Pranam *What's the meaning of the phrase 'On cloud nine'?*
To be 'on cloud nine' is to be in a state of blissful happiness. *What's the origin of the phrase 'On cloud nine'?* Whenever a phrase includes a number, like the whole nine yards <https://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/the-whole-nine-yards.html>, at sixes and sevens <https://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/sixes-and-sevens.html> etc., then attempts to find its derivation usually focus on the significance of the number. 'On cloud nine' is no exception. A commonly heard explanation is that the expression originated as one of the classifications of cloud which were defined by the US Weather Bureau in the 1950s, in which 'Cloud Nine' denotes the fluffy cumulonimbus type that are considered so attractive. Another explanation is that the phrase derives from Buddhism and that Cloud Nine is one of the stages of the progress to enlightenment of a Bodhisattva (one destined to become a Buddha). Neither of these explanations holds water. To begin with, both the cloud classifications and the Buddhist stages to enlightenment have ten levels. To single out the last but one stage of either is rather like attributing the source of the 'whole nine yards' to American Football, where it is ten yards rather than nine that is a significant measure. Also, the fact that nine is far from the only number that has been linked with clouds, argues against those origins. Early examples of 'cloud' expressions include clouds seven, eight, nine and even thirty-nine. It seems that it is the clouds themselves, rather than the number of them, that were in the thoughts of those who coined this phrase. The imagery was originally of a 'cloud cuckoo land' or 'head in the clouds' dreaminess, induced by either intoxication or inspiration, rather than the 'idyllic happiness' that we now associate with the phrase. The early references all come from mid 20th century USA and the earliest that I've found is in Albin Pollock's directory of slang, *The Underworld Speaks*, 1935: "Cloud eight, befuddled on account of drinking too much liquor." 'Cloud nine' comes a little later, for example, in *The Oxnard Press-Courier*, August 1946: "I think he has thought of everything, unless the authorities pull something new on him out of cloud nine." Around the same period we find clouds seven and thirty-nine, in *The San Mateo Times*, April 1952 and Ross’s *Hustlers*, 1956, respectively: "Mantovani's skilled use of reeds and strings puts this disc way up on Cloud Seven." "That stuff is way up on Cloud Thirty-nine." The early favourite was 'cloud seven' and many of the oldest citations use that form, as in this piece from *The Dictionary of American Slang*, 1960, which was the first printed definition of the term *"Cloud seven - completely happy, perfectly satisfied; in a euphoric state."* This early preference for seven as the significant number may have been influenced by the existing phrase 'seventh heaven'. Since the 1980s or so, 'cloud nine' has become predominant. That has probably been influenced by the use of 'cloud nine' in popular music - George Harrison adopted the term as the title of his 1987 album and, more notably, The Temptations' 'psychedelic soul' album of the same name, in 1969. Linguistic hype being what it is, we now hear people expressing their happiness with the inflationary 'cloud ten', which brings us back to the cumulonimbus/Buddhist theories. Eighth heaven anyone? KR IRS 27422 On Wed, 27 Apr 2022 at 01:36, 'gopala krishnan' via Thatha_Patty < [email protected]> wrote: > QUES ANSW DIVINE 04-2022-26 > > Dear friends, > > These are information compiled as QA by me in 1998’s-2014’s and stored in > my computer. They are posted by *very learnt members*. > > *BEING COMPILATION THERE MAY BE ERRORS.* > > Sincerely, > > *R. Gopalakrishnan, 78, dated 27-04-2022* > > Q1 What are the details of tulukka nachiar sannnidhi at sree rangam temple? > > A1 At the Ranganathaswamy temple in Srirangam, a small sannidhi stands > almost unnoticed in the corridor bordering the sanctum sanctorum. Unless > you were a native of the town, you might not even know that it houses > the Thulukka Nachiyar. She was the muslim princess who became the divine > consort of lord Ranganatha. > > Even today, the grand kitchen of the temple makes rotis (sweet and with a > heady scent of ghee) everyday and this is the first food to be offered > to the god every morning. > > This shows how beloved the Thulukka Nachiyar or Bibi Nachiyar is to > Ranga.A much-needed reminder about secularism in this present age. From the > posting by Srinivasan MS > > Q2 Which are all the main ghats in the Ganga river at Varanasi? > > A2 Some of the main ghats, from north to south: > > 1. Narad Ghat - the ghat on which bathing with spouse is not advised > because the myth of contention > > 2. Panchganga Ghat - the meeting of the five rivers > > 3. Manikarnika Ghat - the main cremation ghat; a must-see, but remain > quiet and never take photographs > > 4 Dasaswamedh Ghat - the main ghat and site of the large evening aarti; > only reachable by foot at some times of day, > > 5 Kedar Ghat - brightly painted in stripes and busy with bathers, very > photogenic > > 6 Harishchandra Ghat - the cremation place were Raja Harishchandra did > the last rituals of his son. > > 7 Hanuman Ghat - Near it we have our various matams and purohits. > > 8 Tulsi Ghat - site of the large water purification plant > > 9 Assi Ghat - a popular place to stay with many hotels, restaurants and > internet cafes > > Q3 What are the interesting facts about the game snakes and ladders? > > A3 The game of snakes & ladders was created by the 13th century poet > saint Gyandev. > > It was originally called 'Mokshapat.'The ladders in the game represented > virtues and the snakes indicated vices. The game was played with cowrie > shells and dices. Later through time, the game underwent several > modifications > but the meaning is the same i.e good deeds take us to heaven and evil to > a cycle of rebirths. > > Q4 Who was sage Ashta vakra and how he got the name so? > > A4 Ashtavakra is described as one born with deformities in eight limbs of > the body (two feet, two knees, two hands, the chest and the head). In > Sanskrit, Ashtavakra means "one having eight bends". > > Ashtavakra is the author of the work Ashtavakra Gita, also known as > Ashtavakra Samhita, a treatise on the instruction by Ashtavakra to king > Janaka about the self. > > Ashtavakra was the Guru of the king Janaka and the sage Yajnavalkya. He > was 12 years old when he taught this to Rajarshi Janaka. > > Q5 What is in nut shell Ashta vakra samhitha? > > A5 Ashtavakra Gita presents the traditional teachings of Advaita Vedanta. > The work was known, appreciated and quoted by Ramakrishna Paramahamsa and > his disciple Vivekananda. > > Ashtavakra is first referenced in a single verse of Yuddha Kanda in > Valmiki's Ramayana. When Dasaratha comes to see Rama from heaven after > the war of the Ramayana, he tells Rama, > > In Mahabharata,In the Vana Parva of the Mahabharata, the legend of > Ashtavakra is described in greater detail. On losing the game of dice > with the Kauravas, the five Pandava princes and Draupadi are exiled for > twelve years. On their pilgrimage, they meet the sage Lomasha, who shows > the river Samanga to Yudhishthira. > > Sage Lomasha says that this is the same river, on bathing in which the > deformed > Ashtavakra was cured of his eight deformities. On being asked by > Yudhishthira, Lomasha narrates to the Pandava princes the legend of > Ashtavakra. > > Q6:-" Which are the names of the four sankara matts established by > Sankaracarya > > A6 Chatur amnaya peetas established by shankaracharya are ONE FOR EACH VEDA > > SOUTH- SHRINGERI SHARADA PEETA. > > Veda: Yajurveda, Mahavakya: Aham Brahmasmi.FirstPeetaadhipathi- > Sureswar-aacharya. > > NORTH- BADARI JYOTIRPEETA. UTTARAKHAND > > Veda: Atharvaveda, Mahavakya: Ayamaatma brahma. First Peetaadhipathi- > Thotakaa-chaarya. > > WEST- KAALIKA DWARAKA PEETA.GUJARAT) > > Veda: Saamaveda. Mahavakya: Tattvamasi. First Peetaadhipathi- > Hastaamalakaachaarya. > > EAST- GOVARDHANA PURI PEETA.(ORISSA) > > Veda: Rigveda. Mahavakya: Prajnaanam brahma.First Peetaadhipathi- > Padmapaadaachaarya. > > The Kanchi mutt is called MOULAAMNAAYA PEETA. > > Q7 Why is someone who is feeling great 'on cloud nine'? > > A7 It is BECAUSE types of clouds are numbered according to the > altitudes they attain, with nine being the highest cloud. If someone is > said to be on cloud nine, THAT PERSON IS FLOATING WELL ABOVE WORLDLY > CARES. > > Q8 Had Lord Ayyappa a Christian friend? > > A8Lord Ayyapa of Sabarimala has a muslim friend Vavar & a catholic friend > St.Sebastian > > Q9 Who are Panchakanyas and what are their brief details > > A9 The Pancha kanyas are Ahalya, Draupadi, > One should forever remember the five virgins who are the destroyers of > great sins > > Among the feminine icons of Indian tradition, five epic characters stand > out prominently. > > These are Sita, the heroine of the Ramayana and the wife of King Rama of > Ayodhya; Draupadi, the heroine of the Mahabharata and the wife of the > five Pandava princes; Mandodari, the wife of Ravana, King of Lanka; Ahalya, > the wife of the Sage Gautama and Tara, the wife of Bali, the tyrant monkey > king. > > Each of these women is described as extraordinarily beautiful and > virtuous. As a matter of fact, tradition says that their character was so > strong, that no calamity could diminish their spiritual power or their > worshipful places in the hearts of generations of people the world over > > > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "Thatha_Patty" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to [email protected]. > To view this discussion on the web visit > https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/thatha_patty/1110017695.310464.1651003580937%40mail.yahoo.com > <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/thatha_patty/1110017695.310464.1651003580937%40mail.yahoo.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> > . > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Thatha_Patty" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. 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