Ayurveda Initiative For Global Health

Shankha- Part 2, Uses Did you know that Shankha in a powdered form of its shell material is used in Ayurveda as a treatment for stomach ailments? Shankha, a Gastropod shell of any suitable sea snail is a sacred [[emblem]] of The Hindu preserver god Vishnu, wiedely used in ancient days as a war trumpet is a part of the state emblem and seal of the Indian state of Kerala. It was the earliest known sound-producing agency as a manifestation of sound, and the other elements came later, hence it is regarded as the origin of the elements. A Hindu legend in the Brahma Vaivarta Purana recalls the creation of conchs: Shiva flung a trident towards the asuras, burning them instantaneously. Their ashes flew in the sea creating conchs.[6] Shankha is believed to be a brother of Lakshmi as both of them were born from the sea. Nowadays, the shankha is blown at the time of worship in Hindu temples and homes, especially in the ritual of the Hindu aarti, when light is offered to ...

Shankha - Part 1 Characteristics, types and history Did you know that because of its aquatic origin and resemblance to the vulva, the shankha is linked with female fertility and is an integral part of Tantric rites? Shankha (conch shell) has religious ritual importance in Hinduism. It is also one of the eight auspicious symbols of Buddhism, the Ashtamangala, and represents the pervasive sound of Buddhism. It is the shell of any suitable sea snail which had a hole made for the performer's embouchure. It was the earliest known sound-producing agency as a manifestation of sound, and the other elements came later, hence it is regarded as the origin of the elements. It is identified with the elements themselves. It is of aquatic origin and resemblance to the vulva. In view of this, its symbolism is also said to represent female fertility. Since water itself is a fertility symbol, shankha, which is an aquatic product, is recognised as symbolic of female fertility...

Daskhinamurthy - the World Teacher Dakshinamurti literally means one who is facing south (dakṣiṇa). It also means the Lord of compassion. According to Hindu texts, the direction of south or the southern sphere is ruled by the Lord of death. Although the vedic texts refer the deity as Yama, the epithet is also used to described Shiva in his role as the destroyer. However as Dakshinamurthy, what Siva destroy is not death but ignorance. Hence in this form he is said to be the granter of knowledge, wisdom, awareness and enlightenment and is described as the world teacher who imparts the knowledge of yoga, music, arts and religious scriptures. In his aspect as Jnana Dakshinamurti, Shiva is generally shown with four arms. He is depicted as seated under a banyan tree, facing the south, upon a deer-throne and surrounded by sages who receive his instruction, with his right foot on mythical apasmara (the demon of ignorance) and his left foot lies folded on his lap. Sometimes he is al...

Chapter 4 - Glorify The Divine Day 33 Smile and be innocent. Smile from the core of your heart, then you will see all the negativity will fly off, like when the sun shines, the dewdrops vanish, the darkness vanishes. Your smile is the light in your life. Stop fueling negativity, stop feeling obligedthen you are good company.  Not only that, then you will be a good company to anybody. It needs skill to shun someone. When someone is so negative, if you just shun them, and say, “This is not right, what you are saying is hopeless,” they will just shut up and they won't really feel lighter.  You need skill to deal with someone's negativity. Are you getting what I'm saying? They will just stop communicating with you because they are so convinced about their negativity. Unless you say yes to them, they don’t feel sympathetic. So you need skill to put down their negativity. That is satsang.  And when you come from this position you will see that whatever complaints th...