SIVA LINGAM the POWER HOUSE

The concept of Sivalingam is is really baffling even to ardent Shivites who worship this form of Siva. Most of us are unable to give a logical and correct explanation to the concept of Siva Lingam. This has been a curious subject for Europeans as well. A reasonably good explanation was given to the English-speaking word by Sai Baba's devotee and author Howard Murphet.

According to him the lingam is in the form of an 'elipse' which in turn represents theuniverse in micro and macro forms. What we see as Lingam in temples is only one half ofellipse. The smallest stable unit in this world is atoms which are in elliptical form, so is our solar system and Galaxies. And Geometry says ellipse is the best shape to utilize and store energy. So the concept of Linga is the concentration of potential energy. Ellipsehas major role in our mathematics and Scientific study in acoustics, planetary study, optics, and nuclear energy.

Many critics and enemies of Hinduism understands the literary translation and brand Hindus as "Phallus worshipers." But we are worshiping Energy in its fullest form.

AYURVEDIC CONCEPTS
Religion and mythology has been inseparable in in Indian medicine and many believeayurveda has a divine origin from Lord of Creation, Brahma. But this divinity has also paved the way for Stagnation of research in Ayurveda as Divinity cannot be questioned and nobody dared to approach Ayurveda with a critical mind.

But Siva worship is wonderfully amalgamated into a treatment procedure called 'sirodhara.' The concept of Sirodhara is simple and direct. Our body is considered as an inverted tree and it is possible to nourish the body/nervous system if some procedure is done on the head. This does not mean that oil/buttermilk/milk poured on the head will directly influence our brain functions, but the process of dhara can trigger subtle changes in nerve endings which have a cascading effect on our Autonomous Nervous System.

SOME SIMILARITIES
In Siva temples we aren't allowed to make a complete circling of temple as the water path which is considered as Ganga cannot be crossed. The Concept of Ganga is akin to the coolants in Atomic Reactors. The cold Ganga is pacifying the power house called Shiva.

There is striking similarity to the shape of Siva Lingams and Atomic Reactors; they are also in elliptical form. And if the third eye is opened the whole world is doomed. So does an Atomic Reactor if it opens its third eye.

Shiva is also worshipped as Nataraja where he is in cosmic dance which leads to eternal bliss. The famous temple in Chidambaran in Tamil Nadu, Siva is depicted in AnandaNatana.

So dear friends, next time when critics of Hinduism makes derogatory remarks about Siva Lingam remember this and explain the symbolic meaning hidden in that power house.

KURUPPU YOGA

कुरुप्पू योग കുറുപ്പ് യോഗ

DEDICATED TO MY GURU KRISHNA KURUPPU.


ടെറ്റനസ് എന്ന ഭയാനക രോഗത്തില്‍ നിന്നും മുക്തി നേടി ജീവിതത്തിലേക്ക് തിരിച്ചു വന്നശേഷം മാരാരി ബീച് റിസോര്‍ട്ടില്‍ ഡോക്ടറായി ജോലി ചെയ്യുന്ന സമയത്ത് എന്നെ യോഗ എന്ന സാഗരത്തില്‍ മുങ്ങി കുളിക്കാന്‍ അവസരം നല്‍കിയ ഗുരുവിനു വേണ്ടി സമര്‍പ്പിക്കുന്നു.

സാധാരണക്കാരന്റെ മനസിലേക്ക് യോഗ എന്ന പദം കൊണ്ട് താടിയും മുടിയും നീട്ടി തപസ്സു ചെയ്യുന്ന മുനിയെയാണ് ഓര്‍മ വരിക. ഈ കാരണം കൊണ്ട് തന്നെ സമീപ കാലത്ത് പോലും യുവാക്കള്‍ യോഗ എന്താണ് എന്ന് മനസിലാക്കാന്‍ മടിച്ചിരുന്നു. നോബല്‍ സമ്മാനം തന്നെ തേടിവന്ന്പ്പോള്‍ വിശ്വ മഹാകവി രവീന്ദ്രനാഥ ടാഗോര്‍ പറഞത് പോലെ 'അംഗീകാരം പാശ്ചാത്യ രാജ്യത്തില്‍ നിന്ന് വന്നാല്‍ ഇവിടെയും (ഇന്ത്യ) ജനം അഗികാരം നല്‍കും'. ഇത് യോഗയുടെ കാര്യത്തില്‍ ൧൦൦ % ശരിയാണ് .

നമ്മുടെ മഹത്തായ പാരമ്പര്യത്തിന്റെ മരിക്കാത്ത ഏടുകളാണ് യോഗയും ആയുര്‍വേദവും.

യോഗ എന്നത് ഭാരതീയ തത്വചിന്തയില്‍ അല്ലെങ്കില്‍ ഇന്ത്യന്‍ ഫിലോസഫിയില്‍ പെട്ടതാണ് .

൧. സംഖ്യം
൨. ന്യായം
൩. വൈശേഷികം
൪. യോഗം
൫. മീമാംസ
൬. വേദാന്തം

ഇന്ത്യന്‍ ഫിലോസഫിയില്‍ ഏറ്റവും 'വിബ്രന്റ്റ് ' ആയി പാശ്ചാത്യര്‍ കണക്കാക്കിയിട്ടുള്ളത് യോഗ മാത്രം ആണ്. പൌരസ്ത്യ ദര്‍ശനങ്ങളുടെ ആത്യന്തിക ലക്‌ഷ്യം ഈശ്വരനെ കണ്ടെത്തുന്നതാണ് . ഗുരു കൃഷ്ണ കുറുപ്പ് പറഞത് പോലെ "യോഗ എന്നാല്‍ നിങ്ങളിലുള്ള ശിവനെ നിങ്ങള്‍ തന്നെ മനസിലാക്കുനതാണ് ." സാധാരണക്കാരനെ സംബന്ധിച്ച് ഇത് വിരസമായ ഒരു വിഷയമാകം. എങ്കിലും യോഗയുടെ ഗുണം മനസിലാക്കിയ സാധാരണക്കാര്‍ കൂടുതലായി ഇപ്പോള്‍ യോഗയുടെ ഒരു വിഭാഗം മാത്രമായ ആസനത്തെ ആണ് യോഗയായി തെറ്റിദ്ധരിച്ചു വരുന്നത്. പഞ്ചേന്ദ്രിയ ഗോചരമായ പ്രായോഗികമായ ഗുണം മാത്രം ആഗ്രഹിക്കുന്ന ഒരാള്‍ക്ക്‌ ഇത് തൃപ്തി പ്രദാനം ചെയ്യും.

യോഗ ആര്‍ക്കൊക്കെ അഭ്യസിക്കാം?
യോഗ പരിശീലിപ്പിക്കുന്നവരില്‍ പോലും ഇതേപറ്റി വളരെ തെറ്റിധാരണ ഉളവാക്കുന്ന മനോഭാവം കണ്ടു വരുന്നു. യോഗ ആര്‍ക്കു വേണമെങ്കിലും അഭ്യസിക്കാം. വളരെ ചെറിയ കുട്ടികള്‍ ഒഴിച്ച് മറ്റേതു വയസിലുല്ലവര്‍ക്കും ഇത് പഠിക്കാം, ജീവിതത്തില്‍ ശീലമാക്കാം. യോഗാഭ്യാസി താടിയും മുടിയും നീട്ടി വളര്‍ത്തണം എന്ന് നിര്‍ബന്ധം ഇല്ല, സസ്യഹരി ആകണമെന്നും നിര്‍ബന്ധം ഇല്ല, ജീര്‍ണ്ണവസ്ത്രധാരി ആവണം എന്ന് ഒരു നിര്‍ബന്ധവും ഇല്ല. അങ്ങിനെ നിര്‍ബന്ധിക്കുന്നവര്‍ യോഗയെ ശരിയായി മനസിലാക്കിയിട്ടില്ല എന്ന് സാരം. ആദ്യമായി നമ്മുടെ ഒരു വിജ്ഞാനവും ആരുടേയും കുത്തക അല്ല എന്ന് തിരിച്ചറിയുക. ലോകമേ തറവാട് എന്ന നമ്മുടെ ആര്‍ഷ ഭാരത സംസ്കാരത്തിന് ഒട്ടും ഭൂഷണം അല്ല ഇത്. ആര്‍ക്കു വേണമെങ്കിലും ഇത് അഭ്യസിക്കാം.

അഷ്ടാംഗ യോഗയില്‍ യോഗയെ ചിലര്‍ ഒരു കോണിപടിയോട് ഉപമിച്ചു കാണാം. കാരണം യോഗയുടെ ആത്യന്തിക ലക്ഷ്യമായ മോക്ഷം സഫലീകരിക്കാന്‍ ഇത് കൂടിയേ കഴിയൂ.

YOGA AND AYYAPPA SHIRINE

The month of Vrishchika (Scorpio) heralds the beginning of pilgrimage to the hill shrine of Sabarimala where 30 million devotees visit every year.

Sabarimala is the melting point of Shivite and Vaishnavite beliefs with vestiges of Buddhist rituals. A devotee can take his trekking pilgrimage only after completing 40-day of austerities. Women in their fertile age are not admitted for this obvious reason as they cannot complete this mandatory 40-day austerity.

The trekking to this temple is with chatting of “swaamiyeeee....saranamayyapppaa...” Behind this magical mantra lies a hidden physiological truth.

Like in yogic practice inspiration (pooraka) is made easier by shouting ..swaamiyee...

A expiration (rechaka) is made by chanting saranamayyappaa...

This makes the process of expiration longer than inspiration.

In this way a devotee is able to aerate his lungs along with this 'sarana' mantra thereby giving proper oxidation to get the enough energy while climbing steep mountain to Lord Ayyappa, the blessed one of 'Kali Yug.'

THIPHALA

According to Ayurveda Thiphala can be taken without any problem for long. The modern studies on gooseberry, which is the main ingredient, has found that in a combination with Hareethaki and Vibheetaki, the potency of Thriphala is enhanced.

Gooseberry is also a reservoir of many antioxidants which has a wonderful capacity to increase the life span of individual cells by delaying the process of apoptosis. This explains the logic behind why it is used as hair tonic as well.

Many a skeptics of Ayurveda tries to see Thiphala as a mild laxative, but in reality it is much more than a laxative. One of the reasons why Thriphala is recommended for daily use is it action is not directly on the gastrointestinal tract; but by action on our higher centers of voiding. It takes more than 8 hours for good action of triphala as a laxative. This helps this herbal medicine to act on our GI tract without disturbing the flora of intestine contrary to other purgatives both herbal and chemical.

The recent discoveries has shown that constipation and blood supply to eye are related which justifies the importance of Triphala in eye disorders.

GHEE AND CHOLESTEROL

It is a wrong concept to think that ghee will increases cholesterol. On the contrary ghee has been shown to slightly reduce serum cholesterol in some studies on rats. The studies in Wistar rats have revealed one mechanism by which ghee reduces plasma LDL cholesterol. This action is mediated by an increased secretion of biliary lipids.

Most westerners never use ghee for their cusine, and they come to conclusion just looking at the fat content in ghee and say it will increase cholesterol and atherosclerosis. There are many Ayurvedic preparation which even helps one to reduce body weight, classical example is "varanadi ghrutham' which is a medicated ghee. The ghee has a negative effect only when it is rancid or over heated.

Moreover ghee has a wonderful capacity to carry medicines deep inside our tissues, the concept of 'snehapana' in ayurveda comes from that. Most of our herbal memory boosters like brahmi (bocopa monera) and shankupushpi (Convolvulus pluricaulis ) dissolve well in ghee and ghee has that ability to even enter brain passing the BBB (Blood-Brain-Barrier). Thats why old seers of India formulated Brhami Grutham (medicated ghee) for increasing the memory.

It is also proved that butter prepared in the conventional Indian way will separate only the high-density lipoproteins from the curd as the manual centrifuges are less powerful in separating all the fat contained in curd. This makes butter with minimal LDL cholesterol content (bad cholesterol). In many ayurvedic firms of Kerala ghee is prepared from conventional ways. On the contrary in mechanized centers, high-powered centrifuges are used which separates the tiniest amount of fat from curd and it contains lot of LDL cholesterol.

In cold climates ghee is even used by body to convert into energy.

RESEARCH IN AYURVEDA

A friend of mine Dr.Sankaran V.M. was an exceptionally brilliant student from Kottakkal Ayurveda College currently working in Gonobiswabidyalay University in Dhaka. The Bangla people are patriotic and love their culture, language and uniqueness. The medical College in Dhaka even have a subject called History of Medicine which gives some introduction to Ayurveda which we cannot dream in a Kerala Medical College who are the biggest critics of Ayurveda without making any attempt to learn or understand the basics of Ayurveda.

Gonobiswabidyalay was magnanimous enough to offer Dr.Sankaran do all clinical research in Ayurveda when panchakarma procedures are in progress adjacent to its Modern Medicine wing.

A couple of years back Dr.Sankaran was invited to present a paper on Ayurveda and he was shocked to see all his research work done for years were stolen by someone and the same scientific work surfaced in the name of a Health Minister of another South Asian country who sometimes claims pioneers in taking Ayurveda to the west.

I am publishing Dr.Sankaran's clinical/laboratory works on myths and mysteries hovering around honey. This is an earnest attempt to navigate into a honeybee colony (beehive) to unearth the hidden truth.

FOOD AND RELIGION

Is food habits related to religion? It is an accepted fact that majority of Hindus are vegetarians. Most of us see this in religious and emotional perspective. But it will be interesting to probe into the scientific aspects behind it.

Some historians think Indians do not eat beef because we were mainly an agrarian country with cattle being our major workforce, be it be ploughing, extracting oil from oil seed including coconut, and also means of transportation. The plains of India being very flat (Indo-Gangetic plain and Deccan Plateau) cattle was widely used to transport even long distances which is not possible in hilly terrains. In ancient and middle-ages barring Kings and nobles, most people chose to travel on bullock carts. This also paved for our inefficiency of breeding good horses which caused us dearly in battles with Mongols and Mugals which re-wrote the history of India.

If Indians were to eat beef it would have been suicidal for our economy. As meat is always tempting for the palate, the scholars of the ancient time, gave it a religious hue by calling cow holy. Best way to frighten people is to attribute divinity to cow. So the concept of 'GO maatha' came.

But other livestock like sheep and goat Indians eat, may be they are less bulky animals and it is easy to devour (after cooking). Slaughtering a cow sometimes many not be practical for a family as there were no methods of preservation or refrigeration. In higher latitude, especially in winter (even now in rural Russia) they have open area areas for preserving beef and pork as temperature from November to March drop below zero. India being a tropical country with high humidity there is always chance of meat getting spoiled.

More than religion and sentiments it is availability of food that matter. As testimoned by Bengalis (Including Brahmins) eating fish. Kerala because of its geographical situation and alliances with Middd-East and western world it is not a surprise that 90% of the population is non-vegetarian. With such abundance of lakes and rivers, it is logical to expect majority to be fish mongers as well. There was a time when fish used to be cheaper than vegetables in Kerala. When you have such easily available source of protein and fat why to stick to a vegetarian diet.

For a religious Muslim, it is 'haram' to take anything porcine. There are some scientific explanation for this. First of all pork is a major carrier of several helminths like roundworm, pinwom, hookworm and most dangerous all, Taenia solium or tapeworm. It is a common knowledge that one needs to boil pork for significant amount of time to kill the larvae of any helminth within pork. When considering the arid condition of Arabian Peninsula and the scanty supply of firewood to cook; makes it an item to reject. Nor they had pressure cookers then. Moreover because of high amounts of fat in pork there is a fair chance of cholesterol being deposited in our arteries and ending up in a myocardial infarction or stroke. In cooler places fat will be digested easily without getting deposited in the body.

Ecologically speaking there are some points to be noted with feeding habit of pigs. A continuously growing tusks (the canine teeth) serve as weapons and tools their feeding. This tusks helps them to churns up the ground and feed even the roots of all plants / trees. And this is especially important to the flora of desert as many trees / plants survive harsh tropical climate of desert by storing food in root and also as a mode of reproduction. And if pigs / boars were given a free run in Arabia it would have hastened the desertification process and could have caused doom to whole Arabian peninsula.

Tailpiece: Medically People with insulin-dependent diabetes usually inject with pig insulin.

ഈ ലിങ്ക് കാണുക
http://indianvegetarians.blogspot.com