Keshara

Saffron has always held a very special place in our Indian rituals,ceremonies and food. It is applied as tilak on the forehead. It has also been documented to have been used as a versatile medicine since ancient times. In 2004 researchers studying 3,500 year old frescoes at Thera, a Greek island in the Aegean, found depictions of a goddess presiding over the collection of saffron. Perhaps even more amazing is the fact that 50,000 year-old depictions of prehistoric places in northwest Iran contained saffron-based pigments, indicating the human relationship with saffron is as old as time itself. It is called Keshara in Sanskrit. 

Saffron is the most expensive spice in the world. One gram of pure saffron can cost between Rs 350 to Rs 550 ! So what makes it so expensive ?

Well, saffron is derived from a flower called Crocus Sativas. It has been estimated that when approximately one acek of purple crocuse are harvested, it will yield approximately one kilogram of saffron. This is because each crocus flower only produces 3 threads of saffron. About 14,000 threads (actually the dried stigmas of the crocus flower) equals to about 28 grams of saffron.So you can imagine the labor intensive process that goes into harvesting saffron threads. In India,saffron is mainly grown in Kashmir. Though saffron is produced in many countries of the world like Iran,Greece,Spain etc but the saffron grown in Kashmir, India is the most superior and expensive.

The skin benefits of saffron are well known for ages. But it has several other health benefits as well :

Improves Memory: Crocin and crocetin are powerful antioxidants found in saffron which help in improving memory of a person. Diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s can be kept away by its intake. 

Saffron acts as an Antidepressant: Saffron contains 5-hydroxytryptophan which helps in the production of serotonin which helps in elevating the mood. It helps in receiving blood into the brain and helps in reducing depression and apprehension.

Saffron Prevents Cancer: Crocin and Safranal in saffron inhibit the growth of tumor in the body. The Carotenoids in saffron possess chemo preventive properties. It has been found to help protect against colon, liver and ovarian cancer. 

Skin Benefits: Saffron has anti-bacterial properties and can is very beneficial in reducing acne. it can be directly applied on the affected area. It acts as a natural scrub and aids in removing dead cells. Saffron can also be applied along with milk to lighten the skin and remove pigments.

Optimum health: The overall mineral content including calcium, vitamins, folic acid, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin-C, proteins etc present in Saffron ensure the maintenance of optimum health.

Cold remedy: Saffron has been found to be beneficial against flu and cold. Glass of warm milk along with saffron is recommended

while sick.

Healthy Kidneys: It helps in protecting kidney related diseases and reduces kidney stress. 

New studies are being conducted worldwide to understand the true potencial of saffron in medicine.It is found to be helpful in preventing and fighting cancer.

So lets add a little bit of saffron spice to our life !

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/08/110822091617.htm
https://www.sciencenews.org/article/saffron-takes-cancer

Poonam Patil Kalra

The bond called Vivah

I don't really know about men, but we women are super excited about our wedding day from a very young age. Whether we accept it or not, but most us have thought about the clothes, jewelry, venue etc long before the groom is decided upon ! It is one of the most special days of our lives. The Sanskrit word 'Vivah' originated from three root sounds vi + vah + ghai which means “a very special dedication”. Indian wedding ceremony at its core is essentially a Vedic yajna.

It has a deep origin in the ancient ceremony of cementing the bonds between not just two individuals, but of two families together. Someone rightly said, for others, love ends with marriage but for us Indians, true love begins with marriage. The procedures, their sanctity, their aim, the respectability they carry etc. can not be seen in any traditions in the world except in India. Agni (fire) is the primary witness and the saat pheras around the scared fire tie the bride and the groom in an eternal bond.

To be very honest, during my marriage, I was completely lost in the ceremonies, rituals, celebrations, clothes, make up,etc. And as if that was enough, we were constantly pestered by the photographers to give our best poses and to smile into the camera. The panditji was chanting away mantras and I didn't even bother to listen them.

Years later, I though of the mantras that the panditji was chanting and decided to find out the 'saat pheras' actually meant.

1. Together, we will acquire energy to share responsibilities of our married life.

2. Together,we will fill our hearts with strength and courage to accomplish all the needs of our life.

3. Together,we will prosper and share our worldly goods and will work for prosperity of our family.

4. Together, we will chesrish each other in happiness and in sorrow.

5. Together,we will raise strong and virtuous children.

6. Together, we will fill our hearts with great joy, peace , happiness and spiritual values.

7. Together, we will remain lifelong partners in the matrimony.

In this day and age, marriages are difficult, and families are breaking apart at an alarming rate. I think its more important now than ever before to protect and understand the sanctity of marriage.

This sweet song from English Vinglish, tells the groom to take care and pamper bride, just like her family has :) 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hEHNef66HT0

ANNAPOORNA

Growing up, whenever me or my brother made a face while eating or generally did anything disrespectful towards food, our mother would scream - " Dont do that, its goddess Annaporna "

This is how much we respect food in India ! 

Stories of the Goddess are narrated right from childhood and children are taught the value of food and the perils of wasting food. My grandparents would always recite a few mantras and say a little prayer before eating.People hardly do that anymore.

It is believed,that when the Goddess is pleased,we are blessed with nourishing, healthy and tasty food. She also gives us wisdom and renunciation. In our Indian culture, we lay a lot of importance to food and eating habits.

The Goddess of food and nourishment is Annapoorna Devi with ‘Anna’ meaning ‘food or grain’ and ‘Poorna’ meaning one who is whole, complete or perfect. She is said to be an incarnation of Goddess Parvati, the wife of Lord Shiva and one of the numerous forms of Shakti. Annapoorna Mata is shown having two hands holding a bowl in one hand and a spoon in the other. She is either depicted standing on a lotus or sitting on a throne. How the goddess came into being, is a very interesting story.

Once there was a discussion between Lord Mahadev and Devi Parvati, wherein Lord Mahadev said that the world was an illusion(Maya) and everything was temporal and illusory, including the food that is eaten. But Parvati disagreed as she was the provider 

of food and argued that the world could not survive without her. To prove her point she disappeared and nature came to a standstill. There were no seasons and everything became barren. This led to severe drought and famine as there was a shortage of food and water. Lord Shiva soon realised his mistake as he was incomplete without Shakti. Meanwhile Parvati could not bear to see her children suffering and began to distribute food in Kashi (Varanasi).Lord Shiva then went with a bowl and humbly took alms from her.He realized his foolishness. Parvati fed him with her own hands. And from then on, Parvati is worshiped as Annapurna, the Goddess of nourishment.

In the spring season in Varanasi (Kashi), there is an Annakuta festival, which is celebrated every year after Diwali. During the festival, Goddess Annapoorna's temple is decorated with rice sprouts. In the winter, she is celebrated in a grand manner as the sustainer of life. 

Our relation to food is an indicator of your relation to other aspects of our life. What we put in our body has a direct effect not only on our body, but also on our mind and soul — on how we lead our lives. If our food is full of Prana (life force ) it will give us the ability to live our life to its fullest potential. Food that is pure, full of Prana and prepared with love and positive feelings, gives us much more than just the feeling of satisfaction to the taste buds. It nourishes your body, mind, senses and soul, while increasing physical energy, positive thinking, creativity, longevity and heightened awareness of life in all its beauty. It brings us closer to the divine state. 

Light the lamp within

Since I was a child, I have seen my mother lighting the evening lamp in front of the Tulsi plant. As a grown up, I have been doing the same everyday, without really giving it much thought. In almost every Indian home a lamp is lit daily in front of god. In some houses, it is lit at dawn, in some, twice a day - at dawn and dusk and in a few it is maintained continuously. Lamps hold a very special place in our Indian culture. All auspicious functions and moments like daily worship, rituals and festivals and even many social occasions like inaugurations are performed with the lighting of the lamp, which is often maintained right throughout the occasion. 

Lamp is known as Deepa in Sanskrit. The basic form of the word is Deep which means to shine. The word Deep can be explained as the one which is light and enlightens others.

In Skanda puran, to light a lamp or to donate one at temple or an auspicious place is mentioned as a virtuous act.Due to religious importance ‘lighting lamp’ is included among the sixteen steps of worship. During worship lamp should be lighted in front of God. Daily lamp should be lit in front of house deity and Tulsi plant in the courtyard by reciting following slokas,

Shubham karoti kalyanam aarogyam dhanasampada shatrubuddhirvinashaya dipajyotir namostu te

We light a lamp in front of the god and pray for knowledge and prosperity. It is believed, that the one who lights lamp in the evening,goddess Lakshmi bestows wealth and prosperity on him. Continuously lit lamp in front of god is known as Akhanda - Deep. Continuous lighted lamp in the Shiva temple is known as Nandadeep. At all the Vishnu and his incarnation's temples Kakad Arti is performed. Kakad arti is the arti performed at early morning. People offer lighted lamp in dron in the Ganga river.

Light symbolizes knowledge, and it removes darkness and ignorance. The Lord is the ‘Knowledge Principle’ (Chaitanya) who is the source, the enlivener and the illuminator of all knowledge. Hence light is worshiped as the Lord Himself. Knowledge removes ignorance just as light removes darkness.

The famous saying from Upanishad - Tamaso ma jyotirgamaya, highlights that going towards the lamp or a flame is going towards knowledge. As lamps remove the darkness, knowledge removes the darkness of ignorance. 

Listen to the beautiful evening slokas :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MaXPyjMXK-M

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZlIIDuTM5g

OM TAT SAT

Life in this world is based of the three principles of creation, sustenance and dissolution. The three are interconnected and the dissolution is an essential for creation. The Bhagavat Geeta states that Narayan alone was in the beginning, who was the pious of principles of creation, sustenance, and dissolution - also known as Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh - the Supreme Hari, multi-headed, multi-eyed, multi-footed, multi-armed, multi-limbed. This was the supreme seed of all creation, subtler than the subtlest, greater than the greatest, larger than the largest,and more magnificent than even the best of all things, more powerful, than all the gods, more resplendent than the Sun and the Moon, and more internal than even the mind and the intellect. 

That is Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh.

Lord Brahma is the creator. He is a four faced god, seated on a lotus. He has in his four hands, one water-pot (Kamandalu),a manuscript (Vedas), a sacrificial implement (sruva) and a rosary (mala) . He wears the hide of a black antelope and his vehicle is a swan ( hans) .Brahma is also called as Hiranyagarbha. It is the soul of the universe or Brahman as we know it. It is believed that Hiranyagarbha floated around in emptiness and darkness of the non-existence, and then broke into two halves, Swarg (heaven) Prithvi ( earth). The creator must possess knowledge to create. Without knowledge, no creation is possible. Hence,Lord Bramha is wedded to the goddess of knowledge, Saraswati. 

Vishnu is the preserver and the protector of the universe With his steadfast principles of order, righteousness and truth. When these values are under threat, Vishnu emerges out of his transcendence to restore peace and order on earth. He is depicted as a blue being, holding a padma (lotus flower) in the lower left hand, the Kaumodaki gada (mace) in the lower right hand, the Panchajanya shankh (conch) in the upper left hand and the discus weapon Sudarshan Chakra in the upper right hand.Vishnu is either worshiped directly or in the form of his ten avatars, the most famous of whom are Shri Rama and Shri Krishna. Goddess of wealth and prosperity, Laxmi is his wife.

Shiva, also known as Mahadev, is the destroyer or the transformer. Shiva has many benevolent and fearsome forms. At the highest level Shiva is limitless, transcendent, unchanging and formless.In benevolent aspects, he is depicted as an omniscient Yogi who lives an ascetic life on Mount Kailash, as well as a householder with wife Parvati and his two children, Ganesha and Kartikeya and in fierce aspects, he is often depicted slaying demons. Shiva is also regarded as the god of yoga and arts. Shiva are the third eye on his forehead, the snake Vasuki around his neck, the crescent moon adorning, the holy river Ganga flowing from his matted hair, the trishul as his weapon and the damaru as his instrument.

Together, they are represented as Om Tat Sat - which means ' Three worlds of the three gods '. What is everlasting and unchanging is God, whose infinite existence, consciousness, bliss is denoted by Om. Within Om is everything. Om contains all. Om is all. Om is present everywhere, like light.

Shankhnaad

' Shri Krishna blew his conch-shell and

all the three worlds trembled in fear '

When a conch is blown, the primordial sound of OM emanates. Before the worlds were created, there was only a word - OM. It was chanted by the lord before he created the world.It represents the world, the eternal truth, Bhramha, Vishnu and Mahesh and the three Vedas. 

As the story goes, the demon Shankhaasura defeated the devas, stole the Vedas and went to the bottom of the ocean. The devas appealed to Lord Vishnu for help. He incarnated as Matsya Avataara – the “fish incarnation” and killed Shankhasura.The Lord blew the conch-shaped bone of his ear and head. The Om sound emanated, from which emerged the Vedas. All knowledge of the Vedas is an elaboration of Om. The conch therefore is known as shankh after Shankasura. The conch blown by the Lord Vishnu is called Paanchajanya. He carries it at all times in one of his four hands.It represents dharma or righteousness that is one of the four goals (purushaarthas) of life. The sound of the conch is thus also the victory call of good over evil. The warriors of ancient India blew conch shells to announce battle, as is described in the beginning of the war of Kurukshetra, in the Mahabharat.

Shankhs are blown during artis and important festivals in temples to serve as a reminder to those villagers or citizens who had missed the worship. The sound of the conch helps people to make their minds concentrate on God while praying and drive away other stray thoughts. The conch is placed in temples and even in homes as a symbol of the sound of Om, the Vedas, dharm, victory and auspiciousness. It is also at times used to give tirth water (holy water) to devotees in a temple.

Not just for religion, blowing shankh has scientific and ayurvedic benefits also. Some of the benefits of blowing the shankh :

- According to Vedic science, it destroys the harmful micro bacteria from the atmosphere or at least makes them unconscious. 

(Modern science and scientists also accepted the fact)

- It is traditionally believed that shankh's sound destroys the negative energy from the atmosphere.

- Playing Shankh regularly is beneficial in respiratory diseases like asthma and lever problems.

- Playing shankh is equal to doing pranayam that saves us from the most deadly diseases like heart attack, high blood pressure, respiratory diseases,lever related problems etc.

- Offering water to sun by the Dakshinavarti Shankha can protect us from the eye disorders.

- Playing the shankh regularly removes deafness and impediments.

- A shankh contains plenty of calcium, brimstone and phosphorous in it, and when we put water in a shankh for a while, the water becomes fragrant and sterile. That’s why this water is used in religious rituals, prayers and also sprinkled over the people. Shankh water that is sprinkled over the people protect them from skin diseases.It is believed that if you Ganga jal in Shankh for the whole night and next day in the morning give it to heart patients and diabetics, it would be beneficial for them.

Nobel prize winner Indian scientist, Shri Jagadish Chandra Bose did a lot of experiments on Shankh and its sound. He finally reached the conclusion that the shankh's sound is special, through his experiments he proved many scientific and medical importance of the shankh.

Pandits playing the shankh during Ganga arti, Varanasi

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XQ5aOtEbQd8

Father of Surgery

Recently, there were news about many deaths due to negligence in surgery and surgeries done in unhygienic conditions.I was extremely saddened to read all that. These unfortunate events were due to lack of medical knowledge, bad practices or ethics or all the above,I don't know. But, one thing do know, there are some lessons we should learn from the ancient Indians.

About 2500 years ago, Rishi Sushrut conducted complicated surgeries like cesareans, cataract, artificial limbs, fractures,urinary stones and even plastic surgery and brain surgery. Usage of anesthesia was well known in ancient India.The Rishi's had deep knowledge of anatomy, etiology, embryology,digestion, metabolism, genetics and immunity.

Rishi Sushrut wrote a book called 'Sushruta Samhita', in which he describes over 120 surgical instruments, 300 surgical procedures and classifies human surgery in 8 categories. He lived,taught and practiced this science on the banks of the river Ganga. In his book, Rishi Sushrut detailed surgical procedures in many specialized branches which warrant surgery, such as obstetrics, orthopedics and ophthalmology. For successful surgery, anesthesia was induced using wine and other herbs.

Rishi Sushrut knew that to be a good surgeon,one must have great knowledge of human anatomy. To understand Rishi Sushrut's immense knowledge of the human body, consider this example :

Rishi Sushrut gives details of human embryology, in which he mentions that the fetus develops seven layers of skin, naming each layer and the specific diseases which may affect that layer in adult life! (Sharirsthan IV–3).Such detailed observation is mind blowing, because in those days, they knew all these things without using microscopes,ultrasound, X–rays etc.

Being a genius and a perfectionist in all aspects of surgery he even attached great importance to a seemingly insignificant factor such as scars after healing. He implored surgeons to achieve perfect healing, characterized by the absence of any elevation or in-duration,swelling or mass, and the return of normal colouring. He went as far as prescribing ointments to achieve this, managing to change healed wounds from black to white and vice-versa!

Rishi Sushrut’s excellence in surgery and original insights in all branches of medicine make him the most versatile genius in the history of medical science. His contributions to modern surgery are immeasurable.

Three minutes of life

We live in times of great stress. Its an integral part of our lives. Stress can be a reaction to a short-lived situation,such as being stuck in traffic, or it can last a long time if you're dealing with relationship problems or other serious situations. Studies have shown, that a little bit of stress in not a bad thing ! However, when stress becomes dangerous, when it becomes chronic. Then it interferes with our ability to live a normal life over an extended period. We may feel tired, unable to concentrate or irritable.Stress can also damage our physical health.

Different people find different ways to de-stress. However, some ways are more beneficial than others. One such way is the Bhramri pranayam. The word 'Bhramari' comes from the Sanskrit name - bhramar which is humming black bee. The practice of Bhramri breathing calms the mind, reduces stress, cerebral tensions, anger, anxiety, insomnia, The blood pressure is also lowered. This pranayam is very effective in speeding up the healing of body tissues and may be practiced after surgeries. Bhramari pranayam also reduces throat ailments. This may have positive effect on the endocrine glands specially thyroids and nervous system. The ancient Indians have been practicing this form of pranayam for ages. It has a calming effect on entire nervous system, it stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system,which induces muscular relaxation and is very effective in stress management. This pranayam is very effective for relaxation of body and mind.

Don't believe me ? Scientific experiments have proved that practicing the Bhramri Pranayam generates high frequency gamma waves in the brain. These waves are directly associated with extremely high levels of cognitive function. Gamma waves are important for learning, memory and information processing. It is thought that the 40 Hz gamma wave is important for the binding of our senses in regards to perception and are involved in learning new material.

Just three minutes of this wonderful brain exercise can do wonders to reduce our stress levels. But with our busy schedules, can we spare three precious minutes ? This is something we have to decide for ourselves.

Experiments prove increase in gamma waves in the brain

http://bakardjian.com/work/publications/Vialatte_Bakardjian_2009_proof.pdf

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18299208

http://www.pubfacts.com/detail/18299208/EEG-paroxysmal-gamma-waves-during-Bhramari-Pranayama:-a-yoga-breathing-technique.

Benefits of high level of gamma rays :

http://news.rutgers.edu/news-releases/2008/10/the-effect-of-gamma-20081020-1#.VIcjEfmSxqU

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A43006-2005Jan2.html

To understand the technique of Bhramri pranayam, follow the videos :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gwC1pBZwf54 ( Hindi )

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7oK5pvBX940 ( English )

Treasures from ancient India

How many of you have been spell-bound by the movie Jurassic Park ? Well guess what !! We have a Jurassic park of our own in India. 

A small town called Balasinor in Gujarat, is home to the one of the largestdinosaur fossils sites in the world. There's a fossilized dinosaur nesting ground and a prehistoric burial ground, but you don't know about it because no one is bothered to set it up as a UNESCO Geo Park.

Paleontologists believe that at least seven species of dinosaur lived here and researchers have uncovered fossils of about 10,000 dinosaur eggs, making Raiyoli the third largest hatchery in the world. In 2003 they also discovered a new species here, which belonged to the Tyrannosaurus Rex family. It was given the name Rajasaurus narmandensis, meaning princely reptile from the Narmada.

The site was discovered accidentally in 1981 when geologists were conducting a mineral survey of the area. Since then,the finds have attracted scientists and tourists from around the world.

At the site you can see part of a limb embedded in a rock, supposed fossilized remains of skin and other bones, fossilized egg rings and even a real dinosaur egg fossil.It is the only site in the world where tourists can actually touch the dinosaur remains, and hold a 65 million year old egg fossil in their hands.

The fossils were discovered two decades ago, yet they have not received due importance from state officials and most Indians do not even know of the existence of the site.

It is a treasure undiscovered !

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8671676.stm

Shri Krishna's wives

Shri Krishna had eight princely wives, hence he was called Ashtabharya (ashta=eight, bharya=wife). Different scriptures list their names differently. According to Bhagavata puran names of the eight wives in order wereRukmini, Satyabhama, Jambavati, Kalindi, Mitravinda, Nagnajiti, Bhadra and Lakshmana.Apart from these eight, he had 16100 other wives.

So why did the lord have so many wives ? The story goes..

The son of mother earth was called Bhaumasura (Bhumi = Earth and Asura = Demon).The demon king Bhaumasura had kidnapped 16,100 women and held them in his captivity in his capital Pragjyotisha. Bhaumasura had stolen the ear-rings of Aditi (daughter of brahma, first nascent being), her sons demigods were unable to fight against Bhaumasura. Upon their request, Shri Krishna along with his wife Sathyabhama attacked Pragjyotisha on his vehicle Garuda (eagle) and fought a fierce battle against the demons, in that war, many powerful demons were slayed by Shri Krishna. Most important of those were Mura and Bhaumasur. Bhaumasura had the curse of being killed by his own mother. Sathyabhama is considered the incarnation of mother earth, thus she killed Bhaumasura.

After killing Bhaumasura, Shri Krishna released 16,100 women that he had in captivity. When Shri Krishna asked them to return to their houses, they refused. They were aware that the society of that age would not take back those who were taken by another man. So they were left with nowhere to go. When Shri Krishna asked them what they wanted to do, they all wanted Shri Krishna to marry them. Shri Krishna married them all at the same auspicious time assuming that many bodies, so they could gain status of married women and live in the society with honour again. Krishna constructed them each a palace with huge gardens full of colourful flowers and birds. It was impossible to live with each of them so he created 16100 forms of himself so that he could treat them all in the same manner as his eight wives.

Shri Krishna is the supreme god himself. He is the only sanctuary of the manifested material world. He knows everything and is all that is knowable. He is above the material modes. With limitless forms, he pervades the whole cosmos. He is immeasurable. 

Shriphal - God's Fruit

We Maharashtrians love coconut. We put khobra ( dry grated coconut ) in our curries and chutneys.The coconut barfis and ladoos are just awesome !! In many parts of south India esp Kerala, entire cooking in done in coconut oil. As a child, for any cuts, burns, rashes etc my grandmother only applied coconut oil. And it worked like magic.

Coconut has a special significance in Indian culture and traditions.The coconut tree is called a ' Kalpavrush'. Which means, the wishing tree in Sanskrit. Every inch of the coconut tree is useful to us and hence the name. Coconut has a significant place in all the Indian festivals & rituals. It is considered as a complete fruit (all parts of coconut as a fruit are very useful).Anything offered to god should be complete (Purna) & the best, that’s why we use coconut in almost every ritual. Coconut is so beneficial that it is called SHRIPHAL, which means god's fruit. It is considered as a symbol of prosperity and happiness. In fact ,we honor elderly people by giving coconut and there is a reason behind it – Coconut tree gives “Niswarth-seva” which means selfless service, helping/providing everything to others without expecting anything in return.

Coconut has always been used in traditional Indian medicine to treat a wide variety of health problems including the following: abscesses, asthma, baldness, bronchitis,bruises, burns, colds, constipation, cough, dropsy, dysentery, earache, fever, flu, gingivitis, gonorrhea, irregular or painful menstruation, jaundice, kidney stones, lice, malnutrition, nausea, rash, scabies, scurvy, skin infections, sore throat, swelling, syphilis, toothache, tuberculosis, tumors, typhoid, ulcers, upset stomach, weakness, and wounds. However, modern medical science is now confirming the use of coconut in treating many of the above conditions. Published studies in medical

journals show that coconut, in one form or another, may provide a wide range of health benefits.

http://www.bioriginal.com/page-articles/the-science-behind-coconut-oil/

http://wakeup-world.com/2012/03/02/160-uses-for-coconut-oil/

http://www.coconutresearchcenter.org/

'

So if coconut oil is all that great, why are more people not using it ? Well, most of the coconut of the world is grown in 'poor third world' countries like India, Indonesia and Philippines, who do not really have the resources to promote it worldwide. The western world has been largely undermining coconut oil and its health benefits.India’s overall edible oil import is likely to stand at 11.8 million tonnes (mt) this year, against 10.7 mt in the previous year. The edible oil import bill may exceed the benchmark Rs 60,000-crore mark; last year, it stood at Rs 57,500 crore. These figures should be enough for us to understand how big a market India is and why olive/soy/canola oils are promoted so aggressively in India by the western countries.

http://www.business-standard.com/article/markets/indias-dependence-on-imported-edible-oil-to-hit-new-record-114041900395_1.html

So what is really good for us, is something we all should think about.

Temple tales

I spent two years of my childhood in a small town called Chalisgoan, in Maharashtra. Both my maternal and paternal grandparents lived there. In Marathi, we call our grandparents Aji and Azoba. The years that I spent with my Ajis and Azobas were the most enriching in my life. There is this special type of love and care, that only grandparents are capable of !

During those days, most of the outings with my grandparents were to temples. If we were short on time, we'd go to a temple nearby and if we had the whole day, we'd pack our lunch and go to temples around the town. Ever since that time, I have a fascination for temples. There was an ancient temple called Patnadevi, which was my favorite !

I was always told, that God is in everyone of us,he is omnipresent, but somehow, I always felt a stronger presence in the temples and other places of worship. I assumed, it was the ambiance of the place - the deity, devotional music, incense, flowers and all, that contributed to the experience. All that did, but there was one more thing which I was unaware of until recently. It was the temple architecture of ancient India.

The ancient Indian temples were based on combinations of symbolic figures, which signified a summery of the universe and a center of energy.The cosmos is represented by mathematical formulas. Everything that exists can be reduced to proportions (ratios)between energy elements that can be measured, whether they are planets, atoms, matter or life. The temple architecture was a branch of science in itself. Where specific rules were laid down for selecting the site to building the structure, however, the aesthetics were left to the artisans. The Vedic temples were designed to be more than mere places of worship and meditation, they were built strategically at places where the positive cosmic energy is in abundance because of the magnetic and electric fields.

The ancient Indians believed that there are five energy sources- water, air, fire, space and earth. These elements played an important part in the design,construction and rituals of a temple. If these five elements are placed as specified by the Vedic science,it can turn the temples into powerhouses of positive energy. It can harness the solar energy from the sun & the magnetic energy from the earth. That's why when we go to temples, particularly the ancient ones, we feel the vibrations of positive energy.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu_temple_architecture

These days, most of us are lost between the malls,movies, restaurants and markets. But I have decided to make an effort, any try and take my kids to see ancient temples as often as possible, because I want them to experience the divine energy in these splendid works of art.

~ Poonam Patil Kalra

The history untold

In school, during history class, we learnt a lot about the British Raj. They told us how the British built railways,roads,canals, bridges and also started the postal system in India. We were told, how they brought in the industrial revolution. In fact, the British were so glorified in the books, that at times, I actually felt grateful to them for the development in the fields of communication and transportation.

But what the books forgot to mention, was that, this development was not for the nation or its people. It was for their own interests. The British used the transport and communication system to export food grains, cotton etc to other parts of the world. The export of such items, for which there was a shortage in the world markets, due to the world wars, fetched a lot of wealth to the British empire.

And how did this trade affect the Indians ? Here is something that our history books did not tell us, but each one of us should know.

In 1943, there was a major famine in Bengal. Somewhere between 3 to 4 million people died. The deaths were due to starvation, malnutrition and disease.The famine also caused major economic and social disruption, ruining millions of families.This famine was due to the unsympathetic and ruthless policies. of the British. There was not really a shortage of food grains in India, but the British exported almost all the food to its troops all over the world, while millions of Indians starved to death.More than 70,000 tons of food was exported worldwide as the famine set in. When Winston Churchill received a message from Delhi about the increasing deaths of Indians, his only reply was that he regretted that Mahatma Gandhi was not one of the victims.

Hitler was responsible for the death of approximately 11 million people over a period of four years. While 4 million people died in one year in India. This comparison is just to understand the magnitude of the unfortunate event, which has been completely forgotten and ignored by the world. Its a shame, that instead of letting the future generations know the truth, our history, that we are taught in school is manipulated and distorted to suit the vested interests of some.

http://www.ibtimes.com/bengal-famine-1943-man-made-holocaust-1100525

http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ww2peopleswar/stories/82/a1934282.shtml

~ Poonam Patil Kalra

Magic mantra

Every morning when I'd get into the car, to go to work, the first thing I'd do is, turn on the radio. I'd expect some melodies songs ,instead,the only thing I got to hear was, non-stop, nonsensical blabbering of the Rjs, crude , double meaning jokes, prank calls to unassuming people - which would lead to loads of abuses and countless advertisements. In fact, many of the advertisements made me feel like a complete loser, because I didn't own a golf-course facing house with swimming pool in it or I'd be subjected to sob stories of people, about how they got dumped by their bf/gf and needed advice. And, if after all this, I was lucky enough to get to listen to a song,it would be something like 'Na Mumbai ki, na Dilli ki, Pinki hai paisewallon ki '.

Though my place of work is only a 15 min drive from home, on most days, by the time I'd reach, I'd experience at least one or more these emotions - irritability, anger,distress,confusion and sometimes plain and simple disgust. It was a pretty awful way to start my day.

Sound is energy. Some of the effects of sound on the brain include, evoking emotions, triggering the release of stress chemicals and impacting the development of new neural pathways in the brain. How we use this energy is up to us.

The ancient Indians understood the importance of sound for our physical, emotional and mental well being. The Rishis developed the Vedic science of mantras, to utilise the subliminal as well as the cosmic powers of sound. A mantra is a phrase or word which is repeated over and over again. As the specific pattern of controlled wind-flow through the holes of a flute produces specific sonorous tune, likewise, the vibrations induced by the repeated rhythmic chanting of a specific mantra generate intellectual, spiritual and emotional effects on our minds.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3807963/

Significant scientific research on the demonstration and the measurement of sonic energy has been carried out in the modern age of advanced technology. This includes pioneering research in the area of ultrasonic in the USA and Germany. The applications of ultrasonic and infrasonic technology range from strategic weapons to bio-medical instruments, from brainwashing to sound therapy and from tele-communications to remote control of the spacecrafts.Having realised that the energy generated through jaap of a mantra, would be of exponential magnitude as compared to that of the atomic energy,some pioneering scientists have also begun an in-depth study of this ancient science.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2952121/

http://paper.ijcsns.org/07_book/200

808/20080825.pdf

http://www.dsvv.ac.in/…/…/2011/02/indu-mahamritunjayajap.pdf

I don't really find enough time to chant, but over the past few months, I have been playing several mantras, practically all the time ( in a soft volume) at home, while travelling and especially around kids.I wont say that the mantras will bring an end to all your miseries, but I can tell you this, that it'll give you immense peace, emotional strength and support and also a clarity of thought. When I listen to the mantras, there is a sense of well-being that I cannot explain.

Gayatri Mantra
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tgjpAO3CJTY
Mahamriyunjay Mantra
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adyjwFgXRNY
Ganpati mantra
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e0ZWA8c6Gdw
Ek Onkar
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LbftHnxqUfk

Copper on my mind !

In school, all of us learned that 70% of our bodies are made of water. Water is one, amongst the 5 elements of nature. Water is the building block of life and every living being needs water to survive. In India, water is an object of worship since time immemorial. Most of our holy places are on the banks of river, coasts and seashores. It is an important part of our rituals. It is stored in a kalash during pujas, given as Theertha and sprinkled on devotees in temples. It is considered a as purifier, life giver and destroyer of evil. In short, water is life. And yet,we don't stop for a moment to think about the it.

The ancient Indians had guidelines, for something, that we think has no method - drinking water. They also knew something that modern science is still discovering. The importance of storing water in the right container.

My grandparents and even my parents, would drink water out of copper vessels and they insisted that it is beneficial for health. It is only now, that I am beginning to understand the science behind it !

Copper is anti bacterial : Copper is known to be oligodynamic in nature (the sterilizing effect of metals on bacteria), and can destroy bacteria very effectively. It is especially effective against E.coli and S.aureus – two bacteria that are commonly found in our environment and are known to cause severe illnesses in the human body.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3312355/

Copper is good for our brain : It stimulates our brain. Our brain works by transmitting impulses (or orders) from one neuron to another through an area known as the synapses. These neurons are covered by a sheath called the myelin sheath that acts like a sort of conductive agent – helping the flow of impulses. How does copper figure here you ask? Well, copper actually helps in the synthesis of phospholipids that are essential for the formation of these myelin sheaths.Thereby, making your brain work much faster and more efficiently. Apart from that, copper is known to have brain stimulant and anti convulsive properties (prevents seizures), that do a world of good for our brain.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24440710

Copper regulates the working of the thyroid gland: Experts say that one commonality amongst people with thyroid diseases that they usually have low levels of copper in their body. While this is most commonly seen in people with hyperthyroidism(excessive thyroid hormone), those with hypothyroidism (low levels of thyroid hormone) may also suffer from this deficiency. Copper is one of the most important trace minerals the thyroid gland needs to function optimally. A lack in copper can send the functioning of the gland out of sync. So when you drink water from a copper vessel it makes up for this possible deficiency and regulates the functioning of the thyroid gland.

http://drlwilson.com/Articles/thyroid.htm

Copper helps in arthritis and inflamed joints: Copper has very potent anti-inflammatory properties. This asset is especially great to relieve aches and pains caused due to inflamed joints – like in the case of arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Apart from that, copper also has bone and immune system strengthening properties, making it the perfect remedy for arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. This is where drinking water infused with copper is a great way to find relief from the aches and pains of these diseases.

http://www.copperalliance.org.uk/copper-and-society/health

There are way too many benefits of drinking water from a copper vessel to write in this post .However, its important to understand that copper can be absorbed by the body only in its natural form ie via food and water. The copper that is added in health supplements cannot be absorbed by the body properly and causes copper toxicity. Which in turn, can lead to many life threatening conditions and diseases. Also, its important to remember that water needs to be stored for at least 8 hours (preferably overnight) in a copper vessel for it to be really beneficial.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copper_in_health

~ Poonam Patil Kalra