AYURVEDIC PROTOCOL FOR GARBHINI and SOOTHIKA

Indian system of medicine, Ayurveda, has given utmost importance to the care of Garbhini and Soothika (Postparum woman) and Navajata (newborn). All classical Ayurvedic texts have univocal opinion as far as the care of Garbhini and Soothika are concerned. These principles have been adapted to our lifestyle with slight regional variations throughout the Indian Subcontinent.

PRASOOTHI TANTRA AND BALAVIDYA

It is the branch of Ayurveda that deals with Gyenecology and Pediatrics. The Ayurvedic protocol for Garbhini starts even before conception as good parental seeds lead to good progeny. The elected parents are advised to undergo detoxifying methodology (panchakarma) and the husband is given medicines and foods which will improve his libido and vigor. Food and regiment that will improve anabolism or kapha factor. Female is given fat and protein rich food which includes sesame oil and black gram. In general females are advised to eat food and drugs that stabilizes the functions of pitta (Read factors that corrects hormonal functions). The concept of newlyweds visiting relatives and they are given a grand feast by the hosts are part and parcel of preparing the prospective mother and father.

“Sudhe sukla arthave satwaswa karma klesha chodita:

Garbha sambadyate yukti vasaad agni iva aranow”

                        (Astanga Hrudayam, Sarira Stanam Ch 1, Ver 1)

Promted by the merits of its karma in previous births the ‘atman’ enters the womb at the time of conception.

During pregnancy period,the hallmark of Ayurveda, Panchakarma treatments, barring very few exception, are generally contra-indicated during pregnancy as these detoxifying methods utilizes the excretory pathways which might trigger an abortion or premature delivery.

 Only panchakarma treatment recommended for garbhini is vasti (medicated enema) which can be administered after the 8^th month. Even an unlikely event of premature birth is not serious hazard as the fetus would have become viable by that time.

Drugs beneficial for Garbhini-yoga ratnakara gives a list of dravyas that can be used by garbhini, these are-Sali, Sastika Rice: –Due to its Madhura Snigdha Seeta properties it helps in nourishment of fetus, samana of vata and helps in body metabolism

Ø   Mudga and Wheat: Acts due to its Madhura, Seeta, Sandhana and Jeevana Properties.

Ø   Flour of parched rice – Acts as samana in thirst, vomiting, and diarrhoea and also as appetiser

Ø   Navaneetha, Gritha and milk- Provides nourishment and stability to the fetus and in milk production.

Ø   Gooseberry:   Mild laxative & provides immunity

Ø   Draksha: Vrishya, Vata samana, Madhura, Snigdha guna

Anointing with cooling agents like Musk, Sandal and camphor.

There are restrictions in the use some alcohol-containing medicines like Vasaristam.

Pregnant women are given special status and utmost care is given to them both for physical and psychologically. Ayurveda says a pregnant woman possesses two hearts as her desires are reflections of baby’s desires as well. The desires of a woman have to be fulfilled without compromising the special modalities of pregnancy.

It is high time we amalgamate our ancient knowhow in Prasoothi Tantra (Ayurvedic Gynecology), modern medical practices and yogic practice making the gestation and lactating period a time to celebrate.

YOGA AND CARDIAC OUTPUT

Cardiac muscles have automaticity and hence are self exciting. Heart beat can be influenced by hormonal as well as stimuli from thesympathetic and vagus stimuli.

The systole is always triggered by impulses from pacemaker or SA Node and it takes 0.3 second regardless of cardiac cycle duration. When heart beat goes up the relaxation phase or diastolic time is reduced causing poor refilling of atrium thereby decreasing the cardiac output.  

A regular practitioner of pranayama has a positive cascading effect on different systems. It can reduce the heart rate from the normal rate of 72.  Lesser heartbeat leads to longer diastolic periods which will allow the atrium to fill fully and better cardiac output.

EFFECT OF PRANAYAMA ON RBCs

The production of RBCs are carried out by the stem cells in the red bone marrow.  The production of RBC is not determined by the number of RBCs present in the blood stream; on the other hand, kidneys detect even the slightest of variations of the oxygen in blood. If the oxygen level in blood is lower the kidneys produce the hormone called erythropoietin which in turn stimulate the red bone marrow to produce more RBC to meet the more oxygen demand.

But too much of RBCs in the blood too is not good, it leads to high viscosity of blood which in turn impedes the free flow of blood and in extreme cases can lead to polycythemia which can cause stroke.

   

It is a known fact that higher altitude can trigger excess RBC production as the air is rarefied and less oxygen supply to the tissues via lungs.It is advisable to do practice of pranayama that can increase the oxygen carrying capacity of the body without increasing the RBC production and be functionally fit.

Fuelled by Ayurveda and Yoga more and more Russians are taking keen interest in eastern philosophies. It is surprising that small temples like this are mushrooming in many villages for Russia. Russians might not have hi-tech temples like in Western Europe or USA, but they do real rituals as we do in south India. The mode of worship like this will allow the divine cosmic rays to inter the devotee the tree.

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.'