The image above is Dakshinamurti; Shiva as Guru.  It was taken during Abishekam, an ancient vedic ritual during which liquid offerings are made to the deity through ritual bathing.  These offerings are water, milk, yogurt, scented sandalwood (seen above), turmeric, and rose water.

Sahasranam is a collection of 1008 names or mantras of a deity, in this case, Dakshinamurti.  By listening to them, we effortlessly absorb a bit of those qualities into our awareness.  Over time, the effects can be quite transformative and empowering.

By repeated listening to these mantras during the month of Guru Poornima, you will enhance the effectiveness of the yagyas being performed.

This is the month of Guru Poornima and we honor in particular, the form of Shiva as the original Guru.  This form is called Dakshinamurti.  The first section of the audio file is called Guru Vandanam which recognizes that the guru is a manifestation of Shiva, Vishnu, and Brahma – in short divinity in what ever form you prefer.

The second part of the audio file is the moola mantra for Dakshinamurti.

Agni is great topic and certainly at the core of Ayurveda because it is the digestive fire that transforms the food we eat into the energy that sustains our body, and therefore our consciousness.  We discuss the concept of Agni in detail as it relates to our bodies and experience of good health.

Of course the entire vedic system is about more than health. It is a wholly integrated system for gaining an awareness of the divine, enlightenment or liberation depending on your perspective. From the Vedic perspective the purpose of our being here on earth is to experience divinity. So it is no wonder that the Rig Veda, the oldest and largest of the Vedas begins with a hymn to Agni.

Angim elai purohitam,
yajnasya devam rit vijam
hotaram ratna datamam.

To Agni, whom I adore as the performer of yagyas (purohitam), the divine receiver of yagyas (yajnasya devam), and the giver of wealth.

One mantra that you can practice for the purpose of purifying Agni is the Gayatri mantra which invokes Agni in the form of the Sun.

OM bhur bhuvah svah,
Tat savitur varenyam
bhargo devasya dhiimahI
dhiyo yonah prachodayat

You could also invoke Agni in the form of the Sun

Om Bhaskaraya Vidmahe
Divakaraya Dhimahi
Tanno Suryah Prachodayat

Aparna Khanolkar is an Ayurvedic lifestyle and culinary coach in Santa Barbara and travels throughout the LA region to teach workshops. She offers Vedic cooking classes in Santa Barbara and is always available for phone consultations. Contact her at 805-698-5630 or aparna@themistressofspice.com.

Aparna’s new cookbook, Happy Belly, Happy Soul is now available!

Happy Belly, Happy Soul

A disciple is like a new moon,
in reality no different than the full moon:
its apparent imperfection is a sign of gradual increase.
Night by night the new moon gives a lesson in gradualness:
with deliberation it says, “O hasty one,
only step by step can one ascend to the roof.”
A skillful cook lets the pot boil slowly
the stew boiled in a mad hurry is of no use.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Dars guyad shab beh-shab tadrij-râ
dar ta’anni bar dehad tafrij-râ
Dar ta’anni guyad “Ay `ajul-e khâm
pâyeh pâyeh bar tavân raftan be-bâm”
Dig-râ tadrij va ostâdâneh jush
kâr na-âyad qaliyeh-’i divâneh jush

– Mathnawi VI:1208-1212
Version by Camille and Kabir Helminski
“Rumi: Jewels of Remembrance”
Threshold Books, 1996
(Persian transliteration courtesy of Yahyá Monastra)

A yagya client asked me about a skin condition called eczema; extreme dryness of the skin.  Of course, the question was whether or not yagyas could be an effective treatment.  The image above is the birth chart of this individual.

From the standpoint of astrology, eczema is listed as a function of Ketu, Mars, and the Sun. In this chart Ketu is in the 6th house of illnesses. Mars is in a sign owned by the Sun. The Sun is in a nakshatra (lunar constellation) owned by Mars. So, even if you are not fully familiar with Jyotish, you can see that there is a strong confluence of factors all of which seem to add up to this condition. There are other additional factors such as the dasa (planetary period) that contribute to the fact that this is active at this time in this person’s life.  This person is in the Rahu dasa which tends to increase the influence of both Rahu and Ketu.

Anytime that I can find an astrological correlate to a life situation, I feel that at least it makes sense. And since a Jyotish chart is just a map of the karmas that we are going to experience in this life, there is a reason why this is happening. Somehow, some way, this is a necessary part of the evolution of the soul towards something better. That might be a bit philosophical, but in the biggest picture there is some truth there.

Ayurveda:

After reading the above you might take note that the Sun and Mars are very hot planets.   You would expect to see that the treatments of eczema in the Ayurveda tradition would be related to providing some cooling to the body. Indeed this is the case. The first thing I found was that you should be doing an oil massage every day with a cooling type of oil like coconut.   This can be a full body massage or even just scalp massage before taking a shower in the morning or evening.   They recommend taking Neem as a supplement and also Guggul, a herbal blood purifier that really cools things down. Also increasing the amount of green vegetables in your diet is great, plus reducing things like shell fish and tofu which tend to heat things up.

Of course if you have an ayurvedic practitioner in your area they can (and should) guide you.

Yagyas:

Unfortunately, this skin condition is not something that can get solved with just a few months of yagyas alone. Certainly the yagyas are be supportive and empowering, but they will be supportive and secondary to the things that you can do Ayurvedically.   Ayurveda will treat the surface and the yagyas will treat at the depths of the condition. Together they can be really really powerful. It takes time, consistency and patience though.

Specifically the Foundation Series will help with the Ketu problem through the Ganesha yagyas, and the day of Navagraha will take care of Mars and the Sun.  If possible, the Daily Yagyas would be a fantastic choice because they include daily Mrytunjaya mantra which is the best yagya for health issues.

I now really miss the wonderful blessings of being a Maha sponsor and participating in the group yagyas, which always woke me (pleasantly!) around 4.30 or 5 am and seemed to give me energy for early morning meditation and mantra. So I hope I will be able to afford to be a Mahasponsor again very soon. In the meantime, I am recommending the yagyas to friends and clients and hope some of them may pursue this soon.

I can truthfully say that the yagyas I have requested from you have represented a major turning point in both my life and my partner’s. Not only have they helped to resolve some important personal and physical challenges, they have also initiated significant and very positive changes in my outer life. I am immensely grateful for this great blessing and will certainly request another yagya whenever I need help with any future problem.

Written by my friend Frank Schmidt:

The bṛhadaraṇyaka upaniṣad , prᾱjᾱpati brāhmaṇa offers the following wisdom:

Upon asking prᾱjᾱpati, the devᾱ-s, manuṣyᾱ-s (humans) , asurᾱs ( gods, men and demons) said  ’give us instuction’ .

To the devᾱ He said one word,  da. He asked do you understand? The devᾱ-s said, yes, we understand.
To the manuṣyᾱ (humans)  He said one word,  da. He asked do you understand? The manuṣyᾱ said, yes, we understand
To the asurᾱs He said one word,  da. He asked do you understand? The asurᾱ-s said, yes, we understand.

Same word, 3 different meanings/comprehensions:

For the devᾱ da was understood as damyata ; from dam – to restrain, subdue , conquer + yata -held in , held forth, controlled
Hence self-control. Avoid (manage and control)  over-indulgance of the senses.

For the manuṣyᾱ da was understood as datta -  gift , donation, charity, giving;  from ‘da‘ giving, granting ; dat is often ; ta
as a noun is virtue. This datta is chairty, giving often, as a virtue.

For the asurᾱs  da was understood as dayadhvam – being  merciful ; that is day +adhva+m ;
day is to impart, allot, to have sympathy. In ‘day’ we have ‘da’ – to give ; adhva is the means, the method and resource.
Inside of adhva we have ‘va‘ – which is auspiciousness, conciliation. This dayadhvam is the resouce of sympathy that
is ‘va‘ , auspicious.

These 3 –  dama, dāna and daya i.e.  self-control, giving, and mercy (compassion/empathy) - the wisdom of the
ages.

The gift of self-control to one’s own self brings you to the devᾱ-s i.e. enlightened vision.
The gift of giving to others brings you to fullness of being a human of divine ancestry.
The gift of compassion and mercy removes you from the mind-set of the asurᾱs.

The following was sent to me and I thought it would be useful to post it here because it is so beautifully written.  I am not sure what the origin is, but all the credit belongs to Dr. Frawley.

On Deathlessness
Written by Dr. David Frawley

The greatest fear that all living beings have is the fear of death. The fear of death casts a shadow over all that we do and undermines all our peace and happiness. But what is death and who is it that dies?

Actually death is the greatest of all illusions. The fear of death is the root of all ignorance. The shadow of death is not a curse but a misunderstanding of the real nature of existence. Our true being never dies. Death is only the end of one body or another, but not of the being who is embodied.

Vedanta boldly teaches us that no one dies. No one has ever died and no one will ever die. That is to say, your real being, your true Self, soul or essence never dies. In your inner being, you are not subject to birth and death, time and space, coming or going. You are eternal, immutable, pure existence, awareness and bliss. It is only the body that dies, not you as the embodied soul. You are not a material object that is subject to the disintegrating influence of time. You are a spiritual being, a conscious subject that is the witness of all time, space and action.

The Bhagavad Gita states right at its start, “Of that which exists there is no non-being. Of that which does not exist, there is not being.” This is perhaps the greatest statement of spiritual knowledge ever given. Krishna tells Arjuna that the true Self never dies. The embodied soul does not die. Only the body dies, which for the soul, is like casting off one set of clothes for another. You do not weep and think that all is lost if your shirt is irreparably torn. Yet for the soul, our inner being, the physical body is but a vesture that it wears for a time. If that vesture gets worn out or irreparably damaged, the soul must get another one. There is not cause for lasting remorse.

You have always existed and you will always exist. Your body, mind or the world in which you take birth may change, but your inner essence will endure forever. This proclamation of deathlessness is the greatest message of freedom possible for human beings. You do not die. Death cannot touch you. You can freely cast away all the anxiety about death. You are the deathless Self. Nor need you worry about the death of another. No one dies. Our true being stands above all such temporal and material limitations. Even outer sufferings of body and mind are transient, however painful they may feel for a time. We can always take refuge in our inner witness, the deathless Self at the core of our being, which is not affected by these.

To think that one will die is a great misunderstanding of who we really are. You are not the body or the mind. The body has birth and death. The mind has its fluctuations. But these do not relate to your real essence. They are only part of your outer manifestation. You are the being who uses the body and mind as instruments but itself is not affected by them. The body is like the car you drive, we might say. The mind is like your computer. But you are the operator of these instruments. When they break down, you do not suffer any loss of your own being or yourself come to an end.

Our inner being, the Supreme Self or Paramatman, has absolute immortality, absolute existence. Our inner being is changeless, immutable, homogenous, and pure. It can never be stained, harmed, limited or disturbed. It is the detached eternal witness of all events in the universe. It was there when the Sun first shone, when the first creatures arose on the Earth, and when the first human being looked out upon the sky. It has witnessed the beginning and end of entire universes, not to mention innumerable worlds and creatures.

Even our soul, the reincarnating entity within us, has relative immortality. It moves from body to body, birth to birth, but itself never dies. As the Supreme Self you have absolute immortality, as an individual soul you have relative immortality. Death cannot take you away in either case; it can only take you on to another level of existence. Learn to access your immortality so that your life partakes of eternity.

Why is it that we do not know our deathless Self and live in its freedom and happiness? It is because we wrongly identify our inner being with our outer body and mind. This is a mistake of judgment, a wrong perception. We see the body as the Self when it is but a vehicle for the Self. Once this misidentification is removed, there can be no more sorrow. It is like a child thinking that its toys are real and crying when they break or get lost.

Being never dies. Existence never comes to an end. And that eternal and timeless being is your being. You are not limited to this body or this particular incarnation. Your being is everywhere in the universe, in all creatures and beyond. It is beyond all fear. Death cannot reach it. Suffering cannot shake it. Rest in that deathless Self. It is your Divine right.

Take refuge in your inner being beyond the body and mind and witness their play as a Divine sport. Observe the world and all its changes from the central point of your eternal essence. And you will find beauty and wonder at every moment.

An impressive sign and the english is pretty funny until you read the boxes in the bottom left!

]]> http://www.puja.net/wordpress/very-risk-to-swim/feed/ 0 http://www.puja.net/wordpress/at-the-beach-mahabalipuram/ http://www.puja.net/wordpress/at-the-beach-mahabalipuram/#comments Mon, 03 May 2010 20:03:16 +0000 BenCollins http://www.puja.net/wordpress/?p=2434

The statue is (I think) Tiruvalluvar, a great tamil saint, who wrote a collection of aphorisms called the Tirukural.  I like how he is watching over the ocean and all who swim in it.

It isn’t vedic….but the sentiment certainly is.

“Clothes Abandoned on the Shore”

Your body is here with us,
but your heart is in the meadow.
You travel with the hunters
though you yourself are what they hunt.

Like a reed flute,
you are encased by your body,
with a restless breathy sound inside.

You are a diver;
your body is just clothing left at the shore.
You are a fish whose way is through water.

In this sea there are many bright veins
and some that are dark.
The heart receives its light
from those bright veins.

If you lift your wing
I can show them to you.
You are hidden like the blood within,
and you are shy to the touch.

Those same veins sing a melancholy tune
in the sweet-stringed lute,
music from a shoreless sea
whose waves roar out infinity.

– Version by Kabir Helminski
“Love is a Stranger”
Threshold Books, 1993

“Do you know the meaning of the word AUM?” Jung asked Campbell, but waved his hand as Campbell was about to launch into an explanation of one of his favorite subjects. “My first experience was in Africa. A group of us got lost on a walk. All of a sudden we found ourselves surrounded by tall young warriors with spears, standing on one leg. We couldn’t understand each other. Then we all sat down and looked at each other, and everything was all right. They were saying, ‘Aum, aum, aum…’

“Two years later I was in India with a group of scientists, near Darjeeling, and we went to Tiger Hill. You arrive before dawn, and are transported up the hill in the dark; then the sun comes up and infinitudes of snowcapped Himalayan peaks burst into rainbow colors.  All Conversation stopped. And what did I hear from the scientists? ‘Aum, aum, aum…’

Then Jung said, “AUM is the sound the universe makes when it is pleased with itself!”

Boosting Your Immunity

Ojas is the final by-product of proper assimilation of food, and the glue that binds the body, mind and soul. Any foods that turn the food quickly into ojas are good for immunity. Ojas production will result in proper functioning of all organs and creates vitality which manifests as resistance to illness and disease.

Foods for enhancing immunity:

Sweet, ripe and organic fruit such as pears, mangoes, plums, peaches, grapes, cooked apples and pomegranate.

Foods like milk, ghee, almonds, mung dal/beans, rice, saffron, paneer, amaranth, aged basmati rice and quinoa are also immune-boosting foods. Soaked and peeled almonds, sesame seeds and walnuts are also good choices. Lassis are a good immune-boosting beverage.

Use spices in your cooking as they help in assimilation and absorption of nutrients. Turmeric, cumin, black pepper, ginger and garlic are some ama-burning spices. They also ignite your digestive fire thus helping with metabolism and strengthening resistance to disease.

Lifestyle:

Eat according to your doshic needs and season. Eat only three fourths of your capacity to leave room for proper digestion. Continue to maintain your daily routine, which includes meditation, exercise and abhyanga. Get adequate sleep as this is one of the fastest way to boost your immunity. Practice savasana for reducing stress, lowering your blood pressure, heart rate and for promoting deeper sleep. Doing panchakarma twice a year is highly recommended for cleansing and detoxifying the body/mind.

Ama-creating foods to avoid:

Canned, processed, foods with additives and preservatives are hard to digest and create ama in the body. Meat is considered an amagenic food in Ayurveda. Eating late at night is disruptive to liver function and causes sluggishness and creates ama in the body. White sugar and alcohol are some of the worst ama-producing foods. Ama impairs white blood cell activity and depresses the immune system.

Healthy relationships and self-discipline build immunity. Eat well, get plenty of rest, be happy and loving and you will have a strong immune system.

Mantras

Literally, Mrytunjaya means victory over death and certainly one of the most effective uses of this mantra is to ease the end of life transition. But it is also very effective for boosting our overall health and resistance.

The mantra is found in both the Rig Veda and Yajur Veda. There are two forms of the mantra; the first is the bija or seed version which holds the essence of the full mantra.
OM jum saha

The whole mantra is

Om Tryambakam Yajamahe
Sugandhim Pushthi Vardhanam
Urvar Ukamiva Bandhanat
Mrytyor Muksheeya Mamritatay

It sounds intimidating at first, but with very little practice you will be able to at least read the mantra comfortably. Just 27 times a day will bring noticeable results and you’ll have it memorized in no time.

The other mantra is for the Divine Physician, Dhanvantri, the form of Vishnu who emerges out of the ocean of milk holding the nectar of immortality.  His mantra is also a little on the long side, but still you can read it 27 times in under 10 minutes.

OM Namo Bhagavate
Vasudevaya Dhanvantaraye
Amurta Kalasa Hastaya
Sarva Ama Vinashanaya
Thri Loka Nathaya
Sri Maha Vishnave Swaha

Essentially the mantra means that I honor Vishnu in the form of Dhanvantri who holds the nectar of immortality, he removes all fear and all diseases. He is the protector and sustainer of the 3 worlds.

It is the time of Shivaratri and there are a number of mantras that are appropriate for use this time of year.  Of course the traditional “Om Namah Shivaya” is always appropriate, but more focused effects can be gained from using mantras that are more tailored to the different forms of Shiva or Rudra.  In fact, there are techniques for determining which form of Rudra is best matched to an individual based on the specifics of their birth chart.  This technique is found in Sri Sanjay Rath’s book on Astrological remedies and is summarized here.

There are 12 signs starting from Aries (Mesha) through Pisces (Meena) each of which is owned by a particular planet.  For example the Sun owns Leo, the Moon owns Cancer, and each of the remaining 7 planets used in vedic astrology own two signs each.

An individual’s chart is a map of the planets at the time of birth, with the sign on the horizon being the starting point, known as the ascendent, or lagna.   If you  take any particular sign and count 8 from there, the lord of that sign is called the Rudra.  So for the first sign Aries, the 8th would be Scorpio which is ruled by Mars.  So Mars is the Rudra for Aries.

If you find the planet with the highest number of degrees in a person’s chart, that will be known as the Atmakaraka.  It represents the individual and most particularly the person’s soul from a spiritual perspective.  The 8th lord from the Atmakaraka is called the Maheshwara; the form of Rudra responsible for protecting the soul and guiding it towards enlightenment.

As one might expect using the mantra of one’s Maheshwara is a very good thing; strengthening and protective.   But reciting the mantras for all 11 forms of Rudra is a great spiritual practice, particularly on Shivaratri, or while the MahaRudra yagya is taking place.

These are the 11 forms of Rudra and their mantras:

- Kapali – OM Hum Hum Satrustambhanaya Hum Hum OM Phat

- Pingala – OM Shrim Hrim Shrim Sarva Mangalaya Pingalaya OM Namah

- Bhima – OM Aim Aim Mano Vanchita Siddhaye Aim Aim OM

- Virupaksha – OM Rudraya Roganashaya Agacha cha Ram OM Namah

- Vilohita – OM Shrim Hrim Sam Sam Hrim Shrim Shankarshanaya OM

- Shastha – OM Hrim Hrim Safalyayai Siddhaye OM Namah

- Ajapada – OM Shrim Bam Sough Balavardhanaya Baleswaraya Rudraya Phut OM

- Ahirbudhanya – OM Hram Hrim Hum Samasta Graha Dosha Vinashaya OM

- Sambhu – OM Gam Glaum Shroum Glaum Gam OM Namah

- Chanda – OM Chum Chandiswaraya Tejasyaya Chum OM Phut

- Bhava – OM Bhavod Bhava Sambhavaya Ista Darshana Hetave OM Sam OM Namaha

]]> http://www.puja.net/wordpress/ekadasa-11-rudra-mantras/feed/ 0 http://www.puja.net/wordpress/nandi-2/ http://www.puja.net/wordpress/nandi-2/#comments Wed, 03 Feb 2010 00:16:22 +0000 BenCollins http://www.puja.net/wordpress/?p=2314

I’m adding this just because I like Nandi….always sitting in front of the Shiva temples, looking at Shiva.  And since it is Shivaratri time, it seemed appropriate.  This particular one is from Varanasi and is made from beautiful marble as opposed to granite as you would typically see in Tamil Nadu.

New Year, New You

Good health is a life-long process.  Ayurveda offers us the inspiration and gift of a lifetsyle that can be sustained for an entire lifetime.  This year, commit to moving slower and giving every task and person your full attention.  Relish and savor your interactions and activities. Be present to yourself.

Consider the wisdom of doing less to accomplish more. Although this is contradictory to our social conditioning of constant activity, try it. Spend time taking care of yourself.  Meditate, buy new japa mantra beands, learn one new mantra and chant it.

Focus on right speech. Good communication reflects well on us and brings us joy. This is a good way to generate saatvic energy and it is good for cultivating emotional health.

No matter what task is begging for your attention, give sleep a chance. Get to bed early.  Adequate sleep is good for the nervous system and rejuvenates the body.

Eat vata pacifying food such as warm soup and sip ginger tea. Avoid dry foods such as popcorn, chips, crackers etc.

Relish in the healing fragrances of aroma oils. Vatas can use: basil, citrus, clove, lavender, frankinscence, jatamansi, vetivert and sage

Pittas will enjoy: ylang-ylang, sandalwood, rose, jasmine and neroli

Kaphas should favor: basil, ecalyptus, rosemary, tulis or holy basil, lemon and juniper

Do not skip meals because this aggravates both vata and pitta.

Spend some time learning pranayama. The breath can used to pacify the nervous system and to heat and cool the body depending on the technique you use.

Consider eating stewed apples each day for it is warm, nourishing and light. It has more fiber than a raw apple and is beneficial for elimination.

Continue to maintain your daily routine. Stay committed to being in alignment with cosmic rythmns. If your body experiences good routines, you will have better sleep, digestion and elimination.

Exercise everyday. 80% of all diseases are caused by stress. And exercising is one of the best way of reducing stress. Be in nature, talk a walk, go swimming, try doing yoga outdoors.

Give up coffee and stimulants or at least use in moderation. Commit to using fresh and organic foods as much as possible.

Stay motivated to make lifestyle changes. Go easy on yourself. One change a week is a good start and makes it easier to keep going with those good changes.

Spend time in silence reflecting on your experiences and life’s journey. Try to find ways to see it as a gift and treasure the wisdom you derived from it. And always remember to be grateful for what you have and enjoy it!

Mantras

Of course Ganesha is the best place to begin when you are starting something new and for the New Year we also need the blessings of Lakshmi to bring us wealth and abundance over the next 12 months.  There are numerous mantras that invoke both Ganesha and Lakshmi together.

A simple one is OM Gam Ganapataye Vara Varada Gam OM

And there is a specific form of this mantra that is of particular importance in the alleviation of debts.  It is intended to be practiced for 40 consecutive days in order to bear its full fruit.  So get our your japa beads!

OM Shreem Gam Runa Hartaye Gam Shreem OM Ganapatayae Namaha

OM Shreem is a mantra that invokes Lakshmi, the goddess of abundance, Gam is Ganesha in seed form, Runa is that which sticks to me…debts, Hartaye means to destroy, Gam is Ganesha again to remove obstacles, Shreem is Lakshmi again to bring wealth, OM Ganapayayae is Ganesha and Namaha means to honor or to bow down….in essence the way we say please in a mantra.

Spices and Cooking the Ayurvedic Way

Spices are revered in Ayurveda for their concentrated form of intelligence.  Spices help with digestion, asssimilation, cleansing and healing.  Spices are always cooked in oil or ghee and added to the grain or vegetable.  Spices can be used in preparing teas or in the morning in stewed apples or oatmeal.

Spices to add to your cooking include:

Warming spices:

cardamom, clove, cinnamon, nutmeg, cumin, black pepper, sea salt, ginger, cayenne, saffron, mustard seeds and asafetida

Cooling spices:

coriander, turmeric, fennel

Spices have a shelf-life of about 6 months. Becuase they are potent in medicinal and flavor properties, you want to use fresh and organic spices.  Store them in stainless steel containers so they have minimal exposure to light and air.

Mantras for Empowering Spices

The process of cooking is very much one of  imparting prana or energy into the food.  The three forms of the goddess; Durga, Kali and Saraswati represent the three elements of air, fire, and water, and Vata, Pitta, and Kapha respectively.  So this mantra begins with the bija or seed mantra for each.

OM A-eem Hreem Kleem Chamundayai swaha

or if you prefer

OM A-eem Hreem Kleem Chamundayai namaha

You can start with OM or not as you like.

​

The Why’s and How’s of Vedic Cooking

We eat to sustain the body and to create balance in the physical, mental and spiritual states. Ayurvedically speaking, food purifies the body and prepares us for spiritual awakening. Vedic food is medicinal in nature while being delicious and pleasing to the senses.

In general, saatvik food supports spiritual practice. Saatvik food gives us strength, creates happiness and is nourishing to the heart. Examples of saatvik foods include organic milk, whole grains, ghee, almonds, saffron, mangoes and coconuts.

Rajasic foods are stimulating in nature, thus disturbing the relationship between the body and mind. Rajasic foods can agitate the mind and make one restless. Examples include garlic, onions, cayenne, coffee, black tea, fermented foods and chocolate.

Tamasic foods, it is said, benefits neither the mind nor the body. It creates a foggy mind, sluggish digestion and inertia. Examples include alcohol, meats, leftovers and stale food.

Practical tips:

Bathe before you cook. Cook in a clean kitchen. Light a candle and offer gratitude for the food you are about to cook. Cook in peace and leave worries or negative thoughts behind.

Offer your food to the divine as “prasadam,” and bless it. Be thankful for the food that you have.

Eat with loved ones. Eat slowly, chewing carefully, savoring each bite. Talk about pleasant topics or eat in silence. At the end of the meal, sit down for a few minutes.

Have adequate staples in your kitchen pantry. You are more likely to cook a fresh meal if you have all the ingredients. Organize it so it pleasing to the eye and functional.

Proper digestion is vital for good health. Eat a sliver of ginger before the meal with a few drops of lime and sea salt. This enhances your digestive agni or fire. Eat seasonally, and according to your dosha and eat only about half your capacity. If you must eat out, make healthy choices and order hot water with lemon for a beverage. Remember that your digestion can turn nectar into poison or poison into nectar.

Mantras for Annapurna, the goddess of food

So each time you eat or drink you can say “Annapurnayai namaha” It just means I offer gratitude to Annapurna.

Or if you want something more elaborate, you can use a longer mantra that includes some of the bija mantras for extra power:
“OM Hreem Shreem Kleem Namo Bagavatae Maheshwari Annapurne Swaha.”

The meaning is simply that I honor the goddess who is the wife of Shiva and who feeds the world.  To her I offer my thanks for this food.

]]> http://www.puja.net/wordpress/7-ayurveda-and-cooking/feed/ 0 http://www.puja.net/wordpress/6-kapha-dosha/ http://www.puja.net/wordpress/6-kapha-dosha/#comments Sun, 20 Dec 2009 23:41:19 +0000 BenCollins http://www.puja.net/wordpress/?p=2274

Kapha Dosha
Kapha brings the stability and solidity of earth and water to the body/mind. Kapha is responsible for immune function, strength and vitality, lubrication and structure.

Symptoms of Kapha imbalance:
Sluggish digestion, weight gain, respiratory illnesses, sinus problems
Mental fog, depression
Excessive sleep and inactivity

Diet for Kapha:
Favor light, pungent, warm and easy to digest foods such as salads, soups and leafy greens. Avoid sweets, meats and cheese
Good grains are moderate amounts of brown rice, barley, corn and millet
Good vegetables are bitter melon, leafy greens, cabbage and cauliflower
Small amounts of fruit such as pomogrenate, cherries, grapefruit

In general:
Avoid naps and heavy foods
Exercise regularly including brisk walking and several rounds of surya namaskar.
Be motivated and have a project to work on with a deadline that you are comfortable with.

Mantras for balancing Kapha dosha

Ganesha mantras are wonderful for balancing kapha.  You can use the simple mantra from out earlier podcast “OM Gum Ganapataye Namaha” or if you’d like something a little stronger, Ganesh Gayatri can be used.

“OM Tat purushaya vidmahae
Vakratundaya deemahee,
thanno dandi prachodayat”

In this show Penny brings together the planets or grahas, the houses or bhavas, and the signs or rashis in a way that starts to show the Jyotish chart as a cohesive whole. This integrated vision forms the basis for the systematic interpretation of the chart and thus the individual’s life experience.

Penny practices and teaches Jyotisha full-time having been trained primarily under the expert tutelage of Hart deFouw.  She is also a teacher and tutor for the American College of Vedic Astrology. Her website is www.vedicchart.com and she can be reached via email at info@vedicchart.com or pennyaf@comcast.net.

A Ganesha Mantra to Remove Debt

Of course Ganesha is the best place to begin when you are starting something new and for the New Year we also need the blessings of Lakshmi to bring us wealth and abundance over the next 12 months.  There are numerous mantras that invoke both Ganesha and Lakshmi together.

A simple one is OM Gam Ganapataye Vara Varada Gam OM

And there is a specific form of this mantra that is of particular importance in the alleviation of debts.  It is intended to be practiced for 40 consecutive days in order to bear its full fruit.  So get our your japa beads!

OM Shreem Gam Runa Hartaye Gam Shreem OM Ganapatayae Namaha

OM Shreem is a mantra that invokes Lakshmi, the goddess of abundance, Gam is Ganesha in seed form, Runa is that which sticks to me…debts, Hartaye means to destroy, Gam is Ganesha again to remove obstacles, Shreem is Lakshmi again to bring wealth, OM Ganapayayae is Ganesha and Namaha means to honor or to bow down….in essence the way we say please in a mantra.

]]> http://www.puja.net/wordpress/ganesha-mantra-to-remove-debt/feed/ 0 http://www.puja.net/wordpress/5-pitta-dosha/ http://www.puja.net/wordpress/5-pitta-dosha/#comments Sun, 06 Dec 2009 22:57:34 +0000 BenCollins http://www.puja.net/wordpress/?p=2272

Pitta Pacifying Tips

Pitta is the manifestation of fire and water. It governs digestion, metabolism and vision.

Symptoms of Pitta imbalance:

Hyperacidity, inflammation, rashes, and feeling overheated
Anger, jealousy, and critical emotions
Too much activity, overly task-oriented and exhausted from feeling compelled to work

Diet for Pitta:

Eat cooling foods such as cucumber, asparagus, broccoli, cauliflower, zucchini, peas, potatoes and leafy greens
Favor sweet ripe fruits such as blueberries, dark grapes, melons, pears, raisins, mangoes, figs, and coconut
Eat grains such as barley, basmati rice, wheat and quinoa

Avoid beets, carrots, eggplant, garlic, hot peppers, onions, spinach and tomatoes
Avoid sour or unripe fruits

In general:

Avoid being too focused on lists of tasks
Meditate regularly and rest more.
Spend time in nature – especially greenery
Eat on time and avoid activities that heat up the body/mind such as hot yoga,
being the sun for lengthy periods of time and running

Fig and Date Almond Drink

Ingredients:
3 figs soaked in ½ cup water overnight
5 dates soaked with the figs
1 ½ cups almond milk
1 tsp vanilla

Preparation:
Place all the ingredients in a blender and blend for 3 minutes. Serve chilled.

Fresh Almond Milk

Ingredients:
½ cup raw almonds
3 cups water

Preparation:
Soak the almonds in water overnight or in hot water for about 30 minutes. Peel the almonds. Grind it with water and till the almonds are blended finely. You may have to do this in two batches. Place a bowl on the counter and carefully pour the nut milk from the blender into the straining bag or a fine mesh strainer. Discard the almond meal and enjoy the milk in teas, or drinks.

Mantra for Balancing Pitta

This mantra is for Narasimha, the incarnation of Vishnu with the head of a lion.  His mantras are uniquely powerful for being calming and helping to maintain harmony especially in the family environment.

“OM Narasimha Ta Va Da So Hoom”

You can repeat this mantra either using a mala to count in multiples of 108, or use the clock so you repeat the manta for 10 minutes at a time.  Mantras should be repeated easily and you can have eyes open or closed, as you prefer.  This is not mental exercise!  Relax into your practice and try to be consistent for 3-4 weeks.  Don’t over do it, a little bit each day will work wonders.

Vata Dosha:

Vata is the Queen of the three doshas (Vata, Pita, and Kapha) because she is main vehicle of transportation of energies. Vata is the manifestation of air and space (of the 5 elements) and is responsible for a wide variety of physiological functions that involve movement.

Symptoms of Vata imbalance:

Constipation, insomnia, varying appetite, gas, bloating
Mental agitation, inability to pay attention, fast thoughts, impaired memory

Light or not restful sleep.

Diet for Vata:

Favor warm, moderately heavy foods and  use ghee.  Avoid cold and very dry food such as crackers, popcorn and dry cereal.
Good grains are rice, wheat, quinoa
Good vegetables are carrots, asparagus, yams, beets
Good fruits are Bananas, cherries, coconut, dates

In general:
Avoid excessive stimulation from  television, alcohol, tea and coffee.
Take a stroll in nature, barefooted if your climate allows it, preferably in the morning as this is grounding for vata.
Maintain a consistent schedule.  Don’t stay up too late.

Mantras for Balancing Vata Dosha

“Ram” or “Ram Namaha”  - invokes divine protection

“Hoom” or “Hoom Phat Swaha” – wards off negative influences, awakens agni, and opens the nadi channels

“Sham” or “Sham Namaha” – is very good for anxiety or depression.  This is an extremely soothing mantra.

You can repeat these mantras either using a mala to count in multiples of 108, or use the clock so you repeat the manta for 10 minutes at a time.  Mantras should be repeated easily and you can have eyes open or closed, as you prefer.  This is not mental exercise.  Relax into your practice and try to be consistent for 3-4 weeks.  Don’t over do it!  A little bit each day will work wonders.

Dinacharya – Ayurvedic Prescriptions for Daily Routine

“Dina” means day and “acharya” to follow or be close to. Dinacharya is a simple way to enhance your health and well-being. When you practice dinacharya, you will be aligned with cosmic rhythms and experience greater bliss or “ananda.”

Simple tools for your daily routine:

• Wake up before sunrise at vata time. This time has the most saatvik energy. It is also a good time for elimination. Do not suppress urges to eliminate—this includes yawning, sneezing and flatulence etc.
• Washing the body is a way to purify the senses and to purify the soul. After brushing the teeth, scrape the tongue and then swish 2 tbsp of sesame oil in your mouth for 5-8 minutes. Wash your eyes with rose water.
• Exercise or vyayama is an important aspect of your dinacharya. Exercising regularly strength and stamina, and strengthens immune function, improves circulation and reduces fat. Exercise 50% to your capacity. Yoga, swimming and walking are great forms of exercise.
• Then follows a self-abhyanga. Abhyanga is one of the best ways to ground yourself and to enhance your immunity. Take a warm shower or bath afterwards. And wear clean clothes and use essential oils for fragrances.
• Meditation is one of the most important aspects of your dinacharya. Practice some form of meditation for 20 minutes each day. After this, you can have a light breakfast. Fruit is a great way to break your fast.
• After your breakfast, you are ready to practice your dharma. During this time, take time to nurture your relationships and cultivate gratitude.
• Lunch should be the heaviest meal of the day. Eat slowly, consciously, and savor your food. Enjoy the company of people you love.
• Continue on with your dharmic duties till evening. Do your prayers and meditation at sundown. This is a time for reflection and silence. Dinner should be light such as soup and rice. Finish dinner by 7p.m.
• It is best if lights are out by 10p.m. Listen to soft music or read inspiring books after dinner or talk a brief stroll. Massage your feet with warm oil if you are unable sleep.

Remember, great health and bliss comes from a foundation of discipline and self-awareness. Connect to the divine each day and practice your dinacharya and enjoy greater well-being and happiness.  Most of all, enjoy your life!