Ayurvedic Remedies for QUIT SMOKING.........................

AYURVEDIC REMEDIES TO...................."QUIT SMOKING"...................

Behaviors such as drinking alcohol, indulging in bad dietary choices, imbibing illegal substances or smoking can, according to ayurvedic practice, be a sign that our minds are far too busy and need to be calmed. Therefore when we do something ‘pleasurable’ such as the aforementioned activities they give a temporary sense of calm and relief from the problems that may haunt us on a daily basis, whether it’s work stress, relationship problems or just all round feelings of anxiety and depression.

Sometimes it becomes clear that what we’re doing to relieve stress can actually end up creating more problems than it solves, particularly in the case of smoking. You can quit using ayurvedic techniques – here’s how.

Using Ayurvedic Medicine and Techniques to Stop Smoking

What happens when you smoke? You have a craving, your brain tells you that you need the nicotine and so you light a cigarette. When you smoke and inhale, the nicotine and other chemicals stimulate the brain to release two substances, dopamine and noradrenaline. As a smoker becomes more dependent on nicotine the need to replicate the release of these two chemicals becomes more and more intense. When you decide to quit smoking by the use of Ayurveda the levels of dopamine and noradrenaline will slowly return to a normal state and cravings will be reduced and it’s all done by diet, exercise and herbal remedies.

How to Approach Quitting Smoking

If you want to quit nicotine for good and classify yourself as a non-smoker, it really can be done. It’s pertinent to point out at this stage that whether you’re approaching this from an Ayurvedic or conventional standpoint, it isn’t easy and requires emotional investment, hard work and dedication. Keeping a positive mental attitude and believing and willing yourself on really is half the battle won. Ayurvedic medicine doesn’t rely solely on one single technique or one single remedy or medicine to relieve a patient of what ails them. Here, we’re looking at a highly individual and holistic approach that looks at the body, mind and spirit of a person and taking the point that was made earlier, of addiction being a problem relating to too much stimulating mental activity. Once this is under control, the symptoms of addiction can be tackled more fully. Practically, there are many things you can do to help yourself too.

Dietary Approach

It makes sense to try and avoid the things that may give way to nicotine cravings – for instance, many people associate having a cup of tea or coffee with the need to light up. The same goes for opening a beer or pouring a glass of wine. The thought enters the brain that along with the drink, you need a fix of nicotine. For the first seven days after you’ve had your last cigarette, try to drink only pure water, herbal tea or juices. This will not only have a cleansing effect on the body, but also the mind too. From your diet, avoid anything very fatty or sugary. When you stop smoking it may be that your body requires satiating with food and in particular foods which might not be the best for our waistlines.

Some people swear by taking a Sattvic approach to diet, that is to say, eating good wholegrains, fresh vegetables and nuts, seeds and legumes which have had as little as possible done to them in the way of cooking so that they are taken on board and used by the body as they were intended. Fresh vegetable juices in particular are rich in prana and are easily assimilated by a body that is trying to detox from substances. Having good, nutritious snacks on hand when a craving hits is also a good idea. Consider raw fresh fruit, vegetable sticks, handfuls of nuts. If you have a naturally ‘sweet tooth’ choosing to suck on a cinnamon stick or dried licorice disk can satiate that craving and help to stop blood sugars from crashing.

Exercise

One of the best physical approaches to quitting smoking is by incorporating Yoga – alongside other physical exercise into your cessation plan. Yoga encourages the mind and body to deal with stress in a positive way, learning new positions is a wonderful way to not only enhance your core strength and your physical capabilities, but also to release the full potential of your mind once it is free from nicotine. One of the most beneficial poses to try is Savasana, otherwise known as the corpse pose. This provides the ultimate in relaxation of mind and focusing of the self.

Herbs to Help

Alongside the diet and exercise, herbal toning agents may be taken as well to promote relaxation and/or stimulation too. Consider tablets or tinctures of the following alongside your other methods:

Ginseng:

A stimulant which is used to enhance concentration and reduce brain fog and tiredness.

Triphala:

Three sour fruits that contain the most Vitamin C, being a smoker your body is filled with chemical substances which you have trained your body to crave. As part of the detox process, vitamin C will help to extract these toxic substances remove the nicotine cravings.

Ashwagandha:

An adaptogenic anxiety tonic which can help to relieve stress.

Bala:

“This can be used in cases of smoking cessation where someone has gained weight alongside an increase in their stress levels. It can be used to boost physical strength and stimulate the nervous system. It has a slight diuretic action, which is why it aids weight loss.

Shatavari:

This is perhaps more helpful for women who are giving up smoking as it can be used to treat conditions like PMT and the irritability and anger that it can cause. It is a nourishing herb that provides comfort and sustenance and can reassure anyone who is suffering mental rigors. (Note* Shatavari should always be taken with ginger if you tend to gain weight or have a disposition to cysts.)

108000 TEMPLES & THEIR LOCATIONS IN INDIA................

108000 TEMPLES OF INDIA AND THERE LOCATIONS............................

---

The number of Hindu temples in India is a puzzle. Nobody bothered to count them, because they are innumerable. Moreover Hindus are not that keen to record such immaterial things. But days are changing. “Our children living in western countries ask such questions and embarrass us,” says Swaminathan.

How Many Temples are There in India?

India is an agricultural country. We have 638,000 villages, 5000 towns and 400 big cities. A Tamil proverb says, “Don’t live in a town where there is no temple”. A Sanskrit proverb says, “Seeing a temple tower gives you 10 million good things”. (Gopura dharsanam, Koti Punyam). So going by this, we must have over 600,000 temples. My research into the Tribal people of India (I have a big collection of articles on Tribal Peoples of South India) shows that they have also got a place of worship.

Our parents have taught us why we should go to temples instead of worshipping at home:

Temples teach you to aim high in life. (Look at the tall towers.)

Temples teach you to think big and achieve it. (Our kings thought about huge temples, planned them and built them.)

Temples teach you good things are never destroyed. (Look how many years they have been standing in spite of thousands of foreign invasions.)

Temples teach you community spirit. (Think together, work together and execute together.)

Temples keep you fit mentally and physically. (Temples are huge, when you walk through the corridors, you do big exercise. The festivals in temples lift your spirit.)

Temples help you to focus attention. (You develop concentration power.)

Temples are power houses. (They charge your battery because great saints like Adi Sankara, Ramanuja, Madhva, Vallabha, Chaitanya, Alvars, Nayanmars, Nivrutti, Gnandev, Sopana, Muktabhai, Eknath, Namdev, Tukaram, Ramdas, Tamil Siddhars and hundred thousand more saints have stored their energy in the temples for generations to come.)

Adi Shankara has installed Jan Akarshan (attracting people) and Dhan Akarshan (attracting money) Chakras in Varanasi ad Tirupati.

The Government List of Temples is as Follows:.......Tamil Nadu—34,000 temples

Andhra Pradesh—43,000 temples

Karnataka—34,000 temples

Kerala—28,000 Bagavathy temples (Travancore and Cochin Devaswam Board –TCDB-alone has 1800 temple)
(Four South Indian States alone total over 108,000 temples!!!)

Maharashtra—45,000 temples

Mathura Brindhavan area—5000 temples

Himachal Pradesh—over 2000 temples and sacred places

Along the banks of 1500 mile long Holy Ganges, thousands of sacred places! And along the 1500 mile long Himalayas every foot is considered sacred place. No need to mention about Badrinath, Kedarnath and Kailash.

Kancheepuram near Chennai alone has 108 temples. Madurai in Tamil Nadu has 50 temples.

The list is not exhaustive. I couldn’t get exact figures for many states. Since the revenue of South Indian temples are used (or misused) by the state governments, the figures come out very often in news papers. The richest temples in the world are in South India. Tirupati Balaji temple, Tiruvananthapuram Anantha Padhmanabha Swamy Temple, Sabarimalai Ayyappan Temple, Madurai Meenakshi Temple, Palani Murugan Temple, Udupi Krishnan Temple and Guruvayur KrishnanTemple.

Puri Jagannath Temple in Orissa, Vashno Devi temple in Kashmir, Siddhi Vinayak Temple in Mumbai, Somnath Temple in Gujarat, Kasi Viswanath Temple in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh are rich.

These rich temples are like Kamadhenu (wish fulfilling sacred cow), Karpaka Vriksham (wish fulfilling tree) and Akshaya Patram (Magic Vessel that supplies you food for ever) for governments.

Balaji Temple of Tirupati attracts more crowd than Lourdes in France and Vatican City in Italy. Anantha Padhmanabha Swamy’s treasure vaults contain the richest treasure in the world. A charge has been made by a foreign writer, Stephen Knapp, in a book titled Crimes against India and the need to protect Vedic Tradition, published in the United States and it makes shocking reading. Now and then the Indian Newspapers also give us statistics of how the revenue from the Hindu Temples are transferred to state exchequers and used for secular, sometimes, even anti religious activities.

THE MEANNG OF THE....................... "OM".................... SYMBOL

THE MEANING OF THE "OM" SYMBOL

Before the beginning, the Brahman (absolute reality) was one and non-dual. It thought, “I am only one — may I become many.” This caused a vibration which eventually became sound, and this sound was Om. Creation itself was set in motion by the vibration of Om. The closest approach to Brahman is that first sound, Om. Thus, this sacred symbol has become emblematic of Brahman just as images are emblematic of material objects.

The vibration produced by chanting Om in the physical universe corresponds to the original vibration that first arose at the time of creation. The sound of Om is also called Pranava, meaning that it sustains life and runs through Prana or breath. Om also represents the four states of the Supreme Being. The three sounds in Om (AUM) represent the waking, dream and deep sleep states and the silence which surrounds Om represents the “Turiya” state.

Because the first of the three states of consciousness is the waking state, it is represented by the sound “A” pronounced like “A” in accounting. Because the dream state of consciousness lies between the waking and the deep sleep states, it is represented by the letter “U” which lies between the “A” and “M”. This “U” is pronounced like the “U” in would. The last state of consciousness is the deep sleep state and is represented by “M” pronounced as in “sum.”

This closes the pronunciation of Om just as deep sleep is the final stage of the mind at rest. Whenever Om is recited in succession there is an inevitable period of silence between two successive Oms. This silence represents the “fourth state” known as “Turiya” which is the state of perfect bliss when the individual self recognizes his identity with the supreme.

The Symbol Om:

Just as the sound of Om represents the four states of Brahman, the symbol Om written in Sanskrit also represents everything. The material world of the waking state is symbolized by the large lower curve. The deep sleep state is represented by the upper left curve.

The dream state, lying between the waking state below and the deep sleep state above, emanates from the confluence of the two. The point and semicircle are separate from the rest and rule the whole. The point represents the turiya state of absolute consciousness. The open semicircle is symbolic of the infinite and the fact that the meaning of the point can not be grasped if one limits oneself to finite thinking.

The Power of Chanting Om:

The chanting of Om drives away all worldly thoughts and removes distraction and infuses new vigour in the body.

When you feel depressed, chant Om fifty times and you will be filled with new vigour and strength. The chanting of Om is a powerful tonic. When you chant Om, you feel you are the pure, all pervading light and consciousness.

those who chant Om will have a powerful, sweet voice. Whenever you take a stroll, you can chant Om. You can also sing Om in a beautiful way. The rythemic pronunciation of Om makes the mind serene and pointed, and infuses the spiritual qualifications which ensure self-realization.

Meditation on Om:

Retire to a quite place, sit down, close your eyes and completely relax your muscles and nerves. Concentrate on the space between your eyebrows and quieten and silence the conscious mind. Begin to repeat “Om” mentally while associating the ideas of infinity, eternity, immortality, etc. You must repeat Om with the feeling that you are the infinite and all-pervading. Mere repetition of Om will not bring the desired result.

Keep the meaning of Om always at heart. Feal Om. Feel that you are the pure, perfect, all-knowing, eternal, free, Brahman. Feel that you are absolute consciousness and the infinite, unchanging existence.

Every part of your body should powerfully vibrate with these ideas. This feeling should be kept up all day long. Practice regularly and steadily with sincerity, faith, perseverance and enthusiasm in the morning, midday and evening.

Jathaka sloka Its SIGNIFICANCE & ORIGIN...........................

Jathaka sloka.(Horoscope Verse).................Its significance and origin..................

My dear and Beloved Friends/Readers...................

Hope this will be of useful to Readers and parents who are yet to get the horoscope of their children written.

Jathaka Sloka. Horoscope Verse..............Its significance and origin..................

" Aum Sri Mahaganapthiye namaha"

The procedure to write a Jathaka (Horoscope) of a child should invariably begin with the following sloka as per Hindu scripture................

"Janani janma soukyanam

vardhanee kula sampatham

Padhavee poorva punyaanaam

likyathe janma pathrika."........................Its English translation reads:-......

For the welfare of the mother and the child 
For the growth of the family happiness 
To follow the ancient virtuous practices 
The horoscope is written - 

Janma pathrika(Horoscope) is a written document of one's birth. we call it as horoscope. it is a practice from times of yore to write a sloka before writing the horoscope of a person. The sanscrit sloka may be the contribution of kalidasa of kalamitra.

padhavee......that one will get the status of state or profession or position that one holds. This padhavee is known by the punyam indicated in the sloka/horoscope. Poorva punniyam is a continuous process of previous birth though the janma pathrika related to the present birth. This padhavee will come based on poorva punniyam.

Padhavee poorva punyanam - what is the exact meaning to this we write in janma pathrika?

why we write this verse ''jenani jenma sowkyanam.... the answer is that it is a practice to write this sloka before writing a horoscope of a person. what is the motivation of writing a sloka before writing the horoscope and what treasure hides in this sloka?

This is by physical, vital, and mental. (bbu, bhva, svah) The combined fate, karma involved in this aspect. so, we say padhavee poorva punniyanam..Though, the padhavee is one's own making, but completely based on one's past karma. Hence, the sloka says about the padhavee..(based on) poorva punniyanam..past virtues

The calculations in our Jadakams(Horoscope) confirm to real astronomy, in an ancient heritage way where astrology was studied earnestly. ...........,,and also written as 'GARBHA SELLUPOGA' that means, whatever karmas leftover i is being carried over in the present jananam.

J.KANNAN, M.Com, FIATA

"WE DON'T THINK TO BREATHE

 WE BREATHE TO THINK"

Reasons you should have curd with every meal........

9 reasons you should have curd with every meal

S

Who doesn’t love curd? Be it with a yummy, steaming paratha or aschaas, curd is often quite a staple in most Indian households. But did you know this versatile dish has a number of health benefits too? Yes, here’s how curd helps you stay healthy.

Helps improve digestion

The nutrients present in curd are easily absorbed by your digestive system. Not only that, it also helps in absorbing nutrients from other food items that you have eaten. It can also be used along with spicy food, as curd cools down and neutralises the heat that these foods create. A Taiwanese study even found that curd is helpful in curing H. Pylori infections which is known t cause peptic ulcers. You may also like to read about these home remedies for peptic ulcers.

Healthy for your heart

In a day and age where more and more young people are falling prey to heart disease, consuming curd can go a long way in maintaining a healthy heart. It minimizes the risk of high blood pressure and helps reduce cholesterol levels by preventing the thickening of carotid arteries.

Great for those who are lactose intolerant

Some people, who cannot consume milk because they are lactose intolerant, can safely consume curd. It converts the lactose present in milk to lactic acid, making it easier to digest. Also, you do not lose out on the nutritional boost that milk provides.

Helps boost immunity

Curd has ‘good bacteria’ present in it which strengthens your immune system by fighting against several microorganisms that are present in the body. It is also useful in preventing vaginal yeast infections in women. These properties of curd do not diminish even when it is heated along with curry preparations to add flavour.

Good for your teeth and bones

All dairy products are good for your bones, and curd is no different. Like milk, curd has a high amount of phosphorous and calcium. This makes it beneficial for your teeth and bones as it helps promote bone growth and makes your teeth stronger. Taking care of your bones is essential if you want to avoid painful diseases like osteoporosis andarthritis in the future.

Can be used as a skincare product

Nutrients like zinc, Vitamin E and phosphorus make curd a natural skincare product and it is often used as an ingredient in homemade packs. A simple mixture of curd, gram flour and lime juice can be made at home to give you an attractive and glowing face.

Helps get rid of dandruff

Many advertisements claim to have found the magical chemical formula for curing dandruff. But, curd can be a simple homemade solution.  Why is it good to get rid of dandruff? It has lactic acid which has anti-fungal properties. What more? You don’t even have to add other ingredients to it. Just whip some curd in a bowl, and add it to your scalp. Leave it for an hour, and wash properly with water. You may also like to read about this home remedies for dandruff.

8.   Helps you lose weight

Whenever nutritionists make a diet plan, the first thing they include is curd. The calcium present in it prevents your body from pumping more cortisol. Hormonal imbalance of cortisol is responsible for a host of problems like hypertension, obesity and cholesterol. you may also like to read about these foods that promise weight loss.

9.  Helps release stress and anxiety

Being stressed can wreck your health. Finding ways to relax and rejuvenate is imperative in today’s world. Along with other things, eating some curd can surely help. According to a study conducted by UCLA’s School of Medicine, eating curd was linked to lower levels of activity in the part of brain responsible for emotion and pain. Here are some natural remedies for stress.

All these health benefits make curd a superb food item that you and your family should consume on a daily basis.

Significance of Shaligram According to HINDUISM.................

Significance of Shaligram

According to HINDUISM.............

The Kali Gandaki or Gandaki River is one of the major rivers of Nepal and a tributary of the river Ganges in India. It is also called Krishna Gandaki in Nepal. However, one of the most important features of the river are the smooth, shining, black, egg-like stones that are found on the banks of Gandaki called Shaligram. These dark Himalayan fossils are believed to be somewhere between 140 to 165 millions years old.

Gandaki River Is An Important River For Hindus For Several Reasons:

It is here that Valmiki Rishi wrote the great epic, Ramayana. The ancient Valmiki Ashram still exists today and is a place of pilgrimage. Believed to be the birthpalce of Luv and Kush, the two sons of Lord Ram and Sita.

The hermitage also landmarks the ‘Falahar” (eating place) of Sita. Ashwamedh horse was believed to be tied here. The river is mentioned in the epic of Mahabharata.Its evolution is described in Shiva Purana, Kumarakhand and in the chapter of the killing of Shankachuda. Also known as shilas, these stones are revered and worshiped by Hindus as manifestations of Lord Vishnu himself. It is believed that Saraswati cursed Lakshmi in anger once which changed Lakshmi into a tulsi plant and forced her to live on earth forever .iVishnu intervened and modified the curse, saying Lakshmi would remain on earth as tulsi until the river Gandaki flowed from her body. In the meanwhile, he would stay by the riverside in the form of a stone until he can take her back to His abode. It is for this reason that the tulsi plant and shila deities are always worshiped together as Lakshmi and Vishnu.

Each Shaligram piece is unique and they are worshiped according to the markings and shape of the stone. Some stones resemble Vishnu’s paraphernalia such as chakra, lotus, conch, mace. Shaligram stones come in dfferent colors such as red, blue, yellow, green and black. Of these, the yellow, blue and black varieties are considered more sacred. The yellow and golden-colored Shaligrams are considered most auspicious and are believed to bestow great wealth and prosperity on its worshipers.

Shaligrams of Different Shapes are Often Associated with Different Avatars or Incarnations of Vishnu and Believed to Bring Different Energies with Them when Worshiped, Such as:.............

Matsya: Incarnation of Vishnu in the form of fish. It bestows the worshipper with peaceful environment, austerity and philanthropy.

Kurma: Incarnation of Vishnu in the form of Tortoise. The worshiper gets immense perserverence, strong will power, patience, wealth and happiness in his life.

Varaha: Incarnation of Vishnu in the form of Boar. Brings immense protection and removes negativity.

Narsimha: Incarnation of Vishnu in the form of half man and half lion. Instills fearless and success in all endeavors.

Vamana: Incarnation of Vishnu in the form of small dwarf. Brings immense strength to fight against all odds, evils and enemies.

Krishna: Worshiper of Krishna shaligram will earn a great respect and dignity in the society.

Surya: Depicts Lord Vishnu himself. Brings the quality of the sun – to rule and to move continuously with brilliant radiance and strength. Gives happiness, popularity and material gains.

Shivlinga: Symbol of auspiciousness, brings health and peace. The worshipping of this shaligram increases the family harmony.

Mahalakshmi: Bestows the devotee with good health and wealth . Man can progress in business and service and spends his life happily, shields from loss.

Ganesha: Removes obstacles and brings success in all undertakings.

Maha Vishnu: Brings eternal peace, contains influence of all ten incarnations and considered the most powerful Shaligram.

Lakshmi Narayan: A rare Shaligram, it is the direct representation of goddess Lakshmi and Lord Narayana. Brings immense wealth, protection and very good health.

Lakshmi Narasimha: Another very rare Shaligram, it represents goddess Lakshmi and Narasimha. Brings protection, good fortune, peace and all worldly comforts.

Shaligram Is Mentioned In The Following:

Lord Krisha refers to the qualities of Shaligram while giving discourse to Yudhistra.In Padampurana, it is said that whatever homes you find a Shaligram, that home is better than places of pilgrimage.In Skandpuran, Shiva has narrated the importance of Shaligram.In Brahmvaivartpuran, Prakritikhand, it is said that wherever one finds Shaligram, Vishnu resides there.

Shaligram worship can be traced to the time of Adi Shankara through his works, especially in Taittiriya Upanishad and Brahma Sutras, suggesting that the use of Shaligram in the worship of Vishnu has been a well-known Hindu practice.The largest and the heaviest Shaligram is located at Jagannath Temple while the main ISKCON temple in Scotland, called Karuna Bhavan is famous for housing the largest number of Shaligram Shilas outside of India.

The Shaligrams are usually hereditary and are passed down through many generations. Sale and purchase of Shaligram shilas are prohibited in Skanda Purana.