Ayurveda Initiative For Global Health

Fenugreek or Fenugreek Greens Did you know that Fenugreek, called Menthya in Kannada, Methi in Hindi, had the dubious claim in Rome, in an old wives tale, that roasted fenugreek seeds were consumed by harem women to increase buxomness? Did you know that Fenugreek is believed to originate from India and Northern Africa, and in the Indian Ayurvedic pharmacopoeia its use is known as an aphrodisiac and a cure for digestive and respiratory conditions related to phlegm? Did you know that Czech girls wore tiny bunches of fenugreek around their necks due its quality as a good deodorant which was extremely useful when sanitary conditions were poor and baths very rare? Fenugreek, known by its Latin name Trigonella foenum-graecum, is an annual (as it germinates flowers, sets seed and dies in one season) plant that belongs to the family Fabaceae. Its suffix ‘foenum-gracesum’ was given as an epithet by the Romans as it was a very common Greek Plant. It was also calle...

Mahua (Madhuca longifolia) Did you know that the Mahua (Madhuca longifolia) is rightly called the tree of the poor due to its social and economic importance to the rural population of India? Did you know that the Gond tribe who are spread over 5 different states of Central provinces, for whom the Mahua tree is very sacred, and is known to be a “Kalpavriksha”. a wish-fulfilling divine tree in Hindu mythology? Mahua Tree with the botanical name Madhuca longifolia, and also evocatively named Indian butter tree or honey tree. or mahuwa, a large, Indian tropical tree native to the plains and forests of northern and central parts of India, and also Southern India ( monsoon forests of the Western Ghats from Konkan and southwards), is particularly held holy by many tribals of India, and the flowers of this tree are a source of food and in particular of liquor. It is a fast-growing tree that grows to approximately 20 meters in height, possesses evergreen or semi-evergr...

Apta tree Did you know that the Apta Tree, is the Bidi, Indian cigarette leaf tree, which is worshiped by the traditional Maharaj Gonds in Aheri in Maharashtra? Apta tree, a sacred tree in India, with the scientific name Bauhinia racemosa in the family Fabaceae, is widely known as the 'Bidi tree' as its leaves are used to make the poor man's Indian cigarette populalry smoked as Bidi, a thin cigarette or mini-cigar filled with tobacco. Bidi is also made of tendu leaves which is Diospyros melanoxylon, known as the Coromandel ebony or East Indian ebony.  Apta tree leaves are also called 'Son Patta' meaning "gold leaf" and symbolically given as a gift on the Vijayadashmi day of Dasara festival (Navaratri or Nine holy nights in the autumn month, in the bright half of the Hindu calendar month Ashvin, which typically falls in the Gregorian months of September and Octobe) celebrations in some regions of India. The folk lore or legend behi...

Kusha grass or Darbhe Did you know that Kusha grass, popularly used as Darbhe in Hindu religion as it is considered a personification of Lord Vishnu and its use in all religious ceremonies is thus mandatory? Did you know that Kusha grass or Darbhe used for religious purposes, is not cut or plucked on everyday, but only on Shravana Amavaysa (New Moon Day of .July-August)? The Kusha grass or Darbhe with scientific name Desmostachya bipinnata, and botanical name Imperata cylidrica (L), is commonly known in religious parlance as Darbe or Darbha with religious connotation to use it as a purifying object. Its English names are: halfa grass, big cordgrass, and salt reed-grass. It is an Old World perennial grass, long known and used in human history. Kusha is a Sanskrit word which means "sacred". Both Kusha and Darba are mentioned in the Vedas and Upanishads. In the Rigveda, it is called darba. The Atharva Veda also mentions this grass. It is used for cal...

*World Ayurveda Day message* Dear one, Best wishes on the occasion of World Ayurveda Day and Dhanavantri Day. On this occasion, Sri Sri Tattva is happy to bring to you a campaign #AyurvedaWithMe We invite you to collaborate with *Sri Sri Tattva* for this campaign.  *The campaign Idea: #AyurvedaWithMe* #AyurvedaWithMe aims to use the word Ayurveda as a Verb.  What do you have to do: *Campaign Mechanism* *Step 1* Record a video of yourself talking about an Ayurveda practice that you follow.  Speak about a Sri Sri Tattva Product or Service that has made a difference in your life. Please mention the phrase Come , #AyurvedaWithMe ( where Ayurveda for the first time will be used as a verb) *Step 2* Nominate one to five of your friends to share one Ayurveda practice/technique/herb that they have as a go-to for their wellbeing. *Step 3:* Congratulate Sri Sri Tattva, inspired by Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Ji's vision to spread quality Ayurveda across the world and ta...