Significance of # 108

An interesting find.

An interesting read.

Indian mythology and Indian culture has a very special significance of the number 108. What does this number represent? Why is it so important? 

1) In one minute, we breathe in approximately 15 times, in 1 hour 900 times, and in 12 hours 10,800 times, and in a day 10,800 * 2 times. A day consists of 24 hours, and if we set aside half the day for our day to day routines, then one can spend 12 hours for recitation of one’s idol. Therefore, the maximum number  of times that one can recite “mantra”, or perform “Jap” are 10,800. If one wants to obtain 100% benefit of its jap, then performing jap 108 times will give you the benefit of 100%. That’s why in a “Mala”, there are 108 beads. It is written in Vedas, that 1 Jap corresponds to1 mala (which has 108 beads), therefore performing jap of 108 malas will result in 100% benefit.

2) Astronomically,  there are 27 constellations in our galaxy and each one them has 4 directions, and 27 x 4 = 108. In other words the number 108 covers the whole galaxy.

3) According to Indian scriptures, letter 9 corresponds to Lord Brahma (the creator of universe). Mathematically, the interesting property of 9 is

9 × 1 = 9

9 x 2 = 18 (8+1 = 9)

9 x 3 = 27 (7+2 = 9)

9  x 12 = 108 

(1+0+8 = 9) 

4) In Hindu religion, number 9 is very important. Keeping the importance of number 9, Rishi Vyas has created 9 Purans, 108 MahaPuran (Upanishads). Mahabharat has 18 chapters, Geeta has 18 chapters, Bhagavat has 108,000 Shloks (verses). The addition of digits of number 108 is 9, and number 9 is related with Brahma, that’s why 108 is very important, and came into lot of Indian scriptures.

5) Indian Vedas, treats the Sun as God, and Sun has 12 signs (Zodiac signs). In Yajurved, Sun is related with Lord Brahma (the number 9), remember - 12 x 9 = 108; therefore for Gods Prayer, the number 108 is very sacred.

6) According to Indian mythology, there are 4  Yugs:

Satyug - consists of 

172,800 years (1+7+2+8 = 18 = (1+8 = 9)

TretaYug - consists of 

1,296,000 years (1+2+9+6 = 18 = (1+8 = 9)

DwaparYug - consists of 

864,000 years (8+4+6) = 18 = (1+8 = 9)

Kaliyug -  consists of 

432,000 years (4+3+2) = 9 

I'm blessed to be living on 108th street :) 

Must have spices in your spice rack

Spices and herbs have healing powers.  
Spices and herbs are in direct relation to the entire holistic functioning of the body.
They're therapeutic.
Flavorful.
Convenient.

Be sure to have the following spices in your spice rack. 

• Turmeric
• Coriander
• Fennel
• Cumin
• Cinnamon
• Cardamom
• Nutmeg
• Cloves
• Asafoetida 
• Ginger
• Garlic
• Basil
• Cayenne
• Black pepper
• Saffron
• Ajwain
• Dill
• Mustard seeds
• Sea salt
• Black salt
• Fenugreek 

Pitta & Coconut Oil

Greetings.

It's almost the month of October and the summer is coming to an end.
I hope you all had a great summer.

Since the weather is transitioning to be a little cooler than the earlier months of summer, we all can still benefit from adapting to our routine to the seasons and following specific guidelines that will help us balance our bodies.

Pitta season is the summer season July - October.  And a lot of us can become aggravated, in the body and or the mind because of the fire and heat from the universe.  Pitta type physical imbalances can occur such as inflammation, skin irritations, heat rashes, diarrhea, etc.  I noticed a rash on my right arm.  It first started out as a minor itch, which later escalated to tiny white bumps and with all the scratching I was doing made it red in color, which in turn aggravated my Pitta.  And since it's the summer time and I needed to cool the Pitta in me, I started to apply coconut oil.  Coconut oil has a cooling effect and improves many skin disorders such as - eczema, fungal infections, heat rashes and acne to name a few.  I'm getting great relief with minor itching and the redness is gong down.  So the next time you have an itch or irritation on the skin, apply some coconut oil and massage for about 10 minutes and let the oil just soak in your skin.  It will definitely cool you down.

Healthy Fun Facts 3 - Bananas

Benefiting from Bananas - 

• promotes bulk
• good for eyes
• contains potassium, sugar, glucose, Vitamins B-complex and C
• reduces bleeding tendencies
• good for IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome)
• diarrhea
• increases strength in babies
• increases blood hemoglobin levels 

Ritucharya - Seasonal Routine

Greetings.

Yesterday I blogged about Dinacharya or daily routine and today I’m going to tell you about Ritucharya or seasonal routine.  We are all constantly interacting with ourselves, with each other and the universe.  And to maintain that equilibrium, we have to work in accordance with the laws of nature and the changes of the earth.

We get day and night because the earth travels through the galaxies and the cosmos.  And because the earth rotates around the sun, we get seasons.  Therefore we receive all the changes in our body as it is in the atmosphere.  

‘Yatha pinde tatha brahmande’ 

As is the individual so is the cosmos

Everything is constantly changing and nothing is stationary.  We are moving with the earth all the time.  If we change with the universe, we’ll feel balance, steady and whole.  We can’t control or stop the season or nature, but we can control how we interact with the seasons.  For example, in the winter it is cold, therefore we’ll wear a winter coat.  Seasonally we change so that we can experience the entire variety that nature has to offer.  

I feel that if we all stick to what nature has to offer, we all will be in balance, positive and have great energy.  In todays supermarkets, all kinds of food items are available for our pleasure all the time.  They don’t have the specific foods according to the seasons.  Can you imagine how our lives would be if all the supermarkets of the world only carried those foods that we had to feed our body as a fuel for that specific season?  It blows my mind.  

The year is divided into 6 seasons - 

1 - Hemant - early winter - avoid light and cold foods and drinks 

2 - Shishir - late winter - avoid bitter, pungent and astringent foods and drinks

3 - Vasant - spring - avoid unctuous, heavy, sour and sweet foods and drinks

4 - Grishm - summer - best to avoid alcohol and drink lots of water; avoid salty, sour, hot and pungent foods and drinks

5 - Varsha - rainy season - avoid cold and sweet drinks; favor sour, salty and unctuous foods 

6 - Sharad - autumn - sweet, light, cold and bitter foods and drinks should be in favor

Dinacharya - Daily Routine

If we adhere to the rules of a healthy lifestyle, our doshas will establish a sense of  balance and we will maintain perfect health and happiness.  In Ayurveda, Dinacharya or daily routine is important because it brings the body, mind and consciousness in a state of balance and regulates all functions of the body.

I’m sure we all have a tendency to fall off the track when we’re not supposed to, but I personally feel that is all right to do.  And speaking as an Ayurvedic practitioner, falling off the map or taking the wrong turn or learning from mistakes and even the findings of your own self through sometimes the wrong will help you in gaining the knowledge you need to learn and grow from.

Those that have a typical 9-5 job might be able to adapt to this type of lifestyle because it’s the basic up in the morning, get ready, grab a coffee and you’re out the door.  Those that have a more easy and subdued lifestyle may find it harder as you’re more casual and laid back when performing your activities.  Whatever lifestyle you live by, following certain remedies will benefit you by maintaining that balance in your mind and body. 

Below is a daily routine that we all must try.  I recommend you all to give this a shot and see how aligned your body and mind will become and the sense of balance you will feel. 

Ayurvedic Daily Routine - 

Morning:

• arise early in the morning
• evacuate bowels and bladder
• brush teeth
• scrape tongue
• self body massage with oil to head, body and soles of feet for about 10 minutes
• shave and cut nails
• gargle with sesame oil
• bathe or shower
• drink 2-3, 12-14 oz glasses of room temperature or warm water on an empty stomach
• Transcendental Meditation or any other meditation technique you practice 
• exercise according to individual recommendations
• wear clean and comfortable clothing suitable to season and activity
• light breakfast (optional), depending upon your dosha 
• work or study

Afternoon:

• lunch: a balanced diet according to your dosha 
• brief rest after lunch
• work or study
• Transcendental Meditation or any other meditation technique you practice

Evening:

• dinner: (optional), a balanced diet according to your dosha 
• pleasant, relaxing activity, (for example - an evening walk) or according to your dosha some exercise
• self body massage with oil to head, body and soles of feet for about 10 minutes
• bed time 

The 7 Don'ts After A Meal

An interesting read I received and want to share.

1     Don't smoke - Experiment from experts proves that smoking a cigarette after meal is comparable to smoking 10 cigarettes (chances of   cancer is higher).                                                                                          2    Don't eat fruits immediately - Immediately eating fruits after meals will cause the stomach to be bloated with air.  Therefore take fruit 1-2 hours after meals or 1 hour before meal.                                            3     Don't drink tea - Because tea leaves contain a high content of acid,  this substance will cause the protein content in the food we consume to be hardened thus difficult to digest.      4     Don't loosen your belt - Loosening the belt after a meal will easily cause the intestine to be twisted and blocked.                                                5    Don't bathe - Bathing will cause the increase of blood flow to the hands, legs and body thus the amount of blood around the stomach will therefore decrease.  This will weaken the digestive system in our stomach.                                                                                                                                                6    Don't walk about - People always say that after a meal walk a hundred steps and you will live till 99.  In actual fact this is not true.  Walking will cause the digestive system to be unable to absorb the nutrition from the food we intake.                                                                                                                              7    Don't sleep immediately - The food we intake will not be able to digest properly.  Thus will lead to gastric and infection in our intestine.

Healthy Fun Facts 2 - Chocolate

I love chocolate.
Who doesn't?
And I love putting things into my body that makes sense, serves a purpose, nourishes and heals.
* Please Note * - everything in moderation.

Doshas & The Time of Day

Doshas - Vata, Pitta, Kapha

We all have a place of balance, our basic nature or constitution, which in Ayurveda is called Prakriti.  It is determined at the time of conception.  And by knowing your prakriti, obtaining perfect health is possible.  By knowing your dosha or body type, an Ayurvedic practitioner can tell which diet, herbal preparations, lifestyle changes, massages, yoga asanas and other Ayurvedic medical therapies can help you.  These three primary life forces - Vata, Pitta and Kapha are the doshas that bind the five elements down into a living flesh.

Vata, pitta and kapha are the fundamental principles governing the physiological process.  When imbalanced, they afflict the body of imbalances.  They act as basic constituents and protective barriers for the body in its normal physiological condition.  And when out of balance, they contribute to disease.

• Vata means wind or "that which moves things"
• It represents the force that governs biological activity
• The functions are transformation, movement and communication
• Main location for Vata is the colon

(Photo credit - http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-fulminant-colitis.htm)

• Pitta means fire or "that which digests things" 
• It represents the fire that digests all activity and experiences 
• The functions are digestion, metabolism and transformation
• The main location for Pitta is the stomach

(Photo credit - http://articletube.blogspot.com/2012/06/stomach-three-misunderstanding-patients.html)

• Kapha means phlegm or "that which holds things together"
• It represents the physical and emotional home in which we reside
• The functions are structure, cohesion and lubrication
• The main location for Kapha is the chest

(Photo credit - http://thoracicsurgery.stanford.edu/patient_care/malignant_pleural_mesothelioma.html)



Every cell in the body contains all these three principles.  Every ones body has to have Vata, or movement which allows you to breathe and circulate blood.   We have to have Pitta, digestion or metabolism which processes food, air and water throughout our system.  And kapha which is structure and which aids to hold the cells together.  This is how nature created us and to know your body type is essential to understand yourself.

Samadoshah samagnish ca

Samadhatumalakriyah

Prasannatmendriyamanah svastha ity

Abhidhiyate

He whose dosha are in balance, whose appetite is good, whose dhatus are functioning normally, whose malas are in balance, and whose consciousness, mind and senses remain full of bliss,

 is called a healthy person.

Sushruta Sutrasthan 15.38

Remedy 2 - Acidity, gas, indigestion

How do you feel after food intake?
Heavy, bloated, acidic, gaseous?
Here's a simple home remedy you can make which can help with any discomfort.

Acidity, gas and indigestion -

1. Cumin seeds - 1 teaspoon
2. Coriander seeds - 1/2 teaspoon
3. Black salt - 1/2 teaspoon
4. Sugar - small pinch
5. If you're experiencing any pain, you can add 1/2 teaspoon of Ajwain seeds

Mix all the ingredients above, let it boil nicely and drink as a tea.

For full effect, best to have after lunch and dinner. 

Remedy 1 - cold, cough, allergy

The change in weather can cause a slight allergy or cough for some of us. 

Here's a simple drink you can make and have to relieve any discomfort. 

Cold, cough, allergy remedy -

1. basil leaves - 7 
2. whole black pepper - 3
3. ginger juice - 1/2 - 1 teaspoon
4. honey - 1/2 - 1 teaspoon

Mix all the ingredients above in warm water or even as a tea and enjoy.

For full effect, best to have 2-3 times a day.

Healthy Fun Facts 1 - Cleaning Fruit Chemical Free

Simple.  Clean.  Free.  Easy.  Natural. 

The 6 Free Doctors.

Greetings.

I received another very cool and interesting email today and I want to share it with you all.

Have you heard of the 6 Free Doctors?

1 - Sunlight - The sun says, spend a little time with me while reading, exercising, listening to music, meditating, even chatting up with friends.  Do it with me.  Just you and me 'cause I am your best friend.  Physically and metaphorically sunlight is beneficial to all.  Giving light, it's best to everyone regardless of caste or creed.

2 - Water - 6-8 glasses of water in a day replenishes all the liquids of the body.  And water is oxygen to every cell in the body.  Our body thrives on fresh water.  It is the greatest detoxifying agent ever produced. 

3 - Air - Your prana shakti - Life breath.  Just being aware of your breathing for a little while invigorates every cell in the body.  Pranayama (deep breathing) is a must.  To exhale all carbon and take in all oxygen, in a clean and open environment.  It is a luxury today to breathe fresh air.  Do not neglect this.  Holding a breath and then releasing it clears all the diseases in the body.

4 - Diet - After consuming three of the five nature's elements (ether, water, air, earth, fire), get to the natures produce - vegetables and fruits.  The Lord has provided plenty of choice.  No need to be a vegan, but the amount of cleansing the vegetables and fruits does to the system is amazing.  The enzymes produced protect every cell in the body.  Proteins are present in lentils and yogurt too.  Too much meat takes away 70% of the energy to digest it.  So be moderate.  We are basically herbivores and not carnivores by nature.

5 - Exercise - How can anything be consumed without the corresponding arrangement to digest the same?  The body must move.  Walking can be a good form of exercise.  But stretching the body is very essential.  Starting from bed, when waking up and then being physically vibrant throughout the day.  Household work is not an exercise, it's a chore!  Exercise in a proper state of mind and not under stress or duress.  Relaxation is the reason for exercising a healthy state of mind.  Exercise alone and not rushing.

6 - Rest - Last but not least, the 6th doctor is rest.  None of the above is possible without enough sleep, relaxation and rest from meetings a deadline.  Rest is the most important factor which gives impetus to all other five.  So do not neglect it.  Resting with beautiful, positive and creative thoughts is of course always recommended.  If you have negative thoughts, keep slogging, so you do not have the same time to nurture them.  When resting, have all the positive thoughts, nourishing thoughts, the foremost being Thanksgiving to the Lord, followed by love and compassion towards all the relationships you encounter - choicelessness in love. 

- G Gururaja Upadhyaya 

In The Moment. In The Air.

LaGuardia Airport.
American Airlines
Flight # 327.
American Airlines
Flight # 5276.
I’m on my way to Fairfield, Iowa.
The land of the Veda (knowledge).
The place where it all started.
The knowledge,
The people,
The smiles,
The love,
The air.
It’s like magic.
I’m going to be visiting Fairfield, Maharishi University of Management and above all, my dear friends.
Friends that I’ve always kept in touch with since graduation.
Friends that I haven’t seen in 10 years.
It’s a 10 year reunion.
I’m very happy.
Excited,
Anxious,
Nervous,
So shy,
Scared,
And proud of myself for leaving New York and coming here.
I meditated on the plane. 
It was such an effortless meditation.
Gosh.
Sounds.
So many.
Such different sounds.
Seat belts buckling.
Babies crying.
Children laughing.
Cell phone talking.
Food eating.
Soda cans popping.
Plane engine riveting.
Turbulence.
Loud, roar like, thundering in your ear.
Bright white and blue sky.
First class view of the world below me.
Meditative.
Tranquil.
Happy.
And Soft. 
So effortless, natural and peaceful.
I’m grateful. 

Here are a few tips to know when flying -
1 - The dry air in the plane can dehydrate your body tissues causing fatigue, constipation and skin irritation.  Definitely drink plenty of warm/hot water before, during and after. 

2 - Best to avoid any alcohol or carbonated beverages as they are diuretic in nature and can increase dehydration in the body. 

3 - Eat light on the plane.  Our bodies change during altitude and movement in the air which makes digestion and food intake a little difficult.  Try to eat 1-2 hours before take off. 

4 - Try to get up and move around every hour.  This will help with stretching of the body and opening up all the channels. 

5 - Before heading to the airport, try to give yourself a light oil massage.  This will help with opening all the channels of circulation and keeping the skin smooth and not irritated. 

5 - Rest and meditate. 

Health Benefits of Singing

Greetings.

I received an email today which I thought was interesting and I'd like to share it with you all.

Have you experienced any of these?

Health benefits of singing:

• Reduces stress 
• Improves mood
• Lowers blood pressure
• Boosts the immune system
• Improves breathing
• Reduces perceived pain
• Improves a sense of rhythm
• Promotes learning in children
• Forges comforting memories
• Promotes communal bonding
• Provides comfort
• Motivates 
• Empowers 

Sounds can influence brain wave frequencies and promote well being.  

We all have a specific kind of music or sound which brings chills throughout our entire bodies.  But is that music or sound triggering anything in your body?  Is that music or sound bringing you overall bliss?  

Gandharva Veda is part of the Forty Aspects of the Vedic Literature.  Gandharva Veda is the melodious expression of the self-referral mechanisms of the Unified Field of Natural Law.  It is the direct reflection of the cycles of rhythm in Nature, thus having the power to bring our physiology and environment in alignment with Natural Law and having direct effects to our psycho-physiology.  

Maharishi Mahesh Yogi says that Gandharva music is the music of the universe or Nature which governs the universe from point to infinity.  This melody is highly integrative with everything else in the universe.