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• 7 Most Popular Theosophists In The History Of World
• 10 Critically Acclaimed Movies Of Satyajit Ray
• 9 Best Songs For Which We Remember Mohd. Rafi
• 8 Indian Dishes A Foreigner Should Not Miss
• 6 Telltale Signs She Has Got Hots For You
• 5 Must Visit Temples In Pakistan

7 Most Popular Theosophists In The History Of World Posted: 06 Nov 2013 03:08 AM PST Theosophy also referred to as divine wisdom, is a system of esoteric philosophy seeking knowledge to understand the nature of divinity. It is believed that the mystical and occult philosophies are being handed down to selected and credible individuals by the eclectic collectors to impart ancient wisdom leading to individual enlightenment and salvation. The goal of theosophists is to explore and find the truth and bond between humanity, the universe and divine power. Beginning with Plato, theosophy has seen the emergence of many great theosophists from different religions and different parts of the world. Here is the list of 7 most popular theosophists in the history of the world, who have revolutionized the philosophical outlook of mankind. 7. Jakob Bohme: Jakod Bohme is a German Theologian who is regarded as an original thinker. Bohme has written numerous books on modern philosophy and his theosophical thesis;among which two books De Signatura Rerum and Mysterium Magnum are note worthy. His philosophy and theories attracted a large group of followers who came to be known as Behmenists. The Six Theosophical Points and his last book, the 177 Theosophic Questions are not only earliest books written on Theosophy but also masterpieces in their own league. 6. Annie Besant: Besides being one of the most popular theosophists, Annie Besant was a women's rights activist, fighter for equality and freedom, writer and orator. Annie Besant became interested in theosophy after meeting Helena Blavatsky in 1890. She established the Central Hindu College and also worked as a president of Indian National Congress during her stay in India. Besant had always sought spiritual enlightenment and self-actualization as a whole person. She broke her membership with Fabian society and links with Marxists and worked with theosophical society till her death. 5. Radha Burnier: Born in the city of Adyar, Radha Burnier worked as the president of the Theosophical Society Adyar for 33 years. Her father was a noted theosophist Nilakanta Sri Ram who had also served as the president of the Theosophical Society Adyar. Her popular writings include Human regeneration, lectures and discussions, No Other Path to Go, The Way of Self-Knowledge and Truth, Beauty and Goodness. In January 1984, the Nagarjuna University conferred on her the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Letters in recognition of her 'distinguished contribution to the advancement of learning and the promotion of human values'. 4. Rudolf Steiner: Rudolf Steiner was a multi-faceted genius and very popular occultist who made great contribution to theosophy. He is considered to be the most prolific writers among the theosophists of the world. Through his books, Theosophy: An Introduction to the Spiritual Processes in Human Life and in the Cosmos, How to Know Higher Worlds,  Cosmic Memory and An Outline of Esoteric Science, Steiner covered the topics of body, soul and spirit of humans, karma, rebirth and reincarnation, spiritual development and divinity.  He wrote extensively and left behind a legacy of 400 volumes which includes 6000 of his lectures and also his artistic work.   3. Jiddu Krishnamurthy: Hailed as the vehicle for Lord Maitreya, the new World Teacher, Jiddu Krishnamurthy walked away from the organization of Order of the Star and also rejected his mantel in later years. He is renowned speaker and writer on spirituality and philosophy who believed that the revolution in humans should come from within their psyche and not any external entity. He was a global citizen who traveled around the world, connecting to large and small groups of people through his philosophy. The First and Last Freedom, The Only Revolution, and Krishnamurti’s Notebook are some of his very popular books. 2. Charles Webster Leadbeater: Though very controversial during his lifetime, the influence of C.W. Leadbeater as a theosophist cannot be sidelined. When working as a priest of the Church of England, Leadbeater's interest in spiritualism led him towards Theosophical Society with which he worked until his death in 1934. Leadbeater was a prolific author who brought out revolutionary classics on occultism. The Ananda College he founded in Ceylon now has nearly 6000 students. 1. Madame Blavatsky: Helena Blavatsky founded the Theosophical Society in 1875 along with Henry Steel Olcott and William Quan Judge. Blavatsky believed that ancient civilizations possessed an archaic wisdom, which did not divide humans on bases of their race, creed, color, sex or caste. Blavatsky believed that occult science shone light on truth not only on physical level but also on Metaphysical levels. According to her the core knowledge of occult science had been preserved to be passed on only to carefully selected and trained Individuals throughout history. The Secret Doctrine is not just the greatest work of Madame Blavatsky but also one of the most insightful books written on Theosophy. Her other notable books are Isis Unveiled, The Key to Theosophy and The Voice of the Silence. The post 7 Most Popular Theosophists In The History Of World appeared first on TopYaps.

10 Critically Acclaimed Movies Of Satyajit Ray Posted: 06 Nov 2013 02:44 AM PST Undoubtedly, one of the greatest film makers of India, Satyajit Ray was a man who took India to the world stage of movie making. He's the creator of realistic Indian cinema, whose intellect and out-of-box story telling has not only inspired the nation, but also earned him appreciation from the global film fraternity. The magic of his movies like 'Pather Panchali' still continues to live on and inspire generations. Renowned worldwide for his exclusive style of script writing, graphic designing and storytelling, Satyajit Ray has directed 37 outstanding classics in total, during his lifetime. Among them, here are top 10 critically acclaimed and unforgettable movies by Satyajit Ray. 10. Aranyer Din Ratri (Days and Nights in the Forest): The cult classic was released in 1970 and earned positive reviews from critics for the execution of its screenplay. The film was about a group of friends who decide to take a break from their busy city life and spend some time exploring jungles. But, as the story moves ahead, strange things start happening and arouse the interest of the audience. 9. Asani Sanket (Distant Thunder): Asani Sanket is a true cult movie based on the times when West Bengal got struck by one of the worst famines during British rule in India. It depicts the ruthless attitude of the British Government who took away the entire stock of food and left the people to die without medical care and other amenities. And, around the same time World War II begins and the situation on ground worsens further. The movie was critically acclaimed the world over. 8. Nayak (The Hero): Nayak is a marvelously crafted classic movie that revolves around the life of a famous Bengali film star. The star is invited to New Delhi to receive a prestigious award. He travels by train (due to unavailability of plane tickets) to his destination where he has to collect an award and meets a young female journalist (played by Sharmila Tagore) on board. The journalist plans to secretly interview him for her magazine. Then follow some interesting escapades which make this movie a truly interesting watch. 7. Mahanagar (The Big City): Mahanagar is a story about a typical Bengali family residing in a metropolitan city of Kolkata. Subrata Mazumdar is the sole breadwinner of his family that comprises of his old parents, younger sister, wife Arati and a son. But, his salary never seems to fulfill the needs of the family and Arati decides to take up a job to shoulder responsibilities of her husband despite facing opposition from husband and father in law. Many escapades follow, and at the end she leaves her job. 6. Charulata (The Lonely Wife): Charulata is an adaptation from a story written by Rabindranath Tagore. Charulata is portrayed as an intelligent wife of Bhupati who runs a political newspaper in the city. Due to his busy schedule, he rarely finds time to spend with his wife. There arrives Bhupati's younger brother Amal on scene. As time passed Amal and Charulata develop an intimate relationship between them. But, he realizes his mistake later on and leaves for England for higher studies. Eventually, Charulata's husband learns about their relations, but in the end he decides to forgive his wife. 5. Pratidwandi (The Adversary): This is the first one in the much famed City Triology series by Ray. This movie is only one of its kind in the Indian film history and is set up against the Naxalite uprising. The movie can be termed as more stylish when compared against others in the director's oeuvre. He camera work and editing seems to be carrying a modern Ray touch. 4. Agantuk (The Stranger): The story is about Anila and her family who receive a letter one morning from a man claiming to be her uncle. Anila then recollects, the letter could have been of her uncle who was supposed to be long dead as he wasn't in touch with anyone in the family. The day arrives when this gentleman comes to their house. Anila's husband suspects him from the very beginning. But, the stranger proves totally harmless and one fine morning he leaves the house without informing anyone. 3. Ganashatru (Enemy of the People): The movie is an adaptation of Henrik Ibsen's play, An Enemy of the people. The narrative is set up in a town of temples that sees lots of tourists visiting every year. Only then a health disease spreads in the city and Dr. Ashok Gupta played by Soumitra Chatterjee finds his levels of polarity plummeting. 2. Jalsaghar: The story of Jalsaghar revolves around a zamindar living with the last glories of his erstwhile royal empire. Living with an inflated sense of glory when his ever drying funds suggest otherwise, the tale brings up with an emotional angle as it proceeds. The movie ends with the death of the zamindar who had by the time reached the very fag end of his journey in life. 1. Pather Panchali (Song of the Little Road): The most critically claimed of the Apu Triology series, Pather Panchali brought international recognition and fame to this great filmmaker. The story revolves around a poor Brahmin family based in a remote village in Bengal. The main protagonists are Durga and her brother Apu who had a life of their own to lead despite harsh circumstances. The picture concludes with the family leaving for Banaras in search for better living. The post 10 Critically Acclaimed Movies Of Satyajit Ray appeared first on TopYaps.

9 Best Songs For Which We Remember Mohd. Rafi Posted: 06 Nov 2013 02:02 AM PST When Mohd. Rafi sang "Tum mujhe youn bhula na paooge, jab kabhi bhi sunoghe geet mere", he may have little realized how true his words would be. Be it classical numbers, patriotic songs, romantic melodies, qawwalis, bhajans or ghazals; Mohd. Rafi could manage it with ease of a hot knife passing through a slab of butter. Many actors owe their fame to the sheer genius Mohd. Rafi was. From actors like Biswajeet, Bharat Bhushan and Joy Mukherjee to successful heroes like Dilip Kumar, Shammi Kapoor, Rajender Kumar, and Dev Anand, in addition to comedians like Bhagwan and Johnny Walker, Mohd. Rafi was successful in molding his voice to match the screen appearance of the actor. Though there is no doubt that this legendary singer has become immemorial for his soulful songs, it is amazing that people remember him for being a humble, down to earth and helpful person he was, even 33 after his death. Apart from a conflict with Lata Mangeshkar and Guinness book of world records, he has a spotless career record in the film industry. It is very tough to choose 9 songs or for that matter 90 songs for which we remember Mohd. Rafi as many of them stand at par with each other. 9. Babul Ki Duayen Leti Ja: Movie : Neel Kamal Music : Ravi This is the most touching and emotional song that is played during wedding ceremonies. It is said that Mohd. Rafi became emotional thinking about his own daughter's wedding and sobbed in real towards the end of the song. Matching the emotional voice of Rafi, another stalwart Balraj Sahni gave equally powerful performance to make this song immemorial.  It is said that touched by the theme of the song, Mohd. Rafi did not charge any fees for singing this song. 8. Chahe Mujhe Koi Junglee Kahe: Movie : Junglee Music : Shankar- Jaikishan The song is remembered for the wayward antics of Shammi Kapoor as much for the boisterous voice of Mohd. Rafi. The fast paced, peppy song was an instant hit, especially with the youth and to this day is remembered as a cult number among the songs of Bollywood. This song stands apart from rest of the songs of Mohd. Rafi. The song is so popular that when yahoo was launched; many confused it to be a website of Shammi Kapoor. 7. Ae Dil Hai Mushkil Jeena Yahan (Bombay Meri Jaan): Film: CID Music : O. P. Nayyar A classic song also known popularly as 'Bombay Meri Jaan' was recorded on evergreen comedian Johnny Walker. It is amazing how Mohd. Rafi brilliantly rendered the song, which many believed was sung by Johnny Walker himself. He is said to have spent some time with Johnny Walker before recording the song. That is the kind of dedication that brings out classics. 6. Kya Hua Tera Wada: Film: Hum Kisise Kum Naheen Music : R. D. Burman The endearing romantic song touched the heart of every Bollywood music lover and shot Mohd. Rafi into prominence once again, after a long period he was overshadowed by Kishore Kumar for quite some time. The song remains the only song for which Mohammad Rafi got a National Award, though many consider he deserved many more. He also won Filmfare award for this song. 5. Baharon Phool Barsao: Movie : Suraj Music : Shankar-Jaikishan This is one among more than 150 songs Mohd. Rafi voiced for Rajendra Kumar. It is said that whenever Shankar-Jaikishan, Mohd. Rafi and Rajender Kuamr came together; they created musical history in Bollywood. The song won Filmfare award not just for playback singer Mohd. Rafi; but also best lyricist award for Hasrat Jaipuri. 4. Main Zindagi Ka Saath Nibhaata Chala Gaya: Movie : Hum Dono Music : Jaidev This is one of the evergreen hits of Dev Anand and Rafi, which is remembered fondly by the fans of both the actor and singer even to this day. Accompanied by powerful lyrics and performance; Mohd. Rafi could pull off another magical hit with this song. The film also has another popular hit Mohd. Rafi rendered with Asha Bhonsle – Abhi na jaao chhodkar which is one of the best romantic songs of Bollywood. 3. Jab Jab Bahar Aayi: Movie : Taqdeer Music : Laximikant- Pyarelal Coming from an era when good story, plot, direction and music carried the movie instead of super stars, the soft and sweet song rendered my Mohd. Rafi directly connects with your heart. It takes you back in memories and reminds you of your loved one and the sweet moments you shared together. The song with light music has kind of tranquilizing and relaxing effect on mind. Clearly one of those mesmerizing songs which highlights the smooth , flawless voice of Rafi and keeps him alive among music lovers. 2. Aaj Purani Rahon Se: Movie : Aadmi Music : Naushad This is just one of those magical songs created by the trio of Dilip Kumar, Naushad and Mohd. Rafi. The songs voiced by Mohd. Rafi for Dilip Kumar are considered classics, especially those sentimental sad songs which touched the hearts of music lovers. It is very tough to choose best song from the songs Rafi sang for Dilip Kumar, as most of them are classics in their own way. 1. Chaudhvin Ka Chand Ho: Movie : Chaudhvin Ka Chand Music : Ravi 52 years down the lane, the breathtaking melody from the film Chaudivin ka Chand, still enthralls and entertains music lovers. The romantic song is popular all over the world for amazing lyrics of Shakeel Badayuni, music of Ravi and soulful voice of Mohd. Rafi. The romantic song was well matched by the 'Quintessential Beauty of Bollywood' Waheeda Rehman.  The numerous hits and likes the song gets on internet says much about its popularity among today's generation. The post 9 Best Songs For Which We Remember Mohd. Rafi appeared first on TopYaps.

8 Indian Dishes A Foreigner Should Not Miss Posted: 06 Nov 2013 01:44 AM PST India is best known among foreigners for its rich cultural heritage and lavish spicy cuisines. You travel across any part of the country, be it North, South, East or West, you will definitely come across stunning new flavors and mouth watering preparations. In fact every state has its own food specialty. Punjab for instance is famous Makke ki roti with Sarson ka Saag, Hydrabad for Biryani, Rajasthan for Dal Bati Choorma and so on. So if you're planning a trip to the land of diversity, here are some special Indian dishes you shouldn’t leave without tasting. 8. Biryani: Biryani is a very famous delicacy that was bequeathed to us by the Mughals. It's a dish made with rice (usually Basmati) mixed with various spices, fish, eggs, meat or simply vegetables. It is served both as a vegetarian and non vegetarian cuisine. Today, Biryani finds a special place in restaurant menus all over the globe, but what you get in cities like Hyderabad remains incomparable. 7. Butter Chicken: A Punjabi cuisine, Butter Chicken is one of the most favorite dishes of non-vegetarian Indians. It is prepared by marinating chicken overnight in a mixture of yoghurt and spices which is then cooked with a special butter makhani sauce, tomato puree and several other spices that provide the dish a distinctive flavor. 6. Vindaloo & Rogan Josh: Treat your senses with this exotic Kashmiri delicacy. Rogan Josh is aromatic, gravy and curry dish composed of Lamb or some other meats. It consists of thin gravy covered with a thick layer of oil on top. The dish is best enjoyed when served with steaming hot plate of boiled rice. Vindaloo is very popular Indian curry with lots of spices and vinegar. It was the Portuguese who brought the dish to India, leading to the origin of Vindaloo.   5. Tandoori Chicken: It is indeed a very popular Indian dish that gets its name from the bell shaped clay oven, known as the Tandoor that is used to prepare the Indian flatbread known as Naan. It is prepared from marinated Chicken in a mixture of buttermilk, lemon juice, yoghurt and various other spices. Traditionally it was cooked under high temperatures in a Tandoor but now it is prepared in electric ovens or even on a barbecue grill. 4. Idli/Dosa/Vada with Sambar: This is perhaps the most famous South Indian breakfast meal. It comprises of Idli, Dosa or Vada along with Sambar. Mainly composed of rice and black lentils that are fermented and served with Samber is sure to delight you. Samber can be described as a stew of vegetables composed of toor dal sprinkled with tamarind. 3. Palak Paneer: This is an amazing Paneer dish combined with the goodness of creamy Palak in a great combination. Palak Paneer is a very popular North Indian recepie and is cooked by making use of Spinach and a good amount of Fresh Cottage cheese. The cooking process involves cottage cheese being cooked in spinach based thick gravy mixed with a variety of Indian spices. The dish is usually served well with naan, rotis, jeera rice or even biryani rice. Even vegans can enjoy this dish as they can simply substitute paneer with tofu. 2. Chole Bhature: The Punjabi chole served with Punjabi bread constitutes the breakfast of Punjab region and it even finds its place as a common street food. Bhature are characterized as a soft deep fired Indian bread made with the mixture of flour, yoghurt, baking powder and oil. It is then served with the curry of chickpea, known as chole. 1. Dal Makhani: Dal Makhani is a delicacy dish from Punjab and a very popular Indian cuisine. The dish is called Dal Makhani as it is made using Lentils/Dal-Red Kidney Beans and Whole Black Lentils topped with full fat cream. It is very rich in proteins and is full of calories. The mixture of all these ingredients gives the dish a very creamy texture. The combination of legume and lentils are first cooked separately and then later simmered in a base of tomato puree, onion, garlic, ginger, spice powders and lots of white butter adding to its delicious taste and luxurious finishing touch. The post 8 Indian Dishes A Foreigner Should Not Miss appeared first on TopYaps.

6 Telltale Signs She Has Got Hots For You Posted: 06 Nov 2013 01:04 AM PST Have you ever wondered if she's just being nice or if she really likes you? Do you feel that she is always flirting, but never says anything about being interested in you? Well as they say, you can never understand women. They are experts in giving mixed signals and are extremely unpredictable. Most of us have faced some confusion when it comes to crushes and dating. She may be with you constantly on BBM, but never really goes out with you on a date. You might just notice her staring at you all the times, but ignores you when you come right in front of her. Though you cannot read her mind, but you can certainly observe her little telltale signs to determine that she has got hots for you! 6. She is everywhere: You suddenly start noticing her bumping into your way, almost everywhere you go. She's working out in the same gym that you go to and is hanging out in the same club you're a member of and she's even attending the same parties that you go to. There are lot many other chances too, but you need to be sure that you have really not seen her that often before in the same clubs, gym and at the earlier parties. If you see her everywhere you go now, then she really likes you. 5. Takes initiatives: Did you notice any change in her and the way she talks when she is around you? Does she often touch your arm? Are your jokes making her laugh, even when others around aren’t not laughing? Does she often ask you out for a lunch or coffee? These are signs showing that she wants to spend every brief moment of the day with you and get to know you better. If you notice her taking such initiatives, then she really wants to be with you and she really likes you. 4. Notice the body language: It is fairly easy to spot if she likes you or not by just noticing her body language. You would know it from the way she moves when she's with you. Did you notice her face lighting up when you walk into the room? Or did you notice her getting shyer the moment you come around? Did you notice her playing with her hair when she's with you? Or simply fidget with her jewelry to gain your attention? These attention seeking activities clearly show how much she likes you. 3. Always available: If she really likes you, then she'll always be available for you, no matter what. Even if she has certain urgent piece of work to do, but if you want to meet her, she will definitely take out time to be with you. Then be it your cricket or basketball match, she will be beside you always, without any excuse. She just might not say it, but she would want to know every detail about you though being with you. 2. Asks way too many questions: Does she ask you too many questions about your favorite food and color or even your favorite television show? If she's interested in you then she will ask you about everything that is related to you, because she wants to know you completely. Universally, women do not let anybody else speak, so if she is giving you a chance to speak that surely means that she's got hots for you. 1. Feels jealous when other girls are around: Did you notice her freaking out when you talk to other girls? Girls somehow know it when the other girls are trying to gain your attention. If she's really interested in you then she will definitely not want to share you with another girl. You will notice her turning defensive and even sarcastic if any girl tries to gain your attention. A girl who's actually interested in you will definitely be serious about her competition with any other girl. She would do about anything to make sure that your eyes remain on her and her alone. The post 6 Telltale Signs She Has Got Hots For You appeared first on TopYaps.

5 Must Visit Temples In Pakistan Posted: 06 Nov 2013 12:14 AM PST Hinduism is perhaps one of the oldest religions, and is followed by over 9000 million people worldwide. Though majority of Hindus reside in India, there are substantial numbers of Hindus present in various other parts of the world. To offer prays to the deity, the Hindus have constructed immense temples all across the world. A temple is considered as the holiest place of worship by the Hindus. And as such you are sure to witness the marvelous architecture of the Hindu temples in Bangladesh, Indonesia, Nepal and various other countries. One such precious heritage of Hindu Temples is in Pakistan. The Pakistani Heritage includes a bunch of great many amazing Hindu temples. In fact Pakistan hosts the site of many of the holiest and most beautiful Hindu Temples that are still preserving the Hindu culture. Here is a list of top 5 must visit Hindu temples in Pakistan. 5. The Ancient Temple at Mari Indus: The Ancient Temple is situated on the banks of river Indus. The temple is nestled at Mari Indus that is a small historic town in Pakistan. Here you will find the ruins of many ancient Hindu Temples. Visiting this place, you are sure to travel back in time. The temple offers a vantage location with beautiful landscape coupled with the smoothly flowing beautiful river Indus. 4. Jagannath Mandir, Sialkot: This Jagannath Mandir is just new and was built on the Paris Road area of the city in early 2007. This beautiful temple is a dedication to Lord Jagannath, one of the forms of Lord Vishnu. Sialkot is all steeped in history. It has various Greek Coins, Zoroastrian temples and Buddhist Stupas. You are sure to experience the sheer joy of witnessing the cultural heritage here. 3. Hinglaj Mata Mandir, Baluchistan: Hinglaj Mata Mandir also called as the Nani Mandir is an important Shakti Peeth of Goddess Sati and is a very sacred site considered for worship. It is established in the Hingol National Park in Lyari Tehsil in the Balunchistan province of Pakistan. It is believed that the temple came into existence when Lord Vishnu slashed Mata Sati's dead body into 52 pieces in order to calm Lord Shiva down and stop his Tandava. These pieces scattered all over the Indian subcontinent while Goddess Sati's head fell at Hinglaj or Hingula. The ancient scriptures at Hinglaj Mata Mandir reveal that Lord Rama also spent his time here meditating to atone for his sin of committing 'Brahmhatya', meaning killing of Ravna, who was a Brahmin by birth and also one of the greatest devotee of Lord Shiva and Mata Durga. 2. Shri Varun Dev Mandir, Manora: Shri Varun Dev Mandir is situated on the seashore of the Manora Cantt. The temple dates back to about 160 years and is symbol of marvel of Hindu architecture, but now it stands as an insignificant and dilapidated monument. This temple is dedicated to Varun, the God of the Oceans. Unfortunately, this temple is no longer used to perform any traditional rituals (it is believed that the last ritual that was performed here was in 1950's), but it is worth visiting this temple to witness some of the excellent craftsmanship and superb architecture. 1. Katas Raj Temple, Chakwal: The Katas Raj Temple was established in the district of Chakwal, Punjab in Pakistan. This temple is devoted to Lord Shiva and is said to date back even before the Mahabharata days. There are several legendary stories associated with this complex. The complex of Katas Raj Temple houses seven temples, with each temple dedicated to Hindu deities. According to traditional belief, the Pandavas had spent their exile period here and resided in this place for a period of about fourteen years. According to another belief, the holy pool surrounding the complex is composed of Lord Shiva's tears. It was when Goddess Sati died, Lord Shiva was so much disturbed that he cried and his tears lead to the formation of holy ponds at two distinct places. It is said that formation of one pond took place at Pushkar in India while the second pond was formed at the Katas Raj Temple in Pakistan. The post 5 Must Visit Temples In Pakistan appeared first on TopYaps.

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