Narsinh Mehta and Vadnagar

Narsinh Mehta and Vadnagar 

After 25 years, we were visiting the house of Narsinh Mehta at Sukhnath Chowk of Junagadh where he had spent 67 years of his life. Instead of preserving his old house in original shape, size and appearance, the administration has dismantled it and is now making a new house and a exhibition hall in small campus of approximately 800 metre. It is located near the Majevadi gate, surrounded by Muslim basti and a newly built Medical College and General Hospital nearby. 

The Brahmin girl was explaining the life of Narsinh Mehta and identified him as Nagar. But the man at the reception clarified that he was a Brahmin of Talaja (Bhavnagar) but later became Nagar after the marriage with a Nagar girl of Junagadh. 

What does it matter whether he was a Brahmin or a Nagar? I intervened. Brahmins and Nagars are different castes. Nagars are superior to Brahmin the man at the reception was arguing. The Brahmins performs karmakands and eat from the money and goods received even from the rituals of deaths. Nagars don’t do that. Sweet in their tongue Nagars are capable of doing all Panchat (polity) on any subject. He made the argument lighter. 

Great worshiper of Lord Krishna, first Gujarati poet Narsinh Mehta is known to the present world through the song Vaishanav jan to tene kahiye..that was lived by Gandhiji. Narsinh Mehta’s ancestors were from Vadnagar of Mehsana District from where the present PM belongs. 

Bhanaji Pandya a Brahmin from Vadnagar moved to Talaja Bhavnagar in 1304. He had performed Putreshthi Yagya for Vallabhipur King Nagarjuna in 1360. Luckily the king got a son and therefore, he granted three villages to Gadadhar the son of Bhanaji Pandya and also appointed him as the Karbhari, and Gadadhar Pandya became Gadadhar Mehta. Narsinhdas Mehta was his great grandson born in 1408 in Talaja but when he was 12 years old, he moved to Junagadh with his uncle Parvatdas. Narsinhdas then married to a Nagar girl Manekbai of Majevadi village of Junagadh. He stayed in Junagadh for 67 years and died in 1488 at the age of 79 years. A great Krishna Bhakta Saint and, believer of the equality of humans, and his Prabhatiya (morning bhakti songs) became the pathway of millions of Gujaratis for last 5 centuries. 

From Narsinhdas Mehta, India got Mohandas Gandhi, the father of the Nation. Mohandas simply practiced his teachings of Vaishnav jan to tene kahiye.. song for his entire life, became Mahatma and gave us freedom from Britishers with the weapons of truth and nonviolence. 

There is connection of Mohandas with Junagadh and North Gujarat life Narsinh Mehta. Mohandas’s family was Modh Vanik, belonged to Modhera village of Mehsana District. The family moved to Saurastra and his ancestors were working as Divan of the princely States in Saurastra. His father Karamchand Gandhi was the Divan of Porbandar. His mother Putalibai was from a Pranami family of Junagadh. Putalibai was the fourth wife of Karamchand. In want of Son, he married four wives. The last Putalibai gave him four sons and a daughter. Influenced by Narsinhdas and Pranami during childhood in Junagadh, Mohanchand became Mohandas. He was also a believer of equality of humans and like Narsinhdas Mehta advocated for removal of untouchability from the society. Like Narsinh Mehta, Gandhiji also lived for 78-79 years.

There is a big lake in Vadnagar named Sharmishta. Who was Sharmishta? I asked the people present during my visit to Vadnagar. But none was able to answered. I got the answer from Junagadh after reading the pedhinamu of Narsinhdas Mehta. His life was a tragedy. His only son Shamaldas died on the first night of his marriage. His only daughter Kunvarbai was married to Vatsraj, the son of Shrirang Oza of Una (Junagadh). There is a famous miraculous legend of Lord Krishna giving Mameru of Kunavarbai on behalf of Narsinh Mehta. Kunvarbai had only one daughter Sharmishta, who was married to Ghanshyam of Vadnagar and their daughters were Savitri (Tana) and Sandhya (Riri) married to Lokesh and Mahesh respectively, the sons of Vadnagar’s Mandaleshvar Nilkanthray. Both the sister died jumping into the well when they were called to perform music in the court of Muslim Emperor Akbar. When Tansen was burning in the fire of Raga Deepak and roamed around India, the two girls of Vadnagar cooled down the fire by singing Raga Malhar. When they were called to perform in the court of Emperor Akbar, the preferred to commit suicide drowning in a well. Tansen then created a new Raga in their memories, named TanaRiri. 

The lake of Vadnagar is named Sharmishta after the mother of the great sisters Tana Riri, Savitri Sandhya.

Great souls of their time. Our salutes.

Punamchand
19 October 2018

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Monsoon Herb Aghedo (Apamarg)

Monsoon Herb Aghedo (Apamarg)

Aghedo known as Apamarg in Sanskrit is a pungent but a famous plant in Ayurveda used as purgative, diuretic and in the diseases of dropsy, bleeding piles, boils, skin eruptions, colic, toothache, painful menses and asthma. It’s roots are used as astringent and seeds are used as emetic and in hydrophobia and in enlarged spleen. It is anti inflammatory. It is mentioned in Ayurveda that if the roots of Aghedo is tied in the waist or pined in the hair amboda of a pregnant lady on the day of delivery, the delivery becomes normal. 

It is a natural salt, therefore, I was searching for it’s use in correcting lipid profile and removing blocks. 

In Gandhinagar, the Capital City of Gujarat plenty of Aghedo plants come up in Monsoon every year. In monsoon the plants come up from the earth and by Sharad-Diwali it gives seeds. 

Nature can’t grow herbs without meaning. What is the use of the Aghedo seeds in Sharad? Sharad (Bhadrapad) is a season in India in which many humans die. It is a season of diseases. रोगाणाम् शारदी माता। It is Mother for the Doctors and Vaidhyas as they earn the maximum during Sharad season. वैध्याणाम् शारदी माता। 

In Varsha (monsoon) the Pitta (heat) in the body accumulates. And in Sharada, it explodes. Therefore, Sharad is a season of fevers. To prevent it, our ancestors found out the use of milk to control the pitta. Therefore, Shraddha Parva is celebrated as ritual to pay homage to the diseased with offering of Khir made of milk and rice. Khir controls the pitta and saves us from fever and death. It is considered blessings of long life from the ancestors. 

How to use Aghedo, a hot herb in Sharad? 

If Sharad Khir made with Aghedo seeds, it becomes a medicine, perfect with the cooling agent milk and rice. And to my great surprise, this Sharad Khir and Adgedo seeds, the natural salt removes blockages of heart, brain and all other parts of the body. If it is cleaning the atherosclerosis, what a wonder! My heart pumping went down to 50 last year rose up 55-60 after taking Aghedo Khir for 15 days during Shraddha Parva. We used to collect fresh Aghedo seeds everyday during our morning walk. With the removal of the waste materials from the arteries, the LDL came down and with the smooth flow of bloods into all the arteries and veins, the major organs functioned well. 

What else does one need?

Take out seeds from the Aghedo plants around you, make a tasty Khir and enjoy the morning of the Sharad Ritu. 

शतम् जीव: शरद:  

Punamchand 

15 September 2018

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मिच्छामि दुक्कडम्

🙏🙏🙏

मिच्छामि दुक्कडम्।

The soul is pure but He carries deceit, hatred and attachments, these darts creat obstruction in the path of liberation, nirvana. मिच्छामि दुक्कडम् is a path of purification, roots out the internal darts and bring sanity.

God has given us spotless bed sheet. But we make it dirty with our acts and omissions. Knowingly or unknowingly, we hurt others and injure or kill other creatures.

In a year of 365 days, these 8 days of Paryusan-Samvatsari is a period of passing through the path of purification. It is a Parva of introspection, confessions, repent and taking a pledge to not to repeat errors. The repentance for the breach of vow (prayaschit) removes the darts over the soul. It leads to self correction. One asks for forgiveness for the various errors of commission and omission, the faults and the sins committed knowingly or unknowingly. We should say Michchhami Dukkadam.

There are nine subtypes of präyaschhit. (1) To confess one's mistake in the presence of the preceptor and with a pure heart - that is called älochanä. (2) To repent for the mistake that has been committed and to refrain from it, as also to remain alert that no new mistakes are committed - that is called pratikramana. (3) When these älochana and pratikramana are performed together - that is called a combination of älochana and pratikramana. (4) When prohibited food and drink happen to have been received and the fact comes to light later on, then to discard these food and drink - that is called viveka. (5) To regret the mistake committed, one adopts an attitude of concentration to give up the operations of body and speech - that is called vyutsharga. (6) To regret the mistake committed, one performs external penances like anashana etc. - that is called tapas. (7) Corresponding to the gravity of the offense committed, the reckoned period of monkshood is reduced by a day, a fortnight, a month or a year - that is called chheda. (8) To keep an offender at a distance from oneself and not to have with him engaged any dealings of any sort for a fortnight, a month or the like as might suit the gravity of his offense - that is called parihära. (9) When on account of a violation of the earlier accepted mahävratas (major vows) - non-violence, truthfulness, continence etc. - they are forfeited - that is called upasthäpanä.

A long path of Tapa to walk on the path of Nirvana. One can make a small beginning, ask for forgiveness from all those whom we have hurt knowingly or unknowingly during the past years. Then every year, we do this prayaschit and pratikraman to keep the sanity and purity of the Soul so that one day He reaches to His ultimate destination of Kaivalya, the Nirvana!

मिच्छामि दुक्कडम्।

Punamchand
13 September 2018

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Can Arjun become Krishna?

Can Arjuna become Krishna?

From the platform of unreal-impermanent, Vijay Ranchan Sir words his poem referring the verse 5 of the Chapter 4 of Gita: सुनते हैं कृष्ण! तुम सब कुछ कर सकते हो, मुझे बस तुम्हारे साथ बिताये जन्मों  से भी लम्बे प्रहर भूलने का वरदान दो |

In Chapter-2, Lord Krishna explains the immutability of the Self.

न जायते म्रियते वा कदाचित् नायं भूत्वा भविता वा न भूयः।
अजो नित्यः शाश्वतोऽयं पुराणो न हन्यते हन्यमाने शरीरे ।।२0।। (Gita, 2.20)
(He is not born nor does he ever die; after having been, He again ceases not to be; Unborn, Eternal, Changeless and Ancient, He is not killed when the body is killed)
The Self is unborn, eternal, birthless and deathless. The six changes: birth, existence, growth, decay, disease and death are the common womb of the pain in mortal’s life. Waves are born and die away but the Ocean is not born with the waves, nor does it die when the waves disappear.

But in verse 5 of Chapter 4, he says:
बहूनि मे व्यतीतानि जन्मानि तव चार्जुन ।
तान्यहं वेद सर्वाणि न त्वं वेत्थ परन्तप ॥ ५ ॥
(Many births of Mine have passed as well as yours, O Arjuna; I know them all but you know them not, O Prantapa.)

Lord Krishna explains the theory of birth and rebirth and His incarnation. In one verse, he explained that the Self is unborn and eternal and in this verse He contradicts himself with the theory of births and rebirths. He and Arjun had many births but He knows them all but Arjun doesn’t. He as a Master enjoys all freedom but Arjun as Servant carries the limitations. He further explains in verse 6 (ch.4), though I am unborn and am of imperishable nature, and though I am the Lord of all beings, yet, ruling over My own Nature, I take birth by My own MAYA.

Can’t Arjun become Krishna?

The Self (Pure Awareness) is the same in both, then why is the difference? Krishna carries Awareness and Arjuna is living in Ignorance. One is talking from the platform of the Supreme, Master of His Maya, knows the game of creation, enjoys his freedom to hold the vehicle (body) and leaves it with all freedom. But Arjuna is victimised by his ignorance, believes the world of Maya as real, forgets the past, carries the desires and passing through the cycle of endless births and deaths in ignorance of the Self, suffers the pains.

Where is that platform of the Supreme from where Krishna says loudly: weapons cleave It not, fire burns It not, water moistens It not, winds dries It not (2.23 Gita); just as a man casts off his worn out clothes and puts on new once, so also the embodied Self cuts off its worn out bodies and enters other which are new (2.22 Gita).

What is Real and what is Unreal? That which was not in the past and which will not be in the future, but seemingly exists at present is Unreal. The objects we regard as real are illusory will disappear. The Real exists at all times, in the past, the present and the future. All the objects, our sentiments and our ideas, the body-mind-intellect are ever changing in us, therefore they are not Real. Then where is that changeless substratum? If water flows in river, there is riverbed. Where is that riverbed, on which the experience of life (experience of body, mind, intellect) synchronised? Which is that something in us remains unchanged all through our changes? Which is that thread that holds the beads in a necklace?

It is the Self in us, the Pure Awareness, the Consciousness remains the same, endless experiences come under it, get illuminated and dies away. That Awareness, Spiritual Entity, Eternal, All pervading, Inborn, Undying, and the Changeless, the infinite in me, if I (Arjuna) rest in it, Arjuna becomes Krishna.

Hare Krishna.

મિચ્છામિ દુક્કડમ્ 🙏

Punamchand
13 September 2018

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Bael leaves and Lord Shiva

Bael leaves and Lord Shiva

One of the Hindu trinity, Lord Shiva is believed to be the destroyer of the world, while Brahma is the creator and Vishnu the preserver. New creation is possible only if the destruction goes on simultaneously. Therefore, each cells of the universe is passing through the cycle of creation, preservation and destruction. The destruction is painful, but necessary for new creation, therefore, Hindus pray Lord Shiva chanting Mahamrintyunjaya mantra to conquer death and depart peacefully.

ॐ त्र्यम्बकं यजामहे सुगन्धिं पुष्टिवर्धनम्
उर्वारुकमिव बन्धनान् मृत्योर्मुक्षीय मामृतात् ॥

(We worship the three-eyed Lord Shiva who permeates and nourishes all like a fragrance, may He liberate us from death for the sake of immortality, like the cucumber is severed from bondage to the creeper)

Trifoliate (three pronged) Bel leaf (bilva patra) of Bael (wood apple) tree is one of the key ingredients of worshipping Lord Shiva. It symbolizes the trident held in Lord Shiva’s right hand, the three functions of creation, preservation and destruction, the three gunas of Rajas, Tamas and Sattva as well as Lord Shiva’s three eyes. 

In Savan month of Hindu calendar, Hindus worship Lord Shiva. They offer tridal Bilva leaves to Lord Shiva and pray him for fulfilling their material or spiritual desires. Leaves of Bilva trees are removed in millions these days. One wonders, how could the leaves be a mean for boons or salvation? One one side, the theory of Karma suggests that the fruits are the outcome of our Karma, then how could the bael leaves bypass the Karma and fruits effect? 

In Shiv Purana, there is story of a hunter worshiping Lord Shiva with the bel leaf.

A hunter once had to go hunting because his family was hungry. At the end of the day, the hunter was not able to find any prey. He climbed a tree and was watching around the movement of animal for hunting. As there was no prey around, free he, was subconsciously plucking and dropping the leaves of the tree on the ground. Suddenly, he saw a deer. He aimed his bows and arrow at the deer, but the deer asked him to give little time to meet the doe and come back. He allowed the deer to go and while waiting, continued plucking and dropping the leaves on the ground. The buck returned with the doe but both requested for one more time to go and come back after meeting the fawns. He allowed them and in waiting continued plucking and dropping the leaves on the ground. After a while, the whole family of the deer appeared before him for the prey. As the hunter was plucking and dropping the bael leaves on the ground, the leaves were falling over the Shiv Linga buried at the foot of the tree. This unknowing worship to Lord Shiva was enough to transform the hunter into a compassionate and understanding human being and frees him from his past bad karma. He saw on one side the deer family ready for the sacrifice and on other side his family hunger, which can be satisfied with alternative means. He allowed the deer family to return happily. Since then, the Hindus worship Lord Shiva with the Bilva leaves for purification of hearts and getting free from the bondage of their past karmas.

But why the Bilva Leaves? The story has spiritual meaning. The tridal symbolises the three gunas (qualities) of the Samsara, the Satva, the Rajas and the Tamas. He who surrenders the three gunas to the God, his mind and thoughts purifies and he then attains into the pure Consciousness of the Universe. In Chapter 15 of Bhagvad Gita, Lord Krishna has described the Sansara as Urdva moola adho shakha... 

ऊर्ध्वमूलमधःशाखमश्वत्थं प्राहुरव्ययम् |

छन्दांसि यस्य पर्णानि यस्तं वेद स वेदवित् || (१५/१, Geeta)

(An eternal ashvatth tree with its roots above and branches below. Its leaves are the vedic hymn, and one who knows the secret of the tree is the knower of the Vedas.)

The Upanishads also mention this tree: ūrdhvamūlo ’vākśhākha eṣho ’śhvatthaḥ sanātanaḥ   (Kaṭhopaniṣhad 2.3.1) (The ashvatth tree, with its roots upward and branches downward is eternal). ūrdhvamūlaṁ arvākśhākhaṁ vṛikṣhaṁ yo samprati, na sa jātu janaḥ śhraddhayātmṛityutyurmā mārayaditi (Taittirīya Āraṇyak 1.11.5) (Those who know this tree with it’s root upward and branches downward will not believe that death can finish them)

Generally, trees have their roots below and branches above.  But this tree has its roots above (ūrdhva-mūlam), i.e. it has originated from God, it is based in Him, and is supported by Him.  Its trunk and branches extend downward (adhaḥ-śhākham), encompassing all the life-forms in all the abodes of the material realm. 

The tree of Sansara/Jagat/material world has it’s roots above and it’s trunk and the branches extend downward. We/Atma are the hunters sitting on the top of the tree, searching for the prey to fulfil our desires with the help of three gunas: Satva, Rajas and Tamas. And according to our Karma, we decide our future. Till we became the doer, we are the lords of our destiny of hell or heaven. But as soon as we surrender our I with the three gunas to the God (Lord Shiva), the complete surrender to God brings salvation/moksha/nirvana and frees us from all the bondages. 

The bael leaves are symbolic. One has to remove all the impurities caused by the trigunas and surrenders to the God. Simple act of plucking the leaves and dropping them over the Shivlinga won’t serve any purpose unless surrendering the three gunas and offer the leaves to Lord Shiva. 

Bili or Bael tree has medicinal value in Ayurveda. The leaves are stimulator and medicine for sexual dysfunction and can cure Type2 diabetes.  It causes low appetite therefore useful in fast during the rainy season. It has anti fertility effects, therefore, can be used for family planning. Powder of Bael fruit is a great  medicine for stomach, ulcerative colitis, amoebiasis, intestinal and digestive disorders associated with bloody diarrhoea. It also boosts the immune system, fights off bacterial and viral infections, reduces inflammatory conditions, increases milk production for nursing mothers, improves ocular health. The fruit balances Kaph and Vata doshas, its roots improve digestion, leaves are good for pain, stem for heart and bel flower’s for curing of diarrhea.

ॐ नम: शिवाय। 

Punamchand

31 August 2018

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Diu the Pearl of India

Diu the Pearl of India

Diu the Pearl of India, presenting mixture of Portuguese and Gujarati culture together, is one of the 100 ideal heritage sites of India. The island is surrounded on the three sides by blue water of Arabian Sea. It was a sea port trade centre and vital trade link with the rest of India for traders overseas and was an important naval base of strategic importance on Saurastra coast for centuries and was ruled by Mauryas, Chalukyas, Chavda-Vaghela, Turks and Portuguese. Portuguese carried with them the Siddis from the African colonies and built the fort, the city wall and other strictures in the Cantonment. Portuguese stayed and ruled over the island for 450 years, till it was annexed to India on December 19, 1961.

Diu fort with many cannons spread around tells stories and history of the bravery and great wars they fought with the enemies. All the cannons are positioned towards Gujarat, as it was always under the danger of attacks from the Sultanate of Gujarat. Turks from Ottoman Empire were spreading rapidly towards East Asia and with it’s naval support to the local Muslim rulers, the island came under the great threat. 

Bahadur Shah the Sultan of Gujarat tried to seize Diu from Portuguese with the help of Ottoman Empire of Pasha during the 4 years war of 1531-34. 1534-35 AD were important years for Sultan Bahadur Shah because he won Diu in the west and Chitorgarh in the north. But at Mandsore, his head of artillery Rumi Khan (Russian Turk) betrayed him in favour of Humayun. Bahadur Shah then fled to Mandu but Mandu fortress was taken by Humayun, therefore, he fled to Champaner and finally took refuge in Diu. With the revolt of Sher Shah Suri in Bihar and Jaunpur, Humayun returned to Agra leaving his brother and two generals to command Ahmedabad, Bharuch and Patan, Bahadur Shah with the help of his old nobles, defeated Mughals at Kanij (near Mahemadabad) and expelled them. He then tried to recover Mandu from Mughal but was forced to the court of Portuguese, signed treaty of Bassein with Portuguese on December 23, 1534, gave them rights over Bassein (Vasai), Daman and Bombay and granted permission to erect a factory in Diu, instead the Portuguese Governor D Nuno da Cunha constructed the Diu fort. 

Portuguese had lost many lives and wealth during those four years (1531-34) war against the armies of Ottoman empire and Gujarat Sultanate, didn’t forget the losses. Therefore, when the Sultan of Gujarat Bahadur Shah came to Diu, invited the Viceroy with a strategy to pull him into his power, the Viceroy excused himself and in return invited the Sultan to his ship anchored off the coast of Gujarat. Bahadur Shah committed a mistake, went to the Viceroy’s ship, failed in negotiation terms and on his way back was attacked and killed in encounter by the Portuguese and his body was dumped into the water of Arabian Sea. The ship anchors away from the coast beyond the Panikotha structure, and one has to travel in a small boat to approach the ship and return to the jetty. The powerful Sultan, otherwise could had defeated the Portuguese in direct war, traveled in a small boat and lost his life in the water of Arabian sea in a small encounter of few minutes. He was only 30 years old. Why did he took such a risky move?

When British took over the reins of India in their hands, there was nothing advantageous either politically or for trades for the Portuguese to stay   as the fort population was mostly dependent on imports of goods and services from the African countries of South Africa, Mozambique, etc. But to showcase the presence of their colonial rule some 5000 km away, they continued their hold over the land. They believed in keeping the local population happy to save the kingdom. They lived as they believed. As a Community, Portuguese are very nice and sociable people. Unlike British, Portuguese males married with the locals females and gave birth to the coloured population in their colonial areas. Pao (soft bread) and barbecue fish is their staple food but they also enjoy chicken with gravy. They are famous for their bakery products. 

Diu became independent and annexed to India on 19 December 1961. People celebrate the Independence Day with one week long Diu Festival (Festa De Diu) in December every year. Before 1961, their Passports were stamped at Indian check post when they were coming to Indian territory for the medical treatment or other purposes. 

Diu, Daman Dadara Nagar Haveli and Goa (Estado da India) were annexed by armed action ‘Operation Vijay’ in December 1961 and were put under military administration till replaced by civilian rule in June 1962. It is interesting to note that the the issue of Indian armed action was taken up for a debate in the UN Security Council in December 1961 with the Portuguese request. The request was approved when the bare minimum of seven members supported the request (the US, UK, France, Turkey, Chile, Ecuador, and Nationalist China), two opposed (the Soviet Union and Ceylon), and two abstained (the United Arab Republic and Liberia).

When Diu and Goa were under attack from the land, sky and sea for 36 hours, the Portuguese people living in the fort went to the City area for rescue, then surrendered and left the land by a ship. And loving people they were, considered the Indian population of the island as their own people because of their long association with them for 451 years, invited them to the ship and took away to those who joined them to Portugal. They extended the citizenship right of Portugal to all the natives. Many carrying Portugal Passport moved to Europe and mostly settled in the Wembly of London. 

Those born before 1961 and their children do carry citizenship rights of Portugal even today. There are agents who process the file by charging ₹ 2 lakh/case for the fees and costs, and every year some youngsters surrender their Indian citizenship, acquire Portuguese Passport and try their luck in Europe, mostly in London. Many youths had migrated living their old aged parents behind, one can see many houses empty in Fudam and other villages. If you wish to buy a property in Diu, you may buy in Nagarsheth Heritage, but can’t buy in Fudam without the permission of the local Panchayat Society! Merchant Navy job carries the highest value above doctors and engineers amongst the families living in Ghoghala area of fishermen community. 

Some people remember the old days of Portuguese rule in which they were living with ease and comforts, enjoying fruits and vegetables of Africa. Wearing Gold ornaments and decorating houses were the luxuries of the life the women of Diu they had enjoyed the most. 

One of the Collectors of Diu found out his better half from Diu, married to a beautiful Portuguese girl serving in the Collectorate, whose parents and other relatives are settled in England, leaving a small house at Diu. 

There are many places and buildings of historical and archeological importance in Diu, but some of them are noteworthy: the fort, Panikotha, the city wall, a heritage walk from the beach side to other side of the town (small steps feel like great China wall walk), beautiful beaches: Chakratirtha, Nagoa, Ghoghala, Jalandhar; Naida caves, INS Khukri Memorial, Gangeshwar temple, etc. 

The beautiful St. Paul Church is the biggest building adorned with curiously treated volutes and shell like motifs and the magnificent wood carving is considered to be the most elaborate of all the Portuguese Churches in India. They worship Mother Mary, and the eyes of Mother Mary idol in the Church is very famous for it’s beauty and shine. Now the building is in the custody of Archeology Department, open for prayer but not been maintained so well. 

India won the war with the surrender of 93000 Pakistani soldiers under Lt. Gen. AAK Niazi before Indian Lt. Gen. Jagjit Singh Arora at Ramna Race Course Garden in Dhaka, Bangladesh on December 16, 1971, but a week before at 19.57 hrs on December 9, 1971, the great sons of India sacrificed their lives to protect the pride of the mother land. Indian Navy’s frigate INS Khukri F149 fell prey to three torpedoes fires on her by a Pakistani submarine PNS Hangor on December 9, 1971 in the course of the war. INS Khukri F149 sank 40 nautical miles off the Diu coast taking down with her a crew of 18 Officers and 176 Soldiers. Captain Mahendra Nath Mulla, a Kashmiri Pandit, was the Commanding Officer of the Ship. It is said that he refused to abandon the Captain’s seat and opted to go down with the sinking ship. He is considered as a hero in naval history and was awarded country’s second highest gallantry award ‘Mahavir Chakra’ (posthumously). A war memorial near Diu, displays name of the brave martyrs soldiers who lost their lives in INS Khukri F149.

The only place to see Hokka Trees in India is Diu. This sole Indian species of African genus was carried on the island by the the Portuguese from Africa. Hokka trees and Siddi workers of Africa are the Gifts of Portuguese to Gujarat and India. The fruits of the tree are edible, tastes like dates and have medicinal properties. These are heritage trees and therefore, there is prohibition to cut Hokka tree in Diu, the fine is heavy. 

A small population of Diu speak Portuguese. You may hear the words: como esta (how are you), obrigado (fine thank you), while walking in the streets of Diu. A Portuguese gentleman (Mother Indian father Portuguese), when asked for Portuguese life and meal in Diu, he happily invited us for dinner. We may take a chance to it in our next trip to the pearl of India, Diu. 

Punamchand
26 August 2018

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Tips of Ayush from Panchabhai Damania

Ayush Tips from Panchabhai Damania

He is a Vaidhya, did his BAMS from Junagadh and Masters from Jamnagar Ayurvedic University. In the initial years of his career, he practiced Ayurveda with Allopathic but later moved to pure Ayurvedic treatment and is now considered as one of the most successful Vaidhyas of Gujarat, successful in treating incurable discusses including Cancer. He stays in his village Una where his wife, his daughters and his father help him in making his Ayurved Yatra successful. One of his two daughters studies in BAMS and the younger is also getting ready to follow Ayurveda as a career.

Sushrut Samhita for Anatomy and Charak Samhita for treatment are his base books along with the guidance from other Ayurvedic books, Rigveda, Atharvaveda and Puranas. His pharmacy has Ayurvedic Drugs in the order described in Bhavprakash Nighantu. He is open to the new ideas and have acquired knowledge of herbs that cure many diseases. It is surprising to note that the herbs carry different potency if plucked in routine, plucked in selected season, time and nakshatra or plucked by chanting Ved mantras.

For Cancer treatment, he uses ‘krishna vallary’ herbs available in plenty on the sea coast of Gujarat. Following the success of a Kutchi Shah living in Mumbai, he also uses herb Hemkand, available near Verai Mata Temple in Rapar. He believes that without pure panchkarma treatment, no treatment on cancer can be successful.

Apart from the known Ayurvedic herbs, he uses Vanplandu (wild onion) and other herbs available locally. Referring the mantra of Rigveda, he believes that Yagya and it’s smoke can cure the fever of chikungunya, dengue, malaria, etc. पलड्ंकषा निम्बपत्रं वचा कृष्ठं हरीतकि, सर्षपा: सयवा: सर्पिर्धूपन ज्वरनाशनम। A dhoopa of gugal, neem leaves, vaj, kath, harada, sarsav and jav can cure all fevers.

Milk is prohibited in fevers, leprosy, blood and skin related diseases. All the acerbic (कड़वा) herbs and vegetables are good for the skin diseases. Acerbic food and herbs are lekhan aushadha, removes med/fat of the body.

Honey can’t be taken with hot water. It is hot medicine, cures cough and upper respiratory problems. It is not advisable to take after 60 years age.

Those suffering from low HB, Pandu Roga must take Sun bath of early morning ultraviolet rays.

Bharanhi, Kantkari, Aradusi and Vanpalandu are great herbs to cure cough, bronchitis and upper respiratory problems. Ardusi is used fresh and the juice is taken out by crushing some leaves and covered the pulp with whole leaves and mud paste and heated in the fire, then squeeze and collect the juice. Vanpalandu is useful in breathing problems and bronchitis. Bharangi and Kantkari are used in cough and cold.

Herbs have life of potency. Some herbs like Tulsi, Fudina, Ardusi, Jivanti, etc, are taken as fresh. Some dry leaves have life limited to six months.

Healthy life comes from the balance of Vata-Pitta and Cough in the body. Hemant and Shishir are considered good seasons to eat all foods as the powerful jatharagni digest whatever we eat. But one has to be careful while eating during Vasant and Gishma when the jatharagni is medium. And must do fasting or ektana (one meal in 24 hours) during Varsha and Sharad, the season of mand (poor) jatharagni. It is therefore, many Hindu festivals are lined up for fasting and rituals during these months. Sharad is considered the mother of the diseases, as well as mother of the vaidhyas/doctors as they earn the most during the season.

He is a seat of attachment of four students a year from Ayurvedic Universities, where the students stay with him for 11 months to study and learn practical Ayurveda. Every morning they go to the fields to study and collect the herbs to make the medicines. Modern allopathic men are afraid of Ayurvedic Bhashma as it may harm more than the cure, but he believes that a Bhashma made by following commands of Ayurveda float over the water and that can’t be harmful. One must test it before the intake.

He uses cow ghee and black sesame seed oil in plenty while making different drugs.

He follows spirituality, follows chaturmas (four months fasting) by taking only a glass of milk twice in 24 hours. He is connected with a Trikala Jnani Sanyasi Pragyananji, who comes and stays in his farm Cottage for Sadhana and guides him through the dialogues. The Sanyasi remains in seclusion for a year, and the lamp he lights with 100 ml ghee, without any addition, continues lighting for the whole year of his Sadhana. During Sadhana, the Sanyasi doesn’t sleep. It is believed that unless one purifies the physical body through fasting, chanting mantras and meditation, the human brain won’t be able to  connect and take guidance from the universal cosmic energy. The mantras, herbs, asanas to cure diseases, they hear or see as divine revelation during the Sadhana.

All the herbs are our great friends, give us long and healthy life and the cosmos around us connects us with the cosmic power and liberate us from the fear of death as there is no death of the soul. It is the body that dies, but the driver moves on to fulfil his desires till attains the salvation.

Punamchand
26 August 2018
www.punamchand.com

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