Ayurveda Initiative For Global Health

Coffee production in India Did you know that coffee production in India started when Baba Budan, while on a pilgrimage, smuggled seven coffee beans from Yemen by concealing them around his waist, and planted them in Karnataka? Coffee production in India is dominated in the hill tracts of South Indian states of Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu. The total production of coffee in India was 349 thousand metric tons for fiscal year 2022. The country exports over 70% of its production. Indian coffee is the best shade grown coffee in the world. Coffee growing has a long history that is attributed first to Ethiopia and then to Arabia (Yemen). The earliest history is traced to 875 AD according to the Bibliotheque Nationale in Paris, and the original source to Ethiopia (Abyssinia) from where it was brought to Arabia in the 15th century. In the Indian context, coffee growing started in 1670 with an Indian Muslim saint, Baba Budan, who, while returning from...

Guruvayur Temple - Part 2, Architecture and worship practices Did you know that in the Sree Kovil or Garba Griha of the Guruvayur Temple in Kerala, where the idol of Lord Krishna is defied, the two doors and the roof are covered by gold and with exqusite mural paintings on its walls? Guruvayur Temple originally built by Adi Shankaracharya in the 8th century and consecrated with Lord Krishna called Guruvayurappan (four-armed form of the Lord Vishnu ), has under gone many changes over the centuries but retaining the Kerala architectural style of sloped pyramidal roofing fitted with copper plates.   The Guruvayur temple, built according to Kerala's temple Vastuvidya, and called Bhuloka Vaikunta" meaning the "Holy Abode of Vishnu on Earth"., faces the East direction has two Gopurams (towers), one at East (Kizhakkenada) and other at West (Padinjarenada); the entire area between these two towers is roofed with tiles and known as Anapanthal. The hol...

Guruvayur Temple - Part 1 background and ancient legends  Did you know that the Guruvayur Temple dedicated to Lord Krishna popularly known in Kerala as Guruvaurappan , was established in the 8th century of Adi Shankaracharya at Guruvayur town? The Guruvayur Temple established in Guruvayur town in Thrissur District, of Kerala dedicated to Lord Krishna, the eigth incarnation (avatara) of Lord Vishnu. is also popularly called Guruvayurappan in Kerala. The historical belief is that Adi Shankaracharya (788-820) , the propounder of Advaita Philosophy, found the idol of Lord Krishna, a swamyamvyakta (self revealed) image, while he was travelling in the Guruvayur area. Shankaracharya then built a temple in Guruvayur and consecrated the Krishna idol, and started regular worship of the idol. This temple now one of the most famous Hindu temples is often referred to as "Bhooloka Vaikuntam" which translates to the holy abode of Vishnu on Earth. It is a mahakshetram - a great temple, ...

Sharanagati, surrender unto the Lord Did you know that Sharanagati, surrender unto the Lord is a Vedic and Puranic scriptural tradition, a philosophical theme, available to all castes, which is the only easy method of attaining salvation and preventing rebirth? Sharanagati, also spelled Saranagati, in Vedic and Puranic scriptural tradition, a philosophical theme, a Sanskrit usage which is means of attaining spiritual realization. It is self surrender, perfect resignation of oneself to the Divine - Narayana-Krishna - in the tradition of Sri Vaishnavism and Vaishnavism. It signifies an integral dedication of the body , mind and the soul at the altar of Divine Dispensation. Namaha signifies Sharanagathi . This one word signifies the entire wisdom of Vedanta as it prescribes the self - offering of the Jiva to the Paramatman.  The process of Sharanagati forms the basis of devotion to Vishnu in the bhakti traditions within the Sri Sampradaya, propounded by Sri ...

What is Pongal? Pongal is the only festival of Hindu that follows a solar calendar and is celebrated on the fourteenth of January every year. Pongal has astronomical significance: it marks the beginning of Uttarayana, the Sun's movement northward for a six month period. In Hinduism, Uttarayana is considered auspicious, as opposed to Dakshinaayana, or the southern movement of the sun.   All important events are scheduled during this period. Makara Sankranthi refers to the event of the Sun entering the zodiac sign of Makara or Capricorn. In Hindu temples bells, drums, clarinets and conch shells herald the joyous occasion of Pongal. To symbolize a bountiful harvest, rice is cooked in new pots until they boil over. Some of the rituals performed in the temple include the preparation of rice, the chanting of prayers and the offering of vegetables, sugar cane and spices to the gods. Devotees then consume the offerings to exonerate themselves of past sins. Pongal signals the end of the ...

Pongal Puja – How To Do Thai Pongal Pooja? Talk about Pongal festival and the first thing that comes to mind is the boiling over of the cooking rice and lentils, known as pongal dish. This pongal dish is offered to Lord Surya, who is Pratyaksha Brahman – the visible God. For a prosperous and peaceful year, on the Pongal day, Lord Surya (the Sun God) is worshipped after the birth of Thai Month. Pujas and rituals on the day are dedicated to the Sun God. Pongal Puja – How To Do Thai Pongal Pooja? How to Perform Pongal Puja? Surya Puja is performed outside the house after sunrise on the Pongal day. Some people invite priests to perform Surya Narayana Puja on the day. All pujas are performed after sunrise on the first day of Thai month. Drawing of Pongal Kolam The place chosen to perform the puja is thoroughly cleaned and a Surya Kolam is drawn - a Kolam with the face of Lord Surya. People also draw sugarcane, peacock, boiling pongal pot etc in or around the Surya Kolam. The Pon...

Thai Masam in 2023 – Tamil Thai Month 2023 in Traditional Calendar in Tamil Nadu Thai masam is the 10th month in a traditional calendar followed in Tamil Nadu. Thai Month 2023 begins on January 15 and ends on February 12. The most auspicious days and festivals in the month include – Thai Pongal, Mattu Pongal, Kaanum, Thai Amavasya and Thaipusam. Pournami and Amavasai Pournami or full moon in Thai month is on February 5 Thai Amavasai is January 21. Festival dates in Thai month 2023 Pongal – January 15 Mattu Pongal – January 16 Kaanum – January 17 Ratha Saptami - January 27 Thai Karthigai – January 30 Thaipusam – February 5 Ekadasi January 18 and February 1 Muruga Sashti Fasting January 27. Pradosham January 19 and February 2 Pillayar Chaturthi Vrat - Ganesh Sankashti Chaturthi Vrat is on February 9, 2023. Sri Eswaran

Pongal 2023 date in Tamil Nadu - Importance of Thai Pongal Or Surya Pongal Thai Pongal, an agrarian festival, is one of the most important Tamil festivals and is observed in the Tamil Month Thai. Pongal 2023 date is January 15. Pongal takes its name from the famous traditional Tamilian food of the same name and is dedicated to Lord Surya or the Sun God. The festival is also known as Surya Pongal and Perum Pongal. The festival symbolically signifies prosperity. Importance of Thai Pongal Or Surya Pongal Thai Pongal is an ancient Tamil festival and its roots can be traced back to the Sangam Period (200 B.C.). The festival is also referred as Makar Sankranti and is observed on the first day of the Tamil month Thai. It is the auspicious day when the Sun enters the Makara Rasi and heralds the arrival of the spring. Importance of Pongal Pongal is among the best known festivals and certainly one of the major festivals in Tamil Nadu, India. It is today observed by Tamilians around t...

Pongal Mantra and Prayer Aparticular Makar Sankranti mantra is chanted to solve many problems in life. The prayer is dedicated to Surya Bhagavan – the sun god in Hinduism.   The Makar Sankranti mantra and prayer is given below: Makar Sankranti Mantra Om ghrini Suryaya Namah The mantra should be chanted 108 times using a chandan mala. Makar Sankranti Prayer Aditya Hridaya mantra should be chanted on the day early morning. How to chant Makar Sankranti Mantra and Prayer? The mantra and prayer should be chanted in the early morning along with sunrise. The person chanting the mantra should wear orange color clothes. It is better to chant the mantra by looking at the rising sun. Take a kalash fill it with water and put in some orange or red color flowers. This should be poured down looking at the rising sun. Sugarcane or sugar should be offered as Prasad Sri Eswaran

How to observe Bhogi Pongal? Bhogi marks the preparation for Pongal festival and Uttarayana, the auspicious half of the year. Bhogi is specially marked for physical and spiritual cleaning and falls on the last day of Tamil month Margazhi. Cleaning and removing unwanted stuff and damaged things is the main activity on the day. In the evening, people burn all the unwanted things (Bhogi Bonfire). Bhogi falls on the day before Pongal day. It is also the first day of Sankranti in Andhra Pradesh. Here is a brief look at what to do on Bhogi Pongal? Traditional Bath An elaborate oil bath is done at early morning on the Bhogi day. Drawing of Kolams After morning bath and rituals, women make beautiful kolams (rangoli). There is sometimes a healthy competition among neighbors on design and size of the kolams. Large kolams are preferred during Pongal. Some communities place a pumpkin flower in the middle of the kolam. Cleaning and Burning debris on Bhogi Pongal The most important activ...

Chakkarai Pongal Recipe Yummy Chakkarai Pongal Recipe Cooking Chakkarai pongal is compulsory for Hindus around the world who celebrate the Ponggal festival. Here's the recipe for a yummy Chakkarai Pongal. Ingredients: 1 cup of raw rice 1/4 cup of moong dhal 3 cups of milk 1 cup of water 4 crushed cardamom pods 4 tablespoon of ghee 10 to 12 cashews 10 - 12 Raisins 1/2 cup grated jaggery Method: 1. In a pan, roast the Moong dhal for about 2 to 3 minutes. 2. Add the roasted moong dhal, rice, milk and water to a pressure cooker and let it cook for approximately 5 whistles on a medium flame. Please do not leave it on high flame. 3. Mix the grated jiggery with ¼ cup of water and set it aside. 4. Once the pressure is released, mash the rice-dhal mixture while it is still hot. 5. Using a large, thick bottom pan, add 2 tablespoon of ghee and roast the cashews and the raisins. 6. Add the jaggery-water mixture into the pan and wait till it boils. 7. Sprinkle some cardamom powder a...