Ayurveda Initiative For Global Health

Thurahalli Forest and Thurahalli Park, Bnegaluru Did you know that the Thurahalli Forest and its Thurahalli Park open to public, a sprawling dry and deciduous forest, is the last one surviving in Bengaluru under the Karnataka Forest Department which is a hot spot for cyclists and provides rock climbing/ outdoor bouldering opportunities, and rappelling? The Thurahalli Forest (ತುರಹಳ್ಳಿ ಕಾಡು) covering 1200 acres of dense greenery, 600 acres of which is open to public as Thurahalli Park is the only surviving forest near Bengaluru city which is enchanting for nature lovers of flora and fauna. It also provides attractions of Eco-trail, cycling in a select track/ route of 3.7 km, rock climbing through its many enormous boulders of rock, birdwatching, an insect hotel of bugs, and of course a temple dedicated to Planet Shani on top of a rocky hill. The flora exploration in the forest area would reveal large areas of eucalyptus., f...

Srivilliputhur Andal temple - Part 1, legend and history  Did you know that the Srivilliputhur Andal temple, also known as the Vatapathrashayanar temple of Vishnu, to this day observes a unique ritual in which the garland of the deity of Srivilliputhur is first offered to Andal's image in the adjoining shrine?  Did you know that an interactive walk-through narrative of the Sri Andal temple in Srivalliputhur by combining multiple types of rich media, interactive 3D exploration and story telling, was created by Microsoft Research India in 2005 as their first venture? The Srivilliputhur Andal temple, also known as the Vatapathrashayanar temple of Vishnu in Srivilliputhur town in Tamil Nadu, dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu is a temple of highly religious, architectural and historical significance. It is best known for the worship of one of south India's best-loved goddesses Andal or Godai, as the consort of the main deity. It is ...

Srivilliputhur Andal Temple - Part 2 , Architecture and worship practices Did you know that Srivilliputhur Andal Temple has a grand 11-tiered tower structure of 192 feet height which is the official symbol of the Government of Tamil Nadu, and the state's High Court has its own unique seal, which has an image in yellow of this gopuram or tower? Did you know that in the Srivilliputhur Andal temple, of the many water tanks (pushkaranis), Andal used a pushkarani as a mirror to gaze at her reflection wearing a garland made for her Lord Vishnu that is known as the mirror well or 'Kannadi Kinnaru?  The Srivilliputhur Andal Temple, dedicated to Vatapatrasayi (Vishnu) of 9th or 10th century vintage built by the Cholas and further expanded over the centuries by Pandya and Nayak rulers, was built to commemorate the only Woman Alvar saint, Andal, who out of deep devotion and love married the ...

Pineapple (Ananas comosus) Did you know that Pineapple with Sanskrit name Annasam, the third most important tropical fruit, is derived from 200 or more small red flowers which fuse together to form a single multiple fruit with a decorative crown or tuft of shortened leaves? Did you know that the Pineapple skin is an example of a Fibonacci sequence, a series of infinite numbers that follow a set pattern that draws the eyes and challenges the brain in a natural form of enchantment? Pineapple, a popular tropical fruit, with scientific name of the plant known as Ananas comosus, belongs to the family of Bromeliaceae. Fruits that look like green pine cones but are much larger, and are filled with solid pulp, like a melon but are much sweeter in taste and smelling. Its appearance is fascinating and its curious quilted surface resulting from the fact that the pineapple is not one fruit but many. Each pineapple is composed of upwa...

Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) Did you know that Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus), a fruit plant, classified based on its size as a very heavy fruit weighing 500 g or more, which no other fruit can beat its cooling and juicy bite during the hot summery days? Watermelon with the botanical name Citrullus lanatus, is a flowering plant species of the Cucurbitaceae family, a major vegetable crop family with more than 1,000 varieties. It is a monoecious, cross-pollinated crop, annual, classified based on its size as a very heavy fruit weighing 500 g or more.  Water melon, a native of tropical and subtropical Africa, is said to have reached India in the prehistoric times. The species originated in tropical Africa where numerous wild types are present. It has been cultivated in the Medittaranean area and in Asia for several thousand years where secondary diversity occurs. It was introduced into India in early 800 A...

Linseed or Flax  Did you know that Linseed, also known as Flax, a plant that yields brown or golden seeds, one of the world’s renowned super foods, with India ranking first in its production in terms of area cultivated, contributing about 10 % of world production? Did you know that Linseed or Flax, a flowering plant, is cultivated for its seeds which are not only used in Indian cooking as Linseed oil and eaten as a supplement as well, but also used initially in regions of the world with temperate climates as fiber for industrial processes such as making linen?  The plant species of Linseed or Flax is known only as a cultivated plant and appears to have been domesticated just once from the wild species Linum bienne, called pale flax. The bark of the plant has good fibre quality and high durability, so most of it is used to weave cloth called linen. Flax seeds, also known as Linseed, have a crunchy textur...