Ayurveda Initiative For Global Health

Pamani Naganathar Temple Pamani Naganathar Temple: Pamani is just two kms away from Mannargudi. The devotee could use either the town bus service or engage an auto to visit this temple. The old name of this place is Thirupadaleeswaram or Pambani. We are going to visit Shri Amirthanayaki sametha Shri Naganathar (Sarpapureeswarar). This is another Paadal Petra sthalam with thevarams by Thirugnanasambandar. The temple is open from 6 am to noon and from 4 to 8.30 pm.  The priest could be contacted through 093606 85073.   This is an east facing temple with a 3 tiered gopuram and two prakarams. There are four theerthams associated with this temple, of which Naga is in the form of a tank, is opposite the temple. Dhenu Theertham is on the south, Rudra on the north and Niladwaja on the west of the temple. The sthala vruksham is Mango. Vilva is also present with nine leaf bunches, which is a...

For Relief From Skin Diseases - Nardana Pureeswarar Temple, Thalayalangadu, Thiruvarur Thalayalangadu Temple Front View Sri Nardana Pureeswarar temple is located in the village named Thalayalangadu, in the district of Tiruvarur, in the state of Tamil Nadu in South India. The main deity of this temple is Nardana Pureeswarar – Aadavallar (Lord Shiva) and his consort is Balambikai. The holy tree of this temple is Vilwa. The holy water of this temple is Changu theertham. The agamam or pooja of this temple is known as Kameeyam. This temple is nearly 1000-2000 years old in this region. The historical name of this place is Thalayalanganam. As per the local legends and pundits, “Saint Tirunavukkarasar suggests. “He is penance Himself; He is the Veda and its seed, wearing the crescent moon. He always retrieve me from sufferings, hiding the Ganga in head and has Mother Uma as His part, He is all philosophy. I have wasted and lost all the days being away from Him. That Lord is in Thalayalangadu.”...

Vilamal Patanjali Manoharar Temple Vilamal Patanjali Manoharar Temple: Vilamal is on the outskirts of Tiruvarur town, just two Kms from the city centre. The old names of this place are Thiruvilamar and Thiruvaraham. This is an ancient temple which is a Paadal Petra Sthalam with thevarams by Thirugnanasambandar. This temple we are going to visit is that of Shri Madhurabhashini ( Thenmozhiammai/Yazhinum Menmozhiammai-Ambal with a voice milder and more melodious than the music of the instrument Yazh) sametha Patanjali Manoharar (Vilamar/Vimalar). The sthala vrukshams are Vilvam and Kiluvai and the theertham is Agni. The temple is open from 7.30 am to noon and from 4.30 to 7.30 pm . Contact telephone numbers are 94894 79896 and 99428 81778. It is relatively a small temple (when compared to the nearby Tiruvarur temple) without a Rajagopuram. The ceilings of the temple prakaram, are covered in paintings depicting the sthala puranam and various episodes connected with this temple. T...

Cardiac glycosides- Plant Medicines for heart. (Photographs: Gitoxin, Digitalis and Drimia) Cardiac glycosides are triterpenoid glycosides similar to saponins and are the compounds having a remarkable effect on heart muscles and their functioning. They have long served as the main medical treatment to congestive heart failure and cardiac arrhythmia (irregular heart beats). Extracts or latexes of plants containing these compounds were and are used as to poison arrows among many tribes of Africa, Asia and South America, when due to high concentrations they cause a violent contraction of the heart muscle and result in death due to cardiac arrest. The beneficial effects of these compounds were discovered by accident when William Withering , in 1775, noted that a patient thought to be incurable, recovered from dropsy after being administered an infusion of various plant parts including a common garden plant, the Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea- Scrophular...

Iridoids – the medicinal compounds responsible for blackening of Herbarium specimens. (Photos: Barleria, Morinda, Vitex and Valeriana)     Iridoids, known as pseudoindicans because they react with acid giving blue-colored derivatives are cyclopentanoid skeleton mostly along with a pyran ring. Blackening of leaves (or herbarium specimens) on drying is a sign of the presence of iridoids. Altogether more than 650 iridoids are recognized. Many of the iridoids occur as glycosides though aglycones like nepetalactone (in catnip/catmint, Nepeta cataria- the domestic cats are attracted by these compounds) occur in volatile oils.  Iridoids are mostly bitter in taste and contribute much to the bitterness of many medicines. Both these groups of compounds are found to exhibit a wide range of medicinal properties such as neuroprotective, hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory, antitumor, hypoglycemic, and hypolipidemic activit...