Pseudo-Science : The real plague : "Scientific Reasons behind Indian Traditions"

I came across a post in FB shared by a good friend which was titled  : "Scientific reason behind fasting on "EKADASHI" from the website : https://www.facebook.com/ScientificReasonsBehindIndianTraditions 

It goes as follows:

=========================
Fasting on Ekadashi is a very old and common tradition which is followed in mostly all Hindu families. We all have seen our Mother, Father, Dadima ,Dadaji , Nani and other elders observing Ekadashi fasts, and we usually think they are doing because they are just religious. In fact it is backed up by solid science.

Ekadasi is a Sanskrit word, which means 'the eleventh'. It refers to the eleventh day of a fortnight belonging to a lunar month. There are two fortnights in a lunar month—the poornima and amavasya. So, Ekadasi occurs twice in a month. The special feature of Ekadasi, as most people know it, is a fast, abstinence from diet. According to scientific research, it is known that the air pressure on the earth varies to extreme limits on both the new moon (Amavasya) and the full moon (Purnima) day. This is because of the orbital path combination of the sun, moon and earth.

This can be observed by the change in the nature of the tidal waves on the new moon and full moon days. The waves are very high and rough, but from the next day onwards, the waves become calm, an indication that the pressure has also receded. Now, based on this fact, the significance of Ekadasi fasting can be explained in 2 ways:

1)It takes about 3-4 days for the food that we eat today to reach our brain (for the brain to understand the food intake). Now, if we eat light/fast on Ekadasi days, that intake will reach the brain correspondingly on the New moon/full moon day. On both of these days, the earth pressure is at its maximum, thus leading to imbalance in everything, including ones thought process. So, if the input to the brain is at a minimum, the chances of the brain indulging in any wayward activity due to the high pressure imbalance also becomes minimum. People in asylums behave weirdly during ekadashis due to this same lunar activity.

2) Another explanation for Ekadasi fasting is that compared to any other day of the moon cycle, atmospheric pressure is lowest on Ekadasi days. Thus, this is the best time to fast and cleanse the bowel system. If we fast on any other day, the high pressure/strain may damage our system. Thus, it is advisable that after fasting on Ekadasi, on the immediate next day (Dwadasi), we should get up early and eat as soon as possible

========================

My response to the younger lady who had shared the above passage was as follows :

Dear,

The biggest deterrent to science is not ignorance but pseudo-science. As a young and dynamic lady of the 21st century, you must be very cautious about the "science" being expounded by some of these web-sites. They provide a pseudo-scientific coating for the religion targeting two types of people:

1. literate but not highly educated
2. well educated but are lackadaisical towards critical reading and analysis.

First of all, the food consumed does not take more than 4 days to reach the brain. The easiest way to think about this is how great one feels when he or she eats after a bit of starvation (say a long day where the lunch was delayed by 3 hours) .Starving slows down the metabolism but not until you have entered starvation mode which is usually 3-4 days of continuous starvation. According to the theory you have quoted, if one were to starve for 4 days after a sumptuous dinner, the brain should be able to receive the food after 4 days and be active again which is far from observation. In fact the transit-time which is the time that the food takes to be absorbed in the body is much less. The stomach processes all content within 4 hours maximum which enters the blood-stream through intestinal projections called villi. The blood on the other hand circulates through the body within a minute ! That means some of the nutrients of the food that are absorbed in the blood stream would reach brain much sooner that 4 days. Hence that claim is wrong.

The age old claim of a "connection" between lunar activity and "lunacy" is a myth and NOT scientific. I could explain this in detail but I refer you to the following link in Scientific American for a thorough analysis on this:

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=lunacy-and-the-full-moon  

At best, if people are afraid of the moon or if they perform abnormal activity when they see the full-moon, they are to be treated by the psychiatrists to get rid of their fear of the moon like any other object that they may be afraid of. However the converse, namely "the full-moon influences any kind of mental activity" is a farcical statement except in a case when one sits and admires the beauty of it and feels peaceful about.

Beware of the pseudo-scientists and always question.  One of the better examples of such serious offenders  is Khurshed Batliwala who stands exposed:

  

Fantastic Anmol.  I am a scientist and I appreciate this effort wholeheartedly.  The best of all was your summary statement where you have declared : "It is an insult to the intelligence of our ancient scientists that their science and discoveries were based on spirituality and not rationality". I am sharing this with my students and others.

My composition : Azagaay Poosum ManjaL - அழகாய் பூசும் மஞ்சள்

Song : Azagaay Poosum ManjaL - அழகாய் பூசும் மஞ்சள்
Sung By : Pratibha Parthasarathy and Murali Venkatraman
Composed and Orchestrated By : Murali Venkatraman
Lyrics : Udhaya KulandaivElu
Mixed by : Abin Pushpakumaran (Nadabindu Recording Studio)
Cover Art : R. S. Arun Prakash

This song is one of the many conceived as a series in Raga Hamsadhwani (Hansdhwani) in the year 2006.  The album was to be titled "Flirting with Hamsadhwani".  The first titled Sendhaamarai saw the light of the day - thanks to Joseph Thomas - who actively pursued the blogswara project.  However, life became too busy over the years with my PhD ending in 2006 and with subsequent postdoc jobs and immigration it has never been easy to complete some of those projects which were pending for long but this song finally is out.

The song is essentially a romantic melody garnished with raga Hansdhwani.  Lyricist Udhaya has chosen the secondary theme of the song as mocking of those who indulge in infatuated ephemeral relations.  Taking the moon as a protagonist, he chides the moon for its 'illicit' love for the earth even though it is in a relationship with sky. Pratibha's vocals particularly have garnered praises from stalwarts like the bengali singer Subhamita Banerjee.

A loose translation is given at the end of the lyrics  :

பல்லவி :

M: அழகாய் பூசும் மஞ்சள்
அரிதாய் தோன்றும் திங்கள்

F: வானம் ஏந்தும் போதும்
பூமி தேடுகின்றாய்

M: கதிரின் ஆடை போர்த்தி
யாரை ஏய்க்க வந்தாய்?

F: சுடரின் பார்வைச் சூட்டை
மறவா காலைப் பூக்கள்

M: காதல் வெள்ளை நெஞ்சில் கள்ளம் சேர்க்கும்

F: அழகாய் பூசும் மஞ்சள்
அரிதாய் தோன்றும் திங்கள்

M: வானம் ஏந்தும் போதும்
பூமி தேடுகின்றாய்

(Interlude)

சரணம் 1:

M: மெய்க் காதலின் சன்னதி ஊரான் மலர் சூடுமா?

F: எல்லோருமே வேற்றுமை தேடினால் தான் ஆகுமா?

M: கொள்ளாமலே கடலுமே கரை தாண்டினால் தாங்குமா?

F: எப்போதுமே வேறொரு இல்லாமை மேல் மோகமா?

M: நாளுக்கொரு மேனியும் பொழுதுக்கொரு போதையும்

F: இதுபோலொரு வாழ்க்கையில் ஆனந்தமே வாடகை

M: தேன் கூட்டிலே வாழ்ந்தாலே தேனும் கசந்து போகுமா?

F: (இரவில்)
அழகாய் பூசும் மஞ்சள்
அரிதாய் தோன்றும் திங்கள்

M: வானம் ஏந்தும் போதும்
     பூமி தேடுகின்றாய்

(Interlude)

சரணம் 2:

F: நேர் பாதையில் போவதில் ஏன் இத்தனை வேதனை?

M: சூடாத ஓர் பூவையே பாராததே சாதனை

F: எக் காதலின் ஆர்வமும் நாளாகவே ஆறிடும்

M: ஆள் மாறவே காதலும் ஆர்வத்திலே கூடிடும்

F: அக் காதலின் ஆரம்பம் அவ்விதமே தோன்றிடும்

M: ஆரம்பமே வேண்டுவோர் அன்பென்பதே கண்டிலார்

F: மேல்வாரியாய் மேய்ந்தாலே தனிமைத் தீயில் அழிகிறார்

M: (இரவில்)
அழகாய் பூசும் மஞ்சள்
அரிதாய் தோன்றும் திங்கள்
வானம் ஏந்தும் போதும்
பூமி தேடுகின்றாய்

F: கதிரின் ஆடை போர்த்தி
யாரை ஏய்க்க வந்தாய்?
சுடரின் பார்வைச் சூட்டை
மறவா காலைப் பூக்கள்

M: காதல் வெள்ளை நெஞ்சில் கள்ளம் சேர்க்கும்
 
M+F: அழகாய் பூசும் மஞ்சள்
அரிதாய் தோன்றும் திங்கள்
வானம் ஏந்தும் போதும்
பூமி தேடுகின்றாய் 

Translation :

Oh beautiful moon who smears the turmeric (yellow) paste on your face occasionally (this signifies the yellow moon visible on a full-moon day) !  You come adorning the fabric of light given to you by the Sun, pretending as if it is your own !  You are dependent on the sky who is holding you in his arms ! But, by nurturing romantic feelings for the earth, you are acting treacherously against both the sky and the sun! 

The true altar of love will not accept the flowers from anybody but the beloved! Is it right for everybody to look for "variety" in love and relationships ?  Is it right if the sea (of desire) breaches the shore  ? Why would the mind want to wander off from the present state of bliss (due to a dignified relation) and look for nothingness ? For the house of love, happiness is the rent we pay.  Even though the bee resides in the bee-hive for its life, does it ever feel the honey has gone bitter ? ( as in get tired of the honey ?)

Why is it so difficult to go on a righteous path ?  The real achievement of mind is to look away from the flower which is not yours.  Any new relationship starts with an extreme infatuation the sheen of which wanes when another one comes by.  Such transient relations will only end up roasting you in the fire of loneliness !

Isai naadiyE - இசை நாடியே - An Alternate Composition to KalaivaaNiyE of Sindhu Bhairavi

Song : Isainaadiye - இசை நாடியே 

Ragam : Hindolam
Singer : Pradip Somasundaran

Lyrics : Udhaya KulandaivElu

Composed By : Murali Venkatraman

Orchestration and Mixing : Sibu Sukumaran 
Cover Design : R.S. Arun Prakash


Alternate composition for : KalaivANiyE from Sindhu Bhairavi (1985)

This song is an attempt for an alternate composition to an existing superhit - kalaivaaNiye from the movie Sindhu Bhairavi (1985) with the intended view "if I were the music director" for that cinematic situation.

Sindhubhairavi had a repertoire of songs from the Maestro Ilaiyaraja still hummed incessantly by tamil music lovers all over the world.  Shrimati. K. S. Chitra got her first national award for this movie.  But the real highlight of the movie was the golden voice of Shri K. J. Yesudas who delivered stunning numbers like 'poomaalai' and 'mOgam ennum'.

The climax song 'kalaivaaNiyE' which showcases the comeback of a talented classical singer who had succumbed to alcohol and was unable to give up/ forget his extra-marital love.  This amazing song from the Maestro had the brilliant idea of every line being constructed using aarohanam (ascending scale )  swaras only of ragam kalyaaNi. Envisioned by Balachander, enacted by Sivakumar and energetically rendered by K. J. Yesudas, the song was the culmination of a complex movie which traverses a great length to portray the vulnerability of the artistic mind.

Concept of Alternate Lyrics 

Enamored by this song, my good friend Udhaya wrote an alternate set of lyrics for this song which ran exactly in the tune of Kalaivaaniye.  Around 2003, I was just beginning to try my hands on composing and Udhaya had gladly sent his entire portfolio of poetry to choose from.  Some of the poetry he had written were originally "alternate lyrics" for some established songs like kalaivaaNiye, however he did NOT mention the original song to me when he gave the portfolio.  Unaware I randomly picked this song and gave it a new tune for the pre-written lyrics.  However in my enthusiasm, I had consumed the lines of both the charanams fully to create a long first charanam for the new composition.  Hence I needed one more charanam to "culminate" and Udhaya came up with brilliant lyrics for the tune I gave for charanam 2 (ஆகாயமே ஒளியில் ).

Now, the tune and lyrics were ready.  I sang a version much better than the scratch version (listen  here) and Sibu helped me with the orchestration.  But the song needed a  classically emphatic voice with the oomph that is comparable to Shri. K. J. Yesudas's.

Who else but Pradip Somasundaran ?

This is my second original work with Pradip (first was udalin thiriyaale) and my respect for his prowess only grows with time.  A singer with a voice powerful enough to thunder in or gentle enough to lull you flat.  In this song he has provided and stolen the thunder.   Thank you Pradip - No words will sufficiently capture my gratitude towards you.

And lastly :  Every note of music I have picked up and every beat cycle I have come to understand in my life is purely - courtesy - a self-study on Maestro Ilaiyaraja's compositions.  While all the other great music directors have impacted on my learning heavily, the core of my self-designed musical curriculum has been Maestro's works.  I was born a fan, I live a fan and will die as one.  This song is a kid's attempt to walk in a giant's shoes.  And to him, I dedicate this effort on his birthday.

Lyrics:
-------

இசை நாடியே இங்கு உனக்காகத் துடிக்கும்
உயிர்காற்றைச் சுரக்கும்
விழிநீரை உகுக்கும்
முகமிங்கு அகமங்கு
அறிவால் அறிவாய்
உடலால் பிரிவாய்
எனை தினம் தொடர்ந்திடு நிழலென

சரணம் 1:
=======
கலையாலே கிடைத்தாய் வரம் கொடுத்து எடுத்தாய்
சுய நினைவின் திசை மாற்ற மது ரசம் வசம் இருந்தேன்
வழிவகுத்துக் கொடுத்தாய்
கலையை விட உயர்ந்து நின்றாய்
கலையினும் உயர்ந்தாய் கலைஞனுக்குயர் தாய்
சேய் என்று அழ நான் நன்றி சொல்ல
கரை தோய்ந்த குறை மறந்து திரை எடம்மா

ma,ga,ma ,mdmgmdm ga,ga,ga, gamadam
sa,sa,n#s ga,ga,sg mama ;; mama ;gm
dada dndm sada dnda SGMGSGSn Sndni mdn
sn# gs mg dm nd Sn GS nS sssdad mgma Snd mdn

(இசைநாடியே)

சரணம் 2:
=======
ஆகாயமே ஒளியில் மலர்ந்திடினும் மேகம் கதிரை மறைக்கும்
சாமானியனின் கலைச் சரிவினிலும் கலையின் சாரம் தவிக்கும்
ஆதார ஷ்ருதி அந்து போனதடி அன்று உன்னைப் பிரிந்து
ஆவேச நிலை இன்று போனதடி உந்தன் வருகை தெரிந்து
பருகிடப் பெருகும் அமுத சுரபி
கலைஞனின் மனதில் இசை எனும் அருவி
காணாத இன்பமேது கலையின் மடிமீது வாழும்போது
காட்டாறு கலையின் பாதை கருணை என்றென்றும் காட்டிடாது
கானம் போயும் எந்தன் மானம் போயும்
என்னைக் காப்பாற்றிட வந்தாயே

Translation
========

The pulse of  music beats for you and sheds tears.
My body is here but my soul with you.

You came as a boon from the arts, but also as a curse.
To divert myself from meditating on you, I sought solace in alcohol
But you disciplined me.
A mother to me, you stand taller than the art.
I am grateful to you. Please overlook my errors, remove your veil and show me your love.

A lit sky can be darkened by clouds.  The art stumbles even with a common man's failure
The notes of music were gone with you.  But today you are here and I am calm.
You are the nectar-cup that never dries.  And music is gushing through my heart.
On the laps of art, one has gets all the pleasures. But walking the path of art is treacherous
I lost my dignity. But you came to rescue me !