Krishna, Arjuna at Kurukshetra, 18-19 th century painting.

Ratha ( Sanskrit rátha, Avestan raθa) is the Indo-Iranian term for the spoked-wheel chariot of Antiquity.

It derives from a collective *ret-h- to a Proto-Indo-European word *rot-o- for "wheel" that also resulted in Latin rota and is also known from Germanic, Celtic and Baltic. The Sanskrit terms for the wagon pole, harness, yoke and wheel have cognates in other branches of Indo-European.^{[citation needed]}

Textual evidence[link]

Chariots are also an important part of Hindu, with most of the gods in their pantheon portrayed as riding them.

Chariots figure prominently in the Rigveda, evidencing their presence in India in the 2nd millennium BC. Among Rigvedic deities, notably Ushas (the dawn) rides in a chariot, as well as Agni in his function as a messenger between gods and men.

The Rigvedic chariots are described as made of Salmali (RV 10.85.20), Khadira and Simsapa (RV 3.53.19).

In RV 6.61.13, the Sarasvati river is described as being big like a chariotof the Rigvedic chariot . Measurements for the chariot are found in the Shulba Sutras. The number of wheels varies. A similar term in the Rigveda is Anas (often translated as "cart").^[1]

History[link]

Proto-Indo-Iranians[link]

The area of the spoke-wheeled chariot finds within the Sintashta-Petrovka culture is indicated in purple.

Development of the spoke-wheeled chariot is associated with the Proto-Indo-Iranians. The earliest fully developed war chariots known are from the chariot burials of the Andronovo (Timber-Grave) sites of the Sintashta-Petrovka culture in modern Russia and Kazakhstan dating from around 2000 BCE. This culture is at least partially derived from the earlier Yamna culture. The Andronovo Culture built heavily fortified industrial settlements where they engaged in bronze metallurgy on a scale hitherto unprecedented. They practiced complex burial rituals reminiscent of Aryan rituals known from the Rigveda^[2] . The Sintashta-Petrovka chariot burials yield spoke-wheeled chariots. The Andronovo culture over the next few centuries spreads across the steppes from the Urals to the Tien Shan, likely corresponding to early Indo-Iranian cultures which eventually spread to Iran and India in the course of the 2nd millennium BCE.

The chariot must not necessarily be regarded as a marker for Indo-European or Indo-Iranian presence.^[3] According to Raulwing, it is an undeniable fact that only comparative Indo-European linguistics is able to furnish the methodological basics of the hypothesis of a "PIE chariot", in other words: "Ausserhalb der Sprachwissenschaft winkt keine Rettung!^[4]"^[5][6]

The earliest evidence for chariots in southern Central Asia (on the Oxus) dates to the Achaemenid period (apart from chariots harnessed by oxen, as seen on petroglyphs).^[7] No Andronovian chariot burial has been found south of the Oxus.^[8]

Remains[link]

Horse-drawn chariot carved onto the mandapam of Airavateswarar temple, Darasuram (left), c.a. 12th century AD. The chariot and its wheel (right)are so finely sculpted that they include even the faintest details
Horse-drawn chariot carved onto the mandapam of Airavateswarar temple, Darasuram (left), c.a. 12th century AD. The chariot and its wheel (right)are so finely sculpted that they include even the faintest details

The Rath Jatra in the Grand Avenue at the Jagannath Temple, Puri, 2007

There are a few depictions of chariots among the petroglyphs in the sandstone of the Vindhya range. Two depictions of chariots are found in Morhana Pahar, Mirzapur district. One shows a team of two horses, with the head of a single driver visible. The other one is drawn by four horses, has six-spoked wheels, and shows a driver standing up in a large chariot-box. This chariot is being attacked, with a figure wielding a shield and a mace standing at its path, and another figure armed with bow and arrow threatening its right flank. It has been suggested (Sparreboom 1985:87) that the drawings record a story, most probably dating to the early centuries BC, from some center in the area of the Ganges–Yamuna plain into the territory of still neolithic hunting tribes. The drawings would then be a representation of foreign technology, comparable to the Arnhem Land Aboriginal rock paintings depicting Westerners. The very realistic chariots carved into the Sanchi stupas are dated to roughly the 1st century.

The earliest chariot remains that have been found in India (at Atranjikhera) has been dated to between 350 and 50 BCE.^[9] It is also highly unlikely that a perishable item like the chariot could have been preserved in the Indian climate since Harappan times.^[10] There is evidence of wheeled vehicles (especially miniature models) in the Indus Valley Civilization, but not of chariots.^[11]

Indus valley sites have offered several instances of evidence of spoked wheels. Prof. B.B.Lal^[12] has irrevocably proved with convincing specimens the existence and use of spoked wheel chariots in Harappan Civilization. Bhirrana excavations 2005-06.^[13] Bhagwan Singh^[14] had made a similar assertion and S.R.Rao had had presented evidence of chariots in bronze models from Daimabad (Late Harappan). This aspect appears to have been overlooked.

In Hindu temple festivals[link]

Ratha or Rath means a chariot or car made from wood with wheels. The Ratha may be driven manually by rope, pulled by horses or elephants. Rathas are used mostly by the Hindu temples of South India for Rathoutsava (Car festival). During the festival, the temple deities are driven through the streets, accompanied by the chanting of mantra, hymns, shloka or bhajan.

Ratha Yatra is a huge Hindu festival associated with Lord Jagannath held at Puri in the state of Orissa, India during the months of June or July.

Gallery[link]

• Ratha or chariots
• 

  Airavatesvara Temple sanctum in the form of a chariot, Darasuram, Tamil Nadu

• 

  'Five Rathas' at Mamallapuram, Tamil Nadu.

• 

  The Towering Rajagopuram with one of the Temple Rathas

• 

  Konark Sun Temple Ratha wheel

• Thear 2.jpg

  The Great Thear (ஆழித் தேர்) of Sri Thyagarajaswami, Tiruvarur

• 

  The Rath Yatra in Puri in modern times showing the three chariots of the deities with the Temple in the background

• Nellaiappar Temple Golden Car Nov 2 2009.jpg

  Picture of Tirunelveli Nellaiappar Temple Golden Ratha

• JagannathRathYatra.JPG

  ISKCON Rath Jatra at Thiruvananthapuram, India.

• 

  Tiruvarur The largest Temple Ratha car in Tamil Nadu

• 

  Srivilliputtur Andal Ther - 2nd largest Temple Rath in TamilNadu

• 

  Tirunelveli Nellaiappar Temple Car - 3rd largest Temple Ratha in TamilNadu ~ Picture taken on July 5,2009 on 505th Car festival of Tirunelveli

• 

  Temple Ratha in Colombo, Sri Lanka

• 

  Temple Ratha in Chennai, India

• 

  Rath Jatra festival in New York City organized by ISKCON

• 

  Construction of ratha

• 

  Banashankari Amma Temple's wooden Ratha

See also[link]

• Ashva
• History of the horse in South Asia
• Temple car
• Vimana

Notes[link]

References[link]

• Bryant, Edwin (2001). The Quest for the Origins of Vedic Culture. Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-513777-9.
• Fussman, G.; Kellens, J.; Francfort, H.-P.; Tremblay, X. (2005). Aryas, Aryens et Iraniens en Asie Centrale. Institut Civilisation Indienne ISBN 2-86803-072-6
• Kazanas, Nicholas (2001). The AIT and Scholarship. Athens.
• Peter Raulwing (2000). Horses, Chariots and Indo-Europeans, Foundations and Methods of Chariotry Research from the Viewpoint of Comparative Indo-European Linguistics. Archaeolingua, Series Minor 13, Budapest.

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (February 2008)

Vishnujana Swami (1948–1976)^{[1][dead link]}, was a disciple of A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, and a sannyasi within the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (commonly known as the 'Hare Krishnas' or ISKCON). Even though he mysteriously disappeared in 1976, he has continued to be a well-known and legendary figure within ISKCON through recordings of his singing of the Hare Krishna mantra and his historical position as a preacher in the early days of the movement.

Vishnujana Swami was born on June 2, 1948, in San Jose, California. At the age of seventeen he moved to San Francisco along with his girlfriend, who he then married. It was in 1966-1967 that Vishnujana first came into contact with the Hare Krishnas, and by 1968 he had received initiation from Srila Prabhupada and became a full-time member of the movement. On July 20, 1970, Srila Prabhupada awarded Vishnujana the order of sannyasa.

Vishnujana was especially well known within ISKCON for his singing voice, and skill at playing instruments, such as the harmonium and mridangam. Musical recordings of Vishunjana would later be released in 1995^[2] and are popularly sold within ISKCON.

By 1973, Vishnujana Swami headed up a team of devotees traveling on a bus across the USA which became famous within ISKCON as one of its most successful preaching parties. The team was named after the deities which travelled with them in the bus, called Radha-Damodara. This bus, filled with ISKCON devotees, would travel from city to city, performing sankirtan, and distributing Srila Prabhupada's books. Vishujana Swami continued travelling with the Sankirtan Party in this way until 1976.

In 1976, during the Gaura Purnima festival in India, Vishnujana Swami disappeared. It is commonly believed that he chose to leave his body at the confluence of several sacred rivers at the Ganges. During a walk some days earlier it is believed he had heard a general statement by Prabhupada concerning the duty of a sannyasi which could have led to him taking his own life, but as Vishnujana is not recorded to have disclosed his thoughts to anyone before disappearing it is not known for certain if this was the case.

In 1999, a biography of Vishnujana Swami entitled "Radha-Damodara Vilasa" was published by Vaiyasaki das Adhikari.

Discography[link]

References[link]

• Broo, Måns (2003), As good as God: the guru in Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇavism, Åbo Akademi University Press, ISBN 951-765-132-5, http://books.google.com/books?id=WZTXAAAAMAAJ 
• Tamal Krishna Goswami (1984), Servant of the Servant, Bhaktivedanta Book Trust, http://books.google.com/books?id=tTDrGgAACAAJ 
• Vaiyasaki Dasa (1999), Radha-Damodara Vilasa: The Inner Life of Vishnujana Swami and Jayananda Prabhu. Volume 1 1967-1972, Srvanam-Kirtanam Press, ISBN 0-9655784-3-7, http://books.google.com/books?id=wIKlAQAACAAJ 
• Lokanātha Swami (2001), Festivals: Śrīla Prabhupāda at the Māyāpur-Vr̥ndāvana festivals, Padayātrā Press, ISBN 81-901132-1-6, http://books.google.com/books?id=tn_XAAAAMAAJ 
• Bhaktisiddhartha Dasanudas (2002), Search for the Absolute Truth, Harinam Arts Press, ISBN 0-9703586-3-6, http://books.google.com/books?id=R_3Wg8BiUO0C 
• Riddha Dāsa (1997), Destination South Africa: the birth of the Hare Krishna movement in South Africa, 1972-1975, Visnu Garuda Books, ISBN 1-901593-00-2, http://books.google.com/books?id=v7FuAAAAMAAJ 
• Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami (1998), You Cannot Leave Boston: My Letters from Srila Prabhupada, GN Press, ISBN 0-911233-71-7, http://books.google.com/books?id=QIHXAAAAMAAJ 
• Satsvarūpa Dāsa Gosvāmī (1981), Śrīla Prabhupāda-līlāmṛta: a biography of His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda. Vol. 3, Only He Could Lead Them: San Francisco/India 1967, Bhaktivedanta Book Trust, ISBN 0-89213-110-1, http://books.google.com/books?id=PVMqAAAAYAAJ 
• Satsvarūpa Dāsa Gosvāmī (1982), Śrīla Prabhupāda-līlāmṛta: a biography of His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda. Vol. 4, In Every Town and Village: Around the World 1968-1971, Bhaktivedanta Book Trust, ISBN 0-89213-115-2, http://books.google.com/books?id=KUUqAAAAYAAJ 
• Satsvarūpa Dāsa Gosvāmī (1983), Srīla Prabhupāda-līlāmṛta: a biography of His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda. Vol. 5, Let There Be a Temple: India/Around the World 1971-1975, Bhaktivedanta Book Trust, ISBN 0-89213-119-5, http://books.google.com/books?id=cITXAAAAMAAJ 
• Satsvarūpa Dāsa Gosvāmī (1983), Srīla Prabhupāda-līlāmṛta: a biography of His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda. Vol. 6, Uniting Two Worlds: Around the World / Return to Vrindavana 1975-1977, Bhaktivedanta Book Trust, ISBN 0-89213-106-3, http://books.google.com/books?id=VYzXAAAAMAAJ 
• Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami (1984), Your ever well-wisher, Bhaktivedanta Book Trust, ISBN 0-89213-133-0, http://books.google.com/books?id=0IHXAAAAMAAJ 
• West Publishing Co. (1991), "Northeastern reporter. Second series", Northeastern reporter 571, http://books.google.com/books?lr=&ei=bil0SviPDpv2ygSmrOzVAg 
• Gauridasa Pandit Dasa (June 6, 1999), "Visnujana Swami's Birthday", Vaishnava News Network, http://www.vnn.org/world/WD9906/WD06-4049.html 

External links[link]

• Vishnujana & Prabhupada Kirtan (VN024-06)

Raveena Tandon
Raveena Tandon at The Premiere of Vicky Donor, 2012
Born	(1974-10-26) 26 October 1974 (age 37) Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Occupation	Actress, producer, TV host
Years active	1991–2006, 2011-present
Spouse	Anil Thadani (2004-present)
Children	4

Raveena Tandon (born 26 October 1974^[1]) is an Indian actress, producer, and a former model. She has primarily worked in Bollywood films, though she appeared in a few Tamil, Kannada and Telugu films as well.

Tandon made her acting debut with Patthar Ke Phool (1991), and won a Filmfare Lux New Face Award for her performance in the film. During the 90s, she was part of several commercial successes such as Mohra (1994), Khiladiyon Ka Khiladi (1996) and Ziddi (1997), among others. Despite attaining popularity, she was not particularly recognised as an actor. This however changed in the early 2000s, when she ventured into more serious roles and turned towards arthouse and parallel cinema. She got high critical acclaim for her performances in films like Aks (2001) and Satta (2003), and had the peak of her career in 2002, when she won the National Film Award for Best Actress for her performance in Kalpana Lajmi's Daman: A Victim of Marital Violence (2001).

She recently turned into TV host with her new chat show, Isi Ka Naam Zindagi (2012).

Early life[link]

Raveena Tandon was born in Mumbai, to filmmaker Ravi Tandon and Veena. Her name is an amalgamation of her parents' name. She attended Jamnabai Narsee School in Juhu and studied at Mithibai College. She completed her first and second years at the college. During her time as an intern, she got her first film offer from Shantanu Sheorey which she accepted.^[2] She dropped out of college and decided to pursue her film career.^[2]

Her father was a producer and director of some films in the 1970s and 1980s. She has a brother named Rajiv Tandon, who had a brief career in Bollywood films as Raaj Tandon. One cousin, Kiran Rathod is a South Indian actress.^[3] One other cousin, Reshma Singh, acted in television serials. A third cousin, Vishal Singh, is a successful actor for television serials.

Career[link]

1990s[link]

Raveena Tandon debuted with the film Patthar Ke Phool (1991) which was a hit;^[4] she received the Filmfare Lux New Face Award for her debut performance.

Her next films Mohra (1994) and Dilwale (1994) were big hits at the box office whilst Laadla (1994), although an average performer, still earned her a Filmfare nomination as best supporting actress. Mohra was the second biggest hit of 1994.^[5] Her other releases of that year included the thriller Imtihaan and the comedy Andaz Apna Apna. The former was an average performer.^[5] but has since gained a strong cult following over the years. She reportedly got into a fight with her co-star Karisma Kapoor on the sets of the film. In 1995, she starred with Shahrukh Khan for the first time in Zamaana Deewana; the film failed to do well.^[6] Her next few films also failed to do well at the box office and her career saw a drop in her success. Her career was back on track with hit films like Khiladiyon Ka Khiladi (1996)^[7] and Ziddi (1997), both being big hits each of its respective year.^[8] In 1997, she was to play her first villainous role in Dus but the film was shelved after the director's death when 40% of the film's shooting had been completed.

In 1998, Tandon had eight releases. Her last release of that year Bade Miyan Chote Miyan co-starring Amitabh Bachchan and Govinda turned out to the second biggest hit of the year.^[9] Coincidentally, Tandon was offered the second lead in Kuch Kuch Hota Hai which went on to be the biggest hit of 1998, but she turned it down.^[10] Her other releases of that year were Gharwali Baharwali which gained a below average status and Vinashak, Pardesi Babu and Aunty No. 1 all of which were un-successful.^[9]

2000s[link]

In the 2000s, Tandon turned her career professionally. She went on to work more with art film directors and realistic cinema. It proved to be a good turning as films like Shool (1999), Bulandi (2000) and Aks (2001) won her huge acclaim. She won many awards as well as the Filmfare Special Performance Award for her performance in Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra's Aks.^[11]

Her years in the industry paid off when she won the coveted National Film Award for Best Actress for her performance in Kalpana Lajmi's Daman: A Victim of Marital Violence (2001), where she played a battered wife to an abusive husband.^[12] She surprised critics and audiences with her performance in the film and received much appreciation for her work. Critic, Taran Adarsh said, "Raveena Tandon lends credibility to the role of a battered wife and walks away with the honours. The pathos she conveys through her expressions makes you realise that she's a performer of substance".^[13]

Since then, she has starred in a number of critically acclaimed films, such as Satta (2003) and Dobara (2004), but has not had much box office success. Her role as a middle class woman thrust into the world of politics in the former was praised. Critic, Taran Adarsh wrote, "Raveena Tandon delivers a bravura performance. The actress takes giant strides as a performer, giving the right touches to her character. Here's a performance that's bound to be noticed".^[14] Her role as a schizophrenic in Dobara was also praised with one critic saying, "Raveena is in sync with her character, essaying her part with elaan".^[15] Her only release in 2006 was Sandwich which opened to poor reviews and reception.^[16] Tandon has also produced the films Stumped (2003) and Pehchaan: The Face of Truth (2005), neither of which had much success at the box office.

Personal life[link]

She adopted two girl children Pooja and Chhaya as a single mother in the 1995 when they were 11 and 8 years old.^[17]

Tandon began dating film distributor Anil Thadani during the making of her film Stumped (2003). Their engagement was announced in November 2003.^[18] She married Thadani on 22 February 2004 in Jag Mandir Palace in Udaipur, Rajasthan according to Punjabi style.^[19] She gave birth to a baby girl called Rasha on 16 March 2005. She gave birth to her second child, a baby boy named Ranbir on 12 July 2007.^[20]

Controversies[link]

Tandon was chairperson of the Children's Film Society of India from 2003, but from 2004 the actress began to get complaints that she did not attend the organization's meetings and that she was not involved with the activities set up by the society. In September 2005, Tandon resigned from her post citing personal reasons.^[21]

In November 2005, Tandon sued the websites, Shaadi.com and Shaaditimes.com, claiming that they were using un-authorized images of her to promote the site. She also sued the owner Satyanet Solutions, as they claimed that Tandon and her husband had met through the website.^[22]

Commitments[link]

In November 2002, Tandon signed on to support the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. She has posed in many advertisement campaigns joining the likes of Shilpa Shetty, Amisha Patel and John Abraham. On the issue of cows being slaughtered for their skin, she said "their abuse at the hands of corrupt skin and meat traders must be stopped".^[23]

Awards[link]

• 1992: Filmfare Lux New Face Award, Patthar Ke Phool
• 2002: Bengal Film Journalists' Association Awards Best Supporting Actress, Aks^[24]
• 2002: National Film Award for Best Actress, Daman: A Victim of Marital Violence
• 2002: Filmfare Special Performance Award, Aks
• 2002: Star Screen Award Best Supporting Actress, Aks
• 2002: Bollywood Movie Award – Best Supporting Actress, Aks
• 2002: Bollywood Movie Award – Critics Award Female, Aks
• 2002: Awadh Samman by the Government of Uttar Pradesh

Filmography[link]

Films[link]

Television[link]

References[link]

External links[link]

• Raveena Tandon at the Internet Movie Database
• Raveena Tandon to host a chat show