Thursday, October 24, 2013

Myth busted or "science" busted ?

Times of India published this article yesterday

U-turn-Butter-cheese-eggs-not-bad-for-heart

The article reads -

"Malhotra is an interventional cardiology specialist and registrar at Croydon University Hospital in London says scientific evidence shows that advice to reduce saturated fat intake “has paradoxically increased our cardiovascular risks.”

He says the government’s obsession with levels of total cholesterol “has led to the over-medication of millions of people with statins and has diverted our attention from the more egregious risk factor of atherogenic dyslipidaemia” (an unfavourable ratio of blood fats).

Saturated fat has been demonized since the 1970s when a landmark study concluded that there was a correlation between incidence of coronary heart disease and total cholesterol which was then correlated with the percentage of calories provided by saturated fat, Malhotra said.
   World heart foundation website says "Fat
"Research makes it clear that abnormal blood lipid (fat) levels have a strong correlation with the risk of coronary artery disease, heart attack and coronary death. In turn, abnormal blood lipids are related to what you eat.  A diet high in saturated fats (e.g. cheese) and trans fats (often used in cakes, cookies and fast food) leads to high levels of cholesterol.

Saturated fats are found in animal products.  Trans fats are oils that have been hydrogenated to turn them into semi-hard fats.  Hydrogenated fat is found in processed food like shop-bought cakes, biscuits, stock cubes and a range of other products you buy every day. Saturated and trans fats raise cholesterol levels in the blood, which in turn can lead to atherosclerosis.

Unsaturated fats, polyunsaturated and monounsaturated are beneficial for heart health.  They are present in fish, nuts, seeds and vegetables."


Comment - Then we were sold dieticians, cholesterol tests, fat free oils, oats, cholesterol reducing fibers. We threw out ghee and natural oils from our diet. A lot of us ended up with dried up joints and intestines. Now it is time to start selling us packaged fats. Very scientific !!

Wednesday, October 23, 2013

Six angas of the Veda

छन्दः पादौ तु वेदस्य हस्तौ कल्पोऽथ पठ्यते ।
ज्योतिषामयनं चक्षुर्निरुक्तं श्रोत्रमुच्यते ॥
शिक्षा घ्राणं तु वेदस्य मुखं व्याकरणं स्मृतम् ।
तस्मात् साङ्गमधीत्यैव ब्रह्मलोके महीयते ॥

chhandas - legs - the branch dealing with meters in which mantras are composed.

kalpam - hands - deals with procedure of yajnas

jyotisham- eyes - helpful in identifying timings based on astronomical factors

niruktam - ears - deals with terminology and meanings

shiksha - nose - science of correct pronunciation

vyakaranam - mouth - grammar

Hence, one who learns the vedas with the angas alone attains brahmaloka

Saturday, September 21, 2013

Purpose of pindapradanam during death rites

At death, the physical body's funeral is performed. For further journey of the atma another body called aativahika sharira is created by the performer of the death rites. This is done by providing pindas to the atma from day 1 to day 9. Some provide all the pindas together on the 9th day. This is not appropriate. How the pindas provided on each day is utilized is given below.

Day 1 - creation of head
Day 2 - creation of eyes, ears and nose
Day 3 - creation of neck, shoulder and hands
Day 4 - creation of back, sides, stomach, hips and private parts
Day 5 - creation of thighs, knees and crus
Day 6 - creation of ankles, feet, fingers and marmas (vulnerable nerve centres), skin
Day 7 - creation of bones, skull and marrow, blood vessels
Day 8 -  creation of nails and hair
Day 9 - creation of strength and energy
Day 10 -  to take care of its hunger

With the body so acquired, the atma proceeds to the next world.

Friday, September 13, 2013

Combat strategy in the veda

Krishna Yajurveda 6.2.3 talks about the battle between devas and asuras. Tripura ( not the state Tripura) was the dwelling place of the asuras. It was made up of three layers, the lowermost of iron, the middle of silver and the uppermost gold. Devas found it difficult to conquer them.

They laid siege by surrounding it and cut of all supplies and help to the asuras. After depleting the asuras of all their strength in this manner, they were attacked and destroyed.

Veda says, those who know of this and even the laymen would strategize  in such a way that they don't attack the strong enemy directly. First lay siege, weaken and then attack.

Tuesday, July 30, 2013

Yajna performed without faith and not following proper procedure



Yajnas are performed to receive their auspicious results. They should be performed with faith and carried out strictly as per procedure laid down in the brahmanas and sutras.

Krishna Yajurveda 2.6.10 narrates ....

Svagakarta in a yajna is the person who makes sure that each deity receives his share of offering without mix up. Once, while devas were performing yajna, ( even devas perform yajnas, that's how they become devas and remain devas ) they could not find a svagakarta. They approached Shamyu, son of Brihaspati and asked him to take up this role. Shamyu asked for a boon in return - if anyone performs yajna without faith or not following the proper procedure as laid down in the scriptures, let the auspicious results of such yajnas come to me. It was granted.

There is no point in performing yajna without faith and in violation of the ordained procedure as the result goes to somebody else.

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Thursday, July 25, 2013

Penance for offending Gods

Atharva veda 6.114.1 - यद्देवा देवहेडनं

Coming under the influence of senses, we have committed sin that has angered gods.May lord Surya release us from this sin by virtue of the truth of mantra.

A variant of this mantra is also there in Rigveda (10.37.12) wherein the ill effects of the sin is transferred to enemies.

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Wednesday, July 17, 2013

Stick to your Gods !

People these days have this tendency to take up new spiritual practices such as mantra sadhana. One's own roots such as sandhyavandanam, gayatri, kuladevata and puja at home are neglected. Not even lighting a lamp in front of gods at home, they run from temple to to temple and attend satsangs seeking blessings.

Veda says ( T.S.2.5.4)

यो वै स्वां देवतामतियजते प्र स्वायै देवतायै च्यवते न परां  प्राप्नोति पापीयान्भवति

One who goes beyond his own deity loses his own deity and does not obtain another one. He becomes a sinner.

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Importance of using right quantity of materials in homa/havan

Krishna Yajurveda 2.5.4 says

यस्मै वा अल्पेना$$हरन्ति ना$$त्मना तृप्यति नान्यस्मै ददाति यस्मै महता तृप्यत्यात्मना  ददात्यन्यस्मै

To whom something is offered in small quantity is himself not satisfied, he will not give to others.

To whom something is offered in plentiful is satisfied, and he will  give to others.

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Tuesday, July 2, 2013

What is yajna ?

येन सदनुष्ठानेन इन्द्रप्रभृतयो देवाः सुप्रसन्ना: सुवृष्टिं कुर्युस्तद्  यज्ञपदाभिधेयम्  |
By performing which devas such as Indra are pleased and cause good rains is called yajna.
येन सदनुष्ठानेन स्वर्गादिप्राप्तिः सुलभा स्यात् तद् यज्ञपदाभिधेयम् |
By performing which attainment of heaven etc. are easily accomplished is called yajna.
येन सदनुष्ठानेन संपूर्णं विश्वं कल्याणं भजेत् तद् यज्ञपदाभिधेयम् |
Performance of which is auspicious to the entire universe is called yajna.
येन सदनुष्ठानेन आध्यात्मिक - आधिभौतिक - आधिदैविक तापत्रयोन्मूलनं सुकरं स्यात्  तद् यज्ञपदाभिधेयम् |
By the performance of which, the troubles of threefold nature, aadhyaatmika, aadhibhautika and aadhidaivika are easily removed, is called yajna.
मन्त्रैर्देवतामुद्दिश्य द्रव्यस्य दानं यागः
Offering to devatas accompanied by mantras is called yaga.

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