Shree Guru Charan Maas - Hanuman Chalisa Pathan

During the Ashvatha Maruti Pujan in year 1997, P.P. BAPU had mentioned that the recitation of Hanuman Chalisa for 108 times for the period of one month from Vat Pournima to Ashad Pournima i.e. Guru Pournima from one dawn to the next, one will yield the following benefits :

1) You get protection against any evil from that day until the entire of the next year ; you are not affected in any way from the evil,

2) Your faith is transformed into steadfast faith and patience into confidence during these thirty days.

This year Vatpournima is on Thursday,  12^th June and Guru Pournima is on Saturday,12^th July. The period of one month from Vat Pournima to Guru Pournima is known as 'Shree Guru Charan Maas' (Maas means Month)

We can select any one day starting from 12^th June to 12^th July for recitation of Hanuman Chalisa for 108 times.

This can be done in the entire 24 hours of the day and not required to do at a single stretch sitting. One may chant it in groups of 27 times (4 sets) or 36 times (3 sets) or 54 times (2 sets) or 108 times continuously, but must ensure that the chanting is completed in a day.

Avoid doing chanting on Amavas Day ( No Moon night ) i.e. on 27^th June , as on this day it will be difficult to concentrate properly and complete it 108 times for average human being, as the negative forces are at its peak.

Blood Donation Camps

A mega blood donation camp is organized once a year by the Foundation with the help of its sister organizations. In the camp held on 4th May 2008, twenty three reputed Blood Banks of major Government and Municipal Hospitals, such as Nair Hospital, KEM Hospital, Tata Memorial Hospital, J.J. Hospital, Cooper Hospital, Bhabha Hospital, to name a few, participated. In all, 2866 bottles of blood were collected. 56 doctors and 37 paramedical personnel also volunrily participated in this event.

The Foundation also arranges blood donation camps on a regular basis in different areas across Mumbai and Maharashtra. In the year 2007, a total of 68 blood donation camps were organized by the Foundation, collecting 6059 units of blood. Given in the table below are details of units collected in the last four years.

The Government of Maharashtra felicitated the Foundation for its commendable achievement. Total Blood Count of Annual Mega Blood Donation Camp held on Sunday 12th April 2009 - 3179 Bottles.

Total Blood Count of Annual Mega Blood Donation Camp held on Sunday 11th April 2010 - 3083 Bottles.

Total Blood Count of Annual Mega Blood Donation Camp held on Sunday 3rd April 2011 - 2496 Bottles.

Total Blood Count of Annual Mega Blood Donation Camp held on Sunday 8th April 2012 - 4691 Bottles.

Total Blood Count of Annual Mega Blood Donation Camp held on April 2013 - 5189 Bottles.
  
Total Blood Count of Annual Mega Blood Donation Camp held on Sunday 20th April 2014 - 4722 Bottles. 

In 2011, total 31 Blood Banks participated in Mega Blood Donation Camp.

Some Important facts about Blood Donation

1) Although mankind has achieved phenomenal scientific progress over the past century or so, it has not yet been able to find a substitute to the human blood. Neither can human blood be produced in any factory, nor can the blood of any other animal be used for transfusion to humans. It is only human blood that can help save the life of another human being in need of blood.

2) The annual requirement of blood in our city of Mumbai till date has been approximately 2.5 lakhs to 3 lakhs bottles. By donating blood we can help to meet this target and ensure that no life is lost due to lack of adequate supply of blood.

3) There have been some mistaken beliefs and unfounded fears surrounding the donation of blood; that it causes weakness, etc., that need to be cleared. The human body has 4.5 litres to 5 litres of blood, out of which only 300 ml. is drawn out at the time of donation.

4) After donation of blood, within 15 – 20 minutes of rest, one can continue with one’s daily chores and activities.

5) Age Limit for Donation : Any Male or Female within the age group of 18 - 60 can donate blood.

6) Minimum Weight of Donor : The Donor’s weight should be a minimum of 45 kgs.

7) Minimum Haemoglobin Count of Donor : More than 12.5 gm%

8) Those wanting to donate blood should abstain from donation if they suffer from the ailments such as:

a. Jaundice b. Malaria c. Typhoid d. AIDS e. Diabetes f. Blood Pressure h. Anaemia i. Venereal Disease (Gupt Rog) j. Tuberculosis (T. B.) k. Cancer

Prospective Donors should also abstain from donating blood under the following circumstances:
a. not completed a year after having undergone surgery
b. undergone abortion
c. in the course of Pregnancy d. undergoing Menstruation (M.C.) e. During lactation phase

9) Diet for Donation : Generally, rejection of donors happens if the haemoglobin count is below the threshold required for blood donation. In order to increase the haemoglobin count, the donors should include following food items in their regular diet: a. Leafy vegetables: fenugreek (methi), maath. b. Sprouted pulses c. Vegetables: green peas, pumpkin, tomato. d. Fruits: Chickoo, pomegranate, Papaya, apple, fresh dates, orange, sweet lime, grapes, Gooseberry (Amla), Watermelon. e. Salad: Beetroot, carrot, radish. f. Cereals: Corn, Finger Millet (Nachni), wheat, peanuts, dry-fruits, jaggery. g. Eatables: Chikki, Muramba, Kheer. h. Abstain from consuming tea and chickpea (pawta).

10) Care to be taken Before Blood Donation : 
a. Sound and adequate sleep should be taken in the night preceding the date of donation
b. Blood should not be donated on an empty stomach. The Donor should donate blood only after having had adequate food.
c. Abstain from consuming medicines (allopathic, homeopathic and ayurvedic) e.g. Crocin, Disprin, Combiflam 72hrs prior to the donation.

Genetically Modiefied Orgams (GMO)

 

A genetically modified organism (GMO) is an organism whose genetic material has been altered using genetic engineering techniques. Genetic modification involves the mutation, insertion, or deletion of genes. Foreign gene is inserted into DNA of the plant, this is uncontrolled process because side of insertion is random and may potentially damage the plants genetic makeup.

Advantages of GMO in food industry stated as :

1) Increase Crop Yields

2) Lower Cost for Farmers

3) Reduced use of Herbicides

Actual Disadvantages:

1) Poor Crop Performance

2) Alteration in the Food's Nutritional content

3) Toxic and allergenic effect

4) Unforeseen harm to the environment - Less butterfly population in America

5) Decrease Soil quality by killing natural nutrients and organisms

6) GM crops consumed massive amount of energy since depends on herbicides which consumes high Fissile fuels during manufacture

7) Increase in Cancer

8) Generation of Supervirures (like Aids)

9) Allergies

10) Birth Defects

11) No crops available that are increase intrinsic Yields

12) Increase in pesticides and herbicides use

13) May change in Human DNA by eating GMO Food

GMOs are used in following food items, and these are mostly consumed food items in western countries.
-- Corns, Soybeans, Canola, Sugar Beans, Oranges

 

There are currently 64 countries that require labeling of all GMO foods. The European Union, Australia, New Zealand, China, and India are among those that require GMO labeling, while other countries make GMO labeling voluntary or have plans to introduce labeling. No GMO labeling in US.

In India, on 1 January 2013, a new law came into effect that required all packaged foods containing any genetically modified organisms to be labeled as such. The Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 2011 states that "every package containing the genetically modified food shall bear at the top of its principal display panel the letters GM." The rules apply to 19 products including biscuits, breads, cereals and pulses, and a few others. The law faced criticism from consumer rights activists as well as from the packaged food industry; both sides had major concerns that no logistical framework or regulations had been established to guide implementation and enforcement of the law.