"Size Zero", "Size Double Zero", "Size Minus Zero" .....!! (Body beautiful-IV)

Today is the turn of thin, skeleton-like bodies, models walking on the ramp looking like a starved cat, film actresses and many imitators, who chant the Size Zero mantra !!

Since the beginning of human kind, we have desired the perfect form. All human beings want to look their best. That means the right weight for your height and bones. From the beginning of time man has strived to attain these perfect forms. From the start man made many statues representing the perfect form of man and woman and some societies worshiped them.

The Romans were known to tickle their throats with feathers after each meal to induce vomiting, thus allowing them to return to gluttonous feasting . The Romans did so to enhance the enjoyment of a wider selection of palatable foods. Call it whatever you want, calorie restriction, bulimia, vanity, anorexia, it is the desire for perfection, for "size zero".

Fundamentals :

* Size 0 is a US measure, which is equivalent to the British size 4, indicating a 32”bust, 22” waist and 33-34” hips ( overwrite 36-24-36 from your memory )

* 22” waist size is that of an average eight-year-old child in Britain

* 18.4 body mass index (weight in kilograms divided by height in metres squared) is that level below which you are underweight for your height according to the World Health Organisation .

* Compare this with 12.5 BMI of Ms. Ana Carolina Reston, the Brazilian model who died of anorexia in 2006. She was about 16 kg below the recommended minimum weight for her height .( Remember : 30 BMI over which you are classified as obese )

Anorexia is a an eating disorder characterized by extremely low body weight, distorted body image and an obsessive fear of gaining weight.

Go to this link http://www.disordered-eating.co.uk/eating-disorders-news/the-truth-about-size-zero.htmlLatest News: 08-03-2007 to read about "The Truth About Size Zero", a documentary originally screened abroad in March 2007, where Louise Redknapp reveals truth about what is involved in attaining a ‘stick-like thin’ body. By following a crash diet and intense exercise regime, 32-year-old Louise tried to reach a size zero figure in a 30-day experiment in order to expose the dangers of extreme dieting and to hopefully discourage other people from doing it.There is a week-by-week account of what she went through, physically and mentally. She had many side effects and after the experiment she recovered her health with medical assistance.

In her article "Can Calorie Restriction Lengthen Longevity?" Ashley Neglia wrote in March 2009 in www.thatisfit.com " ..... As humans, it's our business in life to stay alive for as long as possible. Each year, millions of dollars are poured into studies aimed at discovering the fountain of youth. The latest fountain du jour? Calorie-restrictive diets.

Several reports, including an ongoing study ..... have shown that calorie restriction can extend the life expectancy of primates, mice and fruit flies. Canto, a 25-year-old rhesus monkey ...., looks and acts like a monkey half his age thanks to being fed a diet that contains 30 percent fewer calories per day than the average rhesus monkey for the past 17 years.

Compared to his balding, arthritic-ridden one-year younger counterpart, Owen, who has been fed a typical rhesus monkey diet, Canto's shiny coat, elastic skin and what researchers describe as a "youthful energetic demeanor" clearly demonstrate the positive effects of a calorie restrictive diet...on rhesus monkeys................... A January 2009 segment on 60 Minutes featured members of the Calorie Restriction Society followers consume only 1,100 to 1,800 calories per day, compared to the 2,000 to 2,500 recommended allowances for adult females and males, respectively. "Hunger is a health signal that [your body] needs to be refueled," says Gans. "These people are taking it too much to an extreme." While CRS members have lowered their blood pressure, reduced body fat and lessened their risk factors for heart disease, diabetes and even cancer, there's been no solid evidence that a calorie-restrictive diet does indeed lengthen your lifespan. If you're obese or overweight and consuming more than your recommended calorie limit, reducing your calorie intake to lose weight and get healthy is one thing. But according to today's research, if you're already fit and active, slashing daily calorie intake may work against you.

Here's the bottom line: If you're already at a healthy weight, consume a healthful, balanced diet and maintain an active lifestyle, calorie restriction isn't for you. ....."

A report on http://www.scientificpsychic.com/health/crondiet.html states " .....Calorie Restriction is an experimental procedure that should be implemented gradually. Reducing caloric intake quickly does not allow the metabolism to adjust to the caloric deficit. Sudden calorie restriction can create major health problems. In particular, persons who have a Body Mass Index (BMI) below 22 should be very cautious. Calories should be reduced by less than 5% (less than 100 calories) and maintained for at least four weeks before any additional reductions are made. Weight should be monitored daily, and nutrition should be tracked to make sure that the diet provides 100% of all vitamins and minerals, at least 1 gram of protein per kilogram of body weight, and sufficient amounts of essential omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. You should not restrict calories further if your BMI is below 19. On the contrary, you may need to increase your caloric intake to maintain your BMI within the normal range (from 18.5 to 24.9). Do not exceed 16% CR since greater restriction can result in loss of structural tissue, including bones and muscles."

Eliana Ramos, left, was found dead in her bedroom. Her sister Luisel, right, suffered a fatal heart attack while leaving the catwalk last August

In Feb 2007, the telegraph (UK) headline screamed " Sister of tragic 'size zero' model found dead". In his report, Martin Beckford wrote : A model has died of suspected malnutrition just months after the death of her elder sister prompted an international debate on underweight "size zero" models.Eliana Ramos, 18, who worked for a prestigious Argentine modelling agency, was found dead in her bedroom.

Six months ago her sister Luisel suffered a fatal heart attack during a catwalk show, having reportedly eaten nothing but lettuce leaves for three months.

Eliana is also said to have had a heart attack, and local media in Uruguay, south America, linked her death to anorexia. A source involved in the investigation into the teenager's death said: "The primary diagnosis is death due to symptoms of malnutrition."

She had joined the fashion industry aged 16 and was due to model in the same show at which her 22-year-old sister collapsed on leaving the catwalk at the Hotel Radisson Victoria Plaza in Montevideo last August.

Judge Roberto Timbal has ordered an autopsy. Local police said the cause of Eliana's death was not yet clear.

But Pancho Dotto, founder of the Dotto modelling agency where she worked, insisted that she did not have an eating disorder. He said: "She ate well, she was very healthy and she played sport. It is absurd that people are speaking about anorexia or bulimia in this case........ It is obvious the sisters' deaths are due to a genetic problem, and not their diet."

The death of Luisel Ramos was followed in November by the death from anorexia of a Brazilian model who lived on apples and tomatoes. Ana Carolina Reston, 21, who had worked for Giorgio Armani, weighed just 36 kgs when she died on the eve of an international photoshoot.

The models' deaths sparked an international debate about the ethics of using models who have "size zero" measurements — a 31.5in bust, a 23in waist and 34in hips. The average waist size of a British eight-year-old is 22in.

Five women were recently barred from the catwalk at Madrid's fashion week for being "excessively skinny". The British Fashion Council, the organiser of London Fashion Week which began on Sunday, refused to ban size zero models but wrote to designers asking them only to use healthy-looking girls.

This week the cross-party trade and industry select committee announced that it is considering whether to investigate the "social responsibility" of the fashion industry. Peter Luff, chairman of the committee, said Ms Ramos's death showed once more the seriousness of the issue.

"It is a wake-up call to the fashion industry — but how many wake-up calls does it need to have before it recognizes the seriousness of the situation it faces? There is clearly the need for further decisive action."

Some readers commented interestingly :

* I fully agree that some of the models shown modelling on the fashion TV programmes look like the walking dead. They have lifeless eyes and yes they must be going through hell just trying to stay on their feet! Something has to be done about this appalling thing.

*I am a healthy 32-23-33 girl and I love my food, eight years ago I had to buy clothes at size 8-10, shoes at size 4. Today, with the same measurements, I have to get a smaller size 6 and size 3 shoes. ..... The industry is creating some smaller sizes to make the fat people who are constantly putting on weight feeling better.

*Fashion in China and Japan has historically crippled the feet of beautiful women.

VOGUE is one of the most leading fashion magazines in the world. Some time back Vogue's editor, Alexandra Shulman, had written a letter to major international fashion houses including Karl Lagerfeld, John Galliano, Prada and Versace.

She  complained that sample sizes sent by designers are now so "minuscule" they force fashion editors to use models with "jutting bones" and "no breasts or hips".

In her letter, Shulman wrote: "Nowadays, I often ask the photographers to retouch to make the models appear larger."

In summary, the conclusions are to be drawn by each  individual for one's own self. Imitation can be fatal. One person's medicine could be poison for another !

Having roamed past the obese and overwight, the skeleton thin and size zero, now, ( did I hear someone say : "thank God" !) , in the next post, I wish conclude the beauty obsession topic with a story that looks like an obsession, an extreme craze !

Astrological help for Tiger arrives little too late ( the women were faster ! )

Failure or success seem to have been allotted to men by their stars. But they retain the power of wriggling, of fighting with their star or against it, and in the whole universe the only really interesting movement is this wriggle. ~ said .M. Forster

Whatever has happened to Tiger Woods, at least he knows why it is happening to him !

Every body has the answers, logic and rational opinion about it.

I was wondering where the astrologers were ? And here they are ! ( I have nothing against astrologers - but still must report this )

Lynn Hayes writes on 2^nd December  http://blog.beliefnet.com/astrologicalmusings which is bold, flowing with over confidence and too true to believe: ( an extract)

Quote: " Regardless of what happens in Woods's personal life, 

his public image has taken a big hit.  

I won't take the time right now for a detailed analysis of Woods's astrological chart, but a brief overview reveals that he has the Sun in Capricorn .......  Virgo is rising in the chart ...,  His Moon, though, tells a different story - his Moon (....  in freedom-loving Sagittarius, optimistic at heart and full of confidence.  That confidence is expanded by a very big Jupiter (planet of optimism and good fortune) in the assertive sign of Aries, revealing his inner competitive nature.

Uranus ....  been an important influence for Tiger Woods since May of 2008 when it crossed the cusp of Woods's seventh house of marriage, transiting back and forth over the next 18 months.  At the same time Uranus was in a challenging square (90 degree) formation to his Moon and the Midheaven of his chart, signifying his career.  Clearly this has been a time of intense inner turmoil and perhaps a desire to shatter the confines of his very controlled and public life.

Woods's progressed chart is quite active as well.  The progressed chart evolves over time just as we do, and his progressed Midheaven ....  crossed his progressed Saturn (.... last month as the rumors began to build. 

Had Tiger Woods consulted with an astrologer earlier this year he would have been warned of the potential for a public relations problem with the Saturn/Midheaven in the progressed chart, and understanding the nature of the Uranus transit might have helped him to be a little more cautious in his activities.  It's not likely that the damage will be permanent, though - transiting Jupiter will make a harmonious trine to the Midheaven in his natal chart in a couple of weeks and smooth everything over. Unquote

So far, even women have spoken. Eighth woman is thinking of coming forward for offering  her "kiss-and tell" story, his wife has walked out of their palatial home to stay in  the neighbourhood, one woman has been found inn his home and taken to hospiatl. Too many woman - even for Tiger - to handle!

My only concern is that if Tiger Woods forgot to consult an astrologer, why did the astrologers forget to voluntarily write to him ( as they are doing now)?

We have a joke that Indian Police is like a rainbow. 

It appears on the scene ( of crime) when everything is over, like a rainbow that emerges after the rains, storm & lightning is over.

Dear  Police : congrats ! You have now good  company of astrologers. 

Be together!

                                                   About 225 years ago Voltaire said:  

“Superstition is to religion

what astrology is to astronomy:

the mad daughter of a wise mother”

Tamed Tiger, Private Sins & Public Apologies

Love & Lust know no bounds ( and also no bonds)!

Tiger Woods, the money minting, super start golfing sensation  fell in love with a stunning Swedish beauty, a model and married her.  No need to conclude that they lived happily ever after ... because his public apology appears later in this post.  

Tiger Woods was involved in a car accident near his house very recently, we know that.

This small accident was occasioned when his car first hit a fire hydrant on the road and then a tree, we know that. It has hit so many other things: his marriage, his girl friends, and his peace of mind. His career as well as reputation also took a knock. Not to talk of his finances the way he is offering the money to concerned parties.

Born in 1975 Tiger Woods  married  Elin Nordegren in May 2004. They have two kids also.

On November 27, 2009, Woods was taken to hospital after an early morning car accident near his home…. around 2:30 a.m. in his 2009 Cadillac , when he collided with a fire hydrant and a tree down the street. …..On November 29, Woods issued a statement saying the car accident was his fault, but is a private matter. He praised his wife Elin for getting him out of the car. Details about what caused the accident were not revealed.

Two days before the accident, The National Enquirer had published a story that alleged that Woods had had an affair with a lady.

Woods said, "the many false, unfounded, and malicious rumors that are currently circulating about my family and me are irresponsible".On December 2, Woods expressed regret on his personal website for "trangressions" and "let[ting] his family down" and offered a "profound apology." The apology,  came on the same day that a cocktail waitress, went public saying that she had a 2+¹⁄₂ year affair with Woods and she released voice and text messages that she says Woods left her.

      

Quickly,  the golf legend posted a new statement on his official web site regarding the scandal that continues to dog him and his wife. While he doesn't mention any of the ladies  by name, or even admit affairs, the writing is on the wall.

"I have let my family down and I regret those transgressions with all of my heart. I have not been true to my values and the behavior my family deserves."

"I am not without faults and am far short of perfect. I am dealing with my behavior behind closed doors. Those feelings should be shared by my family alone."

"Although I am a well-known person and have made my career as a pro athlete, I am dismayed to realize the full extent of what tabloid scrutiny means."

The following news report  filed by Nicole Merkle on December 6th 2009 on www.examiner.com tells it all :“Elin Nordegren Woods reportedly received a re-negotiation of her pre-nup with golfer Tiger Woods. ( Prenuptial  is a contract entered into prior to marriage, and it commonly includes provisions for division of property and spousal support in the event of divorce or breakup of marriage) .Elin Nordegren Woods originally was to  "only" receive $20 million from Woods after 10 years of marriage.  In light of the current scandal, it has been said that amount  has been increased by $55 million to $75 million, and the time frame she must remain married to Woods dropped from 10 years to 7 years.

In addition, she would receive a $5 million one-time payment.  This amounts to an $80 million payout for Elin Woods, not to mention any funds she would receive for child support should she and Tiger divorce.

In addition, alleged mistress  reportedly received between $1 and $3 million to keep quiet about her affair with Tiger Woods.  Some one else is offering $1 million to alleged mistresses that can prove their Tiger Woods affair and are willing to tell their 'Tiger Tale.'  Chances are, people will be coming out of the woodwork either getting money from media sources for their story or from the golfer himself to keep quiet.” 

We do not know whether Tiger is the victim of some blackmailing scandal. As some one commented, we should leave it to the couple as they vowed fidelity to each other and not to us ! 

 Bill Clinton had a lovely family ( he still has ) when he did something in his Oval Office in White House for which he later had to broadcast his admission of guilt. Whatever may be the reason for their 'sins', it is no longer their personal business, howsoever they demand that it be so.

 Herman Melville  said it well :  ''We cannot live only for ourselves. A thousand fibers connect us with our fellow men.''

Well-known person he certainly is, like Bill Clinton was, when he faltered with Monica Lewinsky.  His last words on the subject are similar to Tiger Woods’.  Just glance at Bill Clinton's August 17 speech to the American public re: Monica Lewinsky:

 “  This afternoon in this room, from this chair, I testified before the Office of Independent Counsel and the grand jury. I answered their questions truthfully, including questions about my private life, questions no American citizen would ever want to answer.

Still, I must take complete responsibility for all my actions, both public and private. And that is why I am speaking to you tonight.

Indeed, I did have a relationship with Miss Lewinsky that was not appropriate. In fact, it was wrong. It constituted a critical lapse in judgment and a personal failure on my part for which I am solely and completely responsible….….I know that my public comments and my silence about this matter gave a false impression. I misled people, including even my wife. I deeply regret that. …….

This has gone on too long, cost too much and hurt too many innocent people.

Now, this matter is between me, the two people I love most -- my wife and our daughter -- and our God. I must put it right, and I am prepared to do whatever it takes to do so.

Nothing is more important to me personally. But it is private, and I intend to reclaim my family life for my family. It's nobody's business but ours. ……..”

Gladstone and Lincoln are both credited with the quote “ Nothing that is morally wrong can be politically right”. This can be paraphrased to read that if one is morally wrong, he can not be right  politically, or socially, economically, spiritually, or in whichever  way.

''We cannot live only for ourselves. A thousand fibers connect us with our fellow men.'' Herman Melville

I don't suppose there's any public figure that's ever been subject to any more violent personal attacks than I have.”  Bill Clinton said 

The first 20 stories written about a public figure set the tone for the next 2,000 and it is almost impossible to reverse it.” said Charles W. Colson

 By three methods we may learn wisdom: First, by reflection, which is noblest; Second, by imitation, which is easiest; and Third by experience, which is the bitterest." Said Confucius. This amply applies to Tiger Woods and Bill Clinton, who are now wiser.

This goes on in our society, in our world. Rampant in middle class, lower class and upper class. Daily. Unreported. This is going on since ancient times.Interesting fable of King  Bhartrihari  is very relevant: 

He was a 6th-century Indian poet, author of the Shringara, Neeti and Vairagya Śataka, each creation of poetry consisting of three sections of a hundred verses each. His three-fold poetry displays the depth and intensity of three  different phases  of his personal life as he vacillates between the three pursuits – firstly of fleshly desires, next of virtues and values  and  finally those of the spirit of the soul - in that order. He is sometimes identified with Bharthari, a legendary king of Ujjain in Indian folklore. Bhartrihari was the king of Malwa whose capital city was Ujjain. The famous emperor Vikramaditya was the younger stepbrother of king Bhartrihari. 

Bhartrihari was deeply attracted his newly-wedded wife Pingala, A sage once gave  a fruit that when eaten would increase the king’s lifespan. An infatuated Bhartrihari handed the fruit to his wife. Pingala in turn, preferred the intimate company of the chief horse-keeper to whom she gave the fruit. The horse-keeper was in love with a prostitute. In the end, the fruit found itself in the prostitute’s hands.The prostitute went to the court of  King Bhartrihari, praised the great qualities of the fruit, told him she was unfit of such a lofty gift and gifted it to him. He ate the fruit and in a flash realized that it was the very fruit that he had lovingly gifted to Pingala. This singular incident made him realize the worthlessness of it all. He turned his back on worldly life and took to renunciation. The Niti Shataka has an extremely poignant verse that describes this state of Bhartruhari:

Yaam chintayaami satatam mayi saa viraktaa
Saapyanyamicchati janam sa janonyasaktah
Asmatkrute ca parishushyati kaachidanyaa
Dhik taam ca tam ca madanam ca imaam ca maam ca

OR

The one upon whom I meditate perpetually is detached from me . But (she) desires another and the other (desires) yet another.
Thus it goes always, this desire to always desire another.
Shame on her, on him, on Kam Dev (God of Love), on all this and shame  on me too! 

From King Bhartrihari he became an ascetic, a tapasvi (the literal meaning of tapas is “to burn”) and from the ashes he burnt his passions into arose the immortal verses 

Bhartrihari is perhaps not so relevant these days . Because, unfortunately, "Success is a great deodorant. It takes away all your past smells."  In case of Clinton, this famous saying by the beauty & glamour queen  Elizabeth Taylor has come vividly true. Hillary is back in active politics and Bill  regularly earns huge lecture fees & and who bothers about Monica!

Are our looks ( read 'bottoms') more precious than our lives ?.. (Body beautiful-III)

“ Animals do not admire each other. 

A horse does not admire its companion.” 

Blaise Pascal ( 17th Century)

Last Friday, we were at a friend’s place when we inquired about one common friend and his well-being. “His wife has come out safely – after great efforts and huge expenses - from post operative complications after a routine surgical procedure was carried out”. I was amazed to learn that she, in her early fifties had opted for liposuction (fat removal) and some not-so-uncommon surgery for intestines. But the complications took the wind out of them, and after spending three million rupees (which is about 20 times the cost of an average cardiac by-pass surgery in the same town), she cheated on the death god and – survived.  Believe me , this happened within a 100 km - radius of where I live!  It was a great relief to learn that all is well that ends well and I look forward to meeting that friend next week and to share his pain and fatigue.

Barely reconciled from this, I read with dismay that ex-Miss Argentina died this week when the cosmetic surgery to tone up her bottoms back-fired (no pun intended). (Source: http://www.blisstree.com/healthbolt/perfection-search-cosmetic-surgery-death/)

Perfection Search: Cosmetic Surgery Death

December 1, 2009 by Marijke Durning, RN  

Another woman has died, as have women before her, after undergoing plastic surgery.  When will this madness stop? Other women haven’t died, but have had to live with disfiguring complications from surgeries that have gone wrong or were done by uncertified people.

This time, it’s Solange Magnano, mother to 7-year-old twins and Miss Argentina in 1994. She died this past Sunday from complications arising during a gluteoplasty. She wanted a nicer backside, so she went for a “bum lift,” but she never had a chance to show off her new body. Her death follows the deaths of other women, including celebrities who died after cosmetic surgery. Most recently, Donda West, mother to Kanye West, died during such a procedure. In Canada, Micheline Charest, co-founder of the Cinar animation house, died at age 51, while having a face lift and breast enlargement.

What People Forget

Cosmetic surgery has long been thought of as a simple, risk-free procedure, but all surgery has risk, be it the seemingly simple injection of Botox to a full reshaping of the body (breast, butt, face, etc). These risks include scarring, reactions to anesthetic, blood clots, clots to the lungs (pulmonary embolism), even death, like what happened to Ms Magnano.

Other complications are particular to cosmetic procedures. 

They include:

• An accumulation of clear fluid beneath the incision (seroma), which may need to be drained
• A collection of blood beneath the closed incision (hematoma), which may have to be removed
• Skin breakdown — a separation from healthy skin caused by poor blood circulation, particularly if you smoke
• Bleeding requiring a transfusion
• Infection at the site of surgery, which may require additional surgery and lead to bigger scars            (source: MayoClinic.com)

• 
  

Plastic surgery has its place. There are people every day who are born with severe disfigurements or become disfigured because of accidents or illness. Plastic surgery can help a person breathe properly again or look “presentable,” so he or she can go out in public without being stared at. Plastic surgery can help heal a person and good plastic surgeons change lives. But cosmetic surgery to firm up a butt, to lift breasts, to try to achieve the perfect body, is it worth leaving behind your children – to have them go motherless?

About six months ago one more report below, titled “Cosmetic Surgery Slashed Ten Years Off Her Age”  was published  :  (http://trendsupdates.com/cosmetic-surgery-slashed-ten-years-off-her-age/) . Now, in light of the complications reported recently, it would perhaps make a different reading:

Ann Ford was so ashamed of her wrinkles that she pretending to be four years older than her real age and even went through an early retirement instead of revealing her real age to her colleagues. Now, at 57 years, and after spending 15,000 pounds on cosmetic surgery, Ann Ford looks years younger than she had been.

According to Ann, she had always had wrinkles and the doctor whom she saw when she was 39 actually mistook her for someone a decade older. What worse for Ann was that she had worked at an old people’s home for sometime where she looked older than some of the senior citizens. After having to retire from the garden centre where she worked because of her innocent lies about her age, Ann tried desperately to hide her wrinkles with make-up. When even this did not help she finally went to a clinic where she spent thousands on cosmetic surgery.

An upper facelift, brow lift, cheek implants, removal of excess skin around the eyes and pinning her ears back, Ann now looks years younger and quite beautiful. After getting a lower facelift and a chemical peel to enhance her skin, Ann proudly reveals her husband feels he now has a younger wife. Guess money does buy you love!

Things have always been like this . two incidents come to the mind:

1. Whilst staring at a statue of Cleopatra, Mark Antony became transfixed by his lover's beauty. He was on his way to the decisive battle of Actium but lingered on, amazed with the sculptor's perfection, & thus lost the battle.

• In his  book Pensées (literally, "thoughts") Blaise Pascal, the renowned 17th century philosopher and mathematician. remarks "Cleopatra's nose, had it been shorter, the whole face of the world would have been changed"  Ironically, what he means is that, had her nose been smaller, she would have lacked the dominance and strength of character which, in the physiognomy of the seventeenth century (or, indeed, the nineteenth century), a large nose symbolized. It is a salutary reminder that the aesthetics of beauty change over time and place. 
• (Pascal as a physicist was concerned chiefly with the pressures of liquids and gasses. In 1644 (aged 21) he first read the work of Torricelli (pupil of Galileo) on the barometer.
  
• 
  

The great India Sage Ashtavakra and equally great King Janak had a meeting

where something unique happened. Osho beautifully narrates it: 

2. “ When Ashtavakra was twelve years old, Janak hosted a huge debating conference. Janak was an emperor, and he invited the pundits of the whole country to debate on the scriptures. He had one thousand cows placed at the palace gate and had the horns of the cows plated with gold and decorated with jewels. He proclaimed, ”Whoever is victorious, shall take possession of these cows.”
   
   It was a great debate. Ashtavakra’s father also participated. As dusk was falling, the message came to Ashtavakra that his father was losing. He had already defeated all the others, but he was about to be defeated by a pundit named Vandin. Receiving this message Ashtavakra went to the palace. The hall was decorated. The debate was in its final stage and the decisive moment was fast approaching. His father’s defeat was a complete forgone conclusion – he was on the very edge of defeat.
   
   The pundits saw Ashtavakra as he entered the royal court. They were all learned scholars. His body was bent and deformed in eight places ( hence the name Ashta+vakra ) : he had just to move and anyone would start laughing. His very movement was a laughing matter. The whole meeting broke into laughter. Ashtavakra also roared with laughter. Janak asked, ”Everyone else is laughing. I can understand why they laugh, but why did you laugh, my son?” 
   
   Ashtavakra said, ”I am laughing because truth is being decided in this conference of butchers” – the man must have been extraordinary. ”What are all these skinners doing here?”
   
   A deep silence fell over the meeting. Butchers? Skinners? The king asked, ”What do you mean?”
   
   Ashtavakra said, ”It is simple and straightforward: They only see skin, they don’t see me. It is difficult to find a man more pure and simple than me, but they don’t see this; they see a bent and deformed body. They are skinners, they judge by the skin. Your Majesty, in the curve of a temple is the sky curved? When a pot is smashed, is the sky smashed? The sky is beyond change. My body is twisted, but I am not. Look at the one within. You can’t find anything more straight and pure.”

( Note :  Ashtavakra had body deformities at eight places ( hence the name Ashta=eight +Vakra=curved) . Janaka was called Janaka Videha. (Videha = “without a body” . Although a king, he had entirely forgotten that he was a body; he felt that he was a spirit all the time. )

With this  very enlightening story, just for  today I need to   close this post  but  the craze for “ size zero” and “body repair garages”  thoughts keep churning the mind. They compel  me to bring them up next !