Ayurveda Initiative For Global Health

Rudraksha has always had a spiritual significance in Eastern cultures owing to its numerous therapeutic properties and unique reverberations which are conducive to the Human system. It is a multi-faceted dried seed procured from the 'Elaeocarpus ganitrus' tree, usually grown in high altitude regions like the Himalayas. According to Shiva Purana, Rudraksha is said to have originated from the eyes of Lord Shiva in the form of tears that landed on earth near Kailash Mountain and formed the Rudraksha tree. This is why the Rudraksha tree grows mostly in the Himalayan regions of Nepal and India. Rudraksha trees also grow in Myanmar, Indonesia (Sumatra and Java), Srilanka, the Philippines, Madagascar, etc. The Rigveda mentions; Rukh draavayathi iti rudraha (Rukha means ‘grief, distress or anguish’, Draavayathi means ‘to eradicate’, ‘iti’ means ‘that’ or ‘who’, and Rudra means another name of Shiva). It means Shiva who eradicates miseries or grief. A person who wears all Ru...

The individual (jiva) forgets her or his unlimited nature, which is actually one with Shiva-Shakti, considering herself or himself to be a limited individual (Purusa) with a certain nature (Prakrti). This is a reflection or shadow of the 36th tattva with a mental apparatus which is itself also a reflection of Iccha, Jnana and Kriya Saktis.  For instance, the “I”, the ahamkar, is the reflection of Iccha. This limited individual has powers of action and powers of knowledge and focuses on the tanmatras, or impression objects, considering herself or himself to be different from the five verities. The five-foldness (prapanca) of the universe, according to this Tantric view, is shown in the te. The three members of the tantric “trinity”, Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, represent the gunas, or qualities of rajas, sattva and tamas, which may be represented by the principles of active, reconciling and negative.  From this triangle come all forms, including the five elements, through differen...

According to Akhand Sutra, Tantra Vidya, Mantra Vidya, Yantra Vidya, and Akhand Yoga are the Four Chief Pillars of Sanatana Dharma, the Indian Spiritual Way of Life. Mantra, Yantra and Tantra are three dimensional esoteric things for Sadhana.  The real beauty of Sanatana Dharma cannot be comprehended without the detailed knowledge of the Science of Tantra, Mantra, Yantra, and Yoga. This is the Truth that Tantra sadhana ensures that sadhaka can obtain moksha (spiritual liberation) and get siddhis (supernormal powers). The roots of tantra can be traced back to the pre-vedic civilization.   The word, Tantra, is derived from Sanskrit root, Tan, which means the human body, and Shashtra, which means the knowledge. Hence, Tantra means the gross, subtle, and absolute wisdom of the hundred trillion cells of the perfect adult human anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, and psychology. Mantra is a sound that evokes a set of vibrations in the cosmos. Yantra is the Space and Energy; namely bo...

Hinduism identified three principal deities. They are Grama Devata (Village Deity) Kula Devata (Family Deity) and Ishta Devata (Favourite Deity). Of these the first two are fixed at the time of his birth and the third one is selected by him. Even within the land of Bharata, different traditions, call upon different forms of the same deity. In many of the Grama Devata temples, you would realize the deities are just “localized and simplified” versions of the Moola Devatas of Shiva, Vishnu, Devi and Shasta. The agamic traditions, have very specified rules and regulations on temple creation and maintenance as do sadhana paths of the various devatas.  Indian culture is laden with the basic principle of humility, i.e. service to others before the self. One learns to serve others first before getting himself satisfied (Atma-Bodha). This is what Vedic culture teaches the person initiated in the science of learning and gaining knowledge (Atma-jnana). Ishtadevta means the God You worship the...

The Master's Voice 50 The Master's say, " The Self or The Soul is the one Reality that always exists, and it is by the light of The Soul that we are able to see all other things in this creation. We forget this aspect and keep concentrating on the appearances before us. For example, The light in the theatre hall burns both, when persons are enacting something, and also when nothing is being enacted. It is the light which enables us to see the hall, the persons and the acting.  We are so engrossed with the objects or appearances revealed by the light, that we  pay no attention to the light.  In the waking or dream state in which things appear, and in the sleep state in which we see nothing, The Light of Consciousness or Self, is always burning, like the hall lamp which is always burning.  The right thing for us to do is to concentrate on The Seer, The Master and not on the seen, not on the objects. We should focus on the Light which reveals them. It is essential that ...