Saturday, September 7, 2013

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Top 10 Famous Stories From The Mahabharata

Posted: 07 Sep 2013 10:06 AM PDT

Mahabharata is an epic tale from Hindu mythology. The story starts many generations ago with the dynasty of King Bharata of the Kuru dynasty until it comes all the way to the fight between the Pandvas and Kauravas. There are many stories that are a part of the Mahabharata. Here are the top 10 most famous stories from the Mahabharata.

10. Abhimanyu and the Chakravyuh:

Abhimanyu was the son of Arjun and the nephew of Krishna. He was as brave and adept at warfare as his father. He fought fearlessly for 12 days in the war and only Bhishma was able to match him on the side of the Kaurvas. His end came on the 13th day of the war when Dronacharya used the Chakravyuh defense formation which Abhimanyu knew how to enter but not how to defeat or exit. He entered and went on a rampage, defeating everyone in one on one fight. In the end the Kauravas had to resort to unfair means and they all attacked Abhimanyu simultaneously and killed him mercilessly.

Abhimanyu and the Chakravyuh

9. Hidimba and Bheem:

Hidimba was a man eater demon who tried to kill the Pandavas but Bheem fought him and defeated him. Bheem later married his sister Hidimbi and gave birth to Ghatotkacha who played an important part later in the battle of the Mahabharata.

Hidimba and Bheem

8. Arjuna and the Eye of the Bird:

One famous story of the Mahabharata is about the young Arjuna. When they were getting training under Dronacharya they were told to aim at a bird. Dronacharya asked everyone about what they could see. Everyone talked about the tree and the bird and the sky and other things. Arjuna said that he could only see the eye of the bird. This was of course the right answer and talks about how focus is important to achieve your goals.

Arjuna and the Eye of the Bird

7. Marriage of Draupadi:

The marriage of Draupadi is an important part of Mahabharata. She had a swayamwar and every prince came to compete with each other for her hand. Most importantly it was Karna who also wanted to marry her but she refused him for not being of noble birth. To win her hand all suitors had to pierce the eye of a fist that was revolving on a disk and they had to do it while looking at the image of the fish in a container of water. Once Karna left the swayamwar it was only Arjuna who could achieve this fete as he did.

Marriage of Draupadi

6. Duryodhana Humiliated:

Another important part of the Mahabharata is the humiliation of Duryodhana by Draupadi which increases his hate towards Pandavas. The story is about a palace that was built with a lot of deceptions in it. Duryodhan walked into a hall that seemed to have a marble floor but it was actually full of water and he fell in the water. Draupadi, who was watching all this laughed at him and called him a blind son of a blind father which enraged Duryodhana.

Duryodhana Humiliated

5. Eklavya:

Eklavya was a tribal prince who wanted to learn archery from Dronacharya. Dronacharaya refused to teach him because of his low caste. Eklavya decided to study the art of archery himself and made a clay statue of Dronacharya for inspiration. He ended up becoming a better archer than even Arjuna but when Dronacharya found out about this he asked for Eklavya’s thumb as his gurudakshina or fees. Eklavya obliged and lost the ability to use the bow and arrow.

Eklavya

4. Karna:

Karna is one of the central characters of Mahabharata. He was born by virgin birth as a blessing of the Sun God to Kunti before she was married to Pundu. She was afraid of people finding out about her son born out of wedlock and so she put him a basket and set him afloat in the river. He was later found by Adhiratha and Radha and raised by them. Karna was a fierce warrior and as good an archer as Arjuna. He was also known for his generosity.

Karna

3. The Game of Dice:

The game of dice in which the Pandavas lose everything is the most pivotal point in Mahabharata. It is a lesson against vices such as gambling and an important point in the story. The Pandavas keep laying everything on the line, including their kingdom, themselves and even their wife Draupadi and lose it all because of the cunning of Shakuni.

The Game of Dice

2. Dronacharya and Yudhishthira:

An interesting story within Mahabharata is how Dronacharya was killed. He was a great master and it was impossible to kill him unless he gave up his weapons by himself. So the Pandavas came up with the plan of telling him that his son, Ashwathama had died. In reality Bheem had killed an elephant who was also named Ashwathama. When Yudhishthira went to tell this news to Dronacharya he believed it because Yudhishthira was known as the champion of truth. Krishna convinced Yudhishthira to tell this white lie by telling him that he was not lying but just telling a half truth.

Dronacharya and Yudhishthira

1. Gita Saar:

The most important story of the Mahabharata of course is the Gita; the teaching given by Lord Krishna to Arjuna in the middle of battlefield when Arjuna is distraught at the sight of brothers fighting against brothers and wants to quit. Gita has become a major philosophical treatise of Hindu tradition which offers several life lessons. It talks about the importance of doing one’s duty and leaving everything else to God.

Gita Saar

The post Top 10 Famous Stories From The Mahabharata appeared first on TopYaps.

Top 10 Movies Every Marketing Student Should Watch

Posted: 07 Sep 2013 06:20 AM PDT

Movies are not just a great source of entertainment but can also provide a bit of education and loads of motivation when needed. Movies about business, entrepreneurship, success and achievement are great motivation for anyone but even more so for marketing and management students. Other achievement stories such as in sports can not only be motivational but also teach important business and marketing lessons. Here are the top 10 movies recommended for marketing students.

10. The Damned United:

The Damned United is a sports movie about the true story of Brian Clough who was the manager of Leeds United, a football club in England. It is not just a great sports motivational movie but also has valuable lessons on management. It is an overall entertaining movie that contains a lot of wisdom as well.

The Damned United

9. Flash of Genius:

Flash of Genius is also based on the true story of Robert Kearns, an American inventor who came up with the intermittent windshield wiper which we all take for granted in cars today. It is the story of his legal battles for the copyright of his intellectual property. On one hand this movie is an endearing story of how one man can achieve great things and go head to head against big corporations and on the other hand it is also a story about product development and innovation.

Flash of Genius

8. Pirates of the Silicon Valley:

This is an obvious entry in this list. “Pirates of the Silicon Valley” is the story of how Microsoft and Apple came into being. It takes a look at the lives of Steve Jobs and Bill Gates as they go about creating two of the giants of the Silicon Valley. It contains valuable lessons for any marketing or management student and is also highly motivational.

Pirates of the Silicon Valley

7. Up in the Air:

Up in the Air is the story of Ryan Bingham whose job is to fire other people. He spends most of his time flying around the country and firing people for other companies. When he’s grounded by his own company his life changes as he comes to terms with some realities of life and business. It is a good movie for any marketing student as it deals with HR issues, communication skills and personal issues of a businessman. It also shows how it is important to look at the bigger picture when thinking about efficiency in business.

Up in the Air

6. Thank You for Smoking:

Thank You for Smoking is a great movie for a marketing or sales student to watch. It is the story of a lobbyist for tobacco who uses his great speaking skills to defend tobacco and cigarettes in a time when everyone is cracking down on it. It not only teaches great lessons about marketing and how you can market even a drug that kills people but also talks about why you should sell something. It asks the all important question about ethics in marketing and business.

Thank You for Smoking

5. The Pursuit of Happyness:

The Pursuit of Happyness is also a true story and one of the most motivational movies ever made. It is the story of a bankrupt Christopher Gardner, who turns his life around to become a stock broker. The story covers his struggles as he tries to sell crappy medical equipment, struggles with his wife leaving him, tries to raise his son and interns for the largest stock broking firm for free in order to become a stock broker. The Pursuit of Happyness is a wonderful movie about the importance of perseverance and having faith in oneself.

The Pursuit of Happyness

4. Invictus:

Another great motivational sports movie is Invictus starring Morgan Freeman and Matt Damon. This is the true story of the South African rugby team who are motivated by Nelson Mandela to win the rugby world cup against all odds and in the process unite a country that has just come out of apartheid. The movie is very motivational and focuses on leadership and the power of belief and purpose. It teaches how a good leader finds ways to motivate his team to achieve greatness.

Invictus

3. Inside Job:

The only documentary to make this list is Inside Job. It is an important movie to watch for everyone but especially for someone starting his career in the business world. It explains how the recession of 2008 which has changed the world irreversibly happened because of the greed of a few individuals. It also shows how unregulated power in the hands of a few people can destroy the world. It’s an important movie to watch for understanding the world of business deeply.

Inside Job

2. Network:

Network is a classic from the 1970′s. This is the story of Howard Beale, a television host who is killed because of bad ratings. The story revolves around how the world of finance and business works, how the TV industry drives a man crazy and how then it tries to make money off of his craziness and when things go bad how they end up killing him in order to cut their losses. It is a sarcastic movie with great dialogues that talk about the hypocrisies of business without being preachy.

Network

1. Wall Street:

Wall Street is the story of a young stock broker who wants to get to the top in a hurry. He finds himself entering the shady world of insider trading and greedy stockbrokers. This new life of easy money and fast women makes him question his motives and values as it conflicts with his middle class upbringing. An important movie for any marketing or management student who is entering the world of business and possibly dreams of making big in a short time.

Wall Street

The post Top 10 Movies Every Marketing Student Should Watch appeared first on TopYaps.

9 Famous Indian Celebrities Known For Their Iconic Hairstyles

Posted: 07 Sep 2013 05:45 AM PDT

Indians are passionate about their hair. How often in India have you seen an old woman decorating her hair tied in tiny bun, decorated with flowers or a man trying to pull the hair from his ears over his bald plate in desperate attempt to cover it? Indian's just can't let go of their hairs or hairstyles even when the hairs want them to! Many Indians love to stick to a single hairstyle throughout their lives. It is not just a fashion statement, but a part of their personality. You wouldn’t identify many of our famous celebrities without their signature hairstyles. Here is the list of 10 famous Indian celebrities who were known for their iconic hairstyles.

9. Dimple Kapadia (Crowning Glory):

From her days of Bobby, Dimple Kapadia with her earphone hairstyle became the icon of youth fashion. With her comeback, she brought in a new hairstyle; a free flowing voluminous auburn hair which fell over her shoulders. Her ad for the crowning glory in 90s is fondly remembered even to this day.

Dimple Kapadia

8. Satya Sai Baba (Mysterious Natural Crown):

No other Indian seems to have the kind of hair sported by holy man Satya Sai Baba. You can say he had a magical aura of hair covering his scalp with rounded, thick, curled hairdo. Vaguely resembling the 1950's American Africans, his unique hairstyle became iconic like his red flowing silk robe.

Satya Sai Baba

8. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam (Silver Strands):

Better known for scientific achievements and being one of the most beloved president of India, we cannot sideline his iconic hairstyle which may have inspired Salman Khan for the Tere Naam look, which again became iconic hairstyle with youth. His passion for his silver locks was known among his colleagues.

A. P. J. Abdul Kalam

7. Mahatma Gandhi (Simple Fashion Statements):

'Why the man with a bald head?' you may ask. While many cover their balding head with turbans, caps or wigs, Gandhi with his balding scalp made a fashion statement of his own.  From his inspiring stories of cutting his own hair, and down to earth appearance, we can say his bald head, along with his round glasses and walking stick is an iconic fashion statement among Indians.

Mahatma Gandhi

5. Mahendra Singh Dhoni (Changing Hairdos):

We cannot talk about famous Indians and leave cricketers behind. Can we? Who else to chose from other than our very own Mahendra Singh Dhoni who changes his hairstyle, increasing the income of barbers,who immediately have swarms of men barging in their shops asking for the similar hairdo. Starting with the wayward locks, Dhoni has sported variety of hairstyles including the short crop and bald look.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni

4. Amitabh Bachchan (Angry Young Man Look):

From the time he made his debut, there has been a little change in the hairstyle of Superstar Amitabh Bachchan other than the color which is graying now. The long, parted in the middle hairstyle along with thick sideburns took the fancy of youth with his hit movies like Deewar, Nastik and Mukkadar Ka Sikander. His iconic hairstyle was a nightmare of parents and teachers, as young boys would give up their lives defending that hairstyle they were crazy about.

Amitabh Bachchan

3. Dev Anand (Puffed Hairstyle):

Inspired by Gregory Peck, Dev Anand made a great fashion statement in the bollywood with his own set of scarves, jackets, mufflers, and off course the unique hairstyle, which became craze among the youth. He is considered the first fashion icon of bollywood and also trendsetter none can match even to this day. His looks had girls swooning over him, so much that they wrote letters to him in their own blood.

Dev Anand

2. Sadhana (The Introduction of Sadhana Cut):

Sadhana is known to have introduced the famous fringe hairstyle to Indian women, which is even to this day known as Sadhana cut. There are very few people in the world who may have lent their names to a hairstyle like the beautiful glamorous actress did.

Sadhana

1. Indira Gandhi (The Black and White Hairdo):

Known for indomitable spirit, Indira Gandhi sported one of the most distinct hairdo's which had a streak of white flowing through the dark mane. Her black and white hairstyle became her political trademark. It is said that selective graying was done to her hair by a famous Parisian hairstylist. Since then many women have sported her signature hairdo, even adopting the streak with it.

Indira Gandhi

The post 9 Famous Indian Celebrities Known For Their Iconic Hairstyles appeared first on TopYaps.

Top 10 Things You Don’t Know About Drinking Water

Posted: 07 Sep 2013 01:00 AM PDT

Our earth is the only planet so far known to inhibit living organisms. Life is possible on earth because it has the vital element 'water' which is essential for all known forms of life. Though water provides no nutrients or calories, there is no survival without drinking water. With huge promotions of the benefits of drinking water, there is nothing you don't know about it anymore. But, have you ever considered that drinking water can have negative effects on your body? Unfortunately for the contestants, the organizers of the contest "Hold Your Wee for a Wii", held on Californian radio station did not know about this. The water drinking contest claimed a life of 28 year old woman, even as other contestants suffered from physical discomfort after consuming large quantities of water for the event. There is no doubt that drinking water is good for you, but pause a moment and have a look at the list of list of ten things you may not know about drinking water.

10. Hyponatremia:

Hyponatremia is a condition often caused by over hydration of the body from drinking surplus amount of water. The condition can lead to serious illnesses like congestive heart failure, liver failure, kidney failure and pneumonia.  Many endurance athletes and marathon runners are known to develop some degree of hyponatremia as they try to rehydrate themselves.

Hyponatremia

9. Psychogenic polydipsia:

People suffering from mental illness such as schizophrenia or having developmental disabilities, exhibit the condition recognized as psychogenic polydipsia. People with psychogenic polydipsia drink excessive amount of water, so much that the kidney fails to excrete it successfully. Occasionally, the condition can be fatal as the serum sodium level falls down to critical levels, leading to cardiac arrest or seizures.

Psychogenic polydipsia

8. Vested interests of bottled water companies:

Have you noticed the increase in the campaigns of health benefits of drinking water after the advent of bottled water companies? The sales of bottled water have gone up dramatically in the last few decades, reaching 200 billion bottles globally at present. Most of the benefits of drinking water campaigns are carried out by the profit making companies, who are having a major chunk of the benefits.  The fastest growing beverage company is $10 billion industry today.

Vested interests of bottled water companies

7. Drink 8 ounces of water per day:

Drinking 8 ounces of water per day for good health has become a gospel for health freaks. Honestly, there is no scientific evidence to support the actual amount of drinking water required for healthy living. The body can derive its fluid intake from fruits, vegetables, tea, milk, chocolate drinks or fresh juices apart from water.

Drink 8 ounces of water per day

6. Drinking bottled water after heavy workout can be unhealthy:

Bottled water is the not good after a heavy workout or during excruciating outdoor activities. People, who have been through strenuous physical activity for more than one hour, need replacement of electrolytes like potassium and sodium besides water, which cannot be replenished by bottled water alone.

Drinking bottled water after heavy workout can be unhealthy

5. Cosmetic purpose of water is negligible:

You often are bombarded with the benefits of water for improving skin tone, making you look fit and many more. The fact is that these benefits are not based on scientific research and are negligible. On average a person weighing 70 kg will already have 42 liters of water in the body, since our body is made of 60% water. How much cosmetic difference could an additional 2 liters of water make is something to ponder upon.

Cosmetic purpose of water is negligible

4. Water in food is no different:

The water we consume from food is as good as bottled or tap water. Besides replenishing the body with required fluid, they provide essential minerals and nutrients to the body. Some of the foods like Lettuce, cucumber, watermelon, broccoli, grapefruit, carrot and apple contain more than 90% of water. Even a baked potato is 70% water.

Chicken Noodle Soup

3. Brain swelling or brain edema:

Consuming too much of water may cause a swelling in the brain, also known as brain edema. Kidneys fail to remove excessive amounts of water from the body, thinning the blood and reducing the salt concentrations, reaching the brain cells and causing them to swell. The swollen brain is pressurized in the skull which stops vital body functions like breathing leading to death.

Brain swelling or brain edema

2. Difficult diagnosis:

When the symptoms of excessive drinking of water shows up as confusions, no one is going to think that the culprit is water. It is often mistaken for effects of drugs or some other malady. If diagnosed rightly, diuretics can decrease the water load immediately.

Difficult diagnosis

1. Water Intoxication:

Water intoxication or water poisoning is a dreadful condition caused by plain water which is consumed excessively. The symptoms of water intoxication are headaches, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, confusion, mental disorientation and frequent trips to toilet. If not given immediate help, water intoxication can lead to death.

Water Intoxication

The post Top 10 Things You Don't Know About Drinking Water appeared first on TopYaps.

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