Forgotten Indian Veggies

This was shared in our whatsapp community as part of reviving the ancient wisdom regular series. Join us to gain more wisdom!

These veggies may be rare and slowly disappearing from our plates, but they are bursting with flavors and nutrients that our bodies and souls crave. We have included common names in English and the botanical name only otherwise the post would be longer if we cover the native language names.

  1. Bread fruit – Artocarpus altilis
    Family of jackfruit & mulberry. It gets its name from the fact that its texture is often compared to that of freshly baked bread. While breadfruit is often cooked and eaten like a vegetable, it is actually a fruit that is harvested when it is mature but still unripe. When cooked, the flesh of the breadfruit is soft, creamy, and slightly sweet, with a mild flavor that is often compared to that of potatoes.
    Breadfruit is a good source of fiber, vitamins, and minerals. It is also a good source of complex carbohydrates, which can provide sustained energy. Because of its high nutritional value, breadfruit is sometimes referred to as a “superfood.”
  2. Sword Beans – Canavalia gladiata
    They are known for their long, slender pods that resemble a sword, hence their name. The pods of sword beans can grow up to 1.5 feet long and contain 6-12 seeds each. In addition to being used as a food source, sword beans are also used in traditional medicine in many cultures. They are believed to have various health benefits, such as reducing inflammation, lowering cholesterol levels, and improving digestion.
  3. Palmyra Sprout
    Also known as toddy palm sprouts or ice-apple, are the young shoots of the palmyra palm tree. It can be eaten raw or cooked and are often used in salads, soups, and stir-fries. You can also make flour out of and it and consume it several ways.
  4. Veldt Grape – Cissus quadrangularis
    A good source of calcium and may help to strengthen bones and prevent osteoporosis. While we all might have seen the ordinary 4 sided(sathura pirandai, hence quadrangularis) pirandai, there are more in Nature like rounded one(mani/uruttu pirandai), 3 sided(muppirandai), sweet(inippu), flat ones(olai), puli(sour), wild pirandai, leaf pirandai(ilai) etc. Also if its nodes are close to each other, they are classified as female and if far apart, they are classified as male. If you are reluctant to grow, or go through the precautionary measures of cleaning them, our fast selling store products made using Pirandai – Pirandai idli podi, Pirandai Vathal/papad are here for your rescue!
  5. Turkey berry – Solanum torvum
    Apart from its medicinal properties, it is used as a food source in many parts of the world. The fruit is often used in cooking as a flavoring agent and is particularly popular in Indian, Thai, and Indonesian cuisines. A great source of iron and calcium. It can heal stomach aches and enhance digestion. Tamil cuisine’s famous recipe Vathal Kuzhambu, Angaya podi are made with dried turkey berries. Make sabjis/stir fries, kuzhambu or curries.
  6. Clove Beans – Ipomoea muricata
    The name came because it looks like clove. The name of this vegetable in Malayalam is “Nithya Vazhuthina”, literally means, ‘Daily Brinjal’. Once it grows and starts flowering, you will get the veggie almost daily!. You need to know the right stage of harvesting time as it matures very soon. There are 3-4 varieties, like green and white long ones, purple ones, green & white short ones etc. This creeper plant comes from the same family as Morning glory, but unlike morning glory which flowers in day time, Clove bean flowers in the evening.
  7. Winged Beans – Psophocarpus tetragonolobus
    They are so named because their pods have distinctively winged edges, which make them resemble small airplanes. A highly nutritious vegetable with a good source of protein, dietary fiber, vitamins, and minerals. The plant is versatile and the entire plant, including its leaves, flowers, roots, and tubers, are edible and are used in different ways in different cuisines. The young and tender pods of the winged bean can be cooked and eaten like green beans, while the seeds can be cooked and eaten like peas or roasted and ground into flour. The leaves and flowers of the plant can be used in salads or cooked dishes, and the tubers can be boiled, roasted or fried and used in various recipes.
    It is also used in traditional medicine for various health benefits. They are relatively easy to grow and are an excellent addition to any vegetable garden or a healthy diet.
  8. Little WildGourd – Momordica cymbalaria
    A relative of bitter gourd but contains higher amounts of calcium, potassium, sodium, vitamin C and fiber than bittergourd. It can be used to make Poriyal,fry, pulikulambu, pickle, and vadagam etc. The fruits and tubers were used in the traditional medicine and as well as vegetable food by the tribal farmers. The fruits are useful in treating gout, rheumatism and sub-acute cases of the spleen and liver disease. The fruits juice and leaf tea of Little Wild Gourd is employed for diabetes, malaria, colic, sores and wounds, infections, worms and parasites, as an emmenagogue, and for measles, hepatitis, and fevers. Fruit pulp, leaf juice and seeds possess antihelimetic activity. This veggie is under threat of extinction.
  9. Giant Granadilla – Passiflora quadrangularis
    One of the largest fruit producing plant in the passiflora(passion fruit) family. Its a climber with squared sides(like Veldt Grape), hence the name ‘Quadrangularis’. While fruit is consumed as juice/beverage in some parts of the world, it is cooked as a vegetable for curries too. If you are growing this plant, if you can grow the passion fruit also, can help this plant to have more fruits. It is a tropical fruit that is not widely available in many parts of the world, but is certainly worth trying if you have the opportunity.
  10. Purple Yam – Dioscorea alata
    The plant is a type of yam and is related to other starchy root vegetables, such as sweet potato and cassava(tapioca).The root vegetable can be cooked in a variety of ways, including boiling, steaming, baking, or frying, and can be used to make everything from cakes and pastries to ice creams and jams. Purple yam is also a nutritious food, rich in complex carbohydrates, dietary fiber, and various vitamins and minerals. It is particularly high in potassium, which is important for maintaining healthy blood pressure and reducing the risk of heart diseases.
  11. Red Sorrel – Hibiscus sabdariffa
    Also known as Roselle, is a species of hibiscus plant. The one in poster is the edible calyces, which are the fleshy, cup-shaped structures that surround the seed pods of the plant. Red sorrel has a tart, fruity flavor and is used in a variety of culinary applications, including making teas, jams, jellies, sauces, and beverages. It is a good source of antioxidants, including vitamin C and anthocyanins, which are plant compounds that have been shown to have anti-inflammatory and disease-fighting properties. Some studies have suggested that red sorrel may have beneficial effects on blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and liver health. The plant is also used in traditional medicine for a variety of purposes. The leaves and flowers of the plant are sometimes used to make a poultice that can be applied to the skin to help with inflammation, while the seeds of the plant are sometimes used to treat digestive problems.
  12. Red Okra
    If you ask anyone to tell the okra color they would say green color. But are you aware that there are many varieties out there? Red okra is one of the native variety. There are more, like elephant tusk, musk/wild okra etc.
    Red okra is a good source of dietary fiber, vitamins C and K, folate, and potassium. It also contains antioxidants, such as quercetin and rutin, which can help protect the body against cell damage. In terms of culinary uses, red okra can be prepared in a similar manner to green okra. It can be boiled, roasted, fried, or pickled, and can be used in a variety of dishes, such as soups, stews, and curries. Red okra can also be used in fresh salads, as a garnish, or as a colorful addition to vegetable platters.

Let us not forget the wisdom of our ancestors, who knew the value of these vegetables long before we did. By rediscovering them, we can learn to appreciate the bounty of nature and reconnect with our roots. So, let’s spread the joy of these forgotten veggies and inspire others to do the same. Let’s sow the seeds of love, beauty, and health in our hearts and in our communities.

Archana.

H.O.P.E – House of Parents & Experts

~An exclusive live session only for the HLP Active Whatsapp Community members!

HLP WORLD, in last 10 years has transformed and created a beautiful community of parents, experts, healers, doctors, scientists, and astrologers, and connected everyone around the world, where everyone shares their own experience or wisdom of ancestors.

As promised in Dec 2022, 2023 will be a year of new innovations at HLP WORLD. As the core team of parents which handles the admin works of the groups, we constantly look for ways to improve communication and ways to enhance the experience of being part of HLP WORLD. Since our primary mode of all interactions is via WhatsApp, many parents felt that they really miss the face-to-face discussions.

We have organized a NO agenda meeting on every first Sunday of the month in which ~

  • Anyone can join, ask any queries and doubts, or initiate a discussion on any topic – be it parenting, healing, home remedies, astrology, spiritual, or any holistic living topics.
  • You can also ask about the community services we offer, HLP store-related queries
  • You will also be able to meet all the admins and members of your own group and other groups as well.

As a bonus, at the end of each H.O.P.E meeting we will share new surprise wisdom topics that you can use in your daily lives. Below is the wisdom topic shared in the last H.O.P.E meeting, hope it gives you some clue!.

So what are you waiting for? Come and join us on this Sunday for an informal discussion. Meeting details will be shared in the respective whatsapp group, so don’t miss to check! See you on Sunday!

Welcome Message to New Parents in WhatsApp Group

Dear Parent,​​​​

Welcome to our group!!!

We really appreciate the first step you have taken towards Holistic Living and Parenting  (HLP). Like you, we have come together wishing good health to our children and ourselves.​​​​​

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Important note:​​​​​​

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HLP Store

Launched in the month of December 2020, HLP Store is a 24/7 online store which is open not only to the community members but also to the outside members. Do check out http://www.hlp.world/store for varieties of spiritual, personal care, health and food related products. For any queries, please reach out to the team via the online chat available in the website. 

We welcome you again to our Family!!!  We are all eager to learn from You!!!

Author: Priyadarshini Somasundar

Priyadarshini is an Engineering graduate in Electronics and Communication. She used work for Dell, Later shifted to Chennai after marriage and worked in Ericsson as system analyst. I have always been passionate about our tradition and curious to know about our ancient wisdom and practices, which made me join this group.

Do you really need to drink milk?

Source: The Times of India - Tuesday 11 April 2000, By Pritish Nandy, interviewing Maneka Gandhi | FW by Chandrasaker

Ayurveda actually lists milk as one of the ‘five white poisons’. She has stirred a hornet’s nest with her campaign against milk. Even hardcore veggies have attacked Maneka Gandhi and religious leaders have openly come out to contradict her. Curiously, on her side now is global research and modern science, of which she has been a long-term critic. They are the ones who are defending her now.

You have come out very strongly against milk. Why are you so hostile to it? There are three reasons.

  1. People’s health is compromised by milk and its products
  2. Cruelty to cows and
  3. Pollutants in milk

Would you like to explain why you think milk is unhealthy?

There is this belief that milk is a complete food and an important source of protein, iron and calcium.

  • Milk has no iron, however it also blocks its absorption.
  • The ability of the body to absorb calcium from milk is barely 32%. Whereas the body can absorb, 65% from cabbage and 69% from cauliflower.
  • Milk has less protein than most vegetables.

Even if we assume it contains more protein, it would be useless for human beings. Because human beings require only 4 to 5 percent of their daily calorie intake in proteins and the daily consumption of Indian bread (Chapattis) and potatoes would give more protein than the requirements.

So milk is not the best food in the world as it has been touted for generations?

Milk is very difficult to digest particularly for Asians and Africans. Why do I not eat plastic? The reason is: I have no enzyme to digest it. We do not have lactose in our body and so we cannot digest lactose. If we cannot digest milk, how do we get any of its ingredients?

Apart from this, milk has something called the IGF-1. All cancer studies show that when IGF-1 rises in the body one gets cancer. All the IGF-1 in milk stays in the body, making you prone to cancer. It is also a very strong cause of asthma decease. In fact, doctors recommend asthma patients to avoid milk and milk products.

The problem with doctors is that they learn no nutrition in medical colleges. So they have a limited knowledge of food. Their knowledge of nutrition comes from the same source as yours and mine: Grandmothers and teachers. Add to this the confusion caused by our local religious leaders, particularly the ones who espouse vegetarianism.

What is specifically wrong in milk? What is specifically harmful?

The calcium contained in milk actually becomes a health hazard as undigested portions of it are deposited in the urinary system and become kidney stones. Another condition that milk aggravates rather than alleviates is osteoporosis or bone loss. Studies have shown that it is excess protein rather than lack of calcium that causes osteoporosis. So the more milk you drink, the more you are prone to osteoporosis. Countries like Sweden that have the highest milk consumption also have the highest incidence of osteoporosis.

Another misconception is that milk helps ulcers. Ulcers are caused by the corrosion of the stomach lining. When you drink milk it gives you immediate pain relief. But that is only temporary. Milk actually causes acidity and further destroys the stomach lining.

Also, ulcer patients who are treated with dairy products are found to be 2 to 6 times more prone to heart attacks. This seems only logical because milk is designed to be the food on which a calf increases its body weight 4 times over in one month! It is so naturally high in fat that it leads to obesity, the cause of all modern diseases. Ayurveda actually lists milk as one of the five white poisons.

Indians have been drinking milk for centuries. All of them did not fall sick.

It depends on what you call illness. Most people disregard arthritis, osteoporosis, asthma, headaches, and indigestion as normal for the body and cancer as an act of God.

By looking at milk as evil, are we not turning our back on our tradition and culture?

For thousands of years people thought the sun went around the earth. Copernicus was the first person who said it did not. There was a huge backlash against him. In the past in India there existed a tradition of Sati (cremating widow with her husband’s dead body) and thugee and opium eating. Should they have been continued?

I have written a book on Hindu names for which I had to read every single Hindu scripture (sastra). Nowhere is there any milk drinking mentioned. There is ghee (liquid butter) mentioned and that too for havans (fire). Unfortunately our memories are short and the things we are most adamant about are those we know the least about. Dr. Spock was the guru for child nutrition, now apologizes for having advocated milk and says that children must be kept away from it.

Dr. Kurien has described the dairy industry as the gentle industry. You claim it is just the opposite?

The dairy industry is not gentle. The fact that supplies cater to demand makes the cow the ultimate victim. It may have been gentle when each household had its own cow and treated it as a member of the family. This is no longer true.

How is milk produced now in India?

The cow is forced into yearly pregnancies. After giving birth she is milked for 10 months but will be artificially inseminated during her third month. So she is milked even when she is pregnant. The demanded production of milk is more than her body can give. So she breaks down body tissues to produce milk. The result is an illness called ketosis.

Most of the day the cow is tied up in a narrow stall usually wallowing in her own excrement. She gets mastitis because the hands that milk her are rough and usually unclean. She gets rumen acidosis from bad food and lameness. She is kept alive with antibiotics and hormones. Each year 20 per cent of these dairy cows are sent illegally by truck and train to slaughterhouses. Or they are starved to death by letting them loose in the cities.

It is no secret that the slaughterhouse in Goa was constructed by Amul Dairy. No cow lives out her normal life cycle. She is milked, made sick, and then killed. Even worse happens to her child. The male calves are tied up and starved to death or sent to the slaughterhouses. It is not by chance that a calf is no longer called bachda in India. It is called katra, which means one who is to be killed. Even Dr. Kurien admits that in Mumbai every year 80,000 calves are forcibly put to death.

But milkmen (doodhwalas) love their cows. They live off them.

Have you seen how cows are milked? In the villages they practice phukan, a method of milking a cow. A stick is poked into the cow’s uterus and wiggled, causing her intense pain. Villagers believe this leads to more milk.

In the cities they are given two injections of oxytocin every day to make the milk come faster. This gives her labor pains twice a day. Her uterus develops sores and makes her sterile prematurely. Oxytocin is banned for use on animals but it is sold in every cigarette shop around a dairy. Every illiterate milkman knows the word. In human beings, oxytocin causes hormonal imbalances, weak eye sights, miscarriages, and cancer.

Recently Gujarat started raiding dairies for oxytocin. In one day they found 350,000 ampules in just Ahmedabad!

You mentioned pollution in milk. What does that mean?

The ICMR did research on milk for 7 years and took thousands of samples from across India. What did they find?

  • Large amounts of DDT, poisonous pesticides called HCH. Under the food adulteration act only 0.01 mg/kg is allowed of HCH.
    They found 5.7 mg as an average!
  • They found arsenic, cadmium and lead. These cause kidney damage, heart diseases, brain damage and cancer.

Their findings were based on 50,000 samples and the report was released at a press conference. What did Dr. Kurien and the Operation Flood people have to say? “More samples should have been taken!”

Other things put in your milk is sewage water, vegetable oil, and liquid soap. In some cases earthworms are put in because they excrete slime which increases the density of the milk!

You have said that drinking milk is drinking the cow’s blood?

Milk and blood come from the same source: the body cells of the cow. Every time you drink a glass of milk, remember it comes from a sad, suffering mother whose own child was killed and who herself will be killed when she dries up.

Won’t the stoppage of milk lead to thousands being unemployed?

A large number of people are dependent on smuggling, thievery, begging, drug pushing, gun running and terrorism. Do we buy their products to help them?

What is the substitute for milk?

What is the substitute to a placebo? Anything else such as soya bean milk, all green vegetables, and lentils (dal). My son has never drunk milk in his life. He is 6 feet and has never been sick a single day!

Author: Priyadarshini Somasundar

Priyadarshini is an Engineering graduate in Electronics and Communication. She used work for Dell, Later shifted to Chennai after marriage and worked in Ericsson as system analyst. I have always been passionate about our tradition and curious to know about our ancient wisdom and practices, which made me join this group.

Things to do when kid has fever

Source UnKnown | FW by Saranya

Cold Compresses

As soon as your baby develops a fever, the first thing to do is put a cool, wet washcloth on your baby’s forehead. As the water from the wet washcloth evaporates from the skin, it will draw the fever out and the temperature will come down quickly.

Put some cool tap water in a bowl.
Soak a clean washcloth in the water.
Wring out the excessive water, then place the wet cloth on the baby’s forehead.
Once the cloth warms, remove it and repeat again.
Do this until the fever has gone.
You can also use the damp washcloth to sponge areas like your baby’s armpits, feet, hands to reduce the temperature.

Note: Never use very cold or ice water, as it may cause the internal body temperature to increase.

Lukewarm Bath

A lukewarm bath will help relax a fussy baby and help regulate the body temperature. It will even help your baby sleep better, which is needed for faster recovery.

For babies younger than 6 months, give a lukewarm sponge bath 2 or 3 times a day.
For babies 6 months or older, give them a regular bath in lukewarm water a few times a day.
After each bath, dress your baby immediately.

Note: Never use very hot or cold water, as it may cause the internal body temperature to rise.

Breast Milk

For babies younger than 6 months old who have a fever, breast milk is very important. It offers a unique balance of nutrients that strengthens a baby’s weak immune system and is tailored to fight a baby’s illness.

Breast milk is quickly and easily digested. It will even keep a sick baby properly hydrated, which is essential for faster recovery.

Try to breastfeed your young baby frequently. If your baby refuses to nurse while experiencing a fever, try different nursing positions. You can keep the baby upright while breastfeeding to make your baby more comfortable during feeding sessions.
If your baby regularly refuses nursing, pump out the breast milk and feed it to your baby using a spoon or bottle.

Give More Fluids

For sick babies, it is important to increase fluid intake. Fluid will help cool them down and replace the fluid lost through sweating to prevent dehydration.

Dehydration may lead to various other complications and delay recovery.

Due to having a fever, babies may refuse large amounts of fluid at a time. So, try to give them smaller amounts more often.

Give oral rehydration solutions (either homemade or readily available in the market) along with lukewarm water to help replenish fluids and electrolytes.

Keep Your Baby in a Cool Place

When taking care of a sick baby, it’s important to keep a close eye on the room temperature. It should not be too hot or too cold.

Dress Your Infant Comfortably

Many parents make the mistake of bundling up their sick child with layers of clothes or extra blankets. This is something parents should avoiding doing, as it may keep the temperature from going down or even make it go higher.

Infants cannot regulate their temperature well, hence when bundled in layers, it will be harder for them to cool down once overheated. Too much clothing will even prevent radiating body heat into the surrounding air.

Dress your baby in one layer of lightweight clothing. If needed, use a light blanket when your baby is sleeping.

Also, keep your baby in a comfortable room, where the temperature is not too hot or too cool.

Foot Massage

Rubbing the soles of your sick baby’s feet with some warm oil is one of the best ways to calm your fussy baby. Apart from relaxation, it will promote better sleep, which is necessary for quick recovery.

Foot massage also helps regulate body temperature.

Rub some warm olive oil on the bottoms of your baby’s feet.
Apply gentle pressure on the soles with your thumbs.
Finally, give a nice massage to the whole foot.
Do this for just a couple of minutes and repeat as needed.
When it comes to foot massage, be careful not to do too much.

Basil

For bringing down a fever, basil is suitable for babies older than 1 year. The herb can help reduce the heat in the body. It works as a natural antibiotic and immune booster.

Boil a handful of basil leaves in 2 cups of water, until the solution is reduced to half. Add a little sugar and give it to your little one, a few times a day.
If your baby is big enough to chew basil leaves, give him or her some thoroughly washed basil leaves to chew at regular intervals.

Monitor Body Temperature

Another important thing when your baby is having a fever is to regularly monitor his or her body temperature with a thermometer.

Remedies for cold and cough:
Camphor

Heat coconut oil and add little powdered camphor in it. After it has cooled, pour 4 to 5 drops to your palm and apply it evenly over the chest of your little one. Please take care to use very little camphor as it may irritate the baby skin.

Eucalyptus oil

Allow the baby to inhale the eucalyptus oil.The oil can be also be sprinkled in the baby beddings.

Turmeric

For infants, take a dried turmeric piece and burn it in a candle or diya flame, allow the infant to inhale the smoke from the burning turmeric for a minute. The smoke arising from the burning turmeric will be like a thread only, so no fear of smoke inhalation!!!
For kids above 2 years, a little turmeric can be added to milk and given.

Garlic

Peel the skin of 2 garlic pods and allow them to steep in 50 ml of hot water for 10 minutes. Let it cool, feed 2 sips of the garlic water to your little one every 2 to 3 hours. This can be done for kids above 4 year.

Ginger

Ginger thins out the mucus and so is very helpful for treating blocked nose. Grate a small piece of ginger and add it to hot water and allow it to cool for about 10 min. This can be given to children above 2 years.

Chicken soup

Clear chicken soup can be given from 8 Month onwards.

Tulsi/Basil leaves

Tulsi leaves have great medicinal properties, they can be either added to water or milk. Allow them to soak in water for more than a hour and feed the water in sips to kids above 2 years.

Honey

For Babies above 1 year, a half a teaspoon of honey can be added to the milk and given twice a day.

Ajwain

Roast Ajwain on low flame in a pan, wrap it in a kerchief to make a potli and allow the kid to inhale it or hold it near the nose of infants.

Lemon

Lemon is rich in Vitamin C and helps in developing immunity. For babies above 1 year, mix lemon juice with honey and lots of water.

Cinnamon

Cinnamon has an antioxidant effect and acts as an effective antibacterial and antifungal agent. This can be given kids older than 1 years of age.
Mix 1 teaspoon of honey with 1/4 spoon of cinnamon, feed this mixture every 4 hours throughout the day when the first signs and symptoms of cold surface.

Mustard Oil

Mix 5 to 10 teaspoon of mustard oil with crushed garlic and ajwain seeds and tadka. After it is cooled, strain the mixture and store in a bottle. When needed, warm a little and apply on the child’s chest, forehead and throat.

Steam Inhalation

Never let the child do steam inhalation as done for adults. Fill the buckets or bathtub in the bathroom with piping hot water, hold the baby in the arms for 10 minutes in the steamy bathroom to thin out the phlegm.

Ghee

For dry cough, heat 2 tablespoon of ghee and add 2 to 3 pepper in it, grind it and give a little of it throughout the day. This can be given for children above 1 year.

Author: Saranya

I’m HomeMaker and a mother of 1 year old baby girl. I have 6 yrs of IT experience with Accenture and IGATE and currently taken break to take care of my little one. I have an interest towards home made ancient recipes which is very healthy for kids and adults and hence started preparing all those at home and thought of sharing the same with all parents.

Life is full of various experiences, understand to enjoy it.

Life is a beautiful journey, just enjoy travelling every experience that comes your way.

Forwarded by : Roopa Prasanna  || Source : Unknown

the journey

The grass is happy in the fields and feel that everything is going fine. It thanks its creator, the God.Suddenly a cow comes and eats the grass. The grass is scared to enter into the mouth of the cow where it is crushed. The grass suffers.

After sometime, it gets converted into milk and is collected in a vessel. It feels happy that it has got settled in a new place in a new form and its value has been added.

A drop of curd is dropped inside the milk and it starts getting converted into curd.The milk feels that its situation becomes worse. The milk suffers in this process and settles in the form of curd. It gets churned and in this process suffers and becomes buttermilk and butter.
The butter smells good and is happy in this form. and thanks God for having added value in its life.

Suddenly, it is put a vessel and gets heated. It feels the heat, cries and after sometime it becomes ghee. It is transported to a new place in which the roads are full of potholes. Finally reaches a temple where it is poured on Lord. It worries whether it is in right path or not. But , When it reaches the feet of Lord, it feels the bliss.

Thus,Life is a journey which is full of happy and bitter experiences and the destiny is to reach the feet of God. Bitter experiences – Sufferings are blessings in disguise to transform us into better human beings. Lack of clarity of this understanding is suffering.

Author: Priyadarshini Somasundar

Priyadarshini is an Engineering graduate in Electronics and Communication. She used work for Dell, Later shifted to Chennai after marriage and worked in Ericsson as system analyst. I have always been passionate about our tradition and curious to know about our ancient wisdom and practices, which made me join this group.

Article by Adi Shankara on Maturity

Forwarded by : Velu Jayaprakash || Source : Unknown

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What is maturity? – by Adi Shankara

1. Maturity is when you stop trying to change others, instead focus on changing yourself.

2. Maturity is when you accept people as they are.

3. Maturity is when you understand everyone is right in their own perspective.

4. Maturity is when you learn to “let go”.

5. Maturity is when you are able to drop “expectations” from a relationship and give for the sake of giving.

6. Maturity is when you understand whatever you do, you do for your own peace.

7. Maturity is when you stop proving to the world, how intelligent you are.

8. Maturity is when you don’t seek approval from others.

9. Maturity is when you stop comparing with others.

10. Maturity is when you are at peace with yourself.

11. Maturity is when you are able to differentiate between “need” and “want” and are able to let go of your wants.

Last but most meaningful !

12. You gain Maturity when you stop attaching “happiness” to material things !!

Wishing all a happy matured life.

Author: Priyadarshini Somasundar

Priyadarshini is an Engineering graduate in Electronics and Communication. She used work for Dell, Later shifted to Chennai after marriage and worked in Ericsson as system analyst. I have always been passionate about our tradition and curious to know about our ancient wisdom and practices, which made me join this group.

What anger can do to you?

A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man keeps himself under control. – PROVERBS 29:11

Forwarded by : Krishnaja || Source : Unknown

anger
As a carpenter went home after shutting down his workshop, a black poisonous cobra entered his workshop.
The cobra was hungry and hoped to find its supper lurking somewhere within. It slithered from one end to another and accidentally bumped into a double-edged metal axe and got very slightly injured.

In anger and seeking revenge, the snake bit the axe with full force. What could a bite do to a metallic axe? Instead the cobra’s mouth started bleeding.

Out of fury and arrogance, the cobra tried its best to strangle and kill the object that was causing it pain by wrapping itself very tightly around the blades.

The next day when the carpenter opened the workshop, he found a seriously cut, dead cobra wrapped around the axe blades.

The cobra died not because of someone else’s fault but faced these consequences merely because of its own anger and wrath.
Sometimes when angry, we try to cause harm to others but as time passes by, we realise that we have caused more harm to ourselves.

For a happy life, it’s best we should learn to ignore and overlook some things, people, incidents, affairs and matters.
It is not necessary that we show a reaction to everything. Step back and ask yourself if the matter is really worth responding or reacting to.
People that show no inclination to change, are best handled with silence and prayer.
This is really good story and could help us take some good decisions.

Author: Priyadarshini Somasundar

Priyadarshini is an Engineering graduate in Electronics and Communication. She used work for Dell, Later shifted to Chennai after marriage and worked in Ericsson as system analyst. I have always been passionate about our tradition and curious to know about our ancient wisdom and practices, which made me join this group.

Words of wisdom : Osho on Parenting

An unexceptional parenting advice by Osho. Live and let live.

Forwarded by : Honey Jones || Source : Osho

Unconditional Love

You will be gone soon but the children will be here. And nobody can manage anybody else’s life. Though they are with you, yet they belong not to you. You may give them your love but not your thoughts for they have their own thoughts. You may house their bodies but not their souls, for their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow, which you cannot visit even in your dreams. God will take care. It is none of your business to be too concerned. Whatsoever we can do, we do, but one should not hanker about things going the way you want. That is very egoistic.

You have given birth to a child, but once he is out of the womb he is free of you. First he depended for his breath on you when he was in the womb. Then he will take his own breath.

You don’t say,
‘What are you doing? Are you trying to be free of me? Trying to be independent?’

You feel happy that your child is breathing.

First he will take milk from you, then one day he will start eating on his own.

First he will go on clinging to your apron and then one day he will leave it.

You will be happy because the child is growing, becoming mature. Then finally one day he falls in love with a woman.
He has found his woman, so he will go on his own way.

Bless them, and whatsoever happens they have to find their own life and their own meaning to life.

Now you are free.Just try to find your meaning, your life, your goals, and devote the few days that are left to the search of the ultimate.

Don’t be concerned with ordinary things. I have never seen a single parent who is happy about their children. I have heard a Jewish joke..

A Jewish woman died and the first thing she asked when she got to heaven was if she could see Mary. So it was arranged. She went to see Mary and said, ”I have only one question to ask. You must be the happiest woman in the world. Your son is worshipped by millions.” Mary said, ”What! I always wanted him to become a doctor”.

Nobody is ever happy. Even the father of Buddha was not happy. He was very very annoyed because his son turned out to be a beggar. He became a sannyasi and the father was hoping he would become an emperor. He crushed all his father’s hopes.

One thing is certain that the child is not here to fulfill your expectations.
The child is here with his own destiny, and he will unfold his own destiny. You are trying somehow to direct his destiny and that is going to be frustrating. So if the child becomes a thief or a murderer, of course the parents feel bad, and it looks logical.

But even if he becomes a Jesus or a Buddha, then too they feel frustrated
because they have their own ideas and the children try to do their own thing.

Accept it and bless them. They have to find their own ways

Who are we to interfere? And how can we?

Pray for them but leave them on their own. You try to grow yourself.

Author: Priyadarshini Somasundar

Priyadarshini is an Engineering graduate in Electronics and Communication. She used work for Dell, Later shifted to Chennai after marriage and worked in Ericsson as system analyst. I have always been passionate about our tradition and curious to know about our ancient wisdom and practices, which made me join this group.

Hanuman : The true hero

Forwarded by : Rakhi || Source : Unknown

Hanuman
When Valmiki completed his Ramayana, Narada wasn’t impressed. ‘It is good, but Hanuman’s is better’, he said.

‘That monkey has written the Ramayana too!’, Valmiki didn’t like this at all, and wondered whose Ramayana was better. So he set out to find Hanuman.

In Kadali-vana, grove of plantains, he found Ramayana inscribed on seven broad leaves of a banana tree.

He read it and found it to be perfect. The most exquisite choice of grammar and vocabulary, metre and melody. He couldn’t help himself. He started to cry.

‘Is it so bad?’ asked Hanuman
‘No, it is so good’, said Valmiki
‘Then why are you crying?’asked Hanuman.

‘Because after reading your Ramayana no one will read my Ramayana,’ replied Valmiki.

Hearing this Hanuman simply tore up the seven banana leaves stating,     ” Now no one will ever read Hanuman’s Ramayana.”

Hanuman said, ‘You need your Ramayana more than I need mine. You wrote your Ramayana so that the world remembers Valmiki; I wrote my Ramayana so that I remember Ram.’

At that moment he realized how he had been consumed by the desire for validation through his work.

He had not used the work to liberate himself from the fear of invalidation. He had not appreciated the essence of Ram’s tale to unknot his mind.
His Ramayana was a product of ambition; but Hanuman’s Ramayana was a product of affection.
That’s why Hanuman’s Ramayana sounded so much better. Valmiki realized that “Greater than Ram….. is the idea of Ram!!!! ”
( राम से बड़ा राम का नाम ).

This story tells us that…. There are people like Hanuman who don’t want to be famous. They just do their jobs and fulfill their purpose.
So lets not be like Valmiki, thinking our ”Ramayana” is the best.

There are many unsung “Hanumans” too…in our life…

Author: Priyadarshini Somasundar

Priyadarshini is an Engineering graduate in Electronics and Communication. She used work for Dell, Later shifted to Chennai after marriage and worked in Ericsson as system analyst. I have always been passionate about our tradition and curious to know about our ancient wisdom and practices, which made me join this group.