Ayurveda Initiative For Global Health

Alternanthera sessilis  Common name:  Stalkless Joyweed,  Sessile Joyweed,  Dwarf copperleaf,  Joyweed , Garundi  Amaranthaceae,  leaves are eaten as fresh green leafy vegetable in many countries of South Asia.  Leaves and roots of this plant are widely used in Ayurvedic medicine to treat eye and intestinal diseases as well.  In Chennai, Alternanthera sessilis is available round the year as a leafy vegetable in vegetable market.  While in North – India this leafy vegetable is usually available during summer season only.  Surendra Parihar 

Galium aparine Syn.:  G. uncinatum,  G. pseudoaparine,  Aparine vulgaris  Common name:  Goose Grass,  Cleavers,  Common bedstraw,  Coachweed,  Catchweed etc.  Rubiaceae,  an annual weed of Rabi season, which is widely distributed in major wheat (Triticum aestivum ) farming fields of the world.  It is considered an invasive species.  It is a popular "Spring-cleansing" tonic and used for centuries to purify the blood and treat skin disease.  The whole herb is now given by herbalists for eczematous rashes,  swollen lymph glands, and urinary tract problems. Surendra Parihar 

Misopates orontium subsp. gibbosum Synonyms: Antirrhinum gibbosum  Common name:  Corn Snapdragon,  Lesser Snapdragon,  Weasel's Snout  Plantaginaceae,  a common winter season . The pink / white flowers resemble a miniature Snapdragon and are followed by a hairy green fruit which is said to resemble a weasel's snout. Corn Snapdragon is found from Africa to India.  Surendra Parihar 

Pentalinon luteum Syn  Urechites luteus,  Echites obovatus,  Common name:  Wild Allamanda,  Yellow Mandevilla,  Yellow Dipladenia  Apocynaceae ,  a perennial vine-like shrub with yellow Allamanda like flowers. All parts are poisonous, if ingested.  Surendra Parihar 

Adenium obesum  commonly known as  desert rose,  Apocynaceae  an indoor succulent with a wide variety of flowers.  It is native to Africa and the Arabian Peninsula.  The sap of Adenium species contains toxic cardiac glycosides and is used as arrow poison throughout Africa for hunting large game. Surendra Parihar 

Albizia lebbeck  Siris tree  Mimosaceae ,  a medium to large multipurpose tree species (MPTS) with gray-brown bark.  Fruit a flat, linear pod, with many seeds;  dried pods persistent after leaf-fall,  often heard rattling in the wind. A beautiful and important MPTS of Agro-forestry systems flowering during summer.  Surendra Parihar 

Utthirapasupatheeswarar Temple Thiruchenkkattangudi  Uttarapasupatheeswarar Temple: The old name of this place is Ganapatheeswaram. It is around 21 Kms north east of Tiruvarur and there are direct buses from both Tiruvarur and Nagapattinam. We are visiting the temple of Shri Vaitha Thirukuzhal Umai Nayaki sametha Shri Uthrapasupatheeswarar(Ganapatheeswarar/Uthirapatheeswarar). This is a Paadal petra sthalam with Thevarams by both Appar and Sambandar.  The temple is open from 6.45 am to noon and from 5 to 8 pm.  The contact numbers are 04366 270 278/292 300 and 094431 13025.  The sthala Vruksham is Forest Fig (Kattu Athi) tree and there are several theerthams-Surya, Chandra, Sathya, Seerala, Agni, Indra, Yama, Varuna and Vayu theerthams. Sathya Theertham is in front of the temple. Mangala Vinayakar shrine is on the steps of this tank. This is a large temple, occupying nearly 2 acres. At the entrance, we see a five tiered Rajagopuram. It is an east facing temple. Thoug...

Rathnagiriswarar Temple, Thirumarugal, Nagapattinam Rathnagiriswarar Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva located in Thirumarugal Village in Nagapattinam Taluk in Nagapattinam District of Tamil Nadu. Presiding Deity is called as Rathnagiriswarar / Maanikkavannar and Mother is called as Vanduvar Kuzhali / Aamodhalanayagi. This Temple is considered as one of the Mada Temples built by Kochengata Chola, an early Chola Emperor. This Temple is considered as one of the shrines of the 276 Paadal Petra Sthalams glorified in the early medieval Thevaram hymns. This Temple is the 197th Devara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam and 80th sthalam on the south side of river Cauvery in Chozha Nadu. Lord Murugan of this Temple is praised by Saint Arunagirinathar in his revered Thirupugazh hymns.  Legends Sadayay Ennumal Sarani Ennumal: As per legend, once a merchant named Dhaman from Pandyan Kingdom promised his nephew that he would give his eldest...

Chand Baori, Abhaneri  Did you know that Chand Baori in Abhaneri village of Rajasthan is one of India's oldest, most prolific stepwell in building traditions which is about 64 ft (20m) deep making it one of the deepest and largest stepwells in India? Chand Baori stepwell in Abhaneri village in Rajasthan, hailed as a masterpiece of Rajasthani art and architecture, has hundreds of steps on three of its sides, and on its fourth side, a pavilion with arches, balconies, and pillars, some of which have intricate carvings. The 64 feet (20 m) deep four-sided step well, below ground level, is a unique water management system called, a sub-terranian water supply. It was reportedly built by a local ruler of Nikumbh dynasty called Raja Chanda between the 8th and 9th centuries AD; this dynasty was from the Gujara Pratihara clan, who claim to be the descendant of Lord Ram's younger brother Laxman. Hence, the stepwell was named after the...

Yuksom, Sikkim Did you know that Chogyal established the first monastery in Sikkim at Yuksom, which is part of a Buddhist pilgrimage circuit including Norbugang, Pemayangtse , Rabdentse, Sanga Choeling, Khecheopalri Lake, and Tashiding? Yuksom is a historical town in Geyzing subdivision of West Sikkim district in the Northeast Indian state of Sikkim. Yuksom literally means the "meeting place of the three learned monks" as three monks who came from Tibet selected Phuntsog Namgyal as the first King of Sikkim and gave him the title Chogyal. 'Chogyal' means "Religious King" or "the king who rules with righteousness" Yuksom was the first capital of Kingdom of Sikkim established in 1642 AD by Phuntsog Namgyal who was the first Chogyal (temporal and religious king) of Sikkim. The coronation site of the first monarch of Sikkim is known as the "Throne of Norbugang". Yuksom is where there is the Norbugang Chorten near the No...