Mayan civilization

An incredible new technology is being used to take the lid off the mysteries of the Mayan civilization. Using advanced light detection equipment and techniques scientists have virtually removed the jungle canopy to reveal a sprawling city with over 60,000 structures. It’s given us a window into their culture and daily lives like never before and may finally offer us a clue as to what exactly happened to a civilization that was collapsing by the time European explorers arrived.

1. What happened to the Mayans?
 The Mayan civilization was enormous. Anywhere from 7 to 11 million people lived within its expansive kingdom. Though the popular opinion is that the Mayan civilization was conquered by Spanish Conquistadors, we don’t actually know what led to the decline of their society. However, there are many theories. The Mayans peaked long before European explorers arrived (roughly 1,200 years ago, while Columbus only arrived about 500 years ago). New laser technology is giving
archaeologists clues about what made Mayan civilization decline to the point that it was largely undefended when the Spanish arrived. So if the Spanish didn't wipe them out, then who or what did? 

2. Once a city, now it’s a jungle Ancient Maya has been studied by mainstream archaeologists and historians since the culture was rediscovered in 1843, but not until recently has the exploration of Mayan culture gone full throttle. In 2018 alone tens of thousands of structures have been found and dozens of miles of roads, canals, and causeways connecting the massive society. The year 2018 has
been especially kind to researchers, and new technology is enabling a renaissance of finds that show us the real Mayan culture. The next photo shows us just how incredible the technology is, as it peals back the layers of the photo above, and reveals how the jungle made it so difficult to learn Mayan secrets. 

3. Archaeologists used to walk the jungle to find Mayan ruins For over 150 years archaeologists have been exploring ancient Mayan ruins in much the same way. While flying technology allowed for a nice aerial view of Mayan ruins that poke through the thick canopy, much of the real work and discovery was done on the ground. But the jungle is a thick mangled mess of vegetation that enables just 2% of sunlight to weave its way to the ground. That means that plant life has to grow, fast, to reach the light of the sun. That growth swallows anything in its path and buries it deep. It’s not science fiction, but scientists are flipping the script by opening the lid on the jungle canopy using new laser technology. 

4. People flying over Mayan civilization couldn’t see much Jungle vegetation has literally covered up an entire civilization, leaving future generations unable to discover how Mayans truly lived. Only the most massive of structures poke their tops through the jungle canopy, and if it weren’t for UNESCO and the Mexican government they would still be completely covered. For 1,200 years the jungle slowly ate away at ancient Maya. In 1929 Charles Lindbergh took his wife Anne for ride over the
Yucatan Peninsula, offering a view of the jungle rarely seen before. In her diary she wrote, “unspeakably alone and majestic and desolate — the mark of a great civilization gone.” Too bad she didn’t have a LiDar laser, because this next bit gets a little interesting to say the least. 

5. Newly discovered pyramid Historians and archaeologists will likely continue to make theories only to see them debunked by new discoveries. The new technology that is making this all possible is something called LiDAR (“Light Detection and Ranging”) imaging, and it’s responsible for the over 60,000 structures just discovered in September 2018, which includes a pyramid that is seven stories high! The team responsible for the imaging covered an area of almost 800 square miles and fired
pulses of laser at the ground at a rate of 900,000 times per second that gives such an accurate picture of the topography that any man-made structures stand out against the natural jungle. 
By 
Ekshaw.T

JACK THE RIPPER

                                     

Serial killers tantalize, terrify and even entertain the public. Since at least the 1970s they have been frequent and chilling actors on center stage in the news and entertainment media. Massive and highly stylized news coverage of real-life serial killers such as David Berkowitz, the “Son of Sam,” Ted Bundy and Jeffrey Dahmer transforms them into ghoulish popular culture celebrities.


 Similarly, fictional serial killers such as Hannibal “The Cannibal” Lecter in The Silence of the Lambs and the “Tooth Fairy” in the Red Dragon have also become popular culture icons. More recently, the tremendous success and acclaim of the Showtime television series Dexter and The Millennium Trilogy global media phenomenon based on author Stieg Larsson’s book The Girl with The Dragon Tattoo demonstrate how eager the public is to be frightened by serial killers. Interest in serial killers is hardly new. Public fascination with serial killers dates back to the late 1880s when a series of extremely brutal, unsolved prostitute murders occurred in the Whitechapel area of London, England, and those killings gained worldwide notoriety.


In the fall of 1888, a series of five grotesque murders were committed in London by an unknown individual who legend has it called himself Jack the Ripper in letters he allegedly sent to the London police and took credit for the crimes. Prior to the Jack the Ripper letters, the London newspapers called the unknown killer “Leather Apron” based on a suspicion that the killer was a local b Significantly, the Jack the Ripper murders represent the first rudimentary application of criminal profiling techniques. London physicians George Phillips and Thomas Bond used autopsy results and crime scene evidence in the fall of 1888 to make informed predictions about legendary serial killer Jack the Ripper's personality, behavioral characteristics and lifestyle. In his written report after examining the available forensic evidence, including the bodies, Dr. Thomas Bond concluded that “all five murders no doubt were committed by the same hand… the women must have been lying down when murdered and in every case the throat was cut first.” Moreover, Dr. Bond stated that Jack the Ripper had no medical training or knowledge of anatomy, despite the killer’s extensive cutting and mutilation of his victims. This bold statement by Dr. Bond directly opposed what law enforcement authorities had previously concluded—that Jack the Ripper was either a physician or had medical training due to the fact that he had removed internal organs from some of his victims. Dr. Bond reached his conclusion after noting that the gaping wounds inflicted by the Ripper were not consistent with the training of a medical expert or “even the technical knowledge of a butcher or horse slaughterer.” In Dr. Bond’s opinion, the murderer must have been “a man of solitary habits, subject to periodic attacks of homicidal and erotic mania, and the character of the mutilations possibly indicating satyriasis” or uncontrollable sexual desire.


The infamy of Jack the Ripper lives on. As noted by the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) in its 2005 report titled Serial Murder: Multi-Disciplinary Perspectives for Investigators, the name Jack the Ripper has become synonymous with serial murder over the years. This case has spawned many legends and myths concerning serial homicide and the killers who commit them. More than 125 years after his killing spree abruptly ended without his capture, the murders of Jack the Ripper continue to haunt and tantalize the world. In many ways, the Ripper killings remain the greatest unsolved mystery of all time.

BY: E.KANMANI

THE MYSTERY OF JODHPUR BOOM

                                          
On a fine morning of December 18, 2012, precisely at 11:25 AM, people of Jodhpur, India were startled by a deafening sound that appeared out of nowhere in the sky. The sound resembled the sound caused by a jet plane crossing the speed of sound. This phenomenon is known as sonic boom but the problem with Jodhpur Boom was that the sound was far more profound and deafening.

 While the sound sounded like a massive explosion, what really added to the panic wave that struck the people of Jodhpur was the thought of Earth coming to an end as per the Mayan Calendar which predicted that Earth will be destroyed in 2012.

Rumors quickly spread that the sound was an outcome of a sonic boom caused by a new breed of aircrafts tested by the Air Force or perhaps it was caused by an explosion in the ammunition storehouse of the nearby army area. Army personnel however declined the possibility of ammunition explosion.

Col SD Goswami – defense spokesperson openly said that the sound was not an outcome of any explosion. He went on saying that sonic boom caused by testing aircrafts was also not a possibility because sonic boom is completely forbidden in township areas. He explained that when an object travels through air at a speed greater than that of sound, an enormous amount of sound energy is released which sounds very much like an explosion but since sonic booms in township areas are capable of inflicting enormous property damage such as crumbling of window panes, sonic booms are always tested at least 60 kilometers outside the town areas where there is no population.

 While no explanation has been found for this sudden deafening Jodhpur Boom that appeared out of nowhere crashing in the sky, it was not a singular incident. These sounds or booms were actually taking place all over the world including USA and UK. Geologists reported that the seismic readings during the booms were unlike anything ever recorded before.

BY: E.KANMANI

THE MYSTERY OF MAGNETIC HILL AND ROAD IN LADAKH

                                          
Magnetic Hill is located on the Leh-Kargil-Baltic National Highway in the Trans-Himalayan region. Sindhu river flows to the east of Magnetic Hill and makes the surrounding a picture perfect frame. Blessed with amazing natural beauty and mysterious magnetic abilities, the magnetic road in Ladakh is where travelers stop by to experience the strange, gravity-defying phenomenon. A yellow box marked on the magnetic road, few meters away from the Magnetic Hill indicates that the vehicle must be parked in neutral gear. It is from here that the vehicle starts to move at a speed close to 20 kmph. The strange world that we live in, there are plenty of theories backing this strange wonder of nature. All of them propose a different logic and are backed by strong reasoning, barring superstitions like ‘the magnetic road is a straightaway to heaven’. Here’s a look at what each of these beliefs and theories have to say.

 The superstition –

Villagers residing in Ladakh believe that there once existed a road that led people to heaven. Those who rightly deserved were pulled to the path directly while those who didn’t deserve could never make it there.

The magnetic force theory –

Next comes a sensible theory, which is also the most widespread. It states that there is a strong magnetic force emanating from the hill that pulls vehicles that are within its range. The strange occurrence on the Leh-Kargil highway has been experienced and testified by travelers from across the world. As a matter of fact, the notorious hill has caused planes of Indian Air Force to divert their route in the past to avoid magnetic interference on them.

The optical illusion theory –

Another widely accepted theory says that the hill is no source of magnetic force, rather it’s just an optical illusion that makes the downslope of the road leading to the Magnetic Hill look like an upslope. So, when you see the vehicle going uphill, it is actually going downhill.

Another theory is that false perspective might also play a role. Objects far away may seem smaller or larger than they really are. This is a remarkably common illusion that is found in numerous locations around the world. Usually, it is a stretch of road in a hilly area where the level horizon is obscured.

BY: E.KANMANI

THE MYSTERY OF SUICIDAL BIRDS

                                       
Jatinga is a small village located in Assam, a state in northeastern India. The village is lush green and scenic, surrounded by serene mountains. But that’s not what it’s famous for. In fact, Jatinga is well-known for an entirely different reason – its Bird Mystery. The Bird Mystery is a unique phenomenon that occurs at Jatinga between September and November each year. During these late monsoon months, several migratory and local birds commit mass suicide at the village. Just after sunset, between 7 and 10 pm, hundreds of birds descend from the sky, plummeting to their deaths by crashing into buildings and trees. Since birds aren’t known to be suicidal, the phenomenon has baffled villagers, visitors and scientists alike. For many years, locals believed that evil spirits living in the skies were responsible for bringing down the birds . Of course, this isn’t true. After several scientific studies and experiments, it has been concluded that the birds are generally disoriented by the monsoon fog. So they are attracted by the village lights and fly towards them, sometimes hitting walls and trees during the descent. Some of the birds die, while others are grievously injured, becoming easy prey for the villagers to capture.

 These birds are often dazed and disheveled, and do not put up any resistance when villagers attack them with catapults or bamboo sticks. Studies also show that the birds come in only from the North and land only on a well-defined strip in the village – that’s 1.5 km long and 200 meters wide. Lights placed along the southern side of the village have failed to attract any birds. The victim birds aren’t long-distance migrators. 44 species have been identified as ‘suicidal’ and most of them come from nearby valleys and hill slopes. These include Kingfishers, Black Bitterns, Tiger Bitterns and Pond Herons, among others. A few more interesting discoveries were made by scientists and bird watchers. It seems most of the suicidal birds lose their natural habitats due to flooding during the monsoon season. So they appear to be migrating to other places, and Jatinga is in their migratory path. But it isn’t clear why the birds fly at night, or why they get voluntarily trapped at the same place every year. Studies also show that the birds come in only from the North and land only on a well-defined strip in the village – that’s 1.5 km long and 200 meters wide. Lights placed along the southern side of the village have failed to attract any birds. The victim birds aren’t long-distance migrators. 44 species have been identified as ‘suicidal’ and most of them come from nearby valleys and hill slopes. These include Kingfishers, Black Bitterns, Tiger Bitterns and Pond Herons, among others.

A few more interesting discoveries were made by scientists and bird watchers. It seems most of the suicidal birds lose their natural habitats due to flooding during the monsoon season. So they appear to be migrating to other places, and Jatinga is in their migratory path. But it isn’t clear why the birds fly at night, or why they get voluntarily trapped at the same place every year. The Jaintias aren’t entirely wrong. After all, the phenomenon has captured the interest of wildlife circles and tourists, making the village of Jatinga world famous. The birds alone are responsible for a boost in tourism during the monsoon months. And they’re quite delicious; locals relish these exotic delicacies. The villagers deliberately switch on lights and lanterns to attract the birds and capture them every year. To promote tourism, district authorities have created a festival around the bird suicide, called the Jatinga Festival.

BY: E.KANMANI

THE MYSTERIOUS VILLAGE OF TWINS

                                           

At first glance one might not notice anything particularly odd about the village of Kodinhi. It is a small, remote village located in the Malappuram district in Kerala, India. With only 2,000 families, it is a sleepy, quiet place that one could drive by without giving a second thought. It is a backwater, nondescript village not unlike countless others dotting the Indian countryside. However, spend enough time walking through its modest streets you may start to notice something peculiar about this village. You may start having a case of seeing double, for there are twins everywhere, of all ages, both identical and fraternal. In fact, there almost seems to be a pair of twins for practically every family in the village. Kodinhi has the distinction of having the most unusually high rate of twin births in the world. In a village of only 2,000 people, there are reportedly over 220 pairs of twins. It was reported that in 2008 alone, 15 pairs of twins were born in the village. This may not seem like a high number when talking about a big city, but it is bizarrely high for such a small, relatively sparsely populated town. To put it into perspective, it is said that the rate of twin births globally is around 6 out of every 1,000 live births, whereas in Kodinhi it is more like 42 out of every 1,000 births, a striking contrast to the norm.

 In fact, the rate of twins in this sleepy, tropical town is around 6 times the global average. Local doctor Krishnan Sribiju has spent a great deal of time studying the twins of Kodinhi and he believes that the rate of twin births is even higher than official records suggest. He also has found that the rate of twin births in the village is increasing every year, and that the number of twins in Kodinhi has doubled in the past decade. Dr. Sribiju is also quick to point out that the phenomenal rate of twin births in the village is particularly impressive considering that sub-continantal Asia has a typically lower rate of twin births than most of the world, and India has the lowest twinning rate in Asia. Indeed, generally India has one of the lowest twinning rates in the world, making Kodinhi even more of a curiosity. It is said that the twinning phenomenon in Kodinhi started around 60 to 70 years ago, and the exact cause remains unknown. Doctors have long been baffled as to why this village has so many twins, and no one as of yet has been able to unravel the mystery. Adding another layer of odd to the puzzle is the fact that even those who marry outsiders and move away from the village exhibit a substantially higher than normal rate of having twins. Researchers have delved into genetic, biological, molecular, hereditary and climatic factors and still have not come to a satisfactory conclusion to this enigma. Pollutants or chemical factors have been mostly ruled out since the vast majority of twins born in Kodinhi are perfectly normal and healthy, without birth defects. In addition, artificial insemination or other fertility treatments are not a factor as the villagers are too poor to afford the prohibitively high costs of such procedures. Genetic problems have also mostly been discounted since the effect is localized in this one village. Dr. Sribiju speculates that the answer lies in something the villagers are eating or drinking, but none has been able to isolate the substance that could be responsible. Further compounding this theory is that the eating habits of the villagers of Kodinhi don’t seem to be any different than other villages in Kerala. Dr. Sribiju has said he plans to continue research in Kodinhi with more detailed biochemical analysis equipment, but for now the abnormal number of twins here remains an unexplained anomaly.

 Fortunately for the villagers here, the twinning phenomenon has had no real negative effects except for perhaps people not being able to always quickly ascertain just which twin they are talking to. School teachers here like to joke that they are never sure if a student is really the one attending the class, or their twin. Mistaken identity is probably a real headache here, yet for the most part there have been no health concerns and the village even seems to be proud of their unique status. In order to bring wider attention to the peculiar problems twins here face, around 30 pairs of twins in the village started an organization called “The Twins and Kins Association.” It is reportedly the first such association of its kind in India and it is hoped that the group will be able to raise awareness of Kodinhi’s plight and the unique lifestyles of twins.

BY: E.KANMANI

PRAHLAD JAIN,THE MAN WHO LIVED WITHOUT FOOD AND WATER FOR 70 YEARS

                                                
Prahlad Jani, a yogi from Gujarat's Ambaji, wears red clothing and is referred as "Mataji". The 88-year-old claims to have been living without food or water for decades and has piqued the curiosity of scientists from around the world.

MEHSANA (GUJARAT):

International community calls him a "breatharian" - a person who lives only on air. Meet 88-year-old Prahlad Jani, a yogi from Charod village in Gujarat's Mehsana, who claims to have spent over seven decades of his life without food or water. The octogenarian, who wears red clothing and is referred as "Mataji", is fighting fit and has piqued the curiosity of scientists from around the world. They are left totally stunned by his unusual way of living. Several medical examinations have been conducted on him. Among the scientists who carried a study on him was former President of India Dr APJ Abdul Kalam. Tests were also conducted on the plants in his ashram, but scientists and the doctors were unable to connect the dots and explain his way of life.

In 2010, an observational study was conducted on Prahlad Jani by Defence Institute Of Physiology And Allied Sciences (DIPAS) and Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), where he was observed in strict isolation and under continual video monitoring for 15 days. He was taken out for MRI, Ultrasound, X-Ray and exposure to sun under continuous video recordings. Periodic clinical, biochemical, radiological and other relevant examinations were also conducted.

 The conclusion of the study was that Mr Jani "has some extreme form of adaptation to starvation and water restriction as evident from serum Leptin and Ghrelin levels that have been estimated." "Mataji", who is devoted to Goddess Amba, says he meditates and that's what gives him the energy to carry on. Disciples visit his ashram - Ambaji - from far and wide. They come there with their problems and the yogi assists them without charging any fee. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other influential political leaders have visited his ashram to seek his blessings.

BY: E.KANMANI

GYANGANJ,THE CITY OF IMMORTAL BEINGS OF THE HIMALAYAS

                                          
Tibet is one of the most beautiful and unspoiled areas on the planet. This remote region attracts not only adventure lovers but also those travellers who are guided by the aim to find a deeper meaning of existence in their life. Shrouded in mystery and highly remote until the last century, Tibet is still largely unknown and undiscovered. What makes this Himalayan region more intriguing are the various myths and legends associated with it. One such myth has caught the interest of many, leading to various debates, investigations and books.

Gyanganj

Located somewhere within the mystical valleys of Himalayas, is 'Gyanganj', the land of immortals. It is a mythological belief that Gyanganj is a city-kingdom inhabited by mysterious immortal beings that influence the existence of human beings in subtle ways, whenever needed. Only great saints devoid of any bad Karma can find a place in this spiritual land by passing through psychic barriers and dimensions. The exact location of this legendary kingdom is unknown as it is believed that Gyanganj artfully camouflages itself from humans, as well as mapping technologies. Some also believe that Gyanganj exists in a different plane of reality and thus cannot be detected by satellites. 

Buddhist Shambala

Gyanganj does not only find mention in Hindu mythology but Buddhism as well. The roots of this legend can also be traced to Tibet. In Tibet, this celestial kingdom is known as 'Shambala', a word derived from Sanskrit, which means "the source of happiness". The Buddhists believe that Shambala protects secret spiritual teachings of the world. Instructions to reach this mythical land have been given in some old Buddhist scriptures, however, the directions remain ambiguous. Buddhists also believe that Gyanganj defies the rules of death. No one dies in this immortal land, and consciousness always remains alive. Also known as Shambhala and Shangri-La.

Concept of Gyanganj

According to ancient texts and beliefs, Gyanganj resembles the structure of a lotus having eight petals. It is surrounded by snow-clad mountains. The tree of life which unites heaven, earth, and the underworld, stands at its centre. It is described as a shimmering crystal. Its occupants are immortals who are responsible for guiding the fate of the world. Residing in this mystical kingdom, they protect and nurture the spiritual teachings of all faiths and beliefs. Imparting their wisdom to others, they delicately work to influence the destiny of mankind for the good. Tibetan Buddhists believe that during the time of a great chaos in the world, the 25th ruler of this spiritual land will appear to escort the planet to a better age. When asked to describe Gyanganj or Shambhala, the Dalai Lama explained that it is not a physical place that people can find. It is not heaven but a pure land in the human realm. The only way to visit this land is through a karmic connection. Inhabited by the immortal beings of the Himalayas, the city, and its occupants subtly guide the destiny of the world through prayer and meditation. Protecting the spiritual teachings of the world, of all faiths and beliefs, they work for the good of mankind. Guru Sai Kaka, a spiritual leader, once revealed to the world, about his visits to Gyanganj, a number of times, in order to seek spiritual and immortal teachings. As per his narration, during his every visit, a sage escorted him to Gyanganj and that the kingdom exists on an entirely different plane or a higher dimension. Another visitor to Gyanganj has been L.P. Farrel, an English army officer, who claimed to have experienced Gyanganj in 1942. Though the tales of Gyanganj sound mesmerizing, superficial and mythical, all at the same time, in a world full of negativity, war and unkindness, it is quite fascinating to imagine that somewhere in the parallel world, exists a place where people are truly moral and are working to gently guide, influence and protect us.

BY: E.KANMANI

MYSTERY OF THE FLOATING PILLAR

                                           

Veerabhadra temple in Lepakshi is located near Anantapur which is 15 km east of Hindupur in the Anantapur district in the state of Andhra Pradesh in southeastern India. Bangalore is the nearest large city.

 The most famous pillar of Veerabhadra temple. Called the Aakaasa Sthambha (floating pillar), it hangs suspended! One can pass a cloth between the underside of the pillar and the floor. It is rumoured that the British (when they were in power) were fascinated by this pillar as to how it can be in a 'suspended' state.

 Leepakshi near Hyderabad is a quaint destination located not too far from the capital city of Hyderabad. One of the most popular tourist destinations in the Indian State of Andhra Pradesh, Leepakshi near Hyderabad is also one of the most fascinating historical cities in the country, which is steeped in oodles of cultural heritage.

Leepakshi near Hyderabad is a part of the Anantapur District of the state, and lies 14 Km to the east of Hindupur. Leepakshi near Hyderabad is archeologically an important place in the country too. This is so because Leepakshi near Hyderabad is a treasure house of all things ancient. You will find numerous carvings and all other sorts of relics scattered all over Leepakshi near Hyderabad. However, most of the relics unearthed from Leepakshi near Hyderabad date back to the era of the Vijayanagar Kings. So Leepakshi near Hyderabad is basically a Vijayanagar Art rich place. The murals, carvings, paintings and other architectural specimens are worth more than just a dekko.

 However, Leepakshi's biggest claim to fame is its Leepakshi Temple. Built sometime during the 16 th century, the Leepakshi Temple is renowned for the Nandi or the white bull which Shiva rides. This nandi is the largest of its kind anywhere in India; and, of course, anywhere in the world too. The Leepakshi Temple is replete with numerous beautiful and spectacular carvings and murals. Leepakshi also has a spectacular Anantha or the coiled seven hooded serpent. The USP of this Anantha is that it has been chiseled out of a single piece of stone. Also, the Leepakshi is known for its Panchalingas. All these, and a lot more, makes Leepakshi near Hyderabad what it is and the way it stands. So going for an excursion to Leepakshi near Hyderabad from the city would be a good bet, which will leave you with memories of a lifetime

BY: E.KANMANI

MYSTERY OF 1600 YEARS OLD IRON PILLAR OFDELHI

                                       


The skill and the technology possessed by ancient Indians may not be agreed by present day ‘secular’ historians, but the truth cannot be suppressed for long. The Iron Pillar standing tall at Mehrauli, Delhi is stands proof of how advanced science was in ancient India. The pillar which has not rusted for the past 1600 years has been found to be the handiwork of a great Vishnu Bhakth namely Chandragupta II Vikramaditya. The inscriptions on the pillar are in Sanskrit and refer to the mighty king. Inspite of all these evidences, school children will still continue to be taught that it was the Mughals who were responsible for the pillar. Yes, the Mughals were responsible for stealing the pillar from its original place! It is arguable that Indian scientists and technologists were producing high-quality corrosion-resistant iron and steel as early as 400 AD. There is considerable evidence of the ingenuity of ancient India’s metallurgists in the form of permanent installations, museum exhibits and pillars installed in places of worship across the country. The most famous of these – one which has defied and confounded students and professors of metallurgy in India and abroad — is the 32 ft high pillar of rust-free iron sited contiguous to the 239 ft tall red sand stone in Qutab Minar. And the wonder of this metallurgical marvel is that it has not rusted or succumbed to atmospheric corrosion despite being unprotected against the elements for over 1600 years. During the past two centuries since the existence of this wonder pillar was brought to public attention by British archaeologist James Prinsep in 1817, over 250 books have been written on this subject. The first systematic research was done by British metallurgist Sir Robert Hodfield in 1912, and since then several scientists from across the world have researched, presented papers and written books on the pillar. “The iron pillar in Delhi fascinates scientists all over the world, due to its excellent resistance to atmospheric corrosion. This is an attempt to explain the story behind the pillar in a very simple manner, so that a lay reader can appreciate the history, science and technology of the iron pillar. In addition the artistic merit of the pillar is highlighted …It is sincerely hoped that the imagination, especially of the young readers, will be fired by the facts and ideas presented in this book,” writes Balasubramaniam. The Story of the Delhi Iron Pillar traces the history of this metallurgical wonder and recounts that it was engineered in Udayagiri. The author reveals that the iron pillar was originally installed atop a hill near Udayagiri in the hinterland of Madhya Pradesh during the reign of Chandragupta II Vikramaditya (374-413 AD) of the Gupta dynasty. The original site of the pillar was the exact location where the imaginary line that is the tropic of cancer crosses India from where one can observe the sun rising in the east and setting in the west on spring and autumn equinox days. However in 1234 King Iltutmish (1210-36 AD) the third sultan of Delhi’s slave dynasty captured Udaygiri and transported the pillar to Delhi as part of his victory booty. Inscription on the rust resilient Iron Pillar from Delhi. The pillar carries a number of inscriptions and graffiti of different dates which have not been studied systematically despite the pillar’s prominent location and easy access. The oldest inscription on the pillar is in Sanskrit, written in Gupta-period Brahmi script.This states that the pillar was erected as a standard in honour of Viṣhṇu. It also praises the valor and qualities of a king referred to simply as Chandra, now generally identified with the Gupta King Chandragupta II. Some authors attempted to identify Chandra with Chandragupta Maurya and yet others have claimed the pillar dates as early as 912 BCE. The dating of the inscription is supported by the nature of the script and the Sanskrit poetics, both of which reflect the conventions of Gupta times. That the Delhi iron pillar is indeed an engineering marvel was conceded by the president of the Institute of Mechanical Engineers, London. The incumbent professor of materials and metallurgical engineering at IIT-Kanpur, Balasubramaniam also unravels the mystery of the amazing durability of Delhi’s iron pillar. According to him unnamed engineers of that era used the film forming quality of phosphoric acid to create a thin protective layer of ‘misawite’, a compound of iron, oxygen and hydrogen to prevent rusting and corrosion. This protective film encapsulated the pillar within three years after its erection and has been growing imperceptibly since. Today 1,600 years later, the film is of a thickness of one-twentieth of a millimeter.

BY: E.KANMANI

ZODIAC KILLER

                                                        

Zodiac killer, unidentified American serial killer who is believed to have murdered six people, primarily in northern California, between 1966 and 1969. The Zodiac killer’s apparent first victim, an 18-year-old college student, was stabbed to death in Riverside, Calif., in 1966. Although this murder is commonly attributed to the Zodiac killer, some experts claim it was not committed by him.

Soon after the murder, a local newspaper received a letter that provided details of the crime and declared that the victim was neither the first nor the last. In 1968 a teenage couple was shot to death near their car in a remote area north of San Francisco; one year later another couple was attacked in similar circumstances, though the male victim survived. After the 1969 attack, the killer phoned police to alert them to the crime and to take responsibility for the 1968 murders. Later that year the Zodiac killer attacked another young couple, though once again the male survived.

The last victim, a taxi driver, was shot in October 1969. The murders were the subject of intense investigation and media coverage, particularly because of the killer’s taunting letters and phone calls, in which he explained the mystical and intellectual bases of his decision to kill. His letters demonstrated great interest in astrological symbolism and may have reflected the influence of occult religious thought popular in California at the time. Much remains mysterious about the Zodiac case, not least the issue of when the crimes stopped.


Crime writer Robert Graysmith has argued that the Zodiac killer remained active through the 1980s and murdered dozens more people, though this view is controversial. During the 1990s several investigators claimed to have identified the Zodiac killer; the suspect most often cited was Arthur Leigh Allen (1933–92), Calif., schoolteacher who had been institutionalized in 1975 for child molestation, though his identification with the Zodiac killer has never been substantiated

BY: E.KANMANI

WEEPING STATUES

The phenomenon of weeping or crying religious statues is one of the oldest and most stereotypical images of holy powers in Catholicism. Ireland, South America and southern Europe all have well documented accounts of Virgin Mary figurines seeping strange liquids. And, whilst sceptics believe there are good reasons to doubt the validity of such occurrences, to the local populations they are often only explainable under the term ‘miracle’. In November 1992, a six-inch-high, blue and white porcelain statue of the Virgin Mary began weeping blood in Santiago, Chile.

The figurine, which belonged to a local housewife, became an attraction for local people in the La Cisterna district and was even tested by Chilean police. Doctors at the Santiago coroner’s office discovered that the liquid produced at the statue’s eyes was type O-4 human blood. A similar event happened in the small village of Mura, 35 miles north of Barcelona in Spain. Outside the village church a twofoot-high marble statue of the Virgin Mary had been set on a seven-foot-high pedestal. In March 1998, the local priest, Luis Costa, discovered it was crying tears of blood. Mura residents were convinced the phenomenon was genuine.


The statue had not been tampered with, and further investigation revealed the blood was emanating from the figure in a particularly human way. Sceptics are quick to dismiss such stories. Some promote fanciful theories that water is soaked up by the base of the statues, mixes with red clay inside them, and then appears through the head as blood. Others are convinced these instances have been created through the use of a simple magic trick. Certainly, it is true that the actual point when blood appears on such statues is rarely witnessed. By diverting people’s attention, it is easy to interfere with the figurines unnoticed. But these explanations fail to alter the effect on a credulous public. Although it is important to discover the truth, this type of religious mysticism is a pleasant way to remind us that there are still some things in life that we just can’t explain.

By
Ekshaw.T

STONE CIRCLES AT CASTLERIGG

If stone age is the most famous stone circle in Britain, the Castlerigg Stone Circle, near Keswick in the Lake District, must be the most atmospheric. Situated in an open bowl between rolling hills, this Megalithic construction appears as a perfect picture postcard. This is the land of Wordsworth, Coleridge and Romantic poetry; but many millennia before, it was home to an equally creative race. 

 The Castlerigg Stone Circle, also known as Keswick Carle or Druid’s Circle, is one of the oldest in Britain. It was built in around 3,000 BC and comprises 38 stones of various heights placed in a slightly oval shape. The largest stone is over 8 feet tall, but the majority of them are less than 5 feet high. Although five of the stones have collapsed, it is a site in remarkably good condition. It has a feature unique among stone circles in Britain. Inside the ring of rocks, ten smaller stones are placed in a rectangle in an arrangement called ‘The Cave’. There is also a slight mound in the centre, which, it has been suggested, is a burial chamber. However, the site has never been properly excavated, and perfunctory archaeological studies have only ever uncovered charcoal deposits. 

 Like Stonehenge, the site has qualities which make it suitable for use as an astronomical observatory, although an unpolished stone blade found near the circle suggests it may have been used as a centre of trade for the area’s Neolithic axe industry. There is also a local legend that says the stones were never built to any design, but were actually men turned to rock by fear of a local monster. In all likelihood, it probably formed a focal point for the local community, and may have been used for a combination of commercial, religious and tribal purposes. For now, we can only admire the stunning sight of this early man-made structure placed in an area of unique natural beauty. 

By, Ekshaw.T

THE OGOPOGO

Wanted criminal often have a reward attached to their heads. Now it seems mythical beasts are also the object of bounty hunters’ affections. Between August 2000 and September 2001 three companies from around Lake Okanegan promised $2 million to anyone who could find definitive, living proof that the fabled Ogopogo monster did exist. The crime the creature committed is hard to say, although there are stories of it seizing and murdering helpless native people out on the lake. It cannot be denied that the Ogopogo is a serial offender at causing civil unrest. 

Lake Okanegan is in British Columbia, Canada. It is around 100 miles long and has areas almost 1000 feet deep. The native Salish tribe believed in a terrible serpent, which they called ‘N’ha-a-tik’, the ‘Lake Demon’. They said the beast had a cave dwelling near the middle of the lake, and they would often make sacrifices to please the monster. European settlers initially scoffed at the legends, but over the years the Ogopogo has established itself in the minds of many who live nearby. From the mid 1800s white immigrants started seeing strange phenomena in the lake. One of the first stories told of a man crossing the lake with his two tethered horses swimming behind.

 Some strange force pulled the animals under, and the man only saved himself by cutting the horses loose. Witnesses say the creature is anything up to 50 feet long, with green skin, several humps and a huge horse-like head. Some people have managed to closely view it as it ate water vegetation; they said the Ogopogo also had small feet or fins. It could be the North American cousin of the Loch Ness Monster. Most sightings have come from around the city of Kelowna, near the centre of the lake, and many monster watchers now agree that it seems to live in the area originally indicated in native legend.

MONGOLIAN DEATH WORM

Under the burning sand dunes of the Gobi desert there lurks a creature that is so feared by the Mongolian people they are scared even to speak its name. When they do, they call it the ‘Allghoi khorkhoi’, which means ‘the intestine worm’, because this fat, red, deadly snakelike monster looks similar to a cow’s innards. This giant worm, measuring up to four feet long, can kill people instantly. How it does it, no one knows. Some believe it spits a lethal toxin, others say it emits a massive electrical charge. However it kills, it does so quickly and can do it from a distance. We in the West have come to call this monster the ‘Mongolian Deathworm’.

Mongolian Nomads believe the giant worm covers its prey with an acidic substance that turns everything a corroded yellow color. Legend says that as the creature begins to attack it raises half its body out of the sand and starts to inflate until it explodes, releasing the lethal poison all over the unfortunate victim. The poison is so venomous that the prey dies instantly. Because Mongolia had been under Soviet control until 1990, very little was known about the Deathworm in the West. In recent years, investigators have been able to look for evidence of the creature’s existence. Ivan Mackerle, one of the leading Monster detectives, studied the region and interviewed many Mongolian people about the worm. Due to the sheer volume of sightings and strange deaths, he came to the conclusion that the Deathworm was more than just legend. Nobody is entirely sure what the worm actually is. 

Experts are certain it is not a real worm because the Gobi desert is too hot an area for annelids to survive. Some have suggested it might be a skin, but they have little legs and scaly skin whereas witness accounts specify the worm is limb-less and smooth bodied. The most probable explanation is that it is a type of venomous snake. Although the native Mongolian people are convinced of the Deathworm’s nature, it will take more years of research to satisfy the rest of the world’s scientific community.

mystery of bhangarh fort

Bhangarh Fort is known as the most haunted place in India, and perhaps the greatest unsolved mystery. There is no doubting the fact that anything associated with the supernatural attracts a huge amount of attention and the deserted city of Bhangarh cashes in on that very idea. The many haunted stories of Bhangarh Fort have transformed it into a bucket list destination of sorts. Curious travelers come in order to experience cheap thrills and while some go back disappointed, others simply cannot have enough of the suspense associated with the story of the Bhangarh Fort. If you happen to be one of those inquisitive travelers, it is imperative for you to visit this place and find out for yourself.

 Is the Bhangarh Fort haunted? Here is the story of Bhangarh:


 Most people are of the belief that Bhangarh Fort is haunted and there is no dearth of tales that help in amplifying the mystery that is Bhangarh. Venturing into the fort after sunset is nothing short of an act of bravery as it is supposed to be a center for paranormal activity and the Archaeological Survey of India therefore has prohibited people from visiting the Bhangarh Fort at night. Of the many Bhangarh stories that the locals like to indulge in, the most popular is that of Emperor Madho Singh who built the city after attaining the approval of Guru Balu Nath, an ascetic who used to meditate there. The saint gave his approval on the condition that the shadow of the Emperor’s palace should never fall on his retreat. If in case it did, the city would crumble into ruins. Once the construction was completed, the retreat of Guru Balu was unfortunately shadowed by the palace. Having incurred the saint’s wrath, Bhangarh immediately transformed into a cursed city and could never be rebuilt as no structures ever managed to survive in it. It is interesting to note that the tomb of Guru Balu Nath can still be found among the ruins.

HOIA BACIU FOREST

Hoia Baciu Forest – World’s Most Haunted Forest

 Hoia Baciu Forest

The Hoia-Baciu Forest ( World’s Most Haunted Forest ) is situated near Cluj-Napoca, Romania covers an area of ​​over 250 hectares and is often referred to as the Bermuda Triangle of the country. Hoia Baciu Forest ( World’s Most Haunted Forest ), has a reputation for intense paranormal activity and unexplained events. Reports have included, ghost sightings, unexplained apparitions, faces appearing in photographs that were not visible with the naked eye, and in the 1970s, UFO sightings were reported.

Visitors to the forest often report intense feelings of anxiety and the feeling of being constantly watched. Moreover, the local vegetation is somehow bizarre in appearance, like something out of a make-believe story with strangely shaped trees, and unexplained charring on tree stumps and branches.

The forest was named after a shepherd that disappeared in the area with a flock of two hundred sheep. Most people who live near the forest are afraid to enter it due to the stories and legends that have been handed down. They believe that those who visit the site will never return back home. Many of the locals who have been brave enough to venture into the forest complained of physical harm, including rashes, nausea, vomiting, migraines, burns, scratches, anxiety, and other unusual sensations.

This dense forest first gained notoriety in the late 1960s when a biologist named Alexandru Sift snapped several amazing photos of a flying disc-shaped object in the sky above the forest. On August 18, 1968, a military technician named Emil Barnea captured a famous photography of a saucer flying over the Hoia-Baciu Forest ( World’s Most Haunted Forest ) . The, in the 1970s, the area was a hotbed for UFO sighting and unexplained lights.

People who have entered the forest to this day get inexplicable rashes or they begin to feel very light-headed and ill. Moreover, the electronic devices are known to malfunction when introduced into the area. Some paranormal investigators have associated these strange malfunctions with supernatural activity.

The Hoia-Baciu Forest ( World’s Most Haunted Forest ) has a reputation for paranormal and unexplained activity and people have witnessed numerous strange events on the land. The most common phenomenon includes the sudden appearance of mysterious orbs of light. People also report hearing disembodied female voices breaking the heavy silence, giggling and even apparitions, Thereare many cases of people reportedly being scratched. All these things happen with no reasonable explanation.

Some people believe that the forest is a gateway to another dimension. Within the dark interior of Hoia-Baciu Forest ( World’s Most Haunted Forest ) , people have been known to disappear, strange lights have been seen, the wind seems to speak,. Several stories tell of people entering the forest and experiencing missing time. Some have known to be missing for quite some time with no recollection of how they had spent that time.One such story focuses on a 5-year-old girl who wandered into the woods and got lost. The story goes that she emerged from the forest 5 years later, wearing the same untarnished clothes that she wore on the day she disappeared with no memory of where had happened in that interval of time.

Another story of the The Hoia-Baciu Forest ( World’s Most Haunted Forest ) has been telling about the strange paranormal phenomena which have been recorded and researched for nearly 50 years. The woods are thought to be notoriously haunted by the Romanian peasants who were murdered here. It is believed that the souls of these tormented ghosts are trapped within the wooded confines of Hoia-Baciu Forest ( World’s Most Haunted Forest ) and that these entities are enraged by their predicament. Visions of these tormented spirits are sometimes observed by terrified travelers. Pairs of haunting, observing green eyes and a heavy black fog have been observed here. Many people report a feeling of being watched as they travel near the forest’s edge.

More recently, the paranormal energy of the forest is taking on the form of poltergeist and ghost activity. In one paranormal television series an investigator sitting in this clearing in the forest was scratched and thrown on the ground by an unseen force. People also claim to have seen unexplainable bright lights coming from within the woods.

This paranormal activity seems to be focused on an inexplicable clearing in the forest that is a vegetation dead zone. It is nearly a perfect circle in the woods where nothing ever grows. Soil samples have been taken from the site and analyzed but the results show that there is nothing in the soil that should prevent the growth of plant life. Locals believe that it is a hub for this paranormal activity. They consider this circular plateau deep in the forest to be the “home” of these ghosts. Photos taken here have revealed hovering shapes and outlines of human forms, further backing up the claims

UFOS, a dead vegetation zone, lights with no logical source, poltergeist activity, EVP activity, and malfunctioning electronics are the documented paranormal happenings of this creepy forest. While some of the stories about this legendary location may be exaggerated, it is hard to ignore the fact that something is going on in this forest that we may not completely understand. This is especially true, given the recent well-documented occurrences of unexplained poltergeist activity.

Many people who live near the Hoia-Baciu Forest ( World’s Most Haunted Forest ) have reported seeing a large collection of orbs of light coming from inside the tree line. When using a thermal detector, these lights don’t seem to be producing any heat signatures. Some people who enter the forest report that they suddenly remember all of their past experiences, but then forget the memories after leaving the land.

Specialists from around the world are fascinated by the forest. Researchers from Germany, France, the United States, and Hungary have all spent time studying it’s mysteries. Some have managed to capture bizarre manifestations on film, including faces and apparitions. Some of these images are reportedly seen with the naked eye and others only show up in photos or videos.

There are many people who strongly believe that there are paranormal phenomena and appearances of UFOs in this place.

The mysterious Hoia-Baciu Forest ( World’s Most Haunted Forest ) is beginning to compete more and more with the Dracula legend in Transylvania…It has become more famous because of unexplained phenomena, which are considered by some as manifestations of the paranormal. This forest’s fame is spreading worldwide.

Prestigious publications such as Travel & Leisure magazine or BBC have included this among the most interesting forest haunted areas on the planet. And its fame continues to attract tourists from all walks of life. Two years ago, the famous actor, Nicolas Cage, was shooting a film in Sibiu. Cage came to Cluj specifically to see this mysterious forest. Is Hoia-Baciu Forest haunted? Hoia-Baciu Forest ( World’s Most Haunted Forest ) , attracts many amateurs of Yoga, Wicca and the paranormal. They are attracted by the numerous long-told legends in connection with this forest. Some of the trees have grown crooked and there is speculation that their shape was influenced by mysterious energies.

There are people who believe that within Hoia-Baciu Forest ( World’s Most Haunted Forest ) there is a portal that provides access to other universes. There are also countless legends and stories about contact with entities outside our known world occurring here every year.

We cannot say for certain if  any of this it’s true or not. If you are brave enough, visit Hoia Baciu Forest to discover for yourself….

-G.B.RITHIKKA

JO GIRADELLI: QUEEN OF THE FIRE EATERS

Often seen at circuses and in other performances, the ability to breathe fire is a crowd pleaser.

A rarer spectacle, however, is the alleged ability to ingest sizzling hot objects without any harm. Few have practiced this art throughout time, but one particular practitioner displayed this art so well that she became known as the “Queen of the Fire Eaters.”

Originally there may have been more known of Jo Girardelli’s biography; if so, it has been lost. What is known is that she was born in Italy in the 1780s. She may have practiced her fire arts in mainland Europe, but she came into her own in England in the 1810s. She performed for elite and public alike, and everybody left astonished.

A typical performance was divided up into several different types of fire eating. Recorded chronicles written in England give our only contemporary view of her amazing feats.

She would begin a performance by putting nitric acid into her mouth and swishing it around. Then, taking a bar of iron, she would spit the acid onto the iron, where it would begin to eat through the iron, proving that it was a truly strong acid that had been in her mouth.

Next, she showed that boiling oil could not harm her. She would take a small pan of boiling oil and, to prove that the liquid was truly boiling, she would drop an egg into it and let it cook, showing the audience that the oil was extremely hot. She then filled her mouth with the oil and, like the nitric acid, would roll it around in her mouth for a few moments and then spit it onto a nearby fire where the oil would burst into flame, proving it was indeed oil that she had put into her mouth.

Her next trick was more remarkable. She would put melted sealing wax in her mouth and then would get someone from the audience to make an official seal impression on the wax while it was still on her tongue. Not even this audience volunteer, standing so close to her, could find evidence of any trickery.

She moved on to molten lead. She would dip a hand into the lead and scoop out a handful and put it into her mouth. She was then able to remove coin-sized pieces of lead from her mouth.

At this point she moved on to show that her mouth was not the only area immune to fire. She would heat a shovel to a high temperature and then press the shovel against her hair and her arms, leaving each unburned. To finish off her performance, she would lick the shovel, and the audience could hear the hiss of the heated metal touching her tongue.

Her fame spread. Everybody wanted to know her secrets but she would dismiss all queries by saying she used “a secret composition.” But English scientists agreed that any protective liquid or ointment she might have created could not possibly withstand the kind of heat generated in her performances.

Debunkers and skeptics were unable to find any trickery in her performances. Believers would attend her performances again and again. She truly seemed to be able to tolerate materials hundreds of degrees hotter than the average person.

There’s no documentation of her life after she left England. She may have retired to a “normal” life or she may have continued performing in other countries.

Either way, Jo Girardelli remains the undisputed queen of the fire eaters, and how she performed her feats remains a mystery.

-G.B.RITHIKKA

MYSTERY ABOUT THE VILLAGE KALACHI

THE VILLAGE KALACHI

The villagers of Kazakh village of Kalachi are suffering from a strange ailment. At any time of the day they just fall asleep and remain unconscious for many days. Kalachi is a village located in Esil District of Akmola Region in Kazakhstan. Almost one fourth of the villagers have suffered atleast once from the sleeping sickness. The first case of this mysterious illness was reported in March 2013. The symptoms include tiredness, drowsiness, loss of coordination, headaches and partial loss of memory. The sickness attacks anyone. Age, sex, species and health conditions do not matter. The sickness strikes anytime. A person may falls asleep while walking on the streets, while eating or while he is talking and he may sleep for days. When the person wakes up he feels dizzy and confused. Even animals are affected. Sometimes the animals also show sudden outburst of hyperactivity after they wake up.

Some people don’t sleep completely but look intoxicated. They appear confused and are unable to stand. Some of those affected suffer from vivid hallucinations. Locals say that the sleeping sickness is getting worse. There is a case when eight kids fell asleep in the school within an hour. There had been a time when 60 patients suffering from the disorder were found the same day.

Many scientists, doctors, virologists, radiologists and toxicologist have visited Kalachi to find the cause. Viral and bacterial infections like meningitis have been ruled out. Even the soil and the water show no presence of chemicals that would cause the sickness. Some doctors reported that the patients are suffering from encephalopathy, a disorder or disease of the brain. Scans of the brains have shown the presence of excessive fluid a condition known as oedema. The origin of the brain disease is still unclear.

The residents of Kalachi blame the wind coming from the abandoned Soviet-era uranium mine for causing the sickness. This Krasnogorskiy mine that is located besides the village was once used to extract uranium. The mine was closed in 1990s. Tests showed that the radiation levels in the village and at place closest to the mine were same as the background levels. Miners who had worked at the mine were also not affected by the sickness.

High levels of radon had been found in the village that was four to five times the normal. But doctors claim that the elevated levels would not be a cause and the symptoms of the sickness did not match. Radiation as a cause was ruled out. Carbon monoxide poisoning is also considered as the possible cause.

The high level of carbon monoxide in the village is caused by the smoke from the chimney that goes down instead of going up because of the location of the village and the weather there. The symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning are headache, vomiting and dizziness. Though a few symptoms are similar the reason of falling asleep for days is not known.

The mystery of the ‘sleeping sickness’ in the villagers of Kalachi is still not cracked and the residents are asked to resettle elsewhere.

-G.B.RITHIKKA