The Chavakkad Azhimukham ( Estuary ), where the Chettuva River meets the sea, is a lovely spot to watch.
The Chavakkad beach is only 2 kms from Chavakkad. We have a 6 km road almost along the beach which goes to Munakkal. There is a fish landing harbour at Munakkal, on the shores of the Munakkal river. We can see Chettuva on the other side of the river. 2 kms furthur, again along the road near the 8 km coastline, we reach the Azhimukham, where the river meets the sea !
On the eastern side we can see the Engandiyur Fish Landing Hourbour. The place is undeveloped and some tourism projects may come over there. Full of coconut trees and with a great green ambience, Azhimukham is a great spot to behold.
The Tourism Ministry has plans to beautify four beaches- Fort Kochi, Cherai, Munambam and Munakkal at a cost of 8 crores.
The United Nations Development Programme cited Kumbalangi, a small fishing village in Kerala, as an Endogenous Tourism Center. Endogenous means that which is derived internally and that this place shows the inherent skills and traits of Kerala. The Govt declared Kumbalangi as a Model Tourism Village.
Biogas is the gas which accrues from animal waste. Kumbalangi, as an exemplar of Organic Farming, has 800 biogas plants, generating more than 3600 hours of cooking gas per day!
The backwaters of Venice, the green fields of Europe all combined is this beautiful village. The Lonely Planet called it the ” Paradise found on Earth”. Sandwiched between the Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea in Peninsular India, is Kerala, the gift given by Nature to mankind !
Close to the port town of Kochi is Kumbalangi, an ideal tourist location. She possesses a vast stretch of backwaters and is rich with cuisines, fish farms, local boat building and coir looms. You will find its inhabitants in tune with Nature, depending on Nature for their survival. There is not too much rush of tourists ( this island gets only 5000 tourists per season ) and you will find her more or less a virgin landscape.
In 2005, the Govt came out with the Kumbalangi Integrated Tourism Village project, to transform this small island to a model tourism and fishing spot. The Chinese fishing nets which grace Fort Kochi and other places in Kochi can be seen here. Crores were invested in the project, as new roads were built, percolation tanks to store rain water were built ( thus solving the water problem ), fishes which had moved away were brought back and water drainage system was built.
Lack of rooms created Homestays. Now there are a lot of homestays in this village.
Kochi Airport is just 40 kms away and the nearest Rly Station is Ernakulam, 25 km away.
The International Astronomical Union had standardised all the constellations of the Sidereal Zodiac and the exact boundaries fixed in 1930. . But none of the Indian names figure in the list of the IAU, despite the fact that India had one of the earliest astronomical cultures.
That the ancient Babylonians, the Hindus and the Egyptians had deep and independent knowlege of the Heavens is an undisputed fact. The names of fabled heroes, animals and deities were assigned to the constellations. Those who followed the ” Star of Bethlehem” had come from these pagan cultures. The ascendency of Sirius marked the resuscitation of the Nile, after a long dry spell.Edava Pathi transformed the hot, parched landscape of Kerala into a lush green Paradise, a tropical wet system, as per the German climatologist Koppen !
The Indian system is far more comprehensive. It deals with the Sidereal Zodiac, which begins from 0 degrees of Beta Arietis ( Aswini ) and ends at the 360th degree of Zeta Piscium ( Revathi ). As the Sun moves roughly one degree per day, the solar transit of a 30 degree Sign is 30 days and a constellation is 13.33 days ( as the constellation is 13 degrees and 20 minutes ). A Njattuvela is a solar transit of a constellation of 13 degrees 20 minutes and hence the duration is 13.33 days.
The Malayalam Era is known as Kolla Varsham and it was compiled by a man from Kollam. It is derived from the Ursa Major Cycle ( The Saptharshi Yuga ). Staying in a constellation for 100 years, the Ursa Major makes a retrograde circuit of the Zodiac, known as the Ursa Major Cycle. Hence the Ursa Major Cycle is 2700 years ( 27*100).
All other calenders deal only with the 12 signs of the Tropical Zodiac and hence is superficial.
The book “The Farmer’s Song’ , Krishi Geetha deals with the effects of the solar transits of constellatons. Legend has it that Parasurama, one of the ten incarnations of the Lord, after destroying the tyrants, was seized with remorse. In order to expiate for his sins, he distributed the lands he had conquered to spiritual people. In higher states of Consciousness, he received higher instructions how to make the land fertile, how to plant, when to plant and when to reap, according to the solar transits. The result of his great pyshic research was ‘ The Farmer’s Song” , the Krishi Geetha. This is a revealed science, like allVedic sciences.
The Fivefold Ephemeris, the Panchanga
The Ephemeris is fivefold
Vaara, Day of the Week, named after the Seven Revolving Heavens Thaara, the Star, the lunar transit of a constellation Thidhi, the Lunation, 12 degrees Karana, 6 degrees or Half Lunation Nithya Yoga, longitude of Sun + longitude of Moon
Those who follow Astrology follow the Panchanga, which gives all astro information. For corporate merges, weddings and other auspicious events, thePanchanga is used. The Panchangas use the Indian calculation of Nazhikas ( 24 minutes ) and Vinazhikas ( 24 seconds ). The Zodiac Software converts theseNazhikas into hours and minutes.
Thaara is the Lunar transit of a constellation while Njattuvela is the solar. The Panchanga and the Astro Calender gives all info about these transits.
The six Seasons of the Astro Calender are Vasanta ( Aries, Taurus), Greeshma ( Gemini, Cancer ), Varsha ( Leo, Virgo ), Sharat ( Libra, Scorpio ), Hemanta ( Sagittarius, Capricorn) and Sisira ( Aquarius, Pisces ). Thau Dau Rithu – Two months make a Rithu or a season.
During Makam Njattuvela, Sesame can be planted ( Maghathinte mukhathu ellu erinjal kutathinte mukhathu kaanaam )
Never plant anything during Pooyam Njattuvela ( Pooyathil nattal puzhuthu pokum ). For planting all , Aswathi Njattuvela is good. For mango trees, Bharani Njattuvela is best.
Thiruvathira Njattuvela is the most famous. It is known for vegetative propagation. Rohini Njattuvela is good for trees. Atham Njattuvela is good for bananas.
The Zodiac Software computes all these transits. We had given the formulae for generating the Panchanga and the Astro Calender.
Thiruvathira Njattuvela, the most famous of all Njattuvelas, begins today.
Amongst all solar transits, Thiruvathira is most favoured, as it gives equal proportion of rains and sunny days. The ancients used to preserve the water during this solar transit of 14 days. This water was used to prepare medicinal concoctions. It was believed that it was Ambrosia that rained during Thiruvathira.
The India Meteorological Dept says that Monsoon is 28% more than normal in the South and it is less than 8% in the North and East. Only after observation of the Monsoon in the East and North, will they declare it as a good monsoon.
The ancients believed that anything sown during this Sun’s transit of Alpha Orionis ( Aridra ) will fructify.
There is an interesting story about this phase. The King gave pepper seeds to the East India Company. One of his ministers said ” If we give them the seeds, they will stop buying from us “. To which the King replied ” They can take away pepper seeds, but not Thiruvathira ” !
I was woken up at 0100 AM today by the sound of lightning. It was raining heavily at that time.
In Malayalam, there are many sayings about this golden phase. ” Thirumuthiyathe peythu nirayum Thiruvathira” ( It will be raining golden water all the time ) and ” Kairviral vare odichu nattal mulakkum” ( Even the fingers cut and sown will fructify ).
This is the maximum rain yielding Njattuvela. The ancients believed that the rainwater of Thiruvathira can cure diseases and this water was used to make marunnu kanji or medicinal rice soup ! They believed that rains used to pour according to the raga ” Thiru Thiru Thakritheya ” !
Kerala farmers love this solar transit because rains will not be there all the time but with sunny interludes, in balanced proportion of 50:50. Unlike the devastating Makiryam and Pooyam Njattuvelas, which are characterised by fierce downpours.
We do not know what Physical Science says about these transits. But to Keralites, weather cycles are inextricably linked to the Sun’s transits !
It rained for one hour at 0200 AM today. The earth is showing signs of becoming green.
Saturn in Virgo has created a drought like situation and Sun in Pisces and Sun in Aquarius have given some heat waves. Many have suffered due to sunstroke. Jupiter moved over to Pisces on May 2 and hence the change in climate. Venus, the watery planet, in his own house in Taurus also is a favourable indication.
Now that rains have started to come, we cannot afford to be complacent. Green Kerala is beautiful because of the rains, because the wells, the rivers, the lakes, the water tanks and the paddy fields act as Nature’s rainwater harvesting centers. But, of late, increasing urbanisation and destruction of the natural habitat and holy groves created a drought like situation.
There was no water in the main river, Bharatpuzha.
There is scientific reason is revering Nature and her forests and holy groves. God is basically an Unknown, but His manifestation, the Relative Being, is Nature. The ancients saw Nature and her forests and her holy groves as divine. The Divine Immanent is the basic principle of Pantheism.
Holy groves are known as Kaavus. They are amidst trees. Large scale evangelisation has led to the destruction of the holy groves !
Even though the rains have started to come, we still caution the people against destroying paddy fields, water wells, water tanks and ponds, which act as natural rainwater harvesting centers. Please respect Water and Water Management. ( In Africa 550 million people do not have access to clean, drinking water ).
We are now happy that the rains have come. Now we will be able to sing with Goethe
The earth grew green and burst in flower to meet me !
Saturn in Virgo has created a draught like situation, even in water rich Kerala. Green Kerala is beautiful because of the heavy rainfalls and looks gorgeous in June/July, when the Rain gods favour her.
It has not rained for the last two days. Rains are expected in the sidereal months of Taurus, Gemini, Cancer and Leo.
Here are the rainfall cycles of Kerala
Edavam – The sidereal month of Taurus, when rains start to come. After 15 th May. When the Sun enters sidereal Taurus
Edava Pathi – The second half of Taurus, after 01 June. Rains are here to stay.
Makiryam Jnattuvela – After 7th May. This period is characterised by fierce rains. When the Sun enters the constellation of Mrigasira.
Thiruvathira Jnattuvela – After 22 May, when Sun enters the constellation of Aridra. Rains continous.
Punartham Jnattuvela – Fierce but intermittent rains. When the Sun enters the constellation of Punarvasu.
The Vedic seers gave prime importance to rains. This is indicated by their prayer
May there be plenty of rains and may the earth become fertile.
( Kale Varshe thu parjanya Prithvi Shasya Shalinee ).
Destruction of Kerala Ecology
Dogmatic Theology and their followers are ignorant of the Laws of Nature. They maintain that the Creator and the Created are totally different. It is the Creator who has become the Created and Nature is He in Manifestation.
Cattle like people , devoid of scientifc and philosophic knowledge, have destroyed the holy groves and paid scant respect to Nature. Their ignorance, bigotry and hatred have destroyed the vast treasures of our race. Mass deforestation has been resorted to by them. ( Another set of dogmatists are responsible for increasing labour charges, which had led to owners abandoning their paddy fields, whch are not now viable. The paddy fields have now become parched and have a desert, semi arid look) . Now they are reaping for their misdeeds as they face a water deficient land !
What the water rich land was
Kerala lies close to the equator, compared to other Indian provinces. A pleasant and equitable climate characterise this Nature blessed land. This is because of the state’s proximity to the sea and the presence of the fort Western Ghats on the east. Kerala would have been an arid land, if not for the Western Ghats which prevent dry winds from entering the land. Kerala used to get copious rain ( almost 3000 mm ) in a year. Earlier the temperature used to range from 28 degrees to 32 degrees ( Now it is 42 degrees ) on the plains and 20 degrees in the highlands. The Highlands of Kerala, tourist attraction centers, enjoy a cool and invigorating climate the year-round.
Now the time is ripe for the South West Monsoon, which begins from the end of May or early June, with the advent of the South West Monsoon Winds. Torrential rain characterise this phase. Being the first state to be hit by the monsoon winds and lying on the windward side of the mighty Western Ghats, Kerala receives immense rains.
85% of the rains received in Kerala are due to the monsoons. Monsoon Tourism will take off from June onwards. The slopes of the Western Ghats are amongst the regions in India which receive great rains. The South West Monsoon in Kerala lasts till the end of September.
Mars, the fiery planet. in the watery sign of Cancer, afflicts the watery sign. He moves over to fiery Leo on 26th May. Rains are expected after this date.
Venus, the watery planet in Gemini and Jove in the watery sign of Pisces are both favourable indications.
Rains have been there in all parts of Kerala, but they are only short and not fierce. We are seeing regional rains. When it is raining in Guruvayur, there are no rains in Trichur Dist.
Now well water has a yellowish hue. Only after the rains will we get clear water. In our village well, after one hour of pumping, the water turned white. After the rains, we get water which is beautifully blue. Nature is wise, Nature is Almighty
I follow two philosophers this way It was Nature, Nature – all I heard them say ( Goethe )
Climate Change, triggered by Global Warming, has diminished the rains. The unsustainable attitude of humans is taking a toll on the Environment. Gone are our water reservoirs. Last year the rains were less. Only 50% of what it used to be.
Even though on a small scale, rains have graced Kerala. It started at about midnight yesterday.
When I woke up at six, rains had lashed Trichur. Then it rained for one hour more. Black clouds hover all around. The rainy season has begun.
The rainy season in Kerala starts from the half of Karthika Jnattuvela ( when the Sun transits the constellation of Karthika ) to Thrikketta Jnattuvela ( when the Sun traverses the constellation of Jyeshta ). Almost seven months.
From May 25, Rohini Jnattuvela ( when the Sun transits the constellation of Rohini) takes over, accelerating rains.
Let us hope that the drought like atmosphere and high heat ( 42 degrees in Kerala and 47 degrees in Nagpur ) has ended !
The Center has identified Kashmir, Kerala, Sikkim and Himachal Pradesh as four top spots for Monsoon Tourism. Arabs and others in desert lands find Monsoon Tourism a high experience. It is fun to go in houseboats, with the background of the rains !
After three days of dark clouds, lightning and rainfall, Kerala is back to normal.
Rains are expected to accelerate after Edava Pathi, which starts on May 29, when the Sun transits the 15th degree of Sidereal Taurus.
Jupiter in watery Pisces, Mars in Leo and Venus in Gemini should bring rains to Kerala.
Monsoons have been defined as sea breezes or wind systems. A wind system which reverses direction seasonally, blowing from the southwest for six months and from northeast for six months. Its extreme examples are in South Asia and Africa. Winds which influence climatic seasons, with concomitant rainfalls !
Annual temperature trends over sea and land are the causes of the monsoons. Monsoons normally blow from cold regions towards warmer regions. They blow from the sea towards land during summer and from land towards sea during winter.
Of all monsoons, the South West Monsoon is the largest. This Asian monsoon is the atmospheric response to the shift of the overhead Sun, from the Tropic of Capricorn in December to the Tropic of Cancer in June.
India lies exactly on the Tropic of Cancer, the apparent position of the Sun at the summer solstice. It is 23 degrees and 27 minutes ( which is the maximum declination of the Sun ) north of the Equator. India also lies on the equator. Pakistan lies north and is more drier than India. Pak does not get these monsoons.
Edava Pathi, the South West Monsoon
In June, Sun is almost at the Tropic of Cancer and northen part of the Indian subcontinent becomes very hot. During summer, the northern and central side of India and the Thar desert heat up considerably, causing a low pressure area over the central and northern Indian subcontinent. The Indian Ocean sends moisture laden winds, to restore the balance of Nature. These moisture rich winds move towards mighty Himalayas, creating wind blowing storm clouds towards the subcontinent. Himalayas block these winds from entering Central Asia, thus propelling them to rise. The clouds gain immense altitude, temperature drops sharply and thus precipitation occurs !
Thula Varsham, the North East Monsoon
In December, Sun is almost at the Tropic of Capricorn ( 23 degrees 27 minutes south of the Equator ) and the Indian Ocean becomes hot and the northern land mass of India becomes cool. Hence winds rush from the cold North to the South . The cold winds blow from the northen subcontinent, sweeping down on the Himalayas and the Indo- Gangetic plains, towards the comparitively hot Indian Ocean. This is known as the North East Monsoon or rather the Retreating Monsoon and this causes Thula Varsham, the rains caused by the Sun’s ingress into sidereal Libra. These cold winds from the North pick up some moisture from the Bay of Bengal and rains hit Sri Lanka & India. Madras receives rains and 60% of the rains received by Tamil Nadu is from this monsoon.
The eastern parts of the Western Ghats do not get the SW Monsoon and hence places like Madras do not get its blessings. Madras gets the North East Monsoon in Oct-Nov, after Karkyadi ( when the Sun enters the first degree of Cancer ), when the Sun retreats South ( Dakshinayana ), when the northern side of the Indian subcontinent becomes cool and the cool winds precipitate the North East Monsoon.
Physiologists like Dr Walter Cannon ( The Wisdom of the Body ) talked about self regulating mechanisms or homeostatic control systems in the body physiologic. Arent these monsoons the homeostatic or self regulating control systems of Divine Nature ?
One is reminded of a verse from Longfellow
Nothing that is shall perish utterly But shall revive again As clouds restore through rain The exhalations of the land and the sea !
Biodynamics is part of Anthroposophy, the system developed by Rudolf Steiner. According to this method of Organic Farming, all farms are individual organisms. BD emphasises balancing the interrelationship of plants, animals, soil etc with its holistic development as a self nourishing system, sans external inputs.
BD is practised in 50 countries worldwide today. BD developed as a result of 8 lectures given by the founder of Anthroposophy, R Steiner. Steiner prescribed nine different preparations to aid fertilisation. He believed that these preparations transferred celestial and terrestrial forces into the soil The first two are used for preparing fields and the other seven for making compost. Field preparations included buring cow dung into the soil.
Astronomic Planting Calender
The farmers of India use the Calender for planting seedlings. For instance, normally the planting of seeds is done on Vishu 8, when the Sun enters the 8th degree of sidereal Aries. The phases of the Moon and other celestial influences on soil and plant development are considered.
The Vedic Calender is sidereal and is based on the twelve months starting from Mesha ( Aries ) to Meena ( Pisces).The farmers of Kerala say that if you dont water the plants during the summer months of Capricorn, Aquarius & Pisces, you will get no agri product in Gemini and Cancer. Aries is chosen for planting because it marks the end of summer and the beginning of the rainy season in Kerala. As the Sun stops his Northern progress ( Uttarayana ) and starts his Southern progress ( Dakshinayana ), the cold winds from the Indian Ocean hit the Himalayas and orographically enhanced precipitation occurs. Actually the winds are south easterly, but because of the Coriolis Force, produced by the rotation of the earth, the winds become south westerly. The six months from Makara ( Capricorn ) are Uttarayana ( Sun’s declination north ) and six months from Kataka ( Cancer ) is his Dakshinayana ( Sun’s declination south ).
The word monsoon is derived from the Sanskrit “masam” and the Hindi “mausam”. From the 15th of Edavam ( Taurus ), on May 29th, as the South West Moonsoon hits coastal Kerala first, Kerala gets plenty of rains and when rains subside in September, Thula Varsham or the North East Monsoon steps in with rains again and the farmers of Kerala do not have to water their plants till Dhanus ( Sagittarius ). Only during the five months, from Dhanus ( Sagittarius ) to Mesha ( Aries), the plants need water from sources other than the sky and the farmer can relax in the next seven months ! Blessed are Keralites as they are graced by the South West and the North East Monsoons !
