Following are few of good practices one should follow for the betterment and improved quality of life. These are referred to as Dharmic practices and are not necessarily to do with any religion but to do with mankind. These practices have no time limit nor amount or quantity is specified. It is all up to ones own energy and capacity. And these practices have to be continuous effort and are to be followed for lifelong.
One question you may have is that how these practices are related to Ayurveda way of living. As I said in one of my early blogs, Ayurveda is not a medical treatment but actually is way or direction towards how to live a good life. And Ayurveda is predominantly a preventive care or measure than curative healthcare system. The below-mentioned practices are few such practices which will not only alleviate sufferings of any kind but also enrich our life by connecting us to the environment around us. Following these practices will keep us grounded and remind us constantly that we are a minuscule part of the whole Universe rather than the Universe itself.
1. Kondapindi Aaku (Aerva lanata (L.) JUSS. EX SCHULT. ) for clearing all kinds of financial problems, heave loans and debts
Names in different languages
Botanical Name: Aerva lanata (L.) JUSS. EX SCHULT. , Family: AMARANTHACEAE
Sanskrit: Astmabayda, Pashanabheda
Telugu: Kondapindi, Pindi kura, Pindichettu
Tamil: Acuvamanaku, Antipilai, Sirupeelai
Hindi: Kapurijadi, Chotibui, Gorakhboonti
Process:
Every day tie the leaves in a cloth and hang them in front of the house in the morning. Next day change the leaves. The used leaves should be burnt and the smoke to be allowed to spread in the house.
Benefit: By doing this, any amount of loan running even into crores will be cleared. Even if income is 1000/- loan will be cleared and one will have no clue on how the loan has been cleared.
2. Feeding Ants will make you achieve whatever you aim for
Process: Black ants (small) are auspicious. Rice powder or wheat flour and sugar mix to be kept around an ant hill. Care should be taken not to be given inside the anthill. The same mix we can keep anywhere else for ants to eat.
Also while giving or eating food on a banana leaf put rice flour around the leaf so that ants do not run onto the leaf served with food but eat the rice flour.
Benefit: By feeding ants near and around the anthill will rectify any kind of Naga Dosha (Unknown defect or deficiency or lack acquired by causing harm to snakes). In Hindu tradition, we believe that certain defects are caused due to harming snakes. These will be rectified or corrected by following this practice. Similarly feeding ants by putting the flour and sugar mix in any other place will make us realise or achieve whatever we desire or aim for in life.
3. Serving Cow will help us remove any kind of defect (Dosha) or negative energy
Here when we say cow we are referring only to the desi cow or local breeds of India.
Process: Any kind of service to cows including cleaning the cow shed, feeding cows as much as possible, touching the backside of cow and worship are to be done daily. Applying kumkumam (turmeric and slaked lime powdered together to make into red colour powder which is used during prayers or poojas during Hindus festivals and on other auspicious days) on the backside of the cow and applying that kumkumam on the forehead.
Feeding cows daily as much as possible by giving them fresh grass and vegetables. For this we don’t need to buy expensive vegetables rather collect all the vegetable waste from houses and markets and feed cows. Cattle feed can also be given to them.
Benefit: Feeding and serving cows will not only move us away from various defects, lacunae, deficiencies but also help us in leading a smooth and peaceful life. In Hindu tradition it is believed various that Gods and Goddesses reside in different parts of cow. By feeding and taking care of cows we will receive blessings from all deities and divine forms.
4. Feeding snakes will remove Naga Dosha
Process: Milk for snakes to be kept near the hole in a bowl or any curved mud plate. One should not pour milk in the hole.
Benefit: Feeding snakes will remove or rectify Naga Doshas (defect caused by harming snakes).
5. Feeding horses for disease-free life
Process: Feed horse gram (Ulavalu in Telugu, Kollu in Tamil, and Kulthi in Hindi), wheat husk (godhuma puttu in Telugu, Kōtumai taviṭu, gehun chokar in Hindi), or fresh grass as much as possible to horses.
Benefits: It is said that Ashwini devatas (twin Vedic Hindu Gods for health) reside in horses, so feeding horses will protect us from all kinds of diseases.
6. Feeding crows will appease our ancestors
Process: Every day before eating we should feed Crows with roti, rice, or anything that we cook at home.
Benefit: This will help in rectifying pitru doshas (Defects or difficulties acquired due to neglecting our ancestors).
7. Feeding Monkeys to free ourselves from all kinds of negative powers and illnesses
Practice: Feed monkeys daily with vegetables, fruits such as tomatoes, bananas etc. or cooked food like roti (traditional Indian bread), rice or peanuts (groundnuts) which a favourite food to them.
Benefit: As per Hindu tradition and scripture Ramayana Lord Hanuman or Anjaneya Swami brought Sanjeevani parvatam (Mountain Sanjeevani) to protect Lakshmana (Lord Rama’s brother) during the war between Ravana and Lord Rama. And it is also believed that Lord Hanuman resides in Monkeys. Feeding Monkeys therefore will help in protecting us from all types of diseases and fulfils our desires immediately.
8. Feeding Elephants will protect from dangers and life-threatening diseases
Practice: Feed Elephants with Jaggery (Bellam in Telugu, Gud in Hindi, Vellam in Tamil), sugarcane, fresh grass, bananas and vegetables, coconut leaves.
Benefit: As per the Hindu tradition Elephant is Lord Ganesha. By feeding elephants, all obstacles will be cleared in our way and also protects us from dangerous, life-threatening diseases and surgeries.
9. Feeding birds will alleviate us from head related diseases
Practice: Birds to be fed with different kinds of grains such as rice and millets, groundnuts, sprouts. Parrots like sesame seeds (Nuvvulu in Telugu, Til in Hindi, Ellu in Tamil) and any cooked food. There is no limit in quantity or number of days to be given.
Benefit: Feeding birds helps in curing headaches and any other head-related diseases. Also, any kind of Dosha acquired by killing birds will also be rectified by feeding them.
10. Feeding Dogs aids in curing diseases
Practice: Feed Dogs with any food item that is available with you such as biscuits, cooked food, fruits etc.
Benefit: Dogs are called Kalabhairavas in Hindu tradition. Feeding them will help in curing diseases and Doshas acquired by beating dogs will be rectified.
11. Other Practices that will help us in improving the quality of life and helps us get closer to Mother Nature
a. Mouna Vratam: Mouna means staying silent and Vratam practice for a certain period of time. This means keeping or staying silent that allows one to reflect and introspect and thus connect with the inner self. There are three types or levels of maintaining silence.
a.1. Staying silent most of the times and speaking only when it is absolutely necessary. And using sign language to communicate whenever possible. This way if one practices for 12 years then it helps in fulfilling Dharmik (righteous) desires.
a. 2. Kathina (Difficult) Mounam: This means reducing the usage of sign language for communication and this is medium level. This to be practised for six years for fulfilling of Dharmik desires.
a. 3. Kaashta (Corpse) Mounam: In this, one has to conduct oneself as a corpse i.e., one should not react or respond to the surroundings. For example if jokes are cracked one should not laugh or if there is something sad one should not express sadness. This is considered to be the best form of staying silent.
Benefits of practising Kaashta Mounam for 365 days (1 year), any Dhaarmik desire will be fulfilled that will help in reaching the ultimate goal of life, that is merging with the Ultimate. If one year is difficult then for two years every day for half a day Kashta Mounam to be followed and in this sleep time is not counted. It is said that even the tiger will behave like a cat if you follow any of the three types of Mounam.
b. Waking up during Brahma Muhurtam: As per Hindu tradition, all the positive energy (Gods and Yogis) moves around during Brahma Muhurtam i.e, around 4 am in the morning. During that time if we wake up we absorb those positive vibrations. At that time, it is supposed to be very auspicious if one takes bath in rivers, waterfalls or dams or any freshwater bodies as during that time there is the concentration of positive energy in water (all our Gods also take bath in these water bodies). Studying at this time is also supposed to help in learning more and retaining fast.
In contradiction to this eating or moving around in the streets, studying around at midnight is not good as negative energy moves around and we attract that energy.
c. Bath is seas during auspicious days: Taking a bath in a sea on auspicious days is considered good. Before going to the sea for a bath take bath at home. Before bathing in sea, take 48 hand fulls of sand and put it in the sea. By doing this waves can be minimised and it becomes easy to take bath avoiding any kind of danger to life.
Benefits: In Hindu tradition, there is a practice of offering rice, lentils, and any other kind of food or articles when there is a demise at home or during some special days where people offer to Brahmins for rectifying their Doshas. They are called as Dasa danas or Shodasa danas. After receiving such offerings from others the person who has taken it is supposed to take bath in the sea within 36 hours so that Dosha is rectified. The same effect will be there for others also when they take a bath in Seas. All rivers join the sea, the sea gets all the positive energy from these rivers. One has to take a bath in the sea only during auspicious days.
d. Taking bath in rivers or lakes: Before bathing in a river or lake 48 handfuls of sand to be taken from the river or lake and put it outside on the river bed. With this de-silting takes place and water will flow well without any obstacles. This way river bank will become stronger and prevents flooding nearby villages.
Benefits: In India, rivers are considered to be sacred and once in 12 years during particular Hindu calendar month special prayers are offered to that river on its banks. There are 12 sacred rivers in India and one river in one year is prayed during a certain month and time. This is called Pushkaram. During Pushkaram each river has specific power. It may not be possible to bath during Pushkaram, therefore, it is better to bath in the river in other days. One can take a bath in the river every day or any day. River flows across various forests gathering herbs and their medicinal qualities. By taking a bath in a river we will also get these benefits along with the blessings of the river goddess.
e. Planting trees by seed distribution: Birds such as crow, sparrow when they pluck fruits to eat drop the seeds in different places. It is important to protect birds by feeding them and not chasing them away from our front and backyards. For planting trees on special drives or on Environment days money is needed. But by protecting birds trees are naturally planted. And we all are aware that if they're more tress then there will be more rain and more water which will result in flourished economy.
Similarly, it will be an effective method to collect seeds from juice centres and distribute them among pilgrims walking uphills such as Tirumala Tirupati and such other pilgrimage centres. It will also be a good idea to distribute to travellers on the highways and request them to throw the seeds on the roadsides. Even if all the seeds do not become trees at least one-tenth of the seeds may grow into a tree.
On the same lines, if we distribute to the fellow travellers and pilgrims different varieties of fruits such as Grapes, watermelons, cucumbers, they will eat and throw the seed on the road sideways. This will also add to more trees.
f. Increasing Organic Carbon and preventing soil erosion: Chrysopogon zizanioides, commonly known as Vetiver is a perennial Indian grass belonging to Poaceae family is known for its strong roots and multiplication of roots. One root of Vetiver when goes down will become 2 and 2 will become 4. It multiplies and grows 17 feet deep and 6 feet in width. When this is added in rivers and other water bodies it makes soil stronger by increasing organic carbon which in turn make the soil black in colour. Also Vetiver restricts soil erosion. This is also considered one of the powerful medicines and is used for aromatherapies and in perfumes. This is also used during Poojas and festivals.
Cleaning water: Fish kalathy is one fish variety that eats away slush and dirt in rivers, ponds and seas. If these fish are added after a few months water gets cleaned and clear and converts to freshwater bodies
