Ayurveda Initiative For Global Health

Bilva or bael tree (Aegle marmelos) Did you know that the Bilva or Bael tree (Aegle marmelos) in its entirety is considered a symbolic representation of Lord Shiva, and it is mandatory to offer its leaves, known as Belpatra, in the worship of the Lord? Bael tree, commonly known as bilva or bel, with the botanical name Aegle marmelos, is a species of tree native to the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. It is also known by other names such as Sriphal, Bengal quince, golden apple, Japanese bitter orange, stone apple or wood apple. It is of great importance in Hindu religion as the tree is considered a symbolic representation of Lord Shiva. It is mandatory to offer bilva leaves or belpatra in the worship of Shiva who is also called 'Vilavadanda'. It is also believed to represent Parvati (consort of Shiva), Surya (Sun), and Lakshmi, goddess of wealth. The belief in offering the bilva leaves to Shiva Linga is stated to cool and refresh the heated deity and to pe...

Peepul tree (Ficus religiosa) Did you know that while walking at night and yawning standing under a Peepul tree, advice is just snap your fingers instantaneously to avoid ‘pret’ (ghost) entering your throat and spoiling your digestion? Peepul tree, with botanical name Ficus religiosa, or sacred fig, also known as the Bodhi tree, Aswattamara (ಅಶ್ವತ್ಥ or ಅರಳಿ ಮರ in Kannada), popular as Indian Banyan Tree (Ficus benghalensis), is a species of fig native to the Indian subcontinent and Indo China that belongs to Moraceae, the fig or mulberry family. "Banyan Tree " , its name, originally given as Ficus benghalensis, originated in India, where early travellers observed that the shade of the tree was frequented by Banyans (a corruption of Baniyas, a community of Indian traders). In the Peepul tree’s botanical name Ficus religiosa, suffix 'religiosa' is connected to the East with many religious rites and ceremonies. For the ancient serpent worshippe...

Rose Gulkand Did you know that Roses believed to be more than 30 million years old with scores of species and innumerable cultivars and hybrids, are made into a preserve from its sweet scented petals with sugar, known popularly as Rose Gulkand? Rose Gulkand, a sweet preserve, is a bye-product of the Rose industry. It is a preparation, medicinal in property, made from petals of fresh rose flowers and sugar. Gulab is a Hindi name for rose. Gulkand is jam. Rose flowers of the autumnal crop are preferably converted into Gulkand. Roses, coined the “King of Flowers,” is believed to be more than 30 million years old. However, historically, it is believed to be from ancient Indo-Persia territory and originated around 900 BC. The word Gulkand is derived from the words; 'Gul' meaning "flower" in Persian and 'Kand' or 'Qand' meaning "flower"in Arabic. So, Gulkand simply means “sweet flower.”   Scores of species and ...

*Chapter 9 - Living In Truth*  *Day 43* The most gross is the material world. The subtlest world we saw is the divine world, the world of the devas and devis. I want to show you a phenomenon that happened on, was it the 15 th January?  This sort of phenomenon keeps happening but this one was taken in a photograph. A Cobra climbed a particular tree, the Bilva tree and plucked a Bilva leaf. Then it went into the temple and offered it on top of the Shiva Linga.  You can see this thing happening in the photo. And it did it four or five times. The people were amazed because they have only heard in the scriptures that an elephant offered flowers to a Shiva Linga or a serpent offered from a Bilva tree.  But a Cobra, nobody can train a Cobra, it is impossible. They don't even have ears to listen to your commands. But the Cobra climbed the particular tree and then it goes into the temple with the leaf in its mouth and scares everybody away. Do you see that? How it...

🌺 *Day 5* 🌺 *The Password to Divinity* Isavasyamidam Everything here. Then the question immediately comes how can God be in Osama bin Laden? How can God be in Hitler? How can God be in something that is bad?  You as a physicist, a quantum scientist - Does Osama  have atoms in his body or not?  Does he have atomsp or molecules in his body or not? Was there energy in him or not? We are caught up in this concept - good or bad, right or wrong. As long as you are in this duality, you can never know God, forget about it. If you are caught up in the movie between the hero and the villain, you can never know the director. A director honours the hero as much as he hours the villain. Wake up, wake up and see. Then you rise to another dimension, a dimension, which is beyond good and bad, right and wrong, which purely places before you the Existence as it is and there is no escape from it. -  Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankarji Ishavasya Upanishad