Ayurvedic Lifestyle: Chandramana Ugadi

[Guest guest]

Ancient acharyas tried to weave healthy lifestyle in the life of

people by creating some customs. Over the course of time, these

customs are slowly being forgotten along with their health

significance.

 

Today is Chandramana Ugadi day. Ugadi is the New Year's Day for the

people of Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and also for the Telugu people

all over the world. Those who live north of the Vindhya hills

observe it as " Barhaspatyamana " . People living to the south of the

Vindhya hills observe it as " Sauramana " or " Chandramana " . Sourmana

Ugadi falls around april 13, and it is observed mostly by people of

Tamilnadu, who give more importace to Sun. Is that the reason they

are found more in number in Government service, signified by Sun

worship? Another interesting observation of this author was that when they

change jobs, consideration is post with higher power rather than money!

 

According to Hindu customs Chandramana, Ugadi is celebrated on the

bright fortnight ('Shukla Paksha') of the first month ('Chaitra

Masa') in the first season of the year i.e. Spring ('Vasanta-Ritu').

As all these important elements are present, this day has special

significance marking the commencement of a New Year, termed

Samvatsara. " Vyaya " Samvatsara begins from today. In Hindu calendar

there is a set of 60 years, each year having a specific name which

contains deep meaning. The set repeats cyclically. Ugadi is

considered one of the four most auspicious days to start new

ventures, without consulting even an astrologer for auspicious time.

It has been the tradition in old Mysore, including the Malnad

region, of the family priest visiting houses and reading the new

almanac, which is called `Panchanga Shravana.' You may ask him how

will be the new year for you personally. Similar practice does not

exist in Maharashtra. Village folks offer neem leaves, `bevu bella'

to their near and dear ones in the afternoon, especially in North

Karnataka.

 

It is believed that the creator Lord Brahma started creation on this

day. Also the calculations of the great Indian Mathematician

Bhaskaracharya proclaim the Ugadi day as the beginning of the New

Year, New month and New day. It just coincides with equinox, when

day and night are equal. Due to global warming we already see that

spring has already begun about 10 days back. The sweet sound of

nightingale is also heard for past one week. Those who believe in

Music therapy and deep meaning of each note of the seven note scale

can understand what is the message in nightingale's rhythmic sounds.

The onset of spring also marks a beginning of new life with plants

acquiring new life, shoots and leaves. The vibrancy of life and

verdant fields, meadows full of colourful blossoms signify growth,

prosperity and well-being.

 

With the coming of Ugadi, the naturally perfumed Jasmine's spread a

sweet fragrance, which is perhaps unmatched by any other in nature's

own creation. While large garlands of Jasmine are offered to Gods in

homes and temples, Jasmine flowers woven in clusters adorn the

braids of women. People are found busy buying neem and mango leaves

on the eve of Ugadi, if you take a walk in Malleswaram, Basavangudi,

Ulsoor etc in Bangalore. The flame of the forest (trees with bright

red flowers that blossom during holi) are in full bloom signifying

an affluent season.

 

It is a season for raw mangoes spreading its aroma in the air and

the fully blossomed Neem tree that makes the air healthy. Also,

jaggery made with fresh crop of sugarcane adds a renewed flavour to

the typical dishes associated with Ugadi.

 

" Ugadi Pachchadi " is one such dish that has become synonymous with

Ugadi. It is made of new jaggery, raw mango pieces, Neem flowers and

new tamarind. The inner significance of this preparation is to

indicate that life is a mixture of good and bad, joy and sorrow and

all of them have to be treated alike.

 

All experiences have to be treated with equanimity. Every one should

make a resolve that he will face calmly whatever happens in this

year, accepting it with good grace and welcoming everything.

Consider everything as for one's own good. Men should rise above

sorrow and happiness, success and failure. This is the primary

message of the Ugadi festival.

 

In Andhra Pradesh, eatables such as " Pulihora " , " Bobbatlu " and

preparations made with raw mango go well with the occasion. This is

a mixture of sweet sour, bitter and hot taste. In Karnataka too,

similar preparations are made but called " Puliogure " and " Holige " .

The Maharashtrians make " Puran Poli " or sweet 'Rotis'. With these

rotis, a curry made from hot spices is also provided.

 

Here lies the ayurvedic significance of food lifestyle.

 

The significance of eating neem leaves is to purify the blood of

toxins. In summer, pitta related problems surface to a large extent.

The need to detoxify the body was discussed by this author in a

recent message#9351

 

http://health.ayurveda/message/9351

 

Fevers, rashes, inflammations, skin problems (measles, mumps, small and chciken

pox) all can be tackled

using neem, the most commonly available inexpensive herb. With neem

one can cure eczema, psoriasis, and every infection causing fever.

From neem the organic pesticides are also made for agricultural use.

We have obtained so many diseases and disorders by food pesticides,

time has come to adopt organic pesticides from neem. e.g. see

 

http://www.plantcultures.org.uk/plants/neem_western_medicine_pesticid

es.html

 

If you are a farmer, you can get free training to make pesticides at

Akola, Maharashtra.

 

Other problems which can surface in this season mainly cause some

bleeding and are already discussed in message# 2474, 2497. All these

remain in control if we adopt the tastes and items given in Ugadi

Pachadi. jaggery, tamarind, neem and raw mango, when properly used

become pitta pacifiers though when taken raw (neem excpetion) they

enhance pitta. Maharashtrians offer jaggery soaked water if a guest

arrives in noon, after travelling a distance in hot sun. Ripened

tamarind soaked water is so cooling and blood purifying that it will

clear the toxicity of blood resulting from some narcotics. From Raw

mango, Maharashtrians make a cooling drink called " Pahne " which is

being even expoprted to middle east countries these days.

 

Neem means purify yourself, tamarind is immunity vitaliser by way of its C

vitamin, and Mango is shukr phala meaning strengthen semen/sperms,

and jaggery is a glycosugar, the whole combination means healthy

growth in animal world too.

 

Many ayurvedic medicines are in the form of soft drinks offered on

a regular basis in house. Author wishes to write about these

receipes in future. The rich agricultural output of this country is

not been sufficiently exploited by intelligent and organic farming. This post is

an opening post in this series.

[Guest guest]

Just read your great mail & learned useful infos about neem,

tamarind etc. I always used to wonder why Sounth Indians especially

Tamilians (me too!) are so fond of making / eating thick (sambar)

and thin (rasam) tamarind water every single day. Now atleast, I

learned its' usefulness.

 

What time of the day is the best, for taking " neem " for

detoxification? Please let me know.

 

Thank you!

Amrutha

 

ayurveda , " Shirish Bhate "

<shirishbhate wrote:

 

> Here lies the ayurvedic significance of food lifestyle.

>

> The significance of eating neem leaves is to purify the blood of

> toxins. In summer, pitta related problems surface to a large

extent.

[Guest guest]

Not only neem, but most blood purification herbs give best results if

they are taken in the form of swaras or decoctions at sunrise and

sunset time. The use of neem for eczema is discussed here:

 

http://health.ayurveda/message/1658

 

Neem leaves powder is lowest in price amongst all herbal powders. It

can also give benifits.

 

Neem bark powder is to be used for blood purifier decoctions.

 

In case fresh neem leaves not available, remove powder from neem

capsules, make a tea ( 1 tsp powder to 2 cups water, boil slow till 1/2

cup remains and take look warm with honey/candy sugar/jaggery.

Purpose of adding sweetner is that children take it and also

bioavailability enhancement) and take at sun-rise and sun-set time.

Sun is the star guarding the purity of blood. at both these time

settings stomach is empty.

 

Time: Take 1 month, for each year of the disease age!

 

ayurveda , " amrutha_naveen "

<amrutha_naveen wrote:

> What time of the day is the best, for taking " neem " for

> detoxification? Please let me know.