Vedic Arts

The origin story of Ayurveda has all the ingredients of a  Superhero blockbuster-with demons (asuras) and devas (angels). A mountain many times the size of mount Everest, and a snake so large that it could be wrapped around it (Vasuki). The avatar of the giant turtle incarnation called Kurma, one of the ten incarnations of Sri Bhagavan Vishnu appearing and super superpowers exhibited by Sri Vishnu and Shiva (drinking of an entire ocean of poison). Pandit Atul Krishna talks about Ayurveda, how Brahma passed this knowledge to a whole brigade of devas and eventually it reached earth. And, he also talks about the advent of deity of Ayurveda Sri Dhanavantari, who appeared at the end of the churning of the ocean. Enjoy!

In our Jyotish series, this is jyotish class #5 by Pandit Atul Krishna. 

If you have been listening to our vedic astrology or Jyotish series by Pandit Atul Krishna, this is the session#4 published on. November 4, 2020.

Previous session links below 

Bhagavad Gita-by Atul

Where did yoga originate? What is the meaning of yoga? What do the ancient texts of yoga-like Shandilya Upanishad or gheranda Samhita or Bhagavad Gita say about the eight limbs or classifications of the yoga process? 

Listen to actual class audio from Narayana Ayurveda and Yoga Academy where we discuss the eight limbs of yoga as given in different ancient Sanskrit texts.

Why is Sanskrit important for a student of Ayurveda? Our Ayurvedic texts were written in Sanskrit using the Devanagri script and in rhyme, poetic form using certain metres. For example, Astanga hrdyam verses can be sung in anustupa metre.  In India, people call it the dead language. Sanskrit is far from dead. It is essential to invoke higher power, angels (devatas), and has a practical aspect.  I talk about the importance of Sanskrit and have mixed in some older invocation mantra podcast audio here as well.  Here is the link to the student blog- http://sandiegocollegeofayurveda.com/sanskrit-importance-ayurveda-practitioners

I have coined a new word. Dravyology.  What is Dravyology-It is the study of Ayurvedic Herbs, therapeutic minerals and substances. In Ayurveda, our herbs and therapeutic herbal medicines are called Dravya. Ayurveda uses minerals, rocks, resins, plants, animal products like ghee and honey etc in its herbs. It also uses energy like the energy of sun or moon, energy of the wind to empower herbs. Lets understand Dravyology and difference between Ayurvedic and Western herbalist. 

There is so much information about Ayurveda on the Internet, not all of it is authentic. Where does it come from? From ancient books. Today, we will talk about one of these ancient texts and sing some verses from it. Ayurvedic Practitioners learn to sing verses from Ashtanga Hrdyam in order to memorize the concepts. Lets hear the story and the foundation principles of Ayurveda as mentioned in Asthanga Hrdyam along with English translation.  We are singing it in the same style as Vishnu Sahasranamam. 

How to combat stress in the time of Quarantine ? Stress is different in us womenfolk.   How do we womenfolk deal with being moms, homeschoolers, cooks, working, and keeping sane? Monica Groover answers questions from  Daniela, Ayurveda Doula and Dr. Mithun Baliga in our women support workshop on September 5, 2020. Tips from ancient texts.  

Grahas means to grasp. In Jyotish, we call the planets or stars Grahas. Why? What are these grahas? Some say they are a manifestation of Sri Visnu? How? Where is it written? And, last but not the least--what is this lunar nodes of Rahu and Ketu in Jyotish? This is a Q and A session with Pandit Atul, the Vedic astrologer or Jyotishi.