The word 'Meditation' comes from the Latin root "meditatum", which means "to ponder". Meditation is a technique for resting the mind leading to peace, happiness, bliss, and self-realization. There are a large number of meditation techniques in the world. Mantra-based meditation is one such technique in which a sound, word or phrase (called "mantra") is recited either aloud or silently during meditation. It has been established by the experience as well as the experiments that the correct frequency of mantra sound, along with the correct intent, helps the practioner oxygenate the brain, reduce heart rate, blood pressure, get cured by many ailments, create calm brainwave activity and achieve immunity from outside mental disturbances. The theoretical and the experimental aspects of mantra-based meditation technique are analyzed scientifically in this paper. The primary aim of this paper is to make the larger number of people, including the intelligentsia, aware of this wonderful gift of Almighty so that they themselves could try practicing meditation for their own benefit and consequently transmit peaceful vibrations to the society in this age of planetary turmoil.

Differential absorption lidar (DIAL) techniques are advantageously used these days for detecting and monitoring traces of toxic agents located at several kilometer in the atmosphere. A theoretical study has been carried out to simulate the performance of a multiwavelength DIAL sy stem. Clouds of hy drazine, unsy mmetrical dimethy lhy drazine (UDMH), and monomethylhydrazine (MMH), located at various ranges up to 5 km in the atmosphere, have been taken as examples of the toxic agents. It has been shown that a given lidar system cannot detect any of these agents with a specific cloud thickness if the concentration of that agent is below a certain value (N min ). It has also been shown that if the concentration level of a given agent is above a certain value (N max ) at a particular distance, this value cannot be quantified for a given lidar system although the identity as well as the location of that agent can still be determined. Further, for some typical parametric conditions, the required energy levels of the laser to detect specific concentrations of these agents at different distances have been computed. Power levels of the return signals and the SNR values from different ranges have also been calculated for each of these toxic agents for a given value of the laser transmitter energy.

I Sea-skim~ing cruise missiles pose the greatest threat to a surface ship in the present-day war scenario. The convei1tionallclose-in-weapon-systems (CIWSs) are becoming less reliable against these nelw challenges rJquiring extremely fast reaction time. Naval Forces see a high energy laser as a feasible andjeffective directed energy weapon against sea-skimming antiship cruise missiles because of its .ability to deli'ler destructive energy at the speed oflight on to a distant target. The paper compares the technology and capability of deuterium fluoride (DF) and chemical-oxygen-iodine laser (COIL) in effectively performing the role of a shipborne CIWS altainst sea-skimming missiles. Out of these two lasers, it is argued that DF laser wo.uld be more effective a,s a shipborne weapon for defence against sea-skimmin,g cruise missiles. Bes~des the high energy laser as the primary (killing) laser, other sub-systems required in the complete weapon system would be: A beacon laser to sense phase distor'ions in the primary laser, adaptive optics to compen~ate the atmospheric distortions, beam-directing optics, illuminating lasers, IRST sensors, surveillance and tracking radars, interfacing systemsl etd.ani urgent need to develop new technologies to defend the ships against such menacing threats. A high energy laser is one of the most effective close-in-weapon-system (CIWS) to meet such threats. The present article reviews capabilities of two lasers, viz., deuterium fluoride2 (DF) and chcmical-oxygen-iodine laser3 (COIL), in effectively performing the role of a shipborne C;IWS against sea-skimming .hissiles.

Since time immemorial the man is wishing and trying to lead a peaceful and happy life. Despite attempting different methods, the man is still not able to get an emotionally balanced and peaceful life to his complete satisfaction. This is primarily because of certain situations when his soul gets injured or wounded by other people (including colleagues and relatives), own fears and hallucinations, circumstances, incidents or accidents. Not able to cope up, the man with the wounded soul subsequently seeks medical and/or spiritual help from self/others depending on his accessibility and practiced faith. 'Shaktipat' in Hinduism is one such powerful treatment in which the enlightened master or Almighty God Himself transmits his spiritual power not only to lead the recipient to a peaceful, purposeful and emotionally balanced life but also to dramatically enhance the spiritual quotient of the seeker. The transmitter of Shaktipat (Guru/God) tunes to the parameters of the intended recipient, just like the parameters of a laser beam for the laser-target interaction process. This author, therefore, terms this metaphorical laser as 'Shaktipat Laser', which can be used not only to heal the injured souls but also for the remarkably high spiritual upliftment of the recipient, at times merging the spiritual levels of the Guru and the recipient, as one.

The Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt is the oldest and the only one out of the seven wonders of the ancient world that has survived till date. It is believed by some people that the ancient Vedic knowledge and concept was implemented for the design of this and similar pyramids. This is mainly based on the principle of the 'Golden Ratio'. The 'inverted-pyramid-shaped' Havan Kund, which is used by tens of millions of people for performing daily yagyas, is also based on the same concept and design as that of the Pyramid of Giza. Whereas the Pyramids like that of Giza possess the spiritual potential energy, which is used for the benefit of human and plant life placed in them; the Havan Kund is known to spread the spiritual kinetic energy for the benefit of humans, plants and the environment. In this paper, the scientific and spiritual correlations of the Giza Pyramid and the Havan Kund are studied in details. Based on the analysis of these correlations, a new design of Havan Kund is proposed herewith, which is humbly believed to be more effective spiritually and scientifically than the existing Havan Kundas used by many.