Tuesday, September 24, 2013

Conch - symbol for luminance and purity


Conch:
Conch is symbol for luminance and purity. Gods are invited to rituals at the beginning by resonating conch .Conch is known as 'Sankham' in sanskrit and defined as Sam - Good & kham that means water. Totally sankham means a vessel which stores holy water. Generally, this conch is used to store pure water which is called 'Thirtha'. This water will be distributed and taken to remove negative energy.
Cultural Importance:
There is a cultural importance for sacred conch in the ancient Hindu rituals. Conch had taken birth when good and evil forces churned the milky ocean for immortal nectar.
Once there was a demon king called Shankasura who theft 'Vedas' by defeating Devas. Devas prayed to Lord Vishnu and Lord Vishnu in Mastyavtar killed Shankasura and taken bones from ear and head which resembles in the shape of conch and blown as symbol of his victory. The sacred sound “OM” is generated when Lord Vishnu blown conch.

According to Hindu ancient texts, Sun, Moon and Varuna reside at the bottom of conch. Lord Prajapathi will reside at upper part of the conch. All sacred rivers and waterfalls lay in the front position of conch.

Whenever conch is blown, due to those sound waves coming from it kill all the diseases causing virus in the environment. Hence Conch has got its own importance in ayurveda.

No temple should be opened without blowing Conch which was stated in Varahapurana. Blowing conch will attract sattva guna (positive energy) and creates a protective shield to the place where it was blown. Conch turned in right side will be used to keep in houses to gain money, calmness and development in life.

Conch is kept in silver vessel or mud vessel by packing with red cloth. Conch shouldn't kept empty it should be filled with water or rice. Conch is used to give water to sun as arghyam. In yoga there is shanka mudra to control disorders of nervous system.

Significance:

All types of rituals were started by whistling the conch in Hinduism. Lord Vishnu carries conch called Panchajanyam. In the epic Mahabharata, Arjuna carries conch called Devadattam, Bhima has Pondram, Dharmaraju has Ananthavijayam, Nakula has Saghosha and Sahadeva has Manipuspakam.

Whenever conch was echoed, it purifies the environment. Negative energies cannot tolerate the sound of conch. The sound of conch gives braveness, courage and happiness.

A good conch when whistled echoes Om sound. Hindus believe that conch means nature and truth behind the nature. By whistling conch thyroid and para thyroid can be cured. Conch should be whistled by raising once head and closing eyes. These sound waves generated from conch will protect from spreading cholera and plague diseases. Vedas like Adharvana and Yajur states that sound waves from conch kill demons and negative energies. Brahma vyvartha purana states that water which is filled in conch will relieve from all types of diseases by detoxifying body and soul. The water filled in conch contains sulphur and calcium in high concentrations. People who are Stutters (disorder in speech) will get tremendous results by drinking conch water. The ash of conch is used in variety of Ayurvedic medicines. Original conchs will be available in kailash manasarovar, srilanka, maldivies, Lakshadweep and koramandal. Conches are of several types which are distinguished based on their shapes Right handed conch (spiral twists rightwards), left handed conch (spiral twists leftwards), Mouth opened conch.

Ganesha Conch is used for to get nice education, victory, Luck, development of family and to overcome obstacles. This conch will eliminate Rahu graha dosha if worshipped daily. It resembles Lord Ganesh and one of the 8 symbols of lord Budha. People believe that it will give good results in export and import business if worshipped. It will give name and fame if it was kept in south direction in the living room of a house. It will give escalation in education when it is kept in north-east corner. It keeps good relations in family when it is kept in south-west direction.

Interesting Facts:
Conch has many health healing properties:
  • The water which was kept in the conch for a night will cure all type of skin diseases when used in bathing.
  • The water which was kept in the conch for a night in addition to rose water will give shining to hair and improves color of hair when used in head bath.
  • The water which was kept in the conch for a night (12hours) will clean intestines and eliminates stomach pains when it is taken with empty stomach in the morning.
  • The water which was kept in the conch for a night (12hours) will cure all types of eye diseases when eyes are washed with it.
  • When conch was rubbed on face after bath will eliminate dark patches, wrinkles and gives glow to face.
  • Kapila (Dark tanned) cow’s milk will be filled in conch and used in house purification rituals to eliminate any vastu doshas.
Conch Varieties: Dakshanavrati Shank: This is most admirable conch for Goddess Lakshmi. Whoever worships this conch will see gradual development in life. This is Right handed conch (spiral twists rightwards) in white color with brown lines in spiral. Lord Kubera is governing south direction and he is the god for wealth so this conch will bring lot of money to the place where it was kept. This conch will be available in many sizes from small grain size to coconut size. These are very rare and available in the bottom depth of sea. These will clean the environment and removes negative energies in the place where it is kept. In a good right handed conch, we can see 3 or more horizontal lines from the top of conch.
Vamavrati Shank: This is left handed conch (spiral twists Leftwards). It is easily available and used in spiritual practices. Original conch will give positive energy when it is whistled. According to Jyotish Sastra, whenever a person is suffering from planets due to the disposition in astro has to worship this conch. This conch will eliminate evil effects of planets and gives health, wealth, victory and peace. It will clean the atmosphere by eliminating negative energies.
Gomukhi Shank: This conch resembles the face of a cow that is why it is named as Go - Cow, Mukhi - Face. Cow is considered as the scared animal from ancient Hinduism. This will give good results when it is worshipped. Worshipping gomukhi conch is equal to worshipping a cow.
Kari Shank: This conch is very rare. Hindus believe that this is very strong and hard than an elephant. According to ancient texts, kari-elephant is admirable by goddess lakshmi and the color of shank compared to tail of God Nandi. This shank was tied to god nandi in many Shiva temples. This will give protection to children.
Mothi Shank: Mothi means pearl. Pearl conch is available in the place where pearls avail. This holy conch is very pure and eliminates all evil effects caused by moon in astro and gives inner peace. This conch is available in a very clean place without any doshas. According to ayurveda, this conch has many medicinal uses.
Pahari Shank: Pahari means mountain. This conch is available on mountains and it is very rare. The inner view of this conch shines like crystal quartz. It is same as right handed conch. This is used for goddess lakshmi. Tantriks used this conch in their practice. This conch has huge demand in market.

Sthri Shank or Shankini: This is neither to worship nor to whistle. The upper area of this conch is very rough and covered with thorns. It will not echo good sounds when whistled and it is surrounded by retrograde circles. This conch will eliminate disturbed frequencies which attracts negative energy. This conch was used by Aghoras in their practice.

 Scientific Reasons:
  • Usually, we can hear the sound of peaceful sea when it is kept near to the ear. This is not only a sound, it is echo of universe. This sound will eliminate negative energies in our body and reduces pollution on earth.
  • Planets which are negative in astro can be cancelled by keeping conch in their house. Astrologers usually advice the position where to keep conch based on planetary position in the chart.
  • Whenever conch was echoed, it will release sound waves which are in red color and turns to yellow circles and release rose cells when they mixed with environment.
  • Sterilized vibration quality in conch when whistled will destroy virus and bacteria in the environment. Indian scientist Jagadish Chandra Bose proved the power of conch scientifically.
  • Person who blows conch regularly will not get affect by any lungs or respiratory diseases. Tuberculosis, Asthma, Influenza, Liver, Spleen diseases will be eradicated echoing conch.
  • Conch showed significant results in reducing deaf and dumb in the people.
  • Cochlea (inner part of ear) resemble like a conch. This part in the ear will transmit sound waves to brain. Sound waves reaches ear and they vibrate tympanum or eardrum in ear. The waves from the eardrum will be transmitted to cochiea by micro level bones and muscles. In this process pressure waves are produced and travelled through a tube which is in the shape of conch. Whenever conch waves reached eardrum it makes cochlea work actively. This makes improvement in reducing deaf and dumb in the people.
  • The inner view of conch is positioned in spiral or snake spiral way and releases spiral energy when it is whistled. Living organisms’D.N.A arranged in Spiral double hexa molecular structure. Conch waves’ strengthens this structure in humans.
  • Conch is not only related to traditions of Hinduism but when it is viewed in scientific way it is nectar to human life and also conch gives many medicinal values.

Sunday, September 15, 2013

Bathing - An Ancient Method of Body Cleaning

Bathing:
Bathing is a process of cleaning body with water. Bathing does not give only physical cleanliness but  also gives mental relaxation.According to Ancient Indians, we should bathe early in the morning and in the evening. Bathing is not a process of pouring water on body or dipping in a swimming pool, but it is a touch of our ancient tradition.
What is Ancient tradition of taking bath?
According to Ancient tradition there are some peculiar measures for taking bath.
Cool water will regulate Raktha (Blood Pressure) and Pitta (related to bile secretion) disturbances in body. Mild hot water(warm water) under room temperature will strengthen body and eliminates Vata( Air related) and Kapha(related to body fluids) disturbances.

Head bath with hot water will destroy the eye sight, creates disturbance in vata, kapha and lead to diseases.

Bathing will increase hunger, eliminates impotency and increases life, immunity power and gives special glow to the body and also strengthens the body by eliminating allergies, tidiness and thirst caused by sweat.


By bathing with cold water, heat will travel inside and rises the hungry.

Bathing with mild hot or warm water,drinking milk, love with younger women, taking lesser meal will give protection to health.
Bathing with Amla extracts will give glow to body and relives skin allergies. Now a days many companies introducing the soaps, shampoos prepared from the extracts of Amla. Ancient Indians strictly follow bathing with amla extracts in the month of Karthika.

The person who uses amla extracts for bathing will not suffer from bald head, white hair and live up to 100 years.

People who are suffering from diseases, loose motions,eye diseases, stomach diseases,indigestion, after a meal should not take bathe.
After bathe, people should use white cloth to clean the body. The cloth made from spinning wheel(Khadi) will give protection from hot and cold weather.This textile can be worn in any season. Silk, wool and red color dresses will lowers vat and kapha doshas and prescribely worn in cool climate.
The saffron color cloths will cool the body by eliminating Pitha dosha annd should be worn in summer.
According to Ancient Indians, head bath will create kapha dosha and leads to cold, cough and headache. In order to these, after head bath people should consume soup with pepper, Curry leaf + Red chili powder, soup with fenugreek seeds.

Scientific Reasons:
Bathing with warm water will clear toxins, cleans the skin by opening pores on skin,relaxes the tissues by relieving the stress, lowers the blood pressure, reduces the body pains, gives nice and relaxed sleep. Epsum salts bath, Ice bath had newly came into existence. These are mainly preferred by sportsmen.

Read More at :

Bathing - An Ancient Method of Body Cleaning - II

Tuesday, September 3, 2013

Chaturmasa Deeksha

Chaturmasa Deeksha:
Chaturmasa means four months and this vartham is observed for four months taken on one paksha also on forthnight and is normally observed for two months. In olden Days, Saints used to observe this vratham to stay away from rainy season and to halt in one place and meditate peacefully and to instruct the disciples about spirituality.

Cultural Beliefs:
Lord Sri Hari slept for four months in the milk ocean i.e., from Ashada Shuddha Ekadashi to Karthika Shuddha Ekadashi. The deeksha performed during this period by yathis, peetadhipathis is called Chaturmasa Deeksha. Earlier, households and the women use to perfom this deeksha and gain good health. Ashada Shuddha Ekadashi is also known as Shayana Ekadashi or Tholi Ekadashi and Lord Sri Hari wakes up from his sleep on Karthika Shuddha Ekadashi which is also known as Utthana Ekadashi.

Interesting Facts:
During Chaturmasa deeksha, we should not take brinjal, radish, watermelon, bobbarlu, kotha regullu,tamarind and snake gourd. Normal people following this deeksha will gain in good mental and physical health.
On the pournami day the following devatas are invoked by the saints:
Krishna Panchaka:Sri Krishna and his four energies Sankarshana, Vasudeva, Aniruddha and Pradyumna called as Amshas
Vyasa Panchaka :Sage Veda Vyasa Veda who is the founder of Vedas(our wealth).He compiled into 4 vedas and 18puranas.His four important disciplines Sage Jaimini, Paila, Vaishampayana and Sumantu. Veda Vyasa pooja will be performed specially on  the day.
Sankara Panchaka: Shankaracharya known as amsha of Lord Shiva and his disciplines Acharya Sureswara, Padmapada, Hastamalaka and Trotakacharya
Sanaka Panchaka : Sages Sanaka, Sanandana, Sanatana,Sanatkumara and Sanatsujata the propagators of knowledge.
Dattareya Panchaka: The important guru like Dattatreya, Bhargava Rama, Shanta Tapa, Sri Pada Vallabha and Saraswati.

Scientific Reasons:
It starts raining from Tholi Ekadashi and when rainy season starts, many contagious diseases spread over and so people use to have some restrictions having a strict diet to protect their health.
In the rainy season people will affected by many insects and worms to avoid that they used to go to safe place.
Vegetable, Curd, Milk Vratha(Sakha, Dadhi, Ksheera Vrathalu):
Vegetable vratham (Sakha Vratham) is followed in between Ashada Pournami and Shravana Pournami. It means we should not take vegetables, Leafy Veggies in our food. We should eat only the food with dal combinations. Likewise, we should not use any masala items except pepper and jeera.
Curd Vratham (Dadhi Vratham) is followed in between Shravana Pournami and Badhrapada Pournami.It means that we should not take curd and buttermilk in our food.
Milk Vratham (Ksherra Vratham) is followed in between Badhrapada Pournami and Asveeyuja Pournami.It means that we should not take any of the milk items in our food. This is followed because in this period all milk producing animals give new milk which is not good for health.
Dwidala Vratham in Asveeyuja and Karthika Months:This is followed in Asveeyuja and Karthika Months by not taking dal combinations in food to get good health physically and mentally.

Coconut

Coconut:
Coconut was originated at the beaches of oceans. It is a miracle of nature, Ocean water cannot fit for drinking but the Coconut contains sweet water was taken birth in the sands of ocean. National tree of Maldives is Coconut tree. September 2 is considered as "World Coconut Day". Indonesia, Philipines and India are the top producers of Coconut. In India Kerala, Tamilnadu, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka are highest producing states.

Cultural Beliefs:
The story starts when Lord Ganesha was a child. While he was playing games he suddenly saw the third eye of Lord Shiva and asked him for playing game. Third eye is symbol for destruction by assuming this Lord Shiva given a fake thing which has 3 eyes called as Narikela Phalam (Coconut).This is the birth of Coconut.It also resembles as human head when the husk was removed. Coconut is described as Lord Shiva family. Outer shell is Lord Shiva, Inner flesh is Goddess Parvathi and Inner water is Goddess Ganga. Coconut is only fruit that is not having Un-ripe and ripen levels. Our ancestors assumed that Lord should be bathed with untouched water so they preferred coconut.

Interesting Facts:
  • Traditionally coconut was used in many rituals. Hindu's state that when a person starting a work he will be dominated with proud, that proudness will be eliminated by crashing coconut in-front of god. It was explained as I'm only a machine and god was operating it so I’m crashing my ego in-front of god. 
  • Feared people were compared as Husk. Dared people were compared as Hard core shell. But when person need to be happy he should be like sweet flesh inside a coconut.
  • In past traditions & rituals there exist animal sacrifices which are termed as 'Bali' to appease God for avoiding these Adi Shankaracharya introduced crashing coconut in-front of god. Removing fiber and offering to god resembles I’m free from external fiber (desires) and I offer myself at your feet.
  • There is tradition in Hindu Marriages bride carrying green coconut to the venue. This symbolically described as pregnancy value and indication to bride groom to make her pregnant soon. Coconut and Banana trees are the only trees which give birth for numerous fruits at once. It was symbolized as bride should be reproductive and need to give birth for number of children. That is why Banana and Coconuts are used rigorously in marriages.
  • Coconut was compared with Humans Husk is described as Hair, Shell as head, White flesh as brain and water as blood.
  • Temples are built on the tops of Hills explains spiritual inclination is possible only by hard work. Devotes need to bring fruits for praying the god. They need a fruit which will not spoil for days (In olden days climbing a hill will take days to reach lord) coconut was only fruit which will not spoil for many days so it was chosen and became as tradition.
Scientific Reasons:
  • Scientists found lot of evidences describing origin of the coconut tree in India. That’s why coconut called as Indian nut in Europe. Mr.Vascodigama famous Portuguese sailor first saw husk less coconut in India and named as coco (A -ve facial expression). And in prolong Nut was added and became coconut.
  • Coconut water contains Potassium, Calcium, Magnesium and lauric acid which is equivalent with the milk of mother.
  • Coconut water will decrease the heat in body, kills worms in intestines, eliminates stones in kidneys and cleanses the body.  In Philippines there is popular saying "A Coconut a day keep the Urologist away". By taking coconut water stomach will not release any acids to dilute the coconut water it will dissolves directly into blood. Athletes use coconut water to restore lost electrolytes in body. During world war-II is used alternative for Intravenous for wounded soldiers.
  • Coconut bark was used for creating small boats and used as bridge. Leaves are used as roof for hut, Mats, carry bags and toys. Husk is used for making threads, used for cleaning vessels and used for burning fire for cooking. Nowadays is used for making furniture.  With this tree we can extract water, milk and oil.