Slumdog Millionaire!

For those who are not quite familiar to movies, might find the Title of this Post intriguing. Just to give a heads up, this is name of the quite recent movie directed by the English Director "Danny Boyle" about a Boy from a Slum in mumbai earning a Million Bucks on a tv show and regaining his lost love. Shot in India, that too mostly in the Slums of Mumbai makes it an interesting watch. With a Fairly Unknown Star cast, this movie has become quite a rage considering it has been nominated for 10 Oscars.

Well, so i too happen to watch the movie tonight and oh yes its a must watch. It has everything a good movie should have. Its got action, romance, a gripping story and definitely well directed. Though i must confess i was not quite happy with a few things in the movie, especially showing the Slums or the "otherside" of Mumbai which no one including me wants to talk about. But yes its a harsh reality. A few other things i thought in the movie were a little exgagerated especially the scene where the goons burn the eye of the child. It definitely shook me, and made me think can this happen!

But overall the movie was inspiring and the happy ending made me happy considering that i am a "wannabe" idealist at heart. The Music was different and refreshing and who better than A.R Rahman to do compose. All the Actors have an important role to play and everyone has played their role to perfection. The Chemistry between "Jamal" and "Latika" the lead actors in the movie is exhilarating.

I would give 4/5 Stars to the movie..so go ahead and watch it. Its different, refreshing and for a change very realistic.

Creation of Universe Explained

According to Jain beliefs, the universe was never created, nor will it ever cease to exist. Therefore, it is shaswat (infinite). It has no beginning or end, but time is cyclical with progressive and regressive spirituality phases.

Jains divide time into Utsarpinis (Progressive Time Cycle) and Avsarpinis (Regressive Time Cycle). An Utsarpini and an Avsarpini constitute one Time Cycle (Kalchakra). Every Utsarpini and Avsarpini is divided into six unequal periods known as Aras. During the Utsarpini half cycle, humanity develops from its worst to its best: ethics, progress, happiness, strength, health, and religion each start the cycle at their worst, before eventually completing the cycle at their best and starting the process again. During the Avsarpini half-cycle, these notions deteriorate from the best to the worst. Jains believe we are currently in the fifth Ara of the Avsarpini phase, with approximately 19,000 years until the next Ara. After this Ara we will enter the sixth phase. Which will be for approximately 21,000 years. After this Utsarpini phase will begin, continuing the infinite repetition of the Kalchakra.

Jains believe that at the upswing of each time cycle, people will lose religion again. All wishes will be granted by wish-granting trees (Kalpavrksa), and people will be born in sets of twins (Yugalika) with one boy and one girl who stay together all their lives: a symbol of an integrated human with male and female characteristics balanced.

Jain philosophy is based upon eternal, universal truths. During the first and last two Aras, these truths lapse among humanity and then reappear through the teachings of enlightened humans, those who have reached moksa or total knowledge (Kevala Jnana), during the third and fourth Aras. Traditionally, in our universe and in our time, Lord Rishabha (ऋषभ) is regarded as the first to realize the truth. Lord Vardhamana (Mahavira) was the last Tirthankara to attain enlightenment (599-527 BCE). He was preceded by twenty-three others, making a total of twenty-four Tirthankaras.

It is important to note that the above description stands true "in our universe and in our time" for Jains believe there have been infinite sets of 24 Tirthankaras, one for each half of the time cycle, and this will continue in the future. Hence, Jainism does not trace its origins to Rishabh Deva, the first, or finish with Mahavira, the twenty-fourth, Tirthankara.

According to Jainism, the Universe consists of infinite amount of Jiva (life force or souls), and the design resembles a man standing with his arms bent while resting his hands on his waist. The narrow waist part comprises various Kshetras, for vicharan (roaming) for humans, animals and plants. Currently we are in the Bharat Kshetra of Jambu Dweep (dweep means island).

The Deva Loka (Heavens) are at the symbolic 'chest' of Creation, where all Devas (demi gods) reside. Similarly beneath the 'waist' are the Narka Loka (Hell). There are seven Narka Lokas, each for a varying degree suffering a jiva has to go through to face the consequences of its paap karma (sins). From the first to the seventh Narka, the degree of suffering increases and light reaching it decreases (with no light in the seventh Narka).

The sidhha kshetra or moksha is situated at the symbolic forehead of the creation, where all the jivas having attained nirvana reside in a state of complete peace and eternal happiness. Outside the symbolic figure of this creation nothing but aloka or akaasha (sky) exists.