The region of Gandhara was the part of Achaemenian Empire in the time of Cyrus the great in 6th century B.C. It remained under the Persian domination for more than two centuries until Alexander the Great conquered it in 326 B.C. By 317 B.C. the last of the Greek forces of Alexander had departed from the country and in just 20 years the Greek rule disintegrated ceding the region to Mauryan dynasty.Founder of the dynasty was Chandragupta Maurya and his grandson Asoka who made Buddhism the state religion of his dominion and sent missionaries to neighboring states to spread the faith. After Asoka’s death the dynasty underwent a rapid decline and from about 184 B.C. Gandhara returned to Greek rule, then Sakas or Scythians. For about a century and a half the Sakas were able to maintain themselves in Gandhara and were supplanted by another similar group known as Kushans. The Succeeding Kushan rulers consolidated and enlarged their territory turning it into an empire. Like Asoka, Kanishka too adopted Buddhist faith and with the true zeal of a convert fortified the religion in the region with the establishment of Stupas and monasteries.
After Kanishka, Gandhara was annexed by Persian rulers. Buddhism continued to flourish and develop at greater or lesser pace till about 460 A.D. when the whole North Western India was over run by white Huns who carried out the total destruction and devastation where ever they went. Buddhism had developed such firm roots in Gandhara that in spite of a number of invasions and a succession of foreign rules in the thousand years or so, majority of Gandhara population remained Buddhist.
The artistic manifestation of the faith further strengthened the bond unifying the people of Gandhara. The subject matter of Gandhara art was the depiction of various Buddhist concepts. Political, socio-economic and cultural structure of Gandhara has been studied in its Buddhist Art. However, Buddhist art of Gandhara has been clouded in mystery. Even today, after over a century and a half of research, many of its problems are still unsolved. Questions remain such as the date of its zenith and duration of its survival; the historical ambience from which it arose; the sources of its many cosmopolitan influences; the inspiration of the “classical” Buddha image; the circumstance; of its downfall and the destruction of its monuments. All these issues are part of discussion of the present research study.
Sword fighting as sport has existed since ancient Egypt, and has been practiced in many forms in various cultures since then. Although jousting and tournament combat was a popular sport in the European middle ages, modern FIE fencing owes more to unarmoured dueling forms that evolved from 16th century rapier combat. Rapiers evolved from cut-and-thrust military swords, but were most popular amongst civilians who used it for self-defence and dueling. Rapiers were edged, but the primary means of attack was the thrust. Rapier fencing spread from Spain and Italy to northwest Europe, in spite of the objections of masters such as George Silver who preferred traditional cutting weapons such the English broad sword. The Spanish school, under masters such as Narvaez and Thibault, became a complicated and mystical affair whose geometrical theories required much practice to master. Italian masters like Agrippa and Capo Ferro developed a more pragmatic school in the late 16th and early 17th centuries, introducing innovations such as linear fencing and the lunge. By the 18th century, the rapier had evolved to a simpler, shorter, and lighter design that was popularized in France as the small sword. Although the small sword often had an edge, it was only to discourage the opponent from grabbing the blade, and the weapon was used exclusively for thrusting. The light weight made a more complex and defensive style possible, and the French masters developed a school based on defence with the sword, subtlety of movement, and complex attacks. When buttoned with a leather safety tip that resembled a flower bud, the small sword was known as le fleuret, and was identical in use to the modern foil (still known as le fleuret in French). Indeed, the French small sword school forms the basis of most of modern fencing theory. By the mid-19th century, dueling was in decline as a means of settling disputes, partially because victory could lead to a jail term for assault or manslaughter. Emphasis shifted to defeating the opponent without necessarily killing him, and less fatal dueling forms evolved using the dueling sword, or epee de terrain, an unedged variant of the small sword. Later duels often ended with crippling thrusts to the arm or leg, and fewer legal difficulties for the participants. This is the basis of modern epee fencing.
Cutting swords had been used in bloodsports such as backsword prizefights at least as far back as the 17th century. Broadswords, sabres, and cutlasses were used extensively in military circles, especially by cavalry and naval personell, and saw some dueling application in these circles as well. Training was performed with wooden weapons, and stick fighting remained popular until Italian masters formalized sabre fencing into a non-fatal sporting/training form with metal weapons in the late 19th century. Early sport sabres were significantly heavier than the modern sport sabre and necessitated a strong style with the use of moulinets and other bold movements. As with thrusting swords, the sabre evolved to lighter, less fatal dueling forms such as the Italian sciabola di terro and the German schlager. Hungarian masters developed a new school of sabre fencing that emphasized finger control over arm strength, and they dominated sabre fencing for most of the 20th century. Dueling faded away after the First World War. A couple of noteworthy duels were fought over disputes that arose during Olympic games in the 1920s, and there have been rare reports of sword duels since then. In October 1997, the Mayor of Calabria, Italy, publicly challenged certain Mafiosos to a duel. German fraternity dueling (mensur) still occurs with some frequency. The first modern Olympic games featured foil and sabre fencing for men only. Epee was introduced in 1900. Single stick was featured in the 1904 games. Epee was electrified in the 1936 games, foil in 1956, and sabre in 1988. Early Olympic games featured events for Masters, and until recently fencing was the only Olympic sport that has included professionals. Disruptions in prevailing styles have accompanied the introduction of electric judging, most recently transforming sabre fencing. Foil fencing experienced similar upheavals for a decade or two following the introduction of electric judging, which was further complicated by the new, aggressive, athletic style coming out of eastern Europe at the time. Women's foil was first contested in the 1924 Olympic games, and Women's epee was only contested for the first time in 1996, although it has been part of the World Championships since 1989. Women's sabre made its first appearance in the 1998 World Championships as a demonstration sport.
Kamakhya Shaktipeeth is considered one of the most eminent Shaktipeeth of of Mata Sati. Kamakhya Shaktipeeth is situated in Kamakhya on Nilanchal hill in Kamgiri area. This comes in Guwahati district of Assam. There is popular belief related to the formation of the Shaktipeeths.
Shaktipeeth Establishment Story Once king Daksha organised a Yajna and invited all the Gods in that but did not invited Lord Shiva.When Devi Sati came to know that her father is organising a Yajna she asked Lord Shiva to permit her to attend the Yajna. Lord Shiva tried to explain her that going anywhere without invitation brings dishonor but on much insistence of Mata Sati he permitted her to go. King Daksha was perplexed to see Mata Sati come uninvited and insulted her and her husband. Devi Sati felt her husbands insult intolerable and jumped and killed herself in the Yajna pyre. When this news came to Lord Shiva, he came and destroyed the Yajna, took out the body of Mata from the fire, kept it on his shoulders and started roaming in all around the universe. The partly burned body of Mata Sati started falling on the grounds and all the places where it fell became the Shaktipeeths. The vaginal part of Mata Sati fell at this place so this part of Mata Sati is worshipped at this place. This is why taking photos inside the temple is strictly prohibited. In addition, Devi remains in Rajaswala position when Ambuvachi Yoga forms once in a year for three days. During this period of three days the doors automatically closes and opens on fourth day. After his a special puja is performed and then the Mata can be viewed and worshiped. The three days when the doors of Mata Kamakhya temple remains closed is of great importance for the scholars of divine and Mantra powers. This place is also called the Kaumari Tirth(pilgrimage) of this world. During these three days the Tantric meditators from all over the world come here and try to gain the best level of Tantric powers. Here Mata Sati is called Kamakhya and Bhairav is called Umanand.
kamakhya Temple Importance
The place where Kamakhya temple is situated is also called Kamrup. In the 51 Shaktipeeths, Kamakhya Shakipeeth is also called Mahapeeth. There is a cave in this temple the way to which is very rocky and is called Narkasur Path. There is grand idol of Mata in the middle portion of the temple. There is also a Kund(pond) at this place which is called Saubhagya Kund. The people believes that offering red stole or cloth fulfills all the wishes of the devotee. Place to Learn Tantric and Hidden Powers Along side being the Devi Shaktipeeth Kamakhya is also a place to learn Tantric and hidden powers. During the Rajaswala period of Mata, powerful Tantrics, Aghoris, Hath Yogis and Naga Babas gather here in large. After the end of Rajaswala a spesial puja of Mata is performed. During this Mahakumbh the sages starts thronging this place in large from a week ago. For Tantric powers, some of these these sages and Tantrics stand in the water, some sit in the water and some stand on one leg and perform meditation.
Hypnotherapy Hypnotherapy is a wonderful healing art and offers a great method of reaching goals, motivating oneself, as well as eliminating many problems. Hypnosis and Hypnotherapy as terms are often used interchangeably. There are several methods of hypnosis, and these include stage hypnosis for entertainment purposes; Self Hypnosis, which is a form of inducing yourself to hypnotized state and offering yourself suggestions; guided meditation, which is essentially the same thing as hypnosis, but generally taught or led in groups; and lastly hypnotherapy, which is using hypnosis to bring about a change or therapeutic benefit. The late Charles Tebbetts, a famous hypnotherapist in Seattle, defined hypnosis as, "All hypnosis is self-hypnosis, and the power is in the mind of the person being hypnotized." I think very much this is a true statement, as the power is in you to induce changes. Thoughts often turn into action, then snowball into results. Proper thoughts will only lead to proper action, leading to proper results. Hypnotherapy basically consists of someone guiding your thoughts, ideas, beliefs and then you are lead into a trance like state, offering you thoughts that you wish to follow. This trance like state is like a focused concentration, such as when you feel enthralled in fascination by something. Others may describe it as somewhat like a "blanking out", just as when you drive a long distance on a long stretch of highway. Roy Hunter, a well known hypnotherapist in the Pacific Northwest, states that hypnosis is basically a form of "guided meditation". Once you are into this state, the hypnotherapist guides you into a deepened state and offers you a suggestion to your subconscious mind. It is natural for the human mind to focus concentration such that one is able to access and control the subconscious. These 3 steps are the major key to hypnotherapy. Once these are done, repeated sessions may assist in anchoring a suggestion in the subject. One might think that basically hypnosis is a method of uploading new programs in to the mind. Many of the modern disciplines and forms of alternative medicine are derived from hypnosis. NLP, psychotherapy, sports psychology, life coaching, advertising, communication all use hypnosis principles to bring about a change. Many self-help books all employ hypnosis methods. Even many of the Tibetan vajrayana and yogic practices make use of similar techniques to bring about changes to the mind. One can't be hypnotized against their will, or be made to do some foolish things like jumping up and down and quacking like a duck as most Hollywood movies and television shows would have you believe. The hypnotically induced state is relaxing and comfortable. I have creatively combined acupuncture and hypnotherapy to treat certain patients and have experienced great success in depression, anxiety, weight loss and smoking, as well as reaching goals. My "Acuhypnotherapy" is a great development in combining these 2 different but useful arts. Basically in my method, I use the acupuncture to induce the trance state, then offer indirect or direct deepening methods, followed by the implanting of a suggestion. For example, if a person want to lose weight, I interview them as to their goals, plan, and steps to reach their goal, have the entire goal time bound and simply plant all the steps that will lead a person to success. Once known, these are written down to coincide with the patient's beliefs and goals. I then induce them by inserting needles into certain points while they are lying down relaxed, then allow them to rest briefly. I may test the level of the trance or use methods to deepen the mental focus, then simply repeat to the patient what they were wanting to overcome or change. Properly done, hypnotherapy can benefit one in bringing about changes in behavior, anxiety, eliminate poor habits, problem solve, overcome strong negative emotions, bring about healing to the body, control pain, and deal with substance abuse. The list can be endless, as many problems of the body begin in the mind. If you're seriously considering hypnotherapy, do so with a person that you have rapport with and check for their qualifications through certification. Many life coaches, psychotherapists, MFT's, psychologists, and psychiatrists have some experience with hypnotherapy or can refer you to a reputable one.
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