Yoga Lifestyle For Health And Happiness

What is yoga lifestyle? It is virtually impossible to separate philosophy of life from yoga. Progress in yoga depends not only on your efforts on the mat. Equally important is to consider what you do off the mat during the rest of the day. Each moment unfolds in your situations requiring your response. You may respond in a positive way or negative way. Even not responding is an action. Yogic lifestyle involves integrating your, mind body and soul to perform karma that takes you towards good health, peace of mind and ultimate freedom. Most of us are caught in the whirlwind known as human life;

A man sacrifices his health in order to make money. Then he sacrifices money to recuperate his health. And then he is so anxious about the future that he does not enjoy the present; the result being that he does not live in their present or the future. He lives as if he is never going to die; and then he dies having never really lived.....Dalai Lama

Why to waste this precious life? For sorting our life's problems, coping with stress and taking care of health is a challenging task. This task becomes easier if we can take a holistic view of our life and adopt yoga lifestyle as a way of life.
Yoga lifestyle is based on universal truths or principles of good ethics and spirituality. These principles are as valid today as they were thousands of years ago. Yoga is not limited to yoga poses, pranayama or meditation only. Yoga is a way of life which can be easily incorporated in to your daily lives.
  As a beginner, you may find various facets of yoga philosophy difficult to understand.

• First we need to understand the various concepts of yoga lifestyle. All these concepts are closely integrated, one attribute complements others.
• Second step is to practice the action steps to realise our yoga goals.
• However, if any of the action steps do not conform to your established beliefs, leave it at that and proceed further. With sufficient practice you will find your way.

Yoga Lifestyle: Getting Started

Setting Chief Goal of Your Life

Without a definite aim there can be little progress. The chief goal of life has to be well defined. This will enable you to know your destination and enable you to channelise all your energies in a single direction. All your other material and spiritual/ yoga goals must align to this chief goal. Also remember that for a serious yoga practitioner the goal is already defined, realisation of union with the divine.

Selecting Your Yoga Path

Once you know your yoga goals, you have to select the path to be followed. Each person is having a unique temperament, health/ fitness levels and spiritual awareness levels. You need to chart your own yoga path under guidance of an experienced teacher. For adopting yoga lifestyle, you may choose to focus on hatha yoga, japa yoga, karma yoga or bhakti yoga. Your every action on any of these paths is interlinked. All your actions must be synchronised to achieve your gains with least effort.

Aim for Continuous Improvement

Yoga practice needs a disciplined approach and self control. Procrastination is its worst enemy. You have to force yourself for first 40 to 50 days to do yoga regularly till yoga practice becomes a part of your life. Make yoga as No. 1 priority in your life, even if do yoga for half an hour daily. Start yoga NOW and do it daily. Progress in yoga is slow. Regular practice ensures steady and continuous progress.

Introspect and Improve Life

Intense and continuous introspection can help you to first identify your limitations before you find fault with others. Be a continuous observer of your thoughts and actions. You need to improve yourself before setting out to reform the world.

Creating An Integrated Personality

You have to mould your life as per yoga lifestyle to become an integrated personality with solid character. The constant efforts to increase sattva guna, strong belief in positive values and practicing one's Dharma give rise to an inner integration. This integration results in better concentration of mind and meditation.

Practice Spiritual Living

Spiritual growth is one of the main aims of yoga practice. A spiritual person realises that whole cosmos is manifested closely inter related and interdependent. Spiritual living provides you with an austere yoga lifestyle where you do not waste energy on mundane issues and instead work for making significant impact in this world through your actions.

Simplify Life

We have lost the joy of living life while keeping up with the fast pace of modern life. Slow down a bit. When was the last time, you could spare free time to analyse where your life is heading? Review your needs and look around yourself how to simplify your life as per yoga lifestyle.

Realise Your Infinite Potential.

Each one of us is born with infinite potential but we forget this reality and get bogged down with multitude of problems many of which are just imagination of our mind. Our soul is a mirror image of supreme consciousness. Our senses and ego diminishes the light of soul limiting our power of awareness and discrimination. Pray to God, surrender to God and open your heart to let His infinite Grace nourish your soul. It is in your hands to open the door. God loves each one of us.

Freedom From All Fears

Fear is one of the most damaging human emotions which is propagated by lack of self confidence. Fear of any kind will sap your energy and reduce your working efficiency. Fear of loss of property, fear of death and fear of illness are some of the common fears. Once you start realising that everything in this world is being manifested as per Gods great design. Divine love will help to overcome all fears.

Let Go of Ego

Ego is how we perceive reality as we move around in this world. Ego is false and we have to realise our true inner self. Ego is this false self which creates an impression that it knows everything. All problems in life are seen and tackled as perceived by our ego. You need to let go of the ego but it will require tremendous effort to identify our ego and then to get over the ego. It means you need to understand our true self and see the world without passing through the prism of our ego.

Forget about Guilt Trips

Get rid of all guilt trips. Guilt is powerfully negative emotions that affect one psychologically. Do your best in a given situation and do not let other to make you feel guilty. Remember, nobody is perfect and you are bound to make mistakes. If you have positive attitude and your intentions are clear do not worry at all.

Overcome Fear Of Death

Most of the people carry a strong fear of death. Non living things never die. Whoever takes birth has to die. Worrying too much about life after death, or existence or non existence of soul takes away the joy out of living. Death is a certain phenomenon not in our hands, but living life to the fullest is in our hands.

Human Life Is Precious

Human body is an amazing but perishable gift given by God to you. You are lucky to get birth in the human form. You have finite time in this birth; do not waste your life by running after unreal things. Utilise this birth to work relentlessly for betterment of life and ultimately achieve salvation. Do not waste time. Engage in noble deeds.

Religion Or Spirituality

Practice of any religion without developing spiritually does not make any sense. Spirituality is also possible without following any religion. We can say that if God exists, He is there for whole cosmos. Therefore spirituality is universal. Spirituality can be our direct link to the creator, the supreme intelligence.

Selection of a Guru

You can learn yoga asanas and pranayama from a yoga teacher. But a Guru is required to assimilate the life concepts required for daily living. A Guru is an enlightened soul who will guide you in your quest to realise the divine. Selection of a Guru is must for faster spiritual progress. Till you find a Guru, get guidance from spiritual texts and epics written by enlightened souls to formulate your yoga lifestyle.

Get Inspired

Yoga lifestyle does not mean to put on robes of a monk and become a sanyasi. Dream high and achieve your dreams. Yoga practice will help you to understand the true meaning of life and provide you with the necessary discipline, strength and will power to live an inspired life.

Understand Maya Or Illusion

Maya is the illusory power which takes us away from God realisation. It means that we get attached to things, desires and physical world. We are in fact getting an illusion of permanence whereas nothing in this world is permanent. All this is transient. Only the energy of the soul is divine and permanent.

Search for Happiness

One of the chief cause of human suffering is due to unsatisfied desires. Happiness is possible when you have set clear well defined goals and your mind and body works in harmony to achieve these goals.

Seek and You Shall Find

How to find God? We are too small a entity to perceive the power or concept of God. God can be experienced only. Once you start on the path towards unification with the supreme creator, you will find your own path provided you have 100 per cent faith and determination.

Universal Brotherhood

Yoga philosophy believes that all persons are created equal and no discrimination must be made based on country of residence, sex, age or religion. The soul in all humans is derived from the same source and God wants us to work for common good.

Harmony

Yoga lifestyle provides perfect harmony between your mind and body. Maintain harmonious relations with your colleagues at work and family members at home. This will reduce your stress levels promote co-operation and improve efficiency.

Do yoga with complete faith and dedication to get the benefits. Adopt yoga lifestyle and lead an activelife.

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What is AYURVEDA?

Simple Definition

Ayurveda is a wholistic system of medicine from India that uses a constitutional model. Its aim is to provide guidance regarding food and lifestyle so that healthy people can stay healthy and folks with health challenges can improve their health. There are several aspects to Ayurveda that are quite unique:

1. Its recommendations will often be different for each person regarding which foods and which lifestyle they should follow in order to be completely healthy. This is due to it's use of a constitutional model.
2. Everything in Ayurveda is validated by observation, inquiry, direct examination and knowledge derived from the ancient texts.
3. It understands that there are energetic forces that influence nature and human beings. These forces are called the Tridoshas.
4. Because Ayurveda sees a strong connection between the mind and the body, a huge amount of information is available regarding this relationship.

Origin

Ayurveda is an intricate system of healing that originated in India thousands of years ago. We can find historical evidence of Ayurveda in the ancient books of wisdom known as the Vedas. In the Rig Veda, over 60 preparatison were mentioned that could be used to assist an individual in overcoming various ailments. The Rig Veda was written over 6,000 years ago, but really Ayurveda has been around even longer than that. What we see is that A yurveda is more than just a medical system. It is a Science of Life. We are all part and parcel of nature. Just as the animals and plants live in harmony with nature and utilize the Laws of Nature to create health and balance within their beings, we, too, adhere to these very same principles. Therefore, it is fair to say that Ayurveda is a system that helps maintain health in a person by using the inherent principles of nature to bring the individual back i nto equilibrium with their true self. In essence Ayurveda has been in existence since the beginning of time because we have always been governed by nature's laws.

Meaning

Ayurveda is made up of two Sanskrit words: Ayu which means life and Veda which means the knowledge of. To know about life is Ayurveda. However, to fully comprehend the vast s cope of Ayurveda let us first define "Ayu" or life. According to the ancient Ayurvedic scholar Charaka, "ayu" is comprised of four essential parts. The combination of mind, body, senses and the soul.

Mind, Body, and Senses

We tend to identify most with our physical bodies; yet, in actuality, there is more to us then what meets the eye. We can see that underlying our physical structure is the mind, which not only controls our thought processes but helps assist us in carrying out day-to-day activities such as respiration, circulation, digestion and elimination. The mind and the body work in conjunction with one another to regulate our physiology. In order for the mind to act appropriately to assist the physical body, we must use our senses as information gatherers. We can think of the mind as a computer and the senses as the data which gets entered into the computer. Smell and taste are two important senses th at aid in the digestive process. When the mind registers that a particular food is entering the gastrointestinal tract, it directs the body to act accordingly by releasing various digestive enzymes. However, if we overindulge the taste buds with too much of a certain taste, such as sweet, we may find that the ability of the mind to perceive the sweet taste is impaired; and thereby the body becomes challenged in its ability to process sweet foods. Maintaining the clarity of our senses is an essential part in allowing the mind and body to integrate their functions and help in keeping us healthy and happy individuals.

SOUL

Ayurveda also sees that before we exist in physical form with the help of the mind and senses that we exist in a more subtle form known as the soul. The ancient seers of India believed tha t we were comprised of a certain energetic essence that precluded the inhabitance of our physical entity. In fact, they hypothesized that we may indeed occupy many physical bodies throughout the course of time but that our underlying self or soul remains unchanged. What we see to help illustrate this concept is what transpires at the time of death. When the individual nears the time to leave the physical body, many of his/her desires will cease to be present. As the soul no longer identifies with the bod y, the desire to eat food or indulge in a particular activity that used to be a great source of satisfaction for that person drops by the wayside. In fact, many individuals have been documented to experience the sensation of being "out of their bodies." These are just a few examples of how we are made up of these four components that we call life. 

Read more about :

1. Application of Ayurveda in Cooking
2. Ayurvedic Massage techniques
3. Gemstone Therapy according to the Ayurveda
4. Ayurveda Home Remedies
5. The Glory of Waking up
6. PANCHAKARMA
7. KERALA PANCHAKARMA 
8. Panchbhoutic Siddanth

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Gemstone Therapy from Ayurveda

All gem stones, with the exception of coral and pearl, are the finest and purest consolidation of minerals that exist, formed under extreme heat and pressure inside the Earth. Healing stones are crystals of clear and purified minerals that are also found in the human body.

Healing stones serve as valuable agents of electromagnetic energy that influences the electrochemical nature of the human organism. The contact of healing stones with the electromagnetic field of the body becomes easy when they are embedded in pure electrolytes like copper, silver and gold or when in direct contact with the skin. Healing stones work with physiochemical energy as wel as with pranic energy, whether used as jewelry or taken orally as pastes or oxides. 

Healing stones absorb and produce specific energies that are related to the frequences of the light that they receive. These frequencies can be seen as colors and are related to planetary energies that go well beyond the visble light frequencies. 

Astrologers and gem therapists use healing gemstones as talismans or birthstones to compensate for the loss of energy caused by weak planets or to provide more strength to the exalted favorable planets. In Indian astrology and numerology, nine planets are related to the following nine healing stones and birthstones :

    

In addition to working with particular healing stones to deal with particular problems or enhance specific qualities, it is also useful to work with all gems together. Jawahar Mohra is a powerful tonic made out of the powders of all nine gems. A pendulum that contains all gems in the right order can act as powerful talisman of general purpose, often given to children :

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Healing with Coral

Coral may not be seen as a real gem by some, but it has fantastic healing qualities.The coral is the gemstone of the planet Mars and helps to overcome problems related to this planet.

Red coral is useful as jewelry and for pleasing the planet Mars, but the use of white corals is more popular in Bengal, where people also use it for Mars energy. 

The best gem should have the following qualities:

1. deep red color
2. regular shape and even surface
3. round or oval shape
4. free of dents, holes, or perforations
5. smooth

One who wears or possesses such coral enjoys good fortune and is never possessed by evil spirits or bothered by ghosts, bad vibrations, nightmares, storms, or lightning. Japa done with a coral mala with 108 beads brings siddhi (power). 

Some tests for Identification of Real Coral 

1. If real coral is placed in a glass of cow's milk, the color of the milk will appear pink or take on a red tinge. Imitation coral will not affect the whiteness of milk.
2. If a coral is dropped in blood, blood will thicken around it.
3. A true coral changes color according to the physical well-being of the wearer. It fades before the disorder in physical health is noticeable and resumes its original color when physical health is restored.

Some aspects of the Rituals for Wearing a Coral

A coral should be bought on a Tuesday when the Moon is in Aries or Scorpio. The coral's weight should be no less than 6 rattikas. The metal used should be a mixture of copper and gold. 

Some aspects of the The Medicinal Utility of Coral 

Coral Oxide is used ror different diseases with different mediums, follows:

1. For dry cough: Use it with powdered raw sugar.
2. Cough with mucus: a) If the mucus needs to be expelled from the system, coral oxide should be taken with powdered brown sugar; b) If the mucus needs to be dried, it should be taken with honey.
3. Low fever: It should be taken with sitopiladi choorna with honey.
4. Breathlessness with low fever: Take it with honey.
5. New fever: With honey.
6. Bone fracture: With honey.
7. Eye troubles (burning, irritation): Use it with ghee, rock sugar candy, and milk.
8. Headache: Use it with milk cooked with almond paste.
9. Mental weakness: Use it with milk cooked with almond paste.
10. General tonic: Use it with honey.
11. Diseases of liver: With honey.
12. Hyperacidity: With cold milk.
...

The other form of medical preparation is pishthi (paste), which is more powerful and better in quality than oxide.
Dosage: 1 to 2 rattikas twice a day :

1. To prevent miscarriage: Apply the paste (not powder - if only the powder is available make a paste by adding rose water or kewra water - a few drops to two doses) to the navel of a pregnant woman.
2. First stage of tuberculosis: Use it with honey.
...

Coral powder is very good for nursing mothers who become weak during the nursing period.

Chief Sources of Coral 

Coral of the finest quality is obtained in bulk from the coasts of Algeria and Tunisia. Other profitable sites for coral deposits are the coasts of Spain, France, Corsica, Sardinia, and Sicily. Corals are also processed in India.

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Healing with Ruby

The ruby is a gemstone of the corundum family and is attractive as because of its brilliance, if it is crystal clear and transparent. The ruby is the gemstone of the planet Sun and helps to overcome problems related to this planet.

The ruby is found in a variety of crimson and scarlet red colors ranging from pink to a deep ruddy violet color. The gemstone is solid and possesses high specific gravity. The red tint in ruby comes from a light combination of iron and chromium. The finest quality ruby has a delicate rose color. 

Some Qualities of a Good Ruby

1. smoothness
2. transparency
3. luster
4. brilliance
5. hardness

Some Flaws of Rubies

1. dullness - gives problems with brothers
2. brittleness - gives problems in having a son
3. flimsiness - gives problems with lightning
4. cracks - gives bad luck
5. bubbles - makes the gem ineffective
6. feather - gives bad luck
7. dirty - ineffective

Some tests for Identification of Real Rubies

1. If you place a real ruby on an unopened lotus bud it will open up and become a blossoming lotus in a short time.
2. If you place a real ruby in a glass jar, a red hue of light will be seen to emit from the jar.
3. If pearls are put together with a real ruby in a silver plate and placed in sunlight, the silver plate will appear blackish, the pearls will have a red hue and the ruby will shine like the Sun.

Some aspects of the Rituals for Wearing a Ruby 

A ruby should be bought on a Sunday, Monday or Thursday in the ascending moon cycle. The stone should be mounted in an ring made of a mixture of gold and copper. The gemstone should touch the skin of the wearer's finger. The best time to wear a ruby ring is sunrise.

Some aspects of the Medicinal Utility of the Ruby

Both the oxide as the pishti of Ruby are used for impotence, hearth troubles, loss of blood, tuberculosis, indigestion, prolonged fevers, diabetes, among others.

Chief Sources of Rubies 

Ruby mines are found in Burma, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Kabul (Afghanistan), Tanganyika, and South India.

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Healing with Pearl

Pearl has many healing qualities associated with the lunar energy, both on a physical level as on a mental level. The pearl is the gemstone of the planet Moon and helps to overcome problems related to this planet.

The formation of a pearl inside a pearl oyster is thought to occur because of the presence of foreign material inside the body of the oyster. To save itself from the undesired material the mollusk coats the object with layer after layer of nacre. It takes many years for a mollusk to produce a pearl of substantial size. The process through which the pearls are formed inside the body of the mollusk is very delicate, and a little disturbance at any stage of development of a pearl can influence its shape and luster. The finest pearl is that which has no foreign matter in its core. 

There is a common belief among tantriks that when Svati Nakshatra rain comes to earth it produces pearl in pearl oysters. The mollusk is then said to open its mouth to receive the first raindrops. When these same raindrops fall into the mouth of a cobra, it produces venom. The same raindrops also produce camphor in the banana plant, go-lochan (go-rochan or calcium) when they fall in the horn of a cow, and bansh-lochan and bansh-mukta (or bamboo pearl) when they fall inside a bamboo shoot. Bansh-lochan is known as Calcium bamboana and is very much used in Ayurvedic medicines.

The pearls thus produced by the raindrops of Svati Nakshatra are the finest and have no foreign matter in them. 

Pearls are said to be obtained from eight sources:

1. Sky pearl
2. Cobra pearl
3. Bamboo pearl
4. Hog pearl
5. Elephantine pearl
6. Conch pearl
7. Fish pearl
8. Oyster pearl

A genuine pearl is supposed to have the following qualities:

1. Moonlike, shining white color
2. Perfectly round, globular shape and size
3. Compactness, which gives it a high specific gravity
4. Lustre, soft glamour, attractiveness, and brilliance of reflection
5. Smoothness, which gives an agreeable sensation to the eyes
6. Spotlessness and freedom from blemishes (dents, scratches, ridges) and impurities

One who wears or possesses a pearl with all of the above-mentioned qualities enjoys good fortune and is blessed by the goddess Lakshmi (the goddess of prosperity), lives long and becomes sinless and obtains vitality and intelligence. He or she achieves high position by his wisdom and becomes famous.

A pearl with a yellow luster brings prosperity. Red-tinted pearls make one intelligent, shining white pearls bring fame, and a pearl with a bluish hue brings good fortune. 

A pearl devoid of luster, that is, dirty, broken, having no gleam of circulating water, black or copper colored, partly white and partly colored, irregular, odd in shape, having holes, dents, or spots is defective and should be avoided. 

Some Flaws of Pearls

1. cracks or ridges - wearing of such a pearl is injurious to one's health
2. wavy thin line on the surface -brings misfortune
3. dents - bring loss of wealth
4. a mole - like formation on the surface layer - brings sadness and disease

Some aspects of the Rituals for Wearing a Pearl 

A pearl should be bought on a Monday in the ascending moon cycle. Saturday is not a good day. The pearl should be given to the jeweler on the same day and the ring should be constructed and polished on the same days as mentioned above under the influence of the same nakshatras. Should be mounted in silver. The setting should be open-backed so that the pearl touches the skin of the finger. The best time to wear a pearl ring is evening, or when the Moon is rising. 

Some aspects of the Medicinal Utility of Pearls

Mukta Bhasm or Pearl Oxide provides strength and longevity.Together with Mukta Pishthi (pearl paste or powder), it is used for eye troubles, general debility, tuberculosis, chest troubles, weakness of heart, cough, low-grade fever, hiccups, illusions of ghosts or evil spirits, nosebleed, weakness of mind and urinary troubles, among others.

Chief Sources of Pearls

Gulf of Manar in Sri Lanka
The Persian Gulf
Bay of Bengal
Mexico
Australia

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Healing with Yellow Spphire

A gem of the corundum family, yellow sapphire is a twin of ruby and blue sapphire. The yellow sapphire is the gemstone of the planet Jupiter and helps to overcome problems related to this planet. 

Yellow sapphire is found in yellow, golden, and orange colors, as well as in a colorless variety known as white sapphire. The best gem is said to be of lemon-yellow color. The color in yellow sapphire is due to the presence of iron and titanium. 

Some Qualities of a Good Yellow Sapphire

1. Heaviness or high specific gravity that can be felt when placed on the palm
2. Rich velvety luster that can be seen with the naked eye
3. Transparency, which makes it clean and pure
4. Evenness in surface, without any variation in thickness
5. Uniformity of color, without any layers
6. Solidity, hardness

Some Flaws of a Yellow Sapphire

1. dullness - harmful for health
2. crack inside the gem - creates fear of thieves
3. milky appearance inside - harmful for progeny
4. asymmetrical shape - brings bad luck

Some tests for Identification of a Real Yellow Sapphire

1. When placed on a white cloth and exposed to sunlight, it gives yellow hue to the spot where the light is reflected.
2. If kept in milk for twenty-four hours it does not change color.
3. It cures poisonous insect bites immediately if rubbed on the afflicted area.

Some aspects of the Rituals for Wearing a Yellow Sapphire

A yellow sapphire should be bought on a thursday, in an ascending moon cycle and when the Pushya Nakshatra is present. The weight of the gem should be no less than three rattikas. The ring should be set in gold and polished and finished the same day. 

Some aspects of the Medicinal Utility of the Yellow Sapphire 

Pukhraj Oxide is a vermicide; it also increases bile and gives strength. It is good for problems created by poisons. It cures vomiting and problems created by aggravated wind and mucus. It cures burning sensations, problems of the blood, hemorrhoids, and leprosy, and it strengthens gastric fire; it cures jaundice, gastritis, constipation, flatulence, cough, colds, asthma, nosebleed, apoplexy, tumors, tuberculosis, general debility, and ailments caused by loss of seminal fluid. It also cures problems created by an afflicted Jupiter.

Pukhraj Pishthi (Paste or Powder) : for mucus that is dry and needs to be expelled from the system, the pishthi mixed with malai (skim of milk) is best. For mucus that needs to be dried, a pinch of freshly ground black pepper should be added to the honey. For patients suffering from asthma it should be given with honey and sitopiladi. For colds, mix with honey and a pinch of fine-ground fresh black pepper. For vomiting the paste can be given with honey and a pinch of fine-ground red cardamom seeds. 

Chief Sources of Yellow Sapphires 

Like other members of the corundum family, pukhraj is also found as crystals in rocks of limestone and schists and in riverbeds and streams. 

The primary sources in India, as mentioned in its ancient scriptures, are the Mahanadi and Brahmputra rivers, the Himalayas, the Vindhyachal Mountains, Orissa, Bengal, and Kashmir. The best yellow sapphires, famous for their luster, smoothness, brilliance, and transparence, come from Mogok, situated in the upper region of Burma. 

Sri Lanka produces sapphires in yellow, light green, and color-less varieties in sufficient quantities. These sapphires are of some-what inferior quality to the Burmese pukhraj. Good quality sapphires in shades of yellow, green, pink, red, blue, violet, and white (colorless) are found in abundance in Brazil.

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Healing with Hessonite

Hessonite is also called Cinnamon Stone, or Zircon. Its Sanskrit name is gomedak and the Hindi name is gomed. The hessonite is the gemstone of the planet Rahu and helps to overcome problems related to this planet.

A good-quality gomed gemstone of Rahu, is one that reflects the color of the urine of a cow, that is, having a nice honey color. It is a silicate of zirconium and is commonly found in igneous rocks but is fairly rare as a gemstone. Zircon has a considerable range of colors and is found in red, blue, green, yellow, orange, and brown shades. Blue and green hessonite or the white colorless variety of hessonite are not associated with Rahu. 

A pure and transparent hessonite having a delicate hue, brilliance, luster, and uniform color neutralizes the evil effects of Rahu, and if Rahu is well posited it gives beneficial results during its major period and subperiods, removes fear, creates clarity of mind, and helps spiritual growth. 

Some Qualities of a Good Hessonite

1. color similar to the clear urine of a cow
2. transparency
3. high specific gravity
4. brilliance
5. uniform color

Some Flaws of a Hessonite

1. dullness
2. fibrous
3. rough
4. having a hole or dents
5. flat
6. having a black spot

Some tests for Identification of Real Hessonite

1. If a real hessonite is left in cow's urine for twenty-four hours the color of the urine changes.
2. Real hessonite is devoid of concentric rings of air bubbles.

Some aspects of the Rituals for Wearing a Hessonite 

A hessonite should be bought on a Saturday when Adra Nakshatra or Kshat Bhikha Nakshatra is present. In an ascending moon cycle, in the morning before 10 A.M. and given to the jeweler the same day. The weight should not be less than 4 rattikas. The hessonite should be set in a ring made of the five metals recommended for blue sapphire or in a ring made of iron or steel. The mounting should have an open back to allow the gemstone to touch the finger. The best time to wear a hessonite is two hours after sunset.

Some aspects of the Medicinal Utility of Hessonite 

Hessonite pishthi or oxide gives luster to the skin, improves the faculty of reasoning and thinking, gives strength to dhatus (body and semen), and gives longevity, among others. It also cures disorders created by Rahu. 

Chief Sources of Hessonite 

India, Burma, Sri Lanka.

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Healing with Emerald

The Emerald is a gemstone of green color belonging to the family of beryl gems. The emerald is the gemstone of the planet Mercury and helps to overcome problems related to this planet.

This gemstone is rare because it is very difficult to find a flawless emerald. Aquamarine, morganite, goshenite, and heliodor are also members of the beryl family and have the same chemical constituents, except for chromic oxide, which gives emerald the green color that distinguishes it from the other varieties of beryls. 

Some Qualities of a Good Emerald

1. rich green homogeneous color that is deep and pleasant, like a blade of fresh grass
2. retains its color and luster in all kinds of lights and shades
3. compactness, which gives it high specific gravity
4. transparence, which makes it rare and costlier than diamonds

According to the Agastya Mat, as mentioned in the Ratna Prakash, a good emerald is transparent, without dust, pure as a drop of dew on a lotus leaf, and it sheds luster in all directions when held on the palm in sunlight. 

Some Flaws of Emeralds

1. brittleness
2. presence of a hole
3. dullness; devoid of inner glow
4. unevenness of color
5. graininess
6. black or yellow spots

Such stones have no merit and should be discarded. A real emerald of a good size is rare and it is almost impossible to find an eyeglass-clear emerald. It is known for its ability to neutralize poison. 

Some tests for Identification of Real Emeralds

1. If a real emerald is placed in a glass pot with water it radiates green light, whereas the imitation does not.
2. If a real emerald is placed on the eyes it gives a cool feeling, whereas an imitation becomes warm very quickly.
3. A drop of water on a real gemstone retains its shape and does not spread around like water. Even moving and inverting the gemstone does not harm the drop, whereas in an imitation it does not remain a drop but spreads like water.

Some aspects of the Rituals for Wearing an Emerald

An emerald should be bought on a Wedsnesday when the Sun is in the norther quarter in an ascending cycle. The weight of the gemstone emerald should not be less than three rattikas. It should be set in gold during the morning hours. Before wearing the ring should be kept immersed for some time in raw cow's milk. 

Some aspects of the Medicinal Utility of the Emerald 

Emerald Oxide increases ojas (radiance), cures fever, coma, vomiting, thirst, problems created by any kind of poisoning, aggravated bile, acidity, asthma, jaundice, constipation, hemorrhoids, and swellings of the internal organs. Because the oxide of emerald is cold in nature it is very suitable for people with hot temperament. It also cures weakness of the heart and the stomach. It is a very useful remedy for tuberculosis, diabetes, and urinary troubles. The oxide of emerald increases memory, provides longevity, and is an effective remedy for snakebite. It also cures problems caused by evil spirits and by the planet Mercury.

Emerald Paste can be used whenever needed for the following:

1. Kidney stone - with honey and pipal
2. Colic pains - with honey
3. Fever - with honey
4. Vomiting - with honey
5. Poisoning - with honey or malai
6. Swelling of internal organs - with honey
7. Indigestion - with honey and triphala choorna (powder)
8. Heart troubles - with sarpgandha powder ETC.
...

Chief Sources of Emeralds

India, Pakistan, Colombia, Africa,...

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Healing with Diamond

The diamond is pure carbon, having the most compact arrangement of carbon atoms found in nature. The diamond is the gemstone of the planet Venus and helps to overcome problems related to this planet.

Most attractive to the eyes, the diamond is famous for its play of colors. It emits a very delicate bluish, reddish, or a mixture of blue and red radiance of glittering luster when exposed to light. 

A fine diamond is radiant, and delightful. It is as soothing to the eyes as the Moon; is magnificent and has the self-luminous quality of a clear crystal. 

Ancient Hindu scriptures mention eight types of diamonds

1. Hanspati: transparent white color like a conch,
2. Kamlapati: transparent pinkish white, like lotus petal.
3. Vajraneel: transparent blue-white, like the color of the neck of a blue jay,
4. Vanaspati: transparent green-white, like fresh blade of grass,
5. Shyamvajra: transparent smoky-grey color
6. Telia: oily,and dark color.
7. Sanloyi: yellow-green or pale green color,

Some Qualities of a Good Diamond

1. hardness
2. luster
3. transparence
4. luminosity
5. pleasant appearance

Some Flaws in a Diamond

1. Dullness
2. "Feathers of a crow"
3. Red spots
4. Black spots
5. Greasy
6. Pale or brown in color
7. Ridges on the surface
8. Brittleness

Some tests for Identification of a Real Diamond

1. A real diamond when placed in warm milk cools the milk.
2. A real diamond when placed in liquid butter or ghee (clarified butter) at room temperature solidifies the butter or ghee.

Some aspects of the Rituals for Wearing a Diamond 

A diamond should be bought on a Friday when Venus is in Taurus, Libra, or Pisces. Should be bought in the morning between sunrise and 11:00 A.M. A diamond should be at least 1 rattika (.59 metric carat) in weight. The setting should be silver, white gold, or platinum, and the gem should be flawless. The gemstone should be given to the jeweler on the same day, and the ring should be made and the gemstone set on a Friday under the lunar mansions.

A ring worn in this manner removes the evil effects of an ill-aspected Venus, brings wealth, health, prosperity, removes fear of evil spirits, cures diseases, makes one invincible, removes enmity, and saves one from electric shocks, poisonous insects and animals, and accidental death. 

Some aspects of the Medicinal Utility of the Diamond 

Diamond is the hardest of all gemstones, and it should never be used orally in the form of a pishthi (paste). Only its bhasma (oxide) is used in Ayurveda. If a diamond particle gets into the stomach it can be fatal. Therefore it is purified very carefully when its oxide is prepared.

Diamond oxide provides prana (life force). It is useful for epilepsy, paralysis, insanity, hernia, premature old age, weakness of mind, among others. It makes the body strong and provides longevity. 

Chief Sources of Diamonds

India, Brazil, Africa, U.S.S.R.

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Healing With Blue Sapphire

Known as indra neel and neel mani in Sanskrit and neelam in Hindi, the blue sapphire is a gem of the corundum family. The blue sapphire is the gemstone of the planet Saturn and helps to overcome problems related to this planet.

Sometimes white sapphires, rubies and blue sapphires are found in the same mine and that is why there is a mixture of colors in the crystals of these gems. Ruby is harder than white sapphire and blue sapphire is harder than ruby. What distinguishes them from each other is their hardness. Blue sapphire is hardest. Blue sapphire crystals are found as twelve-sided prisms. 

Some Qualities of a Good Blue Sapphire

1. smoothness
2. transparency
3. uniformity in color
4. high specific gravity

Some Flaws of a Blue Sapphire

1. milky - brings poverty
2. dull (without luster or devoid of brilliance) - harms friends, brothers and near relations
3. film like a cobweb - brings disease
4. multicolored - increases anxiety and mental problems
5. greenish in shade - causes financial loss

Some tests for Identification of Real Blue Sapphires

1. A real blue sapphire emits blue light and, if placed in a glass of cow's milk, the milk appears to have a bluish tinge.
2. A real blue sapphire emits blue sparks when placed in a glass of water.

Some aspects of the Rituals for Wearing a Blue Sapphire 

A blue sapphire should be bought on a Saturday when Saturn is posited in Capricorn, Aquarius or Libra. The weight should not be less than 4 rattikas. Weighing 5 carats is supposed to be auspicious. The gem should be flawless. 

The gemstone should be bought in the evening hours and given to the jeweler on the same day, who should prepare a ring from a mixture of gold, iron and silver. For Saturn the following mixture of five metals is best: 1 part gold, 2 parts silver, 3 parts lead, 4 parts iron and 1 part copper. Instead of copper, zinc can be used.

The ring should be taken from the jeweler on a Saturday evening, and the best time to wear the ring is evening. 

Saturn is a friend of Mercury and Venus. To add additional power to the ring, emerald and diamond could also be embedded in it. The back should be open to allow the gemstone to touch the skin.

Some aspects of the Medicinal Utility of the Blue Sapphire 

Blue sapphire pishthi (paste) can be given for skin diseases, migraine, heartburn, nervous disorders, rheumatism, colic pains, lack of appetite and bloating of the stomach, among others.

Chief Sources of Blue Sapphires

Kashmir, Salem, Burma, Thailand, Sri Lanka

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