Hindu mythology

 

Agni Dev

     Agni Dev is one of the most important Vedic Gods. Agni Dev is the God of fire, the messenger of Gods, and accepts sacrifices made to Him from anyone who is devoted to His Lord. He was very important to the people living in the Vedic times, and they have 200 hymns addressed to Him in the Rig Veda. Eight of the ten books begin with praises for Agni, the God of fire.

     Agni is present in everyone’s heart. He is supposed to be the vital spark of life, and the food in people’s stomach is burnt by Agni. Agni is also the fire of the Sun, and gives it brilliance and heat that the Sun is known for. Agni is very essential for the survival and development of humans, which is why people have been praying to Him since ancient times.

     Agni is sometimes said to be the twin brother of Indra Dev, and is often closely associated with Him. In Vedic times, He occupied the most important position after Indra Dev.

     He is depicted as having two heads. One head signifies immortality, and the other is a symbol of life. He is often said to be the link between the heaven and earth, and humans and deities. He is associated with Vedic sacrifice, and takes sacrifices of the devotees to their beloved and much respected and adored Gods in His fire.

 

Sound

 

How is it that sound travels longer distances at night?

 

Sound, like light, can undergo reflection and refraction.

Refraction of sound waves is most noticeable when they travel from cold air into warm air.

During the night, the earth starts cooling, and the mass of air in contact with it becomes cooler than the air a few metres above. When sound waves originating at ground level travel obliquely through these masses of air, which are at different temperatures, refraction takes place at the interface between the two masses, and the sound waves, which in the daytime would have continued to travel upwards, are directed back to earth. This is the reason why sounds travel longer distances at night.

10) Ignition Temperature

WHY DOES PETROL IGNITE FASTER THAN WOOD?

Every substance begins to burn when it combines with the oxygen in the air, giving off heat and light. However, this process starts only when the material reaches a certain minimum temperature, called its ignition temperature (or ignition point).

Different materials have different ignition temperatures. Petrol has a very low ignition point, which means it needs only a little heat to catch fire. Wood, on the other hand, requires a much higher temperature to ignite, which is why it takes longer to burn.

Interestingly, a substance does not always need a direct flame to start burning. If it is heated to its ignition temperature, it will catch fire on its own. For example, in a burning building, heat is often more dangerous than flames. Heat can travel through metal pipes, water pipes, or even gas lines, warming nearby materials until they reach their ignition temperature and start burning. In some cases, even brick walls can conduct enough heat to ignite combustible objects on the other side, causing secondary fires.

In short: Petrol burns quickly because of its low ignition temperature, while wood burns slowly because it needs more heat. Fire spreads mainly through heat transfer, not just flames.

9) Difference between heaven and hell

THE LESSON OF THE LONG SPOONS 

A curious seeker once asked the Divine, “Can you show me the difference between heaven and hell?”

The Divine gently led the seeker to two rooms.

In the first room, a great banquet table stood at the center, filled with a fragrant pot of stew. The aroma made the seeker’s stomach growl. But around the table sat people who were pale and weak. Each held a spoon with an impossibly long handle. They could scoop food easily, but no matter how hard they tried, they could not guide the spoons back to their own mouths. Hunger gnawed at them even though food was right before them.

The seeker trembled at the sight. “This is terrible,” he whispered. The Divine said softly, “Yes, this is what hell looks like.”

Then the seeker was led to the second room. Again, the same table, the same pot of stew, and the same long-handled spoons. But here, the people were strong, joyful, and full of laughter. The seeker blinked in confusion. “But how? Everything is the same!”

The Divine smiled. “Look closer.”

The seeker watched and realised: here, each person lifted a spoonful of stew and fed the one sitting across from them. In return, they too were fed. No one went hungry, for everyone thought of each other.

The Divine said, “The difference is not the table, or the spoons, or the food. The difference lies in the heart. Where there is selfishness, there is suffering. Where there is love and sharing, there is abundance. That is the difference between hell and heaven.”

Moral: Heaven and hell are not places far away—they are created by the way we treat one another.

8) When we ignore a warning, we all pay the price

THE SPARROW’S WARNING 

In a quiet village, a little sparrow lived in the eaves of a barn. One morning, she fluttered down and noticed the farmer carrying a box inside. Curious, she peeked through the window and saw him set down a shiny, metal cage with bait inside.

Her heart skipped a beat. “It’s a bird trap!” she gasped. Quickly, she flew to warn her friends in the meadow.

She first found the goat grazing and cried, “There’s a trap in the barn! Please be careful!”

The goat chewed calmly and replied, “Little one, I’m far too big to be caught in such a thing. That’s your problem, not mine.”

Next, she flew to the cat stretching under a tree. “There’s a trap in the barn! Please stay alert!”

The cat yawned lazily and said, “A trap for birds doesn’t bother me. You’re the one who should worry.”

Finally, she rushed to the horse. “There’s a trap in the barn! Someone might get hurt!”

The horse snorted and replied, “I’m sorry, Sparrow, but I can’t do anything about it. It doesn’t concern me.”

With no one to help, the sparrow returned to her nest, heavy with worry.

That very night, the trap snapped shut—not on a bird, but on a poisonous snake that slithered into the barn. Its tail was caught, and in fury it struck the farmer’s wife when she came to investigate.

She grew terribly ill, and the villagers said, “She must have chicken broth to recover.” The farmer caught a hen for the soup.

When her condition worsened, relatives and neighbours arrived to help. To feed them all, the farmer slaughtered the goat.

Despite their efforts, the woman passed away. For the funeral feast, the farmer killed the horse to provide enough meat for the mourners.

From her perch on the rafters, the sparrow wept. What began as her problem had swallowed them all.

Moral: When one thread in the fabric of life is pulled, the whole cloth shifts. Another’s burden may one day become our own. We are woven together—so let us care for one another.

7) Creating good news

CREATING LIGHT IN A DARK WORLD 

Everyone has inside them a piece of good news.

The young diarist Anne Frank, who inspired millions through her book 'The Diary of a Young Girl', once wrote:

“The good news is you don’t know how great you can be, how much you can love, what you can accomplish, and what your potential is.”

Her words remind us that human beings carry within them endless possibilities. Our ability to love, create, innovate, and adapt is far greater than our capacity to hate, destroy, or complain.

The Greatest Treasure

The world’s greatest treasure is not hidden in gold mines, diamond fields, or oil wells. It lies in the human mind. With your imagination, you can invent, discover, design, compose, and build things that can change the world. Many great ideas never see the light of day because people do not recognise their own potential. As the British statesman Benjamin Disraeli said:

“We are not creatures of circumstance; we are creators of circumstance.”

Turning Problems into Opportunities

Do not wait for opportunities to knock on your door. Very often, opportunities come disguised as problems. Global challenges like climate change, poverty, and disease also bring golden chances to innovate, create, and make the world better. Remember—every difficulty is an opportunity in disguise.

Creativity Brings Joy

Research shows that creative people are generally happier. Why? Because when we create, we not only express ourselves but also make life brighter for others. Think of innovators like Steve Jobs, Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, Sheryl Sandberg, and Sundar Pichai—their ideas have changed how we live, work, and connect.

But greatness does not depend on comfort or privilege. Some people who faced immense challenges turned them into strengths. For example, Nick Vujicic, born without arms or legs, says:

“I’m officially disabled, but I’m truly enabled because of my lack of limbs. My unique challenges have opened up unique opportunities to reach so many in need.”

His life shows us that limitations do not stop us—they can in fact lead us to new possibilities.

Lighting a Lamp

History is full of stories of young people who refused to curse the darkness and instead lit a lamp of hope. Each one of us has the power to create “good news” through imagination, innovation, and courage. Your creativity can awaken the sleeping giant within you and inspire others too.

Connecting Ideas

Creative ideas are often born when we connect old ideas in new ways. As Steve Jobs said:

“Creativity is connecting things.”

This is why innovators are always curious readers and learners. Books, experiences, and conversations feed their imagination. The more you read and explore, the more ideas you will have.

Final Thought

Keep yourself motivated by reading and listening to what inspires you. Remember, the world needs good news, and you can be the one to create it.

✨Every person has a spark of greatness. Use your creativity, courage, and love to spread good news and make the world brighter.

6) The laughing Buddha

HOTEI 

In Japan and China, there once lived a joyful monk named Hotei, also known as the Laughing Buddha. Unlike many teachers who gave long speeches or wrote books, Hotei never taught through words. His only teaching was laughter.

After he became enlightened, Hotei simply started laughing. Whenever people asked, “Why are you laughing?” he would laugh even more! He wandered from village to village, carrying nothing with him except his infectious laughter and a large cloth sack.

At first, people thought it was strange. They would ask themselves, “Why are we laughing with him when there is no reason?” Yet, the moment Hotei laughed, others couldn’t stop themselves from joining in. Slowly the entire crowd would burst into laughter—loud, carefree, and without any reason.

What amazed people was how different they felt after laughing with him. Their eyes felt brighter, their hearts lighter, and it seemed as if a heavy burden had been lifted from within. The laughter gave them a sense of joy and freedom that they had never experienced before.

For the next forty-five years of his life, Hotei did only this—he laughed and made others laugh. That was his message, his way of spreading happiness. In Japan, people loved him so much that even today you can find statues of the Laughing Buddha in almost every home.

But Hotei was more than just laughter. His name means “cloth sack,” because he always carried a bag full of gifts, food, and toys for children. He was chubby and smiling, with a big belly, which became a symbol of abundance, kindness, and good luck. Some people even believed he was an incarnation of Maitreya, the future Buddha.

Even today, many people keep statues of the Laughing Buddha in their homes, shops, and offices. They believe his presence spreads happiness, positivity, and prosperity. Rubbing his big belly is thought to bring good luck too!

Hotei’s life teaches us a simple yet powerful lesson: sometimes laughter itself is the best medicine and the greatest wisdom. We don’t always need a reason to laugh. True laughter comes from the heart, and it can heal, refresh, and bring people closer together.

✨ Moral: A cheerful heart spreads light everywhere. Just like Hotei, let your smile and laughter make the world a happier place.