Clothing

In shielding from extreme temperatures, it tends to reflect the temperament of the wearer in a society showing growing preponderance of the same. Should always be light & airy, and made of natural fibres as cotton, wool, linen or silk. Always wear clean, and never anyone else's except that of a saint. Since energy is brought into the body through the crown of the head and exits from the soles of the feet – extracting abnormal heat from the system – the polluted energy usually collects in the footwear. So avoid wearing other's footwear, try not to take shoes into the house and walk barefoot whenever possible. And wooden sandals are more healthy than animal skin or rubber shoes.

(See also: Clothing , Ayurveda, Ayurvedic Dictionary, Alternative Health, Body Mind and Soul)

Satwika individuals are usually noble and spiritual in character, their nature determined as much by body type as their star constellation, having an element of kapha in their constitution.

Brahma

Free from passion, anger, greed, ignorance or jealousy, possessing knowledge and the power of discrimination.

Arsa

Excellent memory, purity, love and self -control, excellent intellectual frame of mind, free from pride, ego, ignorance, greed or anger. Possessing the power of understanding and retention.

Aindra

Devotion to sacred books, study rituals and oblations. Devotion to virtuous acts, far- sightedness and courage. Authoritative behaviour and speech. Able to perform sacred rituals.

Yamya

Free from mean and conflicting desires and acts. Having initiative, excellent memory and leadership. Free from emotional binds, hatred, ignorance and envy. The capacity for timely action.

Varuna

Free from mean acts. Exhibition of emotion in proper place. Observance of religious rights.

Kabera

Courage, patience, and hatred of impure thoughts. Liking for virtuous acts and purity. Pleasure in recreation.

Gandharva

Possession of wealth, attendants and luxuries. Expertise in poetry, stories and epics. Fondness for dancing singing and music. Takes pleasure in perfumes, garlands and flowers. Full of passion.

(See also: Sattva , Ayurveda, Ayurvedic Dictionary, Alternative Health, Body Mind and Soul)

Ayurveda (Ayurveda Medicine, Ayurvedic healing, Ayurvedic healthcare, Ayurvedic medicine, ayurvedism, Indian medicine, Science of Longevity, traditional Ayurveda, traditional Indian medicine, Vedic medicine): The medical phase of Hinduism.

Ayurvedic theory posits a subtle anatomy that includes:

(a)    nadis, canals that carry prana (cosmic energy) throughout the body;

(b)    chakras, centers of consciousness that connect body and soul; and

(c)     marmas, points on the body beneath which vital structures (physical and/or subtle) intersect.

Ayurvedic diagnosis involves examination of the eyes, face, lips, tongue, nails, and pulse.

Ayurvedists associate parts of the lips and tongue, for example, with internal organs and maintain that discolorations, lines, cracks, and irritability in various areas indicate disorders in corresponding organs. The pulse is important because the heart is the seat of the underlying intelligence of nature: human consciousness.

(See also: Ayurveda , Alternative Health, Body Mind and Soul)

ayurveda: (Sanskrit) "Science of life." A holistic system of medicine and health native to ancient India. This sacred Vedic science is an Upaveda of the Atharva Veda. Three early giants in this field who left voluminous texts are Charaka, Sushruta and Vagbhata.

Ayurveda covers many areas, including:

1)    chikitsa, general medicine,

2)    shalya, surgery,

3)    dehavritti, physiology,

4)    nidana, diagnosis,

5)    dravyavidya, medicine and pharmacology,

6)    agada tantra, antidote method,

7)    stritantra, gynecology,

8)    pashu vidya, veterinary science,

9)    kaumara bhritya, pediatrics, 1

10) urdhvanga, diseases of the organs of the head,

11) bhuta vidya, demonology, 1

12) rasayana, tonics, rejuvenating,

13) vajikarana, sexual rejuvenation.

Among the first known surgeons was Sushruta (ca 600 bce), whose Sushruta Samhita is studied to this day. (Hippocrates, Greek father of medicine, lived two centuries later.) The aims of ayurveda are ayus, "long life," and arogya, "diseaselessness," which facilitate progress toward ultimate spiritual goals. Health is achieved by balancing energies (especially the doshas, bodily humors) at all levels of being, subtle and gross, through innumerable methods, selected according to the individual's constitution, lifestyle and nature. Similar holistic medical systems are prevalent among many communities, including the Chinese, American Indians, Africans and South Americans. See: doshas.

(See also: Ayurveda , Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

A Theosophical definition of Brahma :

Brahma

(Sanskrit) A word of which the root, brih, means "expansion." It stands for the spiritual energy-consciousness side of our solar universe, i.e., our solar system, and the Egg of Brahma is that solar system.

A Day of Brahma or a maha-manvantara is composed of seven rounds, a period of 4,320,000,000 terrestrial years; this period is also called a kalpa. A Night of Brahma, the planetary rest period, which is also called the parinirvanic period, is of equal length.

Seven Days of Brahma make one solar kalpa; or, in other words, seven planetary cycles, each cycle consisting of seven rounds (or seven planetary manvantaras), form one solar manvantara.

One Year of Brahma consists of 360 Divine Days, each day being the duration of a planet's life, i.e., of a planetary chain of seven globes. The Life of Brahma (or the life of the universal system) consists of one hundred Divine Years, i.e., 4,320,000,000 years times 36,000 x 2.

The Life of Brahma is half ended: that is, fifty of his years are gone  - a period of 155,520,000,000,000 of our years have passed away since our solar system, with its sun, first began its manvantaric course. There remain, therefore, fifty more such Years of Brahma before the system sinks into rest or pralaya. As only half of the evolutionary journey is accomplished, we are, therefore, at the bottom of the kosmic cycle, i.e., on the lowest plane.

See also: Brahma , Mysticism, Body Mind and Soul

Ayurvedic Treatment and Massage: Massage techniques include:

• Abhyanga- individually prepared herbal-oil massage that deeply penetrates the skin, relaxes the mind and body, breaks up impurities and stimulates both arterial and lymphatic circulation. It enhances the ability for nutrients to reach starved cells and for the removal of stagnant waste. It also heightens awareness that will direct the internal healing system of the body.
• Vishesh is a deep muscular massage that breaks up adhesions and improves circulation deep within the muscles.
• Pizichili is a continuous steam of warm herbal oil soothingly poured over the body by two Ayurveda therapists as they massage the body in unison. It provides a deep tissue cleansing and a heightened state of awareness.
• Udvartina is a deep penetrating herbal paste used for a lymphatic massage. It is an exfoliating treatment that conditions the skin while pressing stagnant lymphatic toxins out of the body.
• Shiro-Ahhyanga-Nasya is a luxurious combination of a deep head, neck and shoulder massage, a facial lymphatic massage, followed by deep inhalation of therapeutic aromatic steam and a nasal and sinus nasya with herbal nose drops. This is to balance most head, neck and respiratory disorders.
• Pinda Swedna is a deep cleansing treatment where rice boiled in milk and herbs are massaged deeply into the tissues and joints; relaxing, rejuvenating, and great for detoxifying the body.

(See also: Ayurvedic Treatment , Alternative Health, Body Mind and Soul)

ANCIENT MEDICINE: CHINESE AND GREEK

Chinese

According to the ancient Chinese system of philosophy, the human body is governed by Chi, which can loosely be translated as the 'Life Force'.

·      The Chi is made up of the Yin and the Yang - the feminine and masculine principles - that in perfect balance ensure health, peace and well being.

·      Any imbalance between the two causes disease.

·      As early as 2700 BC, the complicated system of Acupuncture had identified pressure points in the human body that were considered crucial for the healing process. By manipulating these pressure points, ancient Chinese physicians could treat the most complicated of diseases.

Greek

·      Ancient Greek medicine (circa 450 BC) is synonymous with the name of Hippocrates, who is deemed to be the father of modern medicine.

·      Hippocrates based his study and his practice of medicine on logic, reasoning and scientific experimentation.

·      For the first time in the ancient world medicine was separated from religion, philosophy and superstition. He recorded all his theories and observations in a series of books, which are now held sacred by the practitioners of modern medicine all over the world.

• From about 6th century BC, many important developments were made in the fields of surgery, orthopaedics, opthalmology and obstetrics in Greece. Greek surgeons using various types of knives, syringes and forceps as surgical tools. Although there is a school of thought that believes that transfer of similar knowledge from India through the trade connections cannot be ruled out entirely.

(See also: ANCIENT MEDICINE , Ayurveda, Ayurvedic Dictionary, Alternative Health, Body Mind and Soul)

Body Characteristics - double dosha body types

VATA-PITTA

Their characteristics show a combination of vata & pitta, for example they often have wavy hair, caused by a combination of vata’s curliness and pitta’s straightness. They generally have the poor circulation , though they love to eat but they will have trouble digesting large meals.

A healthy balanced vata - pitta person have a capacity for original thought, a vata’s characteristic, and also expertise at application of theory, a pitta’s characteristic. As lightness and intensity are the common qualities of vata & pitta. Proper direction of this intensity calls for harnessing the lightness for intensive self development. When a person having imbalanced vata & pitta fear alternates with anger as a response to stress.

(See also: Double dosha body types , Ayurveda, Ayurvedic Dictionary, Alternative Health, Body Mind and Soul)

Duration of Panchkarma

The whole treatment of nearly a months duration is generally broken up in this manner:

1st cycle

1st-7th days of oelation, fomentation and nasal therapies.

8th day emesis therapy.

3 days off.

2nd cycle

1st-7th days of oelation, fomentation and nasal therapies.

8th day purgation therapy.

3 days off.

3rd cycle

1st-7th days of oelation, fomentation and nasal therapies

8th day enema therapy

(See also: Panchkarma , Ayurveda, Ayurvedic Dictionary, Alternative Health, Body Mind and Soul)

Herbs to the Rescue

To counter negative planetary influences, Ayurveda suggests the use of multi-faceted herbs that not only provide curative relief to various physical afflictions but are also endowed with the preventive power to combat planetary interference.

Venus

Hydrocotyle asiatica (Mandukparni)

Jupiter

Swertia Chirata (Chirata)

Sun

Aegle Marmelus

Ketu

Withania Somnifera (Aswagandha)

Saturn

Nyetanthes arbortristis (Shefali)

Desmostachya bipinnata (Dhuva)

Mars

Hemidesmus indicum (Anantmool)

Rahu

Bacopa monierri (Brahmi)

Mercury

Bacopa monierri (Brahmi)

Moon

Cueumis Satirus

Cucumber (Khirika)

(See also: Herbs , Ayurveda, Ayurvedic Dictionary, Alternative Health, Body Mind and Soul)

Body Characteristics - double dosha body types

KAPHA-VATA

Vata–Kapha people tend to be tall but are average in build and most other physical qualities are just as pitta type. Vata and kapha are united in their coldness. Though they do not suffer as intensely from physical cold as do pure vata types because of the strength and insulation of kapha. They Have a double emotional need for heat.

Their lack of heat usually manifests physically as digestive disturbances, especillay constipation, respiratory disease with much mucus production is also common. They may be wary of jumping to conclutions without proper preliminary investigation.

They should use sour, salty and pungent taste foods.

(See also: Double dosha body types , Ayurveda, Ayurvedic Dictionary, Alternative Health, Body Mind and Soul)

Mantras

Handed down since ancient times by religious seers who had attained self-realization by chanting them, mantras are words or syllables in Sanskrit which when repeated in meditation helps you transcend into a higher state of consciousness.

As sound energies that have always existed the universe, they cannot be created or destroyed and command the power to heal you physically & spiritually. At the very basic level mantras help you to concentrate in meditation. And once you enter its auspicious circle, the mind instantly gets focussed and you discover a new realm of peace and tranquility.

The original of all mantras, Om, is the root of all sounds, thus letters and therefore of all language and thought. The "O" is generated deep within the body, from inside the navel, and slowly brought upward joining with the "m" which then resonates through the entire head. Chanting Om in a whisper correctly for twenty minutes relaxes every atom in of every cell of your body.

A mala (garland of Sandal or Rudraksha) is often used in accompaniment. It has one hundred and eight beads plus the larger `meru' beads. Holding it in the right hand, start at the meru and roll the beads along one by one between your thumb and third fingers while repeating your mantra. When you reach the meru, roll the mala in the opposite direction. Do not cross over the meru bead.

(See also: Mantras , Ayurveda, Ayurvedic Dictionary, Alternative Health, Body Mind and Soul)

Panchakarma:The Three Stages

Poorva (pre) Karma - These important preparatory procedures have two parts

Oelation (snehana) Therapy

Fomentation (swedana) Therapy

Pradhan (main) Karma - Consists of the five essential purificatory therapies, namely.

Emesis Therapy

Purgation Therapy

Enema Therapy

Nasal Therapy

Bloodletting

Paschat (post) Karma - Crucial follow-up therapies that include diet, medication & lifestyle.

(See also: Panchakarma , Ayurveda, Ayurvedic Dictionary, Alternative Health, Body Mind and Soul)

A dictionary Of Siddha Yoga Terminology. From Abhanga to Yogini.

Please note that all words in grey, like "enlightenment" or "kundalini" are hyperlinked to archives further explaining the term. At the corresponding archive you will also find articles related to the term.

Ritucharya

Given that the term prakriti denotes both body constitution and nature, it is only expected that with the changing seasons of nature there will be corresponding effects on the bhutas and thereby the doshas of the constitution. Cold, dry weather for instance enhances vata, hot humid climate increases pitta, while cold, wet weather aggravates kapha.

To avoid such continued aggravation leading to imbalance of the doshas, Ayurveda prescribes a seasonal routine to preserve the doshic balance as the seasons change. For each season therefore, there is a unique diet (ahar), a distinct mode of living (vihara) and routine living (karya). These keep your doshas in a state of equilibrium and help you cope with the stresses and strains of changing seasons.

In Ayurvedic literature the year is divided into six ritus (seasons) – varsha (monsoon), sharada (autumn), hemanta (winter), shishira (late winter), girshma (summer) and vasanta (spring). The effects of these ritus on the three doshas and the suggested lifestyle for each is as indicated below:

Monsoon:

Diet

·  Digestive power weakens and bodily vata is aggravated.

·  It is advisable therefore to be moderate in your diet.

·  Come rains, tuck into astringent, bitter and pungent food along with wheat & rice.

·  Never forget to boil & cool your water. And if possible, add a little honey.

Conduct

·  Go for oil massages and regular baths.

·  Do not indulge in daytime sleeping.

·  Avoid moving in the sun, and excessive physical exercise

·  Do not indulgence in excessive sex.

Autumn:

Diet

Yummy dishes with astringent, bitter or sweet tastes are for you to enjoy.

Have lots of rice, barley, wheat, along with curd, cabbage, cheese, milk.

Avoid meat, yoghurt.

Conduct

·  This is the right time to go through purgation & blood letting treatment. (for detail see Panchkarma)

·  Avoid excessive sunbathing

·  Do not expose yourself to easterly winds.

Winter:

Diet

·  Dig into piping hot, oily, sour & salty food along with rice. Also plenty of cow’s milk & cane juice.

·  Drink warm water and it will improve your life span.

·  Avoid light food to pacify vata.

Conduct

·  Don’t expose yourself to cold.

·  Go for an invigorating oil massage followed by tepid water bath.

·  Cover your body with sufficient warm wraps

·  Indulge in intense sexual pleasure.

Spring:

Diet

·  Kapha that has already accumulated is liquidified by the heat and disturbs your digestive system.

·  Avoid heavy, oily, sour & sweet food & drinks that may aggravate kapha.

·  Take in barley, wheat, rice, scrup, & bitter vegetables.

·  Go for vigorous exercises, and oil massages.

·  Cut down your smoking habit.

• Avoid day-time naps.

Summer:

Diet

·  Take in plenty of fluids. Avoid dehydration.

·  Avoid food with pungent, acid & salt tastes.

·  Tuck into sweet, cold & oily foods. Meat of birds & animals are good for you.

·  Avoid excessive physical exercises & excessive sex.

·  Avoid sunlight and harmful UV rays.

·  Enjoy the cool breeze of your garden & fragrance of flowers.

• Try to take a short nap.

(See also: Ritucharya , Ayurveda, Ayurvedic Dictionary, Alternative Health, Body Mind and Soul)

Panchkarma:The Three Stages

Poorva (pre) Karma - These important preparatory procedures have two parts

Oelation (snehana) Therapy

Fomentation (swedana) Therapy

Pradhan (main) Karma - Consists of the five essential purificatory therapies, namely.

Emesis Therapy

Purgation Therapy

Enema Therapy

Nasal Therapy

Bloodletting

Paschat (post) Karma - Crucial follow-up therapies that include diet, medication & lifestyle.

(See also: Panchkarma , Ayurveda, Ayurvedic Dictionary, Alternative Health, Body Mind and Soul)

Agni

Being the biological fire that governs metabolism, agni encompasses all the changes in the body and mind from the dense to the more subtle. Such changes include the digestion and absorption of food, cellular transformations, assimilation of sensory perceptions and mental and emotional experiences. Agni therefore covers whole sequences of chemical interactions and changes in the body and mind. Digestive abilities being related to the strength of agni.

Agni and pitta are closely connected. While both are hot and light, agni is subtle and dry. The heat energy to help digestion contained by pitta is agni. Pitta is therefore the container and agni the content. Agni is acidic in nature and stimulates digestion. It is subtly related to the movement of vata. In every tissue and cell agni is present and is necessary for maintaining the nutrition and auto-immune mechanism. By destroying micro-organisms, foreign bacteria and toxins in the stomach and the intestines.

A balanced agni therefore is vital for health. The strength of the body to resist disease and also its physical strength are directly related to its heat energy determining the metabolic processes of the body. Disturbances to Agni are usually the chief causes of disease.

As per Ayurveda there are thirteen types of Agni in the body and mind according to the conversion and the transformation made. The most important of them is the Jatharagni, the gastric fire, responsible for digesting food eaten by correlating hydrochloric acid in the stomach and the digestive enzymes and juices secreted into the stomach, duodenum and the small intestines. If digestive agni is low and the capacity is impaired, one may experience pain, discomfort, feeling of heaviness or gases gurgling, constipation or loose stools.

(See also: Agni , Ayurveda, Ayurvedic Dictionary, Alternative Health, Body Mind and Soul)

AYURVEDIC MEDICINE: Ayurvedic medicine stresses a holistic approach to health.

It defines disease as the result of climatic extremes, bacterial attack, nutritional deviance, and stress, as well as other forms of emotional imbalance. Optimal health is achieved by cultivating mental and physical habits that are conductive to physical and spiritual well-being, and treatment often includes hatha yoga, diet, and the development of positive attitude.

(See also: Ayurvedic medicine , Alternative Health, Body Mind and Soul)

Massage and its remedial effects

Massage reduces muscle-tension and relieves pain, opens the pores of the skin, thus eliminating poisons from the body through sweat. It also speeds up blood circulation.

The literal meaning of 'massage' is manipulation of the soft tissues of the body using the hands. In naturopathy, massage occupies a very important place in the treatment of diseases of all kinds. For centuries, massage has been used as a remedy in India, Greece, Rome, China, Egypt and a host of other countries.

Procedure

According to the modern system of physiotherapy, the process begins with massaging upper limbs (arms) and lower limbs (legs) followed by the chest, abdomen, back and hips, and ending with the face and the head. As far as possible, massage with the hands to derive complete benefit.

According to modern therapy, the massage strokes are directed towards the heart. According to Ayurdeva, massage is known as snehan (oleation) and should be given to a patient before panchakarma treatment. Panchakarmas are the five basic principles to clean and detoxify or purify the body. They are:

·      Vamana (emesis)

·      Virechana (puragation)

·      Nruha (medicated anema)

·      Anuvasana (unctuous anema -

·      preparation with oil or other unctuous substance)

·      Nasya (inhalation therapy)

Massage should always be followed by svedana (fermentation). Snehana and svedana are the two purvakarmas that should be given before panchakarma treatment.

Benefits

1. Massage is used to improve blood circulation, to reduce oedema,

 adhesions in tissues after injury, reduce muscular spasm and improve

 muscle tone.

2. Massage reduces muscle-tension and relieves pain, opens the pores

 of the skin, thus eliminating poisons from the body through sweat.

3. It also speeds up blood circulation, hence reducing swelling

 (oedema), relieving tension of the nerves and soothing them.

4. It stimulates the digestive system and activates the urinary system.

Rules on massage oil

1. For patients with pains, use Narayan Taila, or Mahanarayan Taila.

2. For weakness, use Narayan Taila, Chandan Bala Lakshdi Taila.

3. For patients with joint pains (rheumatism), use Saindhavadi Taila.

4. For patients with burning sensation problems and sleeplessness, use

 Bhringraj Taila and Brahmi Taila.

5. For patients with skin diseases, use Kushthararakshas Taila, Nimba

 Taila and Bakuchi Taila.

Massage produces heat. After half an hour of getting a massage done, a hot water bath or shower can be taken. The head should be bathed with lukewarm water.

Contraindications

1. Massage is not recommended in any type of fevers.

2.Massage is not recommended during pregnancy.

3.Abdominal massage should be avoided in case of diarrhoea, ulcers, appendicities and tumours in the abdomen.

Excessive oil after massage should be removed with gram flour (besan) and not with soap. Peeli mitti (Indian yellow clay) is also excellent for washing the body. It has a cooling effect on the skin and nerves.

(See also: Massage , Ayurveda, Ayurvedic Dictionary, Alternative Health, Body Mind and Soul)

A Theosophical definition of Avalokitesvara :

Avalokitesvara

(Sanskrit) A compound word: avalokita, "perceived," "seen"; Isvara, "lord"; hence "the Lord who is perceived or cognized," i.e., the spiritual entity, whether in the kosmos or in the human being, whose influence is perceived and felt; the higher self.

This is a term commonly employed in Buddhism, and concerning which a number of intricate and not easily understood teachings exist. The esoteric or occult interpretation, however, sees in Avalokitesvara what Occidental philosophy calls the Third Logos, both celestial and human. In the solar system it is the Third Logos thereof; and in the human being it is the higher self, a direct and active ray of the divine monad.

Technically Avalokitesvara is the dhyani-bodhisattva of Amitabha-Buddha  - Amitabha-Buddha is the kosmic divine monad of which the dhyani-bodhisattva is the individualized spiritual ray, and of this latter again the manushya-buddha or human buddha is a ray or offspring.

See also: Avalokitesvara , Mysticism, Body Mind and Soul

AYURVEDIC MEDICINE: practiced in India for over 5,000 years. Ayurvedic tradition holds that illness is a state of imbalance among the bodyÕs systems and can be detected through such diagnostic procedures as reading the pulse and observing the tongue.

Nutritional counseling, massage, natural medications, meditation and other modalities are used to address a spectrum of ailments, from allergies to AIDS.

(See also: Ayurvedic medicine , Alternative Health, Body Mind and Soul)