Karpuravalli

Scientific name : Plectracthus Amboinicus
English : Indian borage / Indian mint / Cuban Oregano
Ayurveda : Patta Ajwain
Siddha : Omavalli
Tamil : Karpuravalli

It is used as a common herb in south Asian countries. It is a tender and fleshy perennial plant. It is planted as a home garden or potted plant. It is highly aromatic (camphor/karpuram aroma) with short, soft and hairy leaves. It can be planted just by stem cutting. It grows very fast with little water and sunlight.

Medicinal use 
treating cold, cough and fever in infants
improve digestion and stimulate appetite for small children
cure hiccough
cure malaria fever
treat sore throat and nasal congestion
relief stomach problems  such as flatulence, nausea and diarrhoea
antiseptic - treating infections, wounds, skin allergy, skin ulcer
prevent rheumatism
cure chronic asthma
promote liver health
treat epilepsy
combat colic pain
treat venomous insect bite
cure headache

Use as Food
dip the leaves in batter to make pakora or mix together to make bajji
flavoring meats
meat tenderizer
use as salad

How to use
1. leaves are crushed and the juice extracted (heated up for a while) will be mix with honey or sweetened water for infant and children
2. brew some leaves to make concoction
3. make tea using the leaves - add sugar (rock sugar) and drink
4. just chew some leaves together with some sweet stuffs
5. crush some leaves and patch it on wounds or insect bites

Mathematics in Yajur Veda

A sloka in Yajur Veda describes how mathematics was used since the time immemorial, even by a layman. 2nd sloka in Chapter seventeen of Yajur Veda is a sloka on prayers to increase the number of cattles. Cattles represent the wealth of a person in those days. Thus, the sloka was used to pray for  a person's success in worldly  life which will lead him to the higher level. Success in worldly life is important for a person to lead a proper karmik  and dharmik life for attaining moksha.

The sloka/prayers sound in such:-
"Our number of cattles ought increase from one to ten, ten to hundred, hundred to thousand, thousand to ten thousand, ten thousand to hundred thousand, hundred thousand to one million, one million to hundred millions, hundred millions to thousand millions, thousand millions to mahapadmam, mahapadmam to shank, shank to samudram, samudram to madyam, madyam to prarthk, prarthak to the higher number that lead me to a wealthy life here and hereafter. To guard the wealth, let it give me the strength and punya that equal to the bricks that guards the homa fire"

This shows that how the Hindu mathematics calculation (probably Yajur Veda was compiled 1400-1000 BCE) at ancient time is outnumber recent mathematics figures of millions, billions, trillions and zillions. 

Gurukulam

 

It is the earliest schooling tradition in Hinduism.   It is a non-profit organization. The venue of the school is the Guru or Master's residence or house. The guru allows the students to live together with him.  The Guru  shelter the students and dispel the the darkness of their ignorance with the torch of his knowledge.  The students to live together with him for the entire the time of their courses or education.

It is called as Guru-Sishya parampara (tradition). 

These Gurukuls (school), preserve and spirited the knowledge handed down to us by the Rishis. Till to this date these Gurukuls are the one keeping alive our Vedas, Upanishad, agamas, yogas and also other body of knowledges (vinyana).

In a Gurukul, the sishyas will live under the same roof, irrespective to their social or economic status. A king's son will stay together with a pauper's son. For example, Krishna was Gurukul at their Guru Santipani, together with Kushela (a poor boy). They will be treated equally by the Guru. He let them live together with him. He act as a parent or substitute as a parent, with all the normal forms of parental disciplines. 

He teaches them formal and informal education. The formal education will be the course he is adjoint for. It will be either learning of vedas and religious based knowledge or other skills such as yoga, astrology, medicine, alchemy, language, grammar, martial arts, weaponry,  music, agriculture etc. 

The basic principle of the system is learning by serving. The serve the Guru during the course as he lives in a remote area. The Guru acting as a  parent,  nurture them mentally, intellectually, emotionally, spiritually. The Guru observes the students' characters and temperaments each and everyday. Then, he imparts the knowledge accordingly. The students make the Guru as their role model. They will learn from him and also help him in doing the mundane things like washing, cleaning, gardening, herding the domestic animals, looking for firewoods and etc. The Guru with his flawless character, imbibe moral and ethical values for the students to lead a successful life.  

Till today there is a Gurukul in every part of India

Sustainable development in Hinduism

In Hinduism, divinity should not be segregated from creation and the all-embracing presence should be constantly felt. It teaches that everything is interrelated and interdependent. It is reflected in the Upanishas which emphasis that:

 “…This Universe is the creation of Supreme power meant for the benefit of all His [sic] creation. Each individual life form must therefore learn to enjoy its benefit by forming part of the system in close relation with other species. Let not any one species encroach upon the rights of the others. The universe along with its creatures, belong to the Lord. No creature is superior to any other. Human beings should not be above nature. Let no one species encroach over the rights and privileges of other species..”.

       Hindu ancient practice already applied sustainability in their life system where they disciplined the society by partitioning the use of natural resources according to specific occupations thus created ‘ecological space’ which help to reduce competition among various people for limited natural resources. 

            Furthermore, a Hindu is expected to be carried out environmental values and duties in daily lives. Even they address their tradition as manava dharma or human culture. Dharma connotes moral value that shows the essentiality to uphold, maintain, support, or nourish the human needs.  Generally, dharma is implied in his daily practices as he sees everything he acquires in abundance belongs to the almighty. As stated in Atharva Veda, versus 12.1:

Earth, in which lie the sea, the river, and other waters,
            in which food and cornfields have come to be,
            in which live all that breathes and that moves,
            may she confer on us the finest of her yield....

            Set me, O Earth, amidst what is thy center and thy navel,
            and vitalizing forces that emanate from thy body.
            Purify us from all sides. Earth is my Mother; her son am I;
            and Heaven my Father: may he fill us with plenty....
                                                                                        Atharva Veda 12.1

          The empathy and compassion to all living and non-living things and to live harmoniously with the nature is inbuilt in their traditions. To live a meaningful life, which in this context can be equated with the notion of living sustainably, Indians adhere to the tat twam asi or ‘Thou art I’ (Chandokya Upanishad) philosophy, a fundamental concepts of compassion towards the whole existence.

Aruvatham Patchai

Scientific name - Ruta Graveolens
English - Rue or herb of grace
Siddha - sada pillai
Tamil- Aruvatham patchai

It is a delicate plant until it is called as herb of grace. It is easily wither if it is happen to be touched with impurity  hands. Indians see it as one of the sacred plants. It has a special fragrance. The leaves are bitter in taste. It is a great help for newborn baby care. But, it is recommended to use in a small quantity.

Benefits:-
1. the leaves are used for treating discomfort or indigestion (non-stop crying) and also sudden burst of tremors or quivering among newborn babies - the leaves (one or two) are rolled to make small amulet and tie it to the infant hand as a wristband. Baby will sniff the leaves whenever it brings the hand close to the nose. This cures the discomfort in the baby.

2. crushed leaves are use to make cough syrup or decoction to prevent or combat phlegm.

3. boil few leaves to make decoction and drink it for improve bowel movement and detoxification.

4. smoke the dried leaves to purify the air and deter insects and also to fungal free our home environment.

5. can be used as edible food and salad dressing.

Now it is planted as an ornamental garden plant. Its bluish leaves and tolerance to the extreme climate and poor soil  make it  gardeners choice to beautify gardens. Its also good as insect repellent. It can be used to deter some animals that messing up our garden like cats - cats dislike the smell of this plant.

Rivers

The flowing water on the land, the so called river are given a divine status in Indian culture. All the Indian civilizations was began and nurtured either at the river banks, river basins or river mouth. The rivers are worshiped as for its divinity and purity. It is believed that a bath taken in a flowing water removes all our sins. Water is considered as a powerful media of purification and also as a source of energy. It is considered sacred and respectable. For Hindus to pollute rivers meaning to go against their religion and certainly goes to hell. 

There are seven rivers which are named, particularly, as most sacred for Hindus. They are river Ganga, Yamuna, Godavari, Saraswati, Narmada, Sindhu (Indus) and Kaveri. Thus, everytime we cleanse our body before prayers or even for a normal bath, it is better for us to recite the sloka below. 

" Ganga Cha Yamuna Chaiva Godavari Saraswati,

Narmada Sindhu Kaveri Jalesmin Sannidhim Kuru" 

(In this water, I invoke the presence of divine waters from rivers Ganga, Yamuna, Saraswati, Narmada, Sindhu and Kaveri. They are the river goddesses, and I pray to them for their blessings")

Though we never get the chance to bath in these rivers always, by reciting this sloka it is considered that our bath is auspicious as a holy bath.  

There are some other rivers, beside the above seven, that also given a sacred status. They are Saryu, Gandaki, Gomathi, Sabarmati, Tamsa, Chandarbhaga, Shirpa and Kratmala. 

But, recent studies shows that many or  almost all the rivers are in a poor condition. Uncontrolled urbanisation, industrialisation, illegal mining, pollution due to discharge of untreated industrial effluents, changing agricultural practices, shift to water intensive crops, over exploitation of groundwater and agriculture have contributed to the death of rivers. 

To make sure the ecological flow of the rivers, we need to educate the locals to plants more trees, remove the silt from the river's catchment area and curb solid and hazardous waste from dumped in the waters. 

Cheruk Tok Kun Relics

A shed to protect the relics

The boulder inside the shed

Cheruk Tok Kun Relics is in Bukit Mertajam, Pulau Pinang. It is located at the compound of the St. Anne's Church, Bukit Mertajam. The relics is a large granite boulder with carved inscription on it. The carving is believed to be the southernmost inscription found in this region. If Bujang Valley is Kingdoms are recorded as early as  2nd or 3rd century, Cheruk Tok Kun is carving is probably latter than that. The boulder was gazetted by Malaysian government on 1973. 

Inscription on the boulder

According to Dr Jayabarathi (renowned researcher in Malaysia), this inscription was probably carved around the 5th - 6th centuries.The script is Pre-Pallava and the language is Sanskrit. The inscriptions speaks about 'Thus vanquish, the enemies of King Ramaunnibha'.  

The Southeast Asian Archaeological Blog verifies that there are seven inscriptions all together on the boulder. One of the inscriptions translates as 'pratame vayasi' or in the time of youth. But the other  inscriptions that yet be translated.

St Anne Church, Bukit Mertajam

Gist of Taittriya Upanishad

He who realizes Brahman attains the supreme with reference to that very fact it has been declared:

"Brahman is Existence, Intelligence, Infinitude;

he who realizes him treasured in the cave,
in the highest ether,
fulfills all wants together,
as Brahman the omniscient.

Brahman being the ground and substratum of all,
he is immanent even in contradictories.
Whatever is perceived,
intuited, or imagined,
all that is He".

-Taittirioupanishad by Swami Sarvananda, Ramakrishna Math

Traditional farming

Worldwide, poor agricultural practices has reduced soil organic carbon (SOC) in an alarming level. SOC is carbon stored in the soil.  It is part of the soil organic matter (SOM) which  is made up of a complex and varied mixture of materials such as crop residues, humus and animal matters in a various stages of decay.  SOC in a healthy soil should be >10 percent. But in a heavily exploited soil, the SOC level is  <1 percent.  

The poor soil cause the farmers to use excess amount of artificial fertilizers and pesticides. By doing this, farmers try to yield quick results. But, do they know these will give a negative impact on the natural nutrients and potential of the soil? The excess use of pesticides and fertilizers will contaminate and pollute the water and environment. 

Thus, we need a sustainable, environment friendly and socially responsible farming. Traditional farming system that fit into the desired agrosystem, able to produce sufficient high quality food whilst maintaining and enhancing biodiversity and our natural environment. This type of  farming  uses local techniques such as crop rotation, green manure compost and biological pest control. 

Nowadays,  farmers are advised to implement integrated farming with agricultural and horticulture crops, cattle and sheep rearing, poultry and bee keeping and vermin-culture. Dairy farming is pursued with native breeds of cattle, which were disease-resistant and sturdy.

In India,traditional farming uses mixture containing cow dung, cow urine, organic jaggery, humus soil and flour made from assorted grams ( It is said that one cow is sufficient to produce enough manure for 30 acres). This mixture will rejuvenate soil where the micro-nutrients of the soil give an immune system that capable for the crop to protect itself from diseases.  It also gives better nutrient value to the soil to produce bigger and better sizes crops. Furthermore, there is a huge demands for organic products worldwide.

In small household gardens, one can try using traditional farming method by using a smaller quantity of cow dung, cow urine and sugar. The mixture will be :-

1 kg cow dung

5 liters of cow urine

1 kg jaggery/ sugar

additional  

neem leaves

pungan leaves (punggai mara ilai)

Dump cow dung, cow urine and sugar in a drum. Water will be let in into the drums. neem leaves and pungan leaves in gunny bags will be dumped in the drum. This leaves as a value added input to the to the manure produced. After fermentation for 24 hours , the generated manure from the drum would be let to the plants using drip irrigation. The plants or crops grown in these manure and method are surely disease resistant. 

Arulmigu Bala Thandayuthapani Hilltop Waterfall temple, Penang

Original waterfall temple

The original temple was located within the ground of Penang Botanical gardens. A sadhu (holy man) has chose a spot close to the waterfall (see picture) to build a temple for Murugan around mid of 18th century. It was called as Tanneer malayaan temple. The early Tamil traders, merchants-bankers and moneylenders (Chettiars) and laborers (ferried water to Georgetown) are the devotees of the temple. Since 1800 the temple shrine become the centre for Thaipusam celebration. But, in 1850 the temple was replaced with a new one, when the Penang population swelled drastically and the need for clean water increased. British government  planned to build a reservoir and the site is reserved.  

Now, the temple is in a restricted area controlled by Penang Water Board. Every Thaipusam celebrations the temple committee members with the priest will have a special prayers at the temple and five pots of water will be carried from the waterfall for Abishegam to Lord Muruga and the presiding deities of the old temple.  

 Old temple

The old Thandayuthapani temple was dates from 1850. The British Government has offered an eleven acre land on hillside to build a new temple at the hillside.  A temple was built in a new site (see picture) with name Waterfall temple. Thaipusam celebration was continued. It draws a huge crowd year after year. Though it has undergone renovations in every 12 years cycles (punarutharanam), according to Agamas, the temple site was too small and unable to handle the devotees needs and welfare. Besides Thaipusam, the devotees also increased in number during Chitra Pournami, Kanda Sasti, Karthigai, Adi Pournami festivals. A new temple site was planned to accommodate the increasing number of devotees (estimated up to 700,000 visitors at a time).

New waterfall Hilltop temple

The new site was located at the top of the hill. One has to climb 511 steps - leading from the foothills to reach the temple. The world renowned temple architect  and vaastu expert Dr V. Ganapathy Stapathi was consulted in building the temple. Skilled Indian craftsmen were brought to complete the temple structure according to the temple Agamas. Now, it stands magnificently -  with 21.6m tall raja gopuram (equal to seven storeys building) and 20, 000 sq ft hall (maha mandapam).  It temple interior and exterior was ornately adorned with intricate south Indian architecture. The temple pillars feature the 14th and 15th century Chola and Pallava kingdoms temple designs. The Maha kumbhabishegam or consecration ceremony was done on 29th June 2012. 

maha mandapam

Gopal's Ma

Gopal Ma

Born as Aghormani Devi(1822) at Kamarhati, Kolkata. She was a child widow. She was initiated with her chosen deity (Child Krishna) and given  Gopala mantra. Since then, her spiritual life began. She has devoted her whole love, life and energy to the child Krishna.

She was born in a orthodox brahmin family. She shaved her head as customary rules for a widow. She started a hermit life with a little money  she got from selling her jewellery and properties. She led a intensively contemplative life in a temple garden at Kamarhati.

Here is the little description of  her daily routine for more than 30 years starting from 1852 till 1883.
She would rise at 2 am to do her spiritual practices (pooja, japa and tapa) till 8 am. She cleans the temple and all the pooja vessels, picking flowers, making garlands and sandal paste for the temple deities. And then she takes  a bath at the Ganga river and meditate under a Bilva tree. After meditation she will cook food and offered it as prasad for the the boy Krishna. She partakes the prasad and takes little rest. She then starts again her japa until evening . It is followed by listening to the bhajan and kirtans sang in the temple. She takes a light supper at night and starts her japa again until midnight.

Gopal Ma stayed here alone

In 1884 she met her Guru, Ramakrishna Paramahamsa. Sri Ramakrishna has never talked any spiritual matters to Gopal's Ma but he was the one who started to call her as Gopal's Ma. He would ask for food whenever she contacted him. 1885 she gained a vision that Sri Ramakrishna is melting into boy Krishna. Since then, she started to have uninterrupted visions of boy Krishna day and night - singing, dancing and playing. Sri Ramakrishna has told her that she has attained the goal of her spiritual practices.  

She was grief stricken when Sri Ramakrishna passed away (1886). But she had the repeated vision of the Master who had consoled her and brought her out from the grief. She went on with her daily routine of doing japa with her Gopala Mantra. Occasionally, she visited the Baranagore monastery (Sri Ramakrishna's monk disciples stayed here, led by Swami Vivekananada). She fell ill in 1903 but never stop her daily japas. She had chanted her Gopala Mantra million and million of times until the day of her demise. She was taken care by Sister Nivedita during her last few years. She died on 9th July 1906 at the bank of the river Ganga.

Puli

Scientific name - Tamarindus indica
English - Tamarind
Ayurveda -  Thinthrinee
Tamil - Puli

Its native is Sudan, Africa. But, it was introduced to India long ago. It has been adopted into Indian culture until worldwide it has been perpetuates the illusion of Indian origin.

Tamarind fruits are collected/ harvested by shaking the branches or let the ripe fruits fall naturally. The fruit is shelled and sprinkled lightly with salt as preservative. To store it for long the pulp should be steamed or sun dried for several days.

The fruit is generally, sour in taste. But, there are some sweet varieties  also, such as "Makhamwaan" from Thailand and "Manila Sweet" from USA.

The pulp of the is rich in calcium, phosphorus, iron, thiamine, riboflavin and niacin. Tender or young green fruits are rich in ascorbic acid.

The use:-

Food
1. tender fruit is cooked as seasoning with rice, fish or meat
2. the pulp is soaked and extracted to make chudneys, curries and sauces
3. seeded pulps are coated with sugar to eat as sweetmeats
4. homemade tamarind cordial drinks
5. commercial production of spiced tamarind beverages

In Industry
6. kernels are used to produce 'jellose', 'polyose' or 'pectin' -gel-forming substance.
-  It is used in manufacturing jellies, jams and marmalade.
-  It can be used to preserve fruits
-  It is used as stabilizer in ice cream, mayonnaise and cheese.
-  It is used as an ingredient or agent in some pharmaceutical products
7. The powder made from grinding the tamarind kernels are used:-
-  to sizing and finishing cotton, jute and spun viscose
-  for dressing homemade blankets
-  for colour printing of textiles, paper sizing, leather treating
-  for manufacturing structural plastic, a type of glue for wood, a stabilizer in bricks, a binder in         sawdust briquettes and a thickener in some explosives
-  painting dolls and idols as it produce  amber oil which works as illuminant or varnish
7. Its wood it hard, heavy, strong , durable and insect resistance. It is a good source for:-
-  furniture, tool handles, wheel, panelling, planks for boats, ploughs, rice pounders, mortars and
    pestles etc.
-  charcoal for manufacturing gun-powder
-  fuel for brick kiln
-  ashes for tanning and de-hairing goat-skin
-  young stems for walking sticks

Medicine
8. The tamarind pulp preparation is used as :-
-   refrigerants in fevers
-   laxatives
-   combating flatulence
-   remedy for biliousness or bile disorders
-   pulp extract and salt mixture (diluted) to gargle for sore throat
-   pulp extract and salt mixture (thick) applied as ointments for rheumatism and sun strokes
-   pulp extract for the restoration of senses for paralysis cases
-   tamarind drinks for digestion and alcoholic intoxication
-   vermifuge domestic animals - cattle, goats, elephant
9. The tamarind leaves and flowers (dried and boiled) are used  as :-
-   bandages for swollen joints, sprains and boils
-   treating Pink eye (Madras eye/conjunctivitis)  
-   antiseptic
-   treating dysentery
-   combating jaundice
-   curing erysipelas (red skin)
-   treating hemorrhoids
10. The bark of the tree (fried with salt and powdered)
-   cures indigestion and colic
-   herbal drinks curbs gingivitis, asthma and eye inflammations
-   ashes are applied open sores and rashes
11. The tamarind roots are made herbal drinks to cure :-
-   chest complaints
-   leprosy   

Siakai

Scientific name - Acaccia Cincinna
English - Shikakai/ Soap pod
Ayurveda - Shikakai
Siddha - Siakai/Shikaikai ( Shikai-treses , Kai-fruit)

Part to be used :- fruit pods, leaves and bar

How to use :- sun dried and ground to make powder or paste

Benefits:-
1. traditional shampoo (preserve scalp's natural oils)
2. good scalp cleanser (extremely mild cleanser with very low pH)
3. hair detangler (no need to use conditioner)
4. anti-dandruff
5. strengthen hair roots
6. promotes hair growth
7. coolant for the scalp
8. increase bounciness and silkiness of the hair
9. remove dirt and excess oil accumulated on the scalp
10. helps darken the hair
11. enhance natural hair dye (good preparation before hair colouring)

 Dried shikakai pod

powdered shikakai