Filii Dei’”. Since in Latin certain letters have numerical values, we only need to add them up to come to 666.
8. The Roman Catholic Church blasphemes by claiming to be God and granting absolutions:
“We hold upon this earth the place of God Almighty.” Pope Leo XIII, in an Encyclical letter, dated June 20, 1894. “The Pope is not only the representative of Jesus Christ, but he is Jesus Christ, hidden under a veil of flesh.” The Catholic National, July 1895. “But the supreme teacher in the Church is the Roman Pontiff… [who] requires …complete submission and obedience of will… as to God Himself.” Pope Leo XIII, the Great Encyclical Letters, p. 193. The Roman Catholic Church created a vast ‘market’ on
earth for a unique kind of merchandise, for which she had no competitors and unquenchable demand. She claimed that she had the right to sell God’s grace, His free act of forgiveness, to the sinners. To this day, this blasphemous power, maintains the power to forgive sins. “This judicial authority will even include the power to forgive sin.” The Catholic Encyclopaedia Vol. 12, Article “Pope”, p. 265.
9. The Roman Catholic Church made other blasphemous claims too by undertaking actions belonging only to God:

Some samples: “The priest has the power of the keys, or the power of delivering sinners from hell, of making them worthy of paradise, and of changing them from the slaves of Satan into the children of God. And God himself is obliged to abide by the judgment of his priests…The Sovereign Master of the universe only follows the servant by confirming in heaven all that the latter decides upon earth.” Liguori, “Dignity and Duties of the Priest”, pp. 27, 28. “Thus the priest may, in a certain manner, be called the creator of his Creator, since by saying the words of the consecration, he creates, as it were, Jesus in the sacrament, by giving him a sacramental existence, and produces him as a victim to be offered to the eternal Father…The power of the priest, is the power of the divine person; for the trans-substantiation of the bread requires as much power as the creation of the world.” Saint Bernadine of Sienna. “Priests are the saviors of the world.” Saint Jerome. As for her blasphemous actions, the Roman Catholic Church has committed the most blasphemous act of all. She altered the very law of God – the Ten Commandments. She dared to cancel the second commandment altogether, for it condemned her practices and rituals. And worse, she changed the day of worship in the fourth commandment from Saturday to Sunday. This was done although God gave Adam this perpetual command at creation and has confirmed it to us: “My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips.” Psalm 89:34. The Ten Commandments are the only portion of the Bible that was uttered by God’s voice in the presence of a congregation.
And God wrote them with His own finger and handed them to Moses: “These words [The Ten Commandments] the Lord spake unto all your assembly…and he added no more. And he wrote them in two tables of stone…” Deuteronomy 5:22. Christ further stressed the immutability of the Ten Commandments when He said: “It is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail.” Luke 16:17. Christ further confirmed: “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.” Matthew 5:17, 18. T h e Catholic Church is not ashamed that she changed the day of worship. In fact, she takes pride in this action, and regards it as her ‘mark’ of authority and superiority over other churches and religions. “The Sabbath, the best known day of the law, was changed into the Lord’s day. These and others have not ceased because of instructions received from Christ, (because he himself says, I have not come to destroy the law, but to fulfill it), but because due to the authority of the church they ave been changed.” Archbishop of Rheggio, Sermon on 1-18-1562, Mansi XXIII, p. 526. “The Sunday is a Catholic institution, and its claim for sacredness can be defended only on Catholic authority… In Holy Scripture from the beginning to the end we find not one single text which justifies the transfer of the weekly public worship service from the last to the first day of the week.” Catholic Press, Sidney, 8-25-1900. According to the Roman Catholic Church, ‘Sunday’ is their distinct and distinguished mark of authority.
“Sunday is our mark of authority. The church is above the Bible, and this transference of Sabbath observance is proof of that fact.” The Catholic Record, London, Ontario, September 1, 1923. “The observance of Sunday by Protestants is an homage hey pay, inspite of themselves, to the authority of the (Catholic) Church.” Plain Talk About the Protestantism of Today, by Monsignor Segur, p. 213. “Of course the Catholic Church claims that the change was her act… a mark of her ecclesiastical power and authority in religious matters.” Office of Cardinal Gibbons, through Chancellor C. F. Thomas, Nov. 11, 1895. From the overwhelming weight of evidence, we can decisively
conclude that the beast of Revelation 13 & 14 is the Roman Catholic Church, and that its mark (the mark of the beast) is Sunday observance.
Why is this mark so important? Only by signing is a document authenticated. Government declarations must always bear an official mark or seal. An official seal
or signature must include three features:
1. The name of the official
2. The title of the official
3. The territory or domain of his authority
Looking to the Almighty Creator, we realize that He has a Heavenly Kingdom. and the document containing the law of His Kingdom is The Ten Commandments. Looking directly in the midst of them you will find the seal of the living God! “For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea…” Exodus 20:11.
Notice the three distinct features:
1. Name: THE LORD ( “I am the Lord: that is my name.” Isaiah 42:8.) 2. Title: REATOR (“the LORD made”) 3. Territory: HEAVEN AND EARTH (“Heaven and earth”) Clearly, the seal of the Creator is found in the Sabbath commandment of His law.

Identifying the Image of the Beast

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To be able to identify the image of the beast, we need first to identify the two-horned beast that helps in the formation of the image. Please read Rev 13:11-12, 14-17.
This two-horned beast has the following identification marks:
1. It came into existence around the time the papacy received its deadly wound in1798: “another beast coming up.”Rev. 13:11.
2. It came up out of the earth, as opposed to the first beast that came up out of the sea. If ‘sea’ represents many people and nations, then ‘earth’ represents a sparsely settled region.
3. It has two lamb-like horns. According to the Bible, a horn represents power. “He had
horns…and there was the hiding of his power.” Habakkuk 3:4. Therefore, this nation has two separate powers, distinct from each other. Also, a lamb is a symbol of Christ; hence, we can deduce that this nation was founded on pure and noble Christian principles.
4. However, it speaks like a dragon; a nation ‘speaks’ through legislative and judicial
authorities. The “lamb-like horns” and “dragon’s voice” point a striking contrast between the peaceful professions and the practices of this nation.
Which nation fulfils these identifying marks? There is but one: The United States of America.
1. USA came into existence around 1798. Only one nation was rising into existence at the time of the papacy’s loss of power in 1798. This prophecy points directly to the nited
States. The USA was organized under the Constitution as a federal republic in 1787.
2. USA arose in a sparsely populated land: The USA grew not in the Old World which was crowded with its teeming multitudes, but in the New World, with its relatively few inhabitants.
3. USA has two separate powers founded on Christian principles: The USA has a unique form of government, where church and state enjoy liberties guaranteed by the Constitution. Because of this system of government, the USA is indeed a Republic (a kingdom without king) and Protestant (church without pope), with both powers completely separated. Also, her lamb-like qualities made the USA a refuge for the persecuted and oppressed of many nations.
4. USA speaks like a dragon: The fundamental law of the USA written in its constitution guarantees individual liberty of conscience. Nothing is dearer or
more fundamental. However, the USA has already begun to and will soon fully repudiate every principle of its Constitution. And that which gives greater significance to this movement is the fact that the principal object is the enforcement of Sunday observance.
Such action will be directly contrary to the principles of this government. The
Constitution provides that “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” The inconsistency of such action is no greater than is represented in the symbol. It is the beast with lamblike horns – in profession pure and harmless – that speaks as a dragon. Just observing what is occurring in the news and in the recent past will confirm this biblical description. “Our priority is our faith.” George W. Bush, Greensboro, North Carolina, October. 10, 2000, quoted from Jacob Weinberg, “The Complete Bushisms.” “The plain message conveyed by the new administration is that George W. Bush’s America is a Christian nation and that non-Christians are welcome into the tent so long as they agree to accept their status as a tolerated minority rather than as fully equal citizens.” Alan M. Dershowitz, in “Bush Starts Off by Defying the Constitution,”
Los Angeles Times, January 24, 2001.

Prophecy soon to be Fulfilled

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It is clear the two-horned beast is the USA. But what is the relationship between the USA and the image of the beast?

Although the USA was founded on principles opposed to the papacy, today we observe how the USA and the Vatican are working more closely together to make their influence more prominent. The Bible tells us that one day, in the not too distant future, the USA will legislate a law requiring its citizens, and then the world, to worship the first beast, the papacy. “And he [USA] exerciseth all the power of the first beast [papacy] before him, and causeth the earth [first USA, then globally] and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast [honoring papacy's Sunday], whose deadly wound [1798] was healed [1929]…saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast [duplicating the papacy when she used civil power to enforce religious dogma], which had the wound by a sword, and did live.” Rev. 13:12, 14. Soon the USA will renounce its religious freedom to enforce Sunday observance (the mark of the beast). his means that the Protestant Churches will control the government to accomplish their agenda. When this happens, the USA will have made an image to the Roman Catholic Church, uniting church with state. Then USA will speak “as a dragon” and exercise “all
the power of the first beast.” Rev. 13:11, 12. She will have the same spirit of intolerance and persecution that was manifested by the first beast, the papacy.
Therefore, as religious freedom is lost, persecution of the dissenting minorities will be inevitable, and there will be a repetition of the religious intolerance of the Middle Ages: “And he [USA] had power to give life unto the image of the beast [Sunday laws enacted]…and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast [by honoring Saturday, not Sunday] should be killed. And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark [those who honor the true Sabbath will be forbidden to buy and sell], or the name of the beast…”
Rev. 13:15-17

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For this to be true, there should be evidence that the papacy is currently pursuing
Sunday exaltation in the USA, and that the Protestants of the USA (historic enemies of Rome), have changed their attitude, and are expressing readiness to collaborate in enacting Sunday laws. Is there such evidence?
Today most Protestants are favorable towards the papacy, and this has emboldened the
papacy to seek aggressively the legislation of Sunday observance: “All Americans would do well to petition the President and the Congress to make a Federal law – an amendment to the Constitution if need be – to re-establish the [false] Sabbath as
a national Day of Rest.” CATHOLIC TWIN CIRCLE, August 25, 1985, Article
“Sacking Sunday”. “In this matter, my predecessor, Pope Leo XIII…spoke of Sunday rest as a worker’s right which the State must guarantee.” Pope John Paul II – DIES
DOMINI, May 31, 1998. “…Christians [everywhere] should seek recognition of Sundays and the Church’s holy days as legal holidays.” Catechism of the Catholic
Church, popular and definitive edition, 2000, par 2188.
Most of the Protestant leaders in the USA are ready to bury the hatchet with the
Catholics: “Heads of American Protestant and Eastern Orthodox churches who were
meeting with Pope John Paul II on Friday hailed their first broadly representative discussion as a landmark on the road to greater unity…” The Montgomery Advertiser,
Sept. 12, 1987.
Billy Graham:

“I’ve found that my beliefs are essentially the same as those of orthodox Roman Catholics.” McCall’s, January 1978.
Paul Crouch: “I’m eradicating the word Protestant even out of my vocabulary…I’m not protesting anything… “Praise the Lord” program, Trinity Broadcasting Network, Oct 17, 1989.
David Wells: “If Catholicism is to become more Catholic in the future, which is what I expect under the present pope, then theological differences will become sharper, but our alliances with Catholics against the secular culture can become deeper. I, for one, am ready for the trade-off.” Eternity Magazine, Sept. 1987.

Avoiding the Mark of the Beast

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How then can we avoid receiving the mark of the beast?
This is the most important question. God, in His infinite love, has warned us not to worship the beast and thereby receive his mark. Those receiving the mark of the beast “shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture
[without mercy] into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone… who worship the beast [honor papacy through Sunday observance] and his image [USA enforcing Sunday observance], and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.” Rev. 14:10, 11.
These are very solemn words from God. His wrath is in proportion to the offense. By honoring Sunday, originated by Satan through the papacy, one prepares to receive the mark of the beast.

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What about the billions of Christians in the past who honored Sunday instead of Saturday – did they unknowingly receive the mark of the beast? And what about the Christians today who sincerely think Sunday is the Bible Sabbath?
None are accountable for their errors since the light has not been brought to them; for the Lord “winks” at our times of ignorance. See Acts 17:30. We are only judged by the
light we had the opportunity to receive. But, when the universal Sunday law is enforced, the issue will be clear before all, and then whoever shall transgress the command of God to obey a precept which has no higher authority than that of Rome, will receive the mark of the beast. Soon each person will face this test with eternal stakes, to keep the mmandments of God or of the papacy. Where will you be found standing?

No Room for Neutrality

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Why care?
God’s solemn warning in Revelation 14 leaves no room for indifference. Jesus said, “He that is not with me is against me.” Luke 11:23. God counts all men as decidedly for the truth or against it. This warning is no respecter of person, class, condition, or religion. It is addressed to all humanity. It is not necessary for us deliberately to choose the kingdom
of darkness in order to come under its dominion. We have only to neglect to ally urselves
with the kingdom of light.

What must we do?

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God is most eager to enter into a serious relationship with you individually. In fact, He wants you to be His son/daughter. Just think what a privilege it would be to be a child
of the King of the universe. This genuine opportunity is granted to you. He is eagerly waiting to bestow this highest of honors upon you. Yet, His word to you is: “Be ye
not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what communion hath light with darkness? … for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in
them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore
come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and I will receive you,
and will be a Father unto you,
and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. 2Corinthians 6:14- 18. This important Bible passage contains the following principles:
1. God does not permit any mixture of truth with error (even if it’s 99% truth). For “God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.” 1 John 1:5. Only Satan mixes truth with error to maximize his deception.
2. The duty of a person aspiring to be in harmony with God is to not be a member of any church or religious system that is built on Satan’s foundation: the mixture of truth with error.
3. Knowing that when you leave Satan’s systems of religion, you will lose friends, family, influence, work, etc…God assures you: “I AM the Almighty.” It means that He will more than compensate you for all that you have lost. Believe Jesus’ precious promise in Mark 10:29, 30.

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