Monday, April 30, 2007
Sanskrit - English Dictionary
While studying Indology subjects, you need a good dictionary for understanding Sanskrit words. I found this dictionary useful - http://www3.aa.tufs.ac.jp/~tjun/sktdic/index.html
Monday, April 23, 2007
Recommended Reads for Tantra by Shambhavi Sarasvati
Books recommended by Shabhavi Sarasvati ji of http://www.livingtantra.net/, the only genuine website on Tantra I found on Internet till now -
- Diana J. Mukpo: Dragon Thunder: My Life with Chögyam Trungpa
An inspiring and profound portrait of life with a Tantrik Mahasiddha. - Swami Lakshmanjoo: Self Realization in Kashmir Shaivism
Teachings given by an erudite and accomplished Master. - Swami Satyananda Saraswati: Sannyasa Tantra A very early book by the head of our lineage that lays out the unique path of the Tantrik Sannyasin householder.
- Ram Alexander: Death Must Die A riveting, blow-by-blow diary of a Western woman disciple's life with Anandamayi Ma. Very expensive new. Buy it used! Note: You can download a shorter, .pdf version of this diary published under the title As The Flower Sheds its Fragrance
- Swami Janakananda Saraswati: Yoga, Tantra and Meditation in Daily Life
A practical introduction by one of the more experienced teachers in the Satyananda lineage. - Madhu Khanna: Yantra: The Tantric Symbol of Cosmic Unity
Tantrik cosmology explained. - Ajit Mookerjee: The Tantric Way: Art, Science, Ritual
The introduction to this book is probably the best general intro to the history, View, and basic approaches of Tantra. - Daniel Odier: Tantric Quest
A good book to start with if you don't want to read an academic tome. - Chogyam Trungpa: Cutting Through Spiritual Materialism
If you want to have an authentic spiritual life, you have to read this book ( or channel it). - Swami Radha: Radha: Diary of a Woman's Search
Beautiful story of a close disciple of Swami Sivananda of Rishikesh. - Swami Satyananda Saraswati: Kundalini Tantra
A classic practice text by the head of my lineage. - Pandit Rajmani Tigunait: Tantra Unveiled
Excellent intro to Tantra from the Himalayan lineage of Swami Rama. - Robert Svoboda: Aghora: At the Left-Hand of God
Casteneda-ish tale of an American disciple and his crazy wisdom guru.
Sunday, April 22, 2007
Fortuna And Other Arabic Parts
In our KP System discussion forum, we are having an intense discussion on the fast moving point 'Fortuna' (also called Pars Fortuna or Part of Fortune). Shri K. S. Krishamurthi, the inventor of KP System, mentioned about Fortuna in the second reader, but he really didn't given much detail. The application and examples are also missing. While doing some googling, I found this article very useful. Please check it out.
Sunday, April 15, 2007
Commentaries on Classical Literature of Ayurveda
I was searching commentaries on various classical literature of Ayurveda. I personally found that going thorough the recent commentaries are the best and the easiest way to learn the subject. There are lots of books available both by Indian authors and Western authors, but I don't find them useful enough, especially when you have the original text available with you. I also didn't find any good book either by Western or an Indian that shows their experience. So, after doing some googling on Internet, I found following list that looks very good to me -
Though I don't posses all above commentaries mentioned above, but out of whatever I have, I personally found Lal Chandra Vaidya's commentaries very good and well written. I also like commentaries by Pt. Ram Prasad Sharma. The one I didn't like is Sushrut Samhita's commentary by Atrideo.
The article from where I have taken the list talks a lot about other commentaries as well at different period of time. The details article can be found here.
All of above commentaries are Sanskrit-Hindi commentaries. I am still looking for some good commentaries in English language. If you know good commentaries in English language, please let me know.
| S.No | Name of the Text Book | Author/Commentator | Year of Publication |
| 1. | Sushrutarthsandipan Bhasya | Harana Chandra Chakravarthy | 1908 |
| 2. | Charakopaskar | Yogindranath Sen (Calcutta) | 1920 |
| 3. | Charakapradipika | Jyotishchandra Saraswati (Calcutta) | 20th Century |
| 4. | Nighantu Ratnakar | Duttaram Chaube (Mathura) | -do- |
| 5. | Commentary on Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Kalika & Bhaisajya Ratnavali | Jaideo Vidyalankar | 1970 |
| 6. | Commentary on Charaka Sushruta & Astanga Samgraha | Atrideo Vidyalankar | 20th Century |
| 7. | Commentary on Charaka, Astanga Hrdaya etc. | Pt.Ram Prasad Sharma (Patiala) | -do- |
| 8. | Commentary on Sushruta Samhita etc. | Bhaskar Govinda Gharekar (Varanasi) | -do- |
| 9. | Commentary on Rasaratna Samuchchya | Duttatraya Anant Kulkarni (Varanasi) | -do- |
| 10. | Critical Commentary on Astanga Hrdya, Bhava - Prakash & Ashtanga Samgraha. | Lal Chandra Vaidya (Varanasi) | -do- |
| 11. | Rasa Hrdaya Yantri, Rasa Sara and 14 Other Books | Yadavji Vikramji Acharya | 1910-1911 |
| 12. | Padarth Vijnana | Pt.Ramrakshaji Pathak | 20th Century |
| 13. | Ayurveda Kriya Sharira | Vd.Ranjeet Roy Desai | -do- |
| 14. | Abhinava Prasut Tantra | Pt.Damodar Shastri Gaur | -do- |
| 15. | History of Medicine in India, Dravya Guna Vijnana (Varanasi) and Indian Medicine in Classical Age etc. | Acharya Priyavrat Sharma | 1972 |
Though I don't posses all above commentaries mentioned above, but out of whatever I have, I personally found Lal Chandra Vaidya's commentaries very good and well written. I also like commentaries by Pt. Ram Prasad Sharma. The one I didn't like is Sushrut Samhita's commentary by Atrideo.
The article from where I have taken the list talks a lot about other commentaries as well at different period of time. The details article can be found here.
All of above commentaries are Sanskrit-Hindi commentaries. I am still looking for some good commentaries in English language. If you know good commentaries in English language, please let me know.
Dangers of Pranayama and Kundalini Yoga
Pranayama and Kundalini Yoga, if not performed properly, can be very dangerous. Pandit Gopi Kishan has written a good book about it. I have also found a good discussion on AyurvedaOnline forum that can be found here.
Correct Way Of Performing Neti
1 JALANETI - (CLEANSING OF NASAL PASSAGE BY USE OF WATER)
Contraindications : Blocked nostrils. Salt not to be used if a person is
suffering from hypertension or if salt is contraindicated for any other reason.
Materials Required : Jalaneti cup, glass/tumbler, body-warm potable water,
common edible salt, spoon and a napkin. Saline water should be prepared by
adding half a teaspoon of salt in half a litre body-warm water. Adjust the
quantity of salt and temperature of water as per needs.
Technique : Stand comfortably, preferably before a basin or in a bathroom.
Alternatively, sit on a chair or squat in the open space.
Fill the Jalaneti cup with saline water. Hold the filled cup in the left palm,
keeping four fingers outside and thumb towards the body. Hold the cup firmly
fixing middle finger and thumb in the depressions provided on the respective
sides of the Jalaneti cup. Bring the chin towards chest and tilt the head
suitably towards the right side. Insert the spout of the Jalaneti cup in the
left nostril, keep the mouth open and breathe through mouth throughout. Raise up
the cup slowly taking left elbow up but without changing the position of the
head unless the change is absolutely necessary. Due to this, saline water will
enter from the left to the right nostril and glide down from it. Let the flow of
water coming out of right nostril be slow, smooth, continuous and uniform.
Repeat the above actions, now holding the filled Jalaneti cup in the right
hand for getting the flow of water out from the left nostril. This completes one
round of Jalaneti. Normally, one round of Jalaneti, practised preferably in the
moring, is enough. In special conditions, however, rounds of Jalaneti can be
increased and practised for more than once in a day and at convenient times, as
per needs.
RUBBERNETI (CLEANSING OF NASAL PASSAGE BY RUBBER CATHETER)
Contraindications : Growth of bone or flesh in the nostrils, septum deviation
or blocked nostrils.
Materials Required : 1) Rubber Catheter (surgical quality) of suitable length
and diameter. Clean the catheter thoroghly. Dip it in boiling water before and
after use for making it hygienic. Use the moist/wet catheter only. 2) Clean
napkin. 3) Clean hot and cold potable water.
Technique : Stand before the basin or in a bathroom/ open space or sit in a
chair or squat. Take wet catheter in the right hand. Open the mouth, tilt the
head a little up and back. Give a slight inward curvature to the tapered end
side of the moist/wet catheter and gently insert that end of the catheter in the
right nostril. Along with the inhalation, gently push the catheter inside. If
needed, one can close the left nostril while inhaling by right nostril to
increase the force of inhalation which will enable catheter to go inside along
with forceful
inhalation. But the force should not be more than required as otherwise the
catheter may go more to the upside and touch the olfactory nerves which may
cause intense pain.
Coughing or irritation felt at the throat are the sure indications of catheter
having entered in a throat. At that stage, stop pushing the catheter further
inside. Now wide open the mouth. Enter the pair of thumb and the index finger or
that of index finger and the middle finger inside the throat and catch the
tapered end of the catheter. Slowly pull the catheter out from mouth,
simultaneously loosening the other end of the catheter. Catch hold of upper end
of the catheter in the right hand thumb and index finger and its lower end
coming out from the mouth in the left hand thumb and index finger. Keep the
mouth open and give a gentle massage to inner layer of the nasal passage by
gently moving the catheter to and fro for 3 to 5 times. If required, the number
of massaging movements can be increased provided they are done comfortably and
with the least efforts.
Gently pull the lower end of the catheter out from the mouth simultaneously
loosening the other end of the catheter for facilitating the catheter to come
out comfortably. The upper wide open end of the catheter will cleanse the nasal
passage and remove dirt while coming out from the mouth. Clean the catheter
thoroughly both from inside and outside before using it again. Do the same
action of Rubberneti through the left nostril. Cleansing right and left nostrils
with the rubber catheter will complete one round of Rubberneti.
After completing the practice, clean the catheter thoroughly inside-outside,
shake off water from the catheter, wipe it with a clean and dry cloth. This
should be done meticulously as otherwise lapse in it may prove dangerous. Keep
the catheter in an air-tight box of a suitable size and* preferably of a round
shape.
Notes :
1. One round of Rubberneti may be practised daily or as and when
required,
preferably in the morning. One can practise Rubberneti from any of the
nostrils first.
2. In the beginning, one can lubricate the tapered end of the
catheter with a
suitable edible oil or ghee for ensuring smooth and comfortable
movement of catheter inside the nostrils.
3. Nails of index, middle and thumb fingers must be well trimmed and
filed so hat they don't hurt the mucous membrane while taking out end of the
catheter from the mouth.
Benefits :
1. Cleanses the nasal passage thoroughly.
2. By gentle massage, refreshes nerve ends at the inner layers of
nostrils.
3. Increases the resistance and tolerance level of
delicate inner layers of the nostrils and the nerve ends.
4. Helps to prevent and cure functional types of cold , asthma,
bronchial troubles and breathing problems. Improves the overall health of the
ear, nose and throat.
5. Prevents and restricts septum deviation and troublesome growth
of bone or flesh in the nostrils. Improves breathing.
6. When practiced along with other nasal cleansing processes like
Jalaneti, Shwasana-Marga Shuddhi, Kapalabhati, benefits get enhanced.
Taken from a post from AyurvedaOnline forum. Please check the full post here.
Contraindications : Blocked nostrils. Salt not to be used if a person is
suffering from hypertension or if salt is contraindicated for any other reason.
Materials Required : Jalaneti cup, glass/tumbler, body-warm potable water,
common edible salt, spoon and a napkin. Saline water should be prepared by
adding half a teaspoon of salt in half a litre body-warm water. Adjust the
quantity of salt and temperature of water as per needs.
Technique : Stand comfortably, preferably before a basin or in a bathroom.
Alternatively, sit on a chair or squat in the open space.
Fill the Jalaneti cup with saline water. Hold the filled cup in the left palm,
keeping four fingers outside and thumb towards the body. Hold the cup firmly
fixing middle finger and thumb in the depressions provided on the respective
sides of the Jalaneti cup. Bring the chin towards chest and tilt the head
suitably towards the right side. Insert the spout of the Jalaneti cup in the
left nostril, keep the mouth open and breathe through mouth throughout. Raise up
the cup slowly taking left elbow up but without changing the position of the
head unless the change is absolutely necessary. Due to this, saline water will
enter from the left to the right nostril and glide down from it. Let the flow of
water coming out of right nostril be slow, smooth, continuous and uniform.
Repeat the above actions, now holding the filled Jalaneti cup in the right
hand for getting the flow of water out from the left nostril. This completes one
round of Jalaneti. Normally, one round of Jalaneti, practised preferably in the
moring, is enough. In special conditions, however, rounds of Jalaneti can be
increased and practised for more than once in a day and at convenient times, as
per needs.
RUBBERNETI (CLEANSING OF NASAL PASSAGE BY RUBBER CATHETER)
Contraindications : Growth of bone or flesh in the nostrils, septum deviation
or blocked nostrils.
Materials Required : 1) Rubber Catheter (surgical quality) of suitable length
and diameter. Clean the catheter thoroghly. Dip it in boiling water before and
after use for making it hygienic. Use the moist/wet catheter only. 2) Clean
napkin. 3) Clean hot and cold potable water.
Technique : Stand before the basin or in a bathroom/ open space or sit in a
chair or squat. Take wet catheter in the right hand. Open the mouth, tilt the
head a little up and back. Give a slight inward curvature to the tapered end
side of the moist/wet catheter and gently insert that end of the catheter in the
right nostril. Along with the inhalation, gently push the catheter inside. If
needed, one can close the left nostril while inhaling by right nostril to
increase the force of inhalation which will enable catheter to go inside along
with forceful
inhalation. But the force should not be more than required as otherwise the
catheter may go more to the upside and touch the olfactory nerves which may
cause intense pain.
Coughing or irritation felt at the throat are the sure indications of catheter
having entered in a throat. At that stage, stop pushing the catheter further
inside. Now wide open the mouth. Enter the pair of thumb and the index finger or
that of index finger and the middle finger inside the throat and catch the
tapered end of the catheter. Slowly pull the catheter out from mouth,
simultaneously loosening the other end of the catheter. Catch hold of upper end
of the catheter in the right hand thumb and index finger and its lower end
coming out from the mouth in the left hand thumb and index finger. Keep the
mouth open and give a gentle massage to inner layer of the nasal passage by
gently moving the catheter to and fro for 3 to 5 times. If required, the number
of massaging movements can be increased provided they are done comfortably and
with the least efforts.
Gently pull the lower end of the catheter out from the mouth simultaneously
loosening the other end of the catheter for facilitating the catheter to come
out comfortably. The upper wide open end of the catheter will cleanse the nasal
passage and remove dirt while coming out from the mouth. Clean the catheter
thoroughly both from inside and outside before using it again. Do the same
action of Rubberneti through the left nostril. Cleansing right and left nostrils
with the rubber catheter will complete one round of Rubberneti.
After completing the practice, clean the catheter thoroughly inside-outside,
shake off water from the catheter, wipe it with a clean and dry cloth. This
should be done meticulously as otherwise lapse in it may prove dangerous. Keep
the catheter in an air-tight box of a suitable size and* preferably of a round
shape.
Notes :
1. One round of Rubberneti may be practised daily or as and when
required,
preferably in the morning. One can practise Rubberneti from any of the
nostrils first.
2. In the beginning, one can lubricate the tapered end of the
catheter with a
suitable edible oil or ghee for ensuring smooth and comfortable
movement of catheter inside the nostrils.
3. Nails of index, middle and thumb fingers must be well trimmed and
filed so hat they don't hurt the mucous membrane while taking out end of the
catheter from the mouth.
Benefits :
1. Cleanses the nasal passage thoroughly.
2. By gentle massage, refreshes nerve ends at the inner layers of
nostrils.
3. Increases the resistance and tolerance level of
delicate inner layers of the nostrils and the nerve ends.
4. Helps to prevent and cure functional types of cold , asthma,
bronchial troubles and breathing problems. Improves the overall health of the
ear, nose and throat.
5. Prevents and restricts septum deviation and troublesome growth
of bone or flesh in the nostrils. Improves breathing.
6. When practiced along with other nasal cleansing processes like
Jalaneti, Shwasana-Marga Shuddhi, Kapalabhati, benefits get enhanced.
Taken from a post from AyurvedaOnline forum. Please check the full post here.
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