Episode 44: Hanuman learns why his mentor, Jambhavan, sleeps for six months of the year.
Hanuman is startled by the story of his birth and his connection to King Dasaratha’s four sons.
Hanuman: Dad, I am surprised by the things I learnt today.
Vaayu: There is a lot more to learn, Hanuman.
Hanuman: Am I really so capable? Is everyone relying too much on me?
Vaayu (smiles): Life always gives one challenges and there will be failures. But remember, this only makes your stronger. One has to overcome inhibitions and the feelings of inferiority.
Hanuman: How? Does it happen automatically?
Vaayu: Not for everyone. Some need the help of a teacher, mentor, guide, coach… whatever word you feel is suitable. The right teacher can actually reshape your life.
Hanuman: So, are you my teacher? Or is it Nala?
Vaayu: No. I am your father. Nala is your friend. You will learn things from us. But your mentor is someone else.
Hanuman: Who is it, dad?
Vaayu: You will learn during the journey of life.
Hanuman looks sad. Seeing that, Vaayu decides to introduce him to his mentor.
Vaayu: Don’t worry. I will introduce you to someone who is going to help you.
Hanuman: Does that mean he is not my actual mentor?
Vaayu: We never know. But he is a good-hearted person who is a Chiranjeevi (immortal). He was a Himalayan king. But before I introduce you to him, you need to know some things.
Along with Hanuman, Vaayu starts to fly higher and higher. They reach a cold foggy place, with a huge castle in the middle. As they got nearer, they could hear a rumbling sound.
Hanuman: I can hear a weird noise, like snoring.
Vaayu: It is not like snoring. It is actually snoring.
And Vaayu points. Hanuman sees a gigantic bear sleeping.
Vaayu: Meet your mentor: Chiranjeevi Jambhavan.
Hanuman gives him a look and wonders how this sleeping creature could be his mentor.
Vaayu (laughs): Your face gives you away. Never judge a book by its cover. Let me tell you something interesting about Jambhavan. He sleeps for almost 5-6 months in a year.
Hanuman: Without food or water? How is that possible?
Vaayu: That’s for you to find out.
After saying that, Vaayu disappears. Hanuman wonders what to do and then remembers Nala. So, he goes to Nala’s place and explains his predicament.
Nala: So, you are surprised at Jambhavan sleeping for half the year. Actually, it is common to many animals. In fact, there is a group called Tardigrade, which can stay in this state for more than even 100 years.
Hanuman: What? How?
Nala: Through a process called hibernation. Take Jambhavan, for example. He is a bear. During summer, he is able to get food and it is easy to survive. But, in winter, food is hard to come by. So, as part of the process of evolution, some species developed a system to save themselves. During challenging weather conditions, their body temperature drops to a certain level and their heartbeat and body metabolism also slows down.
Hanuman: Won’t they die?
Nala: No. They lose a certain amount of fat, which they recover when they start eating in summer. In fact, it depends on the place. If food is easily available through the year, they won’t hibernate. In fact, human scientists are trying to use the CRISPR Gene Editing technology to see if humans can also do this.
Hanuman: How will it help them?
Nala: Say, for example, travel to Mars take six months. If humans are able to hibernate, then the travel becomes more efficient and safer.
Hanuman: How interesting! Tell me more.
Nala (laughs): Let’s go and ask Jambhavan.
Hanuman: Won’t he get angry if we wake him up?
Nala: He is not Kumbhakarna, Hanuman. He is one of the greatest teachers, besides being a really cool person.
Hanuman: Well, I am curious to meet him.
Nala: Let’s go then.
The author is the founder and CEO of Vaayusastra Aerospace, an IIT-Madras incubated ed-tech startup that offers Air Science workshops for children between five and 14 years.
Now that you have read about Hanuman and his hibernating mentor, try this activity. The grid has names of hibernating animals. Can you find all the names using the picture clues?
Flowers add beauty to a place and bring joy to the beholder. Can you identify these common flowers?
Flowers are a beautiful sight to behold. They come in many colours, sizes and also fragrances. Though some flowers are more common than others, each one is beautiful. A gift of flowers is always welcome, whether it is given as a birthday greeting or a get well wish.
Every one has a favourite flower. What’s yours? Can’t think of a name? Then try this charming game and find your answer.
‘In’ or ‘un’? ‘Anti’ or ‘auto’? Match the prefixes with the correct root words in this interactive task.
A prefix is a letter or group of letters added to the beginning of a word to change its meaning or to make a new word. For instance, when ‘un’ is added to ‘kind’ it becomes ‘unkind’, which means the opposite of ‘kind’. When ‘inter’ is added to ‘school’, it becomes ‘interschool’, which means something occuring between schools.
Here’s a fun task for you. Can you match the prefixes with the root words in the below puzzle?
How do the kidneys maintain and regulate blood pressure in the human body? Read on to find out…
During discussions about blood pressure, we tend to overlook the kidneys, which are utmost significance. Take a dive into how kidneys maintain blood pressure.
Courtesy: Tarana Thakurdas, Byjus
Tracing the evolution of the cricket bat and, perhaps, a look into its future. Also try your hand at a crossword based on cricketing greats…
The cricket bat has come a long way. Comprising a handle and a blade, it is perhaps the mostly widely found object in Indian homes. With a total length of 38 inches maximum and width of 4.25 inches, the blade is generally flat on the front. A ridge on the back concentrates wood in the middle where the ball is generally hit. The handle is made of laminated cane and rubber and a tapered splice secures it into the blade, improving load transfer and reducing the chances of breaking. Typically, bats are made from a specific British willow (Salix alba var. caerulea).
Bats were not always this shape. While the first mention dates back to 1624, the earliest forms of cricket were most likely played by shepherds with a lot of time to kill, and their bat, not surprisingly, was their hooked stick. The oldest existing bat, dating back to 1729, is shaped more like a hockey stick. The bowling, till the mid-19th century, was underarm. So, the lowest portion of the bat needed to be solid, like a hockey stick. Once overarm bowling established itself, the location for the thickest portion moved upward and the design has been more or less the same for close to 50 years.
Interestingly, the British gave us the bat even before they gave us first-class cricket. They introduced the willow in Kashmir in the early 19th century — not for bats but for firewood after considering the weather. The species thrived and, about 100 years back, an industry took off that today employs over 10,000 people and also produces over a million bats.
Despite being made from the exact same species and being used by players like Viv Richards and Sachin Tendulkar, Kashmiri bats were considered inferior. But, after their debut in the T20 World Cup 2021 and the official status in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023, they have made it to the international stage.
But will future bats be made from willow? The species is dwindling both in its original home and in the Kashmir valley. An alternative that has been tested with good results is made by sticking layers of bamboo together. This is lighter and thinner and also has a better performing sweet spot. Not to mention, it is also a lot cheaper. There is also a possibility that this may make cricket popular in Southeast Asia and China, where bamboo grows in profusion. Bamboo bats are not yet accepted, as the law states that cricket bat should be made of wood. And may be the bamboo reminds them of the shepherd’s crook.
Now that you’ve read all about how the cricket bat originated, try your hand at this crossword. Remember, the names are all last names.
This weekend, make a fort that to remind you that everything begins at Red Fort on Independence Day.
If you know which are your go-to foods for vitamins, you can make sure you eat them and stay healthy. Try this task.
Vitamins play an important role in maintaining our overall health and well-being. These micronutrients are crucial for various bodily functions, such as immune system support, energy production, and cell growth. They contribute to the proper functioning of our organs.
We can get vitamins from a diverse range of foods. By including a variety of such nutrient-rich foods in our diet, we can try and meet our vitamin requirements and maintain optimal health.
Here’s a fun task for you. The below wheel is almost complete but has a few vitamins missing. Can you use the hints and drop them in their places?
There are 11 four-letter countries in the world. How many of these names do you know?
Did you know that out of the 195 countries in the world, only 11 have names that are four letters long? One of them is Niue, an internally self-governing island state in free association with New Zealand. We covered five other countries in Part 1 (Click here if you missed it).
This quiz has the remaining five countries. Can you guess their names based on the information given?
A crossword all about your favourite books and authors… Get, set, solve!
Who is the author of Green Eggs and Ham? Or, which book is Maurice Sendak known for? There are so many things about the world of books that are left to be explored. Check out this crossword to begin with.
Most planets have moons. Planets like Jupiter have 80 to 95 moons while others like Mercury and Venus have none.
The Solar System comprises of eight planets – Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune. It also has dwarf planets like Pluto, many moons, asteroids, comets and meteorites.
The word ‘planet’ is derived from an ancient word that encompasses science, history, astrology, mythology and religion. A planet is a celestial body that orbits the sun and carries enough mass to be circled by its own gravity. Many planets have moons. While some have just one; others have many.
Can you match the moon to its planet?