Ayurveda Initiative For Global Health

Oupanekhat or Sirr-i-Akbar Did you know that "Oupanekhat", also titled “Sirr-i-Akbar” (The Great Secret), is a collection of 50 Upanishads in Persian language commissioned by Sultan Mohammed Dara Shikoh, eldest son and heir apparent of Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan? The Oupanekhat is collection of Upanishads, put together by Sultan Mohammed Dara Shikoh (also spelled Dara Shukoh) in 1656 (1657 is also mentioned). It consists of a Persian translation of 50 Upanishads; a book prefaced as the best book on religion; Upanishads bring out esoteric wisdom of Hindu metaphysics (derived from the Vedas. This collection was in the same order as found in Upanishad anthologies in Sanskrit, popular in north India. The collection is often called Sirr-i-Akbar ("The Greatest Mystery"), where he states boldly, in the introduction, his speculative hypothesis that the work referred to in the Qur'an as the "Kitab al-maknun" or the hidden scripture” alluded to in Quran 56:78., ...

Om, the Pravara Mantra Did you know that Om (ओं), the Pravara Mantra, represents the Hindu Trinity, the Vedic scriptures, Vedic poetic meters and holy fires?  Om (ओं), the Pravara Mantra, the most incredible syllable with divine connotations, has been explained in almost every Upanishad. It is Brahma Taraka (Aum), the Ekakshara (one-syllabled), which is the store house of fire. The "Om" is traditionally considered in Hindu texts to be composed of three syllables, "A", "U" and "M". The oldest Upanishads consider these syllables as symbolism for the three Vedas – the Rigveda, the Samaveda and the Yajurveda. The "Om" is also asserted in most Upanishad texts to symbolize Brahman and Atman, the ontological concepts in Hinduism. Sita is said to signify “Pranava” or “Aum”. Narayana merged with one with the inner bliss, the Brahman, the Purusha, the holy syllable consisting of A, U, and M, it became the sound Aum (Pronunciation of Om ([õː] or [...

Did you know that Devara Dasimayya, a Kannada langauge poet-saint and vachanakaara of the 11th century was an early harbinger of the Virashaiva faith or Lingayatism in Southern India? Devara Dasimayya ದೇವರ ದಾಸಿಮಯ್ಯ, also known as "Jedara Daasimayya (ಜೇಡರ ದಾಸಿಮಯ್ಯ) meaning "Dasimayya of the weavers", considered one of the first mystic poet-saint of Karnataka, an early propagator of the Virashaiva faith or Lingayatism in Southern India, was born in a village called Mudanuru, a village in Shorapur Taluk, Yadagiri district in Karnataka. He was born in the Hindu calendar month of Chaitra in Shukla Paksha in a weavers family of Devanga community, to parents Ramayya and Shankari. He was deeply religious right from his young age dedicated to worship of Lord Shiva in the temple Ramanatha in his village; the temple is famous due to a belief that Lord Rama of Treta Yuga worshipped the Shiva Linga deified in this temple. His early formal education was in the Shiva Center of...

Sri Varadha Bhoga Yoga Narasimha Temple, Shanthigrama  Did you know that in the12th century Sri Varadha Bhoga Yoga Narasimha Temple in Shanthigrama in Karnataka a unique feature is the ring of nine forms of Narasimha (Nava Narasimha Vritta) incorporated in the ceiling of its portico?  Sri Varadha Bhoga Yoga Narasimha Temple in Shanthigrama in Hassan district of Karnataka built during the Hoysala period in early 12th century, is dedicated to Narasimha, the fourth lion-man incarnation of Lord Vishnu in a meditative posture called the Yoga Mudra or Yogapatta. It was built in 1122 AD under the reign of Hoysala King Veera Ballala by Prakasa Muni. In subsequent years, under the Hoysala King Vishnuvaradhana's reign, following his conquering the Talakad region, the King gifted the charming Shanthigrama village to his beautiful wife Shantaladevi who was a gifted dancer and musician. Shantaladevi is reported to have substantially refurbished the four temples in Shanthigrama includi...

Yoga Narasimha Swamy Temple, Gorur Did you know that the Yoga Narasimha Swamy Temple in Gorur Karnataka, built in the sixteenth century, has the self manifest Vigraha (idol) of Lord Narasimha, the fourth incarnation of Lord Vishnu in Lion-Man form, facing West? The Yoga Narasimha Swamy Temple in Gorur, Hassan district of Karnataka, is a quaint temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu in his fourth avatara (Incarnation) in a lion-man form. Unsually, the self manifest stone Vigraha of Lord Narasimha faces west, instead of the usual east direction, as it is beleived that a sage known as Gokarna rishi did penance on the banks of the Hemavathi River (a tributary of the divine Kaveri River) here facing east. It is a local belief that the Lord Narasimha appeared to the rishi at this very spot on a stone formation in a Yogic posture (hence known as Yoga Narasimha); and the place initially came to be known as Gokarna Kshetra which over the centuries got changed to Gorur in the fifteenth century (1...

Yoganarasimha Swamy Temple, Melukote Did you know that the Lord Narasimha sitting in the Yoga posture on top of the hill at the Yoga Narasimha Temple in Melukote, in religious history is said to have been worshipped by His staunch devotee Prahalada? The Yoganarasimha Swamy Temple, in Melukote in the Pandavpura Taluk in the Mandya district of Karnataka, is located on hill top at an elevation of 3590 feet. It is dedicated to Lord Narasimha, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu in Lion-Man anthromorphic form, deified in a Yogapatta (Yoga posture), and is said to be one of the most revered of the seven divine temples dedicated to Yoganarasimha. The temple's archives has references in the Vedic literature.   In religious history of Naradiya Purana, the archa vigraha (idol) of Narasimha is said to have been worshipped by His royal deciple Prahalada, son of an evil daitya king Hira...

Yoga Narasimha Temple, Mudigere Did you know that the Yoga Narasimha Temple in Mudigere, Karnataka has the unique vigraha of Lord Narasimha with 'Nine' faces, which are said to be very distinctly visible during the abhisheka only? The Yoga Narasimha Temple located in Mudigere village, Dudda Taluk in Hassan District of Karnataka has the main deity Lord Yoga Narasimha (the Man-Lion avatar of Lord Vishnu) with 'Nine' faces, which are stated to be very distinctly visible during the abhisheka only. The temple also has an exlcusive shrine dedciated to Lakshmi Varaha Swamy which helped to stop the fierce and ferocious destrcitve nature of the main vigraha of Ugra Yoga Narasimha. The temple has history dated to 850 - 900 AD to the Hoyasala period, believed to have been built by the legendary architect (sthapathi) Jakanachari. The temple is constructed in Hoysala Style architectu...

Atmano mokshartham jagat hitaya cha Did you know that Atmano mokshartham jagat hitaya cha, a motto created by Swami Vivekananda, suggests a twofold aim of human life – one is to seek one's own salvation and the other is to do welfare of the world? Atmano mokshartham jagat hitaya cha (translation: for the salvation of our individual self and for the well-being of all on earth) is a sloka, a dictim of the Rig Veda. It has two messages. One is to seek salvation for one's soul and the other is to address the issue of welfare of the world. Swami Vivekananda would often use it, and it became the motto of the Ramakrishna Mission that he founded in 1897 and the related Ramakrishna Math. This motto also cements the two divergent and obvious aspects of 'atman' (soul) and 'jagat hitaya' (service to humanity) which are to be achieved by one's own efforts. To achieve this, constant human effort is a requisite not only for o...

Redsanders or Pterocarpus santalinus  Did you know that Redsanders or Pterocarpus santalinus is endemic to the southern Eastern Ghats mountain range of South India, particularly Andhra Pradesh where it is known as Yerra Chandanam, and is one of the most prized woods of millennia? Redsanders with the botancal name Pterocarpus santalinus, a flora species, is endemic to dry deciduous forests of Eastern Ghats of Andhra Pradesh. It is a perennial and non-climbing species of leguminous tree in great demand for export, valued for the rich red colour of its wood. used in furniture, making cosmetics, handicrafts and musical instruments. The red dye from the wood is used as a colouring agent in the textiles, medicine and food industries.  Redsanders grows in tall grasslands, at meadows, borders of forests and fields. It is well known in Andhra Pradesh as Yerra Chandanam, Chenchandanam in Telugu language. Apart from...