Ayurveda Initiative For Global Health

Asafoetida or Heeng Did you know that Asafoetida or Heeng, a stinking plant derived gum before cooking, looses its stink completely when cooked and transforms the food into a highly palatable dish?  Asafoetida or asafetida known in Indian languages as Hing हींग    In Hindi, Hing ಹಿಂಗ್ in Kannada, Peruṅkāyam பெருங்காயம் in Tamil, is the dried latex or oleogum resin exuded from the tap roots of perennial herbs to a few species of the genus Ferula of the family Apiaceae (Umbelliferacaca). A native of Iran with scientific name Ferula assafoetida, name assafoetida is derived from the Persian word for resine 'asa’ and the Latin word foetida. Its sulphurous aroma is stronger than of garlic and hence it is called as devil's dung, stinking gum, asant and hing. Its predecessor plant, Silphium an ancient spice from the region of Cyrene (in modern Libya) was popular in ancient Rome and Greece for cooking and medicine but became extinct by the end of the first ce...

Government Ayurveda Medical College, Mysore Did you know that Government Ayurveda Medical College in Mysore, established in 1908 is the oldest academic institute in India teaching Ayurvedic medicine? The Government Ayurveda Medical College (GAMC) in the heart of Mysore city on the Sayyaji Rao Road, dedicated in imparting Ayurveda studies at Post Graduate (PG) and Under Graduate (UG) level, is the oldest instituion in Ayurvedic medicine which was established in 1908. Prior to establishing this college, the Indigenous Hospital in Mysore City, started in 1892, had both Ayurvedic and Unani branches. The Institution housed in one of most prominet heritage buildings of the city celebrated its Centanary Year in 2008. The college has a 175 bedded hospital attached to it. It is the important health landmark in the city opposite to the Victoria General Hospital.  The purported vision of the College and its attached hospital is: "Providing promotive, preventive, curative, quali...

Tamarind  Did you know that Tamarind, a long lived and beautiful fruiting tree, is interestingly used as a weather forecaster in Rajasthan whe, n the fruits is longer than usual, by predicting spledid weather with copious rainfall promising good yeild of grain and pulse crops? Tamarind or specifically Tamarindus indica, or Dates of India, also known as Amalika, a leguminous tree (family Fabaceae) bears edible fruit, is indigenous to India and tropical Africa. The genus Tamarindus is monotypic, meaning that it contains only this species. Rural and urban dewellers use its versatile fruit pulp, in every country where it is grown, for its sweet and sour flavour. Virtually every part of the tree, wood, root, leaves, bark, and fruits are used for domestic and industrial purposes as well as in agroforestry.  It is thought that the specific epithet indicus suffixed to Tamarind is because the name tamarind itself was derived from Arabic which combined Tamar me...

Amla Murabba Did you know that Amla Murabba proves the fact that "Ek amla, anek faydey" (meaning one fruit, many benefits), and Amla or Indian gooseberry holds the pride of place in Indian Ayurveda, and Unani? Amla Murabba, as sweetened preserve, a popular confection, adopted as a functional food, is considered a medicinal prescription in the Indian Ayurveda, and folk medicine, with fresh fruits of Amla or Indian Gooseberry (Emblica officinalisor) as the basic ingredient with sugar and spices as an additive for a longer shelf life. An easy recipe involves first washing the fruit and dipping it with fitcari (alum) in water for 3 days, then making three or four cuts on each gooseberry with a knife or a fork, then boiling the fruits in water in a vessel till the fruits become tender, drying the cooked fruit, and then dipping them and stirring in spiced (Cardamom and Kesar) sugar syrup, and allowing it to remain in the syrup for at least a week before use. Some also make it b...

Mango (Mangifera indica) - Part 1, Religious literature and history   Did you know that Mango produced by the tropical Mangifera indica tree is the national fruit of India which is known as “the King of frutis”? Mangifera indica tree produces Mango, the fruit of Indian subcontinent which is called the “the King of frutis”, and is among the most important tropical fruits of the world. Its mention has been made in Sanskrit literature as “Amra” from Vedic times, and has been cultivated in India since 2000 BC or even earlier. It is the national fruit of India. This flowering plant species belongs to the family Anacardiaceace under the order Spaindales, also botanically known as 'drupe'. The Indian mango, Mangifera indica, is the descendant of a wild tree still found in NE India. Mango in English is known in Indian vernacular languages as: Amra, Amravrikshaha, Madhavadruma bhringabhishta, Kokilavasa in sanskrit; aam in Hindi and Urdu; Aambo in Gujarath; Maavina mara, Maavu in...

Mango (Mangifera indica) - Part II, Botanical and plantation information Did you know that Mango fruit, a product of Mangifera indica tree, the national fruit of India, indisputably supreme known both as King of Frutis and Queen of Fruits, at its best its scent has pleasant resinous quality; at worst it smells strongly of kerosene which it actually contains? Mango (plural: Mangoes), with the Indian subcontinent species known by the botanical name Mangifera indica is popular in terms of its nutritional, medicinal, religious and spiritual significance. There are as many as 1365 varieties of mangoes all over the world of which 1000 are said to be in India alone. Its richness in variety is usually accompanied by delicious taste and excellent flavour. Mangifera Indica, commonly called as mango, is a flowering plant species belonging to the family Anacardiaceace and native to Indian subcontinent. Known in Sanskrit as 'Amra', and as a climacteric fruit it i...

Mango ginger (inji mangai) Curcuma amada Did you know that Mango ginger (inji mangai) Curcuma amadaa, plant of the ginger family Zingiberaceae, is made into a wonderful pickle on its own merit, and also in combination with Magali beru and gooseberry?   Mango ginger, with the scientific name Curcuma amada, Amra Haridra in Sanskrit. and in Tamil usage 'inji mangai', is a plant of the ginger family Zingiberaceae whose rhizomes are very similar to common ginger. It is called: Ambarasini, Huli Arsin in Kannada; Aamaa-haldi, Amiyaa haldi in Hindi; Mamidi Allamu in Telugu; and Mankayyinji in Tamil. It is a popular spice and vegetable due to its rich flavor, which is described as sweet with subtle earthy floral and pepper overtones, and similar to that of raw mango have a distinct raw mango flavour.  Amra Haridra or Mango ginger, consists of the rhizome of Curcuma amada. It is a biennial plant with a pale-yellow hue with ovoid root stock, which grows ...

Kanch Mahal, Agra Did you know that the Kanch Mahal in Agra exquisite monument of Moghul era is shaped in the form of a square that got its name from the beautiful encaustic tiling ornamenting the north with the red stones that adorn its walls? The Kanch Mahal in Sikandra, Agra in Uttar Pradesh was built in the 17th century (probably between 1605-19) by emperor Jahangir. Externally, the edifice measures 52 ft 10 inches by 45 feet inches with its principal facade facing north. It is a magnificent structure of Indian architecture built during Mughal reign, which was known to be a ladies’ resort (a harem quarter of Jahangir) and which also doubled up as the royal hunting lodge (Shikargarh) for the Emperor. Kanch Mahal is an exquisite monument, shaped in the form of a square, with two floors and a terrace, which was originally encircled by a lush garden with the regular water-courses, causeways and tanks alike.There are four square rooms in the building’s four c...

Chamarajendra Technical Institute (CTI) and Chamarajendra Academy of Visual Arts (CAVA) Did you know that the Chamarajendra Technical Institute, now rechristened as Chamarajendra Academy of Visual Arts (CAVA) was established by the Maharaja of Mysore Krishnaraja Wodeyar IV in 1906 AD? The Chamarajendra Academy of Visual Arts (CAVA) is a succssor institute to the Chamarajendra Technical Institute (CTI) which bears the onerous task of promoting tradtions of excellenece and manifestation of visual arts. While both tradtional and contemporary, CAVA was established in 1982 at Mysore by the Government of Karnataka on the basis of the recommendations of the Dr. Svetoslav Roerich Committee set up in 1976, the CTI came into existence in 1906 as the intiative of the Maharaja of Mysore Krishnaraja Wodeyar IV; the Roerich Committee took note of tradition of creativity and craftsmanship encouraged and nurtutred by the erstwhile Mysore state and the siginificant role played by the CTI.  ...

Pathra, Paschim Medinipur Did you know that Pathra is a temple village called "Mandirmay Pathra" (a place surrounded by Temples), in the Paschim Medinipur district of West Bengal which is reputed as a 100 temples village of 18th century of which 34 temples have been restored? Pathra is a village and a gram panchayat on the banks of the Kangsabati river in the Paschim Medinipur district of West Bengal which boasts of 100 or more small temples in ruins of which 34 temples with enriched terracotta artwork have been restored since July 2003. Because of the profusion of temples, Pathra is also called "Mandirmay Pathra" (a place surrounded by Temples). Most of these temples in ruins were long neglected or vandalised or affected by floods in the Kangsabati river, from the time they were built in the 18th century by the Ghosal (later changed to Majumdar) and Banerjee families; neglect of the temples is attributed to the rich families who shifted base. The patterns of rui...