Benefits of Meditation

Physiological benefits:

1- It lowers oxygen consumption.
2- It decreases respiratory rate.
3- It increases blood flow and slows the heart rate.
4- Increases exercise tolerance.
5- Leads to a deeper level of physical relaxation.
6- Good for people with high blood pressure.
7- Reduces anxiety attacks by lowering the levels of blood lactate.
8- Decreases muscle tension
9- Helps in chronic diseases like allergies, arthritis etc.
10- Reduces Pre-menstrual Syndrome symptoms.
11- Helps in post-operative healing.
12- Enhances the immune system.
13- Reduces activity of viruses and emotional distress
14- Enhances energy, strength and vigour.
15- Helps with weight loss
16- Reduction of free radicals, less tissue damage
17- Higher skin resistance
18- Drop in cholesterol levels, lowers risk of cardiovascular disease.
19- Improved flow of air to the lungs resulting in easier breathing.
20- Decreases the aging process.
21- Higher levels of DHEAS (Dehydroepiandrosterone)
22- prevented, slowed or controlled pain of chronic diseases
23- Makes you sweat less
24- Cure headaches & migraines
25- Greater Orderliness of Brain Functioning
26- Reduced Need for Medical Care
27- Less energy wasted
28- More inclined to sports, activities
29- Significant relief from asthma
30- improved performance in athletic events
31- Normalizes to your ideal weight
32- harmonizes our endocrine system
33- relaxes our nervous system
34- produce lasting beneficial changes in brain electrical activity
35- Cure infertility (the stresses of infertility can interfere with the release of hormones that regulate ovulation).

Psychological benefits:

36- Builds self-confidence.
37- Increases serotonin level, influences mood and behaviour.
38- Resolve phobias & fears
39- Helps control own thoughts
40- Helps with focus & concentration
41- Increase creativity
42- Increased brain wave coherence.
43- Improved learning ability and memory.
44- Increased feelings of vitality and rejuvenation.
45- Increased emotional stability.
46- improved relationships
47- Mind ages at slower rate
48- Easier to remove bad habits
49- Develops intuition
50- Increased Productivity
51- Improved relations at home & at work
52- Able to see the larger picture in a given situation
53- Helps ignore petty issues
54- Increased ability to solve complex problems
55- Purifies your character
56- Develop will power
57- greater communication between the two brain hemispheres
58- react more quickly and more effectively to a stressful event.
59- increases one’s perceptual ability and motor performance
60- higher intelligence growth rate
61- Increased job satisfaction
62- increase in the capacity for intimate contact with loved ones
63- decrease in potential mental illness
64- Better, more sociable behaviour
65- Less aggressiveness
66- Helps in quitting smoking, alcohol addiction
67- Reduces need and dependency on drugs, pills & pharmaceuticals
68- Need less sleep to recover from sleep deprivation
69- Require less time to fall asleep, helps cure insomnia
70- Increases sense of responsibility
71- Reduces road rage
72- Decrease in restless thinking
73- Decreased tendency to worry
74- Increases listening skills and empathy
75- Helps make more accurate judgements
76- Greater tolerance
77- Gives composure to act in considered & constructive ways
78- Grows a stable, more balanced personality
79- Develops emotional maturity

 Spiritual benefits:

80- Helps keep things in perspective
81- Provides peace of mind, happiness
82- Helps you discover your purpose
83- Increased self-actualization.
84- Increased compassion
85- Growing wisdom
86- Deeper understanding of yourself and others
87- Brings body, mind, spirit in harmony
88- Deeper Level of spiritual relaxation
89- Increased acceptance of oneself
90- helps learn forgiveness
91- Changes attitude toward life
92- Creates a deeper relationship with your God
93- Attain enlightenment
94- greater inner-directedness
95- Helps living in the present moment
96- Creates a widening, deepening capacity for love
97- Discovery of the power and consciousness beyond the ego
98- Experience an inner sense of “Assurance or Knowingness”
99- Experience a sense of “Oneness”
100- Increases the synchronicity in your life

God always with us , in us and bless us!

Aravindam

Tantric Meditation

The basic principle of Tantra is that once we have realised that we are ultimately empty of fixed existence, we should also realize that we are free from any constraints to our potential.

In Tantric meditation, Tantra yoga meditation is often practiced this way:

A tantra devotee sits calmly in Tantric meditation and purifies mind and heart of wayward thoughts and desires. The devotee of Tantric meditation then senses the life force within his or her being and gradually, through imagination and feeling, directs the life force to rise up the spine, from the tailbone into the neck and then into the forehead

When practicing Tantric meditation, considerable life force is gathered in the forehead, the tantra yogi, through practice, directs that the life force move out from the forehead and form a body of light and energy three to six feet before him or her. The body of light in front of the devotee is encouraged through Tantric meditation to become dense and expand until it is as large as a human form.

The tantric yogi in Tantric meditation then directs love and devotion toward the dynamic body of light, which is a profound representation of his or her soul and essence. Usually, after fifteen to thirty minutes of Tantric meditation, the yogi invites the light and energy to slowly return into his forehead and down through the body to the base of the spine.

Through Tantric meditation practice, amazing renewal is felt through tantric meditation and spiritual awakening is accelerated. The tantric by practicing Tantric meditation becomes aware that the life force and essence within each person is truly divine; it is from the Lord. The spirit in each one is from God.

The basic principle of Tantra is that once we have realised that we are ultimately empty of fixed existence, we should also realize that we are free from any constraints to our potential.

In Tantric meditation, Tantra yoga meditation is often practiced this way:

A tantra devotee sits calmly in Tantric meditation and purifies mind and heart of wayward thoughts and desires. The devotee of Tantric meditation then senses the life force within his or her being and gradually, through imagination and feeling, directs the life force to rise up the spine, from the tailbone into the neck and then into the forehead

When practicing Tantric meditation, considerable life force is gathered in the forehead, the tantra yogi, through practice, directs that the life force move out from the forehead and form a body of light and energy three to six feet before him or her. The body of light in front of the devotee is encouraged through Tantric meditation to become dense and expand until it is as large as a human form.

The tantric yogi in Tantric meditation then directs love and devotion toward the dynamic body of light, which is a profound representation of his or her soul and essence. Usually, after fifteen to thirty minutes of Tantric meditation, the yogi invites the light and energy to slowly return into his forehead and down through the body to the base of the spine.

Through Tantric meditation practice, amazing renewal is felt through tantric meditation and spiritual awakening is accelerated. The tantric by practicing Tantric meditation becomes aware that the life force and essence within each person is truly divine; it is from the Lord. The spirit in each one is from God.

God always with us,  in us and bless us!

Meta Meditation

          Meta meditation is a meditation technique by which we experience whatever arises in the mind at ever earlier stages of development (like bubbles arising from the bottom of the ocean) and make no judgment of whatever it is that we are experiencing in the moment. Judgment would be feeding it in some way, giving it energy. Then the bubble gets bigger and we become lost in it. In Practicing the Presence, we experience what arises in the mind, at ever-earlier stages of development, as it is, in the moment, fully. The Meta meditation is that with greater awareness, we see through the appearances, (what the mind has made up, interpretation) to the Presence that is the reality in everything that is real. (What is not real is what the mind has made up.)

          That is why this meditation technique is called meditation Meta-Hermeneutical Meditation and Practicing the Presence. The hermeneutical (from the Greek word hermenoia, meaning to interpret) is what your mind makes up (interprets) about what is happening. Nothing is the matter with that. That is how we understand our reality. The problem is, when we get lost in the made up reality, it experiences us. It controls us. We react to it. We believe it to be real.

           That is the past. That is not now. That is separation. The Meta-Hermeneutical is beyond the hermeneutical. It is what is already there, your true nature, your true Self. Beyond what the mind makes up "about" things, beyond the made up, beyond the dream, beyond past, present and future, beyond thought and concept is Presence.

           Meditation, to many people, is using the mind. Concentrating on something, affirmations, visualizations, declarations, developing powers, contacting guides or spirits, seeking some higher authority-are all not Meta-Hermeneutical Meditation. Meta-Hermeneutical Meditation is the going beyond the "doing" of meditation, to being that Presence in every moment and bringing Presence (your true nature) into everything you do. Through all appearance is Presence.

thanks  to all
by
aravindam

Ramana Maharshi Self Inquiry Meditation Method

I welcome all of you, who love the god most  and who hate the god most !

Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi

Question : You say one can realize the Self by a search for it. What is the character of this search?
Ramana Maharshi : You are the mind or think that you are the mind. The mind is nothing but thoughts. Now behind every particular thought there is a general thought, which is the `I', that is yourself. Let us call this `I' the first thought. Stick to this `I'-thought and Question it to find out what it is. When this Question takes strong hold on you, you cannot think of other thoughts.

Question : When I do this and cling to my self, that is, the `I'-thought, other thoughts come and go, but I say to myself `Who am I ?' and there is no answer forthcoming. To be in this condition is the practice. Is it so?
Ramana Maharshi : This is a mistake that people often make. What happens when you make a serious quest for the Self is that the `I'-thought disappears and something else from the depths takes hold of you and that is not the `I' which commenced the quest.

Question : What is this something else?
Ramana Maharshi : That is the real Self, the import of `I'. It is not the ego. It is the Supreme Being itself.

Question : But you have often said that one must reject other thoughts when one begins the quest but the thoughts are endless. If one thought is rejected, another comes and there seems to be no end at all.
Ramana Maharshi : I do not say that you must go on rejecting thoughts. Cling to yourself, that is, to the `I'-thought. When your interest keeps you to that single idea, other thoughts will automatically get rejected and they will vanish.

Question : And so rejection of thoughts is not necessary?
Ramana Maharshi : No. It may be necessary for a time or for some. You fancy that there is no end if one goes on rejecting every thought when it rises. It is not true, there is an end. If you are vigilant and make a stern effort to reject every thought when it rises you will soon find that you are going deeper and deeper into your own inner self. At that level it is not necessary to make an effort to reject thoughts.

Question : Then it is possible to be without effort, without strain.
Ramana Maharshi : Not only that, it is impossible for you to make an effort beyond a certain extent.

Question : I want to be further enlightened. Should I try to make no effort at all?
Ramana Maharshi : Here it is impossible for you to be without effort. When you go deeper, it is impossible for you to make any effort. If the mind becomes introverted through enquiry into the source of aham-vritti, the vasanas become extinct. The light of the Self falls on the vasanas and produces the phenomenon of reflection we call the mind. Thus, when the vasanas become extinct the mind also disappears, being absorbed into the light of the one reality, the Heart. This is the sum and substance of all that an aspirant needs to know. What is imperatively required of him is an earnest and onepointed enquiry into the source of the aham-vritti.

Question : How should a beginner start this practice?
Ramana Maharshi : The mind will subside only by means of the enquiry `Who am I?' The thought 'Who am I?', destroying all other thoughts, will itself finally be destroyed like the stick used for stirring the funeral pyre. If other thoughts rise one should, without attempting to complete them, enquire `To whom did they rise?' What does it matter however many thoughts rise? At the very moment that each thought rises, if one vigilantly enquires `To whom did this rise?', it will be known `To me'. If one then enquires `Who am I?', the mind will turn back to its source [the Self] and the thought which had risen will also subside. By repeatedly practising thus, the power of the mind to abide in its source increases.

Although tendencies towards sense-objects [vishaya vasanas], which have been recurring down the ages, rise in countless numbers like the waves of the ocean, they will all perish as meditation on one's nature becomes more and more intense. Without giving room even to the doubting thought, `Is it possible to destroy all these tendencies [vasanas] and to remain as Self alone?', one should persistently cling fast to self-attention.

As long as there are tendencies towards sense-objects in the mind, the enquiry `Who am I ?' is necessary. As and when thoughts rise, one should annihilate all of them through enquiry then and there in their very place of origin. Not attending to what-is-other [anya] is non-attachment [vairagya] or desirelessness [nirasa]. Not leaving Self is knowledge [jnana]. In truth, these two [desirelessness and knowledge] are one and the same. Just as a pearl-diver, tying a stone to his waist, dives into the sea and takes the pearl lying at the bottom, so everyone, diving deep within himself with non-attachment, can attain the pearl of Self. If one resorts uninterruptedly to remembrance of one's real nature [swarupasmarana] until one attains Self, that alone will be sufficient.

Enquiring `Who am I that is in bondage?' and knowing one's real nature [swarupa] alone is liberation. Always keeping the mind fixed in Self alone is called 'self-enquiry', whereas meditation [dhyana] is thinking oneself to be the absolute [Brahman], which is existence-consciousness-bliss [sat-chit-ananda].

Question : The yogis say that one must renounce this world and go off into secluded jungles if one wishes to find the truth.
Ramana Maharshi : The life of action need not be renounced. If you meditate for an hour or two every day you can then carry on with your duties. If you meditate in the right manner then the current of mind induced will continue to flow even in the midst of your work. It is as though there were two ways of expressing the same idea; the same line which you take in meditation will be expressed in your activities.

Question : What will be the result of doing that?
Ramana Maharshi : As you go on you will find that your attitude towards people, events and objects gradually changes. Your actions will tend to follow your meditations of their own accord.

Question : Then you do not agree with the yogis?
Ramana Maharshi : A man should surrender the personal selfishness which binds him to this world. Giving up the false self is the true renunciation.

Question : How is it possible to become selfless while leading a life of worldly activity?
Ramana Maharshi : There is no conflict between work and wisdom.

Question : Do you mean that one can continue all the old activities in one's profession, for instance, and at the same time get enlightenment ?
Ramana Maharshi : Why not ? But in that case one will not think that it is the old personality which is doing the work, because one's consciousness will gradually become transferred until it is centered in that which is beyond the little self.

Question : If a person is engaged in work, there will be little time left for him to meditate.
Ramana Maharshi : Setting apart time for meditation is only for the merest spiritual novices. A man who is advancing will begin to enjoy the deeper beatitude whether he is at work or not. While his hands are in society, he keeps his head cool in solitude.

Question : Then you do not teach the way of yoga?
Ramana Maharshi : The yogi tries to drive his mind to the goal, as a cowherd drives a bull with a stick, but on this path the seeker coaxes the bull by holding out a handful of grass.

Question : How is that done?
Ramana Maharshi : You have to ask yourself the Question `Who am I ?' This investigation will lead in the end to the discovery of something within you which is behind the mind. Solve that great problem and you will solve all other problems.

Question : Why is concentration ineffective?
Ramana Maharshi : To ask the mind to kill the mind is like making the thief the policeman. He will go with you and pretend to catch the thief, but nothing will be gained. So you must turn inward and see from where the mind rises and then it will cease to exist.

Question : In turning the mind inwards, are we not still employing the mind?
Ramana Maharshi : Of course we are employing the mind. It is well known and admitted that only with the help of the mind can the mind be killed. But instead of setting about saying there is a mind, and I want to kill it, you begin to seek the source of the mind, and you find the mind does not exist at all. The mind, turned outwards, results in thoughts and objects. Turned inwards, it becomes itself the Self.

Question : How can I tell if I am making progress with my enquiry?
Ramana Maharshi : The degree of the absence of thoughts is the measure of your progress towards Self-realization. But Self-realization itself does not admit of progress, it is ever the same. The Self remains always in realization. The obstacles are thoughts. Progress is measured by the degree of removal of the obstacles to understanding that the Self is always realized. So thoughts must be checked by seeking to whom they arise. So you go to their source, where they do not arise.

Question : Doubts are always arising. Hence my Question.
Ramana Maharshi : A doubt arises and is cleared. Another arises and that is cleared, making way for yet another; and so it goes on. So there is no possibility of clearing away all doubts. See to whom the doubts arise. Go to their source and abide in it. Then they cease to arise. That is how doubts are to be cleared.

God always with us, in us and bless us!
Aravindam

Ramana Maharshi on "Who am I?" Meditation

I welcome all of you, who love the god most and who hate the god most !

Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi

Question : Should I go on asking `Who am I?' without answering? Who asks whom? Which bhavana [attitude] should be in the mind at the time of enquiry? What is `I', the Self or the ego?
Ramana Maharshi : In the enquiry `Who am I?', `I' is the ego. The Question really means, what is the source or origin of this ego? You need not have any bhavana [attitude] in the mind. All that is required is that you must give up the bhavana that you are the body, of such and such a description, with such and such a name, etc. There is no need to have a bhavana about your real nature. It exists as it always does. It is real and no bhavana.

Question : But is it not funny that the `I' should be searching for the `I'? Does not the enquiry `Who am I?' turn out in the end to be an empty formula? Or, am I to put the Question to myself endlessly, repeating it like some mantra?
Ramana Maharshi : Self-enquiry is certainly not an empty formula and it is more than the repetition of any mantra. If the enquiry `Who am I?' were a mere mental Questioning, it would not be of much value. The very purpose of self-enquiry is to focus the entire mind at its source. It is not, therefore, a case of one `I' searching for another `I'. Much less is self-enquiry an empty formula, for it involves an intense activity of the entire mind to keep it steadily poised in pure Self-awareness.

Question : When I think `Who am I?', the answer comes `I am not this mortal body but I am chaitanya, atma (consciousness, the Self ).' And suddenly another Question arises, `Why has atma come into maya [illusion]?' or in other words, `Why has God created this world?'
Ramana Maharshi : To enquire `Who am I ?' really means trying to find out the source of the ego or the `I'-thought. You are not to think of other thoughts, such as `I am not this body'. Seeking the source of `I' serves as a means of getting rid of all other thoughts. We should not give scope to other thoughts, such as you mention, but must keep the attention fixed on finding out the source of the `I' - thought by asking, as each thought arises, to whom the thought arises. If the answer is `I get the thought' continue the enquiry by asking `Who is this "I" and what is its source?`

Question : Am I to keep on repeating `Who am I?' so as to make a mantra of it?
Ramana Maharshi : No. `Who am I ?' is not a mantra. It means that you must find out where in you arises the `I'-thought which is the source of all other thoughts.

Question : Shall I meditate on `I am Brahman' (aham Brahmasmi]?
Ramana Maharshi : The text is not meant for thinking `I am Brahman'. Aham [`I'] is known to every one. Brahman abides as aham in every one. Find out the `I'. The `I' is already Brahman. You need not think so. Simply find out the `I'.

Question : I am aware of the `I'. Yet my troubles are not ended.
Ramana Maharshi : This `I'-thought is not pure. It is contaminated with the association of the body and senses. See to whom the trouble is. It is to the `I'-thought. Hold it. Then the other thoughts vanish.

Question : Is soham (the affirmation `I am he') the same as `Who am I?'
Ramana Maharshi : Aham [`I'] alone is common to them. One is soham. The other is koham [Who am I?]. They are different. Why should we go on saying soham? One must find out the real `I'. In the Question `Who am I?', `I' refers to the ego. Trying to trace it and find its source, we see it has no separate existence but merges in the real `I'.

You see the difficulty. Vichara is different in method from the meditation sivoham or soham [`I am Siva' or `I am he']. I rather lay stress upon Self-knowledge, for you are first concerned with yourself before you proceed to know the world and its Lord. The soham meditation or `I am Brahman' meditation is more or less a mental thought. But the quest for the Self I speak of is a direct method, indeed superior to the other meditation. The moment you start looking for the self and go deeper and deeper, the real Self is waiting there to take you in. Then whatever is done is done by something else and you have no hand in it. In this process, all doubts and discussions are automatically given up just as one who sleeps forgets, for the time being, all his cares.

God always with us, in us and bless us!
Aravindam

Osho – When you meditate on "Who am I?"

I welcome all of you, who love the god most  and who hate the god most!

             In my spiritual path, i spent most of time with who am i? meditation. Sit any posture (which one you feel comfortable)and close your eyes. Do inner chanting yourself "Who am i?" "Who am i?" "Who am i?" continuously. while doing this meditation, witness yourself with your thoughts. if you do this meditation regularly at certain point your thoughts will go down. experience it!

            Osho - When you meditate on “Who am I?” you will come across this point, and it will dissolve. And the deeper you will go… then deeper questions will come: first sociological, theological, then biological. You have a man’s body or a woman’s body: the question will arise, “Am I a man or a woman?” The consciousness is neither. The consciousness cannot be male or female. The consciousness is simply consciousness; it is just the capacity of being a witness. Soon you will pass that barrier too; you will forget that you are man or woman.

            And so on, so forth. When all the old identities are dropped, nothing remains, only the question resounds in the silence: “Who am I?” The question cannot go on, on its own; it needs some answers, otherwise it cannot persist. A point comes when asking becomes absurd… the question also evaporates. That is the moment which is called self-knowing — ATMAGYAN. That is the moment when, without receiving any answer, you simply know, you feel, who you are.


God always with us, in us and bless us!
Aravindam

 

What is Meditation?

I welcome all of you, who love the god most and who hate the god most!

          Here, we going to see what is mediation?, it's benefit and some meditation techniques.

What is Meditation? 

          Meditation is universal. It transcends all divides like religion, country and culture. It is a gift given to mankind to access the infinite sprit not limited by any identity. It is the only tool that can aid a person to return to innocence.

           Modern life style has high exposure to anger, hate, fear and other negative emotions. These human emotions have a high tendency to duplicate and spread. For example, when a person gets cheated, he starts to suspect everything around him. This also has an impact on people around him. These emotions form strong impressions and opinions on an individual and social level. The result of which is an insecure individual and an unstable society.

           Meditation helps an individual overcome these emotions to facilitate a calm peaceful mind and a healthy and stress free body.Upon daily practice an individual will blossom into an unshakable personality. With increase in the number of people who are calm, peaceful and healthy will facilitate a social transformation, enabling a society that is trusting, happy and content.

Benefits of Meditation:

           Though meditation is usually recognized as a largely spiritual practice, it also has many health benefits. The yoga and meditation techniques are being implemented in management of life threatening diseases; in transformation of molecular and genetic structure; in reversal of mental illnesses, in accelerated learning programs, in perceptions and communications beyond the physical, in solving problems and atomic and nuclear physics; in gaining better ecological understanding; in management of lifestyle and future world problems. Some benefits of meditation are:

• It lowers oxygen consumption.
• It decreases respiratory rate.
• It increases blood flow and slows the heart rate.
• Increases exercise tolerance in heart patients.
• Leads to a deeper level of relaxation.
• Good for people with high blood pressure as it brings the B.P. to normal.
• Reduces anxiety attacks by lowering the levels of blood lactate.
• Decreases muscle tension (any pain due to tension) and headaches.
• Builds self-confidence.
• It increases serotonin production which influences mood and behaviour. Low levels of serotonin are associated with depression, obesity, insomnia and headaches.
• Helps in chronic diseases like allergies , arthritis etc.
• Reduces Pre- menstrual Syndrome.
• Helps in post-operative healing.
• Enhances the immune system. Research has revealed that meditation increases activity of 'natural-killer cells', which kill bacteria and cancer cells.
• Also reduces activity of viruses and emotional distress.

Meditation Techniques:

Mantra Meditation:

            In Mantra Meditation technique, Mantras may be said silently to yourself, with your own inner voice, whispered, or out loud. While practicing Mantra Meditation, A Mantra is a sound repeated over and over until it integrates into your consciousness - Mantra Meditation frees the mind from its constant DOING, and Mantra Meditation elevates you to an altered state of awareness. In mantra meditation technique, you can connect with your soul at its most profound level, achieving a state of universal consciousness.

Mantra Meditation is probably the most commonly used meditation

Mantra Meditation is also the most effective; Mantra Meditation is used by all the religions.

Mantra Meditation is considered as root of various meditation of Hinduism.

Some common Mantras used in Mantra Meditation are listed below:
OM - the sound of the Universe (vibration of all living things)
Sat Nam - Truth
So Ham - Life/Death, light/shadow, inhalation/exhalation - the yin and yang - the integration of opposites (this is a beautiful and powerful mantra, honoring both the light and the shadow)
Om Namah Shivaya - the phoenix rising, creation born of change, TRANSFORMATION
Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya - I surrender to/join with the divine will
Aham Brahmasmi - I am the creative force
Tat Tuan Asmi - I am that I am
Shanti, Shanti, Shanti - Peace, peace, peace

Vipassana Meditation

          India's most ancient techniques of meditation. It was rediscovered by Gotama Buddha more than 2500 years ago and was taught by him as a universal remedy for universal ills. Vipassana Meditation technique aims for the total eradication of mental impurities and the resultant highest happiness of full liberation. Vipassana Meditation Technique not only helps in healing, not merely the curing of diseases, but the essential healing of human suffering, is its purpose.

          Vipassana Meditation Technique is a way of self-transformation through self-observation. Vipassana Meditation Technique

           Focuses on the deep interconnection between mind and body, which can be experienced directly by disciplined attention to the physical sensations that form the life of the body, and that continuously interconnect and condition the life of the mind. Vipassana Meditation is this observation-based, self-exploratory journey to the common root of mind and body that dissolves mental impurity, resulting in a balanced mind full of love and compassion. The scientific laws that operate one's thoughts, feelings, judgements and sensations become clear by doing Vipassana Meditation. Through direct experience, the nature of how one grows or regresses, how one produces suffering or frees oneself from suffering is understood. Life becomes characterized by increased awareness, non-delusion, self-control and peace.

God always with us, in us and bless us!

Aravindam

Maha Kumbh 2013

I welcome all of you, who love the god most  and who hate the god most!

  
History of Kumbh Mela

           Kumbh derives its name from the immortal Pot of Nectar, which the Demigods (Devtas) and Demons (Asuras) fought over, described in ancient Vedic scriptures known as the Puranas. It is these Vedic literatures that have stood the test of time, out of which the tradition has evolved into the one that the world now knows as The Kumbh Mela. Legend tells a tale from the bygone days of the universe when the demigods and the demons conjointly produced the nectar of immortality. The demigods, because cursed, were crippled of fear that eventually made them weak. The task being too sturdy for them alone, the demigods made a mutual agreement with the demons to complete it in full and share the nectar of immortality in half. It is said that the demigods and the demons assembled on the shore of the milk ocean that lies in the celestial region of the cosmos. And it began!

         For the task of churning the milk ocean, the Mandara Mountain was used as the churning rod, and Vasuki, the king of serpents, became the rope for churning. With the demigods at Vasuki’s tail and the demons at his head, the churning began. At first, the churning of the milk ocean produced a deadly poison which Lord Shiva drank without being affected. As Lord Shiva drank the poison, a few drops fell from his hands which were licked by scorpions, snakes, and similar other deadly creatures. Also, during the churning, the Mandara Mountain began to sink deep into the ocean, seeing which Lord Vishnu incarnated as a great tortoise and supported the mountain on His back. Finally, many hurdles and 1000 years later, Dhanwantari appeared with the Kumbh of immortal nectar in his hands. The demigods, being fearful of the demons' ill intent, forcibly seized the pot with its safety entrusted onto the four Gods - Brahaspati, Surya, Shani, and Chandra.

         Demons, after learning that their part of the agreement has not been kept, went after the demigods and for 12 days and 12 nights, the chase continued. Wherever the demigods went with the pot of nectar, fierce fighting ensued. It is believed that during this chase, a few drops from the Kumbh fell at four places - Allahabad, Haridwar, Ujjain, and Nasik. There is also a prevalent legend that it was actually the demons that were being chased by the demigods for 12 days and 12 nights, during which the drops of elixir of immortality fell at these four places. These four places are since believed to have acquired mystical powers. Because 12 days of Gods are equivalent to 12 years for humans; the Kumbh Mela is celebrated once every 12 years in each of the four places - banks of river Godavari in Nasik, river Kshipra in Ujjain, river Ganges in Haridwar, and at the Sangam of Ganges, Yamuna, and Saraswati in Allahabad, where the drops are believed to have fallen. Millions of devout, come together to partake in ritualistic bathing and ceremonies to cleanse themselves of all sins.



Maha Kumbh Mela

 
          The last time, in 2001, when the Maha Kumbh Mela was held here, nearly 60 million took a bath at Sangam, plus thousands others bore witness to the grandness of the event. After 12 long years, the wait is finally over as the Maha Kumbh is once again back to where it belongs – Allahabad. And the Kumbh Mela that is held here is considered to be the largest and holiest of all the four destinations and is believed to be the most auspicious. Allahabad is one of the most sacred cities in India, wherein the purity lies in the belief that after creating the world, Brahma, the great creator offered his first sacrifice at this place; and also because of the important position it holds according to the Hindu scriptures for possessing the holy confluence, known as Triveni Sangam, of the three sacred rivers of India - Ganga, Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati.

         In 2013, from 27th January to 25th February, the banks of the Sangam will once again be in an uproar as millions - devout and commoners alike will make the place their temporary homes. And the sight of Sadhus, the guardians of the faith; Naga Babas, covering their naked bodies with ash; and Mahants, lured to come out of their hideouts in forests, mountains, and caves, charging towards the Sangam to take a holy dip in the waters at the appointed time will once again make up for the visual dazzle. It’s believed that bathing here will free one from all the past sins, thereby liberating him from the cycle of life and death. Discomfort of having to travel miles and living open air under freezing weather will take a backseat and it’s the pure sense of devotion and spirituality that will prevail, evident through their faces.

         Famous for its culture and contemporary heritage, the city of Allahabad will once again become a major attraction for foreigners willing to witness the greatest expression of Indian religion, and study and learn Indian culture as the roots of tradition and customs can be easily traced in this land of Triveni Sangam. The Maha Kumbh Mela to be held in Allahabad (Prayag) in the year 2013 will commence from 27th of January and will continue till 25th of February.



Kumbh Mela Dates 2013 (Allahabad)

         Kumbh Mela, the grandest of all gatherings is a commingling of millions of souls that come together to purge themselves before entering the heavenly realm of God; it is an open invitation, which is grabbed on like the very last opportunity by the devotees to deem themselves fit for an entry. It is held every three years in each of the four different locations - Allahabad, Haridwar, Nasik and Ujjain, returning to each of the four places after a gap of every twelve years. Besides the regular Kumbh Mela, an Ardh (half) Kumbh Mela takes place six years after the Maha Kumbh in each of the location. And how it lands up in each location varies according to what position the Sun, Moon, and Jupiter hold in that period in different zodiac signs.

          It comes to Haridwar when Jupiter is in Aquarius and Sun is in Aries during the Hindu month of Chaitra i.e. in the month of March-April. In Allahabad it is celebrated in the month of January-February when Jupiter is in Aries or Taurus and Sun and Moon are in Capricorn during the Hindu month of Magha. In the Hindu month of Bhadraprada (August-September), when Sun and Jupiter are in Leo, Kumbh Mela comes to Nasik. And Ujjain gets to organize it when Jupiter is in Leo and Sun is in Aries, or when all three are in Libra during the Hindu month of Vaisakha i.e. April-May. Below is a comprehensive list of Kumbh Mela dates with the names of the host cities.

Kumbh Mela Dates 2013 (Allahabad)

         The Maha Kumbh Mela to be held in Allahabad (Prayag) in the year 2013 will commence from 27th of January and will continue till 25th of February. Below is a table mentioning the important dates of Maha Kumbh Mela 2013:

Date (2013)       Day             Event

27th January      Sunday          Paush Purnima
6th February     Wednesday    Ekadashi Snan
10th February    Sunday          Mauni Amavasya Snan (Main Bathing Day)
15th February    Friday           Basant Panchami Snan
17th February    Sunday          Rath Saptami Snan
18th February    Monday        Bhisma Ashtami Snan
25th February    Monday        Maghi Purnima Snan

Kumbh Mela Dates 2015 (Nasik)
          The Kumbh Mela to be held in Nasik in the year 2015 will commence on 14th July and will continue for a year, ending on 11th August 2016. Below is a table mentioning the important dates of the Kumbh Mela to be held in Nasik in 2015:

Date (2015)      Day                Event

14th July            Tuesday           Flag hoisting of the main ceremony at Ram Kunda

14th August       Friday              Flag hoisting of the Akhara at Sadhugram

29th August       Saturday          First Shahi Snan

13th September Sunday            Second Shahi Snan

18th September Friday              Third Shahi Snan

On 11th August 2016 the Kumbh Mela will end with the flag lowering ceremony.

Kumbh Mela Dates 2016 (Ujjain)
          The Maha Kumbh Mela to be held in Ujjain in the year 2016 will commence on 22nd of April and will end on 21st of May 2016.

How to Reach Allahabad

           The next Maha Kumbh Mela will be held in Allahabad in the year 2013, from 27th January to 25th February. Allahabad, also known by the ancient name of Prayag, is the second oldest city in India and is revered as one of the most holy places for the Hindus. The amalgamation of three great rivers of India - Ganga, Yamuna, and the mythological Saraswati, happens here; and the point where these three meet is known as Sangam. Being an important religious, educational, and administrative center of India, Allahabad is well connected to all the major cities of India via Air, Rail, and Road. If you are looking forward to being a part of this grand gathering of millions of living souls, then brief information on how to reach Allahabad for the Maha Kumbh Mela 2013 is given below.

Travelling to Allahabad

By Air
The Allahabad Domestic Airport, also known as Bamrauli Air Force Base, is 12 Km from Allahabad and though it is operational for domestic flights, it serves only a limited number of cities in India. Other two nearest airports from Allahabad are Lal Bahadur Shastri Airport in Varanasi (150 Km) and Amausi International Airport in Lucknow (200 Km). Both these airports are well connected to rest of the major cities of India. Daily flights from major airlines like Air India, Air India Express, GoAir, IndiGo, Jet Airways, Kingfisher Airlines, and Spice Jet are available. Local cabs and Interstate buses can be boarded from near the airports to reach Allahabad.

By Rail
Being the headquarters of the North Central Railway Zone in India, Allahabad has eight railway stations within its city limits, all of which are well connected to many of the major cities of India namely - Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Bhopal, Gwalior, Jaipur etc. Cabs, Auto Rickshaws, and City buses are available near all the railway stations to reach your onward destination.

By Road
As Allahabad is located in the heartland of the great Indian plains, the road density is quite high in these parts and is well connected to rest of the country via National and State Highways. The NH2 runs right through the city while NH27 starts from Allahabad and ends at Mangawan in Madhya Pradesh. NH96 connects to NH28 in Faizabad and brings together two major centers of Hindu Pilgrimage - Allahabad and Ayodhya. The three bus stands of Allahabad cater to different routes of the country through interstate bus services. Local transportation like tourist taxis, cabs, auto rickshaws, and local buses are also available that connects you to various parts of Allahabad and some neighboring cities.

Distance from Major Cities of India
Agra 433 KM
Kanpur 200 KM
Ayodhya 167 KM
Mumbai 1444 KM
Lucknow 204 KM
Kolkata 799 KM
Chennai 1790 KM
Patna 368 KM
Trivandrum 2413 KM
Delhi 643 KM
Udaipur 956 KM
Varanasi 125 KM
Jaipur 673 KM
 
Allahabad Map

            Allahabad, also known by its ancient name Prayag, is the second oldest city in India and is located in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh. Enrooted deep in history, the place has many a mentions in the sacred religious texts on India. It's this history that makes it a tourist's delight with many places to visit; the most famous among them being Sangam. Also known as Triveni Sangam, the site is the confluence of three of the most sacred rivers - Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati. It is near the banks of this convergence that millions gather to be a part of the Kumbh Mela. Apart from hosting the Kumbh Mela (next to be held in 2013), it is also a home to many a monuments and other tourist attractions enriched with history that defines the country of India. When here, during the Kumbh or otherwise, make sure you also visit the attractions like Allahabad Fort, Patalpuri Temple, Asoka Pillar, Akshaya Vat, Hanuman Mandir, Shankar Viman Mandapam, Mankameshwar Temple, Minto Park, Swaraj Bhawan and Anand Bhawan, Jawahar Planetarium, Allahabad Museum, Muir College, Company Bagh, Khusro Bagh, Mayo Memorial Hall etc.

           Apart from these attractions, which have also been mentioned in brief in one of the sections "Allahabad Tourist Attractions", there are also a few other attractions located around Allahabad that can be visited for their heritage and legacy. Among them, Bhita, an archeological site located on the banks of river Yamuna housing the ruins of an ancient city from 300 BC is definitely a place to be for the history lovers. There is also a place called Jhusi, known for its collection of ashrams and temples. Last but not the least, Kaushambi, one of the greatest Buddhist centers (Lord Buddha is believed to have visited the place twice to deliver discourses), housing an old ruined monastery and an ancient fort; and Shringverpur, a related legend of which tells that Lord Rama stayed here for the night before setting foot into the forest, are also there to make the visit to Allahabad all the more worthwhile. And to make access easy to all these locations, we have provided the map of Allahabad for you that will also help you make your way through the roads, and locate public amenities like Banks, ATMs, and Hospitals etc. Stick to the map and have a wonderful visit to Allahabad and a few attractions around it.


God always with us, in us and bless us!
Aravindam

What is Yoga?

  

          

Yoga means 'Oneness' and constitutes the essence of every possible religion, the gist of every creed and the core of every spiritual path.

           The word yoga has its roots in the Sanskrit language and means to merge, join or unite. Yoga is a form of exercise based on the belief that the body and breath are intimately connected with the mind. By controlling the breath and holding the body in steady poses, or asanas, yoga creates harmony. Yoga is a means of balancing and harmonizing the body, mind and emotions and is a tool that allows us to withdraw from the chaos of the world and find a quiet space within. To achieve this, yoga uses movement, breath, posture, relaxation and meditation in order to establish a healthy, vibrant and balanced approach to living.

Eight Stages of Yoga:

  
The following are the eight stages in Yoga, known as 'Ashtanga Yoga'. One needs to practice and master each of these eight stages in order to reunite with the divine energy in the universe.

Yama: These are eternal, universal moral commandments. Perpetual Yama curbs the tendency toward violence and possessiveness. It inspires truthfulness, purity, conscience, trustworthiness, goodness and honesty.

Niyama: This is the restraint of the mind by means of its own rules and regulations. It is self-purification through discipline, self-contentment, self-study and above all, the surrender of the self to God. It is also the study of scripts and holy texts.

Asanas: These are body postures, which develop inner awareness and aid in calming the mind.

Pranayama: This is the rhythmic control, prolongation and restraint of the breath. Its aim is to discover a subtle psychic force or a subtle cosmic element.

Pratyahara : This entails control of the senses of the human body. It is important to give up all emotions, sentiments and pleasures. The mind must be completely withdrawn from external attractions and objects.

Dharana: This is the Sanskrit word for "to hold". It is an intense, deep concentration which enhances the selected mental state.

Dhyana: This is meditation, contemplation and poised awareness.

Samadhi: Profound Meditation leads to a state of superconsciousness. This state is called Samadhi. It is the union of the individual aspirant (Sadhaka) with the object of his meditation Paramatma or the Supreme Universal Spirit - the all pervasive truth.

God always with us, in us and bless us!

Aravindam

10 Detox foods

Welcome all of you, who love the God most and who hate the God most

            Present days many people have anxiety, depression, stress due to so many reasons. if they starts to do regular exercise, yoga and meditation.  They'll free from depression and stress. In addition foods also most important to keep the healthy body and mind. so, here check out 10 best foods to cleanse your body and boost your health.

Lemon:

                                      
             Lemons are a staple of many detox diets, and there is good reason for this. Firstly, lemons are packed with antioxidant vitamin C, which is great for the skin and for fighting disease-forming free-radicals. Furthermore, the citrus fruit has an alkaline effect on the body, meaning that it can help to restore the body's pH balance, befitting the immune system. Try staring your day with hot water and a slice of lemon to help flush out toxins and cleanse your system.

Ginger:

 

             

             If too much fatty food or alcohol has caused problems foe your digestive system, it may be worthwhile adding some ginger to your diet. Ginger is not only great for reducing feelings of nausea, but it can help improve digestion, beat bloating and reduce gas. In addition to this, ginger is high in antioxidants and is good for boosting the immune system. To give your digestion a helping hand, try sipping on ginger tea or adding some freshly grated ginger to fruit or vegetable juice.

Garlic:

              Garlic has long been known for its heart benefits, however the pungent food is also good at detoxifying the body. Garlic is not only antiviral, antibacterial and antibiotic, but it contains a chemical called allicin which promotes the production of white blood cells and helps fight against toxins. Garlic is best eaten raw, so add some crushed garlic to a salad dressing to boost its flavour and your health at the same time.

Artichoke:

 

            If you have recently been overindulging in fatty foods and alcohol, adding some steamed globe artichoke leaves to yours meals is a great way to help get your body back on track. Globe artichokes are packed with antioxidants and fibre and can also help the body digest fatty foods. On top if this, globe artichoke is renowned for its ability to stimulate and improve the functions of the liver - the body;s main toxin-fighting tool.

Beetroot:

            For those needing a quick health-boosting shot of nutrients, you can't do much better than beetroot. Packed with magnesium, iron, and vitamin C, the vegetables has recently been hailed as a super food due to its many reported health benefits. Not only is beetroot great for skin, hair and cholesterol levels, but it can also help support liver detoxification, making it an ultimate detox food. To enjoy its benefits, try adding raw beetroot to salads or sipping on some beetroot juice.

Green Tea:

            While it's not technically a food, no detox plan would be complete without regular consumption essential liquids. Fluids are essential for keeping our organs healthy and helping to flush toxins from the body, and drinking green tea is a great way of boosting your intake. Green tea is not only a good weight-loss drink, but it is extremely high in antioxidants. Research has also suggested that drinking green tea can protect the liver from diseases including fatty liver disease. 

Cabbage: 

                          

            Cabbage soup diet to help lose wight and get in shape of the body quickly. However cabbage is not only good for weight loss- it is also an excellent detoxifing food. Cabbage contain a chemical called sulforaphane, wnhich helps the body fight against toxins. Cabbage also supplies the body with glutathione; an antioxidant that helps improve the detoxifying function of the liver.

Fresh fruit:

             Fresh fruits are high in vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and fibre and are also low in calories, making them an important part of a detox diet. If you're after brighter eyes and skin, shinier hair and improved digestion, try boosting your intake of fruit and eating from a wide variety of different kinds. The good news is fruit is easy to add to your diet, so try starting your day with a fresh fruit salad or smoothie and snacking on pieces of fruit throughout the day.


Brown rice:

 
            If you want to cleanse your system and boost your health, it is a good idea to cut down on processed foods. Instead, try supplementing your diet with healthier whole grains such as brown rice, which is rich in many key detoxifying nutrients including B vitamins, magnesium, manganese and phosphorous. Brown rice is also high in fibre, which is good for cleansing the colon, and rich in selenium, which can help to protect the liver as well as improving the complexion.

Watercress: 

 
            Like most green herbs and vegetables, watercress is an excellent health-booster and detox food. Firstly, watercress leaves are packed with many vital detoxifying nutrients, including several B vitamins, zinc, potassium, vitamin E and vitamin C. Secondly, watercress has natural diuretic properties, which can help to flush toxins out the body. To reap the benefits of this nutritious food, try adding a handful of watercress to salads, soups and sandwiches.

i hope you all like it!

God always with us, in us and bless us!

aravindam