Wednesday, January 31, 2018

Significance of Full Moon and lunar eclipse


Many youngsters ask the question, “What is the significance of full moon for meditation?”

I wonder whether this is a result of living life, considering us humans separate from the Universe. When we think we are higher than the natural forces, there comes a tsunami or earth quake to make us realise our vulnerability.

We exist in the solar system and we need to live in accordance with the sun’s movements to have a balanced life. Sun has a major role in balancing the Melatonin/ serotonin production in the body. These chemicals regulate our sleep and feel good factor. Getting up before sun rise and going to sleep at a reasonable time is important from this aspect. Of course it is impossible to get up at sun rise and go to sleep at sun set, which our ancestors did, in today’s life style.

Influence of the Earth and planets


It is because of earth’s gravity that we can stay on its surface, or we all will be just thrown off into the atmosphere. Similarly, each planet has an influence on our lives.

Have you noticed how the sea water behaves on new moon and full moon days? Tides are highest during the new moon (when moon and sun pull in the same direction) and during the full moon (when they pull in opposite directions). When we remember that the average adult human body is 50-65% water, it is easy to understand that new moons and full moons affect our body too.

Siddhars and Siddha medicine


Siddhars are a type of saints in India who are said to have had many powers and achieved a ‘god-like’ state through specific secret practices that were known only to them. These powers spanned from controlling time and space, to transforming the body, manipulating matter at the molecular level and achieving immortality. They were endowed with ashta siddhis and ten secondary siddhis.

I had the opportunity to do a course on Siddha medicine and got very important information from the course. They say that the lunar region or the ‘Chandra Mandalam’ is in the head. There are 30 places which are the seats of nectar in the human body, and they are influenced by the waxing (growing) and waning (decreasing) of the moon in the sky.

The seat of nectar in the human body for both in men and women stands in the toe of the right foot on the New Moon day. It passes on to the toe of the left leg on the first day after the new moon and goes up rising to the head. The position on each day can be viewed in the following pictures:





It is better to avoid surgeries on the body parts when the nectar is present on the area as there may be delayed healing.

The lunar eclipse


The lunar eclipse takes place when the shadow of the earth falls on the moon and the three celestial bodies - the sun, the earth, and the moon - fall in a line and plane. The physical phenomenon involving the three celestial bodies does have some impact on human health. It may affect sleep as the intensity of moonlight will be seemingly more during the night because of a lunar eclipse. The increased presence of light outside can cause a disturbance in our sleep pattern, which can manifest itself as feeling lethargic and stressed on the following day.

In the medical science, a man is called a ‘lunatic’, and the hospital where they are treated is called a ‘Lunatic Asylum’. Again the word ‘lunacy’ means a kind of madness, which aggravates on full moon days, proving that the lunar region is the head on full moon days.

Practices to follow


The increase in the subtle basic Raja-Tama in the atmosphere during the period of an eclipse affects food as well as the digestive processes. Hence it is advisable to avoid food during the period of the eclipse, or have light meals.

Due to the potent energy released by an eclipse, emotions (both positive and negative) can be heightened and mishaps can happen. So it is important to be mindful of our thoughts, words and actions.

There is an inward pull on our consciousness during eclipse, making it ideal time for spiritual practice. People who make the effort to do intense spiritual practice during the time of an eclipse will benefit up to 30 % more spiritually. It is a good time to do chanting and meditation.



References:

Monday, January 22, 2018

Gratitude after 15 years


We were invited for the Alumni of Baglakot Dental college, where my husband and I had worked for more than a decade. It was a well-organized function on 19th January 2018 and we were enjoying our dinner when a young dentist approached our table.

“Madam, you may not remember me. You left the college in 2005 and I had the opportunity to listen to just one lecture of yours. And it influenced me so much,” he said.

I was very curious to know what it was that influenced him so much.

“It was one sentence from your lecture, that ‘If you cut even one millimeter of a healthy tooth, you are jeopardizing the health of the patient’. It changed my approach to dentistry. Even now I keep on telling this to my subordinates and patients.”

I was overwhelmed to hear that. Not damaging the healthy tooth structure is the basis for my approach to dentistry till today. Somebody hearing that once and following it in the dental practice was very gratifying. I know many dentists who say, ‘Just keep on cutting the tooth till you can locate the canals’, and I find that very heart breaking.

‘Thank you so much for letting me know,’ I said.

“Madam, I wanted to meet you personally and say thanks all these years. Thank you so much.”
He went off, brought his wife with him, and they took a photograph with us.


It is at moments like this that I thank God for making me a teacher.