Why do people give cash gifts in numbers such as 51, 101, and 501?

Especially in India, cash gift is common for a auspicious occasions like weddings, house warming, any pooja etc..

It was few a week after my marriage, my family started uncovering the gifts/envelops received on the wedding day. As usual it started with unwrapping big attractive ones and then last but not the least - cash gift envelops turn(which is still very common in India likewise amazon card in recent times so called Digital World and elsewhere). A polythene cover contained those envelopes was bit heavier when lifted(I mean't expected be lightweight as that was just cash bills/paper) and upon envelops were taken out, there was so many '1 Rupee coins' at the cover bottom! That is where this question raised like why do people add 1 rupee on top of major denomination(s)??

Below are few reasons from individual opinion and google search, but listed in order of how I felt relevance:
1. Usually people would wanted to return +1 of what was received from them as gift(sorry to call this out, but infact logically yes though).
2. Superstitious belief of metal(coin) brings luck, to be given on top of actual denomination.
3. Numerology - should end by odd number.
4. Should be indivisible(especially for newly wedded couple).

Please leave a comment if better reason found, otherwise I believe this may be useful for now.

PS: For the fellow overseas Indian kids, below the 1 rupee INR cash bill if you haven't seen. Perhaps I guess you may or may not get +1 there, at least I didn't see anywhere in US and in fact it was flat/divisible when we(newly married couple) were invited(sorry if you come across this read), received.

Why are umbrellas generally black in color?

It's not surprising that marketers have been looking for compact & portable version in everything they make, as recent generation demands, especially in overcrowded cities like Mumbai, Bangalore where residential growing upwards w/o shortage of land. Likewise I had an 3 fold umbrella, and carried the same when relocated to Hartford(US), where I hardly see 3 storage apartments w/ ground being basement for laundry & storage, every block or house surrounded by vast green. Even then people like me who resides with temporary work visa, stays in rented apartment have common concern and buys everything of compact version(never know when I will be asked to relocate or leave US). Heavy wind took my first umbrella and soon 2nd, I didn't hurry for 3rd rather gauged few umbrella's in my work floor and surprised to feel weight of those umbrella. It's hard metal and wooden handle - realized! When I back home with 3rd(both bigger & heavier - lesson learnt frm 2 previous) again black umbrella though there were various shades in the store I bought!

Why color black?
In the olden days umbrellas were used only to get protect from rain, though it's being used while hot sun lately. Back in the generation(before synthetic fabric) where thick cotton cloth used for umbrella. When they got wet in the rains, they would take a long time to dry up. Comparatively black absorb more heat and as a result the evaporation process is faster, dries up little early.

Today, umbrellas are made of fabric that doesn't soak water easily, so color not at all a problem; umbrellas come in all shades, few with fancy & fine print too.

Why few, though many wanted to be a winner?

** Let me put T&C at the top rather bottom, because post here is not for attraction rather to understand. YOU in this post refers to human being(he/she) but I’d be portraying as reader for a moment to provide warm comfort.

Winners don’t do different things they do things differently. Take a breath & read bit louder so that your mind can listen once again “It is not WHAT you do, but HOW you do it, that matters.

Believe. Whether you think you can or can’t, you’re right. Whether you think you will or won’t, you’re right. It’s your reaction which would wholly influenced from - grown up environment, perception, circumstances, least but considerable - group of people with whom you have grown up;your mind groomed.

Understand that, every human is unique. Though you wanted to follow someone, you would ONLY do what you are but not what you wanted it to be for your world, for anything that matter - that’s where attitude play’s crucial role ‘How you” despite what you do. On side note - You must know what your goal is? Believe it you have chosen it by passion & love. Fact is that every human is unique, so don’t compare with others’.

Be Positive. you must develop the habits of thinking, talking, and acting positive. We all have the choice of how we will handle the day or any situation that we confront. It’s a very simple choice. Are you going to be positive or negative? Charles Swindoll stated it best in one of his quotes, “I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it.” So if you respond to what happens to you in life in a positive manner that is the first step to being a winner.

Be brave, even if you’re not;no one can tell the difference.

Don’t major in minor things.

Have Faith; pair faith with belief & everything will turn out well.

Njoy the journey along the d way & pay attention to what you're pursuing rather to the target goal you have set for yourself.

Surround yourself with right people(which could be not easy life for some at times).

The importance of winning isn't WHAT you get it from, rather WHAT you become because of it.

Judge your success by the degree that you're enjoying peace, health and love.

Your life will never get easier, rather by experience you become wiser to react well.

Before you react just believe “Winning is an attitude”, so how you do(= winner) matters the most than what you do(>> participants).  winning attitude

Gujri % Dokota % ale hulli % black & white model % 80's model % vintage % 2-stroke engine % Scrap % classic

Did you say "Dakota"?? NO? perhaps it must be something similar depends upon native language;used to point out any pretty old 2 wheeler vehicle.

I was pretty clueless why it was called so & not even had second though as phrase itself had no conflict. It was hot day, while passing by a village in Manchester(in fact - Manchester has other name too "Town of village charm"), located in eastern Connecticut & saw an very very old truck with name DAKOTA on body side, and wondered by name familiarizes.


Immediate mind map - Ohh!, might be this was the name of vehicle brand back in 80's and later people used the same word to address any scrap old 2 wheeler. As usual approached online guru $Google$. Nothing surprising & to be honest I didn't felt great because of the below. May be even you dear reader would .......loose interest; sorry for that.

It's also a boy name in native America; don't ever check for urban dictionary - may go on crazy

A member of a North American Indian people of the upper Mississippi valley

FYI - Dodge Dakota(a.ka Ram Dakota) was nominated for the North American Truck of the Year award for 2000

Have you ever wonder why the wall CLOCKS in-store, are always show 10:10?

You may or mayn't have heard - oh that's just because,

• It could have be the logo of the very first watch maker
• May be myths out of the way, memorial 4 Lincoln/ JF. Kennedy/Martin Luther King were shot. 

On a side note,

The logo/first time piece maker, in the form of pendent with the hanging spring.
Also, Lincoln was shot at 10:15pm, JF Kendey was shot at 12:30 pm etc..

Actual reason be, that was 1 of 2 options left, to show the clock hands in symmetrical arrangement, while makers evolved accommodating the below over a period:

1. 1st being the manufacturer's logo
2. Later on & on - additional elements like date, day, month, AM/PM, year etc.. found their attractive pie around 3, 6 & 9; in-fact looked nice & cool too.

Somehow dial got it's components(leme call it as xtra-fittings or cosmetics😉) on it, and maker too would have satisfied by then. Although model looked nice w/ cosmetics, aren't it's organs(hour & minute hands) important to run(do well in market), and where wud they place it?? That's where the only 2 options(referred previously) left to show hands symmetrically - 8:20 or 10;10.

 

Marketing apart(despite where/when/whom to sell), what does world accepts?

Logically - 10:10 is not perfectly symmetrical, as the hour hand has moved one-sixth of an hour towards the 11, note that a couple of the timepieces in the picture are actually set to 10:08 or 10:09, presumably for greater symmetry.

Later than never - just in case, if one wish to know who gave the birth to watch?
Peter Henlein the german craftsman is often credited as the inventor of the "clock-watches" (taschenuhr), around Aug 1485.

Trend as taken turn(left? right? u-turn? it's 360 degree; everything @ 1 touch, and when i said everything - something that attracts/be the necessary for one, few BUT need not be for all. And this is where the customize-able takes birth👍

Why do our jeans pants have a small pocket just above the front right pocket?

Though I use jeans pants very often, I get this doubt rarely when:

• In train, while sleep in upper birth, I shift coins from back pocket to this; to avoid fall on passengers in lower birth.
• To keep 5 rupees coin Saturday early morning, which serve ticket cost to my village; rather struggling for change as it's very first stop in that route.
• sometimes to pen-drive so that I may copy some nice movies when visit friends; but never missed to check tiny pocket before dropping it to wash.

I pen down how it got useful to me. But sometimes it's not easy to take stuff out of it without making the scene awkward.

Why this colaveri-de...Was it something useful that was added or it is just a fashion thing?

One fine day remembered when surffing on net, figured out the actual reason behind & that was...

Back in the 1800s, cowboys used to wear their watches on chains and kept them avoid getting broken. Levis introduced this covering mainly cowboys and it continued then on...
http://www.levisguide.com/watchpocket/watchpocket.html

way back Gandhi ji used it without pant, forget pockets LoL:)

You may see people find it useful in their own ways like coins, keys, small ipod, lipstick/lip balm, tissue pocket & wand holder(Harry Potter fans)etc. already said just individual own ways.

What is the significance of 18 holy steps @ Lord Ayyappa?

      16th Sep 2011 was my first visit to Sabarimala, in fact that was a fortunate trip. Credit goes to my colleuge Raj, who introduced me to team in Bangalore, which is basically raised from HMT employees, and now it's being evolved as a unified family with diverse individual. I really enjoyed my every minute with group, rather just been to holy place. These is where everyone of us fortunately meet people of various age;passion,profession,attitude etc..

Pen down this post to share info to some of the very common question(s) appear looking over to any swami(devotees).
      Lord Ayyappa (hindu deity worshiped in South India) is believed to be born out of the union btw Shiva and Mohini(avatar of Vishnu). a.k.a 'Harihara Puthra'

Reason behind the name Manikanta?
He was found(tied a golden bell 'mani' around his neck 'kandan') on banks of the Pampa river, soon after his birth.

Symbolism of the 18 steps?

Those who carry the irumudi on their head are only allowed to use the 18 holy steps.
steps 1 - 5: symbolize the five human senses(Panchendriyas - signify the `mortal’ nature of one’s body) - vision, hearing, smell, taste n touch.

steps 6 - 13: symbolize the eight ashtaragas - Kama, Krodha, Lobha, Moha, Madha, Maltsarya, Asooya n Dhumb. (Love, Anger, Avarice, Lust, Pride, Unhealthy Competition, Jealousy and Boastfulness).

steps 14 - 16: symbolize for three gunas; nature born qualities
i.e. Satva,( perspicuity, discernment) , Rajas(activity, enjoyment) and Thamas(inactivity, stupor).

steps 17 - 18: symbolize vidya (Knowledge) and avidya (Ignorance).

Why 18 steps?
The steps represent the 18 hills existing in and around the region of Sabarimala. Ponnambalamedu, Gowdenmala, Nagamala, Sundaramala, Chittambalamala, Khalgimala, Mathangamala, yladummala, Sreepadamala, Devarmala, Nilakkalmala, Thalapparamala, Neelimala, Karimala, Puthuserrymala,
Kalakettimala, Inchipparamala and Sabarimala.

Could be derived frm epics-
Eighteen is considered as the code number to break into the soul of the Nature. The significance of 18 can be traced back to the Vedic age. The first Veda, believed to be protected by Lord Brahma himself, had 18 chapters. Later, Veda Vyasa divided it to create the four vedas: Rigveda, Yajur Veda, Sama Veda and Atharava Veda. Each of these vedas had 18 chapters.Veda Vyasa also wrote 18 puranas and 18 upa-puranas. The Bhagavad Gita has 18 chapters and the Kurukshetra war lasted 18 days.
What is Irumudi & it is used for?

Basically it means 2(iru) compartments,
- Munmudi(front) meant for Pooja articles
- Pinmudi(back) for journey requisites.

Significance of ghee-filled coconut?

Symbolically, the ‘ghee’ in the coconut represents the ‘soul.’ And the human body is represented by the coconut. After the arduous trek, when a devotee stands face to face with Lord Ayyappa – the ghee poured on the Lord symbolically represents the merging of the individual soul with the universal soul or the ‘Jivatma’ with ‘Paramatma.’
Finally, the empty coconut, which represents the body, is consumed by the fire in the ‘homakundam.’

Why 40 + 1  days of vratham?
Since the human form is the last form to get this enlightenment, 40 days spiritual discipline is undertaken to remind us the 40 weeks we were in mother's womb and the finally on the 41st day we take the final journey to Sabarimala. This knowledge of the Self requires help of a guru and so Ayyappa Vratham should be initiated with a Guru. The Guru initiates the practice  by putting a Tulsi mala (108 beads that represents the mathematical rhythm of nature).

Why do we wear black or blue dress?
Wearing black clothes is the traditional dress to indicate total with-drawl of mind and total absorption into the "Self" or "Atma". (Objects are black due to complete absorption of color spectra). Blue color is the color of illusion like the blue sky or blue ocean. To remind us the maya (illusion) of this mind, blue color is worn.

Why not to cut nails, shave not cut hair?
 It is a great practice to give up the thought that we are not this body that is born and dead, but the immortal Consciousness principle, Brahman.  Importance is not given to physical comforts of body and so no shaving, no nail cutting, no wearing shoes etc is done so that it helps the mind to transcend from the body sense to the awareness state and finally to consciousness state.