Alabandaru (Net)

When Yamuna was only twelve, he won a kingdom through the power of his wits.  At that time, the royal pandita of the Pandya king of Cola had succeeded in making all the other panditas in his country look like fools.  He was famous as “Vidvajjanakolahala” which means “One who throws scholars into an uproar.”  The royal pandita was very dear to the king who patronized him lavishly.  Vidvajjanakolahala used to extract an annual tax from all the panditas in the land.  Those who didn't pay had to face the royal pandita in argument and be humiliated and subsequently punished.  For fear of losing their reputation as scholars, everyone used to regularly pay this tax without argument. One day a disciple of the royal pandita arrived at the asrama of Yamuna's guru demanding the tax.  Yamuna's guru was away at the time and Yamuna himself refused to pay the tax, considering it to be an insult to his gurudeva. He sent the disciple back with the message that an insignificant follower of Bhasyacarya would challenge the world-conquering royal pandita,  Vidvajjanakolahala in open debate.
 When the news of the twelve-year old boy's challenge came to the royal pandita, he simply laughed.  “All right,”  he said.  “Summon this scholar here and let us match wits.”  By the king's own order a day was set for the debate, and at the appointed time the boy scholar was brought before the royal court on a lavish palanquin.  Seeing the boy's beauty, the queen was charmed. She instantly took his side, while the king favored his own pandita. A wager was settled on by the king and queen. If the king's pandita won the debate, the queen was to submit to the king's every whim.  If the queen's favorite, the beautiful boy pandita, won the debate, the king was to award Yamunacarya half the kingdom.
 First the royal pandita examined the child, asking him many obscure questions about Sanskrit grammar which Yamuna answered perfectly.  Then it was Yamuna's turn to examine the scholar.  He said, “I will state three maxims.  If you can refute them, I shall admit defeat.  The first is this: your mother is not barren.”
 The royal pandita was dumbfounded.  To refute this maxim would be do deny his own birth. Unable to answer, he stood silent.
 Yamunacarya continued: “My second proposal is this: The king is righteous.  Refute this  if you dare.”
 Again the pandita was silenced.  How could he argue that his own king was impious?
 Finally the boy said: “My third proposal is this: The queen is chaste. Refute this and I am defeated.”
 Unable to refute these propositions, the pandita fought back.  “You are proposing things which are irrefutable. By asking me to challenge the piety of the king and the chastity of the queen you are committing treason and blasphemy.  How dare you ask this of me!  This is an outrage. If you think these propositions can be refuted then refute them yourself and be damned as an offender to the throne.  Otherwise admit your insolence and hang your head in shame.”
 The panditas followers filled the arena with applause, and the king felt confident that his champion had successfully turned back the challenge of this impudent boy. But Yamunacarya was not  finished. “As you wish,” he said.  “I shall refute these propositions myself. First I asked to to refute the proposal that your mother is not barren. Since you have failed to do so, I must cite the Manu Smrti on this matter. According to the Laws of Manu, “If a woman has no more than one child, she may be considered barren.” (eka-putro hy aputrena lokavadat, Manu-Samhita, 9.61, Medhatithi Bhashya). Since your mother had only one son, the proposal that she is not barren is refuted.
 “Now the second proposal: the king is pious.  I asked you to refute this, but you were unable to do so. The Laws of Manu also state that since he is responsible for their protection, the king assumes one sixth of the results  of the pious or impious deeds of his subjects. (sarvato dharmasad bhago rajo bhavati raksatah, adharmadapi sad bhago bhavatyasya hyaraksatah, Manu-Samhita, 8.304, Medhatithi Bhashya) Since this is Kali-yuga, the people in general are naturally impious, and so the king must assume a heavy burden of impiety. This refutes the second thesis: the king is pious.
 “As for my refutation to the third proposal—the queen is chaste.”  With this the crowd became quiet.  The queen herself blushed.  Yamunacarya's supporters wondered, how the boy could refute this proposition and conquer the pandita without embarrassing the queen.  Yamunacarya continued, “The Laws of Manu state that a great king is the representative of the gods.  The gods—Agni the fire-god, Vayu the wind-god, Surya the sung-god, Chandra the moon-god, Yama the lord of death, Varuna, Kuvera, and Indra—are all present in the body of the king.  The queen, therefore is wedded to more than just one man.  When a woman is married to more than one man how then can she be chaste? Thus the third proposition is refuted.”
 The crowd was astonished.  The boy scholar had certainly defeated the royal pandita. The queen was jubilant and embraced Yamunacarya, saying, “Alabandaru,” meaning “one who conquers.” The court pandita was disgraced. The king, who had been defeated in his wager with the queen, arose and said, “My boy, Alabandaru, child-scholar that you are you have defeated my royal pandita, the terror of scholars—Vidvajjanakolahola himself.  His pitiful life is now yours to do with as you see fit. I commend him into your hands.  As for yourself, I promised the queen to give you half my kingdom upon your victory here.  Now that you have won, I humbly request you to accept half my kingdom as your reward.”  The king awarded to Yamunacarya the place which is now called alavandara-medu.
 Yamunacarya, who had won the title of “conqueror” now became famous as Alabandaru, the boy-king.  As the years passed, he became involved  more and more in the affairs of state, practically forgetting the legacy of his grandfather, Nathamuni.  Surrounded by kingly opulence and royal power, he gradually became entrenched in the position of a king. Absorbed in politics, he had little time for spiritual affairs.
 About this time, Alabandaru's grandfather, Nathamuni, had passed away, but before he left this world, he called his most confidential disciple Nambi to his side and entrusted him with a sacred task: to inspire Yamunacarya to renounce his kingdom and champion the cause of Sri Vaisnavism.  Yamunacarya was uniquely qualified to propogate Sri Vaisnavism.  No one else could take the place of Nathamuni.

A Small Vedic Hymn from the .speaking tree.

A powerful Hymn from the Rig Veda.

"AUM AVRIKEY KSHESHYANTA"

Avrikey means the man who is above malice, lie, falsehood, or treachery. In other words the person who is plain truthful simple straight and pure, in his thoughts and action is avrikey. He is a person who is without any unnatural and unnecessary turns or twists in his thinking and conduct. 

Ksheshyanta means God always resides or stays in the heart of such a man who is Avrikey.

A man comes alone into this world when he leaves this earthly existence again he exists alone. However when God is with him he enjoys all the benefits of being in the majority even if he is secluded in this world or the next. Only a wakeful modest resolute consistent determined truthful seeker can achieve the status of being Avrikey. He should strive to be tolerant like a tree, humbler than dust, for this will help him to attune his conduct perfected with practice of forgiveness,(The Popes message this year was to inculcate forgiveness so apt). politeness, forbearance, patience  and restraint are prerequisite to become Avrikey. There should be no disagreement within and without in thought speach or action. Accumulation and assimilation of these virtues takes a devotee in the fast track to liberation. The vedas so full of insight say "Prehi prehi pathebhi purvaybhi" O! incessant traveller you may tread the worldly path with the help of eternal truth. 

As an avrikey the evolved person will savor the import of the sweet and powerful Vedic hymn.  

teacher and the taught combine.

Ramanuja trains his disciples and himself receives training from his guru.
Returning to the monastery at Srirangam, Ramanuja the chief among ascetics, stayed there for a few days. 
1.when at that time his disciple Kuresa expressed his eagerness to know the mystic meaning of the supreme sloka:
sarva darman paritayjya mamekam sharanam vraja|
aham tvam sarva pabebhyo mokshaisyami ma shucha||
Ramanuja charya answered "Well Kuresa my Guru Sri Goshthipurna has advised me thus in this matter: "To him alone who free of the taint of egotism and observing continence, will attend on his Guru for one year in a spirit of service, you may communicate the significance of the verse and to none else." If you spend a year in this way, I shall give you the interpretation of the verse."
Magnanimous Sir, said Kuresa, life is uncertain How should I know that i shall live a year more? please therefore deign to make me competent to receive the interpretation of the verse even now.
It is laid down in the shastras said Yathiraja that one who fasts for a month attains the merit of observing Brahmacharya for  a year. Live one month on alms alone, for living on alms and observing fast are the same. By so living for a month Kuresa gained the interpretation of the verse.

2.His second disciple Dasarathi too approached him for the mystic interpretation of the supreme verse. To him he said "My child you are my relative, born of a good Brahmana family It is my wish that you receive the mystic interpretation from Sri Goshthipurna. Though they may be many faults in you I wont see them because you happen to be my relative. As directed by Ramanuja, Dasarathi went to Goshthipurna. but even after a period of six months the Guru did not bestow his grace but one day addressed him saying Scholarship wealth and birth in a good family can bring pride in small minded men alone. In a virtuous man these being the causes of self control, bring good qualities not blemishes. Do take refuge in your own Guru if you are able to conquer pride. 
Dasarathi hastened to Ramanuja without any delay and reported all that had happened. At that time Attulai, the daughter of Mahapurna was narrating to Yatthiraja thus: Dear brother my father has sent me to you. I shall tell you the reason at length. I have just come today from my fatherinlaws house. there i have to fetch water for cooking both in the morning from a far off lake. It is a lonely road so fear of physical exertion overwhelms me. on my submitting this to my mil yesterday instead of sympathisisng with me she in her extreme wrath said could you not bring a cook from your fathers house? i do not command such means to employ a servant so as to keep you sitting idle with one foot over the other. greatly grieved i came away my father directed me to you saying your spiritual brother will solve your issue. {Fortunately for her another disciple too who was  there with his woe.}
"Dear sister grieve not Here I have a brahmana whom i am sending along with you. he will do for you the work of fetching water and cooking." He glanced at Dasarathi. knowing full well his Gurus wish Dasharathi followed her for six months he did the work with much care and devotion.
One day a Vaishnava was expounding a verse from a scripture and the assembled people were intently listening. Dasharathy noticed that the exponent had fallen into a dangerous error so he stated his view. At first the expounder was angry and stated so. Dasarathy unperturbed continued to calmly expounding the verse. His exposition was done with such grammatical precision and in such beautiful diction that all were captivated, the exponent himself begged pardon by touching his feet and asked "Why this profession of a servant for  a profound scholar like you?"
He replied that he had become a cook to carry out the command of his guru. When they came to know that he was Dasarathi, the great scholar disciple of Yatiraja, in a group they went to Srirangam and supplicated " O Mahatma worthy to be remembered at dawn every day! It is notmeet anymore that your worthy disciple be kept employed as a cook. He has not the slightest trace of pride in him. He is a veritable Paramahamsa. Please give orders so that in great honor we may bring him to your feet."
Yathiraja was so greatly pleased with these words that he himself went along with them and after embracing Dasarathi affectionately gave him his blessings. After he was brought to Srirangam, Yathiraja gave him the esoteric interpretation of the supreme  distich and made him blessed. Because he served Vaishnavas to reach this end he also came to be known as Vaisnavadasa.

At the behest of Mahapurna ramanuja studied again the Tamil Prabandhas under Sri Vararanga. Whenhe had finished this course Goshtipurna came to Ramanuja accompanied by Maladhara, a disciple of Yamunamuni, and said " My child he is a great scholar and a disciple of Yamunamuni our Guru. He knows the meanings of Satharisukta, the thousand songs of Sathari profoundly well. Learn all this from him and become blessed. "
And so did Ramanuja according to the word of his Guru. It so happened one day that some interpretation of Maladhara did not seem quiet proper to Ramanujacharya, who expounded the passage in a new way. The Scholar, taking such conduct of the pupil to be audacity, left for his home. Coming to know of it, from hearsay, Goshtipurna went to Maladhara and asked "Could Ramanuja assimilate the entire meaning of the Thousand Songs?"
In reply to this Maladhara narrated all that happened.
"Brother said Goshthipurna, don't take him to be an ordinary man. None of you or I know the core of Yamunamuni's thoughts so well as he does. The younger brother of Rama, Lakshmana himself has incarnated as Ramanuja for the good of the jivas.So take his exposition to be the esoteric meaning coming out of the mouth of Yamunamuni himself, though you might not have heard it from his lips."
Thus counselled by Goshthipurna, Maladhara again went to Ramanuja and continued teaching him. It so happened again another day that Ramanuja gave a different interpretation of a particular verse. But this time instead of being annoyed, Maladhara listened to him attentively. He could never dream that even this verse could have this deep meaning. In great joy he circumbulated Ramanuja and prostrated himself before him. Maladhara then placed his son as a disciple under Ramanuja. After completing his studies of the thousand songs Yathiraja resolved to learn the secrets of Dharma from Sri Vararanga. When Vararanga, the adept in divine songs, got tired singing and dancing before Sri Ranganatha, Ramanuja would remove his exhaustion and physical pain by massaging his feet and anointing turmeric powder on his body. Every night he would himself prepare condensed milk and serve that for his supper. After six months had passed like this, Sri Vararanga cast his gracious look on him. One day when Yathiraja was massaging his feet, Vararanga said, "My child, I know that you have been serving me with a view to take my all. Today I am much pleased with you. Come I shall tell you my innermost feelings."
So saying he continued, my child, what you are doing is the supreme pursuit of man.
Gurureva param brahma gurureva param dhanam
Gurureva param khamo gurureva parayanam.
Gurureva para Vidya Gurureva para gathih
Yasmath tvadupadestaso thasmad gurutaro guru.
Upayaschapyu peyashcha Gururevethi bhavay.
(from Satyaki tantra)
It is Guru himself who is the supreme Brahman;
Guru is the greatest treasure.
Guru is the highest among all desirable things.
He is the most secure refuge.
Guru is the embodiment of the knowledge of Brahman.
It is he who is the supreme goal.
He being your teacher there is none greater than he.
Know that he is the means to realise God, and God himself is he.
Thus Ramanujas wants were all fulfilled he became one whoes desires were all fulfilled. he became one full of supreme joy.
He gave vent to some of this joy in his work Gadyatraya which is a treasure trove as it were.
Sri Vararanga had no issue. He made his younger brother who was very dear to him Chotanambi the disciple of Ramanuja.
The great five Kanchipurna, Mahapurna, Goshthipurna, Maladhara and Vararanga were the mst intimate disciples of Yamunamuni. Trained by each of them Yathiraja became as it were the second manifestation of Sri Yamunacharya. 

The books on Sri Ramanuja were only written keeping in mind the target audience of Vaishnava scholars for discussion among themselves, and to cater to a select group of Vaishnavites. Apparently, children were not in the scheme of things with regard to such publications. but to include children will garner a fresh generation of devotees who can follow our great Guru.

sure .....

The need for moral conduct for purity and sinlessness and for selflessness in life has been believed on the proclamation by all great religious teachers in India and every other part of the world. But they have differed in the question of how this sinless life is to be realized in practice. Is it to be made dependent upon spiritual and philosophical realization, or is it to be made dependent upon the culture of the tender and benevolent emotions. this has in fact been the practical problem at issue. There can be no doubt that both the processes are capable of  yielding the fine fruit of pure and noble conduct. However to most men and women the culture f emotions happen to be easier than the achievement of spiritual and philosophical realization. Bhakthi therefore has been chosen as the most suitable means of  achieving purity sinlessness and selflessness. The emotion of Bhakthi is said to be akin to love.It is in fact deep devotion and love. what doubt then that most preachers preferred that the God realization came easier to men of family life than to those who perused it individually. emotions run so high the lessons taught so deep that one can easily cling to. It in fact kills selfishness, the feeling is steadily and carefully cultivated in the human heart. If it is made to fill its object not mearly in family children etc but in the great being who is the very life and foundation of the universe from whom comes all that is good and true and beautiful in the universe. for each individual in the family which is closely knit realizes that there is a well wisher  who is responsible of what is faced as the famous saying goes the family that eats together and prays together is indeed a blessed one for them will arise anuraga dviragah an intense attachment to the divine being and absolute loving devotion to God. this is undoubtedly a great moral force in human history. The obligatoryness of Bhakti is therefore an unfailing authority in favour of pure ethical conduct and high nobility of purpose. It is an unfailing means to help us always to attain real success in living the righteous life. Bhaga Bhagavat and Bhakti are all of the same origin etymologically.

16 qualities.

gunah, viryam, dharma, krutagnasya, drudvrata, satyavakya, Charitra, Vidvaan, sarvabutah hitah, samartah, priya darshanah, aatmavaan, jitakrodho, dhyutimaan, anasuyukah, kasya bibyati devah ca jyata rosaya myuge,
1) gunah = good qualities,
2) viryam = courage, one who does not get shaken in his heart but is able to accomplish even very hard tasks,
3) krutagnasya = one who remembers the help given to him by others
4) drudvrata = firm resolved
5) satyavrata = one who speaks only truth and nothing else
6) charitra = character
7) Charitra = character, conduct,
8) Vidvaan = knowledgeable, wise,
9) sarvabutah hitah = one who wishes the best for every butah(living thing).
10) samartah = one is able, one who can achieve any given task,
11) priya darshanah = handsome always in all attires at all times,
12) aatmavan = one who has mastered his aatma,
13) itakrodho = one who has mastered his anger,
14) dhyutiman = one who has great shine,
15) anasuyakah = one without jealousy,
16) kasya bibyati devah ca jyata rosaya myuge = even gods will tremble when he gets angry.

(note the difference between controlling and mastering. Mastering anger is different from controlling anger. We can control anger in certain situations but can lose its control sometimes. But once you master you something, its always in your control. Mastering anger means understanding the trigger for anger and why it erupts. Thus one gets to a situation where he does not get angry. There could be a doubt quality 13 and quality 16 are possible simulaneously. Rama does not get angry, he has mastered it, but he uses anger as a tool to get his work done when required. He expresses anger to get a work done. He does not get into the grip of anger like us.)

This was the question asked by rishi Valmiki. He asked," is there any person with these 16 qualities. If there is such a person, please tell me who he is. And I want to know about a person who is alive not some historical figure." 16 qualities are generally possessed by moon in hindu literature. That is the reason Sri Rama is also called Ramachandra. So, now Valmiki has asked the question . This is the scene of epic Ramayana's birth. Then the devarshi Narada replied as follows, "You have asked a rare question and people with such qualities do not ordinarily exist(that means the one with all such qualities is an extra-ordinary person).Yes, Valmiki, such a person exists. He belongs to Ikshavaku kula(dynasty), he is the son of King Dasharatha, people call him Rama. He has all the qualities you mentioned and along with it he is a vasi(one who has mastered his senses). He has great willpower and great physical power. He knows all sciences. He has great riches. He has strong shoulders and high cheeks. He knows use of all weapons. He can control enemies. He knows all vedas. He is equal to Sri Maha Vishnu. He protects all the beings and dharma. He can protect the entire world. He protects his own dharma. He protects people who depend on him for protection. He is extremely handsome and pleasing to those who see him. He is satyaparakram(truth is his strength)." Then Devarshi Narada tells the entire Ramayana to rishi Valmiki in a brief manner. The Ramayana told by Narada to Valmiki is called Sankshep Ramayana. It is about 100 shlokas. It is called a mala mantram. It is supposed to have great powers to those who pray through it.
Bramarshi Narada narrated the entire Ramayana very briefly,"The mighty Emperor Dasharatha, who ruled the kingdom of Khosala with its capital city Ayodhya, was childless. So, he performed the rare Ashvamedha Yagam( a type of yagam) to wash away his papam(bad karma or sins). When he successfully performed the yagam, he received a prasadam( a food item consecrated with the blessing of god). He distributed it to his three wives. Then, Rama was born as the eldest son to his first wife Kaushalya. After due course of time, Rama was married to Sita, daughter of King Janaka of Mithila Kingdom.

Later, Emperor Dasharatha desired to anoint Rama as the Emperor of Khosala to look after welfare of the people because people also wanted to see prince Rama as their ruler. But, the dear wife of Dasharatha, Kaikeyi, claimed the boons from Dasharatha. According to these boons, Emperor Dasharatha must banish Rama to Dandaka forests and anoint Bharata(second son of Dasharata and only son of Kaikeyi) as the Emperor of Khosala. To honour the promise given by his father to Kaikeyi, Sri Rama went to Dandaka forest. Younger brother of Rama named Lakshmana also followed his brother out of brotherly love and affection. Sri Rama's wife Sita who was the  most  beautiful lady, also accompanied her husband. All the people of Ayodhya were immersed in sorrow when this happened. The trio of Rama, Sita and Lakshmana entered the terrible forests, they crossed great rivers and visited many sages and hermits on their way. Finally, they settled at Chitrakuta. Bharata, son of Kaikeyi, returned from his uncle's house and came to know about the promise that his mother Kaikeyi derived from his father. He also came to know about the banishment of his brother and consequently the death of his father. Bharata was plunged into an endless sea of sorrow. He immediately went to Chitrakuta along with all the royal gurus(teachers), citizens of Ayodhya and the vast army to persuade Rama to return to Ayodhya and take the throne back since their father, who had given the promise, was no more. Rama did not agree to this adharma and declared that he would spend fourteen years in forests as his father had promised to Kaikeyi . After failing to convince Rama, Bharata, took the Padukas(foot wear) of Rama and ruled the Khosala as Rama's agent and Rama's padukas as royal emblem. Later, Rama left Chitrakuta because it reminded him of his people who had visited him recently. He left chitrakuta and entered the scary Dandaka forest and resided there. Once, a rakshasi(demoness) named Shurpanaka saw Rama. She got attracted to him and lustfully approached him. But Rama cut her nose and ears. Kara and Dhushana(two demons) attacked Rama with a force of 14000 demons, when Shurpanaka complained to them. Rama destroyed the entire 14000 demons within a few minutes. Shurpanaka witnessed this slaughter and informed her brother Ravana. Ravana abducted Sita and imprisoned her in Lanka. Rama befriended Sugreeva(vanara, a monkey clan that has human like qualities) and killed Sugreeva's brother Vali. Then, Rama sent search squads of vanaras in all directions to search for his missing wife Sita. Hanuman(one of the vanaras sent to search for Sita) who went to south direction, discovered Sita in Lanka and informed Rama about it. Rama built a bridge across the sea with the help of Neela(another vanara) and crossed the bridge along with his mighty army of vanaras into Lanka. There he slew Ravana, rescued his wife Sita and returned to Ayodhya. There, he was annointed as the Emperor of Khosala. Rama ruled the earth for 11000 years. He established dharma in his rule. Peace and prosperity were hallmarks of his rule. His rule came to be known as Rama-Rajya to the world.

In Rama Rajya, there were no deaths of minors/childs/kid. There were no widows. There were no fire accidents. There were no viral fevers. There were no starvation deaths. People were free from nasty diseases. There were no deaths of even animals by drowing. There were no turbulances in the world. There were no thefts. Rama performed many Ashvameda Yagams and several other Vedic Yagams. He gifted away great wealth, crores of milch cows and expensive jewels to Brahmanas. He donated extensively to the poor, needy, and deserving. He ruled for 11000years and then after giving up his mortal coil, he reached Brahma Lokam(World of Brahma)."

Brahmarshi Narada also narrates a phalashruti(advantages of listening/reading to a particular devotional saga). The phalashruti he gives for this Ramayana is that those who read it will have a long span of life. They will be able to see their great grand children play. After that they will have a painless death and reach heaven.

Rishi Valmiki listened to this brief Ramayana very attentively. He was delighted to listen the story of Lord Rama. His mind and heart were filled with celestial joy and divine peace.

saint Valentine.

Valentine's Day is named after Saint Valentine, a Catholic priest who lived in Rome in the 3rd Century.
At the time of Valentine's life, many Romans were converting to Christianity, but the Emperor Claudius II was a pagan and created strict laws about what Christians were allowed to do. Claudius believed that Roman soldiers should be completely devoted to Rome and therefore passed a law preventing them from marrying. St Valentine began to marry these soldiers in secret Christian ceremonies and this was the beginning of his reputation for believing in the importance of love.
Eventually, Valentine was found out and jailed for his crimes While imprisoned, Valentine cared for his fellow prisoners and also his jailor's blind daughter. Legend has it that Valentine cured the girl's blindness and that his final act before being executed was to write her a love message signed ‘from your Valentine'. Valentine was executed on 14 February in the year 270.

It wasn't until more than 200 years later that 14 February was proclaimed St Valentine's Day. By this time Rome had become Christian and the Catholic Church was determined to stamp out any remaining paganism. A pagan fertility ritual was held in February each year and the Pope abolished this festival and proclaimed 14 February Saint Valentine's Day, thus establishing this feast day on the Catholic Calendar of Saints.

The poet Chaucer in the Middle Ages was the first to link St Valentine with romantic love. This was the beginning of the tradition of courtly love, a ritual of expressing love and admiration, usually in secret. This custom spread throughout Europe and stories grew about a High Court of Love where female judges would rule on issues related to love on 14 February each year. Historians believe that these meetings were in fact gatherings where people read love poetry and played games of flirtation.

ocean color.

Ocean color varies from green to blue, depending on the type and concentration of phytoplankton, or algae, in any given area. A deep blue ocean typically means there is little phytoplankton present. The more phytoplankton present, the more green the water appears. According to NASA, when sunlight hits the ocean, some of the light is reflected back directly, but most of it penetrates the ocean surface and interacts with the water molecules it encounters. By keeping a close watch on ocean colors, scientists can better understand phytoplankton and how they impact the world around them.

Phytoplankton live at the ocean surface, where they use sunlight and carbon dioxide to engage in photosynthesis. They pull carbon into the ocean while giving off oxygen. When these organisms die, they bury carbon in the deep ocean, a crucial process that helps to regulate the global climate.

 paying close attention to changes in the oceans' color can offer the first clues of the changes that are underway.