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GUN TOTUM

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gun-totem-1

“Standing in front of Providence’s Federal Courthouse in Rhode Island is an unusual monument constructed out of steel, concrete and 1000 used handguns. Dubbed the Gun Totem by its artist, Boris Bally, the imposing obelisk was constructed in 2001 with guns from a firearm buy-back program called Guns for Goods, founded by Dr. Michael P. Hirsch.

Hirsch and former colleague Matthew Masiello founded Guns for Goods in Pittsburgh in 1994, while working in trauma centers at area hospitals during a time of high crime. Researching gun-buy-back programs in locations such as New York, Hirsch and Masiello decided to try their own version of the program in Pittsburgh – but instead of buying back guns for cash reimbursements, they offered gift cards from local merchants in trade for the forgotten or unwanted weapons. To date, Guns for Goods has collected more 11,000 weapons off the streets of Pittsburgh.”

via Amusing Planet

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HINDU THEORY OF EVOLUTION

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In Hindu mythology, its origin is found in one of the popular creation myths and the Hindu theories on evolution, the Samudra manthan episode (Churning of the ocean of milk), which finds mention in the Bhagavata Purana, Vishnu Purana, the Mahabharata, and the Ramayana.

The Gods had lost their strength, and to regain it, they thought of churning the Ksheera Sagara (primordial ocean of milk) for amrit (the nectar of immortality), this required them to make a temporary agreement with their arch enemies, the demons or Asuras, to work together with a promise of sharing the nectar equally thereafter. However, when the Kumbha (urn) containing the amrita appeared, a fight ensued. For twelve days and twelve nights (equivalent to twelve human years) the gods and demons fought in the sky for the pot of amrita. It is believed that during the battle, Lord Vishnu flew away with the Kumbha of elixir, and that is when drops of amrita fell at four places on earth: Prayag, Haridwar, Ujjain and Nashik, and that is where the Kumbh Mela is observed every twelve years.

First written evidence of the Kumbha Mela can be found in the accounts of Chinese traveller, Huan Tsang or Xuanzang (602 – 664 A.D.) who visited India in 629 -645 CE, during the reign of King Harshavardhana.   (Source: Wikipedia.org)

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This photograph was shot it at Kumbha Mela 2010.

For more photos,click  the artists website:  subirbasak.orgfree.com

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