Langhanam or Upavāsa (Fasting)

What is Langhanam or Upavāsa (FASTING)? Pancha mahabhoota( Five Elements ) – Aakasha, Vaayu, Agni, Jala, and Prithivi build the human body. The ether element is the first element to appear in this universe, which is the most effective, pervasive, and universal. It is a formless, invisible, and subtle element. Ether element has a vital role in all aspects of health and disease management. Upavaasa (Fasting) is one of the means applied in ether element.

Meaning

Laṅghanam (लङ्घनम्) or Laṅghana (लङ्घन) or Upavāsa (उपवास) refers to “fasting practice & therapy”, and is dealt with in the 17th-century Vaidyavallabha (chapter 1) written by Hastiruci.

Fasting in Sanskrit is called Upavāsa = upa means “near” + vāsa means “to stay”. Upavaasa, therefore, means staying near (the Lord/ Nature), meaning the attainment of close mental proximity with Nature.

Definition

Fasting is the willing abstinence or reduction from some or all food, drink, or intake of excess things, for a period. “लंघनं परम् औषधं” “Langhanam param aushadham” ancient Sanskrit saying that means “fasting is the supreme medicine”.

According to Sanatan philosophy, food means satisfaction of the sense organs, and to starve the senses means to elevate them to contemplation. Fasting in Sanatan, is a method to attain control over one’s desires and senses for the sake of spiritual gain. Doing it for a cause has always strengthened people’s minds to attain their goals.

Fasting in Eastern Philosophy indicates the denial of the physical needs of the body for the sake of spiritual gains. According to the scriptures, fasting helps create an attunement with the Absolute by establishing a harmonious relationship between the body and the soul. This is thought to be imperative for the well being of a human being as it nourishes both his/her physical and spiritual demands.

Merits of Langhanam (Fasting)

1. Modifies the function of cells genes, hormones and immunity power rapidly increases.
2. Mental acuity: Research and empirical evidence has shown that being in a fasted state can improve cognitive function. The digestive system gets complete rest.
3. Build and maintain a healthy gut: Removing food for a period of time gives the gut a break from digesting and assimilating nutrients and can benefit the micro biome.
4. Beneficial for brain and the mental power is enhanced.
5. Lower stress load and inflammation: Fasting has been shown to lower inflammation by reducing oxidative stress and has also been demonstrated to lower insulin resistance.
6. Extend lifespan, help live longer.
7. Helps to lose weight, belly fat, fat begins to take place and fat is completely used up.
8. Lower the risk of Diabetes by enhancing the catabolism of blood sugar.

If we want our physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health, we should practice 5 Langhanams (Upavaasa) which are for spiritual power exploration. Our ancients used one very simple principle is called langhanam “paramaushadam-supreme Medicine” Upavaasa (Fasting) is the ultimate medicines.

First langhanam/Upavaasa

The first upavaasa (Langhanam) is Anna Upavaasa (Fasting food) – our ancients didn’t use the human body as an eating machine, funnily, so many people lonely are engaging in nonstop eating. The kind of eating will only make you sicker and is going to make you more prone to infections. We should eat when we are hungry and only when our digestive fire burns and asks for it, but not when our tongue asks. That will also give some break to whoever is cooking at home. We start eating only when our breath is flowing strongly through our right nostril, which makes the food digest what we are eating most effectively. When the breath is flowing through our right nostril breath of the solar energy flow, then we can practice any kind of fasting.

We can practice intermittent fast, water or soup or Juice or fruit fasting. Remember even animals fast when they are sick or want to heal ourselves. They always try to live with nature. Langhanam can also be eating right way in right time. All immunoglobulin which are antibodies to fight diseases are all proteins and cellular atmosphere. Eating right will mean taking the right amount of protein into our diet to enhance immunity in the body.

Second Upavaasa

The second Upavaasa (langhanam) is Svasa Upavaasa (fasting breath). Breath is the indicator of the quality of life, lifespan, and also nature of consciousness. Just as the more heat an engine produces, the faster it burns out. Every cell is like an engine that is being powered by the intake of breath. The ancient yogis practiced fasting of breath, they deliberately did slow inhalations and extremely long exhalations with breath pauses. When we practice breath fasting, we will age slowly our thoughts begin to become more positive. You can more easily break away from negative thinking, release the tension, unnecessary pressure, and release over fatigue, and suffer.  

Third Upavaasa

The third Upavaasa (langhanam) is Vachan (Speech) fasting, which is hurtful and pessimistic speech. Very few people have Vaak Shakti or the power of speech to manifest their goals. The more consciously we speak true words and cause joy to others in a very pleasing tone, our vaak shakti grows. Mauna (Speechless) and true speech are the calming process of the mind and reduce the firing in the mind. It helps to regenerate the energy and to rejuvenate the body and mind.

Fourth Upavaasa

The fourth Upavaasa (langhanam) is stillness / Asana fasting movements. It is not about living on our couch, eating popcorn, and watching TV. Fasting movement means sitting still, making more steadier, either observing our breath, listening to the sound of nature, hearing your entire sounds, or with the name of our divine being inwardly. Still, even if we can sit still for a minute at a time. It will bring down the restlessness in our body and mind. It helps us concentrate in the mind and become more still in meditation. Asana is the first step for Dhyana (Meditation).

Fifth Upavaasa

The fifth Upavaasa (langhanam) is thoughts fasting. Every second we have 24 to 40 thoughts firing in our mind. Much more thoughts can tense our brain and generates the tension and intense in stress more and more.

What is thought?

Thought can refer to the ideas or arrangements of ideas that result from either intrinsic (arising from within) or extrinsic (arising from the environment) reactions. A thought may be an idea, an image, a sound, or even an emotional feeling that arises from the brain. Thoughts are covert symbolic responses to stimuli that are considered to mediate between inner activity and external stimuli.

“Yogashchittavrittinirodhah”, P.Y.D 1.2 that means the cessation of modified thoughts in chitta is yoga. Thought fast reduces the number of thoughts and stilling and calming the mind that creates the state of the devoid is known as meditation. During the fasting, we should be in the present moment, not with the past and not with the future.

To Sum up

Langhanam or fasting is a superpower. We try this 5 langhanams / Upavaasa practice, and we will get and feel great power in our body, our mind, and consciousness. This upavasa practice and therapy is as old as the human race itself, which was mentioned in the Vedas, the Bible, and the Kuran.

Naturally, kids are born to learn from their environment. Kids are a form of God as pure as a lotus. Kids are like a sponge that absorbs everything around them so quickly. They normally do what adults do by copying them in different ways. Yoga is important for kids for many purposes in their lives. It is important for adults as well. Learn reasons to involve your Kids in Yoga Practice.

Children’s age is the best time for the initiation of yoga learning and practice. An Upa-nayan rite is the initiation of yogic life by offering the Gayatri Mantra, which enriches their true knowledge by reciting regularly. The means of Yoga helps kids to relax, relieve stress and anxiety, sleep better, improve emotional regulation, increase empathy, and improve mood and moral ethics.

‘Om Bhūr-Bhuvaḥ Svaḥ Tat-Savitur-Varēṇyaṁ; Bhargō Dēvasya Dhīmahi Dhiyō Yō Naḥ Prachōdayāt.!  (Rigveda 3.62.10)

ॐ भूर्भुवः स्वः तत्सवितुर्वरेण्यं; भर्गो देवस्य धीमहि, धियो यो नः प्रचोदयात् ॥

Reasons to Involve Your Kids in Yoga Practice

1. Awareness and Self-Esteem

Yoga brings a lot of change in the physical and mental state of the person. So as its makes every functioning of the body more and more aware, those person who does yoga are more stress free and normally there every action are more focused and very sharp. If yoga is taught to the children, since children natural behavior is very naughty and restlessness, they seem to try fun in every work they do.

So normally they are not aware of their action. But yoga teaches them to balance their body and mind coordination and enhance their moral discipline. Hence, they try to become more aware of their action. Yoga also helps to cultivate increased self-esteem, self-confidence, and empathy within kids, which translates to more positive relationships with others by reflecting their positive attitude toward themselves onto others.

2. Yoga Improves Social Relationships

Yoga is typically regarded as an individual activity. While that is partially true, there is a social component to yoga, especially called Yama such as Ahimsa, Asteya, etc. We go to yoga classes with other people and take part in the yoga community where we can share our experiences with others.

For kids, the entire yoga practice is a social one. Yoga for kids typically includes songs, mantras, yogic games, Mudras, and other fun activities that get kids moving together and learning from one another, particularly with partner yoga poses. This creates a positive, engaging environment in which kids can have fun, feel pleasure, talk to one another, and learn to trust and respect one another.

3. Determination and Concentration Development

Yoga is a combination of concentrating on your breath, energy, attention, and limiting your thoughts. With children’s receptive nature, they will learn the art of concentrating on their breathing and focusing attention within no time. The skills, will, and interest, overall, impact their concentration levels.

Kids who practice yoga with different means like postures, pranayama, and meditation regularly find it easy to stay focused and concentrate for a more extended period. Their attention span is boosted, and their ability to grasp more is increased. If you want your kids to have an improved concentration span, at this epoch when it is hard to maintain concentration, tag kids in yoga practice.

4. Flexibility and coordination

Since Yoga also consists of physical activities, yoga is not only the yogasanas, it is more about flexibility, strength, and posture help enhance flexibility and coordination. Yoga Asanas builds the strength and flexibility of your child in an instant. For example, Malasana (Squat Asana) is a challenge – a pose that resembles sitting on an imaginary chair on the floor with your hands behind your legs, builds balance, strength, and flexibility.

Tagging your kids along for yoga practices enhances their body flexibility. Children who have a flexible body are healthy, confident, and strong. A flexible body results in better posture. The benefits accruing from having a better posture among children are numerous.

5. Yoga Improves Sleep

Getting the body moving before bedtime is an excellent way to improve sleep. When we are stressed or overwhelmed, our bodies are tense and our minds are full, reducing our ability to sleep well. This is also true for kids.

We tend to think that kids “have it easy” and that they don’t feel stressed, but this simply isn’t true. Kids aren’t stressed about finances or getting to work on time, but they are stressed out by their schoolwork and peer relationships. The physical practice of yoga also helps to relieve tension and release negative emotions held physically in the body, helping them to fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer.

6. Yoga Improves Strength and Breath Control

Especially Yogasana in Yoga takes some strength, both mentally and physically. When practiced regularly, we notice many physical, emotional, and cognitive changes within ourselves, particularly increased flexibility, upper body strength, enhanced vitality, and mental clarity. All of this newfound strength has much to do with the breath.

When we breathe harshly or quickly, we increase muscle tension, reduce focus, and heighten our fight-or-flight response, all of which have detrimental effects on our minds and bodies. Teaching proper breathing techniques, and building physical and mental strength from a young age, helps to reduce the chances of obesity, depression, and depressive symptoms, as well as increases self-esteem, self-confidence, and improves overall wellbeing.

7. Physical and mental stress

Yoga provides an avenue through which children can deal with physical and psychological stress. Due to the changing nature of children’s bodies, stress due to physical changes is bound to occur. When the stage comes, most parents are lost for ideas on what to do. If your child’s stress is on writing, the best writing help is available. Yoga is the solution as it introduces children to a nurturing and loving community that encourages self-acceptance. This helps children to discover their strengths and shortcomings.

As yoga’s core values are self-acceptance, your kids will find both physical and emotional stability. Additionally, health symptoms caused by anxiety and stress can be cured by yoga. As kids, these health symptoms are regular and frequent. A child with previous experience in yoga practice will have a better way of dealing with stress and anxiety as an adult, despite the child’s age.

8. Calmness in children

The manner of execution of yoga poses requires a great deal of enthusiasm, determination, and focus. The result is that a sense of clarity is achieved at the end that leaves your children’s body with calmness. Yoga teaches kids to relax. Unlike other sporting activities that have competitions, yoga is a non-competitive activity. Your child will be at peace and relaxed, knowing that it isn’t a competition.

Furthermore, the focus on breathing in and out results in relaxation. When a person is tired, they breathe in and out to relax their muscles, which also happens in yoga. As your child poses to breathe in and meditate, there is a general feeling of clarity.

9. Yoga Improves Independence and Coping Skills

As mentioned above, yoga is both a social and individual activity. One of the benefits of practicing an activity that is both individual and social is that it helps kids to recognize what “individual” and “social” mean.

Kids rarely do things on their own. After all, they are kids! It’s up to us adults to make the most of the decisions for them. However, it is still important that they learn how to do things on their own. Practicing yoga is a great way to introduce independence to your kids because their practice, and what they get out of their practice, is theirs and only theirs. By increasing independence in practice, we are also helping kids to develop their coping skills.

To Sum Up

All of these benefits make it clear that yoga is an important tool in our children’s physical, mental, and spiritual well-being. It offers optimum health, happiness, and harmony. Practicing yoga is something we do for ourselves, as adults, to help us unwind and reduce both physical and mental stress. Yogic practices make them focus and free of minds as well.

Nepal is one of such unique countries with the beauty of culture and nature, where festivals are celebrated with joy and in a very vibrant way. Being a multi-ethnic nation, Nepal celebrates each festival uniquely. One festival can be celebrated with a different essence by different ethnic groups. In Nepal, there are many small and big festivals celebrated in each month. More about the Teej Festival.

Teej festival is the biggest Hindu festival of Nepalese women, generally falling in August or early September, which is celebrated all over Nepal. Mainly, the festival is dedicated to Goddess Parvati, the wife of Lord Shiva. During this Teej festival in Nepal, married women take Vrata (religious fast) for the long and healthy life of their husbands and family as well as pray for health and prosperity. On the same occasion, unmarried girls take Vrata to get a nice husband in the future. Both Married and unmarried women celebrate Teej with joy, love, and dedication. During the festival, women are dressed in red Sarees with gold ornaments as much as possible.

WHAT IS TEEJ AND ITS ORIGIN?

The name of this festival, “Teej,” is believed to have come from a small red insect, which only appears on the earth at the end of the monsoon season around August. So, this festival is named after that particular insect, “Teej.” Occurring around August, the Teej festival is celebrated by women all over Nepal for three days. Wearing the red sarees and red tika, bangles, they sing and dance to traditional folk songs for days. It is especially significant for married women when they get a special invitation to visit their birth town/ maternal home and feasts.

Having a long feast also known as Dar in dinner and supper, they sit for a 24 hour long Vrata / fasting, where most do not eat or even drink water. What is fascinating is to watch women of all age group, young and old, dance for hours in the heat, rain, traditionally without a drop of water or food for an entire day.

REASON BEHIND TEEJ FESTIVAL CELEBRATION

Teej festival is dedicated to the Goddess Parvati, marking her union with Lord Shiva. Teej is celebrated for the well-being of the husband, children, and the whole family as well. Nowadays, they celebrate this festival as a way to be united and have fun while praying for the well-being of the husband and all members of the family. It has also become a way to bring women together from different classes and celebrate the festival as one. The celebration of Teej implies the ultimate sacrifice a woman makes for her husband’s health, prosperity, and longevity.  

HOW TO CELEBRATE TEEJ

In Nepal, Teej is a three-day festival. However, Teej is celebrated in different ways in different regions of Nepal. This festival is celebrated for a total of three days that combine the feast as well as rigid fasting, culturally without drinking a drop of water. Teej is celebrated all across the world by Nepali Hindu women. It gives fun, mental relaxation, full of entertainment, cultural pleasure, and family harmony. Teej is a vibrant and pleasant festival that has become more popular since its start. However, in recent years, this festival has influenced many Nepali women residing all over the world. Women in red attire sing and dance in the street, going to the temple in a holy and even at home in a fasting mood and strength. Usually, women get called by their parents or brothers, where they celebrate Teej with the rest of the family members and siblings.

HARITALIKA TEEJ

The word “Haritalika” is comprised of two words, “harit” and “aalika”; “harit” means “abduction” and “aalika” means “female friend.” Haritalika Teej is celebrated as a remembrance of the Goddess Parvati and Lord Shiva. As per the story, Goddess Parvati’s father made a promise to marry her to Lord Vishnu against her wish. But she didn’t like it and she told this to her friend, and she took Parvati to a thick forest where Parvati’s father couldn’t get her. Goddess Parvati prayed to Lord Shiva by making a Shiva lingam from her hair. Impressed by her devotion towards him, Lord Shiva married Parvati and since then, the day is referred to as Haritalika Teej as Goddess Parvati’s friend (aalika) abducted (harit) her so she could achieve her goal of marrying Lord Shiva. So, Teej is celebrated in Nepal as Haritalika Teej.

Lord Shiva-Goddess Parvati Unification

In Hindu mythology, it is believed that Goddess Parvati and Lord Shiva were united on this day. For this, Parvati had to endure penance. It is said that she took 108 births on Earth before Lord Shiva accepted her as his wife. Since then, this day is considered to be an auspicious day, and it is believed that whoever remembers her on this day will be blessed with a happy married life and all her desires will be fulfilled.

One special aspect of Teej celebrations is the ‘Teej Katha’ that includes the stories of the legends associated with the festival. In the evening, the women gather to hear the narration of this Katha and pray for the good health of their husbands and husbands-to-be and a blissful married life. Teej Puja begins with the offerings of flowers and fruits to the goddess. The food delicacies such as Ghevar, Dal Bati Churma, Besan Laddu, Kaju Katli, and Sattu form an indispensable part of Teej celebrations.

Significance of Teej Festival in Nepal

Teej is a great festival for Hindu Women who celebrate the long-lasting life of their Husband. It is also a monsoon festival celebrated for the union of lord Shiva (a Hindu God known as destruction, consciousness, and creation) and Parvati (the Hindu Goddess is known as Devi Shakti, will, action, and knowledge).

The significance of such a festival is for women to ask for special blessings by Lord Shiva, to have attain a good husband in life, and to pray for his longevity and prosperity.

On the final day of this three day festival Women satisfy seven saints offering them food, money and various offerings, and also bathing with Red mud and brushing their teeth with Datiwan (branches of a bush tree) hoping this purifies their body and soul.

It is a sight to behold at the Pashupatinath temple, where thousands of women draped in Red and green throng the premises of the temple. Observers can take photos of these women dancing merrily, where sometimes foreigners, especially women tourists are requested to participate in the merry-making.

This festival is a symbol of dedication of goddess Parvati for Lord Shiva. Even today, women commemorate this mythological event by keep a ‘Nirjara Vrat’ for their husband’s well being and long life. This festival also helps in strengthening the bond between couples. This festival also welcomes the advent of Monsoon season.

Teej in Pashupatinath Temple

Pashupatinath is a famous Hindu Temple and also an important religious site for Hindus, and is dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is believed that Shiva (a Hindu God) is the most powerful deity, known as the God of Gods, also named as the one who has the power of creation and destruction. According to Hindu Mythology, Pashupati is the incarnation of Lord Shiva as the animal.

As Teej is all about Mahadev Shiva and Devi Parvati, people visit Pashupatinath Temple to worship Lord Shiva and to pray for the happiness and health of the family. More than 500,000 Nepali women visit Pashupatinath Temple during the Teej festival. People from different parts of the Indian subcontinent come to visit Pashupatinath to appease Lord Shiva.

The human body is composed of Pancha kosha (five sheaths), the 5 body layers, i.e, Annamaya Kosha (Physical or food Sheath), Pranamaya Kosha (Vital Sheath), Manomaya Kosha (Mental Sheath), Vijnanamaya Kosha (Wisdom Sheath), and Anandamaya Kosha (Blissful Sheath). The first sheath is called the food or physical sheath, the foundation of life. “Anna Brahma” means that food is divine. Food is nectar, but sometimes it becomes poison and produces poison as well. Food also detoxifies the body & mind. Similarly, we get toxic forms on each sheaths mentioned above, like vital mental, wisdom sheaths. More about Tips for Mental Detox.

Many of us love eating good foods as fancy as the preparation, may look as delicious as they may be. They get digested once they enter into our system and the body needs to throw the unwanted waste out in a day failing which can cause illness. There is nothing in the world that can quench our thirst more and make us feel more refreshed than water. Yet if the body doesn’t throw that water out in a couple of hours that retained water can be the cause of illness.

Noise-induced hearing loss not only affects hearing, but it could also affect the brain’s ability to recognize speech. Prolonged exposure to loud noise alters how the brain processes speech, potentially increasing the difficulty in distinguishing speech sounds, according to neuroscientists. Exposure to intensely loud sounds leads to permanent damage to the hair cells, which act as sound receivers in the ear. Once damaged, the hair cells do not grow back, leading to noise-induced hearing loss.

Once I saw a very elderly yoga teacher teaching her yoga students breathing techniques. She asked them to breathe in and hold their breath. But elderly as she was, she happened to fall asleep. The students who respected her a lot were unable to hold their breaths any longer, but didn’t even want to disobey her.  Finally, as they were gasping, one of them walked up to her and woke her up. As she got up, she said-“and now breathes out”. As funny as this may sound, the air we breathe in can be held for no more than a few minutes, and if it is not thrown out, we may die.

Isn’t this principle true for our negative emotions as well? Emotional hurt, envy, jealousy, greed, feelings of hatred, revenge, and anger can make our minds toxic. Yet we continue to hold them in our system, only leading to so many psychological, biological, and consequently physical disorders. The body has a system to remove unwanted food, water, air, and chemicals without us even being aware of it. How we wish there were an automatic arrangement that could throw negative feelings and emotions out as well. But that’s not how it works with the mind. We have to consciously work on detoxifying these toxic emotions out of our inner systems.

Tips for Mental Detox

1. Write your feeling down on a paper and discard it. You may tear the paper into many pieces and burn it into ashes, this practice does not necessarily solve this problem but allows us to express ourselves and release the negative energy at least temporarily.
2. Express actively your emotional feelings, angers, and stressors with physical exercises under dynamic techniques for Meditation.
3. Open your heart and confide into someone close and trustworthy. Sharing our feelings cannot out lighten the heaviness. We feel but we may also receive support and guidance to deal with our negativity.
4. Generalize all the issues and simplify them. Do not make big issues; always try to resolve these cases.
5. It’s not bad to be busy but bad to make crazy, in terms of this, try to have easy.
6. Always try to live easily and happily with scarcity and something else you have or do not have.
7. Attempt the speechless (Maunavrtta) once a month, stilling and calming the mind by meditation.
8. Sound Healing and meditation (Dwani Patro) will purify and calm the mind and enhance mental power.
9. Adopting a spiritual practice: The most powerful of course is adopting spiritual practice which can help us cleanse our consciousness and give us the inner strength to fight tendencies. Always remember that it is not the glass of water which is only a couple of grams in weight that hurts our mind, it is the duration for which we hold it. The better it is for us.

Conclusion

Attempting all the applied kriyas and understanding can detoxify our mind and also enhance our energy that keeps our mind fresher, natural and updates. Silence and calmness are the major means for mental detox.

OM SHANTIH! SHANTIH! SHANTIH!

Janmashtami, the birth anniversary of Lord Krishna, is celebrated in various parts of the country with great enthusiasm. The festival is celebrated with most fervor in Mathura, which is said to be his birthplace. The Mathura, ruled by the evil King Kansa, whose sister, Princess Devaki, was Krishna’s birth mother. Devaki and Vasudeva were married with a lot of fanfare, however, a prediction said that the couple’s eighth son would cause Kansa’s downfall.

According to legend, Krishna was the eighth son of Devaki and Vasudeva. Devaki was the sister of Mathura’s cruel king Kansa, and it was prophesied that her eighth son would be the cause of his death. The moment Kansa got to know about the prophecy, he had both Devaki and Vasudeva imprisoned and, one by one, killed all their sons until Krishna was born.

All hell broke loose when Kansa heard of this and imprisoned Devaki and Vasudeva instantly. The evil king got their first six children killed, but at the time of the birth of the seventh child, Balaram, the fetus is said to have been mystically transferred from Devaki’s womb to Princess Rohini’s. When the couple’s eighth child, Krishna, was born, Vasudeva managed to rescue the baby and gave him to Nand Baba and Yashodha in Vrindavan.

KRISHNA, KRISHNA JANMASHTAMI, BHAGAVAD GITA AND YOGA

ॐ कृष्णाय नमः             “Om Krishnaya Namah”

Meaning: ‘Accept my salutations, Oh Sri Krishna.’

Date and time of celebration

Krishna is believed as the eighth avatar (incarnation) of Lord Vishnu. He is said to be born on the eighth day of the Krishna Paksha (Dark Moon Time of the month) in the month of Bhadra (August- September) according to the Vedic calendar. As per Drik Panchang, devotees observe a fast on this day and abstain (fast) from consuming grains until the next day’s sunrise. Krishna Janmashtami is also known as Krishnashtami, Ashtami Rohini, Srikrishna Jayanti, Gokulashtami, Sree Jayanthi, etc.

About Krishna Janmashtami

Janmashtami is the birthday of Lord Krishna, which is celebrated with great ardor and zeal in Mathura during the monsoon season. If we go by the Nepali calendar, this important day falls on the Ashtami or eighth day of the Krishna Paksha or dark fortnight of Bhadra month. No one knows when this festival originated! Maybe a thousand years ago, this festival found its foothold in our culture. One would come across various legendary stories and myths encircling the birth of Janmashtami.

Among all of them, the most widely accepted view is that Lord Krishna is the eighth avatar (incarnate) of Lord Vishnu. We all know from the Mahabharata that the birth of Lord Krishna was to kill the demon Kansa, who happens to be his maternal uncle. Whenever there is some imbalance in the universe regarding peace and prosperity, it is said that Lord Vishnu comes to save humanity from the hands of demons.

Bhagavad Gita Relates

The tale of the Mahabharata has a lot to do with the life of Lord Krishna. During the Dharma Yuddha (righteous war) between the two Pandavas and Kauravas, Lord Krishna played the charioteer of Arjuna. He was encouraging Arjuna on various segments of life like Dharma (righteous path), Karma (deeds), Theistic Devotion, Yogic ideals, salvation, knowledge, etc., because Arjuna was in emotional commotion in killing his brothers and cousins. The verses mentioned in this book are often called a life guide or spiritual dictionary.

Lord Krishna stated that whenever there is prominence of evil deeds in this universe, he will reincarnate in various looks and attire to show the path of right and peace to all. The Gita, as it’s commonly called, is a dialogue between Prince Arjuna and Sri Krishna, Arjuna’s charioteer, friend, and counselor. The story opens to the scene of a battlefield just prior to the start of a gigantic war, with Arjuna asking Krishna for guidance.

THE BHAGAVAD GITA AND YOGA

The ancient scripture, Srimad Bhagavad Gita, is a treasure for ‘yoga’ lovers. The Holy Scripture speaks about the detached way of life through its 700 verses (shlokas) divided into 18 chapters. It is the conversation between Arjun and Lord Krishna. Though all 18 chapters are considered as yogic paths which are associated with the Yogic message, four chapters are specifically applied in human life.  The Bhagavad Gita is the most treasured and famous of spiritual or yogic texts. Composed of 700 verses, the Bhagavad Gita was written in the third or fourth century BCE as part of the epic text the Mahabharata.

The three types of ‘yoga’ advocated by the Bhagavad Gita are – Karma Yoga, Bhakti, Jnana Yoga, and Dhyana Yoga.

1) Karma Yoga (Yoga of Action)

Karma Yoga comes from ‘Karma’, which means action. Bhagavad Gita says that one should act selflessly without attaching himself or herself to the outcome. The Karma yoga is known as the Path of Work. Considered the most practical of all the paths, it is a path of action. To be one with the divine, a spiritual and Hindu believer must act selflessly. In other words, a person should do what is right, not because they want to be rewarded, but simply because right is right.

2) Bhakti Yoga (Yoga of Devotion)

Considered as one of the easiest forms of ‘yoga’, Bhakti yoga means doing ‘bhakti’ or worship of the lord selflessly. It is said that this form of yoga can be practiced even in regular life, as one does not need to leave everything or follow a rigorous regime to attain salvation through this form of ‘yoga’. This form of yoga simply advises one to get absorbed in the supreme soul. It advises to feel that supreme power into one’s soul and vice versa. It asks to always keep the mind engaged in ‘me’, i.e., the supreme lord – Lord Krishna.

3) Jnana Yoga (Yoga of knowledge)

This last yoga of Bhagavad Gita talks about ‘Jnana’ or ‘knowledge’ through which one can attain salvation. Unlike the other two forms, this one advocates to know the absolute, the Brahman. Like the other two, it does not advise to practice a form of meditation. Rather it asks to know beyond name and form of the doer of an act and understand him as per his nature.

4) Dhyana Yoga (Yoga of Meditation)

Sitting and concentrating the mind on a single object by controlling the thoughts and the activities of the senses, is realized as Meditation. Let the yogi practice meditation for self-purification. If you feel you have no love for Krishna or not much devotion, then chant the Hare Krishna mahamantra under proper guidance, and love for Krishna will manifest in your heart.

Hare Krishna Maha Mantra

हरे कृष्ण हरे कृष्ण कृष्ण कृष्ण हरे हरे

हरे राम हरे राम राम राम हरे हरे

“Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare
Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare”

Meaning: An Ode to Sri Krishna and Lord Rama, who are both two bodies but one being, as they are the incarnations of Sri Hari Vishnu. So, accept my salutation.

HAPPY KRISHNAJANMASHTAMI (BIRTH DAY OF KRISHNA)

The singing bowl is a musical instrument that is used for healing, relaxation, and meditation purposes originated in Nepal and later on, it got popular in Tibet and India as well. We make this course especially for healing, meditation, and the path of the spiritual journey. Further, Learn why Best Singing Bowl Training in Asia.

Singing Bowls can help balance the Chakra energy system. Each crystal bowl is specifically tuned to a chakra frequency. When singing bowls are played, and particular sound frequencies are projected into a not-eased area, correct harmonic patterns can be restored.

Scientific studies show that sound can produce changes in the autonomic, immune, endocrine, and neuropeptide systems. Dis-harmony within the body can be restructured by sound. That’s why singing bowl training is so popular in Asia.

The sounds from singing bowls are calming and induce a sense of peacefulness, it is a relaxation that goes beyond the physical body. The tones of each chakra bowl will permeate your system, resonating your essence, so that inner chaos, conflict, and dissonance seem almost immediately to be transformed into harmony.

Amazing Benefits of Singing Bowl

• Rejuvenates mind, and body and promotes physical, emotional, and spiritual wellbeing
• The sound and vibration of bowls are so relaxing that it helps in the healing of several mental and psychological ailments such as migraine, anxiety, depression, and body and muscle aches
• Bowl massage, vibrations help in clearing up blockages by increasing mental and emotional clarity
• Provides deep relaxation and as a result, many find it promotes sleep, helps stimulate blood flow
• Chakra Therapy session Cleanses and Balances Chakra and aura
• Also used as a tool for clearing up negative energy and cleansing of space whether it’s your own room or office with the practice of a Shamanic session with the bowls by the master.

Why is our Singing Bowl Training in Nepal Considered the Best in Asia?

1. Professional Teacher
2. World Popular Academy
3. Long History in Teaching
4. Based on Nada Yoga ( Chikitsa ) which is most traditional spiriutal healing.
5. Very Scientific and Spiritual Combined Course
6. 100% satisfaction rate.
7. Teaching Methods Tips
8. Government Approved

Why Singing Bowl so popular in Asia?

1. Asia is its Origin:
   
   Much of the history of singing bowls remains unknown or unclear due to the Chinese invasion of Tibet in the 1950s. However, oral traditions date singing bowls to the time of the historical Buddha Shakyamuni (560 – 480 BCE). Some singing bowls during this time were used for strictly religious purposes within monasteries and temples, such as leading chants or prayers, guiding meditation, or acting as an offering or begging bowl.
   
2. Its Market lies in Asia:
   
   The production of these sound bowls—often inscribed with an image of the Buddha and/or Tibetan script (commonly the six-syllable mantra Om mani padme hum)—is not limited to Nepal. They may be found in tourist areas throughout South and Southeast Asia and in specialty shops in the Americas and Europe, as well as online.
   
3. Buddhism prevailed in Asia:
   
   Japanese and Vietnamese Buddhists have traditionally used singing bowls to perform funeral rites and to worship their ancestors. Most of the Buddhist monasteries have been using the singing bowl as their worshipping materials. They use these singing bowls to meditate and pray during their prayers. 

Singing Bowl Training in Nepal

These are the three categories of the Singing Bowl Training in Nepal offered by Himalayan Yoga Academy.

1. Introduction Singing Bowl Training

2. Professional Singing Bowl Training

3. Advance Singing Bowl Training

Why Yoga Retreat essential after COVID-19 ends? Human Life all over the world has been severely affected by the ongoing coronavirus. It is falling in many countries but is still threatening somewhere else. We should hope that it’s getting normal very soon. But this situation won’t be eradicated permanently, only normalized, so we have to find alternative ways to keep our lives more secure, healthy, and energetic.  

Rules of COVID-19

The restricted traveling, panic over the risks of infection, and media highlighting of negative and unwanted news for the public due to the coronavirus pandemic are all adding to growing depression and anxiety. Besides keeping active and fit, staying connected to family and friends, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, and being happy, there is also one other thing that can help with the recovery of depression, anxiety, and mental health issues that is yoga.

Why yoga?

Yoga has known to be beneficial for immune boost, healthy body, increasing strength, stamina, empowerment, strong will power, peaceful and calm mind, fresh and natural mind. A mind running with negative thoughts and scary of pandemic situation often results in sleepless nights, tired body, distracted mind which causes loss of immunity. “Mental health is of utmost importance to recover through these challenging times.

Physiological effects

Anxiety or stress usually triggers the autonomic nervous system, which will have manifestations such as increased restlessness, blood pressure, tensed muscles, lack of concentration, faster breathing, and loss of immunity, and in such a condition, yoga helps to calm down. Some yoga experts and Yoga centers say, “Yogasana is a great tool as the stretching poses help to reduce tension in muscles and joints, and this can, in turn, help relax the sympathetic system, and also the application of pranayama and meditation helps to transform the vitality and body strength. There are many means of yoga which are excellent for managing blood pressure, thereby reducing anxiety symptoms as well.

Means of Yoga:

Human ethics, Good sleep, Good food, Cleansing acts, Yogasana, Pranayama, Yog Nidra and Meditation are the most beneficial during these times. We say that “One of the most profound and powerful techniques that can be used is pranayama and Yog Nidra. 15 to 30 minutes pranayama and 20 minutes of Yog Nidra every day can help immensely in overcoming stress and anxiety and also boost our defense mechanism against viral infections.

Yoga offers physical and mental health benefits for people of all ages. And, if you’re going through an illness, recovering from surgery, or living with a chronic condition, yoga can become an integral part of your treatment and potentially hasten healing.

“Yoga Doctors, Yoga Masters, Yoga therapist and naturopathy Doctors can work with patients and put together individualized plans that work together with their medical and other remedies as need. That is way; yoga can support the healing process and help the person experience, symptoms with more centeredness and less distress which is very supportive on the pandemic situation. Yoga is as good as basic stretching for easing pain and improving mobility in people with lower back pain.

You may join immediately yoga retreat and normal yoga classes, but not only yoga (Physical training) classes as your appropriate venues after this normal situation.

Benefits of yoga

1. Yoga relaxes you, keeps stress free and helps you sleep better.

2. Improves strength, endurance, balance, and flexibility.

3. Yoga can ease arthritis symptoms and heart problems.

4. Yoga helps with back pain relief with very clinical base under supervision.

5. Promotes better self-care.

6. Yoga can mean more energy and brighter moods.

7. Yoga helps you manage stress and pain.

8. Yoga connects you with a supportive community.

9. Enhances your immune power, which works against all pathogens like viruses.

10. Yoga is for a permanent solution by generating natural immunity, then no need for a vaccine.

Recommendations

We find in the midst and end of a coronavirus pandemic, it is a time to enlist all manner of assistance in resisting and combating the multiple threats associated with this situation. As the reviewing, there is evidence of stress, pain and inflammation modulation, and also preliminary evidence for possible forms of defense system enhancement, accompanying the practice of certain forms/ means of Yoga e.g. especially  Asanas, Pranayama, and Meditation with proper lifestyle along with potential implications for counteracting some forms of infectious challenges like coded-19. We should acknowledge the remedies and yogic boost in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.