Europe's Galileo navigation system set for expansion
BY STEPHEN CLARK
Posted: August 21, 2014
Two satellites are buttoned up on top of a Soyuz rocket for launch Friday to join Europe's Galileo navigation network, a civilian-run counterpart to the U.S. military's Global Positioning System.
The objective of the $7.2 billion Galileo program, which is run by the European Commission with support from the European Space Agency, is to develop and deploy a navigation system independent of the U.S. military's fleet of GPS satellites, which could be shut down at the order of the Pentagon.
Launch of the next two satellites, the fifth and sixth in the Galileo network, is set for 1227:11 GMT (8:27:11 a.m. EDT) Friday aboard a Soyuz rocket from the Guiana Space Center, a European-run spaceport on the northern coast of South America.
Liftoff will occur at 9:27 a.m. local time in French Guiana.
Launch was delayed from Thursday to wait for inclement weather to move away from the space center.
It will be the ninth flight of the venerable Russian launcher from French Guiana since 2011, when Soyuz missions from South America began under the auspices of Arianespace, the French launch services firm.
Russian launch crews, managers in charge of the Galileo satellites, and officials overseeing ground systems at the spaceport gave the green light to continue final preflight preparations during a customary launch readiness review Wednesday.
The two Galileo navigation satellites are mounted side-by-side on top of the Soyuz launcher. With a full load of maneuvering propellant, each satellite weighs 730 kilograms, or 1,609 pounds.
The three-stage kerosene-fueled Soyuz ST-B rocket, flying in a "Europeanized" configuration with modifications to permit launches from French Guiana, will boost a Fregat upper stage and the two Galileo satellites on a suborbital trajectory in the first 10 minutes of the launch.
The Fregat stage's main engine will ignite two times to place the Galileo satellites in a circular orbit approximately 23,500 kilometers (14,600 miles) above Earth with an inclination of 55 degrees.
Separation of the satellites is scheduled for 1615 GMT (12:15 p.m. EDT; 1:15 p.m. French Guiana time).
"We are now entering a new phase we call FOC -- Full Operational Capability -- which is devoted to the full completion of the constellation," said Didier Faivre, director of navigation programs at the European Space Agency. "With a quite impressive cadence of launches, we expect to launch six-to-eight satellites per year starting tomorrow."
The European Commission, the EU's executive body, and ESA have launched or contracted for 26 Galileo satellites.
Officials say the network needs 24 satellites to be fully operational. With a full complement of spare spacecraft in orbit, the fleet will be consist of 30 satellites.
The satellites will be spread into three orbital pathways to ensure global coverage.
Faivre said officials are pleased with the performance of the four existing satellites, which will be integrated into the operational Galileo constellation, despite an anomaly that has knocked one of the craft offline.
Javier Benedicto, ESA's Galileo project manager, told reporters Wednesday that the Galileo FM4 satellite has a "permanent degradation" in two of its three frequency bands. Engineers are still investigating the root cause of the anomaly, but teams have ruled out any risk to the satellites launching Friday.
Each satellite transmits 10 positioning and timing signals to users on the ground via three L-band frequencies.
The Galileo satellites are fitted with hydrogen maser atomic clocks, keeping time accurate to a few billionths of a second. The accurate timekeeping is necessary to gauge the distance between the satellites and users on the ground.
With four satellites visible to a ground user -- one for latitude, longitude, elevation and time -- the Galileo system can render a position and time estimate independent of GPS satellites.
The Galileo system is designed to be interoperable with GPS and Russia's Glonass navigation satellites.
"A combined GPS-Galileo receviver can bring a specific spacecraft into a navigation position solution," Benedicto said. "There is no need to wait for a declaration or such. You can use the spacecraft one-by-one as they're being declared operational."
The Galileo satellites also host search-and-rescue antennas to receive distress signals worldwide. Using Galileo's navigation payload, officials say the constellation can ensure first responders know the location of the source of the distress signal with an accuracy of 3 meters, or about 10 feet.
"The advantage of the search-and-rescure payload on Galileo provides for real-time detection of distress beacons and the real-time determination of the location of a person [in distress] with a very high level of accuracy, which will improve significantly the rescue operations," Benedicto said.
After Friday's launch, 20 more Galileo satellites are being assembled and tested in Europe before shipment to the Guiana Space Center.
The next two spacecraft are scheduled for liftoff on a Soyuz rocket in December.
The satellites are built in OHB System of Bremen, Germany. Each spacecraft's navigation payload is supplied by Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd. of the United Kingdom.
"The challenge today is more on operations, cadence, continuity and maintaining such a constellation, which is quite new for Europe," Faivre said.
Follow Stephen Clark on Twitter: @StephenClark1.
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Córas loingseoireachta Galileo na hEorpa atá le leathnú
BY STEPHEN CLARK
Postáilte: 21 Lúnasa, 2014
Tá dhá satailíte cnaipeáilte ar bharr roicéad Soyuz le seoladh Dé hAoine chun dul isteach i líonra loingseoireachta Galileo na hEorpa, comhghleacaithe sibhialta a reáchtáiltear le Córas Suíomh Domhanda arm na SA.
Is é cuspóir an chláir Galileo $7.2 billiún, a reáchtálann an Coimisiún Eorpach le tacaíocht ón nGníomhaireacht Spáis Eorpach, córas loingseoireachta a fhorbairt agus a chur i bhfeidhm atá neamhspleách ar chabhlach satailítí GPS arm na Stát Aontaithe, a d'fhéadfadh a bheith dúnta ar ordú an Pintagóin.
Tá sé beartaithe an chéad dá satailíte eile, an cúigiú agus an séú sa líonra Galileo, a sheoladh ar 1227:11 GMT (8:27:11 am EDT) Dé hAoine ar bord roicéad Soyuz ó Ionad Spáis Guiana, spáisphort faoi rialú na hEorpa ar chósta thuaidh Mheiriceá Theas.
Tosaíonn an t-aistriú ag 9:27 am am áitiúil i Guiana na Fraince.
Cuireadh moill ar an seoladh ó Déardaoin chun fanacht le huisce diúltach chun bogadh ar shiúl ón ionad spáis.
Is é seo an naoú eitilt a bheidh ag an seoladh Rúisis ó Guiana na Fraince ó 2011, nuair a thosaigh misin Soyuz ó Mheiriceá Theas faoi mhaoirseacht Arianespace, an chuideachta seirbhísí seolta na Fraince.
Thug foirne seolta na Rúise, bainisteoirí atá i gceannas ar satailítí Galileo, agus oifigigh a dhéanann maoirseacht ar chórais talún ag an spásphort solas glas chun ullmhúcháin deiridh réamh-fhéile a leanúint le linn athbhreithnithe réamh-ullmhúcháin seolta traidisiúnta Dé Céadaoin.
Tá an dá satailíte loingseoireachta Galileo suite taobh le taobh ar bharr an seolta Soyuz. Le lasta iomlán de propellant maneuvering, meáchan gach satailíte 730 cileagram, nó 1,609 punt.
Beidh an roicéad Soyuz ST-B trí chéim, a bhfuil breosla cearaisín ann, ag eitilt i gcumraíocht "Eorpacháilte" le modhanna chun seoltaí a cheadú ó Ghuíana na Fraince, ag cur céim uachtarach Fregat agus an dá satailíte Galileo ar thraenáil suborbital sna chéad 10 nóiméad den seoladh.
Beidh príomh-inneall an chéim Fregat ag lasadh dhá uair chun na satailítí Galileo a chur i bhfithis chiorclach thart ar 23,500 ciliméadar (14,600 míle) os cionn na Talún le claonadh de 55 céim.
Tá sé beartaithe na satailítí a scaradh ag 1615 GMT (12:15 pm EDT; 1:15 pm am Guiana na Fraince).
"Táimid ag dul isteach i gcéim nua a ghlaoimid FOC - Comhchomhthionscanta Oibríochtúil - atá dírithe ar chríochnú iomlán an chomhchruinne", a dúirt Didier Faivre, stiúrthóir cláir loingseoireachta ag an nGníomhaireacht Spáis Eorpach. "Le cadence an-iontach de seoltaí, táimid ag súil le seoladh sé go hocht satailíte in aghaidh na bliana ag tosú amárach".
Tá 26 satailíte Galileo seolta nó conarthaithe ag an gCoimisiún Eorpach, comhlacht feidhmiúcháin an AE, agus ESA.
Deir oifigigh go dteastaíonn 24 satailíte ón líonra chun a bheith go hiomlán oibríochtúil. Le comhlánú iomlán de spásárthaí cúltaca i bhfithis, beidh 30 satailíte sa chabhlach.
Beidh na satailítí scaipthe i dtrí bhealach imchlaonta chun clúdach domhanda a chinntiú.
Dúirt Faivre go bhfuil na hoifigigh sásta le feidhmíocht na gceithre satailíte atá ann cheana, a chuirfear isteach i gconstellation oibríochtúil Galileo, in ainneoin neamhghnáchas a chuir ceann de na crainn as feidhm.
Dúirt Javier Benedicto, bainisteoir tionscadail Galileo de chuid ESA, le tuairisceoirí Dé Céadaoin go bhfuil "difríocht bhuan" ag satailíte Galileo FM4 i dhá cheann dá thrí bhanda minicíochta. Tá innealtóirí fós ag fiosrú bunchúis an neamhghnáchas, ach tá foirne scriosadh aon riosca do na satailítí a seoladh Dé hAoine.
Tá an t-am a chaitear an t-am a chuirtear an t-am a chuirtear an t-am a chuirtear an t-am a chuirtear an t-am a chuirtear an t-am a chuirtear an t-am a chuirtear an t-am a chuirtear an t-am a chuirtear an t-am.
Tá cloganna adamhacha maser hidrigine feistithe ar satailítí Galileo, rud a choinníonn an t-am cruinn go dtí cúpla billiún de soicind. Tá an t-amchomhchomhá cruinn riachtanach chun an fad idir na satailítí agus na húsáideoirí ar an talamh a thomhas.
Le ceithre satailíte atá le feiceáil ag úsáideoir talún - ceann amháin le haghaidh leitheid, fad, airde agus am - is féidir leis an gcóras Galileo a chur in iúl go bhfuil a shuíomh agus a mheastachán ama neamhspleách ar satailítí GPS.
Tá an córas Galileo deartha chun a bheith idir-inoibritheach le satailítí loingseoireachta GPS agus Glonass na Rúise.
"Is féidir le glacadóir GPS-Galileo comhcheangailte spásárthach ar leith a thabhairt isteach i réiteach suíomh nascleanúna", a dúirt Benedicto. "Níl aon gá a bheith ag fanacht le haghaidh dearbhú nó mar sin. Is féidir leat na spásárthaí a úsáid ceann ar cheann de réir mar a dhearbhaítear go bhfuil siad oibríochtúil. "
Tá antennaí cuardaigh agus tarrthála ag na satailítí Galileo freisin chun comharthaí tubaiste a fháil ar fud an domhain. Ag baint úsáide as an loading loingseoireachta Galileo, deir oifigigh gur féidir leis an gconstellation a chinntiú go bhfuil a fhios ag na chéad fhreagróirí suíomh foinse an chomhartha tubaiste le cruinneas 3 mhéadar, nó thart ar 10 troigh.
"Tá buntáiste na n-ualach cuardaigh agus tarrthála ar Galileo le hairíonna tubaiste a bhrath i bhfíor-am agus le suíomh duine [i mbaol] a chinneadh i bhfíor-am le leibhéal an-ard cruinneas, rud a chuirfidh feabhas suntasach ar na hoibríochtaí tarrthála", a dúirt Benedicto.
Tar éis an seoladh Dé hAoine, tá 20 satailíte Galileo eile á mbailiú agus á thástáil san Eoraip sula gcuirfear chuig Ionad Spáis Guiana iad.
Tá an dá spásárthach eile sceidealta le hochtú ar roicéad Soyuz i mí na Nollag.
Déantar na satailítí a thógáil i OHB System i Bremen, sa Ghearmáin. Soláthraíonn Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd. sa Ríocht Aontaithe an t-ualach úsáideach loingseoireachta do gach spásárthach.
"Is é an dúshlán inniu ná oibriú, cadans, leanúnachas agus comhthreomhar den sórt sin a choimeád, rud atá nua go leor don Eoraip", a dúirt Faivre.
Lean Stephen Clark ar Twitter: @StephenClark1.
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In the Yoga Sutras, Patanjali offers several formulations of yoga. Each reveals the discipline from another angle and provides some unique perspective on the whole. The most poignant, however, belongs to the second verse: Yogas chitta vritti nirodha (I.2). “Yoga is the nirodha of the activity of the mind.” The term nirodha is polysemous, with over forty different meanings, but these meanings hang together in a cohesive family of uses.
The term nirodha is derived from nirruddham, which means “restrained” or “inhibited.” And what is restrained or inhibited in yoga are the impositions of the conceptual mind. These impositions organize and condition our experiences, but they also prevent us from seeing things as they are. When we suspend our concepts, experience becomes more direct. We enter a more lucid state of consciousness, in which we can see ourselves, and other beings, with unusual clarity.
In recent English translations, nirodha is often rendered as “cessation” or “annihilation” but these rather violent-sounding terms mislead. The aim of yoga is not to obliterate the mind, nor to induce mental paralysis, but to suspend the distorting effects of our mental conditioning. Thought and emotion may continue to arise, but we do not succumb to their delusions. Instead, we recognize their projected nature, and we appreciate them as part of the sensory apparatus by which we interface with reality.
Patanjali distinguishes nirodha from five other mental activities, which he describes as the most basic modifications of the mind. These are right knowledge, false knowledge, imagination, sleep and memory (I.6). In each of these, Patanjali explains, we are wholly assimilated into our mental activity (I.4). That is, we are wholly taken by the dualistic delusions that our minds project.
In nirodha, by contrast, we stand apart from such delusions. We see them as delusions, without comparing them to some other projection of truth or reality. So nirodha is not so much a unique mental state, but the gesture of suspending the distorting elements of our minds. In that gesture, we make a mental clearing, in which we can experience things with less conditioning.
To be sure, Patanjali himself describes states of absorption in which there is nothing recognizable as mental activity, states of entrancement in which the conceptual centers of the mind have shut down. But these are limiting cases, and we should not take them as definitive. In Patanjali’s presentation, these higher states of samadhi or absorption fall by grace, and only in the rarest instances. But we can invite them through the assiduous practice of nirodha, as the gradual suspension of our mental projections about the way things are.
This process does not spurn thought. On the contrary, it uses thought, in all but the latest stages, to dispel the delusions of the thinking mind. As the ancient Greeks discovered (right around the time of Patanjali) thought is the finest solvent for the structures of our mental conditioning. When used with intelligence, thought exposes the distortions and inadequacies of our beliefs, compelling us to release them, and to surrender our conceited claims to know things that we do not.
The Greeks called the resultant state aporia, which is the suspension of ordinary thought, and the precursor to direct insight into the hidden nature of reality. It was Socrates who taught the virtue of aporia to ancient Greece, and who showed Plato, his disciple, how to cultivate aporia through philosophical inquiry. After the death of Socrates, Plato founded a school to continue the inquiries of his master, and these inquires centered around the cultivation of aporia.
The practice of nirodha, as the suspension of mental activity, is meant to induce the same state. Through nirodha, we remove the distorting effects of our ideas, to allow ourselves a more direct experience of reality. And just as the Greeks sought aporia through inquiry, so inquiry is an instrument of nirodha.
Inquiry allows us to hold our experiences in a sane perspective. When we inquire into the ground of our experiences, we tend to find them less compelling. We tend to see them as distorted reflections of our past conditioning, and this allows us to take a saner stance toward our own thoughts and emotions. It allows us to see our thoughts and emotions as projections of our egocentric minds, and this allows us to take a more expansive view of what is really happening.
The reality that we come to through inquiry may involve another imposition of ideas, but those ideas may be more expansive, and more capacious, than the ideas that we had before. They might for that matter reveal a deeper unity among the objects of our thoughts, and thus attune us to a more fundamental level of reality. The progression to an ever more basic apprehension of the unity of things (which is what Socrates called philosophy) is the purpose of yoga in the classical sense.
So what is essential in yoga is not some experience of entrancement, but the gesture of opening and releasing in which nirodha consists. And this is precisely as it should be. The purpose of yoga is not to isolate us from other beings, nor to close us off from the world of experience, but, on the contrary, to take us out of ourselves, to wake us up from our egocentric delusions, and to expose us relentlessly to our intimate connections to all that lives and breathes. This kind of awakening requires the opening the senses, not some deeper retreat into the confines of the subconscious mind.
The practice of yoga, therefore, should not be undertaken as an exercise in suppressing embodied experience in order to induce entrancement, but as an exercise in opening completely to the full spectrum of experience, and allowing the ego to be overwhelmed in the process.
As Patanjali explains, the ego is but a delusion of the mind. Through sustained practice of nirodha, this delusion dissolves, and when it does, Patanjali explains, “The seer abides in its true nature” (I.3). The seer is not some divine essence or spiritual substance, but the selfless process of seeing that underlies every experience (II.20). So to realize the seer is not to bring some deeper self into being, but to lose the self in the open radiance of pure awareness.
So let us suppose that what we are practicing in yoga – through this gesture of nirodha – is the surrender of our delusions, including, at the upper limit, the delusion of selfhood, and of our separateness from other beings. When that delusion is suspended, there is a prevailing sense of intimacy or union with whatever falls within the field of experience. And that union is the original meaning of yoga.

Sna Yoga Sutras, tugann Patanjali roinnt foirmlí yoga. Léiríonn gach ceann den disciplín ó uillinn eile agus soláthraíonn sé dearcadh uathúil ar an iomlán. Is é an ceann is mó a bhaineann leis an dara véarsa, áfach: Yogas chitta vritti nirodha (I.2).  Is é Yoga nirodha gníomhaíocht an intinn. Tá an téarma nirodha polysemous, le breis agus daichead bríonna éagsúla, ach tá na bríonna seo ag crochadh le chéile i dteaghlach comhtháite úsáide.
Tá an téarma nirodha díorthaithe ó nirruddham, rud a chiallaíonn  coibhneasta  nó  cosc.  Agus is iad na rudaí a choibhneasta nó cosc i yoga ná impúidí an intinn choincheapúil. Déanann na forchur seo ár dtaithí a eagrú agus a choigeartú, ach cuireann siad cosc orainn rudaí a fheiceáil mar atá siad. Nuair a chuireann muid ár gcoincheapa ar fionraí, bíonn taithí níos díreacha. Téann muid isteach i stát níos soiléire feasachta, ina bhfeicimid muid féin, agus daoine eile, le soiléireacht neamhghnách.
I aistriúcháin Béarla le déanaí, is minic a dhéantar nirodha mar  cealú  nó  annihilation  ach tá na téarmaí seo a bhfuil fuaim foréigneach orthu seo míthreorach. Ní é is aidhm le yoga an intinn a scriosadh, ná paraisín mheabhrach a spreagadh, ach éifeachtaí claonta ár gcoinníollacha meabhrach a chur ar fionraí. B'fhéidir go leanfaidh smaointe agus mothúcháin ag teacht chun cinn, ach ní dhéanaimid a gcuid meabhlaithe a thréigean. Ina áit sin, aithníonn muid a nádúr réamh-mheasta, agus measann muid iad mar chuid den fheiste ciallmhar trína n-idirghníomhaímid leis an réaltacht.
Déanann Patanjali idirdhealú idir nirodha agus cúig ghníomhaíocht mheabhrach eile, a thuairiscíonn sé mar mhodhnú is bunúsaí ar an intinn. Is iad seo eolas ceart, eolas bréagach, samhlaíocht, codladh agus cuimhne (I.6). I ngach ceann díobh seo, a mhíníonn Patanjali, táimid ag teacht go hiomlán isteach inár ngníomhaíocht mheabhrach (I.4). Is é sin, tá muid go hiomlán ag na delusions dualtach go bhfuil ár n-intinn tionscadal.
I nirodha, ar a mhalairt, seasann muid ar shiúl ó mheabhlachtaí den sórt sin. Feicimid iad mar mheabhlaíocht, gan iad a chur i gcomparáid le haon léiriú eile ar fhírinne nó ar réaltacht. Mar sin ní staid mheabhrach uathúil é nirodha, ach an ghné de na heilimintí claontacha dár n-intinn a chur ar fionraí. Sa ghné sin, déanaimid clearing intinne, inar féidir linn rudaí a fháil le níos lú coinníollaithe.
Chun a bheith cinnte, Patanjali féin cur síos ar stáit an ionsú ina bhfuil aon rud aitheanta mar ghníomhaíocht mheabhrach, stáit entrancement ina bhfuil na hionaid coincheapacha an intinn dúnta. Ach is cásanna teoranta iad seo, agus níor cheart dúinn iad a ghlacadh mar cinntitheach. I láthair Patanjali, na stáit níos airde samadhi nó ionsú titim ag grásta, agus ach amháin i gcásanna is annamh. Ach is féidir linn iad a chur isteach trí chleachtas leanúnach nirodha, mar an fionraí de réir a chéile ar ár réamh-mheastacháin mheabhrach faoi an chaoi a bhfuil rudaí.
Ní chuireann an próiseas seo an smaoineamh ar ceal. Ar a mhalairt, úsáideann sé smaointeoireacht, i ngach céim ach na céimeanna is déanaí, chun meabhlachtaí an intinn smaointeoireachta a dhíspreagadh. Mar a fuair na Gréagaigh ársa amach (i gceart timpeall am Patanjali) is é an smaoineamh an tuaslagóir is fearr do struchtúir ár gcoinníollaithe meabhrach. Nuair a úsáidtear é le heolas, nochtann smaoineamh na dícheangail agus na neamhoiriúnachtaí inár gcreideamh, ag cur iallach orainn iad a scaoileadh, agus ár n-éileamh arrogant a thabhairt suas chun rudaí a fhios againn nach bhfuil a fhios againn.
D'iarr na Gréagaigh an staid mar thoradh air aporia, is é sin an fionraí ar smaointe gnáth, agus an réamhtheachtaí chun léargas díreach a fháil ar nádúr i bhfolach an réaltachta. Ba é Sócrataigh a mhúin an dea-ghníomh aporia don Ghréig ársa, agus a thaispeáin Plato, a dheisceabal, conas aporia a chothú trí fhiosrúchán fealsúnachta. Tar éis bháis Socrates, bhunaigh Plato scoil chun leanúint ar aghaidh le fiosrúcháin a mháistir, agus bhí na fiosrúcháin seo dírithe ar chothú aporia.
Is é an cleachtas nirodha, mar fhionraí ar ghníomhaíocht mheabhrach, chun an stát céanna a spreagadh. Trí nirodha, bainimid na héifeachtaí claonta dár gcuid smaointe, chun eispéireas níos díreacha réaltachta a cheadú dúinn féin. Agus díreach mar a d'iarr na Gréagaigh aporia trí fhiosrúchán, mar sin tá fiosrúchán ina uirlis de nirodha.
Ligeann fiosrúchán dúinn ár dtaithí a shealbhú i bpeirspictíocht folláin. Nuair a dhéanann muid fiosrúchán ar bhonn ár dtaithí, bíonn claonadh againn iad a fháil níos lú ina luí. Is gnách go bhfeicimid iad mar léiriú coirciúil ar ár gcumhachtaíocht roimhe seo, agus tugann sé seo deis dúinn seasamh níos réasúnta a ghlacadh i leith ár gcuid smaointe agus mothúchán féin. Ligeann sé dúinn ár smaointe agus ár n-éachtaí a fheiceáil mar phroijectúir dár n-intinn egocentric, agus tugann sé seo deis dúinn dearcadh níos forleithne a bheith againn ar an méid atá ag tarlú i ndáiríre.
D'fhéadfadh go mbeadh i gceist leis an réaltacht a thagann muid tríd an fiosrúchán a fhorchur eile smaointe, ach d'fhéadfadh na smaointe a bheith níos forleithne, agus níos mó cumas, ná na smaointe a bhí againn roimhe seo. D'fhéadfadh siad a nochtadh ar an ábhar sin aontacht níos doimhne i measc na n-ábhar dár smaointe, agus dá bhrí sin a chur ar intinn dúinn le leibhéal níos bunúsaí réaltachta. Is é an dul chun cinn go tuiscint níos bunúsaí ar aonad rudaí (rud a d'iarr Socrates fealsúnacht) cuspóir an yoga sa chiall clasaiceach.
Mar sin, ní hé an rud atá riachtanach i yoga roinnt taithí ar iontráil, ach an ghné de oscailt agus scaoileadh ina bhfuil nirodha. Agus is é seo go beacht mar ba chóir go mbeadh sé. Ní é cuspóir an yoga sinn a leithéid de bheith ar shiúl ó dhaoine eile, ná sinn a dhúnadh amach ó shaol na taithí, ach, ar a mhalairt, chun muid a thógáil amach as ár n-é féin, chun sinn a dhúiseáil ó ár delusions egocentric, agus chun nochtadh dúinn gan staonadh chun ár nasc dlúth le gach rud a bhfuil cónaí agus a anailís. Éilíonn an cineál seo an t-aosú an oscailt na ciall, ní roinnt aisghabháil níos doimhne isteach i teorainneacha an intinn fo-chomhfhiosach.
Níor cheart cleachtas an yoga, dá bhrí sin, a dhéanamh mar chleachtadh chun taithí chorpraithe a chur faoi chois d'fhonn dul isteach a spreagadh, ach mar chleachtadh chun oscailt go hiomlán ar an speictream iomlán taithí, agus ligean don ego a bheith tuirseach sa phróiseas.
Mar a mhíníonn Patanjali, níl an ego ach meabhlaíocht na meabhair. Trí chleachtas leanúnach nirodha, tá an mheall seo ag díleá, agus nuair a dhéanann sé, míníonn Patanjali, "Tá an bhfeiceoir ina bhfíor-nádúr" (I.3). Ní hé an t-aisteoir an croí diaga nó an tsubstaint spioradálta, ach an próiseas neamhfhiúchas a fheiceann go bhfuil gach taithí bunús aige (II.20). Mar sin chun a bhaint amach an seers nach bhfuil a thabhairt ar roinnt féin níos doimhne a bheith ann, ach a chailleadh féin i radiance oscailte an fhéachaint íon.
Mar sin, lig dúinn a shamhlú go bhfuil an méid atá á chleachtadh againn i yoga trí an ghné seo de nirodha Is é an t-aistriú ar ár delusions, lena n-áirítear, ag an teorainn uachtarach, an delusion de féin, agus ar ár leithligh ó bheith eile. Nuair a bhíonn an mheabhlaíocht sin ar fionraí, tá tuiscint thromchúiseach ar dhúchas nó ar aontacht le cibé rud a thagann laistigh de réimse na taithí. Agus is é an t-aontas sin brí bunaidh an yoga.


MRSA and Your Baby
Staphylococcus aureus is a bacterium that can cause severe sepsis.1 Therefore, knowing whether a patient is colonized by Staph is important. Colonization is having the bacteria in the body at a certain site. About 30% of Americans are colonized with Methicillin Sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) and 1-4% of mothers and infants are colonized with Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA).2 Colonization with MSSA is usually seen with larger households, breastfeeding, and antibiotic exposure, but it is unknown if mothers can transfer the bacteria to their infants at the time of delivery (vertical transmission).
A study tried to see if infants had a similar pattern for colonization as adults and studied the roles of different variables. This study found maternal colonization rates with MSSA to be about 30% and infant colonization rates to be 40 to 50% in the first 8 weeks of life. The researchers determined that 25% of infants were never colonized with the MSSA, and the remaining infants had a different pattern of colonization than adults. About 68% of the mother-infant pairs were colonized with the same strain of MSSA. The environmental factors that were found to be important were breastfeeding at any time and maternal colonization during 6 months. The authors suggested that MSSA colonization of the nipples may have played a role in transferring the bacteria from the mother to the infant.1
Another study enrolled 629 pregnant women (at 34-36 weeks), and used questionnaires to determine risk factors for colonization2. Swabs of the mother (nasal and vaginal) and infant (nasal and umbilical) were tested for MSSA and MRSA during the first 4 months of life. African American infants (75% vs. 41%) and those born vaginally (86% vs. 69%) had the highest risk of colonization.2 This study had 20 maternal-infant pairs in which the mother was colonized during pregnancy and the infant was colonized within 2 hours of birth. Of these 20 pairs, only 2 of the infant isolates were colonized with the same bacterial strain as their mothers. Of the women colonized at delivery, 20 had infants that were colonized at birth and 14 at discharge; colonization peaked at 2 months of age and declined by 4 months of age.
Although this study suggests that breastfeeding is a risk factor for colonization, it does not provide enough information to say for sure.2 This study did find a higher rate of colonization compared to other previously studied populations. Horizontal transmission (contact with mother and family members) after delivery was the most common mode of colonization.
In another study that looked at transmission around the time of delivery, the authors found that of 304 women, 43 were colonized with MSSA and 9 with MRSA.3 Of the 252 infants, 25 were colonized with MSSA at delivery or discharge from the hospital, 9 had MRSA. Only 5 of the infant-mother pairs had the same strain of MSSA. 5 infants from this study developed staphylococcal infections within the first month of life: 1 had been colonized in the perinatal period and 4 after 48 hours of life.
Another study reviewed breast milk and skin samples from 8 mothers without mastitis along with oral cavity and nasal cultures from their infants.4 The rate of Staphylococcus aureus transmission between these mother-infant pairs was 50%, 4 pairs and 1 infant were colonized.
A different study reported a case of MRSA colonization and infection in pre-term triplets. Surveillance cultures taken due to a recent outbreak of MRSA in the NICU revealed MRSA colonization starting on the 10th day of life for infant A and 18th day for infant B.5 Infant C who was not given breastmilk had negative routine cultures and passed away from premature lung disease. Infant A developed MRSA sepsis, a MRSA eye infection and pneumonia. Infant B developed a coagulase-negative staphylococcus bacteremia and a MRSA eye infection. Breastmilk stored before colonization of infants A and B was tested, and the cultures grew the same strain of MRSA. This mother had no signs or symptoms of mastitis or other infections.
These trials support that horizontal transmission is a greater risk factors than vertical transmission. However, the timing of colonization and infection varied. At this time it is not clear if mothers who are colonized with Staphylococcus aureus should stop breastfeeding their babies. Until we know more about the transmission of MSSA and MRSA, there is no reason to withhold breastmilk from mothers who are carriers.
Adapted by Saneea Almas, MD from an original written by Hilary Rowe, PharmD
1. Peacock SJ, Justice A, Griffiths D, et al. Determinants of acquisition and carriage of Staphylococcus aureus in infancy. Journal of clinical microbiology. Dec 2003;41(12):5718-5725
2. Jimenez-Truque N, Tedeschi S, Saye EJ, et al. Relationship between maternal and neonatal Staphylococcus aureus colonization. Pediatrics. May 2012;129(5):e1252-1259
3. Pinter DM, Mandel J, Hulten KG, Minkoff H, Tosi MF. Maternal-infant perinatal transmission of methicillin-resistant and methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus. American journal of perinatology. Feb 2009;26(2):145-151
4. Kawada M, Okuzumi K, Hitomi S, Sugishita C. Transmission of Staphylococcus aureus between healthy, lactating mothers and their infants by breastfeeding. Journal of human lactation : official journal of International Lactation Consultant Association. Nov 2003;19(4):411-417
5. Behari P, Englund J, Alcasid G, Garcia-Houchins S, Weber SG. Transmission of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus to preterm infants through breastmilk. Infection control and hospital epidemiology. Sep 2004;25(9):778-780

MRSA agus do Leanaí
Is baictéar Staphylococcus aureus é a d'fhéadfadh seipsis thromchúiseach a chur faoi deara.1 Dá bhrí sin, tá sé tábhachtach a fhios a bheith agat an bhfuil Staph ag coilíneacht i do dhuine. Is é an coilíneacht ná go bhfuil na baictéir sa chorp ag suíomh áirithe. Tá thart ar 30% de Mheiriceánaigh coilíniú le Staphylococcus aureus atá íogair le Methicillin (MSSA) agus tá 1-4% de mháithreacha agus leanaí coilíniú le Staphylococcus Aureus atá frithsheasmhach le Methicillin (MRSA).2 Is gnách go bhfeictear coilíniú le MSSA le teaghlaigh níos mó, beathú cíche, agus nochtadh antaibheathach, ach níl a fhios an féidir le máithreacha na baictéir a aistriú chuig a gcuid leanaí tráth an tsoláthair (tarchur ingearach).
Rinne staidéar iarracht a fheiceáil an raibh patrún den chineál céanna ag na leanaí maidir le coilíneacht mar dhaoine fásta agus rinne siad staidéar ar ról na n-athraitheacha éagsúla. Fuair an staidéar seo go raibh rátaí coilíneachta máithreacha le MSSA thart ar 30% agus rátaí coilíneachta naíonáin a bheith 40 go 50% sna chéad 8 seachtaine den saol. Chinn na taighdeoirí nár choilíneáladh MSSA riamh le 25% de na leanaí, agus bhí patrún coilíneála difriúil ag na leanaí eile ná daoine fásta. Bhí thart ar 68% de na péirí máthair-infant colonized leis an strain céanna de MSSA. Is iad na tosca comhshaoil a fuarthas a bheith tábhachtach ná beathú cíche ag am ar bith agus coilíneacht mháthar le linn 6 mhí. Mhol na húdair go bhféadfadh ról a bheith ag coilíneacht MSSA ar na nipples sa baictéir a aistriú ón máthair go dtí an leanbh.1
I staidéar eile, cuireadh 629 bean torracha (ag 34-36 seachtaine) ar an áireamh, agus úsáideadh ceistneoirí chun fachtóirí riosca a chinneadh le haghaidh coilíneachta2. Rinneadh tástáil ar shampáin ón máthair (snáithín agus vagina) agus ón leanbh (snáithín agus umbilical) le haghaidh MSSA agus MRSA le linn na chéad 4 mhí den saol. Bhí an baol is airde de choilíneacht ag na leanaí Afracach Meiriceánach (75% i gcoinne 41%) agus iad siúd a rugadh go vaginally (86% i gcoinne 69%).2 Bhí an staidéar seo ar 20 lánúin mháthar-naíonán inar choilíneáladh an mháthair le linn toirchis agus an leanbh laistigh de 2 uair an chloig tar éis an bhreith. As na 20 péire seo, ní raibh ach 2 cheann de na h-aonáin leanbh colonized leis an bhfíor-bhactair chéanna a bhí ina máithreacha. As na mná a bhí faoi choilíneacht ag an bhreith, bhí leanaí ag 20 a bhí faoi choilíneacht ag an bhreith agus 14 ag an scaoileadh; tháinig an choilíneacht ar a bharr ag 2 mhí d'aois agus tháinig laghdú ar 4 mhí d'aois.
Cé go léiríonn an staidéar seo go bhfuil beathú cíche ina fhachtóir riosca do choilíneacht, ní sholáthraíonn sé go leor faisnéise chun a rá go cinnte.2 Fuair an staidéar seo ráta níos airde coilíneachta i gcomparáid le daonra eile a ndearnadh staidéar orthu roimhe seo. Ba é an t-aistriú cothrománach (contact le máthair agus le baill teaghlaigh) tar éis an tsoláthair an modh coilíneachta is coitianta.
I staidéar eile a rinne féachaint ar tharchur timpeall an ama a d'eisigh na hailt, fuair na húdair go raibh 43 de 304 bean a bhí coilíniú le MSSA agus 9 le MRSA. 3 As na 252 leanbh, bhí 25 coilíniú le MSSA ag seachadadh nó ag scaoileadh as an ospidéal, 9 bhí MRSA. Ní raibh an strain MSSA céanna ach ag 5 de na páirteanna leanbh-máthair. D'fhorbair ionfhabhtuithe staphylococcal i 5 leanbh ón staidéar seo laistigh den chéad mhí de shaol: 1 a bhí coilíniúithe sa tréimhse perinatal agus 4 tar éis 48 uair an chloig de shaol.
Rinne staidéar eile athbhreithniú ar bhainne cíche agus ar shamplaí craiceann ó 8 mháthair gan mastitis chomh maith le cothracha cavity béil agus nasal óna leanaí.4 Ba é ráta tarchuir Staphylococcus aureus idir na péirí máthair-bhean seo 50%, bhí 4 péire agus 1 leanbh coilíneáilte.
Tuairiscíodh i staidéar difriúil cás de choilíneacht agus ionfhabhtú MRSA i tríúchanna roimh ré. Léirigh cultúir faireachais a tógadh mar gheall ar ráig MRSA le déanaí sa NICU go raibh coilíneacht MRSA ag tosú ar an 10ú lá de shaol do leanbh A agus an 18ú lá do leanbh B. Bhí cultúir rialta diúltacha ag leanbh C nár tugadh bainne cíche dó agus fuair sé bás ó ghalair scamhóige roimh am. D'fhorbair seipis MRSA, ionfhabhtú súl MRSA agus niúmóine ag leanbh A. D'fhorbair bacteremia staphylococcus coagulase-diúltach agus ionfhabhtú súl MRSA ag Infant B. Rinne siad tástáil ar bhainne cíche a stóráil roimh chónaisiú na leanaí A agus B, agus d'fhás na cultúir an strain céanna MRSA. Ní raibh aon chomharthaí ná comharthaí mastitis nó ionfhabhtuithe eile ag an máthair seo.
Tacaíonn na trialacha seo leis go bhfuil tarchur cothrománach ina fhachtóirí riosca níos mó ná tarchur ingearach. Mar sin féin, bhí éagsúlacht ann maidir le hamháin na coilíneachta agus na haitheanta. Ag an am seo níl sé soiléir an gcaithfidh máithreacha a bhfuil Staphylococcus aureus acu a stopadh ag beathú a gcuid leanaí. Go dtí go mbeidh níos mó eolais againn faoi tharchur MSSA agus MRSA, níl aon chúis le bainne cíche a choinneáil ó mháithreacha atá ina n-iompróirí.
Oiriúnaithe ag Saneea Almas, MD ó bhunús scríofa ag Hilary Rowe, PharmD
1. an t-am a bhí ann. Peacock SJ, Breitheamh A, Griffiths D, et al. Cinntíonn Staphylococcus aureus a fháil agus a iompar i naíonán. Iris na micreabhiolaíochta cliniciúla. Deireadh Fómhair 2003;41
2. Seachadadh. Jimenez-Truque N, Tedeschi S, Saye EJ, et al. Caidreamh idir Staphylococcus aureus colonisation máthar agus nuabheirthe. Pediatrics. Bealtaine 2012;129(5):e1252-1259
3. Tá an t-am ann. Pinter DM, Mandel J, Hulten KG, Minkoff H, Tosi MF. Tarchur perinatal Staphylococcus aureus atá frithsheasmhach i gcoinne meiticilín agus atá íogair i gcoinne meiticilín ó mháthair go leanbh. Iris Mheiriceá ar perinatology. Feabhra 2009;26(2):145-151
4. Tá an t-am Kawada M, Okuzumi K, Hitomi S, Sugishita C. Tarchur Staphylococcus aureus idir máithreacha sláintiúla a bhfuil bainne acu agus a gcuid leanaí trí chothabháil cíche. Journal of Human Lactation: iris oifigiúil de Chumann Idirnáisiúnta na Comhairleach Lactation. Deireadh Fómhair 2003;19(4):411-417
5. Tá an t-am ann. Behari P, Englund J, Alcasid G, Garcia-Houchins S, Weber SG. Staphylococcus aureus atá frithsheasmhach i gcoinne meiticilín a tharchur chuig leanaí roimh am trí bhainne cíche. Rialú ionfhabhtuithe agus eipidéimeolaíocht ospidéil. Sep 2004;25(9):778-780


“The good old days”
Slovakia and its difficult journey from East to West
Languages: Slovak as official language, other languages: Czech, Hungarian, Rusyn
Population: approx. 5 Million
Did you know?
Surveys in Eastern and Central Europe show that many people in the post-communist countries feel a pronounced nostalgia for socialism. The dark sides of the dictatorship are pushed into the background or even trivialised. Many people long for „the good old days“. But was everything better in the past? We talk about that with primary school teacher Silvia Gemzová, who represents a generation that grew up under a socialist dictatorship in Czechoslovakia and now lives in the independent democratic Slovakia.
Slovakia became an independent state on 1 January 1993 connected with many challenges such as unemployment, corruption, the „wild“ nineties and, in recent years, the increasing emigration of young people abroad, followed a difficult path from east to west. The path was not only marked by economic and political changes; an entire generation had to suddenly rethink and identify themselves with values that they did not know before.
„Slovakia has been disoriented for a long time. There is a radical rhetoric in politics, a high level of populism, many lies. On top of that, there is an arrogant political style. The gap between poor and rich is widening, the risk of poverty for children has even increased; regional differences are also growing. In this problematic situation, the murder of a journalist happened, more and more corruption scandals come to light, and people go out into the streets with a clear statement: Enough is enough! It is finally enough“.1
People go out into the streets with a clear statement: Enough is enough! It is finally enough!
These are the words of Iveta Radičová, who was Prime Minister of Slovakia for two years. A woman without scandals, who was seen as a bearer of hope, but who could not assert herself in the problematic political situation in Slovakia. On 25 February 2018, the double murder of the investigative journalist Ján Kuciak and his fiancée Martina Kušnírová shook Slovakia and surprisingly triggered a government crisis. It led to the biggest protest marches since the Velvet Revolution in 1989, demanding a „decent Slovakia“ and new elections.
Apart from the murder itself, the political crisis was triggered by Kuciak’s investigative work, which revealed the close ties of the Italian mafia to the highest government circles. This was the culmination of the systematic intertwining of controversial politicians, businessmen, the police, and a weak rule of law. The protests following the murder of Ján Kuciak and his fiancée showed an enormous distrust of the government, the police, and the public prosecutor’s office, which are actually responsible for solving the crime. The murder resulted in more people taking to the streets than at any time since 1993. The protests were not only aimed at uncovering the double murder but also represented the hope that Slovakia would finally change for the better.
Change of government during the Corona crisis
On 21 March 2020, a photo went around the world that may one day be found in Slovak history books. A photo showing the new government with facemasks and gloves at their swearing-in ceremony. And the photo clearly shows that instead of fighting the corruption, the corona crisis is now the top priority.
The murder of the investigative journalist who reported on the corruption had influenced the outcome of the elections. The winner was the party OLANO (Ordinary People and Independent Personalities), which won the elections mainly by its strong focus on the fight against corruption. The left-wing populist SMER party, which has ruled with a two-year break since 2006, is now in opposition. The new head of government, Igor Matovic, had probably never imagined that he would fight not against corruption but against the global pandemic in the first months of his term. Slovakia managed the first wave of the pandemic very well – mainly thanks to immediate compulsory masks and strict corona rules.
In the summer, however, the rules were relaxed and even the clubs were allowed to open. Therefore, the second wave, which hit Slovakia hard, was no surprise. In response to the second wave, the government introduced mass antigen testing, which allowed more than 3.5 million Slovak citizens to be tested within two weekends. Time will show whether the mass testing had an impact. Currently (16.11.2020) a total of 526 deaths have been reported in Slovakia.2
The year 1968 still represents an important event in the history of both Czech and Slovak people. The Prague Spring is so important because it was the first government-led attempt for peaceful reform in Czechoslovakia. In fact, the Prague Spring can be considered the forerunner of the Russian Perestroika. The Soviet Union was in crisis in the 1960s, and the reforms of the Prague Spring were intended to overcome them.3 But is the combination of communism and democracy, communism with a human face, even possible? We will never know the answer. On 21 August 1968, the military intervention of the five Warsaw Pact states of the Soviet Union put a violent end to the Czechoslovak attempt of reform. Occupied Czechoslovakia became the European country with the strongest political repression. The symbol and main representative of the Prague Spring, the Slovak politician Alexander Dubček, was deprived of power and the period of „normalization“ began.4 The ruling Communist Party organized trials reminiscent of the monster trials based on the Soviet model in the 1950s. The purpose of the trials was to intimidate the citizens in order to discipline them. More than 400,000 Czechoslovaks fled into exile.5
Nostalgia for the former East refers to the feeling of lost security and the simplicity of life of the former regime. Nostalgia expresses itself, for example, in a mourning for the „good old days“, when everything was supposedly much more simple and better than in the present. The vivid memory of a comparatively quiet and predictable life is very different from the capitalist rampant growth that the transition after 1989 had brought with it. Just a simple look into photographs in the family albums was enough to awaken memories and a feeling of nostalgia and to realize that life in a former socialist regime was not as terrible as displayed by the West. Especially the people who had experienced the old regime are nostalgic. A psychological fact is that you idealize the things that were in the past. The uncertainty about the future, the lack of familiar structures, and the new challenges to which the old rules no longer apply contribute to dissatisfaction with the present and democracy.
Statistics show that the older generation, in particular, yearns for the socialist regime and Czechoslovakia. According to New Europe Barometer survey data from 2001 and 2004, 29 percent of Czech citizens over 50* answered „yes“ to the question of whether a return to the communist system was desirable. In 2004 the figure was still 22 percent. By comparison, the approval rate among 18 to 29-year-old is eight and six percent respectively, and among 30 to 49-year-old twelve and nine percent. We can also say: With the increasing age of the interviewees, the probability of support for a return to the communist system increases. What is the reason?6 We will now discuss this topic with Silvia Gemzová.
The Velvet Revolution began as a student demonstration. After ten days of peaceful protests, the Communist Party (KSC) gave in. The party leader Miloš Jakeš resigned on 24 November 1989 and the new balance of power was negotiated between the opposition „Civic Forum“ and the communist government. The deputies of the communist assembly, who until then had always been accustomed to unquestioningly approve anything, elected the leading figure of the anti-socialist movement, the Czech Václav Havel, as President of Czechoslovakia. The symbol of the Prague Spring, the Slovak Alexander Dubček, was elected as President of the National Assembly.7 On 1st January 1993 Czechoslovakia split into the Czech and Slovak Republic. The dissolution of Czechoslovakia was one of the processes of the division of multi-ethnic federal states in Eastern and Central Europe which took place after the collapse of the Soviet Union and the end of the Communist dictatorship in Europe. It is important to note, however, that unlike other countries, this development did not reflect the will of the citizens.8
Interview Silvia Gemzová
We live in a democracy, enjoy the desired freedom. The young generation knows war only from the news. Economically we are doing better than ever before. Nevertheless, some Slovaks are longing for socialism. How do you explain that to yourself?
Gemzová: I think people do not miss communism, but their youth. Of course, there was something good about that time – people were less envious because everyone had the same thing. You had security. Today, you have freedom, but if you don’t have the opportunity to use that freedom, you are wishing to have the old certainties back.
Let us go back to the time of the Velvet Revolution. Where were you? What were you hoping for? What did you feel when the Iron Curtain was suddenly gone?
Gemzová: I remember it like it was yesterday. I was 20 years old and a student. I and my classmates were rattling with our keys and had very big dreams and hopes. We thought that within two or three years the situation would be like in the West. But then came the disillusionment.
Does this mean that your hopes were not fulfilled?
Gemzová: Yes, many of us remained very disappointed. Especially during the „dark“ 90s, life was very difficult. Every day murders happened which remain unexplained to this day. Mafia, blackmailing, people did not even want to turn on the news anymore. Under Prime Minister Vladimir Meciar, Slovakia became a „black hole“ in the middle of Europe. Unemployment was high, wages were low. People had not any security and were afraid. I think the main problem was that although communism was officially gone, the people in power were the same as before. There was suddenly a transition from autocracy to democracy. But nobody knew how to govern a state. Nobody except those who did it recently. How do you write minutes? How do you make international calls? That’s how the old communists came back to power. Officially we had democracy, but the political culture remained the same. As George Orwell wrote, „All animals are equal, but some are more equal“. And so the politicians did what they wanted because they knew they don´t have to justify themselves. And the people capitulated. Until February 2018. It is really very sad that only the murder of two young people, who had their whole lives ahead of them, opened people’s eyes.
How would you explain the fact that mainly young people vote for the extreme right-wing party LSNS (Slovak People’s Party) and in general that Europe is moving to the right?
Gemzová: It is a paradox. LSNS is elected mainly by young people, for a simple reason – they have never lived in a totalitarian system. They don’t know how precious freedom is and take many things for granted. On the other hand, LSNS has enough supporters from the older generation. They are the so-called frustrated voters who have completely lost trust in established parties. And when somebody comes along and promises that we will leave the EU and we will not live under the „dictatorship of Brussels“, which sounds very ironic here, they just fuel the nostalgia for a totalitarian system that will solve the problems. In my opinion, however, such parties will always remain in opposition. They have no solutions, only an aggressive vocabulary. I also have the feeling that the right-wing radicals are taking advantage of the freedom of speech and the corona pandemic to spread various conspiracy theories. That would not have been possible under communism.
After twelve years, there was a change of government – the previous opposition is now in power. The change came in March when the pandemic broke out in Slovakia and the government found itself in an unenviable situation. How do you assess their first year and the handling of the pandemic?
Gemzová: I don’t think anyone would want to be in their place right now. It doesn’t matter what they do, there will always be some group dissatisfied. I think that the government has done a good job so far and I particularly appreciate the fact that, despite Corona, they are also fighting corruption. Every day we hear in the news that someone from the judiciary has been arrested. I have been hoping for a long time that the political culture in Slovakia will finally change and that we will finally come closer to the West. Better later than never.
- Deutschlandfunk (2018): Ansichten einer Anständigen. Retrieved from: https://www.deutschlandfunk.de/getroffene-slowakei-5-5-ansichten-eineranstaendigen.
Last accessed on 14.09.2020.
- Ministry of Investments, Regional Development and Informatization of the Slovak Republic (2020): Koronavírus a Slovensko.Všetky dôležité a aktuálne informácie o ochorení COVID−19 a o opatreniach, ktoré Slovensko prijíma v boji proti nemu. Retrieved from: https://korona.gov.sk . Last accessed on 30.11.2020.
- Gehring, Hubert/ Paul, Mathias (2010): „Zurück in die Vergangenheit? Die Rolle der kommunistischen Partei in Tschechien“. Retrieved from: https://www.kas.de/de/web/auslandsinformationen/artikel/detail/-/content/zurueck-in-die-vergangenheit Last accessed on 29.11.2020.
- Pauer, Jan (1993): „Prag 1968. Einmarsch des Warschauer Paktes.“, Edition Temmen, Bremen.
- Hofbauer, Hannes/ Noack, David (2012): „Slowakei. Der mühsame Weg nach Westen.“, Promedia, Wien .
- Bartošek, Karel (1999): „Střední a jihovýchodní Evropa (Zentral- und Südoseuropa).“ in: Stéphane Courtois: „Černá kniha komunismu (Das Schwarzbuch des Kommunismus)“, Prag.
- Vodička, Karel (1996): „Politisches System Tschechiens“, Münster.
- SOÚ, Sociologický ústav AV ČR
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Na sean-amanna maithe
An tSlóvaic agus a thuras deacair ó Oirthear go dtí an Iarthar
Teangacha: An tSlóvaic mar theanga oifigiúil, teangacha eile: an tSeic, an Ungáir, an Rúisín
Daonra: thart ar. 5 milliún
An raibh a fhios agat?
Léiríonn suirbhéanna in Oirthear agus i Meán na hEorpa go mbraitheann go leor daoine sna tíortha iar-choimisinéadacha nostalgia suntasach don sóisialachas. Cuirtear taobhanna dorcha an fhéidearthachta ar chúlra nó déantar iad a trioblóid. Tá go leor daoine ag súil leis an "aimsir mhaith a bhí againn". Ach an raibh gach rud níos fearr sa am atá caite? Labhair muid faoi sin le múinteoir bunscoile Silvia Gemzová, a léiríonn glúin a d'fhás suas faoi dhriotáil shóisialach sa tSeiceaslóvaic agus a chónaíonn anois sa tSlóvaic dhaonlathach neamhspleách.
Tháinig an tSlóvaic ina stát neamhspleách ar an 1 Eanáir 1993 a bhí ceangailte le go leor dúshláin mar dhífhostaíocht, éilliú, na naoiúidí "féiceach" agus, le blianta beaga anuas, imirce mhéadaithe daoine óga thar lear, lean sé bealach deacair ó oirthear go dtí an iarthar. Ní hamháin go raibh athruithe eacnamaíocha agus polaitiúla ar an mbealach; bhí ar ghlúin iomlán athmhínithe a dhéanamh go tobann agus iad féin a aithint le luachanna nach raibh ar eolas acu roimhe seo.
Tá an tSlóvaic dí-airdithe le fada. Tá ráiteas radacach sa pholaitíocht, ardleibhéal poblachta, go leor bréaga. Ar a bharr sin, tá stíl pholaitiúil arrogant ann. Tá an bhearna idir bochta agus saibhre ag méadú, tá an baol bochtaineachta do leanaí méadaithe fiú; tá difríochtaí réigiúnacha ag méadú freisin. Sa chás fhadhbúil seo, tharla dúnmharú iriseoir, tháinig níos mó agus níos mó scandála éilliú chun solais, agus téann daoine amach ar na sráideanna le ráiteas soiléir: Is leor é! Tá sé go leor ar deireadh.1
Téann daoine amach ar na sráideanna le ráiteas soiléir: Is leor é! Tá sé go leor sa deireadh!
Seo focail Iveta Radičová, a bhí ina Phríomh-Aire ar an tSlóvaic ar feadh dhá bhliain. Bean gan scandála, a bhí le feiceáil mar thomhaltóir dóchais, ach nárbh fhéidir léi é féin a dhearbhú sa staid pholaitiúil fhadhbúil sa tSlóvaic. Ar 25 Feabhra 2018, chuir an dá mharú ar an iriseoir imscrúdaitheach Ján Kuciak agus a fiancé Martina Kušnírová an tSlóvaic i gcontúirt agus chuir sé géarchéim rialtais i gcontúirt. Mar thoradh air sin, bhí na siúlóidí agóide is mó ó Réabhlóid Velvet i 1989, ag éileamh "Slóvaic chasta" agus toghcháin nua.
Seachas an dúnmharú féin, spreag an ghéarchéim pholaitiúil obair imscrúdaithe Kuciak, a nocht naisc dlútha an mhafia na hIodáile leis na ciorcail rialtais is airde. Ba é seo an buaicphointe a bhí ar an idirghabháil córeálach idir polaiteoirí conspóideach, lucht gnó, na póilíní, agus riail lag lag. Léirigh na hagóidí tar éis dúnmharú Ján Kuciak agus a phósadh mí-chreidmheas ollmhór ar an rialtas, ar an bpóilíní, agus ar oifig an ionchúisimh phoiblí, atá freagrach i ndáiríre as an coir a réiteach. Mar thoradh ar an dúnmharú tháinig níos mó daoine ar na sráideanna ná aon uair eile ó 1993. Ní raibh na hagóidí dírithe ar an dúnmharú dúbailte a nochtadh ach bhí siad mar ionann freisin agus an dóchas go n-athródh an tSlóvaic ar mhaithe le níos fearr sa deireadh.
Athrú ar an rialtas le linn na géarchéime Corona
Ar 21 Márta 2020, chuaigh grianghraf ar fud an domhain a d'fhéadfadh a bheith le fáil i leabhair staire na Slóvaice lá amháin. Grianghraf a léiríonn an rialtas nua le masc aghaidh agus lámhainní ag a searmanas mionnúcháin. Agus léiríonn an grianghraf go soiléir gurbh é an géarchéim corona an tosaíocht is airde anois seachas dul i ngleic leis an éilliú.
Bhí tionchar ag dúnmharú an iriseoir imscrúdaitheora a d'fhógair faoin éilliú ar thoradh na dtoghchán. Ba é an páirtí OLANO (Daoine Ordaí agus Pearsantachtaí Neamhspleácha) a bhuaigh na toghcháin go príomha trína fócas láidir ar an gcomhrac i gcoinne an éilliú. Tá an páirtí populist chlé SMER, a rialaigh le sos dhá bhliain ó 2006, i gcoinne anois. Ní raibh an ceann nua rialtais, Igor Matovic, tar éis shamhlú riamh go bhféadfadh sé a bheith ag troid, ní i gcoinne an éilliú ach i gcoinne an phaindéime domhanda sna chéad mhí dá théarma. D'éirigh leis an tSlóvaic an chéad tonn den phaindéim a bhainistiú go han-mhaith  go príomha a bhuíochas le masc éigeantach láithreach agus rialacha déine corona.
Sa samhradh, áfach, bhí na rialacha suaimhneach agus ceadaíodh fiú na clubanna a oscailt. Dá bhrí sin, ní raibh aon iontas ar an dara tonn, a bhuail go crua ar an tSlóvaic. Mar fhreagra ar an dara tonn, thug an rialtas tástáil ollmhór antaigin isteach, rud a thug deis do níos mó ná 3.5 milliún saoránach Slóvacach a thástáil laistigh de dhá deireadh seachtaine. Taispeánfaidh an t-am an raibh tionchar ag an tástáil mhóra. Faoi láthair (16.11.2020) tuairiscíodh 526 bás ar an iomlán sa tSlóvaic.2
Tá 1968 fós ina ócáid thábhachtach i stair na ndaoine sa tSeice agus sa tSlóvaic araon. Tá an Earrach Praga chomh tábhachtach toisc gurbh é an chéad iarracht faoi stiúir an rialtais é chun athchóiriú síochánta a dhéanamh sa tSeiceaslóvaic. Go deimhin, is féidir an Earrach Praga a mheas mar réamhtheachtaí an Perestroika na Rúise. Bhí an tAontas Sóivéadach i ngéarchéim sna 1960idí, agus bhí sé mar aidhm ag athchóirithe an Earraigh Phraig dul thar na géarchéimeanna sin.3 Ach an féidir cumarsáid idir an chumannachas agus an daonlathas, cumarsáid a bhfuil aghaidh daonna aici, a dhéanamh? Ní bheidh a fhios againn an freagra. Ar 21 Lúnasa 1968, chuir idirghabháil mhíleata na cúig stát Chomhaontú Warszawa den Aontas Sóivéadach deireadh foréigneach leis an iarracht athchóirithe na Seiceaslóvaice. Bhí an tSeicislóvaic faoi choimhlint mar an tír Eorpach a raibh an brú polaitiúil is láidre uirthi. Cuireadh an siombail agus príomh-ionadaí Earrach Phrague, an polaiteoir Slóvacach Alexander Dubček, as cumhacht agus thosaigh tréimhse an "nóirmhilleadh".4 D'eagraigh an Páirtí Cumanntach atá i gceannas triail a chuir i gcuimhne na triail mhúnstra bunaithe ar mhúnla na Sóivéide sna 1950idí. Ba é cuspóir na n-imeachtaí ná na saoránaigh a chur i gcontúirt chun iad a phionósú. D'eitil níos mó ná 400,000 Seiceaslóvaiceach chun dílleachta.5
Tagraíonn an t-ádh leis an iar-Oirthear don mhothú ar shlándáil chaillte agus ar shimpliúlacht na beatha sa réimeas roimhe seo. Léiríonn an t-ádh, mar shampla, é féin i bád ar na "seana laethanta maithe", nuair a bhí gach rud i bhfad níos simplí agus níos fearr ná mar atá anois. Tá an chuimhne beo ar shaol réasúnta ciúin agus intuartha an-difriúil ón bhfás caipitiliste neamhspleách a thug an t-aistriú tar éis 1989 leis. Ní raibh ach breathnú simplí ar ghrianghraif sna halbaim teaghlaigh le cuimhneacháin a dhíscaoileadh agus mothú nostalgia a mhúscailt agus a thuiscint nach raibh an saol i réimeas sóisialach roimhe seo chomh uafásach agus a thaispeánann an Iarthar. Go háirithe tá nostalgia ag na daoine a d'fhulaing an sean-riail. Is fíric síceolaíoch é go n-idéalaíonn tú na rudaí a bhí san am atá caite. Tá an neamhchinnteacht maidir leis an todhchaí, an easpa struchtúr a bhfuil aithne orthu air, agus na dúshláin nua nach bhfuil feidhm ag na sean-rialacha a thuilleadh, ag cur le míshástacht leis an láthair agus leis an daonlathas.
Léiríonn staitisticí go bhfuil an ghlúin níos sine, go háirithe, ag súil leis an gcóras sóisialach agus leis an Seiceaslóvaic. De réir sonraí suirbhé New Europe Barometer ó 2001 agus 2004, d'fhreagair 29 faoin gcéad de shaoránaigh na Seice os cionn 50* 'tá' ar an gceist an raibh an ais chuig an gcóras cumannach inmhianaithe. Sa bhliain 2004, bhí an figiúr fós 22 faoin gcéad. I gcomparáid leis sin, is é an ráta ceadaithe i measc daoine 18 go 29 bliain d'aois ocht agus sé faoin gcéad faoi seach, agus i measc daoine 30 go 49 bliain d'aois dhá bhliain déag agus naoi faoin gcéad. Is féidir linn a rá freisin: De réir mar a mhéadaíonn aois na ndaoine a ndearnadh agallamh orthu, méadaíonn an dóchúlacht go dtacóidh siad le filleadh ar an gcóras cumannach. Cad é an chúis?6 Pléfaimid an t-ábhar seo anois le Silvia Gemzová.
Thosaigh Réabhlóid Velvet mar léiriú mac léinn. Tar éis deich lá de agóidí síochánta, thug an Páirtí Cumannach (KSC) isteach. D'éirigh ceannaire an pháirtí Miloš Jakeš as an oifig an 24 Samhain 1989 agus caibidlíodh an cothromaíocht cumhachta nua idir an freasúra  Fóram Shibhialta  agus an rialtas cumannach. Roghnaigh feisirí an tionóil chumannach, a bhí cleachtaithe go dtí sin le haon rud a cheadú gan cheist, príomhfhigiúr an ghluaiseachta frith-shóisialaigh, an Seiceach Václav Havel, mar Uachtarán na Seiceaslóvaice. Toghadh siombail Earrach Phraig, an tSeolac Alexander Dubček, mar Uachtarán ar an Tionól Náisiúnta.7Ar an 1 Eanáir 1993, scoilteadh an tSeiceaslóvaic ina Phoblacht na Seice agus sa Phoblacht na Seolac. Ba é dífhilleadh na Seiceaslóvaice ceann de na próisis a bhí ag roinn stáit fhorbartha il-eitneach san Oirthear agus i Meán-Eorpa a tharla tar éis titim an Aontais Shóivéadaigh agus deireadh an ordaithe cumannach san Eoraip. Tá sé tábhachtach a thabhairt faoi deara, áfach, go murab ionann agus i dtíortha eile, nach raibh an fhorbairt seo ag léiriú toil na saoránach.8
Agallamh le Silvia Gemzová
Tá muid i dteorainneacha daonlathais, agus tá an tsaoirse is mian linn. Ní fheiceann an ghlúin óg cogadh ach ó na nuachtáin. Go heacnamaíoch tá muid ag déanamh níos fearr ná riamh roimhe seo. Mar sin féin, tá roinnt Slovacach ag súil go mór le sóisialachas. Conas a mhíniú go bhfuil tú féin?
Gemzová: Sílim nach bhfuil an cumannachas ag daoine, ach a n-óige. Ar ndóigh, bhí rud éigin maith faoin am sin - bhí daoine níos lú éadúil toisc go raibh an rud céanna ag gach duine. Bhí slándáil agat. Sa lá atá inniu ann, tá saoirse agat, ach mura bhfuil an deis agat an tsaoirse sin a úsáid, tá tú ag iarraidh na sean-chinnteachtaí a bheith agat ar ais.
Lig dúinn dul ar ais go dtí am an Réabhlóid Velvet. Cá raibh tú? Cad a bhí tú ag súil? Cad a mhothaigh tú nuair a bhí an Cúntóir Iarainn imithe go tobann?
Gemzová: Cuimhním air mar a bhí sé inné. Bhí mé 20 bliain d'aois agus mar mhac léinn. Bhí mé féin agus mo chomhghleacaithe ag cainnt lenár n-ailtí agus bhí aislingí agus dóchais an-mhór againn. Shíl muid go mbeadh an staid mar atá san Iarthar laistigh de dhá nó trí bliana. Ach ansin tháinig an díomá.
An gciallann sé seo nár chomhlíon do chuid dóchais?
Gemzová: Sea, d'fhan go leor againn an-díomá. Go háirithe le linn na 90í 'dorcha', bhí an saol an-deacair. Gach lá tharla dúnmharú a bhfuil fós unexplained go dtí an lá seo. Mafia, blackmailing, ní raibh daoine fiú ag iarraidh a chasadh ar an nuacht níos mó. Faoi ré an Phríomh-Aire Vladimir Meciar, tháinig an tSlóvaic ina "poll dubh" i lár na hEorpa. Bhí dífhostaíocht ard, bhí pá íseal. Ní raibh aon slándáil ag daoine agus bhí eagla orthu. Sílim gurb é an phríomhfhadhb ná cé go raibh an cumannachas imithe go hoifigiúil, bhí na daoine i gcumhacht mar a bhí roimhe. Bhí aistriú go tobann ó uathrialachas go daonlathas. Ach ní raibh a fhios ag aon duine conas stáit a rialú. Ní duine ach amháin iad siúd a rinne sé le déanaí. Conas a scríobhann tú nóiméid? Conas a dhéanann tú glaonna idirnáisiúnta? Sin an chaoi a tháinig na sean-chomh-phobail ar ais ar an gcumhacht. Go hoifigiúil bhí daonlathas againn, ach d'fhan an cultúr polaitiúil mar an gcéanna. Mar a scríobh George Orwell, "Tá na hainmhithe go léir comhionann, ach tá cuid acu níos comhionanna". Agus mar sin rinne na polaiteoirí an rud a theastaigh uathu toisc go raibh a fhios acu nach gá dóibh iad féin a chosaint. Agus capitulated na daoine. Go dtí Feabhra 2018. Tá sé an-sásta go bhfuil an dúnmharú ar dhá dhuine óg, a raibh a saol ar fad acu roimh ré, ag oscailt súile na ndaoine.
Conas a d'fhéadfadh tú a mhíniú go bhfuil na daoine óga go príomha ag vótáil don pháirtí ar dheis dheas LSNS (Páirtí Daonlathacha na Slóvaice) agus go bhfuil an Eoraip ag bogadh ar dheis i gcoitinne?
Gemzová: Is paradox é. Toghann daoine óga LSNS den chuid is mó, ar chúis shimplí - níor chónaigh siad riamh i gcóras iomlán. Níl a fhios acu cé chomh luachmhar is atá saoirse agus glacann siad go leor rudaí mar gheall orthu. Ar an láimh eile, tá go leor tacaitheoirí ag LSNS ón seanghinealach. Is iad na vótálaithe frustracha mar a thugtar orthu a chaill muinín go hiomlán i bpáirtithe bunaithe. Agus nuair a thagann duine éigin agus gealltanais a dhéanamh go bhfágfaimid an AE agus nach mairfidh muid faoi "dictatorship na Bruiséile", rud a bhfuil an-ionraic aici, ní dhéanann siad ach an nostalgia a spreagadh le haghaidh córas iomlánach a réitíonn na fadhbanna. Is é mo thuairim, áfach, go bhfanfaidh páirtithe den sórt sin i gcoinne an Choimisiúin i gcónaí. Níl aon réiteach acu, ach focal ionsaitheach. Tá an mothú agam freisin go bhfuil na radacaigh dheas ag baint leas as an tsaoirse cainte agus an paindéim corona chun teoiricí comhcheilge éagsúla a scaipeadh. Ní bheadh sé sin indéanta faoi choimhinis.
Tar éis dhá bhliain déag, bhí athrú ar an rialtas - tá an freasúra roimhe seo anois ag an gcumhacht. Tháinig an t-athrú i mí an Mhárta nuair a thit an paindéim sa tSlóvaic agus fuair an rialtas é féin i staid neamh-inbhéartach. Conas a mheasann tú a gcéad bhliain agus an láimhseáil ar an bpaindéim?
Gemzová: Ní dóigh liom go mbeadh duine ar bith ag iarraidh a bheith ina áit anois. Is cuma cad a dhéanann siad, beidh grúpa éigin míshásta i gcónaí. Sílim go bhfuil an rialtas tar éis obair mhaith a dhéanamh go dtí seo agus is mór agam go háirithe an fhíric go bhfuil siad ag troid le truailliú, in ainneoin Corona. Gach lá cloisimid sna nuachtanna go bhfuil duine ó na breithiúnachta gabhadh. Tá súil agam le fada go n-athróidh an cultúr polaitiúil sa tSlóvaic agus go dtiocfaidh muid níos gaire don Iarthar. Níos fearr níos déanaí ná riamh.
- Deutschlandfunk (2018): Ansichten einer Anständigen. Tá an t-alt seo curtha ar fáil ag an suíomh gréasáin seo: https://www.deutschlandfunk.de/getroffene-slowakei-5-5-ansichten-eineranstaendigen.
Rinneadh an rochtain dheireanach ar 14.09.2020.
- Aireacht Infheistíochtaí, Forbartha Réigiúnaí agus Faisnéise na Poblachta Slóvaice (2020): Koronavírus a Slovensko. Tá sé tábhachtach go mbeadh faisnéis reatha ann faoi ghalair COVID-19 agus faoi na bearta a ghlacann Slovensko chun dul i ngleic leis. Faighte ó: https://korona.gov.sk . Arna rochtain deireanach ar 30.11.2020.
- Gehring, Hubert/ Paul, Mathias (2010): Zurück in die Vergangenheit? Die Rolle der kommunistischen Partei in Tschechien. (Ról na Páirtí Coimisinéide sa tSéic.) Aighneofar ó: https://www.kas.de/de/web/auslandsinformationen/artikel/detail/-/content/zurueck-in-die-vergangenheit Rochtain deireanach ar 29.11.2020.
- Pauer, Jan (1993): Prague 1968. Einmarsch des Warschauer Paktes., Eisiúint Temmen, Bremen.
- Hofbauer, Hannes/ Noack, David (2012): Slowakei. Der mühsame Weg nach Westen., Promedia, Wien.
- Bartošek, Karel (1999): Střední a jihovýchodní Evropa (Zentral- und Südoseuropa). in: Stéphane Courtois: Černá kniha komunismu (Das Schwarzbuch des Kommunismus) , Prague.
- Vodička, Karel (1996): Politisches System Tschechiens, Münster.
- SOÚ, Sociologický ústav AV ČR
Scríobh trácht
Táimid ag súil go mór le do chuid ranníocaíochtaí ar an mblag seo i bhfoirm ceisteanna, moltaí agus cáineadh. Tá sé tábhachtach dúinn go gcaithfimid le chéile ar bhealach oscailte, cairdiúil agus measúil. Coimeádann muid an ceart gan ábhar ciníoch, gnéasach nó idirdhealú eile a fhoilsiú.


My research into Vahanas and Flags show that the Vahanas or Mounts of Gods and Goddesses came from their flags. For instance Lord Skanda had peacock and Sanaiswara had Kaka( crow) in their flags first. When the sculptors wanted to make the sculptures or idols it became easier for them to show as Vahanas instead of flags. If we accept this theory, it becomes logical that Lord Ganesh had mouse as flag first and then it was made in to Vahana. Another proof for my theory is the oldest Ganesh statues are found in South East Asian countries like Indonesia and Laos. They did not have mouse (Mushika) as vahana.
But we see the oldest Vahanas in Babylonia where most of the gods had lion as their vahanas. Deer and bull also figure as Vahanas in the Middle East.
*Oldest Flag: Egyptians carried a standard (3000 BC) *Phonician Ships carried double cone flag like the Hindu Bhagavat Dwaja in 700BC *Garuda dwaja-Vishnu: The concept of Garuda seems to have evolved in the Vedic age. Suparna Garudman is in RV I-164-46 Garuda bringing Soma plant (RV III-43-7; VII-26-6)
*Indus valley dwaja: The type of flag/dwaja popular with the people of Mohanjo-Daro comprised a staff, a bowl like receptacle and a cage.
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John Marshal says it carried a bird in the cage.
*Indus Valley: The most frequently represented ox-like beast with a single horn usually described as unicorn (Eksringa) may be identified with Sringa-Vrisha (Rig Veda VII-17-3;AV 20-5-7) according to VS Agrawal. It might have become Rishaba Vahana (Bull). *On a seal discovered from Chanbu-daro, two nude women are represented carrying a standard each. Chanbu-Daro excavations Pl 11-36 ,pp149/50
Picture: Hindu Flag
*Kapi dwaja- Arjuna (monkey flag) or Vanara dwaja In the Vanaparva there is a story that Hanuman assured Bhima that he will make terrible sounds staying in the dwaja of Arjuna (MB, Vana.150) *Yudhistra- pair of Mrdanga *Bhima- a simha *Nakula- sarabha *Sahadeva- Hamsa (swan) *Abhimanyu- Saranga *Drstadyumna—Kovidara- *Ghatotkacha-grddha *Duryodhana- - snake *Bhisma- Tala (Palmyra) *Dronaa- an altar covered with a deer skin & kamandalu *Karna- elephant chain *Krpacharya- bull *Asvattama- Lion Tail *Jayadratha- Boar *Somadatta- yupa *Salya- plough *Bhoja- elephant *Alayudha- band of jackals *Vrsasena- peacock *Bhurisrava- yupa *Brhadbala- lion *Kalingaraja- a flame *Pradyumna- crocodile *Uttara- lion
KETU (flag) suffix in Mahabharata (nine kings) Asvaketu Ketumana Svetaket- u Viraketu and more.
SOUTH INDIAN FLAGS
*Malayadwajan- Pandya King , Father of Meenakshi, husband of Kanchanamala ( Surasenan’s daughter) *Chakradwaja Pandya (Drona Parva sloka)=kodi ther cheziyan *Babruvahanan= Hamsa flag *Chera Kings- Bow and Arrow *Choza kings- Tiger flag *Pandya Kings- Fish flag *Pallava- Bull flag *Parameswara Varman- Katwanga Ketu *Nandhivarma Pallavan- Katwanga Ketu (Skull inserted in a hand bone) *Chalukya Vikramadityan boasts of capturing Pallava Katvanga ketu
*During coronation ceremonies Flag Hoisting was an important event *Flags were fluttering in every part of the country till the boundary *One of the ten symbols of Kings is a flag (Kural etc.) *Kalingatu Parani describes how the flag was taken in the forefront when the army marched into another kingdom *Parankusa Maravarman- Thunder flag (pandi Kovai mentions it in 3 places) *Pallavas and Pandyas had extra flags in addition to their Fish and Bull flags. *Nandhivarman’s commander Uthayachandran defeated a hunter king Udhayanan and captured his Kannadi flag ( it is made up of peacock feathers, probably decorated with glass) *Chalukya king- boar flag (Rajendra chola II boasts of capturing varaha flag of chalukyas
Kushana king Kumara- Cock flag, Kukkuta Dwaja.
*Velalar- kalappaik koti (plough)
Above facts about SOUTH INDIAN FLAGS were taken from Dr R Nagasamy’s book Yavarum Kelir)
Jaffna Royal Family (Sri Lanka) –Bull,Conch,Sun,Moon and Parasol Samudragupta- Garuda (eagle) Huna king Mihirakula- Recumbent bull Rashtrakuta king Govinda II captured as many as 13 standards from his enemies. Nandhivarma captured Mirror flag Vinayaditya’s father- Pali dwaja
Sanskrit words for Flag : Ketu, Dwaja, Pathaka, Vaijayanthi
TAMIL WORDS FOR FLAGS (koti) *Vijaya Ven Koti =Victorious white flag (puram 462) *Visaiyam Vel Koti ( Mullai 91), *Venrezu Koti ( Malaipadu. 582), *Vaanthoy vel koti ( Pathtru. 67-1)

Léiríonn mo thaighde ar Vahanas agus ar Phláin go raibh na Vahanas nó na Sléibhte Déithe agus Déitheas óna bhratacha. Mar shampla, bhí peacock ag an Tiarna Skanda agus bhí Kaka (crag) ag Sanaiswara ina mbratacha ar dtús. Nuair a bhí na dealbhóirí ag iarraidh na deilbh nó na idols a dhéanamh bhí sé níos éasca dóibh Vahanas a thaispeáint in ionad bratacha. Má ghlacann muid leis an teoiric seo, bíonn sé loighciúil go raibh luch ag an Tiarna Ganesh mar bhratach ar dtús agus ansin rinneadh é i Vahana. Deimhniú eile ar mo theoiric is ea go bhfuil na deilbh is sine Ganesh le fáil i dtíortha Oirdheisceart na hÁise cosúil le hIndinéis agus Laos. Ní raibh luch (Mushika) acu mar vahana.
Ach feicimid an Vahanas is sine i Babylon áit a raibh león ag formhór na n-dibh mar a vahanas. Tá deer agus bull mar Vahanas san Mheánoirthear freisin.
*An bratach is sine: d'iompaigh na hÉigiptigh caighdeán (3000 RC) *Iompar longa Phoiniceach bratach cóin dhúbailte cosúil leis an Bhagavat Dwaja Hindu i 700 RC *Garuda dwaja-Vishnu: Is cosúil go ndearnadh coincheap Garuda a fhorbairt san aois Véideach. Tá Suparna Garudman i RV I-164-46 Garuda ag tabhairt planda Soma (RV III-43-7; VII-26-6)
*Dwaja Gleann Indus: Ba é an cineál bratach / dwaja a bhí tóir air le daoine Mohanjo-Daro ná buille, coimeádán cosúil le clog agus cage.
Molann an Cholóim
Deir John Marshal go raibh éan sa chliabhán.
*Ghleann Indus: Is féidir an beithid a léirítear go minic cosúil le hual le coirn amháin a thuairiscítear de ghnáth mar unicorn (Eksringa) a aithint le Sringa-Vrisha (Rig Veda VII-17-3; AV 20-5-7) de réir VS Agrawal. D'fhéadfadh sé a bheith ina Rishaba Vahana (Bull). * Ar shloinneadh a fuarthas ó Chanbu-daro, tá dhá bhean nocht á léiriú ag iompar caighdeán gach ceann acu. Iarnróid Chanbu-Daro Pl 11-36,pp149/50
Grianghraf: Blag Hindú
*Kapi dwaja- Arjuna (flag na mhoncaí) nó Vanara dwaja Sa Vanaparva tá scéal ann go ndearna Hanuman a dhearbhú do Bhima go ndéanfadh sé fuaimeanna uafásacha ag fanacht i dwaja Arjuna (MB, Vana.150) *Yudhistra- péire Mrdanga *Bhima- a simha *Nakula- sarabha *Sahadeva- Hamsa (swan) *Abhimanyu- Saranga *DrstadyumnaKovidara- *Gothatkacha-grddha *Duryodhana-snake *Bhisma- Tala (Palmyra) *Dronaa- altóir clúdaithe le craiceann deer & kamandalu *Karna- slabhra fíon *Krpacharya- bull *Asvattama- Lion Tail *Jayadha-ratha *Somadatta-Samaratta-Salya *Bhoothama-fíon *Abhudha-bhudha-bhandlay *Varsena-palay *Bhurshar-Bhurshar-Udhara-Udhara-pradyumna *Pradyummyra-Udhara-Udhara-pradyumna *
KETU (cló) in Mahabharata (naoi rí) Asvaketu Ketumana Svetaket- u Viraketu agus níos mó.
BLAGHAÍ INDÍNEACH an DEAS
*Malayadwajan- Pandya King, Athair Meenakshi, fear céile Kanchanamala (iníon Surasenan) *Chakradwaja Pandya (Drona Parva sloka) = kodi ther cheziyan *Babruvahanan= Hamsa bratach *Chera Kings- Bow and Arrow *Choza Kings- Tiger bratach *Pandya Kings- Fish bratach *Pallava- Bull bratach *Parameswara Varman- Katwanga Ketu *Nandhivarma Pallavan- Katvanga Ketu (Skull inserted in a hand bone) *Chalukya Vikramadityan boasting of capturing Pallava Katvanga ketu
* Le linn searmanais coróinithe Ba é Hoisting bratach ócáid thábhachtach * Bhí bratacha ag fluttering i ngach cuid den tír go dtí an teorainn * Ceann de na deich siombailí na Ríthe is bratach (Kural srl.) *Míríonn Kalingatu Parani conas a bhí an bratach i gceannas nuair a chuaigh an t-arm isteach i ríocht eile *Parankusa Maravarman- bratach Thunder (luaitear é i 3 áit ag Pandi Kovai) *Bhí bratacha breise ag Pallavas agus Pandyas chomh maith lena gcuid bratacha Fish agus Bull. * Bhuaigh ceannasaí Nandivarman, Uthayachandran, rí sealgaire Udhayanan agus ghlac sé a bhratach Kannadi (tá sé déanta as plúir peacock, is dócha go bhfuil sé sgeadaithe le gloine) * Bratach rí-próg Chalukya (Bratach varaha Chalukyas a ghabháil ag Rajendra chola II
Kushana rí Kumara- Cluiche, Kukkuta Dwaja.
*Velalar- kalappaik koti (plough)
Tógadh na fíricí thuas faoi FLAGHAÍN INDÍNEACH an DEAS ó leabhar an Dr R Nagasamy Yavarum Kelir)
Jaffna Royal Family (Srí Lanca) Bull, Conch, Sun, Moon and Parasol Samudragupta- Garuda (eagle) Huna rí Mihirakula- Bull Recumbent Rashtrakuta rí Govinda II ghlac chomh mór le 13 stándart óna naimhde. Nandhivarma gabhadh Mirror bratach Vinayaditya athair-Pali dwaja
Focail Sanscrait le haghaidh Blag: Ketu, Dwaja, Pathaka, Vaijayanthi
FLAGHAÍ TAMILÍN (koti) *Vijaya Ven Koti =Flag bán buaite (puram 462) *Visaiyam Vel Koti (Mullaigh 91), *Venrezu Koti (Malaipadu). 582), *Vaanthoy vel koti (Pathtru. 67-1)


DID YOU KNOW...
While both boys' and girls' voices will change during puberty, the change in a boy's voice is dramatic, sometimes dropping a whole octave in tone. Males in other species develop a deeper voice to attract females and intimidate other males, and scientists believe the change in the male human voice evolved for the same reasons.
1. What year did the American League first use the Designated Hitter?
a. – 1970
b. – 1971
c. – 1972
d. - 1973
2. What's the distance between the stakes in a standard Horseshoe game?
3. the "Umbilicus" is the medical term for what body part?
4. Name the TV Sit-com that had a character named D.J. Conner.
5. What is the name of the region of Italy referred to as the "Toe of the Boot"?
6. Name the movie in which Kris Kristofferson traveled with the Cabrini Circus.
7. What is measured by a Cardiotachometer?
8. What river flows through 8 countries and four capitols?
TRUTH OR CRAP ??
Einstein won the noble prize for physics for his theory of relativity.
1. – d
2. 40 feet
3. THE NAVEL
6. "BIG TOP PEE-WEE"
7. HEART RATE
8. The Danube
Relativity may have captured the public's consciousness, but it was the unglamorous
Photoelectric Effect that got him the Nobel Prize in 1921.
Walk with the person who's searching for truth........ run from the person who says they've found it !

An raibh a fhios agat...
Cé go n-athróidh guthanna na bhfear agus na mban le linn na puberty, tá an t-athrú i guth buachaill drámatúil, ag titim octave iomlán i tona uaireanta. Forbraíonn fir in speicis eile guth níos doimhne chun mná a mhealladh agus fir eile a eagla, agus creideann eolaithe gur tháinig an t-athrú ar ghuth an duine fireann ar na cúiseanna céanna.
1. an t-am a bhí ann. Cén bhliain a d'úsáid an Liga Mheiriceá an Bhuachaill Ainmníochta den chéad uair?
a.  1970
b.  1971
c.  1972
d. - 1973
2. Seachadadh. Cad é an fad idir na geallúintí i gclár caighdeánach Horseshoe?
3. an "Umbilicus" an téarma leighis do céard de chuid an choirp?
4. Tá an t-am Ainmní an TV Sit-com a bhí carachtar ainmnithe D.J. Conner.
5. Tá an t-am ann. Cad é ainm an réigiúin san Iodáil a dtugtar "Toe of the Boot"?
6. Ceacht. Ainmníodh an scannán ina ndeachaigh Kris Kristofferson leis an Cabrini Circus.
7. Ceacht. Cad a dhéantar a thomhas le Cardiotachometer?
8. Ceacht. Cén abhainn a shruthaíonn trí 8 tír agus ceithre chaipitil?
Fírinne nó CRAP ? An bhfuil tú?
Bhuaigh Einstein an duais uasal don fhisice as a theoiric na coibhneastachta.
1. an t-am a bhí ann.  d
2. Seachadadh. 40 troigh
3. Tá an t-am ann. An NAVEL
6. Ceacht. "Big Top PEE-WEE"
7. Ceacht. RATH CÚRA
8. Ceacht. An Danúib
Is féidir leis an gcoincheap a bheith gabhadh an comhfhiosach an phobail, ach bhí sé an unglamorous
Eacht Phóta-Eileictreach a thug Duais Nobel dó i 1921.
Siúil leis an duine atá ag cuardach na fírinne ... ... reáchtáil ó an duine a deir go bhfuil siad fuair sé !