Weight loss always requires a lot of focused effort. Most of us fail to loose weight because we are not ready to wait patiently to see the results. So we seek the shortcuts like weight loss centres, protein powders and some fab diets which we think as the smartest way to loose weight. I have too tried everything like you. But these shortcuts always worsen the situation. We gain more weight than before if we stop following it. What if you had a natural remedy without side effects for weight loss. What if it was so easy to follow with proper diet and one hour of brisk walk. Magical right!!!Today we are going to discuss one such weight loss remedy mentioned in Ayurvedic texts.
The magical weight loss powder is Triphala Churna. If you take this 2-3 months with hot water daily night before sleep you can for sure see great changes. It reduces belly fat significantly and most important of all, it improves your immunity. People who have taken Triphala in a long run, have seen amazing benefits. Now let us learn about the medicinal benefits of this powder.
Triphala is a combination of dried pulp of three fruits-Haritaki,Vibhitaki and Amalaki.Tri means three and phala means fruits.
Reference-Ayurvedic texts
1.Charaka Samhita
2.Sushrutha Samhita
3.Astanga Hrdaya
Haritaki-kadukkai
Haritaki-Inknut
According to Ayurveda, the main reason for health issues is improper digestion. If we do not have, proper eating habits, the undigested food gets accumulated in our body.This results in build up of toxins which contributes to most of our health issues.
Haritaki is the magical herb that cleans your intestinal tract. This helps the digestive system to process food faster and more efficiently leading to weight loss.Imagine you keep cooked food in the same place for a long time, say a week or a month,it will start rotting right!!!The same principle applies to your body.So the main task of the body should be to process the food quickly and move the waste out of your body. Haritaki does this job efficiently. Haritaki significantly prevents the accumulation of fat in the waist area.The hypoglycaemic property of Haritaki plays a significant role in deviating the blood sugar levels. If you are in pre diabetic condition, I highly recommend this.
It also has other benefits. Applying a paste of haritaki can effectively reduce dark circles due to the rich antioxidants and nutrients like Vitamin C,potassium, magnesium, iron.
It is also used a brain tonic in treatment of diseases like Parkinson and Dementia. It is an excellent anti ageing herb. It also boosts your stamina. You can observe this change in a month’s time. It is also used to treat eye infections.
A mixture of haritaki powder with henna and amla powder helps in treating scalp infections, dandruff,itching,hairfall, etc..
As I was in diabetic condition for three months, I lost hair significantly. Now that I have reversed diabetic condition, this herb has been helping me a lot in regrowing my hair.
Vibhitakki-kadukkai
Vibhitakki
Vibhitakki mainly normalises our body fat and reduces fluctuating blood levels. It is used both in the treatment of diabetes and blood pressure. It is an excellent detox agent and also relieves worm infestation. It is known to detoxify blood, lymph, muscles,and fatty tissues in the body.
The decotion of green fruit is used in the treatment of fever,cough and cold. Aksha taila, an oil obtained from this fruit is very good for hair. It is called Baheda in hindi. The ethanolic extract present in this fruit can lower stress. It heals wounds very quickly due to the presence of ethanol and tannins. I remember using it once for my daughter as a bee sting remedy.
Amalaki-Nellikai
Amla
Amla,also known as Indian gooseberry is known for its high nutritional value and medicinal properties. My day starts with an amla.It has been extensively used in Ayurvedic medicines. Popular ones like Chavanprash,Dhanyamla Dhara,Brahma Rasayana have amla as the main ingredient. If you do not like the taste of amla take it with honey. Do not take it with ghee as it will increase weight.
Amla contains chromium which regulates blood glucose levels.The rich fibre content of amla boosts digestion. It also improves your gut health.Amla speeds up the process of protein synthesis thus providing an energy boost to the body.This helps you to workout better. Many drink amla tea, by adding amla powder with crushed ginger in lukewarm water.
It is also used in the treatment of cardiac disorders,diabetes, hypertension, skin diseases, intermittent fever, diarrhoea, dysentery,asthma, etc.. It is very good for treating vision problems. It also relieves laziness.
According to Ayurveda, there are seven types of tissues(Dhatu). Rasa dhatu is the nutritive part of the digested food.
As per Ayurveda, food nourishes Rasa dhatu and then Rasa dhatu nourishes Raktha dhatu(blood). Raktha dhatu nourishes muscle and so on..This means, one part of the prior dhatu gets converted to the other.
In obesity there is a problem where Medha(fat) conversion into Asthi(bone),bone marrow and Shukra(reproductive system)does not happen. This nutrition shift is required to prevent fat accumulation.As this is hampered, more and more fat tissues are produced.
People who are obese also have an increase in digestive fire. Due to good appetite they eat more, but digestion takes place only till Medo dhatu(fat) without nourishing other dhatu hence increasing in weight.
Amla greatly helps in regulating the system and addressing this issue.
Where can I get this?
You can buy this Churna from Naatu marundu kadai. You can also prepare at home. Always note that even commercially prepared ayurvedic medicines sometimes contain preservatives. So it is always a best practise to prepare at home.
In my opinion, I recommend 1-3 grams with honey or warm water before or after food(dinner). If you are also taking allopathic medicines, it is best to take them first and wait for 30 minutes and then take Triphala. Please note that some ayurvedic and allopathic medicines react together if taken without time gap. Do not add with milk as this medicine curdles with milk.You can use it for a long period of 4-6 months.
If you are targeting weight gain then take it with ghee. If you have a very sensitive stomach then it may cause loose stools.Do not take beyond the prescribed dosage.
Note:Please consult an Ayurvedic doctor before taking this, if you suffer from various health ailments and consider this post for education purpose only.
It is very popularly said that one who takes Triphala lives 100 years free from diseases.
It is not advisable to take during pregnancy and while breastfeeding.
Conclusion
I have used this medicine in treating thyroid. It was magical to find I was cured in three months. I used it in my weight loss journey too .I have seen amazing results. Hence sharing with you.Hope you found it useful.Please subscribe to my blog for more weight loss remedies.
Deivathin Kural is a rare gem which has every little secret to build a happy life. It makes us truly believe that,only God could have taken a human form to MENTOR us in uncovering the Ultimate truth. It’s such a bliss reading this book. If you would like to buy this book, please click the image below.
In this chapter, MahaPeriyava talks about the reason behind our miseries and ways to handle it,with a very cute story.
The story of wooden Elephant
This chapter starts with a story from Thirumanthiram attributed to Thirumoolar. Thirumoolar is a Yogi, who moved from North of India to South. Thriumanthiram contains 3000 verses, that formed the basis for the Saiva Siddhantha that developed in Tamilnadu.
WOODEN ELEPHANT
There was a carpenter in a village, who specializes in making wooden toys. One day, he made a wooden Elephant which looked like the real one, to be used in carnival. Another carpenter went to examine this wooden Elephant with his child.
The four year old child, perceived the wooden Elephant to be the real one. So, when the father went near the wooden elephant, the child screamed in fear,” Father please don’t go near the Elephant. It might hurt you.” The father tried to convince the child that it was just a doll and not a real Elephant.
The child perceived the Elephant to be real, as the wisdom of the doll being made of wood was hidden from the child. At the same time, the father did not get frightened as the knowledge that it was made out of wood made him feel confident that the doll might not hurt him. What does Thirumoolar convey through story?
In short, if we see Elephant in the toy, we don’t see the wood. If we see wood in the toy, we don’t recognize the Elephant. It is just an illusion.
As the Elephant and the wood are same, the five elements(Air, water, fire,Earth, space) and our Self(Paramathma) are the same entity.
As the child did not perceive the wood in Elephant we find difficulty in perceiving our self(Paramathma) due to the illusion that this Universe creates.
But on the other hand, saints see the Universe disappearing in Self(Paramathma). For those who have gained spiritual wisdom, everything appears as God. So now you might ask why should I know all these? What bothers me if I am able to see the Universe or God? Here is the answer.
What does this all mean?
We are in a competitive world, running crazily to become rich so that we enjoy all the comforts. Assume a hypothetical situation where God makes everybody rich. Do you think it will resolve all the issues? An international survey says
Most developed countries housing many millionaires and billionaires are 50% under paramedical care. Nearly half of the population cannot survive without medicines.
Even if God created everyone rich, there might still be a competition of who is richer? This competition never ends. It does not suffice to have enough money for our comfortable living alone; we need more than the other person and this competitive spirit is inherent to human nature. So even if everyone gets all the comforts equally, then there is a competition who gets the comfort first.
MahaPeriyava, here quotes an incident from Mutt. Everyday post his pooja, he offers Theertham(holy water) to all the devotees. Eventhough everybody knows he is not going to miss anyone, they are unable to stand in a single queue and wait patiently. This urge to get it first is the cause of all the chaos, where they tend to push, pull and jostle around. As long as this competitive spirit exists, we can never stay satisfied. But we think economic comfort alone is the solution. But please do remember
Comfort is not going to reduce the competition.
How do we stop this competition?
Competition can always happen between two or more people.For complete absence of the competitive spirit, the wisdom that there is no substance present for competition should be realized. If we do not want to fall to the sufferings of the Universe we must give up this self egoistic attitude and start exuding grace. In simple words,
“Detox your Ego and become available to Grace.”
If you do not have conclusions about anything, you will be soaked in Grace. We need to consciously recognize it, to work for us. A medically established fact says that two people who eat the same food do not get the same nourishment. It depends on your ability to derive sustenance from the food. Similarly we all have Paramathma within us. To derive sustenance from that we must become an expression of the grace.
We can draw inspiration from nature for this. We get the most fragrant flowers from our garden. Nobody everyday takes the effort to fill these flowers with fragrance. Even if it is given filth it learns to bloom with fragrance. Assume it gives an unpleasant smell, nobody will be interested in nurturing that plant. If it exudes filth because it has received filth, nobody will nurture the flowers. So my dear friends let us understand that grace brings many benefits. What is the benefit of exuding grace?
Once you start exuding grace, everybody wants to nurture it, promote it and most importantly become a part of it. Now the question is not about, Does Paramathma reside in us?
The God resides in us, otherwise we cannot exist. The question here is, are exuding grace that we derive from our inner self(Paramathma) or transforming it into something useless and exuding it out. The air, water and everything available to us in this Universe in grace. We conceive grace from nature but do we exude grace is the question. People have a tendency of accepting fantastic things and converting it into something useless and exude it to the outer world.
So let us transform ourselves to exude Grace rather than filth and if each one of us takes this step we will see this Universe bloom into a heaven and it becomes the best place to live.
When you talk about home decor, the first thing people commonly say is, it is a waste of money. They flood you with advises on how usefully you can spend money rather than appreciating the aesthetic feel. So before getting into the ideas, let us first discuss the importance of Home decor. Say, you go for a vacation. When you enter the place of stay, how lovely you feel. Why? When things are organized and aesthetically pleasing it enhances your mood. You feel good and pleasant there. It is so refreshing and rejuvenating after a vacation. Imagine you have such a home with perfect order and a minimalist decor that resonates with your personality then you start living in a heaven everyday. When all the family members feel good to live in a home then there are less disputes. Most important of all a home decor reflects the personality of the people who live there. Show the world, what kind of person you are by exploring your artistic sense. Today I am going to give you some small tips to enhance the look and feel of your home. So let’s get started.
Paintings
Our country is rich in art forms. When we decorate our home with paintings we feel so calm and pleasant. I have different paintings for all rooms and each time I gaze at those paintings I feel very refreshing.
Every art form has a story to tell you. It is like every painting talks to you and sometimes it looks like an interesting puzzle.
If you are not an artistic person here is a simple tip for you.
1.Select a painting from Pinterest/Google Image and take a printout.
2. Get a yellow carbon paper. Click the image below to buy the carbon paper.
3.Place your watercolor paper/canvas at the bottom. Now place the yellow carbon paper then the original painting and clip all three together.
4.Once you have traced it, you can paint them with Acrylic colors.
5. Hurray!!! Your painting is ready. Do not worry about tracing another person’s work. Remember you can first learn the nuances of art only through imitation. Later you can develop on it.
If you do not have time for even making a painting, there’s another simple idea for you.
Buy a canvas. Click the image below to buy, if you are looking for a 12*12 canvas or you can also buy a canvas roll.
Next you can buy decal stickers and stick on the canvas.. Tada!!! your wall decor is ready instantly!!! See how beautiful it looks.
DECAL ON CANVAS
Custom Knobs and Handles
If you cannot spend more money on home decor, but you want to create a unique look, then custom knobs and handles are the best choice. You can change it on your own without any hassle. Just screwing and unscrewing is what you have got to do… See how cute it looks!!! You can find a lot of such custom knobs in amazon and the website below. The cost is less in website at the range of 70-120 per knob but takes long time for delivery. In Amazon it is a bit costly but delivered quickly.
These knobs serve as a cute addition to your decor. Now let us also see some images of handles.
We wanted to give an antique feel to our home temple. So we added brass handles. Now everybody appreciates the unique look it has added to spruce up that space.
Try this!!! You will definitely love it.. We prefer brass since we love the rich look it gives.. You can check the website for other options.I have added these pictures to give you an idea.
Look at the amazing intricate carvings.. You can find these handles in the website below.
If you are looking to decorate your balcony or foyer area, you can use Acrylic mirror stickers. They add a new feel to how the place looks. Click the image below to buy the products. They range from 250-300 and are absolutely maintenance free.
You can see how it looks at my place. This is my favorite spot at home and I truly love it.
Canopy
If you are looking to create a cozy reading nook or give a princess feel to your decor, canopy serves as a great addition. My daughter always loves to pick a book from her bookshelf and read in her canopy. If you designate a place for everything, children follow it so beautifully.Click the image below to buy.
READING CORNER LOOK
Door Knocker
If you are bored with doorbells, you can add this door knocker to your decor. I use a lot of brass at home as brass is said to purify the environment in which we live and the color of brass is very attractive. Color psychology, regards yellow as the happy color and one that brings happiness and prosperity. Try this look and I am sure your door will look so rich and beautiful with the majestic lion roaring.
I bought it directly from Indian shelf website. If you are looking to buy from Amazon please click the image below to buy the product.
Hope you enjoyed these ideas. Stay tuned to MommyReturns for more such unique home decor tips..
Nowadays we fall prey to many health ailments due to a very stressful busy life. We are struggling with different medicines and its side effects. Almost many of us, when we reach the age of 30, sadly take medicines like food three times a day.
But Ayurveda has an amazing remedy and most of us do not know the purpose of this one spot in our body and its importance in our life. This post is going to discuss about its significance and if you implement this in your self care routine, you are going to live a very healthy life. So let’s get started.
I know by this time, you might be intrigued to know that one spot in your body. This spot was the one which was first formed when you were in your womb, to provide nourishment. This spot was the one which first connected you to your mother. Science says that life still exists in that one spot for three hours, even after your heart has stopped beating(death). It is such a sacred spot in our body, but people now project it just for glamour. Yes, that one spot is your belly button.
BELLY BUTTON
Why is your belly button important?
The navel is not just a point; it is a center of energy transformation in the body.
Did you know that the navel is the junction of 72,000 nerves in the body.
Unable to believe.. Isn’t it?
You can address almost any type of health issue with the help of belly button. It has always been a connection point. Before your birth it connected you to your mother and after birth it will connect you to your inner body. Let’s understand its importance and then discuss how to address different health issues with belly button.
According to Science, the first part created, after the mother conceives is the belly button. After it is created, it joins to the mother’s placenta through the umbilical cord. This is the main reason why all our veins are connected to our belly button making it the focal point of our body. Belly button is life itself!!!
After the heart stops beating, the body immediately starts turning cold. This phase is known as algor mortis, or the death chill. Each hour, the body temperature falls about 1.5 degrees Fahrenheit (0.83 degrees Celsius) until it reaches room temperature. While the body as a whole may be dead, little things in the body are still alive.
Belly button stay alive for three hours after your death!!!
How can I believe this?
Well, when you touch your belly button (and all the grossness that comes with it), you may feel a tingly sensation. That’s because you’re stimulating fibers lining the inside of your abdomen, which then send a message to your spinal cord. As Dr. Christopher Hollingsworth of NYC Surgical Associates explained
“Because your spinal cord at that level is also relaying signals from your bladder and urethra, it feels almost the same. You interpret this as discomfort in your bladder.”
In simple words, the belly button has the thinnest layer of muscle between the inner vagus nerve and the skin compared to other areas. By activating it, one directly stimulates the vagus nerve, affecting the brain.
Belly button carries thousands of bacteria
It is said that thousands of bacteria live in your navel.One 2012 study led by the aptly named Belly Button Biodiversity project documented 2368 types of bacteria in the navels of 66 study participants. Fret not, though: They help to protect you against harmful pathogens. “It is said that without these microbes our immune systems won’t function properly,”
Now that we know the importance of belly button, let us explore how to use it to reap maximum benefits..
Oiling the Belly button
This practice of oiling the belly button came to my rescue when my daughter was 2 months old. She was crying for a long time and obviously a newborn’s cry is something so alarming and very mysterious that you go mad if you are unable to uncover the reason. It was the first time I saw my mother oiling her belly button with castor oil. When I was pondering at this peculiar practice, to my delight, my daughter was relieved of the pain and slept peacefully. I was intrigued to find more about this practise, which is what I am going to share with you today.
Ayurveda, refers to this practise in Bhavaprakasha, a text written in 15th century. Navel oiling is traditionally known as Nabhi Chikitsa which tell us that the body’s center continues to serve as a foundation for balance in adulthood, because of its richness in blood vessels and pathways to the body’s extremities.
Once oil is inserted into the navel, it is easily absorbed and effortlessly distributed throughout the body. Since it connects to 72,000 nerves, so any oil placed in the belly button is absorbed and circulated throughout the body.This technique is called the Pechoti intake method. According to Ayurvedic text, it’s said that the Pechoti gland is located behind the belly button. When a woman is pregnant, this is where nutrients are carried between mother and baby. At the end of the umbilical cord lies the Pechoti gland, and it remains there long after birth. When you oil your belly button it knows which vein is dried up and sends the oil to that part for nourishment. Hence problem solved!!! Leave the rest of the business to this supercomputer in your body and relax.
Oils for different health issues
Now that we understood the process, we will see how to address different health issues with this procedure.
Poor Eyesight
Most of us work in IT and we always experience eyes burning, or eye dryness or eyes become very watery. Many of them also suffer from the problem of poor vision. To address this condition apply three drops of mustard oil in the belly button on a daily basis.
If you suffer from pimples and skin acne which doesn’t get cured with the fancy creams, then try this remedy. Just pour 3 drops of neem oil in your belly button daily before going to bed.
Knee pain has become one of the most common problem of many people in their early forties. Try this remedy and it will definitely work wonders. Pour three drops of castor oil or olive oil in your belly button before sleep. It really works to make strong bones and muscles. It also gives you a very peaceful sleep.
To get a very beautiful shiny skin you can oil your belly button with three drops of ghee or three drops of Almond/Coconut oil.
Applying butter or ghee on navel is very old and ancient Indian beauty tradition for getting the soft and glowing skin.
Butter moisturizes your skin and makes it brighter and supple.
So if you are spending lots of money on moisturizer then, try this old trick to remove dryness from your face and body. Prefer cow butter for more benefits.
Ghee makes your skin soft and smooth. Almond oil and Coconut oil helps to achieve a glowing skin.
Soothing of your cracked lips/better hair growth/relief from headaches
Just three drops of mustard oil can perform the magic. It can cure cracked lips, promote hair growth.
Relief from high BP and Weight loss
Olive oil is the best remedy for high BP and weight loss. Use lukewarm olive oil. You can see amazing results with just three drops in your navel everyday.
Three drops of warm coconut oil will do the magic!!! It not only cures your dandruff problem but also gives you a nice shiny hair.
I am giving you a complete table of the health problems and oils to be used. This might help you get a better idea. If possible, print this and keep it for your reference. This might also be handy when you are going to procure oils.
Health Problem
Oil to be used
Poor eyesight
Mustard Oil
Pimples
Neem Oil
Knee Pain
Castor Oil/Olive Oil
Glowing smooth skin
Ghee/Butter/Almond/Coconut Oil
Cracked Lips
Mustard Oil
Hair Growth
Mustard Oil
High BP/Weight loss
Olive Oil
Dandruff
Coconut Oil
Fertility
Coconut Oil
Long Eyelashes
Castor Oil
Dark Circles
Almond Oil
Menstrual Pain
Olive Oil
Rashes/ Itching
Neem Oil
Cold, Cough , Flu
Cook 1 Garlic clove in 3 drops of mustard Oil until it turns black. Use this oil
Lack of Appetite
Olive Oil
Tiredness, Poor memory
Mustard Oil
Cracked heels
Pumpkin Oil
Gastric Problem
Castor Oil/Asafoetida with water
Back Pain
Olive Oil
Weight Loss
Lukewarm Olive Oil
Constipation
Olive Oil
Headache
Lukewarm Mustard Oil/Primrose Oil
You can use it daily and start noticing changes from three months.
Click here to download and print the list above for daily reference.
How to use them?
Firstly wash your belly button while taking bath to remove any dirt that is accumulated.This will help the oil penetrate seamlessly. Then before going to bed, based on your health ailments you can choose the oil and pour three drops in your belly button and give a gentle massage around the naval point. It is the best cost effective remedy to treat all health ailments.
How to choose Oils?
As you are applying in a point that connect 72,000 nerves please be very mindful about choosing the right type of oils. Always prefer cold pressed oils for this type of treatment. The cold pressed oils are extracted by pressing the oil seeds. It is unique because it doesn’t involve any addition of chemical or heat. This retains the antioxidants and natural properties of the oil giving you amazing benefits.
How to incorporate this in your daily routine?
As you are going to use these oils at the end of the day, you are most likely to skip, as you feel lazy to find the oils and apply them because you are in a rush to get your sleep. Don’t worry!!! I have a simple tip for you.
The best practice is to keep a basket of these oils near your bed, say on a bedside table. This tip will help you greatly as the basket itself visually acts as a reminder. Always remember, out of sight is out of mind. So on a weekend, invest some time to procure all the oils and store them in a basket near your bed. Tada!!! You have taken a great step towards healthy life. If you re worried about the oil’s stickiness then massage gently for sometime. You will see the oils would have penetrated into the skin.
Conclusion
Many of our ancient practices are very simple and easy to follow to lead a happy and healthy life. Such practices most importantly, do not come with side effects. Let us just not parrot, use oils for belly button. Understanding its benefits will drive you from inside towards staying committed to the practice for the rest of your life. Ayurveda is our treasure and once we learn to embrace it in our daily routine, we have taken a conscious step towards mastering the art of Longevity.
Shiva, the name itself sounds very vibrant and powerful. People who have worshipped him, would have definitely experienced the power of this Supreme force. His vibrant blue face and throat, the fierce looking third eye, the most powerful snake hissing around his neck, and the mighty Ganges at his head…OMG!!! What can represent the word power than this…You can forget this world, at merely looking at a sight of his beautiful painting.
Who is Shiva?
Shiva is an aspect of God, who is formless, attribute less, who has neither a beginning nor an end. Shiva is what you call a doctrine, a philosophy, an idea but not a form.
All incarnations have a physical frame, body and personality. But Shivam is a supreme important concept spread all over the universe.
MahaShivaratri
What is so special about this day? Shivaratri Festival is celebrated on a moonless night. This festival is associated both with the planetary position and the waxing of moon. Let us discuss these two in detail.
Planetary Position(The reason to stay awake whole night)
On Shivaratri day, the northern hemisphere of the planet, is positioned in such a way that there is natural upsurge of energy in a human being. This is the day when nature is pushing one towards one’s spiritual peak.To allow this natural upsurge of energies to find their way, we have to just do a fundamental thing. It’s very simple. Sit upright with your spine vertical throughout the night and just meditate.
PLANETARY POSITION
Moon position
The Auspicious festival of MahaSivaratri falls on the 4th night of the new moon during Krishna Paksha in the Hindu month of Phalgun. The Sanskrit term, Krishna Paksha means the period of waning moon or the dark fortnight and Phalguna corresponds to the month of February – March in English Calendar. It’s confusing right!!!
Before we get into the position of moon on this day, let us know about the moon cycle.
Moon cycle can be described as changes in appearance of the moon, created by changing angles or positions of the moon in relation to the Earth and Sun. Every month the moon has two phases. It is the dark half and the bright half.
Dark half- The moon is waning or becoming less bright. The waning ends in the completely dark, no moon night.
Bright half- The moon is becoming bright. Waxing or it is becoming full. The waing ends in a full moon night.
These eight phases in the month repeats two times. So it takes place for 30 days. Moon takes 29.5 days to complete one rotation of the Earth. The months in a year and moon are linked. Both have 30 days.
Next, the full moon starts loosing one phase after the other. One phase is left on the holy night of Shivarathri before it becomes entirely dark(New moon). Why should we know all this? Because the moon is the symbol of the mind.
On a full moon day(when it shines brightly) our mind is full of desires, emotions and worldly involvement. As we come closer to Shivarathri, where the moon looses every phase, the burning passionate, emotional, sentimental mind slowly becomes less active as it approaches the Shivarathri day. Mind slowly withdraws from everything. When your mind is naturally withdrawn, you will notice God. Mind is something that constantly keeps thinking and does not help you connect with yourself to realise the God within you. The dark night is like a curtain, beneath it there is a mirror. Remove the curtain, you will see the beautiful personality revealed, mirroring the God within you. So this is the best time to meditate and connect with yourself. If you are more interested to learn what to do on every phase of moon, check the many moon rituals video on YouTube. Among the 12 Shivarathris in a calendar year, the one that ocur in Februrary-March is of the most spirtiual significance because both the planet and the moon support your spiritual journey. Now we know the scientific reason. Let us learn why do we fast on Shivarathri.
Why do we fast on MahaShivarathri?
FOOD AND MIND
The food we eat, has a direct connection with our mind.
Just like Nestle Ad says”Good food, Good Life”
When we eat good food, we feel happy. But the food also influences our thoughts. Every food item we eat in a day sets our mood accordingly.When we are planning to meditate on a Shivarathri day to reap its amazing benefits, we should abstain from food influencing our thoughts and go on a fast. When body does not have to work on digestion, it gets more energy to devote to God and fasting also detoxifies our physical body. Praying to God detoxifies our spirit. So it is a total DETOX DAY!!! for you. Even if you are not planning to meditate, if you observe fast, it will detox you and next day you will feel lighter. If you feel very hungry, you can take fruits and milk that are served to God on that day.
Shivarathri Spiritual Story
SAMUDRA MANTHAN
The great sage, Durvasa Muni, once offered a precious garland to Lord Indra. He did not know the value of the garland, and he had put it on the tusk of the Airawat elephant. The elephant trampled the garland. Seeing Indra’s disregard, the revered sage turned furious. He cursed Indra saying that he and the other Gods will lose all their powers. In due course, Indra and other Gods lost all their battles against the wicked demons. Helpless Indra, rushed to Lord Vishnu for help. He said to get back the powers of Gods they have to churn the ocean to bring out the magical nectar. Only after consuming this nectar they can regain their powers and become immortal.
This great churning is known as Samudra Manthan. Since churning of the ocean was not an easy task, the devas sought the help of asuras. The huge ocean Mandara was selected to stir the ocean. But unexpectedly, Mandara was sliding into the ocean. So Lord Vishnu quickly transformed into a tortoise(Kurma avatar) and placed the mountain on his back. Then they were looking for a rope and finally decided to use Vasuki the gigantic snake as a rope to stir the huge ocean. The churning began, with devas holding the snake at one end and the asuras holding the other end. The massive waves whirled and suddenly an extremely poisonous drink called ” Halal” came out. Everyone was shocked with fear,to see this blue drink as it could poison the nectar too. They prayed to Lord Shiva with utmost devotion. Lord Shiva appeared and gulped the poison. What a compassion!!! No one can do this for the welfare for others. Hearing about his mercy and kindness will definitely give you goosebumps. When this news reached Parvathi, she was so afraid as it would affect Shiva. She immediately, held Shiva’s neck and pressed tightly to prevent the posion from reaching his whole body. Hence Shiva got the name”NeelaKanthan”.(Neelam means blue and Kandam means neck).
The story of Lingothbhavar
Once while travelling around the Universe, Lord Brahma reached the abode of Lord Vishnu. Lord Vishnu was resting on Shesh Nag and did not get up to receive Lord Brahma. Lord Brahma became furious. It started as a verbal argument and soon erupted into a battle of determining who is superior.
Shocked to hear about this battle, all deities went to seek the help of Lord Shiva to resolve this dispute. Lord SHiva sent his Ganas to pacify them, but it was of no use. So, Lord Shiva decided to go in person and when he entered,he saw Lord Brahma was so furious and was about to use his deadly weapon called Brahma Astra and Lord Vishnu was ready to combat with Narayanaastra respectively. Fearing the destruction caused by this deadly weapons, Lord Shiva manifested himself in the form of “LingothBhavar“( a form of fire which has neither a beginning nor an ending). The fire was so enormous in size that it reached the sky and penetrated down the Earth.
Lord Shiva told them that whoever is able to see his crown as well as his feet would be termed the greatest. Lord Vishnu took the avatar of wild boar and dug deep into the Earth to find Shiva’s feet. Lord Brahma took the form of swan and flew to see the crown of Shiva. Unable to see the crown, Brahma saw a thazhambu flower which had decked Shiva’s crown falling down. He asked the flower as to the distance of Shiva’s crown whereby the flower replied that he had been falling for forty thousand years. Brahma realised he could not reach the crown and convinced the flower to act as a false witness. The Thazhambu told Shiva that Brahma had seen the crown. Lord Vishnu accepted his defeat. Shiva turned furious at the deception and cursed Lord Brahma that he should not have any temple on Earth and Thazhambu should not be used while praying to him. The place where Lord Shiva stood as a column of fire to eliminate ego is Thiruvannamalai.
LINGOTHBHAVAR-Notice Vishnu as boar and Brahma as Swan in the picture pc:https://bit.ly/37Krjp5
One night Lord Shiva’s devotee, a hunter, lost his way in the forest. While wandering at night, he heard a tiger growl. Frightened he scurried up the nearest tree that was a Bilva tree. He spent the night up there, out of the reach of tigers.
To keep himself awake, he kept plucking and dropping Bilva leaves while chanting the name of Lord Shiva.The next morning, when he climbed down, he had unknowingly dropped thousands of leaves on a Shiva linga. The night-long worship pleased Lord Shiva who saved him from the tiger. Lord Shiva is so fond of Bilva leaves. The trifoliate shape signifies Shiva’s three eyes as well as the three spokes of the lords Trishul .Since they have a cooling effect, they are offered to the Shivalinga to soothe him as he is a hot-tempered deity. Those who perform the puja of Shiva and Parvati devoutly on Shivarathri using the leaves, may be endowed with spiritual powers.
Shiva and Parvathi’s wedding on Shivarathri
SHIVA AND PARVATHI’S WEDDING
When Shiva’s first wife Goddess Sati, left his body, Shiva missed her sorely and went into deep mourning and isolation. But he did not know that she had come back as Parvati. In the meantime, Parvati, the reincarnation of Sati, was born to Himavan, the god of the Himalayas and his wife the apsara Mena. Shiva so deep in meditation and mourning, that he wouldn’t even look at Parvati.
Shiva was besought by the other gods to marry, he finally agreed but decided to test Parvati’s devotion first. The Saptarishi (the seven sages) approached Parvati and mocked Shiva to dissuade her; however, Parvati remained resolute. Then Shiva himself, disguised as an old ascetic, visited Parvati and vilified himself in her presence. As an angry Parvati was about to leave, Shiva revealed his true form to her and promised to marry her, pleased with her love and devotion. Shiva and Parvathi got married in Triyuginarayanan Temple in UttarKhand on Shivarathri.
Once Sati’s father was performing yajna but he did not invited Sati and her husband Lord Shiva. When Sati visited there without invitation, her father insulted her and Shiva. Sati felt humiliated and burnt herself by self-immolation.
Lord Shiva was shocked and angry hearing about the death his beloved wife, he pulled his hair and created Maha-Kali (name of the first incarnation of Adya-Shakti) .
He placed the dead body of Sati over his shoulder and started his dance. He carried her body & began to perform the Rudra Tandava creating wild thunder storms all around the universe, even shattering the Sun. The more Shiva danced, the more destruction arose. It was Shivarathri this tandavam was performed.
There is also another story which states Ravana, an ardent devotee of Lord Shiva came to meet him. He sang in praise of Lord Shiva in Kailash. But Lord Shiva was in deep meditation and he failed to notice his devotee Ravana. Furious Ravana, lifted the Mount Kailash to gain the Lord’s attention. Disturbed, Lord Shiva opened his eyes to see what has happened. He immediately pressed the Mt Kailash with his toe and it landed on Ravana’s hands.In terrible pain, Ravana realised the mistake in his actions and started singing the Shiva Tandava Stotram.Shiva was moved by Ravana’s gesture and released the mountain from under his toe. Shiva Tandav or Tandava is an unbridled dance of the Lord. It is believed that the world sprang forth from the cosmic dance of Shiva and the creation, sustenance and destruction of the universe depends on it.
What to do on the day of Shivaratri?
It is suggested to have only a single meal before the day of fasting.
1.Get up early in the morning and take bath with Ganga water. If you do not have Ganga water add some sesame seeds to warm water. This is equal to Ganga Snanam. The sesame seeds absorb all the negative vibration and his holy bath purifies your body and soul. Apply Vibhuthi post the holy bath.Take Sankalp to observe fasting the whole day.
2. Next in the morning,pray to Lord Shiva and perform Abhishekam with milk, honey, ghee,water, curd, vibhuthi,bilva leaves etc..It is very special to do Rudraksha Abhishekam on this day.It is said that Lord Shiva loves Abhishekam.
3. You can offer all flowers except Thazahambu. You can meditate with Rudraksham by just saying Om Nama Shivaya!!! It is simple yet very powerful. Connect with your inner self and do the pooja in a silent place.
Post pooja if you feel hungry you can have the fruits and milk offered to Lord Shiva during the Pooja.
4.Keep meditating the whole day with Rudraksha and abstain from hearing or watching anything that’s not related to Shiva.
5.Take a holy bath in the evening and go to temple. You can offer things for Abhishekam in the temple. Abstain from doing Angapradaksham and Adhipradakshanam on this day.
6.Please avoid watching movies or playing games in the night to stay awake. Keep your spine erect to absorb the upsurge of energy and meditate to Lord Shiva. It is better to attend the Abhishekam at temple the whole night.Remember
It is not just a night of awaking, it is a night of awakening.
7. Next day morning, take a holy bath and complete the vratham with pooja. Post pooja take very light food. Do not take heavy food as it might upset the digestive system post a whole day fast.
8. You can have good lunch on that day and then pray to Lord Shiva in the evening and you can go to sleep by 7pm. This is the complete rules of the Vratham. If you follow everything I have mentioned, you reap the benefits of doing 100 Ashavameda Yagam.
It might sound very tough, but it makes you super powerful and purifies your soul
How to perform the pooja done at the night of MahaShivarathri in temple at home?
SHIVA ABSHISHEKAM
You can attend this pooja at the temple or do at home. The pooja is called Naalu Kaala pooja at temple. In every Kaala you perform an Abhishekam, adorn God with flowers and offer food.
First Kaala-6.00-9.00pm
Do Abhishekam with PanchaKaviyam. Panchagaviyam is cow’s milk, ghee,curd, cow dung and cow’s urine. Mix it together and perform Abhishekam. Post this, apply Vibhuthi to Lord Shiva and offer Bilva leaves and flowers.
Neivedhyam:Pongal
Second Kaala-9.00-12.00pm
Perform Abhishekam with Panchamrudham. Panchamrudham is a mixture of Sugar, honey, ghee,milk and banana.Post Abhishekam, use Lotus flowers to decorate God. Offer Tulsi to God.
Neivedhyam:Paal Payasam
Third Kaala-12.00-3.00AM- Perform Abhishekam with honey. You can apply Vibhuthi and Pachai Karpooram to God. Decorate God with Winter Jasmine. Offer Bilva Leaves to God.
Neivedhyam: Sesame seeds rice.
Fourth Kaala-3.00AM-6.00AM
Perform Abhishekam with Sugarcane Juice. Apply Vibhuthi and saffron powder paste to Lord Shiva. Decorate with Nandiyavattai(Chandni) flowers and the blue color flowers(I don’t know its name).
Neivedhyam: White rice mixed with Ghee.
Do not forget to chant “Om Nama Shivaya” with Rudraksham for all the four Kaalas. It is also said, it is very good to read all the four vedas(Rig, Yajur,Sama, Atharvana Veda) during this pooja.
Next day we can offer food to poor and then break the fast with a light meal.
Conclusion
Hope you got all the information about Shivarathri. Let us utilize this opportunity to connect with God. Ending this post with my prayer for this day.
We are very often on a quest for real meaning of life. Whatever we do, we do not find happiness. We do everything initially with a josh, but we stop enjoying it after a particular point in time.But why? what’s the problem?
This book will give you all the answers you are looking for. I bet it will change you and inspire to break the cuff links that are holding you back to progress on your path of passion. If you ask me to define this book in one line, I would say,
“Ikigai is the recipe of happiness”
This book starts with an amazing proverb that holds the total essence of Longevity.
“Only staying active will make you want to live a hundred years”
Yes, you need to stay active to live hundred years. But it doesn’t mean run like crazy behind everything with stress. It is staying active with a constructive passion,doing things you love. When you do things you love, even if you face challenges you will possess the skills to handle it.Since you love doing it, this battle between challenge and your skill is going to be very interesting.
This book has inspired millions of people throughout the world. You might think,Why it has become so popular? What is so special about this book? It’s very special because it talks from the point of real life experiences. It is not a thesis, but it is raw, real and authentic from the native people of Okinawa,Japan(the Island of Longevity). Now that we have talked a lot about this book, are you intrigued to know about how did this idea of writing such an inspiring book occur to the authors? Well, this post is all about that..
Meet the Authors
(left)Hector Gracia and Francesc Miralles(right)
Héctor García was born in Spain and worked at CERN in Switzerland before moving to Japan, his home for 16 years now. In Tokyo, when he is not writing his next book, he makes a living in the IT industry. He is one of the authors of this wonderful book.
Francesc Miralles, Born in Barcelona, has written many best-selling books and received several prestigious literary awards.He has published extensively in the self-help, coaching and inspirational field. Love in Small Letters is his most famous and acclaimed book to date.
These two authors have read each others work but have never met each other. Through a mutual acquaintance they got in touch and met for the first time in a tiny bar. On a rainy night in Tokyo, they started their first discussion and never did they realize at that time, this is going to be a bestseller and the most translated self development book.
Then they met each other a year later and talked about Western Psychology. They understood from their discussions that the current trends in Western Psychology like Logotherapy has gone out of fashion and people are still search for the meaning of life. They are unable to find answers to questions like
Why do only some people know what they want and others are always in a confusion?
What is the expectation- Is it just to live longer or seek a higher purpose?
So this book that they are going to write, should address all these issues without any pitfalls. Now they have found the purpose of writing this book. But still they were not able to arrive at the solution. The conversations went on, where they suddenly discovered this mysterious word, IKIGAI(the happiness of being busy).
The concept of Ikigai took birth in Island of Okinawa in Japan the land of centenerians. Okinawa is a Japanese island that was bombed by Americans during World War II, wiping out 200,000 of its residents. But Okinawans now live better than others. Even many Americans have moved with their family to Okinawa and happily live there.
How do we know this?
Because while Japan itself has the highest life expectancy in the world (85 years for men, 87.3 for women) — in Okinawa, there are on average 24.55 people above the age of 100 for every 100,000 inhabitants (far above global average). And in Okinawa is a rural town Ogimi, with most centenarians (100 plus folk) per capita, and the world’s highest life expectancy. These people were not on their death beds or on respirators in hospital.They’re fully, mentally, physically active, going out about their day, like the best of us.
Finding the secret of Longevity
The authors were intrigued to find the secret of Longevity in Okinawa. They wanted to explore if it was just the diet and lifestyle or if it was Ikigai that was blessing them with a long and happy life. The search has started in finding the secrets of these centenerians.
They were exploring everything in that island and were trying to find if that was the secret of Longevity. They came across a fruit called Shikuwasa.
This fruit is richly packed with antioxidants and Japanese include this fruit predominantly in their diet. Is this the magic fruit of Longevity? Or the pure water used in Moringa tea. Moringa tea is also packed with antioxidants and vitamins.
Or is it Bunagaya(their mythological creatures) blessing them with long life?
The one thing that they commonly noticed in the inhabitants of this place is their friendly nature and it is incredible to see the land once destroyed by the most powerful bombs blossoming now with its flora and fauna.
Through a series of interviews conducted, they found that their secret to longevity is
Eating light(Fill your stomach only 80%)
Doing moderate exercise
Nurturing friendships(Maoi)
Taking enough rest
and most important of all it is their IKIGAI
This book not only gives you the secret of Longevity but also helps you with the tools to discover yourself. The concepts are surprisingly very simple to adapt as our lifestyle.
Conclusion
When once an audience asked Miralles, the co- author of this book , how to find Ikigai? His answer was very simple.
Well, He said, you could start with crossing out pursuits you don’t enjoy, and try out newer interests still. Or better still, go back to childhood and recall stuff you really loved doing in the most unfettered ways, when nothing else mattered. There you will easily discover your Ikigai!
From this book, you will learn that life is very simple to live. We complicate it with numerous unwanted thoughts and things. Once we take a deep dive towards connecting with our inner self and ask what really sparks joy in our life and then compare it with what we are doing currently, there we arrive at finding the problem and then use the tools in this book to find the solution. There you master the art of Longevity.
If you love this content, and you’re looking to buy a copy of this book click the image below.
Obesity has become an epidemic these days and everyone is looking for ways to loose weight. I have tried every weight loss method in my life right from fab diets, protein shakes, to healthcare centers. At last I understood there are no shortcuts to weight loss and I got ready to run that extra mile to achieve my weight loss goal.
Recently with the help of a fitness coach,I have lost 40 kgs in 8 months .In these 8 months I have learnt a lot about myself and I also started researching on many diet foods and drinks that my coach suggests for weight loss.I am going to share everything with you. You can also check my fitness journey if you are interested.
Today in this post we are going to discuss about the magic drink that helps you loose weight quickly. But if you think, you can become as slim as a bikini model only with this drink, then sorry to disappoint you. This magic drink will fasten your weight loss process and most importantly help you burn belly fat. Take this, along with a proper diet and at least one hour of exercise. You will witness the magic happen!!!
So let’s get started.
My weight loss journey
The magic drink
Are you excited to know about that drink? Let me give you hints..This magic drink is something you have already been taking everyday. Many cannot live without this including me😊Most of us start our day with this drink.Today we are going to do a slight alteration to this drink to reap its maximum benefits.. I know you are eager to know the name of the drink..It’s nothing other than COFFEE.. Wait!!!You might think I am naive to suggest coffee for weight loss. But this post will help convince you why coffee is important for weight loss.
The slight alteration I mentioned is, to drink coffee without adding sugar or other additives and only add coconut oil. Yes,we are going to drink black coffee with coconut oil.. That’s the magic drink that’s going to help you with weight loss. Let’s dig deeper to know the reasons.
Coffee
Black Coffeewith Coconut oil
The research from John Hopkins Medical School says that when you take caffeine what you experience is adrenaline rush.(Adrenaline is the source of the “fight or flight” response, a survival mechanism that forces you to stand up and fight or run for the hills when faced with a threat).
Caffeine is basically a nervous stimulant. It boosts your metabolism encouraging weight loss. Metabolism is the process by which your body converts what you eat and drink into energy. Even when your body is at rest, you are still using energy for basic functions such as breathing, circulating blood and repairing cells. When you boost your metabolism you automatically loose weight.
What happens when you drink a cup of coffee?
When you drink a cup of coffee, it creates a chain reaction. Your heart beats faster which gives the rest of your body extra blood and triggers the release of sugars. Hence you feel more energetic. You might have always noticed, you feel fresh and energetic after a cup of coffee. This is the major reason.
In a nutshell, it is a nervous stimulant, that boosts your metabolism aiding weight loss and helps you feel fresh and energetic.
Next let us learn about coconut oil and also discuss how this powerful coffee and coconut oil combo helps us.
Coconut oil
COCONUT OIL
Coconut oil has a type of fat called Medium chain Triglyceride.
Let us first understand what is a Triglyceride. Triglycerides are a type of fat found in your blood. When you eat, your body converts the calories, that it doesn’t need to use right away as it is in excess, to triglycerides. They are stored in our fat cells. Later, in between meals our hormones release triglycerides stored in fat cells.
The medium chain triglycerides refer partially to man made fats. The name refers to the carbon atoms arranged in their chemical structure. As opposed to the long chain vegetable oils, the fatty acids in the coconut oil are absorbed significantly faster by the liver. In simple words,
It gets used sooner by your body as energy instead of getting stored as fat.
Hence it boosts your metabolism aiding weight loss.Now we understand,it is a myth to associate intake of coconut oil with weight gain.
How does Coconut oil decrease your appetite?
Coconut oil when broken down by the body produces ketone bodies. Our body make Ketones when we don’t have enough stored glucose (or sugar) to turn into energy. It is also said,
When our body senses that we need an alternative to sugar, it transforms fat into ketones.
Hence we feel full for a long time, decreasing our appetite.
Aids in Abdominal Fat loss
In a study involving 40 women, half of the group consumed coconut oil and the other half were given soybean oil. They are asked to eat less and walk more for 4 weeks to aid weight loss. At the end, both groups lost 1kg but the group who had coconut oil showed a significant difference in their abdominal circumference. This study proves that coconutoil effectively targets and burns the belly fat. Another study also proves this fact. Increased waist circumference is the main reason for many chronic diseases like Diabetes ,heart problems, etc.. Coconut oil and weight loss appears to be positively linked based on the current research.
The powerful couple(Coffee and Coconut Oil)
BLACK COFFEE AND COCONUT OIL
Now we know the amazing benefits of coffee and coconut oil. Both boosts our metabolism, makes us feel fresh and also aids in reducing abdominal circumference.Now let us discuss
When can we take this drink?
I suggest you to take this as your PREWORKOUT MEAL. Why?
1.Most of the time, people feel they don’t have enough stamina for workout. When you combine caffeine with coconut oil it instantly boosts your energy acting as a power station for a KILLER WORKOUT!!! I always go to gym by 10 AM after completing my household chores. I feel very tired at that time because I have worked non stop from 5AM. But this magic drink instantly makes me feel fresh and energetic and in these 8 months, I have never missed this wonderful drink before my workout.
2.It helps to have better focus as it increases your alertness due to caffeine. Personally I have always felt good after this drink. A good mood helps you greatly in your workout to develop the mind muscle connect.
3. As it acts as a natural appetite suppressant, I have always felt satiated and energetic to push my limits further without craving for food.
4. Most important of all, it boosts your metabolism(amount of energy your body burns to maintain itself), hence promoting weight loss and also I have seen significant inch loss. Studies say, you burn 70% extra when you take this magic drink as your preworkout meal.
5.Hard training takes a toll on immune function of the body, and you are weak right after a workout, so coconut helps you a lot because it contains lauric acid and caprylic acid which are known for their anti-microbial and antiviral effect.
How to prepare this magic drink?
Take a cup of warm water. Do not boil it for long as it might be very hot to drink.
Add 1 TSP of coffee powder. I personally use Levista as I love that aroma and taste.
Then add 1 TSP of coconut oil.
Stir thoroughly.
Hurray!!! The magic drink is ready…
Just have it 10-15 mins before your workout. You will definitely notice the difference.
Conclusion
Now I know you might be thinking, it sounds great but it will taste bitter. How can I take something without sugar. When my coach proposed this in our diet, I was too in the same mindset. Anything that tastes bitter, that too on a daily basis in a BIG NO-NO for me. But I wanted to give it a try. The coconut oil really suppressed the bitter taste and I fell in love with the new flavor. From that time onwards, it has become my most favorite drink. Hence don’t give up before trying. You will truly see a significant difference. But do not just rely only on this drink for weight loss. Your diet is the key and exercise daily to build a better, stronger and confident version of yourself.
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When we think of the Tirumala Tirupathi,two things immediately come to our mind. One is the darshan of Lord Balaji and the other is the yummy laddu. After hours and hours of waiting, when we finally get closer to the sanctum the divine fragrances welcome us and we feel goosebumps as the moment has finally arrived to get a glimpse of God of Kaliyugam,Lord Venkateshwara. What a blissful moment it is, in life. Though we just get only two to three seconds to see the Lord Venkateshwara, it is totally a sensory delight. It is amazing to see the Lord magnificently dressed in ornaments and flowers and the divine fragrances feels like heaven with a rush of positive vibrations filling the place and hearing the sounds of his Nama, the mind attains the utmost peaceful state and it is such a divine spiritual experience. You might be wondering,what Pooja items do they use in Tirumala Tirupati to create such divine fragrances. This post will give you all the information.
Every Friday post the Suprabatha Seva, Srivari Abhishekam is observed.
The Abhishekam starts with sacred water brought from Akasa Ganga Theertham, then with Milk, then with Chandanam(sandalwood) and other scented articles like powdered Pachcha Karpooram, Saffron paste and drops of civet oil. Among the scented articles used, the most powerful is the few drops of civet oil.
In Firday Abhishekam, we can see the idol of Balaji without any ornaments, vastras (except the hands holding Chakra and Sankha) which is really once in a lifetime experience.The Abhishekam is done with all the ingredients and drops of Civet oil is wiped on Lord Balaji with a soft cotton towel. This leaves a lasting fragrance.
The civet oil is the main reason for the divine fragrance that pulls the devotees towards Bangaru Vaikli(the golden Doorway) to meet our beloved Lord Venkateshwara. So now we know the secret, let’s dig deeper to know about this oil.
What is Civet oil(Punugu)
The Civet oil is extracted from a rarely living cat species called the Civet cat. It is called Punugu in Tamil. Wait!!! Do not think that the cat is killed to extract this perfume.
Most Punugu Cats, Small Indian Civet have perineal scent glands, which secrete a musk like substance from a gland near its tail.When the Punugu cat turns two years old, once in every ten days, the cat rubs its perineal glands by raising its tail on diverse species of trees, shrubs, grass, dry logs, poles, and rocky surfaces. A thick musky fluid is obtained.It is then purified and mixed with various other fragrant substances and used in the Abhishekam . This ritual of using Civet Oil, is being conducted from time immemorial for Lord Venkateswara Abhishekam every Friday.
It is not only used in Tirumala Triupati but also in many temples in TamilNadu.
At the Srirangam temple in Trichy, civet oil is used to clean the stone idol during the Ashada Masam when the temple is closed for a month. Similarly it is used at Sri Krishna temple in Udupi, Jagannath Temple in Puri, Lakshmi temple in Kolhapur, Vaitheeswaran Temple in Chennai and also at the Simhachalam temple near Visakhapatnam.
How is Civet oil obtained in Tirupati?
While many other temples buy Civet in bulk from the market, Tirumala Tiupati is the only temple to have a dairy farm to breed these cats. The civet cat is bred in Venkateswara Dairy Farm. Nine animals are taken care in its dairy.
They put a sandalwood log in the cages of civet cat and allow them to rub their perennial glands against the log.Civet cat, the nocturnal animal that lives normally in bushy woods,is taken care well in the dairy farms cages, with fans to cool it and meat to feast on. The nine animals put together secrete 10 gm of of civet every week, that will be purified by the dairy staff before the offering.
This animal belongs to the ‘viverridae’ family and six of the 15 varieties are found in India. Of them, the Small Indian Civet (vivericula indica) and Common Palm Civet or Toddy Civet/Malabar Civet (parabouxus hermaphroditus) are the two varieties found south of the Vindhyas. A problem in the long run to the TTD is about the availability of the animal. At present, it is dependent on tribals or the native inhabitants of the jungle for procuring it. They capture new-borns and hand them over to the dairy,apparently for a price.
There is a saying in olden days that
“Any puja or ritual conducted without using the aromatic substances javvadu, kasturi,aragaja, and punugu bears no fruit.”
Benefits of Civet oil
The sense of smell is a right brain activity which rules memory, emotions and creativity.The Limbic system in the brain, is the residence for all the emotions and has a greater role to play with the creation and development of memories. Civet is known for its remarkable fragrance that is said to instill potential differences in the behavioral and psychological patterns of humans.
The fragrance-containing molecules in the Civet oil pass through the nasal receptors while breathing and are converted to nerve impulses.Then nerve impulses reach other parts of limbic system like Olfactory bulbs and hypothalamus.
The vital parts of the limbic system obtains the corresponding therapeutic properties as information in the form of nerve impulses. This info is then passed on to the body as instructions to tranquilize, relax the stress hormones, treat hormonal imbalances and calm down the tensed muscles. It is also used to treat many skin disorders and colic condition in children.
Why use fragrant substances for Abhishekam?
Abhishekam is derived from a Sanskrit word, Abhishek which means to wet around or give ritual bath to deities. In sacred Agama shastras, we can find the instructions to all the rituals and the science behind it. Every natural ingredient used in Abhishekam invokes positive vibrations as the ions in those substances are positively charged.. God lives in the place which is filled with positivity. That’s why we feel peaceful when we visit temples. The positive vibrations in the temple have a calming effect on us. Why not try the same at home?
Let us also try doing Abhishekam with all such divine ingredients. You will feel the divine presence of God at your home and from then on you become free of sorrows and start enjoying the eternal bliss.
Can we get this Civet musk?
You can get this Civet musk from NaatuMarundu Kadai or local Tamil Marundu kadai in Chennai. It is not 100% pure like you get in Tirumala Tirupati temple. Pure Civet is very hard to find and also very expensive. The moment you open the box you will feel the divine fragrance spreading in your home. It feels very pleasant and try to use in Abhishekam and see transform your home into a temple. You can also apply this as a tilak daily on your forehead.
You can buy the products by clicking the image below.
Conclusion
Every traditional practice that has been followed for ages, has amazing benefits in our life. It was sadly hidden from people and categorized as blind beliefs. Once we start exploring, we will be surprised to learn the positive impact it has on our mind and body and we will for sure fall in love with the lifestyle of our ancestors. Once you start using Civet oil, I bet you can never stop as you get addicted to its fragrance.
When we face problems in life and at the same time we get to see a lot of negative people enjoy their life, we feel God is not there and believing in God is a myth. We think, it is foolish to believe him as he is ruthless to grant the wishes of negative people. But we are ignorant to experience all sorts of such emotions because we feel, we and the Paramathma are different. Say, you believe there is God in every human being. We will first respect each other and even start thinking before getting angry on the other person,as nobody can hurt God. This ignorance is what leads us to all the sorrows in our life. So there comes a question, will the God step forward to help us? How can we feel his divine presence? This post addresses these queries with a simple yet very powerful analogy.
OCEAN-THE PARAMATHAMA
How to feel God’s presence?
Let us take this example.
When the wind blows over the still ocean,there are small air bubbles that come up on the top. With the blow of another wind, these bubbles will burst. Here the still ocean is the Paramathma, the creator. We the Jeevas are the small bubbles originated from this ocean, Paramathma. Just like the wind that blows, if God’s benign glance falls on us we become one with him, just like the bubbles disappear in the ocean. So the first step towards experiencing his divine presence is to firmly believe that we originated from him. Its the maya(illusion) that makes us perceive that God does not exist. Once we learn to break this illusion, we can experience his divine presence.
Does God show partiality?
Now we know how to experience his presence but we have to know if he is partial? Sometimes we feel, he bestows his grace only on some people, but not on others. So let us address this question.
Let us consider the same example. We know that Water in the ocean doesn’t decrease, it gets vaporized as rain and flows into rivers,lakes canals, etc.. But the ocean neither becomes dry nor becomes flooded. The water level does not change in the ocean.
The rivers, lakes and canals(Jeevathama) which received water from the ocean may become dry during summer. In Monsoon the water levels may increase and sometimes there are also possibility of floods.
But the God is the ocean, he doesn’t show any favoritism by bestowing a particular river,lake or canal with more water or less. The rivers(Jeevathma) may become dry or flooded based on their Karma.The water level(sorrow and joy) in the rivers, lakes are uncertain. But the water level in ocean(Paramathama) does not decrease. It is stable and constant.
God never shows partiality. It is just our ignorance(the maya) that fools us in believing it. We have originated from God. He takes different forms just like the cash in the example below.The rich person, invests money in land, then sells the land and converts it into bank deposit. Then withdraws the bank deposit and converts it into shares. Here only the form changes, the asset remains the same. Though God takes many forms there is no increase or decrease in him. He remains the same in every human being.
To understand God doesn’t show any favoritism we have to first become one with the God(ocean). Once we become one with him, there is no question of quantifying his blessings. We enjoy the eternal bliss.
Will God step forward to help us?
Many times in life, we have felt if God truly exist. If he exists, will he step forward when we are deliberately looking for his help. Yes he will. Let us take the same analogy to understand this better.
Water of the ocean becomes clouds and it rains. Through rains, lakes, ponds and rivers receive water. The water in these lakes, tanks, canals do not again mix with the ocean. But all the rivers flow through the oceans. It flows like meeting the ocean is its ultimate destination. In North India there is a river named Sonam, which flows over red soil. The Krishna river in Andhra Pradesh flows over black soil and Ganges signifies white(purity). The name of the river is derived based on the soil over which it flows. All these rivers flow towards the same ocean. Here the red in Sonam indicates Rajo gunam(Passion) the black in Krishna river indicates Tamo gunam(Ignorance) and White in Ganga indicates Satva Gunam(Goodness). The personality of Jeevathma depends on the mode of the mind to which it attaches. Just like the river that flows on a particular color of the soil, takes that color.
Whatever may be the mode of our mind, at the end just like the river meets the sea the mixing of Jeevathma and Paramathma must take place.
It is also said that water finds its own level. It rains on the top of the hills and rivers originate from this. It flows down as waterfalls, at a high speed with a very roaring noise. Then it flows as rivers with little noise.Finally when it merges with the ocean there is absolute silence.
That means, when the river finds its level(the ocean), it becomes absolutely peaceful. It is the same with your mind. When your mind finds the God, it becomes absolutely peaceful. When we know the limit and we achieve it, there is peace in our life. If we try going beyond the limits, it may lead to self destruction.
The ocean comes forward to receive the river which gives up its speed, noise and approaches it with humility. If we know our limits and proceed with humility the ocean of God will step forward to receive us and help us get merged into the ocean and experience eternal bliss.
The feeling of oneness with God, dawns on us when we first develop the attitude that we are one with God and all the creations on Earth are just manifestations of Paramathma. We should develop a trust on him beyond doubts and that trust should stay imperturbable.Then we should give up our ego, our negative thoughts and approach the Paramathama with humility. Once we develop this attitude the God will step forward and welcome us with love and we can enjoy the eternal bliss in life. When I write every post of Deivathin Kural, I feel its the God who is composing it and I am just an instrument through which he is communicating with people. It is such a blissful moment to read every chapter of Deivathin Kural and deliver the content in an nutshell to everyone out there. I feel blessed beyond words to carry his message to this world.
In recent times, parents have been buying toys like crazy. There are many attractive toys with amazing eye catching offers. On weekends we go to Malls with children, get super deals and buy those plastic toys to keep our kids engaged and happy.
So, today let’s take a moment to think if those toys are good for your child’s health. Let’s dig deeper and understand the complete process to know if it is hazardous to our child’s health. I have not only discussed the problem but there is also a solution waiting for you at the end of the post.This post will help you gift the best toy in this world to your kid. So please read till the end.
Why plastic toys are hazardous?
How plastic is made
First let us try and understand how plastic is made before analyzing why it is hazardous. Plastic is made from Crude oil extracted from Earth. It is extracted with utmost precaution, as crude oil contains many flammable chemicals. In the factory, the crude oil is first refined and then heated in a furnace. After heating we get the following products. LPG,Naptha,gasoline,lubricating oil,diesel oil,kerosene and Asphalt. They are collected in different sections. Naptha is used in plastic production.
Plastic production process
Ethene is the major substance in plastic production that is obtained from Naptha. Naptha is sent to Naptha cracking center and undergoes thermal cracking,refining and combustion process to produce Ethene. Then Ethene is compressed and cooled and then a substance called initiator is added. It is a chemical which initiates chain reaction. Now ethene is converted to (Poly)ethene. Now this Polyethene is sent to a chamber where stabilizers like Cadmium and other antioxidants are added. Next it goes to an extruder and gets converted to polymer strings. These strings are grinded with a grinder and we get plastic pellets. These plastic pellets are used to make plastic toys.
PLASTIC PELLETS
How plastic toys are made
In the toy company,the plastic pellets are melted in an injection machine with appropriate color dyes and depending on the type of the toy, phthalates, PVC, lead, BPA are added.
Meanwhile the 3d designs for toys are made and the prototype is sent to another machine to make steel moulds for toys with exact precision. The molten paste of plastic is poured in the mould and left in a high pressure until it gets cooled. Then image transfer is done on the toy to make it look realistic. Now we know the whole process of manufacturing a plastic toy.
With this understanding let’s now dig deep into the hazards of plastic.
Plastic hazards
Phthalates-It is a class of chemicals, that are used to soften the plastic. It acts a fixative and also adds fragrance to the products.
Health Hazards
Chewing a plastic toy
Chewing a toy that contains Phthalates and ingesting it’s fragrances causes asthma,hormone disruption,reproductive problems,low sperm count and development of some type of cancers😯
BPA
It is used to make hard clear plastics. It is majorly used in baby bottles, water bottles, sippy cups.
It causes hormone disruption,breast cancer, miscarriage,birth defects, hyperactivity and aggressiveness in long term.
Cadmium
Cadmium shows up frequently in children’s products particularly in children’s jewelry, toys with batteries and paint coatings. It is linked to many learning disabilities in children. It mainly causes kidney disease, lung cancer and breast cancer.
PVC
PVC often contains lead phthalates and production or destruction of PVC releases cancer causing dioxins into the environment. PVC is used in most flexible toys. It is mostly used in rubber duckies,inflatable swimming pools, dolls, crib bumpers,etc..
The hazards include developmental disorders,low sperm count, premature puberty and liver dysfunction🙄
There are still lots of dangerous ingredients that pose serious health Hazards.
We might be wondering that a child would have been doing well from birth without any health issues but suddenly they would have turned hyperactive or have learning disabilities. It is because of the toys with which they play on a day to day basis.
Now comes the question,
Which toys are good for our children?
The almost forgotten toy that our ancestors played with, is what I am going to reintroduce to you in this post. Yes, it is our traditional Marapachi bomai.
What’s so special about this toy?
This toy is made from red sandalwood or silk cotton wood. Though it doesn’t look very colorful like the toys we buy in recent days, it has amazing medicinal values. If a child falls down while playing and gets hurt, you can quickly rub this toy on a sandalwood rubbing stone and apply the red sandalwood paste on the wound. Red Sandalwood not only cures the wound, but also removes the blemishes quickly. It provides nourishment to your baby’s skin and makes it look healthy.
If your child is teething and chews this toy, like the plastic toys it doesn’t cause cancer but cures digestive problems, fluid retention, cough,cold and mainly does blood purification.
Unlike the cheap plastic toys which don’t look good or spark joy in two years, these toys last a legacy. You can pass it on for generations.
In ancient days, newly married couple were gifted this Marapachi bommai. As child marriage was prominent in ancient days, this doll was used for pretend play by the couples. They dressed this doll beautifully,like couples and enjoyed playing with it. A particular practice in South India is to gift the Marapachi bommai to the newly wed couples for their children to play with.During Golu festival during Navarathri, Marapachi dolls are a part of the display. It is lovingly passed on as a hereditary gift from mother to her daughter to display in her Golu.
Marapachi Dolls
The top tier of the golu is assigned for Marapachi Dolls. They are beautifully dressed and decorated with jewels. It is a delight to watch these dolls and they add a vintage feel to your decor.
How to find authentic ones?
It is said that authentic Marapachi bommai can be found by rubbing it in a sandalwood stone. If it is an authentic one,you get a red paste. Otherwise it is just paint that comes from the duplicate. Another test is to drop the bommai in water. If it sinks, then it is authentic Marapachi bommai.
Conclusion
Why gift your child hazardous plastic toy, when you have amazing Marapachi bommai with medicinal values. If you love this doll, you can buy it online, but authentic ones are available only in Andhra Pradesh. You can get it in shops near Tirupati Temple. If you cannot get Marapachi bommai also, do not encourage plastic toys in your home. Switch to wooden toys and gift your children a healthy playtime.
Next you can buy decal stickers and stick on the canvas.. Tada!!! your wall decor is ready instantly!!! See how beautiful it looks.
MommyReturns 
